Free Blake, Abby - Vampires' Witness [PUP Squad Alpha 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Abby Blake Page A

us, we must have been there stealing their energy.” He grinned. “And I suspect the permission thing was one clever vampire’s way of convincing humans that they were safe as long as they didn’t invite a vampire in.”
    “I suppose that makes sense,” she said as she tried to imagine life before widespread medical knowledge and small towns full of hysterical, superstitious folks trying to protect their families.
    “A stake to heart, though, that’s real. Our bodies can heal very quickly so we do have a chance if the stake is removed immediately, but any damage to the heart can be fatal. Just like any other living creature.”
    “So a bullet can kill us?”
    “Depends on the bullet and where it hits. A low caliber hurts like hell, but our healing abilities quickly force the slug out and seal the wound.”
    “You know this firsthand?” she blurted in shock. Even though they’d explained what it was that PUP Squad Alpha did, she hadn’t really associated their work with such mortal dangers.
    “Yes, I’ve been shot,” he said with another of those soft smiles, “but I’ve been lucky that both times the damage was minimal. Some of today’s modern weapons are much more dangerous. There aren’t many living creatures—human, paranormal, or otherwise—that could survive explosive rounds and rocket launchers.”
    “So you could…” She had to swallow the sudden lump in her throat before she could continue. “You could die in the line of duty? Just like a human soldier?”
    He shrugged. “Our squad has been working together for nearly five decades. We’re very good at what we do.”
    “I…but you could die.” It probably sounded so lame, but somehow she’d convinced herself that Benjamin and Samuel and the rest of the squad were invincible. “What about—” She cut off her words as the main door of their motel room opened.
    “Skye?” her sister asked in a small voice as she stepped into the room. “Are you all right?”
    She practically flew across the room and grabbed her sister in a tight hug. It had only been ten days, but so many things had happened that it felt very much longer. “God, I missed you.”
    “Back at you, kid,” Jennifer said in a husky voice. “Benjamin explained what happened. He also suggested I make sure you’ve fed before I let you hug me.”
    The reminder of what she was and what she was capable of had her thrusting her sister away from her. She took a step back, relieved at least to realize that she hadn’t even considered biting Jennifer despite having had her face pressed against the vein throbbing at the side of her sister’s throat. But just to be on the safe side Skye took another step back.
    “Wait…he told you?”
    “Yeah, well, I took a bit of convincing, but you know, you’re my sister, and well, we’re the only family we have left. If you’re going to be a vampire, then the least I can do is support you.”
    Skye glanced at the wry expression on Benjamin’s face before turning her attention back to her sister. “He wasn’t lying. I am a vampire now.”
    Her sister smiled and nodded as if she were dealing with a particularly delusional individual. “I believe you,” she said in a tone of voice that was far from genuine.
    “She’s proven to be a tough cookie to convince,” Benjamin said with a laugh in his voice. “I even showed her my fangs, and she still thinks we’re overgrown teenagers playing a fantasy game.”
    “But what about the undercover stuff? The whole ‘keep the secret from humans’ thing?” Skye asked.
    “Occasionally, we make an exception,” Benjamin said with a shrug.
    “You did that for me?”
    “Of course,” Benjamin said, glancing at Samuel as he spoke. “We were going to wait until the mission was completed, but since the trail has taken us almost back to your hometown, we figured now was as good a time as any.”
    “We? You both did this?”
    “Technically we all agreed. If Jennifer decided to break our