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No one, not his oldest friend or members of his clan, had ever received such attention from Syn.

Proof, Dante mused. He wasn’t the only one needing to stake their claim on the young vampire. Carver was his and even if that meant sharing his boy with his familiar, Dante could live with that. As long as he was able to keep Carver by his side.

Secrets and troubles that might be headed their way be damned.

What Dante had to offer Carver in this new life was so much greater than anything else. And whether Carver liked it or not, Dante was going to protect him. Even if that meant protecting Carver from himself.

5

Carver

With Dante holding on tight to Carver’s hand, they strolled through the house while Dante showed him around. The house was even more impressive than Carver had seen the night before.

When they passed, other vampires, clan members, Dante’s family or whatever he called them, would bow and allow Dante and Carver to continue the tour. Carver didn’t miss the curious glances, suspicious looks, and some near hostile stares. Dante didn’t seem to notice or be concerned so Carver kept it to himself. He wasn’t there to make friends.

Getting a good night’s sleep in Dante’s arms should have been restful for him. Instead, Carver had woken up even more confused than when he’d gone to sleep. Dante was not acting like Carver had expected. The caring Daddy side of Dante spoke to the scared little trapped inside Carver’s chest.

It had been hard to tear himself out of Dante’s arms that morning. Safety and care weren’t something that Carver thought he’d ever have again.

Even though Carver was questioning what he was doing there or how to proceed with the plan, he was paying attention. The cameras inside the house had been impossible to hack into, according to Owen. Seeing their locations might help.

“Let me show you my favorite place in the house,” Dante said with a squeeze to Carver’s hand.

“Your bedroom?” Carver guessed. Another thing that threw him off was that they hadn’t had sex yet. Well, penetrative sex. Just that one rub-off in the middle of the playroom. Carver had expected Dante to demand more and yet Dante had merely held Carver in his arms as Carver drifted off to sleep the previous night.

“Okay,” Dante said. “Maybe my second favorite place.”

“Sure.” Carver needed to learn as much as possible. Information was everything. There was a small part of Carver that was starting to feel bad for what he had planned. For the entire purpose of Carver being there. Guilt wasn’t a feeling that Carver had much experience with. And he was feeling guilty.

Dante smiled as he started to lead Carver across the marble floor toward glass doors on the other side of the sitting room where they’d been admiring some paintings.

The glass doors were opened before they could reach them and an attractive young blond man slipped inside.

“Jesse?” Dante said as he paused.

“Dante!” The blond looked shocked to see them. And guilty.

Carver nearly laughed until he realized that the cutie in front of them was human. Was this one of the poor souls that was trapped at the house to feed the vampires?

“What are you doing, Jesse?” Dante asked.

“Nothing!” Immediately Jesse put his hands behind his back.

“Carver,” Dante said. “What do you smell?”

Was this a trick question? “Huh?”

“Jesse,” Dante said. “What scent is Jesse giving off?”

Jesse’s eyes grew wide.

“Uh,” Carver hedged. He did not want to get this guy into trouble. What if the vampires hurt him?

“Don’t worry,” Dante whispered into Carver’s ear. “Jesse is the precious partner of my second. He might be a naughty little boy but no one would ever hurt him. We love him. He’s part of the clan.”

“Okay?” Carver agreed because that seemed to be what Dante was waiting for.

“Lies have a very sharp and distinct smell,” Dante told him.