Winter had fed him, healed him, protected him, and given him more than enough clothes to keep him happy and comfortable for the foreseeable future. He didn’t need to do any of those things. He could have treated Fox like the prisoner he said he was.
Was this Stockholm Syndrome?
A fucked-up vampire version of Beauty and the Beast?
Well, if he started talking to the appliances, he’d know he was fucked.
No, Fox immediately took that back. He talked to his coffeemaker every damn day, thanking it for blessing him with its caffeinated goodness.
Screw it all. He was going to remember to watch out for himself and his vampire. Together they’d figure this out, and Fox would find a way to return to his life in Colorado.
He descended the stairs when he heard Winter’s voice coming from the kitchen.
“—called to say that we made it to my place safely. Fox is grateful for the clothes and food.”
“We’re always happy to help.” Fox recognized Bel’s voice from the call in the SUV. “Have you learned anything else?”
“No. I’ve sent messages to Rafe and Aiden that we need to get in contact with Zelda ASAP, but they’ve not replied yet. Probably won’t hear anything until tonight at the soonest.”
There was a muffled noise that sounded like it was from Bel, “Yes, Rafe has told me that there’s no reliable way to get in contact with her. She moves around at strange intervals and doesn’t seem to like phones.”
“Who does?” Winter muttered, and Fox had to stifle a laugh. He sat down on the stairs. He knew he should return to the guest room and not listen to Winter’s private conversation, but he couldn’t get his feet to move. He was curious about the unguarded Winter. And then, of course, he wouldn’t mind learning whether his life was still hanging on by a thin thread.
“Are you okay? You don’t sound well.”
Winter made a noise. “I’m a vampire. I can’t get sick.”
“You know what I mean,” Bel snapped.
“I’m tired, Bel. That’s all it is. Things at Damon’s didn’t exactly work out how I’d planned, and it’s been a long trip there and back. I’m just tired.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No. Until we get some more information, we’re largely in a holding pattern. Just…keep an eye out there at Marcus’s. Don’t let anyone leave unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Bel groaned. “Ethan is still a fledgling. He must feed every night.”
“Is Aiden accompanying them?”
“Occasionally.”
“Then you might mention it to our father that he needs to make it every night. At least until Damon is taken care of.”
“I could go out with them,” Bel suggested.
A harsh laugh left Winter, and Fox felt an answering smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “You know Wyatt and River would demand to accompany you as well. Ethan isn’t exactly learning to be discreet if he has two vampires and two werewolves trailing after him.”
It was becoming incredibly clear that everyone within the family was very protective of each other. He couldn’t imagine growing up with so many other people. When he’d been a kid, it was just him and his mom. After his mom died, it was just him. An unexpected throb of loneliness swelled in his chest. He would have liked having other people to care about.
“I could also tell Rafe.”
“That would work if Aiden isn’t available. He comes with only one extra vampire rather than you and two wolves.”
“We’ll be careful,” Bel reassured him. “What about you? Are you sure you’re okay alone with the witch?”
Fox’s hackles immediately rose, and he clenched his hands into fists. How dare Bel question Winter’s safety with him? He would never do anything to hurt Winter. The vampire had rescued him—sort of—and brought him somewhere safe—kind of.
Okay, so there were a lot of fucking caveats to their arrangement, but he had no reason to hurt Winter. Even when he’d been planning to escape the hotel, it hadn’t crossed his mind to harm Winter.
“Fox? Yeah, I’m fine with him. Everything is under control here.”
“We’d be happy to keep him for you,” Bel offered.
Fox had to slap a hand over his mouth to keep from shouting that he wasn’t going anywhere without Winter. He wasn’t supposed to know about this conversation, and if he was being fair, he had to consider Winter’s feelings. Maybe it wasn’t about safety as much as not wanting to be saddled with babysitting a witch.
Winter laughed, and the sound was so unexpectedly warm that Fox had to wonder if it actually came from his vampire and not the brother. “Fox there with you, the wolves, Marcus, Aiden, and Ethan.”
“Gideon and Ryder are here too.”
“And I’m sure Rafe and Philippe are popping by regularly.” Winter groaned. “No, absolutely not. I don’t think he could tolerate being in a madhouse like that. It sounds like the guy has been living alone for a while. You’d drive him crazy inside of a day.”