"None of that. Everything is going to work out from now on. I'm going to make certain of it." His features harshened. "I don't care who I have to kill."

She actually laughed. "I believe that."

He suddenly grinned. "I'm inside you and you're on my bed naked. Do you know what that means?"

"We just had amazing sex and mated?"

"This is our bed, our home, and we get to look forward to this every single day for the rest of our lives."

"We do."

Lorn kissed Kira. She was his mate, finally. He once again wished he could have taken on his father and the clan years before as he enjoyed the softness of her lips and her silky tongue playing with his. The timing had never been right but it didn't help ease those regrets. They'd lost so much time together, but he'd make it up to them both.

He rolled over, careful not to crush her limbs as he did, until she lay sprawled on top of him. His Kira wasn't as fragile as she used to be with her mostly human body but she still felt delicate and small. He stared up at the ceiling. He knew every inch of it from all the nights he'd lain in that same position, thinking of Kira. Now she was with him, touching him, kissing him.

He gripped her ass with both hands, massaging them. His dick stiffened, wanting her again. He bent his legs a little, rocking his hips. Kira turned her head and had him growling as she bit into his throat. He didn't mind the sharp sting of pain at that moment, not giving a damn. He pounded his thickening dick into her warm, tight sheath. His Kira was wet, ready to take him. The scent of arousal filled the room and he breathed it in deep, not holding back the desire to make them both come again.

Kira's fingernails dug into his biceps to help keep her in place as he bucked under her faster, her thighs squeezing against his sides where she straddled him. Her breasts were smashed against his chest and he felt her nipples pebble, his own probably doing the same.

He lifted his head and bit her without licking first. She cried out against his skin and her vaginal muscles squeezed him tighter, almost painfully so. It drove him wild. He rolled them again, pinned her, and rode her hard until she released him with her mouth and cried out his name. It was enough to send him over the edge too.

They held each other for a long time, until their breathing slowed. He realized they both felt wet, chalked it up to sweat from their exertions. He finally came down from the high of sex with Kira to realize the heavy aroma of blood hung in the air.

"Fuck." He licked at her bite, waited for it to completely stop bleeding, and then licked his finger. He reached up and found the spot where she'd bitten him. He rubbed saliva over it.

Kira blushed, peering at him. "Sorry."

"I forgot too. You distract me. It's something we'll have to learn to do when we make love."

"I think we messed up your comforter."

He studied the stains on the blue bedcover. "It doesn't matter. It's not as bad as I thought. Are you feeling lightheaded? Did I take too much?"

"I think I drank as much from you as you did from me." She seemed really amused. "The only real blood loss is what got on the bed."

"Good." He didn't think she looked as pale as she had right after turning into a Vampire.

"I wonder how long it's going to take for us to link." She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and her features scrunched up a little.

It worried him. "Are you in pain? Did I fuck you too rough that time?"

Her eyes opened. "I was trying to send thoughts and images to you."

"Oh. Try again."

She took a deep breath and kept eye contact this time. It disappointed him when he couldn't read her thoughts at all. It might be because she's still too Vampire.

Kira released her bottom lip with her teeth. "I heard that. At least I think I did. Or maybe I thought it. Because of the Vampire blood?"

Excitement hit. He focused more, pushing his thoughts her way. I love your ass.

She smiled. "My ass?"

Lorn laughed. "You can hear me. Try just focusing on me," he encouraged. "Picture something inside your mind and try to send it to me."

Kira closed her eyes, making her look totally adorable as her nose wrinkled a little, her mouth pressing into a tight-lipped line. He leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers, clearing all thoughts from his head.

An image popped into his mind of him standing naked inside his den. It was as if he were seeing himself from her eyes, and she drew closer, her gaze running down his body to his dick. He's so perfect.

That voice inside his mind didn't belong to him. It was Kira's.

"I'm glad you think so."

She clutched at him and he pulled back a little and stared into Kira's eyes.

She grinned. "You saw? Heard me?"

"Yes. If you were thinking about my body and we were inside the den. I'm glad you like me without my clothes on. I'm pretty fond of you that way too."

"I was. This is so cool!"

"The bond will grow stronger. I'm surprised it's happening this fast. It usually takes days and a lot more blood exchanges."

"I've been drinking your blood for days."

"True."

"I love you, Lorn."

"I love you too."

It would take time for the clan to adjust to him being their leader. More challenges might be issued but he refused to die. Kira's life depended upon it. He wouldn't let her down. Tomorrow he'd talk to clansmen and hopefully swear in more enforcers to back him. He'd also call Velder. It might be time to host an event at the lodge to show everyone that he'd made peace with other VampLycan clans.

"You're thinking a lot but I can't pick it up. Talk to me."

"I'm going to invite the other clans to come here."

She appeared surprised. "Why? I mean, won't that freak everyone out? You just took the clan."

"And I damn well plan to keep it. I want everyone to know Velder, Crocker, and Trayis are happy that I took over, and to strengthen our bonds with them. It will become clear that Decker won't be coming back."

"Strength in numbers."

"Exactly. Perhaps Lord Aveoth will even come. I'll send him an invitation if the other clans agree to come here."

"Some of the elders will shit their pants." Kira stroked his shoulders. "It will frighten them."

"Good. I want them to know there will be grave consequences if they take me on."

"Do you think the clan leaders will actually come? Let's be real. Decker would have pulled something like that, then he would have ambushed them. Trust won't be easily earned after all that asshole has done."

He considered it. "Good point. I don't trust that a few idiots won't attack any visitors to try to start a war or make me look bad. Velder offered to send enforcers to me if I needed them. We could say they're delegates."

"Do you plan to tell Velder the dangers?"

"Yes. There's no reason to lie to him. I'll want anyone coming here to be prepared for the worst and ready to fight if the need arises."

"It's brilliant."

"I try." He grinned, shifted some of his weight and rolled to the side, pulling Kira against his body.

She curled into him and yawned.

"You're tired. It's been a long day."

"I didn't sleep much today."

"I'll get the lights and pull all the curtains together tight. We're not below ground now." He worried about any sunlight touching Kira on his bed.

"I'm sure it will be fine."

"Maybe we should sleep in the pantry. There're no windows in there. I could make us a bed."

"Don't be ridiculous."

He scowled as he climbed out of bed and checked the material of the drapes. It was thick. He pulled a lot of nights on guard duty for the clan and had to sleep during the day. They sealed pretty tight but he worried about the top edges of them, the space between the top of the window and the rod.

"Turn off the light and come back to bed," Kira urged.

"I think the pantry would be better. I could just shove a towel along the bottom of the door, just in case."

"Lorn?"

He turned, staring at her.

"You're being too paranoid. You can sleep on the side toward the window, okay?"

There was no such thing when it came to Kira's safety and wellbeing. He couldn't be careful enough.

"Please? I want to cuddle with you." She raised her arms. "Come here, sexy."

He rechecked the seams of the curtains and made certain that no gaps were along the center or sides. A new thought struck. "Shit!"

"Lorn," she sighed.

"I'll be right back. I have some wood in the shed outside. I'm going to board up the window from the inside." He walked over to where he'd left his pants and bent, ready to put them on.

Kira slipped out of bed and yanked them out of his hand. He growled, straightening. "Someone could break a window. What then? Sunlight would come through."

"It's fine." She threw his pants across the room and held out her hands to him. "Come on. We're both tired and we need sleep. I'm safe and with you. Your brother and his friends are right outside too, keeping watch."

She had a good point but he would still worry. He just stared down at her, frown firmly in place.

"Damn. Fine." Kira threw up her arms. "You board up the windows. I'm going to get in bed. Hurry up."

She strode over to his bed, pulling back the covers.

He went after his pants and put them on. "I'll be right back."

Chapter Eighteen.

"No!"

Kira flinched at the volume of Lorn's voice. "Come on. Are we really going to argue the first day we're mates?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, barring the door to the hallway. "If you think I'm going to allow you to walk around the house with the curtains still open, then yes. We are."

"I need to find out if I have a better tolerance for the sun."

"Give it a few more days."

"How do you think you can prevent me from doing it after you leave?" She put her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. "I'm going to see what happens. You can either be with me when I do it, or at the lodge. Your choice."

He snarled. "You infuriate me. I could tie you to the bed."

"You won't. What happens if someone breaks into the house?" She batted her eyelashes at him and gave her most innocent look. "I'd be helpless. You wouldn't want that."

"Stop doing that. I'm on to you. You used to do the same damn thing when you wanted the last cookie when we were kids."

She laughed. "You always gave it to me."

"You were too cute to resist and you'd pout. Sometimes there were tears. I hated it when you cried. Don't even go there."

A knock sounded on the bedroom door. "Um, are you two going to fight all day?"

"Go away, bro."

Lavos sighed. "Kira has a point, you know. We should find out how much tolerance she's gained, Lorn. It would help if she's seen during the day, if her skin doesn't burn in the sun any longer."

"Stay out of this." Lorn lifted his booted foot and kicked the wood behind him.

"You know Brista isn't just going to let what happened last night sit. She'll keep at it until she has so much proof shoved down her damn throat that she literally can't spread false rumors. I'm coming in. I hope you're both decent." Lavos tried to open the door.