Ruth sat up straight. He had never spoken about this, not even to her.
`When it happened last year, well, afterwards anything not human was just something that needed to die. I can't remember faces, just the kill. It felt good. Fantastic. Better than sex.'
Ruth put her glass down, reaching out to him. She hadn't understood how much he'd been hurting.
`All that mattered was the next kill. My revenge. Even those who were not Bloodells, the hybrids, were prey. They didn't satisfy the hunger like a Bloodells' death. I needed more. Sometimes I took it.'
`Shit.' Renee had gone white.
Mason frowned. Colour touched his neck.
`When Ruth left me, I was out of control. I had to stop, to control it. Or lose Ruth and Wilson forever. I couldn't let that happen.'
He looked up at Nikki, glanced at Renee. `But when I faced you, the hunger was reborn, but different. I think I was afraid too. You're stronger than most Bloodells, not cold to touch; you're a challenge. And here, on the island, Ruth and Wilson were involved, so I...' His eyes locked onto Renee.
Ruth drove her nails into his arm, afraid he had lost control, but his skin was hot, soft in her hand. He winced but remained focused on Renee. He was still Mason, albeit distracted by something.
`You still see us as a threat?' Nikki asked ever so carefully, her hand tight on Ruth's leg.
`Mason?' Ruth pulled at his arm. `What are you doing?'
`Trying to understand. Why they're here, on the island at the same time we're here. If they're not like the Bloodells and not here for us then why are they here? Why does Gaia need us to trust each other?'
`A war.' Ruth stood and turned his face towards her. `Gaia said a war was coming. One where we would all die if we could not stand together as one.'
Ruth took a deep breath, knowing she had to tell him everything. `She said I would watch our children die while you — she called you Hunter — would be lost to the darkness. No one would survive.' She kissed him on the forehead, tears in her eyes. Saying Gaia's words out loud made her fear real.
`A war?' Mason's face softened at the sight of her tears.
She sat down again, wiping her eyes, relieved to have Gaia's message out in the open. Nikki's hands were on the stem of her wine glass.
Renee slurped her wine, watching Mason over her glass. `So, who we fighting then?'
Ruth raised an eyebrow at Renee's tone. Even more when Renee put her glass down and her nipples revealed how excited she was under her T-shirt. Did thought of a fight do that to her or… Or was it Mason?
`Has to be Bloodells.' Mason glanced at Renee and away, so fast Ruth nearly missed it.
`Not here,' Nikki said. `They don't dare break the treaty.'
`Treaty?'
`No Bloodells has ever set foot on the shores of this country and survived a day. This is our home and they know to come here would…' Nikki sat up. `It would start a war.'
Mason stood up. `They're coming.'
`Max's call this morning.' Ruth interpreted the look on Mason's face. `It was about the Bloodells wasn't it? If Max knows, then the Fund does. Max is coming here, isn't he, and he's not coming alone?'
`He's not.' Mason paced around the table, past Renee whose eyes were alight with excitement.
Damn, Ruth thought, she's as bad as him.
`Just so we're clear here,' Nikki said, looking around, frowning. `You're saying that Bloodells are on their way here, as we speak?'
`I'll go.' Renee stood up and vanished in a swirl of red, leaving behind the momentary taste of a strong scent that was cloaked by Nikki's sweetness as she stood to watch where her sister had gone.
`She's fast,' Mason said, joining Nikki and handing her a glass. `Where's she gone and who else is on the island? And, what's more, why are you here on this so-auspicious day?' Ruth heard the calculation in his question. A hint of distrust that he'd need to work out of his system. They were good questions, though.
`Thanks.' Nikki took the glass and either ignored Mason or failed to understand what he was really asking. Ruth poured herself some more wine. She sipped and stopped. Gaia's energy laced the wine, tickling her tongue. Potent.
`You don't stop with the questions, do you?' Nikki said, avoiding giving answers.
`Nope.' Mason sipped his wine. Nikki mirrored him. `You going to answer or do I have to beat it out of you?'
Ruth spilled her wine. `Mason!' The dry smile on Mason's face was unexpected. She stopped mid-stride. `Jesus, you were kidding.'
`Yeah,' he said with a lopsided smile. `Seems you didn't quite get the humour.'
`Neither did I for a second.' Nikki put down the wine glass and went to Ruth. `Now you're covered in wine.'
Ruth let Nikki take off the wine-stained sarong. Squatting, one hand on Ruth's hip, she used soft long strokes to cleanse her legs. Ruth touched Nikki's hair, running her fingers through it.
`Lucky you didn't spill it in your lap,' Mason said, eyebrows raised. Ruth ignored him. `Are we going to discuss rules before the brat comes back?'
`Rules?' Nikki ducked into the kitchen with the sarong. Ruth heard the tap running, then Nikki was back, tilting her head at Mason, inviting him to explain.
`Ruth likes you.' He leant against a post on the patio. `Usually we talk about this beforehand, but Ruth is Ruth and when she likes someone,' he shrugged and drank some more. `We haven't survived this long as a couple without our problems, but when it comes to this, there are rules. Our rules.'
`You weren't kidding when you said you both were open and direct.'
`About this we are.' Mason finished his wine. `Ruth needs to be herself, but this is different.' He looked up and Ruth touched her neck, wondering if he was going to say no. They both had to agree, or it would feel wrong for her. It had to be mutual. He nodded. `Nikki's different, Ruth. It's too fast too soon. I'm not sure I can…be myself anymore, even less if Nikki is part of this.'
`Mason.' She went towards him. He held a hand up, eyes showing his hurt.
`Ruth, I can feel it too. Nikki is everything you desire, her scent is right for you.' He held up his empty glass. `The wine was laced by something from Gaia. I can taste her touch, potent and delicious. This island is magical. Everything is pushing us towards this, but,' he shook his head, `I don't trust myself, Ruth.'
Mason looked at Nikki. `You like her. I don't blame you. Ruth has that something that just makes you want to lose control.'
Ruth knew he was looking at Nikki as a woman for the first time. `You're what she likes in her partners.'
`This is weird,' Nikki said, putting her wine glass down. `Having this conversation is weird. It's usually so different, so secretive.'
`We can't be secretive, even less so now.' Mason flexed his neck. `I just think this should slow down. Not stop. I don't want anyone getting hurt.'
`So, slow and steady it is then?' Ruth felt her heart skip. She wanted Nikki so much but couldn't hurt Mason.
`I'm not sure how you two do this but I, don't, I can't have a man,' Nikki said.
Ruth reached out, feeling her pain.
Mason turned away. `We, ah, I don't do that, Nikki.'
`He has never wanted anyone other than me,' Ruth said, putting her arm around Nikki.
`Oh,' Nikki whispered, leaning in to her. `This is surreal, and all in one day.'
`Yes, yes it is.' Mason still faced the forest. `The brat is coming back, so I'll be quick. One, there are no secrets between