“That’s why your master allowed you to treat Antina’s children? He wanted favors?” Kraven leaned forward a bit.
“I never told him about them. He gave me enough blood so I was awake and mobile during the day but he never came here himself. I feared he’d steal the children from her. He could have used them to force Antina to assassinate other masters around the city.” Dr. Brent grimly regarded Bat. “He would have ended up killing you both, and possibly your mother, when he got what he wanted from her. I refused to let that happen. He was a real bastard.”
“Was?” Kraven leaned even closer.
“Antina killed him, earning her the gratitude of every Vampire in the city. He terrorized my nest, plus the other ones in the area. He was the oldest and most powerful master in this territory. He forced everyone to pay him tribute.”
“What does that mean?” Bat glanced between them.
Dr. Brent grimaced. “He would literally make us kiss his feet, for one. And he took whatever he wanted from all Vampires. Money. Property. Hell, he even stole a few brides from another nest, and wiped it out completely when they complained, just to set an example to others. Antina knew he’d use her daughters against her if he ever learned of your existence. She killed him for all of us, as well as for her own safety. She made a deal with the nests, including a few members of mine, before she let her presence be known to my old master. You VampLycans are devious and brilliant. As was her plan.”
“Which was?” Kraven asked.
“I hated my master, and Antina figured some of the others in my nest might feel the same. None were strong enough to take him on, and the Vampire Council would have come after us anyway for killing our sire. They would’ve wiped out our entire nest as punishment.”
“There’s a Vampire Council?” Bat was stunned.
“Yes. There’s no law against someone else killing a master if they don’t belong to the nest he created.” Dr. Brent smiled. “Antina was beautiful and a VampLycan—two things he couldn’t resist when she offered herself to him as a lover. She played on his vanity to get his guard down and took his head before he knew what happened.”
“My mom cheated on my dad?” Bat was horrified.
“No.” Dr. Brent chuckled. “She just pretended she wanted to join forces with my old master, to be the most powerful couple and rule the city. His greed was his downfall. He would be in charge of the Vampires and she could gain control of the packs. They went to his bedchamber together but she walked out alone. It was done, and every Vampire in the city owed her their gratitude.” He looked pointedly at Kraven. “Her children have always been safe with us.”
Kraven didn’t seem appeased. “What about the Lycans?”
“They were treated badly by my old master. They owed gratitude to Antina as well after his death. Lycan packs no longer have to pay money to live in peace with us. It was one of the terms she made with the nests. Peace between the two and no more cash demands. She left them alone and they gave a wide berth to her and her children. Her family was deemed off-limits by all.”
“Wasn’t anyone tempted to go after her daughters once Antina died?” Kraven shifted his weight in the chair, making it creak. “No one likes VampLycans.”
“They are weak and harmless. It wasn’t worth pissing me off.”
Kraven arched an eyebrow.
“I treat a lot of the packs. It’s why I keep day hours. They can’t go to human hospitals and few of them have the patience to go to medical school. You know how they are.”
Kraven nodded.
“I don’t know. Clue me in,” Bat stated.
“Werewolves are moody creatures.”
“Lycans,” Kraven corrected. “And I wouldn’t say they’re moody, so much as intolerant of sitting still for long hours. They enjoy working physically demanding jobs, rather than careers that call for years of schooling.”
“It bores them,” Dr. Brent added. “So I give them ultrasounds to see if their next pup is a girl or a boy. They enjoy finding that out. Sometimes there are breech births. I make sure the mothers don’t suffer and the pups live. Parents like to know their pups are healthy and growing strong. I examine their children to alleviate their worries. I dig out bullets from time to time still, so they don’t have to heal around them. It can cause nerve damage and enduring pain otherwise. I’m still excellent at setting broken bones. Sometimes I’ll stitch one up if he or she is really torn up from some pack disagreement. I’m useful to them, and we’re on friendly terms.”
He addressed Kraven. “I tell everyone I’m Batina and Dustina’s godfather. They respect me enough to never give them trouble. Batina has earned their respect on her own, with some of the legal help she’s given them.”
“Some of my clients are Werewolves?” That surprised her.
“Lycans,” Kraven muttered.
She ignored him. “I had no clue. Which ones? Give me a few names.”
“I can’t. They know you aren’t aware of what they are.” Dr. Brent sighed. “Your mother was a highly respected woman who did a lot of good when she was alive. You’re safe here in the city, Batina. You never should have left. Is she in danger, VampLycan?”
“Yes. Her grandfather wants to use Bat to start a civil war between the four clans.”
“Don’t tell anyone else that.” Dr. Brent stood and paced behind his desk. “It’ll be bad if he sends his enforcers here. Especially if he offers favors in return for help finding her.” He stopped, staring at Kraven. “There’s always some tension between nests and packs. A VampLycan promising to kill their enemies would be too tempting to resist for some. The newest packs or nests especially, if they’re promised power. They’re low in the pecking order of our society. Youth is notoriously stupid.”
“Agreed.” Kraven stood. “Are you the new master of your nest?”
Dr. Brent shook his head. “No, but Michael is a good man. He was grateful to take over leadership and allows me a lot of leeway, especially about the Dawson girls. He knows I’m fond of them and I help keep the peace between us and the packs.”
Kraven frowned. “Why didn’t you tell the sisters the truth? You never answered that to my satisfaction.”
“There was no need. They were safe. No one saw them as a threat and they were too weak to be used in any way that mattered. I also feared they’d be frightened of me if I told them the truth. They certainly wouldn’t have believed a Vampire existed unless I showed them proof.” Dr. Brent held Bat’s gaze. “I could make you forget if you reacted badly, but not Dustina. I had nightmares that you’d flee to somewhere else. Are you afraid of me now?”
She debated it. He still seemed to be the man she’d known. Even if he could do some weird backward leap onto cabinets and had fangs. “No.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“I do have a question.”
“Ask me anything, Batina.” Dr. Brent retook his seat.
“How are you so tan if you’re a Vampire?”
He grinned. “I do what every other Californian does when their schedules don’t allow them to bathe in the sun. I go to the spa every week. They give me a manicure and spray my skin so I’m a nice golden brown.”
She let that sink in. “Ah.”
“It helps us fit in easier with humans and avoid suspicion.”
“You have golf clubs in the corner.”
His grin widened. “I go at night. I’d burn in the sun. I used to love to play before I was turned. My enhanced night vision helps a lot since the lighting isn’t the greatest on most golf courses. It’s just hell finding another Vampire to play against. Not many do.”
“This has been interesting.” Kraven stood. “We should leave now.”
Dr. Brent rose to his feet too. “There’s one more thing I need to tell you.” He gazed at Bat. “Your body chemistry changed a little during your teens. Remember when I began to give you birth control shots to help you with painful periods? You stayed on them afterward when you became sexually active.”
Bat nodded. “What about them?”
Dr. Brent hesitated. “The pain wasn’t exclusively from your menstrual cycle. You displayed mild symptoms of going into heat. Those shots keep you from getting pregnant…but they also keep your mild Lycan traits dormant.”
Kraven growled and Bat stared at him. She looked back at Dr. Brent, stunned.
“It was for your protection. Werewolf males would have gone after you if you’d gone into heat and you’d have been vulnerable to their seduction. At best, it may have confused you and left you at the mercy of hormones. Your mother wanted you ruled by your mind instead.”
“Have the shots permanently hindered her in any way?” Kraven’s voice came out harsh.
“No. Of course not. A lot of pack women take the same shot when they want to avoid going into heat, and have been doing so for years. But I can finally tell you the truth, Batina.” He held her gaze. “You just need to stop taking them when you wish to get pregnant or decide you don’t mind going into heat, now that you’d be aware of what’s happening.”
Bat didn’t know what to think. She was stunned. Questions began to stream through her head.
Kraven spoke up. “Bat and I will have a discussion about this later. She’s heard enough. We’re out of here.”
“One last thing, VampLycan. Is Dustina really safe?”
“She’s with my clan in Alaska. My brother will make damn sure Decker Filmore doesn’t get her.”
“Tell her mate that she doesn’t need to be fed often, but it gets worse when she’s under stress. She’ll turn lethargic and drift into a Vampiric coma if she’s starved for too long. I don’t know if it would kill her or not. We never allowed it to go that far. She’s very human, so it’s possible it could be life threatening.”
“I’ll pass it along.”
“What about the rest of your clan? Is her mate high positioned? Will they help protect her?”
“My father is our clan leader.” He suddenly reached over and grabbed a letter opener off the desk and jabbed his skin near his wrist. “Smell.”
Dr. Brent backed away and bumped into his file cabinet. His expression turned fearful.
“What?” Bat stood too, confused. She glanced between them. “What the hell are you doing, Kraven?”
“He’s strong-blooded,” Dr. Brent whispered. “That’s what he’s proving. Whatever Vampire blood he has is very strong and very old. Powerful. He also smells like an alpha Werewolf.”
“Lycan,” Kraven snarled. “I hate being called that. Say it again and I’ll make you regret it.”
“Stop it,” Bat demanded. “You’re scaring Dr. Brent.”
“He should be afraid.”
She turned on Kraven and fisted his shirt with both hands. “Hey!”
He stopped glowering at the doctor to hold her gaze.
“Knock that shit off right now! You heard him. He’s kept Dusti and me safe. Don’t threaten him. Stop being an asshole.”
“He could have harmed you with those shots you were given.”
“He said he didn’t.”
“Don’t argue with a furious VampLycan,” Dr. Brent hissed. “He could kill you in a rage.”
“Kraven’s not going to hurt me, Dr. Brent. Everybody please calm down!”
Kraven cupped her ass with both of his big hands. “You should take his advice, Hellion. Show me submission.”
“In your dreams. Get your gorilla-sized mitts off my ass.”
“Never. It’s my ass.”
Dr. Brent gasped. “You’re having an affair with him?”
Kraven snapped his head up. “Affair? Don’t insult us. She’s mine.”
“Stop.” Bat released Kraven’s shirt and smoothed the crumpled material with her fingers. “I get it. You’re a mega-badass in your world. No need to beat someone up to prove a point.”
“I apologize.” Dr. Brent seemed to consider his next words more carefully. “I didn’t mean any insult. I didn’t know she was your mate.”
“We need to go.” Kraven still seemed furious. “Now.” He glared at the doctor. “Don’t tell anyone we were here or what we discussed. I’ll come after you otherwise. Understand?”
“Stop threatening Dr. Brent.” Bat smacked his chest. “You’re such a dick!”
He lowered his gaze, eyes narrowing. “You’re asking for it, Hellion.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re going to spank me.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m shaking in my high heels.” She looked over her shoulder. “Thank you, Dr. Brent. For everything. I’ll be in touch with you soon.”
“Or not,” Kraven muttered.
Bat shoved away from him and stormed toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go. I can’t take you anywhere. You’re such a bully.”
“Wait!”
Bat stared at Dr. Brent. “What is it?”
“Can you please exit out the back? I have a patient who’s arrived. She’s pregnant.” His gaze slid to Kraven. “You’ll terrify her.”
Bat arched her eyebrows.
“Were— Lycans,” Dr. Brent sighed. “The females need to avoid high stress when they’re pregnant. The trauma of confronting a VampLycan at this stage of her pregnancy could send her into early labor. She’ll try to flee and could possibly get hurt, at the very least. Take a left out the door and after that, a right at the end of the corridor. There’s a freight elevator. It’s clearly marked. It’s how I sneak in severely injured patients if they need surgery.”
“Sure.” Kraven nodded.
“Thank you.”
Kraven led Bat into the hallway and turned left. She had learned a lot and needed to mull it over.
Her father had known her mother was a VampLycan—and her mom had tried to tell her the truth.
Kraven worried about his mate but didn’t say anything until they reached her car. He gently deposited Bat into the passenger side, then took the driver’s seat. “Are you okay? You’re too damn quiet.”
“I’m just thinking,” she murmured.
He put the key in the ignition but rested his hands on the steering wheel, instead of starting the engine. “Do you mind sharing?”
She looked at him. “Dad knew and accepted what my mom was.”
“The Vamp said they were in love.”
“I know but he stuck it out with her.”
“Why does that confuse you?”
“I’m impressed more. I always thought he was a good man but it takes a lot to get over the fact that the person you’re with isn’t human.”
“You’re with me.”
She licked her lips. “I’m not who I thought. My entire life was a lie.”
He released the wheel and reached over, taking her hand. She didn’t resist. It made him worry more. “You knew the truth about your bloodlines before we came here.”
“Yeah but it was more believable coming from Dr. Brent.”
He tried not to be insulted. She had known the Vampire for most of her life. “You’re the same woman you’ve always been. Your bloodlines don’t change that.”
Irritation showed in the way she looked at him.
“You know what I mean, Bat.”
“Yeah. I guess I do. It makes it worse knowing my mother tried to tell me and I didn’t take it well.”
“No one would. It had to come as a shock.”
“Don’t be nice to me. I don’t want to cry. Tears are for pussies.”
“Where the hell did you hear that?” The things that popped out of her mouth sometimes left him astonished.
“One of my law professors. He was a dick but he was right. Crying doesn’t do a damn thing but show others you have a weakness they can take advantage of.”
“You’ve known some fucked-up humans.”
“Yes. I have. And I happen to be one of them right now. Dr. Brent is a real Vampire. He has a spray tan.”
“I told you they exist. I’m a VampLycan. Remember how I said we came into existence? Vampires and Lycans breeding…?”
“It’s kind of hard to forget. Why di
d he say you smell of a really old Vampire?”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes. I do. You definitely have my full attention now. You said Vampires and Lycans joined forces but shit hit the fan. Tell me more.”
“Here?”
“You don’t want to go back to my place and I’m not letting you take me to some shithole. It’s early in the morning. Check-in times at a decent hotel wouldn’t be until later this afternoon, unless we go somewhere that rents to prostitutes by the hour. Pass.”
“You might have a point.”
“I do. So tell me again about how VampLycans came to be now that I’m not so distracted.”
He opened his mouth.
“Skip the shit you already said. I remember. It’s kind of etched into my mind.”
“What exactly do you want to know?”
“Why do you smell old? I mean, you said you’re eighty-one. Is that what Dr. Brent meant? He looks fifty and he said he was turned into a Vampire thirty-six years ago. That puts him at around eighty-six, at least. You’re younger than him.”
“Vampires gain strength with age. A newly turned one is weak. They need to sleep during daytime; it’s a natural defense against the sun. They get an overpowering urge to go somewhere dark and safe before dawn. They lapse into a coma-like sleep until it’s safe to move around again.”
“I get it. Go on.”
“A hundred-year-old Vampire can move when the sun is up. It can still burn and kill him, but it doesn’t put him to sleep during the day. He gains strength with his abilities too. He’s stronger, faster, doesn’t require as much blood as he did before.”
She nodded.
“A two-hundred-year-old Vampire is twice as strong as a hundred-year-old one, and so forth.”
“The sun?”
“He’ll still fry, but he can take tiny amounts of exposure. He’d suffer severe burns if he had a sudden urge to streak outside from one place to another for some reason. He’d survive but it would hurt like hell, even after a short distance. He’d need blood immediately to heal or go a bit crazy from the pain.”