Kraven Read online

  She believed he meant the words, but over time, he might begin to resent her. Bitterness would eat into their relationship and poison it. She rested her cheek against his warm chest and closed her eyes.

  “We’ll make it work.” He held her tighter. “I’m determined.”

  “Me too.” That much she was certain of. Kraven was her mate. She loved him and she didn’t want to face a future without him.

  “We’re both tired. Why don’t we get some sleep?”

  “I am exhausted.”

  He lifted her off his legs and helped her stand, then took her hand once he got to his feet. “Come on, baby. We’ll cuddle. I love holding you.”

  “I love that too.”

  He led her into his bedroom and pulled back the covers. Bat stripped and got into bed first. Kraven pulled her close, spooning her from behind. “You’re safe and I’m right here.”

  Bat turned her head, staring at him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Hellion.”

  She smiled and closed her eyes. A lot was on her mind but exhaustion muted her thoughts.

  Kraven knew the moment Bat drifted to sleep. He couldn’t. It worried him when she’d said she needed to think about things. She had a tendency to be stubborn and irrational when it came to matters of the heart. A human had hurt her and that wound ran deep. He understood, but he no longer felt she could be a threat, not the way Violet had been. That bitch had merely tried to stab him in the heart. Bat could tear it from his chest with words and actions.

  I can’t lose her. She had taken seeing him shifted extremely well. He needed to strengthen their mate bond. He pulled his head back a little, openly admiring her bared throat and shoulder. His fangs slid down without him meaning them to and his dick reacted by hardening. He wanted to claim his mate but she needed to rest first.

  He began to plot out the best ways to have sex with Bat that wouldn’t make taking his blood traumatic for her.

  A light tapping at the door drew his attention and he eased away from Bat, careful not to wake her as he got out of bed. He walked to the dresser, withdrew a pair of boxers, and quickly strode into the living room. He unlocked the front door to find his brother standing there with an irritated look on his face.

  “What? I know it’s not dinnertime yet, so we aren’t late.”

  “Dad called. You don’t seem to have your phone on so I had to come give you the message.” He glanced down Kraven’s body and sniffed the air. “At least you weren’t interrupted during sex. I can’t say the same.”

  “What does Dad want?”

  “He talked to Lorn and asked for a meeting. He agreed but it has to be a secret one. He’s coming here later today. Dinner is now being held at our parents’ house.”

  “This Lorn is going to eat with us? Has hell frozen over?”

  Drantos smirked. “I know. A Decker clan member breaking bread at the family table.” He sobered quickly. “Lorn’s going to drive in. He wants anyone watching him from his clan to believe he’s going to town. Two representatives from the other clans are coming too. Lorn didn’t want to sit at a table with all three clan leaders though, so two enforcers will join us. Dad said Lorn still wasn’t comfortable with that, but he agreed to the terms after Dad made it clear all the clans want to be a part of this discussion. It affects us all.”

  “Why doesn’t Lorn want to meet with the other leaders?”

  “I’m not certain but we don’t want to scare him off. Dad said Lorn seemed a bit paranoid, not that I blame him.”

  “No shit. Decker has to have some who are loyal to him; they’d probably murder Lorn if they knew he had agreed to a meet with us.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What time?”

  “Five. Be there early.”

  “Are you bringing Dusti?”

  Drantos nodded. “Come with your mate. Dad hopes Lorn will be more comfortable with our females present.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “It’s important that we build trust with this guy and get to know him.”

  Kraven reached up and rubbed his neck. “Do you think he’ll take over the clan?”

  “It would sure solve a lot of our problems but I don’t envy the bastard. He’s going to come up against opposition. The first generations are set in their ways and they’ve been led by Decker since the beginning. Change will go down hard for them. They’ll resist and want that bastard back.”

  Kraven silently agreed. “We’re offering support though and Decker is a dead man walking. It’s just a matter of time.”

  “We know that, but does everyone in his clan realize he went too far and there’s no way for him to dig his way out of the grave?”

  “I think the dead bodies of their loved ones probably clued them in.”

  “No shit.” Drantos leaned against the doorjamb. “Are you alright? You look upset.”

  “Bat is starting to realize what a VampLycan is, and everything that goes along with having me for a mate. She’s taking it better than I’d expected, but I’m worried she’ll use it as an excuse to keep me distanced.”

  “You need to strengthen the bond. Why haven’t you?”

  “We’ve been kind of busy, bro.”

  “You’re having sex with her. That was apparent to everyone the moment you stepped foot in the village. We know what you were doing on the way home. How damn hard is it to bite and bleed for her?”

  “Baby steps. I’m trying to cushion the blows as they come. She just saw me shifted for the first time a little while ago. There was no screaming involved so that was a plus.”

  Drantos sighed. “You said I was being too easy on Dusti.”

  “It was easy to say when it wasn’t me in the situation.”

  “Agreed.” Drantos straightened. “She’s your mate, Kraven. You’re way more aggressive with Bat than I am with Dusti. That’s the man she fell for. Why stop doing what’s worked for you so far? Bite her and bleed.”

  “I will.”

  “Do it now. She’s in your bed, I assume. Don’t forget Aveoth—he might stop by around dinner too. Dad invited him.”

  “Fuck.” That pissed Kraven off. “I refuse to allow him anywhere near Bat!”

  “He’s not as bad as we’d feared. I saw and spoke to him. He won’t snatch her and take flight. Just make sure he can smell that you’re mated. That means she needs to carry more of your scent than just physical contact.”

  “I don’t want him near her, Drantos.”

  “I understand, but he backed off wanting to meet her when I told him she was yours. Maybe thanks to our old friendship, he has a soft spot for us. Who knows with him? Don’t give him a reason to reconsider. Strengthen the bond before dinner. Now you don’t have an excuse to put it off.” Drantos grinned. “Talk about motivation. Get to it.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  Kraven waved and closed the door, locking it. He stormed into the bedroom and removed his boxers, getting back into bed. The idea of Aveoth meeting Bat made him fear losing her—and that wasn’t going to happen.

  He gently gripped her shoulder and pulled her onto her back. She woke, confused as she peered at him.

  He extended his fangs. “I want you right now.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  She had a sexy voice when she mumbled, still sleepy.

  “It will be.” He leaned over her, going for her throat. She stiffened for a second at the feel of his fangs but he didn’t bite, just lightly nipped and kissed her. Her arms wound around his neck and she pressed her breasts against his chest.

  “Yes,” she urged.

  He pulled away just enough to stare into her eyes. “It’s time to link our bond stronger.”

  “What do we need to do?”

  “I’m going to bite you and you’re going to drink some of my blood.”

  She glanced at his mouth. “I don’t have those.”

  “You don’t need them.” He lowered his head, brushing kisses across her throat. He shifted h