Braced to Bite Read Online Free PDF Page B

fallen soldiers. It didn’t take much of a stretch to see this younger version breaking a chair leg and staking an undead vampire either. Her job was to protect the soldiers and she’d done it.
    “But I was out all day, in the sunlight, while I was in the ravine. Okay, maybe not the sunlight ’cause it was cloudy but it was definitely daytime.”
    Aunt Chloe nodded thoughtfully.
    “And fangs? What about fangs? I don’t have any.” I opened my mouth wide to prove my perfect smile was fang-free.
    “What about feeding on your mother?” she countered.
    I closed my mouth and looked down at my lap, ashamed. Good question. How was I going to defend that action?
    My mom spoke up. “It’s okay, honey. You didn’t hurt me. If anything, you saved me from getting stitches. That cut was very deep and you healed it. I don’t think you drank my blood at all. I’m not woozy—I feel fine.”
    I was grateful for her defense but couldn’t let her minimize what I’d done.
    “Mom, I may not have any fangs but I drank your blood. I just couldn’t help myself. I smelled the blood and wanted it. I was just so thirsty. I didn’t drink much,” I assured her when I saw the look on her face. “As quick as the thirst came on, it went away. I was full pretty quick.”
    My mom stared at me in shock and horror. I’d never seen that look before—like she was afraid of me—and I couldn’t bear it.
    I dropped down to my knees in front of her and laid my head in her lap.
    “Mommy, I’m sooo sorry. I promise I won’t ever do it again. I won’t hurt you, I promise. Please forgive me. Don’t be scared of me.” I sobbed into her lap, clutching her legs.
    After a moment I felt her hands stroke my matted hair, like she did when I was a child begging for forgiveness. She crooned nonsense words to soothe me. I looked up at her and saw tears rolling silently down her cheeks. She braved a small smile and all I saw reflected in her eyes was love.
    “There, now, that’s better. See, being a vampire isn’t the end of the world. Course, things are gonna be a little different, but we can figure that out,” Aunt Chloe reassured me.
    “But I can’t be a vampire, I don’t have any fangs!” I protested again.
    “Maybe they only come out when you are ready to feed?” she suggested.
    “No, Colby didn’t have any fangs when she was with me,” Mom pointed out and I was grateful she didn’t use the term “feed.”
    “Well, open your mouth. Let’s take a look,” Aunt Chloe commanded and I obeyed instantly.
    She ummm ed a lot, counting my teeth and poking at them with her finger.
    “You are missing some teeth,” she declared after her inspection.
    I looked at Mom helplessly.
    “Yes, when she was twelve she had oral surgery and they removed six teeth. Her wisdom teeth, which hadn’t broken through the gums yet, and two others.”
    Aunt Chloe squinted at my mother. “Those other two, were they canine teeth?”
    Mom nodded. “Yes, then she had braces for a year and wore headgear at night.”
    “Well, that explains it then.”
    Mom and I looked at each other and her in confusion.
    “What does?” I asked.
    “Your fangs are gone, dear. Fangs are canine teeth. You had those removed. So your fangs can’t grow now, can they?”
    I opened my mouth but nothing came out when the logic of what she said sank in. It made sense. Before I drank my mom’s blood, I’d experienced a throbbing pain in my mouth. More specifically, in my upper gums. Crap.
    “Great! That’s just great. Not only am I a vampire, but I’m a mutant vampire. I have no fangs.”
    “Well, I’d say the problem is a little more than that. How are you going to feed without fangs?”
    “Feed?” I asked stupidly. “I’m not going to feed again, ever.” I shivered at the thought of drinking more blood, but my stomach growled treacherously. My mind might revolt, but my body didn’t seem to share the sentiment.
    “Honey, your aunt is right. You are going to have to