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be?”
    There were a million reasons that Henry should be worried about Joss. The danger of vampires. The risky missions. The price that Dorian had warned him had been placed on his head by Em. But Joss was fairly certain that Henry wasn’t worried at all. He was pretty convinced that Henry was angry. Because Joss had staked Vlad. And Henry’s mind had been clouded when he was turned into Vlad’s human slave.
    Joss met his cousin’s gaze. “Greg, I don’t think he’s worried about me, but I am worried about him. This Vlad kid—”
    â€œHold up. Vlad? You mean the kid who was your best pal for much of the last school year? The kid who’s been like a second little brother to me since day one? That Vlad?”
    Joss paused. He didn’t want to get Greg worked up or ticked off at him, too. So instead, he chose more gentle words. “You don’t have to get defensive. I just . . . Vlad’s not who you think he is, that’s all. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy or anything, I’m just saying . . .”
    What was he saying? Even he wasn’t sure. What he really wanted to do was to grab Greg by the shirt collar and scream into his face, “He’s a vampire, okay? Vladimir Tod is a dangerous creature that will bite you and suck the lifeblood from your veins!” But he didn’t. He remained calm. Even though it was killing him to do so.
    Greg uncrossed his arms at last and sighed. “Then what are you saying, Joss? Because if you know something that I don’t, if Vlad is getting mixed up in some bad stuff, I need to know. I can’t let my brother follow him down a bad path.”
    Or a dark one, thought Joss. Or an alley. Or anywhere that they might be alone, without witnesses to the horrors that Vlad was capable of. But he didn’t put voice to any of those thoughts. Instead, he said, “I’m just trying to help Henry see that maybe Vlad isn’t as good as he thinks he is, that’s all.”
    â€œThat’s all?” Greg’s posture relaxed, but he went back to shaking his head. “No wonder his eyes catch on fire like that. You’ve gotta be careful, Joss. Vlad’s been as close to Henry as a friend can get since they were kids. You’ve really gotta get a grip on your jealousy. Vlad is Henry’s friend, but you’re family.”
    Jealous? Is that what Greg thought? Joss wasn’t jealous of Vlad. He was merely trying to protect his cousin. But how could he make Greg understand any of that without exposing the existence of vampires and the Slayer Society? “That’s not what I—”
    â€œJoss. A word, if you please.”
    Joss turned his head at the familiar voice. A strange tension entered his body the moment his eyes met with that of the speaker’s. “Uncle Abraham. When did you get h—?”
    â€œA word.” Abraham’s eyes narrowed. In stark contrast to what Greg was wearing, Abraham donned his usual slacks, shirt, and vest. Over it, he wore a tweed jacket with patches on the elbows; he was looking very much like his cover story, a successful university professor. “If you don’t mind, Greg.”
    â€œNo problem, Uncle Abraham.” Greg looked back to Joss before walking away to rejoin the men by the grill. “Just remember what I said, kid. Jealousy isn’t healthy.”
    Joss couldn’t say anything to that. He wasn’t jealous. He was just trying to do a very important, very secret job.
    â€œWho are you jealous of, nephew? Greg? Henry? Either would be an apt choice. Both are physically adept, confident young men.” He cast Joss a sidelong glance. “Either would make a fine Slayer.”
    Joss wouldn’t allow himself to feel any of the barbs that his uncle might throw at him. He knew very well that his uncle hadn’t exactly been accepting of the notion that Joss was the next Slayer in his family