“But of course I knew right off that the little lady was a shifter,” Digger continued. “I hoped she was a bear like me, but it ain’t surprising she’s a wolf. Lots of werewolves in these here parts.”
“Not all of them good,” Phineas said. “There’s a dangerous Alpha in the area named Rhett Bleddyn. He attacked Nate Carson tonight and almost killed him.”
Brynley gasped. “Nate was attacked? Is he all right?”
Phineas nodded and lowered his voice. “We took him to Romatech. We had to transform him.”
Her eyes widened. “Is he going to be okay?”
“Yes. He’ll be fine. Zoltan’s taking care of him.”
“Why would a werewolf attack Nate Carson?” Digger asked. “Nate’s a good guy.”
“Bleddyn is trying to find Brynley,” Phineas explained. “Nate was protecting her, and he nearly died for it.”
“Oh no.” She shuddered in his arms. “Poor Nate.”
Phineas hugged her tight. “Bleddyn knows you’re here. That’s why we came looking for you. I was afraid he would be hunting you.”
“A werewolf hunting another werewolf?” Digger scratched at his beard. “That don’t seem right.”
“My father tried to force me into marrying him,” she grumbled. “I ran away.”
Digger frowned. “ ’Cause you’re in love with an alien?”
“I’m not an alien!” Phineas growled.
“We’re vampires,” Jack said.
Digger stepped back, his eyes wide. “What in tarnation? Vampires?”
“Yes,” Phineas said. “We can teleport and levitate, as you can see—”
“Did you mutilate those cows and drink their blood?” Digger asked.
“No. We drink synthetic blood from bottles,” Phineas replied.
“They’re the good guys,” Brynley insisted. “When I ran away from home, they took me in. And they’ve taken in all the Lost Boys that my father kicked out of the pack.”
“Who’s your pa?” Digger asked.
She took a deep breath. “Caddoc Jones.”
Digger’s eyes widened. “Well, ain’t that somethin’? I know Cad from way back. Well over a hundred years ago.” He ran a hand through his shaggy long hair. “Haven’t talked to him in a spell. Seemed to me he got too big for his britches. Started acting like a jackass. No offense, ma’am.”
“None taken,” she answered wryly.
“Can we come down now?” Phineas motioned to the ground.
“I reckon.” Digger eyed him suspiciously. “You ain’t gonna bite me or my dog, are you?”
“I’d rather starve.” Jack waved the air in front of him, his nose wrinkled against the foul odor.
“Vampires.” Digger shook his head. “I knew there was something strange going on in these hills. You sure you ain’t seen no aliens around here?”
“No. We’re looking for a bad female vampire.” Phineas lowered himself and Brynley to the ground. “We think she’s allied with Bleddyn and staying at the old Haggerty ranch.”
“A lady vampire?” Digger asked. “Did she mutilate the cows?”
“I’m not sure,” Phineas replied. “Maybe.”
Digger tugged at his beard. “This is all very strange. I could have sworn there were aliens around here. Well, I’ll be going now. And taking the deer, if you don’t mind.”
“Go ahead.” Brynley waved a hand. “Bye.”
Digger heaved the dead deer over his shoulders and lumbered into the woods. “A werewolf in love with a vampire. Don’t that beat all?”
Phineas gave Brynley a questioning look as he drew her into his arms. “Could Digger be right?”
“About aliens?”
“No.” He kissed her nose. “About a certain werewolf being in love with a vampire.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Depends on the vampire. Is he in love with a certain werewolf?”
Phineas’s vision darkened to a dusky pink as his eyes turned red. “I’ve always heard that actions speak louder than words.”
She touched his cheek. “What actions do you have in mind?”
“Okay,” Jack interrupted. “I’m feeling a little unnecessary at the moment. I’ll teleport back to the cabin to see if Bleddyn has shown up.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Phineas said without looking back.
He chuckled and teleported away.
“Alone at last.” Brynley smoothed her hand over Phineas’s jaw. “We were talking about action?”
“And words.” He pulled her close. “I do love you, Brynley. I know it won’t be easy. I’m dead half the time. And—”
“Stop.” She placed a finger over his lips. “Don’t come up with reasons not to love me. I want you to love me. Now.”
His eyes turned red. “I can do that.” He teleported away with her.
Brynley landed on cool, soft grass. She quickly looked about and smiled. Phineas had taken her back to the meadow below the Cloud Peak Glacier. One of the most beautiful places she knew.
“Is it all right?” he asked. “I could take you to Romatech or the cabin in the Adirondacks. We could have a bed there—”
“This is perfect.” She breathed deeply of the cool, crisp air. “This is home.”
“It’s not too cold?”
“Cold?” She pulled off his jacket and tossed it on the ground. “Do I look cold?”
His eyes flared a hotter red as his gaze sizzled over her naked body, then settled on her hardening nipples. “Maybe a little chilled.”
“Then make me hot.” She rushed toward him and ripped open the snaps on his shirt. “The animal in me wants to claw the clothes right off your body.”
He pulled her close and nuzzled her neck. “The Vamp in me wants to nibble”—he trailed kisses down her neck —“and bite”—he nipped her shoulder—“and suck the life out of you.” He planted his mouth on her nipple.
“Oh.” She arched her back as he suckled hard.
He picked her up, his hands on her bare rump, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He tugged at one breast, then started on the other.
“Phineas.” She ran her hands over his short hair.
“Mmm.” He tickled the tip of her nipple with his tongue, then pulled her closer so her core was pressed against his bare stomach.
He tugged on her breast in rhythm to rocking her against him. Moisture seeped from her, and tension built higher and higher.
Oh God, she was going to come before she’d even gotten his clothes off.
“Stop!” She pulled his head back and wiggled out of his arms.
“You don’t like it?”
“I love it.” She yanked his shirt off his shoulders and kissed his chest, his nipples, his six-pack abs. He was gorgeous, muscular . . . and walking her backward. “What—?”
He shoved her back, and she landed on her rump on his jacket. With a grin, he pounced on top of her.
He kissed her mouth, then moved down her body, kissing and nibbling past her breasts to her stomach. “You’re so beautiful.”
“You’re still dressed.” She pushed him back, then pulled his legs up to make him fall onto his back on the grass. With a yank, she had one boot off. She tossed it aside and grabbed the other boot. It proved to be more stubborn, and she tugged so hard she lost her balance.
He took advantage, giving her an extra shove so she tumbled back.
“Umph.” She landed on her back with the boot in her hands.
He seized her ankle and nipped at her calf. “Now I have you.”
She tossed his boot aside. “Oh yeah?” She planted her other foot against his chest and shoved him back. As
