“We can’t be gone for too long,” Lavos stated. “You’re the new leader. The clan will expect you to be present.”

“I’m aware. I set the meeting tomorrow for that reason.”

“I’m thinking long term. You need to move back into your house. I’ll remain here with Kira. Garson, Kar, and I can take shifts staying with her. You can sneak away from the village and feed her every night.”

Lorn growled. “No.”

Kira approached Lorn from the back and grimaced. He had deep wounds along one shoulder blade and the center of his spine, as if someone had tried to cripple him. “Lavos is right.” The smell of blood had her gums tingling and a sharp pain stabbed at her belly. She stopped breathing through her nose. It helped the symptoms of bloodlust immediately.

Lorn whipped his head around, glaring at her. “I’m not abandoning you.”

She ran her tongue over her upper teeth to make sure they hadn’t grown pointy. They hadn’t. “You’re not. You’re securing your place as clan leader. That’s priority right now. I’ll be fine here until we know if feeding me VampLycan blood is going to help me or not.”

“Are you hungry?”

She shook her head, hating to lie to him. “I’m fine.”

“It’s been hours since Kar said you fed.” Lorn’s tone deepened.

“I kind of gorged on blood. Moose is good. I’m full.”

“That’s not the type of blood you need. Let me eat and then I’ll feed you.”

Lorn could be a very stubborn man. She usually loved that trait. “Maybe after you get some sleep. Do that for me and then we’ll talk about my needs. Do you see fangs?” She opened her mouth and thought about anything not related to blood to keep them from sliding down.

“Fine, but you speak up if you need to be fed.” He faced forward and continued to eat.

“I will.” She caught Lavos’s eye and glanced away fast. Lorn would be furious if they deceived him, but she’d rather take blood from his brother than risk his life and ability to heal. Injures left Lorn vulnerable and she wasn’t about to become his downfall. He’d just killed for her. She was the reason he’d challenged Nabby and his own father. Elders had died.

Lorn couldn’t finish all the food and he struggled to stand. Lavos moved faster than Kira, hooking his brother around the waist and hoisting him toward the bed. “Sleep, bro. Kira is safe. I’m not leaving until you’re awake.”

“I just need a few hours of down time.”

Kira wanted to curl up with Lorn but the scent of his blood had her gums aching when she forgot to only breathe through her mouth. She’d lied to Lorn. The moose had tasted…wrong, and she’d only taken enough blood to stave off her thirst. Her belly cramped again but she hid the pain by giving Lorn her back as she began to clean up the kitchen and table.

Lavos came to her side and she turned to him. He met her gaze, then turned his head to check on Lorn. He looked at her once more. “Hang on,” he mouthed.

She gave a slight incline of her head.

Lavos moved away and she tracked his movements as he entered the bathroom but kept the door open. He seemed to be washing up a little, probably removing some blood. She wondered if he kept the door ajar to prevent her from savaging Lorn on the bed with her fangs. He must have heard her growling stomach or seen the hunger in her eyes. She’d leave the den to hunt for another moose before she’d hurt Lorn in any way.

She stayed as far from Lorn as possible in the confined space but kept studying him. She would worry until he had completely healed. The stomach wound looked bad. VampLycans fought off infections but that didn’t mean they didn’t suffer during the process.

Lavos came out of the bathroom and walked over to the bed, also assessing his brother. He spun and gave her a forced smile. He raised one hand in a thumbs-up gesture.

She turned away and picked up a cloth, wiping down the table just to do something. Neither she nor Lavos spoke, not wanting to wake Lorn.

She could have lost the man she loved. Everything Lavos had told her kept circling in her mind and it pissed her off. He’d said two elders had gone after Lorn at once. Her hands fisted the cloth, furious. The gutless bastards deserved to die.

Lavos gently gripped her shoulder and she startled. She hadn’t heard or seen him move, too occupied with her musings. She stared up at him and realized soft snores came from the bed. Lorn’s sleep had deepened, exhaustion taking hold.

“You need to feed. Your eyes are showing it.” He peered at her with keen interest. “I can see how Lorn knew you were changing now. You glow neon.”

She looked elsewhere. “I’m fine.” She moved away from him, breaking contact, and folded the cloth.

“Kira,” Lavos whispered. “Don’t be an idiot. You need to feed or you could go into full-on bloodlust. You’re too new to fuck around with hunger. Have you ever seen a newbie starve? You’ll go after anything with a pulse and not even be aware you’re doing it until your belly is full. It won’t be my brother when he’s this injured.”

She knew he was right but her gaze fell on Lorn. He hadn’t covered up much and the wounds on his stomach were bad. He couldn’t feed her. She wouldn’t let him. He needed time to recover before he lost any more blood. It would weaken him and slow down his healing process by at least a day, possibly more.

“I’ll give you my wrist.” Lavos kept his voice very low.

She looked at the arm he offered. Her stomach cramped and her fangs extended. She even salivated a little. The desire to bite became almost overbearing but she turned her head. “I can’t.”

“Why?” Lavos moved closer.

She pushed her arms straight out to keep him back. “Lorn will be upset.” She raised her chin and held his gaze. “It feels like cheating or something. Wrong. I can’t.”

“It’s just blood.”

“It’s more.” She was terrified she’d get turned on by Lorn’s brother. It would be unforgivable.

He seemed to guess her fear. “I won’t touch you, Kira. Not like that. Never.”

“What if I do? I can’t risk it. I’m too hungry and my body gets confused.”

“You need to feed or you’re going to lose control for sure. Do you get that? You were sheltered in the clan and never had to deal with Vampires until the night you were attacked.”