“Fuck.” Lavos came up behind her. “Hey!”

Kira twisted her head, growling at him.

It was the distraction Lorn needed. He let go of one of her arms, spinning Kira and jerking her body toward his. Wrapping one arm tightly around her waist, he lifted her off her feet and gripped her jaw to prevent her from biting or being able to turn her head.

Kira screamed, hurting his ears, and violently bucked in his arms. He had planned to sit in the chair with her on his lap but realized that wasn’t going to work.

“Give her your wrist!”

Lavos took a step and Kira watched him closely, going unnaturally still in Lorn’s arms. She sniffed, then that keening noise came from her again. She reached out to Lavos as if she wanted him to take her into his arms.

“Not going to happen, baby.” Lorn adjusted her a little higher, ignoring the pain of having her pressed against his injured stomach. “Easy, Kira.” His gaze met his brother’s. “Grab her wrists to hold in one hand and feed her. Don’t let her touch you.”

Lavos snatched Kira’s wrists and brought them together, clamping his fingers and thumb around them. He stepped close enough to almost touch her and brought up his bleeding arm, then Lorn eased his hold on her chin.

She struck fast, throwing her head forward and sinking her fangs into the fleshy part of Lavos arm. He cursed softly.

“Damn. Ouch. Not gentle, is she?”

“Shut up. Don’t tell her that when she calms. It would make her feel bad. Kira is too tenderhearted.”

Kira began to moan and she wiggled in Lorn’s hold.

“Don’t breathe through your nose,” he demanded.

“Why not?”

“I’ll deck you if you get a hard-on, that’s why. Her scent is changing. She still confuses bloodlust with sexual need.”

A grin split Lavos’s face in an instant. “You totally fuck her while she feeds, don’t you? I told you sex with a Vamp is hot as hell.”

“Change the subject. My mate’s aroused while she’s taking your blood. I’m trying to forget that really hard at the moment.”

Lavos’s amusement faded. “Sorry. It’s not personal. We both know it.”

“Instincts are a bitch.” Lorn lowered his head and spoke softly next to her ear. “I’m right here, Kira. I’ve got you.”

She finally released Lavos by jerking her fangs out of him. Her eyes opened and she sucked in a sharp breath. “What the hell?”

“You’re welcome.” Lavos let go of her wrists and twisted his arm, licking where it still bled to make it stop.

Lorn lowered Kira to the floor and released her chin. She turned around, remaining in the circle of his arm, and stared into his eyes. Blood stained her lips. It wasn’t his and it enraged him. He had to take deep breaths to avoid snarling. It took effort.

“It’s okay. Don’t look so horrified, Kira. I was right here holding you.”

“I’m sorry. Did I escape the bathroom?”

That reminder angered him. “You should have said you were hungry before I went to sleep. Don’t ever have someone lock you up again.”

She opened her palms and pressed them against his chest. “You don’t feel as if you’re running a fever.” She forced him to give her more room to move by pushing against him. She lowered her chin, her fingers trailing down to the wounds on his lower belly. “They look better.” Her gaze met his.

“It seems I got lucky.”

“We’d have definitely known if your bowels took a hit,” Lavos murmured. “Septic shock is a bitch on the system until we heal. I say we all get a bit more sleep and discuss this later.”

Lorn just wanted to hold Kira but it bothered him seeing blood on her that wasn’t from him. He led her to the sink and turned on the water, using his thumb to wipe away any trace of Lavos. She allowed it. She even bent, rinsed out her mouth, and spit to expel any lingering blood inside her mouth.

“Hey, you’re making me think I taste bad or something.”

Lorn glared at his brother. “That’s not funny.”

“Should I point out what the two of you seem oblivious of?”

“What’s that?” Lorn pulled Kira close and she wrapped her arms around him.

“I thought Kira might conk out the second she had blood in her belly but she seems pretty with it to me.” Lavos studied her. “It’s still daylight up top.”

“What time is it?” She sounded excited.

“Just after one.” Lavos took a seat in a chair. “That blood transfer thing must be working. I’m impressed.”

Kira’s face lit up with happiness. “Maybe I can withstand the sun. I don’t feel sleepy at all!”

Lorn cupped her face. “Don’t get too excited.”

“We should take you up top.”

Lorn snarled, shooting Lavos a death glare. “Stay out of this.”

“It’s the truth.” Lavos leaned back more in the chair. “She needs to be exposed to sunlight.”

“You mean to see if she bursts into flames? No!” The thought terrified Lorn and he hugged her harder. “I won’t lose you.” He held her gaze. “It’s too soon.”

“Lorn, it’s daytime and I’m wide awake. That’s got to mean something.”

“It does. My Lycan blood is helping yours equalize the Vampire side, but it’s still too dangerous. We’ll give it more time.”

“Lorn, I think you—”

“Shut the hell up, Lavos!” Lorn thundered, annoyed. “I don’t want to hear your opinion. You don’t get to advise me where Kira is concerned.”

“Lorn.” Kira petted his chest.

He glared down. “No. Not yet. You could get hurt.”

“I can’t hide down here forever. You took over the clan and that means you need to go home. Everyone is going to need to see you, and I’m sure a lot of them need reassurances. You can’t help them if you’re always here with me.”

“They’re stupid if they don’t understand life will be better now that Decker’s gone. I refuse to hold their hands as if they’re small children afraid of change.”

She continued to pet him, her fingertips lightly brushing over his skin. “Someone is grumpy.”