“It’snot her fault–”
Heput a hand up. “I know, but someone drugged you and she said four witchesassociated with Prudence’s clan tried to jump you in the bathroom.”
Ifrowned. It sounded really bad when said out loud like that. That witch reallyneeded to die.
“Whatdo you think they wanted?” he asked.
Mymemories of that incident were hazy. “I dunno. Blood, capture. What do they alwayswant?”
Kai’sphone rang, distracting him. He pulled it from his gym shorts and glanced atthe number, groaning.
“Shit.I forgot about this meeting with the government. I’ll be in my office.” Heanswered the phone and dashed into the house.
Maxshook his head as Kai left. “He deals with a lot.”
Suddenly,I felt awful for my mate. He dealt with so much shit on my behalf. All of thisdrama with the humans was because of me. He did it all to protect me. Sayinggoodbye to Max, I went to listen at Kai’s office door.
“Sir,with all due respect, my people will not be tagged like cattle!” He roared andI flinched.
Icouldn’t hear what was said on the other end of the line, but Kai didn’t seemhappy.
“Tellthem we are doctors, lawyers, waiters. We are just as much a member of societyas the humans!” His fist hit the desk, making me flinch again.
“Fine.”
Iheard the phone slam in the cradle and I contemplated opening the door.
“Comein, Aurora.” He sighed.
Damn.Life was so much better when I was a human and could sneak around spying onpeople without being smelled.
Islowly walked inside. Kai sat at his large wooden desk, his tight black V-neckt-shirt clung to his large muscles, his breathing heavy, eyes yellow.
“Whatwas that all about?” I cut right to it.
Hislips pressed together. “The United States government has suggested we wear somesort of tag or tracking device.”
Mymouth dropped open. “You’re kidding, right?”
Heran a hand through his thick, wild hair. “I wish I was, Aurora.”
Helooked at me and through the mate bond, I felt his guilt at coming out to ourpeople. His fear that it was the wrong choice.
Sittingon his lap, I wrapped my arms around him. “Hey, you did the right thing. Nowhumans are aware of the vampires. The militias have tripled our numbers. Dozensof feeder clubs and dens have been shut down. Who knows how many human lives wehave saved?”
Hedraped his arms around me and pulled me closer. “In the short term, yes, Ithink I did the right thing. After the smoke has cleared and the vampireproblem is solved, I’m not so sure the humans will be so welcoming.”
Igroaned. “Tagged? Like, a microchip? They really said that?”
Hehad a far-off look in his eye. “They said it would be voluntary. A way ofshowing the reluctant humans that we aren’t hiding.”
Bullshit.“They want to know how many of us there are. What cities we are in, what jobswe hold.” Mist began to leak from my skin. All of a sudden, Luna leapt out frombehind the curtain and hissed at me. Kai jumped up and I fell off of him,crashing to the floor.
“JesusChrist! That cat. I didn’t even smell her.” He clutched his chest.
Ibusted out laughing and Luna came to purr and rub up against me. I winked atKai. “A little spell I did to increase Luna’s odds at survival.”
Kaiscowled at me. “Seriously? You took her cat smell? That’s not fair. She couldbe anywhere and I wouldn’t know it.”
