Page 25 of Taste of Danger

Yanking his son’s head forward until they were nose to nose, Ozel snarled, “And you will bring him back unscathed. You are not allowed to unleash your rage on him. Why should you be rewarded for losing him in the first place?” He pushed Akai away. “Once the sun sets tonight, you have until dawn to retrieve him. Fail me and you will regret the day your mother pushed you from her womb.”

With a bow, Akai exited his office. Why did children think they were so entitled these days? Ozel had given his son everything he could ever want, even indulging his sadistic tendencies.

When Ozel had been given Arion, he’d accepted the offer in trade for his uncle’s life, but only on the condition that Alonzo agree to eternal servitude. It was a double payment, but Ozel didn’t give a shit.

Alonzo should consider himself lucky he was still breathing after his betrayal. That night still burned vividly in Ozel’s mind, of him walking in and finding Nerezza in their bed, Alonzo rutting inside the whore.

It was the night Akai had lost his mother to his father’s murderous rage. The same night Alonzo had offered up his own nephew as compensation. And it was also the night Akai had descended into madness.

But one way or another, Ozel would retrieve his pet. And then he would personally punish Arion for daring to escape from him.

* * * *

Casimir stood at his bedroom window and gazed out into the darkened backyard. He couldn’t fathom a good enough excuse for what Arion had done, but after seeing his body… Casimir closed his eyes. He hadn’t been prepared to see someone so small who was scarred so badly.

“Talk to me, nékah,” Damon said from behind him. “No holding shit inside.”

“Did you see his body?” Casimir turned to face his mate. “When I first encountered him, I saw a scar peeking out from under the collar of his shirt and sleeves, but, my god… He looks as if someone carved him apart then tried to put him back together, only the pieces didn’t quite fit.”

“I saw.” Damon nodded, scratching his beard. “But I kept my eyes averted. Guy’s probably got enough people openly staring at him. What do you think caused him to scar in the first place? Vampires usually heal when they drink blood.”

Casimir had no idea. He’d never really associated with vampires until he’d been pulled into battle with Vicino and a swarm of them, some of which had been dead and then reanimated.

“I don’t have a clue,” Casimir admitted. “But if he’s got trouble on his heels, we have a right to know.” His gaze lowered to Damon’s perfectly carved abs. “We’re going to bring a child into this world in three months. I want our home to be safe for our nyliché.”

Damon yanked Casimir down to their bed, where they had made love not even an hour ago. That was why he’d left the room when he’d run into Arion, to get Damon something cold to drink after they’d sweated through a workout. Having sex with Damon came with the prerequisite of being in shape, because his mate definitely put Casimir through the paces.

“Still need that cold drink?” Casimir nuzzled Damon’s neck, drawing in his scent, and then he traced his fingers lovingly over his mate’s mytconiz. The conception line hadn’t grown any more since they’d looked at it together in the bathroom. Casimir was excited to see the tiny wings that made up the line grow bigger.

“I love you.” He placed a soft kiss on Damon’s lips.

“You’re just trying to get back into my underwear. I got you figured out, buddy.” Damon’s grin would always steal Casimir’s very breath.

“And if I wanted to sink back into your tight heat?” He arched a brow. “Would you keep me out?”

Damon rolled, placing Casimir on his back. Casimir laughed, loving the playful side to his mate.

“I love you too, but I’m not an easy lay.” Damon glanced toward the window.

“Not on your life,” Casimir snarled. “Your days of climbing out the window to fly away are over until you give birth.”

With a smirk, Damon rubbed the pads of his fingers over the sensitive points of Casimir’s ears. Casimir moaned, his cock instantly hard.

“You fight dirty, ceutyâ nétya.” Beautiful wolf.

“Is there any other way to fight?” Damon teased with a wide grin.

Chapter Eight

None of them were able to go back to sleep. While Elvine went downstairs to make herself a glass of warm milk, Jax sat behind Arion on the edge of the bed and curled his arms around him, resting his chin on his mate’s shoulder.

“Hi, pumpkin.” Jax had learned that, sometimes, the best way to ease someone’s anxiety was to avoid talking about the problem.

Which, in Arion’s case, was his abuse. It was etched into his skin and carved into his heart, causing deep wounds in his ability to trust.

Jax could sense his mate’s doubt. His little vampire didn’t think he could even have complete faith in Jax or Elvine, the two people he should have absolute trust in.

“Hi.” Arion cleared his throat. “You’re trying to disarm me with small talk.”

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