Page 61 of Bane of Hate and Silver (Primordial Inheritance #1)

Jules tapped snooze on her alarm, feeling like only moments had passed.

She woke from a dreamy haze with images of Luca and memories of his touch coaxing her gently awake.

As she hit snooze for the third time, she noticed a bunch of waiting messages.

Five were from Gabriel asking where she was and telling her to be more careful in five different ways.

One from Monica wishing her a happy sun-induced hibernation day.

And the last three were from an unknown number.

She read the first one. Hi, it’s me. Tai gave me your number.

Don’t be mad at him . And the second. I assume you know who me is .

And the last. They are closing in on you.

I know you can take care of yourself, but please, be cautious.

She smiled, saved the number under the contact name L.C.

, and punched in a quick response to each of them and then rose to get ready for the work day.

She didn’t know if it was wise to stop at the coffee shop. She wasn’t sure that she could keep a secret like this from Monica. After a short amount of consideration, she decided to stop in anyway.

When she walked through the door, Monica beamed at her. “I know something good,” she teased.

“Don’t tell me.” Jules knew it probably had something to do with Saturday night, and that would send her straight into an immersive Luca Cain spiral.

“Okay. Then, spill. Why didn’t you answer my text yesterday? You did promise me you’d explain everything.” Monica wore a faux scolding expression.

Jules had contemplated how much to say on the drive over. She didn’t like the idea of creating a wedge between herself and the human who knew her best. “I really can’t tell you,” Jules said and smiled sheepishly.

“Jules!” Monica came around the counter, neglecting the customer waiting to order. “What do you mean you can’t tell me?”

Jules pointed toward the waiting woman.

“I’m taking ten,” she shouted to the back. No one responded. Monica rolled her eyes. “Don’t go anywhere.” She pointed an accusatory finger at Jules.

Jules walked a couple paces away and stared aimlessly at the television over her head.

“The Fort Miles Phantom has struck again. Two more civilians fell victim to this madman in the Rose Garden Saturday evening. The civilians’ identities are being kept confidential until the families can be notified.

The Harrison family is still unavailable for comment on the murder of Officer Micha Harrison, however the official statement from the department will be released later today. ”

Jules looked over as the door dinged, announcing the now very angry customer’s departure.

“Come on.” Monica walked past Jules, motioning for her to follow her outside. Monica rushed over to one of the metal tables set up for customers who preferred the open atmosphere and sat quickly. Jules slid into a chair opposite her. She glanced up, it was going to be a blessedly foggy day.

“Now can you tell me?”

Jules sighed. “It’s not that eventful really. I went for a run Saturday night and slept all day Sunday” Jules hesitated, “by myself.”

“And your phone was?”

“On silent.”

“Jules, I know you. You’re hiding something.”

“Maybe.” Jules’s face scrunched into a supremely guilty expression.

“See, the last time you looked at me like that, you were trying to friend-dump me for my own good. Now look at us, we’re better friends than we ever were before I knew your crumby secret.”

Jules sighed.

“What? Is it Luca?”

Monica smiled giddily when Jules failed to respond. “He likes you. I could totally tell that he likes you.” She was seeping excitement.

“Yeah,” Jules said. “I caught that too.” She pressed her lips together, unable to say more.

“So, then what’s the problem? Mrs. Prentiss was human once, right?”

“She was.” This was irrelevant to Jules and Luca, but she ran with the excuse anyway. “And Gabriel had to turn her into a vampire.”

“And is she unhappy?” Monica asked.

“No,” Jules answered honestly. Jules didn’t like this.

She wanted to be honest with Monica. She wanted to tell her everything that had happened since the anniversary double date had come to an end.

She desperately wanted to tell her how accepting the idea of being with Luca had changed things inside her.

How she felt more hopeful and alive. However, the secret had to be kept, for her safety and for Luca’s.

“But you do like him, don’t you?”

“I don’t… not like him.”

“So, what? Because you’re…” Monica didn’t say undead, but Jules knew she was thinking it. “It means you can’t ever find love?”

Jules’s phone beeped. It was a message from Luca. Jules couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re smiling. Who was that?” Monica asked.

“No one. I have to get to work.” Jules stood.

“Jules! There is still something you’re not telling me.”

Jules hesitated and then spoke. “Yes,” Jules admitted, “and I promise to tell you what it is when I can.”

“Well, that is very frustrating.” Monica scowled.

“I know. I’m sorry, please trust me.”

“Fine. But this conversation is not over.” Monica stood, taking a few steps closer to the coffee shop.

“Agreed.” Jules smiled at the annoyed look on Monica’s face. They’d be alright. And as soon as she could, Jules would tell her everything.

Nick was dreaming. Glowing around the edges like always, was the object of his most prominent affection.

Hair curled and golden. Body strong and agile.

His love’s mortal life had ended before his twenty-second year of life.

Long before even Nick’s grandparents had been conceived.

Eyes, of the most unique color, stared up at him as a body glided down his own.

Nick felt… feelings from his still heart as he desperately hung onto sleep.

Tingling touches slid down his abdomen as soft, full lips took his cock deep, to the back of the throat. Blood tears were forming in his eyes. Nick didn’t want them to escape.

Nick woke with a start as his body reacted to the real time blow job he was currently receiving.

He’d spent all of Sunday locked inside Incognito, the vampire bar, due to the sun.

It had to be the next morning by now. Nick pulled on sexy bartender Antonio’s curls, yanking the man off his stiff cock.

Antonio’s grin was almost manic. “Come on, Baby. Don’t get shy on me now. ”

“Did I ask you to put my dick in your mouth?” Nick asked, incredulous.

Antonio shook his head coyly.

“Then I don’t want to be touched.” Nick sat up, turned off by the uninvited contact.

And the fact that the mouth in his dreams was a thousand miles away and not currently speaking to him.

If he hadn’t messed things up again, he would be home right now.

Wherever the one he loved was. The fight that ended them this time had been ugly.

He’d been drifting through his undead, life drinking and killing his little heart out.

Fucking and faking it ever since. This time felt final and for the first time in his immortal existence, Nick felt truly dead.

He stood from the black leather couch, forcing Antonio to move aside as well.

Pulled up his black ripped jeans and stepped away to find his boots.

He swore when he tripped over a nearly empty whiskey glass, dumping the rest of its contents onto the floor by accident.

He pulled on one boot, leaving the laces loose, while the glass rolled away under a piece of furniture.

“You didn’t mind yesterday,” Antonio whined.

“And now I do.” He looked under the staff lounge table and found his other boot.

He pulled it on. Picking his phone up off the side table he checked the time, saw a missed call from Chad, and strode for the door.

He’d sent his place-holder a message letting him know he’d be gone all day and all night.

What could the man possibly want? And why hadn’t he thrown him out yet?

“When will I see you again?” Antonio asked, still sitting on the couch where Nick had left him.

“Don’t know,” Nick replied and walked from the room, back to the main bar area.

Incognito was nearly empty for the day, just one Vampire drinking from the source and the bouncer watching over them.

Nick nodded at the bouncer and had almost made it to the door when he heard Cleo call out to him. “Stop.”

He did so.

“Come here,” she ordered.

Nick’s shoulder’s dropped. Feeling like a scolded child he did as he was told.

The stunning specimen of a Vampire looked deep into his eyes before she spoke.

“I do not mind harboring you here, darling boy, but you’re haunted.

” She rose her long painted fingernails to his face, caressing it gently.

“I see it in those eyes. They carry such mirth, normally. You’re lost, Baby. ”

“Yeah,” Nick’s voice was clipped. Fighting back emotions he didn’t want to feel. “I lost my anchor. I’m adrift. I can’t find my way back.”

Her hand slid down his arm. Both her hands settled where his arms crossed over his chest. “You can be your own anchor.”

Nick shook his head but couldn’t speak.

“You can. You will.”

Nick wanted to believe her but didn’t know how. Without saying a word, he kissed her on the cheek and walked from the bar. Just in time to wipe a stray blood tear off his face with the back of his sleeve.

Nick shook himself free, boxing up the emotion once more, and the Fort Miles Phantom roamed the streets for another day.

Jules walked into the school at her normal time. The day being a rather foggy one. “Jules!” Gabriel shouted as she passed his classroom door on the way to the library.

She stopped in her tracks but took a moment too long to turn around to face him.

“Gabriel, I was fine. I am fine. You need to stop worrying so much.”