burst out. Odd.
The vampire instantly stopped, frozen in place. Oh, wow. I’d said stop, so he stopped.
So cool!
Another weird magic moment. I’ll ask Owen later. “Don’t move,” I commanded.
Drew stumbled to me with his arm around his waist. His handsome face was a total mess. When he reached me, I touched the wounds, healing them as quickly as I could. The healing power seemed to be more powerful than the last time I used it. I didn’t have time to dwell on that, either. Lots of questions for later.
He shuddered and studied me for a moment. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Looking at the vamp, I asked, “Is Jaxon home?” Lacing my necromancer magic into my voice, I lowered it. “Tell me the truth.”
“Yes,” he replied with his stare blank like he was under compulsion.
That was interesting. “Why did you attack me?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
His nostrils flared. Some part of him was able to resist. “You were being nosy. I couldn’t let you go to Jaxon about that human.”
My anger rose, and I closed my fist and stepped forward. The vamp made a choking sound. Was I doing that? To test it, I opened my fist and he let out a breath. It was me. Nice. “Where is that human?”
I squeezed as he replied so his words came out sounding choked. “In an alley about a block from Catch and Release.”
I was about to ask where that was but decided I needed to make an example out of him. I walked across the street to Jaxon’s house. The vampire followed because he didn’t have a choice. It was easy to control him. All I had to do was want him to do something, then filter my magic into him and he did it.
Leo was under my spell. Now that I thought about it, vampires were undead. That meant I could control them. At least I could control Leo here, and it seemed likely he wouldn’t be the only one.
Jaxon met us on his front porch. His brows raised as he looked from me to Leo. “Why are you controlling him?”
He’d sensed that I controlled the vamp without me having to tell him. “Leo here did something with Wade, and I wanted you to hear his confession.” Then turned to Leo, asking, “What is the Catch and Release and why is the human, who has a name, Wade, in an alley?”
Fear made the vamp’s eyes grow large. “I turned him.” I was guessing it was against the rules to turn humans. Oops. Sucked for him. Pun intended.
Jaxon growled and snapped his fingers. “Paige.” The female vamp from the other day appeared and grabbed Leo by the arm. That was when I released him from my power.
Paige, who I believed was like a vampire cop, took the creep inside. Jaxon motioned to his car. “I’ll take you to get your uncle.”
“How do you know who Wade is?” I had to power walk to the car to keep up with him. As I reached it, Drew opened the back door for me. He didn’t even ask if he could go. Not that I would’ve turned him away. Heck no. Not after that impressive performance I saw in the backyard.
Once inside the car, Jaxon said, “I know everyone in this neighborhood.”
Chapter Twelve
My nerves were like a live wire and my stomach churned. “That vampire said he turned Wade.”
I kept my voice low. I was more talking to myself than anyone else, trying to wrap my head around the fact that my uncle was a fanged one. What did that even mean? How did it happen? Would we be able to take care of him?
“That vampire has a name, not that it matters now.” Jaxon frowned. “Leo will be turned in to the Elders for punishment. We aren’t allowed to kill, harm, or turn humans. For the latter we need permission. There is a process both the human and his sire needs to go through.”
“Is that how your kind stays undetected?” Drew asked.
“Part of it.” Jaxon stared at Drew for a long while. “I’ve never met a hunter.”
Drew shrugged and took my hand. “I’ve never met a vampire.” He snorted. “Honestly, I didn’t believe your kind existed.”
They could bro it out later. “What do I need to know so I can help Wade adjust to this life?” I was already making a mental list of what Winston needed to do to make room. There was no way I’d let Wade stay here by himself.