Jeaniene Frost - One Grave at a Time

Her tone hardened at that last word, and I knew she was remembering her first days as a vampire when the prick who sired her threw in humans with her. It took the last of my anger from me, though a bucketload of frustration still remained.

“There’s no need to harm anyone when you feed, Justina,” Bones said. “But as you’ve discovered, you can’t wish away your need for blood, and animal blood will not suffice for long.”

“Maybe I just need more of it. There wasn’t a lot in those meat packages,” she insisted.

A mental image of my mother sneaking around at night to suck on cattle or goats crossed my mind. What if that was the real source of the Chupacabra legend, and they were actually vampires in denial like she was? Nothing would surprise me right now.

“You could drink a slaughterhouse dry, and you’d still lust over the first human you chanced upon,” Ian replied pitilessly. “Be easier on our kind if we didn’t need human blood, but we do, and you’re no exception.”

“Even if I wouldn’t hurt them, I refuse to force anyone to give me their blood by ripping away their willpower,” my mother said. “So unless I start stealing from blood banks, I don’t see another solution.”

“Drink me.”

My head swung in Tyler’s direction with almost the same amount of disbelief my mother showed. Tyler shrugged.

“None of her concerns apply with me because I’m offering, so she won’t be ripping away my willpower, and she damn sure won’t be holding me down and tearing open my anything.”

“Are you sure?” I’d hate for him to feel pressured because he was the only person here with a pulse. We could make other arrangements. Lots of vampires had willing donors. A few phone calls, and we could have a donor here although that person would have to leave right away because of Kramer and his whole kill first, say hello later tendency.

“I’d rather have her drink a little from me now with someone here to control her than sit around waiting for her to lose it again.” Then Tyler’s stare turned pointed as he looked at my mother. “And you will lose it again. You’re already looking at me like I’m a big juicy steak. Can’t kick you out, either. Cat would just worry herself sick about you and every other fool near enough for you to bite.”

Then he turned to Bones, folding his arms. This offer ain’t free, but we’ll talk price when Mama’s not here, and so you know? I don’t come cheap, he thought at him in a clear, concise way.

I had no qualms about paying him. That seemed a far better trade than Tyler’s offering out of guilt or compulsion. The barest smile touched Bones’s mouth. He nodded once, and Tyler rolled up his sleeve, holding his bare arm out.

“I didn’t say I would do this,” my mother argued, but her gaze welded onto the veins throbbing beneath his coffee-colored skin.

Ian snorted. “I’ve never heard a less convincing protest.”

“You’re doing this, and you’re doing it now,” I told her sternly. “Tyler’s right. You’re a danger to him and every other human until you get your hunger under control, and I know you don’t want to hurt anyone by accident.”

I didn’t say again, but the word hung unspoken in the air. My mother tore her gaze away from Tyler’s flesh to look first at me, then Bones. She squirmed.

“I can’t do it with you two watching me,” she finally stated.

“What?” I sputtered.

She waved an impatient hand. “It’s too weird. You’re my daughter, and he”—she looked at Bones, who flashed her an impudent grin—“he’s too arrogant,” she finished.

“No one’s more arrogant than Ian,” I said under my breath.

He winked at me. “Thank you, Reaper.”

Bones rested his hand on my back. “Come on, Kitten, let’s leave them to it. Ian, I charge you with their safety. We’ll be back later.”

I looked at Tyler, but instead of any concern about Bones and me leaving, his thoughts were busy contemplating things about Ian that I didn’t need to hear. “Are you okay with only them?” I asked anyway.

“Fine. Shoo,” he said, flicking his fingers for emphasis.

“Okay, we’ll see you soon.”

Bones propelled me up the stairs, his mood seeming to lighten with every step.

“I’m certain it won’t be that soon,” Ian called out.

I wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but I thought I caught Bones muttering, “Right you are, mate.”

The lights from Sioux City glittered in the distance like diamonds flung on the ground. Below us stretched mile upon mile of farmland, interrupted every so often by houses, roads, and factories. I wasn’t worried about being spotted. For one, it was night, and with our black clothes at this height, we’d be practically invisible. For another, we were outside the city limits in the rural counties, where agriculture far outnumbered people.

“This was a good idea,” I murmured.

I’d thought we were just going to wait in the demolished family room until Ian announced the all clear, but Bones took me in his arms and blasted us away before Kramer could even poltergeist up some boards to fling after us. Now we were miles away from the house, high enough that I had no one’s thoughts in my head but my own, and it was just the two of us. Finally, for the first time in weeks, we were alone, no one right outside our door or floating threateningly around the house.

Bones tightened his hand on mine. We were spread out like two birds—arms extended, legs straight, the wind rushing around us like an invisible waterfall. This was the first time I’d flown when we didn’t have some pressing agenda to accomplish, and though it was cold up here, I didn’t mind. I felt wonderfully free. The chill in the air was such a small price to pay for that.

“Before we met, I’d fly for hours to clear my head,” Bones said, his voice reaching me even over the rush of wind. “It was the closest I came to finding peace, but though several of my mates could fly, I always went alone. I never wanted to share this with anyone until you.”

I looked over at him, struck by more than the perfection of his features or how the wind made his clothes cling to him like a second skin. His mouth curved in the type of smile I hadn’t seen on him in a long time—carefree, and the emotions rubbing my subconscious were edged with a joy that made me want to move heaven and earth so he could feel it all the time.

“I’m so glad to be here with you like this,” I whispered. It had taken years filled with more trials and pain than I thought I could endure to bring me to the point where I could soar by his side, but I’d do it all again, a thousand times over, to share this moment with him.

He smiled. “Speak up a bit, luv. Can’t hear you with this wind.”

I rolled myself beneath his outstretched arm instead, not stopping until I’d maneuvered myself under his body. He folded his arms around me, our bodies still streamlining across the midnight-colored sky. Bones was dressed the same way I was, in a black, long-sleeved shirt with matching pants and boots, but his neck was bare. I pressed my mouth there, savoring his moan as my tongue crept out to taste his skin.

“You remember the first time I did that?” I murmured, slipping my arms around him.

“We were dancing.” His voice was richer with the desire I felt rising in him. “And you were taunting me with how much I wanted you.”

I smiled against his skin, tracing another sensitive spot with my tongue and enjoying his resulting shudder.

“I didn’t know that then. I just thought you were easy.”

His laugh rumbled out, hard arms tightening around me. “I was, but I still wanted you more than I believed possible. You don’t know how mad you drove me those first several weeks. It tormented me seeing you every day and being unable to touch you because you hated me.”