The gray-skinned dusk elf, Varu’s mate, didn’t use a glamour at home. Fara looked every inch a fae. She had long black hair streaked with white, delicately pointed ears, and lavender eyes a little too large to be human—all contributing to her unearthly beauty. She wore a pair of jeans and a cashmere sweater, but nothing about her looked mortal.
“We thought you were on a mission for Mormo,” Rolf said to him. “Who knew you were playing around with a sea nymph? If I’d known how much fun you were having, I’d have bolted out to meet you and left the lycan in the basement to his own end.”
“He’s still alive, but for how much longer I can’t say,” Khent said from the couch, watching Rolf perform acrobatics. “Mormo keeps interfering in my business, and I don’t like it.” He turned to Orion. “Nice to have you back. But perhaps next time you can hold off your vacation until business is taken care of? The lycans have been a royal pain. I have better things to do with my time.” He sneered at Shadow, who hissed back. “And keep your feline in order, or the next time he sneaks into my laboratory, I’ll stuff him and raise him from the dead.”
“Oh, smackdown ison,” Rolf exclaimed and rolled to his feet. “I really did miss you, Orion.”
Kraft snorted. “Meh. That didn’t sound all that believable.”
Rolf’s face fell. “Seriously? I’ve been working on my delivery for days.”
Orion wanted to be angry, but he found Rolf amusing. “You’re still a dickhead.”
“But your favorite dickhead.”
Fara cleared her throat, the delicate dusk elf lovely as always, and smiling. “I didn’t have to practice. I did miss you, Orion. Unfortunately, Varu has been so busy with the new Bloode Stone that he didn’t pay as much attention to my warning as he should have,” she said as her mate walked in.
Varujan, their patriarch, exuded menace as he surveyed the room. Until he spotted Fara, then he smiled. And that smile continued to Orion. “Yes, fine, you were right. I should have paid better attention.” He walked over to Orion and grabbed him by the forearm. A wash of power settled over Orion, a reconnection to his clan that made him feel welcomed and appreciated.
“Wow.”
“Right?” Rolf grinned. “He and Fara have been working with the power gems to feel the rest of us. When you went missing, it was the impetus to fine-tune the stones.”
Orion blinked. “To each of us?”
“Yes.” Varu nodded. “The Bloode Stones want to know you better. I think they sensed when you were taken and enslaved, but the new stone we retrieved muddied their awareness. It’s still adjusting.”
Orion concentrated. “I feel them now. Or do I?”
Varu sighed. “They’re inside me.”
“Oh, kinky.”
“Shut up, Rolf,” Khent and Kraft said at the same time.
The familiar banter eased some of Orion’s tension. Holding Shadow, who purred with contentment, while being near Fara and the others soothed that part of him that had been trapped, forced to hide behind a veneer of kindness and peace. Orion was a vampire, a vrykolakas and member of the Night Bloode. Death and killing were a part of him, but so too were kinship, bonds of friendship, and a female he couldn’t stop thinking about.
Varu frowned. “Who are we missing?”
Duncan and Macy arrived. “We’re here,” Duncan announced unnecessarily. “Where’s the white wizard?”
Macy snickered. “And Hecate. Is she coming?”
Bella entered, the lone human servant in the house who did whatever Mormo needed. “Mr. Mormo’s coming,” she announced. A pretty, young woman with long, sandy hair caught back in a ponytail, she exuded cheer and efficiency. “Oh, Orion. Welcome back.” She clapped. “I’m so happy to see you. So are Shadow and Nightmare.” So she knew the kitten’s new name as well.
“When did he start calling himself Shadow?”
“Oh, a while ago. I think it’s good he chose his own name, don’t you?”
Personally, Orion had liked Smoky, but whatever. He looked around but didn’t seeShadow’sbrother. “Where’s the little bastard?
“Probably shitting in your shoes,” Rolf answered.
Fara choked on laughter. “Rolf.”
Orion saw Varu hide a grin as well while Macy sputtered about her loveable feline.
Khent chuckled. “You know, for a thief constantly stealing my scorpions and death beetles, I can’t stay mad at him. He is pretty clever. Macy, you have a remarkable familiar.”
