Page 129 of Smoke and Lure

But the other female had slipped under his radar.

Until the instant Liekki had seen the vamp, Mich, short for Michaela, widened her mouth and dropped fang as her blood-red gaze locked onto the pulsing vein in Avalore’s neck.

His dragon stood up in his core, and it released a blaze in Liekki’s chest.Liekki’s skin burned from the red illumination radiating through his markings, and red flames hooded his eyes as he grabbed Avalore seconds after the Coven leader pulled his new vamp away from her.

She was shaking, and her face was clouded in confusion.

Liekki wrapped a protective arm around Avalore and clasped her to his chest.His other hand was fisted as he felt his dragon swelling inside of him, ready to be unleashed, and set fire to the entire structure and everyone in it to protect its mate.

“Marceline,” Amaros ordered.

His second, who was already behind him, her own black smoke swirling in the air, took hold of Michaela, whose eyes were still crimson as she moved her away, walking the long way around their half of the council table.

“I’m sorry, Ava,” Michaela was murmuring repentantly.

Liekki disregarded the sullen female for the Prince of Darkness before him.

“How could you bring a newly turned Vampire here?”he growled.

Amaros didn’t back down even though Liekki was more than a foot in height over his tall frame.

“How could I?Mymate is supposed to be here.She’s the reason I asked to meet early.”Amaros's ash-gray eyes were ringed with red.

“Knowing she was a danger?”Liekki bit out.He could feel his brother’s presence close, but Aodh didn’t interrupt.

“She.Mi-chae-la,” Amaros enunciated her name before continuing, “wouldn’t have bitten any other preternatural.”

Amaros shot a look in Avalore’s direction.

Liekki knew what the vamp was hinting at, but he didn’t care.He wanted to make something clear to the dark one and all others.He moved Avalore behind him.

“No one.Touches.What’smyhnn.”His voice rumbled, the sound of boulders crashing and falling from a cliff, more Drahk than actual words at the end.But Liekki knew that all the other entities in earshot comprehended his declaration.His warning.

“What’syours?Really?”Amaros snarked and rolled his eyes.“Here’s a tip, lizard man.If you’re going to claim someone, try mating her first so she doesn’t end up someone’s early-morning snack.”

Avalore gasped behind him at the insult.

That was enough for Liekki.He felt his markings begin to shift to scales as his chest started to expand to bring in the needed breath that would release his dragon.His dragon was more than prepared to turn the Vampire leader into a shish kebab.

“Amaros.Liekki.Bickering will not get us anywhere.”Iskah stepped in between them, disregarding the cardinal rule about fighting: never get in the middle of two opponents.

Liekki ignored the Fae.

“Liekki, stand down.”His brother’s voice was too damn calm as Aodh stepped beside him.Control, your beast, brother.

Fuck no!

Now!That order came from the Mckenna, not his brother.

Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.Liekki’s dragon knew better than to disobey the head of their Thunder.The result of such could be a painful and prolonged punishment.

Gritting his teeth, Liekki swallowed down the roaring fire; it took more than three tries for him to bank the blaze.

See to your mate, brother.

Liekki didn’t have to be told to do it; once he got his mind cleared enough to understand, he could not touch the Vampire until Amaros’s eyes popped out.Liekki was already turning to check on Avalore.

Stomping away, Liekki took Avalore’s hand and led her to the Drakh side of the circle.

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