Page 4 of Bloodstained Chrome

I should’ve known. She comes every day, no matter how many times Zavier or Jett tell her she doesn’t need to. We’ve got everything under control. Still, the annoying woman insists on coming to check on Arley.

The woman is more than just a little smug, and ever since she’s been coming to the clubhouse regularly, my lion has been acting strangely.

Maybe he doesn’t like her either.

No, that’s not it. I know the truth, but I refuse to give in to the reasons for his behavior toward her.

Because I won’t allow myself to go there, I’m also not going to let her stop me from enjoying my time with my brothers. I’ll just have to ignore her, as I try to do every other night she shows up.

Somehow, I know it will not be as I want it.

Chapter

Three

Sibley

“Here, kitty, kitty,” I whisper into the air.

I know Primal can hear me. I felt his presence the second I stepped near the perimeter. He’s probably out here doing what all the guys take turns doing.

Patrol.

Keeping the clubhouse grounds secure against outsiders.

In a perfect world, Primal would continue his patrolling duties and not go back to the clubhouse.

But I can hear the festivities coming from inside the building I’m making my way toward, and I know him. It shouldn’t bother me. He’s not mine. However, I’ve seen different outcomes for him in my visions, and it scares me. Mostly because I’ve never thought I’d find it.

Of course, this isn’t a perfect world, and I can feel him moving closer to the clubhouse with every step I take toward it.

Corbin and the rest of the clubhouse are more than happy when I come for my visits, they know I’m only there to help. Because Arely has become a friend of mine, even if she doesn’t even know me, I’ve proclaimed it. However, with Primal, it seems the man is just searching for a reason not to like me.

I couldn’t care less. I’m not here to make friends with him. I come to check on Arely’s condition and to let the guys know if I see anything in the future that they need to be concerned about. Primal doesn’t have to be my friend, and he definitely won’t keep me away with those sour looks and muttered insults under his breath.

Looking around, I don’t see Primal, but I know he’s nearby. Thankfully, I’ll be inside before he is.

Taking a deep breath, I realize I no longer have that eerie feeling of being watched. Maybe it’s because I know I’m with friends. I’m not sure "friends" is the right word, but I feel like I can say that at least about the mates of the few who have them.

The women similar to me include Karsyn, a potent earth witch capable of effortlessly siphoning powers from others. Raine, who is a dreamwalker. Lake, the fairy daughter able to command dragons at will, and Annahi, who can easily read others’ thoughts.

Being around those women doesn’t make me feel so out of place. The same goes for my brother’s mate, Jett, and Orpheus’s mate, Cassia. They’re both special in their own ways. Jett’s father is Apollo, and Aphrodite raised Cassia.

None of them might be exactly like me, but they understand me without looking at me like I’m a freak, as some vampires do. Here at the clubhouse, I feel safe. Not that I’m not at Club Dyrk, but it’s a different kind of feeling. One I like very much.

I push open the door without so much as knocking. I’m well past the guest stage.

“Hey,” Karsyn calls out from the table where she is sitting next to Corbin, a drink in hand. The music is on, but low. There’s no party going on, but they are still here, having a good time. I can always count on the Spiked Raiders to be having a good time. "It’s a surprise to see you here tonight."

“Oh yeah, the surprise that keeps on coming,” I joke with her as I make my way deeper into the clubhouse.

"You’re always welcome here," Justice announces from his seat beside Annahi.

"He’s right," Corbin grunts. "You’re welcome here anytime."

I want to thank them, but I don’t. Before Corbin found Karsyn, the tension within the alliance we all shared had been palpable. If not for her, I’d never be standing here today.

"Sit down," Lake calls. "Some of the guys, including Tucker, are out."