by Jodi Vaughn
“What in the hell are you doing to that poor cow?” one of the officers asked.
“I’m freeing her. So she can live her life to its fullest,” the guy tugging on the cow’s head answered.
“Well, in the state of Mississippi, it’s called stealing. And that cow belongs to these nice people here. If you and your friends don’t hurry up and leave, I’m going to arrest the lot of you.”
“Lock them all up!” Earl cried out, suddenly finding his courage once the police were on the scene.
One of the cops went over to the guy who’d gotten kicked by the cow. “Hey, I know you.” He looked up and eyed the whole group. “You’re that group that was picketing the Country Chicken restaurant.”
“There’s no harm in picketing. It’s our constitutional right to state our beliefs.” The mousy woman with the small glasses lifted her chin.
“But there is harm when you harass the customers coming out of the restaurant with their fried chicken tenders.” The cop narrowed his eyes. “You stole everyone’s carryout orders and dumped them in the parking lot, which is littering. Also, a crime.”
“FREE THE COWS! FREE THE COWS!” The woman raised her hand in the air and tried to rally her troops.
“Joe, call the station and have them send more patrol cars. They are all under arrest.”
“Run for it!” the woman called out. The group dispersed. Some tried to get into their cars but realized that the cops and I had them blocked in. They changed direction and headed for the field. They raced past the bored-looking cows.
One guy looked over his shoulder, and his foot landed in a big pile of fresh cow manure. His foot went up, and he went flying through the air. He landed hard on his back. The others didn’t spare him a glance as they headed for the tree line. There was one optimistic guy who had stopped running and was whispering something in one poor cow’s ear.
Whatever sweet nothings he was spewing didn’t seem to be working on the cow. She just continued staring stonily at him while chewing her cud.
“Aren’t you going after them?” Earl asked the cops.
“No. We’ve got two already down. We need to call an ambulance.” Joe clicked the button of the radio on his shoulder. “Dispatch, we need an ambulance out at Happy Acres. One protestor got kicked in the head by a disgruntled cow, and another guy knocked himself out when he slipped in cow shit.”
Earl frowned and looked towards the house. I knew I should go outside, but I was so shaken up by the whole thing that I wasn’t sure what to say.
Gathering up my courage, I unlocked the door and took a step outside.
“Mrs. Jones. I forgot all about you.” Earl’s wife gasped.
“I’m sorry I was in your house. I got freaked out with all those people running at me.” I grimaced as the sunlight hit my face.
“Oh, you poor dear. You’re probably traumatized from all that nonsense.”
“Does this happen a lot out here?”
“No. First time. Although we were at the Country Chicken when they were stealing people’s chicken nuggets. Damn waste of food.” Earl wiped the back of his neck with a handkerchief.
The ambulance blared down the driveway. “I should be going,” I murmured.
Earl and his wife had already turned their attention back to the cops, who were busy writing up a report.
I climbed into my car and closed my eyes. I needed blood, and I needed it soon.
Chapter 32
That afternoon after picking up the girls from school, I felt my resolve crumbling. My stomach cramped like never before. I locked myself in the bathroom. I needed Khalan’s help more than ever.
Right after he had turned me into a vampire, I had seen his reflection in the mirror. Maybe I could conjure him up again.
I gripped the sink with both hands and stifled a cry of pain. I lifted my gaze to the mirror.
“Khalan, I need blood.”
I stared hard into the glass, trying to make him appear.
Nothing happened.
“Mommy, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I called out. “I just have food poisoning.”
“Daddy just showed up. Want me to tell him you’re sick?” Gabby asked.
“No!” Miles already thought I was having a nervous breakdown and unable to care for the kids. If Gabby told him that I was sick, he would assume I was drunk. “Just give me a minute.”
I splashed some water on my face and looked in the mirror. “You can handle this. You are strong enough. You can handle this on your own.”
I opened the door and stepped out. Gabby studied me.
“So, what’s your father doing? Here to see you girls?” I gave a brave smile.
“He’s in the garage.” Gabby shrugged and headed back into the kitchen.
Shoulders back, I forced myself to walk out of the bedroom. I took a deep breath and headed through the house to the kitchen. I looked through the glass of the kitchen door that led out into the garage. The driver’s side door was open on my Volvo. Miles was squatted down, looking at something under the car.
I jerked open the door. Startled, Miles stood and turned. His face tightened when he saw me as if I had caught him doing something bad.
“Miles.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for some paperwork I left in the car. The insurance papers.” He bit his lip.
“Under the car?” I arched my brow.
He narrowed his gaze. “Something fell out of my pocket when I got out. I was under the car to retrieve it.”
I kept my gaze trained on him. Something was off with Miles. Something I could not put my finger on.
“How are the girls?” He shoved his hands into his pockets.
“They are doing well.” I sighed. “Would you like to come in and see them?”
It was a magnanimous gesture on my part. Despite how I felt about the man, he was still the father of my girls.
“Rachel, I want you to start being honest with me.” He took his hands out of his pockets and propped them on his hips. It was the typical Miles-domination stance he used with other people.
I didn’t like it being used on me.
“That’s rich. Coming from you.” I touched my finger to my temple where a drum beat was slowly building.
Miles pulled a card out of his pocket and waved it around in the air. “You didn’t tell me you were going to a psychiatrist.” He held the card out accusingly. ”I’m not sure you should be taking care of our children.”
Anger overrode any fatigue I was feeling. I uncrossed my arms and glared. “I’m not seeing a psychiatrist. How dare you accuse me of being a bad mother.”
“Then why is this card in your car?” He narrowed his eyes.
I glanced at the card. “How should I know?”
“Your behavior over the past few weeks is becoming more and more erratic. Spontaneous outbursts, drinking during the day, not answering the phone when the school calls, Arianna acting out at school…”
I curled my fingers into the palms of my hands until I could feel the blood welling up to the surface.
“Everything you said is a lie, Miles.” I slowly breathed out the words. “I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but it’s not true. And for you to believe that is beyond unbelievable.”
He lifted his chin in the air. “I’m beginning to wonder if I ever really knew you at all.”
I opened my mouth to tell him to go fuck himself, but I stopped.
A large figure stepped out from nowhere and moved into my garage.
I gasped.
Khalan.
He was dressed in a dark T-shirt and dark jeans. He wore his black trench coat and boots. His hair hung about his shoulders, but this time, I couldn’t smell anything foul emanating from him.
Miles turned to see what had captured my attention. He cocked his head. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“I’m here to remove the dick,” he snarled.
I snorted, and Miles whipped his head towards me. I bit my lip to keep from laughing at Miles’ look of outrage.
“Mrs. Jones hired me to eradicate the large flower dick in the front yard,” Khalan clarified.
“You’re a landscaper?” Miles asked. “You don’t look like any landscaper I’ve seen.”
“Really?” Khalan stepped closer to Miles. “What do I look like?” He narrowed his eyes.
Miles stood there, shaking in his Armanis. His eyes grew wide, but he said nothing.
“I think you should go so I can get to work.” Khalan stood taller and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
Miles swallowed and scurried around him to get to his car. He fumbled with the door handle on his Tesla before it opened. He slid inside and backed down the driveway. As he peeled off down the street, I let out a laugh.
Khalan looked at me.
“I can’t believe you said that.” Dizzy, I closed my eyes. I leaned against the wall of the garage and felt my knees buckle.
Khalan caught me before I hit the garage floor.
“Mom, where’s Daddy?” Arianna stood at the kitchen door, looking between Khalan and me.
I froze and stepped out of my Maker’s grasp.
“He had to go catch up on some work. He said he’ll come when he’s not so busy,” I lied.
Arianna’s gaze drifted over to Khalan. “You here to remove the giant penis?” she snarked.
“I think I already did.” Khalan faced her.
Gabby came bounding out of the door but stopped short when she saw Khalan. She looked up at Arianna.
“He’s the landscaper.” Arianna shrugged and walked back inside. “Looks like a homeless person to me,” she called out over her shoulder.
I would have to talk to her about her rudeness after I got some blood.
“You look more like a wizard to me.” Gabby’s eyes widened. “Can you do some magic?”
“Sometimes.” Khalan shrugged.
“Really? Can I see?” Gabby’s eyes widened with excitement.
“He’s just teasing, honey.” I shot Khalan a look.
Gabby’s face fell.
“Go on inside while I talk to Khalan…about the landscaping.”
“Fine. But if he decides to do some magic, you better call me. I don’t want to miss it.” Gabby sulked back into the house and shut the door.
“How long have you gone without blood?” He stepped closer to me and grabbed me by the arms.
“I went to get more cow’s blood, but there was an incident with some animal activists at Happy Acres Farm.” My eyes closed. My stomach erupted into a series of cramps so strong I doubled over.
“Cow’s blood? You’ve been drinking cow’s blood?” His words were mean, and I knew he was probably glaring at me.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t kill any of them. Just had the farmer draw some blood for me.” I forced my eyes open.
“And he did it? You do know that humans aren’t supposed to know that vampires exist, right?” His eyes narrowed into slits.
“I know. I’m not an idiot. I told him I was making blood sausage.”
“And he believed you?” Khalan rubbed the back of his neck.
“Yeah. I mean, Earl was loaning out his lambs for the Easter display last year. Next to a gyro truck nonetheless.” I glared. “I don’t think this guy thinks that far ahead about what’s appropriate.”
“It doesn’t matter. What have I told you about trying to survive on animal blood? It’s not strong enough. You need human blood.”
I bit my lip to keep from crying out from the pain. I didn’t want my girls to come running out into the garage and see me like this with a two-hundred-pound vampire looming over me.
I lifted my head after the agony had passed. “I know. You’re right.”
Khalan stood there like a statue.
“I guess it gives you pleasure to see me in agony.” I felt like I was dying. I probably was.
Khalan swung me up into his arms.
“What are you doing? The girls might see you.” I struggled to get the words out before I passed out from the pain.
Khalan opened the kitchen door and pressed the button to close the garage door.
“You can’t go inside. The girls can’t see you carrying me,” I pleaded.
Ignoring me, he stepped through the doorway.
“Mom?” I turned my head and saw Arianna’s horrified face before I fainted.
Chapter 33
I must have passed out, because the next thing I remembered, was the taste of something warm and delicious in my mouth.
Blood.
Not animal blood.
Human blood.
I opened my eyes. I was lying in bed with Khalan leaning over me. I was sucking on his neck. I tightened my hold around his shoulders and pulled him closer. It was quiet, and all I could hear was the heavy thud of his heartbeat.
This was the second time I’d taken his blood. The first time had been after I revealed to everyone what a liar and cheater Miles was. I had been so devastated that night. So raw and hurt and vulnerable.
Realization dawned. I shoved Khalan away and looked around.
“Where are the girls?”
“They are doing their homework.” Khalan shrugged. He stayed seated on the bed, his hands planted on either side of my body.
“Arianna saw you carrying me inside. To my bedroom!” My heart dropped. “Oh, God. They must think…”
“They think you are sick, and the landscaper/wizard carried you inside. After I laid you down on the bed, I glamoured them into doing their homework and forgetting that I was here.” He continued looking down at me.
“Stop doing that!” I slapped his arm.
“Stop doing what?” He leaned in closer. “Saving your life?”
“Stop glamouring my children.”
“Fine. I’ll unglamour them, and they’ll assume that we are in the bedroom having wild sex.” He started to stand. I grabbed his arm.
“Don’t you dare.” My gaze drifted to his neck. Blood dribbled from the wound there. “I don’t remember biting you.”
“You didn’t. I had to slice my neck for you to start sucking.” He looked at me from under his lashes.
Something dark and sensual stirred inside me.
I blinked. “Well, it’s still bleeding.”
“You need to lick it to make it stop.” His voice darkened.
I didn’t move.
“It’s okay. If you don’t, it will stop after a few hours.” He started to stand.
I grabbed his arm. “No. Wait.” I licked my lips and eased towards him. I was mere inches from his neck. I knew he had to feel my breath on his skin, yet he didn’t react.
Gently, I pressed my lips to his flesh. The coppery taste seeped into my mouth, and I moaned. I wanted to suck more of his sweet blood into my mouth.
I knew that was a dangerous thing to do.
My body heated with desire.
I knew it was bloodlust.
I swallowed and opened my mouth against his neck. He wasn’t as cold as I expected him to be for a vampire. In fact, he was almost warm.
My breathing became labored as I fought with myself not to continue drinking. I had to make the bleeding stop. It was the least I could do after he’d saved me. Again.
I brushed my tongue against the flesh on his neck, lapping up the blood and slowly closing the wound. I wrapped my hand around his neck and held him close as I licked.
I heard a moan. I wasn’t sure if it was Khalan or me. He didn’t bother moving, and I was too focused on licking the last traces of blood off his neck to really care.
The taste changed from copper to salt. Yet I knew I didn’t want to stop licking his neck.
My stomach warmed, and I tangled my fingers in his hair.
His hands went around my back. Suddenly, I felt the weight of his body on top of mine.
I moaned. Khalan rolled to the side, holding me close while his hand drifted down to cup
my butt.
“This is a very bad idea,” he ground out. He was breathing heavily yet he didn’t bother moving his hands off my ass.
“Yeah. A very bad idea.” I moaned against his neck and ground my pelvis against his erection.
He groaned again. His hands went up to cup my face. He pulled my lips away from his neck and stared at me.
His eyes were darkened with unspoken desire. “You don’t even like me.”
“Must be the bloodlust,” I said breathlessly.
“Mommy,” Gabby called from the other side of the closed door. I jerked up my head. What had I been thinking?
I jumped off Khalan and glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I reached for the door and stopped.
“Get off the bed,” I mouthed to him.
He smirked and crossed his feet and placed his hands behind his head.
I glared and turned back to the door.
“I’ll be out in a minute, Gabby,” I said.
I turned back to Khalan.
He was gone. I frowned and looked around. My gaze landed on the open window.
I opened the door. Gabby looked up at me.
“I’m hungry.”
“I was just coming out to fix dinner.” I smiled.
She followed me to the kitchen.
After taking Khalan’s blood, I felt amazing. Invincible, almost.
I went to the fridge and pulled out a bowl of berries that I had cut up for snacks for the girls.
“How about some fruit until I can get dinner ready?”
“Sounds good,” Arianna said from her perch at the kitchen island. She didn’t even bother looking up from her papers as she did her homework.
I set the bowl down between the two girls and pulled out some small plates. I scooped some berries onto each plate.
I watched as the girls continued snacking while working.
Were they going to say anything about Khalan? Or had he glamoured them into forgetting who he was?
“How was school?” I looked between the two.
“Good.” Gabby continued working.
“Okay,” Arianna said. She looked away for a brief moment before writing an answer down.
Warning bells went off.
