Chapter 22

Mortifying shame had been Beth's initial reaction when she woke up. But it eased because Mick was there, comfortably handing her hot tea, seeking her reaction to having been vampire for a night. Had she really worn nothing but a black slip under her raincoat to Mick's house with the intent of seducing him? Not that that plan had worked out too well, either.

He had put her under a cold shower! No guessing as to his intentions for he obviously had none. Yet she was so sure last night of his interest and her power. What had gone wrong? If she didn't know better, he had acted almost paternal. No, it had to be something else.

Mick seemed once again friendly but detached. At least he was back to treating her like a colleague. And later that night she returned the favor, calling to warn him about the imminent warehouse bust.

Lola was dead, thanks to Mick. He went to go tell Josef and she had gone home to Josh.

Yet looking into the mirror last night, she felt subtly changed by the black crystal; there was a new awareness. She had been rejected by Mick, still with the way he had handled it, somehow her confidence as a woman had been intensified by this glimpse into herself.

And she liked it.