"With my life."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. He'd do anything for me. Why?"

Lorn hated to say the words. "Send him to me. Privately tell him about Kira. I'll come, but I won't leave her unprotected. I'll fucking kill your friend if he tries to get inside my den, Lavos. He can protect the area but don't give him the exact location of the opening. Will that be a problem for him?"

"He'll do it for me."

"Will he tell anyone about Kira? Or want her dead because of what happened to her?"

Lavos didn't hesitate. "He'll be fine with it. Shocked, but he's gone on trips with me. He has no love for Vampires but he didn't hassle the city ones we came across. He's pretty mellow about other races as long as they don't fuck with him."

"Send him in twenty minutes. I'll meet him where I met with Davis. I'll go talk to our father. This bullshit has got to stop before there are deaths. No mate is going to want to be parted from his family. The other elders will follow his lead once I get our father straightened out."

"Dad isn't going to listen to you, Lorn."

"I'll make him."

"What are you going to do if he won't back down and Nabby still listens to him?"

"Nabby can't threaten violence against the men trying to protect their families if I fuck him up first."

"Don't challenge Nabby unless I'm there. I don't trust him to fight fair."

"Neither do I. Meet me at our parents' home in half an hour."

"Will do."

Lorn hung up and went back inside the den. Kira slept on. He crouched next to her and reached out, caressing her cheek. She didn't stir but he detected her faint heartbeat and her slow, steady breathing. He rose and changed his clothing. Then he left her a note, since he doubted he'd return before dark.

Worry came next. What if she woke hungry and tried to seek out food on her own?

Damn.

He locked up the den when he left and erased all traces around it to make it impossible for Kar to locate the entrance. He reached the designated spot before the other man.

Kar arrived on time, looking grim. "I'm sorry about Kira."

"She's not dead. How much did my brother tell you?"

"Everything." His gaze drifted to Lorn's throat. "He said you're feeding her but I don't see bites."

"You won't. I heal too fast. Do you have a problem with this?"

Kar shook his head. "I've always felt she got a bad deal with the clan. I like her. We've worked shifts together."

"You've never given me a reason to beat you."

"I'm not into bullying someone weaker or making her life harder. That bullshit is for pussies."

Lorn had always liked Kar. The guy kept to himself and never caused problems. He'd also refused to become one of Decker's enforcers, instead choosing to patrol and protect the territory for the clan. "Good. I don't plan to be gone long but shit happens. It's doubtful that I'll get back before dark."

Kar grimaced. "Oh man. I don't even like mosquitoes."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You want me to feed her, right?"

"Fuck no!" Lorn snarled. He remembered what she was like in bloodlust. He'd rip Kar apart if the guy took advantage of her while she was out of her head.

"Sorry. You mentioned dark and she's going to wake hungry. Vamps always do unless they're older."

"I built my den to keep shit out, not in. It's possible she could escape. I want you to swear you'll catch her without causing any harm. I better not even find a bruise-and I'll check every inch of her. Understand? She's stronger than she used to be but she's still little. Just secure her and find her something to feed from. But not rabbits. She's got a fondness for them. Try a deer, or something she won't kill by taking too much blood from it to survive."

Kar just gaped at him.

"She's still Kira. She can go a little wild when she's hungry but she'd feel horrible if she ends up bleeding something to death."

Kar's expression showed sympathy. "Kira always seemed tenderhearted."

"She still is."

"I can do that. I don't want to hurt her."

"You'd better not. She's mine." Lorn took a step closer, his eyes reflecting his Lycan traits to show how strongly he felt about her. "Remember it."

Kar backed up and dropped his gaze. "I always knew that."

Lorn was surprised. "How?"

Kar looked up at him and arched his eyebrows. "Are you for real? You've been beating the shit out of anyone who sniffed after her for as long as I can remember. She was your little shadow when we were kids. Wherever you where, there she was. Some thought you'd adopted her like some kind of pet, but I'm not blind. She's sexy. I couldn't spend that much time with a woman who looks that good and just keep it friends. I figured you've been secret lovers for years."

"The lover part is new, but I'll fucking kill you if you take advantage of her during bloodlust. She belongs to me. Just keep that in mind if I'm not back in time and she gets out. She doesn't want you, just your blood. Touch her sexually and you're dead."

"You have my word."

"I'm trusting you with the most important person in my life."

"I'll protect her, even from herself. I swear."

"Thank you. I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Do you want to tell me where your den is so I can catch her before she gets too far if she escapes?"

Lorn hesitated, then jerked his head in the direction he'd come. "She's not a prisoner, but it's for her safety to remain inside. Don't investigate that stand of boulders too closely but that's where you want to keep an eye out."

"I'll never tell anyone."

"You'd better not."

Kar smiled. "My den is actually hidden beneath my house. I figured no one would look for it there. Now you know my secret. We're even."

His respect for Kar increased. "I appreciate that."

"Know your enemy but have faith in your friends. We're in this together, Lorn. Decker is gone and I don't want him coming back. I also don't want things to remain the way they were. Lavos said you're willing to take over. I pledge my allegiance to you."

Those weren't just words. A serious commitment had been made.

It altered everything. It wouldn't just be Lorn depending on his brother's friends to side with him. Kar was officially giving him his loyalty.

"Thank you. It's an honor."

"The honor is mine. I have faith you'll change things and make our clan better."

"And Kira?" Lorn wanted to know if they'd have issues later on.

"You stated she's yours, and I've known how you've felt about her since we were kids. I wouldn't care if the woman I loved turned into a Vampire. It wouldn't change a damn thing except I wouldn't become a father. Kira's compassionate and I know she hated how Decker ran things. That's all that matters to me if you take her as your mate."

"I'll be back as soon as possible. Protect her."

Kar nodded. "Good luck. Roll in the dirt a little. You look too clean for someone who's supposedly been tracking Vampires out in the wilderness." He sniffed. "I'm also picking up a slight Vamp scent on you but they won't question that, considering where everyone thinks you've been."

Lorn took off toward the village. He heeded Kar's advice and brushed up against bushes and trees to soil his clothing. He reached his parents' home a few minutes late. Lavos had already arrived. He heard his voice coming from the kitchen and followed it.

"You have to stop this nonsense," Lavos yelled.

"Stop!" their mother demanded.

"How can you take his side? You're a mate. Would you want to be taken to the lodge and kept there by force?"

"Don't speak to your mother in that tone," Ladius thundered. "How dare you!"

"How dare you?" Lorn snarled.

Ladius spun to glare at Lorn. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Did you find Kira?" His mother stepped forward.

"Fuck the girl," Ladius snarled. "Your place was here, not chasing after her. You've embarrassed me for the last time! How do you think it looked to everyone after you abandoned your clan for her?"

Lavos snorted. "Are you an idiot? Of course he went after her."

"Shut up." Ladius motioned to Lavos then glared back at Lorn. "Answer me."

Lorn crossed his arms over his chest. "You're the one who needs to explain what the hell you were thinking by ordering mates separated. You had Nabby order it, didn't you? It's against our nature. You can't keep our clan intact by force and fear. Did you come up with that moronic plan or did Decker?"

"I'm in charge while Decker is gone."

Lorn growled, taking that to mean his father had come up with the plan on his own. "I won't allow you to terrorize our people."

"I'm doing no such thing."

"Bullshit. You're attempting to hold the women and children hostage at the lodge. You think you're so clever, but you're a moron. What if the Vampires return? All the children gathered in one place will be a disadvantage. They could surround it and threaten to burn them to death inside if we don't surrender. Did you think about that?"

"The Vampires would never walk right into our village."

"Don't be a fool. They trespassed on our land and broke the treaty. They attacked two of our clan members."

"That girl isn't clan."

"You asshole," Lorn grit out. "What about Veso? Has he returned? No. Because they've probably killed him."

"He was weak if he allowed them to take him down."

"You son of a bitch!" Lavos snapped. "Don't speak that way about my friend. He was an excellent fighter. That tells me there was a large group of them if they were able to take him out."

It reminded Lorn of something Kira had told him before they'd gone to sleep. He refused to say her name, though, and risk his father believing she might be hidden somewhere. He decided to lie. "I caught up to a Vamp. Do you know what he told me? Decker went to their Vampire Council for some reason. Now they've attacked us. He's somehow to blame for this. They suddenly think we're weak enough to take out."

Ladius snarled and his claws extended, along with his fangs. "Blasphemy! He would do no such thing!"

Lorn reacted by doing the same and tensing, preparing to attack. His mother rushed between them, opening her arms wide.

"Stop it! I won't allow you two to fight. You'll have to go through me."

"Get out of the way, Mom." Lavos slowly stepped closer, his tone pleading. He reached out to her. "You could get hurt. Come here."

"No! I won't let them kill each other." She turned her head, staring at her mate. "Don't do this."

"Get the hell out of the way, woman," Ladius snarled.

"You're angry and projecting your thoughts." She turned, facing him. "You think our son is weakened from spending days hunting for the girl. You've decided you can take him, that with the girl dead, his grief will have broken his will to live. You see this as your chance to kill our son, and think you don't need him anymore-because you believe what he said about Decker! You think you can use what you've just learned to turn everyone against Decker and assume they'll accept you as the new leader."

That enraged Lorn. He growled fiercely.

His mother held up one finger, a signal for him to hold his temper. He remained still, not willing to possibly injure her to get at his father.

"Ladius, you're wrong. I know my boys better than you ever did, or ever will. Lorn's not grieving, and he isn't weakened from not eating. Believe me-I know the signs of his misery. I've seen it most of his life. He's strong and determined. And he will kill you if you leave him with no choice. Don't do this. I didn't birth two sons just for you to kill them if they defied you. They are our flesh and blood!"

"Shut the hell up!" Ladius turned his fury on her, his eyes starting to darken as he stared down his mate.

Silence reigned, and Lorn knew his parents were communicating without words. It pissed him off further when his mother actually stumbled back a step, as if she'd been physically struck by his father.

He moved without thought and caught her around her middle, holding her close, careful not to scratch her with his claws. He dragged her farther from her mate.

"Stop it, Dad." Lavos moved swiftly, reaching Lorn and their mother. He pulled her into his arms. "What are you saying to her, you bastard?"

"The only bastards in this room are the two of you." Ladius snarled. "That bitch made you weak! She's always indulged you both too much. Is this what you wanted, Tussa? Two sons who defy their father? I hope you've learned your lesson before we have the next ones."