"Jayden could come to j.a.pan," I reply automatically. "This way if we find the Grail, he can just drink the blood right away, instead of you having to FedEx it back across the world. 'Cause imagine if it got lost in the mail! That would be-"

"Sunny, look at him," Magnus interrupts, pointing to my friend, who's currently leaning up against the limo. "Does he look in any shape to travel to the front lines of a supernatural war?"

I reluctantly look over, realizing he's right. Jayden looks frail and sick, with hollow eyes and trembling hands. He needs to stay somewhere safe and comfortable if he has any chance of surviving all of this. And I need to stay with him to keep supplying him with my blood. Which offers Magnus the perfect excuse to keep me here and out of harm's way.

"Don't think I don't see what you're doing," I growl. "But fine. I guess I've got no choice. I'll stay with Jayden and give him his transfusions. But you'd better stay on the ball out there in j.a.pan," I add. "Don't get so caught up in the war that you forget about me and the Grail."

Magnus sighs, suddenly looking weary. "When are you going to learn to trust me, Sunny?"

"I do trust you. It's just-"

He gives me a pointed look.

"Look, I know you love me," I try to explain. "But I also know how loyal you are to the Blood Coven. And I'm totally cool with that, really. I want you to be able to protect your people and all. But sometimes- I wonder. If push came to shove..."

"Yes...?" He's going to force me to spit it out. "Would you pick me over the Consortium? If Pyrus handed you a direct order, I mean."

He groans. "Why do you do this to me, Sunny?" "That's not exactly an answer."

His eyes narrow. "What do you want me to say? That I'd choose you? No matter what? That's a little immature, don't you think?"

I can feel my hackles rise. "Well, no offense, dude, but let's just say you don't exactly have the best track record. In fact, you outright dismissed me when I tried to warn you about Jane back in Vegas. h.e.l.l, you were too busy being the Consortium's lap dog to even consider the fact that I might be on to something. So, sorry for wanting a little rea.s.surance this time around."

"Yes, I was wrong. You were right. And I apologized for that. Many times, in fact. And you said you forgave me," he reminds me bitterly. "Which, from what I understand about forgiveness, means you're no longer able to hold the incident over my head every time you don't get your own way."

"My own way?" I repeat, fury burning inside me now. "You think that's what this is about? You think I want to be stuck here, in some creepy vampire holiday house, draining my blood daily to help a sick vampire, all the while wondering if my boyfriend is dead or alive? Please. I'd much rather be back in Vegas, playing field hockey with my new friends, enjoying a normal, everyday life. But I've put normalcy on hold. All because of you. Which is fine- I'm totally cool with doing that. But I want the same in return."

"Oh, right. Because my life is never disrupted because of you," Magnus retorts sarcastically. "Let me tell you, I had a jolly Carnival Cruise holiday scouring the globe after I found out you'd been kidnapped by fairies. Oh and filing that report to the coven, letting them know I was keeping a sick, unlicensed, possibly dangerous vampire alive because my girlfriend had feelings for him? That was a b.l.o.o.d.y picnic, let me tell you. Not to mention getting written up by Pyrus for disobeying their orders to head directly to j.a.pan..." He yanks at his ponytail, freeing his hair. "Yes, you've got it all figured out, Sunny. I'm a b.l.o.o.d.y selfish b.a.s.t.a.r.d and Pyrus's flunky and you're always getting screwed."

The raw anger in his voice cuts me like a knife- and his words are salt in the wound. I cringe. What was I thinking-challenging his loyalty? Sure, he's made mistakes. But it's not like I haven't, too.

"Look, Magnus, I-"

He waves me off. "Sunny, I promise I will do everything in my power to find the Grail and save Jayden's life. But please-try to see the bigger picture here. You want to save one vampire. I'm trying to save the entire vampire race. Don't put me in the position where I have to choose between the two."

"I know, I know!" I cry, guilt wracking my insides. "I'm sorry. I know you're dealing with a lot. And I do trust you. I swear."

But my boyfriend just looks at me with sad eyes. "I don't think you do," he says softly. "You want to, but you can't. You say you've forgiven me. But you still resent me, deep inside. And that's a problem."

I feel the tears welling in my eyes. "But I-"

He shakes his head. "We're going to talk about this when I return, okay?" he says. "Because if you really can't trust me... If you truly believe I don't have your best interests at heart..." He swallows hard. "Well, I don't know if any of this is going to work."

I look up at him, horrified beyond belief. Did he just imply what I think he did? Oh G.o.d, I didn't mean... My heart starts slamming in my chest. "Magnus-"

But my words are cut off as the chauffeur rolls down the back window. "Sorry to interrupt, m'lord," he says. "Your plane is scheduled to leave within the hour."

"Right." Magnus purses his lips and then turns to me. "I need to give Tanner some instructions. I suggest you go in and find your accommodations. I'll be in touch as soon as I can."

His cold voice makes me shiver. I want to say a million things-to apologize a million times-but I know it's not the time or place and I don't want to make things more difficult than I've already made them. "Okay," I croak. "Can I just get a-"

But he's already out of the limo before I can finish my request for a hug good-bye. Maybe it's for the best. I'm not sure, if I had him in my arms right now, whether I'd be strong enough to let him go.

So instead I reluctantly step out of the limo and into the chilly, predawn air. Jayden bounds over to me, his face still pale, but his eyes alight with excitement. "Sunny, have you seen this place?" he asks, his voice full of wonder. "It's amazing. Like something out of a fairy tale. I've never seen anything like it. I wonder when it was built. I mean, we don't have anything this old in Vegas."

"Please. Even I'm older than Las Vegas," scoffs an approaching female voice.

I look up, my eyes widening as three vampire- supermodel types strut out the front door and down the steps, regarding Jayden with hungry eyes. They stop in front of him, fanning out in a semicircle. There's a blonde, a redhead, and a brunette. All beautiful. All appearing to be about seventeen. But probably more like seventeen hundred.

"Who are you, handsome?" queries the redhead in a Northern English accent. Her otherworldly blue eyes give Jayden a slow, sultry once-over. As if he's a steak dinner she'd love to devour. "And what brings you to Vampire Manor?"

7.

Jayden takes a hesitant step back as the three vampire girls circle him like hungry hyenas.

"Um, I'm Jayden," he stammers. "I'm, um, new."

The girls exchange amused glances and giggle. "Fresh blood," coos the brunette. "How lovely."

Jayden throws a worried look in my direction and I try to break in to save him, but the girls manage to complete their circle, locking their arms around my friend and effectively shutting me out.

"I'm Elizabeth," introduces the redhead. "And this here is Katie and Susan." The other two girls bob in refined greeting. They look like Serena and Blair from Gossip Girl, but their mannerisms scream Victorian England. So I'm placing them at about 160 years old, give or take.

"We're from the Lakes District up north," explains Katie.

"Lakes District?" Jayden repeats, staring at her, as if mesmerized. I frown. Could vampires use their vampire scents on other vampires? 'Cause I gotta admit, he looks completely smitten by all three of them right about now. A look, I might add, he usually reserves for me.

Not that I'm jealous or anything. I just don't think it's a great idea for a sick vampire like Jayden to be looking to hook up right now. He's got bigger things to worry about-like concentrating on his recovery. Not to mention keeping me company in this G.o.dforsaken place until Magnus comes back.

"Have you never been to the Lakes District? It's a beautiful place, but dreadfully dull in the winter," Susan explains. "So we come down here for an extended holiday from time to time."

"Our dear Maker, Professor Lucedio, is the kindest vampire you'll ever meet in your life," adds Elizabeth. "He lets us stay anytime, free of charge." She turns to her friends. "And how lucky it is, girls, that we chose this weekend to come! Otherwise we might have missed our chance to meet Mr. Jayden altogether." The other two nod in excited agreement. I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you," Jayden replies politely, reaching out to shake all of their hands. This makes them giggle all over again. Not to mention bat their eyelashes and swish their hair. And here I thought vampires could afford to be a bit more subtle.

"What coven are you from?" Elizabeth purrs, sidling closer.

"Oh!" Jayden looks slightly taken aback by the question. "Well, I'm not from any coven, I guess," he stammers. "But Lord Magnus, from the Blood Coven, has been nice enough to take me under his wing until we've figured things out."

I scowl. Magnus was nice enough? Magnus wanted to put him down like a dog. I was the one who fought to get him here. Risked my relationship to try to save his life. But hey, name-drop my boyfriend all you want, I guess, if you think it'll impress the ladies. Forget all about poor old Sunny, who saved your life.

"Oh, Magnus!" the three girls squeal in unison. "We love Lord Magnus."

"He's so handsome!" "And so debonair."

"A former knight in shining armor-it doesn't get more romantic than that."

"Not to mention he's-"

"-MY boyfriend," I cut in curtly, pushing my way into the circle. The girls' excited faces twist into scowls.

"And who might you be?" sniffs Elizabeth.

"Oh, sorry!" Jayden looks at me sheepishly, as if he'd forgotten I'd been standing behind him the whole time. Maybe he had. "Um, girls, this is my good friend Sunny."

The three she-vampires attempt to stare me down with narrow, suspicious eyes. "You look... familiar," Susan states. "Why is that?"

"Wait-isn't she that vampire slayer we kicked out of the coven?" Katie asks. "You remember, that b.i.t.c.h who pulled out her stake after we tried to offer her some very expensive blood?"

"Yes, that's definitely her." The girls surround me menacingly, baring their fangs. "How dare you show your face here?"

I hold up my hands in protest, suddenly remembering the story my sister told me of her last trip to England. "Hold it. You can stop the lynch mob right there! That wasn't me. That was my sister, Rayne. We're twins. Well, on the outside anyway. I swear to you I have much better manners than her. Not to mention I'm not a slayer."

Susan purses her lips. "You're not a vampire either."

"Sunny's a fairy!" Jayden chimes in, oh so helpfully.

Great. Here we go.

The girls' eyes widen with interest. Susan grabs my arm and starts sniffing me. Ew. I take a hasty step backward, ripping my arm from her grasp. "Do you mind?"

"Yup. I thought I smelled something," Susan affirms, wrinkling her annoyingly perky little nose. "Pixie sweat. Smells just like rotten nectar."

Ooh, that does it. "Look, I'm no freaking pixie, okay?" I say, lifting my chin haughtily. "I'm Princess Sunshine of the Sidhe Light Court. My mother is queen and I'm next in line for the throne, if you must know."

Take that, vampire commoners. I pause, waiting for the respectful looks such a claim should ent.i.tle me to. But instead, the stupid girls burst into laughter. Hmm. So not the reaction I'd been hoping for.

"Well, la-di-da, ladies!" cries Elizabeth. "Who knew little old us would be blessed by a visit from actual royalty."

"Perhaps we should be bowing down to Her Majesty," adds Susan. "Paying our respects."

I can feel my face flame. Why did I have to go and say that? Stupid, Sunny. Way to try to fit in.

"Look, I'm not here on any fairy business," I attempt. "I'm just acting as Jayden's donor, that's all. But I expect a little..." I trail off, catching their faces, which are currently twisted in sudden disgust. "What?"

"Ew," Katie cries. "Are you serious?"

"You drink fairy blood?" Elizabeth asks, turning to Jayden. "Isn't it completely gross?"

"I tried deep-fried fairy blood at the Vampire World Fair a few years ago. It's so disgustingly sweet," adds Susan. "Not to mention completely fattening, what with all the nectar and c.r.a.p you lot consume."

"A friend of mine knows someone who knows someone who got addicted to the stuff. He grew to, like, three hundred pounds before he spontaneously combusted one day."

"Don't worry, Jayden," Elizabeth says, placing a comforting hand on my friend's shoulder. "We brought some great vintages from our blood cellar up north that we'd love to introduce you to."

"Wait 'til you taste a 1547 Henry the Eighth," adds Susan. "You'll never want to go back to that glorified pixie ripple again."

"Look," I interject. "I'll have you know that my blood is the only thing that-"

But a dark shadow looming behind the girls makes me clamp my mouth shut. I gulp. It's Dracula. Or, more precisely, the manor's proprietor, Professor Lucedio, who just happens to look exactly like the legendary count of old, complete with tuxedo and black cape. I remember meeting him the last time I was here and he doesn't look any less scary, even though Magnus a.s.sures me he's actually quite a marshmallow on the inside.

"Ladies, what is going on here?" he demands. "Don't you have anything better to do than bother my guests?"

The girls look at one another and t.i.tter. Then they look back up at their Maker with wide, overly innocent eyes. "Why, no, Professor," says Elizabeth. "We have nothing better to do at all."

"Unless someone were to let us borrow their sweet little Mini Cooper..." Susan adds.

The professor sighs and fishes out a set of keys from his cape's inner pocket and hands them to the girl.

"And your credit card?" Katie chimes in. No wonder they like coming to visit this guy. "You know, in case we need... gas?"

"Progeny," he mutters, rolling his eyes as he reaches for his wallet. He hands a black American Express card to Katie. "I'd better not see any charges from the Manolo Blahnik store this time," he scolds.

"No, Professor," the girls chime in unison. Though under Elizabeth's breath I can swear I hear, "I prefer Jimmy Choo anyway."

"Jayden, you want to come with us?" asks Susan. The three girls look at him hopefully.

He glances at me, then at the girls. "Um..."

"Now, girls, why don't you let our guest get himself settled in before you try to abscond with him," Professor Lucedio suggests, his voice leaving no room for argument. "He must be tired from his journey." He shoots Jayden a meaningful look, and thankfully my friend nods in agreement.

"Oh, fine," Elizabeth grumps. Then she winks at Jayden. "We'll see you later!" she says saucily before she and her friends skip over to the detached five-car garage at the far end of the driveway and pull open one of its doors.

"Be back before sunrise!" Professor Lucedio calls after to them. Then he turns back to us, shaking his head. "Sorry about that," he says. "They mean well. But they can be a bit much at times."

"That's one word for it," I say, watching them peel out of the driveway at a thousand miles an hour. I hope their holiday is over soon and they pack up and head back to the Northern wastelands ASAP. 'Cause bunking with these b.i.t.c.hes is so not going to be any fun.

I notice Jayden watching them go, a wistful expression on his face. Traitor.

A motor's roar behind me brings my attention back to the present. I turn, just in time to see our stretch limo pull away from the curb.

"Magnus!" I cry, dashing after it. I can't believe he just took off like that, without even saying good-bye. He must be more p.i.s.sed than I thought. My heart pounds in my chest as I run after the vehicle, my lungs seizing with exhaust. But it doesn't slow down, and soon I'm forced to stop, leaning over with my hands on my knees, trying to clear my throat. I feel a hand on my shoulder and whirl around, expecting it to be Jayden, come to comfort me. Instead, it's the professor, looking down at me with a concerned expression.

"He'll be fine," he a.s.sures me, mistaking my heartbreak for worry. "He's tough, that one. We fought side by side during the Werewolf Uprising of 1863. They called him the Biteproof Baron. Nothing could stop him from storming the wolves' lairs and rescuing the humans they'd trapped within."

I reluctantly allow the professor to lead me back to the house as I try to digest this new piece of Magnus's history that I knew nothing about. It should make me feel proud inside-my boyfriend, defender of the helpless. But instead it just reminds me of how much I don't know about him. Not to mention how many lifetimes he's lived without needing me by his side. I'm just a ripple in his endless pond of existence. And if he grows displeased with me, I'm sure he'll have no problem moving on, taking my crushed and broken heart along with him as he goes.

"Are you crying?" Jayden asks as we approach. "No!" I retort, angrily swiping my eyes with my sleeve. "I've got allergies, okay?"

"Oh. Right. Sorry." He hangs his head and stares down at the ground, which only serves to make me more miserable. What am I doing, resenting him for talking to girls? He has every right to make friends. Or girlfriends. I had my chance to be with him. I chose Magnus instead. And now I need to learn to live with my decision and let him move on.