Demigod Down by Kim Schubert Page A

was trying to kill the other.
I was simply more honest about it.
    Returning back to the pet problem, I chewed
thoughtfully on the cereal I had poured for myself. Only a clan
member could free a pet and even then, challenges would arise for
said pet with the strongest vampire winning slave rights. It was a
custom I didn’t particularly approve of, but I hadn’t seen one pet
in Tate’s clan. I wonder which clan had someone Blake cared deeply
for and why he wasn’t letting me kill the fuckers.
    I sighed. Not all the world’s problems were
mine, but his I would gladly take on.
    I needed to talk to Grams and check out our
own library on the subject, Blake wanted to keep a lid on this, but
I wanted it resolved and done with. Rubbing my eyes, I refilled my
cereal, letting my mind wander over the pet problem.
    Finishing my third bowl of cereal, I rinsed
my dish in the sink when I heard Blake lumber down the stairs on
the phone.
    “I’ll be right there,” he growled into the
phone, wrapping a strong arm around my waist and leaning down to
gently kiss my neck. Resting my head against his shoulder, I heard
his phone click off before he leaned down to nuzzle my neck.
    I debated telling him about my own plans to
check out the manor’s library, but I decided against it. He would
undoubtedly attempt to dissuade me. Whatever his reasons were, he
was adamant on keeping me out of the picture and given Gabrielle’s
comment last night about the “favor” still owed to Blake, I was
bound to get dragged into this mess sooner or later and I’d rather
get a handle on it sooner. Problems left to the vampires were slow
to be rectified and when humans were involved, they always spelled
disaster.
    “What are your plans for today?” he asked,
turning me around in his arms.
    I shrugged as Alfie appeared dressed in
running clothes. I smiled. “You want company, Alfie?” I asked,
smiling.
    Taken off guard, he adjusted his mp3 player
before replying, “Sure.”
    Turning back to Blake, I smiled as he shook
his head. “Keep her out of trouble, Alfie,” he warned, slipping out
of the door.
    Listening to the sound of the garage door
closing, I looked at Alfie with purpose. “I’m going to change. Then
we are going to have a conversation about this family business
shit.”
    Quickly, he shoved his earbuds in, “I can’t
hear you over my mp3 player,” he answered me loudly.
    I was going to break that small, annoying
machine.
…
    I left Alfie alone for the first mile, it was
a strange sensation to run for exercise and not because something
was either chasing me or I was doing the chasing. Plus, it added to
his anxiety and I was enjoying it.
    At mile two, he broke the silence first,
“I’ve already told you what Blake’s instructions are.”
    “Yep, who is the family member in trouble?” I
asked, looking ahead.
    Alfie stiffened and answered my question with
silence. Fine. I could work with body language and emotional
discharge alone.
    “Is this unknown family member a pet?” I
asked.
    Alfie slowed his gait, his concern ratcheting
up as he looked at me. That was a yes.
    “What clan?” I slowed, matching his pace.
    Resting his hands on his hips, I could see
the debate taking place behind his intelligent pale blue eyes.
“I’ll find out Alfie, one way or another,” I informed him.
    Alfie shook his head, “Not one you know of,”
he answered finally.
    “Why are Angelina and Gabrielle here?” I
asked, watching his closed expression closely.
    Alfie sighed, picking the pace back up. “To
help meditate the current family problems
    “So it’s a foreign vampire that has the
family member as a pet.”
    Alfie skidded to a stop, glaring at me. “I
did not say that.”
    “You haven’t said much.” I agreed, facing
him.
    He shook his head, rubbing his forehead,
before starting back up, “Damn, you are good.”

    I shrugged. “Being able to read people has
kept me alive this long.”
    Alfie sighed resigned. “Ask