I have to know.Just like he did at university and then again at my college, Piers was never satisfied to simply let us walk away and disappear.He always had to try and ruin our lives on top of it all.
What did he say to Theron?And was it enough to make my vampire lover want to kill us?
Shadow jerks his head.“Do as I say.Check the window drapes.”
I do a thorough job.Shadow is one scary ass dude.He doesn’t bother looking up when I come back.He’s got a full syringe and he’s cleaning the wound with clear liquid.“Saline water.When the scalp and skull are free of dirt, I will set the sutures and close the cut.A course of antibiotics should knock any infection on its ass.Go find me an electric shaver.”
I am worried about my mom and Theron.Damn these unemotional monsters!
“Um… are they going to be alright?”I find a shaver in the bathroom cabinet and think I deserve a few answers by way of thanks when I present it to Shadow.
Shadow begins to shave off my mom’s hair around the wound site.
“Amelia’s skull is intact.Either she was running away when she was attacked, or she was unaware of the intruder.Unfortunately, too much traffic has eradicated their scent.”Breaking off from his task, he glances at Theron.“It was wise of you to put Hunter’s helmet back on.He will wake up once his humanity has recovered.”
“You make Theron looking human sound like a smokescreen.”
Using a can of antiseptic, Shadow sprays my mom’s poor shaved head.“The human mask of the Riders is as much a part of us as the monster is.Two sides of the same coin.You, Aila, will have to learn to love both if you want to be with Hunter for any length of time.”
Kneeling next to my mom, he begins to close the wound.
“Think of it like this.After years of always wearing makeup in front of a partner because you are afraid of what their reaction will be if they see the real you, isn’t it nice to be able to show your natural face once in a while?”
I can relate.“Sure, but which one is the real Theron?The man or the monster?”
And which one am I in love with?
Shadow shoots a critical look at me as he winds a bandage around Mom’s head.“You must love both, or none at all.”
Showing me the pharmaceutical names on the glass ampoules, Shadow shoots painkillers and antibiotics into my mom’s muscles.He is remarkably thorough and calm.“Help me carry her to the couch.Amelia will be fine lying there until Ben comes back.”
After showing me how to position my mom’s head so that she isn’t lying on the suture stitches, Shadow does a vampire sprint and fetches her a blanket.
I get a fright when I see Theron stirring.I am trying so hard not to think of zombies and ghouls right now.
Shadow goes to help Theron up, removing the helmet and supporting him by threading Theron’s arm over his neck.
My vampire lover has gone back to being that eye-catching hottie from Harry’s Saloon, surrounded by deepening darkness now that the sun has sunk below the forest.He slumps back into the armchair with his eyes closed.
Shadow jerks his head towards the couch.“Sit next to your mom, Aila.Make sure she doesn’t fall off the couch if she begins to wake up.”
“Hunter!”Shadow is back in boss mode.“Tell us what happened.”
Leaning forward, Theron runs his hands over his face like he’s checking to see if he’s back to being gorgeous.
“Fuuuck.Every fucking decision we ever made this summer has gone to shit.”
I wish I could offer him a cup of tea or a stiff brandy, but Theron is going to have to come out of his unconsciousness without it.
He looks up.“How long was I out?”
Shadow points at my mom.“Long enough for Amelia to get stitched up.”
“Well, that’s good…” He’s mumbling, acting defensive and unsure of how I feel about him.
Theron avoids making eye contact with me, like he’s embarrassed about the full-on flash of inner monster that I got.
“What happened here, Theron?”I need to know.My belief in him is unshakable, but I need to hear it from his own mouth.
