Drantos Read online

  “That same blood runs in your sister’s veins, and probably even in yours. Your bloodline is the taste we believe Aveoth craves the most. If it’s true, he’ll do anything to have that again, even go against his own beliefs. He hates Filmore, everything he stands for, but his weakness is the blood.”

  “Doesn’t all blood taste the same?”

  He shook his head. “No. Not only are we able to distinguish between types, but we can differentiate family bloodlines. Think of his addiction as a human’s preference for a favorite fine wine. The others pale in comparison.”

  “Gross.”

  “You asked.”

  This is such a crazy story, Dusti silently sighed. It can’t be true. “So why would Aveoth even need someone else to find him a lover to begin with? Is he really hideous looking or something? Why would any parent want to hand over their daughter to this guy?”

  “I’m certain he could find one on his own, but the arrangement would have helped strengthen the alliance between VampLycans and the GarLycans. Aveoth expressed a desire to have a lover and one was found. There was no need for him to search or have to worry that she would be surprised by what he is. His Gargoyle blood might make him cold, but he’s still a man. He wanted a warm, willing female to share his bed until he found his mate. Aveoth’s father arranged it with Margola’s parents.”

  “So she was whored out to him?” It left a bad taste in Dusti’s mouth to even say it.

  Kraven scowled. “I guess you would see it that way. She wasn’t forced to agree to become his lover. It was considered an honor to sacrifice the years she would have spent with him to keep peace between his clan and ours.”

  “But she died before it happened. So who took her place?”

  “Her name was Lane and she died recently. That’s why Decker sent for Bat. Aveoth needs a new lover.”

  “Was Lane a relative of mine?”

  “No, but she was willing to become Aveoth’s lover.”

  “But you were talking about blood and how this Aveoth wants Bat because she’s related to Margola. Help me out here. I’m so confused.”

  Kraven drew closer. “Aveoth settled for Lane. Once he learns about Bat, he’ll want her more than anyone else who might volunteer to become his new lover. Is that clear enough for you?”

  “Bat isn’t going to volunteer for that.”

  “Decker won’t care, and Aveoth might want her enough to overlook the fact that he has to force her to stay with him.”

  “Because she’s a relative to Margola.”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow. So you’re saying my grandfather wants to turn Bat into a sex slave and this guy might go for it. Your world is totally fucked up. My sister would castrate the bastard if he tried to force himself on her.”

  “You’re both too weak to defend yourself.”

  “My sister is a shark. Never forget it. They don’t call attorneys that without cause.”

  “Sarcasm is not an attractive trait in a woman.” Kraven softly snarled the words. “Bat wouldn’t stand a chance of stopping Aveoth from doing or taking whatever he wanted from her. You asked, and I have answered.”

  “If Decker is so bad, why didn’t he just hand over his own wife to this Aveoth, if they were sisters? They might have tasted the same.”

  He grimaced. “I’m certain he considered it, but Aveoth would never have allowed him to live. She was already mated to Decker when her sister died. To take a woman from a mate would mean killing him.”

  “You gave me the impression Decker didn’t care about Marvilella, if he really did kill her, so he wouldn’t have fought to keep her.”

  “It’s about pride and instincts.” Kraven sighed. “Aveoth would have killed her mate just to make certain she didn’t hold a bond to someone else. She was also already pregnant when her sister died. Aveoth wants a woman without offspring.”

  “He sounds really picky. What’s wrong with being with a woman who has a kid?”

  “Perhaps he doesn’t want to raise another man’s child. I don’t know. You’d have to ask him. But trust me, he’ll crave Bat’s blood.”

  “You make it sound as if he’s going to salt her down and serve her up for dinner.”

  “No, but if Aveoth is really addicted to the bloodline, it’d be a bonus if he can fuck her and drink her blood at the same time.”

  “That’s really gross and demented.”

  A grin curved Kraven’s features. “Remember you said that.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He rose to his feet slowly while he gave her an amused look that left her feeling unsettled. “That’s a discussion for you and my brother to have.” He spun away, striding toward the fire.

  Dusti got to her feet and shivered from the cold, missing Drantos’s jacket that he’d made her remove the night before. One quick glance around revealed it was gone. She jerked up the blanket they’d slept on to wrap around her body. She nearly bumped into Bat when she stepped into the woods.

  “Remind me to never visit Alaska again.” Bat softly cursed. “It’s so cold I didn’t even want to pee. I think it froze before it hit the ground. I thought it would be warmer here this time of year. It’s almost summertime.”

  “Always a lady.” Dusti smiled to soften her words. She glanced around, still not seeing Drantos, and Kraven had his back to them while he fed kindling to the fire. “Bat,” she began, staring into her sister’s eyes. “We’re in deep shit.”

  “I know.”

  “You really have no clue what is go—”

  “There you are.”

  Dusti jumped. Drantos stepped out from behind a tree. She hadn’t even heard him approaching but there he stood, inches from her. He wore his jacket. She stared up into his dark gaze, seeing a warning in them. She sealed her lips together.

  “Did both of you empty your bladders?” He didn’t look away from Dusti.

  “I did, and I hope it warms up more when the sun rises.” Bat shivered. “I’m going to go sit by the fire to thaw.” She headed back to the clearing.

  Dread gripped Dusti at being left alone with Drantos.

  “You were going to warn her.”

  “Don’t you think she’s going to notice when you and your brother drag us out of here?”

  “Go to the bathroom but don’t go far. We’re leaving when you return.” His gaze narrowed. “Don’t try anything, Dusti. You don’t want to see me angry.”

  “Right. You’ll suck my blood or something.”

  He took a step closer until they nearly touched. Dusti held her breath, fear inching up her spine at the chilly look on his face. He may be hot but he is also huge and scary. Those were things she needed to remember.

  “You love your sister and want to protect her. We have that second thing in common.”

  Dusti took a step back. “So let’s say I believe everything I’ve been told. You want to keep Bat away from my grandfather but what are you going to do with her? Hand her over to that Aveoth yourself?”

  He shook his head. “He’d probably kill her. My brother spoke the truth. Aveoth is used to getting his way. Your sister might try to attack him and it wouldn’t end well for her.”

  She instantly knew he’d somehow been listening to the conversation she’d had with Kraven. The tree line where he’d stepped out from wasn’t far from where the two of them had been.

  “What are you going to do with us?”

  “You are the descendants of a member of my clan.” He invaded her personal space again to nearly touch her. “And I have my reasons to protect you. It would cause you pain if any harm came to your sister, so I’ll protect her as well, for you.”

  “Is that supposed to make me feel gratitude toward you? You’re saving us from the big bad wolf or whatever the hell Decker Filmore is, supposedly? What do you want from us, Drantos? I don’t trust you.”

  Anger drew his mouth into a scowl. “You should. Go to the bathroom and hurry back.”

  She backed away and turned. The urge t