Page 60 of Craving Her Vampire

“Oh, Micah,” I whisper, grasping his neck.

“You need to prepare,” he advises. “Seeing Maddy lifeless was devastating.”

“Okay, I will prepare,” I agree, but how can I prepare for something like that?

“I also don’t want to complete the bond for any other reason than it’s what we both want. It may be hard for you to control your new body and urges. That will take time. You need to be in control when going into a situation you are unsure of. Turner isworking with someone or for someone. We don’t know who or how many are involved. This may be an isolated incident. Maybe this is the first and only time he sold someone or kidnapped someone, but we both know that can’t be true. The pack said as much.” He scoops me up and onto his lap. “I know you can take care of yourself, but now you don’t have to do it alone. You have me, and you have my friends. I need to call Heath. Having him close would be good. He is strong enough to control almost anyone, and possibly me, if things go to shit.”

“Thank you,” I breathe, hugging him tight. “Your belief in me means everything.” I was prepared for his refusal. I hate the thought of something happening to him, so I understand his stipulations.

“You don’t need to thank me, love,” he says. He buries his hand in my hair, holding me close. “Are you ready to face them?”

“Yes.” I ease back, and he helps me stand. He joins me, and his palm rests on the small part of my back. I feel no embarrassment as we leave the office and walk down the hallway. I’m ready to face all the humor-filled faces when we round the corner to the balcony room, but the room is almost empty. Ryker and Serenity are still on the couch. Ryker’s feet are hanging off the end of the seat, his head resting on his mate's lap, Serenity’s hand running through his hair.

Quinn is on the opposite side, and Steph sits on his lap. The quiet conversation stops when we step into the room.

“Better?” Ryker asks, turning his head with a lifted eyebrow.

“Much,” Micah says.

“My office is off limits from now on,” Ryker says. “Is there a specific area I should clean?”

“Guess,” Micah grins. I roll my lips to stifle my laughter.

“Asshole,” Ryker sneers, but his twitching lips ruin the effect.

Micah sits beside Quinn and pulls me to his side. “Why did you stay?”

“It’s my club, my office, and this is our date night,” Ryker responds.

“It was difficult enough getting him out of the house. I’m taking advantage,” Serenity says.

“Our girl is going to miss us,” Ryker pouts.

“She won’t,” she says. “We haven’t left her side since she was born. She’s tired of us.”

“Bullshit,” Ryker mutters, and Serenity pulls on his hair. The fierce vampire looks up at her, his eyes filled with heat.

“We stayed because I have information,” Quinn says.

“What is it?” Micah asks.

“Shade, a contact I work with, has been looking at Turner’s past. He is a genius at finding information long buried. Turner tried to stay under the radar, but no one can erase every step they take. They found some interesting things,” he says, and I lean forward to look at him. “Did you know Turner had a sister?”

“What? No,” I gasp. He’s never spoken about his family, so I assumed he had none. “Why wouldn’t she be in the pack?”

“Because she died. They didn’t cover it up well. We found old records of her birth,” he says.

“Shifter births aren’t usually recorded,” Micah says.

“Not with the humans, but we know a shifter doctor who has been around awhile. He did some digging.” He looks at me seriously. “She would be the same age as you are.”

“You think Daisy is the sister?” Micah asks, and my stomach turns.

“No. We know that isn’t true. I’m saying, he was using you as a replacement.”

“Why? He treated me like shit.” My mind is racing.

“True. But he could have killed you many times and didn’t. I think he was torn between the memory of her and the reality of you.” Steph puts her hand on Quinn’s, but her sympathetic expression is locked on me.

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