Bound by Blood Box Set

by Lane Hart

"A fat yellow and white tiger striped cat. He transformed to hide from the D.R.A., then he couldn’t turn himself back because the counter-spell wouldn't work with his cat blood."

  "Why didn't he just use holy water?" Jason asks.

  Sam meets his eyes in the rearview mirror. "That works?"

  "It does for all of mine, except for one," Jason says with a shrug.

  "Son of a bitch. Where do you get holy water?"

  "Most Catholic churches have a basin full of the shit right inside the front door. But can you even enter a church without bursting into flames?" Jason asks with a smirk.

  "Yes, I can enter a church. You're the one with devil's blood that requires holy water to dispel your magic. I'm not evil, I just have super awesome blood. And have to drink more now and then."

  "Devil's blood?" Ryan gasps.

  "It's just a myth," Sam tells him, but Jason looks away and out the window. I wonder if he thinks that’s true.

  We pull up and park in Sam and Kate’s the driveway and climb out to head into their house.

  "Ryan wait," Sam calls out to the boy who's starting up the sidewalk. "You two go on in and talk to Kate about her blood, and ask her if…um, if she feels strange," he says to me and Jason. We nod understanding.

  As soon as we walk in Kate jumps up from the couch. "Is Sam with you? I saw our car," she asks looking hopeful.

  "Yes, but he's waiting with Ryan. He wanted us to ask if you felt strange," I tell her.

  "Strange? What does he mean…oh. Ah, no, I haven't felt anything…strange."

  "That's good. Ryan's only thirteen and Sebastian wants him to stay here with you all while we're gone to Atlanta," Jason explains to her.

  "The warlocks are going to Atlanta? Why?" Joselin asks, coming into the living room drying her hands with a dish towel.

  "The D.R.A. has a holding facility there where they've been keeping supes, doing tests, research, who knows what to them. We're going to bust them out and burn it down," Jason tells the women.

  Kate covers her mouth. "That's where they were going to take Sam if we hadn't saved him."

  "Yeah, apparently they haven't been executing for a few years."

  "Tom said to tell you both he'd be over to say goodbye before we leave at midnight. He stayed behind in case they needed him to run out for supplies for my spells."

  "Wait, Tom's going with the warlocks?" Joselin asks, looking ill.

  "Oh God. Sam is too, isn't he?" Kate asks, her face paling.

  "Yeah, they're both going," Jason responds.

  "Tonight at midnight?" Kate inquires, her voice trembling.

  "Yeah. And we need your help. You don't have to do it, but Kate, if we could use your blood for the spells, Sebastian said they'd work a helluva lot better," Jason told her.

  "You can have however much you need," she says.

  "Just a head's up before he comes in, Ryan is Chris's thirteen-year-old son," Jason warns the two women.

  Kate squeaks. "You're kidding! Chris wasn't that old…"

  "He was just a teenager when he knocked up Ryan's teenage mother. She gave him up when he was a baby," Jason explains.

  "Oh no, that's terrible," Kate says, then she gasps. "He’s-he's Madison's brother?"

  "Half-brother, yeah."

  "This has been the craziest day. I don't know how much more I can take. And now my dad and Sam are leaving to wage a crazy dangerous war with the D.R.A?"

  "I don't like it either, but at least Tom's immortal now. It'll take a hell of a lot to hurt him or Sam," Joselin tells her with a hug.

  "Let me go ahead and get some blood from you, because I know Sam wants to talk to you before he leaves," Jason tells Kate, heading to the bathroom with the tackle box.

  "He's going to talk to me?" Kate asks as she follows behind him.

  "Yeah, of course," he says. "He used one of those stress balls to calm down. It just happened to be a big one made out of steel."

  "Did you find everything you need at the house?" Joselin asks me when it’s just the two of us sitting in the living room with Max between us.

  "Yes, thank you so much for letting us stay, and for the clothes."

  "Oh, you're welcome. I guess we can all head over there to wait after the men leave. There's a crib for Madison in our house too, and we could all probably use some stress reduction in the hot tub."

  "God yes. That sounds amazing."

  Sam sticks his head in the front door and looks around. "Are we good?" he asks. After we nod, he brings Ryan in. The boy looks around somewhat nervously before sitting on the loveseat across from us.

  Kate and Jason finish up and return to the living room a few minutes later. Kate's eyes go straight to Sam, giving him a look that says he’s in trouble.

  "Ryan, this is Kate," Jason says, pulling her gaze from her husband. The boy stands up and steps towards her before Sam moves in between them.

  "Are you still okay?" Sam asks Kate and she nods, avoiding his eyes to reach around and shake Ryan's hand.

  "Nice to meet you Ryan. I'm, ah, sorry about your father," she says.

  "Do you know what happened to him?" he asks, and Kate’s eyes cut to Sam's.

  "He died in a car wreck several months ago," Sam answers quickly.

  "Oh. And, your daughter is my half-sister?" Ryan asks.

  "Yeah, Madison is only about two months old. She's sleeping but should be up soon," Kate tells him with a small smile.

  "What was my dad like?"

  Kate glances at Sam and then back to the boy. "Well, he was very handsome. And you have his dark hair and blue eyes."

  "Oh. I've always wondered what he looked like. I hate I didn't get to ever meet him," he says sadly.

  "I'm sorry Ryan. But at least you have a sister," Kate offers.

  "Yeah, that is pretty cool."

  Kate gives him another smiles before turning to Sam. "So you decided to go to Atlanta without even talking to me about it first?" she asks, and his eyes widen before he squirms under her scornful look. He'd just done the same thing he was pissed at her about.

  "Can we maybe go talk in the back?" he asks, looking at his shoes like a boy being scolded.

  Kate nods and turns to Joselin. "Can you listen for Madison?"

  "Sure. Take all the time you need," she says, shooing them away with her hand.

  "I better get back to the worthless warlocks and finish the spells," Jason says with a sigh.

  "Take my car," Joselin offers, standing up to give him a set of keys.

  "Thanks, Joselin. Walk me out?" he asks me, and of course I follow him, my stomach in knots of worry before he even leaves town.

  As soon as we’re outside he’s on me, arms pulling me close as his mouth covers mine. It’s a bittersweet kiss, knowing he’s leaving. After a few minutes he pulls away panting, resting his forehead against mine.

  "I really don't want to leave you," he says.

  "I know. But this is important. You could save some innocent people."

  "And kill some not so innocent ones,” he says bitterly. “But this is a war that they started. All our kind have an automatic death sentence, and no standing, no voice to even plead…but you understand everything now. I’ll only do what I have to do.”

  "I'm going to try and forget about that part," I mutter.

  "Probably best. I don't want you to see me as a monster. It’s bad enough that you know the blood of the devil runs through my veins." He tries to pull away, put I wrap my arms around his neck even tighter, looking up into his turquoise eyes.

  "Jason, that’s preposterous. I’d never think any such thing. You’re too good. Too kind. I love you no matter what," I assure him.

  "Good,” he says on an exhale, brushing his lips over mine when I feel his body relax. “I love you too. I'll call you whenever I can, okay?"

  "Okay. Be careful, even if you are invincible. I'd rather you not test that too much."

  He laughs. "I won't. Bye, Cyn."

  "Bye, Jason," I say, before he gets into Joselin's
Mustang and pulls away.

  When I walk back into the house I hear loud, arguing voices from the back of the house, making Joselin wince.

  "They're going to wake up Madison. She'll be so upset, she's never heard them like that before," she says

  I nod and try to distract Ryan. "So, Ryan, how long have you been with Sebastian and the other guys?" I ask as he rubs Max who's moved in and sacked out beside him.

  "A few weeks," he replies and then laughs. "He stole me from the orphanage, but I didn't really mind."

  "How long had you been at the orphanage?" Joselin asks.

  Ryan shrugs his small shoulders. "Since I was born. One of the workers named me."

  Joselin looks appalled that someone could give up their baby.

  "I always wanted to adopt, but I couldn't steal babies, and I thought they deserved more than my life as a vampire, with no stable father," she explains to me. "All my husbands were older men that didn't want children. So I donated money instead, making sure the orphanages nearby had everything they needed, but the closest one to Greensboro was a few hours away in Oxford."

  "That's where I lived!" Ryan says enthusiastically. "It wasn't a bad place. The teachers were all nice and we even got Christmas and birthday presents every year. They had a swimming pool and a huge playground and a game room."

  Joselin nods and wipes at her eyes, both our hearts breaking for the boy. Ryan told us more stories about growing up in the orphanage until the baby monitor lit up.

  "Looks like Madison's awake. You guys want to help get her?" Joselin asks.

  "Sure."

  We both follow her down the hallway to the nursery. I try to ignore the intense conversation coming from the door directly across the hall. Sam says something about Kate shouldn't have married him since he can't give her children, and she didn't care about his opinion, followed by her tearful words that she loves him and only wants to have children with him, but she doesn't want to lose him for it.

  "Maddie, good morning sleepyhead," Joselin says sweetly and melodically when we open the door. Madison is cooing in her crib when we lean over. She looks up and even smiles back at us. Joselin scoops her up and gives her a kiss on her little pink cheek before putting her on the changing table and switching out her tiny diaper. After swaddling her up in a receiving blanket, we return to the living room where Joselin asks Ryan if he wants to hold his sister.

  He looks nervously down the hall, then back to her. "You sure that's okay with the um, vampire?" he asks.

  "Of course. Here, sit at the end of the couch and prop your elbow on the armrest. There, now wrap your other arm around her like this. Nothing to it," she says, stepping back and leaving Madison in his arms. "Aw, that's so sweet. Can I take your picture?" she asks him. He smiles and nods. With her cell phone Joselin takes a few shots of the two siblings that are so cute together. I can even see some resemblance in their features and dark hair.

  "Have you got her while I fix a bottle?" Joselin asks.

  "Yeah. She's not even crying," Ryan replies in awe.

  "You're a natural big brother," I tell him, then wonder if he has other siblings out in the world.

  "It's pretty cool to know I have someone related to me. Even if she does have her own family," he says it as a matter of fact, but it’s so sad to hear.

  I look up and see Joselin wipe her eyes again in the kitchen before she comes back with a bottle, letting Ryan feed it to Madison. While she’s eating, new sounds that are anything but angry filter into the living room from the back bedroom. Joselin jumps up to turn on the TV to some cartoons, and hikes up the volume.

  "Thank God they're making up," she mutters softly.

  By the time Tom came over around ten that night, Kate and Sam still hadn't emerged from their room. Luckily Ryan had fallen asleep on the couch, and Madison had been put to bed. Tom and Joselin went into the spare bedroom to get their goodbye out of the way. All the loving going on in the house only made me miss Jason even more. God, that man is amazing. I've never felt for anyone the way I feel about him. It’s all so new but comfortable, easy and incredibly intense. Like we’ve known each other forever.

  A few minutes before midnight I see Sam and Kate head into Madison's room, where I guess he tells her goodbye while she sleeps. They both looked happy again when they came into the living room. Sam’s carrying a backpack on his shoulder, ready to go, and when Tom and Joselin came out they all hug each other and say their goodbyes.

  "So, we talked about it, and if the two of you want a baby, then we're in," Sam tells Tom and Joselin, his arm lovingly around Kate.

  "Really?" Joselin asks with a huge smile.

  "Really," Kate tells her with a grin.

  "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise we'll love your daughter more than anything," Joselin sobs as she throws her arms around them, and then Tom.

  "Thank you both for doing this," Tom tells them.

  "She'll be one lucky little girl to have you both," Kate responds.

  A horn honks, interrupting the moment and making Sam groan. "That bastard better watch it," he grumbles before kissing Kate again. "I love you baby, and we'll talk more when I get back."

  "Okay. I love you too. Be careful," Kate tells him.

  "Bye Joselin. I love you. Love you too Kate. We'll be calling and checking in," Tom says, and then they head for the big white bus parked outside at the curb.

  Jason’s waiting with a smile at the steps of the bus. He hugs me again while Tom and Sam climb on board, and after a quick kiss he follows them up. Kate, Joselin and I then watch as the men we love pull away.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jason

  I have a bad feeling about this trip, but it isn't like we can call it off. We have a shit load of powerful spells, great intel, and two vampires. Both of whom are in much better spirits.

  "Kate and I have decided we want Joselin and Tom to have one of your witch babies," Sam tells the group, which explains his improved mood.

  "Ah, good for Seth. Although, I knew you'd come around," Sebastian says.

  "So how does it work?" Tom asks.

  "We'll have an obstetrician extract eggs from Kate, one of us will provide the sperm donation to fertilize it, and then if what I've been told is accurate, Joselin can receive the implantation and carry to term."

  "You're joking? How is that possible?" Tom asks.

  "Like I said, if what I've heard from the European vampires is correct, female vamps can't reproduce because their bodies stop the menstrual cycle to preserve their already low, but very important blood supply. That's why vamps can't reproduce. After the genetic mutation, vampires can only reproduce with vampires. Male vamps still have good sperm, but can't reproduce with humans, or in Sam's case a witch, because it's impossible. It'd be like a shark trying to mate with a dog. The female vamps prevent reproduction between the two from occurring. That doesn't mean a female vampire doesn't have all the other equipment necessary to carry a baby once it's inserted into her uterus. But we'll need an expert to do some tests and confirm that's all accurate, so don't get your hopes up. Or hers," Sebastian explains.

  "Wow, if that works, she'll be so happy. But I won't mention it to her until we know more," Tom says.

  "At least we know an obstetrician," Sam tells him.

  "You do?" Sebastian asks.

  "Yeah, the one that delivered Madison."

  "That's great. Saves us a lot of trouble."

  "So who'll be the father?" Sam asks with a clenched jaw.

  "Any of us will do, except Seth. Up to the four of you."

  "And you're all okay with giving us your child?" Tom asks.

  "Yes. We just want to save witches from extinction. And once we each have our witch mates, we can conceive our own witch babies to raise ourselves, and our kind will continue to grow," Sebastian explains.

  "And you still think Madison will be yours?" Sam asks, crossing his arms over his chest as he stares down the warlock.

  "No," Sebastian responds coolly.
"I know she will be."

  "If she doesn't like you or want you, then you can forget it," Sam warns.

  "She will want me, before her nineteenth birthday. I promise you that."

  "Is that really so hard to believe, Sam? Elizabeth knew you'd end up with Kate before she was born, and that I'd end up with Joselin nineteen years before it happened," Tom tells Sam.

  "She did?" I ask, stunned. I knew Liz had premonitions, even though I didn't believe her at the time.

  "Yeah. She'd dreamed of it and told me when she was…the night Kate was born," Tom replies.

  "I always wondered if she let herself get pregnant because she saw the premonition," I tell him.

  "Self-fulfilling prophecy?" Tom asks with a chuckle. "I guess it's possible, but she'd dreamed of me before we met, and about your mother's accident. Either way, Elizabeth and I wanted a family together and thought Kate was just the beginning.”

  “Now you’ll have a family with your vampire,” Sebastian says.

  “So, if Ryan asks any of you, I told him Chris died in a car wreck. I thought that was better than telling him Chris stalked and kidnapped Kate at gunpoint and was in the process of raping her when Tom blew his head off,” Sam explains to us.

  “Damn,” Seth mutters, and we’re all silent, probably thinking the same thing. “You don’t think…” he starts.

  “That Ryan’s going to turn out to be as fucked up as his father?” Sam finishes, sounding concerned. Probably because he worries about Madison getting the insane gene from her father too.

  “Ryan won’t be anything like his father, and neither will Madison. You think I’d marry her if she was?” Sebastian scoffs.

  I hear Sam sigh in the darkness. “Thank fuck.”

  “So why don’t we all try and get some sleep. In the morning we can finalize plans before we get to Georgia. Four take the bunks for six hours, switch out for the next six, then we’ll get to work.”

  I pull out my phone and text Cyn. “Still awake?” I ask. When she responds immediately that she is, I pass on the first sleep shift. She said she can’t sleep and wants to text with me so I start asking her questions about herself. Things I should know about the woman I love, like her favorite color, her favorite food, what she did for fun before she had an abusive ex. The next few hours fly by as we talk. Sam and Tom seem to stay on their phones the whole time too, and like me they smile randomly at things their women send. Finally we give in and try to sleep a few hours. It’s harder than I expected it to be, trying to sleep in the same bunk where Cyn and I had spent days together. I miss having her with me.