Lavos Read online

  “You encouraged that shit, not me. I wasn’t interested. Could I have been any clearer?”

  “I just wanted you as happy as I am. A mate is everything.”

  “All I could think about was Jadee. I told you that.”

  “I didn’t understand you were that drawn to her.”

  “Now we know why.”

  “This Mya is damn persistent. The news might upset her, since she made it clear she was interested and believed you were single.”

  “Too bad for her. Volti’s an enforcer, and he’d love to test out a mating. Kar wasn’t looking for a mate but he’s definitely horny. Both of them are good options. Gar wanted a mate but he’s doing territory patrol.”

  “I’ll shove them at her.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I need you here when the main meal is served. Can you drop your mate off with mine? They’ll be safe together and Kira would appreciate the company. We discussed it and I don’t want her there. I trust the other clans not to attack my mate but it would be a perfect time while we’re distracted for any Decker sympathizers to go after her. The other clan leaders agreed with me.”

  “Kira was okay with that?”

  “Yes. She understands.”

  “Can do, but you know everyone is going to smell Jadee on me.”

  “I realize, but it’s important my lead enforcer be at my side, Lavos. Human mate or not. We’ll say you mated Jadee and brought her home when you checked out that report of a Vampire sighting. Maybe she could be the one who saw the Vamp, and you interviewed her. There is such a thing as instant bonding. Be vague with the details. You’re good at that.”

  “Understood. An hour?”

  “Make it an hour and a half so it’s believable. Appetizers are just being served. Davis figured passing around trays of them would help relax everyone and ease us into conversations before we’re seated. He called it ‘mingling.’ You supposedly left our territory, so you’d need time to return. I’ll try to pull our enforcers aside so they don’t seem shocked when you arrive, scenting like you’ve just mated a human.”

  “Can you send Davis to your home? I know Kira can defend herself but Jadee can’t.”

  “You’re a pain the ass, but yeah, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks, Lorn. You took it better than I thought you would. You’re a good brother.”

  “You’re an idiot if you thought I’d accept your offer to leave. I’d rather not have a clan than lose my brother. We’ve always stood together. See you soon.” Lorn disconnected the call.

  Lavos grinned.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jadee felt nervous. “So this Kira was a human, then a Vampire, but now she’s a VampLycan?”

  “Her father is a VampLycan but her mother was human. Kira was born mostly human like her mother.”

  “Then she was attacked, turned into a Vampire, but drinking blood from your brother helped her become more Lycan than Vampire?”

  “She’s almost equally both now. She can withstand the sun and eat food.”

  “This is so complicated.”

  “You’re doing great.” Lavos smiled.

  “I feel like I’m cramming for a test no one told me about and I have an hour to learn it all or I fail.”

  “There’s no failing. I’m just getting you acquainted with facts about your new family. I’m sorry I have to go to the lodge but you can’t come with me. And I don’t want to leave you alone. You’ll be safe with Kira.”

  “She won’t want to bite my neck, right?”

  “She only feeds off my brother, Lorn. Mates share blood.”

  “Am I going to turn into something from drinking your blood? Will you turn partly human?”

  He chuckled. “I have the dominant traits in our relationship. I won’t turn human, but some things about you will become different over time.”

  She felt the blood drain from her face. “Am I going to turn into a Vampire?”

  “No.” He shook his head, looking far too amused. “My Lycan blood will protect you from my Vampire genes. You’ll get a better immune system to fight off colds and other things humans suffer from. It will also greatly slow your aging. You’ll heal faster from drinking my blood, too.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad. It probably accounts for how awake I feel. I was exhausted when I arrived but now I’m almost hyper.”

  His gaze lowered to her belly. “Every child you carry will help. Some humans who mate with Lycans tend to become Lycan over time.” His voice deepened. “We could have lots of children.”

  “Eyes up here, sexy.”

  He held her gaze.

  “Still fixated on the babies, huh?”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” She took his hand. “Is the PMS a little better?”

  “Not by much. I resent having to be dressed right now when all I want to do is keep you naked in my bed.”

  “I wouldn’t complain. I love sex with you.”

  He growled, the blue of his eyes brightening.

  “Horny, huh?”

  “You have no damn idea. I’m rock hard.”

  She glanced at his groin, the bulge detectable. “How long do you have to spend with your brother?”

  “A few hours at most. I’ll return and pick you up as soon as possible.”

  She focused on his face. “You said Lorn just took control of the clan and the other ones are worried about that. Why?”

  “We were led by Decker. He had no honor and tried to cause friction with the other clans.” He licked his lips, his gaze wandering over her body. “Everyone hated him, including most of his own clan.”

  “He was like a corrupt politician?”

  “Worse.” The blue faded from his eyes and darkened to near black. The evil look returned. “He murdered innocents and wanted to start a war.”

  “What’s going on with your eye color?”

  He blinked a few times. “Sorry. It’s a VampLycan thing. They lighten when I’m using Vampire traits or thinking about sex. They darken when I feel rage and my Lycan side is bleeding through.”

  “Okay.” It would take time to adjust to those abilities. “Thanks for clearing that up.”

  “The other clans need assurances that Lorn is nothing similar to Decker.”

  “Is he?”

  “Hell no!” he snarled.

  Jadee startled at his sudden outburst.

  “Sorry.” Lavos lowered his tone, softened it. “I hated Decker.”

  “You said he was a murderer?”

  “Any children in our clan who presented too many Vampire traits were killed, along with their parents if they tried to protect them from Decker and his enforcers. He didn’t like humans either, and kept my brother from claiming Kira because he saw her as too weak to matter. The bastard would have killed her if he could have. It just pisses me off to think anyone could compare my brother to that bastard.”

  “I’m glad Lorn isn’t upset that you mated me.”

  “He understands.” He reached out, stroking her. “He had to resist the urge to claim his mate for a long time. They both suffered for it.”

  “It worked out okay though, right? They’re mated now.”

  “Yes, but we expect problems. That’s why Kira usually has a guard when Lorn isn’t with her. Davis is her father, and he’ll fight to the death to keep her safe too.”

  “What does she need to be protected from?”

  “Some of our clan are paranoid and racist against anyone not clan.”

  “But she’s not human anymore, right?”

  “Yes, but she was turned into a Vampire. Some won’t trust her because of it.”

  “But…VampLycans are half Vampire!”

  “That’s true. Though Decker taught them to hate anyone with too much Vampire blood.”

  “He sounds like a dick.”

  “He was much worse.”

  “Was? So he’s dead?”

  “We wish, but no. He’s gone though, and he can’t ever come ba