Chapter 8

The things Crossdid and said were messing with my head and my libido. Why did he have to look so damn good in a suit?

"Both of you, out," I said. "This kitchen is not big enough."

With Cross standing near me and Vena verbally poking at him, another accidental injury would likely take place, and I wasn't sure I'd survive Cross' miracle tongue-licking so soon.

By the time I had the fudge packed and ready to go, Vena had the map pulled up on her phone.

Cross opened the door for us and had his own batch of fudge tucked under his other arm as we left the house. It didn't stop him from helping me stow the rest of the fudge in the backseat or opening the driver's door for me.

After I sat down, he said, "Call me if you need me. I'll be around."

"You'll be getting more information, you mean," Vena said.

Cross looked at me. "I'll be around."

He closed the door and stepped back as I pulled away.

The navigation routed me north out of the immediate downtown area toward Rock Creek Park. Vena was quiet until we hit the highway.

"Are we going to talk about shower time with Cross and how he tasted your lips?"

I tapped the steering wheel for a moment.

"Sure. Let's talk about how screwed I am because I have a best friend with a fetish for trouble. It all started with a ring…"

"Hey now. Let's not go pointing ring fingers. The way you blushed when he mentioned kissing means it wasn't horrible."

I sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to let this go. And she shouldn't. I needed to talk to someone about it.

"It wasn't horrible. If I'm being honest with myself and you, I liked it a lot."

"That's good."

"Is it, Vena? He's a vampire. His eyes go black at the mention of blood."

"Hey, I was watching when he stuck your finger into his mouth. He didn't vamp out."

I shook my head. "It feels like I'm playing with fire with him. And I don't want to get burned."

"Makes sense. You've always been the play-it-safe type."

I made a face at her for making me sound like a prude. "Whatever."

"Just have some fun, Everly. We're young. We're single. Why can't we let our hips mingle?"

"Okay, that sounded wrong on too many levels to even address." And yet, I was glad she'd said it. Knowing that she supported whatever decision I might make helped me feel better about it.

"Since we both know you don't filter well, when we get to wherever it is we're going, I'll do the talking, and you just look pretty."

Vena snorted. "You gave me the easy job."

We arrived at a wooded lot adjacent to the park. The extra drive through the two open gates was edged by a nice walking path.

"Are we sure this is the right place?" Vena asked, leaning forward to look up at the sky through the canopy above the road.

"You're the one who entered the address," I said.

Ahead, the road split. The one to the left disappeared behind the left most three-story building with a double-door entrance at the top of a set of stairs. The road to the right curved in front of all three of the buildings and ended in a large parking area.

I took the right and parked.

"It looks like a hotel or a nicer version of our dorms," Vena said.

"A little," I agreed, getting out.

I was in the process of taking out the extra-large container of fudge from the back seat when the doors of the center building opened. Shepard strode out with a welcoming smile on his face.

"Everly. Vena. Did you find the place all right?"

"Yeah," Vena said. "This is your house?"

He chuckled as he reached us, but that sound died as he stopped beside me to take the container. Without even hiding what he was doing, he leaned in and smelled me.

When he pulled back and met my gaze, I was expecting some comment about smelling like vampire again. Instead, he glanced at Vena.

"It's not only my home but the home for all of the D.C. area pack. We stick together so we can take care of one another. Come on. I'll show you around."

Vena arched a brow at me behind his back as he led us into the building he'd left. I shrugged, not sure why he hadn't said anything but grateful for it.

The entry gave off a hotel lobby vibe with a small area off to one side that held a reception-type desk. He nodded to the women there and continued leading us down the hall.

"We have a kitchen back here," he said. The room was spacious and connected with another larger area that looked like a lounge and dining room combined.

"If we leave the fudge here, everyone will find it," Shepard said. "We can take a plate to Gunther."

The second he had the lid off, a little boy came racing in and silently gave Shepard puppy eyes. Shepard ruffled the boy's hair with a grin.

"I'm not falling for your trap again, Lucas. Go ask your mum, or she'll be handing me my tail at dinnertime."

The boy growled with an underlying whine and ran off again.

"You like kids?" Vena asked.

"I love kids," Shepard said. "They're the heartbeat of our future."

"Nice," she said. "Women like an invested family man."

I elbowed Vena when his back was turned, fixing a plate for Gunther. She grinned at me.

"Safe," she mouthed.

I rolled my eyes at her and watched Shepard finish stacking a portion of fudge on the plate for Gunther. He popped the last one into his mouth and turned to us with a grin.

"Couldn't resist."

That seemed to be a theme lately.

Leaving the kitchen with the treats, Shepard led us down the hall and up a flight of stairs to a partially open door at the end of the hall. Shepard knocked lightly.

"You up for company?" he asked.

I didn't hear a reply, but he pushed open the door. Gunther was sitting on a made bed, looking down at his hands.

"Hi, Gunther," I said. "I brought you something sweet and chocolatey."

He looked up at the plate Shepard held and then at me. "Thanks, Everly."

The bites on his neck had healed to the point they were barely noticeable. And his coloring looked a lot better.

"We miss you at Blur. Think you'll be coming back soon?" I asked.

"Heard the dishes were piling up last night," he said, taking the plate and setting it on the bedside table.

"Yeah, the new washer's a little slow," I said.

He chuckled because the new washer had been Gunner with Shepard helping when he could.

"Yeah, you can't teach competence," Gunther said.

Shepard snorted as Gunther and I shared a small smile.

"He'll be back Wednesday," Shepard said. "Due to recent events, I'm closing Blur Mondays and Tuesdays until we get this infestation under control."

I inwardly winced at the loss of income.

"That makes sense," I said then glanced at Gunther. "You're not going out with them, are you?"

"I haven't been smothered with enough pack love to reassure everyone that I'm fit for hunting. The fudge will help me through it, though. Thanks."

I nodded and took that as our cue to leave.

"Interested in a tour?" Shepard asked when we were in the hallway again.

"Yes," Vena said, answering for us.

He led us through all three buildings, which were almost mirror images of one another. Some of the rooms had been converted to allow for larger families to live comfortably. Some were left as single units like Gunther's.

When Shepard opened a door that led to the back of the buildings, I was surprised by the manicured, park-like gardens lined with gravel paths. Bushes, flowers, vines, and trees bordered the meandering paths.

"This is beautiful," I said.

"Is this part of Rock Creek Park?" Vena asked.

"No. This is ours. The paths dead-end at a line of shrubs that separate us from the park. It deters lost park visitors from wandering onto our land."

Several seating areas were sprinkled throughout the extensive patio and out in the flower gardens. It was peaceful here, and there was enough room for everyone without feeling crowded.

My eyes paused on a woman walking near flowering bushes. With a silent groan, I realized it was Sierra. A man stood off to the side of her as she poked her hand into the bush and rustled it.

"How is she?" I asked Shepard.

"She's healthy but doesn't like being here."

"How long will you keep her?" Vena asked.

"That depends on her," Shepard said. "Right now, she's being uncooperative. Won't answer most of our questions, and she's evasive on the few she has answered."

"When has she ever been cooperative?" Vena asked.

She wasn't wrong.

"Sierra hasn't opened up about what happened or who she was working with," Shepard said. "Until she does, it's not safe for her to leave."

"When we found Miles, she couldn't name the vampire because he'd never given her a name," I said.

Shepard sighed and watched her continue to search the bushes lining the path ahead. "Yeah. There's a possibility she doesn't know. But she's also my only lead that might help us find Anchor."

Vena's attitude evaporated as she considered Sierra, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. Since Sierra's vampire had sent her to Blur to gather information on the werewolves, it made sense that Sierra might know something useful. If we could get it out of her.

"Can we talk to her?" I asked.

Shepard looked hesitant for a moment, but he gave a nod. "Maybe she'd like to talk to you instead of me."

Vena and I walked over to Sierra while she was still poking around in the bushes.

"Master?" she whispered. "Are you there?"

I glanced back at Shepard and quietly asked, "Is she on medication?"

He shook his head no.

"I think the vampire took more than her blood," Vena said to me.

I gently elbowed Vena, not wanting Sierra to hear her. If Sierra had been thralled and fed upon, she was a victim and should be treated like one. Still, I moved to the bush to see if there was something inside that would cause Sierra to think a vampire was in it. But there was nothing that I could see.

Was this then what being thralled meant? Desperately looking for the vampire who controlled you? I thought of what had been done to Gunther and hoped it hadn't been done to Sierra. How would it feel to want someone who tortured instead of loved? It would break my mind.

"Hi, Sierra," I said gently. "How are you?"

She glanced over and immediately glared when she saw Vena and me. "Why are you here?"

"We brought fudge as a get-well for Gunther. There is plenty in the kitchen if you want some."

"For Gunther?" Sierra scoffed. "He was let off easy."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Nothing." She walked to the next bush, peered into it, then walked to a cluster of flowers.

Vena shot me an annoyed look. I knew her well enough to understand Sierra was one more smart comment away from losing her soft approach. Vena was worried about Anchor and wanted answers now.

"Are you looking for something?" I asked, watching Sierra's continued search.

"Don't you have someone else to bother?"

"I just thought you might want a friend to talk to," I said.

She snorted. "Why would I ever be your friend, mutt-slut?"

"What is your problem?" Vena demanded, lurching forward a step. I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Interesting pet name coming from you," I said. "Is that why your master wanted to kidnap people? Because he hates werewolves?"

She tilted her head at me. "Is that why the werewolves kidnapped me? Because they hate vampires?"

"You weren't kidnapped," I said at the same time Vena angrily said, "You drugged and kidnapped my brother. Don't act like you're the victim here."

"But she still is, Vena," I said. "She didn't ask to be bitten by a vampire."

Sierra laughed like I'd said the most hilarious thing in the world.

Vena narrowed her eyes at Sierra. Sierra grinned as she held up her hand, giving Vena the middle finger.

The man watching Sierra stepped in, and Sierra was escorted into the building. We rejoined Shepard.

"Is this how Sierra has been the whole time?" I asked.

"She has her moments where she is more aggressive than others."

"We read that humans who've been thralled or mentally enslaved by a vampire can return to normal after a while."

Shepard nodded. "The bond can fade, but it will depend on how long Sierra was under the vampire's influence."

"Can Anchor afford to wait for that?" Vena asked, her tone tinged with anger and fear.

"Or--" I stopped myself. It didn't matter if Cross could compel Sierra to talk. I couldn't tell Shepard about Cross. Even though part of me wanted Shepard to know how helpful Cross had been, I knew what would happen. Shepard would hunt Cross.

"Or?" Shepard prompted.

"The book Vena read mentioned a few ways to break a vampire's thrall. Any chance that Sierra's master will come here looking for her?" I asked.

"If we kill her master, she'd be free of his thrall and probably willing to talk," Vena said.

"There is no we in this," Shepard said. "I want you two to promise to stay out of it."

It felt like his tone carried some extra weight when he met my gaze. The need to look away and nod my agreement rode me hard, and I struggled to maintain eye contact.

"Heard we have company," a familiar voice said.

The tension between Shepard and me broke when he looked at MC. I quietly let out a relieved breath and turned to look at MC as he joined us. His gaze flicked to Vena, and he winked at her.

"Looks like your tour stalled," he said to Vena. "I'd be happy to show you around so these two can finish their silent standoff."

"We weren't having a standoff," Shepard said.

MC ignored him and arched a brow at Vena. "Looked like a standoff to me. How about you?"

She crossed her arms. "Are you just here to cause trouble?"

"Not at all. You looked bored, and they looked like they wanted alone time."

"Would you mind giving me a few moments to speak with Everly privately, Vena?" Shepard asked.

Surprised by the request, I glanced at Shepard.

"It's starting to feel like your name stands for Mandatory Company," Vena said to MC. "I'm not a fan."

She turned on her heel and walked away from us. MC quickly followed her.

Did Shepard realize he hadn't endeared himself to Vena just then? He needed to clue in on how much Vena was really starting to not like MC.

"She doesn't do clingy," I said for both Shepard's and MC's benefit.

I watched MC put a little distance between the two of them and knew he'd heard. When I looked at Shepard, he inclined his head in acknowledgment.

"I appreciate her cooperation and hope you'll be as willing."

"I've always cooperated with you, Shepard."

He studied me for a long moment. "Then can you tell me why parts of you smell like vampire?"

I blinked at Shepard as my mind raced.

"Define parts…"

"The scent is strongest on your finger and mouth, but I can smell his lingering scent in other places." His gaze swept over my front and I knew he wasn't eyeing my boobs as much as he was silently indicating where he could smell Cross.

Damn that complicated vampire. I'd told him he was going to cause me trouble.

"I am more than willing to tell you. However, considering what happened with Sierra and Miles, I think you're going to struggle with believing me when I tell you the truth."

"And why is that?"

"Because you believe there's no such thing as a good vampire."

Shepard's gaze softened, and in the next instant, I found myself wrapped in a warm hug.

"Oh, Everly," he said softly. "Did they get to you, too? Tell me who the vampire is, and I'll handle it."

I could hear his sincere worry for me and hugged him back.

"No one has done anything bad to me," I said. "And I promise, there were so many times that I thought bad things would happen. The shadow world isn't exactly all rainbows and kittens. But I found an ally."

He loosened his hold to grip my shoulders and look me in the eyes.

"Tell me what happened."

"We accidentally met a vampire. Well, met is maybe a misrepresentation of what happened. We stole from him."

The stunned disbelief in Shepard's expression would have been hilarious if I wasn't on the receiving end of it.

"However, he didn't go on a murderous rampage like we'd been led to believe he would. He was definitely annoyed but allowed us the opportunity to explain the misunderstanding. All without a single drop of blood spilled. I promise.

"Since then, we've been helping him a little, and he's been helping us a lot. Remember that little pickle Vena and I got in at Juicy? He saved us. He's the reason everyone there is dead. If he hadn't shown up when he did…" I let out a sigh. "It would have been bad. He's a friend, Shepard."

While I spoke, Shepard's tightly clenched jaw started to tic faster and faster.

"Please don't be mad," I added.

"Mad?" he said. "Everly, I'm not angry; I'm terrified. You stole from a vampire, and somehow, he has you believing he's a hero. Do you think he just happened to be there when you needed him? Juicy was a feeder nest unlike anything I've ever seen. That's why MC and his people are here. D.C. has an infestation. That the vampires took one of my own and did what they did means they have no fear. The only reason they wouldn't fear us is because their numbers are out of control."

What he was saying made my stomach sink to my toes. Were there really that many of them? Here? In my hometown?

"And he's one of them, Everly," Shepard said, interrupting my thoughts. "He's not your hero or your friend. He's probably fed on you without you even realizing it. I want to take you to one of our females and have you checked for bite marks. Please."

"What? No. Shepard, I'm not going to strip down for some stranger because you don't believe me."

"Then strip for me."

"Whoa." I retreated a step, which he shadowed, maintaining contact.

"I think you're in danger, Everly. Please."

"I knew you wouldn"t believe me," I said. "But Cross can help us. He can compel Sierra to talk. He already did–without biting her–when we were at her house."

"He was the vampire we chased," Shepard said, understanding.

"Yes."

He shook his head, looking down for a moment.

"None of that explains why you still smell like him," he said, lifting his gaze to meet mine again.

I blew out a breath. "I cut my finger making fudge. He licked it to heal it. That's all."

"And your lips."

I couldn't hold his gaze anymore. Like a coward, I looked to the side at the hedgerow.

"He kissed me," I mumbled.

"Do friends kiss?" Shepard asked.

I knew he had me there, and I wanted to swear. If I said yes, Shepard would think I was under Cross' influence; and if I said no, I'd be admitting Cross wasn't a friend like I'd claimed.

"Some friends do," I said finally.

"Really?" Shepard asked.

He captured my chin with one hand.

"Am I your friend, Everly?"

Before I could answer, his lips covered mine. Thoughts of why I shouldn't allow it fled at the gentle way he licked my bottom lip and coaxed me to respond.

Just as I gave in to the kiss, leaning into Shepard as he softly growled his response, a noise from the doorway startled me. As I stepped back, Shepard's fingers dragged over my skin. His hand remained lifted in the air between us, grasping nothing, and he looked like he was two seconds from closing the distance again.

I glanced at our audience.

Vena marched straight for me with MC following in her wake. Her gaze missed nothing. Especially not the delay between when I stepped away and when Shepard's hand returned to his side. But her expression was surprisingly closed off, leaving me to guess whether I'd get scolded or a pat on the back for kissing him.

When she reached me, she slipped her arm through mine and gave it a small tug.

"We have to go," she said. "Errands."

Errands? I gave her a questioning look, but the narrow-eyed gaze she sent back had me nodding.

"Right. Errands." I glanced at Shepard. "We'll see you at work."

"You're not leaving," he said.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"Everly, you just told me about a vampire who"s been visiting you. Do you really think I'm going to let you two wander out of here with no protection? Vampires can't be trusted. Even with the smallest feeding, he can command you to his side at any time."

"Vampire?" MC questioned. He stared directly at Vena. "Let us help you."

Ignoring him, Vena leaned in and whispered, "Why did you tell him about Cross?"

"You know I can hear you, right?" Shepard folded his bulging arms over his chest as he eyed the two of us.

Vena sighed and met his gaze. "Listen, I'm sure we have the same opinion of vampires. The only good vampire is a dead vampire. But for whatever reason, Cross is different. It took me a while to trust him, but I do."

"How do we know you haven't been enslaved like Sierra?" Shepard said.

Vena frowned. "First of all, I haven't been fed on. Second, she's a lunatic who is trying to find her master in the bushes. That you would even put us in the same classification as Sierra is insulting. You know better than anyone what being enslaved looks like. Have we ever exhibited any of the signs?" She ticked her fingers as she said, "No obsessive behavior. No loss of appetite. No unwarranted explosive bouts of anger. No gaps in memory. And no unexplained absences."

She waited for Shepard's response.

He reached up and rubbed his jaw. Something he did when he was getting frustrated but trying to be reasonable.

"You said you trust me, Shepard," I said. "If you really do, then believe I have the sense in knowing who to trust, too. I don't hand it out like candy. He's earned it. Like you."

Vena grinned. "It's a trust circle. You trust Everly; Everly trusts Cross; and Cross trusts you to keep us safe. Now, are you going to be the one to break it?"

Shepard frowned at her.

"By trusting Everly, you believe that she knows what she's doing by trusting Cross," she said, pressing him.

Shepard muttered something under his breath. MC raised a brow at him but then smirked. Did Shepard just swear at me?

"I concede," Shepard finally said. "For now. But if you show one sign of being manipulated by him, I will find him and kill him. Do you understand?"

I quickly nodded. "I do. Enjoy the fudge."

"Let me walk you out," MC said.

"We know the way," Vena said with an edge to her tone.

"It's the least I can do for a guest," MC said, happily walking after us as Vena pulled me through the house and out the front door.

Once we were inside the car, she said, "Get me the hell out of here."

"What happened to make you so upset?" I asked once we reached the street and were headed away from Shepard's place.

"I'm so tired of Muscular Creep. No matter where I go or what I do, he's always around."

"Like in a stalker way or a friendly way?"

"Like a player simmering in the background and waiting for his opportunity. He's getting more aggressive in his flirting, and I barely refrained from decking him. Can't he take the hint that I don't like him? There will never be an opportunity for him."

"What happened to your infatuation with his muff mauler?"

She snorted a partial laugh, enjoying the pet name I'd been waiting to use.

"His pussy plunger–" I groaned and wrinkled my nose "–while glorious, isn't worth the entanglement. Moist Cornhole can take his mighty mallet back to California and leave me alone."

I stayed quiet for a moment and let Vena stew.

After a while, I asked, "Are you really mad at MC, or are you taking your frustrations out on him because you're worried about Anchor?"

She crossed her arms and looked out the window. "I suppose it might be worry," she muttered. "But that Monkey Cream still needs to back the hell off."

Normally, I didn't interfere with Vena's love life. She could handle any guy who came at her, but perhaps, with Anchor gone, MC's pursuit was more than she could handle. Pondering whether or not I should step in, my brain didn"t immediately register the ping of an incoming text on my phone.

Vena picked it up to look at it.

"Who is it?" I asked.

She swore under her breath and began to read out loud.

"Let's trade information. Tell me about your fanged friend, and I'll tell you about your furry one."