this happened to his sister by mating, insulted that he deigned to speak with one of our Gryphs! I cannot blame him. Can you?” The Old One took in a fortifying breath. “Stop,” he pleaded. “Stop it now! Other than these most recent screw-ups, it’s been centuries since you killed in this manner. With my help, you pulled out of your bloodlust then. You can once more.” He uncurled his hand, stretching it outward. “Listen to what I am saying. Come with me.”
Bloodlust was not entirely Extol’s problem. Only in regards to Molly, did he suffer any bloodlust. And if he truly fed from her… “I will be leaving North America. Soon.”
“Extol, do not make a fool of me. Just so you will understand the gravity of what happened tonight. The Beta of North America and Heath Faden, a renowned Tracker from Ciaran of Scotland’s clan were the first two who found the dying human. If you did not cover your scent well, it is only a matter of time. Quit playing games.”
“Ah, a Pack Tracker and the imperious Bane Ruyter,” he breathed. “I am trembling.”
“Arrogance will not help you out of this mess.”
This was probably true, but he had a good idea of what would. “We all know that vampires are born of arrogant creatures. It is the human adage, is it not? The apple not falling far from the tree,” he said bitterly. “This should remind you that I left my youngling status centuries ago, so stop your attempts at coddling. I said I would leave soon.” With his decadent property in tow. “Take my word and go.”
Chapter Six
W ith his youngling Beast greedy for anything to relieve his growing tension, Ail eyed the shadows underneath the great Banyan tree as they passed the Edison Museum and the outbuildings. Anything could be lurking there, hunting the little female walking next to him. Cocking his head, he could smell his brother up ahead. Bane was noticeably tense, his scent acrid. Ail couldn’t blame him there. Some serious shit was going down, making his hackles rise.
He tried not to stare at Molly as she quietly walked beside him. After she had jumped into the pool, he’d pitched her ruined dress far across the Caloosahatchee River. If it were up to him, she’d still be wearing nothing. Yet the fact that she was now dressed in something of his, with her prized underwear gripped in one hand and her shoes dangling from the other, made Ail’s Beast roar for full transform. Wearing his thin shirt, Molly trembled with each step, the cotton sticking to every crevice of her damp body, her nipples puckering beautifully. He wanted nothing more than to slide his arm over her dainty shoulders, pull her close, and warm her in the way a virile werewolf warms his female. Considering she was married to a human that would never happen.
Figuring he was close enough to Bane’s proximity, Ail reached out to Bane’s mind. Did I stall her long enough?
Yeah, Heath and I checked everything in Were speed. Unfortunately or fortunately, whichever way you look at it, Molly’s mystery vampire bolted, though Heath knows his scent.
Apart from you, Heath’s the best Tracker I know. Ail decided to get it over with and admit to his brother that he’d broken Youngling Law. I had to invade Molly’s head, calm her down, and weave a time spell.
The Beta growled. You, of all werewolves, know better than that! You are far too young…you could have…
Ail interrupted, When I first found Molly, she was going into shock. Go all official on my ass and punish me if you have to, but, if given the same situation, I’d do it all over again. Isn’t it you, who gets preachy about how protecting and comforting females go hand in hand?
Ail, you know the rules.
Ail fought not to laugh. Rules, you say. I’m born of the Beta’s blood. By law, I am the epitome of werewolf warriors. Yet those same laws weigh down my Beast with so many useless regulations that I’m surprised I don’t vomit Were Tomes on a daily basis. Let me remind you
Colleen McCullough
Stanley Donwood
M. R. James, Darryl Jones
Ari Marmell
Kristina Cook
Betsy Byars
MK Harkins
Linda Bird Francke
Cindy Woodsmall
Bianca D'Arc