Drantos Read online

  “Great. You know how I feel about Decker Filmore. He’s an asshole.”

  “They’ll realize that and understand you’re nothing like him.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Me too,” he muttered. “Don’t be alarmed when you spot them and remember you’re totally safe.”

  “Don’t show fear.” It sounded easy. She locked her fingers together behind his neck. She did trust Drantos to keep her safe. He’d faced off against that hell beast to protect her. People in skin, no matter how big they were, had to be tame in comparison. She took a few deep breaths. “Got it.”

  “Good.” He lowered his voice more. “They’re approaching us. I smell them.”

  She scanned the thick woods until she spotted movement at the base of a tree. One of those large, terrifying beasty creatures stalked forward. Drantos halted and squeezed her, as if reminded her that he would keep her safe.

  “It’s someone from my clan,” he whispered. “Not the enemy.”

  Dusti tried not to stare but it was impossible. The creature was big, vicious-looking, and had sharp fangs. The claws on the toes could probably tear through flesh as easily as if skin were butter. She sucked in a deep breath and tried hard to manage her hammering heart. The creature growled, sounding unfriendly. Dusti tensed, praying it wouldn’t attack.

  “They were raised in the human world and didn’t know about us,” Drantos announced, speaking to the creature. “Their mother was VampLycan but their father was a human.”

  The creature sat on its haunches, staring directly at her. It didn’t snarl or lunge forward to attack. The dark eyes freaked her out though. They did look evil. It also had a long black mane. The one she’d seen the day before hadn’t had one that nearly touched the ground.

  It growled again, paused, and made some whining noises. Drantos shook his head. “She was never told the truth since she doesn’t exhibit enough traits that would have betrayed what she was. She’s not afraid. It’s just that she’s seen only one other, and he tried to take her away from me. That’s why she’s leery.”

  It sunk in that they were having a conversation. It stunned her. “You speak growl?”

  “Not exactly but we use tones. I can guess what the questions would be according those, or guess moods by sounds, and also by imagining what I’d be thinking and feeling.”

  Drantos gently bent and placed her on her feet. He clasped her hand though and held on tight. She wondered if he did it to assure her or keep her from bolting into the woods when she caught sight of more people. They were in skin, at least.

  The beast growled again and Drantos shook his head. “Don’t change. She’ll adjust to how you look.”

  The thing ignored him by lifting up to all fours and tucking its head down—then it started to shift.

  The hair receded as Dusti stared in horrified fascination. It made disgusting noises that she guessed were bones popping as the shape started to shrink in a little. The skin tone lightened slightly as it became more humanoid. Finally a woman stood before them, stretching as she rose to her feet, seeming to work out kinks in her shoulders and arms.

  The woman was tall and lanky, and when she threw back her hair to get it out of her face, it flowed to her ass. Her nakedness didn’t seem to bother her, but it did Dusti. The woman’s perky breasts were displayed and she seemed chilly in the early dawn morning.

  “Who is her mother?” She had a husky voice.

  Drantos paused. “Do you remember Decker’s daughter who disappeared? Her name was Antina.”

  The woman stepped closer and her dark brown eyes widened. “I thought he killed her or she committed suicide to avoid her fate.”

  “She was hiding amongst the humans. She mated with one and had two daughters. This is one of them. Kraven is with the other.”

  The woman had a graceful, almost catlike way of moving as she advanced. Her nostrils flared and she jerked to a halt. Her eyes narrowed and fixed on Drantos. Anger was an easy emotion to read.

  “You fucked it? I smell you all over her.”

  “She’s mine, Yonda.”

  “No.” She shook her head, some of her long hair falling forward and hiding one breast. “That can’t be.”

  “It is.”

  Yonda paled considerably. “She reeks of human. This can’t be! You can’t accept a human. You’re the first son. She’s not good enough for you!”

  “She carries VampLycan blood. It’s faint but there. And you know it’s not a requirement.”

  The scary woman snarled and lowered her chin, glaring at Dusti. If looks could kill…I’d be dying right now. She inched closer to Drantos and even took a step back, putting part of her body behind his. It was impossible to look away from that much rage, all of it directed at her. She just didn’t know why Yonda hated her enough to look as if she wanted to tear her apart.

  “Enough,” Drantos ordered. “Don’t even think about it. She belongs to me and I’ll defend her. I’d hate to hit you but I would.”

  Dusti usually resented when he spoke possessively of her but at that moment, she was glad. The woman took a step back but she didn’t appear happy about it. Pure anger seemed to radiate off her. It confused Dusti but it was also scary. She’d witnessed that woman changing from a hellish beast. She could revert back.

  “Yonda,” Drantos snapped. “Go cool down.”

  Yonda didn’t budge. She turned her anger on him. “Does she know how important your place is with our clan? She’s weak, Drantos. You can’t do this! Did you explain your duties to her as first son?”

  “It’s none of your business. Butt out, Yonda.”

  “You’ve always been my business! I can’t allow you to make such a huge mistake.”

  Dusti glanced between the pair, a sick feeling settling in her stomach. She suspected Yonda had been one of the women Drantos had slept with. She studied her—and then a worse suspicion clawed at her. She had to ask the question that she wanted to know most.

  “Are you his girlfriend?”

  Yonda didn’t spare her a glance, her gaze locked on Drantos. “We don’t use those terms. What do you call it when he sleeps in my bed more than he does his own?”

  Dusti tried to extricate her hand from his. Drantos had a girlfriend but he’d slept with her.

  She felt betrayed and her fears became reality. She thought he might break her heart and but hadn’t expected their budding romance to come to a screeching halt so soon. It hurt far worse than she thought it would. She’d come to care about him deeper than she’d realized until that minute. The tearing pain in her chest proved that.

  He turned his head and frowned at her. “I can explain.”

  “Let me go.”

  He refused. “Dusti, you don’t understand.”

  “Were you sleeping with her before you met me? Do you live at her house?”

  “I slept there sometimes. I don’t live with her. It’s not how you think.”

  “Let me go,” she repeated, louder. She wasn’t afraid anymore. She was hurt and angry. “I don’t want you touching me. You’re a cheating bastard and you made me a part of it.” She glanced at Yonda. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”

  “He’s too good for you,” Yonda spat.

  Now the woman was just being rude and bitchy. Dusti twisted on her hand and shoved against Drantos with her other one. “Let go.”

  “You call it a ‘fuck buddy’ in your world.” He sounded and looked furious. “We had no commitment.” He snapped his head in Yonda’s direction. “Tell her!”

  “You think that helps your case?” Dusti punched his arm, still trying to get him to free her hand. He held it tight enough it almost hurt. “We have another term in my world that applies too. You’re a man-whore. No thanks. I’m so done. Let go.”

  “What is going on here?”

  The deep voice of a man startled Dusti and she twisted her head, staring at the mid-thirty-something big guy storming out of the woods. He was dressed at least, not a creature. He wore a shirt