Lorn Read online

  She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him, but gave a sharp nod.

  “You’re hungry.”

  Another sharp nod.

  “Let’s get you dressed and we’ll talk.”

  She opened her eyes and looked down, realizing her state of nudity. A blush rose into her unusually pale face and she tried to tuck her head to hide from him. “Oh God. I’m so sorry.”

  He wanted to hug her but didn’t dare release her shoulders. She might go for his neck again. It surprised him that he’d been able to reach her consciousness so easily, but then, she knew him. Other newly turned Vampires he’d come across hadn’t. They’d just been intent on tearing into his flesh to feed.

  “I’m not hurt. I said I could handle you.”

  She raised her chin and pinned him with glowing eyes. Tears swam in them and it tore at his guts. “I attacked you, didn’t I?”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  The tears slipped down her cheeks and he held back a groan. He wanted to kiss her but it would be a mistake. She was starving and needed to be fed. His dick didn’t seem to care though, as it throbbed against her where she sat.

  She finally noticed and her mouth parted in surprise. It was his turn to feel embarrassed.

  “Sorry but you’re naked and straddling me. I’m going to react to that.”

  She tried to get off him. He hated to let her go but did, and she crawled away from him. He was a bastard for wanting to rise up and curl around her bent form. Her ass was firm and round, taunting him to fuck her from behind. She even got onto the bed, right where he wanted her. He watched her grab the sheet and pull it with her to the corner, where she huddled, hiding her body.

  He rose to his feet and tried to ignore his stiff dick. It tented his boxers but there was nothing to be done about it. He grabbed the T-shirt he’d laid out for her and approached the bed.

  “Kira? Here, baby. Put this on.”

  She peeked up at him, those fangs denting her bottom lip. They looked hot on her and he fought back a growl. His animal side wanted her so bad, he was half tempted to rip the sheet away and pin her under him. He’d wanted her for too damn long and she was in his bed, smelling of him after sleeping there all day.

  Her hand trembled when she accepted the shirt. He turned away to give her privacy, glanced at his jeans, but decided he wouldn’t put them on. It would be hell to get his pants closed over a raging hard-on. She’d already seen how she affected him so there was no use attempting to hide it.

  “You can look at me now.”

  He turned aback around. She stood when she was dressed. She looked sexy with his shirt covering her to mid-thigh. The fact that she had nothing on under it was a temptation to toss her back on the bed. Her gaze lifted and met his. Her eyes still glowed and it reminded him she needed sustenance.

  “How are you doing? Do you think you can last a few minutes before you have to feed?”

  She nodded.

  “We need to talk.” He hated to get right to business but he could almost sense her father nearby. Davis wouldn’t wait an hour after she woke to arrive. He believed Lorn was a danger to his daughter. He couldn’t get inside the den but he could try to find it.

  He knew that look currently on her face. She was trying to keep her emotions in check. He’d never had the heart to tell her that her eyes always gave her emotions away. Fear and dread showed in them at that moment.

  “I understand. It’s too dangerous for me to be here. I’ll leave tonight.”

  Lorn hadn’t expected that. “No.”

  She blinked rapidly a few times. “What’s wrong then?”

  “I didn’t say anything was.”

  “I know that tone.”

  “Your father came to visit today.”

  “How is he holding up? I hope you told him that this wasn’t his fault. He always blames himself for everything that happens to me.”

  “That didn’t come up. He wants to take you to another clan.”

  Surprise widened her gaze.

  “Velder offered you protection with his clan.” He tried to hide his anger. “He told your father that there’s a chance you don’t have to stay the way you are. I don’t want you to get your hopes up, but it might be possible to awaken your Lycan traits.”

  “I don’t have any. Not really.”

  “They had a young couple in the clan. The girl was more Vampire than Lycan but she was fed by a dominantly Lycan male. She can withstand the sun now, and she eats food. Velder believes the male’s blood helped strengthen her Lycan traits, like an infusion. It has to be done right away or it won’t even be possible.”

  Kira bit her lower lip. “My dad wants me to start drinking his blood? Do you think it would work?”

  “Your father isn’t an option. You’ve seen what’s happened in our clan, when someone turned more Vampire than Lycan. Their parents’ blood didn’t change anything. Your father has a lot of Lycan in him, but he’s also got many Vampire traits. You can see then when he shifts.”

  “I never noticed anything off when my dad shifted.”

  “He grows less hair than most and keeps a more humanoid form. Velder…he’s got an enforcer who’s lost his mate. He’s willing to allow you to feed off him.” He fought the urge to snarl even repeating that part. “Your father wants to take you to some stranger and hand you over. He’s willing to allow that bastard to mate you as a trade-off.”

  Kira closed her eyes and dipped her head. The sagging of her shoulders showed her defeat. He just didn’t know what thoughts in particular caused that response. Was she accepting that she’d always be a bloodsucker to avoid such a fate, or was she considering mating to someone? It enraged him enough to snarl.

  Her head came up and her eyes opened. She looked confused as she studied his face. “What?”

  “I’ll feed you. Your father is against it; he still wants to take you away, regardless of my offer.”

  “Why?”

  A muscle in his jaw jumped when he clenched his teeth. He didn’t answer her right away, trying to figure out a way to word it well.

  “Why, Lorn?”

  “Feeding is very intimate,” he finally rasped.

  Understanding dawned in her eyes. She swallowed hard enough for him to see her throat work. She looked up at him again. “I imagine so. But you’re offering to feed me so I won’t have to mate with some enforcer?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s really nice of you.”

  He wasn’t about to tell her it was out of jealousy to keep her away from another man. It reminded him that Davis would be sulking above. “Your father is waiting to talk to you. He’ll try to find my exact den location if we don’t go up there soon. Please, Kira…tell him that you’d rather stay with me.”

  “I don’t understand why he’d have a problem with it.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “He thinks I’ll end up hurting you.”

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  Her faith in him soothed some of his anger. “Lavos might try to convince you to leave with your father, too.”

  “I’m putting you in danger by stay—” She suddenly paled and bent, grabbing her stomach.

  “Kira?”

  “The hunger.” Pain sounded in her voice and her eyes glowed bright blue when she peeked up at him. “It’s back.”

  Her knees would have given out if Lorn hadn’t lunged, grabbing her around her waist. He lifted her and sat in a chair, placing her on his lap so she faced away from him. He released her waist and his fingers speared into her hair at the back of her neck, fisting a handful. He lifted his other arm close to her mouth.

  “Bite, Kira. Take from me.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Bite,” he snarled. “Feed.”

  She whimpered but refused to do as he demanded.

  Lorn’s temper flared and he brought his arm to his own mouth. His fangs slid out and he used the tip of one to slice a small cut on the meat