Page 20 of From the Shadows
“Will do.”
“He needs help with the venomous snakes especially.”
Shay’s eyes widened. “Wait. He can produce venom?”
“We’re not sure who his father was. If he was human—a rarity for a shifter and human to have offspring—or another type of shifter, then maybe not. If he was some kind of snake shifter himself—which we think is more likely based on the snake’s features he displays—then yes, with enough practice he’ll be able to innately become a perfect copy of any snake he sees, right down to the cellular level. It takes a lot of concentration, though. There arecolonies of snake shifters that could train him, but Jerm doesn’t seem at all interested in meeting any of them.”
Shay seemed ready to say something, but then he shook his head.
“What is it?” Diego asked.
“Jeremy told me something in confidence, and I don’t know that I can share it with you, even if you are his father.”
It was amazing that Shay thought of him as Jerm’s father. “I think that’s the best time to share, unless it’s something that won’t get him hurt.”
A quick run of slender fingers through Shay’s wavy hair. “Well…. You see, he’s worried about leaving the house. He thinks if he does go out, when he gets back, you’ll be gone. Or that something will happen to you while you’re out working.”
So Diego had been right. Shay was a lifeline for Jerm. Something to tether him when the group went out on a mission.
“I won’t say nothing will happen. We’ve had several people die while we were doing jobs, so it would be ridiculous to think it couldn’t be me. That said, vampires are hard to kill. The old wive’s tales aren’t wrong. Beheading, a stake through the heart, stuff like that, will definitely kill us, just like they would anyone else. But we’re fast, agile, and stronger than a human. In fact, other than, like, two different shifters who live on the far side of the world, we’re pretty much the top of the food chain.”
“Try telling that to a little boy and see how far it gets you. Nightmares aren’t uncommon, and when you’re gone, Jeremy says they get worse, because he imagines all these scenarios.”
Now Diego was confused. “But he said he wants to do this too.”
“And he still does, but not for the reason you think. It’s not to help others. It’s to keep you—his father—safe.”
Pride bloomed in Diego’s chest. If he’d wanted someone to care for him, he needed to look closer to home. Jerm loved him, wanted to be near him. Diego hadn’t seen that clearly. What else hadn’t he noticed?
That had to change. Today. Starting with lunch.
Chapter 6
Shay addedsome sea salt to the water, then stirred the pot of pasta. He decided to use shells, because the little cups would hold the sauce best. Plus, those had been his favorites when he was younger. He smiled to himself as he thought about Diego. Hundreds of years old, and he still had the same issues everyone did. Uncertainty, insecurity. Maybe he’d never matured beyond his wartime age, when all young men were scared to death of what could happen to them.
“Do you need help?”
Shay squeaked as he spun. Diego stood there, wearing jeans and a T-shirt stretched taut across his broad chest. “You shouldn’t sneak up on people!”
“Sorry,” he said, but it was with a lopsided grin Shay never would have expected from the dour man he’d met.
“Liar,” Shay answered with a chuckle. He went back to his noodles. “I’ve got everything nearly ready. Burgers are done, and I’m keeping them warm in the oven. Do you want them on buns or would you prefer grilled cheese bread?”
Diego’s eyes widened. “You can put them on grilled cheese bread?”
“Of course.” Shay put a hand over his heart with a mock gasp. “You’ve never…. Never?”
Those big shoulders went up. “I don’t really eat with the guys very often. When I do, I nibble, since this food does nothing to fill me up. It’s like I could eat and eat and eat, but never get be satisfied. I mean, I can taste it, of course, but beyond that, nothing. It’s pretty maddening.”
That made sense. “Do you have any allergies? I mean, I know the legends say silver and garlic and crosses. It wasn’t in the reading I got, so….”
“There’s a reason. None of that stuff affects us. Even sunlight doesn’t really bother us unless we’re out for several hours, but that’s usually taken care of by use of sunscreen. We’re not as active during the day, but to say we’ll turn into a pile of dust is ludicrous. I mean, the moon’s light is a reflection of the sun, so if that was the case, we’d never get outside.” He took a seat at the table and folded his arms in front of him. “Vampires are stronger, faster, and way more agile than a human, but we’re not like your movies and books make us out to be. We don’t sparkle and, unlike Jim Carrey, we don’t need the blood of virgins to keep us young, we?—”
Shay coughed. “YousawOnce Bitten?” Diego was so very different now. More open, freer with how he talked. And, okay, fine, he was hella hot.
A smirk. “Years ago. It was… amusing, but so not accurate. Like most of the movies humans do, it should be taken with an entire lake of salt. We’re not Vlad the Impaler, or at least, most of us aren’t. Those things that go bump in the night? Most times it’s not us. That said, we do have a few abilities, and as the years pass, we gain more. For instance, as long as there is a crack, I can pass through doors and windows as a mist, and reform on the other side. We can slide into the shadows and remain undetectable, unless something in there has a great sense of smell, like a werewolf. Ancient vampires—like those who are five hundred years or more—actually can transform into other types of animals—wolves, rats, and the like—but it’s a rare ability.”
Shay listened intently as he poured milk in the pot, then addedshredded cheddar, mozzarella, and provolone cheese. “What about turning into bats?”
