Page 61 of The Kill

“Just a little bit. But I didn’t want to shift and run. I wanted to see your pretty face.” With a wink, he disappears down the corridor.

TYSON: Go to sleep mate. You’re going to need it. It’s going to be a busy few days

MANDY: So everyone keeps telling me

After a power nap and a quick change, I make it to Max’s house before Tyson gets back from his visit with Zoe. Raiden is laying back on the couch, feet up on Matt’s knee as she steadfastly refuses to hand over the remote control to the three hulking teenagers stretched out on the living room floor.

“Everyone getting on okay?” I ask, worried about forcing the boys to spend time together so soon. Just because they’re close in age, doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to like each other.

Noah looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, returning to his story about the time Tyson ripped a vampire head right off in front of him. It’s not my favourite memory, but it seems to be helping them bond, as Lucian and Seth nod along.

“Classic Tyson. He loves that move.” Worried that Lucian seems to know all about that move, and isn’t the least bit surprised, I remind myself to have a word with my mate about toning things down in front of the boys. They still have a lot of maturing to do, although looking at all three of them together, they’ve each been through something that has forced them to grow up faster than most.

“Where’s Tyson?” Matt asks with a wry smile, surprised to see me without my mate.

“With Zoe.”

Matt’s smile drops immediately. I think he was expecting me to say passed out from a sex-induced coma, not gone to see the woman he’s been threatening to kidnap and mate.

“And you’re feeling alright with that?” he asks, relaxing a little when he sees that I don’t look concerned.

“Absolutely. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your mate for a minute. Girl stuff.”

Nodding, he lets go of Raiden’s feet and gives her a wink as she stands and leads the way out to the kitchen.

“Girl stuff?” she asks dubiously over her shoulder as she moves to put the kettle on, turning and folding her arms across her slightly rounded belly. I shrug, it’s the only failsafe way I know to get a man zoned out of a conversation.

“More like what’s it like to be mated to vampire stuff. Is there anything I should be aware of?” It’s a bit late now if she tells me anything terrifying, but that’s not why I’m asking. “Anything you can tell me about how this is all going to work?”

I’m worried there are other vampire things I should know about that Tyson hasn’t told me yet. Like the sun thing. Maybe he really should be sleeping all day and he’s only staying awake to keep me company. I want to know what he needs, because I’m not sure he’d tell me himself.

Raiden’s eyes light up and she grins. “Well, you know the obvious: blood. Oh, man; that bite…” She fans herself, pulling two mugs down from the shelf and dropping an herbal tea bag in each. “I mean, I guess shark week with a vampire takes on a whole new meaning… watch out for that one. That took me by surprise.”

When I cough, almost choking in surprise, Raiden laughs and hands me a mug of steaming tea.

“I meant more in terms of sleeping habits, vampire babies, that kind of thing.”

Looking disappointed, she nods and stops tidying the kitchen while she thinks seriously about my question. “Nope. Period sex is the only wisdom I have. Roll with it, it’s going to be wild.”

37

TYSON

Knocking gently on the door to the alpha suite, located on the top floor of my former home, I grit my teeth, senses on edge.

Blake will not be one bit pleased that I’m here, but I need to speak to Zoe without him present. Despite what I said to Mandy, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t let me in the same room as Zoe if he was around.

“Blake?” Zoe throws the door open then jumps back when she sees it’s not the man she expected. When we were growing up, we heard all the time that we smelled similar. As we got older and looked more and more alike, it became obvious this was more than a throwback to our grandfather's DNA.

Her hand automatically goes to her belly, and I smile when I see the warring emotions on her face. She’s torn between being the polite, friendly Luna who seeks to bring everyone back into the fold, and protective mammy to be. Glancing over her shoulder into her private space, she frowns, so I give her an easy way out of needing to be the perfect hostess.

“If it’s okay with you, Zoe, I’d like to steal a minute of your time to apologise, but I won’t come in. A newly mated wolf shouldn’t arrive home covered in another woman’s scent.”

Laughing, I step back and make sure there’s plenty of room for Zoe to step out into the corridor without needing to get too close to me. Relieved, Zoe nods and joins me on the landing, looking out over the wide sweeping staircase, and pulling the door over behind her. Clever girl doesn’t want any of my scent drifting inside the apartment and driving Blake crazy.

She already knows how Blake will react when he gets home and catches my scent at his door.

I’d like to see that, I think, as I rub my hip along the wall, watching Zoe frown as I mark the wood panelling with my scent.

---