Page 76 of Ryder’s Storm

“Are you telling me that vampires can have children? That’s ridiculous.” Just as ridiculous as this conversation was, because vampires shouldn’t exist in the first place.

“A vampire male can impregnate his human mate, but—”

“So you lied to me!” Her breath hitched. “You’re not sterile like you said. I could already be pregnant. Oh my God, and I let you fuck me with both your cocks! How stupid of me. How gullible.”

“You’re not gullible, and you’re certainly not stupid. I told you the truth about my fertility. I was born sterile, all vampires are—”

“But—”

“—until they find their life mate and blood-bond. Only then can a vampire procreate. So you don’t have to worry. You’re not carrying my child.”

There was a glint of something in his eyes. Annoyance? Disappointment? She couldn’t be sure.

“So your mother was human, and then your father turned her after you and your siblings were born?”

“No. It’s true, she was human, but she was turned against her will by another vampire. She almost didn’t survive her turning, but my father saved her, and he won her love. My siblings and I were born because both my parents weren’t entirely human—”

“Of course they’re not. You said yourself they’re vampires,” she interrupted.

“They weren’t entirely human before they were turned into vampires. They were both satyrs.”

“What? Like minotaur? That’s a total myth!”

“It’s not. My siblings and I inherited the gene that makes us satyrs, the same that gives me my two cocks, and the same that causes Vanessa to go into heat every so often.” He locked eyes with her. “The gene my mother found in your DNA. That’s what causes the feverish episodes that you call PMS. In truth, what’s happening to you is that you’re in heat, like a feline, or like a dog. You’re ready to mate. That’s why your symptoms vanish when you have sex. Because you’re giving your body what it desires.”

Scarlet gasped and jumped up. “That’s not possible. I’m human. I know I am. My father is human, my mother was human. I’ve seen my father in speedos when I was a kid, and trust me, he doesn’t have two cocks like you.”

“Then you inherited the satyr gene from your mother. She would have shown the same kind of fevers as you experience.”

Scarlet shook her head, but even as she tried to deny Ryder’s claims, it was possible that he was right. Her mother had suffered from terrible fevers and aches, and everybody had always assumed that she suffered from PMS. What if she’d actually been in heat? Was that why she’d committed suicide? Because she couldn’t take it any longer?

“Scarlet,” Ryder prompted her, and she looked at him. “Your mother had those symptoms, didn’t she?”

Slowly, Scarlet nodded. “Is that why she killed herself?” Fear suddenly rose in her. “Is that what’s gonna happen to me?”

“No!” Ryder jumped up. “I’ll never let that happen.”

“But how would you be able to prevent it? Dad couldn’t stop Mom from going crazy and—”

“There’s a reason satyr males have two cocks.” He paused for a second. “To satisfy their mates when they go into heat. I know this is a lot to take in. But there’s so much more I need to tell you. And you only gave me a half hour. Will you hear the rest of it?”

She nodded and sat back down on the sofa. She leaned back, the news hard to digest. “So you’re both a satyr and a vampire? Have you killed people for their blood? Have you hurt—”

Ryder sat down in the armchair again. “Never. I’ve killed, yes, but only those who deserved it: evil vampires and demons. Never an innocent. Scanguards would never stand for it. We protect those who can’t protect themselves.”

“Like Lizzy?”

“Yes, like Lizzy, and many others. Samson founded this company to protect humans, and at the core, Scanguards’ mission is still the same. Most of our employees are vampires and their hybrid children like Grayson and Benjamin and myself.”

“Is Grayson a satyr too?”

Ryder suddenly laughed. “Thank God, no!”

“Why—”

“Could you imagine how full of himself he’d be if he had two cocks? He’s arrogant enough with just one.”

Involuntarily, Scarlet had to chuckle.