27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Micah

“ H ow long has it been?” Saphira asks.

“Five hours, thirty minutes, and twenty seconds,” I reply.

“Specific,” she mutters.

“Do you need anything?” Sally asks, and I don’t bother to open my eyes as I lay on the couch with my ankles crossed, one arm under my head, the other laid across my forehead.

“No.”

“How can he be so calm?” Quinn asks. Steph stayed with Daisy’s mom and brother.

“It’s Micah,” Heath answers, tapping his cane. As much as he would hate to admit it, Heath enjoys being around the little family here.

“Right,” Quinn grumbles.

“I can feel her,” I whisper. “I have always been able to, but it has started to become a different level. She will wake.”

“Damn,” Sally says. “I’m starting to think this whole having a mate thing might be worth it.”

“You thinking about getting yourself a mate, sexy rabbit?” River asks. The sound of the wolf crunching on chips is grating on my ears. He wasn’t aware we completed the bond. He came to inform me of the status of Turner and Carter. They are locked up tight and won’t last long. He searched the rooms also, and found information on the men, human men, who have been buying the blood from Carter.

They will be taken care of, and will never be able to drink shifter blood again.

“I don’t know,” she sighs. “Maybe a nice rabbit shifter to cuddle up with at night would be nice.” She snaps her fingers. “Or a vampire. He could carry me around in his pocket.” My lips twitch. Only the rabbit could bring humor out of me at this time. I made the mistake of texting Sally back while I waited for Daisy to wake.

“I vote for the vampire,” River says.

“Me, too,” Sally replies. “I don’t know if a rabbit shifter could control me.”

“You want to be controlled, sexy rabbit?” River asks around the mouth full of food.

“By the right man,” she says.

One group text message was sent by Sally, and my place gradually became full of shifters and vampires. Ryker is keeping an eye on Rowen, so he isn’t here, but Bash showed up with Marie.

“I think that’s the answer for all of us girls,” Saphira chimes in. “You have to be man enough to control us in a good way.” Saphira didn’t want to miss seeing Daisy once she was a vampire.

“Yes, in all the good ways,” Sally says, her voice raspy.

“Why are we talking about this?” Bash asks.

“We are encouraging Sally to find her mate,” River informs him.

“I don’t think it’s up to her,” Bash says.

“Of course, she can’t just walk around the streets calling for her mate,” River says. “But she is notorious for stating she doesn’t want a mate. If she puts it out in the universe, the universe will take notice.”

“That’s not how it works,” Bash persists.

“Fuck, vampire,” River lets out a breath. “I know how it works.”

“Can we stop talking about Sally’s imaginary mate?” I ask.

“You don’t want me to have a mate?” Sally asks.

“Of course I do. Whoever it is, they will have to pass my inspection before they are allowed near you,” I say.

“That’s so sweet,” she hums.

“See,” River says. “Even Micah wants her to have a mate.”

“Fuck,” Bash mutters. “Since joining this group, I have been a part of the weirdest conversations.” I tend to agree with him. I’ve been in my own company for a long time, it’s hard to adjust to so many different personalities. It’s easy for me to retreat into my thoughts, but with Daisy still in the midst of the change, my concentration has gone to shit. Usually, I can be in the same room with all of them and tune everything out.

“Where are your sexy brothers?” Sally asks Saphira, thankfully changing the subject.

“They wanted to be here, but since Penny is pregnant, they didn’t want her around Daisy in case she is out of control.” I open an eye. “I’m paraphrasing,” she hurries to say. “We’ve never seen a vampire coyote before. She could want to sample all of our blood, or attack us because we are in the same room as Micah.”

“I would stop talking,” Heath advises.

“I don't think she will,” she continues. “I think she’ll be a badass.”

“She already is,” Sally says. “I believe she’s going to be a warrior.” I close my eye.

Yes, she is going to be everything. Our bonding was everything I wanted. The only downside is the agony she is going through. I hate that she has to go through it alone. She has proven over and over again how brave she is, but she has me now. We are a team.

“Is anyone else hungry?” River asks.

“Wolf, you just inhaled three bags of chips,” Bash says.

“And?” River asks.

“We aren’t hungry,” Bash snaps. “We are supposed to be lending our support to Micah.”

“Can’t we do that while we order pizza?” River asks hopefully.

“Why do I bother?” Bash whispers.

“I have never met a wolf like you,” Heath says.

“Thanks, but you can stop inspecting me anytime. I’ve seen what that cane can do,” River says. I understand River’s trepidation. I’ve seen the magic Heath holds, in his cane and his body. He is a force you don’t want to fuck with.

“Do you want a demonstration?” Heath asks, messing with him. He would never wield his power here or in front of his new friends.

“No, thank you,” River replies. I can practically hear the wolf shudder. “I don’t think we are close like that. I’m not friends with shifters when I don’t know what their animal is.”

“I’ve heard that a lot lately,” Heath says. “Maybe someday I will share, but I don’t think any of you are ready for the truth.”

“So, Quinn and Micah are worthy of knowing the truth?” River asks.

“Yes,” Heath says.

“I’ll be your friend,” Saphira says.

“Thanks, Doll,” Heath says.

“No,” Quinn and I say at the same time.

“Why not? I like a good mystery,” she says. “Plus, look how hot he is.”

“I feel you,” Sally says. “Live dangerously.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Quinn scolds.

“Am I known for my cautious nature?” Sally asks.

“It’s never too late to change,” Bash says dryly.

“Was that a joke, vampire?” Sally asks.

“No.”

“I think it was,” she sings.

“Pizza does sound good,” Saphira muses.

“I could go for a pizza,” Marie says. She is quiet in large groups. Bash told me when they met, she hardly spoke at all to people she wasn’t close to. “What? Just because I’m a vampire, I don’t like pizza anymore? I was human until recently.”

“That’s right,” Sally says. “I forget that fact. You have adjusted beautifully.”

“That’s sweet,” Marie says.

“You did well, Bash,” Sally says, giving Bash a rare compliment.

“I know.”

“See, why don’t you think I could have that?” She stomps her foot.

I groan. “You're annoying, Micah,” River informs her, which is partially true. They are also a good distraction.

“Take it back, or we won’t get pizza,” Sally snaps.

I open my mouth to tell them to go get the fucking pizza when a stirring begins in my chest, a knowing of another vampire being born. My vampire mate. Her presence in my soul gets brighter and bolder. Her emotions leak through the bond, tying us together. Her need for her mate pierces through my blood. I fly off the couch and face the stairs as the door to the bedroom slams against the wall. I have no idea how she opened it since she is in her coyote body. A low growling vibrates through the room, the hair on my arms stands up, and everyone quiets.

She’s incredibly fast, almost too fast to track, and I can track anything. Her body blurs halfway down the stairs a second after I gain my feet. My mate slows when she sees the others behind me, her mouth opening and her paws hovering over the steps.

“Get out,” I bark.

“She’s fucking huge,” Saphira gasps, and Daisy’s head swivels. Her low growl rises in volume from her open jaws. “Let’s go get pizza.” The fury of movement will be funny tomorrow, but right now, all my concentration is on my mate.

Daisy’s coyote is larger than any I have seen. I’m assuming she was much smaller before the change. Her teeth are sharp and many. A set of vampire teeth emerges in front of them. My blood is powerful for anyone to drink. It holds the many years of donors within it, and the experience of an ancient vampire. I was afraid her body would take much longer to acclimate to the change, and her animal would become overwhelmed.

I am thrilled to be wrong.

She’s fucking powerful. Her will is strong, and her magic is pushing through the room and sending a warning to any shifters close by. No wonder no one argued; they could feel it, too.

I stand still as she walks toward me once the door shuts behind our friends. Her fur is the natural yellow-blonde of a coyote, but the purple she wears in her hair decorates the strands. Her long claws scratch on the floor as she makes steady progress, her eyes holding my gaze.

When she reaches me and rolls her head over my stomach, I restrain from touching her, her muzzle in line with my lower chest. She covers me with her scent, breathing heavily on my shirt. Her teeth catch on the fabric, causing it to rip, but I don’t care.

“You’re gorgeous, mate,” I growl, my teeth descending. I slowly raise my hand and pet her head.

“Mate,” she garbles, her words spoken in my head. She can communicate with me in her shifter form. Shifters usually can while both are in their animal form, but not when one mate is in their human body.

“I knew you would be special.” I stroke her back, absurdly proud.

“My mate,” she says.

“Yes,” I hiss.

“Hungry.”

“What do you want?” I ask.

“Your blood.”

“Shift and take it.”

She steps back; my shirt clasped in her mouth until she reluctantly releases it. The change back is seamless, and my mate is standing naked in front of me. I wonder if she will be able to shift with clothes. Her vampire body will change and enhance her coyote abilities. She was naked when she slept, but I have a feeling there will be no limits to her gifts.

Her fangs hang down, glistening in the light. They are longer than the average vampire. Her hair is thicker and longer, and her eyes are brighter. Seeing the white ring around the edge causes my fears to settle.

“Micah,” she purrs, eliminating the space between us. Pressing her tits against me, she says, “I want to drink.”

“Do it,” I command, shredding my shirt so it rips down the middle. She licks her lips.

“So thirsty.” Her tongue darts across my collar. “I can smell your blood.” She needs no other prompt, striking quickly.

Palming her head, I tip back my head and close my eyes, relishing in her claim. Feeding your mate is a natural act, but it is also the most rewarding thing a vampire can do. Being able to nourish her new body tops everything.

Grabbing her thighs, I lift her and move to the couch. I pull her tight as I sit, and she never lifts her head, drinking deep. My hands palm her ass, rolling her over my hard cock. The act of sharing blood as vampires is personal and sex is almost always part of it.

Everything about her turns me on. Knowing she is like me, yet different than any other vampire here, satisfies the demon inside me; no one will fuck with her.

She rips her mouth away, and tips her head back, my blood on her fangs, dripping down her neck to land on her tits.

“Stunning,” I whisper. I circle her throat briefly before trailing my hand in the path of my blood, rubbing it into her skin. “I want you covered in my blood.”

“Daddy,” she groans. “I want more. More, and more.” She looks down, watching, her tongue touching the tip of her fang.

“You can have as much as you want, pet.” I move back to her neck. “How do you feel?”

She grins. “Fucking fantastic.”