Kira surprised him by leaning forward and kissing him. Her lips were soft and he closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her. She pulled back before he could deepen it. She smiled but then it faded. Tears filled her eyes.

“I can never give you children if I remain this way, and you’ll always have to feed me. Your father won’t agree to let us be together. You’re his firstborn, and he’s going to demand offspring from any union you make.”

“I don’t care what he wants!”

His violent outburst made her jump. He took a calming breath and forced his rage back. “I don’t. I’d love to have kids but I would trade the possibility of them to keep you. And I don’t mind you biting me. Notice how hard I get when you do? I’m aroused just thinking about it.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not letting you go, now that I know you care about me the way I do you. That’s why your father and I were snarling at each other. I’ll be damned if I allow him to hand you over to someone else. You’re mine, Kira.” He drew in a deep breath and released it. “My blood might activate your Lycan traits but it doesn’t make a difference either way. You’re mine,” he repeated.

“I love you, Lorn.”

“I’ve always loved you, too, Kira.”

She nestled against his chest. “This blood thing has to work.”

He silently prayed for that as well. It would make things much easier if Kira could withstand the sun and breed children. He’d mate her either way. He couldn’t deny it any longer. It was just going to have to wait until he could do it safely, without the consequence of getting her killed. He needed to take care of a lot of things before that could be possible. He hugged her tight.

“I’m going to figure out a way for us to be together.” It was a promise.

She lifted her head and he knew that determined expression. “We are going to figure this out.”

He grinned. That was his Kira. “Us against the world.” It was their childhood motto.

She blinked back tears. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve always been here. I just couldn’t talk to you.”

“Now you can.”

“It tore me apart when I’d see you and you’d drop your gaze away, as if you couldn’t stand the sight of me. I never blamed you, Kira. I knew you thought I’d abandoned you as a friend.”

“It just hurt too much. I thought you stopped wanting to be burdened by me.”

“You’ve never been a burden.”

“Everyone gave you grief over me.”

“They’re assholes.”

She laughed. “True.”

She was in his arms. He wished they never had to leave his den but it wasn’t possible to stay hidden there forever. Time wouldn’t freeze, despite how much he wished it would.

Kira loved being on Lorn’s lap with his arms firmly wrapped around her. She took in everything he’d told her. “Decker is gone, so that leaves Nabby. He’s going to make a play for leadership soon. My dad and I have talked about it.”

“Nabby will only step up if Decker’s place in the clan is threatened. Right now, no one is certain how this mess with the other clans will play out. That’s probably why my father hasn’t chosen now as the perfect time to use me. Someone has to make the first move for the game to begin.”

She was confused. “Why would Nabby do anything for Decker? Doesn’t he want to take his place?”

“Nabby is still under his control. He’ll only fight to hold the clan for Decker when any challenger for leadership comes forward. I’m sure Decker is hoping he finds a fast way to resolve his issues with Lord Aveoth, since that’s what’s blocking him from coming back.”

She’d never seen the GarLycan leader but everything she’d heard about him gave her the willies. Her father ordered her to hide in their apartment when he thought anyone from that clan was in the vicinity, not sure how they’d feel about a mostly human amongst them. Lord Aveoth was rumored to be a handsome, intimidating man, but there was a supposed coldness about him that implied he probably didn’t have a heart. “I heard Lord Aveoth is really mad at Decker. He doesn’t sound like the forgiving type.”

“He isn’t. Lord Aveoth will kill Decker if he returns to this area. I’m sure our old leader is desperate to find a way to make peace.”

“Is that possible?”

“I don’t think so. Decker already played out his only advantage when he tried to trade his granddaughter.”

“The GarLycan leader is scary but I can’t believe he couldn’t attract a woman on his own. Why did Decker think giving him his granddaughter would make Lord Aveoth do his bidding?”

“She wasn’t just any woman. She was a blood relative to his intended lover, who died before he could claim her. It’s rumored that Lord Aveoth became addicted to her blood and would kill to have one her descendants.”

“That’s possible? I’ve never heard of that before.”

“He’s a GarLycan.

“So it’s a Gargoyle thing?”

“I guess. So little is known about them.”

“It couldn’t be too big of a weakness. Dad said he allowed Decker’s granddaughters to mate VampLycans.”

Lorn nodded. “Decker underestimated the GarLycan leader, thankfully. I still shudder to think what would have happened if Lord Aveoth had agreed to go to war with the three other clans. I would have broken ranks and fought alongside them.”

“I would have, too, even if they hadn’t wanted my help.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. It didn’t happen. Lord Aveoth wants to kill him. It will end so many problems if he succeeds.”

“I know I wish Decker were dead.”

Lorn grew quiet and Kira studied him. He seemed deep in thought. She wished she could read his mind. “What are you thinking about?”

He hesitated and then met her gaze. “Velder contacted me, and I had a meeting with the other clans.”

“Do they want a war?”

“No. They asked me to step up and take leadership of our clan so we keep the peace. I was undecided what to do until now.”

Kira heard determination in his tone. “What’s that?”