Page 147 of The Vampire's Thirst
Sonofabitch.
When fire streamed from his hands, he shouted out to Bounty, “Get the fucking mates and the new female they’re hiding to the gathering room. Now!” As he pushed away, his chair clattered to the floor, and he stormed out his door. In his executive assistant’s office, Indigo perched on the corner of her desk, her brows arched, a fuck-no expression on her face. With a snarly grin, Kole locked eyes with her. “Join us, witch.”
“Oh, shit.” Indigo jumped up. To Bounty, she said, “I think our chat’s over. I’ll be in touch.”
****
Chiara tapped a bare foot on the floor while one Firebrand after another took a turn at berating the Blood Coven witches.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” shouted Tyr, the tat under his eye twitching, his metal piercing at a slant when he dragged his brows down. “While we’re fighting out there to protect our asses, you’re trying to get yours blown off.”
Still wearing her leather pants and boots from the rescue, Jace shrugged, keeping a tight clasp on Celene’s hand while they sat on a couch in the gathering area at the stronghold. Scattered about in chairs and three huge sofas was the rest of the rescue team, all on the proverbial carpet.
Dax leaned against the wall, his muscles taut, his jaw set hard enough to crack teeth. “They weren’t thinking. Were you, little witch? Not a brain in the entire group.” His fingers worried through his hair.
That did it. Bristling, Chiara rose, glancing at her friends. “Let me handle this. The stupid just rolls out of my man’s mouth.”
Dax, though sweet to worry about her, needed to acknowledge her abilities and the gifts of the rest of the coven. They weren’t ornaments. They were partners in this fight.
The vampire stiffened, his lips snapping shut, his chest expanding with a deep breath, almost as if he recognized he was in shit up to his fangs.
Chiara smoothed her long skirt, brushed wild tendrils of hair off her face, and prepared for battle. “There is too much fucking testosterone in this room. Here’s what we were thinking, baby. The Firebrands have enough on your plates saving the world and all. We were confident of our skills, planned the rescue with care, and implemented it successfully. Thank you.” She bowed to the women who clapped at the conclusion of her remarks.
Tyr poked Dax’s shoulder. “Did she just call you baby?”
The vampire’s lip curled. “Shut the fuck up. She can call me anything she wants.”
Brows lifted on every Firebrand, but Dax’s growl stopped the snickers.
Jarek sighed, his eyes glinting like cold steel. “My mate is injured. The guard could have killed her.”
“Didn’t.” Lizette high-fived Indigo, who sat beside her. “And don’t you dare get all smoky and disappear.”
Chiara smiled at the unlikely friendship which had developed between the two women since the rescue. It was a bond between the unpredictable Aeternal witch and the rational psychologist, once a radio talk show hostess, now mate of a powerful djinn commander.
Rein’s arms crossed over his chest, his blue eyes crackling with ice. “Auntie, Brae, of all the damn dumb…”
Braelyn jumped up. “I wouldn’t finish that sentence, big guy.”
Indigo waved a thumb at her nephew’s mate. “I’m with her, boyo.”
Chiara had to give it to the on-edge-but-controlled Firebrand. When the two women challenged him, he swallowed his words.
Watching the commotion, Ram leaned against the doorjamb. “Denim, you’re ex-military, for Gahya’s sake. You must have known the danger of taking female civilians into a hot zone.”
“I know my soldiers. Are you guys questioning the ability of women in tough situations?”
“Yes.” Ram’s eyes rolled left, right as if he reconsidered his answer. “No. Definitely not.”
Sabine, who had not been part of the rescue, glared at the satyr. “I hope not.” When Nico opened his mouth, she wagged a finger at him. “We don’t need your two cents. I know you. Nothing good will cross your lips.”
Her mate shrugged, relaxing his shoulders, smiling with his eyes. “Maybe I was going to support the coven kittens.”
“Doubtful,” said Sabine. “Your MO is to talk first and think second, your brain being in your cock.”
“You like my appendage, nymph.” His hand stroked her thigh.
Kole opened his mouth to speak, shook his head, and sputtered. Then he released a burst of fire that Chiara had to duck to avoid.
