“Well, I’ll just have to figure all of that out then, won’t I?Good thing you’re a witch and not a spy.”
Will’s head sagged further.“Iwillpay you back.”He looked up, but he could only meet the vampire’s eyes for a second.“In whatever way you want.”
“For a start, you will finish the chocolate.I rarely get the chance to entertain, and even more rarely the people I actually want to entertain, and what a bother that is.I’m assuming you have no intention of going back to your original pack, seeing as how they basically sold you into slavery?”
The words stung, but Will could handle that.The direct harshness of the vampire was easier to deal with than pity.Not that Will thought he deserved pity.He wasn’t a good pack wolf, never had been, and the traditional way in which his grandfather ran his pack had never worked for Will.In a way, Will’s grandfather had probably been happy to have his problem grandchild taken off his hands.
Will shook his head.“No, they’re… There’s nothing there for me.”That wasn’t exactly true either.Will’s sister was still there, but she was an alpha in her own right.There was no reason to assume she wanted anything to do with him after the way he’d been living for the past four years.
Will saw the vampire nod out of the corner of his eye.“Good decision.Since I just discovered a new stock photo database, I will be busy through the night.Remind me, what are the rules?”
Will’s brain blanked, and he blurted out, “Don’t talk unless I’m talked to, and do as I’m told.”
The vampire froze.Will started trembling when he realized those had been Ed’s rules.The vampire hadn’t asked for those.Something inside of Will wanted to curl up in a ball, because he was afraid, afraid there would be a beating.Tears welled up in his eyes.
The vampire slowly leaned forward and reached out.Will squeezed his eyes shut, but the blow never fell.Instead, the weight of the vampire’s palm settled on Will’s neck.
Alphas would do this to calm their own.Will knew the vampire wasn’t his alpha, and he understood they weren’t that close, but it still helped.The knot that had kept his chest tight eased slightly, and Will managed to breathe.
“You stay inside.You don’t go into the basement,” the vampire said, voice steady, “and you don’t have to fear violence in this house.Do you understand?”
Will just nodded.The hand on his neck felt too good.
“Your room is upstairs.Second floor, first door on the left.You are welcome to everything you find in there.Do you understand?”
Will nodded again.
“And once more, do you need medical attention?”
Will hesitated for a moment.The way the vampire was speaking to him was exactly like an alpha would, and that made Will really take stock.But he wasn’t bleeding, and nothing was broken as far as he could tell.The soreness would fade.
Will shook his head.
“If that changes, you will let me know immediately,” the vampire said, and Will promptly bobbed his head.He could do that.This was easy.Finish the chocolate, go to the room.He could handle that much without losing his shit.
The vampire took his hand off Will’s neck, but the calm the simple gesture had brought stayed with Will.
Will blinked.“What do I call you?”
“Peter.It’s Peter Collins, but Peter will do.”He stood.“Well, stock photos wait for no man.Make yourself at home, William.”
He walked out of the kitchen, as silently as any vampire.
This left Will with the chance to look around a little more, but the energy that had kept him running and his heart pounding just drained like a leaking water bottle.
He finished the chocolate, of course, both the drink and the pieces.There was still more in the pot on the stove, so Will finished that as well, because for a vampire, Peter really knew his hot chocolate.
After that, Will washed the pot and the dishes in the sink, and left them out to dry.He headed up the staircase in the foyer.He was so tired, and he just wanted to pass out.
The house smelled good in an unspecific way.Will didn’t even get the scent of blood, which he found odd for a vampire home.And there didn’t seem to be anyone else in the house.Will would have thought a vampire as rich as Peter would keep one or two humans around for blood and company, but Peter seemed to be solitary.
Will decided he could wonder about that tomorrow.He found the guest room on the second floor, first door on the left.It smelled of detergent and lavender.
There was a second door, and Will could hardly believe his eyes when he found a small bathroom behind that, complete with a shower and clean towels on a shelf set against the wall on his right.
Despite his exhaustion, he stripped out of his clothes after firmly locking the bathroom door behind himself and turned on the water.Will would have taken a cold shower.He’d have taken skinny dipping in a kappa-infested lake.But the water was hot, and there was shower gel and shampoo.Will used both.He washed three times, then a fourth, then just stood there under the running water.
“I’m out,” he said, because saying the words had to make it truer, didn’t it?
