“Chloe nodded meekly. I’d never seen her so demure.“What’s the matter with you?” I hissed at her as we followed Kieran and Solange inside.“She’s royalty!”“And a vampire, remember?”“Oh yeah.” Chloe paused. “Nope, princess trumps vampire.”“Does not.”“So does.”

“What's the matter with you?" I hissed at her as we followed Kieran and Solange inside.'She's royalty!'"And a vampire, remember?"'Oh yeah,' Chloe paused. 'Nope, princess trumps vampire.”

“Yummy,” Chloe murmured to me. Quinn flashed us a grin. I fought a blush.“Vampire hearing, remember?” I murmured back.She shrugged, grinning back.""Chapter 10”

“He’s supposed to look out for you.”“I do!” Kieran sounded offended. “You should be proud of her. Hart requested her presence personally at the Drake coronation.”I closed my eyes briefly. We were doomed.“You went to a vampire ceremony?” Grandpa asked evenly.“He didn’t know?” Kieran asked.“No, he didn’t.”“Sorry.”Grandpa vibrated with rage. “I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my family!”“It’s different now,” Kieran tried to assuage him. “I’m dating Solange Drake. They’re a good family.”Grandpa went red, then purple. Kieran took a step back. I whacked Grandpa between the shoulder blades.“Grandpa, breathe!”

“Okay, listen up, people,” Kieran raised his voice so that it was all gravelly and impressive. I wasn’t particularly impressed since we’d grown up together and I’d force-fed him mud pies when we were little, but it seemed to work on everyone else. Lia actually sighed.Only a thirteen-year-old vampire hunter would get a crush in the middle of a vampire attack.I was a little bit proud of her actually.----------------------His grin widened and he nudged my shoulder companionably. “I like you, kid.” (Quinn)I tried not to groan out loud. I was as bad as Lia.I had totally developed a crush during a vampire raid.”

“I nodded. “Where’s your hunter?” She flinched. “He went home. We thought it would be best.” Her eyes went from worried to warning. “He’s under Drake protection.” “So am I, or so I’ve been led to understand.”“Of course you are,” Lucy said, her nose pressed to the window. “Misunderstanding. No big deal.”Solange quirked a half smile. “You might try complete sentences, Lucy.”“Can’t. Busy.” I was curious despite myself. “What are you doing?” “Drooling,” Solange explained fondly.”

“Where is Nicholas?” Kieran asked.“He’s locked in a closet,” Lucy said with grim satisfaction. After a moment of stunned silence, Quinn snorted out a laugh.“You locked your boyfriend in a closet?” I asked.“Cool,” Chloe approved. The rhinestones on her earrings caught the blue lantern light.Lucy shrugged. “Serves him right. He locked me in there last week.""Chapter 11”