Page 39 of Fangbanger

She nods and sips her coffee. “My cousin is mated to a vampire. You know my Uncle Devin’s oldest?”

I nod. Karina has something like seventy cousins, and they get together once or twice a year for a family reunion when they do big magic. Divination, protection spells for the town, that sort of thing. They invite me for the feast part before the magic starts.

“They can communicate through the bond. Telepathically. He can feel when she needs him.” Karina widens her eyes in emphasis on the word need.

“Needs him…like sexually?”

She nods. “It’s a feeding thing. Designed to make the mate more receptive. If you’re turned on, he’ll know.”

No way in hell am I doing that. “Anything else?”

“He’ll always know when you’re in danger.”

I smile. I know it’s vicious, because her eyes widen. “You’re going to try it?”

The irritation that’s been simmering all morning pulses beneath my skin. “If he’s been lying to me, I’m going to stake him to my wall for decoration.”

24

MARCUS

I’m midway through emptying a bag of powdered ash around the perimeter of the house when I feel it.

Danger.

My mate is in danger.

My head jerks up. My fangs lengthen. I vault the wall before I remember I can flash, then disappear into the mist and appear in the back garden.

Every sense is primed, my head swinging wildly, the slayer’s blood pumping through my veins in a potent cocktail of power and magic. I can take on whatever enemy is here. A snarl builds in my chest, then dies.

I find no enemy. Instead, I find Leah, her fist closed around one of her throwing knives. As I watch, she releases it. Blood coats the blade. My nostrils flare.

“You.” She unsheathes another knife. “Lied.”

I snarl in truth now. This is a trick. A trap. She hurt herself deliberately. Rage rises, all the more potent for the open-ended bond. It pulses hot under my skin, demanding that I claim her and tie her to me and keep her safe.

She throws the knife before I have time to react. I snatch it out of the air and stalk forward.

Her eyes narrow. “You’re bigger than before.” She steps back, and my gaze sharpens.

“All the better to stalk you with,” I growl. It’s her blood powering me. I’m gaining muscle and height. Soon, I’ll have to claim her or I’ll have to walk away.

She yanks a stake from her belt and rushes me, so fast that she’s nearly a blur. I grab her around the waist and tumble to the ground, cradling her head in my palm to soften the blow.

She slashes with her stake. I pin her wrist to the damp earth. She shoves at my chest, and I drop my hips, grinding against her.

“You will not hurt yourself,” I snarl.

She tries to head-butt me. “Get off me.”

I bare my fangs in her face. “Not until you swear not to put yourself in danger.”

“Hazard of the job,” she spits.

A rumble rises in my chest.

“Don’t growl at me, vampire.”