“Good luck eating with the other leaders. No fighting for you, either.”

“We’re here to keep the peace.”

Lavos didn’t need the reminder. He turned, making his way to the table he’d been assigned. Kar and Garson were already seated, along with nine enforcers from the other three VampLycan clans. Every man there watched him as he took his assigned place.

“I’m Lavos, Lorn’s brother,” he announced. He glanced at Garson. “I take it Lorn invited you?”

“Yes. I got a text from him.”

Kar sniffed, then smirked. “I know that scent.”

“Shut up,” Lavos ordered his friend.

“I don’t.” Garson inhaled, his eyes widening. “You’re mated? When the hell did that happen? I just saw you this morning.”

“Long story. Drop it,” Lavos ordered.

“She’s human.” The deep voice came from a dark-headed hulk of a man. “Maku,” he introduced himself. “From Velder’s clan.”

“Do you have a problem with that?” Lavos tensed, trying to stifle his instant anger.

“No. Two of Velder’s sons mated mostly human-blooded women. They are good women with big hearts.”

Lavos breathed easier. “I heard about that. Decker’s granddaughters, right?”

Maku nodded. “They take after their grandmother. She was from our clan.”

It was meant to be an insult to the previous clan leader. “My father swore loyalty to Decker long before we were born. Lorn and I hated him.” Lavos decided it was best to be clear and break the tension. “My brother and I weren’t his enforcers, nor were any of Lorn’s current enforcers. We all refused to do his bidding and would only take patrols to keep the rest of our clan safe.” Lavos addressed the rest of the table. “I refuse to apologize that my mate is human. We can take it outside if anyone has a problem with it.”

“My clan won’t,” another dark-haired enforcer announced. “The name’s Frack, and I’m the lead enforcer for Crocker. We don’t allow our members to casually fuck humans just for the sex, but if someone finds their mate by feeling a strong urge to bite one, bloodlines don’t matter.”

The man seated next to him nodded. “I’m Brody. Crocker will have no problem with it.”

An unusually tall enforcer leaned forward, openly studying him. “I’m Wen, from Trayis’s clan. Don’t be so defensive, Lavos. Only Decker fiercely opposed other races being mates. We’ve had a few of our men mate humans. In my clan, only first sons are expected to keep the bloodlines pure VampLycan—and only if their parents demand it. Trayis is open to accepting human and Lycan purebloods as mates if they are willing to swear allegiance.”

The man to Wen’s left nodded. “I’m mated to a Lycan. The name’s Denno; I’m one of Trayis’s enforcers.”

Wen spoke again. “We kept close ties with the pack that protected the first generations, before it left here and settled somewhere else. Family is important to us.”

“That’s how I met my mate.” Denno grinned. “I helped our Lycan family deal with a group of renegade Lycans who’d made a habit out of raiding packs to steal breeders. One of those bastards had forced her to be his mate. I took his ass out and expected her to try to kill me in revenge. Imagine my surprise when she thanked me instead. She asked for my protection, since the renegades had murdered her entire pack when she’d been taken. I brought her home. We fell in love and now she’s mine.”

Wen lifted his drink and took a sip. “We’re not the ones who have a problem with you taking a human mate.” He stared pointedly across the room. “It’s your own clan you should be worried about.”

Lavos followed his gaze and caught a few of his clan members glaring in his direction. “Those three are first-generation elders who were loyal to Decker.”

“I could stick around for a few days,” Wen offered. “I’m not mated, and Trayis wants to see your brother succeed. We sure as hell don’t want one of them to take over your clan.”

“We can handle our own people,” Garson protested.

Lavos waved him silent. “That’s a nice offer.”

“Nice, hell.” Wen snorted. “Nobody wants another Decker in charge over here. I’d be willing to fight to keep that from happening.”

“That’s appreciated.” Lavos inclined his head.

“We’re doing fine,” Garson muttered.

Lavos kicked him under the table and shot him a warning look. “Enough.” He turned his attention back to Wen. “I need to take a perimeter walk. Would you like to join me?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll go too,” Kar offered.

“Sit,” Lavos ordered.

His friend sat hard, not looking happy. Lavos led the way, giving his brother a nod that stated everything was fine. The taller enforcer followed him outside and they both studied the area.

“What did you want to talk about in private?” Wen got right to the point.

Lavos faced him. “You said some of your men mated humans. I have some questions, if you don’t mind me asking them. Decker didn’t allow it and other clans barely spoke to us. Not that we blamed them. You should never have trusted anyone he sent to visit your people. He mostly ordered his loyal enforcers to go spy for him. I’d like to know what to expect between a VampLycan and a human.”

“Gotcha.” Wen shifted his stance and leaned against one of the porch posts. “I’ll tell you what I know. Hit me with your questions.”

“Just between us?”

“Sure. I don’t see any reason to share what we discuss of a personal nature. Trayis wouldn’t ask me to either.”

“I want to get her pregnant,” Lavos confessed. “It’s an almost overriding desire. My brother and other mated couples I’ve known didn’t seem to experience this.”

“I’ve seen it before. Blame the Lycan side. First off, she’s the weakest species. Humans are fragile. It’s going to cause you to fear losing her, which riles up the beast. Second, it’s harder to form a mating bond. It’s always a coin toss on the links we can establish with them.”

“What does that mean?”