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“The young man is exhausted,” Yulian commented with a frown at the back of Carver’s head. “This concerns me. Especially if the turning wasn’t his choice.”

Dante sent Yulian a knowing look. Yulian had been turned against his will. He’d hated his sire but it had taken decades before Yulian was able to break away and that was thanks to Dante’s help. “We will get answers. And help the boy adjust to his new life.”

Yulian gave a sharp nod. “He needs to be with the clan.”

“He’ll find his place with us.” With Dante, the clan, and their world. Dante had no intention of letting his little one go. Carver would just have to get with the plan sooner rather than later.

4

Carver

Clutching his bag to his chest, Carver sat on the edge of Dante’s massive bed. The clan house in the Blackstone area was enormous and Dante had an entire suite to himself. A suite which could be considered by most as its own apartment with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an outside balcony. It was just too much…everything, making Carver feel even more out of his depth. He’d been given a moment to collect himself as Dante drew him a bath.

He needed to text Owen back.

The cell in his hand vibrated as more messages came through. Since Carver had been asleep as Dante carried him out of the club to the waiting car and for the entire ride to Blackstone, Carver hadn’t had a chance to assure his friend that he was okay. He couldn’t put it off much longer. Knowing his best friends, Owen and Kenny were probably already trying to form a rescue plan for him.

Carver didn’t need to be rescued. Or did he? At this point Carver wasn’t even sure where his head was at. The confusing feelings from the night and for Dante kicked up his anxiety. The plan had been to get close to Dante, of course. Carver had done that. Hell, Carver had jizzed in his shorts just from drinking from the older vampire. What was going on with him?

The mission. Carver needed to remember why he was there in the first place. Being full for the first time since his turning had to be messing with his head. He needed to focus.

‘Answer us!’ Owen’s text came through.

‘I’m okay.’ Carver needed to give them more. ‘Mission is a go.’

‘What do you mean? A go? We were on our way to rescue you!’ Owen sounded panicked even through text messaging, which Carver didn’t blame him for. This was a mess.

‘Pull back.’ Carver sent. ‘I’m fine.’

‘You were carried out of the club! What did he do to you?’

Yeah, that was harder to explain. ‘A Daddy likes to carry his little.’ Hopefully that explanation worked. It wasn’t that Carver wanted to hide anything from his friends. He was just trying to figure things out for himself first. Tomorrow Carver could get into more detail.

‘It looked like you passed out.’

‘I was tired. He’d fed me. I have a full stomach for the first time since that night.’ And Carver was already feeling a major difference. Drinking from Dante was amazing. His body still tingled. His eyesight better and he could smell so much. Carver already craved more. Wanted more. Maybe even needed more.

‘You drank from a human? I thought you didn’t want to do that?’

‘I didn’t. I’ll explain later. Trust me. I have to go.’ Carver thumbed out of the messaging app before locking his phone. He’d already made sure to change his settings where notifications didn’t show up on his screen. Nothing could get in the way of the mission. Carver had to remember why he was there.

“Are you ready, boy?” Dante asked from the doorway.

Nearly dropping his phone as he jolted, Carver tried to play off his reaction. He had to be more careful. He hadn’t even heard Dante approach. Carver made it into the pit of the snake. Now he was waiting for the strike or to see if he could strike first.

“Carver?” Dante took a step forward.

“Sorry.” Carver stuffed his phone into the bottom of his bag. Inside the bag was Carver’s knife. And the small little device called Sunshine. One weapon he hoped would end this nightmare that Carver had been living. The other Carver was terrified that was a last resort.

He placed his bag beside the bed and rose. He was still wearing the same clothes as the club. They had grown stiff and uncomfortable. Carver needed to get clean.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Dante said. “Let’s get you into the bath. It will help relax you.”

“Okay.” Being naked now that he wasn’t on the high from feeding left him vulnerable. Carver had to believe that he still had the upper hand here. There was no reason that Dante or anyone from the clan suspected him of anything.

Dante held out a hand and Carver stared at it.

Why was it so easy to step up and accept that hand? Dante pulled him close. Damn, he smelt good. Too good. Carver licked his lips, remembering the taste of Dante’s blood. Powerful. Energetic. Underneath the scent that Carver began to associate with Dante was a hint of dark chocolate and rum. Since they couldn’t eat or drink, Carver couldn’t explain where the scent originated from.