Page 156 of The Vampire's Thirst
Just as he was about to take a drink, General Lipton unfolded from his chair, slapping his hands together. Again and again. Skyler stood, Kae in her arms, her cheeks wet. Soon every chair in the room scraped the floor as humans and Aeternals rose, applauding the Scion Firebrand commander.
Kole waved them back into their seats, but they ignored him.
Skyler whispered in her mate’s ear. “I am so proud of you. Tonight, you get a special reward, not for being good but for being spectacular. Forever, my demon.”
Kole wondered if the guests assumed his grin was a reaction to their claps and hoots. His mate knew better.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Finwalked through the woods beside her wolf shifter, stroking her hand through his thick chestnut-brown fur, rewarded with a pleased growl. Thorn had parked his truck under a tree where he shrugged out of his clothes, folded them, and shifted before leading her toward Luka’s den.
After about thirty minutes they arrived outside the cave where Thorn returned to two legs, baring a tight ass, narrow waist, and muscled shoulders.
Wowza.
“I can’t believe you’re gonna walk in there naked as the day you were born. Or is it whelped if you’re a wolf shifter?”
He flung a heavy arm over Fin’s shoulder. “I was born. Besides, it’s my brother and sister-in-law. No need for clothes. You’re the only one bothered.”
“Hot and bothered.”
Thorn chuckled, guiding them into the cave before calling out for Luka.
“Over here. Welcome, brother.”
A large man prowled toward them. Thankfully, he was clothed. The shifter was a shorter, leaner version of Thorn, clearly her mate’s sibling, both men marked by the same amber eyes, similar coloring, sexy smile. They did the male hug-pound-on-the-back thing.
“Luka, this is Fin. My mate.”
The brother arched his eyebrows. “Really? You found someone to take a mutt like you?”
“Funny, brother.”
When Fin stuck out a hand, Luka flicked it aside to clasp beefy arms around her, squeezing hard. “Sati, come meet Fin.”
Before Thorn’s sister-in-law could join them, Luka spun, shoving Fin behind him. “Wolves coming. About nine of them.”
Thorn nodded, also facing the opening, crouched, his claws out, preparing to fight.
A shaky voice called from outside the cave. “Luka, it’s Mori along with my mate and a few friends. We want to talk.”
“Come in one at a time but keep your distance.” A loud growl erupted from deep in Luka’s chest.
Fin peeked around his wide shoulders to watch a stocky man enter, a red-headed female behind him with her hand on his back. Seven others, including an adolescent boy, crowded near the entrance.
“What do you want, Mori?” asked Luka.
The intruding wolf nodded at Thorn, obviously acquainted with him. “We’ve come to beg your forgiveness, to ask you to be our alpha again though we aren’t as many as we once were.”
“Why now?” Thorn curled his lip in a snarl.
Mori took a step back. “Me. My family. We are not strong wolves like you. We never wanted Karth for a leader but were unable to stand up to him. We need you.”
Luka scrubbed a hand across his stubbled beard.
A woman, Fin assumed Sati, walked with deliberate, slow steps from another chamber of the cave, arriving in time to hear the request. She touched her mate’s arm. “You sided against my Luka. You don’t deserve him.”
Fin thought she saw an angry beast stirring just beneath the surface of Sati’s skin.
