Fangs and Fennel (The Venom Trilogy #2)(53)

“They aren’t all human,” he repeated with a nod.

I licked my lips. “You sure you aren’t just picking up on Tad?” Even as I said my brother’s name, I knew exactly what Remo meant. There was a strange smell floating out of the kitchen.

I frowned, and my tongue shot out and flicked once in front of my face, tasting the air. Blushing, I turned my face away from Remo, even as the smell registered in my brain.

“Goblin?”

Remo nodded. “And they are usually as mean as their name.”

“Am I . . . ?”

Remo touched my hand. “No, you aren’t like them. It would still linger in you even now. I smell nothing of the sort in you, and remember, I have tasted your blood. There is no goblin in you.”

I didn’t realize how tense I was until he spoke, dispelling my sudden fear that I was even more of a monster than I already believed.

Suddenly my childhood summers with my cousins made more sense. Samantha and Everett were the same age as Tad and I which meant we’d had to suffer through school with our cousins, as well as through family functions. They’d always been bigger and taken great pleasure in torturing us when the adults weren’t looking.

There was a high-pitched screech from the kitchen, and I ran down the hallway without a thought, skidding to a stop at the white tile. Aunt Janice stood next to the sink as the sprayer from the hose shot her in the face. She spluttered and held her hands up as the water doused her good. Mom got the water turned off. “Those boys, they’re at their tricks again.”

Aunt Janice spat out a mouthful of water and grabbed a tea towel to wipe her face. “My Everett would never do such a thing. You’d think Tad would grow up by now.”

Mom’s jaw tightened, and then she saw me. “What are you doing here?’

Not hello, not even bothering to call me by name. “It’s a family dinner, isn’t it? And Dad invited me.”

Aunt Janice turned and squinted at me. “You look different than the last time I saw you, Alena. Did you dye your hair?”

“Yes.” I wasn’t going to explain I’d been turned unless I had to.

I backed up, bumping into Remo. He put his hands on my arms, steadying me. “Are you going to introduce me?”

Oh dear. I nodded, manners taking over. “Of course. Aunt Janice, this is my”—I swallowed and forced the word out—“boyfriend, Remo.” Oh my God, I felt like I was in high school again. That is, if I’d ever brought a boyfriend home from school. Which I most certainly had not. The only saving grace was that Aunt Janice was not a Firstamentalist.

Aunt Janice stared at Remo, and her throat bobbed as she squeaked out, “Hello.”

He took her hand and gave it a quick shake before turning to my mother. He smiled at her, and I knew there was no way she could miss the tips of his fangs.

Mom raised a single eyebrow at him and then glanced at me. “Really? When you aren’t even divorced yet? I raised you better, Alena.”

Sucker punch to the gut. I should have expected her to say something like that, yet it still hurt.

Remo laughed and held a hand out to her anyway. “Well, you can’t blame her, can you? The court system says she’s dead, so technically she’s widowed. Which makes her free and clear to do”—he glanced back and winked at me—“what she likes.”

I flushed, heat racing all the way up my face to my hairline. Much hotter, and I’d be able to finish cooking dinner on my cheeks.

Mom crossed her arms and raised herself up as if she could somehow look down her nose at Remo, who stood at least a foot taller than she did. Probably more. Yet she still didn’t seem intimidated by him.

“If she is a widow, then she should at least give herself time to mourn. I think that would be far more acceptable than prancing around in inappropriate clothes and dating men with piercings in their face like they are some sort of gang member.”

Oh, God. That was the thing that bothered her the most about Remo? Maybe she hadn’t seen his fangs after all.

I touched Remo on the hand. “Let’s go find Tad and Dahlia.”

“Alena, there isn’t enough food for extra guests,” Mom called after me. “You and Tad were not asked to bring a guest each.”

Remo laughed, but there was a tired edge to it. “Do not worry, both Dahlia and I ate before we came. We were unsure of the hospitality.”

Mom gasped, and my jaw dropped as I struggled not to splutter. Aunt Janice smirked and her shoulders shook. I managed to point a finger at her. “Not a word.”

“Or what?” She put her hands on her ponderous hips.

“I’m not the only one with secretsss,” I said, my tongue hovering a little too long over the last s.

Aunt Janice paled. “You wouldn’t.”

I snapped my fingers at her, turned, and walked away. I glanced at Remo as we walked down the hall. “I am so sorry.”

“No need. You’ve met my brother. If you recall, he tried to kill you not once but twice. At least your mom isn’t swinging a knife at my head.”

I laughed before I thought better of it and then looked at Remo. He smiled, his eyes soft. “See? Your family isn’t that bad after all.”

That’s what he thought. I wasn’t so sure.

We were in the main living area, and anxiety cut through me as sharp as any kitchen knife. Something was wrong; I felt it in my belly like I’d eaten too many sweets.