Saphira pretends to zip her smirking lips.
Ryker raises his eyebrows, looking meaningfully behind me.
Holy fuck.
What was I thinking about moving here?
I focus back on the coyote.
I am a six-hundred-year-old vampire who has never had a home. I have traveled the world many times over but have never settled. A couple of months ago, I decided to move to Oregon to help Quinn, a bear shifter.
I mindlessly use the knife in my hand to cut off his dick.
Ryker is a five-hundred-year-old vampire whom I have known for almost that long. He has lived here much longer, and we have kept in touch over the years. He is a bit ruthless. He met his mate months ago, mated her, got her pregnant, and recently had his little girl. He was dangerous before, but with his mate and child in the world, now no one is stupid enough to piss him off.
No one but me.
He doesn’t scare me at all.
Saphira is a dragon shifter. She hides plenty from her brothers; this isn’t the first time she has watched me dispense justice. I was telling the truth; I am not afraid of her brothers. She is a grown woman. She can do whatever the fuck she wants, and I will defend her to the death. I do not have children or a mate, but I consider her my daughter. She traveled the world with me for many years. She didn’t go to a traditional school; I taught her everything I know.
“When are you going to tell them?” Ryker’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Holy fuck,” I growl, reaching into the coyote's chest and ripping out his heart. I throw it at Ryker’s feet as I face him, grinding my teeth. “Why are you here?”
“Serenity wanted to have her friends over.”
“So, she was sick of you hovering over the baby and kicked you out,” I guess.
“Maybe,” he mutters. “Plus, you asked to use my dungeon. I have the right to watch.”
“Since you are here, and you cut my torture time short,” I start, walking to the table and picking up a rag to clean my hands. “You can help Saphira get rid of the body.” I take the towel to the small sink and scrub my hands and chest.
“Fuck no.” He frowns. “When the dragons ask me if I knew about her involvement, I want to be able to deny it.”
“You can’t. You were here,” I point out. I dry my skin and sit in a chair to put on my boots.
“Asshole,” he says, resigned.
“Fun,” Saphira squeals, jumping off the table she was sitting on. “I get to work with the ruthless Ryker.”
“Shit,” he exhales.
I smirk as I stand and put on my shirt. “Learn lots, doll,” I encourage, waving goodbye.
“I will, Daddy,” she says.
“Saph, I have told you for years: do not call me that,” I say sternly. “The only woman who can call me that is the one I’m fucking. I am not fucking you.”
“Eww…I know. I just like messing with you.” She smiles, and I hang my head. “Are you going home?”
“Are you still living with Bash?” Ryker asks.
“No.” I walk to the stairs. “I bought the building next to yours,” I say with relish.
“The whole building?” he asks.
“Yeah, we’re neighbors now. You’ve been too wrapped up in a new baby smell to notice.” I grin and take the stairs two at a time.