Page 65 of Blood Red Rage

Lucien leaned forward between the seats. "Sorcha was in the room?"

"Yes," I said.

His face changed. Lucien was usually the easiest of us, not easy in the human sense. None of us were easy, but Lucien laughed more, teased more. He could walk into a room and convince everyone he was the least dangerous Dragic, right until he wasn't. Now there wasn't a trace of humour on his face.

"If that bullet had shifted..." He stopped, his throat moved.

I knew what he'd been about to say, if it had shifted, if the shooter had moved the rifle, if Layla had leaned differently, if Sorcha had stood, if Bryn had crossed the room, if Runa had moved into the line of fire. Too many possibilities.

"Don't," Volken said. Lucien looked at him. "Don't finish that sentence." Volken's voice was quiet, that was worse than shouting. He sat rigidly against the seat, massive hands clenched on his thighs.

"Runa was there." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

His eyes closed, for a moment, Volken Dragic looked almost human. Almost vulnerable, but then his eyes opened again and there was murder in them.

"I want the shooter."

"So do I," Viking stated.

"You'll wait," I ordered, both looked at me. "We find out who did this first."

Viking laughed without humour. "Then what?"

"Then we erase them."

Silence. Then Draugr sighed. "Excellent. Very level-headed."

Lucien looked at him. "Someone shot at our women."

"I noticed."

"Our children were inside."

"I know."

Volken leaned forward. "Then stop telling us to calm down."

Draugr's gaze flicked into the rear-view mirror. "I'm not telling you to calm down. I'm telling you not to destroy half the fucking city before we know which half deserves it."

That silenced us because he was right. Which was irritating. Viking dragged both hands down his face. "What if she's scared of me again?"

I looked back at him, the question surprised all of us even Draugr. Viking stared at the floor. "She saw me lose control after she was shot. She saw what I became." His voice roughened. "She'd only just stopped being afraid of this life. Now some bastard fires through the fucking window while I'm not there." His eyes closed.

"I should have stayed."

"No," I said.

He looked up.

"You cannot imprison yourself beside your mate because enemies exist."

His lip curled. "Watch me." Despite everything, Lucien made a rough sound that might have been a laugh.

I continued. "You give her guards, you give her security, you teach her our world. And when that isn't enough, you find whoever threatened her and make certain they never do it twice." Viking stared at me, then nodded. Once. The red in his eyes receded slightly, not gone but controlled for now.

The mansion came into view every one of us changed, I felt it. Four vampires leaning forward simultaneously. Home. The gates were closed, armed men lined the perimeter, more stood on the roof. Security lights flooded the grounds, evidence markers surrounded the damaged window.