“Friends knock and wait for admittance but not close family members. We welcome our mates’ parents and siblings into our homes as though they are our own. We don’t have crime here the way you have in your world. VampLycans are not thieves. We have honor. Stealing is beneath us.”
“That’s good to know but nobody wants someone walking in when they’re about to have sex.”
“It’s part of nature.”
“It’s rude.”
Crayla studied her. “I see. It’s a human thing. Are you ashamed of your body without clothing?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Do I want anyone to see me naked besides Drantos? No. Do I want someone to catch me having sex? That would be a hell no.”
Some of the other woman’s temper seemed to die down. “You don’t shift. You didn’t spend a lifetime learning that being naked is acceptable around others. Clothing isn’t always available if we’ve shifted and return to skin.”
“I figured that it wasn’t a big deal to your kind when Yonda strutted around naked in the woods.”
“Had she just shifted?”
“Yes.”
“We put on something when possible but no one views it as a sexual act to be naked in those circumstances.”
“Okay.”
Crayla hesitated. “You live in our world now. You need to change your way of thinking. It’s an insult to lock your doors to family members. Velder would have turned his back if he’d caught you and our son having sex. It’s not as if he’d have watched. That would be rude.”
“And so wrong,” Dusti added.
Crayla grinned. “I like your humor. And you’re standing up to me. That’s brave.” Her smile faded. “It’s an internal family matter. I guess we can compromise. You are allowed to lock your doors. We will knock first if it makes you feel more at ease.”
“Thanks.” Dusti managed to avoid rolling her eyes. She’d have done it anyway.
“You must have a lot of questions as you learn more about us. Ask.”
“Mainly, I just want to figure out a way to fit in so things are easier on Drantos. I don’t want anyone to give him any crap.”
“You do love him.”
“I’m giving up everything I know to be with him. That would be a yes.”
Crayla’s features softened. “This must be a bit difficult for you. Your mother never told you what she was?”
“No.”
“What was her name? I tried not to know much about Decker’s clan and he kept his daughter close to home. He’d make her stay inside when anyone from another clan visited his. He probably feared they would target her to get back at him…and then she left while still so young.”
“Her name was Ann.”
Crayla’s eyebrows arched. “I don’t think so. That’s not a VampLycan name.”
“That’s what she went by but her full name was Antina.”
“Ah. It makes sense. She would have wanted to fit in with humans. I’m surprised she gave her daughters VampLycan names.”
“She did?”
“Have you ever met other human children with names like yours?”
“No. Not really. I just thought she did it to be cute. She was an A. Batina is my older sister. Our father was Christopher. I got named Dustina. A. B. C. D. My mother joked about it.”
“Some women like to name their daughters after them. She gave both of you part of her name. She must have loved you greatly.”
“She was a terrific mom.”
“You’re sure your mother is dead?”
It felt like a slap. “Of course I am. Do you think she faked her death and abandoned us? She’d never do that. She and my father were killed in a car accident.”
“We heal fast. It would be tough to die the way some humans do.”
“They got nailed by a semi. It cut the car in half. They both had closed casket burials.”
“I’m sorry.”
The sympathy she heard in her tone helped soothe some of Dusti’s anger. “Thank you.”
“VampLycans can die if the injures are severe enough. Beheadings, crush injuries, or massive falls will kill us every time.”
Dusti had a mental flashback of seeing Aveoth kill the jerk who’d kidnapped her. She pushed that memory away. It still made her feel a little sick over watching his head roll away from his body. “Why are you telling me that?”
“You keep glancing at the door. I assumed you were worried about my son on patrol. You shouldn’t be. We’re very sturdy.”
Dusti wasn’t aware she’d been doing that. “It’s not locked. I half expect someone to just walk in.”
“Kraven is gone and Velder is at a meeting with a few of the other clan leaders. Those are the only ones who would, besides your mate or me.”
“Not quite.” Dusti stood and bolted the door. She sat back down.
“Why did you do that?”
“Decker could send men after me.”
“He’d never make it this far into our territory without being captured. We increased the number of our men on patrol for that reason.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“You don’t like Decker?”
“That would be an understatement. I only met him a few times in my life and it was never pleasant. We moved when he found us. He didn’t like me and it was mutual. I only agreed to come to Alaska with my sister because I thought he was a pervert, and I didn’t want her to have to face that possible truth without me being there. Bat wouldn’t trust a stranger as far as she could throw them but she has a blind spot where family is concerned. I knew it would upset her, so I wanted to be there for her if I was right.”
“A pervert?”
“He showed an unnatural interest in my sister, and my mom ran away from home to get away from him… Do I need to spell it out?”
“Ah.” Crayla leaned back. “You didn’t know he’d use them to form an alliance with the GarLycan leader. Do VampLycans frighten you?”
“I’m not stupid. Of course you do. You can shift into another form. I don’t.”
“There would be no honor in attacking you since you’re so much weaker. And your mate would seek vengeance if anyone did. Everyone fears my family. You’re safe, Dusti.”
“That’s good to know but nobody wants someone walking in when they’re about to have sex.”
“It’s part of nature.”
“It’s rude.”
Crayla studied her. “I see. It’s a human thing. Are you ashamed of your body without clothing?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Do I want anyone to see me naked besides Drantos? No. Do I want someone to catch me having sex? That would be a hell no.”
Some of the other woman’s temper seemed to die down. “You don’t shift. You didn’t spend a lifetime learning that being naked is acceptable around others. Clothing isn’t always available if we’ve shifted and return to skin.”
“I figured that it wasn’t a big deal to your kind when Yonda strutted around naked in the woods.”
“Had she just shifted?”
“Yes.”
“We put on something when possible but no one views it as a sexual act to be naked in those circumstances.”
“Okay.”
Crayla hesitated. “You live in our world now. You need to change your way of thinking. It’s an insult to lock your doors to family members. Velder would have turned his back if he’d caught you and our son having sex. It’s not as if he’d have watched. That would be rude.”
“And so wrong,” Dusti added.
Crayla grinned. “I like your humor. And you’re standing up to me. That’s brave.” Her smile faded. “It’s an internal family matter. I guess we can compromise. You are allowed to lock your doors. We will knock first if it makes you feel more at ease.”
“Thanks.” Dusti managed to avoid rolling her eyes. She’d have done it anyway.
“You must have a lot of questions as you learn more about us. Ask.”
“Mainly, I just want to figure out a way to fit in so things are easier on Drantos. I don’t want anyone to give him any crap.”
“You do love him.”
“I’m giving up everything I know to be with him. That would be a yes.”
Crayla’s features softened. “This must be a bit difficult for you. Your mother never told you what she was?”
“No.”
“What was her name? I tried not to know much about Decker’s clan and he kept his daughter close to home. He’d make her stay inside when anyone from another clan visited his. He probably feared they would target her to get back at him…and then she left while still so young.”
“Her name was Ann.”
Crayla’s eyebrows arched. “I don’t think so. That’s not a VampLycan name.”
“That’s what she went by but her full name was Antina.”
“Ah. It makes sense. She would have wanted to fit in with humans. I’m surprised she gave her daughters VampLycan names.”
“She did?”
“Have you ever met other human children with names like yours?”
“No. Not really. I just thought she did it to be cute. She was an A. Batina is my older sister. Our father was Christopher. I got named Dustina. A. B. C. D. My mother joked about it.”
“Some women like to name their daughters after them. She gave both of you part of her name. She must have loved you greatly.”
“She was a terrific mom.”
“You’re sure your mother is dead?”
It felt like a slap. “Of course I am. Do you think she faked her death and abandoned us? She’d never do that. She and my father were killed in a car accident.”
“We heal fast. It would be tough to die the way some humans do.”
“They got nailed by a semi. It cut the car in half. They both had closed casket burials.”
“I’m sorry.”
The sympathy she heard in her tone helped soothe some of Dusti’s anger. “Thank you.”
“VampLycans can die if the injures are severe enough. Beheadings, crush injuries, or massive falls will kill us every time.”
Dusti had a mental flashback of seeing Aveoth kill the jerk who’d kidnapped her. She pushed that memory away. It still made her feel a little sick over watching his head roll away from his body. “Why are you telling me that?”
“You keep glancing at the door. I assumed you were worried about my son on patrol. You shouldn’t be. We’re very sturdy.”
Dusti wasn’t aware she’d been doing that. “It’s not locked. I half expect someone to just walk in.”
“Kraven is gone and Velder is at a meeting with a few of the other clan leaders. Those are the only ones who would, besides your mate or me.”
“Not quite.” Dusti stood and bolted the door. She sat back down.
“Why did you do that?”
“Decker could send men after me.”
“He’d never make it this far into our territory without being captured. We increased the number of our men on patrol for that reason.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“You don’t like Decker?”
“That would be an understatement. I only met him a few times in my life and it was never pleasant. We moved when he found us. He didn’t like me and it was mutual. I only agreed to come to Alaska with my sister because I thought he was a pervert, and I didn’t want her to have to face that possible truth without me being there. Bat wouldn’t trust a stranger as far as she could throw them but she has a blind spot where family is concerned. I knew it would upset her, so I wanted to be there for her if I was right.”
“A pervert?”
“He showed an unnatural interest in my sister, and my mom ran away from home to get away from him… Do I need to spell it out?”
“Ah.” Crayla leaned back. “You didn’t know he’d use them to form an alliance with the GarLycan leader. Do VampLycans frighten you?”
“I’m not stupid. Of course you do. You can shift into another form. I don’t.”
“There would be no honor in attacking you since you’re so much weaker. And your mate would seek vengeance if anyone did. Everyone fears my family. You’re safe, Dusti.”
