Page 15 of Blood and Magic (RBMC: Helena, MT #2)

Vermillion

“T hey’re back,” I told Fenris when we returned to the ranchers’ quarters.

Maeve had gone ahead to the mansion while I made a pit stop to let my brothers know.

I pulled Fenris, Poe, Columba, Aquila, and Holden to the side, away from the human ranchers, so they didn’t overhear while they got ready for the day’s work.

“I smelled them out by Lot G, near the stream.”

Columba jumped into action, grabbing his hat from the hook on his bunk before shoving his arms into his cut. “Let’s fucking go.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” I said, holding a hand out to stop him.

We were two weeks from the full moon, and the dominant beast had started rearing its territorial head. It didn’t like being told what to do. But I still outranked him, outranked them all, and both he and his wolf knew it.

“We can’t go rushing in there all hotheaded,” I said. “We have work to do, and the scent was a few hours old. They might be using it as a way in and out.”

He snarled. “So we should set up shop to catch them the next time they come through.”

“We know what they’re after,” I said, though I understood his bloodlust. I, too, wanted to tear some vampire heads from their rotten, bloodsucking bodies. But I wasn’t just responsible for Maeve. While we were here, I was responsible for them, too. “We’re protected here at the mansion.”

“Not after we leave,” Columba argued. “You still want us to move the cattle next weekend? Then we need to settle this before then.”

“He’s got a point,” Poe said, crossing his arms.

Some of the other hired hands grabbed their hats and milled around, trying not to look like they were eavesdropping, though it was obvious that was what they were doing.

“If we move the cattle, that leaves only four guys here to protect the house,” Fenris said, shooting a feeling down the pack bonds that suggested it wasn’t enough…and I knew it. “We have to hunt them down before the moon.”

I didn’t have a good argument for that. When the call of the full moon took hold of our alter egos, we were incapacitated for at least five minutes.

Our bodies broke down and rebuilt themselves as our animal side, and during that process, we were almost blind and completely undefended.

Marx could strike then, when we were at our weakest, as they’d done in the past.

But what the fuck else were we supposed to do? I could call in backup from Kodiak, but then the homestead would be unprotected, and I didn’t like the thought of that, either.

“Move the cattle,” I told Fenris. “Be back in three days like we planned. That’ll give us the rest of this week and two days when you get back before the shift.”

“And if we can’t find them before then?” Poe raised his eyebrows, clearly expecting a fully formed plan.

"We’ll have to go home to shift with the pack.” It would be our only option.

“And leave Maeve unprotected?” He balked and shook his head. “That’s a stupid plan, brother.”

“She’ll come with us,” I said.

Poe let out an incredulous laugh, perhaps not believing me at first. When he decided I was serious, he widened his eyes. “Wait…really? Bring Maeve Vanderbilt to the homestead on a full moon?”

“We have humans in the pack,” I said. “They’ll protect her while we shift.”

“You better run that by Kodiak first,” Fenris added. “You know he gets touchy when you start making plans without consulting him.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I said. “In the meantime, let’s get back to work.” I glanced at Aquila, who had become our resident horse whisperer. I’d seen him get through to even the surliest of fillies. “You break that stallion yet?”

He shook his head. “The fucker is onery.”

“Keep working on him.” I gestured toward the big house. “I’ll grab Maeve and meet you by the barn.”

He balked. “She’s working with us today?”

“Until we catch these fucking bloodsuckers, I want to keep an eye on her.”

Fenris looked to Poe and Columba before pursing his lips and raising his eyebrows in disbelief.

“What?” I growled.

“How’d she take the news about you moving in?” Fenris asked, his hands on his hips, an eyebrow rose halfway up his forehead.

“Fine,” I growled. “I didn’t give her much of a choice.”

“Vanderbilt women like that,” Poe replied with a sarcastic smirk. “Sol really enjoyed being backed into a corner.”

“She’s alive, isn’t she?” Orion had kept her safe up at that cabin. Poe and Lycan, too. If she’d listened to him from the start, she probably wouldn’t have nearly gotten eaten by wolves either.

Poe put his hands out to either side in supplication. “I’m not arguing with you. I’m just saying…be careful.”

I glared but didn’t respond. I had to get back to the mansion.

Neither I nor my wolf liked leaving her alone this long.

The other guys jumped into action, going about their morning routine while I packed the rest of the things I’d need in the mansion.

My best friend and resident pain in the ass stuck around.

When I noticed him lingering, I raised my eyebrows and straightened.

“What?”

Fenris whistled. “Seems like you’re extremely worried about her.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean…she’s got an alarm system in the big house. If anyone comes after her, it won’t take long for us to get there to help her.”

I put my hands on my hips. “And?”

“Why do you need to have her by your side?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes, sensing where this was heading. “Knock it off.”

“Look, if she’s your?—”

I didn’t let him finish. Shaking my head, I headed out of the bunks toward the main house. Those idiots didn’t know what the hell they were talking about. Maeve was too young, too stubborn, too... human to be anything more than a job duty.

But my wolf didn’t like that insinuation. He reminded me of how hard my heart had stammered when I met eyes with her at the wedding. Touching her had set me on fire, and all my beast wanted to do was see how much of her he could consume in one bite.

I’d never felt like this about a female before. All of those encounters seemed mind-numbingly dull in comparison. Not Maeve. She made me laugh. She argued with me. She…was totally and completely off-limits.

When I got to the big house, I stomped my feet on the mat and wiped them off before shouting out for the Vanderbilt in question.

“Maeve!” I glanced toward the top of the grand staircase and waited to see if she’d respond. When she didn’t, I followed her caramel and lilac scent up the stairs to the second floor, where it trailed into a room two doors down on the right.

“Exactly, Jonathan,” Maeve said into her cellphone, pacing in front of an enormous desk in the study. “If we don’t do it now, the window of opportunity could close, and then where will we be?”

She held up a finger to suggest I should wait for her to finish.

While she negotiated with whomever was on the other end, I stood by the door and crossed my arms, letting my gaze roam over her.

She’d taken off her riding boots and now stood barefoot, her perfect toes decorated with black nail paint to match the same on her fingers.

She had long, strong legs that widened into hips just begging to be grabbed and squeezed.

Her curves screamed for attention as they faded into her chest and a long, biteable neck.

My canines nearly extended at the thought of sinking into that delicate flesh and marking her as mine.

And her eyes… fuck, her eyes were deep elegant pools of ice blue, and I wanted to stare into them while I made her scream.

With pleasure. With agony. With the wanton yearning for both at the same time.

But her scent — that sweet, floral decadence swirled around me, making me want to lap her up until neither of us could walk.

She hung up the phone and turned to face me.

“Vermillion?” She raised her eyebrows and smiled, and I shook my head before pushing upright, trying to tamp down the burn in my cheeks. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” I said, nodding toward the front door. “Let’s go.”

“Are you sure I have to come with you? I could keep all the alarms on and promise to check in.”

Maybe my best friend, the big, stupid oaf, had a point.

Maybe making her stay with me all day was too much.

There was a security system here, like she’d said.

And I didn’t want to think of myself as a stalker, but when I’d gotten hold of her phone at breakfast, I’d installed a bug that alerted me if she suddenly dropped it or screamed for help.

If I happened to also be able to track her movements, telephone calls, search history, and texts…

well, that couldn’t be avoided. It was for her safety, after all.

She grimaced and rubbed her temples. “It’s just…after the ride this morning, my head is killing me. I think I’m getting sick.”

Fuck.

Lycan’s warning resurfaced in my mind, but I stuffed it down. Sometimes, a headache was just a headache.

“What time does the staff leave?” I figured she wasn’t really alone, considering there were other people throughout. They wouldn’t be that much help against a vampire, but perhaps I could keep tabs on her from the barn. It wasn’t that far away, was it?

“Eight, after dinner,” she explained.

My wolf grimaced and shook its hackles, clearly not liking the thought of letting her out of his sight.

“Please?” She stuck out her lower lip in a pout. “I promise I’ll be good.”

I ignored the effect her words had on me, instantly taking me back to the dream where I’d chased her through the woods and threatened to punish her.

I took a deep breath and let it out on a sigh, berating my cock for its pathetic jerk.

“Fine. But you will check in with me every half hour, and if I don’t hear from you, I’ll come looking. ”

She nodded and gave me a mock salute. “Will do.”

“I’ll be back for dinner.” I adjusted my hat and straightened my cut as Maeve smiled. I pretended like the sight didn’t melt my cold, dead heart.

“Looking forward to it.”