Primal Kill (The Order of Vampires #5)

“Maybe you used compulsion?—”

“I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that when you so adamantly said no. Besides, you blocked me, remember?”

Juniper inspected her reflection in the mirror. Her bruises were fading fast. And where were the claw marks on her back?

“Juniper, what aren’t you telling me?”

She was like them—half witch, half… Her eyes closed, refusing to admit the truth. She had questions, questions maybe Adriel could answer, but she suddenly wasn’t sure if she could trust her.

Tightening the towel around her body, she faced Adriel. “I’m better now. Sorry about…scaring you. Sometimes you just gotta scream, you know?”

Adriel frowned.

She was a witch. But she was also half-immortal. How the hell did that add up to some small, four-footed, catlike creature with claws? Maybe she hallucinated that part.

“Juniper, you’re white as a ghost.”

Aunt Venus warned her that she would experience “growing pains” once she reached adulthood. Was that what this was? She met Adriel’s stare but didn’t know where to begin, so she lied, “I think I’m just cold. I need to find clothes and get dressed.”

Adriel studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “All right. But if you want to talk about what’s bothering you, I’m here.”

CHAPTER 11

“The visions are making me insane!” Darius paced about the cavernous room lit only by the flames of the crackling fire and candles scattered throughout. Lumira’s lithe body, ensconced in snowy silks, stretched across the chaise as she watched him.

“Darling, stop prowling. You’re worrying for nothing. If she’s immortal, you’ll have plenty of time to claim her.” The Luna trailed an inviting hand over the ancient furs that draped to the floor. “Come sit with me. Let me distract you from your doubts.”

Darius studied the beloved Luna, her beauty as familiar and comforting as her scent. Her nurturing nature called to him but was not enough to distract him from more pressing preoccupations like finding his mate.

The visions had him confused and restless, crawling out of his skin with a sense of urgency,while an order from his infuriating brother demanded he stay put. Lumira, understanding more than anyone how bullheaded their Alpha could be, desired to put Darius at ease, but he didn’t want distractions. He wanted to find his mate and claim her so his life could get back to normal.

“Darius, darling, your frustration comes at an unnecessary cost. Come here.”

Lumira was not simply a female of the pack. She was also the mate of his eldest brother, Evander. As mate to the Alpha, she served as Evander’s equal. There could only be one alpha and only one luna.

Despite his body’s urges, his mind was divided, torn between the desire to please the Luna and the need to claim his mate. Drawn by her enchanting invitation, he drifted closer to the chaise. Her white blonde hair draped over the fur temptingly, and his fingers itched to wrap the silken weight around his hands.

Lumira lifted an arm, her dainty nails delicately curling through the air as she beckoned him closer. “Sit with me. I’ll tell you a story, and you can comfort me while your brother’s away on the hunt.”

He should have gone with his pack brothers, but he was too angry to bear Evander’s arrogance. Their infuriating stubbornness had sentenced him to yet another winter without his mate.

“My mate is out there and she’s upset. I senseher fear and worry, but I can’t reach her. She’s distraught, and for what purpose? I’m here and prepared to go to her. If she’s in danger, I could protect her. But the others?—”

“Hush.” She pulled back the silk draped over her legs, revealing a long expanse of lush, ivory flesh. “You’re worked up, and that helps nothing.”

He lowered to the chaise and dragged his hands through his black hair, groaning in frustration. “They should be relieved to have another female.”

“Darius, your brothers are creatures of habit.” Her sharp nails teased the exposed skin around his collar. “They hunt and mate. Right now, with the way things have been, feeding is harder than ever. Technology limits us, and we must make due. We cannot risk others discovering our secrets. You must trust your Alpha and heed his call for patience. Evander knows what is best.”

All of his life, Darius believed that was true. He trusted his family and dutifully followed Evander wherever he led, as did his other brothers, Atticus and Emmerich. But this time was different.

Instinct pulled him in another direction while his loyalty held him here. His inability to stray from the pack left him aching for his mate. Without their approval, he could only endure the agony of knowing she was also suffering. His divided loyalties were tearing him in two.

“If he’d at least let me answer her.” His head pounded.

“You know that’s not how this works.” She raked her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to rest on her full breasts.

She was softening, her milk no longer as fragrant as it had been a week ago. Last spring, when she’d given birth to a small litter, she’d been radiant and full of life. Now, the whelps were able to sleep on their own, and Evander insisted she no longer coddle the pups. Darius sensed she mourned the loss of their constant presence and needed comfort.