Trace and Me Only!

Kade had convinced Lucan to let them stay, as long as they didn't leave the yard outside of the compound. Kade walked back into the infirmiry and kissed his mate's forehead. "They can stay," he told her gently. He looked down at the boy sitting in her lap. "How you holding up, kiddo," he asked.

"What happened?" Chris asked her again holding out his arm.

Bethany didn't even know how to explain it.

"Bad vampires attacked you," Kade told him gently. "I got rid of them. You're safe now," he told the boy gently.

"Are you sure?" he asked horrified and interested all at the same time.

"He's really surre hun." Bethany told him hugging him close.

"They won't hurt you. But just in case, you, your aunt, and your mom have to stay inside the compound and it's yard. Don't go outside the gates," he told them. "I'll keep you safe, I promise. With my life."

"for how long?" Bethany asked Kade, "As much as I'd love them too, they can't stay forever. Chris has school in a few years, and Jamie is kind of the free spirit....type...."

"We can teach him whatever he needs to know," he told her gently. "Lucan is the leader here. His word is law. He says you can't leave, you have to stay under my protection. If any of you get hurt, it's all on me."

She just nodded quietly.

"Erasing your memories and sending you back would be catastrophic. Again," he murmured regretfully. "I'm sorry, but until the rogues are completely gone, I can't let you go..."

"I don't want to go back..." she said quietly looking at him.

He kissed her softly, sighing in relief. "Good. I didn't want to let you go again, anyway," he murmured.

"I don't want to leave either." she said quietly.

He held her close. "Come on, squirt. Let's find a place for you to sleep, unless you want to sleep with your aunt?"

"i wanna sleep with mommy." he said looking at them. "She's still sleeping right?"

"How about you just sleep with me tonight, hun." she said quietly

Dante hurried in, furious. "Where the hell is Jess," he asked. "What happened!?" He could sense his mate was exhausted.

"She's in the next room," Kade told him.

Dante didn't wait to hear what happened, just hurried into the next room to check on his mate. He came back out with Jess in his arms, sleeping, and glared, growling, at Kade before he walked out.

"That man seems scary." Chris said scooting closer to his aunt.

"It's okay, hun." Bethany told him and patted him on his head and turned to Kade, "Can i get..dressed yet? Then we should put him to bed soon."

Kade nodded. "I'll go get the clothes I didn't put in the box," he told her and went to get them. He came back within minutes and handed her the green dress he'd kept. "Come on, squirt. You hungry," Kade asked, offering the boy his hand.

Chris nodded and hesitantly took his hand and followed him out.

Bethany took the dress and half smiled, feeling flattered that he kept it. She slipped into it and tried to make herself look somewhat presentable.

"What do you like to eat," he asked Chris as they arrived in the kitchen, the cabinets and shelves full of food.

"Pizza! Only with cheese though, all the grown up stuff is gross." he said grimacing.

Kade chuckled at the kid's innocence. "Alright, cheese pizza it is," he said, looking in the freezer. He found one he thought would be a good size for the boy to eat by himself and heated up the oven accordingly. "Anything to drink? I won't get in trouble with your aunt if I give you soda, will I?"

I can't hace soda before bed." he said sadly, "Lemonade?"

He nodded. "We've got plenty of that. It's one of Jess' favorite drinks," he said and took the pitcher out, getting a small cup down and putting some of the yellow liquid in it. "Here you go. If it's too sour, we've got sweetener," he told him.

Chris took it and gulped it down in less that a couple seconds.

Kade chuckled. "Thirsty?"