Hechuckled. “Well, sort of.” He paused. “After I attacked her.”
“Oh.”I didn’t know what to say.
“It’sa long story, we’re past that now. I take little bits of blood from her to tideme over until I can get down to my friend’s blood bank in Eugene.”
“Yourvampire friend? Are there more like you? How many?” Kai pressed him.
Aleklooked uncomfortable. “I have answered a lot of your questions. Now I have somequestions of my own, if you please?”
Kainodded. “Fair enough.” I could tell Kai respected Alek. He was wary of him, butthey had a mutual trust building.
Aleklooked at me. “How did you find my home?”
Ilooked at Kai and sighed.
“Ihave a Shaman friend. He took me into the mountains and gave me somehallucinogenic tea and I saw you kissing your wife and arguing about going tothe movies or staying in. She likes the movies, but you wanted to stay home.”
Hishand flew to his mouth in shock. “That’s true. Incredible.” He inhaled. “You’rea witch? Or a werewolf?” He looked confused.
Ireturned his smile. “I’m both. Long story. ”
Hisface took on a serious look. “Why are you here? What do you want from me?”
Itwas Kai’s turn to talk. “The queen wants my mate captured. I will not allowthat to happen. If I have to kill every last vampire in her coven to get toher, I will. The witches have sided with us. I guess we’re here to find outwhose side you are on and how many of you there are.”
Alekstood and paced the carpet. “The last time I checked, the werewolves didn’texactly have enough numbers to take on the vampires, even with some witches’help.”
Kainodded. “I have a plan.” He stood and indicated I do so as well. “How many arethere like you?”
Istood.
Alekturned to us. “Not enough. We make up maybe five percent of all vampires.”
Kaichewed his lip. “Do you want to help us or stay out of it?”
Alekbowed deeply. “If you are taking on the queen, I personally will help you inany way I can, if only to make sure that no human has to suffer the fate I did.But I cannot speak for the rest of my kind. We live in rural places. We stayout of the limelight.”
Kainodded. “Well, if my plan goes well, your people might be a littleuncomfortable in the near future. It would be nice if we could tell good frombad. If you can get them on board, let me know.”
Aleknodded. “All of my people use the same blood bank. It has locations all acrossAmerica. I can spread the word through there and let you know.”
Kaipulled a card out of his pocket. After taking it, Alek shook his hand.
“Timesare changing, aren’t they?” Alek asked him.
Kainodded. “Yes, they are.”
Ilooked at my mate. Why did I have the feeling his plan involved total chaos anddestruction?
Thedrive back home was a silent one. I reached over and held Kai’s hand.
“Youokay? You’ve been quiet,” I asked.
Henodded. “To be honest I’m a little shocked. He was so normal. If he didn’tsmell like a vampire, you wouldn’t have known.”
Iagreed. “Yeah, and the drugs. Wow. Who knew?”
Kaishook his head. “That’s the thing. I should have known! I should have beenwatching the vampires all these years.”
