Page 101 of Inhuman Nature

“Good luck getting DJ back if you’re busy fighting foryour life against Lynette and the rest of the territory leaders,” Kit said as he wandered over to a flogging post, tilting his head in contemplation.

Rake ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the strands. Shaun grabbed both of Rake’s hands to stop him from doing any damage, given he could now easily pull his hair out at the root.

“Lynette will be back soon,” Shaun said. “And we’ll go about doing this the way she wants. We’ll get her help, and we’ll get DJ back.”

“What if Lawrence has…” Rake trailed off, staring at their clasped hands. “To DJ,” he finished, leaving the question half-unsaid.

Shaun gave a short, sharp shake of his head. “No.” He knew his creator. “Lawrence took DJ for two reasons—leverage and revenge. He won’t need to do anything worse to him. Keeping him away from us is the punishment.”

“You can’t be sure.”

“But I have to believe it.”

Rake sniffed, then pulled Shaun onto his lap, burying his face in his neck. Shaun held on tight, trying to be strong for Rake but feeling utterly inadequate.

“If it helps, I don’t think he’ll do much more to him, either,” Kit said. “DJ looks far too much like an actual adult.” Despite his words, his tone was casual.

Kit wandered over to the St Andrews Cross—the same one where Shaun had watched Rake and DJ scene. It seemed like years ago, not a matter of weeks.

Shaun decided they needed a distraction. “You ever used one of those, Kit?”

Kit put both hands on his hips and glared at him. “Take a girl to dinner first,Shaun.”

“Just asking,” Shaun muttered into Rake’s shoulder.

“Well, for your information, I haven’t.” Kit walked over to a sex swing that was bolted to the ceiling. “Or this, in case you were curious.”

“What about the spanking bench?”

“No comment.”

Rake lifted his head. “That doesn’t surprise me at all. You’re a classic brat.”

“Excuse me,” Kit said, placing a hand on his chest in the manner of a scandalised maiden. “That is a grievous accusation. I will not stand for such baseless slander.”

“So you should sit down,” Rake said.

It took Shaun a few seconds to recognise the joke, and then he was shaking with laughter. “That was terrible.”

“I thought Kit might appreciate the dad joke,” Rake said.

Kit made an offended noise, and the faintest of flushes rose on his pale cheeks. For a minute, Shaun felt lighter, but Lynette’s entrance through the front door spoiled his mood.

Julia, whom Shaun had last seen bleeding out on the ground outside the hospital, was curled into Lynette’s side, Lynette’s arm around her protectively despite being several inches shorter than her.

Shaun stilled as they looked his way, Julia’s eyes widening with recognition. Shaun knew the traumatic events of that night had confused her, but it hurt to see someone scared of him. Not least someone whose life he had saved at significant personal cost.

If Shaun had obeyed Lawrence’s will, Julia would be deadand gone, and both Rake and DJ would be safe. He couldn’t help but resent her. Unlike them, she would get to choose her own fate in becoming a vampire.

Lynette surveyed them as she approached. “You reached the flat in time?” she asked.

“No. I didn’t,” Shaun replied. “Lawrence took DJ and recreated him against his will. Lawrence is out of control. You have to stop him.”

“Don’t tell me how to run my own territory.”

“Oh, so you planned on letting him run rampant?” Kit asked.

“Of course not,” Lynette snapped. “You should be careful how you talk to me, boys, because you’re all on thin ice.”