"Well, I can't think of anything else we can do, brother. The wedding is in nine days time, and we can't move it any closer, because she'll still be underage then, which makes it all very complicated."
"I don't like this situation, Fergus. I can protect Rebecca, sure, but her family are vulnerable, especially when they're at work or school." Rebecca frowned.
"You're right. You're going to have to move them out of there. You'll have to come back for the wedding, unfortunately, but I could organise a family holiday in a nice isolated spot, where you can spot someone coming from a mile away."
"Sounds like a good idea. But I was thinking of staying here. We are going to have to confront these monsters eventually, and with her family safe out of the way, I'll be able to be more on the offensive than defensive. And I am very good at offensive."
"No need to tell me that, brother. I know exactly how offensive you can be." There was the sound of raucous laughter for a few seconds, as Fergus appreciated his own joke.
"I'm staying too," Rebecca said firmly when he finally stopped chuckling.
"Hello Hello there , little sister," Fergus sounded pleased that she was here.
"Hello Fergus," she said, blushing slightly. "I'm staying," she repeated, her jaw set stubbornly.
"That's a good idea, actually. Angus will be less savage with you around, plus he'll be able to keep an eye on you. We don't want you to kill all the vampires, Angus."
"Yes," interjected Marcus. "We've been trying for years to find some fellow iron metabolisers and here Angus wants to wipe them all out!" He humphed.
I smiled. They were probably right, but it was difficult for me to think rationally when there was a risk that Rebecca would be taken from me. I glanced at her again, at that beautiful face that radiated strength and innocence, and I knew I could never survive losing her. Lots of people wouldn't be able to survive me losing her.
"OK."
"Good. Later, brother." Fergus hung up.
I went and sat in my armchair. "You'll have to stay here. Or I can stay over at your place."
"I'll stay here. I can change at home or bring a few things over here. You have a spare wardrobe, oh, no, wait, that's a gun safe," she teased me, grinning. I grinned back.
We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, until someone knocked at the door. We both froze. I took a deep breath, sifting the air through my nose.
"It's Mark," I said. Rebecca sighed with relief. I went to open the door, and there was her brother with the kitten draped casually over one shoulder, apparently one of her favourite places to be.