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softer than they ever had done before, and the smell of lavender they held was soothing. If that’s how he can make them smell, he can wash them every day for me. He seemed to enjoy it.

Ryder breathed in the lavender scent once more, knowing that it would fade soon. Leandro wouldn’t be doing laundry again for her—that was just a silly little dream.

She went through her quiver and checked all her arrows, then threw it over her shoulder. She really needed to make some more soon. She bent to snag her bow from beside the bed and slung that over her shoulder as well. She was ready to round up her gang. The thought brought some warmth to her heart. It’s going to work, and I’m going to fire an arrow right through Afana’s heart for all the lives he’s destroyed.

Chapter Three

Ryder looked at him with confusion. “The door was open.”

“You were in a world of your own,” he told her. “I didn’t want to disturb you. May I come in? I just need to change my clothes.”

“Of course.” She shrugged and sidestepped to pass him in the doorway. “It’s your room. Thank you for letting me use it, and for coming up with people you think might help us.”

“You’re welcome,” Leandro called after Ryder as she left the room. He really sucked at small talk.

The scent of Lavender hung in the air. He’d been saving that soap for someone special like Ryder, and it had totally been worth it. His whole room now smelled of her. Wonderful, he thought to himself.

Leandro sighed. Well, at least he’d finally had a girl in his room, but he knew that he’d still get grief from his dad for not actually doing anything about it.

“Leandro?” Ryder stood hesitantly in the doorway.

Leandro reacted too quickly, dropping his clean shirt as he spun around with a squeak. “Yeah?” Dammit, not cool. He cleared his throat and tried again, appreciating that this time he sounded almost manly. “Yeah.”

He didn’t know what to do with his arms. He held them awkwardly by his side for a moment, then moved them to his hips—which made him look like an angry woman. Finally, he put his hands in his pockets.

Ryder watched Leandro’s shuffling with a wry grin. “I was just wondering—and it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me—but how come you’re Fluffy, um...a werewolf, but your dad’s a vampire?”

Fluffy. Is she ever going to stop calling me that? “I don’t mind answering.” He picked his shirt up, focusing on folding it so he didn’t have to meet her eyes while he spoke. “I was left on the porch when I was a baby, and Pops took me in.”

“Oh, that’s…it’s really sad.” Ryder hesitated before asking her next question’. “Do you think your parents gave you up because they knew you were a werewolf?”

Leandro nodded. “I think so. You see, vampires and Weres have a long history together. Weres would watch over vampires while they slept through the day, they protect one another.”

Ryder raised her eyebrow. “But Massimo doesn’t sleep through the day. He was up bright and early this morning, he was even singing.”

Leandro rolled his eyes. “Sorry about that. He does it all the time.”

Ryder shrugged. “I liked it. It was a nice change from what I’m used to.”

“Being an ABBA-loving vegetarian isn’t the only thing that’s different about Massimo. He’s also a daywalker—he can go out in the sunlight. He told me he used to be allergic to the sun just like the vampire who turned him, until the WWDE changed something in his blood.”

Ryder looked at Leandro with wonder. “Someone turned him into a vampire?”

“Yes. He was dying. He’d been given six months to live. Apparently, that’s one of the vampire rules—you can only turn someone if they only have six months left to live. When he was turned into a vampire, it saved his life.”

“What would happen if Massimo drank human blood like Afana?” Ryder asked. “Would he be stronger? Vampires drink human blood, don’t they?”

Leandro paled.

Ryder felt awkward. “Sorry, was that too personal?” She hoped she hadn’t pushed too far with her curiosity, but Leandro had all the answers so she had to ask.

“No, it’s not that.” Leandro waved her concerns away. “He’s always drunk animal blood, so I’m not sure what he’d been like if he’d have drunk human blood. But he swears that the fiction books that we have in the house are really non-fiction and tell the truth.”

“What do those books say?”

“That if he drinks human blood, he’ll look younger and be stronger and faster.”

Ryder’s eyes bulged. “Really?” Leandro nodded. She would have to take a look at those books herself if she got the chance. “Do you think he’ll drink some human blood to fight against Afana?” she asked.

Leandro shook his head. “No way. He wouldn’t do that. Nope, not a chance. He’s too scared of turning into a monster.”

Ryder smiled and patted Leandro’s shoulder. “I don’t think he would turn into a monster. He doesn’t seem the monster type. Trust me. I’ve lived with one for most of my life.”

Ryder was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think Afana is a daywalker. I’ve never seen or heard of Afana going outside in the daytime,” she told Leandro.

Leandro was glad she had changed the subject because he didn’t know what else to tell her about his dad. Only Massimo could truly answer her questions.

“That would explain a lot,” he agreed. “Like why he keeps people in an underground bunker. That way he never has to leave.”

“I think you’re right. We should attack in the daytime.” Ryder declared with a grin.

Leandro forgot how to breathe for a second. She really is magnificent when she smiles. Focus, Leandro!

He was diverted by the sound of Carter coming toward his bedroom.

“What are you two grinning about?” He twirled one of the braids in his beard between his fingers as he spoke. “Did Fluffy say something funny?”

Leandro scratched the back of