The Way You Bite(39)

“Velvet Scarpa, I need for you to come with me. Now,” ordered a deep baritone British accent.

She backed into the bathroom to find herself crowded by an unfamiliar vampire. His mind was closed, conveying only determination. Based on the type of dagger he had clasped in his fist he was European trained, not Squad.

“Who are you?”

“You are to come with me. No discussion. No questions.” His glower-smile combination dared her to disobey as if that would give him great pleasure. “We’re leaving now.”

“As nice as your invitation is, I don’t think so.” She pushed past him to leave.

He gripped her arm. “Don’t struggle.”

“I’ll scream.”

“No you won’t.” He touched her forehead with his free hand.

“What the…?”





Chapter Fourteen


“I heard you got a vamp doctor helping you. A veterinarian.”

Lexan wrapped the towel around his waist post-shower. He met the pale blue gaze identical to his own. Ryder reclined against the bathroom doorframe. He was an inch taller, with the blond hair of his mother. The kid had natural leadership skills but was impulsive and undisciplined. He’d allied himself with the most powerful wolf in the States—Julio Wildermont. Julio was a control freak with a legendary temper. He disappeared those who dared disagree with him. Lexan considered him a political chameleon, saying whatever his audience of the moment wanted to hear, but unable to stay true to anything. Somehow Ryder seemed happy to ride the wave of Julio’s command.

Lexan strode out of the bedroom and tossed the towel onto the bed. Nakedness didn’t bother most wolves beyond their transition. Most had at least one or two public shift incidents when suddenly in the buff after a random change during the juvie phase.

Without replying, he dressed. He dragged a comb through his damp hair. Then he loaded four knives into their reassuring spots, finding the ritual soothing. He needed routine right now to help him regain control over the persistent demands of his mind, which clamored for him to hunt Vee down and continue what they’d started. The need to protect and dominate her thrummed in his blood. The last fifteen minutes in the shower of trying to regain control and move beyond her effect on him were a bust. Damn it, they’d connected on a primitive level that even he knew he would never get over. He was practically crawling out of his skin to get to her.

Finally Lexan said, “It’s been a long time, Ryder.”

“I thought since you were in the area, I should visit.”

“Does your keeper know you’re here? I hadn’t anticipated seeing you, or him, until the meeting tomorrow.”

“Julio knows.”

“He wants to know my plan for the war, doesn’t he?” Ryder wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t been forced. God, it hurt. He wished he could turn back time and take away the awful moments in Ryder’s childhood. The bitter arguments between he and Ryder’s mother and their divorce didn’t leave a lot of happy memories.

Ryder nodded.

“He’ll have to ask me himself, then. The offer for you to stay with me, to train, is still open.”

Ryder nodded, noncommittal. “I can’t leave the States right now. I’ve been seeing someone.”

His chest clenched. He’d missed too much of Ryder’s life, and now his son was getting serious about a female. “Is she your mate?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. How does anyone know?”

Jesus, a father-son moment. The last time he’d had one was before his divorce when Ryder had been about five. “You’ll know. You’ll mark her. It’s instinctual.” His thoughts slipped to Vee. Internally, he gritted his teeth that he wasn’t out searching for her. Wolves more talented than he in tracking were out there doing the job for him. “I’d like to meet her…your female.”

Ryder’s face darkened. “Seems we don’t have to mark ’em to be with ’em. Like you never claimed Mother.”

Lexan massaged his forehead. “Your mother and I weren’t meant to be. It was a bad situation for both of us, but we loved you.”

Ryder crossed his arms. “It was your fault she hated you. If you’d claimed her properly and not shamed her in front of our people—”

Lexan blew out a long sigh. Patience. His ex-wife had tried to assassinate him through contract killers too many times until she died in an accident a few years ago. “We should never have married. It’s why I am not a fan of arranged unions. However, I’m not sad it led to you.”

Ryder headed for the exit. “So, what’s up with this girl your guys are chasing?”

“Where’d you hear something like that?”

“People talk.”

Lexan stalked toward Ryder. “My people don’t talk. Who told you that?”

Ryder’s eyes widened. “I used persuasion on Eric. I’m sorry, Dad, I wanted to know why you were here. I hoped it was to find a peaceful resolution to this war. Julio is a reasonably effective leader, but he can’t end this war.” Quietly he added, “He’s not you.”

Bloody hell. Ryder used the D-word. He hadn’t called him anything but Lexan since his ex-wife turned Ryder against him. His eyes misted.