Feral Bonds

Chapter 52

When the week was up, Natania got another call from Vincent. "Yes?" she said, after digging the device out of her pocket.

"Summon me," was all he said before hanging up.

Natania rolled her eyes and gestured to Gretchen that she was leaving. Gretchen frowned at her, said something to the worker she was talking with, and chased after her. "What's going on?"

"Vincent asked me to summon him, I'm assuming with the collar."

"Guess it's a cheap way to travel," Gretchen said, then grabbed Natania's hand. "I'm coming with you."

Natania squeezed her hand and led her out to the field where the old car was parked. It wouldn't do to have the vampire appear where one of the humans might see him and freak out. They were okay with 'werewolves', but she thought they might panic at vampire.

Natania bit her finger and let the blood drip onto the ruby, then took Gretchen's hand again. Gretchen tensed and Natania looked up to see Vincent and... Lily. Apparently, Vincent could bring passengers with him when he teleported. She wondered how many he could manage as her heart ached in her chest, but Natania forced herself to remain neutral.

"No Ray?" she asked, then grunted as Lily crushed her in a hug. Gretchen kept hold of her hand so Natania awkwardly patted Lily's back with her free hand. Lily flashed her fangs at Gretchen, then squished one of Natania's cheeks before backing off. Natania scowled and rubbed her face.

Gretchen narrowed her eyes at Lily and tugged Natania closer to her, dropping her hand and wrapping it around her waist instead. Natania leaned into her and chuckled. Gretchen wasn't usually possessive, but Natania kind of enjoyed it.

"Someone has to oversee my affairs," Vincent said. "My people don't run themselves."

Natania grimaced. "I don't mean to take you from your people Vincent." She rubbed her arms. "I still don't think it's safe for you to be here."

He rolled his eyes at her. "Hush, Wolf." He stepped forward and put a hand on her head. "You've added more wolves, and have been having your magic drained. We're safe enough. Besides, we could use a little excitement. Being immortal gets quite dull after a few hundred years."

Natania furrowed her eyebrows. "A few hundred? How many are we talking here?" She had known he was over one hundred, Lily had told her that much, but a few?

"Don't you know it's rude to ask people their age?" he said, then laughed when he saw her scowl.

"That's for women," Natania grumbled.

Vincent's hand moved to her shoulder and he tilted her chin up. "Don't be sexist, Natania, it's unbecoming."

Gretchen snickered in Natania's ear. "I'll show you unbecoming," Natania muttered.

"Where do you want us to be?" Vincent asked, ignoring her comment.

"I had our basement blacked out this morning," Natania said, "but we can figure something else out if you'd prefer."

Gretchen frowned at her. "You did what?" she asked at the same time Vincent said, "As I've said before, we'll be dead, not sleeping, so I don't care."

Natania frowned back at Gretchen. "I figured there was less risk of someone intentionally burning them alive in our house than one of the packs'." Gretchen set her jaw and Natania raised an eyebrow. "I can arrange a hotel if you'd prefer. It's only during the day, when we're working anyway."

"No, it's fine. Just be nice if you communicated about these kinds of things," Gretchen replied.

Natania scratched the back of her neck and flushed with embarrassment. "Right, I'm sorry."