him.
The breeze picked up and Peter stiffened. “Melody, I smell blood.”
I bit my lip. If he smelled blood, then he knew who’s it was. “Ah…” I started to explain, but Haine stepped between us.
“Please don’t punish her Peter. There was a jogger on the path. I thought you would be angry if I let her feed without you, so I … distracted her.”
I rubbed my temples. Judging from the look on Peter’s face, things were about to get ugly. “Stop it,” I said firmly. I was buzzing with power, thanks to my little snack, and it was making me cranky.
I pushed past Haine and took Peter’s hand, drawing him down the path. Haine followed a bit behind, amusement playing at his features. “It was just a bite. That’s it.” I kept a grip on Peter when he would have spun and attempted to decapitate the other vampire. “I am not sleeping with him.”
Haine snorted with laughter and Peter’s muscles beneath my hand tensed with the urge to attack him, but he kept walking. “Then do you mind explaining just what the hell you think you are doing?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I’m new, remember?”
Haine piped up behind us, while Peter pretended the other vampire didn’t exist. “I’m honored to have been able to protect her, for both your sakes, Peter. I promise you that I am not trying to steal your child away.”
We managed to reach the back door of the bar before Peter lost it. He rounded on Haine, and his aura flared to life like blue flame. A cloak of menace seemed to hang about him, and a lock of dark hair fell forward to hide his sparkling, liquid silver eyes. Haine stood his ground with his arms crossed, unfazed, but his own aura had slowly risen into existence, a swirling cloud of red and gold. Peter was a skilled assassin, but Haine was much, much older. And with age, came power. This was going to be ugly.
I pushed between them before the first blow, stalling. “Just stop it!” Crap, there was nothing I could do to stop them once they got started.
The door banged open and Leah strolled out. She neared us and I felt my shoulders relax in response to her ability. “Gentlemen,” she said softly. “I would appreciate it if my coven members would get along.”
I could hear the frogs singing, and the dull sounds of voices and music from inside the bar, but somehow it felt as though the four of us were frozen in time. Then, ever so slowly, they both stood down and the world began to move again.
Peter had lost his aura of impending death, but he was still pissed. “He tried to bond Melody.” He said tersely.
Leah looked at Haine in surprise. “Is this true?”
Haine looked defeated. “Not out of love or servitude,” he insisted, making it obvious that he was tired of repeating himself.
Leah nodded and glanced at Peter. “Then I suggest you drop it.” Then she turned and went back inside. I thought she looked a bit more irritated than the situation warranted.
Peter and I followed, leaving Haine skulking about in the night. When we got home, I expected to feel the full brunt of my master’s wrath, but nothing happened. He simply shook his head and let it go. “You are too soft,” he told me seriously. “You cannot care for every stray dog that wanders onto your doorstep.”
I looked at the floor, feeling foolish. I felt like I had been tricked, manipulated. But even if the jogger hadn’t come, I would have eventually agreed to Haine’s request. He was the only real friend I had in this world, besides Peter. I was amazed that Peter was able to understand everything. I smiled wryly. I knew no one would ever understand the twisted inner workings of my mind the way Peter could.
“Thank you,” I said softly. He laughed and drew me close, dropping a kiss on my forehead.
“I trust your judgment,” he said calmly. “It just scared me to think that you had wandered off. I have to admit, I am glad the old man was with you. I don’t ever want you to have to experience the weight of taking a life.” He sighed. “I guess it’s time to work on your hunting skills.”
Chapter 17
We strolled along the river, drawing closer to the oldest part of town. The buildings weren’t run-down, exactly, but they weren’t as sharp and expensive as the buildings on the other side