Page 92 of Inhuman Nature

Rake blinked. “I should be dead.”

“Well, technically…” Kit said.

It all made sense. “You recreated me,” Rake said, looking at Shaun.

“I did. Are you angry?”

Rake crashed down onto the bed, needing something solid underneath him. “I’m a vampire.”

“Yay?” Kit said.

“Shut up, Kit,” Shaun said.

Kit threw his hands up and flounced out of the room.

Shaun sat down close to Rake. “Are you okay?”

Rake touched the side of his neck where DJ had bitten him. There was no evidence of it now. “I think so,” he said. It was all a bit too much to take in, but he wasn’t physically hurt.

“I had to recreate you. It was that or watch you die, and I wasn’t willing to do that.”

Rake gave Shaun what he hoped was an encouraging smile. “I didn’t want to die. I don’t know if I wanted to be a vampire either, but it sure beats dying. Permanently, anyway.”

“What happened to DJ?” Shaun asked, face crumpling.

Rake clenched his hands into fists. “Lawrence made him into a vampire.”

“Oh, god.” Shaun’s eyes welled with fresh red tears.

“Lawrence compelled DJ to drain me. Deej was trying to stop the entire time, but the bastard didn’t let him.”

“Rake, I’m so sorry. Do you know where they’ve gone?”

“No.” Rake eyed Shaun’s neck. It looked oddly inviting.

“Maybe Lawrence took him back to the house.”

“Why the fuck would he have taken him to the one place we’d know to check?” Kit called from the living room.

“Stop listening in!” Shaun yelled. “We’re having a privateconversation.”

Kit came into the bedroom, huffing. “I’mhelping. But do you really think Lawrence is arrogant enough to take DJ back to his house?” Kit paused. “Wait, I think I already answered my own question.”

“If you’re going to be sarcastic, you can fuck off,” Rake said.

“Don’t speak to me like that. I’m basically your uncle now,” Kit said in a haughty tone.

“Uncle?” Rake repeated, incredulous.

“Lawrence recreated both me and Shaun, making us brothers of sorts. His blood runs through our veins. Shaun has recreated you in turn. Ergo, child of my brother.” Kit pointed to himself. “That makes me your uncle.”

Rake looked at Shaun. “Still never gonna call you Daddy.”

“I would be eternally grateful for that,” Shaun said.

Eternally. Well, shit. That was the sort of time Rake might have now that he was a vampire. Then something else struck him. “Wait, by that logic, DJ’s like a brother to you both.”

Shaun made a disgusted face. “Ew.”