Veso Read online

  Glen kept distanced from the downed man by backing up. She turned, stared out at the trees across the cleared space, then closed the door. She locked it in case someone else showed up at the cabin.

  Veso came down the ladder less than a minute later, empty-handed. He strode over to the backpack on the floor near her and dropped to his knees, opening it up.

  “I should have checked here first.”

  Glen frowned at the sight of the old-fashioned shackles Veso withdrew. They were bulky restraints with about a foot of chain between the cuffs. “What the hell?”

  “I’m guessing he got these from a Vamp. They’re stronger than normal handcuffs.” Veso turned, walked on his knees to the guy lying on the floor, and rolled him over. He shackled his wrists behind his back.

  “They look a little rusty. Maybe we should find some rope or something else.”

  “If they were good enough for me, they are good enough for him.”

  Glen opened her mouth, then closed it. It wasn’t worth arguing over. She’d heard every word exchanged and Veso had been right. The man was working with the master. He’d have shot a dart at Veso to knock him out and returned her to that horrible mine if he’d been able to. “I’m starving.”

  “Shower first. You’re cold.”

  “Do you think there’s hot water?”

  “Probably. He’s got solar panels and a utility shed in the back. It means there’s a generator and possibly a water tank. I’m going to check out our weapons situation.”

  In other words, he wanted her out of his way. She didn’t complain. At least he wasn’t ordering her to cook him food this time.

  Glen rushed toward the bathroom, grateful the cabin had electricity when she flipped on a switch and the light came on.

  She closed the door and frowned at the crude bathroom. It had a shower stall and a toilet but no sink. It didn’t matter though when she turned on the water and waited half a minute, running her fingers under the spray. It began to warm.

  “Yes!”

  Veso couldn’t help but smile when he heard Glenda mutter that single word. He had been pretty certain the cabin would have hot water. It had been built sturdy for year-round use, not just some summer hunting shack. He located two guns in the cabin, including a shotgun, and then returned to the sleeping human. He rolled him onto his side and knelt low, getting close.

  “Wake and look at me,” he demanded.

  The human’s eyes opened and Veso focused, pushing his power at the man’s mind. “What were your exact orders about the woman?”

  “King Charles wants her alive and unhurt. She’s important to him.”

  “I bet she is.” It still pissed him off thinking about the master’s plans for Glenda. “How many other people are out working with you during the day?”

  “There’re eight of us.”

  “How many close to here?”

  “Three more.”

  “Where are they?”

  “Bob and Linda have a cabin two miles down the stream where it meets up with the river. Chuck is about four miles to the north.”

  “Describe them to me.”

  Veso listened, realizing neither of the men were the two who had attacked them earlier at the river. The human grew silent, staring at him. “Does anyone come here at night?”

  “No. We’re not allowed to go out after the sun goes down, until it rises. We’re to ignore any sounds unless we think it’s you or the woman. Then we’re supposed to call it in but must stay inside.”

  It was just like he’d thought. The master feared his soldiers would kill his human thralls. “How do you get supplies?”

  “I walk to Bob and Linda’s place and pick them up.”

  “How do they get supplies?”

  “They have a boat.”

  It wasn’t what Veso wanted to hear. “Do you have a vehicle? Do they?”

  “I have a dirt bike but I’m low on fuel for it. Bob owns the boat and a small backhoe. They’re about to expand on their cabin. Linda is pregnant.”

  Veso felt pity for the humans. It wasn’t their fault that they were helping the Vampires. The fact that the woman was pregnant made it worse. The master would dispose of them when he had no use for them anymore. “Go back to sleep and stay that way until I tell you otherwise. You’re exhausted.”

  The human closed his eyes and his body relaxed. Veso gripped him, lifted, and went over to the closet. He jerked open the door, gently laid the man down in the confined space, and left him inside. He closed him in and blocked it so the human couldn’t get out. Then he walked over to the cabin door.

  Glenda had locked it but she hadn’t noticed the secondary way to secure it. He lifted the two sturdy bars and shoved them into the brackets on each side of the frame. The human had probably had a few bears attempt to enter his cabin and had added the brace system to help keep them out.

  There were solid shutters on the interior of the windows. He closed and barred the two on the lower floor and then checked the loft. It didn’t have a window. Bears must be a big problem in the area for the human to have taken such measures. It was a good thing. It would make it harder for a Vampire to break into the cabin, and they’d have to put some effort into it. He turned on a light in the loft, a small lamp, then just jumped down to the main floor.

  Veso glanced at the closed bathroom door, then entered the kitchen, flipping on the light. They both needed to eat. The human was well supplied on canned food. He used his claw to slice open the tops of two of them and dumped the stew into a pot. He scowled at the plug-in burner and figured out how to turn it on. The kitchen was as basic as it got and there wasn’t a fridge.

  The water turned off in the bathroom and Veso realized Glenda wouldn’t have clothes, unless she put on her damp ones. He probably should return to the loft and get her something to wear but he remained where he was, using a spoon to stir the chunky meat and vegetable mix inside the pot. A smile curved his lips. He liked seeing her in a towel. He might even steal it off her body again.

  His amusement quickly faded though when the bathroom door opened and she did step out in just a towel. Her skin was pink from the warm water, her hair wet, and the sight of her exposed limbs and the tops of her breasts gave him a whole new hunger. He wanted her. His dick stiffened and desire spread through him.

  Shit. The attraction isn’t fading. I can’t want a human.

  “That shower felt like heaven. There is hot water. I made sure I left some for you. I’m assuming it’s limited, right? I mean, there’s probably a really small water tank for this cabin. I looked in the cabinets. No new toothbrushes but he had dental floss and lots of toothpaste. I think I did a good job with my finger of getting my teeth clean. I’ll never take that for granted again.” She smiled. “Did you see any clothes upstairs that we can borrow?”

  “Yes.”

  She walked to the ladder, then froze.

  Veso stirred the pot again but kept his gaze locked on her. She had such soft-looking skin. Delicate. Both pale and pink, so foreign to him. VampLycan women tended to be tan and really fit. Bigger. His dick didn’t seem to care that Glenda wasn’t his normal type or that she was human.

  “Problem?” He guessed why she paused. She’d have to let go of her grip at the top of the towel to climb. It might actually fall off and expose every inch of her to him.

  She looked into his eyes. “Um, why don’t I finish cooking that and you go up there to find me something clean to wear?” She turned a little and stepped closer.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warned.

  She halted, her eyebrows arching. “Do what?”

  “Come near me.” He lowered his gaze, fixating on the tops of her breasts exposed over the edge of the towel.

  She took a step back. “Don’t even think about it. Your eyes are changing color again.”

  He jerked his gaze up to hers. “Don’t wear so little around me then.”

  “There was nothing else in the bathroom to put on. Let’s n