Page 40 of Zombies, Satyrs and Vampires, Oh My!

“Well, that might be, but I want to make sure you’re safe since this whole mess is my fault.”

I pull around the back of Atticus and Vivian’s house to the gravel drive behind.

“Where are we?” he asks.

“My friend Vivian and her zom-bae live here.” I turn around and face him with a big grin. “Did you see what I did there?”

“You’re about as subtle as my dick.”

I gasp. “Jace! Did you make a joke?”

He rolls those golden eyes. “I do have a sense of humor. You should remember that from my classes.”

“Oh, I do,” I say. I get out of the car and then go around to the back to unlock his door and help him out.

“Do your friends know you kidnapped me?”

“Yes. And so does your friend, Xander. It was actually his idea for me to use the valerian flowers.”

“He’s a fucker.”

I laugh. “Come on, grumpy, let’s get you inside and I can untie you.” Then I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “Or maybe I’ll leave you restrained and have my way with you.”

“Don’t joke about that, Harriet.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Why are you assuming it’s a joke. I kissed you last night. I probably would have done more if Steroid Kitty hadn’t shown up.”

He barks out a laugh. “Stop making this pleasant.”

“Do you want to be angry with me?” I ask.

He glares at me.

“Because I have to tell you that the whole growly, scowly thing you have going only makes you more attractive.”

He just grunts in response, which makes me giggle.

I lead him inside the cottage which, though it’s called a gardener’s cottage, is actually a three-bedroom home with all the other amenities of a fully functional house.

I type in the security code by the door and give Jace a pointed look. “We’re locked inside and cat-boy can’t get in.” I cut the zip ties off his wrists. “Plus, Atticus has cameras installed outside. So we’d be alerted if he came onto the property.”

“This is ridiculous. I’m a grown man.” He tugs on his tail. “Well, satyr. Whatever.”

“Vivian said she had the kitchen fully stocked for us. Are you hungry?”

“Always.” He follows behind me, hooves scraping against the tile floor as he moves.

He grabs an apple off the bowl on the granite countertop and bites into it.

“Do you think there’s a reason why you turned into a satyr? Like does the type of monster reflect something about your character.”

He pauses his chewing briefly before finishing and swallowing. “I don’t know. Never actually thought about it.”

“Are there any other satyrs?” I ask.

He shrugs. “None of my friends are satyrs, but I didn’t live here when that night happened. My former fiancee wanted to go to the town’s Halloween party.”

“You were engaged? Is she still here in town?”