Blake looked at Cate, waiting for her nod of approval before answering. “Yeah. Slowly though,” he added, and it broke Ian’s dead heart to know that his friends were afraid of him.
He sat down, noticing that Raph stayed leant against the wall by the door, giving them space.
No one spoke for what seemed like ages until Cate blurted out, “Fuck’s sake Ian. The first bloke you pick up in years and he turns out to be a sodding vampire.”
Ian couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of him.
“It’s not funny!Jesus.” She eyed him like he was crazy, but he continued to grin at her until eventually the corners of her mouth started to lift into the beginnings of a smile. “Don’t try and make me smile, I’m absolutely terrified right now.Oh my God, Ian.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” And he was. He never wanted anyone to be frightened of him, let alone Cate. “It’s just me, though, Cate.”
“A new suped-up version with fangs and super speed. Oh, and who now drinks blood.” She rolled her eyes. “Yep, same old you.”
He didn’t know what to say.
“How you feeling?” Blake asked, gaze dropping to Ian’s mouth. A month ago that look would have meant something entirely different. Now he knew Blake was checking for fangs.
“I’m not about to leap over the table and eat you, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He grinned, but one look at Cate’s horrified face told him his humour had fallen flat. “Shit, sorry. I guess it’s too early for jokes?”
“Way, way too early,” Cate muttered.
“Not gonna lie, Ian. This...” Blake waved a hand in Ian’s direction. “It’s going to take some getting used to.”
“For me too,” Ian answered honestly. “I wasn’t prepared for this either.”
Cate’s expression softened, and she went to reach out her hand but faltered.
Fuck, this was so hard.
“You seemed okay when we spoke on the phone,” he tried, because they’d both seemed far less bothered than they were now.
Cate sighed. “Well, you weren’t in the room with me then, and your life was in danger. I was too worried to think about anything else.”
Blake’s expression was more curious than afraid, his eyes darting all over as though trying to catalogue everything about Ian and check for differences. “What’s it like?” Curiosity had clearly overtaken any fear he felt.
“Being a vampire?”
Blake nodded. “Yeah. I mean I’ve read stuff, but you’re actually experiencing it for yourself.” He shook his head, a wry smile appearing. “Had to fucking one-up me and steal all the attention.”
Ian would gladly give it back if he could. “Sorry,” he offered. “You know how competitive I am.”
Blake huffed out a laugh, even Cate smirked, and although they were a long, long way from the best friends they used to be, Ian saw a glimmer of hope.
Maybe they could eventually get past this and rescue some semblance of their friendship. Ian didn’t care how long it took; he could be patient if it meant having them both in his life.
Watts appeared at the door, stopping any further conversation, and addressed Raph. “Sykes wants to see you.” He pointed at Ian. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on him.” Nodding at one of the guards on the door, he added, “Stewart, you escort Raphael down to the cells.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Well?” Jesse asked, eyebrow raised. “Is it true?”
Raph sat on a chair facing his cell, brow furrowed as he digested all Jesse had thrown at him, both of them studiously ignoring Peter’s comments on the topic. Jesse didn’t give a fuck what he had to say about anything anymore, and it seemed neither did Raph.
“Yes, it’s true, but those laws are old, Jesse. They haven’t been implemented in...” He held his arms out wide. “Got to be nearing well over a hundred years at least.”
“But can I still do it? Can I challenge Peter?” Jesse sat on the edge of the bed, practically vibrating with a mix of rage and nervous energy. He needed this. Needed to get revenge for everything Peter had done, everything he’d taken from not just Jesse but a fucking long list of people.
For Callum. And for Ian. Who’d both lost their lives because of Peter’s warped sense of entitlement.
