Page 33 of Colin

Theyweren’this vampire boyfriends. They were temporary roommates who sometimes drank his blood and maybe also occasionally made him come sometimes. Colin was grown enough to know the difference.

Cynical enough to know the difference, said something that sounded suspiciously like his dad’s voice in his head.

Whatever. Colin wasn’t cynical. He was realistic. He couldn’t keep the interest of onehumanboyfriend, let alone two vampire ones. Plus, the two of them were already bonded. They weren’t waiting for any legendary fated mate to cross their paths, and they were objectively hot enough to get whatever human they wanted, especially if they deigned to focus the intensity of their rarely shown charm on someone.

Colin was easy because he was there. Because he’d insisted on being there. It wasn’t anything more than that.

They were almost back to the house when it happened.

The twins were barely a step behind him—no matter what their intentions, they liked to crowd him, that was for sure—and Colin could feel a distinct change in their energy, practically a tangible thing.

He turned to see them standing in place, muscles held stiff. “What’s wrong?”

“We scented something,” Dane answered. The twins looked to each other then, communicating silently, and then Dane gave a single, sharp nod. “I’ll go.”

Fox opened his mouth as if to protest, and Dane laid a hand on his arm, stopping him.

Colin realized right then how rare it was to see the brothers touch.

“It’s my turn,” Dane said softly, lifting his hand after a moment. And then he was just…off, already around the corner before Colin could fully process what had just happened.

Colin turned to Fox, brows raised.

“Vampire thing,” Fox grumbled, pushing him forward in the direction of the house with a hand on his lower back.

“You think that’s enough of an answer for me?”

“Obviously not, inquisitive motherfucker that you are,” Fox said with a mirthless chuckle. “But let’s get you inside first.”

Colin wasn’t going to argue. Not when it was, as his father had put it, hot as Hades outside. There was a mugginess to the air that promised a monsoon downpour later, but for now it only made the heat that much more unbearable.

He breathed an audible sigh of relief when he made it into the house, the full force of the air-conditioning hitting him. This was why he was a modern guy through and through. Fuck the days when he would have to cool off with some sorry excuse for a fan. He needed full technology to deal with a Tucson summer.

“Okay, shoot,” he ordered, making his way into the living room, collecting the empty chip bags that had somehow already accumulated since the night before on his way.

Fox trailed after him. “It’s nothing major. Your friend Jamie thinks a hostile vamp might be coming into town. One who caused some problems up north. Something about a kid.”

Colin hummed in recognition. “You mean Riley?”

“You know about all that?”

“Jay filled me in a little bit.” He’d told Colin the bare minimum—a kid had been turned and appeared in Hyde Park. Very taboo stuff, et cetera, et cetera. He’d borrowed some comics from Colin for the little guy, but he’d given most of them back.

“Jay.” Fox cocked his head, his gaze suddenly predatory. “He’s the one who fed on you before us?”

Colin ignored the question, choosing to focus on tidying up the living room. “You said you scented something. How can you tell it’s the hostile vampire?”

“We can’t.” Fox slumped down on the couch, crushing the cushion Colin had just plumped. “But it was a vampire we don’t know. There’s a distinct metallic undertone compared to humans. Rotten if they’re going feral.” His brow furrowed. “This one isn’t.”

“And when a stranger comes into your territory, you two take turns investigating?”

Fox cleared his throat. “We usually both go.”

“Then why—” Colin stopped and put down the pillow he was straightening, turning to Fox. “You’re staying to, what, protect me?”

Fox’s silence was answer enough.

Colin blinked at him. “Why? I’m not a child. I hardly fit this guy’s target demographic.”

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