Read Online The Power Of The Bite by Lisa Oliver - Free Book Online

just hoped Broz wasn’t being too rude. Dax didn’t seem overly concerned, filling his plate, giving his thanks to Van for the food, and eating like nothing was wrong. Zane tried to follow suit, although he was acutely aware of every move his friend was making. If Broz laid a finger on Dax there was going to be trouble.
    It was a full five minutes before Broz would sit down again, although he ignored the plate of food that Van had filled for him. Grabbing his coffee instead, he glared at Zane and then Dax – looking between them as though they were two puzzle pieces that just didn’t fit. When he did open his mouth Zane knew they had just walked into yet another landmine.
    “Tell me Mr. Portrain. Just how long ago did you claim my friend?”
    /~/~/~/~/
    If ever there was a moment that Dax appreciated his heritage and the teachings from his father, it was in that exact moment. He could sense the agitation coming from Zane and his wolf didn’t like it. Unfortunately attacking two vampires in his mate’s house was probably not a good idea, although he would protect his mate to the death if necessary. He just hoped that a strong dose of honesty and openness would get them all through the next half hour without any bloodshed on either side.
    “About three months ago,” Dax said, casually picking up another piece of bacon and stuffing it in his mouth. He chewed thoroughly and swallowed before continuing, something that wasn’t easy to do with a vampire with blood red eyes giving him a death stare. “I have to admit I panicked a bit after I did it, but I like to think I have come to my senses now.”
    “And that’s why my friend has been getting sick? Because you’ve been too wrapped up in playing baby Alpha to look after your mate?”
    “What would you have had me do?” Dax could meet that evil stare and double it, even as he kept his voice calm. “Vamps and wolves don’t get on. Don’t know why, don’t fucking care. But if my pack had found out that I’d mated with Zane they would have been after him with a shotgun and claws. I wanted to protect him from that.”
    “It was a failed mating,” Van said around his own mouthful of food. He looked at the others when they all stared at him. “Not yours,” he added, swallowing hastily. “The grudge between vamps and shifters. It was a couple of centuries ago, right here in Portrain. A vampire coven leader, the Alpha of the pack – they were mates. But same sex matings were against the law, and the Alpha bonded with a female instead. The coven leader died of a broken heart they say, although he was bitter and twisted to the very end and caused all sorts of trouble for the pack. There’s been bad blood between the species since that time, which is why no formal coven has been allowed to re-establish itself here. At least that’s the gossip from your pack elders. We were lucky that Nathanial Portrain let us stay here at all.”
    Dax shivered. He and Zane were a classic case of history repeating itself. Except Zane would have cheerfully died to keep Dax safe. And Dax? Would he have married or claimed a wolf just to keep his father happy? No. Dax liked to think he had more strength than that. He might have stayed away from Zane when he could. Been a shit assed mate in many respects. But even without the push from his father, he was confident he would have come to his senses eventually.
    “So why are you here now?” Broz said. “The situation between vamps and wolves hasn’t changed. Yesterday my friend was on deaths door, thanks to the lack of access to your blood obviously. But here you sit today, smirking like your shit doesn’t stink, thinking things are going to magically resolve themselves?”
    “Broz, don’t,” Zane warned. “It was my fault I wasn’t taking enough blood. Dax offered it to me every week without fail. I was the one who chose not to take what I needed. He didn’t even know what I needed. My getting sick wasn’t his fault.”
    “You