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blood.”
    A cold draft ran through him. He’d trusted Blake to keep his word. “I don’t know who told you, but that’s my business.”
    “What difference does it make who I heard it from? We would all like to find a woman to love the way Dante did, but it isn’t right. There are plenty of Vamps to pleasure us. Why do you insist on going outside of the coven?”
    He turned and started toward the staircase. “I don’t have to answer to you.”
    In a flash Luke was out of the chair and coming straight at him. “Secrets won’t put this coven back together.”
    He remembered Blake mentioning the missing women. “I’d say you have secrets of your own. Where exactly are you getting your blood supply? Dare I ask?”
    Luke pointed a finger at him. “When you start to act like a leader, I’ll treat you like one. Otherwise I owe you nothing. Don’t worry about what I do. I suggest you watch your own back.”
    His blood boiled at the obvious threat. “Why? Are you and your cohorts going to take me out? Strip me of my title? Plot all you want, but I won’t go down without a fight. If I didn’t think I was capable of running this coven, I’d have given up the title years ago. You’ll never rule here. Not so long as I’m alive.”
    Luke’s lip twitched as he spoke. “You don’t want to push me, Varick.”
    “I’m tired of this conflict between us. You’ve blamed me for things I couldn’t control. For taking Dante’s attention away from you. I was a kid.”
    “At least you acknowledge that’s what you did.”
    “For whatever reason, he felt a bond to me.”
    His eyes blazed. “One I started before you arrived. One I would still have to this day had you never come here.”
    Now he’d heard everything. “What? Do you think Dante would be alive right now?”
    “I wouldn’t have enabled his obsession for a mortal. I’d have talked some sense into him. But not you, no, you were always too busy trying to stay in his good graces. You’ve always been the one allowed to do what you wanted.”
    Through with the conversation, he started up the stairs. “You sound as immature now as you did back then. Get over it. What’s done is done.”
    “Oh, there is still much to be done.”
    He raised a brow. “Meaning?”
    Luke’s icy smile disturbed him. “Like I said. Watch your back.”
    Wearily Varick stalked to his room. So Luke wanted to challenge him. Fine. He’d be ready.

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    Aubrey slept most of the day away, not wanting to leave the spot where she and Varick had lain together. New life pumped through her blood. Awakened from some deep sleep she couldn’t before shake. She knew it was all Varick’s doing and couldn’t wait to be back in his arms.
    In mid-stretch, she glanced outside. The sky had a gray cast and black clouds billowed like smoke from a chimney. Definitely a storm coming. She propped herself up on her elbows and smiled. God he’d fucked her good.
    A quick glance at the clock made her groan and grin at the same time. It was already four o’clock, but that meant in a few hours, they’d be back in bed together.
    With most of the afternoon behind her, she decided to take a nice, long shower. The warm strands of water moved along her body in the same way Varick’s fingers had. Just thinking about his touch ignited new flames between her thighs and sent a rush of shivers across her skin.
    For once she’d stopped letting fear drive her and had done something spontaneous. She’s tended to her own needs and ignored her insecurities. If her mother had been as happy as Aubrey felt right now, she could see why she’d fought so hard to make the relationship work. Aubrey never understood before how deeply a person could love another—the kind of love where nothing else mattered. Where risks only strengthened the bond. And she knew risks were involved by being with Varick, but they were worth it. Unconventional as their love might be, she’d never been happier.
    Hair clean