Kraven Read online

  He tore his gaze from her to study Kraven. “Relax, my old friend. I would never kill you over a woman—even her. Though I admit to a little envy.” He looked back at Bat. “Continue what you were doing. I like the sound of your voice and hate bullshit as well. Males love to posture. My time is limited and I need to return home. Let us determine the outcome of this meeting and we’ll go from there.”

  Rock guy was scary, she decided. A chill went down her spine. He’d given her an order and she definitely felt inclined to follow it. She gripped Kraven to keep him close while she took a few seconds to find her composure and focus on the task at hand. Her hold on Kraven eased and she put a little space between them, going into professional mode. Her mate allowed it but he stayed close.

  “Lorn?”

  He returned to his spot at the table. “What?”

  “You heard Lord Aveoth.” Don’t call him rock guy. Please don’t slip. She feared the GarLycan didn’t have a sense of humor. She could sense it. “Decker is his. I’ll assume that means he won’t be our problem anymore.”

  “I’ll find him and end his miserable life,” Aveoth clarified.

  Bat swallowed hard. She believed rock guy meant every word. “Decker won’t be returning to your clan. Someone needs to take charge. It’s obviously going to be a tough decision for you to make, one that comes with grave consequences. I’m sorry for that.”

  “I need time to think about it.” Lorn faced Velder. “Give me a few days to assess the situation at home. There will be infighting if I step up. That’s a given. I also need to consult with my brother, Lavos. I can’t agree to challenge for leadership without his support.”

  “That’s understandable.” Velder sighed. “I am truly regretful for your situation but things can’t remain the same. Some of your members have requested to move into other territories and become parts of our clans. That could leave only Decker supporters there, and we can’t have that. They could start trouble for us all. Do you understand?”

  Lorn nodded. “I do.”

  Bat wasn’t exactly certain what that meant.

  Kraven cleared it up for her. “We’d have to go in and make certain they weren’t a threat any longer.”

  “You’d have to kill them?”

  Kraven nodded.

  Bat stared at Lorn. He looked miserable, and she felt pity for him. A lot rested on his shoulders. People were going to die, either way. Lorn would have to weed out the bad himself or the other clans would do it for him.

  “Some will be too afraid to leave. They’ve lived in fear of Decker for far too long. That would mean you’d take out innocents in the process.” Lorn’s expression hardened. “I’ll get back to you in a few days. Please give me that time.”

  “It’s yours.” Velder nodded. “Decker is on the run. We can wait. I’ll temporarily halt permission for any of your clan to join ours.”

  “We will too,” Wen announced. “I’ll talk to my clan leader.”

  “So will I,” Brody agreed.

  “I have an enemy to hunt.” Lord Aveoth bowed slightly. “We’ll talk in a few days.” He spun, leaving the way he’d come, closing the door behind him.

  The dinner broke up fast, the two enforcers from the other clans and Lorn leaving. Bat expected her new father-in-law to rant at her for interceding once only family remained, but he surprised her.

  “Batina.”

  She lifted her chin, staring at the man who looked a lot like Kraven. “Yes?”

  “Lord Aveoth was correct. Males love to posture. You got to the heart of the matter and pinpointed the important details. Thank you. It could have been a long night otherwise.”

  “None of my furniture got broken during a fight this time. I appreciate that.” Crayla grinned. “That’s a first when the clans come together. The food distracts them for only so long but once it’s eaten, they tend to throw a few punches.”

  Velder brushed a kiss on his wife’s cheek. “We’ll have her come when Lorn returns.”

  “Great. I’m the clan bullshitter but Bat gets to be the clan peacekeeper.”

  Bat frowned at her sister. “What?”

  Dusti rolled her eyes. “Nothing. You did good. That would have been one brawl I didn’t want to see go down.”

  “We’re going home.” Kraven snagged Bat’s hand. “Good night.”

  Bat followed him out of the house and they walked to his cabin. It still irritated her that he refused to lock the door unless they were home, and even then he’d told her it was only to keep people from walking in and disturbing them.

  Once inside, he pulled her into his arms and chuckled. “You shocked them.”

  “Are you mad?”

  “No. The enforcers tried to pick a fight with Lorn over petty issues. We don’t know him but they seem to. I had wondered why they were so resistant to him. He visits their clans when he’s in heat. You made them reveal that fact.”

  “They were being assholes to Lorn.”

  “We’re protective of our women. It would piss us off too if he came here and didn’t leave a good impression with someone who agreed to share his heat.”

  “He just doesn’t want a mate. Did you cuddle the women you slept with?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not answering that. I love you. You’re the most important woman in my life. The past doesn’t matter.”

  She agreed. “I don’t really want the details. I love you too.”

  “Aveoth will find Decker and kill him. I’ll get you back to L.A. as soon as that happens.”

  Bat stared into his eyes. “I was thinking about that…”

  “Decker talked the Vampire Council into putting a bounty on you, and the Lycans are aware of it too.” Kraven’s mood darkened. “Aveoth is a good hunter. It won’t take long, but we’re not returning to L.A. until Decker is dead. I’d do anything for you but your safety comes foremost.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m not asking you to take me home. To be honest…I’m okay with staying here for a while.”

  His mouth dropped open and she could see she’d stunned him.

  “I’m not saying I’m ready to apply for a driver’s license or sell my condo just yet, but your people need help. It was like watching a bunch of brooding teenagers trying to have an important discussion but their hormones were getting in the way. You need a clearheaded negotiator to keep them on track when they have sit-downs. I’m familiar with politics. You’ve got four governments, pretty much, that are trying to work together as a whole. Five, counting the GarLycans. And we’re not even sure if Lorn will head his clan. That means other candidates might be in the running. It could take some time to sort this mess out. I need to learn your laws and regulations so I understand things better before the clans meet up again, but how hard can that be?”

  He gaped at her.

  “Close your mouth, sweetheart. I love a challenge. I need to get a look at your constitution or whatever you use.”

  He took a deep breath. “They aren’t written down but I could explain everything to you.”

  “That’s a good start. That way I won’t have to ask what’s allowed and what isn’t.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Part of my job is settling disputes. There’s a lot of negotiation that happens behind closed doors. Not every case goes to court.” Her excitement grew the more she considered the possibilities. “You said there’s tension between the clans, especially between Decker’s and Aveoth’s. Five parties need to sit down on a regular basis and come to terms.”

  “You want to be a part of that?”

  “I do.” She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. “I really do. It’s the perfect solution.”

  He still appeared stunned.

  “We’ll get to stay here longer with your family and my sister. I haven’t had time off in forever. It won’t exactly be a vacation and I won’t be paid. Pro bono is fine, and I won’t technically be an attorney. I’m not licensed in this state. I could be