Covet (Clann)

her attention. And trust me, you don’t want that.”
    “I thought she was sleeping under a desert or something,” I said, wondering if maybe I should whisper. Half vamp or not, I was getting seriously creeped out. What was it about Lilith that could possibly make even the old and powerful vampires too scared to say her name?
    “She may be physically asleep, but she’s still always listening,” Gowin said. “Saying her name, even here, is the same as standing outside someone’s bedroom door and calling out to them. We’re all her children through the blood, and as such, she’s connected to us at all times. She has only to choose to wake up and she can be here in an instant in any form of her choosing.”
    Silence in the kitchen.
    Clearing his throat, Gowin glanced out the kitchen window and put on a smile. “But enough about her for now. What time does the sun set around here?”
    “Around eight or nine in the summer,” Dad said.
    Gowin checked the black sports watch at his wrist. “Plenty of time to see the local sights before our girl here has her first feeding. The drive in was quick and I didn’t see much, but it seems like you might have chosen a lovely town to settle down in.” He smiled at us. “I don’t suppose it would be okay for Savannah to give me a short tour? Maybe check out the downtown shopping area while we’re at it? I’m on the hunt for a particular little Queen Anne side table.”
    At my confused look, Dad said, “Gowin is a procurer of antique furnishings for some very illustrious clients.”
    Gowin smiled wider, and suddenly I had the impression of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. Warning rippled down my spine, reminding me yet again that Gowin was not what he seemed.
    Which meant his wanting me to give him a “short tour” of Jacksonville wasn’t going to really be about seeing the local sights.
    He was a council member. And he was obviously here to check up on me, and maybe even interrogate me, without my dad around for protection.
    After an awkward silence, Dad finally said, “Sure, why not? Savannah, do you mind giving him a quick tour?”
    “Uh, sure.” I tightened my cheek muscles, pulling the corners of my mouth up into a semblance of a smile.
    There was no point in trying to avoid this. If I didn’t agree, with one command Gowin could use his advantage as an older vamp to force my dad to go away.
    Might as well play along with the pretense of politeness as long as it lasted.
    We all got up from the table and headed for the door.
    In the foyer, I slipped my phone into my pocket, making sure Dad saw the movement.
    “I trust you will drive extra careful with a council member in the passenger seat,” Dad said, his smile tight.
    He knew I always drove carefully. So he must really be telling me not to forget who I was with and to watch every word that I said. I nodded to show I understood, and his smile seemed slightly less forced.
    Gowin laughed and opened the door. “Ah, Michael, you worry too much. Even if she does wreck us, we’re immortal, so we’ll recover…eventually!”
    Chuckling, Gowin stepped outside and led the way to my truck. After I got in and started the engine, I glanced back at the house. Dad was still on the porch, his casual pose of leaning against the carved posts failing to hide his underlying tension.
    “So where to?” I asked.
    “Oh I don’t know. How about the downtown shops to start?”
    “Okay.” We crossed the railroad tracks ten yards from my house then parked in front of the Jaycee Community Center across from the Tomato Bowl fifteen seconds later. “We’re here.”
    Gowin snorted. “You’re kidding.”
    “Nope. Want to get out and walk?” I didn’t like being cooped up in a vehicle with him and forced to pay attention to driving. It made it harder to focus on the conversation and choosing every word I said.
    He got out first, and I joined him on the sidewalk.
    He pointed at the Tomato Bowl, a brownstone open-air stadium with beautiful arches at the entrance, prominently situated on top of its hill. “Why is it called the Tomato Bowl?”
    His question confused me. I’d thought for sure he would immediately begin the interrogation. Maybe the stalling tactic was because we were still within hearing distance of Dad?
    “Um, Jacksonville used to be the tomato capital around here.” Of course I couldn’t remember even half of the local history taught to us in school, but I did my best to play along with the