Page 10 of Feral

Hemsley laughs. “Dude. A mortal caught your eye. Finally.”

Rhett laughs too.

“Yes, fine, I won’t deny it. Yannis is…intriguing. Were you recruiting him?”

Rhett nods. “Yeah. Liked his vibe. Thought he might be good for the donor program.”

The vision of another vampire biting into Yannis’s neck turns my stomach slightly. “How far did you get?”

“Not far. He was nervous until he dropped your name. Figured he needed some more time to acclimate, but if you want us to be hands off, just say the word.”

A million thoughts flit through my mind, but I settle for the most reasonable one. “It’s his decision, not mine, and he is looking for work.”

“Yeah, but maybe you want to do the recruiting personally?” Hemsley says, waggling his eyebrows at me. A slight, pale man with white hair and nearly clear blue eyes, he almost died in the war between Yves’s coven and his maker, but he survived and chose to make a home in New Onyx. We thought his paleness was a result of his injuries, but no, he’s just fair in coloring. He only comes up to my shoulders too, making me feel like an older brother when we talk. In some ways, I suppose that’s exactly what I am to him.

A reluctant smile pulls at my lips. “Yes, fine, I’d rather vet Yannis myself.”

“Is that what the kids call it now?” Rhett teases, winking at me.

He’s a slender man, all southern drawl and wide-eyed country boy appeal, with messy, thick, wavy brown hair styled like he didn’t bother to style it. He has blue eyes, and tattoos cover much of his flesh from before he was turned, but he’s far from an innocent ‘aw shucks’ type. He drips sex appeal, and even more, he’ll rip your throat out at a moment’s notice if provoked. He also prefers trendy suits and urban wear and would rather take a stake in the heart before he’d be seen in a cowboy hat. He’s made that clear when teased about his accent.

Still smiling, I return to the club, aware of the slight spring in my step. For the first time in a very long time, I have something to look forward to.

What a pleasant surprise.

Chapter 4

Yannis

The sun hitting me straight in the face is a rude awakening. I grumble, pulling the pillow over my head. Forgot to close the blinds last night. I feel hungover, which is weird as fuck considering I only had one drink. Those house cocktails pack a punch.

When it becomes clear I’m not falling back to sleep, I force myself out of bed and into the bathroom for a hot shower. The water feels amazing and washes away the grogginess that was still clinging to me. Afterward, I throw on a pair of sweatpants and shuffle to the kitchen for an energy drink as last night’s experiences come rushing back.

Hale.

There’s something unusual about him. About everyone in that club really, but Hale stood out. I barely remember what we talked about except that it was real obvious he was interested in me and that idea didn’t freak me out.

Oh, and those other guys were asking me about working there. Could I? It’s not what I pictured, but it would be a good way to meet people and immerse myself in what this city has to offer. Maybe I should. At least until I figure out what to do long term. The longer I go without a job, the quicker I’ll blow through my savings.

My phone buzzes on the counter, startling me out of my thoughts. I lunge for it, already knowing from the ringtone who it is.

“Dimi. Are you okay?”

My little brother laughs. “Dude. Chill. I’m good. Why the panic?”

“Because it’s morning. You’re never up before the crack of noon.”

He snorts. “That’s fair, but I’ve turned over a new leaf. I started working with a personal trainer.”

“I’ve been gone for two weeks. When did this new leaf turn over?”

“Four days ago. I met him on an app, we met up, and by morning he was talking me into the benefits of waking up early.”

I shake my head, taking another sip of my drink. This is normal behavior for Dimi, latching on to whatever qualities his latest interest has, only for it to fizzle out a few weeks in.

“As long as you’re happy.”

“This guy is different, Yann. He’s really smart, and older than me. He was this big-time lawyer but burned out and decided to revamp his life. He got in shape and got his accreditation to be a trainer.”

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