Page 40 of First Bite
Chapter Fourteen
All three of us lay breathlessly on the soft sand, listening to the waterfall and trying to catch our breath as the magic of what had just transpired resonated through us. The intimacy I felt with Logan and Zac paralleled how I had felt with Braden, and the feeling of completion was divine.
“I hate to be the one to bring us back to reality,” Zac started.
“Then don’t,” I interrupted, never wanting the bliss I had felt with these two to end.
“We need to check in with Cole and Braden,” Zac said.
“I hate to say it, but you’re right,” Logan said as he stood up and looked around for his shorts. He tossed my bikini to me from the sandy bank behind us and snatched my sarong off the rock that I’d tossed it on after I first got soaked.
I stood up slowly, brushing the sand off of me as best I could before putting my swimsuit on again. By the time I’d slid my coverup on, the guys were ready to get back to the Jeep. Thanks to super-vamp speed, the next thing I knew, I was being buckled into the front seat, and we were on our way to back to the beach house.
As the Jeep skidded to a halt in front of the house, I looked to see Braden standing on the porch with his arms folded and an eyebrow arched.
“Is what we did going to be a problem?” I asked, wondering if I was going to have to give a play-by-play to Braden and Cole.
“A problem? No, Ellie. No one is going to have a problem with anything you choose to do, understand?” Logan said with more seriousness than I’d seen him muster before.
Zac, Logan, and I walked to the house as Braden came down and took me in his massive arms.
“I’ve missed you, Elle. I’m glad you weren’t hurt by those vamps this afternoon. I’ve been worried sick,” he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
“You don’t need to be worried,” I said, pulling back and looking into his ocean-blue eyes. “Zac and Logan took care of them for me. I’m okay.”
Braden looked at his cousins. “Next time that happens would you mind bringing her home instead offeedingon her?” he said with a knowing look.
“Really,dad?” Logan said as he rolled his eyes. “She was perfectly fine. You know we would’ve brought her home immediately if we thought it was necessary.”
“Seriously, Braden, lighten up. We didn’t make you feel guilty aboutfeedingon her. If anything, you should be thanking us for strengthening the bond. I, for one, feel fucking amazing.”
“You’re not the only one,” Logan said as he winked at me.
“Okay, okay. Let’s not fight about anyone feeding on me, yeah?” I interjected, sensing the testosterone building on the porch.
“You’re right, baby,” Braden said as he took my hand. “And maybe you’re right, Zac. I felt the bond tighten too. I can’t explain it, but I feel somehow more deeply connected as well. This shit is so weird.”
“If you’re all done talking about feeding on Elle, would you mind coming inside so I can tell you what I found out about those vamps in the street?” Cole said from the doorway. I looked at him and saw the dark circles under his eyes. He looked horrible and exhausted.
Braden took my hand and led me into the house, Zac and Logan trailing behind us as we walked over to a sofa and sat down.
“Shoot,” Logan said to Cole who stood on the other side of the room.
“We think the sire of this nest might be someone we know from a long time ago,” he said.
“What do you mean? How long ago? Who?” Zac asked in confusion.
“We don’t know exactly who it is,” Cole answered. “The behavior is typical of a handful of vamps who split off from Enzo’s group. He’s obviously using a witch to enchant the humans after he turns them. This isn’t your average vampire.”
“What do you mean when you say a witch is enchanting them?” I asked, trying my best to follow along.
“When a human becomes a vampire, they cannot go into the sunlight. They’re nocturnal, and they’re blind in the sun. They literally can’t see a thing in the daylight. That’s a major part of why people think vampires can’t be in the sun. Some of them actually can’t,” Braden added.
“So you think it’s probably someone we’ve run into before?” Zac asked.
“If they’re a blood-born vamp with a witch, I’m certain we must’ve crossed paths at some point, don’t you think?” Cole asked with a hint of irritation.
“Okay, yeah, that makes sense. I’m wondering why Enzo hasn’t found out about this guy. I mean, turning human vamps into daywalkers is pretty significant if you ask me,” Logan said.
