Chapter 17 #2
My nails grew, but to hide that sign of my utter rage at Connor’s words, I folded them in my lap beneath the table. My voice was icy. “The fledgling is not yours, Connor. He’s a vampire—a Made, and that makes him mine.”
Selina leaned forward, her wolf in her eyes.
“Yours? He belongs to neither of you.” Her eyes moved to where Shane was watching us with a scowl on his face.
She shot an apologetic look at her Alpha Prime.
“I’m sorry, Connor, but he doesn’t. He never has, and you know that.
He chooses who he follows. When he was Alpha of Hope, he was unhappy.
He did it out of loyalty to you, not because he wanted that role.
Before the prison, he used Jasper’s rogue alphas as his shifter contacts, but he was independent, a lone wolf. ”
I knew Shane’s past. Even before he’d been blood raped, I’d been curious enough about him to find out. Connor glared at Selina, but she held her ground. I respected her for fighting for her friend, but it made no difference; Shane wouldn’t return to them.
Connor’s jaw muscle tensed, but he dipped his chin. “Fine. Shane can choose. Fetch him.”
I kept my temper reined in. Connor had no right to demand anything of me. Yes, he was powerful, but so was I, and this was my domain, not his. Yet, no violence was my rule, and I tried to lead by example—most of the time.
“Elliot, fetch the fledgling.”
Ember tilted her head. “He has a name, Count.”
My smile was not friendly. “He does, but he is a fledgling. My fledgling. He belongs to my House, and he is no longer a full shifter.”
Connor released a low growl, one that made his wolf brothers tense. “That’s up to him. As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of my pack and always will be. If he chooses to stay, then so be it, but if he wants to leave…”
The threat was there—bloodshed on both sides if I didn’t allow him to leave.
“What’s going on?”
Shane’s deep voice rumbled, and my cock stirred to life again. I was almost irritated by how easily he affected me.
Selina jumped up and threw her arms around Shane, and I had to stamp down my urge to yank him away from her.
“Oh, my gods, how are you?”
Shane held on for a moment, his surprise at her willingness to hug him obvious. “I’m great, thanks, Lina.” He gently put her away from him.
Ember grinned. “Yeah, you look a bit different from when we last saw you.”
Shane’s face flushed, and he rubbed the back of his neck, not meeting Connor’s eyes. The last time they'd seen him was when I’d taken him to the meeting at Connor’s compound. He’d nearly attacked Ava that day, and his shame was almost palpable.
“Hey, man, it’s okay. We know that wasn’t you—not really.”
Connor’s words didn’t help. Shane raised his gaze to the Shifter King’s.
His wolf was in his eyes, but his vampire side, a red hue that had merged with that wild beast, was there too, for everyone to see.
It was truly beautiful. He was beautiful.
My body was coiled tight, my cock aching, yet I remained still, in control, when all I wanted was to kiss him hard, strip him naked and fuck him in front of everyone here.
Stake my claim, so no one would ever try to take him from me.
But such a loss of control would send tongues wagging, and Stefan had already demanded our presence in his court.
Showing a lack of restraint, or any kind of possessiveness where Shane or Sor were concerned, would derail all of my plans before I was fully prepared.
I’d already put Stefan off, hoping for more time before he gave me an ultimatum.
Stefan was ailing with an affliction even his medical team couldn’t diagnose, but that only meant he was more paranoid, more dangerous than ever.
His demands on my time and resources were becoming increasingly impossible.
Should he die before I eradicated the Blood Lust virus and the vile souls who’d developed it, his twelve-year-old son would be king.
The child was an Original vampire who would one day be strong enough to rule, but in a world of ancient beings, earning their allegiance would be an epic trial, and, at the moment, he was too young and vulnerable.
I didn’t envy the boy. But as with his father, I would be there to help him if he wanted to keep the throne.
As a descendant of the Original royal family, the first demons who had escaped Hell, there was no one else fit to rule our kind.
Shane cocked his head, his face grave. “But that’s the problem, isn’t it, Connor? It was, and is, me. I’m not a full shifter anymore. My wolf spirit is with me, yet he’s…different.”
Shane's eyes met mine, and I let my possessiveness shine through. He flushed a little, and satisfaction filled my chest, my lips tilting up at his response. Connor didn’t understand what Shane meant, but I did.
Shane’s wolf was stronger than ever, but he didn’t bow to the Shifter King any longer.
He would only go to his knees for me and our little bird.
Sor had no idea how much control she held over both of us.
How deep our feelings for her ran. And Shane’s submission to me was something no one outside the three of us needed to know.
Not when that knowledge could be used against us.
“Different how?” Connor’s voice was edged with restrained anger, but he was trying to keep his cool with Shane.
He knew it wasn’t Shane’s fault that he was now a vampire.
I couldn’t help feeling a little smug that the Shifter King was pissed off at losing such a strong Alpha wolf, but Selina was right.
Shane had never really belonged to Connor’s pack.
And now, he was mine.
“To be honest, Connor, he doesn’t see you as his Alpha anymore. I respect you, I always have and I always will, but I am no longer a full shifter and am not bound to you as my king.”
I almost cheered at Shane’s bravery. Pointing out your transfer in loyalty to the most dangerous shifter in the world was a risky thing.
Connor’s Hell-beast pushed forward, and he rose to his feet, glaring down from his monstrous height at Shane.
..who didn’t even flinch. Perhaps his frequent brushes with death had hardened him, and he no longer feared it.
He had no idea, but I’d take down everyone in this room, including Connor, if they dared lay a hand on my fledgling.
“Really? Then maybe I should remind you why I am your Prime Alpha, your king …”
His voice grated along my bones, urging me to protect what was mine. “In the interests of our alliance, that wouldn’t be a good idea.” My words were soft but held an edge of steel.
Shane’s attention shot my way, but I kept mine on Connor. The air between us crackled with tension, and my guards moved closer. Owen frowned and stepped closer to Selina, who was still next to Shane, clearly getting ready to move her out of harm's way. D stood and moved closer to his king.
“Okay, everyone. Time to cool down. Look, Count, we didn’t come here to cause trouble. We’ve come to make sure Shane is okay, and to let him know he still has a home, a pack, with us if he wants it.”
I didn’t comment on Ember’s ironic choice of words, seeing as she had fire surrounding her hands and flames burning in her eyes. Nor did I move or say anything more. Connor held my gaze for a moment longer before he grunted and broke our stare off.
Shane swallowed hard and glanced at me. My eyes met his, and electricity fired in my blood at that contact. I stayed in my relaxed pose, yet rage was visible in my changed bone structure and eyes. He answered my possessive and heated glare with one of his own, his wolf shining through.
Connor growled but made an effort to relax his shoulders. “So, what are you going to do, Shane? Return to Jasper’s fold and live as a rogue alpha?”
Around us, our guards subtly moved back. Not relaxed, but de-escalating the tension and threat.
“No, I’m part of the Count’s House, so I will continue to work here for him and find a new way to exist in his world.”
Silence fell. Selina looked sad, but she didn’t argue.
“If you’re sure that’s what you want, then we’ll leave. We just wanted you to know you still have a place with us.”
Connor’s nostrils flared, but he grunted his agreement. I nodded slightly to Dav, who gestured for the other guards who had moved closer to melt back into the shadows.
“And even if you no longer want it, then know that we will always be here for you if you need anything. Anything at all. You understand?” Connor sounded resolute and sincere, which I could tell left Shane feeling relieved and grateful.
His face and body relaxed, and he smiled, nodding his thanks at Connor. “I understand.”
Connor tilted his head at his entourage. “Time to go. I hope this hasn’t upset our alliance, Count?”
I unfolded myself from the leather seat and gave my most diplomatic smile.
“Not at all. I understand the Shadow Sentinels are working closely with Walker and B’nar to close any Hell rifts that appear, and that gives me more time to hunt down the vampires that threaten us all.
I remain forever grateful for your help with any Blood Lust virus breakouts.
It serves the interests of all who live on Earth for us to continue our good working relationship. ”
Connor gave me a nod. “It does.” He turned to Shane. “No matter who you follow, I’m glad you made it through, Shane.”
Shane nodded and smiled before Selina pulled him off to one side. With all the music pounding, I didn’t catch what she said, but Shane gave a grin and nodded before he hugged her, and she ran over to where Owen waited. Owen nodded at Shane, as did D, before they all made their way from the club.
In the blink of an eye, I was in front of Shane.
“My office, now.” Someone had tried to take him from me, and, even though it was irrational considering my future plans, I needed to mark them.
Both of them. We were joined in ways even I didn’t yet understand.
And the thought of losing a part of our trifecta scared me more than anything had in my long, long life.
His eyes widened at my gruff tone before he smirked and leaned forward until his lips were next to my ear.
“Yes, Master.” His warm breath sent a wave of lust right to my heavy balls.
Before he was halfway across the packed floor, I was next to Sorcha.
She jumped slightly, dropping the glass she held.
With a smile, I caught it and handed it to the nearest bar staff. “You. Serve her customers.”
With a hurried nod, the young vamp took the glass and did as I said.
Leaning forward, just as Shane had done to me, I let my lips brush the shell of her ear, biting back a curse at her responding shiver.
I wanted her, and I wanted him. It was a fire burning in my soul that would eventually incinerate me.
Only, when I was with them, it was the closest thing to happiness I’d felt in a very long time, and I was too selfish not to give in to it.
Destiny could wait. “I need to fuck you both. Right now.”
She gave a sharp intake of breath, her face flushing.
“Do you want that?”
She dragged her bottom lip between her teeth, an unconscious gesture that was so fucking sexy.
I kissed her right there at the bar, unable to wait a second longer to taste her.
Fuck danger, I’d murder anyone who came after her.
She moaned into my mouth, but, aware of the attention we were getting, I pulled back.
Taking her hand in mine, I ushered Sor into my office behind Shane.
The door clicked shut, and I locked it. Being disturbed wasn’t an option. The air heated as we stared at each other, the scent of lust burning my nostrils and heating my blood.