Page 138 of The Vampire's Thirst
“It’s vampire drama. You bit me. I bit you. We fucked. Now we’re called to the mating rite.”
“Okay.”
“No.”
“You don’t want to mate me?”
“I do, but you could die in the ceremony.”
“Obviously Braelyn survived it.”
“True. We’ll talk to her and Rein.”
Dax tangled his fingers in her hair, the silkiness of its curls stirring his arousal once again. “It’s a savage ritual, Chiara, left over from a time when only the fittest vampires were meant to survive. It culled the weakest from our breed.”
“What happens if we don’t do it?”
“We won’t be true mates in the eyes of the vampire conclave.” He pressed his lips to the pulse in her neck, breathing in the scent of his female.
“What aren’t you telling me, Dax? Let’s not start off our lives with lies.”
She had a right to the truth. “I’ll be in pain, but I can handle it.”
“No. We’ll do the ceremony.”
“I’ll take any agony to keep you safe.”
“I’m tougher than I look.”
An ear-shattering alarm sounded, driving all thoughts of the Bludhunt or another bout of lovemaking from Dax’s mind. He gave Chiara a little push. “Get dressed. Now.”
She raced for the bedroom as he snatched his clothes off the floor. Both dressed, he dragged her out the door and down the hallway to whatever new disaster arrived at the stronghold.
****
Theklaxon blared.
Kole hadn’t heard the ear-jarring noise for nearly 200 years. During their rebellion, Amazons and berserkers attacked the stronghold, the alarm calling the Firebrands to arms.
Back then, Kole was a young warrior with Wynnfrith fighting by his side, the witch casting deadly spells while he hit the traitorous bastards with fireballs. When the assault ended, the Firebrands mopped up the dead and the healing began. Eventually, the two rebel breeds rejoined the fold where they became good citizens again.
Now, the combat boot was on the other foot. Lawgivers and the Temple of Justice had declared the Firebrands as the traitors.
He charged through Bounty’s office, to the hall, and into the tech room next door. Logan was seated in front of the monitors, staring at the chaos outside their stronghold. Uniformed Arisen Dawn soldiers were getting their jollies by cutting down innocents who’d probably done nothing wrong other than oppose Cerberus and run to the stronghold for sanctuary, despite the Firebrands’ new label aspersona non-grata.
He had no choice but to drop the masking spell, fight off Arisen Dawn attackers, and bring the refugees inside. “We’ll assemble at the garage doors. When I signal, make us visible. After we gather the civilians, activate the cloak again.”
Logan nodded, keeping an eye on the outdoor action. “Affirmative.”
The sound of boots thundered across the lower-level stone floor as Kole’s males and females raced for the armory. He joined them, barking orders. “Ram, assign your newbies to stay inside to defend the stronghold against any Arisen Dawn soldiers who might slip through us. Only experienced warriors outside. Dax, zip up your fucking pants. Skyler, get the mates to the safe room.”
When Nico and Denim opened their mouths to give him flack, he added, “Except you two.”
Skyler snatched his elbow. “The rest of us won’t tuck tail and hide in the safe room, demon. We’ll welcome the civilians as you send them inside. Don’t bother to argue.”
Stubborn female.
“Okay. Into the garage. We’ll shoo them to you.”
