Redson

  “What is that in VampLycan terms?”

  “A teacher.” He wanted her to know he was good with kids. “All the adults pitch in to help our young learn survival skills. I have a workshop for furniture building, too, and I also work at the garage in town. I can fix anything with a motor.”

  “We can really get out of here?”

  “For a few hours. I want us back inside the den before darkness falls.”

  “I don’t think Eduardo is going to be able to find me. I stuck to my grandpa’s plan, except for having to bribe the bus driver to bring me to Howl. It was very detailed. We’ve had to flee before. We’re good at losing that prick when he’s tracking us.”

  “I’d rather be safe than sorry. Has he ever had the Vampire Council help him before?”

  “No. Good point. Okay, I can understand that. Nests are almost everywhere. Let’s go.” She almost lunged toward the exit.

  “Shoes, Emma.”

  She halted and looked down. “Oh. Right.” She grinned. “That would probably be a good idea, or I’ll end up over your shoulder again.”

  He almost regretted pointing out her lack of footwear. He wouldn’t mind carrying her. It would mean she remained close to him. She took a seat on his couch and put on the shoes that she’d stored under it. He left her there to shove on a pair of his boots. They weren’t needed; years of running barefoot had left his feet pretty resilient. But he wanted to give her a good impression. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to act as human as possible until she adjusted to life with him.

  She was waiting by the door when he reached her side. Her excitement showed on her face, and he realized how difficult being underground must be for her. Guilt struck but she was safer inside his den. He opened the door and took her hand, leading her up and outside. The expression of joy on her face when she saw the blue sky and breathed the fresh air had him silently promising to bring her out the following day. Vamps couldn’t come at her with the sun up.

  “Let’s stop by the river first. I need to hang the sheets to give them time to dry before dark.”

  “Right.” She closed her eyes.

  “What are you doing?”

  She opened her eyes and pointed. “It’s that way. I can hear the water.”

  Her hearing impressed him. A normal human wouldn’t have been able to do that. She wasn’t totally without some VampLycan traits. “You’re right.”

  “Grandpa makes me practice using my senses.”

  “What else does he have you do?”

  “I can fight. I’m not strong or fast enough to win if I have to duke it out with a Vamp, but I could put one down long enough to run.”

  He didn’t like the idea of her dealing with any kind of violence. “How?”

  Emma grinned. “You know, snap a Vampire’s neck or stab them in the heart if I have something handy to use. Beheading them is better, since they die, but that’s tough to do unless I have a sword or something similar. I can’t exactly walk around with one strapped to my body. He taught me how to incapacitate one, to give me the opportunity to run like hell. He also taught me how to mask my scent and hide my heat signature if I’m being tracked.”

  “You learned how to fight with a sword?”

  “Some of the older Vamps still use them. I’m skilled with one. I’m also decent with throwing knives. They’re easier to hide on my body, and not having physical contact is better if I can avoid it. I’m also familiar with guns and I’m a decent shot.”

  “It’s tough to kill a Vampire with bullets. You’d have to totally decapitate one with them.”

  “True but the trick is to blow enough holes in their head, throat, and heart. That bastard is going to be hurting and down for bit. It gives me time to get out of his hunting zone. Grandpa also taught me hand-to-hand combat, but as I said, I’m not good with that against a Vamp unless it’s a newly turned one. Mostly, I get my ass handed to me and I’m the one who goes down. I don’t heal as fast as my grandpa does, or you. But pain teaches me to win.”

  Anger filled Red, imagining anyone striking Emma. “He beats you?”

  She scowled. “You make it sound so bad. He just makes sure that I’m not a wimp. It might save my life if someone ever comes after me.”

  “By striking you?”

  She jerked her hand out of his and faced him. “Stop it. My grandpa isn’t a bad person. Do you know how most Vamps attack? They strike quickly. Boom!” She pushed hard against his chest. “They knock you down and are on you before you knew what happened. The victims are stunned, in pain, scared. They make eye contact with their attacker and guess what happens then? Yeah. Their mind is toast, and they’re lucky if they wake up alive with only a little blood loss. So yes, my grandpa has knocked me on my ass. He’s taken me down, and I know what to do when it happens. I don’t make eye contact. I attack when they least expect it. That gives me an advantage. I’m used to pain. It doesn’t confuse or stun me.”

  He was still furious but he didn’t want to upset her further. “I see.”

  She sighed. “It’s like you’re always looking for an excuse to hate him. I bet you don’t train your youth without knocking them around. It will save their lives if you hand them their asses from time to time, right?”

  He reluctantly nodded. She had a good point. “It keeps them from getting cocky and teaches them how to defend themselves better. To fight through the pain since their lives can depend on it.”

  “Exactly. That’s what my grandfather has done for me. I need every advantage I can get. He’s always been afraid something would happen to him. I’d be left on my own, adrift.”

  He saw the pain in her eyes. “What does that mean?”

  She eased her hands off his chest. “I’m not totally human. I have to hide what I am from them. But I’m too human to fit in with Vampires, Lycans, or VampLycans. See where this is going? Most VampLycans wouldn’t touch a human, so there probably aren’t many people like me. I’ve never personally met one. Nobody is going to accept me, from any race. If Grandpa dies, I’m a boat floating on an ocean without any safe place to dock, Red. I’m alone.”

  “No, you aren’t. My cousins are mated to women like you. Their father was human, their mother a VampLycan. You’re not a boat. I’ll introduce you to them when the time is right.”

  “When will that be?”

  “Not today. We don’t have that much time.”

  Chapter Eight

  Emma loved being outdoors. It was a beautiful day and Alaska held a lot of wonders. She’d never been there before and she’d slept most of the trip on the bus, missing the sights. Red stayed close, his hand brushing against hers as they walked to the river. She grinned, staring at the trees and the wide stretch of water that unfolded in front of her.

  Two large moose were in view downstream, drinking. “They’re bigger than I imagined.”

  Red followed her gaze as he took a seat, removed his boots, then stood again. “Those are fully grown. Just don’t wander far, Emma. There are dangers.”

  “Bears. I read that there are a lot of them here.”

  “Not many in this area. We chase them away to keep them from our homes.”

  She turned, gawking a little as Red removed his pants.

  He smiled, taking off his shirt. “What?”

  “Why are you naked?”

  “I have to go in for the sheets I weighed down. I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”

  That made sense. “Oh.”

  He turned his head in all directions, his gaze constantly moving. He also kept sniffing.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Seeking any danger to you. It’s clear. Just stay put. I’ll be right back.”

  “I won’t budge.”

  Red waded into the water and dove under the surface. It surprised Emma. “How deep did he bury those sheets?” She inched closer to the water, waiting. Long seconds passed, turning into a minute.

  Worry started to fray her nerves when Red’s wet head suddenly popped up and he sw
am toward her, dragging the sheets behind him.

  She tried to help him but he shook his head. “Stay there. Don’t get wet.”

  Emma backed away and watched as he wadded all the sheets together and kind of gave them a tight squeeze in his arms once he had them out of the river. He walked out of the water and placed the balled material on a rock. He shook his head, sending water flying.

  Cool drips landed on her and she laughed. “Jerk.”

  He grinned, using his hands to wipe water from his skin. “That’s not the kind of wet I like to make you.”

  He wasn’t like any human guys she’d known. His brash, bold sexual statements would take some time to adjust to. She wasn’t certain how to respond but she’d welcome his touch. That much she knew.

  He began to dress and she turned her attention across the river, spotting motion. Something moved in the shadow of the thickly grown trees. “Red!”

  He was at her side in an instant, with just his jeans on. “What? Oh…” He smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s just some of our youths. I told you they come here to swim.”

  Two big men who appeared to be about twenty stepped into the sunlight, free of the trees. They waved—and started to strip out of their clothes.

  Emma spun to give them her back, shocked. “They’re taking everything off.”

  Red grinned. “VampLycans aren’t shy about their bodies. Clothes would only hamper us when we swim.”

  “But I’m standing right here!” She refused to turn her head to peer at the duo again.

  “You’re with me, and word will have spread in the clan about who you are. They’ll view you as one of ours.”

  She bit her lower lip, confused.

  Red’s expression sobered. “Your mother was a VampLycan. You’re her daughter. It makes you clan.”

  That came as a surprise. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  She belonged somewhere? “But how?”

  “I didn’t know your mother was considered part of this clan once. Uncle Velder assured me that she was. That makes you clan too, Emma.”

  “So…I’m welcome here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does that mean no one would get upset if I came back in the future?”

  Anger instantly tensed his features. “Yes.”

  “But you have a problem with that?”

  “Why would you leave?”

  She hadn’t expected that response.

  Red stepped closer. “You know I want to bite you. I think you’re my mate, Emma.”

  She peered into his eyes. Was she ready to commit to him like that? It was tempting. Fear came next, though. He lived in Alaska with a VampLycan clan. He said they accepted her…but what if that wasn’t really true? She needed more time to make that decision. Mating would be for life. Considering how slow she aged, and the fact that mates shared blood, their union would last hundreds of years, or even longer.

  “What about your promise to your uncle, to take a VampLycan mate?”

  “It’s dealt with and not an issue anymore. He’d give his permission.”

  That downright stunned her.

  “Think about it,” he gruffly muttered. Then he stepped away and walked over to the discarded wet sheets. “We’re going to my house. I’ll just toss these in the dryer while we’re there. Come on. It’s a bit of a walk but I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  Splashing sounds had her turning her head. The two men were in the water now.

  She hurried after Red, following him back into the woods in a new direction, away from where they’d come out into the clearing. She had to hurry to keep up with his long strides, but it was still nice to be outdoors and moving. Her grandfather made her run for miles to keep her in shape. Fast walking was a breeze compared.

  They finally exited out of thick trees into another clearing. This one was manmade though, judging by a few tree stumps she spied. A cute cabin sat in the middle of it. She smiled. It was an A-frame log structure. Red stopped at the door and punched in a code on the keypad lock. It clicked and he opened it, stepping aside. “Welcome.”

  “I didn’t expect that on a cabin out in the middle of the woods.”

  “I know. Most VampLycans don’t lock their doors but as I said, I work with youths. They know I have a good sense of humor. I got tired of their pranks.”

  “Like what?”

  “The last stunt they pulled involved filling my tub with river water and fish.”

  That amused her. “I meant the lock. It’s a keypad one. That’s kind of fancy for a cabin in the woods.”

  “Oh. It’s a pain to carry a key or hide one. In the winter, these pads can be unreliable because of the cold but in warmer weather they come in handy. Go inside.”

  She entered first. It had an open floorplan with beams holding up a large loft. A stone fireplace dominated one wall. The furnishings were sparse but looked comfortable. He closed the door behind her.

  “What do you think? It’s not very large but there’s two bedrooms and a shared bathroom upstairs. I always figured I could add onto the back one day if I wanted more rooms.”

  “I love it.” She stared at the kitchen. It was under the loft area, and a long island separated it from the living room. He’d done the kitchen in soft browns and light blues with gray stones. She walked over to the island and touched the surface. “What is this?”

  “Concrete. It’s tough to get marble slabs delivered here.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “The door behind the kitchen leads to a half bath, the laundry room, pantry, and storage. It’s under the other side of the loft. It looks much bigger than what you see here.”

  She bit her lip, studying him. “I like your home, Red. You don’t have to talk it up.”

  “What kind of home do you live in?”

  “Um, Grandpa’s latest pick was a monstrosity of a house. Some rich guy built it, decided he didn’t like living in a smaller town, and it was on the market for years. That meant he picked it up at a good price. It was a bitch to clean and all those rooms we never used were wasted space. This feels homey.”

  He held her gaze.

  “I’m not just saying that. My favorite place out of all the homes Grampa and I shared happened to be a two-bedroom condo in a city. It was probably a thousand square feet in all. Your cabin is larger.”

  “Where did he sleep?”

  “The walk-in closet in the master bedroom. It didn’t have any windows. He was afraid to sleep in the attic space in case they worked on the roof, since it was a combined building.”

  “I can’t see a Vampire living in a condo.”

  She grinned. “That was the point. No other Vampires or Werewolves, I mean Lycans, lived in that building either. It was safe, and the last place anyone would have looked for us.”

  “What if someone had broken in during the day?”

  “Grandpa would have been pissed and taken control of their mind, had a midday snack, and sent them on their way with a bit of memory loss. Probably have them repair the door or window they broke to get inside before he let them go. He isn’t helpless during the day, remember?”

  Red nodded. “What about a fire?”

  “Ever heard of waterproof fire safes? He bought one large enough to curl into if the need ever arose. It wouldn’t have been fun for him or made him look pretty by the time I got him out, after a lack of oxygen, but he’d have survived.”

  Red frowned.

  “Without oxygen, Vampires lose consciousness and their skin turns gray. I would have had to get ahold of that safe after the fire was put out, had it moved to a location without people around before I opened it, and had blood waiting to revive him. The smell of it would have brought him around.”

  “How would you get blood?”

  “Animal blood would do in a pinch. Then he could go look for a human donor. I’m just glad I never had to sacrifice some pet-store bunny, since we were in a city. No cows were around to borrow some blood from. We never had a fire.”
>
  Red seemed to take that in stride. “I’m going to toss the sheets into the dryer.” He disappeared through the doorway in the kitchen.

  She glanced around the living space again, taking a better look at the furnishings. Everything appeared comfortable, a bit oversized, and it needed a woman’s touch. Some of the tables she realized he must have made from trees. They were lovely.

  And his cabin would be hers if she mated him.

  Red returned and pointed at the stairs. “After you.”

  The loft area had her smiling. A comfortable loveseat sat next to filled bookshelves. She walked over to skim the titles. Most of the books were mysteries and action thrillers. “You like to read.”

  “Winters can be long.”

  “How do you stay warm? I know it gets very cold here.”

  “That storage room I mentioned gets filled with wood that I chop. Follow me.”

  He passed through an archway on the side that led to an open door on their immediate right. The room behind it contained a queen-size bed and dresser. He bypassed it, and the next open door revealed a bathroom. The third open door stood at the end of the hallway.

  “Where I sleep.”

  She entered ahead of him—and immediately loved the room. It wasn’t the biggest master bedroom she’d ever seen, but it was cozy. He had a king-size bed with one nightstand, a dresser, and a fireplace took up the back wall. The stones matched the ones in his living room.

  “I’ve never seen a cabin with a fireplace on the upper floor too.”

  “It’s the nice thing about building our own homes. We can customize them to our tastes. I like watching a fire while I fall asleep on cold nights. This beats sleeping on the couch downstairs.”

  “It certainly does.”

  “That’s the tour. I’m going to grab some clothes while I’m here. I didn’t expect to be staying at the den for this long.”