postcard from Yellowstone,” Dee McCoy told her leader.
“Make it a Christmas card,” Strahan replied. “Dress warm,” he added.
The vampire and the witch left, physically together but mentally far apart. Why on earth had Strahan assigned them to work together on an op far away from the rest of the Dark Angels when the pair so clearly detested each other?
To teach them to work together, obviously
, Strahan thought at her.
Of course. Discipline. Authority. He’d used sex on her to assert leadership and was now usingisolation on this pair.
You really are a first-class total control freak, even for a Prime
, she thought.
A female of the species would know.
She didn’t argue; running a vampire Clan was similar to commanding a military unit. She was slated to become a Matri, so maybe she could learn a few tips from this martinet.
There was a plate stacked with toast and a platter with some bacon and scrambled eggs. Francesca made herself a sandwich out of the leftovers, and she leaned against the sink, her back absorbing warmth from the window behind her. The winter sunlight was feeble even by Southern California standards, but she loved the feel of it.
What on earth had it been like to be a vampire before the daylight drugs? It didn’t bear thinking about. No wonder the Tribe boys were so mean. And angry about having to do without the miracles of science unless they gave up their own ancient, evil ways.
She ate, sipped coffee, and watched the master of the Dark Angels as he dealt with one after another of his cohorts and sent them on their way. It occurred to her after a while that she was going unnoticed. She’d been so busy appreciating the fine figure of Tobias Strahan that it took her a while to realize she wasn’t being watched, leered at, or come on to by any Prime in the room.
Because Strahan had marked her as his?
Oh, please.
But it seemed to be working.
She wasn’t the object of anyone’s lust. She liked it.
You most certainly are a lust object
, Strahan thought.
You don’t count.
I’m the
only
one who counts.
She thought about arguing but kept her thoughts and words to herself for now. She respected the command structure of the Dark Angels enough not to challenge Strahan in front of his people, waiting for her chance to get Strahan alone.
Flare didn’t like being the center of the universe? Tobias hid his surprise at this revelation. He thought he must have been mistaken at thinking that was what he’d picked up from the most beautiful woman in the world. Who knew she was the most beautiful woman in the world and took Primes worshipping at her feet as her due.
Or maybe he’d just imagined that.
Her relief at being left alone? Or her regal acceptance of being the center of the universe?
He wanted to ask her which was the real Flare and probably couldn’t stop himself from doingso even though it would be smarter to leave her alone. One of the problems with two beings trying to meld into a bond was the instinctive compulsion to learn everything there was to know about each other. His curiosity was killing him when he needed to concentrate on more important things.
If he was lucky he’d gotten Flare pregnant last night and she could be sent away to a safe haven. But would he be able to put the need for her aside, for even a little while? He was tough, he’d cope.
Until she came crawling back begging to be with him.
Or vice versa, he admitted ruefully.
They hadn’t shared blood. She’d been smart to insist that they not taste each other. That would help slow the bonding. But if she wasn’t already pregnant he’d continue to have sex with her until she was. At some point blood was bound to become a part of the equation. He could hardly wait.
Calm down, boy.
For a moment Tobias wasn’t sure whether the thought was his or hers. He shook his head and forced himself to concentrate on business.
“Tell Ed I want a sweep of the Citadel ASAP, Tsuke.”
The Japanese werefox made a
“Make it a Christmas card,” Strahan replied. “Dress warm,” he added.
The vampire and the witch left, physically together but mentally far apart. Why on earth had Strahan assigned them to work together on an op far away from the rest of the Dark Angels when the pair so clearly detested each other?
To teach them to work together, obviously
, Strahan thought at her.
Of course. Discipline. Authority. He’d used sex on her to assert leadership and was now usingisolation on this pair.
You really are a first-class total control freak, even for a Prime
, she thought.
A female of the species would know.
She didn’t argue; running a vampire Clan was similar to commanding a military unit. She was slated to become a Matri, so maybe she could learn a few tips from this martinet.
There was a plate stacked with toast and a platter with some bacon and scrambled eggs. Francesca made herself a sandwich out of the leftovers, and she leaned against the sink, her back absorbing warmth from the window behind her. The winter sunlight was feeble even by Southern California standards, but she loved the feel of it.
What on earth had it been like to be a vampire before the daylight drugs? It didn’t bear thinking about. No wonder the Tribe boys were so mean. And angry about having to do without the miracles of science unless they gave up their own ancient, evil ways.
She ate, sipped coffee, and watched the master of the Dark Angels as he dealt with one after another of his cohorts and sent them on their way. It occurred to her after a while that she was going unnoticed. She’d been so busy appreciating the fine figure of Tobias Strahan that it took her a while to realize she wasn’t being watched, leered at, or come on to by any Prime in the room.
Because Strahan had marked her as his?
Oh, please.
But it seemed to be working.
She wasn’t the object of anyone’s lust. She liked it.
You most certainly are a lust object
, Strahan thought.
You don’t count.
I’m the
only
one who counts.
She thought about arguing but kept her thoughts and words to herself for now. She respected the command structure of the Dark Angels enough not to challenge Strahan in front of his people, waiting for her chance to get Strahan alone.
Flare didn’t like being the center of the universe? Tobias hid his surprise at this revelation. He thought he must have been mistaken at thinking that was what he’d picked up from the most beautiful woman in the world. Who knew she was the most beautiful woman in the world and took Primes worshipping at her feet as her due.
Or maybe he’d just imagined that.
Her relief at being left alone? Or her regal acceptance of being the center of the universe?
He wanted to ask her which was the real Flare and probably couldn’t stop himself from doingso even though it would be smarter to leave her alone. One of the problems with two beings trying to meld into a bond was the instinctive compulsion to learn everything there was to know about each other. His curiosity was killing him when he needed to concentrate on more important things.
If he was lucky he’d gotten Flare pregnant last night and she could be sent away to a safe haven. But would he be able to put the need for her aside, for even a little while? He was tough, he’d cope.
Until she came crawling back begging to be with him.
Or vice versa, he admitted ruefully.
They hadn’t shared blood. She’d been smart to insist that they not taste each other. That would help slow the bonding. But if she wasn’t already pregnant he’d continue to have sex with her until she was. At some point blood was bound to become a part of the equation. He could hardly wait.
Calm down, boy.
For a moment Tobias wasn’t sure whether the thought was his or hers. He shook his head and forced himself to concentrate on business.
“Tell Ed I want a sweep of the Citadel ASAP, Tsuke.”
The Japanese werefox made a
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