Page 17 of From the Shadows
“I talked with Shay,” he said.
“I know. He told me he was here. And he said you didn’t hate him.”
“I don’t, I promise. It’s just… I have a hard time being around people. Most of them are wary of me because I’m a vampire, and I figured Shay would be the same way.”
“But he wasn’t.”
“No, he definitely wasn’t. You were right, buddy. I wasn’t fair to him.”
“Told you,” Jeremy said, his tone smug like only a kid’s can be.
When Diego glanced into the kitchen and saw the time, he frowned. Shay had said an hour, and now it was going on two. Should he worry? Did he have the right to?
“Did Shay say where he was going?”
“No. He made a phone call, and right before he ran out, he pretty much ordered me to come here. He told me to tell you not to worry if he was late.”
That didn’t help. At all. It was a big, scary city, filled with things that someone like Shay couldn’t fight.
Someone like Shay?
Yeah, it sounded wrong, but Diego meant it. Shay was soft, delicate. True, he had a steel spine, but he wasn’t prepared to go upagainst Diego’s world. He never would be. No, that wasn’t right. He never shouldhaveto. It’s one of the reasons Diego became a bounty hunter in the first place—to protect humans from the sometimes horrifying things in his world.
A knock at the door had Jeremy up and there before it faded away. He pulled it open, and there stood Shay, all smiles and teeth and bright shining eyes.
“Okay, Jeremy? I need you to go to my place for a bit, all right?”
Jeremy’s brow wrinkled. “What? Why?”
Shay knelt down, and Diego noticed Jeremy inch closer. He’d come to care for Shay, and though he had been pissy about it earlier, Diego was glad that Jeremy had someone so he wouldn’t feel so lonely when everyone was gone on missions.
“Diego and I need to discuss some things, and later, if he wants to talk about it, he can tell you. Now go.”
Jerm turned and raced back to Diego, then hugged him tight. He once more headed for the door, but stopped and wrapped his arms around Shay’s waist. And then he was gone. Shay smiled at Jeremy’s retreating form, then closed the door.
“I’m sorry it took so long.”
“I was worried.”
Shay gave that grin. “Oh?”
“Never mind,” Diego groused with a wave of his hand. “What’s going on?”
“I spoke with Ms. Donnelly. I didn’t tell her anything about what you said to me, but I asked if it was possible to get a supply of blood set up that would be available for anyone who needs it. When she asked what kind of paranormal blood I needed, I explained I needed human blood, as it’s globulin rich, and that’s what your body is craving. She didn’t even bat an eye and simply said sure and that she’d have the first batch sent to me as soon as possible.”
Diego was pissed. Not at Shay, who’d thought of him, but at himself for never confiding in Empatia. Had he done that all those years ago, he might not be the broody bastard he’d been.
Nah, he totally would have been, but at least he wouldn’t be starving.
“She sent the first batch by courier. I didn’t ask where it came from.”
He went back into the hall, then returned a moment later with a small box. Shay opened it, and Diego noticed the rich, heady scent as soon as he cracked the lid. It was fucking enticing, and his fangs dropped immediately. Shay held out a bag, and Diego grabbed it, then slammed it into his mouth, his teeth piercing the coating. As soon as he did, the fluid flooded his mouth, and Diego gulped greedily.
“Oh my God,” Diego moaned after he drained the first bag and tossed the empty aside. “I need more!”
Shay held out another, and Diego repeated the process. Before long, the twelve bags Shay had brought were empty, but Diego was… happy.
“You’re purring,” Shay commented. He pointed to his lips. “And you got a little something… well, all over.”
