Legacy of Blood - By J. L. McCoy Page 0,57

me a job away from the city I adored! Fuck my life. I need a drink. I honestly couldn’t take one more thing happening to me today.

I grabbed my messenger bag and stomped off to the living room to find Trey.

“What’s got you in a huff?” he asked with wide eyes as I entered. He was sitting on the couch with Pádraig enjoying a bag of blood and some light conversation with his boyfriend.

“My mother!” I frowned as I threw my bag down and took a seat next to him. “What’s with us and having the most meddlesome mothers; always sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong? Your mother would have had you married off to the neighbor girl if you hadn’t left home. What happened to us cutting out our own path in life; letting us grow and experience and choose for ourselves? I’m an adult gosh dang it!!!”

“Goodness gracious, child,” he whistled as he pulled me into a side hug. “Your britches are in a bunch! Talk to Trey, sugar. What happened?”

“Before I turned, when Mama came for a visit, I told her I was quitting The Mausoleum. She took it upon herself to find me a ‘proper’ job. Now I have to listen to voicemails from her telling me some Professor FitzPrissyPants has found me a job at some museum in Houston. I’m not going to lie, it would have been great two months ago when I graduated, but I can’t even think about any of that now. I’m a vampire. My place will always be here with you guys, my family.”

“Your mama loves you, Skye,” Trey squeezed my shoulder, “and she wants the best for you. She wouldn’t be meddling if she didn’t.”

“Maybe,” I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest. “But, on top of everything else I have to deal with right now, I’ve got messages out the ass from a brokenhearted Jameson.” I sighed and closed my eyes, remembering the pain of his words. “God, I feel like such a bitch, Trey. I really hurt him. I ran him over with a Mac truck, reversed it, raked his body over hot coals, drowned him and then hung him out to dry. What the hell does anyone see in me? I’m selfish, inconsiderate…”

“You just stop right there, young lady,” Trey huffed. “That’s my best friend you’re talking about. I won’t sit here and let you badmouth yourself, Skye Morrison. I won’t do it.”

Tears filled my eyes; the pain in my heart becoming too much. “I really hurt him, Trey. I never wanted to hurt him.”

“I know, honey,” he whispered, his brow furrowed with sorrow. “I know. He seems to be doing a little better today, though, if that helps.”

“You talked to him?” I asked in surprise.

“Just got off the phone,” Trey nodded. “I told him you were doing a lot better and that you two would talk when he got home in a couple of weeks.”

“Does he hate me?”

“Sugar, he loves you,” he sighed, slinging one arm around my neck and pulling me to him for a hug. “He’s just hurting. Jameson tends to fall hard and fast when he’s in a relationship. As we all know, it takes a little time to get over love.”

“Let’s go,” Aoife called from the foyer. “Train’s leaving boys!”

“Do you want to ride with Trey to work today so you can finish your talk?” Pádraig asked with an understanding smile.

“No, it’s okay. You two love birds go ahead. I’ll catch a ride with someone else.”

Trey kissed my cheek, hooked his arm through mine and walked me to the door.

Archer was standing there and when his eyes met mine, he smiled sexily. “I still can’t get over how incredible you look.”

I bit my bottom lip at his complement and allowed him to pull me to his side. Vampire pheromones may not work on me now that I was one, but damn if Archer didn’t smell amazing. His cologne mixed with all things Archer, and the fact he was all mine, sent my lower abdomen tightening with desire. He was in top form tonight too in his designer business suit and Prada dress shoes.

“You look pretty good yourself,” I leaned into him as I slipped my hand under his jacket and wrapped my arm around his trim waist. “I love this suit.”

“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. “You look like you’ve been crying.”

I nodded my head and sighed. I couldn’t hide anything from Archer