Aveoth Read online

  “A perfect pairing,” Jill murmured.

  “It was at first, until a few Lycans and Vampires became lovers. I should say they were more than that. Lycans take mates, and Vampires have companions. It’s basically the same thing. They commit to each other for life and deep emotions are involved.” He shrugged. “It was considered a good thing to strengthen their alliance. The problem arose when the Lycan women mated to Vampires became pregnant. Vamps are sterile—but they’d finally found a loophole. The nest turned on the Lycans. The strongest Vamps tore into the minds of Lycan women and convinced them they were mated to get them to ovulate.”

  Jill had to close her mouth. It had fallen open. “They can hypnotize Lycans too?”

  Aveoth nodded. “It’s complicated. A master or someone equally strong can. The Lycans realized what was going on quickly, and they fought to be free. You see, mind control over Lycans doesn’t last long term the way it does with humans. Once the Vamp releases a Lycan mind, they’re immediately aware of what was done to them. They remember every single moment of when they were being controlled. It was paramount that the Lycans escaped before the Vamps could weaken them and imprison their entire pack. Then all the Vampires, regardless of their age or strength, could control their minds.”

  “How do you weaken a Lycan?” Jill had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the answer but she was curious.

  “Torture, beatings, blood loss, and starvation.”

  “Shit.” She felt sick.

  “The Lycans ran away. They came to Alaska, where there weren’t enough humans at the time to feed a Vampire nest. VampLycan children were born, and they police Vampires now. VampLycans never want the past to be repeated. They’ll send hunting parties after any nest that preys on Lycan women. It’s a death sentence to force the women to birth their children. Vampires like to think they’re at the top of the food chain, but they created something far stronger than they are. It’s caused a lot of resentment and rage on their part.”

  “Is anything stronger than a VampLycan in this food chain?”

  Aveoth nodded. “We are—but I will never go to war with VampLycans. We’re allies. They have honor and don’t abuse their powers. We share values and want to keep the peace between all races. Bad guys need killing and good guys should win.”

  She peered at him with interest. “Decker is a VampLycan. You don’t seem to like him. I know I sure don’t.”

  “He and his enforcers are a rarity. They need to die because they have no honor and don’t value any life. Decker wanted to enslave his own people and others. There’s evil in every race.”

  “True enough.”

  “You aren’t safe around Vampires or Lycans, Jill. Both live in your human cities.” He stared at her with sincerity. “A cut of your finger near one, and they’d know you’re not fully human. Lycans live in packs. Ones that don’t are considered a threat to their existence because it’s unnatural to them to be solitary. Most rogues are rule breakers, killers, and packs actively hunt them. They could see you as one.”

  “Nobody ever bothered me.”

  “You’ve been lucky. They try to blend with humans. It helps them fit in and gain a footing in your world. You could get into a car accident and the police officer or the paramedic might be non-human.” He paused. “They take jobs that give them access to blood, to cover up incidents that might reveal what they are, and some even work with the government.”

  She let that sink in.

  “You’re safe here, Jill.”

  She frowned. “It doesn’t seem that way. You’re worried about your own people turning on you. I was paying attention this morning.”

  “True, but I’d fly you to safety if that ever happens. I’d take you to the VampLycans. They’d protect you while I dealt with the mess here.”

  “They might turn me over to Decker or Decon.”

  “Never. I’d leave you with Velder’s clan. They have honor, and you have family there.”

  “I think I’d like to avoid any Filmores.”

  “You have two cousins who are half human. Both women mated to VampLycans in that clan.”

  That news surprised Jill. “I do?”

  “Decker’s daughter fled to live with humans, and mated to one. She had two daughters. Decker tricked them into coming to Alaska and their mates saved them from ending up being used by him.”

  She opened her mouth, a hundred questions filling her head.

  A loud pounding sounded before she could voice any of them.

  Aveoth stood fast. “Go to your room. Wait for me there and don’t come out.” He strode away, down a hallway that led to the stairs.

  His abrupt and curt tone implied danger. She got up, but instead of doing as she’d been ordered, quietly followed him. If they were going to be attacked by his people, she wanted a heads up. She crept down the stairs and tiptoed toward where the beds had been put on the floor.

  “I asked you want you wanted. Get to the point.” Aveoth’s tone wasn’t friendly.

  “You had a human brought to you?” The voice was female, and ice cold.

  “What I do is none of your concern, Winalin. Leave.”

  “Would you like to have this discussion here in the hall where anyone could happen upon us or would you prefer to let me pass to allow for privacy?”

  “I have nothing to say to you. I made that clear.” Aveoth’s voice deepened.

  “I have things to say to you.” Winalin’s tone rose. “Let me pass, or gossip-spreaders will be busy today.”

  “Fuck,” Aveoth rumbled. A door slammed.

  Jill hesitated, not sure if she should keep eavesdropping or rush upstairs. He must have slammed the door in that woman’s face. The real question that bothered her was, who was Winalin to him?

  “Say what you have to and then get out,” Aveoth snapped.

  Jill tensed, realizing he must have let the woman inside.

  Silence stretched and no one spoke. It made Jill want to sneak closer to the opening and peer into the other room to see what was going on.

  “Goddamn it,” Aveoth thundered, making Jill jump. “You wanted to talk, so do it. Stop staring at me. I’m in no mood to waste a day waiting for you to form words. Spit it out, Winalin.”

  “What have you done to the hosting area?”

  “It’s none of your business, but I’m using the mattresses for training. Just say what you must and then get out.”

  “There was no need for you to send for a human breeder, my Lord. I am right here. My brother and I have discussed this many times. Your younglings should be born of strong bloodlines for the sake of the clan’s future.”

  “I see you’re still eager to become a whore for Elco. Get out, Winalin. I’ve told you, I’ll never visit your bed, nor you mine. I’d rather fly through a wildfire than touch you. It would be a more pleasurable experience for me.”

  “You insult me?” The woman’s voice remained calm and cool.

  “As if I could. You do that to yourself every time you come to offer your body for my use.”

  “I’m a pure-blood Gargoyle willing to mate or breed with you. That’s a high honor.”

  “One I have no interest in. Have I not made myself clear?”

  “You would choose a human breeding vessel to birth your youngling over a pure-blood?”

  Aveoth snarled. “Why do you and your brother assume the human is here for me to breed?”

  “There’s no other reason, my lord. You’d have chosen another VampLycan if you sought a lover. I offer to become your mate. It would settle you as our lord.”

  “Settle me?” Aveoth laughed. It sounded harsh. “I am your lord. Elco may challenge me if he believes otherwise. I’d happily take his head in a fight.”

  “You’re twisting the meaning of my words! A mated lord with strong sons is best for the clan’s future.”

  “Did Elco tell you this? I would never have been born if bloodlines weren’t mixed. One of my first executive orders was changing the title of our clan