Page 120 of Cosmic Power

Grin still firmly in place, Julius lifted his sunglasses to rest on the top of his head. Gold streaked through his green eyes. “You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you? I like em’ feisty. What’s your name?”

“None of your damn business.” She didn’t like him. There was just something about him that rubbed her the wrong way. She wasn’t sure if it was his words, his attitude or the way he looked at her like he expected her to bow at his feet.

A blonde Chimera shifter at his back laughed. “Looks like you’ve finally met your match, Julius.”

Another joined in on the laughter, this one with short spiky hair. “I wonder what she’s like in bed. You justknowshe likes it rough.”

She did, but she wasn’t about to tell them that.

Void growled, stepping forward. “You little—”

Zamorra laid a hand on her uncle’s shoulder, pulling him back. She gave him a reassuring pat, letting him know she would handle it.

“Sheis standing right here. And like my name, what I’m like in bed is none of your damn business.”

“As my future fuck buddy, I think it is,” Julius winked. “Come on, can’t you feel all that burning sexual tension vibin’ between us right now?”

“That’s just tension. There’s nothing sexual about it,” Zamorra glared.

“I beg to differ.” He reached forward, as if to grab a strand of her hair, but Axel’s hand shot out lightning fast, gripping his arm tightly to stop him.

“You will not touch her,” Axel said darkly, red sparking in his grey eyes.

Growls rang through the air. The Chimera shifters at Julius’ back tensed, muscles coiled and ready to strike at the aggressive move.

Julius simply stared into the vampire’s eyes, a thoroughly unimpressed look on his face. “Best let go, bloodsucker, or it will bemefeasting onyourblood.”

Axel didn’t back down. He stepped forward, taking a protective stance in front of Zamorra, never releasing his grip on that black leather jacket. It put him toe to toe with Julius. Zamorra frowned. She had no idea what the fuck was going on. Axel had never done something like this for her before.

“You’re not exactly in the best position to be making such a threat, Mr LaRosa.” Axel flicked his eyes to the side.

It was then that Zamorra noticed how deathly quiet the room had become. She peered over Axel’s shoulder. The vampires were now on their feet, watching the interaction between Axel and Julius with intense, burning red eyes. And the shifters were watching the vampires.

They weren’t sure what was going on, but that didn’t matter to them. Shifters were pack animals. If one of their own was being threatened by vampires, they would jump to defend. Regardless of who started it.

Julius glanced around, taking note of the disadvantage he was at being surrounded on all sides by vampires. He yanked his arm out of Axel’s grip, a dark glare on his face. He stretched his neck to the side, trying to see around the vampire’s imposing body. “Wanna explain why you’re standing over here with these dirty fangers?”

She was gonna sound like a broken record, but— “None of your damn business.”

Gold flared in those green eyes, a deep, rumbling growl leaving his lips. “Don’t tell me you’re a fanger fucker? Is fucking dead things what you’re into it? I mean shit, I’m intoa lotof kinky, freaky shit, but evenIdraw the line at necrophilia.”

“You’re done now,” Axel told Julius, widening his stance. “Time for you to go.”

Julius laughed humourlessly. His pack laughed with him as if on cue, like whenever their leader laughed, they had too as well. “I’m not talking to you, baldy. I’m talking to the lady.” His eyes found Zamorra’s again. “Never woulda pegged a shifter of your power to be hiding behind another.”

Oh, that fucker. He knew exactly what to say to get her hackles rising.

“Step aside, Axel,” she said darkly, Alpha energy humming in her veins. She wanted to put this Chimera shifter in his fucking place.

“I can’t do that, Miss Solaris.”

Zamorra shoved him lightly in the shoulder. “Move.”

He just shook his head.

“You heard her. Move, fanger. She wants to talk to me,” Julius smirked arrogantly. He didn’t realise she wasn’t planning totalkwith him. She was going to punch him in that stupid smug face of his.

“It doesn’t matter what she wants. All that matters are the orders I’ve been given.”

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