I sighed and looked at him but he was silhouetted against the fire so I couldn’t see his face. “How long is this going to go on? I just want to go back to some semblance of a normal life.”

“Sara –”

“I know what you’re going to say. How normal can it be when I’m immortal and everyone else is not? Why can’t I have it for now at least until I have to leave?”

It was his turn to sigh. “That might have been possible before the vampire found you. You don’t know what they are like; once they decide they want something it’s like a predator scenting their prey. And you are the one that got away.”

I shivered at the image of being hunted like a deer. “The werewolves don’t think the vampires will enter their territory.”

“I hope they are right and I wish I could tell you that this will all go away but I won’t lie to you. I believe you are in danger here and I won’t leave you unprotected as long as that danger exists.”

And we were back to square one. I threw another stone at the water and got to my feet. “Just do me a favor and don’t act like every person you see is out to get me. It is possible that some boys might actually like me.”

“Ya znayu,” he muttered softly as I walked past him.

I slowed my steps. “Did you say something?”

“I said I’m sure they do.”

*     *     *

“Too bad the party got rained out,” Roland lamented, leaning back and stretching out his legs as far as he could. “It was just getting good.”

“At least you two got to have a few,” Peter groused as he focused on the wet road ahead.

Roland poked me with his elbow. “That’s right! Did I actually see you drinking?”

“I’ve had beer before. I’m not a saint or anything.”

On either side of me I heard snickering and Roland leaned toward me. “According to Samson you’re an angel. What did you say to that guy? He was like a lovesick puppy all night.”

My face grew hot and I shouldered Roland away. “I didn’t say anything to him. I mean we talked about music and whatever but that’s all.”

“Must have been some ‘whatever’,” Peter teased.

“Why? He didn’t think I was coming on to him did he?” I liked Samson, and I found him easier to talk to than most guys, but I hadn’t intended to lead him on. I admit there might even have been some interest on my part, but flirting had been the last thing on my mind tonight.

Roland chuckled. “No, and that’s probably what snared him. Samson’s used to chicks throwing themselves at him. He said he’s never met a girl who was ‘so real’. His words.”

“Oh God.” I covered my face with my hands.

“Hey look at the bright side. We’ll get in free to all their shows now.”

I elbowed Roland hard in the ribs. “Shut up!” I half shouted, half laughed at him.

“And just think if he gets famous you’ll already have your own bodyguards,” Peter gibed and my mood dampened at the mention of my Mohiri shadows. I wondered where they had gotten to. Chris had disappeared after Nikolas showed up and I hadn’t seen Nikolas much after our talk on the beach. But I knew he was there in the background even if he did give me space. There was no sign of a vehicle behind us so hopefully he had finally realized I was safe here.

“Where are we going anyway?” I asked, noticing for the first time that we were not headed to my place.

“Welllll,” Roland answered slowly. “Since Dylan’s bash was cut short, we thought we’d check out Dell’s party. It’s not that late and –”

The truck began to shudder violently and the tail started to slide sideways on the wet pavement. Peter cursed and gripped the wheel as he reduced speed and eased over to the shoulder of the road.

“What was that?” I exclaimed breathlessly.

“Feels like a tire blew out.” Roland jumped out into the rain and ran around the back of the truck then climbed inside again. “Yep, rear tire is shredded.” He groaned and waved at the rain hitting the hood like pellets. “Someone does not want us to party tonight.”

“Do you have a spare?” I asked him and he nodded. “Maybe you should wait till the rain lets up a bit. You’ll get drenched by the time you change the tire.”

We waited ten minutes for the rain to lessen before Roland reached for the door. “Looks like it’s not going to stop. Come on, Pete.”

They tossed their cell phones on the dashboard then hopped out of the truck. I slid over to follow Roland but he put up a hand to stop me. “No need for us all to get wet.”

Several minutes later he opened the passenger door again frowning. “We found the spare but no lug wrench.”

“You’re kidding,” I said as they climbed in, water dripping off them.

“We’re on Fell Road, less than half a mile from the turnoff,” Peter told me. “It’ll take me no time to run to my house and grab my mom’s car.”

I looked at the dark road which was obscured by a curtain of rain. “It’s cold and you’ll get soaked through. Can’t we call someone?”

He shook his head. “Dad and Uncle Brendan and Mom are in Portland and Aunt Judith is working.” He opened the door. “Don’t worry. I’m already soaked so getting a little wetter won’t make a difference.”