How to Kiss a Vampire novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Tea at My Table

My tool bag was by the door, six feet behind me.

I reached back without looking and pulled out my framing hammer.

It's a twenty-two-ounce steel hammer with a waffle face, and I have driven sixteen-penny nails through green lumber with it.

I held it down at my side where Eero's drawing could not see it.

Ragnar Krantz looked at the hammer and then at me.

He smiled.

"Mrs. Ostby let me in," he said. "She was kind enough to put the kettle on. Then she remembered she was tired and went home."

"She did not."

"She did. It's a small talent. I do not do it to children."

"I wouldn't hurt a hair on that boy's head," he said. "It's the opposite. He has been the only reason for any of this."

"Get out of my house."

"I'd like to finish my tea."

"You don't drink tea."

"No," he said. "But I've found it makes people comfortable."

I stepped between him and the door to Eero's room.

I did it without deciding to.

Ragnar saw that, and his pale eyes warmed.

"Good," he said softly. "That is what I wanted to see."

My arm was tight.

"What is?"

"What you'd do." He folded his big hands.

"You are a very hard woman to frighten, Ms. Solberg."

"It made things difficult four years ago. You would have fought me over the cradle."

I felt startled.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"No. That is the point."

"Speak plain," I said. "I put roofs on buildings. I don't do riddles."

"Plain, then." He sat back.

"Four years ago, you knew something that a human may not know."

"The law of the House is that such a person dies or forgets. I gave you a choice."

"What choice?"

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