Page 84 of Blood of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“It really is,” she says and then goes to the counter to ring up a customer. I can’t remember if I offered any sort of explanation to her about how I was able to get pregnant in the first place. One of Abby’s friends thought Lucas and I had a special procedure since he’s a vampire, and I went with it.

I help Kristy quickly tidy up the back room and then we put Juliet back in her car seat and go across the street to pick up the food. I feel a huge sense of relief when we make it back to the house and everything is in order. Kristy and I spread our food out on the coffee table in the family room so we can watch TV while we eat.

“If you want to add tequila to your drink, I can get you some,” I tell her. “If you let me take one sip.”

She laughs. “Why not?”

“I’ll get it,” Lucas tells me and moves with vampire speed into the kitchen, coming back only seconds later with a bottle of expensive tequila. Like the wine cellar, Lucas insisted on filling a liquor cabinet with top shelf everything, even though I don’t know how to make fancy cocktails.

“Thanks,” Kristy tells him and unscrews the cap. She pours a little in her cup and swirls it around to mix it. I devour my second taco, thankful Kristy ordered me extra food. We’re watching an exceptionally hokey Hallmark romance and this is exactly what I needed.

“Good job, sweetheart,” Lucas tells Juliet. He’s on the floor with her, doing tummy time. My heart melts and I think of what Danielle asked. I never thought I’d have one child in this sense. My family is already complete and we are perfect.

Suddenly, Lucas springs up, fangs bared, able to sense something before Kristy and I can. “Eliza,” he says, calling her into the room. “Stay with Juliet and Callie.” Then he speeds toward the front of the house, and Binx lets me know what’s going on.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me. Can’t I catch one fucking break?”

“What’s wrong?” Kristy asks, holding her half-eaten taco out in front of her. Only a second later, the doorbell rings. Scarlet barks, wiry fur bristling.

“It’s Eamon.”

ChapterThirty-Five

Ipick up Kristy’s margarita and take a deep drink. My favorite wooden stake is upstairs in my weapons chest. It’s at the bottom, but I’m positive I can run upstairs and grab it and make it onto the porch in a minute flat.

“What the fuck does he want?” Eliza mutters, speeding into the room.

“I think he’s done waiting,” I say and put the drink back down. Juliet is next to me, and I pick her up, kissing the top of her head. Eamon has spent the last few years trying to annoy Lucas enough that he’ll lash out, showing the public how dangerous he really is. Humans would retaliate against him, and in turn, Lucas would want to get vengeance.

But that’s not the way of my vampire lover. He’ll admit his little regard to human life, but he’s not bothered the same way other vampires are. Lucas has always done what he wanted regardless of rules or regulation. He’s been the center of his own world, and for sixteen hundred years, it worked for him.

I’m very much aware that Lucas is ruthless and selfish. I benefit from it because he loves me, and he tolerates those I care about because he doesn’t want to do anything to upset me. But the rest of the human species? He’s as indifferent to them as humans are to flies. You kill them when they annoy you and ignore them when they leave you alone.

“And I am too.” I hand Juliet to Kirsty. “There’s a jewelry box in my bedroom on my dresser. When you open it, you’ll see a rose quartz ring. It’s a beacon of some kind to Alona, Julian’s angel friend. If anything gets weird, call her and have her fly you guys out of here. Go to the Covenstead or your house or just…just somewhere away from here. Keep her safe.” I shift my gaze to Eliza. “Protect them if it comes to it.”

“I will. Freya?”

“She’ll stay no matter what.”

Picking up my plate, because reheating soft shell tacos just isn’t the same as fresh ones, I hurry to the foyer, finding Lucas standing in the doorway, snarling at Eamon, who’s on the porch but can’t come inside.

“Ah, there she is. What a beautiful wife you have, Lucas,” Eamon coos and I’m at peak annoyance with this undead asshole already.

“The fuck do you want?” I ask, taking a bite of my taco and talking with my mouth full. “You’re interrupting our night. Again.”

“Right now, I’m trying to convince your dear husband to have you invite me inside so we can talk civilly.”

“You want to be civil?” Lucas snarls. “You bit my progeny. I have the right to pull your heart right out of your chest and watch your body slowly disintegrate into nothing but blood and ash.”

“Forever the gentleman you were, I see.” The breeze picks up, blowing Eamon’s hair. He pushes it back and tips his head up, inhaling. “You should teach your progeny to respect her elders, though it seems that’s a lesson you’ve yet to learn.” Eamon’s eyes narrow and he pulls his lips back, revealing his fangs.

Vampires gain speed and strength as they age, and this vampire has about four hundred years on Lucas. Lucas was an expert fighter before he turned and was able to perfect his skills. While Eamon might have a slight advantage just because of his age, Lucas has more of a reason to fight.

And right now, he’s not just a vampire, but a Horsemen of the freaking Apocalypse. Though as much as I enjoy the visual of Lucas basically jousting a wooden stake through Eamon’s chest, I don’t want him getting back on the horse. The demon didn’t reject him like it did me, but the longer Lucas sits in that saddle, the less of him I’ll get back.

Which means I really need to get the freaking vessel to Osiris.

I take another bite of my taco and set the plate down on the table in the foyer. Binx and Pandora shadow behind me, and Scarlet is slowly creeping through the house.

---