Page 34 of Happily Undead in Dark River

Chapter Eighteen

Ilay in bed with Tex, Brody in the living room keeping watch. There was a bandaid on the shell of my ear, though the bleeding had now slowed to a mere dribble.

“Do I have ‘kill me’ tattooed somewhere on my body?” I asked Tex. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, and I could see it peek through the curtains.

Tex wrapped me in his arms. “I don’t know, Raine. I’m blind, remember? I can tell you it isn't there in Braille if that helps?”

I slapped his arm, huffing out a laugh. Smartass. Tex had wanted to call Judge, but I’d stopped him. Judge was needed in Dark River right now. I could deal with a bow and arrow wielding hitman.

Brody strode into the room, his body still tense. “Can you guys come out here for a second? I’d like you to meet someone.”

I slid out of bed, pulling on one of Brody’s shirts and a pair of shorts. Tex didn’t put on a shirt, and his sweats were hanging low on his hips. I ate him with my eyes; the sharp V of his obliques, the art that was inked all over his torso, his beautiful pale skin. “Damn, you are just so beautiful,” I whispered to him, and he gave me that half-grin that melted my heart every time. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his chest.

He kissed the top of my head. “You’re the beautiful one. I love you.”

I kind of wanted to cry. Did vampires PMS? Maybe it was the nearly dying thing. Again.

I led Tex from Brody’s room and out into the living room. Standing near the window were two women, both tall and regal, their coloring the same as Brody. One was grinning, and the other had a slight frown on her face.

Brody came over and kissed me softly. “I like you in my shirts. I’m hiding all your clothes until we go home.”

Normally, I would have said something wildly inappropriate, but not in front of strangers. So instead, I grinned and waved him away.

“Raine, this is my sister Kelly,” he pointed to the tall, frowning one. Then he pointed to the shorter, yet still way taller than me, grinning one. “And that’s my cousin Annie.”

I gave them a little wave. “Uh, hi. Sorry, I’m not… I’d normally would have, you know.” I generally indicated my outfit.

Annie just smiled more. “It’s all good. It’s your bedtime, right? I’m just glad you’re dressed at all. Though I probably wouldn’t have complained if Tex had come out naked. Your mate is hot. Like capital H-O-T.”

Kelly reached out and gripped her cousin's shoulder. “Could you at least pretend you were born with good sense? Don’t tell the nice vampire that you think her Mate is hot. She might make you her midnight snack, and quite frankly I wouldn't stop her because you can’t fix stupid.”

Annie pouted. “Just because she's a vampire, doesn’t mean she’s going to eat me because I think her Mate is hot. She’s not a killing machine, Kelly.”

My head moved back and forth between them. “Uh, thank you? And it’s okay. I know he’s hot. I’m not that territorial.” I looked to Brody for help, but the bastard was just grinning. It was nice to see the smile back on his face.

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his body. “They are here as your guards until I can get the whole arrow thing sorted out. You won’t even know they are here.” He paused. “Well, you won’t know Kelly is here. Annie talks too much for stealth.”

The shapeshifter in question flipped him the bird.

I hesitated. “I can take care of myself, Brody. And Tex is here as well. I don’t need babysitters,” I said softly, looking at the two women. “No offense.”

Kelly shrugged. “I told him you’d say that. No one wants to be treated like a damsel in distress, especially not a Death Dealer. Let’s face it, if you got it into your head to do so, you could take out me, Annie and the majority of this block in like five minutes.”

I stared at her. Did she have the same opinions as her mother? Had Brody inadvertently put someone who wants to assassinate me on the doorstep?

As if she could read my mind, Kelly shook her head. “I’m not like our mother. I know you’re dangerous, but I don’t think you are a mindless killing machine, Raine. Besides, Mom’s protests are only a little bit to do with the danger you pose to the Pack and everything to do with you and Brody being–”

“Kelly,” Brody bit out, and her mouth snapped shut. “They’ll only be here for a little bit. I’ve called a town meeting, again. I try not to pull the Alpha card, but apparently, there are members of my Pack that have forgotten who is in charge.”

“Brody…” I didn’t want him doing any damage to his relationship with his Pack because of me. I’d be gone in a couple of weeks, but he was Alpha of this town for the rest of his life.

He kissed my temple. “It’s fine, Rainey. Go back to bed, wrap yourself in the safety of the Pup’s arms, and I’ll be back before you know it.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you,” he whispered. “One inch to the left last night, and you would have been dead. I would have lost you forever. Someone in my Pack tried to take you from me, and I won’t have it.”

I sighed. “Okay. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret later,” I whispered back against his lips.

He nodded and looked over his shoulder at Kelly and Annie. “Protect her.” The ‘or else’ was subliminal. Kelly nodded once, and Annie gave him a snappy salute and a grin.

The front door closed softly then a tiger was strolling down the street. Annie was watching him leave too. “Oh, he’s going as the tiger. They’re going to be in trouble tonight,” she crowed, but she didn’t seem overly worried. Kelly nudged her with her shoulder. Annie rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll take the front.”

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