Shadow Wranglers: Slade Part 15

Even from here, she could feel Slade's energy reaching out to her and that strange sensation in her mind that she was beginning to realize was his mind touching hers. "Yeah. I think I do. And while we're on the subject, I don't like you frolicking in my mind like it's your personal playground."

"I've never done that."

"Yes, you have. You're doing it right now."

"I can't help it if you project."

"Try."

"I am."

She shoved her hands back into her pockets. "Try harder."

"It's not as easy as it sounds. You're very appealing, and for vampires, sharing thoughts with a mate is as natural as breathing."

There was that word again. Mate. As if uttering it explained everything, when, in reality, all it did was complicate things. She wasn't a stupid woman. She didn't buy into the whole "I'm safe" image Slade was trying to project. Beneath that calm logic, there was a definite edge to his personality. A danger that appealed in a way she'd long since thought she'd put behind her. "Work on it."

"Done."

They reached the edge of the yard. She stopped and looked back. "Who lives in all these houses?"

"The McClarens."

"These houses are full of werewolves?"

"Yeah."

"And you're the only vampires?"

"We don't seem to fit in with other vampires."

"I don't understand."

"Vampires are made, not born."

She opened her mouth. He cut off the question with a lift of his hand.

"The rarity of Joseph's existence is one of the reasons that Caleb didn't want you here. He's proof to Sanctuary that vampires can be born. And if they find out how he was conceived, there won't be a human woman alive who will be safe."

From what? "How was he conceived?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Is that because of some kidnapper code?"

He c.o.c.ked his eyebrow at her. "You know, you could just decide this is an extended vacation rather than a kidnapping."

If she were delusional. "A working vacation?"

"Yeah."

"My imagination's not that good."

"I told Allie you'd feel that way."

"Allie's a smart woman."

"Yeah. All my brothers' wives are."

"All? How many wives are there?"

Slade blinked and then the right corner of his mouth kicked up in a smile as he recognized how she'd taken the question. "Only one each. The Johnsons are a loyal lot."

"I'm sure their wives are glad to hear it."

"Wait until you meet Raisa and Miri."

"Who are they?"

"My brothers' wives."

She didn't want to get that cozy with his family. She didn't really want to get that cozy with the whole situation. She heard a whicker in the darkness.

"You raise horses?"

He took her hand and led her to the right. "Yes. Some of our best are in the corral right over here."

So there was. She could make out the bars of a corral and the shape of a wooden bench. She sat on the bench. It felt completely normal when he sat beside her and took her hand. She removed her hand and rubbed it on her thigh.

"You still haven't told me how you came to be living with werewolves."

He shrugged. "It's more natural."

"That needs an explanation."

"I suppose it does." He ran his hand through his hair, causing some to fall over his forehead. Her fingers tingled to push it back. "We grew up in the eighteen hundreds. Things were different then. Simpler."

She could appreciate the appeal of simpler. Tugging her jacket tighter around her she said, "I'm listening."

"We grew up with rules our pa gave us."

"Which were?"

"You protect what's weaker. You keep your word. You stand by family."

Jane thought for a moment about what she knew of vampires. Of the powers she'd seen them wield. "And wolves live by these rules and vampires don't?"

Slade shrugged. "When a human becomes vampire, it's like being told there's nothing between you and anything you want."

"Absolute power."

"Yeah, and there's nothing that corrupts more absolutely."

"But wolves don't get corrupted?"

"Wolves are born, not made, and they have a highly structured society."

That made sense. "So you're saying all vampires are corrupt beings."

"No. I imagine there are a few good ones somewhere, but around these parts, they either hooked up with Sanctuary or Sanctuary killed them off."

"Sanctuary didn't kill you off."

"Johnsons are tough to kill. Plus, we kept to ourselves."

"You didn't bother anyone?"

Standing, Slade put his foot up on the corral fence. A big roan came over immediately and ducked its head. He scratched it behind the ears. "We did have to kick a bit of Sanctuary b.u.t.t when Jace and them had a misunderstanding, but after that they pretty much left us alone." Patting the horse's neck, he added, "Of course, back then, they weren't that powerful."

"When did they get powerful?"

"About fifty years back, when they got a new leader. Smart guy. Genius." He c.o.c.ked a brow at her, a smile tugging at his mouth. "Your sort."

As if Slade were lacking in the brains department.

"And then it all began to change," Slade continued.

"But they still left you alone."

"Yeah. For the last one hundred and fifty years, we've just been concerned with our little nook of the world, pretending to be descendants of ourselves, doing what we do best-raising horses."

"What happened?"

"Allie."

"Allie?"

"The woman may look serene but she's a h.e.l.l of a catalyst."

"You'll have to explain that."

"Another time."

Silence fell between them. It wasn't uncomfortable. But she had more questions. "So you joined forces with the McClarens because their values matched yours?"

"And because Caleb saved Derek's life back during the time when we were still b.u.mbling along, trying to figure out what being vampire meant. To tell the truth, I think Caleb was just spoiling for a fight and when he came across five vamps on one werewolf, he decided to even up the odds."

"Protecting what's weaker."

Slade chuckled and patted the roan's neck. "Don't say that within earshot of Derek."

The proud were wouldn't appreciate it for sure. "It'll be our little secret."

He smiled and pushed the horse away. "I appreciate that."

"So, how did Allie's arrival change anything?"

"Vince-"

"Vince?"

"He was the head of Sanctuary."

"Was?"

He cast her a wry glance. "If you keep interrupting, I'm never going to get to the end of this tale."

"Sorry. What happened to Vince?"

"He kidnapped Allie."

A three-word sentence that neatly summed up a very messy end, she was sure. Rubbing her temple, she sighed. "I think I'm getting a headache."

It wasn't a lie. The headache that had started when she'd turned away from Allie just kept building.

"You want me to go on?"

"Yes." She needed to know what she was dealing with.

"Allie got pregnant and that opened a whole world of possibilities to the vampires."

"I'm not following you."

"Wolves are unified through their families and traditions. Strike at one of them and there's a world of hurt coming your way. Vampires are more apt to fight among themselves than get along. Their alliances are short term and they tend to self-destruct. Strike at one of them, there may or may not be a response, and you can never be sure who's working for whom."

"But the wolves' alliances hold up."

"Wolves stick by family. No matter what."

Just like the Johnson brothers. "No wonder you felt comfortable with them."

"Yeah. It was a bit of like gravitating toward like."

"But the vampires want to change the balance of power?"

"Yes. They've got a two-p.r.o.ng attack planned. Creating their own families will cover that annoying loyalty issue, and having control of the life from conception will give them an edge for their genetic experimentation."

She wasn't so sure about that. Nature had a way of throwing curveb.a.l.l.s. "To what end?"