Page 32 of Bane of Hate and Silver (Primordial Inheritance #1)

Eileen dropped the cooler bag she was holding, bent into a defensive stance, and hissed, staring only at Luca over Jules’s shoulder. She felt his heat at her back, his body twitching in an attempt to stay calm.

“Gabriel was right,” Eileen snapped. “You’ve gone mad.”

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” Jules said honestly. “I know you don’t have a reason to trust him but...”

“You’re right, I don’t,” Eileen said, pulling her glare from Luca to Jules. “You do remember I was murdered by werewolves, right? My tribe was slaughtered.”

“Yes. Of course I remember.” Jules took a step forward. “But Luca didn’t do that.” She motioned behind her, without looking away from the stunned vampire in the doorway.

“No. You’re right. He nearly murdered you instead.”

“Eileen, please believe me. It wasn’t him.” In a blink Jules closed the gap between herself and her friend. “He won’t hurt me, or you.” She gripped the taller woman’s arms.

“So, I suppose that it was just his pack that nearly killed you and he had nothing to do with it.” Eileen jerked, trying to pull her arms free but Jules’s grip only tightened.

She had to explain. She had to make her understand. “Yes,” she said sternly. “He’s the one who rescued me,” she added, softer this time. “He brought me home.”

“And that kiss …” She spat the word in disgust. “Was just your way of saying thank you, was it?” Eileen’s body shook with fury. Fingers twitching, itching for a fight.

Without turning to look at him or releasing Eileen, Jules spoke to Luca, who remained silent and still where she’d left him. “Luca, could you…”

“I’ll be outside.” Luca opened the back door and stepped out on the patio, closing the door behind him.

Eileen watched him go but visibly relaxed a little once there was a wall of glass between them.

“Jules, what exactly is going on?” Eileen’s shoulders dropped. “Is this why you won’t leave town?”

“In part,” Jules said honestly, moving a step back from Eileen. “But it hasn’t been a motivator for very long.” Jules walked over, picked up the bag Eileen had dropped, and closed the front door.

“How long?”

Jules sighed. “Since that double date with Monica.”

“A week! You’ve only known him a week?” Eileen was staring out the back window, but she did walk over to sit on one of Jules’s kitchen stools. “And you trust him?”

“I can’t really explain it but yes, I do,” Jules put the bag in the refrigerator and then joined her in sitting at her island counter. “Can you forgive me for keeping it from you?” She risked the physical contact and put a hand on Eileen’s arm.

Eileen sat and stared at the point of contact for a long minute.

“Well.” She began slowly. “I guess I can’t hate the whole species.

I hate the ones who murdered me of course, and I’m not too keen on this Alpha that obviously has a problem with you, but,” Eileen shrugged, “love makes people do strange things.”

“Love? Who said anything about love? I didn’t say…”

“Jules, you trust no one. Especially men.”

Jules’s gaze dropped to the counter as she stared blankly.

“If you trust him. You love him as well. Besides, with the way that kiss was going who wouldn’t fall in love with his big animal ass?”

A laugh burst unbidden from Jules. She loved him. When her eyes met Eileen’s, the other woman was chuckling softly. “There it is.”

“Whoa…” Jules said, still stunned. “I love him,” she whispered.

“Yes,” Eileen agreed. “And you have to tell Gabriel,” Eileen said abruptly, pulling back. “I’m not doing that.”

“Shit.”

Luca sat on Jules’s lounge chair on the back patio, headphones in his ears.

That conversation was not his to hear. If not for the torrential downpour coming from the sky, he would have gone out to the beach.

Sunny weather had always been his preference.

However, he suspected he’d grow to enjoy it less, considering that sharing sun-filled moments with Jules was out of the question.

The sound of the blaring rock song vibrated his eardrums as he leaned back on the lounge chair and watched the crashing waves of the ocean. The life Jules had carved out for herself here was very peaceful.

His phone beeped in his ear. Swiping his thumb over the screen reveled the message.

Jeeze, you get a girlfriend and blow off all your friends.

Luca smiled at the utter ridiculousness that was Kyle.

However, he then noticed the three missed calls that had come in recently, all from Kyle.

He hit call back and waited. Kyle picked up on ring two.

“What’s up?” Luca asked

“How is… the vampire?” Kyle began, but paused, obviously not remembering Jules by name.

“Jules,” Luca clarified.

“Oh.”

“She’s going to be okay. Healing well. Someone from her coven is here though, which could be problematic. It remains to be seen.”

“The guy? Because he seems unreasonable.”

“You have no idea,” Luca said. “But no, it’s his wife. I’m waiting on the porch. You know, in case she decides to try and kill me.”

“So, you’ve been put outside, are you being a good dog?” Kyle asked playfully. The easy rhythm of talking to his best friend proving Kyle did not have the same reaction of betrayal that Jules’s vampire friend had.

“Very,” Luca replied. “I’m not fucking this one up.”

“Well…”

“Don’t say it,” Luca demanded.

“No fun. But, now that the secret’s out, do Hayley and I get to meet this mystery temptress?”

“Let me talk to Jules about it,” Luca said as he saw the back door swinging open. “I’ll call you later.”

“Wait, no…”

Luca ended the call and stowed his headphones back in their proper case as Jules walked out to him. “Carson?” she asked, dropping down to straddle him on the chair.

“Kyle,” Luca replied. He put his hands on her hips, pulling her closer and shifting beneath her. “Is your friend…”

“Eileen?” she asked.

He nodded.

“She’s fine. And she left.”

“Did she now?” Luca asked with a half-smile. Jules leaned toward him, their faces closing the small distance between them.

He lifted one hand to her shoulder to hold her at bay for a moment more.

Jules’s face scrunched playfully.

“What did she mean when she said werewolves killed her?”

Jules sighed. Sitting back a little and dropping her weight back down to his thighs. “Gabriel only made her a vampire because she was attacked on a full moon. She was dying.”

“Is that the reason for the scars on her face?” he asked, as Jules interlaced their fingers.

She nodded. “Turning her into a vampire saved her, but she’ll carry those scars for the rest of her immortal life.”

“I can see why they hate us then.”

“So can I,” Jules said with a sad kind of smile as she turned her face toward him. “She’s right though. I do have to tell Gabriel at some point. I can’t keep this from him much longer, and it’s not fair of me to ask Eileen too either.”

“Speaking of telling our friends…” Luca paused to take a breath. “Kyle and his wife want to meet you.”

“We trust them?” Jules asked.

“We do,” Luca replied.

“Will you give me some time to think about it?”

He nodded but said nothing as he brushed a strand of hair back from her face.

Abruptly, Jules stood and walked to the edge of her covered patio. “You coming?” She waved him over.

“Coming where? It’s pouring,” he asked, still seated.

“A little rain never melted anyone.” She smiled mischievously at him, turned, and then pulled her shirt over her head, exposing the nearly healed cuts, and the back of a soft lacy bra.

“Neighbors?” Luca asked, looking toward the house next door.

“Only use their house in the summer months.” Jules stepped out into the rain and spun to face him.

His heart skipped a beat at the vision of her.

Skin and hair dripping. Tiny shorts sticking to her skin hugging her hips.

He was on his feet instantly and moving toward her.

“It’s the perfect time for a swim,” she said, taking off running toward the sea.

He watched her for a moment, completely mesmerized.

She spun, smiling at him and called to him again.

She was more beautiful, more intoxicating, than he’d ever thought possible.

The drug he’d never shake. Possibly the death of him.

But none of that mattered now. He followed her out into the rain and down the beach toward the water.

Carson followed the smell of bacon down the stairs and into the kitchen.

There he found Demetria cooking breakfast. She was standing in front of the stove, her back turned toward him.

“Thank you for breakfast,” Kip was saying as he set an empty plate in the sink.

It clanked as it hit another plate in the dishwater.

“Anytime,” Demetria said, smiling up at the charming wolf. Kip put a hand on her back as he moved past her.

Crossing his arms, Carson cleared his throat. Both Kip and Demetria turned in his direction. Demetria looked at him guiltily, while Kip bowed under the pressure of his Alpha’s displeasure.

“I didn’t see you there,” Demetria said, breaking through the tension.

“Apparently,” Carson growled in reply.

“Excuse me Carson.” Kip slid past him and left through the front door as quickly as he could.

Carson nodded his approval of Kip’s departure and walked into the kitchen. He smacked Demetria’s backside, giving it an aggressive squeeze. He bent over her back and kissed her on the neck.

“Carson.” She said his name quietly.

He wished she’d remain silent as he kissed her jaw, his hand reaching underneath her shirt to fondle one plump breast.

“Carson we’re not alone,” she said, pushing against him. It was then that he noticed her son sitting at the small, round table in the corner. Spoon suspended over his breakfast as he stared at them in disgust.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Carson snapped, displeased at the interruption.