Page 155 of The Vampire's Thirst
“No need to finish the sentence. Word is you two plan to mate. Congrats.” Kole slapped the vampire’s shoulder. “You were in a dark pit, son. No one’s happier than I am to see you climb out.” The commander lifted his drink. “May blood bind your souls.”
When Chiara arched a brow, Dax explained, “It’s an ancient vampire toast. It means good things for us.”
She nodded. “Thanks, Commander.”
“I don’t know how we got so damn lucky, son. I try not to question it. I advise you to do the same.”
When a tiny hand tugged on the commander’s pants, he tipped his head in its direction.
“Kae stinks really bad.” With his message delivered, Nerina’s grandson rushed off to play.
Kole looked around for help. When he found Skyler, she was deep in conversation, chatting with human invitees, some who currently resided at strongholds for their safety. The job was his. He snagged the diaper bag from the head table and found Kae playing on the floor with other toddlers.Yep. She was stinky. He lifted her into the crook of his arm.
“Come on, baby, Daddy will take care of you.”
She pulled Kole’s nose as they left the room.
He banged on the men’s room door, growling orders. “Everybody out now.”
Two Firebrands exited zipping up pants, scowling, but when they saw the commander with Kae, their expressions changed rapidly to smiles.
“All clear,” announced the last male.
Kole marched his daughter inside. He cleared off a small table, put her on it, lifted her frilly dress, and unfastened her diaper. He bit back a curse as he wiped her bottom and rolled up the mess, stuffing it into a container in the shoulder bag.
When they returned to the table, Skyler was waiting. “Fin said it’s time for your speech. Everyone wants to eat.”
Kole settled his small cargo into a chair between them. “I’m not giving a fu…” He glanced at his little girl. “…fricking speech.”
Skyler smirked and arched her brows. “Okay. Just welcome everyone to the stronghold. Remember, good behavior gets rewarded.” She rubbed a hand up and down his arm.
Kole’s lips tilted into the lopsided grin he saved for her, thinking about where else he wanted her hand. “I can be very good, Frisca.”
A loud whistle from Chay shut down all conversation while people stampeded to their seats.
Kole raised a tumbler of demon rum to his lips. After a hearty gulp, he cleared his throat and spread his legs apart, as if prepared to fight. “Last week was about sacrifice, death, and enemies routed. Since then, we have honored our fallen warriors at their Cede where a guide led their souls to the Evermore. Tonight, while we remember them, we also look ahead with hope, celebrating life with ourfrerons, our newly forged bonds, and those we love.”
His gaze swept the room. “Here, Aeternals sit alongside humans. Species and breeds mix, growing more powerful, not weaker as Arisen Dawn preaches.”
“To unity,” shouted someone in the crowd. Glasses clinked together, and Kole returned the toast with his drink held high.
“We may stumble. Hell. We may fall flat on our asses. Um. I mean, faces. Now, I’m not a pretty boy like Ram.” Hoots rang out from the Firebrands. “My mug can handle a few more scars. But stumble or fall, we will rise again because together we are stronger.”
The ground shook as Firebrands and mates rose to their feet, stomping the floor once. “Oo ray,” they shouted, their glasses raised.
When the noise died out, Kole set his empty tumbler down. Tucking into his pocket, he dug out a folded piece of paper, glancing at it before crumpling and tossing it onto the table. He didn’t need the reminder. Each male and female’s name was etched in his mind. One by one, he called out the fallen, beginning with Sig whom he knew best. “Thesefreronsgo before us to build a campfire. When it is our time to join them in the Evermore, their light will guide us. In the meantime, I swear on their blood I will shine light into every shadowed corner of the world to expose evil. Like you, I have heard of the dark prophecy and Cerberus’s role in it. But prophecies written on scrolls are not destiny.”
Kole gathered a fireball in his hand and bounced it up and down. He formed a second in his other hand. His eyes blazing red-gold, he tossed both orbs into the air. Near the ceiling, the two balls exploded, re-forming in different patterns, colors, and sizes. Bright-hued stars. Crackling sparks. Luminescent streams. Rainbows of startling tints. A spectacular aerial showstopper which shimmered to the floor, a gentle rain of light.
His audience gasped. An amazed General Lipton slapped a fist to his mouth as Matty laughed, his arm resting on Bounty’s shoulders.
The commander dusted his hands. “Fuck prophecies. Our destiny is written in fire. It’s an inferno fueled by the richness and power of mixed voices, by the Phoenix itself. Our blaze will light up the darkness so evil cannot thrive.” He paused, his stare settling on Skyler and Kae before he spoke again. “Welcome to my stronghold. Welcome to victory.” He raised his goblet. “A toast. May the tears for our dead be the blood of our enemies.”
Kole sat, the room around him silent.
Maybe I went overboard. Yeah. Too much.
Snagging the neck of a nearby bottle of demon rum, he filled his glass.
