She waits for the demon to drape the body over the back of his bike. The shifter’s fingers will be worn off by the time we get a half a mile up the road with the way he’s hanging, but it’s the least he deserves for daring to try to protect the vampire after standing idly by when I approached Lore.
I take to the air as soon as Lore speeds away, staying low enough so I can watch her every move. Having the prince at her side allows me a little peace. He can protect her should I need to fight, but it’s still not enough for me to breathe fully until I can touch her again.
CHAPTER9
Lore
Thank fuck for my bike.It gives me the best excuse to be alone with my thoughts, even if it’s only for a short time. The fact that I have another mate obviously isn’t shocking, but finding him within twenty-four hours of the first one is a bit disquieting. He also happens to be a beast of a fallen who doesn’t or can’t speak. I would never admit this out loud, but he could kick my ass all the way to Sunday and back.
I have never been the type of female who wanted a male to take care of her, but I think my little damsel heart fluttered to life for the first time when he killed the shifter without an ounce of effort. Gods, having these two around might just be the death of me.
I can’t keep my fucking hands off one, and the other only has to look at me to make me crave things I never once even acknowledged before him.
“Fucking bullshit,” I mumble under my breath.
Modeus turns his head in my direction as if he actually heard me. He has one hand on the handlebar and the other high on his thigh, like he’s fucking posing for a picture. The wind is blowing his dark hair back from his face, making it wrap around his horns. I have both an angel and a demon. Someone thinks this is funny, I just don’t know who.
The leaves on the oaks quiver when Egan lands in the middle of the street, right in front of the clubhouse, as we arrive. His eyes are locked on me, tracking my every movement. I try to seem unaffected as I park. I doubt anyone even noticed my arrival though, because no one is looking at me. Everyone is staring at the massive fallen, who’s stalking forward like he’s on a mission from…the devil.
The front walkway is lined with riders, so either Thana warned the club we were coming or something else alerted them to his presence.
“Holy shit, that’s Perry.” A member hits the guy next to him with the back of his hand and nods to my left. I follow his gaze to see Modeus picking the dead shifter up by the back of his shirt collar and the waist of his pants before tossing him off the back of his bike. There’s some blood on the seat, so I need to remember to have a probie clean it.
When I turn back around, those who had looked away from the fallen are watching him again, but he either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. I’m betting it’s the latter. The moment he’s close enough, he clutches my wrist and places my palm over his bare chest, trapping it under his hand.
I don’t have the heart to tell him this isn’t a very practical means of communication right now, especially not with the way he’s looking down at me. Modeus brushes his arm against mine when he joins us. The three of us probably make a strange sight.
“Don’t kill anyone,” I warn Egan while meeting his black eyes. His lips lift in a sneer, telling me he’s not happy with my request. “Not even the vampire.” His eyes narrow, making him look even more menacing. That should not be attractive, but it is.
“If it makes you feel better, you’ll be the one replacing the vampire in a few weeks, unless she gets another mate who’s more qualified,” Modeus informs Egan. Little do they know, our time frame has been bumped up exponentially.
“Give me at least a week before another one shows up, please,” I joke, pulling my hand off his chest with just a hint of reluctance.
I make eye contact with Emmy Lou, one of the many creatures who makes the huge oaks in the square their home. Her enormous body and long legs should weigh down the branches, but she can move her stick-like figure unseen through the trees. I give her a little nod of acknowledgment. Many underestimate the value of having such an ally, but she probably knows more about what happens in this square than anyone in the club. Maybe I’ll speak with her later to see if she knows anything about Harlow.
The members part as I climb the steps with my two tagalongs. Mickey opens the door for me, meeting my eyes. I’ve known her almost as long as Salvador. She’s the best mechanic in the territory, but more importantly, she was a friend to my dad and me.
She smiles as I approach. “Let me know if he needs a ride. I love a good custom.” She winks at me as she offers to make Egan a motorcycle. He would need a custom for his size alone.
“I think he’s partial to the air, but I’ll see what I can do,” I tell her and breeze through the door.
Considering how many people were outside, I’m surprised to find even more tucked away in here. Thana is near the back, with several members around her. A few of them are the same enforcers from earlier. It looks like she’s circling her wagons. Good, it will make shit easier on me.
While I understand her sentiment about wanting to make sure I was up for the job, her behavior still doesn’t sit right with me, nor can I let it go unchecked…even if I don’t know if I’m planning on remaining the head of the club.
Salvador’s at the bar. Good, he needs to be here for this. There’s a short empty glass near his elbow. I could use a drink myself, but I have too much shit to do to indulge in one right now.
It’s easier than I thought it would be to take the seat at the back of the bar in the president’s chair. It feels so different than when I was a kid and I used to sit in it when the place was empty.
Back then, it felt huge, like a throne, but now I feel the weight of the position that comes with it. “We have some official business to discuss.” I raise my voice enough for everyone in the place to hear me, even though it’s been quiet since we entered.
Reaper picks up another glass and downs the contents before ambling closer and taking his seat beside me. When Thana places her palm on the table, acting as if she might try to take her position at the back with us, I tell her, “Front and center, Sergeant.” My tone is slightly mocking, but I’m pissed and having a hard time controlling myself.
Her eyes narrow, but she does as she’s told. Her cap of short dark hair shows off her long alabaster neck. She has some visible scarring, which isn’t unusual, and it doesn’t diminish how attractive she is. When Modeus asked me why my father allowed her to be his sergeant, I was flippant in my reply. Sheisan orphan, you don’t meet many vampires who aren’t, but she’s also capable and slightly bloodthirsty, which are job requirements for her position.
The problem is she’s opportunistic and power hungry, which means I can’t trust her to have my back or the wellbeing of the club at heart. “I would have given you the two weeks,” I state, offering the truth.
“Would have,” she scoffs.
