the tip of the nose. “I won’t let you be a victim.”
“I know,” I said. “Only now it’s time for me to show you that you don’t have to fight all my battles for me anymore.”
“Caleb, I---”
“No,” I said. “You have to let me prove it to you. If I finally believe in myself then why can’t you?”
She sighed, shaking her head.
“I do believe in you,” she said. “But I worry your self-confidence will overreach your good judgment, and I can’t stand by and let that happen.”
“Every bird falters when they first learn to fly,” I said.
“Birds with concussions risk more than faltering,” she said.
“Fair enough,” I said.
She kissed me on the lips this time.
“But I’ll consider being more lenient with you, moving forward,” she said.
I resisted the strong inclination to roll my eyes.
“Gee, thanks,” I said dryly.
“ Be nice ,” she cautioned with a frown.
I bit my tongue and forced a conciliatory smile.
Geez, alpha vampires sometimes…
* * *
In the week following the parking garage event, the only mention on the local news was about the car accident that was brought upon by a ‘man brandishing a rifle’ who scared the drivers, thereby leading to a collision of vehicles.
Fortunately, there were only minor injuries reported. The news indicated that the local police were still investigating, though something told me that, given Kat’s thorough nature, they wouldn’t find either of the gunmen’s bodies.
A shiver coursed through my body as I realized how close we’d come to being shot. For that reason alone, I pleasantly endured Kat’s more protective nature since the event.
That’s not to say I’d become a shut-in again as I had when Chimalma had pursued us. Instead, I merely had to accept that if I left the estate, Kat was coming with me.
While bearable, it was still like having a clingy girlfriend with fangs. I quickly gained an appreciation for shopping, if only to spend time away from the estate.
Admittedly, the new athletic shoes I purchased were working out nicely.
However, even the most patient person could only endure so much for so long, and I had no intentions of letting recent events rule my life.
I refuse to be ruled by either fear or fate.
An idea struck, and I immediately went into research mode.
Later, I peered into Kat’s office at the back wing of the estate’s first floor and found her rapidly typing on her notebook keyboard, which sounded like a small indoor hailstorm.
“Let me guess, you’ve hit upon the next great American novel,” I said, casually leaning against the door jamb.
She paused and looked up with a curious expression.
“Got a minute?” I asked.
Her brow arched suspiciously.
“I was thinking about our parking garage event. I researched the topic of concealed carry firearms permits in the state of Georgia, and I---”
“No,” she said flatly and returned to typing.
“Why the hell not?”
“You haven’t mastered knife combat yet.”
“I’m pretty good as it is. And just what do knives have to do with it?” I asked. “Come on, a gun is easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of training. Instant protection.”
She stopped typing and looked up at me. “Yes, and that’s the problem. They’re too easy; so easy that they give you a false sense of security. And if someone takes one from you, they can be used against you.”
“But then, so can a knife,” I said, feeling quite satisfied with myself for thinking fast.
“If someone takes a knife from you, there’s still a good chance you can defend yourself. You might even be able to evade your attacker. Not so true with a firearm.”
After pausing a few seconds to gloat, her gaze shifted smoothly back to her notebook screen.
Her logic was sound enough, though I hated to concede defeat.
“I don’t actually need your permission, you know,” I said. “I’m an adult, after all.”
She looked up with a cool, commanding
“I know,” I said. “Only now it’s time for me to show you that you don’t have to fight all my battles for me anymore.”
“Caleb, I---”
“No,” I said. “You have to let me prove it to you. If I finally believe in myself then why can’t you?”
She sighed, shaking her head.
“I do believe in you,” she said. “But I worry your self-confidence will overreach your good judgment, and I can’t stand by and let that happen.”
“Every bird falters when they first learn to fly,” I said.
“Birds with concussions risk more than faltering,” she said.
“Fair enough,” I said.
She kissed me on the lips this time.
“But I’ll consider being more lenient with you, moving forward,” she said.
I resisted the strong inclination to roll my eyes.
“Gee, thanks,” I said dryly.
“ Be nice ,” she cautioned with a frown.
I bit my tongue and forced a conciliatory smile.
Geez, alpha vampires sometimes…
* * *
In the week following the parking garage event, the only mention on the local news was about the car accident that was brought upon by a ‘man brandishing a rifle’ who scared the drivers, thereby leading to a collision of vehicles.
Fortunately, there were only minor injuries reported. The news indicated that the local police were still investigating, though something told me that, given Kat’s thorough nature, they wouldn’t find either of the gunmen’s bodies.
A shiver coursed through my body as I realized how close we’d come to being shot. For that reason alone, I pleasantly endured Kat’s more protective nature since the event.
That’s not to say I’d become a shut-in again as I had when Chimalma had pursued us. Instead, I merely had to accept that if I left the estate, Kat was coming with me.
While bearable, it was still like having a clingy girlfriend with fangs. I quickly gained an appreciation for shopping, if only to spend time away from the estate.
Admittedly, the new athletic shoes I purchased were working out nicely.
However, even the most patient person could only endure so much for so long, and I had no intentions of letting recent events rule my life.
I refuse to be ruled by either fear or fate.
An idea struck, and I immediately went into research mode.
Later, I peered into Kat’s office at the back wing of the estate’s first floor and found her rapidly typing on her notebook keyboard, which sounded like a small indoor hailstorm.
“Let me guess, you’ve hit upon the next great American novel,” I said, casually leaning against the door jamb.
She paused and looked up with a curious expression.
“Got a minute?” I asked.
Her brow arched suspiciously.
“I was thinking about our parking garage event. I researched the topic of concealed carry firearms permits in the state of Georgia, and I---”
“No,” she said flatly and returned to typing.
“Why the hell not?”
“You haven’t mastered knife combat yet.”
“I’m pretty good as it is. And just what do knives have to do with it?” I asked. “Come on, a gun is easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of training. Instant protection.”
She stopped typing and looked up at me. “Yes, and that’s the problem. They’re too easy; so easy that they give you a false sense of security. And if someone takes one from you, they can be used against you.”
“But then, so can a knife,” I said, feeling quite satisfied with myself for thinking fast.
“If someone takes a knife from you, there’s still a good chance you can defend yourself. You might even be able to evade your attacker. Not so true with a firearm.”
After pausing a few seconds to gloat, her gaze shifted smoothly back to her notebook screen.
Her logic was sound enough, though I hated to concede defeat.
“I don’t actually need your permission, you know,” I said. “I’m an adult, after all.”
She looked up with a cool, commanding
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