Covet (Clann)

had walked in on Mom throwing plates at Dad again.
    “Er, what’s up?” I asked them, searching Mom’s face then Dad’s, unsure I dared to go a step further and check their thoughts. I might not like whatever I’d find there.
    “Hmm?” Mom asked. “Oh, nothing dear. Just reminiscing about the day you were born.”
    Dad smiled. “You were so beautiful, so…”
    “Amazing,” they both said at the same time, then grinned at each other.
    Okay. “That’s…nice. Um, Mom, shouldn’t you be…?” I jerked my head in the direction of her RV.
    “Oh! Right. That reminds me, we have one more present for you!”
    A creak of the front door was our only warning before we heard Gowin call out from the foyer, “Hey, did I miss the party?”
    Dad and I exchanged horrified looks.
    “Mom, you should go,” I hissed. “Out the back. Quick!”
    Too late. Footsteps announced Gowin’s arrival in the kitchen. I turned to face him, my heart hammering like mad in my chest.
    Two vamps, one half vamp, and a descendant all in a room that suddenly felt way too small.
    It was like the beginning of a bad joke. Unfortunately, this was no laughing matter.
    “Oh, I interrupted a family moment!” Gowin rocked back on his heels, fidgeting with a silver-and-pink-wrapped present he’d brought in. “My apologies. I just wanted to drop this off for Savannah.”
    He held out the present, staying where he was in the doorway.
    I crossed the room to him and put on a smile. “Thanks. You shouldn’t have.”
    He shot me a quick grin. “It’s the latest tablet. I figured you could use it for doing homework or tweeting or something.”
    “Oh. Great! Thanks.” I sounded like an idiot. Or a cheerleader robot. But it was all I could do not to throw myself in front of my mother for protection. Not that doing any such thing would save her if Gowin lost control.
    Mom rose to her feet. “Wow. That was very generous of you,” she murmured as she crossed the room with her right hand extended. “I’m Joan Evans, Savannah’s mother. You must be…”
    Oh geez, she had to be Miss Manners now ?
    Visions of Gowin lunging for Mom’s throat, followed by Dad either trying to fight him off or else joining in on the bloodbath, robbed me of the ability to breathe. Mom couldn’t do magic, so she’d be completely vulnerable. And even if Dad tried to step in and save Mom, Gowin could simply order him to stop and Dad would be helpless not to obey the older vamp’s command. Which would leave one wimpy half vamp with only minimal magic skills as Mom’s sole protector.
    Dad was at her side in the same instant Gowin accepted her hand between both of his. “This is Gowin. My sire, and currently a council member.”
    Mom froze. “Oh! Uh…it’s nice to meet you, Gowin.”
    “I have heard so much about you,” Gowin said, his voice soft and low.
    Was that the faintest bit of a wolfish gleam in his eyes, or was it my imagination?
    Gowin turned to me, but I noticed he still held Mom’s hand captive between his. “I thought I might be still early for the party since your truck isn’t outside. Did your father gift you with a new car?”
    “Um, not exactly,” I said. “My truck died. My friend took a look at the engine and said the electrical system is fried. He had to give me a ride home.”
    Gowin made a face. “Now that stinks. And on your birthday, too.”
    Mom smiled, but it looked a good deal less warm this time. “That’s what I told her earlier. Well, no worries, I’m sure your father can have it towed to a repair shop tomorrow.”
    “Or to a junkyard,” Dad muttered.
    Mom scowled. “Don’t start, Michael. It’s a perfectly decent first vehicle for any teen.”
    “It was a rust bucket long overdue for retirement,” Dad replied. “And I for one am glad its life span has finally reached its conclusion. It makes the perfect opportunity to get her a proper vehicle. Perhaps one of her own choosing this time?”
    “That is so like you,” Mom snapped. “Why fix something perfectly good when you can simply throw it away?”
    Dad stared at her. “I believe that is more your usual method, actually.”
    Silence filled the room as Mom’s face turned bright red and she glared at him. I was blocking all three of their thoughts as hard as I could right now.
    After a long moment, she said, “Fine. You’re in charge now. Do whatever you want. But no motorcycles. At least give me that much. She doesn’t have a license for them. And she’s