She found Andrew standing guard in the hall when she left her room. He smiled a greeting.
“Have you seen Sophia?” Drake asked.
“She just came in a few minutes ago. I think she’s in the laboratory.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Prima.”
Drake halted. “I’m sorry?”
Andrew looked confused.
“You called me something. Prima?”
“Oh,” Andrew said, his face clearing. His blue eyes sparkled.
“I’ll have to tell Roger he’s falling down on his job. He should have explained all of this to you.”
“Explained what?”
“As the Alpha’s mate you are the Prima—equivalent within Pack hierarchy to the Alpha. The only one more dominant is the Alpha herself.” He shrugged. “There can only be one Alpha, one leader.
Because you are the Alpha’s mate and essential to her strength and well-being, the centuri are bound to protect you as we would her. As will all the Pack.”
Drake couldn’t deny her bond with Sylvan. She wouldn’t deny it. She loved her. She had claimed her. And Sylvan had claimed her.
“I guess I don’t have any say in all that, do I?”
Andrew grinned.
“I’m afraid not.” His expression grew more serious. “It’s not just Pack law, or even a matter of instinct. Our entire existence is dependent upon our preserving hierarchical order. We are predators, and without a strong Alpha, our society will fail. We need her. She needs you.”
“Does everyone know we’re bonded?” Drake asked, wondering what would happen if she had to leave.
“Yes, we can feel your connection to the Alpha, just as we feel her. And the two of you—your scents have merged.” He regarded her thoughtfully. “Can you feel the Pack?”
“Yes,” Drake said. “I have since Sylvan first called my wolf, but it’s much stronger now. It’s like looking up into the night sky at thousands of stars and knowing that I am indelibly linked to each one. I may be standing alone, but I am never isolated, never adrift. I’m connected.”
“Exactly. And the strongest, brightest guiding star is the Alpha.”
“Sylvan.” Drake felt a moment of rightness, as if she was exactly where she was supposed to be, doing exactly what she was born to do. Free from fear and worry for the first time in so long, she took a step forward, about to throw her arm around Andrew’s shoulders. He suddenly looked panicked and jumped back.
“I’m sorry,” Drake said.
“No,” Andrew said hastily. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve wanted to touch you since you came out of the room. It’s natural for us to bond that way. But you and the Alpha are newly mated, and newly mated dominants are even more territorial and aggressive than is usual for a mated pair. And she’s the Alpha. If she smells me on you…” He grinned. “I would like to keep all my parts intact.” Drake imagined anyone touching Sylvan, and her possessive fury surged so hot and hard that she growled. She wanted Sylvan’s taste in her mouth. Now. “I understand.” Andrew clearly sensed her need because he said quickly, “She’s with Lara, if you would like me to take you to her.”
“No, I know she has things to tend to. And so do I. If she’s looking for me—”
“She’ll know where you are. She’ll always know where you are.”
“Will she?” Drake said softly, wondering if she had any future with Sylvan at all.
Sylvan eased into the room and took in the figures on the bed.
Jody sat with her back against the wall. Her shirt was open and her breasts bare. Lara and a naked human female Sylvan didn’t recognize reclined in Jody’s lap, their limbs sinuously entwined. They appeared to be asleep.
“The sun is almost down,” Sylvan said.
“I know.” Jody stroked Lara’s hair. Lara rumbled in her sleep, a typical Were sound of pleasure, and caressed the dark-haired human’s breast. “Lara’s sleep cycles will be erratic for a few days. She’ll wake again soon, hungry.”
“We need to talk.”
“Yes.” Jody gently disengaged and strode over to Sylvan. “Marissa will not be able to host much longer. I want to take Lara back to the city with me tonight.”
“To hunt?”
“Yes. She needs to be supervised while she learns to feed.”
“How long?”
Jody raised a brow. “You expect her to come back?”
“Of course.” Sylvan had felt Lara wake and knew Lara was listening. “She’s my wolf, my centuri. This is where she belongs.”
“She’s a Vampire of my house.”
Sylvan growled. “Do you challenge me, Vampire?”
Jody met Sylvan’s stare impassively.
“She must feed to live. She’ll be nocturnal and photosensitive. She might not be able to shift.”
“Then let me die,” Lara pleaded.
Sylvan swung in her direction, letting her wolf rise. “Your wolf lives. I can feel her.”
“Alpha,” Lara said brokenly, “if I can’t serve you and the Pa—” Sylvan vaulted across the room and gripped Lara’s chin, forcing Lara’s eyes to hers. “Feel my call. Your wolf lives. ” Lara shuddered and for a few seconds, her whiskey eyes turned amber gold. Then she flinched and grabbed her abdomen, unable to stifle a cry. “I hurt. Alpha, I’m so cold.”
“I know.” Sylvan knelt and pulled Lara’s head to her chest. She kissed her and stroked her cheek. “I know. That’s why I want you to go with Jody.” When Lara murmured a protest, Sylvan shook her lightly.
“Until you’ve learned to control your hunger and how to satisfy it.” Lara raised tormented eyes to Sylvan’s, tears streaking her cheeks.
“I’d rather die than leave the Pack.”
Sylvan framed her face and kissed her forehead. “Do you feel me in your heart?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“I hold you in mine. I will not let you go. You will return to us.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Laura buried her face in Sylvan’s neck.
Sylvan cradled her, caressing her trembling shoulders, and looked over at Jody. “If any harm comes to her—”
“None will,” Jody said with absolute certainty. “You’d do better to worry about yourself.”
“Lara needs to feed,” Sylvan said, feeling Lara’s questing mouth hot against her throat. Gently, she eased Lara back onto the bed. Lara’s eyes blazed wildly and her incisors unsheathed. Snarling, she rolled over onto Marissa, who immediately reached for her.
“You need me, baby?” Marissa murmured, guiding Lara to her neck. She moaned, her head falling back, as Lara sank into her. Her hips rolled as the rich scent of copper filled the air.
Sylvan moved away from the bed and joined Jody on the far side of the room. “Will they be safe if we go out into the hall?” Jody shivered almost imperceptibly and dragged her gaze away from Lara’s avid feeding. “For a few minutes. Then I’ll have to stop her.” They stepped outside and Sylvan took in Jody’s haunted look.
She’d seen Francesca with the same expression too many times not to recognize it. “How much longer can you contain your bloodlust?”
“I’m all right,” Jody said. “I’ll feed when I get Lara back to the city.”
“Such honor is unusual for a Vampire,” Sylvan said dryly.
“But then, we find ourselves in an unusual situation.” Jody laughed. “Your second thinks I tried to have you assassinated.”
“Did you?”
“If I wanted you dead, Wolf,” Jody said, “I’d do it myself.”