Page 39 of Bloodbane
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
After the Blood Dries
{ T H A Y N E }
I stare at the three lycans in my living room. My gut turns leaden. “Ash? Where is everyone?”
“This is everyone. The rest left after our uninvited guest showed his furry snout yesterday. The general consensus was that it wasn’t their fight.”
I open my mouth before clamping it closed again. What the fuck can I say? The odds weren’t great to begin with, and that was before we knew about Draven. Strategies for surviving the coming fight rush through my mind, but they all seem impossible. There may be no choice but to retreat. The idea grates at me instantly. It goes against every instinct to turn tail and abandon my home. The word brings my whirling thoughts to a standstill.
Home.
Not so long ago, this house and the land surrounding it had felt like an anchor around my neck, pulling me down, drowning me in responsibility and regret. But then somehow, inexplicably, the pack I’d initially seen as a burden became family. Dysfunctional and fractured, perhaps, but family all the same.
And I’m not the only one who would be sacrificing their home: Ruby’s whole life is here. I can’t ask her to abandon the only place she’s found peace, not when there’s no guarantee of safety even if she does leave. If Draven has tracked her here, he could find her again. No, running is not an option. We’ll make a stand here… and pray we are all still standing after the blood dries.
Mind set, I eye the twins, standing side-by-side behind Ash. They had arrived only three moons ago, scared and desperate. Though fiercely loyal to each other, I’m not sure how much of that allegiance extends to their new pack. The last to arrive, I thought they’d be the first to flee.
“I understand if you want to leave. I will simply ask that you tell me now.”
In perfect harmony, the twins’ eyes flick from Ruby—with open curiosity—to Eirik—with wary suspicion—before coming to settle back on me.
“No, we’re staying.” Landon’s voice is firm.
“You took us in when no one else would,” Layla adds softly, but without her usual tremble. “You’ve given us so much and asked for nothing in return. This is our home. We will fight with you.”
“Thank you.” The words aren’t enough, not even close, but they’re all I have. Knowing the answer before I voice the question but needing to ask anyway, I turn to my best friend. “The same goes for—”
“Oh, please, Smith. I’ve been waiting for months to take a bite out of Arlo. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Okay.” I plant my hands on my hips as I look around at the expectant faces staring back at me, as if I have all the answers. And, shit, I know I’m supposed to, but it feels like my entire life has been one big show: ‘fake it till you make it’ taken to the extreme. Why should now be any different? “I’m not going to lie to you or sugar coat the facts. They have the numbers advantage so it’s not going to be an easy fight. But we have more than enough strength, smarts, and heart in this room to handle whatever they throw at us.” I try to relax my clenched jaw as I force a smile, nodding toward Eirik. “And we have a vampire, too. That’s gotta be worth something.”
Eirik’s eyes narrow as if he wants to show me exactly how much that’s worth, but Ash’s mocking snort draws his attention.
“I don’t know, he looks quite well-fed,” she smirks. “I’m not sure he’s going to be motivated enough to get his fangs dirty.”
“Oh, believe me, pup, I’m plenty motivated,” Eirik replies dryly. “The only bite you’re going to get out of Arlo is from the corpse once I’ve ripped his head from his body.”
“Is that so? How about a wager then, Blood Boy? Fifty bucks to the one that brings him down.” Ash strolls toward Eirik, hand extended.
Eirik hesitates only a moment before clasping it in his. “I hope you’re not a sore loser.”
“Nice to see you two getting along.” The tension thrumming through me breaks with a chuckle. I turn away as they start debating the most efficient way to take down prey.
My gaze finds Ruby, standing by the couch, staring blankly into the space between us. That space has only seemed to increase with each passing hour.
It had started with uneasy silence this morning when she’d disappeared into the bathroom, wrapped in shock and a sheet, and had come out dressed and oddly detached, determination etched into the tight lines of her face. She hadn’t participated in the hasty planning—Eirik and I deciding the ranch would be the best, most easily defensible stronghold, limiting possible civilian casualties—instead, she had fixedly avoided eye contact as she packed a bag, climbed into the passenger seat of her own truck, and spent the entire ride staring out the window in silence.
I want to respect her need for space. Selfishly, a small part of me is holding out hope that with time, Ruby can find a way to process her new reality and find a way to forgive me for last night.
Last night.
Taking Ruby had been unlike anything I’ve ever known—filling her, again and again, until her belly was full and she’d fallen asleep, making soft, contented mewling sounds when I’d wrapped my arms around her… it had been almost perfect.
The only thing missing was Eirik.
The memory of the three of us moving together, the feel of Ruby’s tight body clenching around me, and seeing my motions rippling through her into Eirik, watching those light eyes turn dark… It was almost as if the years of pain and regret had faded, and in that moment, I was whole again.
The internal replay of sights and sounds seared into my memory has heat shooting down my spine and pooling low in my gut. Knowing I’ll never experience it again turns that fire to ice.
“—th to Thane!”
It takes several seconds to extricate myself from the web of sensations assaulting me. “Sorry, I was just… planning. For tomorrow night.”
“Of course you were.” Ash smirks, her gaze momentarily dipping to my pants knowingly. “While you were planning , I promised these two—” she jerks her head toward the twins “—that I’d go over the finer points of lycan on lycan throwdowns. Which leaves you three to…” her eyebrows twitch up, dancing above bright eyes sparkling with amusement. “ Strategize till you’re spent.”
“Ash.” I barely bite back the groan. She has a laundry list of positive attributes, but subtlety will never be listed among them.
“What?” She asks, voice brimming with feigned innocence. “Isn’t that what the kids are calling it these—”
“ Ruby! ” Adrenaline bolts through me like a lightning strike. Ruby’s distress sours the air, so thick I can taste it.
Terror wets Ruby’s wide eyes as she twists from me toward the open door. Her rough whisper rings like a death knell in the heavy silence.
“Evander.”
I follow Ruby’s line of sight, expecting to see a looming shadow blocking the bright sunlight streaming through the door frame, but it’s empty. I turn to Ash.
“Do a perimeter—“
“Way ahead of you.” Ash disappears through the back door as I spin back to comfort Ruby.
She’s gone.