The Blood Moon Twins
Chapter 36

REMY

\tThe moment I saw Blade join us, I was both relieved and petrified. If he never left, it meant that he heard the entire conversation, which also meant he heard me call him my mate. I hadn't brought that idea up to him out of fear. I didn't know if vampires had the equivalent of a mate, and I was afraid of scaring him away.

\tl studied his face, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. The fact that he was here was a good sign, but it didn't make the situation any less embarrassing. Blade's eyes met mine, and I could feel my face burning. I quickly turned to Caulder and tried to focus on him instead. \t"You never left," Caulder said, his gaze glued to Blade. His body was tense as he looked him over.

\t"I never left." Blade stood up taller, and it was odd watching the two of them stare each other down, assessing one another. They both straightened their posture, and if they stood any taller, they would be on their tippy toes. \tCaulder finally nodded in approval. "You really care about my sister." It wasn't a question.

\t"I will not let harm come to her as long as I am with her." Blade grasped his hands behind his back.

\tThe atmosphere started making me uncomfortable. Caulder had always been protective of me when it came to the guys who showed any interest in me, and he scared them away before anything could develop, but this felt like a different level, and I didn't like it. I didn't need Caulder to assess the guy I was interested in. He was my brother, not my father.

\tCaulder's body finally relaxed, and he held out his hand to Blade. Blade reached forward and took Caulder's hand, showing the bleeding wound on his forearm from the bite.

\t"I'm giving you a chance because Remy insists you are on our side, but trust me when I say that if you hurt her in any way, I will do more than that bite," Caulder warned. \tBlade smirked in return. "I would expect nothing less."

\t"Okay, can we stop this and address Blade's wounds? He's still bleeding." I stepped forward and gently took Blade's arm. The wounds were deep, and his arm was soaked in blood, but the bleeding seemed like it had slowed down. "This looks serious. We need to dress this properly."

\tBlade touched my cheek with his other hand. "I'm okay. Vampire's heal quickly."

\t"Are you sure? We can get it looked at. You shouldn't risk infection."

\tCaulder looked uncomfortable at the idea, but he was trying, and I appreciated his effort.

\t"I have a feeling I won't be welcome in your household, if your brother's reaction to me is any indication. I will take my chances dealing with the injury on my own." Blade made a good point. I was already hesitant to even bring up the idea of a vampire to my dad, and seeing Caulder's reaction told me that the hesitation was justified.

\tCaulder nodded his head. "You're right. I don't think your kind would be very welcome, especially since they are directly trying to cause harm to this pack."

\t"Caulder-" I started to scold, but Blade held up his hand.

\t"I understand your caution, but I don't appreciate you lumping me in with them. The vampires from the Bloodfall Coven do not represent all of 'my kind,' so don't jump to conclusions. I agree that that vampire coven is dangerous and not to be trusted. That's why I'm here. I want to stop them from releasing that creature and trying to destroy this world."

\tCaulder took a step back. He wasn't used to people talking to him like that. He was the alpha's son, and most people just accepted whatever he said, but Blade wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in. It was incredible to watch.

\t"You're right. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. I'm sorry." Caulder's tone was genuine, but he didn't shrink away from the correction.

\t"Apologies aren't going to fix anything, but I appreciate it nonetheless." Blade was right. Werewolves not trusting vampires was a deep-seated issue, and it wouldn't be fixed with a simple apology.

\t"We should go home for the night, but we will come back here tomorrow with some medical supplies," Caulder said.

\t"Tomorrow?" I repeated. I wasn't ready to leave Blade yet, and the idea of Caulder returning with me made me hesitant. It would mean no alone time with Blade.

\t"Yes. I'm coming back here to train with you. I don't want you here alone with him, and I could use the training against the vampires. The more the merrier, until we get Dad to agree to meet Blade," Caulder said. He had already made the decision, and I knew there was no changing his mind at this point.

\t"I'm happy to train you as well." Despite everything that had happened, Blade seemed completely composed, and I didn't understand how he could be so calm. If I was facing someone who had just attacked me a few moments ago, I would be completely on edge. I was on edge now, even though I wasn't injured or attacked.

\t"Excellent," Caulder said. He turned and grabbed my arm. "We'll see you tomorrow night then. Come on Remy. Let's go."

\tl shook out of his grip and stepped away. "Wait. I'm not ready to go yet."

\t"We should get home before anyone notices we're gone," Caulder said.

\t"Just give me a moment with Blade," I insisted. I knew Caulder was uncomfortable, but I didn't want to leave Blade while he was injured and bleeding. I felt like I needed to apologize to him for everything, too. \t"Fine. Make it quick." Caulder took a couple of steps away, but he kept an eye on us. We weren't going to get any privacy.

\tl grabbed Blade's arm and took another look at it. My chest ached, knowing it was my brother that caused him this arm. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

\tBlade cupped my cheek. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, instantly making me blush. Caulder loudly cleared his throat, but Blade didn't pay him any mind.

\tl looked off to the side. "About what I said earlier..." The next words got caught in my throat.

\t"About me being your mate?" Blade said calmly. He somehow was in sync with my thoughts, even though we had known each other for such a short time.

\tl nodded my head. I was still afraid that Blade didn't feel the same pull towards me. "Do vampires have something like that? Like a soul mate or something?"

\t"In a way, yes," Blade said. "I don't know if it works the same way it works with werewolves. We don't necessarily have one fated mate, but vampires mate for life. When they find the person they want to be with, they develop an unbreakable bond. From my understanding, we have a little more choice in the matter." He intertwined his fingers with mine and kissed the back of my hand.

\tHe didn't directly say that he wanted me to be the person he bonded with, but his actions gave me the impression. He wouldn't risk getting injured for me and put his own plans on hold if I didn't mean something to him. I just hoped I meant as much to him as he was starting to mean to me.

\t"Your brother is waiting for you. You should go," Blade said. He glanced at Caulder, who was glaring in our direction.

\t"He can wait," I said instantly. Caulder wasn't in charge of me, and while I knew he was looking out for my well being, I didn't have to do what he wanted me to. I stepped closer to Blade, not ready to part. We didn't get much time together tonight, and I didn't want to wait until the next night to contact him.

\t"I'm okay. I promise," Blade insisted. "You should get some rest. You're exhausted from these last few nights. Go home and get some proper sleep."

\tl didn't want to leave. My body was pulling me to Blade, and my mind was insisting I stay to make sure his wounds got dressed, but he was right. I was worn out, and my adrenaline was starting to wear off, so a deeper exhaustion was falling over me. \t"Do you have a cellphone or a way for me to contact you?" I asked. It would make me feel better if I could call him or he could call me if something came up, especially after tonight.

\tBlade held out his hand. "Give me your phone." I handed it over to him, and he started inputting his contact information. He handed it back to me and said, "You can contact me whenever you need to. Now go before your brother attacks me again." Blade winked in the direction Caulder was standing in, and I knew that comment was for him.

\tBlade leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, and I was sure he was trying to be respectful because of our company. I didn't care though, and I grabbed his face and pulled him into a full kiss. His hands instinctively went to my waist and held me still while his lips moved with mine. I could have stayed up with him all night, but Caulder was waiting for me, and I knew he was still wrapping his head around the situation. I didn't want to push it too much.

\tl finally pulled away from Blade, and I smiled at him. "I'll see you soon."

\tl started to walk away, but Blade pulled me back and kissed me again. This kiss was shorter, but there was something about it that made it feel more passionate. When we parted, my legs felt a little shaky, and it took me a moment to focus.

\tBlade gave me a quick nod as I turned to join Caulder. I glanced back at Blade one last time before Caulder and I parted. My body ached to return to Blade, and I still wasn't used to that feeling. Even though I always had Caulder by my side, I was pretty independent growing up. I didn't need anyone, but right now I felt like I needed Blade. It was a terrifying thought, because I knew there were a million things that could tear Blade and I apart.

\t"Did you really have to make out with him in front of me?" Caulder asked, breaking the silence between us.

\tThis made me chuckle. "I have seen you shove your tongue down countless girl's throats. Think of it as a little payback."

\tCaulder rolled his eyes. "Yeah, don't remind me. Blade seems like he's a decent guy, though."

\t"He is," I said confidently, hoping that I wasn't being foolish because of my growing feelings for the vampire.