Page 30 of Reaper's Revenge
“Darling, they are their own men. I can only lead by example, and besides, you’re a rarity.”
She stops me, pulling my hand to her chest, so I turn to face her. “You’re a good man, Reaper. I know you may live in a world of gray, but I can see you in color.”
“Fuck, babe,” I murmur, thinking that I need to stop taking my time and put a ring on this woman’s finger. She’s already mine for eternity, my mate, but she deserves everything I can give her.
“About time,” Bones grumbles, his hands on his hips as he stares us down when we stroll into the main room. “You two are worse than a pair of rabbits.”
The brothers crack up, and I know my woman’s blushing fiercely. The blood whores saddle up to a few of the brothers, dressed in their various costumes. They don’t typically go out with us, but tonight is an exception. It’s the holiday of all holidays for us, like vampire Christmas, where we can all relish in what we are without a potential witch hunt hot on our heels.
The club is buzzing with activity. Vampires dressed as... well, vampires, but with an exaggerated flair that makes Athena giggle with each new prop she discovers. Blood packets are tucked into cuts for an added effect, advertising the blood type on the label. A few have some capes on that would make Dracula roll in his grave, and so help me, I don’t know how they’re planning to ride their motorcycles with those things on.
“Are we all finally ready to raise some hell? Or do you have more primping to do?” Bones calls out as we join the others.
“Can’t wait until I find my mate,” Panic comments, and I give him a nod of support. Mates are rare; everyone knows this, so what Athena and I have is precious and coveted.
Priest strolls in, finally joining us. Several wolf-whistles go out from the brothers standing around. The blood whores practically salivate as they take in his outfit. One glance tells me Athena is staring, and then I’m stepping in front of her so I don’t have to hurt the good Chaplain in his hunter green skirt.
“Finally brought out the ol’ kilt, hmm, brother?” King asks, “Gonna be hard to ride with your pussy lips hanging out.”
Athena snorts with a laugh, “Just when I think you all don’t strike me as a bunch of bikers, one of you will make a comment like that and bring me back down into reality.”
Silver sends her a wink, “Even being classy, we have those thoughts, sweetheart. You just get to hear them like the rest of us, now.” He finishes, and the brothers laugh again, picking up their shot glasses to toast.
Bones is louder than everyone as he says, “Let’s raise a glass. To our club growing, to welcoming a new vampire sister into the fold, and to true mates. May we all have them.”
Epilogue Part Two
Athena
I climb off the back of Reaper’s motorcycle, hair windblown, and nose cold. I don’t think it’ll ever get old, riding behind him, feeling the wind in my hair, watching the lights fly by. The pumpkins from Halloween have all been cleared away as everyone prepares for Thanksgiving later this week. With the new holiday brings a welcome chill in the air, hinting at winter in Texas.
Mayhem holds the door open to the café for us as we all stroll inside. The brothers immediately head for their back table. Reaper drops a sweet kiss on my forehead before he makes his way back to join them. They’ve kept up with their bi-weekly drop-ins to the café, a habit I’m glad they’ve adopted.
“Francine! I’m here!” I call out, making my way behind the counter to pop my head through the entrance into the kitchen area.
“Oh! Athena! My dear, I feel like it’s been too long since your crowd stopped in,” she admonishes with a finger wagging and everything.
I smile, unable to hold myself back. The café is one of the regular places we visit, even after I had to stop working here. I didn’t want to, but considering the majority of my shift was during the day, it didn’t mix well with being a vampire. “I know, Halloween kept us distracted, but we were here two weeks ago. You were off. Speaking of Halloween, we all dressed up and went out; it was fun. Did you hand out any candy?”
“You know how I get with late nights. I handed out some fun rice crispy treats decorated with orange and purple frosting until eight p.m., then I went to bed. Nothing good happens past dark, you know.”
I nod, knowing she’s righter than she could ever realize on that one. “Sounds like a good time. Did you make anything special here?” I bat my eyelashes and widen my smile; my fingers cross behind my back. I miss trying all her pies from when I used to work with her. It is almost Thanksgiving, and my vampire senses make everything taste ten times better than it used to.
“Just you wait until you try my new cranberry orange cake.”
My mouth salivates for something other than blood or Reaper for the first time all week. “That sounds divine,” I groan, wishing I’d worn loser pants because I plan to eat a big slice. She’s already plating up the club’s order, used to us stopping by every other week at this point.
I watch as the server who took my spot waits on the guys, noticing how flustered she is. I can’t help but wonder if I was the same way and am just used to them now. I remember being anxious, but it seems so long ago now. Francine slides onto the stool next to me, setting a plate in front of me. There’s a slice of cake taking up the entire small plate, with a white creamy frosting drizzled all over it. “This looks like magazine cake, not café cake,” I comment, making her laugh. “You are the best, thank you.”
“Tell me, what else have you been up to? I miss having you here. Is that man of yours still treating you well?”
“Francine, he takes better care of me than he does his motorcycle, and that’s saying a lot.”
Her laugh is light and easy, as her eyes sparkle while she listens. I tell her how half the guys are silly, how Silver likes to fall asleep with his head down on a table in front of him, which she finds highly amusing, and lastly, how I miss seeing her regularly, too.
Out of nowhere, all expression drops from her face, her stare blank as she meets mine. She’s in some sort of trance as she says, “A man stopped by asking for you. He was older, classically handsome, and dressed very well. He’d asked how you were doing and why you weren’t at work anymore. I told him you were happy and had a new boyfriend. That you were with Reaper at the motorcycle club.” She blinks, that glazed-over expression still there. “He seemed satisfied with my response.”
Something clicks in my mind the more I take her in. She’s wearing a vacant stare, using a monotone voice, and holding herself completely still. Her entire demeanor changed mid-sentence, like a switch being flipped.
