Fighting for her Mate

16

Barbara put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Now, young lady, with everything we have been through together, I expect you to call me Barbara.” A smile graced her face, showing she was joking with the anger. “How could you think we’re not friends by now?” Aria smiled after seeing Ellie’s mother’s joke. Barbara gave the visitor a hug. “It’s good to see you again. We were getting worried something was wrong since we hadn’t heard from you in a while.”

“I apologize, Mrs…Barbara. I’ve been doing some house cleaning, waiting for these three to get back.” She looked around the room. “Hey, everyone. I’d like you to meet Julian,”—a thin, forty-ish looking man raised a hand in greeting. He was the average-looking Joe who could be anyone in the grocery store—“this is Penelope,”—a beautiful cocoa-skinned woman smiled. Emma closed Mason’s mouth for him before drool rolled out—“and this is Zane.”

She pointed to the guy in the back. “Please disregard his outfit. He’s obsessed with some guy named Bran Smoker.” The group broke into laughter, releasing the built-up tension.

The stranger was true to Jordan’s description. He wore a silver-gray top hat, coat, gloves, and pants. His hair lay in smooth waves to his shoulders. And the sunglasses perched on the end of his nose resembled John Lennon glasses: small circles that reflected a rainbow of colors like an oil slick.

Zane gave an indignant huff. “Aria, please. How many times…it’s Bram Stoker.” The man turned to Mason. “If I may be so bold, sir. The cliché you referred to—a vampire not entering a home unless invited in—is quite a falsity. I assure you Hollywood does not know the ins and outs of the vampire species. But other than that, I enjoyed the movie.”

Emma tugged on Mason’s shirt. “What movie?”

Mason grinned. “Lost Boys. Don’t worry about it. It was before your time. Mid-nineteen eighties.”

“I know the Lost Boys. Who in their right mind hasn’t heard of that movie? Those guys were so sexy.” She laughed then glanced at Zane again.

With all once again seated, Tristan turned to Aria, but Aric interrupted. “Dad, may I ask Aria a question first?” He gave a slight nod. Jordan looked at him with a questioning look. “Aria, Emma told us you’re a daywalker, so I understand how you can be here. I’m assuming the same is true for Julian, Penelope, and Zane?”

The normal-looking man lifted a finger. “Aria, if I may answer the young wolf’s question?” Aria slid back on the sofa and gestured for him to continue. The group’s eyes rested on the new visitor. “The answer is quite simple, my friend. After a certain age, the vampire body is no longer flesh as you know it, as long as the body never tastes human blood. Over time, the living cells in the skin transform into a leather-like texture that is not affected by the sun and very strong.”

“Wait,” Karla barged forward, “what’s different about human blood? What do you drink then?”

The male vampire sighed and lifted his nose. “Does anybody ever read anymore? I put all this in writing just for this reason.”

Penelope raised her brow at him. “Julian, that was over two thousand years ago. Nobody reads papyrus anymore. You have to put it in a thing called a book.”

“Yes, Penelope. Do not patronize me. I know what a book is. Has it really been that long? Seems like last year I scribed the ‘pyrus.”

“Um, excuse me?” Vampire eyes swung to Jordan. “Sir, I can maybe assist you with that. I’m writing a book on the mating ritual of wolves.”

A smile lit Julian’s face. “Ah, a child after my own heart.” A low grumble disturbed the air. Jordan kicked Aric’s shin, but the vampire reassured him. “No worries, wolf. As I was saying, we do not consume human blood from a human. Blood in the body carries a particular enzyme that allows cells to die, be carried off, and rejuvenate; the body is in constant refresh mode.

“This enzyme is quite fragile and the sun’s rays easily destroy it. I’ve seen humans who have spent much of their lives in the sun and their skin is wrinkled and leathery. But as for vampire lore, that is the reason vampires are restricted to the night. The sun literally destroys the skin.”

“Okay,” Emma started, “what you’re saying is human blood carries a cleaning crew. It takes away the old stuff and leaves new. And if you go a long-ass time without blood, the crew dies, leaving the old to solidify in place—the old being the tough skin. So what do you drink?”

Julian’s expression became hard. “Packaged human blood is safe. Outside the warm body, the enzyme dies quickly. Animal blood has its own enzyme which doesn’t affect human skin. Our resistant covering is almost indestructible. That is one reason why those who make it to this age survive even longer.

“This is one reason Aria has banned human blood. She’s doing a good thing for her kind. Yet they cannot control their urges, thusly stay weak. They deserve to die like the dogs they are.”

Aria quickly jumped in. “Thank you, Julian. These are our friends who aren’t concerned about your past. Let’s get to why we’re here.”

“Agreed,” Tristan said. “What brings you to our home?”

Aria glanced at Emma, then Tristan. “I’m not sure if you know, but the first raid I planned on at Embraced didn’t really happen. Rumors are flying about why my two treacherous vampires have disappeared. Fortunately, no rumor is even close to the truth. So I think our interference in the trade that night went mostly unnoticed.”

Emma’s face lit up. “Does that mean we stopped them?”

“No,” Aria exhaled a long breath. “Trevan and his guys were given information earlier today about a trade. Their part is the delivery to the club. That tells me now is the time to act.” Aria looked to the floor, then met Tristan’s eyes. “I’m here to ask you and your pack to fight with us against those who are feeding on humans.”