Lorn hadn't expected that. "I accept. I know you have honor, Bran. Your word is trusted. I'm aware you didn't always side with Decker. Otherwise he would have made you one of his enforcers."

Bran reached down and withdrew the dagger at his hip. He ran the tip of it across his palm then sheathed the small blade. Lorn unleashed his claws and cut his own palm with the tip of a finger. They shook hands, their blood mingling. It was a custom of elders in making a blood oath.

"I'll begin tomorrow. What time do you want me in your office to start my duties?"

"Eleven." Lorn figured that would give them all enough time to sleep after the late evening he needed to put in.

"I'll see you then." Bran released his hand and glanced at Kira. "I'm glad you survived." He left fast, heading home.

"Upstairs-now." Lorn was furious and upset with Kira. She'd promised to remain inside his den. He'd almost had a heart attack when she'd come stalking out of the trees, bold as brass, and started a fight with Brista.

"I know you're pissed but-"

"Upstairs now," he ground out. His gaze scanned the area. "We're all going to my office. Right now."

She took his hint and walked up the back porch of the lodge. He didn't want anyone spying on them. He followed closely on her heels, gripping her elbow and leading her to the stairs. He knew the rest kept close.

Lorn released her, unlocked one side of the double doors, and threw it open. "Inside. All of you."

Garson, Kar, and Davis entered after Kira. Lavos came in last. Lorn slammed the door and flipped the bolt. He growled low and glared at Kira. "You promised to remain where you'd be safe. What the hell do you think you were doing?"

"Don't talk to my daughter that way," Davis bristled.

"Stay out of it, Dad." Kira frowned. "This is between me and Lorn. I'm sorry, okay? It was driving me nuts staying inside the den, so I went outside. Then Garson got that call and I knew something was really wrong."

"You let her come with you?" Lorn wanted to deck Garson.

"No! I didn't know she was behind me. I told her to lock in and then I beat feet here. I thought she'd do as she was told."

Kira stepped closer and in front of Garson. "He didn't know, Lorn. He probably broke a new speed record for reaching the lodge as fast as possible. I had a hell of a time trying to keep up with him without giving myself away. I'm the one you should be yelling at."

"I'm furious! You could have been hurt."

"I'm fine. You stopped me from killing Brista. You know she deserved it. What a bitch!"

"She is." Lorn couldn't disagree. "But some VampLycans love and trust her with their young. It would have caused more problems if you'd killed her, and think of the young ones who would have grieved her loss. She's loved by some of the clan. I don't need anyone resenting you for her death. Now she's been publically put on notice that I won't tolerate her actions."

Kira frowned. "I hate her. And you know why. It was bad enough how she treated me for being too human, but Elsa is a VampLycan, damn it! I heard what she wanted to do. She's the one who should be staked down, and then beheaded since her ass won't burn in the sun."

"Apparently, you're not too human or Vampire now," Kar muttered. "You smell like a VampLycan-and I saw the claws. It was extraordinary. I was impressed by the way you handled Brista. She's got a mouth on her but not much fighting skill. You showed her."

Lorn snarled, shooting his enforcer a fierce look. "Don't encourage her."

Kar threw up his hands and backed away, taking a seat by the desk. "Fine. I'll be over here, being quiet. But her timing was great. You have to admit that."

Garson chuckled. "They didn't believe your theory about drinking blood but then boom! There was Kira. 'Look at my once-Vampire ass and let me dig my claws into your miserable hide'."

"Shut up," Lorn ordered.

"Hey, you wanted us here." Garson strode over to another chair by Kar and sat. "But sure, just pretend we aren't in the room then."

"Both of them have made excellent points," Lavos added.

Lorn snarled, fixing his narrowed eyes on his brother.

"Kira did good," Lavos continued. "Your enforcers know it. So should you. This wasn't how we planned to break it to the clan that Kira not only survived, but has changed, and will be your future mate. But it's done. Rumor will spread through the clan by morning and everyone will have heard. We've been agonizing over when to spring it on them. Problem solved. She tore up Brista a bit, showed them you were right about the blood exchanges, and Kira did have great timing. Take a deep breath and chill your ass out. We both know you're more upset that it would have looked as though Kira were weak if you'd attacked Brista to protect her. It left you feeling helpless, and you suck at that."

"She could have been hurt." Lorn wasn't about to forget that anytime soon.

"I know how to fight." Kira drew his attention. "Trust me, Veso kicked my ass often. Now I have the strength and speed to actually avoid taking hits, while inflicting damage. I was never in real danger. Brista is too damn lazy to train or spar with anyone. Her charges are too small to be a threat to that bitch."

Lorn approached Kira and pulled her into his arms. "Don't fight again. I forbid it."

"I'm going to be your mate," she reminded him. "That means I'll officially have to handle the women when there's trouble. It's what's expected."

"Not by me."

She hugged him around his middle. "I'll spar with you until you stop worrying so much. I'm pretty tough, Lorn. I got the new kickass bod."

He rested his chin on top of her head. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Not much," Davis muttered. "I'm standing right here."

He lifted his gaze and stared at Davis.

"What? She's my baby girl and you're holding her way too close for a male who isn't her mate yet, in front of her father."

Lorn didn't let her go. "I need to ask you something. What did you have on Decker when you brought Kira here, when she was an infant?"

Kira eased her hold around his waist and tried to turn around. Lorn let her but kept her close, refusing to let her totally out of his embrace. He'd been terrified when she'd challenged Brista and fought.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Dad. Fess up. I'm curious myself."

Davis sighed. "You're not going to like it."

"I don't like anything about Decker." Lorn shrugged. "How bad could it be?"

"Are you going to mate my daughter when the time is right?"

"Yes. She's my true mate." Lorn knew that was answer enough.

"I didn't plan to come back to the clan after I met Kira's mother. I knew Decker would never allow a VampLycan to mate a human. Part of me expected him to send Boon after me. He's his favorite to track down and take out threats. I tried to get lost in the human world, and bought a small property so my mate and child would be safe. There was a dispute with the neighbor when I wanted to put up security fences. I had to learn a lot about land surveys to get that damn thing built. He said part of the property actually belonged to him. I was right and he was wrong."

"What does this have to do with Decker?" Lorn asked.

"It got me thinking." Davis walked over to the wall where a large map hung. "All the families had applied for the Homestead Act and I wondered which part of our territory legally belonged to me. We lost track of all that stuff over the years. It was just our combined territory, only divided on paperwork for the humans. I did a little research."

Lorn glanced at Lavos. His brother frowned.

"It turns out I got lucky." Davis lifted his finger and ran it along a part of the map, drawing a pattern. "This is mine."

Lorn's mouth fell open.

Davis nodded and dropped his hand to his side. "The lodge, the gas station and store, the auto shop, and hell, Decker's home is on land I officially own. It was my ace in the hole to keep my family safe if anyone ever came after us. I got copies of everything so they couldn't just wipe it away, and then when Kira's mother was killed, I knew I had to come home to keep her safe from humans discovering what we were. I couldn't trust anyone to care for her while I worked. I was afraid to ask the other clans to let me join them, since I had no idea if they'd accept me with a human-smelling baby. I had two counts against me already. I was one of Decker's people and unsure of how they'd take the news that I'd mated a human."

"Son of a bitch," Lorn rasped.

"I told Decker that if anything happened to Kira, an already-signed deed would be sent to the biggest lumber corporation in Alaska as a gift. They'd own the town. He couldn't wipe all their minds or make everyone disappear. I told him I'd made friends when I'd lived in the human world, ones I trusted, and that they had copies of the deed and my proof of ownership. I made it clear that if I didn't contact that person regularly, the originals would be sent."

"Is it true?"

Davis shook his head. "I never met anyone I could trust that much. Greed would have been a problem, since the land is worth money. A human could have sold it to anyone looking for a readymade small town. I buried the deed under the lodge. I figured that was the last place Decker would look-right under his damn nose. This was his crowning jewel of our territory." Davis glanced around the office, then back at Lorn. "It kept my girl alive. He made me miserable, but he didn't dare kill her."

"I heard that changed after he murdered his mate. I had to make deals with my father to keep Decker from harming Kira," Lorn admitted.

"They lied to manipulate you. I wasn't aware or I would have told you not to fall for it. I'm sorry." Davis took a seat on the edge of the conference table. "Decker only forced Kira to come home after she left because he was too afraid I'd get pissed enough to fuck him over, and return to the human world to be with my girl."

"And you'd send that deed and give away the land," Lavos finished.

Davis sighed. "Yes. Decker was relieved at first that she was gone but then he started suspecting I was the one feeding the other clans information about his activities. He had me tortured a few times but he feared flat-out killing me. I was guilty but I refused to admit it. They couldn't break me, so he sent Boon after my baby to bring her back here. Decker could have killed her at any time, and made certain I never forgot it was my fault. It made him feel secure."

Lorn wasn't surprised by Decker's way of thinking. "Can I have the deed? I'd prefer it be locked up somewhere safe."

Davis smiled at Lorn. "You'll be my daughter's mate, once it's official. I had the deed put in her name too. I'll dig it up and bring it to you. Do you want it right now?"

"Please. We've been worried Decker owned this part of the land and would try to take it from us."

"He wishes he did." Davis stood. "Do you want a blood oath from me? You already have my loyalty since you obviously have my daughter's heart. I'll sign my ownership over to you if you ask it of me. "

Lorn shook his head. "I trust you, Davis. We don't need a blood oath. Nor do I worry you'll do anything to harm the clan. I just want that deed locked up. We changed the combination to the safe."

"I'd like to keep running the lodge. I hated it at first. It was meant to be a punishment from Decker, but I find that it's something I enjoy."

"You don't even have to ask. I could use all the help I can get."

"Thanks." Davis paused beside them, giving Lorn a look. "Mate my daughter soon. I know you're sleeping with her." He unlocked the door and left.

Chapter Sixteen.

Kira watched everyone leave the office before Lorn locked the door, leaving the two of them alone. He turned, leaned against it, and scowled. "I'm still angry with you."

"I know."

"It could have gone wrong a hundred ways."

"You mean Brista could have handed me my ass?"

"Or your head. You can't heal from that." He pushed away from the door and closed the distance between them. "It scared the hell out of me. I wanted to jump between the two of you. I knew I couldn't without diminishing what you were trying to do. What happened to you promising to stay inside the den?" He grabbed her and yanked her close, cupping her cheek with one hand, his arm wrapped around her waist. "I can't fucking lose you, Kira."

"I knew it had to be something bad for Kar to call Garson to the lodge. I was worried. I can't lose you, either."

"Damn it, Kira."

"Damn it, Lorn." She forced a smile. "What would you have done if I hadn't shown up in the flesh to show those assholes that feeding blood to Elsa has a chance of reversing what's happening to her? They might have dragged her out of Perri's home and killed her. The entire family probably would have died. You know as well as I do that her mother and brother would have fought to the death to try to save her."

"I would have handled it."

"How?"

"Sent my enforcers to protect them."

"What about you? That would have left you undefended."

"I can fight my own battles."

"I don't trust Brista as far as I can... Wait. I can throw her a good distance now. I don't trust that bitch not to have set this up just to get you alone, so others could attack. We're talking about people who would do shitty things to keep Decker in power. That means they're as low as he is."

Something hit the roof hard and Lorn tensed, looking up.

Kira did too. It sounded as if someone walked across the roof, toward the windows.

"Get out of here, Kira. Unlock the door. We have company."

"On the roof?"

"GarLycan-or more than one. No trees are close enough for one of us to make that jump to the roof. We'd have heard their claws tearing into the side of the building if one of us climbed the lodge. Garson and Kar are right outside the door. Move!"

She ran and threw the bolt, yanking the door open. Garson and Kar stood there, already aware there was a problem. They pushed past her and entered the office. She didn't leave, unwilling to go in case there was a fight. Fear had her heart pounding. GarLycans were really tough to kill.

Lorn slid open a window and backed up. A dark shape dropped down, hung from the rafter, and then jumped. The big man wore a dark, hooded half cloak that bared his arms and hid his face, but his naked chest was revealed by the open front. His wings, if he was supposed to have any, were hidden. Lively bright blue eyes glowed from the shadows of his hood.

"Lord Aveoth," Lorn sounded calm. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Kira tried not to gawk. That was the GarLycan leader?

He slowly reached up and pushed back the hood. Masculine, handsome features were revealed. His mouth looked a little harsh to Kira but it was his eyes that she couldn't get over. They were strange, yet beautiful. They really did look too vivacious to belong to a person. The color of them seemed to swirl and change from bright to dark hues of blue, with little flashes of silver bleeding in and out of them as she watched.

"I wanted to personally congratulate you on taking over the clan." The profound deepness of his voice gave her chills. He glanced at Garson, Kar, Kira, and finally back at Lorn. "Your people can leave. I would have called first but I didn't bring my cell with me. I've come in peace."

"Garson? Kar? It's okay." Lorn motioned them to leave.