Page 68 of Bound

“Yes. We only need to feed once or twice a month. A change like this would allow the Vampire Nation to come out of the shadows, hold regular jobs in the human world and lead normal lives.” Vlad affixed me with a hard stare. “We envy that of shapeshifters, how easily your kind can conceal yourselves among humans, live in their circles and enjoy the benefits of passing undetected. We have always had to resort to unsavory means in order to survive. I left that life behind because I was willing to die rather than live every day as a monster. We want the same things the shifters do—peace, prosperity, stability, hope. Tell me coming here wasn’t a fool’s errand.”

I cleared my throat. “The Blood Moon pack took me in when I’d done nothing to deserve it. I’d attacked and forcibly turned a human. By law, I should have been put to death. Instead, they gave me a second chance. I know I’m the newest member and probably my vote doesn’t count for much, but I would hope we would step up and do the right thing for anyone who needed aid, whether or not they happened to be shifters.”

I caught Brody’s eye from across the room. He nodded.

Turning to Vlad, he said, “You got a location?”

London tapped at her phone screen.

Brody opened the attachment, then swore. “West, coordinate with Phoenix and do it quietly. We’re going to need his help.”

* * *

We left Dark half an hour later. The rain had moved through, leaving the air heavy with high, wispy clouds that obscured the moon as we walked back towards our apartment building.

“I know you have concerns about Phoenix,” West began once the others were out of earshot.

“Damn straight.”

“The site’s in Austin. Planning an op this size in their territory without letting them know what’s about to happen would be problematic at best.”

“Do you honestly trust him?”

He slowed beneath one of the old-fashioned streetlights lining Main. “Do we have to do this?”

“You don’t believe me.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. But I’ve known Phoenix a lot longer than you have. That said, I understand why you two haven’t ever gotten along. If the situation were reversed,” he stepped into my space, tracing the bite mark he’d left at the inside of my wrist with a single finger and drawing a shiver up my spine, “I’d be so unspeakably jealous about every man who came before me that my wolf would probably be chewing his tail off. You’re mine, and I don’t like to think about anyone else having you.”

I gritted my teeth, wanting to tell him that this wasn’t about me staking my claim. That there was something wrong with the way Phoenix watched him, an obsession that went beyond territorial shifter jealousy. Caldwell leaned in, gently nipping the base of my throat.

“I’m yours. Only yours.”

I drew a breath, pushing him away. Caldwell’s eyes widened in surprise, followed quickly by hurt.

“I can’t keep doing this.”

He took a step back, face going blank. “What?”

“I saw the text August sent you.”

“Text—"

“Last night you came over after we got back from the meet in Austin. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night because I thought I got a text, but it turned out it was your phone, not mine.”

“So you just decided to go through my phone?”

“I saw my name and I kept reading. You’re not the one who gets to be pissed here.” My hands began to shake. “You want to explain the part where you asked your brother to mind wipe me?”

West froze. “That’s not… I didn’t.”

“I know what I saw.”

“And I’m telling you, that isn’t what happened. Call River right now if you don’t believe me. He basically told me to go fuck myself for even suggesting it.”

“So August just made that shit up?”

“What, now you’re calling me a liar?”