Trayis (VLG Series Book 11) Read online

“Me two,” Sylvia said.

  “Me three,” Trayis growled.

  All of them stared at him with surprise. He opened his mouth to continue but a slight noise down the hall had them all turning. Ellis approached them. His eyes were a little red and puffy, as if he’d shed some tears of his own. He kept his focus on Shay.

  “May I speak with you?”

  “Yes.” She stepped closer to him.

  “I’m sorry for how I treated you when we met. I thought…I thought you were lying to me.”

  “It’s okay.” She wanted to hug him but his body remained stiff, as if he wouldn’t welcome touch from her. “It’s not your fault. None of this is.”

  “I have a lot to think about. But I’m going to confront my parents when I go home.”

  Shay hesitated. “Maybe that’s not the best idea. They could shun you.”

  Anger glinted in his eyes. “Maybe I’ll shun them.”

  Dean changed the subject, fast. “Do you know what you need? A snack. Let’s go have one. We always think better with food in our stomachs. Then we’ll talk.”

  Ellis nodded and allowed Dean to lead him back toward the kitchen.

  Shay went to follow but Sylvia blocked her way, shaking her head. “Let Dean calm him. He’ll assure him again that he’s got a home here if he’s shunned. We won’t allow him to become rogue.”

  “Maybe Kale and I could go over to their territory, track down Elvis and Mildred, and beat the fuck out of them,” Marcia growled low.

  Sylvia chuckled, shaking her head. “No. It’s not our way.”

  “It’s the way I want to be.” Marcia sighed again. “But it wouldn’t help in the long run. I know. I still want to kick their asses. I have for as long as I can remember.” She jerked her head toward Shay. “For fucking with my sister.”

  “I’d like to meet them, too,” Trayis said.

  Shay glanced at him over her shoulder, liking the suddenly rough sound of his voice. “You’re doing the black thing with your eyes again.”

  “That’s cool but freaky.” Marcia chuckled. “Kind of sexy, too.”

  “What is?”

  The deep voice startled Shay, and she realized that Kale had opened the front door and entered without knocking. He must have just gotten off work.

  Marcia rushed to her new mate. “He’s here! Mom, you know Kale.”

  Shay clutched Trayis, holding her breath, waiting to see how Sylvia would react.

  Her adopted mother simply smiled warmly and embraced the couple in a hug. “Welcome to our family.”

  Shay relaxed, breathing again.

  “Let’s get back to our date,” Trayis said quietly. “Dinner should be waiting. I almost forget that I ordered something to be delivered.” He pulled Shay closer and addressed her family. “Call us if we need to come back. We will.”

  “Shay never takes her cell anywhere.” Marcia waved her hand over Shay’s dress. “Unless she’s got it stashed in her bra or undies.”

  Trayis gave her family his cell number then led her outside. Shay glanced back as the door closed.

  Trayis immediately scooped her into his arms. “They’re fine. The boy needs time. Dean seems like a good influence, he’ll talk to him until he calms.” He quieted briefly as he carried her down the porch steps. “I like your family, Shay.”

  “I think they like you, too. Maybe we should stay for a bit.”

  “The boy needs man time with Dean. I barely remember being that age, but I know it was difficult to control my emotions. It would be bad if he went home in a rage to deal with his asshole parents.”

  That reminded her of something. “How old are you, anyway?”

  He chuckled, taking her into the woods toward the trailer. “It doesn’t matter. Vampire blood seems to halt our aging process once we hit adulthood, and then it’s very slow.”

  She cuddled into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. It was kind of nice being carried around by him. “So you’re really old and don’t want to tell me.”

  He chuckled. “Exactly.”

  “Keep your secrets, then.”

  “I do have some.” His tone grew serious.

  She considered that. “Will any of them hurt me?”

  “I don’t think so. That’s the last thing I want, Shay.”

  She believed him. “Okay. Good enough.”

  “You still look incredibly sexy. I can’t wait to get you alone.”

  She grinned. “Walk faster.”

  He laughed, picking up the pace.

  Chapter Eleven

  Trayis was glad he’d asked a favor from Ginny. His brother’s mate had pulled through for him. The table had been set with nice dishes and covered food waited as they entered the trailer.

  Shay grinned up at him. “That smells so good.”

  “It does. I had Ginny call the caterer she’d used for the party and order us something special.” He opened the fridge, spotting the bottle of wine waiting. Two glasses were chilling on the shelf next to it. He pulled them out and turned.

  Shay looked surprised.

  “I might come from Alaska but I’m not a complete barbarian.”

  That drew another smile from her. “This is romantic.”

  “I wanted lit candles but that’s a bad idea in a trailer.” He put the bottle and glasses on the table with the food. “Burning it down probably wouldn’t be cool. Then there’s the whole smoke issue. This place is small and cramped.”

  “Don’t forget the forest fire risk. Too many trees,” she teased. “Embers and all that.”

  “I have three fireplaces in my home.” He waved her to take a seat as he did the same, opening the wine and pouring it into their glasses.

  “That sounds nice.”

  “One’s in the open living room, and I wanted one in my bedroom. It gets extremely cold in Alaska during the winter. The third is in another bedroom. My cabin has three bedrooms total, and three and a half baths.”

  “Wow. Somehow, I imagined it would be tiny like mine.”

  He threw back his head and laughed, imagining a VampLycan in such a small cabin.

  “What’s funny?”

  He lifted the covers off the food, presenting it to Shay. He’d requested a few filet mignons for each of them and stuffed clams with fresh vegetables. There was also mashed potatoes with cheese and herbs mixed in. “One of my kind would end up rolling over in bed and falling out of your loft space.”

  “I can see that.” Her gaze darted over his chest and then she held his gaze. “I doubt you’d fit on a twin-sized bed, anyway.”

  “I have an extra-large king-size bed. We make them ourselves.”

  Her mouth opened but then she closed it.

  He shrugged. “I’m tall. I hate having my head against the headboard and my feet hanging off the end on standard human mattresses. Some of the clan are excellent tradesmen. I asked one of them to make me a frame and headboard. Someone else creates larger-than-normal mattresses from human ones we buy. Then we have other members who make the bedding to fit.”

  “You have taskers, too.”

  “I guess so. It’s just not what we call them. They’re skilled tradesmen.”

  She peered at him as she unfolded the cloth napkins and silverware Ginny had laid out. He knew she’d been the one to personally deliver the meals and set the table. Her scent lingered.

  “I like that.”

  He smiled. “We work together in my clan, and we all find something to do that we enjoy. Everyone is happier that way. It’s also nice to be able to create or build something in the winter months when the snow comes.”

  “Tell me more about your clan.”

  He cut a piece of steak and took a bite, carefully considering what to share. He swallowed. “We’re close, like a big family, with the exception of a few troublemakers.”

  She nodded. “Every pack has their fair share.”

  “Mine has fewer of them. It’s a clan leader’s duty to nip that shit in the bud fast.”

  “What if