The party was still going strong inside the house, music pulsing through the windows. Aurora slipped out onto the porch, her smile dazzling as she beckoned her target — some drunk guy who’d been following her around all night.

“Come on,” she teased, tilting her head toward the dark side yard. “I don’t bite.”

The guy grinned stupidly and followed. Aurora led him down the path, heels clicking softly against the pavement, until they reached the shadows at the edge of the yard.

“Wait here,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping sugar.

The boy barely had time to blink before a black-robed figure surged out of the dark.

Ghostface’s knife glinted, and the guy’s scream caught in his throat as Stu drove the blade in with wild, eager laughter.

Aurora didn’t flinch. She simply stepped back, crossing her arms, her eyes cool as she watched the life drain out of him.

Billy, maskless, appeared at her side, his breath hot against her ear. “God, you’re beautiful when you play them like that.” His hand brushed her hip as he steadied her, like she needed protecting from the sight. She shoved his hand away, though her lips curved in a dangerous smile. “Focus, Loomis. We don’t want to get sloppy.”

Stu yanked the knife free and glanced up, grinning beneath the mask. “Man, you two should just hook up already. The tension’s killing me more than the knife.”

Billy shot him a glare but didn’t move away from Aurora. His fingers lingered on the small of her back, his voice low and possessive.

“Don’t worry about him. You and me, we make the perfect team.”

Aurora’s eyes flicked between them — Stu dripping bloodlust, Billy dripping obsession — and for a moment she almost laughed. Perfect team, huh? We’ll see about that.