Chapter Forty-Five
The scent of roasting pig had Kele halting in her tracks. She met Peder’s questioning gaze. Who was cooking?
Outside the Temple, by the entrance stairs, Ahote guarded a fire pit in feral form. He waved.
Kele stared at the food, her stomach rumbled. “You went hunting?” When had she last eaten?
“There’s plenty for everyone.” The hunter’s ears fanned out as if pleased with himself.
She expected a different scenario upon arrival. The worst being Susan dead, but Ahote seemed far from grieving. “We brought the medicine. Where’s Susan?”
Someone moved in the shadow of a tree close to the pit. “She left.”
“Benic?” She recognized his voice. Glancing at Ahote, she posed a silent what-is-he-doing-here question.
He shrugged. “I found him sitting on the steps. Waiting. Clearly, he’s not in his right mind.”
“I’m not leaving until I know what Susan has become.” The vampire remained under the tree, unmoving.
Kele frowned at his uncharacteristic behavior. “What are you talking about?” The vampire seemed more subdued than usual, and she smelled old blood drifting from his area.
“Those myths Susan spoke of—the ones about humans changing into vampire or shifter after a bite—they’re true.”
Kele scratched her ear as she tilted her head. “And exactly how did you find this out?” She wanted to shake him. That’s why he’d stolen Susan away. He wanted to try out his theory without her permission. Arrogant ferret.
“She gave me a blood sample to study.” He shifted his body and clutched his stomach as if uncomfortable.
Pausing by the cooking pit, Kele gave Ahote a questioning look. What, by the Dark Moon, had happened while they’d been gone? “So there is a world full of people who could change species by a single bite?”
“If they survive the infection.” Ahote crossed his arms. “He forgot to mention that important fact.”
A jolt of revelation rocked her. “What have you done, Benic?” Susan had been so ill leaving the castle. Sorin had told her he assumed she’d caught the Apisi illness.
The vampire hung his head. “I’m tired of being alone. I don’t expect any of you to understand.”
“What happened? Where are they?” Her voice rose as she spoke. Two good people were missing and—and here Benic, Ahote and Peder sat having a pig roast.
“They’re fine.” Ahote poked at their cooking meal. “It’s done.”
“I gave Susan something to prevent her from dying. She left the Temple and Sorin went after her.” Benic sighed. “But she’s carrying both vampire and shifter viruses.” He turned his head toward Ahote. “I’m not leaving until I have a better idea of what she’s becoming.”
She shook her head. “Oh, Benic.” He always meddled in other’s affairs. She searched the surrounding woods but saw nothing. May the Goddess bring Susan light.
“Once we eat, I’ll return you home, Kele.” Ahote sliced some meat from the roast with his claws and handed it to her.
She juggled the hot food between her hands. Juices ran from it and the smell… If she could shift to feral form, she could have gobbled it like the others. Instead, she needed to bite and chew. “I’m not going back.” She spoke with her mouth full. “Not until I know of Susan’s fate. I have not traveled this far to run home now.”
“Spoken like a hunter, Kele.” Benic chuckled.
“A hunter who can’t defend herself.” Ahote sliced another piece of meat from the roast. “I tire of the wilderness and want to return home. There’s a bath and better company at our den. No matter how long we stay out here, we’ll still have to explain the events of last night to your parents.”
She grimaced and swallowed the lump of meat in her throat. This would make her parents even more determined to safeguard her future. Would they really send her away to some strange pack as a potential mate? Maybe she should have tried harder to find a male within her own pack. “I’m sure Peder will stay until his alpha returns.”
The omega was reaching in the pit for more meat, his gaze on Ahote as if waiting for the hunter to pounce. When she spoke, he halted. “I will.”
Ahote closed his eyes for a moment and wiped his muzzle. “I guess that means I must stay.” He sighed with a heavy heart. “I’ve protected your hide since the day you were set in your own cave. I’m not leaving you here with only an omega.” He glared at her then at Peder. “This better not be because you want another opportunity to pet him.”
“Ahote.” She flushed so hard her toes curled. She didn’t need reminding of her attraction to Peder. Her reaction at his den was enough shame to swallow, but she hated the way everyone kept touching him. If he returned home she’d never see him again, and maybe she’d regain some sanity. Her gaze drifted over to Benic, who sat so still.
Kele’s discomfort with her attraction to Peder made Benic chuckle in silence. If he laughed aloud, it would hurt too much. As it was, his hand kept his guts from spilling to the ground. The moist sensation against his palm made him queasy. He needed to find something to bind around his midsection if he ever planned to walk home.
His wound would eventually heal. He’d had worse. The indignation of being injured with his own weapon would take longer.
He couldn’t believe Sorin had kept his sword. The alpha didn’t have any use for the weapon. It was perfectly balanced for Benic’s hand. He’d owned it ever since he came to Amerigo over a hundred years ago. Finding a replacement would be time consuming.
“Benic?” Kele stepped under the shadow of the tree and knelt next to him. “You’re hurt.” She pried his hands from the wound.
Pain shot across his abdomen. He bent over and clutched his gut, breathing hard. “That’s an understatement. I’ll be fine with time. Don’t concern yourself with me.”
“Have you fed?”
Shifting his hips, he sat up straighter. “From whom? I doubt Ahote or Sorin would have offered since they’re the ones who impaled me in the first place.”
“Here.” She presented her wrist close to his mouth.
A shudder ran through his body. Instinctual hunger could drive a vampire mad. After his blood loss last night, it was a wonder he hadn’t torn out Peder’s throat upon his arrival. He possessed little love for the omega but he had to admire how Peder slipped into Kele’s affections so quickly.
For someone who was supposed to be submissive and fulfill everyone’s needs, Peder seemed to always get what he desired. That required skill.
“That’s very gracious of you, Kele.” He took her wrist in his hands, careful to be gentle, and brought it to his lips. With a meal close at hand, his hunger jumped up and roared. He met her stare as he pressed his fangs against her skin and licked the spot he planned on biting.
Her gaze softened.
With an expert’s ease, he pierced her. The salty flavor of her blood filled his mouth. Sucking at the dual puncture, he closed his eyes and moaned.
Kele’s quiet gasp was pleasure to his ears.
He could sense her leaning forward and deepened his feeding, taking longer, slower draughts. She tasted better than the finest wines. Rich and warm, her blood eased his pains. How easy to drain her, but he released his bite. His muscles trembled with restraint. She hadn’t quenched his thirst. A few more volunteers would be needed before his hunger was sated. With his thumb, he applied pressure to the wound and stopped the bleeding. It wouldn’t take long.
Licking his lips, he rested against the tree trunk, savoring the aftertaste. She rarely agreed to feed him.
Over her shoulder, Benic didn’t miss the glare directed at him from Peder. Let the games begin, little shifter. “Why would you feed me after all the wrong you think I have done?”
“Sorin has Susan back, and I forgive your misguided attempt at rescuing me from an unwanted mating.” She stared at her lap and picked at imaginary lint. Her pale hair fell across her face, hiding her expression. “You were a friend once.” She whispered the last sentence.
The words struck deeper than the sword. His smile faded, and he slipped his hand from her wrist. “I still am.”
Ahote coughed, choking on a mouth full of hog. He hit his chest and swallowed with some difficulty. “You have an odd way of showing it.”
Kele rose and sat next to the fire pit.
Physical pain could be ignored. It would heal and become a faded memory. The sight of Kele taking a morsel from Peder’s hands branded a hurt on his heart that would never mend. Did he love her? Or was it her rejection? Only time would tell.
He glared at the dark shifter. “You’re alive. I could have used a poison instead of a sedative on my blowdarts.” He pulled his knees up to his chest to ease the pain and gazed out into the forest.
Ahote shook his head. “I’m sure in a sick, vampire fashion, this is considered a sign of friendship.”
“As a matter of fact it is. You mean something to Kele. It would be rude to cause her unnecessary grief.” Though he could live with the loss of both these shifters.
Kele raised her hands. “Enough. It’s a matter that is finished.”
She said she forgave him but he could sense the difference. Their relationship was damaged. He’d have to find a way to make amends since he still wanted good ties to the Payami. Benic sighed, suddenly feeling all his years. He watched the forest. Where was Sorin? For an alpha, he sure was taking his time in catching his exhausted and weak mate.