“You’re a puddle of goodness.” He flipped me off. “You’re not in a pack? Why not? No girls wanted you?” I smiled sweetly at him and he glared at me.
“You’re a bit of an ass, you know that?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I sassed. Standing up, I was about to start inching my way out of the cave when it occurred to me that this might be the perfect opportunity to protect Olivier. She’d never, not in a million years, predict me grouping up with a Lycan. And as a bonus, his scent seemed to mask mine from other vampires. “So…” I began timidly. I searched for the right words that wouldn’t earn an automatic ‘no’ from him. I needed him to say yes. “Want a travel partner?” was what came out. Damn it.
He slowly brought his eyes up and stared at me like I’d just offered to give him a lap dance. Meaning he wouldn’t want the lap dance, which was a shame because I gave great lap dances.
“You want to travel. With me. A Lycan.” I smiled in an attempt to sell my enthusiasm at tagging along, despite the look on his face that said he thought I was two steps from insanity. I’d say maybe 1.5 steps. “No wonder your people are hunting you. They don’t want a psycho around.”
I wondered how fast his ribs would heal if I kicked him really hard. “For your information, dog, it’s because-” I stopped myself and squished my lips together. If I told him the reason, he might think I was bragging or saved the pup for brownie points, or worst case scenario: lying. It didn’t matter that I was on the run for what I’d done. He didn’t know how our laws worked. I could be running from a pissed off ex-boyfriend for all he knew.
He studied me, trying to figure out what I was hiding, but then he gave up and looked back at the roasting rabbit. “I don’t want to be around a bloodsucker. I should’ve killed you for feeding off me, but that bracelet protected you. So, happy trails and whatnot. Go fuck with someone else.” Unphased, I walked back to the fire and sat down on the rock floor. He stared at me again and I could tell he wanted to pick me up and throw me as far as he could. “Well, you must be deaf and stupid.”
I ignored him and leaned over the rabbit to smell it. The succulent scent of well-cooked meat curled into my nose. My stomach growled. “It’s done. Can I have some?”
“You eat food?” he asked in sincere disbelief. His ignorance was starting to annoy me. Next he’ll ask if I sleep in a coffin.
I didn’t wait for permission before I extended my nails to rip off a large chunk of meat. It could’ve used some salt, but he’d tended it well and the meat was so juicy and tender I moaned out loud. He made a face and hogged the rest, over half the animal.
I stopped eating to study him. Despite being a Lycan, Knight looked almost normal. His muscles were large and his teeth pointed, but other than that, normal. His features were smooth and round, and they looked soft to the touch.
“Stop staring at me, crazy.”
I looked down at my meat and finished it. When he was done eating, the meat as well as the bones, he slipped into his sleeping bag and turned his back to me.
I woke up curled against his back for warmth. Oddly enough, I’d fallen asleep several feet away from him, on the other side of the fire. I cursed leaving my duffle bag in Excalibur. Now I smelled like dog. Though, admittedly, Knight didn’t smell that bad. Then I realized what I was doing, i.e. snuggling the enemy.
But he smelled so good.
Fuck. I hurriedly pushed away from him, waking him up.
“Shit, you were actually serious,” he grumbled out. I narrowly missed his swinging arm as he got up and stretched. “Bracelet or no bracelet, you’re not staying here.” He popped his enormous shoulders. “Don’t let the cave hit your ass on the way out.”
I pretended he hadn’t spoken. “I have a car parked about a mile away if the Hunters haven’t stolen it. There’s water and snacks and blankets.” He stood up and looked down at me from his enormous height, then he gestured to his large unzipped army bag, that had everything I’d just mentioned in it. “Umm. I have Twinkies?” He rolled his eyes and started gathering his stuff. “With my car, you don’t have to walk! And it has air conditioning, and plenty of space for your long legs. I have long legs, and all I have to do is push the seat-”
“If I go with you, will you shut the hell up?”
“Now you’re catching on!” I gave him my best smile and he sighed like I was a fly he couldn’t shoo away.
Excalibur was still parked in the old barn. Knight gave it a look I might give to someone wearing Crocs, but he tossed his bag in the trunk and got in. He barely fit into the tiny passenger seat. His head bumped the roof and his legs didn’t have enough space to straighten out, even with the seat pulled back as far as it could go.
“What was that you said about space for my legs?” He moved his arm and bumped me on accident.
I sighed and rested my head against the steering wheel. “Looks like our run is over, Excalibur.”
He didn’t comment on the name of my tiny car and didn’t make any smug remarks when I had to trade it in for something else. I let him choose since I knew nothing about cars. The car he picked was a four-door Impala from the sixties, and it rumbled loudly when he started it up. I had some trepidation, but I paid for the car and got into the passenger seat (he wouldn’t let me drive).
“Kind of an old car,” I commented. “Will it run smoothly?”
“Old cars are like women…”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you sure you want to finish that analogy?”
He snickered. “Probably not.” As he drove, he touched the steering wheel reverently and fingered the Impala symbol like it would bring him luck. We pulled out of the parking lot and drove away.
On the road, my old life at the Order seemed so far away. I leaned against my door and tried to get comfortable. Today would be companion selections. We gave the turned a companion so they could get used to being around humans again. The companions would know exactly what they were getting into, and after being chosen, they would sign a binding contract. The contract was slightly different than the one a Born companion signed. A companion of the turned had a trial period, an accident clause, and the contract lasted for one year, as opposed to the ten years of a Born companion. The turned were not in charge of their companions like we were, a fact they sometimes resented.
Knight and I didn’t speak for hours. I could tell he didn’t want to be traveling with me, but I had money and had bought the car, so he was tolerating it. Until I brought out my daily blood ration.
“Shit,” he swore, and pulled the car over. “I’m not watching you drink that. That is disgusting.” He turned the car off and left with the keys to walk it off. When he came back, I was finished and the blood bag was safely tucked in my cooler.
“Sorry if my dietary needs offend you,” I mumbled when he started the car.
He sighed and pulled back onto the road. “I hate to sound like a judgmental parent whose kid just came out, but have you, you know, tried not drinking blood?”
What. The fuck.
I leveled him with a glare. “I’m a vam-pi-re,” I growled, sounding it out slowly for him. “Also, spoiler alert, I was dangerously low on blood when I attacked you. That is what happens when we don’t drink blood. I don’t do this shit for shiggles. Didn’t they fucking teach you that in Lycan daycare? Jesus Christ.”
He got very quiet and focused on the road while I stewed beside him. After several hours I was almost asleep from the rhythmic sounds of the car engine, and he broke the silence, snapping me awake.
“No.”
I rubbed my eye and sat up. “No what?”
“The Lycans didn’t teach me that.” He was very intently looking at the road to hide his face from me. “I’m sorry. I was being judgmental. I didn’t understand.”
“I’m sorry too.” I hadn’t said anything bad to him, but I’d thought several things. I supposed I was as prejudice as he was. We’d both been raised to hate the other.
Nighttime arrived and we rented a hot
el room, something I hadn’t dared do before now, but we could only get one with a single bed. He might’ve been disgusted with my species as a whole, but he was still chivalrous enough to volunteer to sleep on the floor, something I didn’t expect from him at all. Maybe he was older than he looked?
He showered first and left the bathroom smelling like wet fur and a large dose of his scent. As I said, he smelled amazing. You know, for a Lycan. Lying in the tub surrounded by his scent, I allowed myself to forget who that smell belonged to, and I basked in the pleasure it brought. When I dressed and left the bathroom, Knight was lounging on the bed watching- wait for it- Animal Planet. He tossed back a soda, completely engrossed while dogs ran around on the screen.
I couldn’t help it. I choked back a laugh.
He tossed his empty soda can in my direction. “Shut up.”
I sat down in one of the chairs by the door and toweled my hair. “That dog looks pretty. I bet she’s into long walks on the beach.” He threw the phone book at me and I broke out into giggles.
“I’m not a dog,” he said defensively, and I remembered what happened in the car.
“Sorry.” Great, now I’m protecting a Lycan’s feelings. “Since we’re on the subject of labels, I’d prefer to not be called a bloodsucker, or any other cute slurs you can come up with.”
He raked a hand through his dark hair. “Fair enough.” He laid back on the bed and put a hand over his eyes. “I’m surprised you’re not complaining about the dog smell. I hear that from vamps often enough.” I was surprised he’d met enough of us to comment on it and was still alive. Maybe he’d lucked out and only encountered the less prejudice of us, though that was a rarity in and of itself, my own self not included.
“I didn’t notice.” That was a lie. I had more than noticed.
“So my smell doesn’t repulse you?”
I cleared my throat and started putting on some tanning lotion. “Quite the opposite.”
He raised his eyebrows at me and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “That must’ve been why your scent got really intense while you were in the tub.”
“You smelled that?” My cheeks flamed and I turned away so he wouldn’t see. “I don’t like being teased.”
“Hey, calm down. I’m still a gentleman. Sorry I teased you.” God, I needed to be more careful. His nose was better than mine. I would’ve never smelled someone’s arousal like that. I busied myself with the lotion in the awkward silence that followed. “Hey,” he said again, and I jumped to see him beside me at the giant hotel mirror. “What’s with the lotion?”
I had only done one arm, so the other one was my normal pale tone. “Trying to appear more human,” I told him.
“You’re not as pale as I thought you’d be.”
I continued rubbing the lotion in, the conversation reminding me of many discussions I’d had with my protégés. “You’re thinking of the turned.” Knight didn’t know there were two races of vampires, and continued asking me various things on the subject. The legends only mentioned the turned, so it was normal that he didn’t know about Born vampires. I figured he was beyond bored if he wanted to know so much about his natural enemies.
All of the sudden, I smelled lilac and felt a whoosh of air. Balthazar appeared in the hotel room, dressed in his normal stylish suit. When he saw Knight, he brandished his cane like a sword.
“If you are here to kill my Lisbeth, you will die before your next breath empties your lungs,” he said in a dramatic tone, though I had no doubt he meant it.
“Where have you been, you little shit?” I demanded. He’d never been away from me for this long, and I was slightly miffed about it.
“Copenhagen,” he replied, like it was completely obvious.
“Holy shit, where did he come from?” Knight looked slightly afraid of our visitor. Vampires that ate food he could deal with, but a being that could appear out of nowhere was apparently his limit.
Balthazar shoved his cane towards Knight and pressed it against his nose. “I reiterate the aforementioned killing should you attempt to harm my Lisbeth.”
“He’s cool. You can put the cane down,” I told Balthazar. Well, I say cool.
He lowered it and studied my traveling companion. “You’ve grouped up with a wolf? And one of the marked at that. Honestly, Lisbeth, didn’t I teach you better?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like we’re doing the horizontal tango. We’re just traveling together.”
Knight gave me a weird look. “You use a lot of slang for a vampire.”
“I like to broaden my horizons,” I told him with a smile. Plus, humans tended to look at me weird when I used the word ‘copulate.’ I tried to keep my lingo as modern as I could.
Balthazar didn’t appear to enjoy us talking to each other. “Great. Now you two are chummy.”
“Yeah, I think not,” I declared.
“That is so gross,” was Knight’s response.
“See? Even he agrees with me.”
“I don’t like sharing,” Balthazar said as if I was his pet. “Maybe I should come with you.”
“That’s not happening,” Knight argued firmly. “I don’t even know what he is. What is he?” That was directed at me.
“An Incubus. They father vampires.” I told Knight all the details, and his face shifted from confusion to outright horror. This constant explaining was making me tired. I was spoiled on people that didn’t need to be told things like this. “An Incubus finds a human female, they…. Fuck, make love, whatever. She becomes pregnant, even if she was already pregnant, or barren, or dying. It doesn’t matter. Nine months later, a vampire is born. A Born vampire. Like me.”
Knight’s caramel skin looked a little green. “Even if she’s already expecting?”
Balthazar tapped his cane against his shoe and wouldn’t look at us. “Yes. Even if she’s already expecting.”
The unasked question was there on Knight’s face, and I almost wished he wouldn’t ask it. He did. “What happens to the human fetus?”
“What do you think,” Balthazar said quietly. He looked upset, an emotion I rarely saw on him.
Knight muttered something under his breath that sounded like, “What the fuck is this shit?”
“You okay?” I asked Balthazar. “I don’t have to travel with the wolf if it really bothers you.”
Thankfully, he shook his head. “No. It’s safer for you to be with him. I’m simply lost in a memory. The years before you arrived were dark and empty.” He disappeared without another word, leaving us slightly confused.
“Is he always like that?” Knight asked.
“Pretty much.” My cheeks flushed and I remembered what we’d been discussing before Balthazar arrived. I went to bed and pulled the covers over my head.
9. Wolves on the move
The next morning, Knight and I sat at a diner mapping out our route across the country. His plate was loaded with enough cholesterol to stop the heart of every human in the diner. The scent of his blood called to me and my stomach was rumbling for more than just pancakes.
“I think we should route through Nevada and curve down towards Mexico before we hit Texas,” he said around a mouthful of hash browns. He was still chewing when he spoke again. “If your Hunter friends are as skillful as you say, all this hopping around should throw them off.”
I took a sip of my coffee and focused to drown out the scent of all the blood around me. “You eat a lot, you know that?”
His mouth curved to the side in annoyance. “I’m a wolf. My metabolism is like 50,000. I don’t eat, I fall asleep. Plus, it’s not like I have a beer belly.” He lifted his black shirt to expose his washboard abs. Holy mother of all that is good and right in the universe. Frozen, I sat staring at that sliver of perfection with my fork halfway to my mouth. He chuckled at me and lowered his shirt again, hiding heaven behind a curtain of fabric. “Your eyes are ginormous right now. I’m not sure how I feel about a vampire checking me out.”
I coughed lou
dly and put the bite of food in my mouth from my suspended fork. “I was not checking you out, you hush your mouth. Plus you’re the one who exposed yourself, so don’t complain if people like what they see.”
That grin appeared on his face and god, my cheeks flushed. “I thought you weren’t checking me out.”
“Shut up! I asked you not to tease me.”
Still grinning, he took another bite of his food. “My apologies. It’s just very entertaining to see you flustered. Your cheeks are all pink.”
I pointed my fork at him. “I will steal your plate and eat all of your food, sir.”
His mouth curled just a bit, and I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t trying to be serious. “Touché, madam. Touché. I’ll choose my moments carefully then. Mostly when there’s no bacon involved.” He looked back at the map and I pointed with my finger to another highway.
“We should make this an alternate route, just in case.” He frowned and checked my face before marking it with his pen. I was leaving the option open for us to split up, and he most likely knew it. He remained silent after that, so I couldn’t tell what he was thinking on the subject.
After another fitful night at a roadside park, I pulled my blood bag from my cooler and squeezed a small mouthful from the plastic. Knight was watching me in-between looking at the road. The blood was heaven on my mouth, and I almost didn’t want to swallow so the taste wouldn’t go away. Eventually I did, and mourned the loss so much that tears came to my eyes.
I was so thirsty.
I put the bag back into the cooler and wiped my nose with a sniff. The bag only had about a week’s worth of blood left at my current rationing, and I was drinking the barest of bare amount needed to keep me from a frenzy.
“You okay?” Knight asked when I had to wipe my cheeks. I shrugged and tried to adjust myself in my seat so I could take a nap. Sleeping was better than being awake when I was this thirsty. “We should get you another bag.”
The Born Vampire series: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (The Complete Series, NSFW Edition) Page 7