Page 52 of Pleasantly Undead in Dark River

X turned toward me, his eyebrow cocked but he didn’t protest. Even Lucius seemed more amused than appalled. Did he want to kiss X? I didn’t blame him. X oozed his sexuality like a wound. Lucius stepped closer, his eyes on X’s lips. He leaned forward, their lips so close.

“Lucius stop,” I whispered, and he halted, a mere whisper away from X’s.

Nico raised both eyebrows, shaking his head in disbelief. “It's unheard of for one so young to have such power. Usually it takes several centuries. Walker doesn’t even have his abilities yet.”

Lucius was still perched there, inches from X’s mouth. X leaned forward and ran his tongue along Lucius’ bottom lip, nipping it with a fang. Then he pulled back and grinned at the deadly vampire.

“Er, Lucius unstop?”

Lucius rocked back on his heels, giving both me and X a hot look. “I look forward to holding up my end of last night's bargain.”

Then he was gone. Always with the dramatic exits.

Nico sighed and shook his head. “Let’s get back. I will have to tell the Town Council. And the rest of our family will be worried.”

Even as he spoke, the bruises and cuts that littered his body healed, much faster than mine or X’s. It was like he was just regenerating. Benefits of being an ancient I guess, your mind deteriorated but your body decided it was now indestructible. The irony was real.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Iunderstood what a waning crescent moon meant now. It was the one that looked like a sickle, so thin that it was barely there in the sky, looking like Death’s Scythe. With it, Alexander returned.

He’d looked so confused when he knocked on my front door, it had almost been funny. “Raine. Why does it smell like three infant wolf pups in here?”

I shrugged. “So I adopted kids while you were gone?”

“I’ve only been gone two weeks.”

Brody stepped up behind me, reaching out to shake Alexander's hand again. “That’s the way it is with Raine. Be prepared for the unexpected. It's good to see you, Sir,” he said, nodding respectfully.

I stepped back so Alexander could walk in. “You too, Alpha. Where is my grandson?”

“Out back playing with your, uh, great grandkids?” The last word was barely a squeak when it passed my lips, and I don’t know who looked more incredulous, Alexander or Brody. Either way it was hilarious. As I walked him out I filled him in on how the pups came to be here, the underground shifter market, Lucius destroying the fight ring to retrieve Christopher. With each sentence, Alexander got angrier and angrier. He said some not very nice things in Russian before he stopped and shook his shoulders, visibly calming himself.

“Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I believe, perhaps, I am indebted to the vampires for this. I am glad that the pups have found a home with you, but if you wish, I can find them a safe home with a wolf pack I trust.”

I was shaking my head before he’d even finished. Christopher said no packs, no family, and I would trust his wishes, at least until they were older.

I looked at Brody, but his jaw was set in a stubborn line too. “The pups are fine with us. We are quite taken with them even after this small amount of time.”

Alexander inclined his head. “So be it. Take me to meet my great grandchildren.” I didn’t say maybe-great grandchildren; tonight would reveal if that was the truth or not. Tex’s words about how lonely he was echoed around my head.

I reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him before he stepped outside. I nodded my chin, indicating that Brody should continue on. “Alexander, I just wanted to say that no matter what tonight's ritual says, you are still welcome here. I know Tex was a bit of a shithead about it at the beginning, but we’ve all enjoyed having you here. Even if Tex isn’t your grandson, I’m sure the pups would still like a great grandfather, and none of us can provide that.”

Alexander swallowed hard, giving me a quick nod. “I thank you, Raine. My grandson picked you well. I will perhaps take you up on that offer, if my gut is wrong about Tex being my grandson. But my gut is rarely ever wrong.”

I grinned. “I hope not for both of our sakes.”

“Now it is time for me to return the favor. I got a call from a Bear Alpha in the US. He undertakes some less than savory work for me sometimes. They said they heard through the grapevine that The Collector has put a bounty on the head of the new succubus, and that there is an extra reward for the destruction of her mates. I do not believe in coincidences of this magnitude, Raine.”

I felt ill. Neither did I.

Maybe The Collector was Kevin? It would explain the bounty for my mates, considering we hadn’t kept it a secret that the powerful twins were my mates in the hope of keeping other suitors away. Could this problem already be dealt with?

The burning ball of acid in my gut told me I wasn't that lucky.

Alexander slapped me on the back. “Do not panic, Raine Baxter. In your extremely short second life, you have managed to amass some powerful friends, myself included. You can call on me if you need me.”

I gave him a tight smile, but I didn’t feel any better. “Thank you, Sir. Now go and see the pups. They are seriously cute.”

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