Nevermore: Crossbreed series book 6

by Dannika Dark

  Hunter didn’t know how to read.

  “Shit,” he muttered. “Well, hey… there are lots of picture books in there too. Do you like stories? There are books about pirates, jungle animals, superheroes, princesses, dragons, knights, and I saw one about a little boy with a purple crayon. That’s a good one. If you want, Claude can read to you anytime you want.”

  Hunter’s eyes lit up, and he tucked the book back on the shelf before leaping onto the bed. He didn’t just leap, he flew. And once he landed, he jumped up and down on the mattress. It was a magical fucking moment, and Shepherd took it all in.

  “You ready for bed, little man? Well, get under the covers.”

  Hunter flipped back the blanket and scrambled beneath the sheets. Just then, a light knock sounded at the door.

  Shepherd turned and saw Kira holding a teddy bear by the paw. It was the one Shepherd had given him. Her eyes rounded when she looked at the room, and a smile turned up the corners of her mouth.

  “This is where he sleeps now,” Shepherd said. “Hunter’s room.” He pointed at the floor and then Hunter, who was snuggling beneath the covers with an infectious smile on his face.

  She laughed softly and reached out to hand over the bear.

  Shepherd reduced the distance between them, and when he grabbed the toy, their fingers briefly touched.

  Kira stepped back and took one last glance around before leaving father and son alone.

  “I’m gonna leave the lights on except for this one.” Shepherd switched off the lantern next to the bed. “It’s too bright.” He tucked the teddy bear under the covers, and Hunter clutched it tightly. “Well, see you in the morning.”

  Shepherd left the room with a smile on his face and took one last look before closing the door. That room was more than just a place to sleep, it was a symbol of a new life for his kid. One with possibilities and dreams.

  He ventured a short distance down the hall to his own room and closed the door behind him. Despite all the work he’d put into the room, Shepherd still had no sense of whether keeping Hunter was the best decision. He couldn’t even be the kind of man who tucked his kid in the way others did. The boy hadn’t quite warmed up to him yet, so Shepherd had no idea if Hunter liked him or just tolerated him. Did he even care that Shepherd was his father? Shepherd remembered how excited Hunter was when he’d told him, but maybe that wasn’t what he thought it was. Maybe Hunter was just relieved he had an opportunity to leave Patrick.

  Shepherd stripped naked and put on a clean pair of boxer briefs and a white T-shirt. After he climbed into bed, he rolled over and stared at the candle burning in the lantern by the bathroom. Is this what Maggie would have wanted, or would she have asked Shepherd to let him go?

  Maybe he’d had his chance and the fates didn’t want him in Hunter’s life. The kid couldn’t even read. How was Shepherd going to oversee his education when the only person watching him didn’t speak English? He remembered how Maggie said that she’d learned to read at three, and she wanted the same for her child. Learning was a door in her mind, a door that opened up a child’s imagination as well as future opportunities.

  Shepherd sat up when the hinges on the door creaked. Hunter lingered at the threshold, his hand on the knob.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Hunter tiptoed toward the bed, and in the shadows of candlelight, the scar across his face stood out. He bumped up against the bed and held a solemn look.

  “Did something scare you? Are you thirsty? You gotta pee?”

  Shepherd had given him a room without a bathroom, and perhaps that wasn’t such a good idea.

  “You can use mine,” he said, pointing to the entrance on his right. “Anytime you want. There’s another room across the hall with a bathroom. Would you rather have that one instead? I can move all your stuff, but you won’t have a window.”

  Hunter climbed onto the bed and sat on his knees so they were looking at each other. Then he reached out and touched Shepherd’s face.

  Shepherd froze. All the thoughts that had been circulating through his mind just moments ago still lingered, and he feared the residual emotions would confuse the boy. But it was too late to break the connection.

  Hunter noticed the bandage on Shepherd’s forearm.

  “Oh, that.” Shepherd slowly peeled away the adhesive to reveal what was beneath. “I’m a Sensor, so I don’t heal as quickly as everyone else. But this isn’t a cut or anything like that. I got a new tattoo.” He tossed the bandage on the floor and showed Hunter the fresh ink. “You know what this is? It’s a compass. It’s what people use to find their way when they’re lost. That’s north, that’s south, that’s east, and that’s west. And those letters right above north—they spell your name. Hunter.”

  Hunter looked at him wide-eyed and pointed to himself with a look of astonishment and confusion.

  Shepherd didn’t know how to explain in a way that he’d understand. “Yeah. I put your name on my arm… forever. It doesn’t wash off.”

  When Hunter touched the ink, Shepherd grimaced. His skin was still red and inflamed from the long session. Liquid fire burned the ink right into the skin, making it indelible. Tattoos sealed that way would never fade or lose color. Shepherd wasn’t one for getting his ink done in sessions, so he would sit for as long as the artist was willing.

  Hunter placed his hand over the tattoo. Small tingles gathered around the site, and moments later the pain numbed. A faint red glow emanated from the boy’s palm, and when the pain completely vanished, Hunter smiled up at him.

  Shepherd’s heart nearly stopped. Sensors his age usually didn’t learn to transfer emotions, let alone take them away. While they couldn’t heal, they had the ability to remove pain.

  “Did you do that?” he asked.

  Hunter nodded.

  Shit. Who the hell had taught this kid how to use his Sensor abilities? Was he self-taught?

  “Let it go,” Shepherd insisted. “Do you know how to release the emotions you feel? Don’t ever store pain. Not ever. Your body is like that bookshelf in your room, and you can keep emotions or you can throw them away. Throw it away, you got me?”

  Hunter quickly nodded and rubbed his hand across his pajama bottoms as if they were covered with dirt.

  “Good job, little man.”

  Hunter suddenly threw his arms around Shepherd’s neck and gave him a tight hug. Something poured through him that filled Shepherd’s eyes with tears.

  Love.

  Gratitude.

  Relief.

  This was the sign he’d been waiting for. Shepherd hugged him back. They would never have a perfect father-son relationship compared to other families, but there was no way in hell he was going to adopt this kid out to a stranger. Hunter belonged here, with him.

  Shepherd let go and decided the new bedroom could wait. “Climb in, little man. Just for tonight, okay?”

  Hunter excitedly pulled back the covers and wedged himself between the blanket and top sheet. Shepherd didn’t bother to fix the situation but just scooted over to make room.

  “I’ll tell Claude to read you a story at bedtime tomorrow.”

  Hunter shook his head and pointed at Shepherd.

  Dammit, he didn’t want to cry, but the wells were filling up. Normally his tears were accompanied by pain and guilt, but these were different. They came from a place deep inside him that had long been neglected, and a garden of memories with thorny vines and overgrown weeds was now beginning to bloom. He had his son. He had family. And maybe now he had a future.

  Once comfortable, Hunter laced his fingers across his chest and gazed up at the ceiling while Shepherd told him a bedtime story about a beautiful princess named Maggie.

  CHAPTER 31

  After brushing my teeth, I gargled with minty mouthwash and watched Christian in the bathroom mirror. He was toweling off his wet torso and arms after our steamy shower. I used to think the best way to wake up was a little hot coffee. But as it turns out, it’s gripping a towel bar wi
th Christian kneeling in front of me and my leg draped over his shoulder.

  He came up behind me and kissed my neck while pulling my hips against him. “I could get used to sleeping if this is what I have to wake up to.”

  I spat mouthwash into the sink. “Sorry if you got bored lying there all night.”

  “On the contrary, watching you sleep is highly arousing,” he said, still kissing my neck. “You make a little moan in the back of your throat whenever you roll over. Gets me hard every time.”

  I turned on my heel when I felt his fingers slide beneath the latch of my bra. “We had a nice night, but it’s time to face the music. You need to get dressed. Viktor’s probably waiting for us, and I want to get this over with before I get an ulcer.”

  “Immortals don’t get ulcers.”

  “I’ll be the first.”

  Christian cupped my face in his hands and gently stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. I melted a little when he held me in his rapt gaze. “About our conversation last night, I do have one rule I’ll ask of you.”

  “What’s that? Morning showers?”

  He centered his eyes on mine. “You can never compare yourself to other women.”

  “Who says I do?”

  “Don’t be daft. You’re always asking what I like in a woman, and whether you realize it or not, you’re comparing yourself to them. And I especially don’t want you comparing yourself to her. Lenore is not what I desire. If you want to know the kind of woman I fantasize about, you need only look in the mirror.”

  “Even with my torn jeans and slutty dresses?”

  “Especially with your slutty dresses. And don’t forget the big knickers.”

  I choked out a laugh. “I’m never going to live those down, am I?”

  “As far as I’m concerned, your fanny is holy ground. Anything that shields it is mine enemy.”

  I squeezed his ass. “You’re funny. Now go get dressed.”

  While Christian swaggered off to his bedroom, I finished towel drying my hair and put on a pair of jeans. I thought about packing my bags in case Viktor had already made up his mind and had a Vampire waiting down there to scrub our memories, but I decided to trust that if Viktor had come to that decision, he would give us an opportunity to gather our things and make plans. I didn’t want to wind up back on the streets, so I’d have to call Crush and tell him to find me so we could have that conversation all over again about him being a trusted human.

  What worried me most was Christian. With his memory of Keystone erased, he’d be alone, and Lenore would seize that opportunity like a fox in a henhouse.

  Or would she?

  I still couldn’t figure out her angle, and she didn’t strike me as the type who disclosed her plans, assuming she had any. It was possible that she had none and simply liked screwing people over as a hobby.

  After slipping on a maroon long-sleeve shirt that hugged my body, I sat down on the bed and put on my boots. My heart was pounding, and I took a few deep breaths to calm down. Talk about bad timing. I still had to pay off General. If Viktor wanted us out, would he let me tie up loose ends? I couldn’t afford to have a memory wipe before settling my father’s debt. If only Christian had pulled me aside before showing off his new tattoo last night.

  Deciding not to wait for Christian, I flashed down the hall and descended the stairs. When I reached the dining room, I stared at an empty table. Kira had set out the plates, but there wasn’t a soul in sight, not even in the gathering room.

  “Hello?” I turned on my heel and headed into the main foyer, cocking my head to see if I could hear something. They might have been upstairs in Wyatt’s office, but that would be unusual at this hour in the morning.

  Gem appeared at the end of the front hall that led to the east wing. She waved her hand and then disappeared.

  I flashed to the end of the hall and veered left. The sun poured through the blue windows along the right-hand wall, and I was reminded of my first day at Keystone. What the hell were they doing back here? The only place I could think of they might be was in Shepherd’s room, but when I turned down his hall, his bedroom door was closed. I followed the sound of voices to the room on the end and discovered everyone milling about in what I thought was a storage room.

  When I reached the threshold, I leaned against the doorjamb. “Wow. This looks amazing.”

  “Shep did it,” Wyatt said. “Didn’t even invite me to help.”

  “You mean watch.” Shepherd stood up from the chair on the right and circled the bed. “I don’t need a supervisor.”

  Viktor faced the window overlooking the courtyard, but I couldn’t see his reflection in the glass to read his expression. Blue and Gem were lounging on the bed while the others were just standing around, gaping at the décor. Shepherd had done an outstanding job at converting this into a livable space for a child. It was drastically different in comparison to the previous room Hunter had lived in. So much personality, color, and whimsy.

  “You should put moons and stars on the ceiling,” Wyatt suggested, hands on his hips. “You can get those glow-in-the-dark things.”

  “Or the tiny twinkle lights,” Gem added. “They’re easy to tape up there. I’d help, but I’m vertically challenged.”

  Across the room, Shepherd leaned against the bookshelf, his arm resting over the top. “Everything in here has to run on batteries. I thought about solar lights, but I’m not sure how much sun he’ll get through the windows in the afternoon. I don’t want candles in here. Fire hazard and all that.”

  “Where’s the kid?” I asked.

  Claude gestured to the floor. When I drifted farther in and peered over the bed, I spied Hunter lying on his stomach across a blue rug. He flipped the page in a book and marveled at a pirate ship.

  “Claude, you’re gonna break that thing,” Shepherd said. “Get out.”

  Claude stood up from the bucket seat, and it stuck to his ass for a second before dislodging and toppling over. “Maybe you need to put more chairs in here. It’s a little unfurnished.”

  Shepherd gave him a reproachful look. “This isn’t a hangout. And nobody comes in here without knocking first. We all have privacy, and he deserves the same respect. This is his domain, not ours. I just bought what he needed to get him started, but it’s up to him to decide if he wants more chairs or a motherfucking swing.”

  Wyatt looked up at the ceiling. “A swing would be kickass. I wonder if I could put one in my room. Or a hammock.”

  All eyes steered to the doorway. Christian’s black Henley shirt was unbuttoned, as usual, and perhaps it was the panty-dropping smile on his face that left no question as to how we’d spent our night.

  I looked around unapologetically.

  Viktor finally turned away from the window, hands tucked in the pockets of his olive chinos. The grey ribbed sweater over his shirt was a little disheveled at the bottom, but he always had that college-professor look. Never just a T-shirt and jeans. Maybe it was a psychological tactic to make us feel like his pupils.

  It worked.

  Christian studiously avoided his gaze, but it wasn’t disrespectful or disingenuous. In fact, quite the opposite. A Vampire avoiding eye contact was a way of assuring someone they weren’t going to charm them.

  Viktor jingled a few coins in his pocket. “I have slept on this and given it much consideration. I created the rule about intimate relations to prevent conflict between partners. Relationships change things in a way that cannot be undone. Jealousy, anger, rejection—I do not wish to have these emotions in my house. They are destructive. Changes to our group are like a butterfly on an ocean. What is that saying?”

  “The chaos theory,” Niko answered from his spot near the window.

  “Da. Chaos. Butterflies. You understand my meaning.” Viktor scratched the back of his neck. “Shepherd is a good example. You see how the events came together? But I can no longer control the wave. I have given him the decision to either ride it or swim away.”

  “The decisi
on’s made,” Shepherd announced. “Hunter stays.”

  Viktor’s accent thickened a little. “There is no rush to decide.”

  Shepherd shifted his stance. “That’s the final word. I appreciate the choice, but I don’t need more time to think about what’s right.”

  Viktor nodded but looked blindsided by the additional news. “As I have given Shepherd a chance, I shall also give you two a chance. I created rules to protect us and keep us bonded as a team. But if this relationship—what you two have—becomes destructive to this organization, I will remove you. I cannot set a rule for you to stay together forever, so if you two should separate, you must come to me with any issues you are unable to resolve. If I see you cannot work together as partners, I might be able to switch assignments. But you still must work together as a team. All of you. There must always be a resolution to any conflict.”

  I cleared my throat, startled that we were actually staying. “You won’t have to worry about that, Viktor. I can’t guarantee what’ll happen, but I can promise you that if anything changes, you’ll be the first to know. Keystone is important enough to both of us that we can put aside our problems to get the job done. We were at each other’s throats when you first hired me on, and we did just fine.”

  “She’s got a point,” Wyatt remarked, hands in his jean pockets. “She even went looking for Christian’s grave after you kicked her out. Remember? If Raven hadn’t found him, he’d still be in a crypt, singing the bottles of beer on a wall song.”

  Blue stood up, and the heels of her knee-high boots tapped on the floor. “Does this mean they stay?”

  “More importantly,” Wyatt interjected, putting his arm around Blue, “does this mean the rule is obsolete?”

  Blue knocked his arm off. “Do that again and I’ll cut off your hand with my tomahawk.”

  “That’s not the hand I need anyhow.” He crossed the room to stand near Christian.