Page 45 of Destined to Fight

The men stood as they entered the dining hall.

Kelly and Ginna took their seats, and the men followed. Brodric appeared on cue with food for everyone and blood for Kade and Siri.

A thought struck Kelly. “Do you ever eat normal food?” she asked Kade.

“Nae, it doesn’y taste like it used to and serves no purpose. Seems like a waste when I dinnae need it.”

“I can’t imagine losing the desire for food,” Kelly said, digging in to the steak in front of her.

“Yer quite the foodie. When ye become a vampire, your tastes change. Blood becomes extremely appetizing, and a person’s diet, mood, blood type… they all affect how it tastes.” He held up his glass to her. “I can’y say this is the best, being from a bag, but back in the day when we drank it straight from the vein, there was nothing like it.” He closed his eyes, reminiscing.

Kelly shivered involuntarily. “Eww.”

Fabian chuckled. “Where is your sense of adventure, Warrior?”

“Oh, I have one. It just doesn’t involve the taste of blood.”

“Speaking of adventure, I hear ye have a dilemma with Christmas.”

Kelly looked at him, then at Ginna, and back to Kade. “Shit. Shit. You heard that entire conversation, didn’t you?” She dropped her fork and put her head in her hands. “This is so embarrassing.”

“I did try to tune out the bits about me,” Kade said with a smile.

Kelly felt her cheeks heat up. “Oh, sure you did. I’m never having a private conversation within a mile of you again.”

“Dinnae fash, I wasn’y within earshot for the whole conversation. I just heard that ye want to see yer da for Christmas.”

“Don’t lie to make me feel better.”

“Lying to make people feel better is a human trait. It is a waste of time and energy,” Fabian chimed in.

“Aye, it is,” Kade said. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking about going back to Dallas. I need to meet with someone who might have information on Eric’s involvement in all of this. I worked with Mother to purchase a house in a safe location. I have a team working on it now to place wards and install a security system. It should be ready within twenty-four hours. We can leave late tomorrow if ye like, and we’ll be there in time for Christmas with yer da.”

Kelly’s eyes went wide. “Really? You’ll really take me all the way back there and set up a house, just so I can be with him?”

“Well, there is a business need. I need to be closer to the Council and…”

Fabian cleared his throat and shook his head at Kade.

Kelly had caught on by now. That was Fabian’s way of protecting Kade from himself.

“Right, well,” Kade continued, “aye, let’s leave tomorrow. Yer da can come join us for Christmas.”

Kelly had gone from wanting to squeal with joy to simply being thankful that Kade was trying to accommodate her human side. “Thank you. I’ll call him tomorrow to tell him. I really appreciate it.”

Kade just nodded at her before taking another sip of blood. She would never get used to that.

The rest of dinner passed without any significant events or conversations, and Kelly decided to turn in early to get some time to herself.

When she reached her bedroom door, she felt a presence behind her and turned to catch Kade sneaking up behind her. She was proud of herself for noticing him instead of being startled and jumping out of her skin.

“What’s up?” she asked, knowing he didn’t come this way to go to his own room.

“I wanted to check on ye, see how yer first day with everything went.”

“It was fine, thanks; just long. I just want some time to myself to let my mind rest.” She turned to open her door, and he caught her wrist.

She stared at him, daring him to do anything more. He didn’t, but he kept hold of her wrist. The icy feel of his skin sent shivers up her arm, but the look on his face made her hot to her core.

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