“Get out of here,” Dmetri said hoarsely.
The other vampire grinned but his eyes were wild, crazy. “Do stay. I’d like a dessert when I’m through with him.”
Dmetri rolled his eyes and then struck the vampire in the face. He lost his grip on Dmetri and they rolled on the ground exchanging hard, powerful blows that left her flinching.
“Leave!” Dmetri roared.
Shaking, she ran to the car and got in. Her hands shook as she searched for the keys, though it didn’t help that her eyes couldn’t stay away from the fight. The vampire pulled out a blade and landed it deep in Dmetri’s thigh. Dmetri let out a cry and then threw the vampire off.
He landed hard against the restaurant, rubble and concrete falling around him as he slid to the ground.
“Dmetri get in!” she yelled as she found the keys still hanging in the door. She turned the key in the ignition, starting it with a soft purr.
He looked at her and rolled his eyes—again. “I said get out of here. Now!” When his eyes settled on her, she saw the genuine fear in them...for her. Her heart stuttered in her chest, but she put the car in drive and sped off—without him.
Her short legs barely reached the peddles but she made it all the way to the pack in one piece. She fell apart when she saw Gerry and told him everything that happened. When she told him he had to send help, he only shook his head.
“I can’t do that. It’s a vampire fight and we have no business getting in between that.” Christine’s hand shook with the urge to slap him. She curled it into a fist instead. “What if that’s the Justicar business he’s here for. It has to be.” Gerry frowned but slowly shook his head. “Then I hope he kills him and be done with this.”
Christine growled in frustration and got back in the car. She drove to her house and sat there for a minute before she thought better of it and went to Dmetri’s cabin. She’d wait for him there, that’s what she’d do.
She turned off the car and waited.
Chapter 8
Dmetri took a hit so hard to his head he felt his teeth crack and his brain swish around in his skull.
“You’re a fucking ass, Claude.”
The vampire grinned like a fool and came at him with bared fangs. Dmetri landed a solid kick to his chest and then laid into him with a flurry of swift punches and jabs. He heard bone crack and satisfaction filled him like tasty blood.
Claude hissed then looked in disgust at his arm now dangling uselessly from the socket.
“You won’t stop me, Dmetri. I know you’re trying to protect the Kategans. I will kill them. I will have their land.”
Dmetri leaned heavily on his unwounded leg. The blood pouring out from the stab wound made a nice dark puddle around his nice loafers. Damn shame to ruin a good pair of shoes.
“You don’t need their land and you won’t get it. Do you really think the Kategan pack or the Justicars for that matter will just bow down and let you run in with your people?” Claude’s eyes bulged with rage. “I don’t think I can, I know it.”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
Claude gripped his injured shoulder and slammed it back into place with a harsh grunt.
“Kill the Kategans, then I become their Master. Their pack will answer to me.” Dmetri arched a brow then launched a surprise attack. He let his rage guide his moves.
Rage at endangering Christine, at having his interlude with her interrupted, and landed a two-footed kick into Claude’s chest. The vampire slammed against the ground just as Dmetri did. But he landed harder, jarring his injured leg and Claude was faster to react. He stood and slammed his foot down on Dmetri’s injured thigh. Dmetri grimaced but didn’t make a sound as he whipped his uninjured leg up and kicked away Claude’s foot.
The sound of laughter and car doors opening snapped Claude’s head around. He glared down at Dmetri with hate.
“This isn’t over, Dmetri.”
Dmetri stood, not about to let him get away and tackled Claude to the ground. Claude landed an elbow to his face that dislodged him off his body. Then he faded back into the night from which he came.
Dmetri stared after him then slowly came to a sitting position as he reached for his phone.
Pulling it out, he dialed Brayden’s number. The Elder wasn’t pleased with the news that Claude got away. Hell, neither was he.
“I’ll be there soon,” Brayden said then hung up.
Dmetri stood with a wince and half-walked, half-dragged his leg to stand against the restaurant. His thoughts immediately went to Christine. He licked his lips and could still taste her there. He groaned as his cock hardened like a damn rock. Luscious and sweet, she was the sexiest thing he’d ever tasted. He still couldn’t understand why he didn’t just take her body. He’d wanted to, nearly had many times but something held him back. But he hadn’t been able to keep from tasting her sex. She was smooth and soft down there and though he’d barely put his finger inside her before she started coming, he felt how tightly she gripped his finger.
He’d have her. And soon, before his balls shriveled up. His mind went back to that kiss in the restaurant. He’d never been more surprised by a woman than when she’d boldly climbed into his lap and kissed him . He always initiated contact, he controlled the play, but not with her. She was unexpected, a puzzle, and he liked it.
Sometime later a black SUV pulled into the lot and pulled up beside him. The passenger window rolled down and Brayden gave him a hard look from inside.
“Get in.”
Dmetri carefully pulled himself into the seat and slammed the door shut behind him.
Brayden looked at the wound at his leg and sighed. “Now I’ll have to get the car cleaned.”
Dmetri laughed. “Better your SUV than my BMW.”
Brayden pulled out of the lot. “What happened tonight?” Dmetri told him about the date—sticking only to the needed details. Brayden really didn’t need to know he’d been going down on her when Claude surprised him.
“And he surprised you when you got to the car?”
A nod. Brayden shot him a quizzical look, his lips pulling into a line.
“I smell sex. Who’s the woman?”
“Christine Barrows, the pack healer.”
“A lykaen. Not your usual taste. She must be one refined package.” Uncomfortable with the conversation, Dmetri stared straight ahead. “Something like that.”
“How badly do you think you injured Claude?”
His ego deflated like a popped balloon. “Not nearly enough.”
“Because you were surprised?”
“Yes,” Dmetri said in a hard voice.
They pulled up to the pack’s gate and, after getting through Gerry’s intense questioning about Brayden, he let them through. Dmetri led them to Vane’s cabin.
“You’ll need to see the healer for that wound.”
Dmetri smiled. “I’d planned on it.” Couldn’t wait actually.
It was late as Vane ushered them into his study.
“Sarina’s asleep with Vince.”
Dmetri stood so he wouldn’t bleed on the furniture. “Finally decided on a name then.” Vane grinned as any proud father would as he took a seat. “Damn right.” On a serious note, he turned to Brayden with a nod. “Tell me what happened.”
“Had a run in with Claude tonight. He’s determined to try to kill the Kategans. Thinks he’ll be able to become Alpha of the pack and combine them…if he can kill you all off.” Vane shook his head. “A vampire running a lykaen pack, I don’t know if I want to laugh or scream. Why does he want to do it?”
Brayden took a seat. Even the way he sat spoke of his previous life—a commander. He’d been in countless battles and that kind of history changed a person. He sat stiffly, unsmiling.