Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

A light breeze on my arm woke me. I opened my eyes, expecting to be greeted by familiar amber ones. However, I was alone. Again.

My gaze drifted to my window screen–the one Cross had thoughtfully repaired after he’d busted through it to escape whichever of Shepard’s men had been guarding us at the time. Was it the steadfast presence of werewolves keeping him away? I doubted it. He and the werewolves had made peace since then. Sort of. It was more of a grudging tolerance.

While Cross’ morning absences were slightly disappointing, I was also relieved. Especially after the kiss Shepard had laid on me last night. Why was I even thinking of another guy after kissing Shepard like that? Didn’t I have more important things to do?

Shaking my head at myself, I got out of bed. I had potential recipes I wanted Cross to try today.

After dressing, I started a simple bismark dough and another batch of the bonbons he’d liked. While he’d said sweet treats, I wasn’t sure what a vampire’s sweet threshold was. Did they vary like humans, or was there a general preference?

I sent Cross a text to find out.

Me: Do vampire sweet preferences vary like humans?

Cross: I would imagine so. It’s not something I’ve ever discussed with others. Why do you ask?

Me: I’m making something for you to try if you have time this afternoon.

Cross: For you? Always.

Me: Okay. Don’t come running when you sense me bleeding.

Cross: Ensure the injury is small, and I will try to restrain myself.

Vena shuffled out of her bedroom just after I finished frying the bismarks.

“Something smells good, wifey,” she said, leaning on the counter. “What are you feeding me?”

“Nothing,” I said with a fake glare. “You kept me up last night.”

Anchor had taken his role as a distraction very seriously. Poor guy.

She made a face. “You can’t be mad. The rule is no sex while you’re home, and we didn’t have sex.”

“But you would have if he’d given in to your begging.”

“You heard that?”

“I think China heard you. ‘Please, Anchor. You won’t need to do any work. Just lie back and let me pounce. I promise it’ll be good for both of us.’”

“Eh. The walls are thinner than I thought. Did you hear his answer?”

“No. Thankfully.”

“Cause there wasn’t one. His mouth was full.”

I threw a hot bismark at her. She caught it with a grin and bit into it.

“Aw! There’s no filling.”

“I think that’s what you said last night.” I smirked. “It needs to cool before I fill it.”

She snorted. “I wish Anchor would have given me his filling. But seriously, what’s supposed to go in this? It’s too plain.”

“The filling’s in the fridge, but it’s not for you. I bled in it.”

“Not playing favorites, I see. I guess it’s fair that Cross gets a taste since Shepard had one last night.”

After her impromptu make-out session with Anchor in the women’s bathroom, she hadn’t brought up my post-meeting “just been kissed” look. I should have known she wouldn’t let it drop.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She laughed. “Either you talk, or I do. Your choice.”

Since I knew what she’d start sharing, I gave in quickly.

“Shepard kissed me. That’s it. There was no begging involved, unlike some people.”

“That’s just because you don’t know how to have your cake and eat it too. I’m telling you, be the human cream in their otherworld cookie sandwich. No one will walk away mad.”

“You’re banished from the kitchen until it’s time to check in with Cross. And if you mention anything inappropriate about my sex life while there, I won’t cook for you for a month.”

She immediately sobered. “Yes, ma’am.”

When it came to food and sex, Vena had a one-track mind. Unfortunately, the latter got her in trouble more often than not.

“Go,” I said. “Once these are done, we can leave.”

“Save me another bismark, but give it a little sugar coating this time, mama.”

“I will chuck it at you again if you don’t go away.”

She laughed. “You know I’m great at catching. I’m kind of great at everything. Just ask Anchor.”

I lobbed another bismark at her, which she caught and sank her teeth into. With a grin, she skittered off to her room.

Anchor was going to be so screwed when he took her off my hands. The thought made me a little sad. Vena and I had been living together for three years now. Before that, we’d slept over at each other’s homes non-stop. Vena had never not been at my side. What would I do when that day came?

It was later than I had expected by the time I finished the bismarks and bonbons.

“It’s nearly lunchtime,” Vena said as I placed the plastic containers in the backseat. “I bet we can get Cross to spring for a meal.”

“You always want him to buy you food.”

“It’s not like he needs the food money. And those bismarks were a letdown.”

“My bismarks are not a letdown. They’re big and have an amazing texture.”

“That’s what she said,” she said with a snicker. “I just meant they were plain, and now I need something to appease my palate. Anchor already said no when I texted him an offer.”

“Get in the car,” I told her. “You are so over the top right now. Anchor needs to run away to the L.A. pack so they can safely lock him up again.”

“Ew. Don’t mention that pack to me.”

“Then give your hormones a rest. Remember, wolves mate for life. Life, Vena. You’ve got about sixty more years to live.”

“I think eighty.”

“Fine. Eighty years. That’s a long life to be with one man. And if you decide you don’t want Anchor, you might be able to skip away, but he can’t.”

She frowned at me. “All I said was I was hungry.”

“And are you still?” I asked smugly. “Why don’t you focus on that book list you need to give Cross to get your spending money instead of Anchor’s pocket prize?”

She was quiet on the way to Cross’ place as she played on her phone.

I felt a smidge of guilt for reminding her about a werewolf’s life commitment. I knew she had deep feelings for Anchor and wouldn’t ever want to hurt him, but a relationship with him was just like starting a business with Cross—those kinds of things needed to be thought through carefully.

She looked up from her phone as I parked, scanning the building’s facade for changes. However, the outside of Cross’ building looked the same as it had, except for the dumpsters. Those were gone.

Cross met us at the door and took the boxes from my hands. He inhaled, and his eyes flashed to black for a second before he smiled at me.

“I’ve been looking forward to this sample,” he said.

“Good. Let me know if I put enough blood in them.”

His gaze swept over me as he shifted the boxes to one arm and settled on my bandaged finger. “I love that you made me something, but I never want you to hurt yourself.” He took my hand and kissed the bandage. “Come in and let me put the boxes down so I can heal your wound.”

Wound? It was a pinprick, but I didn’t argue. I liked his concern.

As we walked inside the gutted building, Vena frowned. “I thought you’d be further along.”

“You just saw it yesterday,” I said to her. “How much did you think he’d get done?”

“It’s not like Cross has to sleep. I thought this place would at least have some kitchen structuring done.”

“I don’t have the permits yet,” Cross said.

“Who needs permits when you’re a vampire?” she asked. “Just do your mind-whammy thing and get what you need.”

“The wolves barely tolerate my presence as it is. Do you believe they would look the other way if I started influencing others? If this is to be a legitimate business, I need to show the wolves that I will follow human rules. I cannot expect their trust and continued acceptance of my presence if I treat humans as nothing more than a food source as so many of my kind already do.”

“Fair point,” Vena said.

We followed Cross upstairs where he placed the boxes on the table then took my hand and peeled the small Band-Aid off.

Since I was squeamish about my blood, I hadn’t done anything crazy. Just a poke to my finger with a sanitized safety pin, which I’d admittedly been a baby about. Thankfully, no one had witnessed it.

Cross’ lips closed around the tip of my finger, and my insides went hot at the touch of his tongue against my skin. While he licked, he held my gaze. I saw his hunger, but not for my blood. For me.

Breathing normal became a struggle.

“Since I’m in charge of the book section, I should probably put together a book of Everly for you,” Vena said, reminding us both that she was present.

“Oh?” Cross said after licking my finger a final time. “And what would that book contain?”

“All her likes and dislikes. Obviously, hugs and finger-licking would be on the like side. But her history too. Childhood memories. Adventures she had. Her limited experiences.”

I shot Vena a warning look.

“I’m not sure where your mind is going,” she said primly, “but I’m talking about amusement parks. You never want to go.”

I rolled my eyes at her and faced Cross.

“She’s being extra today. Ignore her, and taste the food. I’m trying to figure out how much blood is needed to appeal to a vampire.”

“Very little is needed,” he said, picking up a bismark.

Vena covered her mouth and said something that sounded suspiciously like, “That’s not what she said.”

Ignoring her, I watched Cross closely as he bit into both selections.

“Your flavor is more noticeable in the bonbons. And I believe the bonbons would last longer than these, too. It will take time to build up our clientele, especially vampires.”

“True,” I said. “I didn’t think of that.”

“Now, why is the ever-present Vena causing our Everly trouble today? Problems with a certain wolf?” Cross asked, leaning back to study my best friend, who was looking decidedly annoyed.

“Yes, I’m having boy problems. You’ve lived a long time. You’ve had to see a wolf give up his goods a time or two. What will it take for me to get?—”

“And it’s time to go,” I said.

She made a whiny face and pleaded with her hands. “Come on. Cross knows things. Hey, what about the dwarves? Know anything about the ruling family? We could talk about that.”

Just as I was sitting, she added, “Cross can text me his advice later.”

She winked dramatically at Cross and wiggled her eyebrows at me.

“I will tell you what I know of the dwarves if you vow to deliver the book of Everly to me by the end of next week. I need to understand her deep bond with you.”

I snorted a laugh at her disgruntled expression even as she nodded.

“The current dwarven king, Curran, has ruled peacefully for fifty years,” Cross said. “His wife’s tomb lies within the mountain. She died giving birth to Princess Indri, now the heir to her father’s throne since Prince Hakon has died.”

“You know?” I asked. The news of the prince’s death wasn’t something found on any news stations. I knew because I’d checked.

“I do,” he said. “Although I would prefer to spend my night watching you sleep, I need to prove my usefulness and gather information for Shepard. Is the prince’s death why you’re curious about the dwarves?”

“Yes and no,” Vena said. “My parents and Miles are in lockdown in Dwarf Mountain because of his death. According to Shepard, the prince was young and in good health. That he died means foul play, and the king’s probably investigating what happened.”

Cross nodded. “King Curran will be adamant about finding the cause of Prince Hakon’s death. Dwarves are known for their stubbornness, and Curran will not open the mountain until the case is solved.”

“How long are we talking? A day or two?” Vena asked.

“However long it takes.”

Vena frowned and looked at me. I saw the seed of fear in her eyes and leaned over to place a reassuring hand on her arm.

“No matter what happened to the prince, they won’t want to stay locked in the mountain indefinitely,” I said. “Just keep texting Miles and your parents. They’ll answer as soon as they can.”

“You’re right,” she said. “Even if they don’t find the cause of death, they’ll have to open the mountain to get food and supplies in a few days.”

I feared what she would do if the mountain stayed locked for more than a week.

“Any other updates?” I asked Cross to get Vena’s mind off the dwarves and onto something else.

He pulled out his phone and tapped it a few times then held it out for me to take. “These are the kitchen appliances recommended to me. If they meet your needs, I can order them.”

My eyes widened as I looked at the commercial stainless steel gas range and ovens. “You want to get a Vulcan?” That was one of the best and most expensive brands.

“I take owning a business seriously. There is a reason White’s is the oldest and longest-running gentleman’s club.”

“I almost forgot you started that,” Vena said.

She hadn’t. She was banking on the same level of success.

“I only ran it for a few years before I left. But I’ve learned that, if you set yourself up for success initially and don’t cut corners, the business can go for centuries.”

“As long as it gets me out of the nine-to-five grind, I’m in,” Vena said.

Cross opened his mouth to say something but stopped to look at the staircase. “We have a visitor.”

“As in Juicy’s former patrons who want revenge for taking over their building?” Vena asked, slipping her hand to her shirt where her knife resided. “Or those little girls who sell cookies? I could go for a box or two.”

“A wolf with a keen nose and impeccable taste,” Cross said.

Shepard appeared a moment later. He looked at our cozy group sitting around the folding table before his gaze swept through the rest of the open space.

“What’s up, boss?” Vena asked Shepard. “Come to check out our new digs?”

Shepard’s gaze flicked to me briefly. “Cross has plans he wants to show me.”

Vena popped out of her chair and gestured to the table. “Have a seat. We were just looking at the kitchen appliances Cross is getting for Everly. He knows a way to a girl’s heart.”

I narrowed my eyes at Vena, understanding she was stirring trouble in revenge for my stirring yesterday. She smiled back.

Shepard pulled the plans toward him, bumping the box of bismarks. His gaze caught on it, and he pulled the box closer to sniff the donuts.

His eyes flashed to me and then to Cross. “Why is Everly’s blood in these?”

“The business is going to cater to all creatures,” I said. “The bismarks and bonbons are experimental batches for vampires.”

“And you’re just going to cut yourself whenever you need to bake something?” His question was more growl than words.

“No. This batch is just for Cross. Eventually, there will be volunteer donors. Right, Cross?”

Cross nodded. “While I prefer Everly’s blood, I don’t want her to harm herself. There will be compensated volunteer donors.”

“And the blood connection?” Shepard asked. “Are you going to protect the donors after?”

His tone carried a harsh, accusing edge. Why couldn’t Shepard let go of his anger already?

Cross seemed unbothered by Shepard's attitude as he answered.

“It will be impossible for a bond to be created from what we sell. Once the blood cools to room temperature, it becomes safe. No vampire will be able to track the source.”

I saw the doubt and mistrust in Shepard’s gaze and felt sorry for Cross.

“I know you don’t like vampires,” I said to Shepard. “But perhaps, if they have a safe place to get blood ethically, things could change for the better. All creatures deserve a welcoming place.”

“This is going to draw too many vampires,” Shepard said.

Cross laughed. “In the beginning, it won’t draw any. What vampire will want to step foot in here after what happened a few weeks ago? It will take time and a sense of safety for the ones we want to attract to arrive.

“Even then, they will know this isn’t a place for a meal but rather just a tasty bite. So we’ll hardly be flooded. The ones who do come in are the ones who are looking to elevate their lives. Those are the ones we can get information from–the ones who will help you deal with the vampire infestation.”

Shepard looked thoughtful and grudgingly nodded.

“However, to get that information, I need you to help me expedite the building process,” Cross continued smoothly. “The sooner we can open our doors, the sooner you can end your hunt and enjoy other pastimes.”

I watched them silently stare at each other for a long, drawn-out minute.

“What do you need?” Shepard finally asked.