The SUV's door shut with a firm click, sealing us inside the luxurious cocoon of leather seats and soft ambient lighting.
I adjusted my seatbelt, glancing over at Carmen, who was already leaning back with an air of effortless confidence, her eyes fixed on me. The corners of her lips quirked upward in that mischievous smile that always seemed to know more than she let on.
"Comfortable?" she asked, her voice low and warm.
"Comfortable enough," I replied, though my fingers were still nervously fiddling with the strap of my bag. The thought of leaving the city, of crossing into the vampire realm, made my stomach churn with a mix of excitement and unease. "This feels... surreal."
Carmen reached across the console, her fingers brushing mine before lacing them together. Her touch was steady, grounding. "It's just another road trip," she teased lightly. "Only the destination is a little more... unconventional."
I snorted. "A little?"