Page 29 of To Love a Vampire
“I didn’t know it was a private affair. Did your lord personally invite you, as he did us?” Gabriel asks, his head tilting slightly at the werewolf whose confidence is faltering as he thinks about what the hybrid just said.
“Release him!” Luca demands, storming toward them, her long steps eating up the dry land.
The wolf bares his teeth, his jaw clenching as he assesses his lord’s daughter, her hands held high on the curve of her hip. A moment passes quickly before the wolf lowers his arm from Gabriel’s throat, keeping his eyes pinned on the hybrid as he walks away.
Asher’s gaze slips over my flesh, igniting a flush to creep up my neck and across my cheeks at the memory of his warm body against mine. A deep, unsteady breath fills my lungs as my eyes dart away from his.
It takes me a few seconds to realize Luca is still assessing Gabriel, she appears to be considering her next moves. She takes a single step toward him before back tracking and quickly taking a seat at the long table.
The wolf that threatened Gabriel sits in the third chair to the left of Lord Raske’s seat... Right next to my own seat. Dread sinks into me as I take my seat at his side.
It doesn’t take long for the seats to fill and the meeting to begin.
I sit ramrod straight in my chair. The wood bites into my spine but I ignore it. Keeping my eyes focused on Raske while also not retaining a word he says.
Declan sits to my right, I’m by his side as I have been for all of the militia meetings. Kaino sits across from Declan, to the right of Raske. The three of them are speaking in great detail about something that I can’t seem to keep my mind on.
I wanted desperately to be here. To be a part of the militia to find Asher.
Wish granted.
Now he sits across from me, at Kaino’s side. Throwing knowing glances at me every time I so much as breathe loudly.
And he’s so distracting. I get it, you’re in unbelievably perfect shape, your body is artwork poured down from the heavens. Does his shirt have to be so tight, though? Does he have to smirk at me every time our eyes meet?
“Fallon?” Declan stares at me unblinking.
I shift my eyes around the full table. Luca sits at the end, eyebrows raised, a faint smirk on her lips. I take a deep breath to release the pressure I now feel building within me from all the eyes that are now solely focused on me.
My eyes wander, pleadingly for someone to repeat whatever the hell he just said. Anyone? Luca? She covers her mouth with her hand as a smile breaks quietly over her features.
Thanks.
“He asked if you could join Luca’s squad tomorrow to hunt south of here,” Asher says, blatantly smiling at me now.
My eyes narrow accusingly at his smug look.
“Of course,” I say, turning my full attention back to Raske.
He nods sternly but doesn’t comment on my lack of interest. He turns back to Declan, filling in the week's agenda amongst themselves.
Asher is still watching me and I avoid his eyes, busying myself with my pen and paper.
“You can look away already. She clearly has no interest in pikes either,” the wolf to my left says.
His words sting, said harshly and quickly, filled with hate and disgust. His name escapes me but his words are all I need to know about him.
Raske barely acknowledges the comment and continues planning with Declan. Kaino’s posture straightens but he ignores the comment, as well. Asher studies him for mere moments before adverting his storming eyes, choosing to stare at the table instead of myself. Gabriel stares blankly at the wolf across from him, the wolf who all but spit in his face. He doesn’t look away, his unseeing eyes seeing someone clearly for the first time in a long time.
My breathing accelerates as the word builds momentum in my mind.
Pike. Pike. Pike.
“They’re hybrids,” I blurt out loudly, almost a scream really.
The warrior stiffens at my side. I look up from my white, clean paper. Communication within the room has fallen away and once again all eyes are on me. I raise my head high and stare into the wolf’s dark hate-filled eyes.
“Pike is a slur and an ill-educated one at that. They’re hybrids. Just like you’re not a dog or a mutt,” I say looking his wide frame up and down. His werewolf status is apparent in his posture, his confidence, and now his anger.
