“Only if they don’t talk for themselves,” Orion barked back and flashed her a fang.
She showed him hers before reining in her change, and Kraft beamed with what felt like pride. Riley could clearly hold her own, though she was more wary around Varu than he liked.
“Don’t worry about Varu, Riley. He’s really a nice guy.”
Everyone looked at Kraft.
“What? He is. I mean, when he’s not beheading or disemboweling folks. He’s a downright pleasure.”
Mormo sighed. “Could we get on with this mission?”
“Mission. Sounds so formal.” Orion huffed. “I thought we were going in to clean up more of Hecate’s messes.”
“Boy, do not aggravate me,” Mormo said in a low voice.
The lights flickered.
Orion didn’t have the sense to be worried and flipped Mormo off.
They all watched as a ball of blue lightning struck him suddenly, causing the vryko to flop on the floor like a fish.
Riley gaped at Mormo. “Did you do that?”
“Well it sure wasn’t anyone else around here.” Mormo sniffed. “Varu, do you have any extra instruction for Kraft?”
“Find that artifact. Don’t die.” He glanced at Riley. Instead of saying anything, he inhaled and narrowed his eyes on her before shaking his head at Kraft. “Fuck. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Kraft understood what his patriarch didn’t outright say, but he couldn’t answer definitively. He had no idea what he was doing in regards to Riley. First, he’d only just met her. Second, she was lycan. And third...well, he had a tough time thinking about her without his dick getting in the way. Which meant he needed to be more careful around the berserker tying him in knots.
Great advice considering I lost it this morning after practically begging her for sex. Weak as fuck.
He glared at her. To his amusement and frustration, she glared back, not at all nervous about dissing him in his own house.
Varu looked away, but Kraft would swear he saw the strigoi’s lips curl up in a grin.
Orion finally stopped seizing and sat up. “Whew. Mormo, you pack a punch.”
Mormo ignored him and said to Varu, “You need to get your kin in line. If we lose that artifact to rogues, we’re in real trouble. Hecate doesn’t like the death magic floating around all this. We have problems, patriarch. Make sure you deal with them before they become an issue that dooms us all.” He swirled on his heel and vanished.
“Drama queen.” Varu snorted. To Kraft, he said, “Take Orion and the berserker. Find the artifact. Get it done.” Varu turned on his heel to leave but didn’t get out of the room before Riley snarled and said, “My name is Riley, not ‘the berserker,’ vampire.”
Varu didn’t pause, likely going to find his mate.
Riley remained on edge until he left the room. Then she relaxed and turned to Kraft. “I don’t care who he is. I don’t work for him. Oryou,” she felt the need to remind him.
In the blink of an eye, Varu reappeared with a hand at her throat. “Watch how you address me and mine, lycan, or you’ll be without a head and without a pack all in the same breath.”
Before Kraft could stop him, Varu vanished once more, and Riley was left coughing and staring after him with the fear she should have shown earlier.
“He’s just kidding,” Kraft told her.
“He’s not,” Orion said, though he looked at Riley with appreciation. “Not many can stand up to him. He’s just making sure you know your place.”
“Standing over his headless body when I’m good and done with him,” she said in a voice filled with venom.
Kraft smiled wider. “Isn’t she something?”
Orion looked between them and shook his head. “She’s something all right. She’s addled, just like you.”
