Jared (27 page)

Looking at his phone he frowned. “Well
,
I wish someone would have told me. I had no clue she had feelings for me.”

Tessa glanced at
Gramps
who started getting fidgety. “You ready to go to your room
Gramps
?” When he didn’t respond she glanced at Jared who was also looking at her grandfather.

“Yeah, he’s ready.” Jared started to stand to help Tessa take him to his room, but Adam stopped him.

“I got it.” Adam took his plate to the sink then headed toward his grandfather. “Come on
Gramps
. Let’s go take a nap.”

“Adam, I need you to unblock Tessa.” Jared looked away from Adam to Tessa.

“Why?” Adam ask
ed
cautiously.

Jared was not one to have to explain himself, but he knew how protective Adam was of his sister. “
Last night the
half-breed
claimed to be her mate. I need to see if I can read her.”

“He’s not her mate.” Adam stated firmly.

Tessa frowned. She vaguely remembered the mate thing, but with the fear for her grandfather and the chaos she had totally forgotten about that.  “What exactly does that mean?” When no one answered she looked at Jared. “I don’t even know this guy so how can I be his mate.”

Jared
’s
gaze didn’t waver. “In our world it is thought that all vampires have mates. The feelings for our mates are unlike anything imaginable, very intense.” His eyes darkened slightly. “We cannot read our mates.”

“Doesn’t the other person need to have these feelings also.” Tessa was
really not
liking where this was going. “Because the only thing I feel for this person is anger for putting my grandfather and friends in danger.”

“
It usually works that way
.” Sid spoke up. “Jared here doesn’t have much faith in the mate thing, never has. But it’s the way of our world whether he likes it or not.”

Tessa stared at Jared while listening to Sid. “Do you have a mate?” She was proud that her voice held strong, not a single crack.

Jared cocked his eyebrow as he leaned forward. “Do you really need to ask me that?”

Cheeks flaming Tessa looked away. Maybe that question was better asked when they were alone. Instead of saying anything she just shook her head.

“She’s unblocked.” Adam announced still standing with their grandfather by the door.

Their eyes locked when Tessa brought her hopeful gaze back to his to see a grin spread across his face. “
Well?”

“Nothing.” Jared voice had deepened. “Total blank.”

“Usually no
t something a girl wants to hear
.” Tessa replied, but felt her heart skip a beat. If she had a mate Jared would be her only choice.

A loud clatter of a utensil hitting a plate brought everyone’s attention to Sid who was looking at Tessa with a horrified expression. “Umm bro. Don’t kill me, but….” Sid looked at Jared with the same horrified expression.

“Don’t even fucking say it.” Jared growled pushing
angrily
away from the table.

Sid shot Tessa a look of disbelief. “Are you sure she’s unblocked.” Sid shot the question to Adam.

Adam didn’t say a word, just nodded.

“She’s a total fucking blank.” Sid’s words echoed in the totally quite room.

Jared and Sid practically pulled Duncan’s door of
f
the hinges as the
y
both tried to fit through the door with Tessa being pulled behind them.

“What the hell?” Duncan and Sloan both stood.

Sid just pointed at Tessa, opened his mouth then shut it again.

Sloan took a step forward his eyes on Tessa. “You must be Tessa Pride.”
His features soften
ed
as he looked at her. “I’m Sloan Murphy.” He inclined his head slightly. “On behalf of the Vampire Council I would like to thank you for giving us the vial. We have our people working on it now.”

“Why wouldn’t you help my brother when I called?” Tessa demanded rudely ignoring his thank you. She knew Sid and Jared had their agenda for being here now, but she had waited
a long time
to face one of the
C
ouncil members. “If you would have been a little more understanding you would have had the vial sooner.”

His look of surprise was priceless. “I’m not sure I understand.” He looked at Jared then back to her.

“I called when my brother was first turned after we got away. I ask for help, but the only help the person on the other end wanted to offer was locking my brother up.” Tessa replied anger making her voice tremble.

“Why have I not been informed of this?” Sloan’s angry question was directed toward the warriors in the room.

“That’s what we would like to know.” Duncan replied. “I have been getting text messages from an unknown source. The number cannot be traced because it’s never the same phone number. The last text I received a half an hour ago indicated that we have a
traitor
in our mist. Whether it’s the council or among the warriors was
n’t
clear.” He tossed his phone to Sloan.

The older vampire just stared at the phone his face a mask of irritation and rage.
Finally
he looked away and back to Tessa. “Ms. Pride I apologize for what has happened and believe me
,
we will get to the bottom of it. We are here for the protection of not only our own kind, but the human race and we take our job seriously.”
Tessa nodded, still weary of her brother’s standing with the
C
ouncil, but this guy seemed to be on the straight and narrow. “After meeting the warriors I believe that. They have done nothing but help my brother and the others who have been turned.”

He took his gaze from Tessa turning it on Sid
and Jared
. “Now what is so important you about t
ore
Duncan’s door apart, not to mention dragging this beautiful young woman in here?”

Sid was still pointing. “I can’t read her.” Sid choked out
casting a sideways glance at Jared who snarled at him.

Duncan’s head snapped back in shock. “What do you mean you can’t read her?”

“Nothing
.” Sid pointed to her head
glaring at her
. “I mean absolutely nothing.”

Tessa rolled her eyes which caused Sloan to chuckle. He turned to Jared. “And you? Can you read her?”

“No.” Jared hissed his eyes narrowed at Sid. “Absolutely nothing.”

Well
,
at least Jared didn’t point to her head. “My brother said he unblocked me.” Tessa added as if it would help. She then noticed that both D
uncan
and Sloan were looking at her with the same horrified expression Sid had in the kitchen.

“You have got to be
fuckin
kidding me.”
Jared cursed smacking his hand on the wall beside him.

“Thank God!
I thought I was literally dead meat.
” Sid stepped away to stand beside Duncan and Sloan. All three stood staring at her as if she was some kind of science experiment. “Can she be a mate to more than one vampire?”

“Hell no she can’t!”
Jared stepped in front of her bearing his fangs.

Sloan was the first to snap out of it. “Get her brother and Damon in here.” Sloan glared at Jared. “Put them fangs away warrior. No one here is going to
touch her.”

“Damn straight.” Jared replied, but then did as told and backed down.

Adam walked in looking at the door dangling on the hinges. “What’s up?” He grinned, then his eyes narrowed at the tension in the room.

“You’re Adam Pride I take it?” Sloan assessed him quickly.

“Yeah.” Adam glanced quickly at Tessa. “And you are?”

“Sloan Murphy, Vampire Council.” He stated matter of factly. “Have you unblocked your sister?”

He waited for a second before answering. “Yes.”

“You’ve had her bloc
ked ever since you both escaped?
” He questioned further.

“At all times until just fifteen minutes ago.” Adam answered walking to Tessa to stand by her side.

“Impressive. Can you block anyone?”

“Yes.” Adam replied. “I can also read anyone, even if they block
,
by touching them.”

“What number am I thinking of?” Sloan put him to the test.

“Don’t know….you’re blocked.”
Adam grasped his wrist when Sloan held out his arm.
“One thousand six hundred and forty.”

“Nice.” Sloan grinned impressed. “You planning on joining with us?”

“Depends.” Adam didn’t grin or jump for joy at being complimented by one of the famed
C
ouncil members.

“On?”
Sloan frowned.

“
W
hat happens with my sister in the next few minutes
because obviously this is about her
.” Adam didn’t pull any punches. His loyalty has been and will always be with his family.

Sloan inclined his head. “I respect that, but your sister’s welfare is very important to us as is all human affairs.”

“Good.” Adam’s response was said firmly, his stance strong.

“I like him.” Sloan looked at Duncan. “Make sure he starts training right away. We can use someone like him on our side.

“Done.” Duncan replied glancing at Adam who hadn’t taken his eyes off the
C
ouncil leader.

“Obviously you can read your sister
.
” Sloan
said
as Damon walked in the door.

Adam grinned. “Yes, but I don’t because she swore she would stab me in the heart with anything she could find.” At Sloan’s confused expression Adam glanced at Jared who nodded. “I have a heartbeat. The only way to kill
us
is to stab
us in the
heart.
Silver doesn’t both
er
us either.
”

“So you are truly half human..
half vampire.”
Sloan’s expression clearly showed his interest. “We seriously need to find out what is in that vial.”

“Okay
,
can we get back to this little problem we have.” Sid threw his hand up in the air. “I mean no disrespect, but I really want to live to see another day.” He eyed Jared who was still glaring at him.

Duncan looked over at Damon. “Can you read Tessa, because she is a total blank to everyone in this room other than her
brother?
”

“Yeah, totally nothing in there.” Sid pointed at her again as if accusing her of doing it on purpose.

Damon looked at Tessa and grinned. “Sid
,
I would suggest you stop saying there is nothing in her head because she is about ready to kick you…” Damon laughed staring at Tessa. “
in your…ah…
pride and joy.”

Sid narrowed his eyes, but took a step back. “So you can read her?”
He ask
ed
Damon without taking his eyes off Tessa.

“Yes.”
Damon actually winked at her. “Clear as day.”

“What the fuck is going on.” Sid cursed truly freaking out. “I don’t want my brother thinking I’m going to move in on his territory.”

Sloan crossed his arms. “I’ve heard of this, but never experienced it before.”

“What?” Jared
tried to keep the edge out of his voice, but failed.

“Where
an
unmated female has all the power.” Sloan sighed. “It can cause total ch
aos among vampires
,
especially warriors
,
if she doesn’t mate with one soon. It’s very rare and I have never heard of it happening with a human female before.”

“Doesn’t the male have to have some kind of feelings toward
her?
” Sid had started to calm down a little. “Cause I mean in all honestly she’s nice, but not my type.”

Tessa snorted. “That’s good cause you’re a little short for my liking and Brad Pitt never did anything for me.”

“She’s perfect.” Jared growled.

“I’m not saying she’s not.” Sid held out his hand. “Jesus, this is a no win situation. If I say she’s hot I get my ass handed to me by you and if I say I’m not a attracted to her I hurt her feelings. Dammit man. If I could sweat I’d be sweatin balls right now.”

Damon laughed followed by Duncan, Adam, Sloan and finally Jared.
Tessa didn’t
join
in with their laughter she did smile however
,
shaking her head. “What in the hell have I gotten myself into?”