Dread filled Red. “Your grandfather chose you and your mother over his blooded children?”
“I’m his blood.” She frowned. “He made Eduardo by turning him into a Vampire. My grandpa ordered him not to attack the community my mother lived in but he did it anyway. Eduardo talked the other Vampires into defying Grandpa and reached out to a large city nest to help him with the attack. My grandpa was nice enough to take in strays…and that’s how they repaid him. Eduardo deserves to get his head ripped off for disobeying a direct order.”
“Malachi took in strays?”
“Most masters create their own nests with Vampires they personally turned. Grandpa wasn’t into doing that. He’d collect the ones other masters had abandoned or who no longer had a master, since some of those guys go nuts. He told me really old Vamps sometimes commit suicide after living longer than they ever wanted to. The world changes too much around them, they grow depressed. Game over by meeting the sun. The Vampire children they made are left behind like orphans. Not all of them are leader types. Grandpa would occasionally take them in. There’s security in numbers. Some are mistaken for rogues by the council and killed on sight otherwise. Belonging to a nest is protection. Eduardo was the only one he made. He felt bad for Eduardo.”
“Bad?”
“He pitied him. My grandfather had hired him about a hundred years ago to do chores during the day, and one night he woke to find Eduardo severely beaten in the yard, stabbed and dying. Some humans who lived nearby had done it. Eduardo was kind of quiet and shy. He didn’t have any friends. I guess they targeted him because of that. Grandpa turned him to give him a second chance at life, and that’s when he actually started taking in strays. To give Eduardo a kind of family and friends by making a nest. Then the bastard repaid him by getting pissed because he wasn’t Grandpa’s favorite. Jackass.”
“How could you live with a Vampire and not understand their ways? It would be a great insult to have their master turn his back on them for anyone outside their own kind. The master of a nest chooses loyalty to those under his protection, at all costs.”
“My mom, Kallie, was with my grandpa longer. Eduardo knew the score from night one, since the moment he was turned. We were under his protection too.” She shrugged. “Eduardo’s definitely butt hurt, but he did defy my grandpa. Don’t forget that—because we haven’t. He’s been tracking us for thirty-six years. The asshat needs to get over it already.”
Her choice of words made Red smile, and he lowered his head, allowing his hair to fall forward and hide his face. He flipped the steaks again, not wanting to burn hers. She’d probably cry or complain.
That killed his humor. He was cooking for a woman in his den. It was an intimate gesture in his culture, usually something men did for serious lovers or mates.
“That smells really good.”
He glanced up and noticed she’d moved closer. Her bright blue eyes were startling against her pale features and dark brown hair. She looked elfish and cute.
His cock stirred inside his jeans and he growled when he glanced at the generous swells of her breasts. No way.
“Is that insulting or something?” She arched her eyebrows. “I said it smelled good. There’s no reason to get testy.”
He forced his gaze down to the pan. “It’s not that.”
She backed up. “Is that better? Are you into personal space while you’re near food? You won’t snap at me or anything, will you?”
Christ. He was responsible for her, and the idea of spending a lot of time with someone who interested his dick wasn’t good. “I’m not a dog.”
“I didn’t say that you were.”
“Aggressive dogs do that when you get too close to their food.” He saw the pink in her cheeks. He narrowed his eyes, and he knew that’s exactly what she’d been thinking. She could deny it all she wanted but she was a terrible liar. “You’re a woman, so you need to keep your distance from me.”
Her lips parted into an O shape and she backed up more. She glanced at his chest, seeming to assess it. Her gaze jerked back up to his face, and she swallowed hard when her lips sealed.
“I won’t attack you.”
“Good thing. You’re pretty big, and I imagine really strong since you carried me for miles without breaking a sweat or panting.”
“Is that another dog joke?” His anger stirred. “This mutt is going to protect you. Keep that in mind.”
“Hey, I’m not insulting you. Calm down, Sparky.”
He dropped the tongs and turned off the flame under the pan, stepping toward her. That insulting name pushed him too far, and he only paused when terror flashed in her blue gaze. She backed away, hitting the door with her ass.
“I had a life until you arrived. Remember that, Emma. I had to drop everything to bring you here. Stop insulting me.”
“I’m sorry.”
She hugged her chest and it made him feel like a total bastard, seeing her trying to make her body appear smaller as she huddled where she stood.
“I sometimes say shit before I think it through. It was kind of a joke.”
“Do you see me laughing? You have no idea what kind of shit-storm I’m going to face over having you here.”
“Will you lose your job or something? I have money.” She relaxed her arms and pointed to her backpack. “There’s over ten grand in cash inside my bag, plus some change. I can pay you to keep me here until my grandfather comes, and I have access to more money if that’s not enough.”
He felt insulted again as he put space between them. “I have my own money. It’s not that.”
She took a shaky breath. “What is it?”
He hesitated. “I didn’t get permission from my clan leader to let you stay in our territory…and there’s a woman who’s going to be angry that you’re inside my den.”
“Oh.” She lowered her hand to her side, rubbing her jeans nervously. “You have a mate?”
“No, but there’s a woman I’ve talked to about living with me. It’s a possible commitment.”
Confusion crossed her face. “That sounds like a girlfriend.”
He hesitated. “You know nothing about our culture, do you?”
“Just what my grandfather told me. You’re half Lycan and Vampire. I know you live in a group you call a clan, and that most of the residents in this town are like you. I know what you can do, such as shifting.”
“There are four clans in this area.” He ambled back into the kitchen and removed plates from the cupboard. “Everyone in Howl is like me, except for a few mates. I haven’t found mine yet, but sometimes a couple will live together to avoid loneliness.”
She didn’t respond, and when he glanced at her, she stared at the floor. He shrugged it off and put a steak on a plate for her.
“Eat.”
Chapter Three
Emma tried to get comfortable on the couch but it wasn’t easy. The thing wasn’t that long. She might be short but her feet still dangled over the end of it if she didn’t curl into a ball. It was cold, too, the blanket insufficient. She tried not to feel as if she were trapped inside a big ol’ coffin. The irony wasn’t lost on her. She’d lived with a Vampire but had never felt so claustrophobic in her entire life.
The soft snore coming from the back of the long room drove her a little nuts. Her host didn’t seem to mind the cold temperatures or sleeping buried underground. She’d kill for some fresh air at that moment and figured it would be a lot warmer at night above ground than inside his den.
He’d left a dim nightlight on in the kitchen area to keep it from being pitch black, something she’d appreciated. It was even a little sweet. She doubted he slept with one on when he was alone and knew it had to be for her benefit.
Dinner had been a silent one. He’d refused to chat, other than telling her his name, and then he’d gone to bed.
What kind of name is Redson? Who’d strap their kid with that? She sighed, rolled trying to get comfortable, and shivered. The cold seemed to seep right into
her bones and made them ache. Maybe that’s why he’s in such a bad mood. Redson Redwolf would be a tough tag to be stuck with.
She wished he was a gentleman and had offered her the bed. She’d glimpsed his sleeping area on the other side of the thin divider wall when she’d used the tiny bathroom. It was a roomy mattress on the floor, a few feet thick, with what appeared to be real fur covers over it. It had looked soft, comfortable, and big enough to fit his long legs.
The bathroom wasn’t much bigger than a small closet with a sink, toilet, and shower stall shoved into the cramped space. How someone his size used it stunned her. He probably had to shelf his ass on the sink to aim at the bowl when he peed. That mental image made her smile. If he dropped the soap, he’d knock himself out trying to bend for it or turn into a human pretzel.
At least there’s a bathroom. She sighed again and pulled the blanket tighter against her throat. She swore she could see her breath in the air, and she burrowed her face against the thin cotton. It didn’t help much, and she put her tongue between her teeth to keep them from chattering.
The snoring finally stopped and the silence grew absolute. She turned against the back of the couch and cuddled into the cushions. It kept her only slightly warmer when she drew her legs up to curl into a tight ball. Her head under the covers also helped, but not by much. I’ll probably catch pneumonia or the cold from hell after this.
“What is wrong?”
Redson’s voice so near made her gasp, and she struggled with the covers to stare up at the dark shape blocking the small light from the kitchen. “What?”
“Your sighing is annoying me and the couch creaks every time you move.” Irritation deepened his voice to take on a growling tone. “It woke me.”
“I’m freezing. I don’t suppose you have a heater, do you?”
He bent. She could smell a masculine, pleasant scent. His fingertips brushed her cheek. “Damn. Your skin is chilled.”
“Sorry.”
It stunned her when his hands dug under her body and he lifted her, blanket and all, off the couch. She couldn’t even grab at him with her limbs tangled in the bedding.
She realized when he turned into the light that he was bare chested. He frowned as she stared at him.
“You are too human. Your Lycan blood should keep you warm but you feel cool to the touch. Are you sure you’re not more Vampire than you claim?”
“No. The cold wouldn’t bother my grandpa much. It does me.”
He walked past the kitchen, into the area he used for his room, and dropped to his knees. The fall made her gasp again but he didn’t drop her. Instead, he lay her gently down on something really soft that sank under her weight as he pulled his arms from under her back and thighs.
“Roll over and get under my blankets.” He tore off the one he’d given her for the couch.
She rolled. Though it was too dark to see much in that area of his den, the soft feel of thick fur meant he was giving her the bed. “Thank you.”
She wiggled into pure heaven. His body had made the bed toasty warm under the fur blanket, and she discovered soft sheets beneath it. His pillow was the body-length type, super soft too, and she tried to ignore the fact that she just wore a pair of underwear with a nightshirt. She’d refused to sleep in a bra or her jeans. She’d shucked them both after he’d disappeared to sleep. He’d probably noticed that, with his superior vision, when he’d taken the blanket.
“Scoot over.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Make room for me.” He sounded irritated. “You need my body heat to keep you warm.”
“I think I’ll be okay with the fur. It’s real, isn’t it?” Shit. I shouldn’t have asked that. She imagined little bunnies giving up their lives to make it—a bunch of them. Guilt hit her over that concept. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
“It’s not real fur.”
He pushed at her. Cold air blasted her body as he lifted the covers she’d burrowed under and his big warm body pressed against hers as he forced her to move. It was that or be crushed. She rolled over to get out of his way.
She tried to keep space between them but his weight dipped the mattress. It made her fall back into him as he settled, and her hand touched bare skin. She patted a sprinkling of hair before jerking her hand away.
“Tell me that’s not your junk.”
“My leg.”
Her hands fisted her shirt over her stomach and she realized one of her legs pressed against his. “You don’t have pants on!”
“No. I sleep bare.”
Oh shit. I’m in bed with a naked guy. “Tell me you’ve got boxers on or something.”
“Fine. I have them on. Now go to sleep. Are you warm enough?”
“Yes.” She paused. “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”
He hesitated too. “The fur is real.”
“I meant about wearing something.”
“I’m flat on my back and you’re on your side, facing away. Just don’t turn over and place your hands on me.”
Her heart hammered inside her chest.
“The animals didn’t suffer.”
“What?” She was thinking about being in bed with a stranger, sans his clothes.
“The fur came from my meals. It was either throw their pelts away or put them to use. I realize it might offend your human side but it’s warm, isn’t it?”
“Just tell me it’s not cute little bunnies.” The topic helped distract her from the fact he didn’t have anything on.
“No bunnies.” He chuckled. “They are annoying though. Rabbits invade my garden and eat everything. They’re pests.”
“Let me guess. As a kid, you didn’t get a visit from the Easter Bunny. You’d love them if you had. Didn’t you at least see any of those adorable cartoons made about him?”
The mattress shifted a little as Redson spoke. “You did?”
“Of course.”
“Before your mother died?”
“Before and after.”
For several moments, the only sound in the room was their breathing. He finally spoke. “The Vampire celebrated human holidays for you?”
“Yes.” Worry hit Emma suddenly, and tears filled her eyes. “I hope my grandpa’s okay. He’s not bad—and I don’t like the way you call him ‘the Vampire’. His name is Malachi, and he’s the best grandpa ever. You can even call him Mal for short. That’s what he tells humans. His name is kind of old fashioned and he didn’t want to raise suspicion.”
The mattress shifted slightly again and warm breath fanned her cheek. “Tell me about him.”
She smiled in the darkness. “He’s funny, and he tries to give me as normal a life as he can. You know, minus the picnics in the park on sunny days.”
“How old did you say you were when you were separated from your mother?”
“Four.”
“How did he care for you while he slept?”
She hesitated. “He made sure I was locked in, to keep me from wandering away, and he slept in the same room so I could see him. It made me less afraid, knowing he was there. He’s old and powerful enough to be able to wake easily even during daylight hours. We adjusted. I started sleeping during the daytime after a few months, until starting school. Kids are astonishingly flexible.”
“He locked you in?”
“I was a little kid. He needed to keep me close and safe. Can you imagine what would have happened if I’d gone outside to play in the sunshine and gotten hurt? He couldn’t get to me until the sun went down without being burned. Then he would have been hurt and hungry. That might have ended in tragedy. We lived alone, meaning I was the only blood source nearby. Figure it out. He didn’t want to risk ever accidentally hurting me. You know they can get kind of insane when they’re severely injured and starved. He might have gone after my blood to heal himself without meaning to.”
“You said you went to school. How did he manage that?”
“He hired two nannies who pretended to be m
y aunts. He’d taught me enough that I was able to start school in the first grade with human kids. One of the nannies would come in before dawn. She thought he left to go to work early. She’d take me to school and another one would pick me up. That one thought he worked until evening. That way, I always had someone to attend conferences with my teachers or come get me if there was an emergency. They went along with it because he smoothed things over with his ability to control minds if they ever suspected anything was off about the arrangement.”
“What kind of emergency?”
“Like when I fell off the swings and broke my arm in two places. The school called one of my nannies to get me. Later, when I hit junior high, he just had a housekeeper in our home during the day, to be there if I needed something while he slept. I could walk to and from school by myself.” She turned her head but couldn’t make out his face. The dividing wall totally blocked the nightlight but she could see the deeper shadow that outlined his head inches from her own. “He did the best he could, and I think I turned out pretty well.”
“But you need my protection.”
He didn’t say it, but he implied her grandfather had failed her somehow. “And he sent me somewhere safe, didn’t he? That’s part of looking out for me. You said you’d protect me. He stayed behind to give me time to escape. The Vamps had surrounded our home too quickly for us to flee together, and that’s the only reason I’m here. He’ll come for me as soon as it’s safe.”
“How many other times has he had to send you to a stranger for protection?”
Anger stirred at the thought that he was insulting her grandpa. She rolled a little to face him more. “This is the first. I’ve never been away from him except for a few times, but those weren’t because I was in danger.”
“When?”
She hesitated. “I went to college and lived on campus. I dated sometimes. I’m not a forty-year-old virgin spinster who’s a shut-in with my grandfather. Don’t make my life sound pathetic. I have a good one.”
He said nothing for a long time and exhaustion tugged at her. She was finally warm and comfortable, the stress of traveling behind her. She did feel safe with Redson. He growled a lot but he’d taken her into his den. It might be a box in the ground but it would take a hell of a lot for someone or something to reach them. He owned a buried fortress.