“I have a job for you, Glenda.”
“Okay.”
“Find and make us something to eat.”
She frowned. “Why me? Because I’m the one with the boobs?”
“Fine. I’ll make us food and you go search the outer shed for anything we can use.”
She sighed, her expression softening. “I’ll take kitchen duty.”
She amused him. “Good. I eat a lot. We need our strength. The Vampires wouldn’t have touched the human’s food so there should be some in the pantry. We could be miles from anything. We’ll take some supplies when we go in case we’re out there all night. I’ll be right back.”
He walked out the back door and circled the shed. There didn’t seem to be any traps, and he had to snap the lock to gain entry. There wasn’t much inside except gardening tools.
His thoughts kept returning to Glenda. He’d overheard most of her conversation with the Vamp. She was some distant descendant of the master. The asshole seemed hell bent on forcing her to birth a daughter. It meant she’d remain in danger of being taken again as long as the bastard still lived. At first he hadn’t really cared what her future held. He’d planned to warn the other clans that they were at risk of being kidnapped the way he had been. They’d change security procedures to prevent it from happening.
But Glenda’s future bothered him now. It infuriated him, thinking about her being in danger. The master would change his plans once he realized he wouldn’t be getting his hands on a VampLycan again. He could decide to breed Glenda with a Lycan, then breed her child with another master Vampire, to get his so-called strong-blooded queen.
Just the thought of some Lycan rutting on Glenda had him snarling under his breath. He’d hunt the mangy mutt down, tear him apart, and make a rug out of the Lycan’s fur for Glenda to walk on in front of his fireplace.
Wood snapped and he looked down, realizing he’d broken the hoe he’d been trying to fashion a weapon from. He dropped it and reached up, rubbing the tense muscles along the back of his neck. He had actually pictured Glenda inside his cabin, his home.
It’s the blood exchange, he reasoned. It accounted for the possessive way he felt about her. He’d never heard of a mating bond forming by injecting blood into a couple. It should be temporary…but what if it wasn’t?
He closed his eyes, letting that possibility sink in. He would be mated to a human. He’d have to take her home to his clan.
She’d be treated badly as his mate, at best. He’d have to fight to keep her safe and protect her at all times from enforcers like Nabby. That mean bastard would kill her on sight. Hell, if Decker returned to power over their clan, he’d order Glenda killed, and every VampLycan in the clan would be forced to try to take her life. Decker hated everything human.
“Son of a bitch,” he snarled, opening his eyes.
All the scenarios played out in his mind. He’d have to track and kill the master Vampire. The nest he’d been taken to hadn’t held any of the Vamps who’d attacked and drugged him. It meant there might be a larger nest to deal with. It was possible that the old mine had just been a holding facility for their prisoners. He didn’t want Glenda in danger, but he also wasn’t about to leave her alone while he dealt with the problem. She wouldn’t be safe unless he was around to protect her. The only other option was…
Shit. I have to take her to my den.
He tried to imagine how she’d respond to being locked underground and left there while he hunted down the Vampires. She would probably try to escape—and that would leave her smack-dab in the middle of VampLycan territory. Best case, they’d capture her, wipe her mind, and send her home. The master would recapture her if Veso hadn’t killed him by then. Worst case, someone from his clan would kill her. It was a hell of a situation.
He left the shed after packing a few things that would help them survive in the woods and entered the house. The smell of beans and corned beef had his stomach rumbling. The sight of her cooking made him pause. She turned her head and smiled.
His dick stiffened. He wanted her more than food. Just from the simple domestic sight of his woman preparing him a meal.
“Whoever lived here really liked refried beans and corned beef hash. They were stockpiled. I used three cans of each,” she informed him. “I hope that’s enough.”
He managed to nod and set the wrapped bundle down next to the door, closing it behind him. She faced the two large pans she had cooking on the stove, stirring them with a wooden spoon. The urge to stalk closer and pull her into his arms surfaced. He resisted.
“Almost everything in the fridge is expired, including the milk. I hope you don’t mind beer, water, or soda. Those are your only drinking choices. Oh, and I found a shotgun. I didn’t touch it. I don’t know if it’s loaded or not.”
That got his attention off her ass. “Where?”
“In the pantry. It’s leaning up against the wall in there. How weird is that? There’s a box of shells on the floor next to it. That’s an odd place to keep a gun.”
He stomped over to the narrow door she’d pointed to and yanked it open. He leaned in and spotted the shotgun. He grabbed it and checked. “It’s loaded. The poor bastard never even got off a shell.”
He bent and scooped up the box of shells, studying the other shelves. There weren’t any spares. He carried the weapon and box to the small table, putting them down.
“What does that mean? What poor bastard?”
He found Glenda frowning at him. She turned off the flames under the pans.
“The owner of this cabin is dead. He either wasn’t able to reach his gun to shoot at the Vampires before they attacked or they caught him unaware before he knew he wasn’t alone anymore.”
“How do you know that?”
“That death smell I picked up? Someone is buried behind the cabin.”
She paled.
He regretted telling her but they were leaving soon. “I haven’t smelled any blood inside the cabin. They probably killed him outside. There wasn’t any damage to the doors but I doubt he locked them. It’s a remote location.”
She just stared at him.
“What?”
“You sound so cold. You’re saying a man died, yet you’re wearing his clothes and about to eat his food.”
“Life can be harsh. So can death. I didn’t kill him.”
“You suck.” She spun away and opened the cupboards, lifting out two plates. “That poor man.”
“Let’s just eat and get going or we might be recaptured. Those bastards already shot me with drugs once. I don’t want to give them the opportunity to do it again.”
That seemed to calm her. She dished out a huge plate of food and served him at the table. “What do you want to drink?”
It didn’t matter to him. “Whatever is cold. I don’t care.”
She yanked open the fridge and removed a soda, bringing it to him. She returned with a big spoon. “There you go.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad you at least know that word,” she muttered, stalking back to the stove to fix her own plate.
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“Don’t we both.” She came to the table with her plate and got another soda from the fridge, finally sitting across from him once she’d retrieved a second spoon. “It’s hot.”
He dug into the food, rather than lunging across the table to take her to the floor. He wanted her bad. His dick remained hard and the urge to strip her naked again was stronger than his desire to eat. He lifted the spoon and dug in, substituting one hunger for another.
“What’s next?”
“We pack some supplies and get going. It’s best if we put as much distance as we can between us and that nest. We still don’t know where the master sleeps.”
“You’re sure he wasn’t at the mine?”
“He would have come after us if he’d been there. I don’t think he was though. The truck they drove me in was gone. I’m guessing he took it. He’ll be close, since he needs to keep
control of his soldiers. I’m more worried about how many other Vampires are with him in the other location.”
“Aren’t they stronger if they stick together?”
It was a good question, proving to him that she was smart. “A lot of Vampires don’t trust soldiers. They do go crazy after a while and prove harder to control. They’ve been known to turn on their masters. Vamps will sleep apart from them during the day just as a security measure.”
She ate, seeming to ponder his words. He glanced at her repeatedly, not enjoying the hints of fear he spotted.
“It’s going to be fine. We’ll cover a lot of ground before night falls.”
“I’m going to slow you down.” She held his gaze. “It would be faster if you left me here, wouldn’t it?”
It would but the idea of her being in danger didn’t sit well. “No,” he lied. “Then I’d have to backtrack to get you before darkness when I did find a vehicle. There are socks in the bedroom. I want you to put a few pairs on your feet to protect them from the ground. We stick together.”
She looked relieved. “Okay.”
“I keep my word, Glenda. You helped get me out of that mine. I won’t leave you to die.” He motioned to the gun. “Have you ever fired one before?”
“No.”
He smothered a curse. “Never?”
“No. I never had the desire to own one. I was raised in a pretty decent neighborhood. I have deadbolts and live on the second story. I never thought Vampires were going to burst through the windows to come after me.”
“Fair enough.”
“Can I ask you something, Veso?”
“It hasn’t stopped you before. You’re very curious.”
“Do you blame me? This is all new. Can Vampires fly? Turn into bats?”
“No.”
“Good. So if I rent a place in a high-rise, like six or seven floors up, I’ll be safe from them reaching my windows, right? For future reference.”
“It would depend on the building.”
“What does that mean?”
“They can leap about ten feet with ease. Possibly fifteen, depending on the Vampire. It’s probably how they entered your apartment. Does this building you have in mind have balconies? They could leap from one to the next to climb higher.”
“I don’t know. I was just thinking I might want to move but I’ll have to see what I can afford. I don’t want to be kidnapped again.”
“Worry about that later. Let’s survive today.”
“I’m just thinking about the future.”
“Tall buildings won’t save you from Vampires, even if there are no balconies. They can control human minds and get your neighbors to allow them inside the building you live in. They’d be able to kick in your door to get to you or even tear through the wall of a unit next to yours. Does that answer your questions?”
She sighed and dropped her chin.
“What did I say?”
She looked up at him. “Did anyone ever call you a buzzkill?”
“No.”
“Well, I just did. You’re bumming me out.”
“I’m being honest. You’re in danger. That master isn’t going to just give up his plan until he’s forced to. He seemed crazy. You’ll need to go into hiding once you’re returned home or he’ll come after you again.”
The more he thought about his own words, the less likely he knew it would be that he could effectively wipe her mind. She wouldn’t be able to stay out of danger on her own if she couldn’t remember what she needed to hide from. He studied her sad expression. It just reaffirmed that he’d have to keep her safe until the master was dead.
But a little fear might keep her from trying to run away from him.
She bit her lower lip.
“I heard what he wants from you. He could breed you with a Lycan, then use your daughter to breed with a Vampire to get what I am. He’ll want to recover you. Breaking the treaty and entering VampLycan territory to drug me proves he’s insane.”
“What treaty?”
“Vampires have sworn to stay away from us.”
“Why?”
He held her gaze. “We’re bad news to anyone who fucks with us. Few are stupid enough to try.”
“Oh.” She took a few bites. “Why are you bad news?”
Her questions began to irritate him. “We got the best qualities from both Vampires and Lycans. We’re stronger, but without their weaknesses. Eat and stop talking. We don’t have a lot of time. I want to be long gone from here before nightfall.”
Glen ate as much as her stomach would allow then stood and walked to the sink, turning on the water.
“What are you doing?”
“Dishes.”
Veso snarled.
She looked at him. “What is your problem now?”
“Leave them.”
“No. It’s rude.”
“The owner is dead. He doesn’t care if we leave a mess. Go put on socks and find some spare clothing. Perhaps a jacket. I believe I saw a backpack in the corner of the bedroom. Put those things inside but leave room for food.”
She turned off the water. He was right. “Fine.”
“Hurry up. We’re out of here the moment I’m done eating.”
She fled into the bedroom and located the backpack. It wasn’t overly big. She packed a few extra pairs of socks, put three layers on her feet, and tried to find them each a spare set of clothing. There was a choice of jackets inside the closet. She found a lightweight one and shoved it inside. Lastly, she remembered to grab a roll of toilet paper. It might be a long day if they didn’t find another house soon with a working phone.
Veso had finished his food when she reentered the kitchen. He had stacked some cans of food and bottles of water on the counter. “I’ll be outside. Pack those.”
“Pack those,” she muttered, right after he left the cabin with the wrapped tarp he’d carried in earlier. “So bossy.”
She did what he’d asked though, and then walked out the door wearing the backpack. Veso waited, his gaze tracking her, his golden eyes shining. Overall, he might be scary, but she had to also admit he was attractive.
“Let’s go. We need to put distance between us and here.”
She jogged down the steps and toward the road. Veso walked quickly with his long legs, the tarp under one arm, the shotgun in his hand. He turned off the road in front of her, into the woods.
“Where are you going?”
He stopped and gazed back over his shoulder. “Do you want to make it easier for the Vampires to find us?”
“We’ll get lost if we leave the road.”
“It will make it more difficult for them to track us. Most Vamps are lazy bastards. I was in this area some years ago. There’s an abandoned mining town close and I believe that road will lead to it. Some of the buildings might be standing still, and that’s the first place the Vampires will look. I want to be where they aren’t hunting for us.”
“Buildings mean someone might live in them, and we need help.”
“I didn’t realize how remote this area is until I found an address inside that cabin. Humans are something we’ll want to avoid. The Vampires will have located where all of them are for feeding purposes and are probably in control of them. It means they’d try to capture us and hold us for the Vamps. Humans stick by roads—so we’re leaving it.”
“We won’t be stuck out here if we find someone with a car. They’ll have a cell phone too. Everyone does. We can call the police. You’re big. Even if they’ve bribed people to do bad things, you could just punch someone.”
Veso took a few steps in her direction but then stopped, scowling. “It’s not up for debate. You have no idea what you’re dealing with but I do. That nest looked pretty established to me, and they had time to add doors to make cells. It means they’ve been in the area for a while. Don’t make me carry you, Glenda. Follow me or I’ll toss you over my shoulder. What do you know about Vampires?”
“Not much.”
&nb
sp; “I know everything. I’d like to avoid being captured again. Those bastards are using drugs. Humans put us in danger, so it’s best to avoid all of them. We’re going to my people.”
“The police—”
“Are fucking useless against Vampires! They can be mind-controlled. Humans would hand you right over to that master. Now stop stalling and follow me. You either walk or I carry you. That would slow me down. Stick close.” He turned away, stalking into the woods.
“Damn,” Glenda hissed. She followed him though. No way did she want to be left alone on some dirt road in the middle of nowhere.
She put on the backpack and tried to ignore the fact that the socks made her feet hot. They did protect them from hurting as she walked over dirt and dry leaves. The trees grew thicker as they walked. One glance back assured her the cabin wasn’t within sight anymore, nor the road.
“He’s going to get us both lost,” she predicted aloud.
“Stop your complaining.”
“I just think this is a bad idea.”
“I don’t care what you think.”
“I figured that out already since you refuse to listen to anything I have to say.”
He came to an abrupt stop in front of her and she almost bumped into his back. He glared at her over his shoulder. “Can’t you be silent? Do you always feel the need to argue?”
“Only with jerks.”
His eyes narrowed. “At some point we’ll find a place to hunker down before the sun sets. We’ll be enclosed in a very small space to hide our heat signatures from the Vampires if they scatter and try to locate us. Remember that. You are slowing us down with your talking. Stop it and just walk.”
He turned his head forward and took off, increasing the pace.
Glen gritted her teeth and trudged after him. The heavy backpack didn’t help her mood but he carried whatever he’d taken from the shed under his arm and the shotgun, so she couldn’t complain that he’d made her the mule of their trek.
The terrain became rougher when they reached an area where trees had fallen over and a lot of debris had accumulated. It surprised her when Veso turned, helping her climb over and get through some of the worst of it.
“Landslide?”
“Flood,” he corrected. “Probably from when the snow melted at the end of winter.” He lifted his chin, seeming to study the sky. “I don’t see any indication of rain but I want out of this area. We need to reach higher ground.”