“How do you know the term framily?” I blurted.
Kaippa swung his legs around and left his luxurious bed. “I listen, Coren. I listen to the world around me instead of getting stuck in my old, ancient ways.” He glanced at Lucus and winked. “I knew you’d miss me. I’m the one who tells you the unvarnished truth, without Aurelio’s kiss-ass attitude and Baccio’s relentless brooding.”
Aurelio snarled, but Baccio just snorted and turned his back to study the antiques above the room’s hearth.
I rolled my eyes. “You looked pretty broody on that bed just now,” I said to Kaippa. Surely he wouldn’t have hurt Titus. But he was unpredictable. I didn’t want to say anything to set him off and make things worse. “You accidentally nabbed a friend of mine. His name is Titus.”
Kaippa scratched his chin, then poured a glass of dark red wine at a side table. “Skinny fellow?”
“No.” Hekla crossed her arms like she was afraid of what she might try on Kaippa. “He’s actually pretty bulky.”
Kaippa looked Hekla up and down. “Hello, wheat girl. Do you know why Coren has her trousers in a bunch about my wonderful set up here at the manor house? After all, she is fated to wake the world and show them all the magic they’ve been missing.” He faced me suddenly, and I sucked a breath, surprised at the feral look in his eyes. This was Kaippa in his element, sated on blood and free to act in any way he pleased. “You are the Yew Queen, Coren. You must pull the blinders from the humans. I’m merely helping you get started toward your goal.” He leaned close, and Lucus was between us before I could blink. Kaippa laughed, and his breath smelled like hot metal, like blood. He sniffed my hair, then backed away before Lucus lost his temper. “I’m surprised your fated mate bond is so strong considering it’s his fault your life is such a hot mess.”
“I’m willing to risk the mess for the hot,” I snarked. “Now can we see if you have Titus, please?” I longed to wring his pale, vampy neck, but I had to keep it nice until we figured this thing out.
Kaippa led us out of the room, a swagger in his step as he crossed the popping hardwood boards. Hekla stared at him like she was afraid he’d disappear.
“Just tell us when to move, Coren,” Lucus whispered. Baccio and Aurelio nodded over his shoulder while Hekla hurried past them to walk beside me.
“I’ve got this,” I said to them. I didn’t want them fighting all my battles. It was past time I dealt with disaster on my own.
Down the hall, another bedroom boasted wallpaper in puke green and a bed with tangled sheets.
Titus sat in the corner.
Dried blood darkened the collar of his ripped tee shirt, and the tracks of fallen tears painted lines through the blood on his cheeks and neck. He seemed to be asleep sitting up. The guy who had helped me go from victim to confident martial artist after the break-in at my place had been cut down to a frightened, beaten down version of himself.
Rage like a whip of fire lashed through my limbs, and I flung myself at Kaippa.
“I’ve done nothing but help you.” My throat burned. “And you reward me by assaulting my friend?!”
I threw a palm strike toward his jaw that he deftly avoided. Beside me, Lucus tensed, ready to fight. Raising a knee, I pretended to go for Kaippa's groin, and when the vampire lowered his hands to protect himself, a stupid smirk on his stupid face, I banged a solid hammer fist into his smart-ass mouth.
“Smirk again, you piece of shit! Do it. I’m having the time of my damn life right now!”
Kaippa sputtered, bending double and cupping a hand under his bleeding mouth and nose. “Well done. The infant mage still uses her human tactics.” His laughter razored under my skin.
Oh, Kaippa was going to die.
My teeth ground together. “You are going to let Titus go right now. And you are going to suffer the worst kind of death I can think up if he doesn't get back to one hundred percent in about five minutes.”
“Yeah!” Hekla shouted.
Kaippa waved us off. “Slow down, ladies. Your friend is fine. I only took a little snack.”
“Your snacking on humans days are over,” I said.
“I really don't think you can control me, infant mage.”
“Kaippa.” Lucus growled deep in his throat, and it was both scary and sexy.
Kaippa winked at him. “I realize you are the big fancy badass now, Coren, but I don't think you have the time to chase down one measly vampire’s daily choice of prey. A world of hurt is about to land on your face in the form of the Mage Duke.”
I met his gaze and narrowed my eyes, summoning lightning to my fingertips.
Then I threw my amethyst power at his chest.
He fell back and stumbled against the old four-poster bed, his hands splaying over the ugly wallpaper. Hekla grabbed Titus’s arm and dragged him out of the room while Baccio, Aurelio, and Lucus surrounded the vampire.
Kaippa laughed as he stood. “Fine. Fine. Take your friend home. I have no need of him. The other humans I have here will stay even if you give them the choice to leave.” He sniffed toward the door like he was trying to smell Hekla or Titus.
“Why did you even take him if you have a bunch of disciples already?” I asked. “Hmm? I find it really interesting.”
His smile dropped, and he glanced toward the door. Hekla’s voice carried through as she comforted Titus. Kaippa’s annoying grin returned as he looked at me. “I was bored. I’ve grown used to having you lot around for entertainment.”
Sure. I believed that. He had some nefarious plan. Maybe Lucus would know. “What’s the deal with these other humans you supposedly have here?”
Baccio cocked his head
