Page 60 of Fangs & Fur

After all these years being with Richard, I’ve never had the gall to call him that to his face. But with Xander by my side and the weight of his arms around my middle, I lean into him for support.

“You made my life miserable!” I shout after Richard, who clings to the kitchen island, his body stretched across the floor, and Nyx hisses between her teeth. Latching on tighter, Richard cries as he’s tugged away and over the threshold of the house. His wide fearful eyes dart across the group as he hopelessly searches for anyone to help. But no one moves a muscle.

“Miserable? Come on, baby. I’m sorry. Just get this cat off me!” Richard wails as Nyx continues to drag him down the wooden stairs of the back porch and into the garden. Trickles of blood drip from his ankle as she bites harder.

“Don’t you baby me!” I strut onto the porch and watch from the safety of the railing.

Richard growls, “For fuck's sake, Noah! You fucking asshole! Help me!”

Richard claws at the grass yet the earth is damp and each time he tries to sink his slimy digits into the soil he loses his grip.

I sneer, shaking my head. “You don’t deserve my help.”

Closer and closer, Nyx drags Richard towards the pond. The still, dark water shivers as hands rise above the surface. Some reach for the sky, where others grasp the water and begin pulling it open, creating a dark tunnel.

Ancient screams and wails lift up into the air as the portal is torn apart. Richard thrashes in Nyx’s grip as she backs into the pond, her red eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.

“Oh, fuck you!” Richard spits, his voice torn and broken. “I hope you die. I hope that creature kills everyone in this fucking town. You’ll all burn in hell!”

“Careful what you wish for.” Xander steps in behind me, his hand wrapping around my waist as he presses his body against my back. I sink into the warmth he produces and suck in his welcoming scent.

Nyx slinks into the darkness of the tunnel and Richard cries and wails as he’s pulled over the edge of the pond. His fingers leave deep scratches in the soft earth and with a final look he curses before he’s swallowed into the portal. The echoes of his wails and screams merge with the hum of the night until we are left with silence.

I sigh and feel my knees wobble as my adrenaline fades. Xander picks me up bridal style and steps away from the porch. He carefully extracts the doll from my grasp and slips it into his jacket. I had completely forgotten I’ve been clutching at it all this time.

I’m about to shut my eyes when a flash of orange darts past Xander. Pumpkin races down the steps and across the garden, right for the tunnel as its walls close in.

“Pumpkin!” I cry out, my entire body seizing as fear clutches me. “Stop!”

But my cat doesn’t listen as his fluffy tail curls over the ledge and disappears into the depths of hell.

“He’ll be fine. He’s mated with Nyx.” Xander kisses my temple and steps into the house. Milo shuts the door and speeds to the other side of the house, his gaze closely focused on me.

“How do you know?” I ask.

Xander carries me across the house to the couch and takes a seat. Positioning me across his lap, he swipes a stray curl behind my ear. “Her scent has changed. She carries his litter.”

I gasp and so does Harlan, who stands beside Cassius, looking worse for wear. “Congratulations, you’re cat daddies.” His voice is barely above a whisper and he winces, clutching at his neck.

“Don’t speak. You need to heal,” Cassius murmurs to the little vampire.

Despite the last 24 hours, I find myself grinning ear to ear. Kittens!

“Are you ready to be a dad?” I snuggle deeper into Xander while finding the buttons of his jacket and toying with them.

Xander smiles fondly at me. “With you, more than ready, little mate.”

For the next few hours, the house is quiet. Harlan heals slowly and his voice returns to its usual high pitch giggles and jokes. Ambrose lounges on the opposite couch and hasn’t moved a muscle while Cassius busies himself in the kitchen. Apparently vampires have a knack for cooking.

Milo, on the other hand, has found himself a spot on the very top of my bookshelf where he watches everyone with pursed lips. I quietly laugh to myself at how cat-like the vampire is.

“What’s got you giggling?” Xander strokes my hair, his arms banded around my chest and his free hand massaging my aching bicep.

I shake my head, grinning. “Just how strange it is that for the first time in my life I feel like I’m part of a family.”

“Well, of course you are!” Harlan chimes gleefully from the kitchen table. Cassius washes a handful of leftover grapes and passes the bowl to him. Popping a ripe piece of fruit past his lips, Harlan chews while speaking. “You’re Xander’s mate, which makes you part of our family. No take backs, sorry.”

I chuckle and so does Xander. But despite the newfound bubble of happiness these people have created for me, my mind drifts to Richard. A shiver of anger scuttles across my skin as his words echo through my skull.