“Are you okay?” I asked, standing beside him where he leaned on the house, his hands in his pockets, the yellow sun lighting the gold in his hair.

“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“You had a funny look on your face.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m okay.”

“Do you miss your family?”

“Only a little,” he said so casually I almost believed him.

“I’m sorry, David.” I wrapped my arms through his jacket and rested my cheek against his tie.

“Don’t be sorry, sweetheart.” He lifted my face a little. “Keeping our union a secret from them is to protect our future; it’s worth missing my uncle for a few moments in exchange for being with you forever.”

“Couldn’t you have at least told him? Surely he wouldn’t have reported your whereabouts.”

David grimaced. “He would be legally bound to. I wouldn’t expect him to break the law for me.”

“I doubt he would’ve minded.”

“That’s not the point, though, is it, mon amour?”

“I don’t know if I like this law-loving side of you. It scares me.”

“Why?”

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowed into slits to keep out the sun’s glare. “What if I broke the law? Would you report me?” David stiffened; my mouth dropped. “David? Would you really?”

“I—” he pressed his lips tightly together and breathed out through his nose. “Would Mike?”

“Yes. But that’s human law—it’s different.”

“Why? Because you grew up with it?” David stood up from his lean on the wall, indicating the need for distance; I stood back from him a little. “I grew up with vampire law, Ara. I always knew what my uncle was. When we stayed with him, we lived by his laws. Breaking vampire laws, to me, is as serious as breaking a human law, to you.”

“But—”

“But nothing, Ara,” he reasoned in a soft voice. “Just because you’re new to this world doesn’t make our rules any less serious.”

“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” said a familiar voice from behind.

“Jason?” I turned around, my face unintentionally lighting up. Oops.

David stiffened and stood straight. I never noticed it before, but Jason is ever so slightly taller than David.

“David. Congratulations.” Jason extended his hand, his friendly smile warming the whole afternoon.

David looked away.

Jason cleared his throat and dropped his proffered hand. “May I at least kiss the bride?”

“Don’t even think about it,” David muttered through his teeth, stepping slightly between Jason and I.

“Come now, there’s no need for hostility,” Jason said.

David’s fist tightened.

Across the yard, Mike headed toward us at full speed—his eyes cold, the kindness in his face masked by the hunger of impending battle.

Oh no, this is gonna cause a scene. Think, Ara, think. “Of course you can kiss the bride,” I said chirpily and stepped into Jason’s arms; he leaned down slowly, and with such familiarity, pecked my cheek.

Mike stopped dead; Emily covered her mouth, and I don’t even want to know what David did.

“David?” Jason smiled, keeping his arm around my waist. “Let’s not make a scene, brother—that’s not why I came.”

“Then why did you?” David didn’t bother to unclench his teeth.

“I—”

“Hello there.” My dad stepped up beside David. “This must be the brother. David said you were overseas and couldn’t make it?”

“Turns out you can bribe your way into anything if it’s to help your brother.” Jason shook Dad’s hand, his arm tightening around me as my thoughts rushed down the path of what Dad would do if he knew Jason was the one who attacked me.

“Well, it’s nice to finally meet you. I didn’t er...David never mentioned you were twins.” Dad looked between the two faces, touching his chin.

“Well, that’s because I’m better looking than him.” Jason smiled warmly.

Dad looked at David who switched on the human side and smiled back, disguising the hostility rather well under his likely desire to rip arms off a certain individual. Anyone who knew him well would see the raging bull beneath the surface, though.

Jason, you better watch your words.

“Well, you should come meet Ara’s friends.” Dad nodded over to the tree. “And Emily’s here. She mentioned you two dated once.”

“That we did,” Jason said as he walked away with my dad; the conversation trailed off as I fell into David’s arms

“Why is he here?” I asked.

“Why did you do that?” David asked, keeping his eyes on Jason.

“What?”

“Let him touch you.” His voice trickled with disgust.

“I’m sorry. I knew it’d shock Mike out of his battle walk.”

David exhaled, stroking the back of his finger over my jaw. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t.”

Dad walked Jason over to Mike and Emily, branching off before introductions when Vicki called; I could see the hatred mark the invisible line of conflict between the two rivals. Jason offered the exchange of friendship first. Mike gripped his hand firmly—firm enough to break it had Jason been human—and muttered something through his fake smile, his teeth like a cage.

I cuddled into David, wrapping my fingers around his lapels. “What are they saying?”

“Shh.” He held his index finger up, watching intently.

Jason, keeping his hand in Mike’s lock, leaned forward and whispered words that sent Mike completely stiff, his head whipping up to cast a wide-eyed glance in our direction; my blood chilled.

“Ara.” David pressed his hand between my shoulder blades and took shallow breaths.

“What? What is it?”

“We have to go. Now.”

“What? Why?”

“Now, Ara,” he said a little louder and grabbed my arm.

Mike ran toward us, his eyes round, his breath heavy. “Go—just go. I’ll take care of the rest.” He pushed us in the direction of the low-lying hedge. “Uh, ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to head inside—we have some refreshments and cocktails...”