Chapter Fifty-Three

Drake.

The next morning Waverly woke to an empty bed.

By the position of the sun, she assumed that it was later than she meant to sleep. Being a lightweight meant alcohol knocked her out easily, and kept her down. Not that she was complaining.

After the events leading up to that day, she would rather sleep the day away than face off with vampires who didn’t want her there.

She groaned, turned over, and focused on the cracked bedroom door. She wasn't sure she wanted to move. Her body was warm and snug in her bed. If only Drake was there to hold her like the child she currently felt like.

Laughter spilled over from the hallway with the smell of food wafting inward.

Nothing got Waverly out of bed quicker than the promise of a good breakfast. Plus, since Barbie was here it meant they had a greater chance of having a true breakfast. Not donuts from the gas station down the road.

She pushed the covers from her feet and patted along the floor toward the kitchen.

She was right. Barbie stood in the kitchen frying bacon while chatting with Sarah who nursed a cup of coffee.

Sarah’s gaze shifted toward mine. “Real coffee,” she said, pointing toward the pot.

“Thank goodness.”

Barbie chuckled. “I remember how much I loved coffee before the change,” she said dramatically but laughed. “Though it's changed drastically since I drank it. Go on, get you a cup.”

Waverly pulled down a mug from the cabinet and poured herself a cup. Turning around to face Barbie, she looked at the scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits on the stove.

“Yum,” Waverly said. “Do you need any help?”

“Heck no, you sit down with Sarah and enjoy your coffee. The boys went out to meet with Beau. They were whispering when they left so I don’t have any tea to give you girls. Turns out that whispering vampires are much lower than whispering humans."

Sarah smiled over her coffee mug as Waverly sat down.

Waverly could tell that Sarah had something to tell her but wasn’t going to say it in front of Barbie.

Barbie took the last of the bacon out of the skillet and placed it on a plate of paper towels to drain. “Breakfast is served.”

Waverly grabbed an empty plate from the table. “Thank you, Barbie. This smells delicious.”

She chuckled. “You’re welcome. I remember cooking for the boys before everything. I miss those days. Now all I can do is warm them up some blood. What a change.”

Waverly gathered her food, sat down, and began to eat.

Sarah did the same.

Barbie slid in beside Waverly. “Y’all fuel up. I believe we’re practicing today. What fun. I haven’t had any action in decades.”

Waverly glanced at the excitement on her face. “You’ve been in fights before?”

She chuckled. “I have. Sometimes, despite our age and maturity, vampires do not get along. Especially when it comes to humans.”

Sarah swallowed her bite. “I hope you’re for us.”

Barbie tipped her coffee mug toward Sarah. “Absolutely. I miss being human most days. The emotion and the hardships that come with humans build character. Vampires have it easier being predators that are stronger than human predators. I missed taking care of my babies the most. The warmth I felt while holding the little monsters.”

Waverly felt a roll of nausea at the thought of not having kids. They hadn’t been on her radar until she knew she couldn’t have them.

Biting her lip, she felt Barbie reach over and touch her hand. “You can always adopt, Sweet Girl. So many kids are in need of a mother and a father, because despite my own husband, I'm adamant that kids need both. Drake would be a great father. I think that is one of the many reasons he resented his father so much the older he got. He realized he took away his ability to have a family.”

Waverly understood that.

It wasn’t his gift to take away. She'd feel the exact same way.

“Speaking of,” Sarah said, “have you heard from him again?”

Barbie’s face fell. “Yeah, he’s called a few times since yesterday.”

Waverly and Sarah exchanged looks. “Is that normal?” she asked.

“No,” she said, moving the liquid in her mug around.

Sarah dropped her gaze to her plate and continued eating while Waverly couldn’t stop herself. “No offense, I don’t want to step over my boundaries, but isn’t that a red flag?”

Barbie chuckled. “Call me a matador,” she joked. “Yes, it is. I think he knows I’m not at my sister’s house.”

Waverly shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “That means he knows you’re here with your boys?”

“Most likely, or if he doesn't know, he'll find out."

“That doesn’t scare you?” she asked. "Shouldn't you be preparing the camp?"

Barbie nodded. “It does, but not for me. I’m not afraid of my husband. I’m afraid for you girls. I don’t know who he is going to bring with him.”

“The royals?” Sarah asked, dropping her fork to her plate.

“Possibly.”

“Shouldn’t you tell the boys?” Waverly asked, panic clawing at her throat. She didn't understand her nonchalance in the situation.

Barbie glanced at the door, a distant look on her face before she nodded. “Yeah, I do need to tell them.” She stood up, tucked her hair behind her ear, and let out a shaky breath. “I’ll be back.”

Waverly watched her walk outside.

“They are sending someone to check on their dad today,” Sarah said in a whisper. “Now we know we’re not the only ones worried about him showing up.”

Waverly took a bite of her food. “Do you think she’s really telling them? She was so laid back during that conversation."

Sarah glanced over, and they both stood up and rushed toward the front window. Barbie walked slowly toward the group of vampires in the courtyard. “Looks like she’s going to tell them,” Sarah whispered.

“You thought she wouldn’t?” Waverly asked.

She shrugged and pulled back to look at Waverly. “Sometimes I get the feeling that she knows her husband is going to show up.”

Waverly tucked her thumbnail into the corner of her mouth and chewed on it. “You think she’s setting us up?”

“Not necessarily,” she said. “I think she hopes that he doesn’t show up, but thinks he might. I think she likes us. I mean,” Sarah walked back toward the table, “what’s not to like?”

Waverly followed her and sat down to finish her breakfast. There was no need to stress over it. The stress would only add to the amount she held inside.

After they finished, she dressed and found herself outside looking for Drake. They were practicing in the middle of the yard, and most of the vampires watched as two of them went head-to-head.

Drake noticed her and met her halfway. She couldn’t help but notice the vampire that Drake fought staring daggers at her. He may have agreed not to harm them but clearly hadn’t forgiven the fact that his brother was dead.

“Hey,” Drake said, stopping in front of her.

Waverly ignored the stare and looked for his mother. “Have you talked to your mother today?” she asked.

“Earlier,” Drake said, tilting his head in confusion. “Why?”

Waverly nibbled her lip. “Where is she?”

Drake glanced over his shoulder, finding her in the midst of the group before she could. “Over there beside Scotty. What’s the matter?”

“She thinks your dad is coming here. She didn’t tell you?”

Drake shook his head and made eye contact with Roderick across the way. “No, unless she told Roderick.”

“She told you that?”

“We asked about him calling, and yeah, she told us she thought he was calling too much.”

Drake lowered his hand to Waverly’s back and ushered her over toward Roderick.

But they didn’t make it before someone screamed in the near distance.

Chills raked down her spine.

A female vampire ran into the yard in the blink of an eye, and Waverly gasped at what chased closely behind her.

“What in the hell is that?” she whispered.

Drake stepped in front of her. “A hellhound.”