Dmetri doubted the man ever smiled, in fact couldn’t recall a time when he even laughed. And he’d known Brayden a long time.
“The women in his clan are infertile, or so he says. During his trial, he said something about birthing complications. We haven’t been able to verify that since our Justicars aren’t allowed on his land. He testified that if they had more land then the women would start breeding again.”
Dmetri nodded. “At trial he said that the tight space of his clan somehow affects the fertility rate.”
Vane shook his head in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous. I mean it has to be. That’s fucking nonsense.”
Brayden nodded in agreement. “True, however Claude’s literally been losing his mind for some time now. At Ariss’ trial, she testified that he’d been slowly losing his wits for years, growing more deranged. He believes it, that’s all that matters to him.” Vane nodded towards Dmetri’s wound which had finally slowed its bleeding. He’d need a good several pints tonight; already he felt lightheaded.
“Yeah, he and I got into it,” Dmetri said.
“I heard you went on the date with Christine,” Vane said. “Where is she?”
“She drove back here. I haven’t been by to check on her yet. She was unharmed.” Dmetri was about to ask if she had, in fact, made it back but Vane beat him to it.
“Gerry called me a while ago said that she came in crazed saying you were attacked.” He sighed heavily. “God, this is all a mess. Nothing can ever be simple anymore.” Dmetri shifted uncomfortably. As if Vane had started and couldn’t stop, he went on.
“And on top of that, Sarina keeps talking about her prick of a father. I wish that dog was dead.”
“Her father is King Brunes, correct?” asked Brayden.
“Yup, the one and only prick of all pricks. She said she can’t get it out of her mind.
Nothing I say or do helps either.”
“Can’t get what out?” Dmetri asked.
“She said she thinks her father killed her mother when she was twelve. Supposedly her mother died in a drowning accident while sailing on their yacht. Fuck. What do I say to that, you know? I don’t know and I can’t find out. Maybe if I tortured the bastard...” Brayden rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully. “I remember that case.” Vane sat up. “There was a case?”
“Sure, when she was reported dead there was an investigation though I don’t think it was a big one. It’s unusual for a lykaen to drown. I think they ruled it an accidental death though.”
“Yeah, but now Sarina keeps questioning things. Says she remembered him acting strangely after he got back from the trip with her; he was vague with details, things like that.”
“Sounds like he was shocked at the loss,” Dmetri said.
“Or lying,” Vane said.
“I could look into it for you. It may take some time though,” Brayden said.
Vane looked so relieved he slumped in his seat. “That’d be a miracle, if only to ease Sarina’s mind. How long do you think it’d take? I mean even if it was truly an accident, I’d rather know and have it looked into than not.”
“A few months at least. I’ll have to dig up old records.” Vane came forward and clasped Brayden’s hand in a firm handshake. “Thank you. This means a lot to me. If I can ever do anything for you, let me know.” Brayden stood and made for the door. Grasping the door handle, he pulled it open. A mass of dark hair and girl fell to the floor. “I believe we have a listener.” Vane all but growled. “Vanessa what do you think you’re doing?” She humphed as she dragged herself off the ground, and then her eyes locked on Brayden.
“I was curious,” she said slowly, never taking her eyes off the old vampire. She held out her hand. “And you are?”
Brayden looked down at her hand but didn’t take it. Instead he turned to Vane, completely dismissing the girl.
“Who is this?”
“Vanessa Kategan, my cousin. She ran away from home. I’m letting her stay here while we get some things straightened out.”
Dmetri watched the girl glare at Brayden for not taking her hand. She crossed her arms instead and continued to watch him. If he wasn’t wrong, and he rarely was, then he saw interest in her eyes. Dmetri would have warned her that there was no getting past Brayden; he was a warrior through and through. Hell, the man never even took a woman to bed, ever. He was a celibate, cold-blooded commander and that’s how he’s always been.
“Get what straightened out?” asked Brayden.
Eager to get out of there and go see Christine, Dmetri spoke for Vane. “Her father’s trying to mate her to an Alpha to combine packs. She doesn’t want to because he’s ‘old.’” Brayden looked down at the girl. “Law is law. If her father wishes it she must go through with it.”
Vanessa gasped and took a step towards the vampire. If it was supposed to be intimidating, it was anything but. She was too young and skinny.
“Joseph is old, fat, and nasty. He looks at me like I’m a damn tasty steak and I’m supposed to, what, just go with it because my father’s an idiot who wants more land? As if that will somehow make his dick bigger—”
“Vanessa!” Vane shouted.
She clamped her mouth shut, cheeks turning pink from either embarrassment or anger.
She cocked her head to the side and smiled all white teeth and false cheer at them.
Then she flipped Brayden off and skipped out of the room.
Silence followed.
“She’s insolent.”
Vane nodded in agreement. “Sorry about that. She’s a little spitfire.” He almost sounded proud. Damn Kategans.
Dmetri cut in before he died from blood loss. “Listen, gotta go. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
Dmetri left and made his way to Christine.
Chapter 9
The lights were off in her cabin and his car wasn’t parked outside. Walking like an elderly man, he made his way to his cabin. The walk was probably only five minutes but felt more like an hour. Relief poured through him as he spotted his car outside the cabin.
He started for the door but stopped and looked back at the car.
“Damn,” he muttered as he spotted her asleep at the wheel.
He wobbled to the driver’s side and knocked on the glass. She came awake with wide eyes, hands clutching at the wheel. It took a second for recognition to set in but when it did, she smiled at him. That one smile almost made him forget about the pain in his leg. Almost.
She got out and wrapped her arm around his waist as if she could hold him up. “Oh my God, you’re hurt. Come inside, I’ll take care of it.”
He let her pretend to hold him up as they walked into the sparse cabin. He liked the feel of her arm around him, liked the tender, almost caring look on her face. No one looked at him like that.
“Sit down,” she said ushering him to the couch.
He stifled a groan as he sat. His leg felt like a hot poker was jammed inside his muscle.
Each move burned the wound hotter; it stung like a mother.
She started to head into the other room then stopped. “Damn all my supplies are at home.
I’ll be right back.”
Before she reached the front door, he stopped her. “Don’t. Just stay.” He wasn’t sure what compelled him to say it but he knew he didn’t want her to leave.
“All right, just give me a minute.” Her heels clicked on the wood floor as she went into the bathroom. She came back out carrying a wet washcloth, a hand towel, and some medical supplies.
Dmetri relaxed back into the seat. He needed blood and soon. His eyes popped open as she knelt in front of him. He could have sighed. This was what he wanted, minus the wound and lethargy.