Page 60 of Bite of Vengeance

“We’ll leave at nightfall,” Pax said, glancing at Viggo. “I don’t want the Clovers knowing we can walk in the day. Depending how far their camp is, we might be gone a while. Warner will come, and a few Shadows if they agree.”

“If something happens and we’re not here, we can meet in Deadwood.” I jumped to my feet. “By now, I’m sure PARA has already raided it. If they think it’s empty, they’ll leave it alone. They don’t have the manpower to keep watch there constantly.”

“We also need to steal some gas from one of their warehouses,” Viggo added. “What we brought from the property will only last so long.”

“I’m going to get some fresh air,” I told them as I strode toward the exit.

“It must be killing you to stay away from Kali,” Viggo called out with a laugh. “Now you have to share her time with KeevaandWarner.”

I didn’t respond, acting like his words weren’t getting under my skin. It was taking everything to leave Kali alone while she talked to Keeva. I just had to keep myself busy until they were done.

Chapter 23

Kali

“You can sit on the bed with me,” Keeva said, raising an eyebrow. “He told me that they changed out the mattresses when they found this place.”

“He?”

“The twin. The quiet one.”

“Oh, that’s Pax.” I paced in front of the fireplace for probably the hundredth time. We’d been in here for at least two hours, and she hadn’t told me anything about herself. She’d asked everything about my childhood, and how I ended up with Zan, but she didn’t want to divulge anything about herself. Though, I couldn’t really blame her. Just talking about PARA had terror splashing across her face.

“It’s odd, isn’t it?” The amusement in her voice took me by surprise, and for the first time, I saw a tiny smile on her lips.

“What’s odd?”

“Their father is one of the most dangerous vampires, isn’t he?” She leaned back on her palms as I nodded. “That’s why he wants us. Those three are his sons. Pretty important in this world.”

“Yes,” I answered, still not understanding what she was getting at.

She shrugged. “You and me—twins who are supposedly very powerful. They’re twins who are clearly from a powerful family. And now they’re on our side. Don’t you think it would make the most sense that we’d be with them?”

“With who?”

“The twins. One for each of us.”

My lips parted in shock. “No.” My answer was instant, and I frowned, feeling annoyance creep up. “Pax and Viggo are Zan’s brothers. I don’t look at either of them like that.”

“Maybe you fell in love with the wrong brother.”

This was the most she’d spoken since we entered this room, and this was what she wanted to talk about? Her face flushed pink, and she scowled before jumping off the mattress.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” she muttered so quietly that I barely heard her. “I just—this is the first time I’ve been around people who are…nice. Who aren’t looking at me like a science experiment. And maybe they don’t care about me, but they don’t want to torture me. What happens when this whole thing is over? Everyone goes on with their lives, and I’m by myself?”

My heart panged as I stared at her. She wanted afamily. People she could count on so that she wouldn’t be alone. Falling in love with one of the twins would be a way for her to make sure she’s never by herself again.

“You won’t be by yourself. Ever,” I said firmly. “I’m your blood. If you like one of the twins, that’s great too. But Zan is mine.”

“Would you do anything for him?” she whispered curiously. “Is he someone you can’t live without?”

“Yes.” Every day that went by, it became clearer that Zan was it for me. Even though he’d known it much sooner than I had. My past, and the way I’d grown up, was the reason I’d foughtagainst it so much. But even as a human, there was a pull to him that I could never describe. Now, as a Shadow, there was no denying it anymore.

“I hope I find that kind of love someday.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “A week ago, I never would have thought being free would ever be possible.”

“This is the beginning,” I said gently. “We’re Shadows. Immortal. You’ll have years to enjoy the things you never were able to.”

“I’ll fight with you,” she promised. “Whatever you need, I’ll do it to take down PARA.”

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