This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is “My baby’s got a secret” and so I’m putting this up fresh off the plane from Europe and a twenty-hour plane ride home.

Have a great weekend all!

“Shinju, I need to tell you something.” When her spine stiffened he knew he had to tread carefully and use some wisdom with this woman. “Just a minute, I’ll be right back.”

He slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him. Down the hall he knocked softly on Kimora’s bedroom door. When he told her what he wanted she backed up a step. Not used to having to explain his intentions to any female other than his fellow Seekers, Kenoe was ready to snap when it took a full five minutes to get the woman to come with him.

Back in their room, Shinju had quickly dressed and was sitting in a chair pretending to read one of the romance novels she fancied. He knew she was faking it when her thoughts slammed into his head, practically screaming that some tragedy was coming, or that he really didn’t want her. The one that really got him was, Oh God, he’s married!

“Shin? You all right?” Kimora asked.

“Sure. What are you two up to now?”

Kenoe walked over and took her by the hand, leading her back to the bed and into his lap. “We’re not up to anything, but I thought it would be better to have your cousin here while I talk to you.”

“Really.”

Clearly she didn’t believe him. Actually, it wasn’t disbelief as much as it was fear of the unknown.

“Shinju, I want to tell you where I’m from. Who my people are.”

“Why in the world would you need Kimora here for that?”

“Because, love.” He took a deep breath and tightened his hold on her. “I’m…something you’ve never expected to exist. I’m not human.”

“What the hell did you pop while you went to get Kimora? You on drugs?”

“Shin, I’m a vampire.”

Immediately, her fear slammed into him like a two-ton steel demolition ball aimed at his chest. She believed him, and in the worst possible way.

“What?” she hissed through clenched teeth. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready for fight or flight.

So he said it again.

“Shin, baby, I said I’m a vampire.” This time he allowed his fangs to drop into place.

Shinju struggled in his arms and he immediately let her go. She flew to the other side of the room looking for something, anything with which to protect herself.

“Shin,” called Kimora. “It’s all right.”

“Are you fucking crazy? It’s not all right,” Shinju screamed, grabbing her cousin by the arm trying to haul her out the door. When Kimora didn’t move, Shinju dropped her arm and took off so fast, the other woman actually stumbled.

Kimora cut him a steel-sharp glance so hard blood should have spurted from his forehead.

She snarled, “You idiot! What the hell were you thinking showing her your teeth like that?” Taking off after Shinju, she called to her fleeing cousin’s back. “Shin, we’re on a damned plane. Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Away. Far. Somewhere, anywhere!”

“Shinju!” Kenoe ran to the door, yelling down the hall after her. “I’m not going to hurt you. You’re my bondmate, damn it.”

“Noooo!” she screamed, her voice laced with enough fury and dread to leave a trail of terror behind her as she fled.

“Kimora, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“Shinju, will you relax already. So he’s a vampire, what’s the big deal?”

That worked about as well as a combination slap in the face followed by a bucket of iced water. Why wasn’t Kimora freaking out too? There was only one good explanation—the woman was demented.

“Are you out of your damned mind? I don’t care if we have to find a couple of parachutes and jump into the middle of the fucking Pacific, we’re getting off this plane.”

Just as her fingers wrapped around the knob to the cockpit door, Kimora caught up to her and pulled her into a fierce hug.

“It’s okay, Shin. Honest. Calm down, it’s all right.”

Shinju took a deep breath, or as deep as she could between wracking sobs. Kenoe’s dread of her doing something drastic slammed through her. No desire to bleed her dry, nor rip her neck to shreds. There was only care, concern. Love? The man, correction, vam-fucking-pire, was upset because she was afraid of him? Shinju was so stunned that Kenoe was more concerned for her well-being and absolute state of panic than he was about anything else, she didn’t even jump when his hand landed gently on her shoulder and slowly turned her to face him.

Yet Kimora kept her arms wrapped around her cousin, and Shin recognized it as an attempt to reassure her that all was well. Without a doubt Kimora would stand there with her strong arms encircling her until they got toMontanaif that’s what it took to let Shinju know she was safe. It had been this way between them all their lives. They looked after each other.

“All right, Shin?” Kimora asked as she gently stroked Shinju’s hair. An air of solid calm radiated from her cousin and enveloped her until Shinju was able to breathe normally and think somewhat rationally. That was when a thought occurred.

“Kimmie? W-why aren’t you wigging out? Kenoe has fangs and you’re not tripping out about it. What the hell is going on?”

Enjoy the Snippet Saturday authors:
Rhian Cahill
Mari Carr
Shiloh Walker
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Shelli Stevens