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RYANE AND I HAD GOTTEN the remnants of the large bed out of the house and into the back yard. She had suggested burning it and I was inclined to agree with her. Seemed like I needed to. I was definitely going to have to be more aware of how I let her talk to me. I love the girl, but if she can simply command me, that is dangerous for everyone. She was going to need to learn how to ask, not demand. What was Keegan teaching her anyhow? She was supposed to be his submissive, but she was constantly the aggressive one. Especially now that she was a Vampire. I know it had only been hours since her turn, but there were things already that were very different.
The way she walked, the turns her body made, they were more precise, more predatory. She was thinking more rationally as well. I wondered though, if that was the blood of the awakened Hunter in her more so than the Vampire. Since Samuel’s death, she’d been more level headed, which was a good thing. I hoped it wasn’t just a phase.
“Hey, where’d you go?” Ryane’s voice broke in on my thoughts. I had forgotten she was standing out here with me as I stared at the flames and made my ponderings of the current situation.
“Sorry, got transfixed by my handy work there.”
“Well, you do give good flame.” She grinned, rubbing her hands up her arms, feeling the heat. She was still in the skimpy little tank top and shorts and the breeze made her nipples pop.
I cleared my throat, looking down slightly. What do you want, I’m a man after all? “Do you intend to get dressed today? Or is this a fashion statement, cuz I gotta tell you, polka dots are not a great look.” I snapped the strap on her tank with a chuckle.
“Yeah, I keep getting side tracked. When this is done, I’ll grab a shower and put on something else.”
“Perhaps some yoga pants and a sports? We should keep up with your training. If you still want to be a Guardian, that is.” She was quiet a moment, as she stretched. “Having second thoughts?”
“Nope, just thinking of how I am gonna kick your ass.” She hip bumped me.
“Oh, I doubt it. Now that you’ve been turned, I don’t have to hold back quite as much. I can actually sort of hit you now.”
“You mean to tell me you’ve been holding out on me?” She shoved me playfully.
“Of course. I didn’t want to kill you. I’m a Hell of a lot faster and stronger than you can imagine. Of course, so are you, now. So, knocking you around should be fun.”
“You can be a real jerk, you know that, Siggy boy.”
“Yup, and please stop calling me that.”