He placed one hand over hers, figuring she didn’t care if he was bloody after all. “Your children will be safe. No one is going to hurt them.” He looked at the people around him. “We’re VampLycans. It’s no longer a death sentence if our children inherit stronger Vampire traits. The other clans feed them blood from those born with strong Lycan traits. It’s been known to help reverse the vulnerability to sunlight and the need for a vein. I’d appreciate it if some of you would donate blood and give it to Perri. The faster the better. There’s a chance to save her daughter from a future without the sun if we act quickly.”
He looked down at Perri. “I’ll donate if no one else does. Feed her only donated blood. Don’t give her more of yours or any from your son. I assume that’s what you’ve been doing?”
“She keeps food down but it’s getting more difficult. We haven’t had to feed her blood yet but it’s coming. She’s showing symptoms of bloodlust.”
“I’ll donate.” Thadlow came down the porch and stood next to Perri. “With your permission. I know I’m only seventeen but it won’t hurt me any. I probably lose more blood during defense training than Elsa could drink from me.”
“I’ll donate too,” his father offered. “Please let us. We’re so Lycan we sprout hair in our sleep.” He grinned. “I probably shouldn’t admit that to everyone.”
More laughter erupted from the small crowd.
“Do it.” Lorn waited for someone to protest but no one did. “Bag-feed only. No direct feeding. She’s hit puberty, correct?”
Perri nodded. “She’s fifteen.”
“Bloodlust isn’t just for blood, and it’s safer for her to be fed by bag. You want to keep the opposite sex away from her while she drinks. Understood?”
“Yes.” Perri glanced at Thadlow then blushed. “I do. She’s far too young to take a lover.”
“Agreed.” Lorn released her and stepped back. “Vasilla?” He searched faces and located her. “Help make that possible. You can draw blood and store it for Elsa’s use. Make certain plenty is available, or notify me or Lavos.”
She came forward, sliding through the clan to reach him. “I will.” Her gaze lowered down his body and her appraisal wasn’t that of a healer. She licked her lips and looked up at him again. The invitation clear. “You should come home with me. You’ve sustained injuries.”
“I guess this is one thing that’ll never change,” Lavos muttered.
Vasilla jerked her gaze to him.
“That’s never going to happen,” Lorn informed her. “Help Elsa.”
Vasilla stepped back, her body going stiff. “Fine. Any other orders?”
“The past isn’t to be repeated,” Lorn growled, his anger clear. “Do you understand me? I won’t tolerate that shit, or overlook it. You are also to treat everyone in the clan as equals. No exceptions.” He’d punish her if he found out she ever sexually stalked another youth or snubbed a clan member she didn’t feel was worth treatment.
She paled. “I do.”
“Good.”
He broke eye contact. “Take your families home. Don’t forget the Vampires invaded our territory, so remain watchful. Decker did something to make them believe we’re an easy target. Tomorrow evening, we’ll meet back here at six and go over everything. It will give you time to think of questions you may have, and I’ll answer them.”
They began to break apart and leave. Two women timidly came forward. He knew both of them and wondered if they had pressing issues. He’d upset the order of things. It was to be expected.
“Do you have questions that can’t wait?” He glanced at them both.
“You’re hurt.” Masa tilted her head and pulled her hair back to show off the line of her throat. “You’ll heal faster. We wanted to show our support by offering you our blood. You could come home with us.”
The other one stared at Lorn, an obvious hopeful look on her face that he’d choose her. She ran a hand over her shirt, as if to draw notice to her breasts.
It stunned Lorn for a second. He hadn’t expected that. “That’s very flattering but I have a woman in my life. I do appreciate the offer.”
They left without argument. Garson approached next. “Well, that went down pretty easy. And I can’t believe you said no to them! Those chicks were dying to nail you. You probably could have done both at the same time! You’re the new clan leader. I’d have totally gone with them so they could play a game of tag team with my joy toy.”
Lorn glanced at Lavos, confused. “Joy toy?”
Lavos chuckled. “It’s human slang for his dick.”
Lorn regretted asking. “I take it Kar hasn’t spoken to you about what I assigned him to do?”
“No.” Garson shook his head. “Speaking of, where is Kar? Is he okay?”
“He’s notifying the families of those who died. Do you want to help him?” Lorn knew the two were close friends.
“Sure. I’m too hyped up to sleep anytime soon.”
“Go find him. Thanks for your help. I’m grateful you’re one of mine.”
Garson’s expression lit up. “Really? As in, it’s official?”
“Yes. If you want the position, it’s yours. You and Kar have earned it.” Lorn had no hesitation in making the offer. Lavos trusted his friends and they’d come through for him.
“We accept! I’m an enforcer to the clan leader! Wait until I tell my parents. They’re going to flip. My dad always says I’m a disappointment but he’ll eat those words.” He spun, rushing away. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he called out.
“Your friends are a bit immature for their ages,” Lorn said once Garson was out of sight.
“Both are loyal to the core, and their lighthearted attitudes are more for show than about who they are deep down. It was their way of staying under Decker’s radar. They hated everything he stood for as much as we do.”
“They sure didn’t come across as dangerous enough to be considered a threat to Decker by acting that way,” Lorn surmised.
“Exactly. They both showed exceptional fighting skills in training and were afraid Decker would ask them to become his enforcers. It made them sick just thinking about the shit he’d order them to do. Their fathers weren’t Decker’s advisors so refusal would have meant death, especially since they were too strong to dismiss and could possibly challenge him one day. We were lucky that way, Lorn. We could tell Decker no and live.” Lavos shrugged. “Anyway, it worked. They were assigned guard duty for the clan but nothing more.”
He looked down at Perri. “I’ll donate if no one else does. Feed her only donated blood. Don’t give her more of yours or any from your son. I assume that’s what you’ve been doing?”
“She keeps food down but it’s getting more difficult. We haven’t had to feed her blood yet but it’s coming. She’s showing symptoms of bloodlust.”
“I’ll donate.” Thadlow came down the porch and stood next to Perri. “With your permission. I know I’m only seventeen but it won’t hurt me any. I probably lose more blood during defense training than Elsa could drink from me.”
“I’ll donate too,” his father offered. “Please let us. We’re so Lycan we sprout hair in our sleep.” He grinned. “I probably shouldn’t admit that to everyone.”
More laughter erupted from the small crowd.
“Do it.” Lorn waited for someone to protest but no one did. “Bag-feed only. No direct feeding. She’s hit puberty, correct?”
Perri nodded. “She’s fifteen.”
“Bloodlust isn’t just for blood, and it’s safer for her to be fed by bag. You want to keep the opposite sex away from her while she drinks. Understood?”
“Yes.” Perri glanced at Thadlow then blushed. “I do. She’s far too young to take a lover.”
“Agreed.” Lorn released her and stepped back. “Vasilla?” He searched faces and located her. “Help make that possible. You can draw blood and store it for Elsa’s use. Make certain plenty is available, or notify me or Lavos.”
She came forward, sliding through the clan to reach him. “I will.” Her gaze lowered down his body and her appraisal wasn’t that of a healer. She licked her lips and looked up at him again. The invitation clear. “You should come home with me. You’ve sustained injuries.”
“I guess this is one thing that’ll never change,” Lavos muttered.
Vasilla jerked her gaze to him.
“That’s never going to happen,” Lorn informed her. “Help Elsa.”
Vasilla stepped back, her body going stiff. “Fine. Any other orders?”
“The past isn’t to be repeated,” Lorn growled, his anger clear. “Do you understand me? I won’t tolerate that shit, or overlook it. You are also to treat everyone in the clan as equals. No exceptions.” He’d punish her if he found out she ever sexually stalked another youth or snubbed a clan member she didn’t feel was worth treatment.
She paled. “I do.”
“Good.”
He broke eye contact. “Take your families home. Don’t forget the Vampires invaded our territory, so remain watchful. Decker did something to make them believe we’re an easy target. Tomorrow evening, we’ll meet back here at six and go over everything. It will give you time to think of questions you may have, and I’ll answer them.”
They began to break apart and leave. Two women timidly came forward. He knew both of them and wondered if they had pressing issues. He’d upset the order of things. It was to be expected.
“Do you have questions that can’t wait?” He glanced at them both.
“You’re hurt.” Masa tilted her head and pulled her hair back to show off the line of her throat. “You’ll heal faster. We wanted to show our support by offering you our blood. You could come home with us.”
The other one stared at Lorn, an obvious hopeful look on her face that he’d choose her. She ran a hand over her shirt, as if to draw notice to her breasts.
It stunned Lorn for a second. He hadn’t expected that. “That’s very flattering but I have a woman in my life. I do appreciate the offer.”
They left without argument. Garson approached next. “Well, that went down pretty easy. And I can’t believe you said no to them! Those chicks were dying to nail you. You probably could have done both at the same time! You’re the new clan leader. I’d have totally gone with them so they could play a game of tag team with my joy toy.”
Lorn glanced at Lavos, confused. “Joy toy?”
Lavos chuckled. “It’s human slang for his dick.”
Lorn regretted asking. “I take it Kar hasn’t spoken to you about what I assigned him to do?”
“No.” Garson shook his head. “Speaking of, where is Kar? Is he okay?”
“He’s notifying the families of those who died. Do you want to help him?” Lorn knew the two were close friends.
“Sure. I’m too hyped up to sleep anytime soon.”
“Go find him. Thanks for your help. I’m grateful you’re one of mine.”
Garson’s expression lit up. “Really? As in, it’s official?”
“Yes. If you want the position, it’s yours. You and Kar have earned it.” Lorn had no hesitation in making the offer. Lavos trusted his friends and they’d come through for him.
“We accept! I’m an enforcer to the clan leader! Wait until I tell my parents. They’re going to flip. My dad always says I’m a disappointment but he’ll eat those words.” He spun, rushing away. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he called out.
“Your friends are a bit immature for their ages,” Lorn said once Garson was out of sight.
“Both are loyal to the core, and their lighthearted attitudes are more for show than about who they are deep down. It was their way of staying under Decker’s radar. They hated everything he stood for as much as we do.”
“They sure didn’t come across as dangerous enough to be considered a threat to Decker by acting that way,” Lorn surmised.
“Exactly. They both showed exceptional fighting skills in training and were afraid Decker would ask them to become his enforcers. It made them sick just thinking about the shit he’d order them to do. Their fathers weren’t Decker’s advisors so refusal would have meant death, especially since they were too strong to dismiss and could possibly challenge him one day. We were lucky that way, Lorn. We could tell Decker no and live.” Lavos shrugged. “Anyway, it worked. They were assigned guard duty for the clan but nothing more.”
