“Are you sure that’s wise?”
I raised an eyebrow at Killian’s tone—which could almost be mistaken for concern. “Yes. Jade will soon be too well protected for them to threaten—she’d be able to stake any of them anyway. But I don’t want you trying to hold her existence over my head,and if they insist on hanging around, they may as well make themselves useful.”
Killian was silent for a few moments. “You know, I’m never going to stop teasing you that you’ve fallen for a vampire slayer after centuries of scoffing at any kind of emotional connection. But I’m not going to threaten her.”
“No, I don’t expect you will.” I spotted the driveway—which was currently barred by an obnoxiously huge gate—and activated my turn signal. “Not because you’re an upright vampire, but because word has it your One is a crusader of the righteous and would probably fight you first if she got wind of you going after an innocent.”
“She wouldn’t fight me. She’d lie in wait and jump me, taking every advantage she could to assure her win,” Killian said, sounding disgustingly pleased at the idea.
I grimaced as the gate slowly opened—whatever vampire watching it must have recognized me. “Yeah, whatever. I don’t want any insight into your romantic life, thank you. Just consider this your warning. I’m about to deeply upset your siblings, which is likely to cause swooning and vapors.”
“Hopefully I’ll arrive in time to see it. Good luck making use of them.” Killian hung up before I could reply.
“Who taught him manners? Certainly not me,” I declared as my car crawled down the tactically long driveway. “It’s Ambrose’s fault. He was too lenient with his youngest.”
Killian hadn’t spent all that much time with his sire before Ambrose found his One and kicked the bucket. In my worst moments, I’d wondered if that had perhaps been a good thing since Killian hadn’t seemed to have inherited any of his sire’s weaknesses for humans and fickle affection that was bound to eventually fade away.
Now, having changed my entire life to make sure I could protect Jade, I didn’t have space to judge.
I pulled up into the roundabout that formed the end of the driveway and shut the car off.
Jade—now that was something I needed to think over.
I’d been prepared for hostility when she learned of all the tricks I’d pulled to get myself into that task force of hers, much less assigned as her partner. I’d assumed hated would be the response given the farce of Connor and my true self.
Instead, Jade had seemed…shocked. She was distrustful of my interest and wary to be certain, but she appeared to lack the rage I’d prepared myself to face.
I eased out of the car and slammed the door shut, considering the night’s events.
She’s conscientious and is likely responding to me based on my current actions. I’ll have to be upfront with her, or she really will get angry. Regardless, she trusts her department too much.
She trusted her sergeant, which was likely the only reason she hadn’t flat out refused to work with me. As far as I could tell, her naiad boss was smart, but even though everything had worked out in my favor, I was more than a little judgy that I’d gotten what I wanted so easily.
What I can’t understand is that both Sarge and Captain Reese seem to care about her…so whydidthey make me her partner?
I climbed the stairs up to Drake Hall, nodding to the pair of vampires guarding the entrance before I headed in.
I’ll consider the issue later. For now, I need to handle the snake-brats.
With the sun almost entirely over the horizon, the Dracos offspring most likely had already retired for the day.
They didn’t need the sleep—not with their power. But the older vampires grew, the more they slept—lost to the ennui that plagued our immortal lives.
If I give them any wiggle room, there’s no telling what they’ll do. I’d better come down strong.
I scratched my jaw as I made my way through Killian’s luxurious mansion, smirking when I found the room I was looking for.
I unraveled more power, mentally sifting through the vampires in the Hall. It was easy to pick out the Dracos children among Killian’s Drake vampires. They were stronger—theoretically, at least.
“Dining room. Now.” I pushed the order into their consciousness, then strolled into the selected room, dropping into one of the many chairs pulled up to the long dining table Killian’s vampires used for Family dinners.
I dug my cellphone out and changed the background photo, using the one I’d taken of Jade while she’d explained the process the task force used in building their convoluted whiteboards.
I’m going to have to be careful, or I’ll get obsessive.
When I’d made the choice to stay with Jade, I’d been aware I was inviting weakness—an inevitable pain—into my life. I’d resolved to counter that by doing everything I could to protect her, but I hadn’t accounted for the burningneedto know she was fine that had settled into the very center of my soul before I knew what was happening.
I knew I should have ended the lizard.
