Hunting Colby

Chapter Eighteen

We washed and dressed before joining Mutt in his sitting area.

The vampire had changed back into his usual torn jeans and T-shirt. He sat in the chair across from the sofa, resting his chin on his hand, a pensive expression on his face. He stared at nothing in particular.

My smile faded from my face. I’d never seen Mutt this concerned. I sat on the sofa, Colby joining me. “What is it?”

“I called Tane.” He mumbled around the fingers covering his lips. “He’s happy.”

“Okay.” I glanced at Colby, but he appeared as confused as I was. “And?”

“I should have let you call him instead.”

“Why didn’t you?” This plan had been mine. I was willing to take any fallback from it.

“When they sent you to me, what were your instructions?” His dark eyes darted toward me.

A flutter of concern grew in my stomach. “To teach you anything I thought you needed. Keep you out of trouble.”

He nodded. “I was given different instructions.”

Colby took my hand and squeezed. “This is where the Nosferatu shit starts, right?”

“Yeah.” Mutt leaned back in the chair, his hands resting on the arms. “They’d told me I had to kill Cesio months ago. No reason why. Just orders.”

“Months? They knew what he was doing?”

Mutt shrugged. “I guess.”

The flutters got worse. “Then why didn’t you do it? You’re strong enough. You proved that tonight.”

“When I was a regular vampire, I was just a foot soldier in Cesio’s nest. After changing me to this, the Nosferatu told me I couldn’t afford to be a soldier anymore. I had to learn to think for myself. Every time they came, it was about making me use my head.” He tapped his temple. “I’m not their soldier either. If Cesio broke the laws, then I needed proof. Not some random order from the top.”

“So you asked for proof?”

“No, I think if they had it they would have killed him already.”

“This was a test.”

“Everything is a test. I guess Tane thought I might need help and he sent you.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “I never asked for any of this, you know. I just woke up after a day’s sleep and it was already done. Poof. Nosferatu. They never asked.”

“I don’t think it occurred to them that you would have refused.” I hated to see the pain in Mutt’s face. He had eons to live, but they didn’t need to be unhappy ones.

“Anyway, I passed their stupid test. Cesio is dead. I have verbal proof of his plans with witnesses.” He gestured to us. “You are now looking at the new overlord of Manhattan.”

Shit.

I glanced at Colby and met his confused stare. What did I do?

“This sucks.” Mutt punched the arm of the chair, and it snapped off. “Fuck.” He grabbed the broken piece and threw it across the warehouse. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

My heart warred with itself. Torn in two between what I wanted and what was the right thing to do. Colby didn’t care for Nosferatu in his life, but they were a part of mine. Mutt was so young. What would happen if I left him to the jackals of this city?

A black hole swallowed the joy from my heart as I stared at the distraught vampire. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll help.”

Mutt twisted to face us, the lines of anxiety melting away. “You too, Colby?” He didn’t mask the eagerness in his voice.

My mate blinked, his bottom jaw dropping open. “You want my help? But I’m a slayer.”

“Technically, so am I. Who better to teach me?” A grin spread across his face. “I have a city with a small army of new vampires hidden away. I can’t imagine a better job for either of us.”

I hugged Colby around the waist. Mutt was right. My mate only had to see past his prejudice. Not all Nosferatu were monsters, and we could help raise this one into power the right way.

“You want me to work for you?” I heard an edge in Colby’s voice, something Mutt might not catch. “I don’t have a good track record with your kind.”

Mutt frowned. “I’m not like them. Not yet, anyway.” He shrugged. “I’d like to try to keep it that way.”

I cupped Colby’s face in my hands. “He needs us. He needs you.” I hoped what was in my heart translated into the plea in my eyes. We could be together.

Colby nodded. “I’m in.”