Cain's Identity (Scanguards Vampires Book 9) by Tina Folsom Read Free Book Online

need to stay put.”
    Cain nodded. He was aware of that fact. “So who does that leave us with?”
    “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,” a gravelly voice came from the door.
    “Maybe an ex-vampire hunter isn’t too bad a choice.” Cain grinned at Haven, as the witch-turned-vampire entered the cabin. He was bonded to Yvette, a vampire, and therefore able to consume any human’s blood despite the bond. Haven’s beefy frame filled the entire door. He’d been strong even as a human, fighting vampires most of this life after his mother, a witch, had been killed by one. Only after he’d fallen in love with Yvette and realized that not all vampires were bad, had he switched camps and sacrificed his human life to save the vampire world from certain destruction at the hands of an evil witch.
    “You might change your mind once you hear who I brought,” Haven answered and motioned to a spot behind him.
    The moment he cleared the door, Cain saw what he meant.
    “A human?” John asked, before Cain could say anything. “You’re bringing a human?”
    “Hey, guys!” Blake greeted everybody, a broad smile on his face. “This is great! How cool! I’ve never been to New Orleans. We’re gonna have a blast.” The dark-haired clothes horse, who generally meant well, was a dufus, but he was family.
    “This is not a sightseeing trip,” Cain admonished.
    John tossed him an annoyed look. “He can’t come with us.”
    Blake fisted his hands at his hips, puffing up his chest. “Why not? I’m a bodyguard, too.”
    John took a step toward Blake, who to his credit didn’t flinch. “Because no humans other than blood donors are allowed in the palace or its grounds. So unless you want to turn into food, I’d suggest—”
    “He’s coming with us,” Cain interrupted, though a moment earlier he himself had wanted to deny Blake a seat on this plane. However, he couldn’t allow John to think that he could be easily influenced. It would undermine his authority. Even though he wasn’t keen on having to keep an eye on Blake, he now had to take him to New Orleans just because John didn’t want him there. “And nobody is going to turn him into food.”
    John’s head whirled to him. “With all due respect, that’s unwise. Your friends here at Scanguards may live side by side with humans, but I can promise you, your subjects won’t like it.”
    At the word subjects Cain wanted to shake his head. Did he really have subjects?
    “Blake isn’t just any human. He’s the grandson of a vampire.”
    John tossed him a quizzical look, then sniffed at Blake. “He’s not a hybrid.”
    “No, he’s not,” Cain agreed. “But he descends from a vampire, who started the line when he was still human. But that’s beside the point. We need a human with us to give us flexibility during daytime hours. My decision stands.” Cain held John’s gaze until the other vampire lowered his lids in acquiescence. “It’s settled then. Blake, take a seat. We’ll be leaving shortly.”
    Cain turned to the open cockpit door while the others took their seats and put on their seatbelts. “Are we ready to leave?”
    The co-pilot looked over his shoulder. “Ready when you are.”
    “Good, then let’s close the door and get this show on the road.”
    The co-pilot acknowledged his request with a nod. “Yes, Cain.”
    Cain walked to one of the empty seats and noticed how Thomas and Eddie had taken the two seats in the back of the plane. Thomas’s hand lay on Eddie’s thigh, and the two were talking quietly, their heads close together. They looked happy, and the fact that they were a blood-bonded couple could only help while checking out John’s story: Thomas and Eddie could communicate telepathically via their bond, and it was possible that they would encounter situations in which such a skill could come in handy.
    Cain sat down and fastened his seat belt when the co-pilot exited the cockpit and pulled on the door handle in order to lift the