Page 69 of The Vampire's Thirst
Propping his scuffed cowboy boots up on the table, the shifter chuckled again. “You’re her spark, vampire. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” He shook his thumb in Fin’s direction.
Chiara noticed her pale purple eyes. “You’re a witch, too?”
“She is,” said Thorn. “Gotta be Blood Coven variety cause her eyes weren’t this way until … well … you know.”
Fin’s flawless deep bronze skin reddened.
He locked an arm around her neck, kissing the tight curls on her head. “See, Dax. I jumpstarted Fin. I’m loving it.”
Dax bounded off his chair to pace the room. “I’m no damn catalyst for a Blood Coven descendant.”
“Don’t mind him,” said Chiara. “He gets all hangry when he hasn’t fed.”
Thorn’s brows arched while Dax stopped to glare. “Does everything you think have to cross your lips? Have you heard of filters?”
“Dax, man. She’s been your meal on wheels?” The wolf’s amber eyes locked on her. “Not your usual type.” He broke contact to sip his coffee.
The vampire snarled while resuming his back and forth. “Look. I saved her life when she was ten years old. She’s grateful. That’s all.”
Chiara laughed.
“What is so fucking funny all the time?” he asked. He paused to glare.
“You. You refuse to recognize we might have a connection. Head. Buried. Sand. Mean anything?”
“We have no connection. Let’s cut the bullshit and get home. I’ve got serious news for Kole. Once we’re there, the Firebrands will protect you both.”
“I’ll be the one protecting Fin.” Thorn growled, moving the woman closer to his side, claws punching through his fingertips.
Chiara felt a stab of … not exactly jealousy … maybe sadness. Dax didn’t swear he would protect her. He was handing her off to somebody else.
“Your biz. Here’s what’s happened.” Dax continued his story of how an army gathered outside the Missoula portal, probably a site Dante shared with them. “Two officers snagged jumpers. I don’t think they knew how to use them, but… Shit.”
Dax stopped mid-stride.
“What?” asked Thorn.
“That’s who I saw in the sports car talking to the drug dealers I was tailing. That’s why they’re on my ass. The male was Boden, the director of the Ministry of Compliance. He must be neck deep in Arisen Dawn. If his ministry is supplying jumpers to Cerberus’s assholes, things just went from shitty to shittier to shittiest. Let Kole know.”
“I’ll report in. Guys are scouring the forest where they almost took Fin. They haven’t headed this way yet, but they will when they expand their search. My plan was to leave tomorrow. I was going to go through the Bozeman portal.”
Fin punched his shoulder. “You were? When were you going to tell me?”
“Later today. For your safety, Fin darlin’, you have to come to Scath.”
“Do I have a choice in this?”
“No,” Thorn growled. “You know you’re staying with the wolf.”
She popped off the couch, grabbed the tray, and slammed empty cups onto it. “I’ll be cleaning in the kitchen. If you were smart, you’ll come in to explain yourself.”
Thorn shot up to snatch the tray out of her hands. “I’m smart, darlin’. A genius. Let me lay out all the advantages for you.” With one hand gripping the tray, the other slipped to her ass, rubbing it as they left the room.
Chiara watched the couple leave the room, Thorn groveling and Fin silent. Despite a spat, they cared for one another. “You know, Dax, I’m probably not in danger. They were after you. If you want to leave me, it’s fine. I’ve disappeared before. I can do it again.”
“Orders are clear. We bring in all Blood Coven descendants. It’s likely you are one. You’ll go to Scath where a healer will test you to find out for sure. If not, you can return. But if you are, you’ll move into the stronghold. For your safety.”
“Thanks for planning out my life. I must be such a burden.”
