Dark and Deadly - Lynn Hagen Page 0,3

“No fever.”

Warren batted his hand away. “I’m just hungry and tired.” And a bit nauseous and still dizzy. He blamed his condition on not only neglecting his diet but being out in the sun all day.

“I just dropped by because I haven’t heard from you in a few days. That’s not like you, boy.”

Warren had been too busy dodging Ryan and had turned his phone off multiple times over the past three days. “Sorry about that. I’ve been real busy. In fact, I was on my way out. Can I call you later?”

Just in case Morgan decided he wanted to stay and visit, Warren locked his front door, which he normally never did. Small towns. People left not only their houses unlocked but their vehicles, too. It was that safe feeling that only Maple Grove could instill in people. Nothing ever happened here.

Not that Warren knew of. Then again, he’d only been a resident for a year. Before then, he’d lived in Falls Bend. He’d only moved because of a stalker ex.

Wow. He really did have a deranged pattern going on in his life. He just hoped Ryan left him alone because Warren didn’t want to move again. Not after he’d bought a house and gotten to know a lot of the townsfolk.

He even liked working for Antonio.

“I’ll go to dinner with you,” Morgan offered. “My treat.”

Morgan had raised Warren after Warren’s parents…well…they hadn’t been the best people to raise a child. His father had walked out after losing his job, unable to provide for his family any longer. His mother was a straight-up drunk who had been more concerned with her next bottle then taking care of her only child.

It was his father’s brother who’d stepped in and taken Warren out of that ugly situation. Warren would be forever grateful, although Morgan was far from a saint. But he’d done the best he could, and Warren couldn’t have asked for more.

Even so, Morgan had a tendency to get himself into trouble. Since Warren had lived with his uncle, Morgan had been arrested twice for driving under the influence, had gotten into three bar fights, and had a slight gambling problem.

Yes, he was a drinker, but nowhere as bad as Warren’s mom, and Morgan always managed to have food on the table, made sure Warren’s schoolwork was done, and actually cared about him.

“Okay.” As far as Warren knew, the diner didn’t serve alcohol.

And Morgan knew nothing of Warren’s inheritance. He hadn’t told a soul about it for fear everyone would have their hand out.

Including Morgan, who already lived comfortably. Except when he gambled. Then he tended to blow a large wad of cash that would’ve been better staying in his savings account.

“I’ll drive.” Morgan waved a hand toward the driveway. “You should tell your landlord to trim your grass. It’s getting pretty long.”

Warren was the landlord and would’ve done that already, except he’d been feeling queasy the past few days.

After climbing into Morgan’s truck and pulling away, Warren noticed a black Charger pulling into his driveway. Crap, he’d just missed Ryan.

Warren wasn’t sure if he was relieved or not, but his best bet was to stay away for as long as possible until Ryan gave up and went away. That was the best thing considering Ryan’s behavior, so why on earth did Warren’s stomach pitch as Morgan turned the corner?

Chapter Two

Ryan walked into the semi-crowded club, needing to feed. Since Warren wouldn’t even talk to him lately, Ryan had no choice but to find a stranger. It wasn’t as if he was at Christian’s club in the city where there were willing humans who didn’t mind feeding a vampire.

Or in Ryan’s case, a half-breed. He could go out in sunlight and could eat regular food, but he still lived off blood.

And right now he was thirsty as fuck. He wouldn’t have been starving if he’d properly fed from Warren, but Ryan was still trying to figure out how to tell the human they were mates.

So he took very little when they’d had sex. But now his appetite was so strong that Ryan feared he might drain someone to quench his thirst. He could barely focus, and his gut was twisted in knots.

Someone had to throw Ryan a lifeline tonight because fuck if he would let bloodlust consume him. He’d never recover from that. Ryan had seen vampires who had given into bloodlust, and he shivered at the thought of turning into one of those mindless creatures whose only goal in