Page 82 of Fang Fiction

Joni [1:08 PM]: Needless to say, I am absolutely losing my shit

Joni [1:09 PM]: I really, really, really wish you were here

Chapter 20

“Callum.” Tess’s breath caught in her throat. “You’re—I mean, you look…”

He looked good, was how he looked. Healthy and strong, his color returned—well, what little of it he had to begin with—wearing faded jeans and a soft flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up over his forearms. It wasn’t just that he looked miraculously recovered…there was something else too. Maybe it was that, for the first time since Tess had met him, he looked genuinely happy.

“All better? That poultice was just the ticket.” He grinned again, then leaned close to murmur in Tess’s ear; his cool breath made the hairs on her neck prickle. “Thanks again for saving me.”

“Oh.” Tess’s heart raced; she was suddenly very aware that she’d spent the last twenty minutes rushing through the compound carrying three heavy books. She cleared her throat. “Good. I’m glad.”

“I want you to know…” He kept his voice low, so only she could hear it. “All the things you’ve told me over the past few days, I’ve been listening. So there’s something we need to do, all right?”

He looked at her meaningfully, then took her by the arm—her stomach instantly tightened.

“What?” she asked. “Where are we…”

“Trust me,” he assured her. But then she saw they were heading straight toward Tristan.

“Absolutely not,” Tess hissed. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

“You don’t need to talk,” he replied. “Just listen.”

“Well, well,” Tristan sneered when he saw them approaching. “Look who’s made it out of Callum’s bedroom. Tell me, Tess, is he as good as it says in the book?”

He waved his copy of Blood Feud and gave them a sickening grin.

“Tess and I have been talking. A lot.” Callum’s eyes glinted dangerously. “As a matter of fact, she’s told me some pretty interesting things about you.”

Tristan glared at Tess, his expression dark. “I don’t know what this human said—”

“Save it.” Callum put his hands on Tristan’s shoulders—a friendly gesture with a menacing effect. “She has no reason to lie, and I have no reason to disbelieve her. So what do you say you and I make a deal?”

“What deal?” Tristan growled.

“It’s simple.” Callum leaned closer to Tristan, bearing down on him. “You stay away from Tess, you get to live. But if anything happens to her—and I mean if anyone drinks one drop of blood, if she gets one cut, one bruise, at someone else’s hand—then I give you the most painful death I can imagine. And I have a very, very good imagination. So not only are you not going to touch her, and I mean ever—you’d better hope no one else does either. Because even if I see another vamp attack her with my own eyes, I’m still going to hold you accountable. We clear?”

Tristan glowered at Callum with seething hatred, but Tess knew he didn’t dare argue.

“Crystal,” he agreed, his voice oily and calm.

“Good.” Callum relaxed into an easy posture and released his grip on Tristan, affably clapping him on the shoulders. “Glad we got that sorted. Tess, you want something to eat?”

Tess nodded, feeling stunned, as she followed Callum toward the banquet table.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” She shook her head. “What if he comes after you? What if he comes after me?”

“Like to see him try,” Callum scoffed. “Little twat can’t fight worth a damn.”

“But, Callum—”

“Listen to me.” Callum whirled around to face Tess. “I can’t control what happens outside this compound. And I know how afraid you must be, with the bridge gone and all—if you want to leave this compound and hide somewhere, even from me, I’ll understand. But if you choose to stay here, I’ll do everything I can to protect you, okay? I promise.”

Tess felt a lump in her throat, a tightness in her chest—goddamn it, she was dangerously close to tears.

“What is it?” He looked worried. “What’s wrong?”