Edge of Night Read Online Free Page A

let Uncle Darren or Aunt Angela know you’re banging another vamp, that’s all I know. You will never hear the end of it. Ev-er .”
    Shooting the petite blonde a narrow-eyed glance, Erin felt her buzz fizzle out a bit. “Well, if I don’t tell them and you don’t tell them, they won’t find out, will they?”
    “So we hope.” Holly stepped forward and bent to smell the flowers. “On the other hand, are you sure you don’t want to date him? If a man sends you flowers for a shagfest, what might he do for a legitimate girlfriend?”
    “Yeah, I’m not even going to go there.” Erin shrugged that idea off, the memory of the one vamp she’d actually dated looming large in her mind. Asher Kondan. One of the biggest mistakes of her life. Maybe the biggest. “Remember Mr. Shagfest is a vampire? Remember how well a bloodsucking relationship went last time?”
    Her cousin waggled her eyebrows. “Apparently, you’re a really good lay.”
    “I am, thank you.” False modesty dripped from the words. “Also, keep in mind that Mr. Shagfest and I hooked up in the first place because we wanted no strings attached. I’d just shook loose a jackass ex and Luca was—and is—in love with Tess.”
    “Well, he had a shot with Tess when she was Normal, but she’s a wolf now. Wolves and vamps do not mix. Also, she hates his ass. Like with the fire of a thousand suns kind of hate.” Holly flapped a dismissive hand. “Everyone in the pack knows that.”
    “Yeah, but not being able to have someone doesn’t mean you don’t want them or love them.” Erin traced a finger around the top of a rose petal. “Besides, I still don’t want any strings attached, so there. I like my sex life just the way it is, thanks.”
    “All right,” her cousin relented. “Since he’s a bloodsucker, it’s probably for the best anyway.”
    Sad but true. Her werewolf family would not approve.
    Holly held up her cell phone. “Oh, before I forget, my calendar reminded me of something. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow, so you’ll be on your own.”
    “No problem. This is the new doctor, right?” Erin asked. “Over at Harborview?”
    “Yeah, she’s a Fae who just got hired at the Magickal ward. My last guy retired, and she’s replacing him. I hope she’s nice.”
    Like every other public service, from law enforcement to education, major hospitals had special branches for Magickals. “I hate going to the doctor.” Erin made a sympathetic noise while she fussed over her roses a little more. “Good luck.”
    Holly’s head popped up, her nostrils flaring. Her eyes went wolfish for a moment, and then her voice went telepathic. “You’d better hide the flowers. Aunt Angela just walked in the restaurant.”
    Speaking telepathically was a gift of only the vampire and werewolf races, and it was pretty convenient when her cousin had something to say that she needed kept private. Unfortunately, wolves and vamps couldn’t read minds, so the conversation was one-sided. Some other Magickal races could read minds, but couldn’t send thoughts. It was like they were universal receivers while the fanged races were universal transmitters. But you couldn’t have both gifts at the same time. Magic was weird like that.
    “How about we just lock my souvenirs in here?” Crowding her cousin out of the office, Erin was again amazed by how she towered over the pixie-sized werewolf. Appearances were deceiving, though. Holly could pick Erin up with one hand and throw her.
    Pirouetting, the blonde darted ahead of her, slowing to mere human speed when she hit the dining room full of Normals. And a couple of Magickals, including Angela. The older woman was already seated, but she stood, a beatific smile creasing her cheeks. She held her arms out. “Ah, look. It’s my two favorite nieces.”
    “Aren’t we her only nieces?” Holly projected a stage whisper as she strode across the room.
    “Well, we’re the only children of Angela and Darren’s only