A Bloody London Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 2) (24 page)

“Babysitter’s on duty, so don’t worry,” she replied. “Now quit stalling.”

He felt her hand pat the small of his back gently, and he slowly walked up the driveway towards the house. He stopped at the foot of the small front porch for a moment and sighed, but he felt the gentle pressure of Paige’s hand at his back again. He glanced back over his shoulder at her with a dark expression, but she merely stared back with mild amusement.

“Something funny?” he asked.

“Sorry, but Katrina’s so right. You’re really cute when you’re annoyed,” she observed with a smirk.

He rolled his eyes and felt her arm encircle his waist as she pulled him forward to stand before the front door with her. She reached out and rang the doorbell once.

A moment later, the door opened to reveal Devon Archibald wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt. He towered above both of his visitors, but had a pleasant smile on his face. “Please, come in,” he offered as he stood aside for them to enter.

Caleb took a moment to stare up at the tall, muscular vampire. He intended to allow Paige to enter first, but he felt her arm press him forward, and she followed him into the small entry area.

Devon closed the door behind them, and then held his hand out to shake Caleb’s politely. “Welcome to my home. I hope you’ll permit me the courtesy of starting our introductions over by shaking your hand in a gesture of mutual respect and civility.”

Caleb wasn’t happy to be there, but he conceded that there was no reason for him to be rude in the vampire’s own home. He extended his hand, only to have it disappear in Devon’s. But the vampire grasped his hand with a courteous degree of pressure and shook.

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Taylor,” Devon offered formally.

“Likewise, Mr. Archibald,” Caleb replied, feeling a little silly.“You can call me Caleb, I suppose,” he added.

“Thank you,” the towering vampire replied. “And please feel free to call me Devon.”

Afterwards, the vampire moved to shake Paige’s in turn. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Paige.”

“Likewise, Devon,” she replied. “And thanks for seeing us on short notice. I hope that didn’t create any hardships for your schedule.”

“Not at all,” he replied, gesturing towards the living room for them to enter. “Please make yourselves comfortable.”

As they entered the living room, Caleb scanned the room warily before sitting next to Paige on the couch. He took particular interest in the pastoral paintings depicting wildlife and outdoor scenery, and he frowned at the seemingly domestic setting before him. His throat suddenly felt dry, and he coughed into his fist to clear his throat.

Devon started to sit down, but glanced at Caleb when he heard him cough. “Caleb, would you like something to drink?” he asked. “I have Coca-Colas in the fridge.”

His eyebrows rose. “You do?”

Devon nodded as Caleb found himself feeling somewhat surprised by the revelation. It was his favorite cola, though perhaps Katrina had tipped him off to that.

“Well, um, please,” Caleb stammered. “That would be nice, thank you.”

“Glass or can?” Devon asked.

“Oh, a can would be fine, thanks.”

Devon looked to Paige, but she shook her head. “No, nothing for me thanks.”

The large vampire disappeared around the corner, and Caleb looked at Paige with upraised eyebrows. She nodded back at him reassuringly.

Well, he seems polite enough tonight
, Caleb thought.

Devon returned with an open can of Coke and handed it to Caleb.

“Thanks,” he replied, accepting the beverage. “Much appreciated.”

Devon smiled pleasantly and sat in the reading chair opposite from them. “What brings you to grace my doorstep tonight?” he inquired.

“Caleb and I thought it would be a good idea to meet you in person,” Paige began. “I’m not sure when I’ll be leaving town, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.”

Devon appeared thoughtful while steepling his fingers before him. “I’m surprised Katrina didn’t join you,” the large-framed vampire observed. “I thought perhaps with Caleb being present for our first official meeting…”

She smiled in a manner that wasn’t reflected in her steely gaze and casually placed her left hand on Caleb’s thigh, of which Devon took immediate notice.

“I’m Caleb’s guardian, his surrogate vampire. So, I have the latitude to act in his best interests as I deem necessary,” she explained while looking at Caleb. Then she glanced at Devon. “Providing I don’t run contrary to Katrina’s wishes, of course.”

Katrina had spoken at length with Paige regarding what she had said to Devon concerning their agreement, and she felt it important to mirror Katrina’s words as closely as possible to avoid confusion.

“Of course,” Devon replied with a nod.

“I was hoping you might tell me a little about yourself,” she prompted. “That is, unless you feel uncomfortable discussing such personal matters with us.”

Devon considered the two of them for a moment and told them much of the same background story he had related to Katrina, though he glossed over the details of his relationship with Nadida. Caleb found his tale somewhat intriguing from a historical perspective, and he almost forgot his anger at Devon during the recollection. Paige had already heard the story once from Katrina, but displayed respectful interest as the tale was relayed.

“And here we are,” Devon finished and turned to Caleb. “But before we speak further, I’d like to offer my apology for attacking you that night at the preserve. I thought you were prey, but I should have curtailed my hunt after you declared yourself a vampire’s mate. For that, I am particularly sorry, and I hope you’ll accept my apology. And while the offer stands no matter your response, I harbor no resentment if you decline. In my past, I’ve been hated by people who didn’t know me for who I truly was, and yet I haven’t allowed it to make me a bitter person.”

Caleb remained thoughtfully silent for a moment. “Yes, I can see where, in your past, you may have been hated by others simply because of the color of your skin, which is certainly reprehensible. But then, you weren’t hunting them as food at the time, either. Despite that, and hatred aside, does the rabbit not dislike the wolf by its very nature?”

Devon’s eyebrow rose in a degree of surprise and appeared introspective as he considered Caleb’s response. Paige’s hand tightened ever so slightly on Caleb’s thigh, and she glanced at him with a slight frown.

Interesting. I hadn’t looked at it quite that way before
, she mused.

But before anyone spoke, he continued, “But I’m willing to accept your apology in the spirit in which it was offered. However, while I can’t guarantee we might ever be friends, I can certainly agree to be polite and respectful in the future. And I appreciate the gesture of your apology.”

Paige looked sidelong at her young charge with a curious expression, admiring his diplomatic craft. Devon, too, seemed impressed.

“Thank you,” the towering vampire replied. “And yes, I can agree to polite and respectful dialogue from this point. I’m confident Katrina would encourage that, as well.”

Caleb took a swig of his Coke as he glanced at a picture of an elk on the wall to his left. While he wasn’t feeling as angry or anxious as when he arrived, he wasn’t feeling overly happy about being there either.

“There’s something else, actually,” Paige interjected. “There’s a small matter of your blood supply.”

Devon looked taken aback and corrected, “I’m afraid you’re misinformed. I don’t maintain a blood supply here.”

“Exactly,” she agreed. “But if you’re going to be around Caleb much, then I insist you do. I don’t want you encountering him when you’re hungry.”

Devon nodded with understanding, but countered, “That’s a rather expensive prospect for me, you understand.”

“I appreciate your circumstances,” she said. “I was there myself not so many years ago. However, I’m prepared to carry your delivery and blood supply expenses under my account at no cost to you.”

Devon looked up with genuine surprise, and even Caleb cast a perplexed glance at his blonde-haired protector.

“Why?” he asked carefully. “Why would you do that? I mean, forgive me if I seem suspicious, but you have no direct vested interest in my agreement with Katrina, so I’m not sure what your incentive might be.”

The corners of Paige’s mouth rose, and she casually draped her left arm behind Caleb’s lower back. “Understand: I’m Caleb’s surrogate vampire. That means his interests are now my interests,” she explained as her blue eyes penetrated Devon’s.

Caleb smiled and placed his right hand on Paige’s upper thigh.

“And that’s all the incentive I need,” she added with a glance at Caleb.

Devon’s eyes went between Caleb’s and Paige’s faces, and he nodded, as if in understanding. “This is all very unusual to me,” he observed. “I haven’t met other vampires such as you and Katrina, and not merely because you’re alpha females, either.”

There was a brief pause as the dark-complexioned vampire considered the situation. “I appreciate your offer, and I accept. Are there conditions with this gift?”

Paige nodded and answered, “Just that you look after Caleb as called to do so and never allow your hunger to pose a threat to him.”

“Done,” Devon replied easily. “And thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, once more the perky, carefree vampire. “I’ll email you when the first delivery is scheduled. Oh, and always feel free to call my cell if you have questions regarding most anything, particularly matters concerning Caleb.”

She rose from her seat, and Caleb followed suit behind her. “Now, I better get him to a restaurant. He’s not pleasant to be around when he’s hungry, either,” she quipped. “He’s mostly stomach, you understand.”

Devon grinned, shook the short vampire’s hand and turned to Caleb to shake his. “I’ll show you to the front door.”

Caleb found that to be an interesting prospect given the front door was visible from where they stood, but perhaps it was just southern hospitality or something. Nevertheless, he was happy to be leaving, although he conceded the visit had gone better than he had expected.

As Devon opened his front door and stepped aside for them to pass, he offered, “Thank you for stopping by, and please come again anytime. Although I’m away at work a lot, so maybe call ahead of time so you don’t waste a trip unnecessarily.”

They nodded, and Caleb offered, “Well, feel free to visit our home as well. That is, if you happen to be in the neighborhood. And thanks for the cola.”

“You’re welcome, and thank you for the offer, Caleb,” Devon replied. “But keep in mind what I said about hating blindly. I’ve seen what it can do to a person.”

Caleb nodded with a polite smile.

Devon added, “But I’ll also consider your hunting analogy, as well.”

Paige and Caleb stepped outside into the cold night air as Devon watched them walk away. The front door shut quietly as they neared their car.

“Well, the vampire-human summit went pretty well overall,” she said.

“Summit, huh? He tried to eat me not long ago, you may recall,” he pointed out as she unlocked the car doors with her remote.

“I might also have under different circumstances,” she countered slyly as she followed him around to the passenger side.

But he returned her sly expression with one of his own and quipped, “You know, under different circumstances, I just might have let you.”

Her bright blue eyes stared mischievously into his for a moment. She grinned at him and playfully ushered him into the passenger seat with a flurry of her hands. “Don’t tempt me,” she challenged as she softly patted him on top of the head with the palm of her hand, and then shut his door.

She got into the driver’s seat and started the car. Then she paused and turned to Caleb with a smirk. “I’m a wolf, you know. And yet, you don’t hate me by nature, do you, Mr. Rabbit?”

He grinned and downed the remainder of his Coke before placing the empty can in the in-dash cup holder. He turned to her and replied matter-of-factly, “Ah, but I adore you, Ms. Wolf, because you’re a friendly wolf.”

“Think so?” she countered with a raised eyebrow. She grinned, gunned the engine, and whipped out of the driveway and down the street. Once they were navigating through the main streets of the town, she glanced over at him and asked, “Okay, Rabbit, where do you want to eat dinner then?”

He considered that at length and finally replied with a sneer, “Pizza buffet.”

“Pizza buffet?!” she demanded incredulously. “Do you know how strong the stinky, dead, burned meat smell will be in there?”

He remained silent, but grinned back at her evilly.

“This is payback, isn’t it?” she asked with a sour expression.

He chuckled and replied, “Yep.”

“Evil bunny,” she muttered and sped onto the highway headed back towards Atlanta. Once in Atlanta proper, she took him to a pizza place with a dinner buffet and nursed a cola while watching him eat. Despite the strong scent of cooked pepperoni, sausage, and all manner of meats in the air, she relented to nibbling at a slice of cheese pizza and some salad just for show. In the end, they had an enjoyable visit together and chatted and laughed just like two best friends enjoying each other’s company. Afterwards, they returned to the estate, where Katrina was watching some television in the back living room.

Caleb squatted down to kiss Katrina on the lips as she lay on the couch holding the remote control. One brief smell of him told her exactly where they had been.

“Pizza and a lingering scent of…Devon’s home.” She noted the latter with narrowed eyes.

“That’s right,” Paige interrupted before he could be grilled further. “We had a brief meeting, which went very well, I might add.”

Katrina looked up at Caleb, her right arm snaking out to encircle his waist and asked, “Indeed?”

He sighed, leaned against her while squatting on his knees and replied, “Yeah, it went pretty well, actually.”

“How about some random vintage of blood for the pizza-beleaguered vampire?” Paige suggested dryly.

“Sure,” he replied with a grin. “You too, Kat?”