Keaton's Lessons [Brac Village 6] by Lynn Hagen Page A

“Hundreds.”
    “What choice do we have?” Dante asked, seeming unruffled by the turn of events. He sat back casually, his face inscrutable. “This cannot be allowed. No human that is not mated to a nonhuman should know of our existence. Have we all forgotten about Kenyon?”
    “Then we implement a total mind scrub. I’ll send my most trusted to your village and they’ll erase everyone’s knowledge in one clean sweep of the town.”
    Maverick let his upper lip curl as he gazed at Christian. “If one of your vampires harms any one of my residents, I’ll hang him from the square with his entrails leaking from his body as an example of what happens when someone fucks with one of mine.”
    “I said my most trusted, wolf. And if you issue me a threat on my own grounds again then you and I will have problems.” Christian stood, heading toward the door. “The vampires will show up tonight. Warn your men not to harm them or I’ll make an example as well.”
    The dude was getting considerably cranky in his old age. Maverick almost laughed at the miffed look on Christian’s face.
    He had another problem to deal with now that this one was being handled. Oliver and Blair were going to hit the roof…soon. He should have known better than to allow Kota to keep that news from the brothers. Shit never stayed a secret for long in his home. He couldn’t blame Keaton for his outburst, but damn.
    “I’m guessing this meeting is adjourned,” Panahasi said as he stood. “Later.”
    Maverick got up to leave as well, knowing he had a shit storm to deal with at home.
     
    * * * *
     
    Kade ran his hands through Keaton’s hair as they lay on the couch in the apartment over the diner. He had never had anything that truly belonged to him—not that he looked at Keaton as property. No, Keaton was a precious gift to him and he planned on investing in his mate. He, above anybody else, knew how something could be taken away at the drop of a hat, how circumstances could turn and take away what a person held most dear to his heart.
    His freedom had already been taken from him at one point in his life. Kade didn’t plan on losing this gorgeous man. He was going to hold on to Keaton with everything that he had—even if that meant letting his anger go. It was true what the hound had said. Kade had a lot of resentment in him for what had happened to him. He just hadn’t realized how deeply it burned inside of him until that creature had shown up.
    That deep-seated resentment had nearly cost him Keaton, and his own life. It was in his past and that was where it needed to stay.
    Keaton stirred, turning his head toward Kade, giving him that easy smile. “Hey.”
    Kade brushed his fingers over Keaton’s face, memorizing every line, every dip, and getting lost in those sapphire eyes. “How do you feel?” He next brushed his fingers over the bite wound. His cock began to thicken as he stared at where he had bitten his mate.
    “Sore,” Keaton admitted, his smile never wavering. “But good,” he added. His mate stretched, yawned, and then cuddled in closer. Kade really wasn’t used to having anyone resting in his arms. He tightened them around Keaton, luxuriating in the feel of the warm body next to his.
    He thought about the cops and knew he needed to get that cleared up, but right now Kade loathed to leave the comfort Keaton brought him.
    “Move in with me,” Keaton murmured into his neck as he placed a soft kiss on Kade’s skin. “Please.”
    Kade hadn’t been expecting Keaton to ask him. He really hadn’t thought about it. With everything else going on, he just came and went from Bishop’s. “Is that what you really want?” he asked as he stroked his hand down his mate’s naked back, playing with the slim lines of his body.
    Keaton wiggled until he was straddling Kade’s lap. The man had no clue how much Kade wanted to take his mate again. He was playing with fire. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want you to.”
    Placing