Page 18

Sighing deeply, I roll my head, which has the added benefit of rubbing myself against his hand behind me. It’s the closest I’ve come to a shifter reflex in months.

“Not to get fired and lose my shiny new adult job in the city. Or my sweet apartment.”

Kai’s fingers soothe the tense muscles where they press against me. It feels too good to share this stuff. I haven’t had anyone to talk about it with. I just wish it wasn’t a smokin’ hot guy like him.

I mean, not that he’s gonna wanna get in my pants anyway, but I’m sure my whining isn’t helping.

“You were fired for turning? ”

I nod, trying to stop my stomach from fluttering at his indignation on my behalf.

“Well, technically it was for having unapproved time off, and because I couldn’t exactly be an executive’s PA when we’re on different times like that.

But there were options. I could have moved departments or something.

And then, I got evicted because my neighbour told them I was a vamp.

My lease was renewing and they said I had to do a whole new application.

They used me switching jobs as the reason, even though my parents guaranteed the rent. ”

I brave a look at Kai. His face is an angry storm—I’ve never seen that look on him. It’s scary. A little hot too, the way the scowl makes the red ring in his eyes burn and his fangs sharpen.

“That is some serious bullshit. Why didn’t you contact the VLC?” The VLC—Vampire Legal Collective—is an organisation that helps vampires fight against discrimination.

“I didn’t know about them, and then when I found out, it was too late.

” I shrug, like I don’t care, but Kai doesn’t believe me.

He’s clenching his mug so tightly, I feel bad for ruining our night with my problems. Besides, I don’t want to talk about me and my shit anymore.

I think about it enough. What I really want is to know more about him.

“What about your parents? Are they supportive?”

It’s a risk asking about his family, but it pays off. His face switches in a heartbeat, his snarl transforming into a loving smile. My stomach swoops dangerously.

“Oh, yeah. But my parents are all pretty chill. And like, one of my dads is a scientist, so he doesn’t hold with ‘that bigotry nonsense’. It’s not logical to him.”

“Oh, that’s cool. What about your other parent?” I take a quick sip of my drink, enjoying the taste coupled with the way Kai’s face lights up when he’s talking about his folks .

“ Parents —I actually have three dads. And Mum. Technically Gerald is my bio-dad, but we don’t bother with all that shit. They are all my parents.”

My mouth is hanging open slightly, and I know I’m being rude.

Not every shifter mates in a pair, and not all beings mate for life—fauns for example—but it’s so different from my upbringing it takes me a moment to catch up mentally.

Kai watches my every thought play across my face with great amusement.

“Wow,” I manage to say eventually. “Your mum must be a very energetic woman.”

I groan loudly. I can’t believe I said that. About his mother. For the love of the Gods, just evaporate me to the ether now. Kai, thank the Gods, just laughs, the corners of his eyes wrinkling and his fang flashing in the lamplight.

“That she is. Gerald is her second mate. Henrique is her first. Then Milton is the third. They mated when I was eight. Though Henrique and Milton also have a relationship. Gerald is just with Mum. I actually think biology is his first love, so it all works out.”

“So do you have a lot of siblings?”

Kai nods eagerly again. “Yeah. Two older brothers, an older sister and four younger siblings—triplet boys and a baby sister.” As an only child, I can’t imagine having that much chaos in the house.

I must be terrible at hiding my feelings tonight because Kai laughs, a carefree loud sound, and squeezes my neck.

He needs to stop doing that. It’s like he’s found a direct connection to my cock and I can feel each squeeze there.

“Yeah, it was a lot. It was probably why they were so supportive of me moving to the city to be a model when I was barely legal. ”

“That’s right! You modelled. Have you been in anything I would’ve seen?” An underwear catalogue is probably asking too much, but a vamp can dream.

Kai’s smile darkens, going from warm and friendly to smouldering heat. “I will try and find some old shots for you; there were some really good ones I think you’ll appreciate.”

I don’t think my heart is going to survive Kai and his flirty friendship. It’s too much. With my cheeks flaming he laughs again and knocks his knee into mine.

“Do you ever miss him?” I blurt out, to my own mortification, rushing to clarify what I mean because Kai’s head has cocked and his left fang peeks out from his confused smile. “Your animal side? You were a badger right? That’s what you said.”

I pause for a breath, letting him untangle the words that just came out. I’ve been desperate to ask someone in person—I just wish I hadn’t chosen right now. He’s just too easy to talk to about these things and it slipped out.

Kai takes a second to think about it, the progression of his thoughts animated on his face.

“At the start, yeah, a bit,” he says eventually, swirling the last of his drink in his cup.

“It was more what losing him meant, though. My family is cool about everything, but losing my shifter self meant that there were a whole lot of ‘family’ things I was suddenly excluded from. That was really rough. And B-man was a bit of a loudmouth. Having him go quiet was… weird. I kept expecting him to pipe up with some smartass remark or another, but then he didn’t and I would remember he was gone.

But I always felt… not numb about it but… ”

“Separated from it?” I offer when he hesitates.

“Yeah. It was like hearing a sad story about someone you knew. I know it’s common, most ex-shifters go through it. ”

“That’s… that’s good to know actually.”

He knocks me with his knee again. “You been feelin’ some way about losing your cat?”

I swallow down the uncomfortable lump in my throat. “No. And I’ve felt really, really guilty about it. Like I should be a lot sadder or something about… all of it. But I don’t.”

I shrug, like it’s no big deal, even though it kind of is. Kai’s eyes are like fuel to the flames heating my cheeks. Under the weight of his stare-down I chance a look up at him. There’s no pity, only understanding.

“And that’s why it’s important to be around other vamps. They get it. This isn’t just a you thing. I promise.”

The hand resting along the back of the couch squeezes the back of my neck again, and he may as well be stroking my dick with the way it jerks in my pants.

Thankfully for my health and safety, we switch to talking about the latest news taking over the world—the discovery of the hidden city of Tathys. We even order a second drink, because he’s right, the drinks are awesome.

But so is just being here with him. At the bar, there is always someone, or something, interrupting us, and we never get to talk about anything beyond the surface level kind of things.

I hadn’t really thought about how different it would be to just sit together.

I wouldn’t have guessed that the conversation would flow so easily between us.

And even when it stops, it doesn’t feel strained.

There isn’t any pressure to come up with anything witty or interesting to say to fill in the gap.

Eventually, he tells me about the costumes Nikolo has planned for them.

“You two seem close?” I ask, stirring my hot chocolate like it’s no big deal, when my ugly flare of jealousy gets the better of me. “Have you guys ever…” I tilt my head side to side, hoping Kai will get the point.

He chuckles, setting his cup on the table and running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, but it’s not like that. Not anymore anyway.” I flinch and he catches it, his nose wrinkling with a smile. “No, seriously. We did fool around a bit when I first started at the club, but it cooled off a little while after I turned.”

“What happened?” Apparently, I’m a sucker for punishment. I’m just glad it comes off as light and curious, not seething with jealousy.

Kai shrugs. “Nothing. It was never actually a ‘thing’ type of thing. Just convenience. Then we became closer as friends and that side of things just naturally died. No big deal.”

He doesn’t sound like he’s secretly pining for his best friend, but I’ve never been great at casual—not that I’ve ever really had a chance to practise—so what do I know?

“What about the dancing?” Okay, that came out way more pointedly than I meant it to. Kai’s laugh is loud and sharp in the otherwise muffled sounds of the cafe. Hopefully they are using some sort of warding to dull the sounds of the booths.

“That is just all in good fun. Seriously, there is absolutely nothing sexy about it.” Kai pauses, his head tilting as a sly smile spreads across his face. “Well, that’s not entirely true. It’s sexy as shit, but not because of Nikolo.”

Oh fuck. Heat darkens his eyes and I’m not in any way prepared for it. I chuckle nervously, rubbing the back of my neck where the fresh blood in my veins pools hot and prickly.

“Yeah, it’s definitely got something going for it. ”

“You like watching me, Finn?” Kai’s voice is a touch deeper. He sinks further into the couch so his body pushes against me just a little bit harder.

My body is all kinds of hot and embarrassed all over again. I have no idea why he’s flirting with me like this. I’m not used to this kind of joking around and it’s making my nerves pull me in all kinds of directions. I don’t know if I want to run away or jump him right here, right now.

“Ugh, you know you’re hot. Don’t fish for compliments. It’s not cute.” A complete lie, it’s really fucking cute. Rolling my eyes, I huff with fake exasperation. Kai laughs, again, sitting up and withdrawing from my space enough to let me breathe—metaphorically—again.