“I—” Her eyes dart toward the back room, and her voice is tense. “Can I help you?”

The mouthwatering aroma of fresh bread fills the entire shop. When I step toward the counter, the female vampire immediately moves backward, as if terrified of me.

“Do you need something?”

I blink slowly. “Yeah. Coffee, please.”

Relief is stark on her face. “Of course, yeah. Right away.”

Her hands are shaking as she reaches for a to-go cup, and my eyes fall on the bandage around her palm. ...