Ihadn'tmeanttoget so serious during our hunt, but I've seen what we can become if we forget how fragile humanity is.I'm grateful Andrew is still new enough in his vampire state to not have lost the things many old ones seem to over time.Perhaps our mating so early in his transition will help him maintain his human habits and ways.
Another board comes loose as I pull the last nail, dropping it in the bucket.There's nothing to do out here in this cabin so I've started making repairs to keep myself busy.By the time Andrew is ready to leave here, this place might actually be livable.The only thing left would be figuring out how to get electricity run.Using a generator twenty-four seven for daily life isn't practical, nor is relying on magic for things like preserving blood bags.
Taking the old board up, I haul it to the side of the house and put it on the stack.
"You're making good progress," Ransom says, walking up to the edge of the porch as I'm returning.
"Yeah.I should have the porch finished today.I didn't know you were coming out."
"I have a message.Needed the exercise."
"What's the message?"
"Isadora will be out in a couple weeks to cast the Speak-No-More spell on Andrew since he's lucid enough to handle it now."
"Is that the only reason you came out?"Ransom could have used the pack link to relay the message to me.
"You alright?"he asks.A two-word question that's deeper than it sounds.He's checking up on me.Ransom is the only one who knows about my craving to some extent.He's been with me a few times to keep things from going too far when I've given in to it.
"I'm managing."Which technically isn't a lie.There's no sense trying to pretend I'm not giving in at all.He'd see right through me.But there's no reason he needs details.He'd call me reckless.I have it under control.Andrew is getting better and we're mated, so there's less reason to worry about accidents now.
"As long as you're here, grab that new board and help me finish the porch," I say, diverting his attention from the subject.
"I can't.I have an appointment to keep.I need to get back to the main house and get packed.Heading out sometime tomorrow."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Four days."
"Same client?"
"Yep."
"You know, the rest of the pack won't care, don't you?"I hold his gaze."But I guess we all have our secrets."
I can't get on him about keeping things from our family when I do it, too.A man has to keep some things to himself, dammit.
"I'm careful.As long as it's not a danger to the Pack or Coven, I don't see a reason anyone else needs to know my business.I'll check in when I get back."I nod in acknowledgement and Ransom heads back to the main house.
Grabbing a new board, I lay it in place.The door to the cabin opens and Andrew steps out, avoiding both a strip of sunlight and the loose board.
"I thought you might be thirsty."He offers me a bottle of water.
"Thank you," I say, taking it and unscrewing the cap.I have it empty in seconds.
"What's a Speak-No-More spell?"he asks, taking the empty container from me.
"It keeps someone from talking to outsiders about vital secrets regarding the Pack and Coven.Isadora, the High Priestess of the Ravenswing Coven, put it in place once the Pack started expanding.Lorne's blood family are Hunters.We couldn't have them blabbing our business all over."
A surge of urgency flares through the bond.
"Are you okay?"
Andrew nods."Yeah.I'm trying to get used to everything.Makes me anxious sometimes, I guess."
Unsettled, I stare after him as he goes back inside.Is he keeping something from me?I wish newly formed bonds were more stable so I could read him better.
Chapter Eight
