Feral: Part One by Arisa Baumann Page B

comforter.
    As soon as I was resting comfortably, he disappeared and returned after a few short moments with two blue capsules and a tall glass of milk—it wasn’t chocolate, but given he was in fact a vampire, I wasn’t really expecting it. Why did a vampire have milk anyway? Then again, why did a vampire have Tylenol of any kind?
    The questions went unasked as I took the pills without reservation, and this seemed to be surprise him. “You haven’t given me a reason not to trust you yet, but you have to promise we’ll talk about this tomorrow.” I heard him agree, and had just closed my eyes when they popped back open. “My mother. I need—” a yawn split my words— “I need to call my mother.”
    I could have sworn I heard him say it had been taken care of, and I wondered how he had managed to accomplish that. I tried to ask, but my tongue was heavy, and I was already slipping back into unconsciousness.
     

SIX
     
     
    I woke what I assumed was a few hours later to pitch black and panic seized me.
    “Calm,  mio tesoro.  You are safe.” The sound of Simon’s voice soothed my fear, and I struggled to sit up, but he stopped me with a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I would imagine,” he said, rich tone coming from above and to the right of me, “that even after such a deep slumber, you still have a headache, not to mention others. I could give you some more Tylenol-three if you would like.”
    “No, thank you,” I mumbled, relaxing back into the comfy mattress. “Although, regular Tylenol would be nice.”
    “Certo.”
    I felt the bed shift when he left, and blinked when a lamp light clicked on less than two seconds later. “Wow. Wasn’t expecting it that fast.” He didn’t respond, not that I really expected him to, and I waited several minutes after taking the gel-caps before asking him anything. “Where’s Cole?”
    “Kendal is escorting Colton to an older, knowledgeable clan in New York,” he said, his words measured. “The city is much more hospitable to our breed.” He went silent and stayed quiet for so long I had to prod him to speak, and the smile he offered was pained. “I am afraid you have a contusion covering a large portion of your left cheek. It is… noticeable.” 
    “That’s your polite way of saying it looks god-awful,” I groused. “And how am I supposed to explain this away?”
    “The truth,” he stated. “You were out with a friend, your ex attempted to start a fight, and in the commotion, you were injured. If anyone needs details, then you lie and say you were accidentally shoved into a table rather than a sofa.”
    “And Cole,” I blurted suddenly. “He attacked you because of me?”
    His face lost all traces of playfulness and his expression became cold, his eyes remorseful. “I was very much aware that Colton seemed determined to regain contact with his partner from his human life, but never once did I hear him mention your name. I can assure you if Kendal had been remotely aware of Colton’s objectives, he would have alerted me immediately. I suspect, given Kendal’s place in Colton’s former life, Mister Malver felt it would be prudent to refrain from speaking of anyone from his past or behaving in a suspicious manner. Mister O’Cleirigh was just as taken aback by your revelation as I was when you told me.”
    Guilt seemed to darken his eyes. “When I realized who you were to him and he to you, Kendal was of the belief that, being the alpha male of this clan, I should reveal my relationship and intentions concerning you to Colton. Usually when the dominate male asserts his authority, it is followed without question, and given that Kendal is his creator and I above both of them, I—we both—unwisely presumed my orders would be obeyed.
    “I am also ashamed to say that I did not fully… comprehend just how obsessed Colton was until now,” he said quietly. “And if I am to be honest, I am unsure if I would be capable of allowing him to return to