I’m torn between calming him down and going to my brother. But I know that if I go to Killien, it will make things worse. So, I sit next to Jacob and place a hand on his knee. Whatever keeps my eyes away from my brother’s naked body seems like a good idea right now, since I can’t stop thinking about how delicious he looks. Jacob doesn’t push me away, but he looks at me like he’s really pissed.
“No one saw me,” Killien says calmly. “There are no cameras in the area. I’ve hunted there before many times.”
“But why did you make such a mess?” Jacob tries to get up but I stop him. Fortunately, he doesn’t insist. “We’re not supposed to leave evidence of our killings, Killien. This is serious.”
“They aren’t going to figure out it was a vampire, Jacob.” My brother’s tone shifts into something dark and threatening. A particular one I haven’t heard in a long time: condescending. The same he used on our parents during our last weeks at home.
“How are you so fucking sure?” Jacob looks at me as if he expects me to back him up.
There’s no way in hell I’m siding with you, darling . . .
“Wait, calm down,” I say. “The scene is way too bloody for the humans to even consider a vampire being responsible—”
Jacob cuts me off. “Even if they don’t figure that out, they could still come after your brother,honey!”
Ugh. If you call me honey like that again, I’ll cut your tongue out.
“They won’t, I promise,” Killien says. He stares at Jacob with repressed rage. Of course, I’m the only one who understands that look in his eyes. He’s really pissed, but I’m not sure why. I hope it’s jealousy, though.
“You better not drag Damien into your bullshit, Killien. Or, I swear to God, I’ll make your life miserable, understand?” Jacob threatens.
Oh, hell no.
Hell fucking no.
My eyes widen and light up immediately. He did not just threatenmybrother. I huff out a nervous laugh as rage coils up my spine like fire. The deranged smile on my face seems to take Jacob by surprise, because he moves away from me.
“What did you just say?” The corners of my mouth twitch.
“Let it go, Damien,” Killien sighs, as if he’s not bothered by the offense. But I am. Fuck, yes, I am.
“I understand that you’re upset—” I lick my lower lip to keep it from trembling. “I do, seriously. But you don’t get to come in here and threaten my brother. We’re in this together, and no one gets between us.No one.”
I can almost see the light in Jacob’s eyes fade away. My words don’t sit well with him, naturally. Not that I care in this moment. I’m fuming. He might be really handsome, and the best fuck I’ve had so far, but he’s not allowed to threaten Killien. I’m not letting anyone get in between us, no matter what.
Jacob stands and glares down at me. He’s hurt, yes. And I’m not sorry.
“You two are . . .” he hisses, but can’t seem to find the words to finish his sentence.
The urge to stab him is strong. I want to take out my pocketknife and put it to good use. It’s been a while since I fought someone, and this seems like the perfect moment to let my violent demons out to play. But I don’t let that happen, of course. I know that it won’t be worth it in the end, so I just stare back at him and say nothing.
“Whatever—” Jacob snaps, grabbing his car keys from the wooden kitchen table and storming out towards the driveway.The front door slams shut behind him, peeling paint and dust falling off the wall and popcorn ceilings as the house seems to shake from the impact.
He’s pissed, alright. So am I. And I’m not going to apologize when it was him who crossed a line.
“Shouldn’t you go after him?” Killien asks.
“No.” I lean back onto the cushions and cross my legs and arms. “He’ll come around. And if he doesn’t, then fuck him.”
Fifteen
Killien
The weight of what I did feels too heavy on my shoulders. It drags me down into a dark pit of my thoughts, and threatens to spiral out of control. Every time I look at Damien, I remember my encounter with Caleb and get chills. It was a mistake, and a terrible one, because now I want my brother even more than I did before. He’s magnetic, and the way he’s been acting since he woke me up screaming doesn’t help.
He pushed Jacob away and sided with me, which I wasn’t expecting. It’s true that Damien and I have always been close, and we’ve always stuck up for each other. We’ve been inseparable since before I can remember. But now that he seemsso into his new boyfriend, I thought he’d slowly drift away from me.
That’s not at all what he’s doing, though.
