Captiva Craving - Vampire Werewolf Menage (Six Feet Under Series Book Two) (10 page)

He slapped them, anxious for them to wake up and feed so he could get moving. With coercion, the humans offered themselves to his fellow Vojaks. The scent of prey stroked them to consciousness. He watched Kash flicker his tongue across the first male’s jugular before sinking his fangs deep into is flesh. The male shuddered almost instantly with the beginning of many orgasms to come, and Qudir worked the other with the effectiveness of an ancient Species vampire. Oycher sank into the third. As hungry as they were, the vampires were more courteous than Sixten would have been. Considering they were not rash and thoughtless savages, filled with a monstrous alien side, he suspected that had something to do with their gentle feeding.

Sixten leaned against a palm tree, keeping an eye on their environs as the Vojaks fed. Poison’s words drilled him, spiking his mind like a painful blow. Poison knew about Blythe. Through his Species side, Sixten sensed no deception in his proclamation. So he accepted his word that she was alive and Poison knew where she was or at least where to retrieve her. Fast on the heels of mental anguish, he felt a burst of hope. “She’s alive.” Only to be squashed when he realized he had no inkling where to begin finding this scroll. On top of that, if he found said scroll, the factions would expect to keep it for needed knowledge instead of negotiating for Blythe’s release. “That cannot happen,” he whispered on a salty breeze, “No…no… that
will
not happen.”

“She needs more blood. I’ve managed to obtain and administer two human pints, but Species blood would be best. Unfortunately, I’ve fed everyone injured that I can,” their doctor said wearily. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of casualties. The few immortal drops she’s received by Ryan and me have kept her alive so far, but it’s not enough to heal her extensive wounds.”

Maestru held up his wrist. “I give freely to you, my child.”

“Thank you for your offer, my Master, but there are others here” - Dru flicked his whiskey-colored gaze at Dakota - “who could better benefit from your essence. Besides, I’m headed home to see my wife before we fly her out of the danger zone. Renee will feed me.”

“You know my vampires’ needs are above any human’s life,” he responded, a deep line of concern marring his forehead.

“Arian and Bane, my co-mates, will be home, as well. Their blood is always mine if I’m in need,” Dru spoke quietly, putting the last vile of Dakota’s morphine inside his bag. “I’ll be set to return sometime after nightfall, but don’t hesitate to call me if necessity dictates. That courtesy extends to Dakota. Also, I’ll grab her additional pain meds alongside human blood before returning.”

“Dru,” he implored, his smile a bit melancholy, “are you sure you can mist in your weakened state?”

“Yes, Master,” replied Dru as he disappeared into air, “I’m sure.”

“I don’t want you near her.” Rock stepped through the door, skirting around and blocking Maestru. His cadence was laced with an unhealthy dose of bitterness, his oversized werewolf body now planted between Maestru and Dakota’s sickbed.

“We’re standing in a
joint
faction recovery center.”

The Marco Island facilities currently overflowed with recovering Vojaks, soldiers, and immortal civilians. Without any additional means available, injured members from the North American Werewolf pack were convalescing in the same digs as vampires. No internal fights had broken out yet, but things could always get more interesting as time moved on. Interesting was an understatement when considering Dakota, since she was the first human ever allowed in such a facility. After her Habaline attacker ravaged her throat, they could not save her without Dr. Holt’s intervention. Lacking another choice, Rock brought her here.

Now he stood as her protector.

Or did he always consider himself in that position?

“A human nestled among hundreds of blood drinkers.” Blue eyes narrowed, his canines peekin on a knowing laugh. “Ah, vampire, imagine my dilemma?”

Self-elected protector or not, Maestru would not allow a werewolf to stop him. “You know who I am and what I can do,” he spoke calmly out of respect for Dakota’s sleeping state. “I can enter any room in this facility without your permission. After all, where’s the fun in being a
leader
if you don’t get to do exactly what you want?”

“You’ve taken your position too literally.”

“Have I?” He feigned outrage. “It seems you’re the only one who has noticed. As you may have
also
noticed, I’m concerned for this human’s survival. After Dakota’s attack, I allowed you to take her, which placed her under my Coven’s obligation.”

“
Allowed
?” Rock curled a dark brow.

“By my declaration, she is bound to my Coven until I say otherwise.”

No words left Rock’s mouth, but his Beast flashed, igniting the room on a slow current. Proud, werewolf eyes studied Maestru’s obsidian ones with cool calculation, one creature to another. Their periwinkle color, so much like cloudless, summer days, did not fool Maestru whatsoever. Werewolves’ eyes tended to change with their moods. A predator unlike the world has truly seen paced behind them, luring its prey. Nevertheless, Maestru would never be Rock’s prey. Whether the werewolf could admit to it or not, even to himself,
Dakota
was.

Maestru had other plans.

Dakota deserved more than being Rock’s chew toy.

He took another step, and as he did, the Beast flickered towards mid-transformation. “I’m assuming,” said Maestru evenly, “that if she were your celestially given mate, you would be in your most dangerous form by now.” Sarcasm at its finest, no werewolf would allow a vampire this close to his mate unless the two were tightknit friends.

“What she is to me makes no difference.” Rock snarled, “Don’t go near her.”

Maestru released an exasperated sigh. “So I had you poisoned and took your queen,
get over it
.” Rock headed the queen’s security detail, and in that instance, he failed miserably.

“I hold no special regard for the spoiled and arrogant.” Rock shook his head. “Those who cherish nothing yet expect everything. It’s no secret you will eventually fall by the Alpha’s bite.”

How would he know what Maestru cherished? “Your queen is fine.”

Their heads were leaning close, noses nearly touching. Rock’s heavily muscled frame readied to go the distance. “Are you telling me Tatum is your only crime?”

“My patience is lost on you,” Maestru enunciated while ignoring his look of fury. “Move.”

“When Jayce brings you down - ”

“I’ll take you down with me,” he snapped, dismissing Rock with a wave of his hand. Even if they were not natural-born enemies, a male like Rock would never want Maestru hovering over a female he desired.
More’s the pity
, since Maestru also desired Dakota, felt an instant attraction to her when they met at Six Feet Under. And even though he wouldn’t claim her in a sexual way, selfishly bringing her into his dangerous immortal life as a Coven Master’s mate, he would never step back and allow another immortal to claim her. Last night was a narrow escape for the human, way too close. There would be no repeats with her. None. Seeing as the Coven Master always got what he wanted, he wasn’t too worried about Rock’s posturing over her.

“No taking me down, vampire. I have no idea where you get your notions,” Rock said a touch too sedately for his tastes. “But here’s a little heads up for you.” He smiled, baring his thick canines. “Watch your fucking fangs, last pair you lost is tacked on the bulletin board in my office.”

Maestru would never live that down. If he ever got his hands on Gage MacGelton… Ah, the Beast was a smart one, causing him to overthink and diverting his mind elsewhere. “Step away, I near this human as is my right, werewolf.”

“No formalities are needed, Coven Master, please proceed,” Ryan said, appearing behind Rock and looking worse than he expected.

Maestru brushed by Rock, glaring. “You’re kind of pushy.”

“You’re kind of an asshole,” he shot back.

He let his obsidian gaze roam Ryan. “You need to feed more.”

“I lost a lot of blood.”

“Take from me.” He looked at the towering werewolf. “You can excuse us.”

“Not while she’s here,” Rock replied, crossing his mammoth arms over his chest. Now wasn’t the time to continue arguing. Dakota’s heartbeat skittered, struggling at some points or skipping altogether.

He remembered what Dru said about the scant drops of Species blood, which kept her alive. “You haven’t been
feeding
her your Species blood, have you, Ryan?” Maestru hoped Ryan would realize how dangerous it was to donate to a human when he did not have a drop to spare. In addition, he didn’t want any bonding going on between his subordinate vampire and Dakota.

“A few drops from my wrist,” Ryan said, raking long fingers through his blue-black hair, so similar in color and texture to Maestru’s own. “I couldn’t push any blood to the surface.”

“Because you have none to spare,” he said. “I do.”

“Not gonna happen, bloodsucker,” Rock declared, ignoring Ryan’s flinch.

“At the risk of her death?” Maestru asked. Not that he was going to listen, but he had to hear it from Rock’s lips that he’d rather her
die
than to drink from him.

“Ryan can feed and come back to her.”

“It will take hours and many feedings, Rock,” Ryan said solemnly, twirling his tongue through his lip ring. “She’s struggled for her life all night, while the others were fighting. I wasn’t in any shape to leave her side, knitting back my own body took everything I had. You must realize that her throat,” he hissed in the way vampires do, “won’t close from the Habaline’s feeding bites.”

The freed mixed bloods had attacked her, taken Dakota inside a dumpster behind the club, and had at her blood while Ryan fought to get to her. If it were not for Rock, she would be dead. If she had never worked for Six Feet Under in the first place, she would not be on her deathbed.

Maestru watched as Ryan pulled his shirt overhead, leaving his torso bare. His vampire skin was marred with savage claws, white blood and lumpy tissue oozing through each opening. Countless puncture holes dotted his stomach, and Maestru suspected went past his waistline. He could not imagine the pain Ryan was in, and judging by his pasty pallor, it was overwhelming. “Take my vein,” he offered again. “I didn’t realize you remained this damaged.”

“Thank you for your offering, Coven Master, but I prefer to hunt,” Ryan said, though looking straight at Rock. “If it is still your will, feed the human instead.”

“Of course, I will feed her.”

Ryan’s eyes never wavered, taking in Rock’s dangerous demeanor, before tossing on a clean shirt. “I’ll go out, and Rock will come with me.”

“Like hell.” Rock’s jaw set, his hands clutching at his thighs.

“I will not leave her until you return,” Maestru promised.

“You have a war going on out there!” Rock held out his arm. “Whether you want her or not, humans are a passing phase to your kind. You’ll
always
leave her unprotected if the need presents itself.”

“He won’t,” Ryan argued. “I would
never
leave her if I thought…anything close to what happened to her last night would repeat itself. On top of that, I need you at my back while I feed, Rock. What better hands to leave Dakota in, than a vampire who has endless abilities? Meaning, my Master’s blood is more powerful than mine will ever be. Do
not
torch the only bridge she needs to cross in order to stay alive. Let her have his gift. Let it go. For now, man,” he pleaded wearily. “We all know she’s not yours.”

After another glance at Dakota, Rock moved by, pushing into Maestru’s shoulder in a childish way. But he let it slide. “About the club, I sent many from the Coven to assist your reopening.”

“Thank you,” said Ryan, following Rock out.

“Go,” ordered Maestru, removing his outer coat. “Go feed. I smell three humans nearing the tunnel.” In long distances, his predatory sense was more precise than Ryan’s was. “Feed and then wipe them.” He smiled when Ryan’s fangs punch down in anticipation. “One is female.”

Maestru watched them leave. Ryan placing his trust in his Master’s healing abilities was spot-on. Some of Rock’s concerns were legitimate, though no one would hear him admit it.

He peeled his black shirt over his body, his chest bare except for a jet-black trail leading from his navel to his hardening cock. “Sadly,” he spoke gently to an unconscious Dakota, “as you have recently witnessed, there are others in your world who are not human. I am one of them. In that inhuman grouping,
I
am one of a few predators who have you in their sites. By no means is that a good thing.” A wave of his hand released a locking ward no one could penetrate short of the North American Alpha, a hidden veil for privacy now pulsating over the steel door.

He scented her, watching her bountiful chest with growing frustration. “Delicate Dakota, the second I turn my back, a hungry werewolf is pissing circles around you.” On the bed, he eased next to her, his hip gently touching hers. “He collects hearts, and you would be Rock’s latest kill, if I choose not to intervene.” His hand came around, palm flattening next to her shoulder. “More than vampires ever do, Beasts smell blood in the water. Never give him yours. Keep your blood, your soul, your will to remain human, and you will be fine. No matter what he says, he’s in it for
himself
. Whatever tomorrow will bring, no trusting Rock, okay?”

Maestru touched Dakota’s face tenderly, bringing her battered wrist to his nose. “While this old vampire is handing out pertinent advice usually only reserved for his kind, I must confess that all things in a vampiric world require payment. Nothing is free.” He inhaled over her stuttering pulse point. “And even in my position of authority, I cannot absolve you of this blood debt, though these grossly unfortunate circumstances were not, by any means, your fault.” His irises swallowed the whites, a Species dazzled by her scent. “But when is life ever fair? I’ve never known it to be, and I have lived far longer than you.”