The future of the Ravagers depended upon Lawless solidarity. He ruled his clan through fear, just as his father had so many years ago. The concept worked, so why fix what wasn’t broken? He’d never understood why Eric had separated, changing what made the Ravagers such a powerhouse.
Then again, in this bland world, the harsh realities of life and death were often swept under humanity’s moralistic rug. Vengeance and rules were made by a governing body of assholeselectedto office. Elected—those who bought their way in. Humans used money the way Ravagers used their claws. Unfortunately for Nev, he didn’t have the skills necessary to accumulate wealth in this place. Not like Eric did.
When the Ravagers should have stuck together and turned the world inside out to suit them and their needs, a bunch of irreverent pricks pulled away and created their own clan. Weakening the Ravagers, Eric and the Savages had destroyed what should have been a new world order.
Now females bred fewer litters, and the power in one’sguermeant less in social spheres than a Ravager’s ability toadapt. Utter bullshit.
Eric’s policies to accept human laws and female mates of any species made him one ofthem.A fucking pussy too afraid of humans to do what he knew was right. Respect for tradition and strength no longer existed in the Savage clan. Hell, even the females in Eric’s pack had yet to declare their own mates, hurting more than helping Ravager numbers, facilitating the gradual decline in Ravager strength. No wonder Nev’s people were dying out when they had Eric Savage to lead them.
Nev’s anger at all he’d lost since being forced into this hellish world fired his belly. It took discipline not to rush over to the Savage clan and kill as many as he could. He would time his next attack perfectly. And maybe, just maybe, he’d find what else had been stolen from him so long ago.
“Fuck you, Eric. And fuck your little pet guard too.”Soon enough, you’ll bow to me again, Dom. See if you don’t.
Chapter Twenty
Eric didn’t want to believe what he was hearing. It was sheer insanity. “You’re telling me you stole Tommy Chen’s trademark ring because some mystery female hired you to?”
“You don’t have to talk down to me.” The foolish woman glared at him, her eyes a bright, sunny shade of yellow. “Sean and I have to work for a living, your kingship. Neither of us likes Chen anyway. He’s the reason there’s so much crime in the city.”
Eric didn’t think it the time to argue what he knew to be the truth, so he ignored her incorrectly conceived notions of Cross Step’s inner workings. “Tell me again how you planned to dodge Chen after stealing hismost prizedpossession.”
She squirmed in her seat and glanced away. First intelligent thing she’d done all morning—make that afternoon.
“I’m waiting.”
“I was going to work him over with my ability. It would have worked if the Salinas hadn’t busted into the club.”
“Explain ‘work him over.’”
She rolled her eyes. “I distract him with a few kisses, amp up his sexual energy, then fog his mind until we leave. He’s out a ring and none the wiser.”
The thought of Vicki kissing anyone without Eric’s permission made him see red. Heownedher. “What happened, exactly?”
“I kissed him, took the ring, then the Salinas invaded. The spell, if you will, was broken. Chen knew exactly what I did, and a ton of people saw me take down Mei Lin, too, so no hiding that.” She explained how she and Sean had wormed their way into the club by appealing to Chen’s fascination for women who could brawl.
After pondering the situation, Eric came to the obvious conclusion. “Give Chen back his ring, apologize, and I’ll settle things between you.”
“Hell, no.” Vicki glared. “I worked for that ring. Sean and I stole it fairly. Besides, it’s already gone. We used a broker all but one time. I have no idea who my client actually was except that she’s female. I saw the back of her just once.”
“Now I have Chen to deal with? Terrific.” He put his head in his hands so he wouldn’t give in to temptation and strangle Vicki. Damn woman needed a keeper. Good thing he’d found her.
Vicki snarled, “No, you donothave Chen to deal with. Sean and I will handle him. I’ve put up with this marking nonsense long enough. Let me and my cousin go free and I promise not to take legal action against you.”
He looked at her, incredulous. “Are you serious?”
She sighed. “No. As if anyone would tangle with Ravagers. I just want to go home, Eric. You can’t keep me here forever,” she said quietly.
“Not forever, just long enough.” To what? he asked himself.To get her out of my fucking system.He couldn’t explain how, but earlier, while Dom had pleasured her, he’d sensed their enjoyment. He’d never heard of Ravagers sharing feelings unless they mated. He could understand experiencing Dom’s sensations, but Vicki’s?
“I’m waiting.” Vicki tapped the desktop with nails bitten to the quick.
He laughed at her temerity. “Wait all you want. In case it’s escaped your notice, I’m the fucking prime.” He flashed his fangs at her, intent on a little intimidation when she did something to him that made him groan in pleasure.
The little witch wrapped her hand around his wrist and snaked his energy, manipulating it somehow. Though he’d realigned hisguerto shield himself, apparently his fighting spirit no longer considered her a threat. Hell, if she weren’t human, he’d think she’d begun a female’s claiming rite.
The show of power only made him that much harder. As it was, just being around her turned his dick into a steel pole. A female who would not only defy him, but had no fear of him was a challenge he couldn’t resist.
“Don’t threaten me,Prime.” She showed her own teeth—pretty, white, and straight. So human. Fragile yet not. “Let me see it,” she whispered and licked her lower lip. “Show me that huge cock.”
