Lorn just stared at him.

“That’s when I decided to tell everyone I’d found my mate. Decker was about to piss off the other clans big time. I couldn’t predict he’d flee, but I knew he’d have his hands full. He’d need every damn enforcer to protect him. I thought you could leave without worry. I’m so sorry, bro. I wanted to do the right thing but now our clan needs you more. You have to let her go.”

“Kira will stay with me until she learns to control her hunger, and I’ll only mate with her if my blood can help her change into one of us.” He glared at his brother. “You agreed to help me keep her safe for a few days. I’m holding you to that. Give it a chance.”

“I’ll keep my word, but you’re being a moron, Lorn. I can’t imagine how much worse it’s going to be for you to resist the urge to mate if you’re feeding her from your vein. If you fuck her, you might condemn the entire clan to being slaughtered in the end.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“You’ll challenge Nabby, take him out, but then we’ll be facing at least half the clan, who’ll oppose a Vampire living among us. The clan will try to kill Kira, and you, I, and Davis, with a few of our friends, will have to fight about forty of them. At least.” Lavos lifted his hand, scrubbing his hair. “Not great odds. Once we’re dead, those stupid bastards will continue on as things were. The weaker will be trapped, too afraid to leave since we’re not here to protect them. What about the young? They won’t have a choice either. Decker wants a fucking war, and he’ll bring it right to our village.”

“No GarLycan or VampLycan besides Decker would kill a child.”

“So those will be the only survivors. A bunch of orphans. What about the women mated to Decker’s most loyal? They’ll die to defend their mates, even knowing it’s going to get them killed. Our mother would fight at our father’s side to the death, Lorn. She can’t stand Decker either, but it’s about loyalty, isn’t it? The heads of every family swear allegiance to the leaders of their clans. We have to change things to save them. But we can’t do it until we follow the system in place and earn their respect. I’d offer to challenge Nabby but they’ll expect you to do it if you stay, because you’re first son. Tradition is a bitch but we’re stuck with it. Let Kira go to the other clan with Davis. She’ll be safe there regardless. I know you want that the most.”

Lorn hated that every word Lavos had spoken held truth and wisdom. “I won’t allow some stranger to mate Kira when she’s vulnerable.”

“Fine. Here’s another option. I could stay here with her instead. I’ll feed Kira. We could tell everyone you returned since the clan might be attacked by more Vampires, and you asked me to track down Kira. It would also cement your standing with the clan if they think you put their safety above your need to extract revenge for her loss.”

“You aren’t going near Kira!” He flashed his fangs in warning.

“Whoa!” Lavos backed away. “Don’t attack me. I’m not a moron. I wouldn’t touch her even if she was naked, begging for sex, and my dick literally turned to granite. You’d kill me. I don’t have a death wish.”

“Kira is my priority right now. The clan’s aware of the threat and I’m sure they can handle any intruders on their own. Nabby has to be too distracted from the attack we suffered to start shit with the other clans right now. We’re already under threat if the Vampires return. We have time.”

“Let me stay with her. You’ve been acting the saint when it comes to Kira for far too long. Everyone has a snapping point, and this will trigger yours.”

“You’re not staying with her.”

“Damn it, Lorn! It’s a bad idea for you to be so close to her right now. Be reasonable. You can trust me. I’ve got strong Lycan traits.”

“Trust? As if I could forget that you lied to me in an attempt to manipulate my future.”

“It was for your own good! I just wanted you to be happy.”

“I hate Veso. If you told him I’d rather flee with Kira than mate anyone our father chose, that put Kira in danger. He could have hurt her to get back at me.”

“He was acting, Lorn. Everyone knows you hate Decker so he couldn’t exactly be your best friend. He also respected Kira. He said so. He got to know her when he trained her. I trusted him. We were good friends.” He teared up. “I can’t believe a group of Vampires took him down. They wouldn’t have been able to kill him if those bastards hadn’t cheated with drugs.”

“I wasn’t aware you two had grown so close. I’m sorry for your loss. That still doesn’t excuse what you’ve done. You lied and kept things from me. I appreciate the reasons behind it, but you should have been honest with me.”

“I did it because I love you. Lorn, please reconsider. It’s just a bad idea for you to feed her. I know your sexual history and you aren’t prepared for that shit. Especially since it’s Kira.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know you’ve never allowed a woman to bite you to test a mating. I knew you wouldn’t have the urge to bite. Have you been bitten during sex? Be honest.”

Lorn hesitated. “The urge never struck…and I refused to allow them to get their mouths near my body.”

Lavos’s mouth dropped open but he recovered fast. “No blow jobs even?”

“I’m going back to my den.” Lorn tried to leave but his brother grabbed him.

“The biting thing is hot as hell. Plus, have you ever dealt with a female Vampire?”

“I’ve had to kill a few.”

“Not in battle. I mean just come across one in the city when we’ve had to leave the clan on business?”

“No. I avoided them.”

Lavos hesitated. “Remember two years ago when Decker sent me to buy some land from that retired miner in Texas? I didn’t spend all my nights holed up in the hotel. I went out…and met a Vampire. She was fascinated by me. She didn’t flee when she realized I was VampLycan. She flirted instead. I knew she wanted to screw me so she could taste my blood, so I thought…what the hell? She was hot. I was horny.”

Lorn was stunned. “You let one feed from you?”