As much as Shaun had been trying to stay calm, this was a step too far. “How arewethe ones in the wrong here? You imprisoned me and didn’t believe my story, which led to DJ being kidnapped and Rake almost dying! You promised me you would keep them safe, and now both of them are vampires.”
“Which was going to happen anyway,” Lynette said. “Seeing as you informed them of what we are.”
Rake tensed under Shaun, but neither of them disabused Lynette of the notion. “That isn’t the point,” Rake stressed. “You need to help us get DJ back from Lawrence.”
“We will. I needed to protect my people first.”
Shaun chanced another look at Julia. “I didn’t hurt you,” he said in his softest tone. “I promise I only ever tried to protect you.”
Lynette pushed Julia behind her. “Don’t address her.”
“And you don’t get to speak to Shaun in that manner,”Rake said, his voice low and demanding.
“You are a newly recreated vampire,” Lynette snarled. “Don’t you dare—”
“Shaun’s my sub,” Rake interrupted. “And I’m telling you to pay him the respect he’s due.” Rake’s words held a warning. But it was more than that. It was a claim.
Shaun couldn’t help but examine how Rake’s statement of ownership made him feel.
Wanted. Needed.Safe.
They weren’t empty words, either. Nobody had ever come to his defence like Rake and DJ had. They’d been protecting him since the first time they met.
Lynette gave Rake the sort of look that had Shaun’s eyes drifting to the floor. “You’re still in my territory,” she said. “You will all speak to me as befits my station.”
“As much fun as this little Dom-off is, I think it’s about time we discussed what we’re going to do about Lawrence,” Kit said, cutting off both Lynette and Rake. “We need to kill him.”
“I have not yet passed judgement,” Lynette said.
“Well, you should,” Rake said.
“I don’t need to be told what to do by someone who has been a vampire for all of five minutes.”
Kit made a show of looking at his watch. “It’s more like a few hours by this point.”
Lynette looked close to eviscerating Kit, but Julia tugged on her sleeve. “Mistress. I would like to speak to you. Away from here.”
The Domme’s features softened. “Of course.” She nodded towards them as she spoke to one of her creations. “Makesure they’re kept comfortable.” Shaun assumed her order translated to ‘make sure they stay here’.
The vampire, a wiry woman whose outward appearance was that of someone in their mid-forties, nodded deferentially.
Rake threw up his hands, startling Shaun where he still sat on Rake’s lap. “This is useless.”
Lynette ushered Julia up the stairs, where Shaun hoped he’d never have to go again.
“I’m sorry,” Rake blurted once Lynette was out of immediate earshot.
“For what?” Shaun asked.
“For”—Rake made a vague gesture with one of his hands—“calling you my sub without speaking to you about it first.”
Hurt lanced through Shaun. Maybe Rake had only said it to get one over on Lynette. “If you don’t want to be my Dom, that’s okay,” he said as casually as he could, even though he felt sick.
“What? No! I mean, you want to be my sub, right?”
“I’m going to stop you both right there,” Kit said, sauntering over to them. “Rake. Shaun would very much like to be your sub. Shaun. Rake would very much like to be your Dom. With the power vested in me by being a nosy little bitch who can’t stay out of other people’s business, I hereby pronounce you Dom and sub. You may now spank your partner.” Kit finished with a flourish of his arms, as if he mightactuallyexpect Shaun to bend over on Rake’s lap right then and there.
Well, Shaun supposed they were in the right place to do such a thing.
