Page 63 of Fanged Temptation

I was still reeling from what I had witnessed out there in the rain. I knew they were vampires, and I had thought that meant pointed fangs, pale skin, and a penchant for drinking fresh blood. What I hadn’t expected was their alternate forms—giant, sinewy creatures with massive bat wings, all folding neatly back into their skin once the battle was over.

My fingers still trembled slightly at the memory, and Maxine noticed. She lifted my hand to her chest and pressed it there. “We only shift when it’s absolutely necessary. Trust me, I’ve got zero intention of scaring your grandfather into an early grave.”

“Well… good.” I swallowed and forced a small, teasing smile. “Because I’m honestly not sure how I’d explain that all my new friends are giant bat creatures.”

“The anatomy is actually super interesting!” Addison chimed in, nudging at her fiancée. “Hunter lets me run tests on her sometimes, and it’s fascinating. Even their bone density changes when they shift.”

“I am naught but a lab rat to you,” Hunter lamented, touching an overly dramatic hand to her forehead.

I had to snort at the visual—Addison taking meticulous notes while Hunter lay sprawled in some monstrous, half-transformed state. But the laughter died quickly in my throat and a pang of guilt twisted inside me.

I hated lying to my grandfather, but I didn’t want him seeing anything that would terrify him. It was hard enough accepting the existence of vampires myself, back when Maxine’s family had turned up on my doorstep. They had scared the shit out of me, and I wasstillgetting used to the idea of the supernatural world. I didn’t want that for him.

Maxine noticed my change in expression and she sighed. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not easy, having to keep secrets like this.”

“It’s all right.” I stepped closer, leaning into her shoulder and breathing in her scent. “It’s for the best, I know that. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”

“By the way,” Dylan interrupted—a rarity in her case, I’d come to learn. “Maxine, youdidn’tshift throughout that entire ordeal with Gregor. Why?”

Maxine glanced up, stark clarity in her eyes. “I didn’t need to. I was strong enough to beat him without it.”

“Yeah, about that.” Jordan folded her arms, raising a brow. “Exactly how long have you been holding out on us? Since when have you been able to dish out a beating like that?”

Maxine shrugged, color in her cheeks. “I’ve been, uh… training on the side. For a long time now. Believe me, I didn’t know I had it in me either.”

Sky shook her head, mildly baffled. “You pulled all of that off without a monstrous shift, that takes some serious skill.”

Dylan looked like she had something to say but couldn’t quite force the words out.

Maxine noticed immediately and batted her eyes at the other vamp. “Yes, Dylan?”

Dylan bristled, glancing away with a scowl. But then she sighed, hung her head, and mumbled, “Just… Show me your routine sometime? I’d like to see how you’re building up that kind of power.”

That had Maxine grinning gleefully, with all the scheming satisfaction of the Cheshire Cat. “Are you saying you wantmyassistance? Dylan, I’m flattered.”

The other vamp rolled her eyes, throwing up her palms like she was done with the conversation.

River hovered a little apart from the rest, sporting an unmistakably smug grin. “I’ve known you could do it for a while,” she said. “Just needed to believe in yourself or whatever.Now look at you—taking down an ancient vampire with your bare hands.”

She clasped her own hands under her chin like a proud school teacher whose student had finally aced a test.

A chorus of light chuckles rippled around the group and Maxine’s cheeks flushed even deeper, though she tried to hide it by glancing down at my hand entwined with hers. I brushed my thumb against her knuckles, pride swelling in my chest.

We were interrupted just then by the rumble of an engine and a sleek silver convertible pulling up outside. I glanced at Maxine, heart leaping into my throat, before mustering up the nerve to step outside and greet my grandfather.

The rain had eased into a faint drizzle and I approached the sidewalk, where the convertible had just ground to a halt at the curb. The car door opened and a familiar old man climbed out, clad in an ancient hand-knitted sweater, patched elbows and all.

As soon as his gaze found me my grandfather hurried forward, faster than I’d ever seen him move.

“Leah!” Before I could get a word in, he wrapped me in a tight embrace, hands patting my back as though checking for damage. “Are you all right, dear? I came as soon as I heard!”

I cringed inwardly, guilt biting at my insides. “I’m fine, Grandpa,” I assured him, though my tone came out more squeaky than sorry. “Really, I just—it was more of a sniffle. We, uh, might’ve overreacted a little bit.”

Over his shoulder, I spotted Amara stepping out of the vehicle. My eyes widened a fraction. She looked much better than the last time I’d seen her. She looked sturdier, stronger, though somehow… different.

An odd hush fell over the gathered Leyore women behind me, and then I understood.

I sensed them all quietly absorbing the realization that Amara was now a fully-turned vampire. I could practically feeltheir curiosity crackling in the air. Questioning eyes flickered to Dylan, but no one said a word in front of my grandfather.

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