Blood Awakening by Tessa Dawn Page A

harder on her neck as he pounded
her body against the wall with violent thrusts.
    Salvatore had to give credit where credit was due.
    Zarek had quite the rhythm.
    His powerful, muscular physique was truly
something to behold as it drove in and out of the female, going deeper and
deeper with each plunge. And considering all of the grief they had been dealing
with lately, Zarek certainly deserved the distraction.
    Salvatore lay back on the bed, turning away from
the side-show long enough to consider the blood war Valentine had started with
the Silivasis. He had barely begun to replay the events when he heard a hoarse
shout, and the floor shook beneath him. When he looked up, Zarek was moaning
against the female’s neck and—damn it all to Hades—releasing every bit of the
powerful orgasm into the worthless nanny’s body.
    For the love of the Dark Lords.
    “You really want kids right now, my brother?” he
barked across the room.
    Zarek rested his head on Susan’s back, panting, while
holding her up with one arm. He slowly withdrew from her body. “What?” he groaned.
He was clearly still feeling the effects of the orgasm.
    Salvatore cleared his throat. “ A son ? Now? Is
that what you want?”
    Zarek met his brother’s gaze, and his body shook
one last time. “Not really.” He moaned and closed his eyes. “Although I have to
admit, it would be nice to be safe from the Blood Curse once and for all.” He
slowly exhaled, and when he opened his eyes again, they were glossed over.
    Salvatore shrugged his shoulders. The Blood Curse
was hardly something to worry about, not for the sons of Jaegar, anyway. For
the sons of Jadon? Yes . They had to find—and keep—one woman over an
entire lifetime, and the mating had to be accomplished in a single moon, or
they were doomed. But the sons of Jaegar could use any female to reproduce, and
it didn’t matter one lick whether or not she wanted what was about to happen to
her. Time was of no consequence. As long as an immediate sacrifice was made
from the male’s first set of twins, it was acceptable. For the Dark Ones, fulfilling
the demands of the Blood Curse was as easy as counting to three.
    As if Zarek had read his mind, he grunted, “You’re
right. It is enough that we have Derrian to take care of right now.” He glanced
toward his nephew’s crib. “It’s important that we give him the same attention Valentine”—he
swallowed hard—“ would have given him.”
    With that said, Zarek turned to Susan, kissed her thoroughly
on the mouth, then placed one hand on top of her head, the other on her chin, and
twisted in opposite directions. There was a quick snap before her lifeless body
slumped to the ground. As he zipped up his pants, he sighed. “You know,
brother, I think I love that kid like he’s my own.”
    Salvatore smiled. “As do I, Zarek.” He frowned
then. “However, I am sorry for your grief. I do know how hard this is, but I
give you my word: Even if it takes an eternity, Valentine will be avenged.”
    Zarek nodded. “Be well, my brother.”
    Salvatore watched as Zarek sauntered out the door.
    All in all, he was such a good kid.
    “Be well, Zarek.”

seven
    Nachari pulled his vintage Calypso Coral 1970 Ford
Mustang— which was in mint condition —into the parking lot of Kagen’s
clinic and slowly turned off the roaring engine. Ciopori had absolutely no idea
what all those words meant, but Nachari had mentioned them several times on the
way to the clinic. Apparently, he liked to collect the Ford Mustang automobiles
and was extremely passionate about all the special features of the machines as
well. Especially the mint condition.
    “Stay put,” he said, exiting the driver’s side
door.
    Ciopori cocked her eyebrows. “Pardon me?”
    Nachari smiled then—that breathtaking smile he
undoubtedly used to charm females of the human race into letting him feed. “Sorry.
Please, don’t go anywhere. Remember, you agreed—I have to clear it with