Page 37 of The Vampire's Mate

“I feel like I’m in a fever dream.”

“Yeah, me too.”

I trained my eyes on the floor, unsure where things would go from there. I expected Kian to be angry, to lash out. I expected screaming, maybe a punch or two. I didnotexpect the odd, choking sobs that came from next to me.

“Okay, didn’t see that coming.”

I jumped up and grabbed a box of tissues on James’s desk. Crouching in front of Kian, I squeezed his knee in comfort and offered them to him.

“I’m sorry,” he garbled through a wet laugh. “I’m so tired, I don’t know how to react.”

“I was worried you’d choose violence. I might have, if I were in your shoes. Thank you for not doing so, by the way.”

“My pleasure.” A genuine laugh broke through the sobs, Kian wiping his nose with a tissue. “So I’m adopted. The guy I thought was my brother is also a monster hunter who’s been hunting your vampire boyfriend. Am I missing anything?”

“Fuck, I hope not. I don’t think I can take much more.”

“Thank you, Ryder.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had someone thank me for ruining—ew!” Kian had pelted me with his gross, snotty tissue, making me fall back onto my ass. I pinched it in my fingers and tossed it back at him. “And here I was feeling lucky to have missed this part of parenthood.”

“I mean for telling the truth, and for not sugarcoating it. Ever since Luke took off, it’s almost like I can feel everyone tiptoeing around me. I can’t stand it.” Then he sighed. “God, what am I supposed to tell Hannah?”

I shrugged. “Tell her whatever you need to. She already knows about James, but the rest of it is your story to tell.”

“How did she take the news about James?”

“Better than I thought,” I admitted.

“I’m surprised she didn’t figure it out herself,” Kian continued. “I just wish I had more time to process this before I told her. It’s so much to take in.”

“Does she know you came to see me?”

“Yeah, she’s been so supportive. She’d never pry, but?—”

“You don’twantto keep things from her. I get it.”

Kian let out a sigh, then glanced around the office, seeming to take in the space for the first time. He was back to twisting his fingers again, going over each one on the left hand before switching to the right, taking on that childlike vulnerability again.

“You don’t want to leave yet, do you?” I asked. The only answer I got was a shake of his head. I pushed myself to my feet. “Stay here as long as you need. James won’t mind. Call her, Kian. Let her help you.”

With that, I was on my feet and out the door.

Chapter 13

Kian could take as longas he needed in the office. James wouldn’t mind, and he was taking it better than I would’ve. I had been preparing myself for multiple scenarios—even ones where I didn’t tell him the truth—but his true reaction wasn’t even on my radar.

In the bathroom, I leaned over the sink and splashed cold water on my face. I considered what Luke would do. Hell, whatanyadultwould do. There weren’t any resources for this kind of thing. Well, therewere, but I highly doubted the books covered vampires and hunters and?—

“Ugh!” Groaning, I jerked a paper towel out of the dispenser to dry my face. I slumped against the wall. I didn’t know what to do with myself. My skin was crawling, my body itching with the need to dosomething. But what?

I could go home. James and Shi could handle the bar without me, but I didn’t want to be by myself.

So with that, I stomped down the hallway to the front of house.

The bar wasn’t busy, but it was enough to keep James and Shi moving. Of course, James was the first one to note my presence. “Please give me something to do.”

He glanced toward the office. “Kian?”

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