Page 23 of Because the Night

“Henry.” I take another step back from him. There may or may not be things happening in my panties, but they’re sure as hell nobody else’s business. And the way Lucas is now staring at me is not good. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“The horniness is all part of the change,” answers Henry. “It’s totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of. I’m more than happy to help you out if you like, sister.”

I hold up a hand. “Please stop talking. Just…no.”

Meanwhile, Lucas has started growling low in his throat.

“Father.” Henry laughs in delight. “Is this you actually being possessive, or are you just a little overstimulated from feeding and fighting, hmm?”

“Go away, Henry,” says Lucas. “Now.”

Monica stumbles out of the back garden with her hand to her neck. Her gaze is dazed, her color off. “Hey, what’s happening? Was someone yelling?”

“Hello there.” Henry smiles. “Let’s get you a glass of juice, hmm?”

“With vodka,” she says. “He took a lot.”

“You really shouldn’t drink on a depleted bloodstream.” And he steers her off toward the house.

Lucas walks toward me in his ash-stained suit. The cuts on his mouth and cheek have closed now, though the spilled blood has yet to dry. He really did let Berin beat the shit out of him. “It’s not only blood you want when you’re newly turned.”

“I’m fine. Thanks for the concern.”

“Henry was right, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I am not ashamed.”

“Your body undergoes all sorts of changes,” he says in the same calm tone as he closes in on me. The bruising around his eye changes color from black and blue, to green and yellow, to back to normal. “An increase in lust is just another.”

“I’m sorry you had to kill your friend.” I press my hand against his hard chest, stopping him from getting any closer. “But I’m not a shiny new toy to distract you from your troubles.”

“Of course not,” he says. “You’re different. You’re mine.”

“What?” I frown. “No.”

“I made you. I care for you. You’re mine.”

“You care for me? Bold of you, given you’ve threatened to kill me several times in the last twenty-four hours.”

“And yet you’re still here and unharmed.”

“If a little undead.” I shake my head. Being cast adrift in a world of night with him as my guide is a lot. “Lucas, this is not how I see our relationship progressing. A mentorship kind of situation is necessary. Maybe we can even stretch it into friendship in a century or two, when I’ve had a chance to calm down and process my trauma over you killing me. But nothing more. Not with you.”

He leans in and sniffs me. Like an animal. “Henry was right. You do smell amazing. And the way you look…”

“Thanks. But still no.”

“You’re funny.” He smiles. “I wasn’t asking.”

“What?”

Before I can say another word, he turns me. We’re in the same position Henry and I were earlier. My back pressed to his front and his arms tight around me. “Look at the stars, Skye. I saw you watching them earlier. They’re spectacular, aren’t they?”

“Lucas,” I say in a firm tone. “Let me go.”

“You need to learn to trust me.”

“I don’t think the words you’re saying mean what you think they do.”

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