“Puppy?” Fallon asked and River reached
pulling me into a tight hug.
I rested my head in his chest, feeling my stiff body relax. River was my safe space, and as he held me tightly, I felt tears spring to my eyes.
“Were you hurt at all? Did anyone… touch you?” River’s voice shook slightly, and the other vampires looked at me, waiting for my answer.
I shook my head and glanced over at Fallon, frowning when Lion gazed at at the small vampire curiously, swiping his eyes along his body. “You’re as fucking small as Raven,”
Fallon didn’t say anything, but looked at me as River slowly let me go. Dune walked over and hugged me, the air whooshing out of my lungs as Cross circled Fallon with narrowed eyes.
“Stop looking at him like he’s some farm animal, he’s
my ”
“We’re keeping him?” Tin asked as Dune let me go, and I stumbled to the side before righting myself.
“I’m sure he has a life to get back to,” River pointed out and walked over, offering Fallon a hand. “My name is River, is there anywhere you’d like us to
Fallon moved around River’s outstretched hand and I watched with wide eyes as he walked in front of me, slowly placing his head into the crook of my neck. His hand found mine, and he held it tightly.
“You’re scaring him!” I exclaimed and shot them all the stink
eye.
“Well look at that, replaced by a vampire she met after she was kidnapped and going to be sold,” Cross drawled and crossed his arms.
River looked thoughtfully at the interaction and hummed. “Off to bed-”
“Oh! What about Kayla?” I asked slowly, just now recalling her, and going pale. “Is she okay?!”
River nodded. “Yes, she’s fine, she’s staying at a hotel, she night?”
wanted some space.” River looked at Fallon. “Is your new friend going to be staying the
I nodded and Dune raised a hand. “I’ll find him something to wear, and maybe get some hot water ready for a bath.”
Fallon’s long lashes tickled my neck as he opened his eyes, slowly raising his head and meeting my eyes. I smiled and squeezed his hand, making Cross narrow his eyes.
“Are we seriously letting some strange boy in our house? And letting him this close to Raven?” Cross demanded.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll call the police and see if we can find out where this kid belongs tomorrow.” River murmured then glanced at me. “Why don’t you go to bed, and we’ll take care of him?”
I shook my head. “No way, not happening, come on Fallon, I heard Dune turn on the water,”
Cross made a sound in his throat, but no one stopped me from going upstairs with the vampire.
Cross pov
My jaw ticked in annoyance as Raven fretted over the scars Fallon had on his back and chest as he sat in a bathtub wearing some of Dune’s briefs, getting washed by my fucking human.
Raven had always been the caring type, going as far as to bring a family of squirrels into the house once, because she thought they were cold.
The four of us sent River a look, telling him silently that this boy had to go, and soon. He raised his hands and sighed, looking at Raven as she washed the boys hair thoroughly.
“Raven, can you tell us what happened?” River asked, and Raven looked over her shoulder at us, green eyes shining.
“Well, I was knocked out and found myself in this dark room with Fallon and two girls, then I was brought out on this stage…” A frown came to her face, and I waited impatiently at she thought for a moment. “There was a bid, five hundred million, I think,”
1 sneered. “That’s it?!”
– Lord
17.8%
Chapter 35
River sent me a look and I scowled, looking away.
“That’s a lot of money,” Fin told me, and I gave him a sharp look.
“Not enough for Raven,” Lion agreed and leaned on the wall with crossed arms,
“Do you know what the person looked like?” River asked slowly, and my spine went stiff, Dune and I sharing a look as Raven turned, narrowing her intelligent eyes at us.
“What does it matter? He was wearing a mask anyway,” she said and got the body wash, making my fingers flex with the need to tear her away from Fallon.
“If you saw him, so you think you could recognize him?”
Raven’s small fucking hands paused on Fallon’s shoulders. “Yes… I could,” she bit her lip, and I watched the movement.
“Good, we’ll go to the station tomorrow, and you can take a look at the people there, and we’ll also see where Fallon needs to be.” River told her.
Raven smiled kindly at Fallon when he kept his head down nervously before she gazed at River with narrowed eyes. “What does it matter?”
River sighed and looked away, making me roll my eyes. “Because we want to kill the Bastard,” Lion told her, and she scoffed in her throat, accepting the half lie.
“Dune, could you get me a fluffy towel? I need to dry him off-”
“He can’t dry himself?” Fin interrupted, tensing. I clenched my hands into fists.
