Page 29 of The Way You Bite
The entitled brat didn’t deserve the right to touch her.
The animal within pressed for freedom to hunt and kill. He focused on the framed generic print on the wall just beyond Ambrose’s left shoulder until the wolf receded. Ambrose couldn’t discover his interest in her extended far beyond using her as a political toy. Maybe her pre-transition blood held enough pure vamp to be acceptable and safe for a vamp to sip. Maybe hehadslept with her. He’d push a bit more. “How long have you two been engaged? Did you set a date?”
Ambrose tensed as if he wanted to attack. Must’ve hit a nerve with that one. “Why would it be of interest to you? Planning to send a gift?”
“Perhaps.”She’s mine. She might officially belong to this pompous ass who didn’t respect or value her, but nature had decided she was his. What a mess. He uncrossed his arms and straightened from his slouch. In his peripherals he watched Eric prepare for action. His boys outside moved inside. The three vamps protecting Ambrose also moved out of the shadows. “She seemed tense when your name came up—”
“Stay away from her or this will get personal,” Ambrose interrupted.
“It seems to already be personal. Or is this all for show? Arranged marriages are a poor deal for both parties. We are each members of species that are dictated by chemistry. That should be the measure by which to determine marriage suitability, not genetics. Why do you wish to marry her? There are vampires with deep genetics in Europe who I am sure Viktor could arrange for you to marry.”
Ambrose leaned forward, yanked off his shades, and hissed, “She’s a direct descendent of the original. And—”
Emotion flared in his eyes. Then, Ambrose leaned back. Emotion fled as he got control.
“If you’re only interested in genetics, then her aunt would be a more suitable choice and closer to your age.”
“Have you met her aunt?”
“Not as easy to control?”
“I didn’t say that.” Ambrose smoothed his shirt. “What are you up to, Lexan? You didn’t need her to patch you up last night. From a tactical standpoint, she has zero clout with Dominic. My father is different. He would care what happens to her. Is there something going on in Europe and you wish to use her in some way?”
“She’d make a good negotiator between our species. A somewhat neutral party.” He should’ve told her she wasn’t full vampire. Even a meeting with Ambrose shouldn’t have delayed the need to get the truth of her origins out in the open.
Ambrose’s body stiffened. “That’s out of the question. If you go near her again, I will make this my own personal war with your kind.”
“Are you threatening me and my people? Do you intend to drag all the DiFalcos into the Stateside skirmish?” Lexan smiled, allowing his canines to show. He relished the opportunity to kick this pompous kid’s ass. Damn, this was more excitement than he’d had in centuries. The prospect of a good fight with a decent opponent caused him to smile broader.
“Wewill come after you,” Ambrose warned.
“Whatwe? Your pitiful group of soldiers is no match for us. They’ve never been tested by battle. I could exterminate all of them myself before you’d even know the fight had begun.”
Ambrose shifted. A poker player he was not.
“You plan to run to Daddy for help? Go, then. Run to Viktor in Italy. It’s been a while since he and I faced off in battle, but I look forward to finishing the fight we started long ago. You think he lost his arm in an accident? He surrendered to me on bended knee, screaming like a child while clutching the stump that remained.” Lexan slowly rose.
“Stay the hell away from her.” Ambrose shot upright and stalked out of the coffeehouse.
Not ideal. He’d ramped up Ambrose enough for him to put Vee on guarded lockdown. Not Lexan’s intent. Maybe he was the shittier diplomat.
Lexan’s cell buzzed with a call from TC. He clicked theAccept Callicon. “Speak.”
“What the hell is wrong with her?”
Dread cramped Lexan’s gut. TC only did dramatics over beer. “What do you mean?”
“She went back to her apartment, which was loaded with Squad vamps. I stopped her from going in—saved her ass from getting caught—but then while we waited until the vamps left she went pale and weak. She said something about being hungry, but where the hell am I supposed to get blood?”
“Is she okay?”
“No. She’s not bloody okay. I got her a soda at the gas station. She drank it and passed out. What do you want me to do with her?”
“Take her to the house. We’ll be there is a few minutes.”
“Who was that?” Eric asked as he cranked the car.
“TC. Vee passed out, and he’s got her in his car. I should’ve known she wasn’t strong enough to be on her own after losing so much blood last night. I shouldn’t have left her.”
