Page 102 of Immortal Bastard

Her hunger wasn’t abating. Since emptying her stomach, the pains came more frequently, so immense the vicarious waves even caused him to tremble at times. Her emotions were a mix of confusion and rage, but he also sensed her concern and guilt.

The tension in his neck radiated down his spine. They couldn’t go on like this. Failing was an unacceptable outcome, yet failure seemed the only thing he could successfully do where Delilah was concerned.

The sound of someone approaching his home caught his ear and his shoulders stiffened, his attention darting to his mate upstairs. He sniffed the air, identifying the intruder as male.

Delilah, someone’s approaching the house. Stay put.

She didn’t respond, but he sensed her weak attempt to push him out of her head, so he knew she heard his command. Without proper nourishment and training, she wouldn’t be able to manage such control.

The male continued to approach, now trespassing on his private property. With a growl, he left the window to confront the issue outside but paused to glance up at the second floor leading to the bedroom.

Exiting the house, he slammed the front door with more force than necessary, scenting Dane from several hundred feet away. He also scented the boy’s anger. Christian bristled for a fight, glad to have a target for his pent-up rage.

His half-bred half-brother locked his eyes on him, glaring from a hundred yards away. Christian hardened his scowl, his hands balling into fists. “This isn’t a good time.”

“When are you coming back to The Council?” Dane barked, not at all what Christian anticipated hearing.

“Why would that be any concern of yours?”

“You have a duty to The Order!”

His nostrils flared at his castigating tone. “You did not just march onto my property and make demands at me as if you have any sort of authority here.”

He reminded himself the boy was half mortal, and Christian could likely end him with a single blow. While he didn’t care for the half-breed, his mother seemed to have a soft spot for the orphan, so it was best not to kill him.

Dane flung his hands out as if he had nothing to lose. “Turns out, I fucking did. I’m sick of acting like your bullshit isn’t affecting other people. Shit’s getting out of hand, and you’ve been MIA for weeks!”

Racing off the porch Christian caught him by the front of the shirt, yanking him up to his toes. “Not one more word.”

“Or what?”

Christian took in his disheveled attire and haphazard hair. Dark circles shadowed his eyes. “What’s happened to you?”

“If you ever showed up for your job, you’d know—”

He abruptly released his grip with a shove and Dane stumbled back, falling to the ground. “I don’t need the theatrics.”

His jaw locked and he panted. “He touched her!”

“Who?”

“Isaiah!”

Christian frowned. “Who did he touch?”

“My fucking sister! She fed from him!”

“Isaiah is out of his cell?”

“No, there’s a hole in the wall separating their cells. He broke his hand to reach her, but by the looks of it, this wasn’t the first time.”

If Isaiah, an elder feeish vampire of great strength, was receiving blood from that abomination that was once Dane’s mortal sister, this could be catastrophic. “You’ve reported this?”

“Days ago. The elders can’t reach a decision. He needs to die.”

“Agreed.”

As soon as the word left his mouth, Dane stammered. “I…” Pent-up emotion contorted his face and tears flooded his tired eyes. “Thank you.”

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