Page 82 of Immortal Bastard (The Order of Vampires)

Delilah scowled at the men. Did he actually just speak about her as if she weren’t sitting right there? “I can talk to whoever I want.”

Cain ignored her, but chuckled, his gaze saved only for the others. “This should be interesting.” Then he swatted his wife’s ass and said something to Destiny in that same foreign language that made her blush.

Destiny tidied up her materials and thread and put them back in the basket. “I better go. You know how he gets.” She didn’t appear put out as she scampered after her husband. “We’ll see you guys at supper. Anna, we’re eating at your house, right?”

A loud crack of thunder boomed and they all jumped. Cain yelled from the back gate, “Destiny, your husband has needs! Anda logo, vamos!”

“Calm yourself,” Destiny snapped then turned back to Annalise.

“Yes. Gracie’s cooking.”

“Oh, good.”

“Hey,” Anna whined, scrunching her nose. “That soup I made last week wasn’t too bad.”

Gracie’s eyes widened in obvious disagreement.

“The hogs wouldn’t even eat it,” Dane said.

“You would know better than the rest of us what pigs like,” Gracie commented under her breath.

Ouch. There was no missing the tension between those two.

Destiny rolled her eyes. “I gotta go before we all end up in a storm. Nice meeting you, Delilah. Let’s hang out again soon.” She hiked her skirts and ran off to her husband. When she reached him, Cain picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, planting a hand firmly on her rounded ass before toting her away.

“Ignore them,” Grace said, shaking her head. “Cain’s a pervert.”

“He’s not a pervert. They’re in love.” Anna smiled at the adorable couple.

“Some people like to show affection,” Dane said snidely.

Gracie’s glare snapped to him. “And some are just whores.”

“She’s not a whore.” Dane said, initiating a chilling silence among the circle.

Finally, Gracie tossed down her sewing and stood. “I wasn’t speaking about her, you fool. Excuse me.”

The moment Gracie disappeared into the house, Anna stood. “You walked into that one, Dane.” She laid Lucy in a wicker Moses basket and gathered up the baby items in her apron.

Larissa scooped up Jaden. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a man referred to as a whore. What do you do all day, alone in that barn of yours?”

“It’s her own fault for nosing around in my head. I don’t even know why I come here anymore.”

“I do.” Annalise chuckled.

Delilah was lost. Was there something between Gracie and Dane?

Dane glared at the house then rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’m going to visit my sister before supper. I can take Moriah back to the house for you, Larissa.”

“Thanks Dane.”

Delilah tried to keep up. Dane had a sister? Did that mean that she was also Christian’s sister?

Delilah wasn’t sure what was going on, but everyone started packing up so it seemed a good time to call for Christian. She wasn’t sure how one called from their mind. It wasn’t like there was a send button or number to dial, so she just thought his name. Christian?

Pintura?

Relief flooded her at the familiar sense of his nearness, then she frowned, not wanting such weird things to feel so regular or reassuring. She needed to hold onto a sane sense of normalcy.

Did you need me?

She refused to say or even think that she needed him. Um…I’m ready to go.

I’ll be right there.

Dane walked Moriah through the gate and Larissa waited with her, still holding the masked little boy. “Is Christian on his way?”

“I think so.” The child watched her curiously but the muzzle was so off-putting Delilah had a hard time interacting. “You don’t have to wait with me.”

Larissa smiled. “I don’t mind.” Holding her baby brother on her hip, she swayed like a woman who was used to caring for children.

The three little ones—Jaden, Little Cain, and Moriah—were all around the same age, but each was uniquely different. Moriah seemed the most independent and strong-willed. Little Cain fit neatly into Delilah’s stereotypical definition of toddlers—if toddlers had fangs. But there was something distinctly off about Jaden.

A darkness hid in the boy’s eyes. His intelligence wasn’t lacking though. Delilah imagined he had much to say when the muzzle came off. Was he cruel with his words? Hurtful? Maybe he was simply teething, but that didn’t necessarily lead to viciousness. What could the child have done to deserve to wear such a mask?

The sky darkened into a rosy fuchsia as the sun set behind the trees. “I think it’s wonderful that you chose to save Brother Christian,” Larissa commented as they waited.

“Save him?”

“Yes, from going unanswered.”

Delilah frowned. “You lost me.”

“When a male is called, he must find his mate. If he doesn’t, he can die.”

A cold chill ran through Delilah’s blood. Her concern for her captor irritating her once more. “I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

“It’s a beautiful sunset tonight,” Larissa looked out over the horizon, letting the conversation drop.