Books From Hale

“I don’t know where to start, Lily,” Darren said. “I really don’t.”

“Good job killing those vampires?” Leo offered.

Darren pointed at him. “Back off, Leonard. I won’t hit my own daughter, so you’re in very real danger of getting my emotional leakage here.”

“Huh?”

“Shut up,” Darren explained, “or I’ll kick your ass.”

“Oh,” Leo said.

Darren turned back to Lily. “You two have broken so many Laws the sheriff could throw you in prison for ten years.”

“Daddy—“

“No!” Darren yelled. “Just being out after dark could land you thirty days in jail. But actively seeking out and engaging members of the Legion? Holy hell, girl.”

“Well,” Leo said, “this isn’t the homecoming I expected.”

“What the hell did you expect, Leonard?” Darren asked.

“Daddy!” Lily yelled. “Shut up for one second, forget that I’m your daughter, and think about what you’re seeing here!” She held up both severed heads. “This is a vampire and a werewolf.”

Darren stared at the heads. He then looked at the heads in Leo’s hands. “How?”

“Careful planning,” Lily said, “and a little bit of luck. But how isn’t nearly as important as what. Sheriff Gifford was wrong. Vamps were living in these woods, Daddy. And we guessed right. It was three of them.”

“And a werewolf,” Darren said, awed.

“I don’t think so,” Lily said. “I think he was just in the area and they called him. It was luck that he was there and good preparation that Leo had loaded up some silver bullets.”

“The important thing, Darren,” Leo added, “is that Iveyton is safe again. We got em, sir.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Darren said.

Lily grinned. “You’re pissed off. I get that. But admit it. A little piece of you is pretty damn proud right now.”