Veso Read online

  She wasn’t about to ask for the year he was born. It seemed rude. That also reminded her of her manners. “Would you like to have a seat?”

  He came closer and sat in a chair on the other side of the coffee table. “Thank you, Glenda.”

  “It’s just Glen, please.”

  “My son calls you Glenda.”

  “I’m aware. He seems to have a problem with shortened names, unfortunately. Veso told me about you.” She glanced down at the mug, smelling coffee. She looked back at him. “How you left your clan to care for him when he was just a boy. He loves you a lot.”

  His expression softened. “He shared that with you?”

  “Yes. He told me about his mother too. She sounds like she was pretty terrible to you both.”

  Bran’s mouth compressed into a tight line.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Veso told me about how you built a cabin for him, and you sacrificed a lot to raise him.”

  “It was a privilege, not a hardship. He’s my son.” Bran suddenly leaned forward, his eyes growing brighter. “I want you to tell me the truth.”

  She lowered her gaze fast, staring at the coffee. “Please don’t try to control me.”

  He sat back in the chair. “My son told you about our gifts.”

  “He did.” She glanced up to find Bran’s eyes had returned to their normal color, the unnatural brightness gone. “I won’t lie to you. Just ask me whatever you want to know.”

  “Why are you refusing to be my son’s mate? Is it because he’s a VampLycan?”

  “I didn’t know anything about you until I was kidnapped. The world was round and the scary things in life were diseases and killer criminals. Human ones. I have a life I built and worked hard for. Staying here would mean giving all that up. Plus, I don’t know him all that well. It’s kind of nuts to know a person for less than a week and then promise to spend the rest of your life with them.”

  “The world is still round. Disease and human killers remain frightening for you. That hasn’t changed. Your knowledge has just been expanded, Glen.”

  “That’s true.”

  “The world you lived in will never be the same. You’ll look at pale humans at night now, wondering if they just avoid the sun or if they are Vampires. Do you know what they would do if they believed you knew what they were? They’d come after you. Knowledge is a dangerous thing to them. You’d be seen as a threat, the enemy, and treated as such. You spent time with Vampires. Did you have fun?”

  “No.” She knew where he was going. “I can’t just stay with Veso out of fear though, and because I know he’d keep me safe from them.”

  “Do you feel anything for my son?”

  She bit her lip, not sure how to answer that.

  “Are you confused?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s in your human nature to question things, to be wary of being hurt. Have you had your heart broken by someone in the past?”

  “Everyone has.”

  “Not everyone, but I know the pain that comes with trying to love someone who is incapable of returning those feelings. I wanted to mate Veso’s mother. She birthed my child. It was only right that we join together and become a family. She didn’t agree. It deeply hurt me for a while. It isn’t natural to have a child the way we did. She tricked me.”

  “Veso told me.”

  Bran placed his arms on the sides of the chair, curling his fingers into fists. “He never wanted a mate. We’ve discussed it many times. His mother made him believe he wasn’t worthy of being loved by a woman. I always hoped he’d meet some VampLycan who would change his mind. Instead, he brought you home. I don’t care that you’re human, Glen. It wouldn’t even matter to me if you were a Vampire. My son wants to make you his mate, and I hope you agree. You’d be a fool if you say no.”

  She wasn’t sure how to respond to that but obviously Veso got his attitude from his father.

  “No human will protect and care for you as well as my son would. I know about your world. He won’t have an affair or abandon you one day. A mate is for life.”

  “We haven’t known each other all that long.”

  “Stop acting so shortsightedly human. You’re more than that now.” Bran leaned forward again but this time he didn’t do that funky thing with his eyes. “Try listening to your heart and your instincts. That’s what VampLycans do. We feel deep emotions and go with our gut. My son has chosen you because his instincts, his feelings, his gut tells him you’re the right one for him. You’re compatible with my son in ways that no one else has ever been. He was dead set against it. Think about that. He’s willing to take the biggest risk of his life with you. Won’t you do the same for him?”

  Bran stood. “Eat. Think long and hard while you do, Glen. My son’s heart hangs on your decision when he returns.” He crossed the room to the door and peered back at her. “If he returns. We do die, you know. His mother did. He hasn’t felt much since then—until you. That matters a hell of a lot to me. I hope it does to you too. Your life that you knew will never be the same after all of this. Stop dwelling on that and think of your future. You could have a good one with my son.”

  Glen watched the door close and she sighed, reaching for the coffee. She tugged off the lid and blew, taking a sip. He’d put sugar and milk in it so it wasn’t bitter.

  Bran had given her a lot to think about. That wasn’t how she had imagined their conversation would go down. She was pretty sure he’d want her to leave the territory as soon as possible. Veso had a problem with her being human, but his father didn’t. He just wanted his son to be happy.

  What if Veso never came back? The thought made her chest hurt. “Damn.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Veso just wanted to go find Glenda but he had to stay at the meeting. Lorn had insisted everyone who’d taken part during the mission be in his office for the debriefing in case there were questions. His new clan leader had them all on a conference call with the three other VampLycan and the GarLycan leaders.

  “We took out a total of seventeen soldiers, counting the ones Veso told us about when he first escaped the nest. We found the secondary location where the master was sleeping during the day. It was a dugout where the mine used to store explosives. Three sleeping bags were there.” Lorn paused. “The master confirmed for us that Decker Filmore was working with the Vampire Council in Chicago.”

  “I’ll send scouts that way.” Lord Aveoth sounded furious. “Why do you think there were so many soldiers? Were they expecting us to attack them?”

  “Doubtful.” Veso spoke up. “The master wanted to be called a king. He was a pretentious prick and probably loved having those things at his beck and call.”

  Velder’s voice came out of the speakerphone. “Are you certain you got them all?”

  “Pretty sure.” Chaz glanced around. “The new soldiers were being kept inside the mine and most of the ones in the woods hunting were damn near rabid. Those ones ran at anything that made sound or moved. The motorcycles worked like a charm to draw their attention. We could patrol the skies around that area at night for the next week if you think it’s needed.”

  “Do that,” Aveoth growled. “Those bastard Vampires have harmed enough humans in that area. It’s already going to draw attention, since someone is bound to report those turned or killed as missing persons. What about Vamps?”

  “I killed one when I escaped with Glenda. I killed the master tonight.” Veso had taken him out faster than he’d intended but it was done.

  “I killed a third one.” Lorn adjusted in his seat. “He was hiding with the dead bodies of the victims they’d bled out, probably hoping the decay would hide his scent. It didn’t.”

  “Great joint venture,” Velder praised. “Thank you.”

  Veso gazed at Fray and Chaz, nodding toward them. The other scouts were on the roof, waiting for the twin brothers before flying home to the cliffs. They’d made it out of the human territory before the sun rose. They could fl