Drantos (VLG Series Book 1) (20 page)

“Is she sensitive to the sun?”

“Thankfully, no.”

“Her mother didn’t tell them
anything
about us?”

Anger stirred again. “Not a damn word. Dusti thought I was insane when I tried to tell her about VampLycans, until we ran into someone from Decker’s clan. She got to see a shifted enforcer.”

“Shit.” Red tensed, going on alert. “He has clan in the area? We haven’t come across any of them.”

“I took on one, and two of them found Kraven. I take it more of our people are nearby?”

“Yeah. We split up to cover more ground to search for you.”

Drantos reached out his hand. “Can I borrow your jacket? She had to flee across the river and only has my shirt to wear. She can’t keep her own body heat worth a damn.”

Red shrugged it off and passed it over. “You know this is going to cause a stir when we get back home. Not only are these women mostly human, but they’re Decker’s blood. That isn’t exactly going to endear them to anyone.”

“Marvilella was from our clan. They carry her blood too.”

“I’d forgotten about that.”

“Let’s hope everyone else hasn’t—or I’ll remind them.”

Drantos spun away and approached Dusti. She shivered in her sleep and he couldn’t miss the gooseflesh that covered her arms and legs. He dropped to his knees and crouched over her.

“Dusti? Wake up. My clan has found us.”

She was slow to wake and it worried him. He opened the jacket. “Dusti. Wake up.” He used a sterner tone and her eyes parted. Confusion was easy to read while she peered up at him. He showed her the jacket. “Put this on.”

That got her moving. She sat up and allowed him to wrap her in the jacket. It didn’t sit well with him, smelling Red on Dusti, but keeping her warm was more important. He helped her to her feet and then scooped her into his arms, careful to keep her modesty.

“Curl into me, sweetheart. You’re barefoot and we’re going to be moving fast.”

“Thank you for not tossing me over your shoulder.”

It would be easier on him to transport her that way, but he didn’t want to possibly expose her ass to his cousin or anyone else if the shirt and jacket rode up past her mid-thighs. He advanced until he stood before Red. His cousin forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He was glad he didn’t have to snarl at him to be polite.

Dusti clutched at his shoulders when she first got a glimpse of Red. Her arms slid around his neck and hugged him tight. Her body tensed in his arms. Protective instincts pounded at him when he identified her fear.

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “I want you to meet Redson, Dusti. He’s my cousin. You can just call him Red.”

“Hello.” Red inclined his head.

“Hi,” she whispered.

Drantos stepped back, putting more distance between him and Red. “Kraven is close, with her sister. I could lead you to them.”

Red glanced at Dusti then held his gaze. “I’ll find them. Just head north and you can’t miss the rest of our group. They’ll find you if you can’t find them.”

He appreciated his cousin’s offer to look for the other couple alone. He wanted to get Dusti to safety but he didn’t want her afraid at the same time. “Thanks.”

Red sniffed the air and Drantos jerked his head. “They’re in that direction.”

“I’ll see you soon.” Red took off.

Drantos adjusted Dusti into a more comfortable position. “No one is going to hurt you.”

“All I can think about is what I saw yesterday. Does everyone change into one of those…creatures?”

He realized it might take a while for her to become accustomed to VampLycans without feeling fear. It didn’t bode well for their future if she couldn’t accept what he was, or the rest of the clan. She’d have to though, since she’d never be safe if she returned to her old life. Decker would just send more of his enforcers after her and Bat. Drantos wouldn’t be there to protect her.

He also wasn’t letting her go.

“Yes.” He wouldn’t soften the truth. “We’re people, Dusti. You don’t fear
me
.”

She tucked her head against his throat. He noticed she didn’t say anything. He bit back a frustrated growl.

“Just hold on and try to hide your fear.”

Dusti just wanted to talk to her sister. Bat needed to know everything she did and her older sibling was much better at evaluating facts to form a plan of action. Drantos’s words sank in. “Why would I need to hide my fear?”

“They can smell it and it would be considered a weakness.”

“Right.” She was still a little groggy but that helped snap her out of it. “I saw on Animal Planet that sometimes it will attract predators. Am I going to smell like dinner to them or something?”

He snorted. “The things you say. No. It’s just that weakness is perceived as a bad thing. I’d like for my clan to respect you. That means you need to be brave. I would never allow anyone to hurt you. Trust
me
, if no one else. Does that make you feel safer?”

“That guy was pretty big.”

“Red?”

“Yes. And he was scary. He didn’t like me.”

“He didn’t say that.”

“He didn’t have to. It was the way he looked at me.”

“You’re Decker’s granddaughter. That shocked him but he’ll get over it. Anything associated with your grandfather is met with distrust and dislike.”

“Great. You know how I feel about Decker Filmore. He’s an asshole.”

“They’ll realize that and understand you’re nothing like him.”

“I hope so.”

“Me too,” he muttered. “Don’t be alarmed when you spot them and remember you’re totally safe.”

“Don’t show fear.” It sounded easy. She locked her fingers together behind his neck. She did trust Drantos to keep her safe. He’d faced off against that hell beast to protect her. People in skin, no matter how big they were, had to be tame in comparison. She took a few deep breaths. “Got it.”

“Good.” He lowered his voice more. “They’re approaching us. I smell them.”

She scanned the thick woods until she spotted movement at the base of a tree. One of those large, terrifying beasty creatures stalked forward. Drantos halted and squeezed her, as if reminded her that he would keep her safe.

“It’s someone from my clan,” he whispered. “Not the enemy.”

Dusti tried not to stare but it was impossible. The creature was big, vicious-looking, and had sharp fangs. The claws on the toes could probably tear through flesh as easily as if skin were butter. She sucked in a deep breath and tried hard to manage her hammering heart. The creature growled, sounding unfriendly. Dusti tensed, praying it wouldn’t attack.

“They were raised in the human world and didn’t know about us,” Drantos announced, speaking to the creature. “Their mother was VampLycan but their father was a human.”

The creature sat on its haunches, staring directly at her. It didn’t snarl or lunge forward to attack. The dark eyes freaked her out though. They did look evil. It also had a long black mane. The one she’d seen the day before hadn’t had one that nearly touched the ground.

It growled again, paused, and made some whining noises. Drantos shook his head. “She was never told the truth since she doesn’t exhibit enough traits that would have betrayed what she was. She’s not afraid. It’s just that she’s seen only one other, and he tried to take her away from me. That’s why she’s leery.”

It sunk in that they were having a conversation. It stunned her. “You speak growl?”

“Not exactly but we use tones. I can guess what the questions would be according those, or guess moods by sounds, and also by imagining what I’d be thinking and feeling.”

Drantos gently bent and placed her on her feet. He clasped her hand though and held on tight. She wondered if he did it to assure her or keep her from bolting into the woods when she caught sight of more people. They were in skin, at least.

The beast growled again and Drantos shook his head. “Don’t change. She’ll adjust to how you look.”

The thing ignored him by lifting up to all fours and tucking its head down—then it started to shift.

The hair receded as Dusti stared in horrified fascination. It made disgusting noises that she guessed were bones popping as the shape started to shrink in a little. The skin tone lightened slightly as it became more humanoid. Finally a woman stood before them, stretching as she rose to her feet, seeming to work out kinks in her shoulders and arms.

The woman was tall and lanky, and when she threw back her hair to get it out of her face, it flowed to her ass. Her nakedness didn’t seem to bother her, but it did Dusti. The woman’s perky breasts were displayed and she seemed chilly in the early dawn morning.

“Who is her mother?” She had a husky voice.

Drantos paused. “Do you remember Decker’s daughter who disappeared? Her name was Antina.”

The woman stepped closer and her dark brown eyes widened. “I thought he killed her or she committed suicide to avoid her fate.”

“She was hiding amongst the humans. She mated with one and had two daughters. This is one of them. Kraven is with the other.”

The woman had a graceful, almost catlike way of moving as she advanced. Her nostrils flared and she jerked to a halt. Her eyes narrowed and fixed on Drantos. Anger was an easy emotion to read.

“You
fucked
it? I smell you all over her.”

“She’s mine, Yonda.”

“No.” She shook her head, some of her long hair falling forward and hiding one breast. “That can’t be.”

“It is.”

Yonda paled considerably. “She reeks of human. This can’t be! You can’t accept a
human
. You’re the first son. She’s not good enough for you!”

“She carries VampLycan blood. It’s faint but there. And you know it’s not a requirement.”

The scary woman snarled and lowered her chin, glaring at Dusti.
If looks could kill…I’d be dying right now
. She inched closer to Drantos and even took a step back, putting part of her body behind his. It was impossible to look away from that much rage, all of it directed at her. She just didn’t know why Yonda hated her enough to look as if she wanted to tear her apart.

“Enough,” Drantos ordered. “Don’t even think about it. She belongs to me and I’ll defend her. I’d hate to hit you but I would.”

Dusti usually resented when he spoke possessively of her but at that moment, she was glad. The woman took a step back but she didn’t appear happy about it. Pure anger seemed to radiate off her. It confused Dusti but it was also scary. She’d witnessed that woman changing from a hellish beast. She could revert back.

“Yonda,” Drantos snapped. “Go cool down.”

Yonda didn’t budge. She turned her anger on him. “Does she know how important your place is with our clan? She’s
weak
, Drantos. You can’t do this! Did you explain your duties to her as first son?”

“It’s none of your business. Butt out, Yonda.”

“You’ve always been my business! I can’t allow you to make such a huge mistake.”

Dusti glanced between the pair, a sick feeling settling in her stomach. She suspected Yonda had been one of the women Drantos had slept with. She studied her—and then a worse suspicion clawed at her. She had to ask the question that she wanted to know most.

“Are you his girlfriend?”

Yonda didn’t spare her a glance, her gaze locked on Drantos. “We don’t use those terms. What do you call it when he sleeps in
my
bed more than he does his own?”

Dusti tried to extricate her hand from his. Drantos had a girlfriend but he’d slept with
her
.

She felt betrayed and her fears became reality. She thought he might break her heart and but hadn’t expected their budding romance to come to a screeching halt so soon. It hurt far worse than she thought it would. She’d come to care about him deeper than she’d realized until that minute. The tearing pain in her chest proved that.

He turned his head and frowned at her. “I can explain.”

“Let me go.”

He refused. “Dusti, you don’t understand.”

“Were you sleeping with her before you met me? Do you live at her house?”

“I slept there sometimes. I don’t live with her. It’s not how you think.”

“Let me go,” she repeated, louder. She wasn’t afraid anymore. She was hurt and angry. “I don’t want you touching me. You’re a cheating bastard and you made me a part of it.” She glanced at Yonda. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”

“He’s too good for you,” Yonda spat.

Now the woman was just being rude and bitchy. Dusti twisted on her hand and shoved against Drantos with her other one. “Let go.”

“You call it a ‘fuck buddy’ in your world.” He sounded and looked furious. “We had no commitment.” He snapped his head in Yonda’s direction. “Tell her!”

“You think that helps your case?” Dusti punched his arm, still trying to get him to free her hand. He held it tight enough it almost hurt. “We have another term in my world that applies too. You’re a man-whore. No thanks. I’m so done.
Let go
.”