Page 17 of Surging Reef
“I don’t like this.” Ashby was serious all of a sudden. He didn’t like hugging?
“Well, I didn’t ask you to…” He shrugged a little to be let out of Ashby’s hold, but he only tightened it.
“Vampires are dangerous, Kaz. You met me at my weakest, but vampires are strong, and they are fast. You won’t see one coming if you’re fumbling around in the dark. I think it’s better if I go.”
“Hell no. She wants you.” He knew nothing about this Queen Anne person, but he couldn’t let Ashby walk into a trap.
Ashby didn’t reply for several seconds. “Maybe this is a bad idea. I can call my bank and block my card and get a new one. I know where to get a driver’s license, and who needs clothes? You’ll keep me warm, right?” He ran his hands up Kazimir’s arms in a way he didn’t think could be interpreted as platonic.
It most likely was a bad idea to go to the apartment, buthe wanted Ashby to have his things.
“We’ll go.”
“Both of us.” Ashby nodded.
“No, Pharos and me.”
Ashby’s eyebrows were climbing his forehead. “You’re taking a limping dog, but not me?”
“You can drive, but you need to not be seen.”
Ashby huffed and took a step back. “I’m a vampire.” He knocked his knuckles on his chest. “I know you saw me as a broken skeleton, but I’m several times stronger than you are, faster, I see in the dark—”
“The queen’s most wanted and allergic to silver.” Kazimir raised his chin. He wasn’t stupid. He was aware Ashby was most likely much more suited for nightly break-ins, but if he got caught, he’d be killed, whereas Kazimir most likely wouldn’t. He hoped.
“She won’t kill me.”
“You’ve never met her.”
“I’ll go there, unlock the door, and walk in. If someone sees me, I say you picked me up at a bar and brought me home but kicked me out before I could grab my wallet.” Then he frowned. “You like men, right?”
Ashby gave him a lazy grin. “Yeah, I like men. They’ll assume I fed from you, though, so they might not feel the need to conceal their vampiric nature.”
“They’d feed from me?” Shit, maybe this was a bad idea. A shiver went through him. He hadn’t enjoyed being Ashby’s meal.
“Most likely not, but they might not hesitate to use their strength or speed.”
Kazimir nodded. He had a pocketknife somewhere. He should bring it. Would it help to stab a vampire?
“Right.” He nodded, dropped his backpack on the counter, and jogged up the stairs to his bedroom. He pulled outthe dresser drawers until he found where he kept the knife and pocketed it. Then he jogged down to the bottom floor again.
“I’m ready.” He walked into the kitchen and grabbed the backpack. “Come on, Pharos. Time to go.”
“You’re taking him?” Ashby moved toward the front door behind Kazimir and Pharos.
“Of course. He’s not used to being home alone, and he guards me.”
Ashby said nothing but shrugged into his filthy shirt and accepted the car key.
* * * *
Ashby didn’t like this. He didn’t like it at all. Why the fuck had he said he wanted his things? It was only material things. He could make do without.
He parked a few blocks away from his apartment and tried to come up with a good argument for coming along.
“I’m coming—”
“See you in a bit.” Kazimir leaned over the center console and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t let anyone see you.”
