“So romantic,” Shaun said. Quin didn’t detect even one note of sarcasm in his voice.
“I couldn’t resist him,” Quin said, tucking a lock of Kit’s hair behind one ear.
Shaun’s eyes went soft as he looked at them. Quin might have found it patronising before he knew about Kit’s—and by extension, Shaun’s—past, but he could tell that Shaun was happy for Kit. It was nice to know that he wasn’t the only person in his boy’s life who cared about him.
“I was promised a dog,” DJ said. “Where’s the dog?”
“She’s with the dog sitter for a few days,” Quin said.
“Oh,” DJ said, dejected before brightening again. “Can you turn into a wolf for us?”
“It’s not a party trick,” Kit said.
“Also, I can only do it at the full moon,” Quin said.
“Well, we've gotta stick around until the full moon, then,” DJ said. “Do we have to”—he waved a hand towards his neck and bared his fangs—“visit the territory leader to tell them we’re here?”
Quin shared a cautious look with Kit. They’d wanted a bit more time before hitting the trio with the situation, but this was an apt opportunity to bring it up. Kit nodded his approval.
Quin drew in a breath. “So, we’re not on great terms with the nest leader.”
“What did you do?” Rake asked.
“I resent the implication that we were the ones to do anything,” Kit said.
“I wasn’t implying,” Rake said. “I was assuming.”
Quin tilted his head, unsure if Rake was being serious. Judging by his blank expression, he was. “A few vampires from the St Andrews nest, including the leader, Conroy, decided to go hunting for wolf on the last full moon,” Quin said.
“Oh,” Rake said musingly, as if Quin had told him a mildly interesting fact and not that someone had attempted to murder him.
“Did you kick some ass?” DJ asked.
“A bit,” Kit said. “But then we ended up in some weird blood pact to do no harm to each other, thanks to the witches that showed up.”
“As you do,” Shaun said.
“I’d be interested in meeting the witches,” Rake said. “Ever since I found out they’re the ones who created the vampire curse in the first place, I’ve wanted to ask them how they do it.”
“That’s handy, because we have to engage with them for—something,” Kit added. “Which is where you all come in. We need your help.”
“What’s with the deliberate vagueness?” Shaun asked.
Kit sucked his lip into his mouth, gnawing on it, so Quin took the lead. “Have you guys ever encountered a ghost?”
“What?” DJ asked, head whipping from side to side. “Is there one in the room with us right now?”
Quin glanced down at Kit, who didn’t seem to know how to respond to that. He didn’t either, because there very well could be. Whatever fuelled Lawrence, however, seemed not to give him enough juice to be constantly present, at least.
Shaun studied Quin’s face, then his intent gaze focused instead on Kit. “What aren’t you saying?” Shaun asked.
“Do you have…dreams about him?” Kit asked in a quiet voice. Quin’s heart clenched.
“Nightmares, more like,” Shaun said.
“But was it evermorethan a nightmare for you?”
“What do you mean?”
