Page 70 of Jake

“The hangar’s got wards on it. Same with the plane. We’ll make it there. It sucks that every single thing down here needs protectin’ but it’s life in the Big Easy. You have to be safe.” Jake reached for the controls, switching on the heat. “You must be freezing.”

“I’m okay,” she lied. Gooseflesh rippled across her skin. She punched at the buttons, and gave a small smile as one lit up green. “Heated seats.”

“Yeah, you know it doesn’t usually get that cold down here but I like my ass toasty,” he joked. “Pretty nice.”

“Oh goddess….yes. We always have them out in Wyoming. Cold as hell in the winter.” Kai wrung the excess water out from the hem of her sodden shirt. “I’ve got to get this off.”

“Logan should have some spare clothes on the plane.”

“He keeps clothes on his private plane?” she asked, her teeth chattering.

“Yeah, well, the plane technically belongs to the pack. It’s a BBJ. 737.” Jake shrugged. “It’s not exactly tiny, but it works for longer flights, and we always keep it on standby.”

“Who’s flying it?” Kai asked. She took a deep breath and breathed out slowly, her skin finally warming.

“Salvatore and Gatien.”

“Are you sure we can trust them?” Panic rose in her voice.

“Ah, yeah. For sure. They’re my bros. I wouldn’t trust anyone else at this point. These guys have been flyin’ us for twenty years.”

A loud moan filled the car, and Kai turned her attention back to Quintus. “Hey,” she said, her voice soft. “We’re going to be there soon. I promise you this will be all right.”

“Something was in that,” Quintus grunted, “fucking ball of light. Goddamned demons.”

“Poison,” Jake called back to him.

“It’s what hit my leg a few days ago. I slept it off but mine was just a brush. This shit went right through you.” Kai hadn’t meant to blurt out the extent of his injury but she had no time for niceties. “We’ll take care of you. I promise.”

“I’m going to need blood…I’m not sure how much longer I can…” Quintus sucked a breath, his face tensing in agony.

Kai’s eyes flashed to Jake. She could feel his energy filtering into the car, her name in the whisper of his voice in her mind. Kai suspected he already knew the severity of the vampire’s injuries. She could sense Quintus’ pain, needles of agony reverberating into her psyche. Hurry, she told Jake. She wasn’t sure what they’d do once they got to the hangar, but she owed Quintus her life and was prepared to do whatever she had to to save his.

“He’s not responding,” Kai said. Focused on Quintus, she hadn’t brought up how she’d shifted on the street in the middle of New Orleans. By the time they arrived at the airport, Quintus had fallen unconscious. They hurried into the plane, and Jake laid him on the bed. They peeled off his soaked clothes and covered him with a blanket.

“Can we get a donor?” Kai held the vampire’s hand, and sat on the edge of the mattress.

“Normally yeah. Leo used to get them, but if we call one now, it’s going to be at least thirty minutes. No, I’m gonna do this myself,” Jake said. He turned to the closet and opened it. Making quick work of undressing, he stood bare, rummaging through the drawers. He found a pair of grey sweat shorts, shook them out and stepped into them.

“I…I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Kai told him. A shiver rolled through her as she recalled fighting for her life, the slice of fangs tearing into her skin. “Vampires bite two ways. One is fucking painful and the other…well…”

“I know, Kai.”

“Have you been bitten?” she asked. His mark tingled on her neck, reminding her that she was his mate, yet she hadn’t claimed him. Although she had very little experience, wolves were known to party with vampires, seeking the sexual high that accompanied being bitten.

“Yeah. I’ve been with a few.” Jake handed her a white t-shirt. “I know how it works.”

“You had sex with them?” Kai asked, the words leaving her mouth before she had a chance to think.

Jake sighed, his eyes locked on hers. “I’m not going to lie to you, Kai. It’s not like I’ve been with a lot of vampires, but the ones I was with, yeah, we had sex.”

As if she’d been slapped, a rush of jealousy seized her. Logic told her it wasn’t fair to judge him. It’d been her choice to remain hidden, to only make love with humans. He’d been free to be with whomever he’d wanted over the centuries. Aware he’d sense her emotions, she quickly shoved the ugly thoughts to the back of her mind.

She gripped the edge of her shirt, and tugged off the wet fabric. As Jake’s eyes roamed over her nude body, heat flashed in his expression. He quickly recovered, handing her a dry t-shirt. She slipped it over her head, thankful to be warm and dry.

Kai turned to the bed, watching intently as Jake sat next to Quintus. As he took the vampire’s hand in his, her heart squeezed, in awe of the Alpha’s gentle nature. Kai padded quietly to the other side, and lay on the king size bed next to Quintus.

“He’s so cold,” Kai commented, settling her hand on his forehead.