Sanibel Alpha Vampire Werewolf Menage (Fanged Romance Series Book 5.5) (18 page)

“Let
’
s get Jayce inside,
”
Jude called out.
“
He was injured before he took that hit to the shoulder.  Rannan and Mabon had stabbed him with silver before he stepped foot into his meeting.
”
Jayce shook Jude off, and then Jude held up his hands.
“
What
’
s the plan then, Alpha? Are you going to go after him while you
’
re bleeding to death?
”

“I
’
ll feed.  I
’
ll hunt.
”
Jayce roared, the thunder of his anger shaking the house.
“
I want my queen!
”

“She is safe below with Ardan, can
’
t you feel her?
”
Mike brought himself down to his most human form, eyeing Jayce
’
s fusing shoulder.
“
It
’
s the silver dulling your senses. Find her inside the house. Drink from her.
”
Jayce misted inside to find Tatum. Jude followed.  

Bane appeared next to Mike, misting in his most human form.
“
What the hell was Rannan blubbering about, when he said that he had your and Tatum
’
s blood in him?
”

“It
’
s a long fucking story and he
’
s getting out of reach.
”
Mike searched the skies, his fists clenching.

Bane pressed his hand against Mike
’
s chest.
“
You just can
’
t take off on Tatum again.  Getting yourself killed after she
’
s finally accepted you isn
’
t the best laid plan.  I
’
ll strategize and bring Rannan down. It
’
s what I do.
”

“With all due respect, Beta, you can never strategize when battling crazy.  You fight it right back with your own brand of crazy.
”
He misted away with Bane calling to him, but he didn
’
t stop, not until he landed on Captiva Island.  

Maestru opened his front door right as Mike raised his hand to knock.
“
You stink of Gryph blood,
”
the Coven Master said in his patent lazy tone, his chest bare and branded with midnight wings.
“
What brings you so idiotically close to my female?
”

He handed Maestru Ciaran
’
s letter. Unlike Bren, Maestru appeared indifferent, but he
’
d had centuries to pull off the perfect poker face.
“
Coven Master, I
’
m here to request a favor from you.
”
He
’
d dealt with Maestru before, knew how the vampire worked.  
“
And if you agree, any payment required will come entirely from me, not Tatum, Jayce, or Bren,
”
he added as a careful afterthought,
“
or Ardan.
”

Only then did Maestru
’
s expression change, delivering a look of pure hatred.
“
As if I collect from infants.
”
Then the Coven Master glanced longingly up his main staircase, where Mike scented a female on the second floor.  With a sigh, Maestru then stepped outside on his porch, closing the colossal, front door behind him.  
“
You
’
re fortunate I
’
m in a reasonable mood, Dog.
”

“What am I supposed to do with you?
”
Oycher hissed in the way of vampires, his long fangs gleaming in the moonlight.  
“
You
’
re making my fangs throb.  Instead of taking a decent-sized plug out of your arrogant, werewolf ass, I will remind you that you
’
re here for a specific reason.
”
He steadied his breathing, clutched his floor-length cloak against his throat, and glided across a secretive marsh humans would never find unless the vampires allowed them access.
“
Yes, you
’
re young.  But certainly, you can control your Beast for one measly night.  How hard can it be?
”

“Are you mated, Vojak?
”

Oycher kept walking.  
“
No.
”

He could hear the edge of loneliness in the vampire
’
s simple reply. Mike was past the edge of loneliness, had jumped off that mental cliff when he
’
d screwed up with Tatum, now she was giving him another chance at life.  
“
Then how can you possibly understand how I feel?
”
Oycher stayed quiet so Mike admitted,
“
I have never stepped foot in a joint faction meeting, much less entered any realm belonging to bloodsuckers.
”

Instead of insulting Oycher, the mention of blood got the vampire
’
s stomach growling, encouraging his fangs to drip.  Still, Oycher laughed.
 “
Whether you
’
ve gone to this meeting or entered that realm, who cares? Whatever you
’
ve done before, you
’
re here now.  And now is what matters.
”
A dock appeared showing the entrance of the miasma, where a silvery shimmer slid apart.
“
You have to know that you are unwelcome here.
”
They crossed through, entering Prince Volos
’
realm.
“
A fair warning, Mike Carter, I may be the Commanding Vojak, but there
’
s only so much I can do to protect you if everything starts falling apart.
”  

Jude Faden slid through the miasma behind them, dispatching a cold stare Mike had never seen on his cousin, apart from in battle.  
“
What the fuck, Mike? I
’
m head of Tatum
’
s security, not you.  Why are you doing this?
”

“I stand corrected.
”
Oycher
’
s gliding faltered, his booted feet hitting the damp ground, the high grass instantly soaking the hem of his cloak. He shook his head dismally.
“
Bringing two pureblood werewolves in Prince Volos
’
realm, there
’
s absolutely nothing I can do to protect both of you without consequence.  No matter what Maestru ordered of me, I
’
m no one
’
s Trojan Horse.
”

Mike ignored Oycher and said to Jude,
“
You may be the head of her security, but I
’
m her Mate.  Step aside.  As far as she
’
s concerned, I have precedence.
”

“No,
”
Jude growled,
“
I do.  Tatum is the mother of the next appointed Alpha. What -
”

“Might I remind you that the next appointed Alpha is also my son?
”
Mike got up in Jude
’
s face.  He stopped short of baring his canines, his Beast still fought to challenge his cousin. But a fight amongst family wouldn
’
t resolve anything but only create undue tension.

Oycher glanced between the two, raising an amused brow though saying nothing.   

Jude
’
s face softened uncharacteristically, his silver eyes so much like Ciaran
’
s glinting in the moonlight.  
“
I swear that you
’
re trying to get yourself killed.
”

“Now, Jude, you know that won
’
t happen until I complete one final task.
”

Jude growled.
“
You
’
re not going in without backup.
”
He thrust his fingers through his caramel-colored hair and glanced back at the sliver of miasma that had already enclosed them inside serious vampire territory.  
“
Apparently, I
’
m the only real coverage you have.
”

Oycher blew them a sarcastic kiss.
“
My feelings are hurt.
”

Jude spoke over him,
“
And, Mike, just so you know, many in our family think you
’
ve maddened during your time away from your female. I
’
m starting to think that they
’
re right.
”

Ciaran hadn
’
t thought that at all, Mike mused.  In fact, his Alpha cousin had taught him to utilize his inherent powers quite effectively, plus a lesson or two about fighting dirty with prison rules. He sighed and started walking.
“
We
’
re wasting time standing here, Jude. Come on.
”

In deadened silence, they ascended marble steps in the human way, which led to a tunnel carved through soil and roots as thick as Mike
’
s forearm.  The whole underground system was horridly amazing, the intricate power pulsating all around him.  After another flight up shingle-styled steps, they reached what Mike assumed was the final surface.  Nothing could have prepared him for the majesty that was Prince Volos
’
castle. Rumors circulated, claiming this structure had been here since the beginning of time.  He cocked a brow at Jude.  Jude shook his head back, both thinking the same thing.  As amazing as their current surroundings were, they hated this, being forced to enter the Dynasty
’
s holier-than-thou court, where Dynasty Vampyrs lived in their olden ways, perpetually drunken on nearly unchallengeable power.  After all, they were the first generation of the vampire race.

Oycher motioned for them to follow. Mike stared at the moon in silence, absorbing its power, and then met Oycher
’
s orange-eyed gaze, his gait fluid yet tense. Most vampires were just as tall as werewolves but somewhat leaner in their most human forms, not Oycher. In his most human form, he was as large as most werewolves, exceptionally large for a vampire.  Understandable since Vojaks were born of warriors
’
bloodlines. Mike blinked as Oycher
’
s fangs slid down.
“
Vojak, I
’
m not your dinner.
”
Oycher smiled that particular vampire
’
s smile Mike had seen one too many times to count, and he didn
’
t like it one bit.  

“
I
’
m thirsty and horny,
”
Oycher said unabashedly.
“
I plan on finding a wet female or two once were inside, but I
’
m saving my other appetite for you two. I love the flavor of power.
”

Great, Mike and Jude owed Oycher a Blood Debt for this evening
’
s festivities.  He hated dealing with vampires, being earmarked for payments that were always set too high.  On the heels of that thought, the scent of shifty business hit his nose.  
“
Rannan has been here recently,
”
he growled, heading for an opening positioned between two limestone buildings, spying a few vampire Younglings disappearing into a sleekly hidden cavern beneath the ground. Indeed, this was the club Bane had spoken of.   
“
His scent is quite strong here. Perhaps he lives close by. Let
’
s go inside, wait, and see if he shows up.
”

“
I have a better idea.
”  
Oycher slid out his favorite short blade, flicking it in agitation with one hand, holding Mike
’
s shoulder with the other.  
“
Let
’
s have a little run-down before we enter, shall we?
”