Page 26 of New Nebraska Home

“Were you really going to kill him?” I asked, needing to know what kind of man I let live under my house.

“Nah,” Malik said, looking back at me with a grin. “But I needed to make sure he wasn’t going to come back.”

“I think we accomplished that.” Brock laughed, still not letting me go. Both Callum and Malik looked at his arms around me with a loaded look. I couldn’t read them, but they both stared for a moment. It was making me uncomfortable.

“So next time, instead of sending an inexperienced kid, they will send someone much bigger, and a lot stronger?” I cut through the tension and shrugged Brock’s arms off of me. I instantly missed his touch.

“Let them,” Callum shrugged. Brock is the most powerful water elemental in this generation. I’m a master vampire. I am stronger and faster than any of them. And Malik is—”

He turned to Malik. “What are you?”

“Naked,” he said unapologetically as he left the kitchen and headed to his room.

“No, seriously,” Brock called after him. “I know you’re a shifter, but what kind?”

“The kind you don’t want to piss off.”

Callum

DON’T TRUST WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

After Malik left the kitchen, for a second, I considered dropping it—letting the shifter get away without answering our question. Then I saw the fear in Brock’s eyes. No one, not a master vampire, not any kind of elemental, no matter how strong they were, could withstand the blast that the kid gave and not even feel it. The kid was untrained, but that blast of power was full of fear and panic. It was a blast fueled by survival instincts, which meant it was pure magic and power.

I had even known a few fire children in my day; they were extremely powerful fire elementals that could do the most spectacular things with the flame. Even they would not have been able to withstand a blast that burned off their clothes without at least getting their eyebrows and any other body hair singed.

Unfortunately, thanks to that kid’s blast, I knew exactly how much body hair Malik had and all of it looked perfectly un-singed. Also, what creature could spit fire? I didn’t even know that was a thing. Judging by Brock’s gaze, he didn’t either.

Water elementals and fire elementals may have gotten along as well as vampires and wolves, but they knew enough. If Brock was worried, there was a reason to be.

So, I followed Malik into his room, where he was sliding on a pair of jeans. Still showing me far too much of his body. There was only one man’s ass I wanted to admire, and it wasn’t Malik’s.

“Can I help you?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Yeah,” I said. “I need to know what you are.”

“I’m annoyed at having my privacy invaded.” He turned and rolled his eyes, and I had to stop my fangs from coming out in a sign of aggression. I didn’t want to exacerbate the situation, but he was so fucking aggravating. The worst time to piss off a vampire was when he was hungry, and my reserves were depleted before that little criminal threw his brick.

“What are you?” I asked again.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He tried giving me a shit-eating grin as Liz came into the doorway and stood next to me.

“Then show me.” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the door. I wasn’t about to go anywhere, and he needed to know that.

“Come on,” Liz said, putting her hand on my arm. The hunger receded. It was the oddest thing. My fangs still itched to come out and to sink into her throat, but it wasn’t a necessity, it was a yearning. “Give the man his space. He pays for this room just like you and Brock pay for the basement.”

“That’s right, listen to our landlady. This is my personal space, so kindly fuck off.”

“No, not until I know what you are. How do I know you aren’t with whoever is harassing Liz?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” He asked, tossing the shirt that was in his hands on the bed. Turning to face me directly and puffing out his chest. He was squaring me up and although I had no intentions of starting a physical altercation, I would end one.

“Nope.”

“Guys, please?” Liz asked, the exasperated voice of reason.

“Fuck, okay. I’ll shift and prove that I am far more capable of taking care of her and protecting her than you ever will be.” He unbuttoned his jeans and kicked them back to the floor, completely nude again. Was this really necessary?

“I should—” Liz said, looking at the floor.

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