Chapter Twenty-Nine - Sen
“So we’re just going to wait?” I ask Vidar once the room has cleared out. Teagan missing from my side like a bruise I can’t help but press.
“We won’t have to for long. Summer is impatient, and we’re the only ancient vampires close to the demon doorway.”
I hum in agreement.
The conversation I had with Lucero in my car swims to the surface now that I have a quiet moment with my Maker. It hadn’t been a fun one, but it’d been necessary.
So when Vidar asks, “What’s on your mind?” I, for some reason, decide to be honest.
“I left ten years ago because it was easier. Because watching you deteriorate, as with Lucero and Rurik, was too much. And nothing I did was helping.”
Vidar is a strong man, and ten years ago—longer than that, really—he was a broken shell of himself.
“I told Lucero I left to save myself, but that wasn’t the whole truth.” I pause, think of when my Teagan was so brave in telling me his truth. “I left because I was scared.”
“I never blamed you.” Vidar’s reply removes the fist squeezing my lungs. A pressure I hadn’t noticed until it was gone. “You are my first offspring.” He smiles, and my throat tightens. “I love you. Even in my apathy, I loved you, Sen.”
I let out a long breath that turns into a chuckle. “You certainly have changed, Maker. I’d like to say you’ve done good work, but let’s be honest.”
“It’s all Kai,” Vidar finishes for me.
“Would you change anything?” I ask. “Having a soulmate is amazing, yet it holds you down all the same.”
“Yes,” Vidar answers truthfully. “I would’ve claimed him sooner.”
My Maker claps my shoulder, and I take it as my cue to find Teagan, my steps a little lighter as I follow my mate’s addictive scent towards the garden.
Only to find someone else standing at the side of the closed doors, just out of reach of the setting sun’s thin rays.
Draped in shadows, even Ramy’s profile is beautiful. Not like a person is beautiful—his beauty is genderless. Like velvet or jewels. It’s simply one of his defining characteristics.
As I approach, I see that through the glass-panelled door, Teagan and Kai are huddled on the bench, their backs to us.
“Ramy.” I stand beside him. “The boy Vidar made into a vampire on a whim.”
“That was years ago now,” Ramy says, his attention locked on the brothers. “We haven’t talked much, have we?”
“Who can find the time when I’m always saving pretty boys from blood mages? One must have their priorities.”
He huffs slightly, unamused.
“Was I everything you expected?” I grin, tucking my palms into my pockets. “Or are you still disappointed by our immortal family?”
His dark gaze travels to me, and in that moment, I realise what Ramy’s hidden foliage scent is—roses, of course, always have thorns. “This family is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“Lucky you, honey.”
He rolls his eyes, but offers a small smile. “You have a soulmate now, you know.”
I wink. “Teagan is very adventurous.”
Ramy looks me up and down. “And what makes you think I’d want to be adventurous with you?”
I grab hold of my heart. “Ouch. I thought you were nicer.”
He breathes out a sigh, turns away from the window to glide away. “Be careful of that heart of yours, Sen. We wouldn’t want Summer to get a hold of it.”
Smiling, I relax my posture to watch Ramy leave. His air of mystery might be intriguing to others, but I see what he hides. The only mystery is that he’s lonely.
Opening the door, I step into the garden and make my way to Teagan, who rests his head on Kai’s shoulder.
“Having fun?” I ask.
Teagan glances up, smiles, and my breath is stolen. He manages to reduce me to a love-sick mess. I should complain, but when he looks at me that way, I can’t seem to care.
Ramy might be beautiful, as are Kai, Golden, and Apollo—my brothers, Maker and I certainly have a type—but Teagan is exceptional.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Kai says, standing. “And Sen? If you ever hurt my brother, I’ll remove your fucking balls.”
“I expect nothing less.”
“Do you remember when we met?” Teagan asks when Kai is gone.
I remember knocking him over in my car, then stepping out to come face-to-face with my destiny. “Yes.”
He blinks up at me. “You broke my skateboard.”
“That I did.”
“It’s been repaired. Wanna come with me to get it?”
As the sun sinks away, I cup his jaw. “There is nothing in this world that I want more than to follow you, Teagan.”
***
We arrive at the store I saw Teagan leave the day I promised Kai to stay away from him. It smells like wood and plastic. Skateboards line the walls, and rap music pumps out of speakers.
“I won’t be long.” Teagan heads towards the register, leaving me to admire the boards on display. The doorbell rings as the last few customers leave.
I’ve never been inclined to skateboard myself or given it much thought. But as I look up at the art, I can’t help but wonder. While each is different, the bold, colourful designs are so familiar…
My phone vibrates, and I slide it out of my pocket. “What?”
“Nice to hear from you, too.”
I chuckle. “Hey, Kate.”
“I don’t wanna beat around the bush.”
“And I would never ask that of you.”
“Sure you wouldn’t,” she huffs. “You asked me to check if there were missing teens? Like a few months ago with that fight club gone bad.”
“Anything?”
“Nothing.”
So at least Summer isn’t making new blood mages. “Thanks for the info, Kate.”
“I do have something that might be interesting, however. Give me a few hours, and I’ll drop it off at your creepy mansion.”
She hangs up without exchanging any further pleasantries. I know she’s allergic to them.
The bell rings again.
“Did you paint some of these, Teagan?” I ask when I hear him approach.
He doesn’t say anything, which isn’t unusual. But when I look at him, his eyes are so wide they could pop out of his head. His chest is heaving too fast, then stopping for a beat too long, while clutching his skateboard like it’s a shield.
Something is wrong.
So like a shark scenting blood, I slowly turn.
A young man with pale brown skin stands at the entrance. His head is shaved and dyed purple. He’s tall, handsome, and his interest in me is a flashing neon sign. When he casts a look at Teagan, that interest turns into a mocking sneer.
Carter. Teagan’s bully. I’m certain of it.
And I’m going to fucking kill him.
“Teagan!” Carter strolls over. “Wow, it’s been way too long! I haven’t seen you since…” A cruel laugh bursts out of him. “Well, since you pissed yourself.”
My hands itch to wrap around Carter’s throat. Instead, I move—standing in front of my mate and staring down this piece of shit.
“You must be Carter,” I say with an inviting smile.
He stands taller, all but flutters his eyelashes. “You know about me?”
“Of course I know you, Carter.” I hold back a shudder at the thought of having to flirt with him, but vampires hide in plain sight. So while he might smile like he’s caught me in a trap, I’m going to show him who the real predator is.
“Don’t make a noise or move.” I push out my compulsion. It doesn’t leave me like a gentle whisper; it slams into Carter with the force of a fist. He jolts, a trickle of blood rolling from his nose.
The scent of his fear is delicious.
I turn back to Teagan and cup the back of his neck. Instantly, his breathing returns to normal.
“Slick,” he whispers, eyes wet.
“Sweetheart.” I pull him into my chest and glance around to make sure no one is paying attention to us. “There are some times when you need protecting. This is one of them.”
“Ain’t that the bee’s knees…” His whisper muffles against my shirt.
I glare at Carter. “Follow me.”
Taking hold of Teagan’s hand, I lead him outside, Carter trailing behind us, then round to the back of the store.
Carter stops when we do, his nose still bleeding. His eyes the size of saucers.
“You hurt my Teagan.” I lose all charm, become a blade that only wants to cut.
Carter starts to cry.
“You can speak now.”
“Oh my god, what are you! We’re friends, aren’t we, Teagan? My best friend! Don’t let him hurt me. I never wanted to hurt you. I thought we were having fun. It was just fun—” Carter blubbers.
“You will tell the truth.”
A second trail of blood spills out the other side of his nose. Carter tries to keep his mouth closed, but he’s soon spilling his guts. “Do you have any idea how much I hate you, Teagan? I hate you so much it makes me want to fucking vomit!”
Teagan presses into me, his shoulders trembling.
“Everything you do is so fucking annoying. And you’re just so bloody talented! But the worst part is you wouldn’t even admit it!”
Teagan pushes out of my hold to face Carter, and I realise he is shaking from anger. “I know I’m talented, Carter,” he says in his quiet rasp, strong as steel. “But we all were.”
“Shut up, shut up!” Veins throb in Carter’s forehead. “You had it too easy! You never worked hard for any of your talent! It isn’t fair! I want it, I deserve it. You don’t!”
“I worked hard,” Teagan whispers between clenched teeth. He shouldn’t need to defend himself, but he deserves to say his piece. “It isn’t my fault that everything you create is empty.” He stares down the snivelling man before him, and I couldn’t be prouder. “That’s a reflection of the artist.”
“Shut up!” Carter’s tears and snot mix with the blood smeared across his top lip.
“It isn’t my fault that you’re a hack.”
Carter moves to attack Teagan, but I grab him by the throat and slam him into the wall.
“Should I kill him for you, Teagan?” I get into Carter’s face, show him the sharp edge of my fangs. “It’s been a while since I’ve eaten.”
The scent of Carter’s piss fills the air as he continues to whimper.
“Let him go, Sen.”
I squeeze Carter’s neck.
“He ain’t worth shit.”
Carter’s eyes bulge before I release him, and he crumbles into his puddle of urine. “Thank you, oh my god, thank you—”
His answer is cut off by Teagan whacking his new skateboard into Carter’s head. The board breaks, and so does Carter’s face as he drops to the ground.
I smirk. Apparently, I can be prouder. “Vicious when you want to be, aren’t you?”
Teagan lets out a long sigh, not bothering to wipe away the single tear that escaped. “Is he still alive?”
“Sadly.”
There’s a pause, and then, “The skateboards, Sen?”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Yeah. I painted them all.”
His plush lips curve into a mischievous smile.
“Because I’m fucking awesome.”