“Um, actually the Tooth Fairy is real,” I remind her. “In fact, Mom says she’s our third cousin twice removed.”
Race turns to me. “And there she is, the Sunshine of my life,” he coos. “You’re looking particularly fine this evening.” He sniffs the air. “And you smell divine. What is that scent you’re wearing?”
“Eau du fairy.” I giggle, tossing my hair over my shoulder, feeling my cheeks flush with sudden heat. Mmm. Race Jameson is so hot. Sooo hot. With his razor-cut black hair and skintight leather pants and... those eyes. Those gorgeous, unnatural, glowing purple—
“Uh, yo, Mr. Rock Star,” my sister interrupts. “No vampire scenting my sister.”
Race’s blazing eyes dim instantly, as if someone turned off a light switch. He scowls. “Aw, come on, babe. I was just having a bit of fun.”
I shake myself, my warm glow fading like Race’s eyes, replaced by the itchy feeling of little creepy crawlies running up and down my arms. Is that what the vampire scent feels like? Yuck. I look up at Race. Okay, fine. He’s still hot. But at least I no longer have the undying urge to crawl across the table and sit in his lap. So that’s something.
“There is no fun to be had here,” Rayne assures him. “At least not with my dear twin. Besides, I thought you were cured of that kind of thing. You know, twelve steps and all that?”
“I’m taking it one day at time,” he growls in a throaty voice. “And hey, how do you know this is just a random blood grab, anyway? Maybe I want to make your sister my eternal blood mate. To spend every moment of my life wrapped in her loving arms...”
“You know, I should have just let you take a sip,” my sister says, shaking her head in disgust. “Her Holy Grail–tainted blood would have put you out of your misery for good.”
Race holds up his hands. “Okay, okay, fine. I promise. No drinking from your blood relatives. But you still haven’t told me why you’re here in Tokyo. And if you don’t, I’m going to assume you’re stalking me like the rabid fan girl you are.”
“Please. I’d rather stalk Justin Bieber.”
“Oh, dear little Justin Bieber,” Race croons. “If only I could get close enough to make him one of us. Tween girls for generations to come would forever be in my debt.”
Rayne rolls her eyes. “Okay, fine. We’re on the quest for the Holy Grail, if you must know.”
“Uh...” Race raises an eyebrow. “The cup of Christ? You think it’s here in Godzilla land?”
“It was stolen,” I pipe in. “And my friend Jayden here needs it.” I motion to Jayden, who’s been sitting, staring at the singer with awestruck eyes, which I’m hoping is due to the fact he’s never been in such close proximity to a rock God before and not Race vampire scenting him on the sly. Though can vampires even vampire scent other vampires? I still have no idea.
“You haven’t seen a group of Alpha flunkies hanging around the city, have you?” Rayne asks. “They’d be wearing red cloaks.”
Race shakes his head. “Sorry,” he says, actually sounding like he is, for once. “But I can keep an eye out for you.” His upper lip quirks into a half grin. “Give me your phone number and I’ll call you the second I hear anything.”
“Yeah, right. You’re not getting my digits that easy.”
Race puts on a hurt look again. “Oh, Rayney Day, you slay me.”
“If only it were that easy.”
I shake my head. They can banter all night. But Jayden looks like he’s going to pass out at any moment. “Look, Race,” I interject, “Jayden here is in desperate need for blood. We came here thinking there was some kind back-door Blood Bar here, but we’re totally striking out with the waiter. Can you help?”
Race grins. “Now, why didn’t you just say so?” he admonishes Rayne. “While the Holy Grail is out of even my illustrious, farreaching grasp, I can certainly hook you up with some blood. Just come back to my hotel room and I’ll—”
“Absolutely not.”
“Oh fine,” he pouts. “There’s a Blood Bar in this restaurant, yes. But it’s highly protected. And they’re not going to just let in any old vampire without going through the proper channels.” He scratches his head. “But let me see what I can do.” He rises from his seat and heads back over to the party table, whispering something to one of his companions. The girl, Japanese and utterly lovely, gives us a hard look, then shakes her head. Race whispers some more.
“It’s lucky we found him,” I observe, watching the scene.
“I could think of other words.”
I turn to my sister. “What is it with the two of you, anyway?”
“Nothing. I just find him pretty much the most annoying vampire to walk the face of the Earth.”
“But why? He seems so harmless.”
“Sunny, don’t be fooled. His bite is much worse than his bark.”
Race returns to our table. “Okay,” he says. “I talked to Suki. She says this Blood Bar’s velvet rope is the tightest in town. Only celebs and politicians even have a chance. But she thinks maybe she can score you a guest pass to the Harajuku Bite Club tomorrow night. Can you wait that long?”
The two of us look at Jayden. He nods weakly. “I think so,” he says.
“I guess we have no choice,” Rayne adds. “So what, we meet back here?”