Page 14 of Fated Wings
And the fact they were dressed like they were on vacation, with a camera sitting off to the side on their table.
Crimson Hollow was a blend of human and preternatural. One would think that a town this small, the humans would know of their existence, but they were none the wiser, and the nonhuman residents wanted to keep it that way.
But with those rogue vampires acting like assholes, their secret might not stay secret for long. The last thing Zeppelin wanted was for the Ultionem to show up because a town full of humans discovered what had been under their noses since the first human became bipedal.
“They’re getting bolder.” Zeppelin kept his voice low despite the clatter of plates and hum of conversation around them. “Last night they chased a fae onto my property.”
Mitch’s eyebrows shot up. “A fae? That’s a first.”
“Tell me about it.” Zeppelin drummed his fingers against the worn Formica tabletop. Red vinyl booths lined the walls, each one filled with chattering patrons. Overhead, ceiling fans spun lazily, circulating the mouthwatering aromas from the kitchen.
His jaw clenched as he thought about those bloodsuckers. Three months of cat and mouse was getting old. First, they’d killed a human resident on the mountain trail. Then one had injured Chase in an alley, landing a kidney shot that had forced him to shift in public so he could heal. Thankfully no human resident had witnessed his pack member changing into a furry wolf.
And then one of them had stalked Jalen with the intent to drain him dry. A line no one crossed without consequences. Zeppelin didn’t fuck around when it came to protecting a mate, even one that wasn’t his own.
Now Newt last night. Zeppelin was still tripping about a fae under their roof. He’d heard of them, the good ones and the dark ones, but he’d never met a fae in person. Zeppelin had been stunned when he learned one had flown inside in an attempt to flee the vampires. He’d finally seen the small guy when Vaughn had his nightmare. The guy couldn’t be more than five feet tall with cotton-candy hair and big violet eyes.
When he’d seen Newt drape himself over Vaughn, even after the beta had attacked him, Zeppelin had felt a spark of pride for Newt.
Even since Vaughn had been kidnapped and tortured, he’d been a fucking mess. Zeppelin couldn’t blame him. When they’d rescued Vaughn, he’d been broken in ways Zeppelin didn’t want to think about. But after searching the entire place for the demon, they’d come up empty-handed.
If Zeppelin ever got his hands on Vex, he would return the favor.
“Same three?” Mitch asked, leaning back as a waiter approached with their order.
“Yep. The three remaining out of the original five.”
The human waiter, Jace, set down plates heaped with eggs, hash browns, and thick slices of bacon. “Anything else I can get you fellas?”
“We’re good, thanks.” Zeppelin offered a smile. “How’s your dad doing?”
“Getting better,” Jace replied with a grin. “He appreciated the groceries you had delivered.” The guy blushed. “Been kinda tough since he lost his job after the accident.”
A driver behind the wheel of a semi passing through the outskirts of town had dozed off, drifting into the opposite lane and collided with Thomas’s pickup. It was a miracle Jace’s dad survived. The pickup had been reduced to a paperweight. At least he could make up for the lost wages once the settlement came through.
“Let me know if you guys need anything else.” Zeppelin sipped his coffee. “I trust you to tell me since I know your old man has too much pride.”
Jace blushed. “I will. Thank you, Mr. Mafari.”
Zeppelin would’ve told the guy to call him by his first name, but Thomas had raised his son to respect his elders.
If Thomas only knew how much older Zeppelin truly was.
“Should I put in Preston’s order?” Jace asked as Axel called out an order from behind the passthrough.
A chuckle escaped. Had he become that predicable? “Yeah. The usual.” His mate would have a fit if Zeppelin didn’t bring him home something to eat, even though their kitchen was packed with food. Didn’t matter. He loved spoiling his sunshine.
As Jace walked away, Mitch picked up his fork. “We’ll keep looking, but without knowing where they’re nesting during the day…”
“I know.” Zeppelin cut into his eggs, watching the yolk spread across his plate. “It’s only a matter of time before we find them.”
And when Zeppelin did, he would make sure there wasn’t enough left of them to bury.
* * * *
Sunlight sliced through the blinds, painting stripes across the tangled blankets. Vaughn’s muscles ached from spending the night on the floor, but the weight of Newt curled against him made the discomfort worth it. His mate’s breath warmed his collarbone, each exhale a tiny reminder that somehow, despite everything, Vaughn hadn’t scared him away.
Newt stirred, eyelashes fluttering against pale cheeks. Then his eyes opened, violet meeting brown in the half-light. His mate looked softer in the morning, all sleep-rumpled hair and warm skin.
