Page 123 of The Vampire's Thirst
“You’re not well.” Ram puzzled his brows while Thorn and Rein bit back chuckles.
“True. What I am, though, is a high-ranking officer in Operation Frankenstein, West Bank. No offense. I didn’t create the title. I can work on getting you a meet. I say Dax comes as your rep since he seems more reasonable than the rest of you.”
“Now I know he’s not well,” said Ram. “Let me just kill him. He’s delusional.”
Kole cocked his head, studying the human. “You’re on, Colonel. I’m warning you, though. If you betray us, the Arisen Dawn maniacs will seem like kittens. Humanity could not survive unleashed Firebrands.”
“We share the same goal, Commander. A peaceful coexistence between our species. I vow to you I’ll work toward the goal. Like you, though, I’m a soldier first. If talks fail, I fight for my people.”
Kole, his lopsided grin spreading, zinged the human’s cheek with a blast of fire. “I expect nothing less from you, warrior.”
“Holy hell. Why the burn?” Matty fingered his singed skin.
“Because I can. Besides, I find a visual drives home the point. The point being, you better keep your vow. Dax, is the plan okay with you?”
The vampire nodded.
“What do you need from us?” Kole lowered into his chair, his fingers tapping together as sparks jumped between them.
“A secure link to my command post, a private conversation, and safe passage home,” said Matty.
Kole nodded. “He’s with you, Dax. I’ll contact Cadmon to set up the convo with your people for tomorrow morning.”
Dax shoved Matty’s shoulder. “Don’t make me look like a jackass, human.”
“Too late, buddy. You already look like one.”
As they prepared to leave Kole’s office, Thorn called out to Dax. “Fin and I are having a mating celebration at the stronghold later tonight. We postponed it for this meeting. Everyone else knows. Now you have an invite. I guess you’ll have to bring the human.”
Ram piled shit onto hisfreron. “Does she know you shed? Dog fur everywhere. Gotta be a bitch to clean. And you’re not housebroken.”
“I make up for it in things a satyr lacks. Like brains along with a really big dick.”
“Get out the tape measure,” Matty said, interrupting the exchange. “I’m thinking I’ve got you both beat. Mexican-American. Second generation. I have the goods to please thedamas encantadoras.”
All eyes pinged to the human.
“What? I thought we were doing locker room natter. The lovely ladies do admire me.”
Ram shook his head. “This guy is seriously disturbed, and we’re hanging our destiny on him.”
The door flew open as Chiara barged inside. She threw herself at Dax, jumping up, encircling his neck with her arms and wrapping her legs around his hips.
Matty’s brows arched. “Is this the no-kind-of-I-don’t-know woman you mentioned?”
Dax snarled, easing Chiara to the floor. “Get ahold of yourself, female.”
She tossed her long, dark braid onto her back. “Get ahold of myself? That’s what you want to say after nearly being killed trying to save my life? You idiot.” She punched his shoulder.
Ram’s brows arched. “My whole world is tilting. Dax is not Dax. Here’s a female who actually cares about him alongside a human who’ll next be telling us they’re friends.”
Matty cocked his head to the side. “Watch how you talk, man. The vampire and I have a bromance going.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
In the outside training area behind the stronghold, Dax whispered the gist of the shifter mating ceremony to Matty while Commander Kole presided over the rite. He read from a tome written in an ancient breed dialect.
Dax leaned forward. “We’re at the best part. The challenge. Thorn must prove he’s strong enough to protect Fin.Freronsare lining up to take him on.”
