Lorn Read online

  Lorn glanced around once more, making sure no one watched them. He leaned forward a little and softened his voice. He stared into his father’s eyes. “If anything bad happens to Kira, it will be the last day you draw breath. I’ll hold you personally accountable.”

  Shock took over his father’s face. “You’d try to kill me over her?”

  Lorn didn’t hesitate. “Try? I’m your son. I always follow through with a threat. You taught me that. Decker had reason to be wary of me, and so do you. You couldn’t take him in a fight when this clan formed or you would have led it. I’m a much better fighter than you ever dreamed of being in your prime.”

  “I’m your father! You’d attack me over that weakling?”

  “I’ll demand blood if Kira’s is spilled. You do anything to her, or have someone go after her, I’ll be seeking yours, old man. Never threaten Kira again. I don’t even want you looking her way. It only pisses me off. Am I clear?”

  “Yes.”

  He saw a little fear in his father’s eyes. No guilt surfaced. “We made a bargain and I’ve kept my side of it. You might be able to force me to take some stranger into my home but you better be damn certain Kira is always safe. She’s the only reason you have any control over me. Enjoy it while it lasts—and pray she has a long, happy life. Your lifespan is the same as hers.”

  Ladius spun away and stalked toward a group of elders. Lorn watched him go and grabbed his beer. His hands shook slightly but he took a sip just to cool his temper. It didn’t help. He was sure his father wouldn’t repeat anything that had been said between them. It would make Ladius appear weak. He’d rather die first.

  Lorn knew hell. His life had always been a series of burdens and responsibilities he’d never wanted because of his birthright. He wished he could just leave. To flee the clan and live somewhere else, anywhere else, had been a fantasy of his for what seemed like forever. Dreams were for children though.

  He couldn’t abandon the weaker members of the clan. They depended on him to protect them from assholes like his father and other VampLycans under Decker’s thumb. He’d never openly defied Decker but he had learned the art of manipulation from Ladius. It was a game he grew tired of playing.

  He glanced at the newly mated couple accepting congratulations from other clan members. Their joyous smiles mocked him. He’d have to accept some woman his father had chosen for her lineage and suffer in silence. It was expected of him. He didn’t know Darya, nor did he want to. She’d expect to bare his children and share his home. He took another sip of beer. She would grow to hate him once she realized he refused to settle.

  Kira’s face flashed in his mind. The bitterness returned. She had feelings for him. It made everything a thousand times worse.

  Chapter Two

  The thick woods were comforting as Kira picked up the pace, running to get away from the pain and the man who caused it.

  One decision had been made though. She’d take her father up on his offer. No way could she remain with the clan to watch Lorn take a mate. The sight of them together would kill her a day at a time.

  It was terrifying to walk away from all she’d known but she’d survived a year of college, after all. Not all of it had been good but humans weren’t so bad. She just had to keep her guard up around them and lie about her family to protect the clan’s secrets. She’d always gone with the story of having deceased parents and no family. It was best to avoid any questions.

  That year had proved she could survive in the human world if she had to. It was possible she could become a real cop instead of just carrying a badge to scare off poachers. To serve and protect was something she’d been groomed to do.

  A few miles later, she paused and noticed that the woods had grown too still. Her gaze drifted to the treetops, not spotting a single bird. She cocked her head and strained her hearing, not picking up the normal sounds of smaller creatures scuttling about. Rabbits were usually all over the area but none could be seen.

  A faint whiff of smoke reached her nose and she turned in that direction.

  “Damn poachers,” she muttered. They were stupid to start a campfire considering it hadn’t rained in weeks.

  They were easy to locate as she followed the smell of burning wood. Four human men sat around the fire. They’d used a small clearing as a base camp. One quick sweep revealed four backpacks, the same amount of sleeping bags. She pumped the shotgun as she stepped around a tree into their view. Her badge hung from around her neck. They’d be able to see it clearly.

  Four pairs of eyes locked on her in stunned silence.

  “Hello,” she stated in a loud voice that would carry. “I’m a park ranger and you’re on protected land.”

  They paled a little. She liked that. It meant they bought her cover. “Do you know the penalty for trespassing? Five years in prison. I guess you didn’t see all those pesky warning signs telling you to turn your butts around? Maybe you thought there wasn’t anyone around to enforce the law?” She paused. “There are thirty-eight rangers who patrol the area and ten of them are about to join us,” she bluffed.

  “We, uh, didn’t see any signs.” One of them was a terrible liar.

  “You’re not wearing a uniform,” another one pointed out.

  “I don’t have to. Do you know why?” She didn’t give them time to respond. “I’m not supposed to see the public—because no one is allowed to be here. How did you miss seeing the fence you had to get over to reach this spot? Were your eyes closed while climbing it? That wasn’t a clue that you shouldn’t trespass? I know there are posted warnings every fifty feet. I check that they aren’t blown away every few days.” She pointed the barrel of her shotgun in their general direction just to make sure none of them went for a weapon.

  One of the men had the grace to wince. “We just thought it was a lot of empty land.”

  “You were wrong.” She slightly relaxed. None of them seemed aggressive or menacing. “It’s an animal rescue preserve. All the wildlife here is protected. You’re lucky you didn’t nab anything.” She couldn’t detect the smell of blood or see signs of them cooking anything besides beans. “It’s an additional year for every kill.”

  “Shit.” The oldest-looking one appeared ready to piss himself. “We didn’t know. We’re real sorry. We just arrived a few hours ago and we haven’t done anything but set up camp.”

  Kira sighed. “I’ll tell you what. You look like nice guys.” She wasn’t really sure about the youngest one. He appeared kind of shifty around the eyes but she used the “nice guys” routine the most. “I’ll cut you a break. Dump dirt on your fire and clear off the land immediately. You do that and I won’t arrest you. It means you won’t have to pay fines and I have less paperwork to do. Deal?”

  “It’s about two miles to where the fence was,” one of them protested. “It’s almost dark.”

  “Then I suggest you pack up fast and jog. Did you forget about the other rangers on their way? Smoke travels for miles. They aren’t as easy-going as I am, boys. We’ve dubbed one of them Ranger Rage. He gets super pissed over idiots starting fires.” She waved a hand toward the flames. “That will set him off big time. Do you know how dry it’s been? Forest fires are a real hazard. He kind of beat the living shit out of the last guy who started one. He said it was worth the three-day suspension because he got to break the guy’s jaw. It amused him, thinking about that poor sucker needing a straw to eat from for a few months.”

  They scrambled to put out the fire and she hid a smile while she watched. Humans were easy to intimidate. They hardly gave her trouble once she gave her scary spiel.

  Veso really did detest idiots who set fires—but he wouldn’t have stopped at a broken jaw. He’d have buried their bodies and called it a day. The VampLycan could be merciless.

  Her humor vanished as she glanced around the woods. The smell of their campfire would have traveled farther by now, and Veso wouldn’t be attending the mating ceremony. He was known to stay clear of any kind of relationship