Page 63 of Vampire's Cupcake
"What?No, to Last Hope."Why would he go to Romeo's?Did he want him to go to Romeo's?"I never meant to impose.It all happened so fast, and I only did what Alice told me to, but--"
Thano was in front of him in a blink of an eye."Last Hope isn't safe."
"But this is your home.I shouldn't be here.I..."He took a step back.Hell, he'd brought his animals.It wasn't something someone would do if they were coming for a short visit.People were outside building coops and pens.He'd gone to the guy who'd bitten him.What the hell was wrong with him?
"Eli."Thano took his hand, and when Eli tried to remove it, he tightened his hold."Eli?"
"Shit."His heart was banging hard.This was stupid.His home was in Last Hope.He'd given the shop key to Elijah as if he wouldn't be back.What the hell had he been thinking?
"Eli."Thano's voice was harsh, and Eli looked at him.
"You can't go back to Last Hope.Not right now at least."
"Why?I've been there all my life."
Thano gently shook his hand."Romeo says it isn't safe for you.People know you're in contact with residents of The Moonlight Ranch.They've seen you talk to both Draven and Ciar many times, they've seen you with Romeo.You got a warning because there were crows in your shop.They shot a crow outside your shop."
Eli had a hard time breathing."Do you know if it was a crow or a...crow."His voice turned into a whisper.
"No one is missing, so unless it was a crow visiting from another territory--"
"Crows are visiting?"
Thano sighed."Not as far as we know, but crows are...not like other species.They're not always as concerned with rules as they should be, and they don't always think things through.Though there are rarely any conflicts among crows.They might peck each other when they're fighting about something shiny, but I don't know of a single war started due to crows."
"Unless it's humans shooting crows."
Thano didn't move a muscle."Then there will be a war."
Eli took a deep breath."Still.I can't stay here.This is your home.I can't just move in."
"Of course you can, and you will."
Eli stared at him."What?"
"You heard me."
"Thano."
"No, it's decided."
Eli huffed."You're not the boss of me."
"Actually--" Thano grinned, sharp teeth showing."--I am.You're at The Moonlight Ranch.I'm the leader.I'm saying you're staying, and I'm telling you to get your ass upstairs."
Eli gaped at him.
"Chop, chop."Thano let go of his hand and punctuated his words with two fast claps.
Eli snorted but grabbed his bags anew and started up the stairs.
* * * *
Thano walked behind Eli up the stairs.He needed to fix some food.Eli most likely hadn't eaten since the sloppy eggs Thano had made him this morning, but he didn't have anything in his kitchen other than baking powder.
"Did you bring any food?"
Eli had stopped at the top of the stairs and was staring at Thano's bedroom.It was square.The wolves had built it for him many years ago.They'd made the walls straight and had installed shelves for clothes and space for his suits and shoes with sliding mirror doors he could close around them.The bed was big enough for two, and he had a few shelves with items he'd picked up over the years.
