Page 32 of Inhuman Natures #1

Shaun

“Your creator has gone to ground.”

Shaun lifted his head, Lynette appearing in front of him as if conjured from thin air. He said nothing, just waited for her to continue.

This was the first occasion she’d come to see him after a few nights of solitary confinement.

Initially, he’d brooded over recent events, but then he’d relied on the tried and tested method of making up stories in his head to pass the time.

Because, as desperate as he was for freedom, this wasn’t the first time he’d been alone and imprisoned.

He was a pro at it by this point.

“Do you know where Weston might be?” Lynette asked.

Shaun shook his head. “No. But I’d imagine he’s keeping out of your way in case you realise he broke the laws, not me.” He didn’t bother trying to hide his bitterness.

“My creations have been watching his house every night, but there’s no sign of him. Any insight would be useful.”

“I don’t know. He could be at any number of the houses he owns across the country if he’s no longer in Brighton.”

Lynette skewered him with a disbelieving look .

Shaun sent a weary one right back at her. “You should have just kept him here.”

“He had to go feed in order to heal,” Lynette said, emotionless. “He claimed none of the humans I had to offer him were of interest, and I couldn’t detain him without cause.”

A sarcastic laugh burst out of Shaun. “How convenient for him.”

“He told me what happened well before you did. You cannot blame me for listening to him.”

“Regardless of who told you first, listen to me now. Lawrence attacked Julia.” Shaun weighed up his next words.

He didn’t want to reveal Rake and DJ’s involvement, but he needed them to be protected.

“Rake Mishra and DJ Armstrong-Tomlinson. They’re members here at the club— human members.

Lawrence will go after them next,” he said, making the urgency clear.

“Why?”

“Because he can’t get to me here. So he’ll go through them, just like he went through Julia to get to you.”

Lynette looked to be contemplating this. “I’ll have one of my creations watch their house at night to ensure their safety until the matter is resolved.”

“Thank you. I couldn’t rest without knowing they’d be safe.”

“You consider them yours?”

“One day, maybe I will.” They’d barely discussed yet where stood relationship-wise, so Shaun wouldn’t suggest he planned to recreate them, lest Lynette hold him to it.

Lynette studied him. “Weston did tell me you were looking for ways to get rid of him so that you could be with them instead.”

Shaun couldn’t deny the accusation. It might not have been how the situation went down, but he did want Lawrence out of his life.

Until Lawrence had turned on Shaun, it had been a pipe dream to imagine himself being with Rake and DJ.

Despite his intentions, Lawrence’s actions had pushed the three of them together in a way that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

“I admit I wanted free of him. But that doesn’t mean I’d kill any humans to spite him, or whatever it was he claimed. It’s not against the laws to want to leave your creator.”

“I suppose not.”

Shaun pressed Lynette further. “I’ve never killed.

Not ever. I don’t even really like drinking from humans.

” Apart from, he didn’t add out loud, Rake and DJ.

But that was for other reasons. He held Lynette’s gaze as he continued.

“Every single time I’ve hurt anyone, it has been on Lawrence’s orders. ”

She examined him where he remained trapped in the small cage. “Your words alone are not enough to exonerate you.”

“I understand,” he said. He didn’t point out that words alone had damned him originally. “Please keep the humans safe, anyway.”

“It’s my job as territory leader to do so. I don’t need reminding of my responsibility.”

Shaun dipped his head. He wished for nothing more than to be let out, his muscles having seized up from being confined to such a small space for so long, but he didn’t bother asking.

She approached the cage, standing over him. “You’re rather pale,” she observed .

He snorted a laugh. “I’ve been stuck in here for days and haven’t been feeding. Then there’s the small matter of me being a vampire and not having seen the sun for over a decade. Washes you out a bit.”

“It doesn’t appear like you’ve been drinking enough.”

“I had to heal from Lawrence’s ‘punishment’,” Shaun said, bending his fingers into quotation marks. “And then from fighting him off, and then from the broken bones you gave me. A few sips of blood only goes so far.”

“Julia was half-drained when she arrived at the hospital,” Lynette said.

“If I’d drunk half a human, I wouldn’t have struggled so much to heal,” Shaun said, providing her with the explanation she was seeking. “Lawrence took it all from her.”

“But you fought and escaped from him that night.”

“I beat him because of luck and only escaped because the sun was coming up. I’m not worth him dying over.”

“You’ve given me a lot to consider.” Lynette made to leave, turning just as she got to the door. “I’ll send someone in who you can feed from.”

“Thank you,” he said, with genuine gratitude and not a small measure of surprise. A feed would help soothe the constant ache in his muscles and gnawing emptiness in his stomach.

That was all the pity she afforded him, however. She left him alone in the dark again, only his thoughts for company.

Sometimes Shaun wondered how his mind was as intact as it was.

He assumed it was because Lawrence liked Shaun’s reactions enough to not break him.

There had been stretches of time when he’d retreated into himself, but Lawrence had always dragged him back to reality, no matter how much easier it would have been to stay in his head.

When the door next opened, it was Boris.

He was with a human Shaun recognised, one of the Doms Lawrence met with at the club.

Shaun recalled sucking the guy’s cock on one or two unremarkable occasions.

Now, however, the man had the dazed expression of a compelled human, his eyes unfocused and body lax as Boris led him in.

“Dinner,” Boris announced.

“Thanks,” Shaun said, despite having no desire to sample the man. After the pleasure of Rake and DJ’s blood, nothing would compare.

Boris unlocked the cage, opening it and springing back, as if he expected Shaun to attack him. Shaun did no such thing, of course. All he did was crawl out and stretch his twinging body.

“You can have a few minutes with him, but no more,” Boris warned. “I’ll be here the whole time, so don’t try anything.”

The human smiled placidly at Shaun. He wondered what type of compulsion the man was under. Lawrence enjoyed keeping people aware when he fed, only taking their memories once he finished with them. This man seemed like he had no clue what was going on at all.

Shaun’s fangs dropped at the prospect of food. He was hungry, no matter how uninterested he was in the man’s blood. He drank from his wrist for ease, given the man was a good few inches taller than him and Shaun was far too embarrassed to ask for something to stand on for better access to his neck.

The blood, whilst quenching his thirst, was as bland as the man. Almost flavourless, just a faint suggestion of something reminiscent of boiled broccoli. Still, Shaun took his fill, the blood soothing his sore muscles.

He didn’t wait for Boris to tell him to stop. He drew back, wiping at the corner of his mouth. Boris stood over him with surprise on his face. Shaun almost laughed. They thought he was a feral creature who would kill someone for fun. No doubt they’d expected him to attempt to drain the man.

“Done?” Boris asked.

“Yep.”

The human blinked. “You’re Master Lawrence’s pet, aren’t you?” he asked in a voice as thick as molasses.

Shaun stiffened and backed away. “I thought he’d been compelled?”

“I think it’s wearing off,” Boris said, gripping the man’s arm and turning him to face him. Shaun looked at the door. It appeared unguarded. With Boris’s attention focused on the man, he might just be able to make a run for it.

But Shaun didn’t try to escape.

He stood and watched as Boris compelled the human to be quiet and forget everything.

Shaun looked away, hating how they had to deceive humans in order to survive.

He remembered the first time Lawrence had made him feed on someone, right after he’d been recreated.

The thought of drinking blood had made Shaun sick. Literally. All over Lawrence’s shoes.

It had been horrifying. He’d still been half in love with Lawrence at that point, despite everything. Shaun had been so na?ve, thinking it romantic that someone as mature as Lawrence wanted him. Small, stupid, sheltered Shaun Forrester being chosen for something more than a basic mortal existence.

It had been so thrilling in the beginning, right up until Lawrence had shown his true colours.

Shaun had still spent their time together trying to please Lawrence. There was some desperate part of him that would always seek his creator’s approval—the tie between them leaving Shaun unable to rid himself of the feelings he once had.

Shaun had lived for the rare times when Lawrence would show him affection, even if it was something as insignificant as a head scratch or kind word.

However, the compliments Lawrence paid were calculated, aimed at Shaun’s appearance and body more than his actual self.

Lawrence had enjoyed that much of Shaun.

He’d told him often enough it was why he’d chosen him: that Shaun looked young, and that he’d been untouched and unspoiled.

But that was before Lawrence had ruined every inch of him.

It made Shaun feel like spiders were crawling over his skin even now, and he rubbed at his arms as if he might brush them off. Boris eyed him suspiciously, but didn’t comment.

“Can I stay out of the cage for a bit?” Shaun asked, hopeful he would be granted a reprieve.

“No.”

Well, then. Apparently, his life hadn’t changed all that much from when he was with Lawrence.

Shaun’s gaze slid back to the door, but Boris caught the look this time. “Don’t even think about it,” he warned.

Shaun raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Steve,” Boris grunted .

Shaun frowned. “Steve? My name’s Shaun.”

Boris rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t talking to you.” Sure enough, the other vampire who trailed after Lynette like a lap dog came into the room.

The blood Shaun had just ingested heated his face with embarrassment. “Oops.”

Steve led the human from the room. As they passed, the human’s eyes roamed Shaun’s form with undisguised lust. Shaun wrapped his arms around himself, hating how he was the one being looked at like a piece of meat, despite the human having been Shaun’s meal.

Boris pointed to the cage. “Get in.”

Shaun attempted his best pleading eyes, but the big lug was immune. Sighing as if this were all a terrible inconvenience, Boris dragged Shaun over with no further fanfare.

Being deposited back into the cage after the brief taste of freedom was worse than the first time.

Shaun touched his back, his fingers finding unmarked skin.

At least he’d healed. He stared forlornly at the door after Boris left, hoping beyond hope that Lynette would keep her word to watch over Rake and DJ.