Page 96

An infusion,a shower, redoing my routine, and a tampon later, and I was ready to go.

I crossed the foyer to the front door Jax held open for me, my heels clicking against the floor. He met my eyes instead of avoiding them as he usually did.

“You seem too upbeat, are you guys going to sacrifice me?” I muttered. He said nothing but the corner of his lips twitched. I stepped onto the cement front step. The dim front light turned on, illuminating the door.

A crow cawed and flapped its wings, taking off in a flurry of movement.

My gaze focused on the spider web hanging right in front of my nose. I screamed, climbing the closest male to me with a speed I didn’t know I had. The hair on the back of my neck stood.

“You’re pulling my hair,” Jax hissed, hooking his arm under my flailing legs.

“What is it? What is it?” Asher rushed out. “Another body?”

“A spider,” I hissed, my stomach dipped at the reminder of the dead body.

Asher raised an eyebrow at the grip I had in his brother’s hair. “Such a fearful little human. Worry not, you now have five vampires to protect you from any and all dangers.”

I liked the sound of that too much and my body did, too, and ithadbeen liking the safety they’d coated me with. I no longer went out and peeked over my shoulder at every moment like I used to. Even though them owning me was the exact opposite, it was freeing.

My chest heaved, a hint of tightness pressurizing my lungs. The asthma attacks had all but faded after I’d had so much of their blood at Crimson Nights. This was the first it’d shown up since then. I hadn’t missed it.

I cleared my throat. “You can put me down.”

Jax released a huff of air, his sweet breath rustling the fringes of my loose hair. Instead of putting me down, he descended the stairs with my legs swaying. The straight line of his jaw hoverednear my face and the column of his throat looked smooth to the touch. He’d been sweet to me before he thought I betrayed them. All I’d been getting from him was glib comments and attitude until recently. I didn’t trust this. He maneuvered me at an angle to avoid the roses and thorns entwined with the gate.

He stopped at the base. The moon cast a glow over the lonely street.

Lights twinkled far off, closer to the city.

“What are we waiting for?”

“Ren is bringing the SUV around.”

“Where do you guys park all the cars?” I’d seen about four different cars.

“There’s a garage connected to the back of the house.”

I’d assumed something of the sort unless they could conjure cars out of thin air with magic.

“Do you guys use magic?” I blinked up at him. He wasn’t the most verbal with me, maybe I should ask Asher or Tobias?—

“No, vampires do not use magic.”

“Are you laughing at me?” I scowled. “It’s not a stupid question, you guys are able to compel and read minds.”

“Reading minds is only Tobias.”

“Oh . . . right.”

“It’s his ability, Asher’s is invisibility?—”

“I didn’t stop to think that you all have something different.” Mostly because I hadn’t had the chance to consider vampire abilities with everything going on. “What’s yours?”

He suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Ren’s pulling up.”

At least he didn’t straight out tell me to mind my own business. I caught a peek at Asher over his shoulder. He’d been hovering behind us the entire time, but he was quiet and grinning like a madman. Jax jostled me into one arm and pulled the back door open. He settled me on the seat, the leather creaking under my weight.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked, squinting up at him.