Page 41 of Dark Cravings

"I know what Father Marius wants," I said, unwilling to dignify his other comment with a response. "He's not ready yet."

"He’s started infusions, hasn't he?" Arrow challenged.

"He only had his second one this morning," I said, ignoring the judgmental look on his face. "Thanks for ratting me out, by the way."

"I didn't know it was a secret," he said innocently. "But it worked out, since you clearly weren't going to come around on your own."

"He's my problem, not yours."

"And I'm your superior, which makes you both my problem," Arrow shot back. "Bring him out. Assuminghecan walk."

"Today?" I asked in disbelief.

"Why not?" He shrugged. "He has to start sometime, and going out with the both of us is the hunter equivalent of training wheels."

I grunted in irritation. He was right, in a sense. Most recruits would've at least been out on a few supervised missions by now. "If he goes, we stick with low-level shit. Younger vampires. Regular wolves."

"Look at you, being a protective mother hen," he taunted. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to your puppy."

I rolled my eyes. "Go on and head to the east side. I'll get Eddie and meet you there."

"You’d better," he said in a singsong that wasn't at all disturbing as he strode out of the Abbey.

I went back the way I’d come from since I’d fallen asleep in Eddie's room the night before against my better judgment. Big mistake, considering that when I’d woken up, he was watching me with those big puppy eyes. Part of me was relieved I wasn't going to be alone with him today, since an awkward conversation about where things stood between us was pretty much inevitable at this point.

I still hadn't forgotten that he had tried to mark me, even if I believed him when he claimed it had been unintentional. He knew next to nothing about his own nature, so it figured he wouldn’t know about that, either. The fact that it was even an impulse, though, was reason enough to be concerned. Wolves didn't mark just anyone. It meant he was attached, and I was torn between finding that a disastrous notion and thinking it was probably expedient, since it would make it easier to keep him in line.

I still hadn't figured out what I was going to do, but at least I’d had a bit more time to think about it. How it was even possible for something so ruthless and bloodthirsty to be so completely and utterly naive was beyond my ability to fathom. Last night, I had seen another side of him, too. Vulnerable. Submissive. The snarling hellhound that had terrorized the city was a mewling kitten in bed, and the instincts he had awakened within me were even more startling.

When I realized Eddie wasn't in his room, I felt a surge of apprehension. Could I not take my eyes off him for a minute?

I checked the private training room and was pleasantly surprised to find him practicing with the bladeless katana. He hadn't noticed me yet, so I watched him for a moment. His form always slipped when I wasn't riding him constantly, but he looked more comfortable than he had the last time I had sparred with him. I must have made him nervous. The thought was more charming than it had any right to be.

He turned around, coming dangerously close to swinging the blade at me, but he froze, his eyes growing wide.

"Castor!" He grimaced. "I mean Father de Leon. Sorry."

"Go get changed into your uniform," I said. "We're going out."

"Out?" he echoed. "Like on a hunt?"

"No, I'm taking you on a date."

His eyes grew even wider. "Really?"

Good God. "No, you idiot. Get dressed and meet me outside," I ordered, leaving the training room.

Ten minutes later, he came outside, wearing the standard all-black street apparel of a new recruit. I had to admit, the clothes suited him. He didn't look quite as much like a human puppy in a black leather jacket and fitted T-shirt. He had been getting stronger with training. With the infusions, that process would be accelerated.

"I wasn't supposed to bring a weapon, right?" he asked, eyeing the cutlass at my side.

"There are weapons in the car," I said, walking toward the garage behind the Abbey. He followed me in silence until I waved my hand in front of the garage door and the tiny chip implant embedded in the meat of my palm opened it.

"Wow," he breathed, gaping like a kid in a candy store as he saw the collection of cars, bikes, and all-terrain vehicles.

"Come on, this one's mine," I said, walking over to the jet black sports car. It was wired to work with my chip, so it started up as soon as I opened the door.

"Sweet ride," Eddie said, getting in on the passenger's side. "Guess being a hunter pays pretty well."