I am ready.
I never thought I would admit this to myself, but it is the truth.
I want to give up blood-sucking and stick to fluids for the rest of time.And while I don’t expect the remaining crew to reach the same conclusion—blood and sex is so firmly ingrained into our dark existence, after all—they must follow my lead or hit the road.
Luna must be protected from any hint of blame if Linda’s and Jake’s deaths are ever linked.And I have a nasty suspicion that a scandal of tsunami-like proportions is going to hit Landslide if women keep dying.
Time for me to reach an agreement with the half-breed.There was no sign of him anywhere last night.Here’s hoping he has left for the mainland to feed.
Fuck!Jake Farmer’s body is probably still in the creek!Mickey thinks his old man has gone on a walkabout to calm down.How long can I keep up this mutherfucking juggling and lie spinning?
“What’s up, brother?”Theron’s voice.“You’re growling and gnashing your teeth so hard it woke me up.”
Sliding back the panel, I’m out of the hidden room and gasping like an escaped convict.
The smell of brewing hits me.While the MC was hiding from the sun, my sweetheart was preparing fluids for us.
Her sacrifice affects me acutely.In only a matter of days, Luna has turned my life upside down.
I can’t wait to see her again.
The other four Riders come and join me.
“That girl has got it going on.”Rundas grunts with approval at the smell of fluids.“She’s a keeper, that’s for sure.”
And that’s where the conversation ends.Tempest was the only female who ever knew the truth about us, and she was just a friend.
None of us have ever bonded with a woman before.And I would not wish this feeling on my worst enemy.
It’s deeply unsettling, to be so enrapt by a woman.I can’t stand the thought of her being with anyone else.My fangs emerge whenever I contemplate a future without Luna by my side.
Jaecar speaks first.
“Maybe we should reassess our situation in light of recent events.We should start preparing for the inquiry that is likely to be made.”
Artim butts in.“This is what Wulf always wanted, you realize.That little freak is toxic.He will not rest until the coven has disbanded.”
Theron interjects.“Maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way?We should never have allowed Ifan to split.Each of us was raised in a loving community and given a purpose from the time we received ourgátkiafter thirteen winters.Wulf never had that.”
“I wasn’t going to be the one to tell Ifan how to run his life.Would you?”Rundas sounds thoughtful.“Dude’s a nomad, for fuck’s sake.Cutting loose was always in the cards.”
It dawns on me that Ifan might have never loved Tempest the way she deserved.Sure, he stuck around long enough to feed on her delicious free-range blood, but he couldn’t have been fixed on Tempest the way I am enthralled with Luna—because he left.
Time for me to step up.
“We’re going to need a modern pair of eyes to look at this problem for us.I think there’s a way out of our current dilemma that our ancient eyes cannot see.”
“Your woman is neither a witch nor a scientist, Prez,” Rundas grumbles, “and we are going to need a whole lotta both if we are to find a way to stop them investigating the Farmer deaths.”
I have wasted too much time debating this.Luna’s beguiling hazel eyes seem to beckon to me from across the forest.
Sure, I want to fuck her again, but this time there will be no sucking.Her blood is far too precious now that she will be brewing fluids with it.
“Luna and me, it was never about the blood, you know.”I can’t believe I am saying this out loud for the other Riders to hear.“In the beginning, I thought my attraction to her was so we could get the distillery and the inn going again… but no.I… she… damn it!”I can’t find the words to describe the feeling.
Artim sniggers.“Say no more, brother.We saw how things were between the two of you when you passed up the opportunity to feed on her after you were injured.”
Jaecar adds.“Putting a woman first.It’s a sign, man.”
