Page 32 of Help Wanted, Vampires Inquire Within
Rissa’s nose wrinkled. “Rats? You mean real rats?”
“As opposed to rubber rats?” Zan teased.
“Hey, I’m still learning,” she said, slapping him playfully on his shoulder. “Maybe there are rat shifters out there.”
Zan shook his head. “No, no rat shifters.”
“Are you sure?” Rissa asked. “Maybe there are, and you don’t know about them.”
Zan rolled his eyes. “Sure, maybe there are rat shifters. But I can tell you they’d be a lot bigger than what made all those little bites.” He looked at Mason. “Why would rats suddenly attack a man in enough numbers to actually kill him?”
“Skyler did it,” Mason said. “I don’t know how, but she put her hand on the ground and then hundreds of rats charged at him. It was an amazing sight. She had one of the rats grab the talisman that was keeping me trapped against the ground and broke it.”
“For such an innocent face, she sure has an evil streak,” Rissa chortled. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
“We’ll take care of the bodies,” Anatoly said, then pointed in the direction of Joy. “All three of you need to rest.”
Zan nodded and gave them a broad grin. “I think you’ll appreciate the surprise Rissa had installed in the studio while you were gone.”
“Thanks,” Mason said, hugging Skyler tight to his chest as he turned. Jack was quick to go with Mason. He didn’t care where he went, as long as he was with Mason and Skyler.
“You’re so happy,” Mason murmured as they walked.
“So are you,” Jack retorted with a little skip in his step. He was starving and hurt, but who cared about that? Not when he’d found his flock!
Skyler
Skyler woke up feeling a little fuzzy. It reminded her of the time she’d helped her mother with their land and overtaxed her power. She’d woken up confused then too.
She remembered the wonderful date with Jack, and exploring the property with the Clover Pack. Now she was wrapped around a large body that had to be Mason and felt Jack spooning her from behind. She’d never felt so warm or content before.
She couldn’t remember how they all ended up in bed together. It felt too delicious to worry about though.
“Are you hungry?”
She opened her eyes to see Mason staring down at her. It took her a moment to understand what he said. Was she hungry? She wasn’t sure. She felt a little floaty. She thought about it and then decided she was hungry, but not enough to bother moving.
“No.” Wow, her voice was hoarse, like she’d been screaming. Now that she’d spoken, she noticed her chest was a little sore. Weird.
“Rissa dropped off some food a few hours ago. We can heat it up whenever.” He started running his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp. “You know, it’s funny. I could tell the moment you woke up. Your humming changed.”
She closed her eyes to enjoy the feel of Mason’s fingers in her hair. “Humming?”
“Our bond feels like you're humming,” Mason explained.
Bond?
Memories flooded into her.
McConnell attacking them.
Calling to the rats.
Breaking the spell restraining Mason.
Both men holding her hands. It was the first time all three of them touched.
She’d soul bonded them without asking!
