Chapter 13 Jericho
JERICHO
That night, while Evan is asleep, I stare at the ceiling and replay that video in my head on a loop.
Would Evan help us locate Jericho?
Fuck. I always feared Foxx might use Evan to get to me, but now that we know? Now that we’ve heard it for ourselves? It’s making me lose my damn mind. I want to rip the guy’s throat out and turn him to ash.
I want—need—to protect Evan, yet I don’t know how. We don’t know the full force of what we are up against, and I still don’t even know what my vampire gift is. How can I fight someone who knows more about me than I do?
Guilt gnaws at me. If only I hadn’t left Comstead…
If I hadn’t run away from my feelings, then none of this would’ve happened. Evan wouldn’t be in danger.
I’m so damn stupid.
Evan stirs next to me on the tiny bed, stretching out on his stomach and drawing in a long breath.
There isn’t enough room for both of us to lay flat, so our legs and sides touch as he tries to get comfortable, but to my surprise, he doesn’t pull away.
He never has. Not like I always feared, anyway, after hearing I’m gay.
I stay as still as I can, pretending to be asleep in hopes that Evan might drift off again. We both desperately need rest. But after a while, he yawns and asks in a sleepy whisper, “You okay?”
I don’t know how he figured out that I’m awake, but I still don’t answer. I don’t even know where to begin.
Evan rolls to his side, and a second later a warm hand lands on my bare shoulder. The touch startles me so much that I let out a trembling breath.
“Talk to me,” he pleads.
The warmth of his skin ignites a fire in my belly I can’t control. I roar as I slam a fist into the side of the van. “I never should’ve left Comstead! I fucked everything up when I did!”
“Hey. No. If I don’t get to blame myself for this, neither do you.”
“But it is my fault, Evan! If I hadn’t—”
He claps a hand over my mouth to silence me. It’s so unexpected that my fangs descend on instinct. If he feels them, he doesn’t pull away.
“Stop,” he says in a firm tone. “Dwelling over the past isn’t going to change a damn thing, so let that shit go before it eats you. We’re together now. That’s what matters. We’ll figure the rest out tomorrow.” He lets go and lowers his voice. “I told you. I’m not going anywhere, man.”
I want to believe him. I want to trust that everything will work out.
But nothing is like it used to be. We are not two college guys wasting time around pool tables at the rec center or hiking in the mountains anymore.
Not by a long shot. Instead, we’re in over our heads in a supernatural battle that might just get us both killed.
And on top of that, Evan has seen my drawings. He knows the real reason behind why I left in the first place.
There simply is no going back from that.
Without warning, Evan scoots closer, draping an arm across my chest and settling his head on my pillow.
“What are you—”
“Just shut up and let me do this. You need it.”
I tense under his weight, but as he settles in, I realize he’s right. With my best friend next to me, I suddenly feel like I can breathe.
His warm breath ghosts across my skin, his delicious scent enveloping me. But to my relief, it doesn’t make me thirst. If anything, it grounds me. Reminds me that he’s here and he’s safe. At least for now.
“We’re both safe right now, Jer,” Evan says, “so try to get some sleep, okay? I know you need it just as much as me.” He yawns again, and within seconds, he’s asleep.
I turn into him, inhaling softly so he doesn’t notice. That sweet lemongrass scent is heaven.
For the first time all evening, a smile touches the edges of my mouth and a strange calm settles in my chest. I never expected this.
I thought Evan would walk away from me if he knew that I was attracted to him—that I’d fantasized about him—but he’s still here, and he’s holding me. Almost like he’s leaning in.
But that can’t be right, can it? Evan is straight. He’s never shown any interest in guys. I would have noticed. I looked for those signs for a long time and never found any, which is why I kept my secret so hidden. There’s no way he’ll ever want me.
But clearly he still cares, because he’s here. Will it be enough?
Can I find a way for this to be enough? Because I need Evan in my life more than I need my next breath.
Eventually I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep, and when I wake several hours later, Evan is on his back, looking at something on his phone.
I rub my eyes and stretch out next to him. “A little early for porn, isn’t it?” I tease in a groggy voice.
He smirks. “Oh, it’s never too early for porn.”
I chuckle. “What are you doing?”
When he doesn’t answer, I snatch the phone from his hand, and my stomach sinks when I see the video from his security camera again.
I guess I’m not the only one obsessing about the videos.
I turn to him, my brows furrowed. “What is this?”
He avoids my eyes. “I need to memorize their faces.”
I frown. “Why?”
“Why do you think?” he snaps. “I need to know who these bastards are so the next time I see them—”
“You’re not going to see them,“ I cut in. “You’re not going anywhere near them!”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You think I’m just going to sit on the sidelines while you fight them? Fuck no.”
“We’ve talked about this, Ev. You need to stay far away from them, especially now. They want to use you.”
“To get to you!” he argues. “You really think I’m just going to step aside and let them have you? You’re a fucking idiot if you do.” He takes his phone back.
Fear grips me. I roll to my side, looming over him as I drape an arm over his stomach. Evan tenses, peering up at me with his bright blue eyes. I can’t tell if it’s because he’s frustrated or because he doesn’t want to be this close again. Maybe he regrets falling asleep with me.
Either way, I don’t move. I need him to hear me.
“Promise me you won’t go near Foxx or his men,” I say.
“Can you promise the same thing? Because I don’t want you near them either!”
“Evan.”
“Jericho!” he retorts.
Anger courses through me. “Don’t you understand how dangerous this is? How easily they can kill you?”
“Of course I do! Do you think I’ve forgotten everything they did to you?”
“But that’s exactly my point! They can do that to you! Or worse, turn you! I refuse to let that happen!”
Evan seethes for a moment before his attention drops to my mouth. His anger fades, replaced with something else. Surprise stirs in my belly. Is he thinking of kissing me?
“Your fangs seriously kick ass.”
Oh. Of course it’s about my teeth. He reaches out like he’s going to touch one.
I snag his wrist. “What are you doing?”
“I want to feel one.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Because?” When our eyes meet again, he sputters a soft laugh, and it instantly calms me. Leave it to Evan to break the ice. He’s always been so good about knowing what to say.
He tries again, but I don’t let him budge.
“You can’t touch my teeth,” I say.
“Why not?”
“It’s weird.”
“So? I just want to know what they feel like.”
I shake my head. “You’re weird. You know that, right?”
“Please? They’re like, really fucking cool.” He’s still staring at my mouth. How I wish he was staring at it for another reason… “You know what it reminds me of? When I was a kid, I always went as a vampire for Halloween. Did I ever tell you that?”
I smile, loosening my hold a little. “You did?”
“Yup. Plastic teeth, black cape, and fake blood dribbling down my chin. Mom even painted my face white a few times, but clearly that part was all myth because you, my friend, are not pale.”
I laugh, yet the image of a young Evan with fake fangs fills me with unexpected joy. “I always went as a rock star.”
He grins wide. “I can see that. Especially with the hair. You have killer rock-star hair. Hey, have you ever bitten yourself?” He mimics biting his lower lip accidentally, which makes me laugh harder.
“Evan!”
“What?” He joins in, nudging me as we both laugh. “You have, haven’t you?”
I pull away. “I cut my lip a lot when I was first turned.”
“I bet. They look sharp.”
“Which is exactly why you shouldn’t touch them,” I say, raising a brow before releasing his wrist.
He reaches out to try anyway, but I pull away before he does. “How does it work anyway? Do they just appear? Or can you control them?”
I sigh. “Must you ask twenty questions this early in the day? You haven’t even had breakfast yet.”
He looks away, cheeks turning red. “I guess I’m just curious since they were a few inches away from my neck is all.”
All humor dies on my lips. “What?”
He vaguely gestures to the left side of his neck. “Yeah, you know. You were asleep, but your mouth was… anyway. I know it wasn’t on purpose.”
“It wasn’t, and it won’t happen again.” I sit up. I should’ve known it was too good to be true, to hold Evan in my sleep.
Evan suddenly grins. “So, if your teeth appear in your sleep, does that mean it’s like the vampire version of morning wood?”
I burst out laughing and shove him hard.
“What? It’s kind of the same, isn’t it? I can’t control mine anymore than—”
“You’re such an ass.”
He cackles as he sits up, stretching his long legs out. Aside from his blond hair going in all directions, Evan looks refreshed. Better than he has in a few days.
“Do you feel better?” he asks, as if wondering the same thing about me. “You seemed to sleep well.”
I scrub my scruffy face. “Yeah, I did.”
“Good. I think we both needed that.” There’s something in his eyes, but he turns away before I can question it.
I glance out the window, looking for the pack. “Is everyone up?”
“Yeah. Most of them left about a half hour ago.”
“On foot?”
He nods. “All fours. Sounded like they were going to patrol the border or something.”
I frown. “Was there a reason?”
“I don’t think so. It didn’t sound urgent.”
Forest mentioned the best time for me to go hunt is when they are out on patrol. That way, if any neighboring packs change their mind about me being in the area, they can be close by.
With that in mind, I toss him my favorite pair of ripped jeans. “We should probably change.”
“Why? Do I stink?”
Just the opposite. You smell divine. “It’s just been a few days is all. I’ll ask Jasmine if we can do some laundry today, but feel free to wear whatever you want since you didn’t have time to pack.”
He glances at the stack of clothes. “Thanks.”
As Evan steps out of his pants, I can’t help but admire his ass and strong legs. God, he is just as sexy as I remember. And when he peels off his shirt to replace it with an old Aerosmith one from my pile, I nearly lose my tongue.
Fuck me.
Evan is beautiful.
Lust surges through me, making my cock ache. I want to pull him to me and kiss him senseless, toss him on the bed as I climb over him.
I force myself to turn away. I definitely need blood. And air. I need to clear my fucking head.
When we climb out of the van, I tap Evan’s arm to get his attention. “Hey, I’m gonna…” I jut my thumb toward the trees, hoping he’ll understand.
He furrows his brows.
“I need to eat,” I say quickly.
“Oh! Yeah. Of course. Just be careful, okay?” He barely seems fazed at the idea of me drinking blood.
“You too. Stay with the rest of the pack until I’m back?”
“I will.”
I turn to walk into the trees, treading lightly on my feet.
I’m way more alert now, thanks to a good night of sleep.
I probably wouldn’t have gotten any if Evan hadn’t curled into me.
His solid presence and familiar scent soothed me in the way I needed, except now I know I can’t have it again.
If what he said is true, if I’d put my mouth near his throat in my sleep…
No. I can’t. I need to be better and keep him safe. Even from myself.
Heading toward the stream, I try to find the colony of bunnies I saw yesterday. I’ve never liked the taste of animal blood, but if it means keeping Evan safe, then it’s what I’ll do. He’s worth it to me.
He’s always worth it.