blonde—blood-dragon or not—wearing a cropped tank top and white Capri pants planned to fend off several hungry males. She waited silently as the men scanned the immediate area. They appeared to be moving past them until a rock came loose under Angel’s foot, sending her sprawling to the ground with a thump. Looking up at Sage, she mouthed the words I’m sorry .
Within minutes they were trapped in a rocky cove with several hungry-looking men standing in a half circle formation to block their escape. Ravenous eyes stared down at Angel. Panic rose in her throat. Her stomach felt tight.
Sage stepped between Angel and her predators. “What’s on your mind, boys?”
“Move away, Sage,” the tallest man barked. “We only want a taste of her blood to feel the ultimate high…no harm will come to her.”
“I’m only going to say this once…boys. Angel doesn’t want to play today. Now move along or you’ll be sorry.”
They laughed mockingly, exchanging cocky looks with one another. Angel could see they weren’t going to back down. Yet, Sage stood her ground.
“Stay back, Angel,” she said. “This is what I call a late brunch .”
And with that Sage’s sweet demeanor instantly transformed into that of a vicious vamp. She took out the tall one first, biting his shoulder with such ferocity the man howled in pain before slinking to the ground unable to move. Angel scooted back against the rocky wall behind her, watching in shock as Sage leapt like a cat with supernatural speed from one man to another. Her precise bites disabled them instantly until all were crumpled on their knees begging for mercy.
Angel knew she would never forget what came next. Once the men had been subdued, Sage stalked them like the prey they had become. One by one she sank her now protruding fangs into each man’s jugular, taking enough blood to render them unconscious but not to kill. When finished, she looked at Angel with a satisfied smile.
“You asked how I deal with the cravings.” She licked excess blood from her lips with obvious zeal. “There’s always some asshole seeking to break the rules. It’s my job to hunt them down and deliver punishment before they are sent away on the next cargo ship.” She grabbed Angel’s hand and pulled her up. “Now c’mon, it’ll be dark soon. We need to keep walking.”
“That’s some wicked bite you’re packing,” she muttered, astounded by Sage’s sudden transformation. “How’d you paralyze them so quickly?”
A naughty grin traversed Sage’s pretty face. “Female blood-dragons carry venom. But only Savaant and I know this. There are many carefully guarded details about Nahtosha, and Savaant is the only person who knows them all.”
“Because he is the alpha male?”
“Yes. Nahtosha gave him supreme rule over all other blood-dragons…male and female.”
“Will you and I be the only female blood-dragons on Dunalino?”
She nodded as they walked briskly. “Unless one of the women take the leap and bite one of the band mates. Even though I am a blood-dragon, you will be the only Senhora Do Sangue …ever. Your power will greatly exceed mine.”
“Am I going to grow fangs, too?” She furrowed her brow and ran one finger along her upper teeth.
“It is part of the transformation, doesn’t make us look pretty when in attack mode but the fangs are quite effective. Don’t worry. You’re hunger for the blood will override any anxiety when the time comes.”
Details surrounding Dunalino continued to unfold and amaze her. Angel now understood why Savaant had chosen to give her information slowly and as needed. Had she been told everything at once, she might have been too overwhelmed and faltered. The last thing she wanted was to delay their consummation or let him down. He had been wise to let her fall into his world at her own pace. In doing so he enabled her strength to increase without wavering.
Chapter Seven
Angel watched the sun dip below the horizon, casting
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