Page 36 of Bane of Hate and Silver (Primordial Inheritance #1)

Unmasked Villainy

J ules watched while Luca and Kyle argued over the best way to make a fire pit in the sand, down on the beach in front of Jules’s home.

Hayley attempted to mediate the argument.

Jules leaned against Monica’s shoulder when she felt the human wrap her arm around her.

“He’s pretty special, isn’t he?” Monica asked.

Jules watched Luca as he snatched the lighter from Kyle who balked.

He was magnificent, kneeling in the sand.

The fading grey light bouncing off his bronzed skin and strong frame.

“Yeah.” Luca looked up, locking eyes with her and smiling as she replied to Monica.

“He is.” With his distraction Hayley snatched the lighter and started the fire herself.

“Never send a man to do a woman’s job.” Hayley commented.

She patted Luca on the shoulder and then walked over to plop in the sand next to Monica.

Monica removed her arm when her phone beeped. “Tai is headed over,” Monica announced.

“No, he doesn’t know what either of us are and I’d like to keep it that way,” Luca said to no one in particular.

“I wish you wouldn’t keep it from him,” Monica said.

Jules squeezed Monica’s shoulder but didn’t speak, it was Luca’s choice.

“I can’t.” Luca’s expression was remorseful.

“Why not? Tai knows I’m lying to him about something. He even asked me if I was cheating on him last week,” Monica said with a little whine.

“You know him better than any of us,” Luca said. “Do you really think he’d take it well?”

Monica sighed, disappointed. “You’re probably right that he wouldn’t,” Monica admitted. “Sometimes I think he has the imagination of a bowl of mashed potatoes.”

Kyle snorted.

Moments later, Tai appeared at the top of the path and began the walk down to the beach. “Dude,” Tai began, zeroing in on Luca. “Wanting to hang out with your new girlfriend is not an adequate reason to call in sick.”

“I um…” Luca hesitated obviously caught in a lie.

Monica rose to greet him, tugging on the front of his hoodie to get his attention.

“It’s fine,” Tai continued, while only looking at Monica. “I covered for you. This time,” he added, just before he kissed Monica on the lips and handed her a bag full of leftovers from the restaurant.

“You’re the best,” she giggled.

“This, I am aware of,” he replied.

“Can we eat?” Kyle asked. “I’m starving.”

Minutes later, smoke rose from the fire pit. Everyone, save for Jules, gathered around to roast part of their meals over the fire. In the end, the humans’ and werewolves’ dinner was a hodgepodge of hotdogs, marshmallows, and leftovers from Panda Plate being reheated in foil.

Luca watched his friend while he sat near his girlfriend, but not next to her.

There was a distance between them, that hadn’t been there before.

He felt guilty for the secret he was keeping, but he knew Tai well enough to know that this reality was not one he would be able to accept.

Luca knew that he couldn’t be responsible for the collapse of Tai's whole worldview, but that didn’t cancel out the guilt he felt.

Jules was cradled in his arms, leaning against him as close as physically possible, while his secret was the reason for the space between Tai and Monica.

One of his arms was wrapped across her chest, hand resting on her shoulder, thumb absently stroking her collarbone.

Jules laughed at something, her whole body shaking them both.

He couldn’t help but smile. Bending, he kissed the back of her head lightly.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” Tai announced. He stood and walked up to the house. Monica watched him almost forlornly when he didn’t reach a hand out for her to accompany him.

Jules shifted out of Luca’s arms and walked over, bumping her arm against her friend’s as she sat in the sand beside her.

Luca lamented the loss of her presence as he watched Hayley get up from her seat beside Kyle and walk over, plopping down on Monica’s other side.

Both women took Monica’s hands and leaned on her shoulders.

Luca was amazed by Monica; this human was knowingly and comfortably sitting between two immortal predators like she was in no danger at all.

“So,” Kyle began.

“So, what?” Luca asked when he didn’t continue.

“I kinda like her,” Kyle said as he dropped a carryout box into the fire. It curled in on itself as it blackened.

“Jules?” Luca saw Jules through the flames. She was laughing at something, her smile wide and intoxicating.

“She’s pretty cool, for a vampire. I can see why you’re smitten.” Kyle dropped another wrapper into the fire.

“Smitten?”

“Oh, you are so far gone,” Kyle said. “I barely recognize you anymore.”

Luca chuckled. However, Kyle’s words had merit.

He wasn’t the same man he’d been before she had walked into his life.

He had something to lose again. Which, of course, made him worry more.

But he was also happier than he’d been in a very long time.

In a matter of days, Jules had changed everything; his future, all that he was and would become.

This love was new, yes, but it was a life-altering kind of love.

The kind that even immortals dreamed about.

Love, Luca thought to himself. He loved her.

He just needed to find the right time to tell her that.

“Ouch!” Kyle swore as a bit of packaging floated out of the fire and landed on his arm.

Hayley rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s what happens when you do stupid things.”

“I heard that!” Kyle shouted from his side of the fire pit.

A playful growl escaped Hayley’s lips.

“That too!” he shouted again.

Hayley stood, walked over to him, and dropped to her knees on the sand in front of her husband. Luca watched them. Their love changed their lives. In fact, Kyle could have died for it. Love has always made people do things they normally wouldn’t. Kyle pulled Hayley toward him and began kissing her.

Luca stood and walked over to sit next to Jules. “Hey stranger,” he said, smiling.

“Hi,” she said. She snuggled under his arm and leaned in against his side.

“Apparently you’ve received an all clear according to the Kyle test,” he told her.

“Did I?” she asked.

“Yup, totally,” Kyle called from between kisses.

Hayley smacked him while Jules, Luca, and Monica chuckled.

Luca stilled at the distinct sounds of a motor approaching from the ocean. His body tensed.

“What is it?” Jules asked.

“Are you expecting anyone else?” he whispered in her ear.

“Not that I know of,” she turned around to face him.

Luca listened carefully as he scanned the darkened sea in front of him.

Ricky looked around in confusion as Ethan pulled the boat up to a dock in front of a home that looked unoccupied.

Ethan pointed. To the right was a small, green, beach cottage, lighted and inviting.

Ricky followed the sound of laughter. His sharp wolf vision spotting the assortment of species around a fire pit just down the beach.

“You can’t just use someone’s random dock,” Tasha scolded.

“I have permission,” Ethan assured as he began tying off the boat. “The daughter is an ex and surf buddy. We went to Hawaii together last year on spring break.”

“Of course you did,” Tasha says, rolling her eyes.

“I think she’s fine,” Ricky said, pointing toward the fire. He could make out the vampire, sitting next to Luca. But, knew their human eyes probably could not.

“Who?” Tasha asked.

“Jules,” both boys said together.

Ethan offered Tasha a hand out of the small, sleek, speed boat.

Ricky scowled at the floor of the boat and then climbed out after them.

The three of them began the walk towards the fire pit.

Sand flipping up behind him and into his high-top sneakers.

Someone laughed loudly and Ethan took off jogging towards the group.

“Ethan,” Ricky heard two women say at the same time.

“What are you doing here?” His sister asked as Ricky and Tasha caught up to him. “Ope and neighbor girl Tasha. Awe. You two together remind me of long days babysitting. The pair of you used to torture me endlessly,” Monica added in a whimsical voice.

Ricky glanced over at Tasha’s beat red cheeks. She looked flushed and adorable, even if it was out of embarrassment.

“Just kidding. It was fun. Ethan who’s this?” Ethan’s sister pointed to Ricky.

“Ricky?” Luca said questioningly.

“Who the blazes are you?” Ethan asked, glaring at Luca, whose arm was wrapped around Jules.

Ethan was making a face that Ricky was interpreting as jealousy.

So, Ethan had a crush on his sister’s best friend?

Ricky found this to be boringly typical.

The rich playboy wants the one girl he can’t have. Pathetic!

“This is Luca, Jules’s boyfriend,” Ethan’s sister said. “I repeat. What are you doing here?”

Ethan turned on his sister. “Were you ever going to tell me Jules was in a fire at the school?” he asked accusatorily.

“No,” she replied bluntly.

“But Ricky said…” What Ethan was yelling at his sister faded to the back of Ricky’s consciousness.

“Carson,” Ricky said, looking only at Luca, trying to convey the need to speak to his Beta.

Luca exchanged a look with Kyle and then stood, offering a hand to Jules, who took it.

“Ethan stop yelling at your sister, I’m fine,” Jules said, walking up to Ethan, who threw his arms around the vampire, hugging her. “Too tight,” Jules said, sounding squeezed.

“Sorry,” Ethan let go of her immediately and patted her on the arm instead. “Since when do you have a boyfriend by the way?” Ethan asked shoving his hands into his pockets.

“It’s new,” Jules admitted.

“I don’t like it,” Ethan said, teasing.

“You don’t have to,” Monica replied for Jules and smacked her brother lightly in the back of the head.

Kyle stood and joined Luca in approaching Ricky.

“Tasha, right?” Kyle’s wife asked the forgotten teenage girl.