Page 25 of Tucker's Strike

“Vampires kill people. They’re evil,” Lake whispers and licks her bottom lip nervously.

I narrow my gaze and try to remember there’s so much she doesn’t know about the very world she knew existed. Callum definitely didn’t tell her much about it. If I knew exactly where he was, I’d find him and kick his ass. Then again, Lake was his daughter, he was shielding her youth the best he could. The one thing he made sure to tell her about was bedtime stories that weren’t stories at all. Not for her, at least.

I am her tiger prince. She just doesn’t know it yet.

“Evil is evil, Lake. Not all of one group is evil or good. Think about it, if all humans were good, you wouldn’t have war. You wouldn’t have people killing. It’s the same within our world. Some show humanity where others don’t.”

Lake remains quiet, but I can see the way her mind is spinning over what I’ve just said. What I don’t do is remind her of the conversation earlier about the tight line she walks with each hour that passes, and her powers grow.

“You get what I’m saying?” I ask.

“Yes,” she murmurs. “I don’t mean to sound like a bitch about all of this, but it’s just?—”

“I know what you mean,” I interrupt her. “Now, let’s get you fed before Orpheus gets here and the next drama begins.”

Chapter Sixteen

Lake

You know that saying lions, tigers, bears, oh my? Well, I’m changing it. For me it’s vampires, dragons, shifters, oh my.Let’s not forget there’s also the Fae.

With so many different supernatural beings, I feel as if my head is spinning. I hold firm to Tucker’s side, even when we step into the main room of the clubhouse. I need him in order to feel grounded otherwise I fear I’ll fly away. But to do that, I’d have had to sprout wings, wouldn’t I?

I mean what exactly do Fae people look like? All I keep thinking about is them looking like Tinkerbell and her friends. Or like the statues I’ve seen in stores. Anytime I see them, I’ve always stopped to admire the beauty someone created. My favorite one I ever saw and allowed myself to buy on impulse is that of a dark-haired fairy, wings the color of a white tiger’s face with the cyan-colored eyes. The fairy sits atop a snow-covered rock with a tiger standing protectively around her. Protecting her from dangers to come.

Three weeks after I bought it, it was broken in my haste to run. I learned after that to not purchase anything that isn’t necessary. I’ve been lucky not to break my night-light.

Tucker ushers me to one of the tables, the very same one Corbin, Karsyn, and several others were already seated at. He sweetly pulls a chair out for me to sit in. But he doesn’t take the one next to me just yet. Instead, he leaves me sitting there and makes his way to the bar, where there are trays of food set up. He grabs two plates and starts piling food on top.

My jaw slackens at the amount of food he brings back. I lift my gaze to his when he sets one in front of me.

“There’s no way I can eat all of that.” The words rush out, and I suddenly feel like an idiot.

“What you don’t eat, baby, I will,” Tucker states, finally sitting down.

Once he plants a hand on the back of my chair, his hand stroking my shoulder, I release a breath I hadn’t known I was holding. Granted, I wasn’t really, but the tension leaves me.

Mostly.

I’m still feeling completely unsettled by the imminent arrival of the Vampire King.

And that unsettling feeling doesn’t even phase the ones I have regarding my dream where I met the Drakon King. Technically, I didn’t meet him, but he introduced himself to me.

The whole thing freaks me out.

Without waiting for me to take a bite, Tucker leans his body forward and shoves a large amount of food into his mouth. I might add he does this while still keeping his arm around my shoulders.

The conversation around the table flows. Karsyn engages with me a bit, but I’m guessing she knows I’m not really in a talking mood. I’m honestly not even in the mood to eat. However, I get the sense if I don’t eat something, Tucker willsee to it that I do. I’m sure whatever way he does it wouldn’t be torture. It might even be pleasurable.

Just like . . .

Tucker growls at my side, and I jerk in his direction to find him giving me that same look he gave me a bit ago.

“What?” I snap, frowning at him.

“You know what,” he states, his tone going intensely rough, near ragged.

“I don’t.” I didn’t. Really. Honest to God, I didn’t know what he was getting his panties in a twist about. “What did I do?”Maybe I should help him with his attitude like we were doing in his room earlier and then what we did last night in the woods. I would love to take my time and explore his body the way he’s taken the time to do mine. Feel his shaft in my hand. To wrap my lips . . .

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