Bane of Tenebris (Wolfgods Book 2) by Blaise Ramsay (i love reading books txt) 📕

a hybrid whose father was one of my kind? I beg of you not to hate him. He loved you more than his own life.”

Kain took a moment to think about Desdemona’s words. He remembered the memories he saw of Tala’s father and how he looked at Tala with a bright smile and gentle eyes. Kain turned on his heel to head back to his car, leaving the vampiress behind him.

Opening the door, Kain dropped into the seat. He let his forehead fall against his hands on the steering wheel. The very foundations of his mind began fracturing making it hard to hold the reserve. He’d just been told his father was a lover to a member of the vampire equivalent of the mob.

The sudden opening of the passenger’s side door followed by Zane’s plopping down in the seat dragged Kain back into reality. He glared at the vampire.

Zane appeared to ignore Kain. “I’m guessing by the flames in your eyes, you’re wanting to tear me apart for what she said.”

Kain didn’t respond. He returned his attention to the hood of his car and the music on the radio.

Zane rolled down the window and let his elbow rest on the rim. “Take it from one veteran to another, you don’t need to go home with how you’re feeling. I know a place we can go to let you cool your head.”

The way Zane spoke to him was insulting. He admitted to himself to being on edge but didn’t appreciate Zane’s assumptions he wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure. For centuries, his father trained him to never show emotion and to never crack under any sort of circumstance. It was how Kain lived.

However, Kain’s trust in Zane led him to take the vampire’s advice. As much as Kain didn’t want to admit it, he wouldn’t want Tala to worry about him or ask too many questions. He was already tired and needed time to process everything he’d learned.

Surrendering, he asked Zane for directions to the place he mentioned.

Chapter Seventeen

Zane gave Kain the directions to a beautiful lake side campsite, informing the lycan of its history as a place Zane and his brother often spent together during their summers as humans. Kain recognized it as not being very far from his old cabin.

Kain walked the edge of the lake, his heart light at the memories it held for him. “I recognize this place. I used to bring Clint here to swim and fish when he was younger.”

Zane stood on the embankment, his eyes staring intently at the lake white-capping in the moonlight. “I’d heard you had an adopted son. My brother and I used to come here every summer before we became vampires. I figured it’d be a good place to spend a short time.”

Intrigued by Zane’s sudden change in behavior, Kain decided to use the opportunity to get to know a bit about this strange soldier. Zane had gone out of his way to help Kain and his pack in ways that could get even the most seasoned warrior killed.

“I’m a former Marine in the United States military. Shortly after completing high school I joined the Corps, leaving my brother, Christian and my mother behind. It wasn’t long after I left that Christian disappeared.” Zane rolled his hand into a fist at his side.

From his stature, Kain could tell the memory hadn’t been a pleasant one. The mention of Christian drew Kain’s attention, but he held onto his suspicion to let Zane continue speaking.

“I served almost ten years, receiving letters from my mom about how she couldn’t find my older brother. When I came home, I searched for almost two years without even a clue as to where he might be. Eventually, the grief got so bad, my mom died, and I was left to bury her.”

“The vampire named Christian. Tala’s father. Is he the same one?” Kain asked, receiving a silent nod as an answer.

“I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us. I’ve provided for Tala for most of her life as nothing short of a monster. A profession I’ll never be proud of.”

Kain’s brow raised in question.

Zane’s mouth tightened in a straight line. “Let’s just say you and I have history with a certain overly possessive bitch of a vampiress. She’s the one who changed me. Against my will, might I add.”

Any number of names came to Kain’s mind. In five hundred years he’d had encounters with many possessive, bitchy vampiresses. It wasn’t until he remembered Joel and how Zane happened to know about the pain the young man went through before a connection was made.

“Emeline.” Kain growled.

Zane nodded. “I may not have seen the same level of war you’ve experienced, Kain, but as a front line Marine, I’ve seen my fair share of death. Compared to what that bitch is doing, war is nothing. I’d rather be facing down foreign threats.”

“War is war, my friend. Thank you for all you have done.” Kain extended his hand in friendship to Zane, something he never thought he’d do regarding a vampire.

Zane’s shock was evident on his face. With a relaxed smile, he took Kain’s outstretched hand and shook it. “This isn’t the only reason I brought you here. I wanted to give you an update on Stoker Cromwell and Anthony.”

Kain withdrew his hand, joining Zane as he walked onto the pier.

A single lamp with a faded yellow light provided a ghastly light on the surface of the rippling water. The wood creaked under the weight of the two men as they made their way to the end of the pier. The sound of the water and the smell of the fresh pine made Kain smile at remembering the silence of the mountains.

Zane leaned against one of the poles bound together with another by a rusted chain. “As you probably imagined, Cromwell has barricaded himself behind Anthony’s strongest thugs. The Don keeps the coward well provided for in exchange for whatever information he can provide regarding