10. Montana

An engine growled as it pulled up the drive and I rose from my seat in the lounge, having continued with Fabian’s movie to occupy my mind. I’d never seen anything like it, though Dad had told us about such things. A story told by people pretending to be other people. Strange. Though weirdly entertaining. And Fabian had been right. Kyle fucking sucked.

An empty bottle of blood stood on the coffee table and I eyed it with a niggle of guilt. Snatching it up, I carried it to the trash can and dropped it inside, wringing my hands together.

What if I can’t control myself?

You will. You can do this. Just remember how much you care about Julius. You’d never hurt him.

The front door opened and my heart clenched. I didn’t know where to stand, suddenly panicked as heavy footfalls approached.

“Nice house. Being an asshole clearly pays well,” Julius’s voice reached me.

“Definitely better than being a giant fuckwit does,” Erik replied smoothly.

I moved to the couch, gripping the back of it, half tempted to duck down and hide behind it. But I had to keep it together. I had to do this.

They approached the door and I smelled it. Blood. Thrumming through Julius’s veins. His rampant heartbeat called to me, telling me he was as uncertain as I was.

I won’t hurt you, I swear it.

The door opened and Erik entered first, seeming concerned but Julius shouldered past him, his eyes landing on me. His mouth opened and I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling horribly scrutinised. Did he see a monster standing here? A vile creature he longed to kill? Did Menace scream my death in his ear?

“Hey, damsel,” he breathed as if I was a frightened animal he wanted to lure closer.

His blood smelled even sweeter than the bottled stuff and I felt a tingle in my canines that frightened me. Taking a breath, I took a step towards him and Erik looked ready to jump between us, his gaze swinging from me to the slayer.

“Hey,” I said, sighing when the urge to kill Julius didn’t come. I could sense the curse pushing at my will, but it wasn’t remotely strong enough to make me act on my thirst. In fact, after my recent drink, it was surprisingly easy to stand before him without the scent of his blood overwhelming my senses.

“You’re looking...um,” Julius struggled for the word.

“It’s okay,” I sighed. “I know you must hate this.” I dipped my head. “If it’s too hard-”

“It’s not,” Julius said firmly, and Erik took a step forward as if he was still afraid I might lunge at my friend. “I’m just glad you’re okay. You know, not dead. Or not, not dead. If you know what I mean.” He ran a hand down the back of his neck and I nodded, breaking a smile.

“I know what you mean.”

He frowned and a moment of tension passed between us.

“Fuck it,” Julius muttered, then strode toward me, dragging me into his arms.

Erik was at our side in a flash and I shook my head to warn him off, his fierce look telling me he was half a second from ripping Julius away from me. I wrapped my arms around Julius’s broad shoulders and the scent of his blood rolled over me in a delicious wave. My fangs ached, my tongue scraped the roof of my mouth. The curse pushed at me, telling me to feed. But as I concentrated, I started to will the sensation away until it reduced to a quiet throb in my throat. Totally manageable.

A noise of relief left me and I clutched onto Julius, delighting in the pounding of his heart against my silent chest.

I could actually manage this. I’d really done it.

“How’s Callie?” I asked as he released me.

“Well I’ve left her alone with Magnar, so I imagine she’s really good right now.” He winked and I grimaced.

“Ew.”

He laughed, gazing over me with a look of awe. “I didn’t think it’d be like this. I mean, you’re still you. You don’t even have that monstrous air the others have.” He glanced at Erik with a pointed look.

“Better than the caveman look you and your brother excel at. Has Magnar heard of clippers yet or is he still mentally bound to the Middle Ages?” Erik taunted.

Julius released a laugh and my brows shot up, hope darting through me at the way they were talking. Even if they were hell-bent on throwing insults at each other, it was still progress.

“I’d consider mentioning modern hair styles to him but I think I’d end up with a broken jaw for it,” Julius replied.

“I’ve been trying with my own brother for years, but Fabian insists on walking around looking like a wild goat.”

Julius snorted. “Scissors aren’t that hard to find.”

My mind spun at their casual interaction. I couldn’t believe the difference in them. They’d been trying to rip each other limb from limb just yesterday.

“So can I go see Callie now?” I asked Erik hopefully. “I’m fine. See?” I gestured at Julius to prove it.

“No,” Erik growled. “We’ll wait a couple of hours. Give yourself time to adjust.”

“I’ve adjusted. Come on, look at me.”

He did and his eyes trailed right down to my toes, making me feel like he was seeing right beneath my clothes to my bare skin. “I don’t know how you’re doing it, rebel. Even I’m tempted to eat this motherfucker.”

Julius cocked a brow. “I knew you’d come back for more.” He gestured to the wounds on his neck, and I frowned. “You can’t get enough of my sweet nectar.”

“That’s disgusting.” I wrinkled my nose and Erik scowled.

“I’m quite content never to taste your nectar again,” Erik muttered.

Julius shrugged, dropping down onto the couch and planting Menace and his bag on the floor. He picked up the TV remote from the arm of his seat. “What are we watching then?”

I clucked my tongue in annoyance. “Can’t we just go? I want to see my sister.”

“Have you seen Bone Breaker?” Erik suggested, sitting in an armchair and turning his attention to the TV.

“No, but it sounds like a fucking blood fest. I’m in,” Julius said keenly.

“Er, hello?” I folded my arms as they put on the movie.

“Shh, it’s starting.” Julius patted the seat beside him and I huffed my frustration, glaring between them.

I glanced at the door and remembered I could move pretty fast now.

“If you run, I’ll catch you, tie you down and make you enjoy the movie from my lap,” Erik said causally.

I scowled at him, but he didn’t look my way, his muscles flexing just enough to tell me he was ready to launch himself at me if I made a move. So instead of giving Julius a show of me being rounded up like a rogue sheep, I gave in and sat down next to the slayer on the couch. He opened the bag between his knees and took out a pile of food, peeling open a block of cheese and taking a huge bite out of it.

I looked to Erik pleadingly but he just offered me a firm look and turned his attention back to the screen.

I sat back in my chair as Julius gulped down a whole pint of milk and a smile took over my face at how well this had gone. His blood was present, sure, and his pounding heartbeat drew my attention now and again, but I could control any urges I had towards him.

And at least if I was going to be stuck here a while longer, I was in the company of two of my favourite people in the world.

* * *

As the movie drew to a close– which had contained practically nothing but blood, gore and guts – a knock came at the front door.

Erik stood in a flash, charging across the room.

“Stay here,” he commanded before exiting and slamming the door.

Julius raised his brows at me, swallowing a mouthful of food. “He’s jumpy.”

He reached for Menace beside him, and I strained my hearing toward the front door.

“Fabian just came to my house with a very strange story, Erik. He said Montana is a vampire and you’ve teamed up with the slayers. What the hell is going on?” Clarice’s voice carried to me and I rose from my seat, feeling on edge.

Julius got up too, lifting Menace into his hands, his eyes darkening to a formidable glare.

“Don’t,” I hissed, but he didn’t lower his weapon.

I heard Erik explaining about the gods and what had happened at the statue. When he was finished, Clarice sucked in a breath.

“What’s that smell?” she demanded.

“Wait-” Erik snarled, but the door flew open and Clarice appeared beyond it dressed in a low-cut pink dress that hugged her figure and amplified all of her curves.

Her bright blue eyes fell on Julius and she bared her fangs. “Slayer,” she snarled, but Erik caught her arm before she could advance.

“We’re working with them now,” Erik said to her. “Accept it.”

Julius rolled his shoulders, lowering his sword slightly as he drank in the sight of her. He lifted a bag of chips from the couch and held them out to her. “Snack?”

“What the fuck?” Clarice snarled, looking ready to rip him apart.

“Oh sorry,” Julius said with a mocking grin, dropping the chips and holding out his wrist instead. “Snack?”

Clarice released a feral snarl and Erik pulled her back a step.

“How can you trust him?” Clarice bit at her brother.

“I told you, we have a common enemy now: the gods. And we’re uniting against them,” Erik insisted.

Clarice’s eyes whipped to me and her expression softened. “Oh Montana, you look beautiful.”

“Er- thanks,” I said awkwardly, taking Julius’s arm and squeezing as I tried to make him drop Menace.

“Ow,” he murmured, attempting to shake me off, but I didn’t let go.

“But Erik, what about the prophecy?” Clarice looked to him in fear. “If Montana’s a vampire now, she can’t bear any children.”

I ground my teeth at her words. “I wouldn’t have done that anyway.”

“And neither would I,” Erik added. “Besides, I told you the prophecy doesn’t mean that. You have to trust me, Clarice. I know what I’m doing.”

Clarice scowled as she shifted her attention back to Julius. “Are you sure? Because this looks insane to me. Shouldn’t we just kill him while he’s outnumbered?” Her eyes glittered dangerously and a flicker of concern ran through me.

“Bring it on, Golden Whore,” Julius said with a wicked smile.

“Let’s all take a breath.” Erik planted himself between Clarice and Julius. “We must try to set aside our differences.”

Clarice looked to Julius with a grimace. “The last time I saw him, he tried to cut my head off.”

“Foreplay.” Julius shrugged and I bit down on my lip to hold my laughter back. How could he be so damn calm right now?

Clarice very nearly broke a smile at his joke, then schooled her expression and scowled again.

“You don’t know what real foreplay is, slayer boy,” she said coolly.

“I’m sure you’re desperate to show me your version, sweetheart, but I don’t go for blood-sucking parasites who like their men weak and abiding. Not really my thing, Clarice. So you can stop eye-fucking me because we need to go.”

“I am not-” Clarice started, but Erik held up a hand to stop her.

“Enough,” he snarled. “You can stay here. We’re leaving.”

Clarice caught Erik’s arm. “Fabian’s in the car. He insisted on coming. He said Callie’s here too and he’s not allowed in the house.”

Erik pressed his fingers into his eyes. “She’s down at the cottage. Don’t let him follow us.”

Clarice nodded, giving in although she still seemed uncomfortable with the situation.

Julius sheathed his blade and I released his arm as we moved across the room toward Erik. Clarice still barred our way to the door and her lip peeled back as Julius got close.

“You’ve got something in your teeth,” Julius muttered, and Clarice threw a hand to her mouth in horror. “Oh never mind, I think it was just bullshit.”

Clarice glowered, lunging forward, but Erik shoved her back before she could reach the slayer.

“Ignore him,” I said to her and she threw me a glance, her eyes suddenly blazing with emotion.

She stepped around Erik and moved toward me, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re a part of our family.”

I gave her a tight sort of smile as she released me. “We’re going to break the curse. We’ll figure it out.”

“Do you really think so?” she asked, looking desperate for that to be true. Honestly, I wondered why she of all the Belvederes longed for humanity so much; it seemed like she had everything she wanted in this life and more. I’d never seen the torment in her that I had in Erik.

“Yes,” I promised, squeezing her hand.

“Come on then,” Erik encouraged, and I moved to his side, poking Julius to get him moving. The sooner he was away from Clarice, the better.

She watched us walk from the room with a mixture of discomfort and disbelief. I hoped she’d come around to this idea soon, because if we were going to take on the gods, we needed all the help we could get.