Raven's Blood

by Cassandra Lawson

Chapter Twenty-Five

  Connor smiled when he heard the laughter coming from Jack’s house. It was a warm evening, so only the screen door was closed, giving him a good view of the living room. They hadn’t noticed him yet, so he stood watching.

  “I’m serious,” Jack told Shelby and Carla. “Si was eating out of her hand. I totally freaked when I saw him with her, but then I got closer, and apparently, they were talking about what Con sounds like in bed.”

  “Ooooh!” Shelby chimed in. “Tell us what he sounds like. I always figured he’d be the silent type or maybe let out a grunt or two.”

  “Stop picking on her, Jack,” Muriel scolded.

  “Oh, come on,” Carla pushed. “Tell us what he sounds like.”

  “Yes, Raven, don’t keep everyone in suspense,” Connor added as he opened the screen door.

  Raven let out a startled squeak and turned to face him.

  “We could always get Simon to tell us,” Jack teased. “Did I mention she told him?”

  “Shut up, you big tattler,” Raven hissed at him. Then to Connor she said, “It’s really not as bad as it sounds. I said something, and he accused you of talking about him while fucking me and I told him that you . . .” Her voice trailed off. “Okay, maybe you had to be there.”

  “Why were you with Simon to begin with?” he asked.

  “I ran into him on the way over here,” she admitted.

  Connor cursed. “See? This is why I didn’t think it was safe for you to walk over here on your own. What if he’d caught you alone? You could have been hurt. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to indulge you on this. No more walking here or to the school alone.”

  Raven walked over and put a hand on his forearm. “Calm down. I was alone when he found me and nothing happened.”

  “This time,” Connor argued. “You might not get so lucky next time.”

  “For what it’s worth, I don’t think Si is a danger to Raven,” Jack stated.

  Connor stared at him like he was an idiot. There had been a time when Connor would have felt the same, but he’d seen a much different side of Simon over the last ten years.

  “Seriously, Raven has him wrapped around her little finger,” Jack insisted.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Raven said shyly. “I think I just surprised him.”

  “You have a way of doing that,” Connor agreed as he wrapped her in his arms.

  “Holy fuck!” Carla shouted.

  They all turned toward her and Muriel.

  “I guess those pains really were contractions,” Muriel said in a strained voice. “My water just broke.”

  “And dripped on my sandals,” Carla muttered with obvious disgust.

  “What pains?” Jack asked in a panicked voice.

  “A little cramping,” Muriel admitted.

  Just then, alarms sounded and Connor’s phone rang.

  “Yeah,” he answered. “Okay, we’ll be right there. We’re under attack,” he told the group after ending his call. “A large number of turned vamps are storming the gate.”

  “But my wife needs to go to the hospital,” Jack said helplessly. “She’s going to have a baby. They can’t attack now.”

  Connor shook his head, wondering if Jack realized how ridiculous he sounded. “I’ll do what I can, but I don’t think they’re going to reschedule their attack. For now, I would assume she’s going to have the baby here. Do we have anyone who can deliver a baby?”

  “I’ll find someone,” Carla volunteered.

  Connor nodded. “Jack and Raven will stay to help Muriel. Shelby, call the others and meet me at the front gate.”

  “Connor!” Raven shouted.

  He turned toward her.

  “Be careful,” she said softly.

  “Don’t worry. We’ve dealt with worse. It’s inconvenient timing but nothing we can’t handle.” After giving Raven a quick kiss on the mouth, Connor hurried out the door, hoping he was right.