“Of course, till then take this,” she said handing her a piece of rope. “This is the charm. Tie it on you, not a piece of clothing but on you and as long as you wear it the vampire shouldn’t be able to persuade you.” Lily nodded, taking the rope and immediately wrapping it loosely around her wrist then thanking her before she got into her car to leave.
She ran a hand through her hair with a sigh, slowly driving to James’s house. Although she knew it was the right thing, part of her felt hesitant to apologize especially after what he said about her decisions. Even if he was right, it was a hurtful thing to say and unwarranted in her opinion. “Oh well, just swallow your pride, Lily,” she said out loud to herself as she parked the car outside of his complex.
James sat in the kitchen as he ate, glancing through the small window seeing the orange hues of the setting sun. The worry for Lily burned through him despite his still being very angry at her. Just when he thought she really had changed she does something to show just how cold she still is. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair with frustration with himself. James had promised himself that he wouldn’t let her get to him like this anymore, but here he was.
There must be some way to purge himself of her effect on him. But as James glanced at the window again and worry that their fight may cause Lily to do something stupid ate at him he had to admit that he wasn’t really sure he wanted to be rid of Lily’s effect on him. He leaned back in his chair as his worry grew as the sun continued to set. Silvano would be coming tonight most likely and Lily shouldn’t be by herself.
“Damn it,” he cursed softly, deciding he was going to start calling people to see if they knew where Lily was. He started to rise when he heard a knock on the door and it open. James sunk back into his chair with a sigh of relief as Lily called out that it was her. “I’m in the kitchen,” he replied back, feeling a large weight lifting off his shoulders. At least she wasn’t that stupid, he thought bitterly.
He scooted closer to the table, lowering his head and continued to eat his dinner as he heard her enter the kitchen. “Uh, hey James,” she said hesitantly. He made a grunt of a reply and pointed to the stove, where the chili he had made sat. Her steps hesitated for a moment before walking over to the cabinets to grab a bowl and filling it with the chili. “Um James,” she started but he cut her off.
“Save it,” he barked, not wanting to hear what he was sure was something venomous. “I don’t want to hear it. I’m not in the mood to go round and round with you again,” he snapped. She cringed at his words making him feel a little guilty but he squashed it. Lily suddenly straightened and he could see her anger easily as she practically dropped the bowl down opposite of him.
“I don’t plan to, you ass,” she snapped and sat down, earning a warning growl from him. He really meant it. He was not in the mood to fight with her now. He could only take so many beatings in one day. “Oh shut up,” she complained with a sigh. He nearly jumped out his seat when she slammed her hands on the table, gripping it as she leaned over. “Give me a god damn chance to apologize James!”
“You think just saying sorry is going to fix the fact you wanted to use me and the mate bond as a shield and everything will just be all okay,” he barked and shook his head. “You really just don’t get it,” he added now standing. Lily glared at him, just as angry as he was and that made him even angrier. What right did she have to be so angry?
“I know I don’t get it,” she snapped back causing him to pause. “I have been part werewolf for a couple of years now, but still I don’t know any of the rules,” she told him a little calmer and he looked at her confused. “Andrew just told me enough to know how to speak so that I wouldn’t accidentally challenge anyone. The Aequivalere in Montana doesn’t really have any werewolves besides me. The local Montana pack… well you know how Nick and I get along.”
“What he do? Ban you?” James asked, feeling the start of a smile starting on his face. Nick, was northern Montana’s alpha and one of the strongest in all of the country yet he was powerless to make Lily bow down and honor his position and power. James had seen it firsthand. While Nick could use is alpha persuasion to forcefully get her to jump when he said jump but she would complain about it and insult him the whole time.
As Nick had stated himself that Lily would have his pack doubting him in a week if she ever actually stayed among them. It wouldn’t surprise James at all if Nick banned her from his pack to save himself. “No,” Lily barked, breaking James from his thoughts and he grinned at her. “He didn’t say banned exactly…” she started with her own little grin. “More like begged me to stay away,” She told him, leaning back in her chair and picking up her bowl.
“Apparently his daughter has enough authority issues for him to deal with right now,” she added then looked at him seriously. “So as I was saying, yeah I have no idea about what it is to be a werewolf. I don’t know all the little symbols and dogma. It’s not like there is a how to be a werewolf for Dummies book out there,” she said taking a bite of chili then leaned forward once more.
“Look James, someone explained the whole marking thing to me and I truly am sorry. I realize now it was a huge mistake and dick move on my part. Can you please just forget I asked? If I knew what it fully meant beforehand I never would have asked. I swear,” she told him when the doorbell rang. James glanced out at the window, it was almost completely dark now and he had no idea who would be coming over at this time. “Expecting someone?” Lily asked.
“I was just about to ask you the same thing,” he replied, getting up from the chair and she shook her head.
“Nope, Jessie made it clear after Evan bumping into you that I’m only to be contacted via cell. I think everyone else knows it’s best to stay off the streets when night falls,” she explained, following him as he walked to the door. James scowled when he opened the door and saw who it was standing there. The pale redhead leaning against the molding, inspecting her nails for a second longer before looking up at them.
She flashed him a sly and flirty smile. “We meet again beastie and don’t you look good,” she said looking him up and down in such a fashion he wasn’t sure if it was in appreciation of his body or desire to make him her dinner or maybe both.
“Bianca,” Lily practically growled and the redhead shot her a nasty look, not hiding her hate for the other. “What are you doing here?” Lily snapped, her voice gruff and rumbled in a slight growl as she spoke. James saw that the hate was mutual, not that he was surprised any Bianca was the one who had killed Lacy.
“What do you think I’m doing here hybrid? King Silvano wanted me to make you aware that he’s coming for you,” the vampire told her then turned her focus to James, her grin returning and showing off her fangs. It was all he could do to not shudder. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again, James,” she cooed at him in a sticky sweet tone that seemed to wrap around him in a warm embrace and he grit his teeth. She was trying to persuade him.
“May I come in?” She started to move past him. With sluggish movements, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back out of the house and into the apartment’s hallway.
“No, no you may not,” Lily snarled at her and James shook his head slightly to try to shake off the effects of the vampire’s persuasion. Bianca crossed her arms and pouted like a petulant child as she glared at Lily.
“That’s not polite at all,” she huffed. “You never share!”
“That’s right I don’t. James is all mine so hands off,” Lily demanded and James glanced over at her. Did she really just say he was hers? “Now tell Silvano, not to bother coming over. I’ve taken precautions and I won’t be his pet so he better just go away or the Aequivalere will throw him in his cell once more if he is lucky!” She slammed the door in Bianca’s face before the vampire could say a word then locked it.
Lily sighed and leaned against the door for a moment before she took out her cell phone. “Who are you calling,” he asked, watching her and noticing the fear starting to come off of her.
“Jessie. Silvano will be here in a few minutes at best,” she told him then when someone picked up she explained what just happened then disconnected the call with a quick, violent tap. “Okay that’s done, now what,” she stated, seemingly to talk more to herself than to him. She jerked up straight then dashed off to the kitchen suddenly and he watched her confused.