“Neither did mine,” Ian said. “But Iwouldn’t change any of it.”
“Emma saved my life and probably someothers,” Ethan added the last four words as an aside Ian didn’tthink traveled past him or Aiden. He realized Ronan had caught hiswords when he lifted an eyebrow.
Ian folded his arms over his chest androcked back on his heels. “You’ll still have all of us here tosupport you,” he said to Aiden.
“That didn’t answer my question,” Aidenreplied.
“I don’t know how long I would have lastedwithout Emma,” Ethan admitted.
“What did you crave most after you reachedmaturity?” Ian asked Ethan.
“Pain,” Ethan answered flatly. “Solitude,blood, but mostly the pain, so I didn’t have to think about theblood and death I wanted so badly.”
Ronan glanced questioningly at him. “I’m allabout the women and the sex,” Ian admitted without hesitation. Helooked toward where Paige sat. “Or I was. I’ll admit I really likedthe blood that came with sex, so it was a good way to kill twobirds with one stone.”
“What about you, Aiden? What do you thinkyou’ll crave the most?” Ethan asked.
Aiden shook his head as he stared at thepickup truck. “I don’t know. I like women, but who doesn’t? I don’tthink I’m as enthusiastic about sex as Ian. I like to be aroundpeople, so I guess that means I won’t withdraw from them. Ethan andIssy were pretty anti-social even in high school. I’ve neverenjoyed getting my ass kicked by these two assholes,” he said witha wave of his hand at Ethan and Ian.
“Nothing you didn’t deserve,” Ianretorted.
“So I guess that rules out me liking pain,”Aiden ignored Ian’s words as he continued to speak. “I assume bloodwill become my obsession.”
“Perhaps,” Ronan murmured. “You are stillyoung, things may change over the coming years for you.”
“Oh, so it’s a grab bag of fun,” Aidenreplied sarcastically.
“We all must go through it. It’s better tobe prepared for it than taken by surprise. This conversation hasbrought me to the conclusion your brothers weren’t expecting it anddidn’t know how to handle what was going on inside of them. Asmated vampires they can’t help you as much as I can. If you choose,you can come and stay with my team and me when the time comes. Wecan aid with what you will be going through, and I am alwayslooking for new recruits in our mission,” Ronan offered.
Ian glanced nervously at Aiden. He didn’twant his brother going anywhere with this man, for any period oftime. They had no idea who he was, where he lived, or who exactlyhisteamconsisted of. Aiden didn’t look as put off by thepossibility as Ian felt; he actually looked intrigued.
“It’s something we can discuss later,” Ronantold him before turning to Ian. “Have you made your woman decideyet?”
Ian released a bark of laughter. “You may beover a century old, but you have no idea about women if you thinkwe can make them do anything.” Ronan glanced at the diner window. Aripple went through Ian as he stepped in between Ronan and Paige.“She’ll decide when she’s ready.”
“Make it soon.”
Ian’s lip curled, a low rumble of warningescaped him at Ronan’s words. “Don’t get too annoyed with him,Purebred,” Brian said to Ian. “One day he’ll be in your position,and he’ll know what it’s like to be led around by a woman half hissize.”
Ronan looked Brian up and down scathingly.“I highly doubt that.”
Brian grinned at him as he rested his arm onthe bed of the truck and leaned against it. “Believe what you will,oh great leader. Whether it be our hidden desires that takes usdown, death, or a woman, we all must fall in one way oranother.”
Ian had to bite on his inner lip to keepfrom laughing while Ronan glared at Brian. The vampire had no fearof anyone, Ian decided when Brian smiled in return. “Death will beyour end,” Ronan grated.
“Probably one day, but not anytime soon,”Brian replied.
A circle of red raced around the outside ofRonan’s eyes, Ian thought he would say something more, but his lipsremained clamped, and he turned away from Brian. Ian was stilltrying not to laugh when the door to the diner opened, and Emma andPaige stepped outside. Emma shaded her eyes against the sun asPaige looked toward him. She smiled before swiftly descending thestairs and striding toward him.
He took hold of her hand before pulling heragainst his side. Paige tilted her head back to look up at Ronan.“I’m going to do this,” she said firmly. “But I’d like your helpwith something afterward.”
Ian became rigid, he didn’t like the idea ofRonan involved in their lives any more than he had to be. “Paige…”he started.
Ronan lifted a hand. “I’ll hear her out.”Ronan clasped his hands behind his back as he watched her. “Andwhat would that be?”
“You hunt down the murderous vampires andyou destroy them. When I’m changed, I’d like you to help me locatemy father. I’ve been hunting for the past four years, he killed mymother, and he needs to be destroyed.”
“Do you know where he is?” Ronaninquired.
