Page 9 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

I ease my grip on Iris’s neck and glare down at her. “Swear you’re not going to try anything stupid.”

The woman doesn’t speak. Her eyes are bright yellow. She’s struggling for control over her wolf.

“Iris, calm.” Enoch’s voice carries a wash of power.

It hits me in the gut. Luckily it’s not strong enough to affect me. I can feel his Elder power, but he cannot command me. He isn’t my alpha.

This bitch has no master.

Iris, however, feels the effects of his power. The glow of her eyes fades slightly. Enoch isn’t powerful enough to fully make her submit, but he is strong enough to balance some of her wolf’s grip on her mind.

“Swear it.”

She sneers at me. “I swear I won’t try anything stupid.”

For some reason I don’t believe her. “No one needs to die tonight. Agreed?”

Laughing, she closes her eyes and shakes her head. “You killed Mateo.”

“He asked for it and he’ll heal.” I lift a shoulder. “I won’t really kill your wolves if you don’t kill my people.”

When she opens her eyes, her irises have returned to their normal light gray color. “You claim the vampires.”

My lips twitch. “Most of them.”

“Fine. I agree.”

“Good.” I release her and jump up, taking a few quick steps away from her in case she decides to wolf-rage. “Leave the wolves.”

Evelyn blows the hair out of her face and flashes away from the wolf she’d been sitting on. “Fun sucker,” she whispers.

Colt and Grayson come to my side while Zander returns to X and Tyra. When Iris and Enoch rejoin their group, helping up the wolves who have begun to heal, I check on Mateo. He still hasn’t woken up.

Colt follows my gaze. “The knife is still in his chest.”

Ah. I guess it is hard for his body to heal with the blade in the way. I reach down, yank it out of his chest, and wipe the blood off on his shirt.

“If I agree to help you, what are you offering me?”

“Offering you?” Iris scoffs. “You are bold, girl.”

I narrow my eyes on her. “I’m not a girl, wolf, and if you want me to do you a favor, I expect something in return. My charitable spirit is running on empty.”

Enoch and Iris look at each other.

When Iris turns back to me, she frowns. “If you find Blaze and the young wolf and bring them back alive, we will offer you an exclusive audience with the Elders.”

She’s not excited about the prospect of me having an audience with them. Frankly I’m not sure how to judge the equity of their ask with their give.

Grayson leans over. “Only four have ever been offered.”

Okay. So this is a big deal.

I nod. “I agree to help you.”

Mateo groans and the wolf flicks her gaze to him.

“You have things to take care of. We will be in touch in three days. Find them quickly, Demi. The young wolf is important.”

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