"Lorn's den is basic but he does have a water heater."

"Most are pretty crude, from what I hear. I figured with the way Decker was going, we'd end up spending a lot of time underground. I really took my time planning my den."

"My father believed the same. He stocked a lot of food inside ours. He said if Decker didn't start a war with the other clans, he'd piss off the GarLycans enough to attack us."

"I'm hoping that's a thing of the past. You know Lorn well. Will he mend the rifts?"

"You agreed to be one of his enforcers and you aren't sure of that?"

"Lavos swore Lorn was a good guy, and let's be honest. Anyone, with the exception of Nabby, would have led our clan better than Decker."

"Lorn wants what's best for everyone. That means peace. War only brings death and pain."

"Good, because I prefer to be a lover more than a fighter."

Kira wasn't sure what to say to that. "Can you call Lorn? Check on him? He took his phone."

He removed his cell from his front pocket and turned on the screen. In seconds he had it to his ear. "Hey, Lorn. Are you busy?" He paused. "Here. There's this hot babe who wants to talk to you."

Kira gratefully took the phone. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

She loved hearing his calm, deep voice. "No challenges? No attacks?"

"None. I'm in Decker's old office trying to figure out what's he's been up to. It's a mess. Garson is going through a stack of the bills right now and I just picked the lock to some file cabinets. It appears Decker kept detailed information on not only our clan members, but some of the key ones in other clans."

"I wish I were there."

"So do I, but you stay put."

She understood why. It would be bad if anyone found out about her at such an early stage of his leadership. That didn't make it hurt any less. She wanted to help him. "What kind of information did he collect?"

"It looks mostly as though he tracked associations." Papers shuffled. "Friends. Family. What a son of a bitch. I'm reading a file on one of Velder's sons. Decker has the name and clan of every woman this guy fucked, and how many times. He even has photos of the women."

"Any women from our clan?"

"Just the one who tried to kill Kraven, and Violet's is the last name on this page. I think Decker was trying to figure out Kraven's taste in women to send in an assassin he'd find appealing. I feel dirty just reading this shit. He's written notes about people's weaknesses and ways he might be able to hurt them. This one says the best way to break Kraven is if his brother or cousin were to die. Apparently they're the two men closest to him, besides his father."

"Stop reading them. You should send those files to the people involved. That way they know what Decker had on them."

"I don't know. It might piss them off when they find out just how low that bastard could go. We're trying to strengthen clan ties. It might be best to destroy these."

"Lorn, the decision is yours, but I would split those files by clan and have the leaders pass them out to all those involved. Decker is going to be desperate and enraged when he learns you took the clan. He'll cause as much harm as he can. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. He's still out there. The clans will have some idea on how he might come at them, if he tries."

"You're right."

"I'd also suggest you actually read the files on our clan first. It'll help you figure out who Decker did and didn't trust."

Lorn chuckled. "His friends are my enemies and his enemies are my friends?"

"Yes."

He suddenly snarled.

"What's wrong?"

"He has a file on you."

It shouldn't have surprised Kira. It really didn't. "Well, you already know he hated me."

"I'm holding it in my hand. Should I open it? I'll just burn it if you wish."

"No. I haven't kept any secrets from you, Lorn. I'm standing by my 'forewarned' stance. We should know what he thought he had on me."

"Hold on."

"Okay."

A good two minutes passed and Kira glanced at Kar. He had moved away, watching the thick woods for any sign of movement. She strode over to the downed tree he'd vacated and took a seat on the trunk.

"I'm trying to be patient but the suspense is killing me, Lorn. Is it that bad?"

"Was the human you slept with a thin brunette with a tattoo on his left arm?"

Kira leaned forward. "Yes."

"There are pictures of the two of you together. Your father said Decker sent an enforcer to find you and bring you home. Those must have been taken then."

"No. I had broken up with Carl months before Boon showed up."

"Then Decker had found you long before he told Davis, and before Boon made his presence known. I'm reading it now." He listed off names of a few casual friends she'd made at school. "These are the ones Boon was supposed to kill if you gave him any trouble."

It made Kira feel sick. Innocent people could have died. "Anything else?"

"He worried Veso had taken an interest in you."

"What kind of interest?"

"Sexual."

"That's not true. Veso barely tolerated me."

"Are you certain?"

"I'm sure. I don't think he hated me but he never looked at me in that way, you know? I was more of a pet project and someone he found amusing to antagonize."

"Decker planned to have you killed as soon as I'd found a mate, or after he could be rid of me without angering my father."

That pissed her off. "That's in the file?"

"Yes. I'm listed as your biggest weakness."

"I guess he knew how I felt about you."

"I was the only blind one."

"Are you coming back here soon?" She really wanted to see Lorn.

"In a few hours. Are you hungry?"

"I can wait that long."

"I'll hurry."

"Call Kar if anything happens. Promise me? I worry."

"I give you my word."

They hung up and Kira stood, taking the cell back to the VampLycan. "Thanks."

"No problem. Everything a-okay? You didn't look so great when you hunched over a bit."

"Decker has files on everyone."

"Shit." Kar grimaced. "That's not good."

"I'm going inside. Why don't you go back and help Lorn? I'll lock in."

"No way. Lorn would kill me if anything happened to you. I'm staying put until he pulls me off protective duty."

She sighed. "Are you hungry? I could make you a sandwich."

"That would be great. Thanks."

She turned away, happy to have something to do. Time would drag until Lorn got home.

Chapter Fourteen.

Kira jumped on Lorn the moment he entered the den. He was safe. He caught her around the waist, holding her tight. She hugged him and tried to ignore the instant hunger that rose from being that close to his throat.

"I missed you too."

"Nothing else happened? I kept checking with Kar."

"Just a lot of shit to go through. It will take days."

Her fangs slid down and she turned her head away. Lorn unwrapped one of his arms and reached up, gripped her under her jaw, and forced her to look at him. His gaze lowered to her mouth and he smiled.

"It's been too long. I'm going to put you down and we'll strip. Hang on a few more seconds. I want us comfortable while you feed."

"I'm sorry." She slid down him and let him go, taking off her clothes.

"For what?"

"You're with me for less than a minute and I want to sink my teeth into you."

"I'm not complaining. I have something I'd like to sink into you too."

She laughed and moved over to the bed, dropped to her knees and climbing to the other side. Lorn hurried to rid himself of his boots, pants, and shirt. He came after her and she could see how much he wanted her.

He sprawled out next to her and lay flat. "Climb on."

She rolled, straddling his hips. The sight of him always turned her on. She spread her fingers and lightly ran them over his chest, across his nipples, down to his rib cage, and then upward until she bent forward, gripping the curves of his shoulders.

"I'm just so glad you didn't have to fight tonight. I worried."

"It's going to happen, Kira. Some are just waiting for the right opportunity. They're feeling around to see how most of the clan is reacting to the change in leadership and gauging how much they'll face when they take me on."

She nuzzled his cheek with hers and opened her mouth, teasing his skin with her tongue. She didn't bite him though, trying to ignore the pains in her belly and the fact that she could actually hear his heartbeat.

"I'm not big on foreplay with you. I already want you too much." He cupped her ass, getting a firm grip. "Feed."

It didn't take much to encourage Kira. She licked over his throat and gently pressed her fangs against him. He moaned and she applied enough pressure to pierce his skin. The taste of blood hit her tongue and she lost the ability to think clearly. Lorn tasted so good. Desire rolled through her and she began to rub her pussy against his lower stomach, whimpering. She wanted him so much it hurt.

He used his grip on her ass and lifted her a little, adjusting their bodies until his cock found the right spot. He entered her by jerking her hips against his. Kira cried out and desperately clutched his shoulders. Lorn bent his legs to brace them on the bed and rocked his hips, grinding their bodies together.

Kira clung to him, lost to the pleasure of taking Lorn's blood and having him moving inside her. Her breasts rubbed against his chest. He changed his hold from her bottom to her hips, held them steady so she couldn't move, and hammered in and out of her pussy with his stiff, thick cock.

Kira frantically fed from him, the urge to come so intense she couldn't hold back from taking everything Lorn gave. He lifted his head and his mouth clamped down on her throat.

The feel of his fangs and tongue jerked her out of her haze and she tore her mouth off him and pushed up.

Lorn's gaze locked with hers-and he appeared furious. He froze under her.

"You almost bit me," she panted.

He tensed, their bodies still joined. "You're my mate."

"You can't bond us until we know for certain I won't always be this way."

He snarled, obviously enraged. He rolled suddenly, startling Kira. Her back hit the mattress and Lorn grabbed her wrists, jerking them above her head. He settled his body over hers, pinning her down.