Page 31 of To Kill a Vampire
“She’s right.” My grandfather steps through the crowd, and my mouth opens and closes with uncertainty. His tan slacks and white button down are nicely pressed, not a spec of dirt on his shined shoes. “We’ll need some training.”
The others look to the elderly man who’s ready to fight for his life and for the people he loves.
A shuffling change seems to echo through the crowd, and one by one they begin to nod, ready for the freedom they’ve just barely began to grasp.
* * *
Kaino isn’t a talker, but he sure as hell is a fighter.
Side-by-side he trains the mortals, an image of pure, dedicated power. Shane, Luca, Declan, and even the witch are engrossed in training these people as quickly and sufficiently as possible.
With a quick sweep, Shane sends a mortal woman stumbling to the ground, her long blonde hair clinging with dust as she lands hard. He smiles shyly, probably underestimating his strength, as he helps her up.
With a teasing smirk that creases his jovial face, Lord Raske clasps Shane on the shoulder, a mischievous look sparking his dark eyes.
“That isn’t any way to treat a beautiful woman, Shane.”
The wolf’s attention shifts toward Kaino, and he offers his lord a polite half smile as the woman dusts off her jeans. Kaino breaks away from the mortal he’s training with, sweat clinging to his body as he quietly watches his father and his … I’m not even sure what Shane is to him.
“You shouldn’t be so shy. Have confidence. Why do I never see you with any pretty girls?” Raske’s endless banter makes Shane more and more uncomfortable. The wolf shifts on his feet, stepping a little further from his lord.
“I don’t know,” he finally says, staring at the dirt as he replies. He swallows hard, his strong body appearing weaker the more Lord Raske studies him.
“You don’t know?”
With only a few quick strides, Kaino is at Shane’s side, his chest heaving. The others carry on with their training, but their attention lingers on the three mystics.
“Because he’s with me.” Kaino holds his father’s gaze, his jaw strung tight, waiting for the reply he’s hidden from his whole life.
Lord Raske’s mouth opens and closes, his eyes sweeping from Kaino to Shane. Kaino’s arm brushes Shane’s, and the two stand side-by-side together. Shane peeks up from beneath his long lashes to look up at his lord before studying the ground once more.
Even I’m nervous for what his father might say to him.
A minute ticks by before the corner of Lord Raske’s lip tilts up, a hesitant but accepting smile filling his face. He pats Kaino’s arm, the most affection I’ve ever seen between the two
“He’s a good man, son.” Raske nods for several seconds, long enough for Kaino to release the long sigh he was holding.
“I know,” Kaino says in a breath. Shane passes Kaino a smile that fills his smooth features, and Kaino returns the look, happiness shining bright in his eyes. It’s the first real smile I think I’ve ever seen from the commander.
My heart pounds watching it all. I wish Fallon was here to witness it, too.
None of them linger around one another; the father and son quickly get back to work all but forgetting the life changing moment that passed in an instant. I stand back from them all. Just waiting. Waiting for the lingering sun to finally drift away.
I have to admit some of the mortals are excellent in combat, and some of them … are painfully mortal.
Another one trips over her own boots and lands in a heap of dust at Declan’s feet.
“It’s all right, it’s all right,” Declan tells the woman who’s been stumbling through her training for the last few days. She looks at him with a captivated blush as he touches her shoulder. “There are always weapons to help us,” he tells her with a wink.
As they pass by me on their way to the weaponry shed, Declan gives me an almost friendly nod. A beat passes in confusion before I slowly return the gesture, a short moment of fumbling cordial kindness passing between us.
This has become our normal now. A strange sense of coexistence somehow crept into our lives.
We’re on the same side. He and I should be more like brothers instead of enemies. Maybe someday after he stops calling my wife pet names, we’ll be frien – not enemies.
The sun dips down past the gently swaying Emerald Ocean, and I’m painfully reminded that Fallon hasn’t been seen since the mortals arrived. She’s safely hidden herself away. People have asked about her daily. She’s like an unseen savior in their eyes. This mystical hero who will lead them to freedom.
She will.
