Page 115 of Wounded Soul
Jesse drank the blood Ian had given him, then wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, already looking so much better than he had a few minutes ago. “Raph said you handed the VLCD a signed statement insisting you were thankful I turned you instead of leaving you for dead. It’s apparently a first for them, so they need time to discuss it.” Even with eyes still a little glazed over, his gaze bore into Ian’s, making him warm inside. “Thank you.”
Ian leant down and placed a soft kiss on Jesse’s lips. “You’re welcome.”
They stared at each other until Lys very audibly cleared her throat. “Jesse, we need to go. They say you can get more blood back in your cell.”
Jesse nodded at her, then looked back at Ian. “They say I can have visitors, so...”
“I’ll be there as soon as you’re healed.” Ian gripped his hand tight, not wanting to let go but knowing he had to.
Raph eased Ian back out of the way as Lys helped Jesse to his feet. Six guards surrounded them. Two with their guns pointed at Ian. He’d forgotten they considered him a threat. With everything going on, the blood had ceased to register, but now it crept back in, tickling his senses in a familiar and wholly unwelcome way.
He needed to go too.
Seeming to sense it too, Jesse offered him a small smile. “Go back to the coven Ian, let them take care of you. I’ll see you soon.”
Ian wanted to kiss him again, wanted to hold him in his arms, but the guards were already leading him away.
“It’ll be okay.” Liam gripped his shoulder as they watched Jesse limp away, supported by Raph and Lys. “Raph won’t let them mistreat him, and he’ll do his best to get him out of that place as soon as he possibly can.”
“I know.” And even though he didn’t know Raph well, or any of them come to that, he believed it. “But what happens now?” Without Jesse, he was lost. “What happens to me?”
Liam smiled, warm and welcoming. “Firstly, I need to get you back upstairs and out of these things.” He gestured to Ian’s iron collar and handcuffs. “Then we go home. You’re part of our coven now. We’ll look after you and give you everything you need to get used to this life. Despite what some might tell you, we take care of our own, Ian, if you let us.”
Ian nodded, not sure what to say to that.
Liam offered Ian a smile. “Raph and Lys might be a while yet. He told me to get you out of here as soon as I could. I know you’ll want to talk to him as soon as he gets home, but while we wait, would you like me to show you around when we get back? There’s a lot more to our home than what you’ve seen so far?”
A stubborn part of Ian wanted to say no, wanted Jesse to be the one to show him around, but he had to face facts. Jesse could still be gone for years. He needed to get used to being a vampire on his own.
You’re not on your own. You have a whole coven to help you.
He needed to do this without Jesse. Needed to learn how to control his thirst and his newfound strength and enhanced senses.
When Jesse was eventually released from VLCD prison, Ian would be waiting for him. Ready to start their life together as his equal.
Summoning a smile, Ian steeled himself for what lay ahead and nodded.
“Yeah. I’d like that.” He smiled and gestured for Liam to lead the way. “Let’s go home.”
EPILOGUE
Six months later
Jesse glanced down at the new tracking bracelet around his wrist and wrinkled his nose.
“I don’t know what you’re complaining about,” Watts muttered as he checked Jesse’s whereabouts on the computer to make sure it was working. This is the reason you’re getting out way fucking earlier than you should be.”
That and the fact that both Ian and Raph had badgered the VLCD constantly since Jesse had been locked up. But he didn’t say any of that. No sense in pissing Watts off when he was so close to leaving.
“Right.” Watts stood, apparently satisfied with what the computer showed him. He pointed to the tracker. “We can and will monitor your whereabouts twenty-four hours a day. If you break any of the laws set out by the agreement, then you’ll be straight back in here to serve your remaining time behind bars along with whatever time we deem fit for the new crime.” Glancing up, he raised an eyebrow as he waited for Jesse to respond. “Understood?”
“Yep.” Jesse nodded. “I understand.” The new tracker would be his constant companion for the next five years. That had been his reduced sentence, but thanks to Ian repeatedly telling the VLCD that he was happy Jesse had changed him and Raph offering to take responsibility for Jesse if he was allowed to return to the coven, the VLCD had agreed on this as a compromise.
Jesse wasn’t keen on having his every move watched, but if it got him out of those cells and back with Ian, he’d agree to anything.
Ian had visited him almost every day for the past six months, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough. Jesse ached to hold him in his arms, to kiss him...
“Sykes.” Watts barked at him, suggesting it wasn’t the first time he said Jesse’s name.
