Shift of Time (A Rue Darrow Novel Book 1) (18 page)

“Just say it.”

“I don’t want to see you like this.” He gestured up and down my figure, but I knew he didn’t mean the physical me, but the vampire. “I love you, Mom, and I’m happy. I really am. I miss you a lot, but this is how I want it to be right now. Please, try to understand, okay?”

“I could make you come live with me. I still have custody.”

He didn’t say anything. I was being childish, and we both knew what I said wasn’t true.

“Yeah, you could,” he said out respect, I suppose. “Mom—”

“I hear you, sweetheart.” I straightened. “But things are going to change. You and I are going to have visitation from now on. I’ll come to town. You’ll spend some time with me. You don’t have to worry about me doing anything weird other than the embarrassing stuff like ruffling your hair and kissing you in front of your friends.”

He grimaced. “All right. It’s a deal. Uh, maybe we shouldn’t tell Dad.”

“Probably not.”

I stayed in town for another night to spend an entire evening with Jake. We worked out the schedule, and too soon I was headed back home. I was glad I had moved past my guilt enough to insist on seeing him. My baby wouldn’t grow up without me seeing him, which was the whole point of me becoming a vampire.

When I arrived back in New Orleans, I decided I would get any and all training—to include Silvano’s offer and continue with Bill’s fighting lessons—to make me strong enough to protect myself, Jake, and anyone else who needed me. I would become a tracker, and I would use every resource to save the people in need, even if it meant calling on my friends for help.

In the meantime, to pay the bills, I was stuck with one grumpy nonhuman and immoral boss. Life could only get better. I hoped.

A
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Wolf Ties
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- Audrey Claire