Crimson Bound (Blood Oath #7)

1. Lex

1

LEX

F or someone as old as I am, it’s arguable that my life motto of fuck around and find out is quite reckless. But when you die in the prime of your twenties only to awaken with an insatiable thirst for blood, it’s important to adjust your perception of, well, everything.

So, sure, stumbling upon a human facing death himself and offering help in exchange for a future form of entertainment could be seen as unstable behavior—Gabriel definitely wasn’t on board with it initially—but it sure as hell is amusing.

Calla Montgomery is the firstborn daughter of the Montgomery bloodline. And thanks to the shitty business deal her great-great-whatever-grandfather got tied up in, she belongs to us.

We’ve been watching her for years. Waiting.

Picking the right moment to collect what’s ours has been a topic of discussion for several months. Kade wanted to bring her home the minute she turned eighteen, but Gabriel insisted we wait until she was on her own. I, of course, intervened to ensure she moved into one of my rental properties. If we couldn’t have her under our roof, we’d at least keep her close enough to keep an eye on.

But now, with the hunters growing in numbers, we run the risk of Calla joining them in an attempt to escape the oath. She could never outrun the bond we have with her blood, but that doesn’t mean she won’t try. We’ve watched her train for years, as if she’ll be able to fight us when we do come for her. And hell, the thought of that challenge makes me look forward to it even more.

“Is everything ready for tonight?” Atlas says, walking in from the garage. His tan skin is glistening with sweat, and he gulps down half a bottle of water as I watch his throat bob, fighting the urge to lick my lips. Post-workout Atlas is my favorite version of my sire.

“Yes,” Gabriel answers from the armchair across from me without glancing up from the tablet in his lap. He’s home for lunch, which he doesn’t do often, though I have a feeling that might change once Calla arrives.

Atlas nods, screwing the cap back on his bottle as he glances around. “Where’s Kade?”

I shrug. “He said something earlier about picking up some things for the human. Toiletries and clothes and shit.”

“He went to Target without you?” Gabriel asks, a hint of amusement in his velvety tone.

I kick my feet up on the couch, leaning back against the cushions. “He was meeting with his agent first, and you know I don’t fuck with that woman.”

Atlas chuckles, bracing his hands on the back of the couch. “I take it she’s still trying to rope you into signing with her agency?”

“Every chance she gets,” I mutter. At first, it was flattering. But the idea of modeling, quite frankly, makes me so gut-wrenchingly nervous, I’d rather do just about anything else.

He flashes one of his rare grins. “I’m going to shower before my afternoon meetings.” His vibrant silver eyes shift between me and Gabriel. “We’ll finalize tonight’s plan at dinner.” Without waiting for a response from either of us, he disappears in a blur of movement.

I peer over at Gabriel. “Are you ready for this? We’ve only been waiting twenty some-odd years.”

A hint of a smile touches his lips as he stands and slips his tablet into his black leather briefcase. “It’ll be an interesting change around here.”

Something tells me we have no idea just how big a change we’re in for.

Kade walks through the door from the garage an hour later with several Target bags in his hands. Atlas is in his office on a conference call I luckily didn’t get roped into attending, and Gabriel is still at work for at least another hour.

“Did you get everything she’ll need?” I ask.

He shrugs, kicking off his shoes and walking past the living room to the kitchen. “It’s a good start. Whatever else she needs or wants, we’ll get her.”

I nod, musing, “You’re being very thoughtful.”

Kade chuckles. “Yes, well, make no mistake, I call first dibs on the human’s pussy.”

I roll my eyes, snapping my book shut with one hand as I sit up and shoot a halfhearted glare in Kade’s direction. I can’t help but taunt him with, “That’s not fair to the poor girl. What if she wants, you know, satisfaction?”

He lifts the bags onto one of the kitchen island counters, narrowing his eyes at me. “Think I’m not up to the challenge?”

I shrug. “I’m just saying…”

Kade drags his tongue over his bottom lip, and fuck if I don’t watch as his mouth curves into a smirk. “You and I both know just how thoroughly I can satisfy. Or have you forgotten?”

I swallow, inundated with flashes of memories of heated nights shared with Kade over the years. “Point taken.”

“Are you sure about that?” He moves closer, stopping near me behind the couch.

I grin at him. “Come on now. Save some of this alluring sex appeal you’ve got going on for the human,” I offer wryly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always have some just for you, Lex,” he teases, ruffling my hair before I can swat his hand away.

“Fuck off,” I grumble.

“Come help me put this shit away,” he says, nodding toward the various bags.

With a sigh, I get up and follow Kade to the kitchen, grab a few of the bags, and go with him to Calla’s room.

As we unpack everything he picked up, from toiletries to undergarments, I can’t help thinking about how different things are bound to be around here once she arrives.

And something tells me that’s either going to be best or worst thing for all of us.