Page 74

Eric

F or all his bluster, Eric had no idea how a kid’s mind worked, or where a vampire child potentially on the run would be hanging out. So he went with the obvious: the playground. There was one the next neighborhood over from the pretentious spot Wolfe had chosen for their home.

“Okay, time for you to go,” Eric said, making a shooing motion with one hand.

Wolfe looked decidedly unimpressed at the command as he continued to scan their environment, as if this vampire kiddo was going to spring out of the bushes any second.

It would save them a lot of time if it went that way, actually.

They’d checked in with Jamie and the others, verified what they could based on what Eric could remember of the kid.

It seemed to match. But so far all Eric could spy were a few moms and their young children—mostly toddlers, although there was one tow-headed grade-school kid going full hog on the monkey bars—braving the winter chill for a little outdoor time.

Wolfe’s expression stayed mild as ever as he drawled, “Just so you know, darling…if this child attempts to harm you in any way, I’ll rip its head off.”

For the briefest, most insane moment, Eric almost said, “I love you too,” in response.

Because that was what Wolfe’s statement was , wasn’t it? A declaration of love in the only languages he seemed to know: violence and obsession. And Eric hadn’t been lying before, in the bath—he could feel it, this new soft, fuzzy edge to Wolfe’s familiar possessiveness.

But Eric couldn’t just go blurting it out when Wolfe hadn’t really said it. Hell, judging from what he’d said of his childhood, maybe the guy wouldn’t even recognize the emotion for what it was.

Except what the fuck was Eric going on about?

Because whether Wolfe said it wasn’t the important part; the important part was that Eric couldn’t say it. Because he couldn’t possibly love someone he’d known for barely a week, someone who’d drained his goddamn blood and kidnapped him and hadn’t even ever apologized for it.

Mate , insisted that weird voice that seemed to pop up sometimes now.

Thank you, that’s very fucking helpful , Eric replied with full sarcasm in his own head.

He turned to Wolfe, catching his gaze fully.

There was something Eric had to say that was more important than any emotional declarations.

“So, uh, I know from the bond and all your sly, sneaky looks and your general past behavior that you probably want to do it anyway: kill this kid, I mean. You’re going to do what you want and maybe ask forgiveness afterward? ”

There was a flash of genuine surprise through the bond, one reflected in the barest widening of Wolfe’s eyes.

Oh yeah, Eric totally had him pegged. “And I guess you could do that,” he continued.

“I probably even would. Forgive you, that is. Eventually. I seem willing to forgive a whole lot where you’re concerned.

But if you care about me, as something more than just a possession, then please.

” He grabbed at Wolfe’s sleeve, tugging gently.

“Please, just don’t. I know it’s inconvenient.

I know you don’t want that exposure, but… please.”

Wolfe stared at him impassively, admitting nothing. “Why do you care so much about this nameless urchin, pet?”

Eric shrugged. “I just do? I may not be the most considerate person in the world, but I don’t want some innocent kid dead just because he’s a nuisance.”

“Some presumably innocent, already undead kid, pet.” Wolfe let out a put-upon sigh. “I feel manipulated.”

Eric scoffed. “This is what relationships are . This is what people do. They compromise for each other.”

“I see.” Wolfe gave Eric a hard look. “And how do you compromise for me?”

Eric pressed a hard palm to his forehead, not sure whether to laugh or scream. “Are you kidding me with that question right now?”

There was a long, tense moment before Wolfe gave the barest perceptible nod in response. It wasn’t much, but Eric was certain Wolfe was thinking his words over, if only because of the little pulse of frustration flitting across the bond.

Eric caved and pulled him in for a goodbye kiss anyway, delighting in another jolt of shock from Wolfe. He was always so surprised when Eric initiated affection. And oh God, Eric was going to be initiating all sorts of things now, wasn’t he? Who knew being fucked was like the greatest thing ever?

When they separated, Wolfe was smirking. “Now, darling, how are you going to concentrate on catching our little imp with these kinds of lustful thoughts dancing around that brain of yours?”

Eric’s face went hot. “Shut up. You need to go now.”

“I’m giving you two hours,” Wolfe said, smoothing out his lapels. “Before I fetch you, return you to our home, and endeavor to find out what new, desperate noises we can ply out of you. Let the other riffraff worry about the child.”

With that, he stalked off, clearly still irritated over Eric’s attempt at an intervention, although he hid it well enough on the surface. Would he listen to what Eric had asked? Was he capable of curbing his more selfish instincts to keep Eric happy?

It seemed like a large gamble.

Eric registered somewhere in the back of his brain that it didn’t hurt anymore when Wolfe left his side. His absence now only created a sort of subdued longing, from both Eric and his beast, rather than the mindless frenzy of the early days.

But Eric wasn’t alone long before a familiar lanky form, dressed once again all in black, ambled over to where Eric was standing by the benches.

The Tucson vampire. Jamie. The one who could apparently see visions of the…future? The present? Eric wasn’t quite sure how it all worked, but either way, weren’t vampires weird enough already? Did there really have to be actual mind magic in the world to top it all off?

Jamie nodded in greeting as he slid into place next to Eric. “Playground,” he said around the toothpick he was gnawing on. “Smart thinking.”

“I thought the group was gonna let me look alone.”

Jamie snorted. “Please. As if Danny isn’t already casing the blood bank and the hospital.

Jay put the word out with his coworkers about a runaway.

Soren’s trying his bloodhound thing—apparently he thinks he can find the kid through a ‘lack of scent,’ whatever that means.

Bunch of bleeding hearts, for a group of bloodsuckers. ”

Bleeding hearts. Exactly what Wolfe had accused him of being. It was the first time Eric had ever received that particular feedback about himself.

“And why’d you get stuck with me?” he asked.

Jamie hopped up onto the park bench, using the back of it like its own seat. “Because I know for sure what the little brat looks like. And you seem to think he might be willing to chat with you. We’re the most likely team, man. Let’s revel in the greatness that is us.”

Eric frowned, not sure if Jamie was being glib or sincere or some strange mix of both. “What if you scare him off?”

“Me?” Jamie tugged the toothpick out of his mouth and grinned wide. “I’m a fucking ray of sunshine, baby. Kids love me. Plus, they dig the hair.” He pointed to his green locks, currently pulled back in a half pony.

Eric moved to sit on the actual seat of the bench, shading his eyes to look up at Jamie. “And what about your…mate?”

“Oh.” Jamie waved a hand. “He’s busy stalking your man to make sure he doesn’t pull anything psycho.”

Eric tensed. “He’s what ?”

“Listen, the group has certain trust issues with your boo right now, given that he keeps turning people all willy-nilly and lying to the little sweetheart Jay and also engaging in occasional kidnapping.” At Eric’s expression, Jamie laughed, loose and easy.

“Don’t worry. They’ll ease up when he proves himself a little. They used to hate Luc too.”

Eric thought back to Soren’s he doesn’t exist routine. “Used to?” he asked pointedly.

“Yep.” Jamie responded happily, popping the p . “Now we’re one big, happy, dysfunctional, fanged family.”

Bunch of fucking lunatics was what they were. But Eric kept that to himself.

They sat in silence for some number of minutes, scanning the park. A few of the moms and their kids left, and a few more came to replace them. No sign of the kid from the hospital. Maybe the park had been a stupid idea, after all.

“So Luc’s done bad things too?” Eric eventually asked, tiring of the silence.

“Oh yeah,” Jamie said easily. “Big time. My monster’s been off the rails before, for sure.”

“And you still…like him.”

Jamie shot him an amused glance. “What are we, in grade school? I fucking love him.”

“Even though he’s done bad things?”

“Even then.” Jamie didn’t elaborate beyond that. As if it was that easy. As if it didn’t matter at all what Luc had done.

Eric ran his fingers over the uneven edges of the park bench, watching Jamie from the corner of his eye. “When did you know?”

“Oh. Um…” Jamie shrugged. “Way before he and I even met, probably.”

Eric turned in his seat to look at him fully. “Excuse me?”

“You know —” Jamie gestured to himself. “The visions. I saw him, wanted him, loved him.”

Eric’s laugh of disbelief caught somewhere in his throat. “Isn’t that a bit…fucking crazy?”

Jamie grinned widely. “Sure. But hey, last week you were human, and now you’re a fucking vampire.

We’re all a little crazy.” He cocked his head, a sly look on his face.

“It’s okay to love him, you know. Even if he’s a psycho.

It’s going to be an eternity of you and him, bound together.

Does that sound good to you or not? Because if it does, fuck everybody else. ”