Chapter Fifty-Two

Drake.

Drake held Waverly well into the night

He couldn’t help but stare out of the window in case that vampire decided to come back. It’d been a surprise that he tried to fight.

Not a surprise how angry he was, because Drake understood his hurt. There was no way he could imagine losing Roderick even when he made outlandish remarks like tossing Beau under the bus.

Drake sighed softly and rolled over onto his back. The crease of the two twin-size beds pushed together made it uncomfortable but Waverly was sound asleep nestled into the crook of his arm. He hadn’t had the heart to move most of the night. Watching her sleep felt creepy, but it put himself as ease knowing that she was safe and at peace beside him.

Moonlight spilled into his window when a cloud rolled by, which brightened the room. It gave him a good look at Waverly resting. In the midst of watching her sleep, someone knocked on the window, sending fear down his spine.

He glanced over and Beau stood at the window, gesturing for Drake to come outside.

Carefully, he slipped from underneath Waverly, watching as she readjusted after he stood up. He held up his finger to Beau and went into the living room.

His mother was nursing a cool glass of blood, and Roderick was looking at his phone.

“I’m going outside to speak with Beau.”

His mother swung her feet from the table to the floor. “Do you need me to come with you?” she asked.

“I’m fine, Mom.”

Roderick laughed from the couch. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? You just got beat up outside earlier.”

Drake rolled his eyes. "I was hardly bet up, you jackass."

“Stop it, Roderick,” his mother hissed. “You go. Scream if you need me.”

Drake rolled his eyes. What would it look like for him to call for his mother if things got out of control? Like he coudln't handle himself.

“I’ll most certainly not do that,” Drake said, opening the front door and walking outside.

Beau was leaning against the railing of the front porch when he walked down the steps.

“What’s up?” Drake asked.

Beau shoved from the railing and stepped in front of him. “I wanted to make sure that everything is okay with you. I never thought that would happen."

Drake shrugged. “As good as it can be. I feel guilty and I feel angry. I don’t know where to go from here, honestly. I'm not sure we should stay anymore. Maybe he was right. We shouldn't have brought this mess to you."

Beau nodded, his gaze traveling over the camp and back to Drake. “I didn’t think Jason would react that way today. I knew he’d be heartbroken, because his brother was the only family left, but I didn’t think he’d take it out on you. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him in time.”

“I’m not afraid of him,” Drake said. “I’m afraid for Waverly to get caught in this mess, or someone to retaliate against her when none of this is her fault. I love her.”

Beau nodded. “I get it, and you’d be crazy not to.”

Silence settled over the two of them. Drake felt himself become more at ease with Beau. “Do you want us to leave?” he asked after several minutes.

Beau chuckled and kicked up a few rocks with the toe of his boot. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you’d all be safer here. Jason won’t be starting any more fights, and I care about Waverly, too. I don’t want her out there wandering the roads with royals tracking you.”

Drake appreciated his honesty. Even if Beau was allowing them to stay to keep Waverly safe, at least she was safe. Drake had to look at the safety of the girls before anyone else.

“I respect the honesty. Now what do you really want to talk about? I know you didn’t come over to see if I was okay.”

Beau laughed and it seemed like a legit laugh. “You’re right. I want to talk about your mother. I know you trust her, but are you sure your father, who doesn’t like us very much, isn’t going to show up and tear the camp down? He’s friends with the royals.”

“Listen,” Drake said, turning to face him. “I’m worried about the same thing. She doesn’t think Dad is going to show up, but he called, and to be frank, I’m worried about it.”

Beau looked off at a few vampires shuffling off toward their shift. “I understand. We need to figure it out quickly. Do you think sending a few vampires out to your father’s house would be wise?”

Drake thought about it. “He lives in the city. Someone wandering around his house wouldn’t be too big of a deal. However, he’s old and would catch onto someone snooping easily. His ability to track is also outstanding.”

Beau nodded. “I have a few runners here. They are quick. Maybe getting in and out quickly could happen.”

Drake shrugged. “I think if it’s a quick trip to see if he is there it wouldn’t hurt. I wouldn’t send them to follow him around.”

“What are the chances your dad would follow your mom himself?”

Drake laughed. “Slim to none.”

“So you think he sent someone?”

“For sure.”

Beau nibbled on his bottom lip. “I’ll get with two of my runners.” He dug his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Drake. “Put his address in there for me.”

Drake typed in his father’s address and handed him the phone. “My father is crafty,” he said. “Manipulative and very well-known. If he calls the royals they’ll come to help him, because he’s done the same for them.”

Beau’s gaze shifted toward Drake. “I’m not afraid of the royals. I’m not afraid of your dad. I’m afraid of the royals taking over the entire damn world. I love my family. My human family embraced me when they didn’t have to. I can’t let them run over helpless humans.”

“Is that how this started?”

Beau sighed. “I didn’t tell Waverly this because she was friends with my sister. A royal vampire killed my sister. She was following me one night before my parents told her what happened to me, and I was in a bad place. She …” He looked off into the distance. “She followed me to this nightclub for vampires. It was the wrong place at the wrong time. She was drained in the alleyway between the club and a tattoo parlor. I am the reason she was there. She was only seventeen.”

Drake watched the corners of his mouth pull into a frown. If they could cry he imagined Beau’s face would have been coated in tears.

Reaching forward, Drake put his hand on Beau’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s the reason I hate the royals. When I reached out to them they didn’t give two cents about my sister. They blamed me for leading her there. Their utter disrespect for human life turned my life around. I began to find others that hated the royals. And it led me here.”

Drake began to have more respect for Beau than ever before.

Beau turned to face him as moonlight brightened his features. “That’s why Waverly and Sarah’s lives were tossed into the wind so easily.

Because they don’t care about humans. Why would they? They have a power that they would never have.” Beau stepped forward.

“Promise me that you’ll always protect Waverly. I know you will, because that’s your mate, but I need to hear you say it.”

“I swear that I will always protect Waverly. Thank you for your help.”

He nodded. “I’m headed to my runners. I’m sending them as soon as the sun comes up. I’ll keep you all updated on what they find.”

“I’ll keep an eye on my mother,” Drake whispered.

Beau smiled. “I’m glad we talked.”

“Me too.”