Chapter One
Warriors, leather-clad fighting machines with arsenals of
weapons deftly hidden beneath their coats. They were gladiators who fought to
the death and belonged in an arena.
Not striding through a hotel lobby in Amish Country.
That’s where Alek Foress had found himself twenty-odd years
ago protecting Nikolaus, the Kind prince. In fucking Lancaster County.
All these years later, back in the California high desert,
he was still addicted to the bastard’s blood and there were times he swore he
smelled like a stinking lion.
“Damn you’re in a nasty mood.” His friend’s laughter rang
out in the little corner of the club Alek had chosen to hide in. The sound
scraped his already raw nerves. “You striped beasts always smelled worse than
us.”
“Case, I don’t need any shit from you.” From the corner of
his eye Alek saw Tres heading their way. He took in her green hair and curvy
body before facing Case. The man grinned widely as his mate approached, a grin
that reminded Alek he’d done the right thing by hiring Tres to handle Case’s
club. Initially his friend had objected to his swanky voyeur club being run by
a snow leopard shifter with green hair. But the spunky little cat had won the
white lion’s heart and soul.
“You both stink and have fleas.” Tres had read her mate’s
mind. “Damn warm cats.”
“Hey, baby.” Case’s large hands encircled Tres’ waist.
Alek slouched deeper into the chair as he watched Case pull
his mate into his lap. These two were one of the happiest couples he knew. They
were also part of the reason for his frame of mind.
Alek would never have a mate or know the kind of happiness
they shared.
Case nibbled on Tres’ neck and lifted her up. “Can you see
to things for a bit? I need to talk to Alek.”
She leaned in and kissed Case on the lips. “I’m famished and
unless you want me biting a customer, don’t be too long.”
“Greedy wench. I’ll take care of you later.”
Alek watched her disappear down the hallway of the Looking
Glass. He spun on Case and cut him down before he started.
“Here’s where you tell me so what if I have lion’s blood
running through my veins and you’re going to give me the bullshit about being
lucky I have a tie to the royal family.” He lifted his glass, downed the Wild
Turkey and fixed Case with a deadly stare. “How would you feel walking around
for twenty damn years with a hard-on for a fucking male cat?” Lips drawn into a
grimace, he ground the words between clenched teeth, “We don’t screw males.”
Standing, he leaned and banged both hands flat down on the table. Alek lowered
himself until he was eye to eye with his friend. “And now would not be the time
to tell me to ‘relax, it’s the vampyre blood’ or ‘it’s no big deal’.” He
straightened up, planning to leave.
His head flew back with a snap and his body was flung down
into the chair. It tipped back precariously on two legs.
“I haven’t said anything yet.” Case glared at him with
gleaming red eyes. “But someone needs to so you can get on with your life and
stop this bullshit.”
“What the hell was that?” Alek rubbed his jaw.
“That was a white lion full of vampyre piss and vinegar
trying to save his best friend from a life of loneliness.”
He sat back and studied Case Tangara. He’d known he had
strength but hadn’t suspected anything like this. For now, his only option was
to listen.
Alek and Case were both part of the Kind species of big cats
infected with blood of the undead. Both served as Sovereign warriors, known as
the Reign, to protect the weaker of their brethren—the Sovereign Kind cats who
refused to accept the vampyre way of life by ingesting human blood. They were
animals and it was what they wanted to remain.
Case continued, “We are what we are. Embrace your vamp
powers and deal with it.”
Alek’s mind wandered as Case babbled on about it being okay
if a man wanted to make love to another
Warriors, leather-clad fighting machines with arsenals of
weapons deftly hidden beneath their coats. They were gladiators who fought to
the death and belonged in an arena.
Not striding through a hotel lobby in Amish Country.
That’s where Alek Foress had found himself twenty-odd years
ago protecting Nikolaus, the Kind prince. In fucking Lancaster County.
All these years later, back in the California high desert,
he was still addicted to the bastard’s blood and there were times he swore he
smelled like a stinking lion.
“Damn you’re in a nasty mood.” His friend’s laughter rang
out in the little corner of the club Alek had chosen to hide in. The sound
scraped his already raw nerves. “You striped beasts always smelled worse than
us.”
“Case, I don’t need any shit from you.” From the corner of
his eye Alek saw Tres heading their way. He took in her green hair and curvy
body before facing Case. The man grinned widely as his mate approached, a grin
that reminded Alek he’d done the right thing by hiring Tres to handle Case’s
club. Initially his friend had objected to his swanky voyeur club being run by
a snow leopard shifter with green hair. But the spunky little cat had won the
white lion’s heart and soul.
“You both stink and have fleas.” Tres had read her mate’s
mind. “Damn warm cats.”
“Hey, baby.” Case’s large hands encircled Tres’ waist.
Alek slouched deeper into the chair as he watched Case pull
his mate into his lap. These two were one of the happiest couples he knew. They
were also part of the reason for his frame of mind.
Alek would never have a mate or know the kind of happiness
they shared.
Case nibbled on Tres’ neck and lifted her up. “Can you see
to things for a bit? I need to talk to Alek.”
She leaned in and kissed Case on the lips. “I’m famished and
unless you want me biting a customer, don’t be too long.”
“Greedy wench. I’ll take care of you later.”
Alek watched her disappear down the hallway of the Looking
Glass. He spun on Case and cut him down before he started.
“Here’s where you tell me so what if I have lion’s blood
running through my veins and you’re going to give me the bullshit about being
lucky I have a tie to the royal family.” He lifted his glass, downed the Wild
Turkey and fixed Case with a deadly stare. “How would you feel walking around
for twenty damn years with a hard-on for a fucking male cat?” Lips drawn into a
grimace, he ground the words between clenched teeth, “We don’t screw males.”
Standing, he leaned and banged both hands flat down on the table. Alek lowered
himself until he was eye to eye with his friend. “And now would not be the time
to tell me to ‘relax, it’s the vampyre blood’ or ‘it’s no big deal’.” He
straightened up, planning to leave.
His head flew back with a snap and his body was flung down
into the chair. It tipped back precariously on two legs.
“I haven’t said anything yet.” Case glared at him with
gleaming red eyes. “But someone needs to so you can get on with your life and
stop this bullshit.”
“What the hell was that?” Alek rubbed his jaw.
“That was a white lion full of vampyre piss and vinegar
trying to save his best friend from a life of loneliness.”
He sat back and studied Case Tangara. He’d known he had
strength but hadn’t suspected anything like this. For now, his only option was
to listen.
Alek and Case were both part of the Kind species of big cats
infected with blood of the undead. Both served as Sovereign warriors, known as
the Reign, to protect the weaker of their brethren—the Sovereign Kind cats who
refused to accept the vampyre way of life by ingesting human blood. They were
animals and it was what they wanted to remain.
Case continued, “We are what we are. Embrace your vamp
powers and deal with it.”
Alek’s mind wandered as Case babbled on about it being okay
if a man wanted to make love to another
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