Page 64 of The Firebrand
Galena swung her feet off the desk, patting Rein’s thigh. “I want you to tuck those big fangs into my neck,freron.”
“Fuck off, Amazon. That’s not what I meant.”
“Logan, one more question. Can anyone track us through our D-chips?” asked Kole.
The Firebrand computer expert gave the query some thought. “No. Wicked impossible. I oversee the manufacturing of our chronometers and ordering the parts. The Ministry of Compliance never touches them.”
Kole’s massive arms ballooned when he crossed them over his chest. “All of you, out. Dax, lay off the O blud. The streaks of white and red in your beady black eyes are a dead give-away.”
“When I cannot do my fucking job, Commander, you can shell out advice. In the meantime, my life’s my own.” The vampire’s lip curled into a snarl, revealing the tip of a fang.
“I’ll give you advice. With a boot up your ass.”
As Dax turned to leave, Kole shot a stream of fire at him. The vampire growled, continuing to walk away as if the commander had not singed his neck.
“Rein, a minute.” Kole scrubbed a hand over his buzz-cut hair while he confronted the Firebrand. “Tell me why Braelyn didn’t go home with her father.”
“I’m not sure. Her idea. She says she stayed to clear her head. Information overload, I guess.”
“Damn, son. You’re not doing a human, are you? If you are, you better have consent.”
“No. I am not doing Braelyn.”
I want to do her, but I haven’t.
“Just remember the law. ‘Don’t bang humans or take blood from them without consent.’ Not a lot of wiggle room there. Only vampires count mind-fogging as getting consent.” Kole crossed his beefy arms over his chest.
Rein shrugged. “I don’t need to use mind control on females.”
“Do you want me to knock some sense into you? I expect this behavior from my younger males. Not you. You’ve always shown good sense. Is Ram correct? Should someone else watch her?”
“Nothing’s going to happen.”
Why don’t I let Kole take her off my hands? Hell. That’s what I wanted before.
“She’s still your problem, then. Just in case you decide to get into her panties, make sure she wants you there. But let me tell you, if anything happens to the daughter of an Alliance board member while she’s with you on Scath, dipping your stick in her trap will be the least of your concerns.”
“You think I don’t know how screwed up this is?” Rein shouted. “You think I invited her to stay? What was I supposed to do when she sent her father packing? Tell her to get lost? Send her out on the streets?”
When Kole cocked a brow at him, Rein lowered his voice.
Breathe. Breathe. Control.
“I’m out of here. I’m still covered in shit.”
“No more fuck ups.” Kole pointed a calloused finger at Rein.
“Bye to you, too.”
Rein paused at Bounty’s desk. “Do you have a spare bag in the fridge?” She kept packaged blood at the stronghold for occasions when she couldn’t go out to tap a fresh vein.
The executive-assistant-slash-vampire rested a chin in her palm, studying him. “You never take the cold stuff.”
“I’d appreciate a favor, Bounty, without getting a lot of shit with it.”
She stared at him, unblinking.
“Sorry,” Rein apologized, willing his fangs to recede.
