Set To Start (Morningstars) (6 page)

Finding a way back to a nightly routine was actually everything but easy. Cia had spent a week and a half training the new intern at the day care center. Then she had left with a heavy heart, missing the little ones already after just a few days. November was approaching fast and even though she had managed to obtain more night shifts at the gas station, her time with Kaden seemed even more limited. Most of the time he was out, hunting. He had warned her to stay inside at night since something was up, but he had mentioned that the problem with normal vampires was just that as well: They weren’t blood-crazy most of the time and therefore, they knew exactly how to blend in.

Cia checked her watch yet again and saw that it was close to eleven, but she still didn’t know what to do with herself. She was half awake and half asleep, simply because she couldn’t get into the sleeping-during-the-day-routine. Besides, she was waiting for Kaden. He had promised to make room for her that night and she took him by his word because… well, because she missed him like crazy, hating the short visits he had spared her over the last days.

Sighing again in annoyance, she decided to read a book and just hope that time wouldn’t pass too fast so there’d be enough of the night left once he came around.

The twins entered the compound and Kaden’s eyes fell on Lara and Colbin instantly. They were standing in front of the common room, being so deeply engulfed in each other that he wasn’t sure where one ended and the other began.

Jaden made a gagging noise behind him and Kaden was ready to just turn around and punch him. He was in no mood whatsoever to be the peacemaker between those two again as he was pissed as it was.

Cia had surprised him with her admission that he was going back to the vampire way of life so he wouldn’t have to feel bad when he saw her at night. He didn’t like that she was spending
more
time at the job he considered too fucking unsafe for a pretty girl like her, but he couldn’t deny that it eased some of his worries. She didn’t need to sleep at two in the morning any longer and he’d be able to enjoy more of her body and love, but only if he’d ever get away from the streets. As it was though, they were patrolling every night now and seeing her in secret had been almost impossible. He made sure to drop by at least half an hour, but most of the time not even that worked and he only went there for a quick kiss before he was going home.

Tonight, he wanted to have enough time to be in her, to feel her all around him, to have her kiss all his worries away. Tonight, he needed to be reminded that there was something more out there than just violence and same bleak old routines.

Tonight, he needed her to love him.

Colbin finished kissing his Origin, somehow putting on an even bigger show now as if he was challenging Jaden, but it actually made Kaden want to gag, too.

“Oh please, why don’t you throw her on the floor and just take her right here? No worries, we can jump high enough to get over the two of you,” Jaden snarled and then found himself up against the wall in no time at all. He was struggling against the grip Colbin had on his neck and as strong as Jaden was, he couldn’t get free.

“Do not
ever
talk about Lara that way again or I’m gonna show you what this old guy still can do to your pretty face,” Colbin threatened, his face pulled into a mask of fury. It was the biggest show of emotions besides utter devotion that Kaden had seen in their leader in a long time.

“I’m sorry,” Jaden croaked out and Colbin lowered him to the ground again, stepping back. Lara stood by, watching them with her arms crossed in front of her body.

“You’ll be even sorrier soon,” their leader said, his voice flat with suppressed anger. “You have duty tonight in Upper Helpston. That should give you some time to cool off and maybe remember your place and manners, boy,” Colbin decided and Kaden groaned.

“Thanks, bro. I was hoping for action and we get send to Snoretown itself,” Kaden groaned, but Colbin just turned to him.

“You go with Ryder clubbing. There has to be a Hellraise somewhere and I’d rather not oversee him while we look for normal vampires. Just a handful of hours, then you all can do what you want. But you, Jaden … make sure you cover every street up there. We wouldn’t want our rich people to get scared or worried.”

That was bad, very bad.

“Fine,” Jaden agreed, turning on his heel and Kaden couldn’t help but sigh. This night surely would end in a bar with Jaden not being able to get one up and then punishing some whore or the other for it. Kaden would have to go with him just because he worried that otherwise they’d have another body on their hands and then there would be no going back for Jaden. Ever.

Patrols ended quicker than Kaden had anticipated and he rushed home, hoping that Jaden hadn’t made it back yet. It was still early that night and he guessed he could go and see Cia for an hour or two before he had to get back and play wingman for his brother.

Finding the house completely empty, Kaden hopped in the shower, taking his time to get clean. Nothing could ruin the mood more than vampire blood stuck in his hair. He was tempted to hum, anticipation making his stomach queasy.

There was something in the air, but Kaden just ignored it, chalking his anxiousness up to seeing Cia in a bit. They definitely needed to talk about a schedule. Maybe they could find some nights that worked best for her and Kaden would be able to get some help from Lara, clearing his schedule without anyone realizing where he’d vanish to on those evenings.

Taking a deep breath, he turned off the shower and twisted a towel around his hips, leaving his bathroom to get dressed.

He was startled as Jaden appeared next to him just a second later. Kaden obviously had been so lost in thoughts that his brother had managed to sneak in.
Great work, vampire
, he scolded himself, picking up a brow as his twin just watched him in silence.

“You’re done staring at me, dude?” he eventually asked, taking the towel from his hips to dry his hair. Nakedness wasn’t something he worried about around his twin, after all, they had gone through enough adventures that
hadn’t
involved clothes at all.

“You sleep at the base today.”

Pausing because his brother’s tone was less than friendly, he realized there was a human heartbeat just down the hall. The even breathing let Kaden know that she was asleep, and he couldn’t help but grin.

“You know, it’s more fun when they are awake,” he teased, but when Jaden didn’t even smirk, Kaden’s stomach twisted. This was so not good.

“Get dressed and get out. Don’t come back until tomorrow night,” Jaden growled and finally Kaden let the smile slip from his face. He wasn’t inclined to listen to Jaden fuck someone while he wanted to see Cia, but he was even less ready to leave Jaden alone with a very breakable human girl. Unless…

“She’s not a lay, right?” he asked. It would explain the seriousness Jaden was parading around like his favorite pair of boots.

Jaden ran a hand through his hair, almost pulling out some blond strands while he left his room. Kaden didn’t hesitate one second. He knew Jaden was walking down the wooden steps to their living room and he sure as hell had something to say. In no time, Kaden was dressed, following his twin as Jaden sat on the couch, staring at the blank wall.

“She ran into me. Or better, she should have run me over, but her reflexes are paranormal. If she and I have skin-to-skin contact, her hands glow. I mean, wherever we touch, our skin glows. Oh, and she has super hearing.”

Which would explain why Jaden had relocated them to the living room. Cocking an eyebrow, Kaden listened for a moment.

Vampires had beating hearts, but they were a whisper compared to the thunder a human carried around in his or her chest. And this heartbeat was strong and loud. Kaden could easily pick it up from where he stood while his brother’s heartbeat sounded like a faint echo compared to that.

What worried him were the ‘side-effects’ his brother had described. He had no idea what it meant, but it sure didn’t sound like anything they had encountered before.

“She’s human,” he decided to state. “Maybe your sex-starved mind is imagining things.” By the Creator, he sure hoped that this was the case. Being jerked off or even sucked off wasn’t really a replacement for the act, and that hadn’t happened in forever with Jaden. Maybe, just maybe it was Jaden’s head playing tricks on him so a woman could finally hold his attention again.

There were crazier things out there, right?

Jaden looked up, his expression almost hopeful before it fell again. “Yeah, that … I mean … you still get …”

Kaden instantly nodded. He wasn’t worried any longer that the human would get hurt. He took a deep breath, his heart skipping a beat or two. There was a hint of vanilla and raspberry in the air, making his mouth go dry. It must have been the girl.

“I know,” he finally said, starting to walk over to the door. “I will still get out. Whatever that female is to you, I sure as hell will stay away from her.” He grabbed his daggers, which he had left by the door earlier, and swung a jacket over his shoulder, then he stepped out into the night. Taking a deep breath, he noticed that the scent didn’t leave his nose. It was as if it was teasing, taunting him with a sweetness that should be forbidden.

Dread settled over his body now more than before and Kaden shook his head. He’d go and see Cia before he went to the base. This was something Colbin definitely needed to hear about. If anyone knew what was going on, it was their leader after all.

Cia jumped up the moment she heard movement on her balcony. Beaming, she opened the door for him, her smile almost vanishing right there. It was clear that he was everything but with her that moment.

“Kady,” she whispered softly and his head snapped up. He hadn’t even heard her open the door. “Come on in.”

He followed, his broad frame filling up the room with his presence, and she drank it, and him, in.

He was freshly showered, his hair not yet fully dry. The smell of night air and shower gel clung to him like a second skin. It was tantalizing and tempting, yet torturing at the same time since she wasn’t sure he was okay with touching her.

“Ciarda,” he mumbled, studying her as if he hadn’t seen her before. Her heart was beating in her throat, the traitorous organ a warning that this night could turn everything around and at the same time alerting him to the fact that she couldn’t keep her cool as much as she wished.

Eventually, after he just had looked at her for what seemed to be hours, he closed the gap between them and kissed her deeply. His hands went down her body and he nudged until she jumped up, wrapping her legs around him. Now, this was much more to her liking.