Blood Lust

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN



Jenine – Jen – Knight attached to Isaac with heartbreaking swiftness and desperation. His mom loaned her some clothes that didn’t swallow her slender body. Although she no longer wept, her eyes tracked Seth with a wariness that spoke volumes about how she’d spent the last decade of her life.



He couldn’t imagine choosing a life of isolation and imprisonment out of sheer fear. Then again, he’d never suffered what she had.



After Seth descended to take his rest, she appeared to relax fractionally.



Isaac’s dad cooked biscuits and gravy. The four of them ate at the small kitchen table. After several moments of relative quiet with only the sounds of utensils on plates, Jen said, “I’d forgotten how much I loved sausage gravy.”



“I always make it too thick.” He scooted back his chair, gently reached for her plate so as not to scare her with sudden motion. “But, let me get you a little more.”





“You don’t have the funds to start a life,” Isaac said to his cousin. Despite the years since they had actually known each other, it felt an even more intimate kinship to share the role of Receiver. “Given your background it’ll take an act of Congress to get you a job. I have a house and plenty of money. Come live with me until you figure out what you want to do, Jen.”



“That name’s from another time. Call me, ‘Jay’.”



“All right.” He looked at her sitting on his bed, fragile and sort of hollow in appearance. She seemed so lost and vulnerable that his chest tightened. “Seth will protect you by default because of me.”



Suddenly fierce, she demanded, “How can you trust one of them?”



Isaac replied, “I love him. He protected me against his own kind, using his body as a shield.” His recall created a kind of slideshow of memories. Seth had given much evidence of his loyalty and commitment. “He has gentled himself for me, and I know myself and mine safe with him.”



“They’re masters of deceit,” she charged. Her dilated pupils and fervent tone told him a lot.



“Je-,” he amended himself, “Jay, I have known two I trust with my life. Although I acted like an asshole to Kon, he will return if I call because he’s a better man.”



She shuddered. “I don’t understand. The nights I cowered and cried …”







The drive back to Virginia proved tricky. Between Seth’s need for evading the day and Jay’s fear of the night, Isaac had his proverbial hands full. His vampire grew impatient with her fear of him, and his cousin refused to allow Seth might not intend mayhem.



Even though he knew his neighbor, Mr. Easton, cared for Poppy, Isaac thought of seeing her as they drove up to his house. Seth pushed in the clutch and hit the brake. Turning to Isaac, he murmured, “Settle her. Call your Russian. Then, join me.”



I can’t have Kon here with her mental condition.



He continues his service to my friend, Harland and his Madam from loyalty rather than obligation. Summon him.



No, I mean that if you scare the shit out of her, he’ll give her a stroke.



Jen – Jay – glanced back and forth between them before opening the door and stepping out. I can fucking hear you.



Isaac flinched. “Sorry, Jay. Didn’t mean to act like an ass.” He exited the truck. The wind kicked fresh powder over the crusted drifts. “I need to call a friend.”



“That I got.” She shivered.



Isaac saw Seth crank up the heat. Touched, he turned his attention to her. “Go with him. It’s okay.”



“If he kills me, my blood’s on your hands.” The way she said it made Isaac’s gut twist in sympathy.



Seth responded, “You’re safe and he knows it.” To Isaac, he said, “Your Russian’s vampire born. He sleeps in the day from choice. Not necessity.”



Isaac handed her into the truck, walked toward the truck. “Relax, Jay.”





Happy reunion with Poppy complete, he returned to the house. A few chores, packing a bag and then he stepped out onto the porch.



The pack sat waiting. Dominant members on the porch, lesser members on the steps.



“Holy shit. Okay.” Isaac dragged in a deep breath. “You wanna see your alpha, follow me.”



The pack followed him, yipping, yelping and nipping at his fingers and clothes in clear affection. He laughed, thought of missing and wanting Kon. “Jesus jumped-up Christ.”



The Russian stood before him in the twilight. Towering, terrifying in his appearance, the vampire wore only his customary low-slung pants. His white skin and exaggeratedly long hands, with their black nails made for a truly intimidating package. He went down on one knee, bowing his gleaming copper-haired head. “Receiver, I answer your summons.”



“Fuck.” Isaac’s heart jerked and thumped. “Man, you trying to kill me outright? Damn.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Stand up. I can’t bear you kneeling.”



Kon stood. “I sense her. Her fear upsets me.”



Isaac stroked the head of the alpha female Sukah. “Just walk with me.”



Together they went to Seth’s house. The pack trailed, then kind of slipped away to the tree line. Their wolfish silhouettes stood out along the ridge.



Isaac opened the door. He half-turned, gazing at his scary Russian. “Fuck, man. No offense, you should provide Depends.”



Kon’s attention snapped ahead. “I would belong to you.”



Isaac nearly gave himself whiplash turning to see Jay. She stood, for all intent and purpose, ready. “Vampire, please have me.”



Isaac’s head spun in the process of working through the development. Kon swept Jay into his long arms. In his sex-in-sound voice, he declared, “From this moment, you have a loyal to the death servant in me.”



Isaac watched the Russian carry his cousin upstairs. She clung to him, relaxed and comfortable. Jay even laid her head on Kon’s shoulder.



The world had changed for him. Now, it had changed for his relative.