“I get it. I have a lot to think about.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Perhaps Cavasia and I should put a limit on the number of years we share a home.”

“You mean like promise to live together for ten and then see if any women who’ve come of age are your possible mate?”

Red nodded. “Like that.”

“And what do you plan to tell this mate when you find her?”

“About what? I don’t understand.”

Drantos stared at Red. “It hurt Dusti when I admitted I’d bitten other women during sex to even test a mating. Imagine your mate’s reaction when she finds out you slept next to a woman every night for years and bonded in the ways a couple does when they live together.”

“Damn.” Red sighed.

“I just want you to consider the consequences.”

“I appreciate that.”

“We’re family. We look out for each other.”

“I’m just lonely. Last winter was the worst. I thought I was going crazy after two months of being snowed in. I envy the ones with mates and kids. It didn’t bother me so much before but I’m getting older.”

“I understand.”

“I know you do.”

“Just don’t do anything without putting a lot of thought into it. That’s all I ask. We live a long damn time and regrets stay with us. I’d hate for yours to be to find your mate and have to soothe her pain. Ask my father about that sometime.”

Red nodded. “I remember.”

Movement to the right caught his eye. “Break time is over. You go south. I’ll take north.”

Red inclined his head and they parted to cover more ground. Drantos hoped there weren’t any problems. He just wanted to get home to Dusti. He found the animal that had drifted into his zone. It was harmless.

Em's EORD

Chapter Nineteen

Dusti staggered into the bathroom and debated on running a bath. She changed her mind when she had to lean against the wall to stay upright. She carefully made her way through the house into the kitchen, deciding food was in order. She hadn’t meant to drink so much but Crayla’s meeting had encouraged her to have a few too many.

The front door opened and she clenched her teeth. “Oh, you’re back. Fantastic.” She turned.

It wasn’t her new mother-in-law who entered the house. It was Yonda. The woman hesitated inside the open door and stared at her.

“You’re not family so you have no right to walk into this house.”

Yonda scowled. “I’m not in it. I’m standing in the doorway.”

“I’m learning about your tactics.” Dusti pointed at her. “You don’t like me. Get out.”

“I came to ask you to do the right thing by Drantos. I’m not his mate but you shouldn’t be either. He deserves a strong VampLycan woman.”

“I get it. You hate me and don’t think I’m good enough for him. I heard you the first time. Get out. You’re not welcome here.” Dusti waved her hand dismissively. “Bye.”

Yonda didn’t budge. “I don’t hate you. It’s true that I don’t think you’re blooded enough to be a good mate to Drantos.”

“We’re already mated so you’re too late.”

The other woman paled.

“True mates. I can read his thoughts and he can pick up mine too. It’s a done deal. Now get out. I’ve had a hellish evening already with his mother pointing out all my flaws. She said I need to get pregnant. Like that’s my only redeeming quality. Do you know how insulting that is?”

“I do.”

Dusti was Surprised Yonda agreed.

“It’s never easy coming into a new clan. Crayla has always been very protective of her sons. She threatened to rip out the throat of any VampLycan woman who got pregnant by either them. She worried someone might try to trap them into settling to take a mate if that happened. At least she’ll welcome a baby from you. It means she’s accepted your mating.”

“That’s gruesome. What is it with you people and throats?”

“It’s an effective way to kill.” Yonda took a step inside the house. “I didn’t know you’d already sealed the bond when I came here to speak to you. I take my words back. You’d hurt Drantos more if you left him. As you said, it’s a done deal. You must make the best of it.”

“I’m trying.”

“It will take time but everyone will accept you if you try to fit in and don’t make Drantos tone down who he is to please you.”

“Tone him down?”

“Make him act human. He’s not. You probably have a set idea of how a man should present himself. He’s an enforcer of one of the strongest and most feared VampLycan clans. We hold that position because Velder and his sons are tough on lawbreakers. You might be squeamish over him doing his duties.”

“I watched a guy get his head ripped off by Aveoth. I didn’t puke or faint. I’m pretty proud of that.”

“You met Lord Aveoth?”

“In the graying flesh.”

Yonda’s features became animated. “Tell me everything! Is he as handsome as they say? As fierce? He’s never visited the clan when I was around. We’re not allowed to trespass on GarLycan territory.”

“He’s very attractive but scary as hell. Big.” Dusti noticed that her visitor was a few more feet inside the door. “Are we pals now or something?”

“My protests about you becoming Drantos’s mate weren’t personal.”

“You’ve slept with him, Yonda. We are not friends.”

“I’ve slept with a lot of men. I’m a VampLycan.”

Dusti frowned.

“I go into heat every summer. You probably don’t suffer from that, being so human, but it’s hell. You wouldn’t understand how strong the urge to be fucked becomes but we always find someone to spend our heat with. Even when I’m not suffering from it, I love sex. We all expect to meet our mate one day and then be locked into one partner for life. It’s acceptable in our culture to have many lovers when we’re young and single. It’s healthy and normal. Drantos was one of the better ones I’ve known but I wasn’t jealous over you. I was angry because he’s going to lead the clan I live in one day and I didn’t see that turning out well if he took you as a mate. You can’t shift, and I don’t pick up any VampLycan from you. None. You aren’t even vicious, or you would have gone for my throat already.” Her gaze darted around the room. “I spot at least six weapons you could use to come at me but you haven’t moved for any of them.”