Free Craig's Heart by N. J. Walters Page B

introduced all gasped. Their emotions bombarded him. Quinn was furious while his sister was hurt. Craig glanced toward Damek. No help there. The vampire looked damn amused. Sonia, on the other hand, looked concerned.
    “How could you tell our secrets to a complete stranger?” Quinn took an aggressive step toward him. “What has that bloodsucker done to you?”
    The accusation rolled right off Damek, but Evie surprised him by jumping in front of him. She held her hands out, stopping Quinn in his tracks. “That bloodsucker didn’t do anything. This one did.”
     
    Evie was surrounded by werewolves and vampires. How had her life come to this? Two weeks ago, she was happy spending all her time painting, occasionally meeting her friends at an art opening or at a coffee shop. She would have laughed at anyone who suggested such creatures existed. She wasn’t laughing now.
    Quinn and Chrissten were both tall and blond. Even Craig’s sister was slightly taller than him. But she could see the resemblance in their features and their pale-blue eyes. They might be related, but something inside Evie had kicked in the moment she’d felt Craig was being threatened. She wasn’t having it. None of this was his fault.
    Quinn’s scowl grew darker and his brows drew down in a frown. “What are you saying?”
    Craig gently pushed her behind him. Evie blinked at Craig’s back, unable to believe what he’d just done. He was protecting her from his own brother.
    “What she means,” Craig began, “is that there’s more than one vampire in the room.” Craig’s shoulder’s tensed and Evie stepped out to stand beside him.
    Evie couldn’t stand the tension. “I’m a vampire and I accidentally turned Craig into one too.” She let the bloodlust have partial reign inside her. It was difficult to control but necessary. With her eyes tinged red and her fangs showing, there could be no doubts as to what she really was. Vampire.
    It was out in the open. No more secrets. She was more than willing to shoulder the blame for what had happened to Craig if it helped his family accept what he now was. She hated the thought of him losing his siblings because of what she’d inadvertently done.
    Nobody moved for the longest second and then Quinn attacked. Evie had been expecting it and braced for it. His head partially morphed into a wolf’s head and his two hands became claw-tipped weapons. Quinn’s strength was enormous, but so was hers. She shoved back and ducked under his arm, barely avoiding being cut by those sharp claws. Evie could hear everyone else yelling and Bethany screamed at her mate.
    Craig yelled, grabbed his brother’s arm and held it immobile. “Stop it, Quinn. Stop.” He held on until Quinn’s features went back to normal. “Everyone needs to calm the fuck down.”
    “As usual, my friend is right.” Damek stepped forward, and this time he allowed his power to expand until it filled the space. “I won’t have this kind of violence around my wife.” The threat was clear. If they didn’t all cool down, the vampire might easily kill them all and dispose of their bodies. Well, all but Craig’s. Evie really didn’t think Damek would harm him.
    The short hairs on Evie’s arms all stood on end and she swallowed hard, feeling a heavy pressure on her mind and body. How much power did this guy have?
    “This is my home and you will behave yourselves or you will leave.” Damek motioned toward the two sofas. No one contradicted the vampire and all of them sat. All but the tall werewolf with the buzz cut. He stood behind Chrissten like a protective warrior.
    The tension was so thick it was difficult to breathe. Not that she really needed to breathe, or at least she didn’t think she did. She still had a lot to learn about being a vampire. There were things she needed to know and, unfortunately, only one person who could teach them to her.
    Evie moved as far away from the group as she could without bringing Damek’s