Page 36 of Lover Forbidden (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #23)

As always, so factual, so literal. And like Allhan knew anybody or had any friends he could call on to feed from? Besides, V had just been trying to give the kid some decision over any part of his life. He sure as shit hadn’t picked getting left behind and being at the mercy of others.

“One’s already arranged. Sahsa is her name.”

“Will she have me, though?” Allhan wiped his mouth with a paper napkin carefully. “I know you would make the King order them to give me their vein, but I don’t—that isn’t right.”

V opened his mouth. Shut it. Like he should be surprised the kid knew him so well, though?

“They would be honored to provide the service to you.”

Allhan shook his head. “You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not. That’s what they’re there for. They serve the blood needs of brothers who can’t feed from their mates, and injured fighters as well. And they also help during transitions.”

Allhan met V’s eyes fully for once—and it was such a surprise, Vishous found himself sitting back in his chair.

“For truth?” came the suspicious prompt.

V nodded once. “I swear on my shellan ’s life.”

Allhan released a long breath. “Okay, then.”

From over at the stairwell, the sounds of approaching voices and footfalls spilled into the cafeteria before the team entered, and you could just watch Allhan shut down, the locking of his features and body so complete, it was like he’d turned to stone where he sat.

“You done?” But V was already getting to his feet. “And I’m getting you some milk to go.”

Allhan nearly knocked his chair over as he scrambled to the vertical, and even though his hands were shaking—and it made the doggen uncomfortable because they preferred to bus the tables—the kid picked up his plate and carried it over to leave at the buffet’s serving window.

The chef came out of the flap door immediately, but the kid was already wheeling away, his head down, his cheeks red like he’d been out in the cold.

V snagged a carton of milk from the drinks refrigerator and headed by the males and females who’d come down. No one stopped him to ask work-related questions. They all knew if he was with Allhan, he was going to bump them for however long the kid needed him. That was just the way shit was.

Back on the stairwell, it pained him to see how slow Allhan went on the ascent. It was clear his bones and joints were aching, but he never complained. Never asked for so much as a Tylenol. He just trudged upward, like he’d been long used to enduring.

When they stepped out into the first level, the kid went dutifully to his desk, sitting down again and going right back into those tables of names.

As V watched all that erstwhile concentration, he thought of how they never would have learned that Allhan was a computer genius if Luchas House’s common room Dell hadn’t ended up with a virus.

Before anyone could call Four Toys HQ, Allhan had it fixed—and he’d created an additional security overlay outside the commercial one that had been installed by the staff.

V had been pissed that protocol had been broken and they hadn’t waited for someone from his team to get there, but when he’d seen what the kid had done, he’d been impressed.

A week later, he’d given Allhan a workstation.

A week after that, he’d moved the kid over here, to this corner.

A month after that, he’d issued an invite for Last Meal at his and Doc Jane’s quarters at the Wheel.

And then another. And another. A shortage of beds at Luchas House had resulted in some couch surfing with them.

And that arrangement had quickly become permanent. To the point where neither he nor Jane could imagine their home without—

“Can I ask you something?” Allhan said softly as his eyes stayed on the screens.

“Anything.”

There was a period of silence. “Is… um, Lyric okay?”

Say what— “Lyric? Yeah, sure. Why—oh, from last night.”

Allhan nodded. And that was when a blush rode up the guy’s throat and lit his face on fire.

Holy shit—

“What.” Allhan’s whole body turned to V. “You said she was okay—”

V cursed and waved off the worry. “No, no. It’s good. I’m just surprised, true.”

“About?”

The kid was so guileless as he stared back, V didn’t know how the hell to answer that one. “She’s fine. Uninjured and doing well after that billboard thing.”

And then it suddenly made sense… last night, the video that had been sent around to everybody.

It had been from Allhan’s phone. V hadn’t thought much of it at the time.

He’d just assumed some of the partyer crowd had taken pity on the kid and issued an invite they’d no doubt felt forced to by conscience.

Except she’d had a work thing down there at Bathe, hadn’t she. Layla and Xcor had been talking about it the night before.

“You went to see her at the club, didn’t you,” V murmured. “And you were recording the line who’d showed up to see her.”

“I didn’t go to see her exactly.” Allhan stared down at his thin hands. “I just was worried she was alone with all those humans—which was stupid, wasn’t it. I mean, look at me. What could I ever do to save anybody?”

V shook his head. “Never apologize for wanting to protect someone.”

“I wasn’t who saved her.” Allhan turned back to the monitors and tapped one of the screens. “That’s why I’m going to find that name. I’m good at this kind of stuff. I can help the King, and you. This I can do because physical strength doesn’t matter here.”

V’s one and only thought was that he needed some Goose. Right now. He was just not cut out for this parental shit—

He went over and knelt down, swiveling the kid’s chair around. “Allhan, I want you to know something—”

“I’m sorry, for whatever I did wrong—”

“Stop apologizing for everything.” Fucking hell, he’d never wished that he was Tohr before. But that guy would know how to put— “You don’t need to earn your place with me, okay? And you’re not going to do anything that gets it taken away, either.”

“This is my job—”

“You’re safe. You’re welcome to stay with me and Jane, for however long you want—and we hope it’s a long time.” Now V tapped the monitors. “ This , and this job, isn’t you. It’s what you do. And it’s not connected to being with us. You don’t have to earn your bed or the roof over your head.”

Allhan seemed to cave in on himself. “But why else would I have them.”

V hesitated. “Because me and Jane, we like having you around. It’s a good feeling for us, looking after you.”

There was a long pause. Then Allhan brushed his eyes, and spoke in a low voice. “There’s a plot against the King, right. I’ve heard you talking about it.”

“Yeah, there is. But the Brotherhood is going to handle it—”

“And George, or whatever the name is, might help you find Whestmorel.”

“Maybe, we don’t know. But that’s not on you.”

Shit, he shouldn’t have given the kid the assignment. The trouble was, Allhan was the best bloodhound they had—

“I want that male dead.” Allhan’s eyes swung up, and they were harder than stone. “If he’s threatening the King, then he’s threatening you, because you will go out and fight to protect Wrath, son of Wrath, sire of Wrath. I’m doing this work… because it’s the only way I can think of to help you.”

V closed his lids for a split second. Then he reached out and put his gloved hand on the kid’s shoulder.

“Thanks,” he said roughly.

“No,” Allhan returned in a small voice. “Thank you . For everything.”