“He’s not a vampire. He is a Coletti warrior. Kaelen eats food just like the rest of us.” I hoped. It wasn’t like I had actually seen him eat.
His hand on his gun, Jake snapped, “He’s got fangs and he drinks blood. He’s a vampire!”
“The Coletti race must supplement their diet with a small amount of blood every month. If they have been injured, they need more,” Dad advised.
Shaking his head violently, Jake backed away. “Nope. Not doing it.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a wuss.”
There was a short, disbelieving silence, then Jaked barked, “Watch the attitude, officer.”
“Yes, sergeant.” I saluted him.
Whump. Whump. Whump.A Huey helicopter headed our way.
“Let’s see what Uncle Saul says,” I said.
Jake’s worried gaze fixed on the helicopter. “Quinn’s right, there will be a price to pay for their help.”
The horror of the Tai-Kok slaughter ship flashed across my mind. “I am willing to give them all my blood if that stops the carnage.”
Jake blew out a long breath. “Me too.”
The Huey landed in the parking lot of the abandoned Walmart and Uncle Saul jumped down. His gaze locked on Kaelen.
Kaelen licked Dad’s wrist and scanned the general as he walked toward us.“A formidable warrior.”
“Yes, he is,”I agreed.
Uncle Saul came to a stop.“Do you need a medic Battle Commander?”
“No.”
I rolled my eyes. Typical male. He could be missing a leg and he’d still insist he was okay. “He has three broken ribs. We gave him blood, and I used my healing talent on him.”
Uncle Saul studied Kaelen.“Zarek said for you to heal properly you will need blood for the next two weeks.”
“Dad and I will take care of that,”I interjected before Jake could protest.
Every inch a general, Uncle Saul gestured to the helicopter.“Zarek wants you to look at our star charts and we have a lot to discuss.”
“We do. I am very interested in examining the portal too.”
Dad sidled up to me. “He wants to see the portal, doesn’t he?”
“Yep.”
The emergency alert tone blared from the police radio and the dispatcher announced, “We have a food riot inside the Safeway store at Eighty-third and Cactus. I need units to respond.”
Dad keyed his mic. “Adam-30 and Adam-31 are responding. How many people are involved?”
“Thirty and shots have been fired,” the dispatcher answered.
Jake grabbed his mic. “David-20, show me en route.”
“Copy, David-20.”
Dad and I rushed back to the ATV. To my surprise, Uncle Saul and Kaelen climbed in the back of our four-wheeler.“You’re coming too?”
