Feral Darlings

Chapter Eight

“I want you to tell them what you told me,” Corbin said.

Voshon looked around the room and took in the fierce women sitting around the table. After he had blurted how his true needs and wants were for his townspeople, he had to admit that Corbin had listened to him. Voshon had told him about his concerns for his town. How he had been part of the protection detail in the lycan attacks. Corbin had listened and only interrupted him when he’d had a question.

Voshon would have thought that a human town would not be Corbin’s or these vampires’ top priority. Buxby was a place that avoided vampires and ruled themselves.

But seeing how Corbin had called a meeting with General Bijou Goldis and Captain Nezera Galca, this must be extremely important. Corbin had assured him that these women would want to hear what he had shared with him.

They were in a small conference room in the castle where there was a table with a few chairs around it. A box sat in the middle of the table. Voshon wasn’t sure what it was, but it looked expensive. The window coverings were raised, and the night sky could be seen from where he sat. They’d had to wait a few hours before they could meet with the general and captain. The princess was not on the premises and would miss this meeting.

The general’s dark eyes focused on Voshon as she waited. His nerves were starting to get the better of him. Would these women help him? He glanced over at Corbin who sat beside him. Corbin’s eyes held a sympathetic note to them. He reached out and rested a hand on Voshon’s. In some way, that move comforted him.

“Don’t be afraid to share with us what you know,” General Goldis said.

She sat back and tried to appear casual, but Voshon could tell it was an act. He’d only been in her and the captain’s presence for a few minutes and he could tell they were deadly vampires. He’d spent most of his adult life defending his town against lycans, he knew a predator when he saw one, and right now he had two staring at him.

“Please. We will help you,” the captain murmured. Her icy-blue gaze watched him. She hadn’t said much since entering the room. She had opened a tablet the minute she had sat down and had focused on that. But now her attention was fully on him.

“I’m from a small town in Iowa,” Voshon began. He swallowed hard and looked down at Corbin’s hand still resting on his. This vampire was confident they were mates. Voshon was wavering on his belief. This was a lot to take in, but he couldn’t deny the emotions and feelings he got while he was around Corbin. He didn’t know what had come over him when that young man had come to Corbin’s room offering to allow Corbin to feed from him. Voshon saw straight through the ruse. He wanted more than to be a donor.

He wanted Corbin.

But he couldn’t have him.

A jealous rage had overcome Voshon. He didn’t know where it had come from, but deep down he knew he would have fought the man if need be. Then he’d taken in Corbin and he had lost all control of himself. He’d never fucked anyone as roughly as he had him.

It felt good.

To let loose and take what he wanted. Corbin had only been too willing to give him what he needed.

And that had been to prove that Corbin was his.

He blinked with that realization. Was that true? Did he believe that Corbin was his mate? Maybe it was just being in the castle. Maybe once he left and started being around more people he wouldn’t feel the same.

He lifted his eyes and held Corbin’s gaze. His heart sped up. No, there was definitely something between them.

“My town, Buxby, is located far from any major city, and we protect ourselves. It’s been like that for years. We are a peaceful community, but lately, people have been disappearing.” He paused and inhaled. He was sure he wouldn’t have to proclaim that his townspeople avoided vampires as well. That was the point of settling far away from civilization. He glanced down at the table and blew out a nervous breath. “It is the lycans. They have been kidnapping our people.”

“Wait, you said Buxby, Iowa?” Nezera murmured. She typed out a few commands on her tablet, then a hologram image appeared in the middle of the air above the box on the table. It was a map of his state with a few dots highlighted. They were towns that were located far away from major cities. Voshon’s eyes widened. He had never seen such a marvel like this in person. He’d heard that vampires had advanced technology.

Nezera arched an eyebrow at him. “That’s Buxby, Iowa?”

“It’s the only one that I’m aware of,” Voshon replied. He peeked over at Corbin and found him staring at the captain.

“It’s one of the towns on your list?” Corbin asked.

“Yeah, it is.” Nezera sighed. She typed out a few more commands, and the next image was that of the center of town.

Voshon had a strong sense of longing seeing the place where he had grown up. He hadn’t been gone from there long, but he was already missing home fiercely.

“What list?” Voshon sat forward. What were they talking about? It was obvious they had all discussed something that had included his town. Were his parents, neighbors, and friends in trouble? He just prayed that Angelina had kept her promise. She had assured him she would keep an eye out for his parents. Now he was no longer there, they would be in danger.

“We have intel that the lycans are still trying to build their numbers. They focus on towns that are weak and vulnerable. They snatch humans. It doesn’t matter if it is a woman, man, or child. They will take them and force the change on them,” the general said. She paused for a moment. “They will try to change the humans into lycan, but not all of the humans will survive the bite.”

Voshon sat back, stunned at the news. They were well aware that the lycans focused on their town due to the absence of vampires, but the people of Buxby were strong, and they had fought the lycans hard. The amount of people who’d disappeared was minimal, but he had never believed the lycans would be turning the humans. The rumors were true. He swallowed hard. He thought of the last person who had gone missing. A young teen who had chased after his dog who had got loose from the house late one night. His parents had reported him missing the next morning. The townsfolk had searched for days and weeks before they had given up. Now Voshon put two and two together. The kid hadn’t just disappeared. The entire town knew that, but to discover that he might have been turned into a lycan—unthinkable.

Fear crept into Voshon. His parents. He had to speak with them.

“My parents,” he gasped. He flew forward and pleaded with Corbin. “I need to call them. Make sure they are okay. Make sure they know—”

“Calm down, miere ,” Corbin said.

He moved his chair closer to Voshon. He gripped Voshon’s hand in his. His greenish-blue eyes held an understanding that calmed Voshon. Somehow, he had a feeling Corbin would make everything okay.

“How about we do one even better. What if we go to your town?”

Go home? Voshon froze in place. He was already nodding. He would like nothing more than to see his parents. He needed to feel his mother’s strong arms wrap around him and give him one of her famous hugs. He needed to see his father’s deep-brown eyes and hear his rumbling voice.

“You would allow me to go home? To leave Black Hallows?” Voshon found his voice.

Corbin gave a nod.

Voshon’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing his family again. “You would go with me?”

“Of course, miere . I will be by your side at all times,” Corbin said.

“We need to speak with the town’s leaders immediately. We need to make sure they understand how much danger the town is in,” Bijou said.

“Danger?” Voshon echoed. What did they know? A sliver of fear snuck through him. The room grew tense. He flipped his hand over and entwined his fingers with Corbin’s. He wasn’t sure he was going to like what the vampires were about to tell him.

“Yes, my contacts had your town at the top of the list of towns the lycans are going to converge on. From what I’m told, they plan to wipe out the entire town of Buxby and turn everyone they can,” Nezera proclaimed.

Voshon slowly glanced around the room. They weren’t joking. Voshon almost wished they were. Even thinking of the lycans attacking his town had him growing angry. He was needed at home. He had to go and help defend them. There were good people there. Every resident of Buxby was hardworking and decent. They didn’t deserve this.

“Turn the entire town? They can’t do that,” he bit out through clenched teeth. His grip on Corbin’s hand tightened.

“They have already done it to other towns and will do it to yours if we don’t get there in time,” Corbin said gently.

Voshon’s eyes widened. The lycans had already turned an entire town?

“That’s why we need to go as soon as possible and speak with the town’s leaders. Will you take us to them? We can help them,” the general said.

Voshon looked over at her and paused. His uncle, the mayor, wouldn’t want to meet with vampires, but if Voshon went to him and explained the situation, he would have to allow the vampires to help. His uncle was a proud man, but he wasn’t stupid. He loved the town more than life itself, and if the vampires could help save them, then he’d have to allow them to help.

“They are a proud people,” Voshon said quietly. He eyed the photo of his beloved town. They would need the vampires’ help. There was no way they would be able to fight off an entire pack of lycans. They had only success with one or two at a time. But an entire pack descending on Buxby—they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“And we respect them, but they will need our help,” General Goldis said.

“Fine. The mayor, Randall Rogers, is my uncle. He’s a fair man, and I’m sure he will listen to you,” Voshon said. He closed his eyes briefly, unable to believe what was going on. What would have happened if he had not shared his concerns with Corbin? Would they have offered to help Buxby? He pushed all that aside. It didn’t matter. Help was on the way now. “When do you want to leave?”

“I’m already assembling a team. We will be ready by dusk,” Captain Galca said. Her attention was on her tablet, her fingers flying across the screen.

“You are authorized for whatever you need,” the general said. Her laser focus moved from Voshon and landed on the captain. “I’m sure this doesn’t need to be said, but I want updates. The princess will want to know everything.”

“But of course,” the captain said.

“You will update Hegna?” Corbin asked.

“As soon as we are done here, I will contact her.” The general gave a slight nod to Corbin.

“I think we are done here.” Corbin pushed back from the table and stood. He continued to hold on to Voshon’s hand.

Voshon stood next to him. This internal fight was slowly leaving him. Corbin was nothing how he had imagined a vampire would be. He had assumed he would have become a blood slave or something. But Corbin had proved constantly that he would be there for Voshon, that he would take care of him, be there for him. Voshon stared at his handsome vampire with new eyes.

Maybe being mated to a vampire wasn’t so bad.

“I will alert you if there will be any changes,” the captain said.

“See that you do. We must prepare for our departure.” Corbin gave both women a nod and guided Voshon out of the room.

Voshon tightened his hold on his hand. He was honestly thankful for what Corbin was doing. They walked in silence until they were halfway down the hall. Corbin turned to him and drew him close. He cupped Voshon’s cheek with his hand. He studied him for a brief moment, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

“Don’t worry, miere . We will take care of your family and friends. No harm will come to any person who calls Buxby home,” Corbin murmured.

Voshon leaned forward and pressed a hard kiss to his vampire’s lips. He closed his eyes and sighed, pulling back. He studied Corbin’s eyes and saw nothing but the truth.

“Do you promise?”

“I assure you, as a member of the Royal court, that not one hair will be harmed on anyone you hold dear to your heart.”

Well, that was the entire town, and if Corbin kept his promise, then Voshon would do the one thing he never would have thought he’d do.

He’d offer Corbin his neck and his heart.