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Cat got up and gave Rodney a hearty buss on the lips. Bones laughed as he rose and pulled her back against him.
“That’s thanks enough for him, Kitten. You won’t get rid of him if you keep that up.”
Her blazing smile faded as she ran her hands over him. “You look awful, Bones. God, is raising a ghoul always so brutal?”
Bones exchanged a look with Rodney. Cat meant all the blood, but the real battle had been what she couldn’t see.
“Not normally,” Rodney said. “Just a pint usually does the trick, but your boy was cold for a long time, Cat. Frankly, I didn’t think this would work. You’re lucky Bones is so strong.”
“Iamlucky,” Cat said at once, smiling at Bones again.
“Hey, Crypt Keeper,” an annoying voice called out.
Bones turned. Tate had come back into the tent, an unwavering if defiant look on his face.
“I keep my word, so I’m here to say that I’m sorry for saying you were full of shit about raising Dave. In this case, I’m thrilled to be wrong. Since vampires are more about actions than words, however, you can have a swig at my expense.”
At that, Tate tugged down his collar and bared his neck.
Bones’s brows went up. Had a speck of honor, did he?
“You look like shit,” Tate went on, killing that flash of admiration. “Anybody ever tell you that you’re too pale?”
Bones chuckled as he approached Tate. “Once or twice, and since I’m knackered, I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Tate tilted his head. “Just don’t kiss me first.”
A speck of honoranda sense of humor. There might be hope for Tate yet…if Bones didn’t kill him first.
Bones bit Tate, fast and businesslike. It didn’t take much for him to feel better, now that he wasn’t channeling all his energy into Dave.
“Apology accepted,” he said when he was finished. Then, he turned to Cat. “We don’t want to keep your friend waiting, Kitten. He has a lot to learn. Rodney,” he clapped his mate on the back. “Your help was greatly appreciated, but I know you want to go. Thanks again, and I’ll ring you in a few days.”
Cat hugged Rodney one more time before he left.
Once Rodney was gone, Cat gave Bones a wry smile. “We still have to deal with my mother. She’s been secluded at the compound this whole time, so she doesn’t know anything that’s happened since you were taken away in the capsule over a week ago.”
Bones smiled at the thought of Justina finding out that not only was he alive, he was also her new son-in-law. Would she faint or scream herself voiceless? Either would be amusing.
“Indeed, yes,” he said. “Can’t have your mum trying to kill me all the time, can we? But don’t fret,” he added as Cat’s smile fell. “She won’t be any harder than raising the dead.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Cat muttered, but her smile was back, and that was all Bones cared about.
The future would never be free from hardship, but with Cat at his side, he’d meet whatever challenges came-and beat them, too. Now that he had the woman he loved, there was nothing he couldn’t do.
Just ask the empty grave behind him.
THE END
