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They were chatting about vampire dietary habits when they walked into the kitchen through the back door to find Dani and Uuka sitting at the kitchen table. The atmosphere was flirtatious. When Dani blushed before averting her gaze, Ash confirmed that her sister was interested in the attractive Therian.
From the arousal she scented, the feeling was mutual. Uuka didn’t turn away from the human until Chuki laughed.
“Ah, brother, there you are,” she teased. “It appears you’ve finally taken an interest in something other than those ridiculous American books you read like gospel.”
Ash’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re Christians?”
Uuka nodded. “Our clan lives isolated from humans, but it isn’t difficult to find a copy of the Bible, even for a Therian. I wanted to learn about your people, so I read it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover many philosophies I agreed with. Lacking a religion that resonated with me, I began to follow Jesus’ teachings.”
“The one thing Therians have always done right is religious freedom,” Chuki added. “When we noticed the change in him, the rest of us asked about it and he shared the Word with us. We have a lot of questions, but we all consider ourselves Christians.”
“That is fascinating. I don’t know if I can still go to church, but I’m game to do a trial run. We volunteered at the First Baptist soup kitchen all through high school. The choir alone is enough to move you.”
The siblings perked up at the mention of church and music. “Let’s make sure you don’t burst into flames on holy ground before we risk attending a service, okay? Your safety is the priority, but I know we would all love that experience.”
Ash grinned and gave her sister a lighthearted ribbing. “Since you skipped our second sparring practice, I can only assume you’ve been in here getting personal lessons on how to defend your body. You should be well rested. Can you arrange transportation for everyone over to the church? The soup kitchen is open until nine. They can meet Father Abell and I can slip away to test whether I burst into flames without an audience.”
Dani’s face got redder, and she looked down. The smile on her lips spoke to her embarrassment, guilt, and amusement at being caught flirting with Uuka. “Oh, shut it, hooker. I didn’t give you a hard time about Professor Hotpants.”
Ash laughed hard. “Yes, you did, and pretty much constantly. You lie like a rug.”
“Who is Professor Hotpants?” Chuki asked, tripping over the unfamiliar words.
Her tone indicated that she thought he might pose a threat to Ash. Hearing a dignified woman like Chuki utter the words “Professor Hotpants” sent Ash and Dani into wild giggles.
Gasping for air she didn’t need, Ash explained, “That’s Luca. When we met him, he was a professor at our local college.”
Chuki’s eyes widened, and she looked at Dani with newfound respect. She already liked the human woman. “You called the high king of the Therians…” She trailed off into silence and shook her head in wonder.
Dani’s renewed laughter made her glow, and Ash was struck by how alive Dani was. Ash had never met anyone half as full of life as Dani Byron.
“’Professor Hotpants’ was born of my genius. It was one of the nicer things we called him…to his face.” Enjoying showing the panthers a side of their king they hadn’t known existed, she continued. “If that shocks you, you’d have died when she called him ‘Professor Dickface.’
“It was short-lived, but they had a whole enemies-to-lovers story arc. He almost ran her over in the parking lot—not the best meet-cute. Then she waltzed into his class with a pair of giant steel lady balls and answered every one of his weird and obscure history questions. He offered her a teaching aide position that day.”
When Uuka looked at Dani with awe, Ash reminded herself that she needed to get her sister alone to talk about what was happening between them. Dani hadn’t been romantically interested in anyone for a while, and Ash couldn’t help the feeling that this might be more than a passing flirtation for her. The panthers had proven to be honorable and capable protectors. Dani couldn’t hope for a better man, and from the look on his face, Uuka was thinking along the same lines.
“As much fun as it is to stand around and tease you, I am going to take a shower. I don’t sweat anymore, but I got my ass handed to me enough times that I want to relax under the hot water,” Ash stated.
Dani looked relieved. “Some vampire you are.” She mouthed “Thank you” when the Therians weren’t looking at her.
“Hey!” Ash protested. “There’s a steep learning curve. A couple of weeks ago, I was human. It’s like getting your sea legs—it takes time. I’m still learning how I move and react.” She headed toward the bathroom.
“That’s a lot of words for ‘I suck,’” Dani called after her. “I love the church idea! I’ll see who wants to go and set up rides.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Timofey’s Home, Sunset, Friday, December 14, 2012
Like many small villages the world over with dwindling populations, the settlement in the valley near Timofey’s home had largely been forgotten by time and the rest of humanity. It was home to roughly a hundred souls, mostly farming families, who worked with each other. They had little use for the world outside their isolated valley, which provided everything they needed for their simple lives.
During his centuries of exile, Timofey had expanded his home from a single-room cabin to a meticulously maintained and self-sustaining miniature palace compound. The older man shunned social contact, but Maksim didn’t. They had everything they needed, but Maksim saw no reason to deny himself any creature comforts. He made regular trips to town for the few things he couldn’t make. He liked interacting with the villagers, and he’d made a few friends in town, though he rarely saw them. He shared very little of his life, but he absorbed their experiences and stories like a sponge.
While Maksim had not adopted his father’s disdain for other people, he’d been raised to enjoy solitude, and he was content with his life. His mother had taught him to weave, knit, and sew, but he found no joy in those things and preferred to purchase items from the village seamstress.
He picked up several pairs of socks and grabbed some reading material at the bookshop before going to the tavern. He planned to enjoy the superb local brew before returning home. The tavern owner’s ale far exceeded anything Maksim or Timofey could make.
Several people looked up to acknowledge his arrival when he entered the tavern. He knew everyone present except the stranger in the back corner, who was studying him with open interest. He took no offense. Strangers were unusual in the valley, and he was vain enough to admit that his height and muscular frame made him an attention-grabbing man. If for no other reason than people’s instinctive need to identify nearby dangers, they noticed him.
