Blood Deep (Blackthorn Book 4) (44 page)

‘
I
never thought
I’d see myself inside this place,’ Billy declared.

Eden held Honey close to his chest, her giraffe tight to her mouth as her large blue eyes took in the surroundings. The quadrant lay before them, a large square of grass surrounded by buildings on all sides as they entered what was once an affluent hotel before the regulations, before the area had become unrecognisable from what it once was.

Passing through the brick tunnel, Amanda clung on to Billy’s arm as they remained close to Eden. They both looked at the point of exhaustion, no doubt having got little sleep in the hideout where Eden had tucked them until his return. Jessie had wanted to go with him to collect them as soon as she’d packed a few things but, for the sake of time, and knowing she’d need to talk everything through with Jask in more detail, Eden had persuaded her to stick with the pack, meeting her at the compound instead.

Now he could see her in the distance, sat on the grass chatting to a couple of the lycan young, her characteristic ringlets blowing in the mid-day breeze.

She looked across her shoulder as if sensing their arrival, and instantly got to her feet.

‘That’s her, isn’t it?’ Billy said quietly.

Eden nodded, a smile instantly curling his lips as his attention remained locked on Jessie.

‘Can’t you tell?’ he heard Amanda say. ‘Look at him. Have you ever seen that reaction before?’

Eden snapped his attention to his sister-in-law only to be met with her knowing smirk.

‘She’s that special, huh?’ Billy said, meeting and holding his brother’s gaze.

‘More than you can imagine,’ Eden said, handing Honey to him. ‘I won’t be a minute.’

Jessie was already making her way towards him, her long dress – one she’d obviously been given by one of her newfound friends – blowing in the breeze, masking her long slender legs, her feet bare on the grass.

Her smile broadened the closer she got until she seemed unable to contain herself anymore.

She lunged at him full force, nearly knocking him over with the motion. As she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around her neck, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as tight against him as he could. Her breath on his neck was fresh air, the feel of her body against his more comforting than he ever could have imagined, her slow heartbeat more life-confirming than he was prepared for.

She pulled back but only to look him in the eyes. ‘Everything okay?’

He nodded. ‘As okay as it can be.’

She looked over his shoulder. ‘That’s your family?’

He nodded. ‘Are you ready to meet them?’

She placed her feet back on the floor and clutched his hand. ‘What about my eyes?’ she looked back at him. ‘I lost the contacts.’

‘They’ll take you exactly as you are. And they’ll love you as much as I do for it.’

‘What about Honey? I don’t want to scare her.’

‘I told her she’s meeting a real-life angel. She’s not scared in the slightest. Come on,’ he said, tugging her forward a little.

She bit nervously into her bottom lip, her hand clenching his. ‘What if they hate me?’

‘Will you listen to yourself?’ He let go of her hand to drape his arm across her shoulders, tugging her close. ‘They’re human, not heartless. It’s time you met the decent side of my kind.’

She shook out her hands in a clear attempt to suppress her anxiety before clenching them at her sides again.

‘And you saved their little girl,’ he said softly in her ear. ‘I don’t think they’re ever going to be able to thank you enough.’

They stopped a couple of feet away, Billy and Amanda speechless, both of them simultaneously assessing Jessie from head to foot.

‘Eden, you seriously got lucky,’ Billy declared with a smile. He held out his free hand to Jessie, Honey clinging onto his neck even tighter. ‘Billy,’ he announced, still taking her in. ‘I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.’

But Amanda was less reserved. Her arms were around Jessie instantly, tugging her closer, Jessie’s hands springing mid-air as if not knowing what to do with the unexpected display of affection.

‘Thank you,’ Amanda said into her ear, her eyes glossy with tears.

And with the shock of the alien social situation subsiding, Jessie hugged her back. ‘She’s beautiful,’ she said, her eyes glinting a stunning shade of deep pink as she looked across at Honey.

Honey reciprocated Jessie’s smile, albeit still partially curled into her father, her big blue eyes still a little wary of the stranger.

‘Come here, you,’ Eden said, taking Honey into his arms, almost forgetting he no longer needed to sign to her. ‘This is Jessie,’ he said, Amanda backing away to give them room to be properly introduced.

‘Pleased to meet you, Honey,’ Jessie said.

Honey looked back at Eden. ‘Is she your girlfriend?’

Eden looked back at Jessie, at the slight flush to her cheeks, the awkward smile.

‘Do you think she’s good enough for me?’ he asked, turning his attention back on his niece, the question evoking a gasp of disapproval from Amanda. ‘What?’ Eden said, grinning at his sister-in-law who looked ready to punch him. ‘Me and Honey had a deal. Any girlfriend has to pass Honey’s approval,’ he declared, sending Jessie a wink. ‘So,’ he asked, looking back at Honey. ‘What do you reckon?’

Honey nodded. ‘I like her,’ she said, holding her uncle’s gaze.

‘Good,’ Eden said. ‘Because I would have ignored you otherwise.’

Honey chuckled, hitting him playfully in the chest.

‘Do you want to play?’

The small, feminine voice came from nowhere, all of them looking down at the lycan girl who stood at Eden’s feet, gazing up at Honey.

But his heart leapt when Honey heard and looked down, a further reminder of what else Jessie’s tears had done for her.

Honey looked warily at the lycan girl before her gaze shot to her mother for reassurance.

Amanda echoed the same anxiety as she glanced from Billy to Eden.

‘She’s just a kid,’ Eden said. ‘The changes start here, Amanda.’

Amanda hesitated for a moment before looking back at Honey. She nodded at her daughter. ‘Go on – you go and have a look around.’

Eden reached for Jessie’s hand as they watched Honey wander off with her new friend, Honey not wasting any time handing her new companion her giraffe.

‘I didn’t think I’d get to see it,’ Eden said, interlacing his fingers with Jessie. ‘Seeing her play like a normal kid. She’s looking so well, Jess. It’s amazing.’

Jessie captured his gaze. ‘You know she’s not a normal kid now though, don’t you? You made sure Billy and Amanda understood that?’

He nodded as he looked over his shoulder to see one of the pack had approached his brother and sister-in-law, offering them food inside. He indicated for them to make their way on ahead of him.

‘Have you told them about
you
yet?’ Jessie asked.

Eden watched Billy and Amanda cross the green. ‘I might sit them down for that one. They’ve had enough to contend with for one night.’

‘This army we think Sirius is planning – there could be hundreds of them.’

‘And there’s hundreds of us,’ Eden said.

‘
Us
?’ she said, unable to mask her smile. ‘You alongside the third species?’

He shrugged. ‘Someone’s got to keep Kane, Caleb and Jask in line. I’ve heard what a handful they can be.’

‘And you think you’re up for the job?’ she asked, stepping on front of him, her hands on his hips.

He tucked her hair back over her shoulders before cupping her neck. ‘I’m up for doing whatever it takes.’ He leaned into her, closing his lips over hers, the ease of her reciprocation, the effortlessness of the kiss, the sense of belonging forging his conviction only further.

‘You might want to get yourselves something to eat,’ Jask said, striding past them. ‘If I’m not interrupting anything, that is. I’m rounding up the search party for Tuly. We’ll be good to go in the next fifteen minutes.’

‘This is good of you, Jask,’ Eden said. ‘To take them in.’

Jask nodded in acknowledge. ‘Actions define, not genes. Oh,’ he said, turning to face them as he kept walking backwards. ‘If you bump into someone called Phia along the way, I apologise in advance.’

‘Who’s Phia?’

‘She’s the one
I
have to keep in line,’ he declared with a wink, before turning his back on them again.

Eden draped his arm back over Jessie’s shoulder, drawing her close as they followed behind the lycan leader. ‘Do me a favour – keep reminding me how good their hearing is.’

Jessie laughed. She interlaced her fingers with his, resting her head on his shoulder as she resumed sobriety. ‘Are you ready for this, Eden?’

‘They’re coming whether we’re ready or not.’ He looked back into her eyes, now a shade of navy blue. ‘Don’t worry, Jess. I think we’ve got one hell of a team in the making.’

She squeezed his fingers. ‘More than ever now, I’ve no doubt we have.’

T
uly slammed
the man’s back with both fists, kicking and wriggling for all it was worth as he carried her through the doors and into the corridor, the low beat of bass music echoing in the background.

She stared at the floor, at the corridor stretching left and right as he knocked on the door. He crossed the threshold, closing the door behind them. The next thing she knew she was plonked onto the floor.

She spun around to face the room, let alone whatever fate awaited her.

‘Warwick found her wandering the back streets, Caleb,’ the human said. ‘He thought you might want to take a look.’

From the top, left-hand corner of the room, the green-eyed vampire pushed back his chair and stood from his desk. Because Tuly knew that’s exactly what he was – a vampire. And not just any vampire. Everyone had heard of Caleb Dehain. And what she’d heard wasn’t good.

She took a wary step back as he scrutinised her from a few feet away, his arms folded, his frown deep. But she held his gaze, puffed up her chest a little, her arms stiff by her sides.

He raised his eyebrows a fraction and, for a moment, she thought he was about to break a smile. But he just frowned again.

‘Thanks, Hade,’ he said, glancing back at the one who’d carried her in there. ‘I’ll take it from here. Get her something to eat, will you?’

‘I’m not hungry,’ she declared.

His green eyes met hers again. ‘I asked him to bring you food. I didn’t say you have to eat it.’

‘Good,’ she said, clenching her hands a little tighter. It was all she could do to stop herself shaking, to stop herself crying. ‘Because I’m not going to.’

His eyebrows lifted a fraction again. ‘Feisty little thing, aren’t you?’

She thrust her chin up. ‘Corbin Saylen is my father,’ she declared, making sure the vampire knew what he was dealing with. ‘Jask Tao is my pack leader. You’d be wise to let me go.’

To go home.

Back to the compound.

She tried not to cry. She always tried not to cry – to be brave like her father. And she’d been brave in front of the others – determined to be strong like him. Like her mother. To be an example to the other pack members. Not that she knew if any of them were still alive.

For all she knew, she was now totally alone.

She couldn’t fight it anymore. She felt herself well up. She hurriedly wiped away her tears, not wanting the vampire to see her cry.

His eyes flared a little before his frown deepened even more. He stepped closer before crouching down so he was at eye level with her.

She stared into his green eyes – eyes that were more vibrant than she had ever seen outside of the pack. Only this time she wasn’t sure whether to be scared or eased by his silent scrutiny.

‘If you’re telling the truth, that explains the attitude. From what I’ve heard, your pack is looking for you, little one.’

Her eyes widened. ‘They’re not dead?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘They’re not dead.’

She knew she should have been too scared to do it, but she needed to be held. She threw herself into his arms and sobbed.

At first he didn’t touch her. At first he didn’t do anything. Then he wrapped an arm around her, tentatively cupped the back of her head.

The door clicked open behind her, the smell of food entering the room.

‘Get Alisha down here, will you?’ she heard Caleb say. ‘Now.’

The door clicked shut again.

Caleb eased her away from him with a gentleness that surprised her. He reached up to wipe the tears from her cheek before gently holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger. ‘Where are the rest of you?’

She shrugged. ‘I lost them.’

She wiped her other cheek dry.

The more she stared, the milder his eyes seemed. And, for a male, they were pretty eyes too, made even more so by his thick, dark lashes

‘Come on,’ he said, taking her hand in his, guiding her over to the sofa.

She perched on the edge of it, watched him as he wandered over to a cabinet to take out a bottle of water. He sat on the table in front of her as he unscrewed the lid before handing it across to her.

‘So you must be Tuly.’

She nodded as she gratefully took a mouthful of water.

‘Where were you, Tuly?’

‘The south. With the cons.’

His eyes darkened. ‘How did you get out?’

‘We escaped. One of them helped us. And an angel.’

His eyes widened slightly again. ‘An
angel
?’

Tuly nodded again.

‘And where are this con and angel now?’

She shrugged. ‘I lost them too.’ She took another mouthful of water, but it was harder to swallow as the recollections came at her hard and fast again.

Her attention shot to the door as it reopened. Another vampire came in, one that looked a little bit like Caleb. He stared at her before frowning. ‘Is she what I think she is?’

‘She was wandering the streets alone,’ Caleb explained, standing up and moving over to join him. ‘She’s wanting to get back to the compound. I thought Alisha could help her get cleaned up and persuade her to eat something first.’

‘I told you, I’m not hungry,’ Tuly insisted. ‘I just want to go home.’

But her stomach did a little somersault as another joined them – this one was female. More than female; from what she could smell, she was human. She snatched back a breath as the woman turned to face her, because it wasn’t only her smell that was familiar.

‘Hey, cutie,’ the woman said, stepping over to crouch in front of her. ‘I’m Alisha.’

‘You look like my friend,’ Tuly said, unable to stop herself.

Alisha smiled. ‘Is that right?’

Tuly nodded. ‘You smell like her too.’

‘Do I? And what’s this friend called?’

‘Phia,’ Tuly announced with a broad and proud grin. ‘P-H-I-A. Phia.’

Alisha’s smile dropped. The colour drained from her face. For a reason Tuly didn’t understand, Alisha’s gaze shot across her shoulder at the two vampires.

Tuly felt a strange feeling wash over her as she followed Alisha’s gaze to see that the two vampires had stopped talking, that they were now staring at her. But it was the look in Caleb’s eyes that unnerved her the most – that sent a chill through her.

A chill that told her that, this time, she’d said more than she should.