“You should always trust your instincts.”

“Plus, you’re really good in bed, can cook, you built a log cabin. I mean, that is so over-the-top masculine. Who could resist all that? The only down sides are you live in Alaska, people die a lot here, and you must have a lot of experience at getting blood out of your clothes. Or maybe you just buy a lot of them.”

“I usually don’t have to kill this many people in such a short amount of time.”

“That’s oddly comforting.” She chuckled. “Am I losing my mind?”

“No. You’ve handled everything extremely well.”

“For a human.” She couldn’t help but tease him a bit.

He grinned.

“I’m not going to run from you. We’re practically married. I take vows seriously.”

“Do you need a church ceremony?”

“I understand that mating is rock solid. I’m not exactly a huge fan of weddings anyway.”

“I’m glad. I would hate to wear a suit. They look uncomfortable.” He surprised her by leaning in, brushing his lips over hers. “But I would do it to make you happy.”

“Thank you.”

“Your happiness is my happiness. That’s how this works.”

“In that case, why don’t we go in the bedroom?” She smiled. “I’ll forgo the wedding but I insist on the honeymoon.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. A low growl came from him and his eyes sparked with arousal, glowing a little. “That means sex.”

She ignored his wet towel and body, not caring. “Lots of sex.”

He scooped her up, making her laugh, and carried her toward the bedroom. “I should convince you that I’m the best mate you could ever have until you no longer have any doubt.”

“I like that plan so I’ll pretend you need to.”

He stopped next to the bed. “I’m going to love you, Glen.”

“Even though I’m human?”

“Because you’re human. I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

“I think you’re pretty sexy, VampLycan. I wouldn’t change anything about you either.”

“This is going to work.” Sincerity sounded in his voice.

“We’ll make sure of it.”

Epilogue

Eight days later

Lorn rubbed the back of his neck after he hung up the phone, meeting his brother’s gaze across from his desk. Lavos had just walked into his office and plopped down.

“Shit.”

“What is it?” Lavos frowned.

“That was a woman who lives in Colorado. I guess she mistook our lodge for a hotel. It’s listed as such in the phone directory. She’s been asking the state troopers to make a trip to Kegslee but they won’t do it yet. They won’t even file a missing person’s report until someone is out of contact up here for a few weeks, since it’s hunting season. The woman who called hasn’t been able to contact her son or his family. She was crying, begging me to send someone out that way.”

“The phone lines go down sometimes.”

“That’s what I told her. She sounded old and upset though. She wouldn’t calm, and honestly, I felt bad for her. I promised her I’d send someone to her family with a message.” He lifted a pad he’d written on. “This is the address. Get Veso to go. Tell him to let the human know his mother is in tears and to find a damn phone that works to call her.”

“I can’t believe you’re sending anyone to do this.”

Lorn sighed. “I’m worried they may have been turned into soldiers for that damn nest we took out. This woman deserves closure if her family is dead.”

“Veso’s on his honeymoon still.” Lavos held out his hand. “I’ll go.”

Lorn passed the paper over. “Thanks.”

“No problem. You’re right. Any of the humans turned were innocents pulled into that mess. It’s the least we can do.”

“I’m hoping their phone is just down.”

Lavos walked toward the door. “Me too. I’ll take Garson and Kar with me. You’re welcome.”

“Why is that doing me any favors?”

Lavos spun at the door to face him. “We’ve got a couple female visitors from Crocker’s clan. Specifically, trouble-seeking sisters.”

“Goddamn it,” Lorn spat. “I hate those two.”

“Yeah. They love to mess with my friends until they’re fighting each other to show off who’s strongest. Not this time. Good thing you made them enforcers and I can order them around. See you later,” Lavos called, leaving.

Lorn got up, walked to the map on the wall. He located Kegslee. It wasn’t too far from their territory. It would only take a few hours for his brother to reach it using the main roads. He studied the area, spotting Pick nearby. That was the abandoned mining town hooked to that mine where they took out the nest.

He had a bad feeling they’d just find an empty home where the family used to live. That town was directly in the path of where the Vampires would have traveled.

Want to read the first chapter of the next book?

Lavos - VLG #5

by Laurann Dohner

Chapter One

Jadee unlocked the RV and stepped inside. “Dad?”

The silence seemed ominous but the lights were on. She entered and did a quick search of the interior. He wasn’t there but his bed had been made. She paused in the kitchen area, studying the gun sitting on the surface of the table. He usually kept his weapons locked up. The security shutters were all down, blocking out the exterior light. It was odd. A prick of apprehension stabbed at her.

She turned, going to the open door to peer out at the woods. It was late afternoon and the sun was going down fast. There was no sign of her dad or his car. She closed the door and locked it. There could be bears or other wildlife she didn’t want to meet up close and personal.

She walked to the front and sat down in the driver’s seat. The bad feeling increased tenfold as she stared at the metal over the windshield and side doors. Why were they down? She turned on the CB and made sure it was on the channel her father usually used.