Page 26 of Ruthlessly Mated
“So stay in your human forms. It’s not that hard. I have a contact there. I had plans, you know. Before I got kidnapped by you. Before I almost got caught by the ancient vampire who has been stalking me for years. Do what I tell you.”
Conroy rubs his hands together, and I know I am walking a fine line before he thrashes me.
“I know you’re sore. I know you’re scared. But I swear to god, if you don’t start moderating your tone, I’m going to make you scream.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I quip, off-hand, before instantly regretting it. “Rock City will be safe.”
“Rock City is a stronghold of religious zealots who would burn us if they discovered us,” he argues. He makes a good point.
“I’m not saying we buy property there. I’m saying we go there because Alexander won’t be able to get in. I’m saying that’s where my next stop is, and I’m saying you three can come with me or dig a den out here.”
I go to the truck and start the engine.
“Coming?”
Damon was already asleep in the truck, and Tailor is not far behind in terms of clambering up and in once the engine starts. These men have a good sense of self preservation.
“You want to stay here by yourself, Conroy?”
He glowers at me, but sits in the passenger seat without another word as I get the truck back on the road. I like this sense of power. I know there are a lot of questions they must have for me, but they’re actually being pretty chill about the whole what the hell I’m doing thing. They’ve barely questioned the legendary ancient vampire tracking us. I guess they’re used to chaotic things and terrible events. Anyway, at some point, I am going to have to explain myself. I’m not looking forward to that point.
Rock City is probably only a day away, which is going to give us plenty of time for on-road bickering, but I plan to stop at a proper truck stop as soon as I see one. It’s time to blend in again. Time to change things up.
“Are you feeling better, Tailor?”
“Yes,” he says. “I shifted last night and that helped restore the missing pieces.”
“I’m so sorry that happened,” I say. “Next time you see Alexander, please run. Don’t stand in front of him and tell himhow much you like his coat. He doesn’t care how much you like his coat.”
“How do you know Alexander?”
Oh, I hate that question.
“Just barely,” I lie.
“What’s in the truck?”
“Three curious puppies,” I say.
Conroy growls. “I think you owe us some answers.”
“Maybe,” I say. “Okay. Sure. Soon. I’ll tell you all soon, but I don’t want to talk right now, and seeing as Damon never talks I feel like that’s enough of a reason for you to wait.”
“Is the vampire going to be coming?”
“Yes,” I say. “Well. For a bit. Then he’s going to stop. Honestly, the three of you should get away from me. I am going to be an absolute liability for quite a while. Tell you what, why don’t you let me handle this and I can drop you guys off somewhere, and then I can hook up with you later once this is over.”
“I am not going to leave you in whatever mess you are in,” Conroy says.
“Neither am I,” Tailor says. “I’m all in.”
“You shouldn’t be,” I say, looking at him in the otherwise pretty redundant rearview mirror. “You almost fucking died. You all almost died. He would kill you happily. Actually, you being around me gives him something to hurt me with. He’ll think you’re leverage. And it will make me more trackable. One girl who could be mistaken for a boy if she wears a big enough hatand jacket is hard to find. One girl and three massive wolves who keep running around and trying to mate or beat her is going to draw so much more attention.”
Food
You never think about how good a sign like that is until you’re four hours into a drive with three men you barely know who all have very good questions you don’t want to answer.
“Look! Food!” I say. “We need to eat. I need gas.”
