Page 19 of Hunting Savage
“What is it, Boss?”
Savage ignored Royer, focusing on the retreating figure of the female.She moved with grace, as if she were someone who’d had to disappear before.A vampire he recognized also seemed to take notice of his female.
“I want him escorted out,” Savage said, nodding toward the male below.
Royer whistled through his teeth.“Are you sure you want to piss off Astaroth?His enclave is a big supporter of ours.”
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s the King of England and our only blood supply across the pond.I want him gone from the premises, now.”He held up his hand before Royer could piss him off.His prey became too close to males that Savage recognized as part of Astaroth’s clan.Without another word, he launched himself over the ledge, landing in a crouch near the edge of the dance floor.Startled yelps and gasps filled the air as he stood to his full height.
“Savage, you are making a scene,”Scepter said through their mind link.
“I will kill everyone who steps in my way if I feel it’s necessary.My mate is here, and she’s in danger.”Savage voiced the last bit even though he was the King and didn’t need to explain himself.His actions were out of character, which he understood could cause concern.Many thought he’d lose his mind long before now and feared they’d need to take his head, or he’d go batshit crazy and kill them all.Since he’d found her, they wouldn’t need to worry much.
Scepter met him on the other side of the dance floor.His friend’s face was grim.“Trystina and Trystan are on damage control.Where is your female?”
“Follow me.I have her scent.They went this way with Astaroth and his males closing in on her,” he replied evenly, maintaining the professional tone that had become his armor.
“Let’s go, Savage.If we have to take them all out, we’ll handle the shitshow as it comes.”Scepter and he glided through the crowd, becoming mist at the same time.
“So, what does your female look like?”Scepter asked.
Savage concentrated for a moment, allowing an image to appear.“She’s stunning, with long dark hair like a curtain of silk that swayed when she walked.She has curves in all the right places, like a...a runner.Yes, I could picture her running, but you should not.In fact, I am making it a mandate that no one picture my mate as anything but what she is.Mine!”
Scepter’s chuckle set his teeth on edge, but Savage didn’t have time to yell at him as he found a wall of males surrounding his female.A rumbling growl, the likes of which he’d never expelled before, left him, shaking the walls and floor of the club.Lights flickered all around them as terrified patrons' shrieks began to swell.
“Move out of my way or die,” he said, his smile sharp as a scalpel.
Four males turned to face him, their teeth elongated in snarls.He noticed they’d fixed their gazes on him, their lips curled in familiar sneers.Something in the expression of the one closest to him sent a warning signal through his system—the same instinct that had kept him alive for hundreds of years.
He always listened.Sending a warning to Scepter as he disappeared just as the four males sent shards of silver flying from their palms, hitting nothing but air where he and his second had stood moments ago.
Savage took the head off of the first male, followed by the second, before either had realized they’d missed their marks, while Scepter did the same to the remaining two males.
A barrier he’d crafted formed around them, keeping those from the club safely outside the danger zone, while he stalked forward.Blood dripped from his claws.
“Savage?To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”Astaroth asked, smiling at Savage as he backed toward the female.
“I suggest you halt your movements, or you’ll find yourself in the same position as the males I dispatched a few moments ago, Roth,” Savage announced, motioning toward the bloody trail behind him where they couldn’t miss the piles of clothing that were left behind.
The slight intake of air revealed to Savage that his actions had surprised the other vampire, but Astaroth quickly masked his emotions.
“What did my males do to upset you?”he asked, his voice dripping with false concern.
He raised a brow.“They, like you, are attempting to come between my female and me.They tried to attack me on my home ground.Are you saying you were unaware they did such a thing?Are you and they not connected on a level where you are aware when one of yours does such a thing that violates an agreement that deems an instant death warrant?”His tone didn’t leave room for debate.The accusation could lead only to one of two conclusions.If he said yes, Astaroth knew he, too, would be dealt with; if he said no, it meant his males had gone rogue.If the latter were true, then Astaroth would have to admit he didn’t have control of his clan, which could lead others to believe he wasn’t as powerful as he claimed.
Astaroth let out a sigh.His feet shuffled slightly.Savage saw what the other vampire tried to do.With his female, unclaimed by him and too close to the other vampire, he flashed to her side.Leaving Scepter alone and placing himself between the male and her.
“Ah, you think to claim her for yourself, but I saw her first,” Astaroth growled.
“Um, excuse me, but I have a say in who and wh...what I mean is I’m not anybody’s anything.”
Savage brushed his hand over his female’s side without turning to look at her.“We’ll discuss it after I dispatch these fools, my love.”
Her warm breath fanned across his neck, making his cock jerk beneath the denim.
Astaroth’s laugh was a brittle thing, like breaking glass.“You’re crazy, aren’t you?This isn’t some backwater town where you can just waltz in and expect to take whatever you want, Savage.Around here, there are rules, and as such, you should realize you can’t lay claim to every female because you decide you want her.I have a connection that supersedes your want,” he hissed.
“Rules,” Savage repeated, his voice flat.“How fascinating.”
