Chapter 9
NINE
CASEY
I woke up to my phone ringing. It was on a shelf on the far side of the nest. I sat up, but before I could grab it, Jewel picked it up and answered, setting it to speaker.
“Hello, you've reached Jewel, New Oxford's hottest omega. Casey can't come to the phone right now, he's currently—”
I snatched the phone from him before he could say anything inappropriate. Just in time, because the shrieks of my siblings almost blew out my ancient microphone.
“Oh my GOD—” That was Ev.
“I told you it was a guy!” Addison shouted.
“No you didn’t, dipshit.”
Ev and Addison started to bicker in the background.
“Casey, you're in twouble!” Alora announced happily.
“Hello?” I said weakly.
“Casey, Mom is freaking out—” That was Vanessa, my oldest and most responsible sister.
“Wait, is that the actual Jewel? Like, Jewel Fairchild?” Ev butted back in.
“Jewel Fairchild Tate. But, yes, the one and only,” Jewel supplied, a satisfied grin on his face.
There was another round of intelligible shrieking. I frantically turned the volume down.
Kill me now, please.
“Why are you calling?”
Suddenly Vanessa's voice became louder, and I heard her shushing the others. “Casey, Mom totally freaked out when you didn't come home last night.”
“Oh shoot,” I said, sitting up straight. “I didn't mean to make her worry, I swear.”
“Tell your mom her enchiladas were delicious,” Jewel piped up.
There was a scuffle, and Vanessa let out an affronted squawk.
Izzy's sweet voice came through next. “Eva showed me a picture of you, Mister Jewel,” she said shyly. “You're the prettiest.”
“Well, thank you.” Jewel beamed.
“ARE YOU WEALLY A ZOMBIE?” Alora shouted. “Miles Tucker says you'we a ZOMBIE cuz you came back from being DEAD!”
“Absolutely not.” Jewel wrinkled his nose. “Zombies are vile. You tell Miles Tucker I'm a vampire.”
“Wow,” Alora whispered.
“Vanessa? Can you put Mom on?” I asked.
Jewel shot me another grin while Vanessa found Mom.
“Hey, Mom, I'm so sorry I didn't let you know where I was,” I told her. “My friend—”
“Boyfriend,” muttered Jewel.
“Boyfriend!” I squeaked. “Uh, yes. He needed my help, so I stayed over.”
“Just tell me next time.” Mom sighed. “You can’t disappear like that, not after what happened.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, Mom.”
There was a brief pause.
“So, a boyfriend, huh? Is this why you’ve been so busy? Do we get to meet him?”
My siblings piped up again on the other end!
“Mom, he’s an omega!”
“No, he’s a vampire!”
“Is not!”
“It’s Jewel, like the actual Jewel!”
“Love you, gotta go!” I said and ended the call before things got even more out of control. My phone started buzzing, a slew of texts appearing on the screen.
“They seem nice.” Jewel shuffled over and placed his head on my lap.
I smiled. “Yeah. They are. Even Evelyn, sometimes.”
He gave a yawn and stretched, twisting himself on the bed.
“I have to go. I promised to pick some things up for my mom,” I said, and Jewel's head snapped up.
“Go?” he asked, his nose wrinkling for a second.
“Okay, no, wait—” He scrambled upright and threw his arms around me in a hug. I let out a gasp as I felt a sharp pinch on my neck. Jewel was holding me tight, and I shivered when I felt his tongue lick over the puncture marks.
He leaned back, admiring his work. “There,” he said, giving me a lopsided grin
I blinked at him. I could sense him, inside my mind. His anxiety, but as he looked at me, it settled down. His feelings were like a flickering fire, the warmth of fondness, a hint of satisfied pride flaring as he looked at my neck. Admiration.
For me?
“Thank you,” I said in awe, touching my neck. That was how he felt when he looked at me?
That couldn’t be right. I pulled away from the feeling, trying to shut it down and managed to damp down the intensity a bit.
I was reading into things.
I was just here to help. A safe, available person who he knew would come over when he asked.
Someone he wanted to have sex with.
I mean, that was just because he was horny. He probably knew I’d say yes to whatever. It didn’t mean anything.
It didn’t, because that didn’t make sense. People like him didn’t want people like me. Or if they did, it was just a curiosity. A one-off.
I was much better off supporting him with whatever he needed. People would always need someone reliable. Dependable. Safe.
Jewel pursed his lips and shook his head. “Actually, wait, you can't go anywhere like that. I'll be right back!”
I waited as he disappeared into his room and came back with an armful of clothes.
“I didn't know you were getting dressed, or I would have grabbed these earlier. It's a day for light colors, don't you think?”
He dumped the pile on the couch and started to hold up shirts.
“I don't think any of your stuff will fit me.” I eyed the pile doubtfully.
Jewel laughed. “These are for you, teddy bear. I guessed your size and had them ordered, along with my stuff. After all, it was just a matter of time before you stayed over. Now…”
Before I knew it, he was sending me to the bathroom with an armful of clothes. I didn't much care what I wore, but I loved the way Jewel's bond lit up when he saw me. He fussed over the shirt, tugging it down and brushing off the shoulders, though I wasn't sure what had been on there.
“Perfect.” He straightened my collar and looked into my eyes. I blushed at the warmth and pride I saw reflected back.
It didn’t mean anything. It probably made him happy, buying clothes for people. Dressing them up.
He stood on tiptoes and wound his arms around my neck, tugging me closer. I hesitantly lowered my head for a kiss. He didn't pull away, and when my lips pressed against him, a flood of dark desire poured from his bond, making me gasp and pull back, my face bright red.
He smirked. “You better get out of here if you don't want to be late. Otherwise, I promise I will keep you for a while…”