Not wanting to get in the middle of it, he carried on unloading the blood. But kept them both in sight, not wanting to miss anything either.
“Our agreement with the VLCD prevents us from being killed just for existing.” Raph tapped his fingernails on the table, the sound loud in the suddenly quiet room. “I, for one, rather enjoy not having a target on my back. And not having to be on guard all the fucking time in case someone decides to kill us all while we sleep.” He stood, and Jesse saw Peter tense out of the corner of his eye. “There will always be some that know about us. Always. No matter how secretive we try to be. The VLCD doesn’t just protect the humans from being fed on.” He advanced on Peter until they were almost touching. “It protects us from would-be hunters. How can you not see that as a good thing?”
“At what cost though?” Peter hissed the words. “Forced to feed on microwaved blood. Tagged like animals.” He pulled his sleeve back, jabbing a finger at the ID bracelet he wore. “With these fucking things monitoring our every move?” He towered over Raph by a good four inches, but their coven leader was one of the strongest vampires Jesse had come across. With jet black hair, pale skin, and high cheekbones, his angelic features masked a monster inside if you forced him to unleash it.
“Weren’t you tired of all the killing?” Raph asked softly. “Didn’t you feel any guilt as you watched the life drain out of their eyes just so you could feed?”
Peter remained silent. And that was the crux of it right there. Jesse had seen him feed on humans, too many times to count.
Peter enjoyed it.
“You know,” Raph went on, still in that same soft tone. “If you object so much to the way our coven is run, there are plenty of covens out there who don’t have agreements with the VLCD.”
In other words, if you don’t like it, leave.
Jesse stopped what he was doing and stared, gaze flicking between the two of them. As far as he was aware, this was the first time Raph had suggested Peter find an alternative coven. For all his bitching about the way they did things these days, Jesse didn’t think Peter wanted to leave. He had too many friends here, and besides, some of the other covens had reputations that made Jesse sick to his stomach. Even Peter, with all his bravado and lust for blood, would be almost lamb-like in comparison. Jesse watched the emotions flicker across Peter’s face.
No... what he wants is this coven how it used to be, preferably with a new leader.
The thought of Peter in charge sent a shudder through him.
As the silence ventured into uncomfortable territory, Peter ran a hand through his blond hair. “Sorry, Raph.” He even managed to look apologetic. Jesse was impressed. “I’m tired and hungry and not thinking clearly. I’ve no wish to leave the coven, and I apologise for questioning coven rules.” He gave a slight bow of his head as a sign of respect, and Jesse wondered if he might mean it this time. Perhaps the thought of having to leave was enough of a kick up the arse to get him to behave?
Jesse hoped so.
“Apology accepted.” Raph smiled, then turned to Jesse. “Keep an eye out for Lys. Let me know immediately if there’s a problem.”
“Of course.” Jesse watched him walk out of the door, then finished putting the rest of the blood in the freezer.
“You want one?” he asked, turning to face Peter and opening the fridge at the same time.
Peter’s expression was hard to read, but he nodded, so Jesse grabbed two packs of blood and took them over to the microwave.
Artificially warmed blood didn’t have the same delicious edge to it as blood straight from the source, but Jesse would take it any day if it meant he didn’t have to kill anyone. Raph’s words had hit home, with Jesse anyway. He had been tired of all the killing, sick of the guilt that plagued him each time he fed. He wasn’t alone in feeling that way, and the majority of their coven had been relieved when an agreement was reached with the VLCD.
He glanced at his wrist while he waited for the microwave to finish, eyeing the tracking bracelet. Some rules were harder to accept than others, but it was a compromise Jesse would willingly make. The microwave dinged and Jesse turned to get two cups out of the cabinet behind him.
They drank in silence, Peter seeming to stare at nothing in particular, and Jesse watching the ever-lightening sky. Pulling his phone out, he frowned at the time. 4.42am. Hopefully Lys had left by now. Sunrise would be in a little over an hour. Plenty of time to get home, barring any problems with the roads, but unease crept into his belly and would stay there until she walked through the door.
Lys was his family. She reminded him a lot of the sister he’d lost years ago, before he became a vampire, and the thought of anything happening to her was unbearable.
“Are you seeing him again?” Peter’s voice broke through the silence.
Jesse had almost forgotten he was still there.
“Who?” he asked, not looking away from the window.
“The human you fucked tonight.”
That got his attention. His head snapped around and he narrowed his eyes at Peter. “What business is it of yours?”
Peter smirked, his confrontation with Raph seemingly forgotten as his confidence apparently returned. “I’m looking out for our coven. Wouldn’t want you to be taking any unnecessary risks, not when you can get all the sex you want without leaving the house.” He widened his stance, pushing his hips forward slightly, and despite his best efforts not to, Jesse couldn’t help but glance down at his crotch.
He looked away quickly, but Peter’s huff of laughter told him he’d noticed.
Fuck.
Standing, Jesse placed his empty mug in the sink and walked over to the window, putting some distance between them. “I might see him again, I haven’t decided.”I’m definitely seeing him again.“I know how to be discreet,” he added. “I would never jeopardise our coven by revealing myself.” Jesse wasn’t one of the ones they needed to worry about in that respect, and Peter knew it.
