Aaron’s touch made her tingly, like it always did, but it also made her want to flinch away. She didn’t. Nor did she disagree with what they were saying. After they were done having their chuckle, she said, “Eventually, instinct kicks in. For me, anyway. I don’t really think about what I’m doing. It’s like I see the movements that I need to make laid out in front of me, and I just follow that path.”

“But what if the Vampire moves?” Ashley asked, clearly hanging on her every word.

“I anticipate that ahead of time. I see all the possibilities and create a contingency for each. Wherever they go,...