Drantos Read online

  He slowed, sniffed the air, and avoided the main body of town when he approached his village.

  Worry rose but he had no time to consider what sort of punishment might be dealt to him. He had rescued his mate, carried her safely to clan lands, and soon he’d have her secured inside his home. She needed a warm bath to remove the chill from her skin and a full belly of food to alleviate her hunger. He would inform his family he’d returned after she was cared for.

  Dusti shivered once again, her arms slack around his neck now. He knew exhaustion had set in. He paused, waited for a sentry to pass without detecting them since he kept downwind, and then crept forward. He relaxed when he stepped onto his own property where his cabin rested. He crouched down by the front door and started to transform without giving his mate a warning.

  She softly started to curse when the hair receded and his bones shifted but she didn’t try to fling her body away. He grinned in amusement while he listened to her list of foul words expand. His mate could make a trucker blush with the things she muttered. He reached back, gripped her thighs, and straightened.

  “Just hold on. I’ll give you a piggyback ride straight to that tub I promised. Do you mind opening the door?” He turned her toward the handle, bent his knees, and she released him with one hand to turn the knob.

  “Don’t you people lock your doors?”

  “No. There is no need. We don’t steal from each other.”

  “That wouldn’t happen where I come from. You leave your door unlocked and you come home to an empty house that’s been stripped.”

  “You’re totally safe here.” He didn’t bother to turn on lights. His eyes were already accustomed to the darkness outside. “We’re almost there. I’ll settle you in warm water and bring you a meal. How are you doing?”

  “I’m tired.” She yawned to make her point. “Maybe I could skip the bath and food for a nap first.”

  “No. You haven’t eaten all day. It’s my job to care for you.”

  “Do you do dishes and laundry too? If you do, I’ll love you more.”

  He snorted back a laugh. “I’ve been a bachelor for a very long time. I even clean my home.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’m assuming you haven’t turned on lights because you don’t want me to see wall-to-wall beer cans and dirty clothes piled everywhere.”

  “I don’t need lights. Sorry.”

  “You can see in the dark without the moon to help you out?”

  “Yes.” He turned to gently ease her down on the edge of the bathroom counter. “Hold on and close your eyes. I’ll flip on the lights. I don’t want to startle you.”

  “Okay.” She released him to sit back.

  He flipped on the light and turned to face his mate. He watched her wince and lift a hand to shield her eyes from the bright lights. She blinked a few times before gawking at his bathroom.

  “Wow. This is nice. Double sinks, that shower is huge, and you didn’t lie about the Jacuzzi tub.” She gave him a smile that tugged at his heart when he saw how happy it made her. “I could live in here.”

  “Lucky for you, we have an entire cabin. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.”

  “I think my bedroom at home would fit in here. I can’t wait to see the rest of the place if this is any indication. It’s huge, isn’t it?”

  “We’ve been on these lands for a long time. I started building my home…” He stopped talking. She didn’t want to know his age. “Some years ago. I wanted it to be comfortable when I found my mate.”

  He spun away and turned on the water in the deep tub to draw her bath. He kept his back to her until the water rose to where he wanted it. He glanced over his shoulder.

  “Do you need help in?”

  She scooted off the counter edge. “I can manage. Thanks.”

  He didn’t want to leave her but she needed to eat. “Relax. Make yourself at home. This is yours now too. I’ll cook you food.”

  She reached for the ties on the sarong. “Thank you, Drantos.”

  “Never thank me for caring for you. It’s my privilege.” He quickly left her before he saw too much of her naked skin. The hunger for his mate boiled inside his blood, already laced with hers.

  He started to prepare a meal and then reached for the phone. He hesitated briefly but knew someone might see the lights on inside his house if they were patrolling the area and report it to his father. He knew he couldn’t put off the call. He dialed.

  “When did you get home, Drantos?” His father answered on the second ring. “My caller ID said it was you.”

  “Does it matter? I recovered my mate and she’s home with me.”

  “Do you need a doctor for her?”

  “No. She was slightly injured but I licked her wounds. They are almost healed. The bastard who stole her had clawed the back of her leg.”

  “I take it that he’s dead?”

  “Yes. I wasn’t the one to kill him. Aveoth found them first. He—”

  Velder snarled. “Lord Aveoth was there? What happened?”

  “I’m trying to tell you. He located Dusti and Decker’s enforcer before I reached them. I told Aveoth how she had been taken and that we’d been attacked.”

  “Did you tell him why? Did he know of Decker’s plan?”

  “He wasn’t aware of what Decker was up to but he is now. He said he’d handle it and it doesn’t bode well for Decker. He also said he doesn’t want a war with us. He likes the peace.”

  “That’s excellent news. I’ll share it with the other clans. I’ve kept them apprised of what is going on. We’ve all been worried.”

  “I know. Aveoth is aware of Dusti and Bat now but he made it clear he isn’t going to come after them or make a trade with Decker. I told him Dusti is my mate and he accepted it.”

  “She’s so human.”

  He knew where the conversation was headed. “She’s still part VampLycan, and she’s mine. I won’t give her up. I know what you’re worried about, but our children will be strong-blooded if I feed her my blood while she’s pregnant. There’s no reason for you to reject her as my mate. I’ll be able to fulfill my duties as first son.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “I gave my word I wouldn’t share that information but it’s a reliable source. Someone with old knowledge told me.”

  “Did someone hear that from one of the Lycan elders and pass it on?”

  He hesitated. Aveoth’s clan had probably gotten the information from an old Lycan. Someone had to have shared that information to enable the GarLycans to put it in a book. “You could say that.”

  His father remained silent for long seconds. “I’m glad the GarLycans aren’t a threat to us but we still have to address the issue of what you did today. Your mate rejected you in front of others and you went against the law to go after her. You must face punishment. There’s no way around it. People are talking.”

  “I figured.”

  “I can’t protect you, Drantos. It would look bad.”

  “I know.”

  “The last thing we need is dissension in the clan by my playing favorites. I must always be fair.”

  “I don’t regret what I’ve done,” he admitted. “I’d do it again. You were wrong for making me chose between you and Dusti.”

  “It shocked me when I learned who the sisters were. My hatred of Decker runs deep. I’ve had time to cool down and think it through, and I agree with you. Your mother and I spoke. I can’t publically apologize without it making me appear weak but I do, son. I’m sorry. I should have ordered you to go after her instead of remaining with the injured.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “I wish I could take it back.”

  “It’s done. Let’s just get this over with.”

  His father sighed. “Sometimes the bullshit gets to me. This is one of those times.”

  “You’ve changed a lot of the laws but this is an important one. You can’t have our people arguing with your every decision.”

  “I k