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And Gavin, well, the vampire had drunk his wolf dry, using his venom to hurt the wolf while he fed from the werewolf’s bloodandhis life force. The man hadbeggedfor the release of death long before his heart had finally stopped beating.
And they’d released two wolves who would tell the tale of how people who meant harm to Gavin and his people died. Both wolves were now gone from the territory with the knowledge they would also die painful deaths should they take a single step back into the state.
Gavin had ripped into the brains of the other two. One of them hadn’t known what was going on, so he’d been whipped, one hundred and forty-four lashes to his back, but with a standard whip. He wouldn’t be scarred for life. As part of the hierarchy, he had an obligation to be aware of what was going on, so he wasn’t going to walk away unscathed, but unscarred.
The former beta had been aware his Alpha was meeting with people in secret, and he had a hint the Alpha was working against their allies, but he didn’t push for an answer. And so, he’d been tortured but not killed. He would leave the territory with whip marks made by silver barbs, so they’d never heal. He was also missing his fingernails and toenails, and Lauren had squeezed his balls until Gavin had worried they’d rupture, but they hadn’t. His only permanent scars would be to his back.
Once the wolves had been killed and dispatched, Gavin had reached out to the Alpha of the San Bernardino Pack in California, and his beta would be bringing a half-dozen wolves with him, along with several moving vans to follow in the coming days. These wolves would run the Vegas pack, and Gavin would go through the minds of the rest of the Vegas wolves to be certain no one else had been actively working with their enemies.
While he’d been inside the minds of those who’d come for the parley, he’d looked to see who else had been in on it, and he’d found three other wolves. Gavin had gone by himself to torture and kill them inside their own bedrooms, which sent another message: No one is safe. No place is safe. Anger the Master of Vegas at your peril.
“I wish Gavin had let us help with the others,” Lauren told Nick.
“You were exhausted. We’re meant to be daywalkers.”
It was true. Lauren did fine until two in the morning most nights, and could function until around four in the morning, but then sleep became a necessity. Gavin had sent them to bed a little before four.
“You didn’t ask what the text said.”
“You read it and relaxed, so I assume he was letting you know everything went as he expected it to.”
“I know he says we aren’t supposed to be keeping score, but I get to sleep with you and wake up with you. I regret I’ll never be able to wake up with him like this.”
“And you have a special thing with him when he bites you. Nathan and Gavin have both told me it’s important we love each other and accept that everything will work out so long as we don’t turn it into a competition. Gavin can do things for you I can’t, and I can do things for you he can’t. It all works out, in the end.”
Nick kissed the top of her head and pulled her in closer. “I’m sorry I got carried away before we went to sleep this morning. I scented pain when you moved to check your phone.”
“I’m okay, but I’m glad you aren’t trying to start something up again. I might need a little time before I’m ready again. No regrets, though. I’d have been pissed if you’d stopped.”
He’d taken her out of her own head and quite literally fucked her to sleep. After being thrown off a building and then all the blood and death when they killed the wolves, she’dneededthe connection with Nick.
“What’s on your agenda for today?” Nick asked.
“I mostly need to check in with the various managers to make sure they have everything handled. I’m considering understudying for the silks portion of…” She sighed. “IknowI can do the routine, and if I’m the understudy then I’d only have to perform occasionally. It wouldn’t be a daily commitment.”
“You’d enjoy performing again. If it fits in with your schedule and won’t cause problems in the ranks, you should do it.”
“Maybe. I’m going to learn the routine and see how it feels before making a decision. What’s on your agenda?”
“The local eagles, hawks, and condors have formed an alliance, and some of the other shifter groups have concerns. I’m meeting with nine leaders of various bird and mammal groups, but it’s all a done deal so this won’t be a negotiation. The change in the existing power structure has happened and is done, but it’s possible a meeting can avoid a few fights where people have to test the new status quo. I actually doubt that, but it’s worth a try.”
“This new job suits you. Kind of a mediator on steroids — find a way to agree or I’ll beat the hell out of you.”
Nick chuckled. “If only it were that easy, but yeah, it helps that I’m bigger and stronger and a better fighter, so no one challenges me as a way to get what they want.”
“And Gavin has given us both access to his power as Master. It’s a lot of responsibility.”
“It is, and he hasn’t asked me, even once, to tell him what happened the few times I’ve drawn on it.”
Lauren shrugged. “He goes into other people’s minds and looks. Don’t think he’s oblivious. He isn’t.”
“Our vampire is oblivious tonothing.”
Lauren wanted to argue that sometimes he was oblivious to his own feelings, but she realized he was figuring the relationship thing out as he went, and doing a pretty good job of it, for a vampire who’d eschewed such things for so long.
“As much as I’d love to stay here, under the covers and in your arms, I need to check the online portal to see who’s called in, and how their various managers are handling any needed staffing changes. I also need to check in with the main theater and make sure the fixes to the air conditioning unit are holding.”
“A big part of your job on the road was making sure everyone was fed,” Nick noted.
