AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cora’s told me about the trip,” Marco told me. “I hadn’t considered you’d know the story from the other side. We should compare notes when we have more time.”
“How are things with Cora? Any issues now that you’re in closer proximity?” Coming together after a long-distance relationship is always a crapshoot, and these two had huge obstacles to overcome.
“We knew we’d have to deal with each other as Master Vampire and Alpha Werewolf. So far, we’ve worked everything political out without causing problems to our personal relationship. Two of her wolves picked a fight with one of my vampires, and we were both defensive over our people, but it turned out they’d all acted inappropriately. She punished her wolves, I punished my vampire, and we made sure to tell them to spread the word that the vampires and wolves are friends.” He sighed. “And that stupid will be punished.”
“Punished? I wasn’t called in.”
“I handled it. He was out of commission a few nights, and Cora assured me her wolves were out of commission a few days. She changed them back and forth from human to wolf a few times. It seemed quite painful.”
“I’ve seen it done. It is.”
“No one’s acted up enough for me to bring you in. Sorry, love.”
“No need to apologize. You’ve given me enough ways to feed.” I shrugged. “Draining Leesa in front of a few dozen of our people, letting them see me feed on her fear until she was a dried-out husk — we needed them afraid of me, and they are.”
He looked sad, and I wanted to take the look off his face. “I knew that being just another vampire wasn’t possible, Marco. I’m not just your Secundo, I’m your threat. It’s okay. I’m happy I can be of value.”
“It isn’t what I wanted for you.” He walked around the desk, pulled me into his arms, and hugged me. “You’re a scary bitch when you want to be. I’m sorry this seems to be your destiny, but I’m happy you’re by my side once again.”
Chapter 12
Etta
Ryan picked me up in a black BMW SUV. The leather seats felt like an expensive glove, and the interior was a combination of impressive and cozy.
“I like this. I’ll need to figure out what to buy if I’m going to learn to drive.”
“Once you have the basics down, I’ll help teach you.”
I started to turn him down, but I looked at his profile as he pulled out of our driveway and changed my mind. Spending time with him when we couldn’t kiss, when we were focused on other things, might not be the worst thing. “Thank you. Something tells me your lessons will prove valuable.”
He glanced at me and then back to the road. I had a sense he was aware of more than merely what was in front of us. It was as if he was aware of everything around us.
“I can help you decide what to buy, if you’d like. I rarely drive this — it’s flashy and people remember it. However, it also handles better than anything else in this size range. If there’s to be a hundred mile an hour chase, I can easily handle it with this.”
Conversation flowed during the drive across the city and up the mountain, when I once again became conscious of Ryan’s driving. The SUV glided around the mountain curves like magic, and the headlights sliced through the dark ahead of us. He slowed and pulled onto a narrow road, but I didn’t see the Homewood sign until after we’d turned. We rounded a sharp curve and came to a gate, which opened as we neared.
“Did you tell them what you’d be driving?”
“No.”
Which meant they had a way to see inside the vehicle. I sent my senses out and felt two owls.
“Avian sentries.”
“Yes,” he said.
“Are you rethinking your decision to come with me?”
“No.”
“I think I need more than a one-word answer.”
“I’m glad you want me here with you. I’m looking forward to seeing Kirsten and Cora again. Usually, when I’m here, I come uninvited. This will be a rare treat.”
“How often do you show up uninvited?”
“Not as often as I once did. I no longer worry that Cora or Kirsten will let power corrupt them. Their morals are better than mine, truth be told. My biggest concern is what Kirsten would do if something happens to Lauren. She once said she’d end the world to get her daughter back, if that’s what it took, and I believed her. I’d hate to have to kill my friend, but if Lauren is ever abducted, it may come to it, so I still show up unannounced often enough we both know I can do it, if necessary.”
