Page 46 of Liar Witch

Vampire females bleed at their fertile time. They use their scent to draw their mate to them, spreading it around the nest to drive their enforcers wild with the urge to protect them while they’re vulnerable together.

It’s biology. Enforcers protect. Mates... mate.

I was too young when I lived with the nest to ever experience it firsthand, but I remembered the way my mother’s enforcers had behaved. Barely sleeping as they patrolled day and night for the fortnight of her seclusion once a year.

It was the only time I ever remembered my parents spending time together without me.

Only a mate gets to see to his queen’s needs. I’m not mated to Nilsa yet. We haven’t exchanged blood. She’s not trusted me with her body and my instincts respect that.

So instead, my biology drives me to protect.

It’s ironic really. An hour ago, I might have drained her dry.

Now, despite bloodlust roaring in my veins and the burn at my throat, I don’t think I could even if I wanted to.

The fae watches me from the other side of the room, his sword out. It’s a delicate blade, but I know from experience that it’s twice as deadly as the one Nos is already lowering.

It’s made of quicksilver. The lethal, shimmering edge is only given solid form when Kier uses his ice powers to hold it together. It will only ever work for one of his kind.

Toxic and beautiful. Typical fae.

He’s still got it pointed at us.

“Kier, he thinks she’s a queen.” Nos’s hiss is nearly silent.

Kier doesn’t say anything, but his eyes widen in shock as he processes what the shifter is saying.

“Hey, look at me.” Nilsa keeps trying to distract me, ignoring the danger at her back.

I won’t take my eyes off of them. If I was certain I could dispatch the threat without her getting hurt in the process, I would have.

If she gets hurt, she’ll bleed more.

Just thinking of it draws my mind back to the scent that hangs heavy on the air. Goddess. Her blood is perfect. Sweet and tart.

A creak from behind me has me whirling. A very naked Cas is perched on the window ledge, palms outstretched in a motion of surrender.

The slightest noise from my other side has me bearing my fangs in a hiss as I turn again. Val staggers into the room, completing the gathering. A huge red stain has bloomed over his white shirt, just below his pec and his eyes are completely bloodshot.

He tried to keep me from her. The memories ratchet up my aggression and I tug Nilsa even closer.

“Gentle, you’re crushing her.” Cas is getting closer. “We’re not a threat, big guy. We want to protect Nilsa too.”

“Mine.”

“Yeah, we get the fucking point.” Val is as sarcastic as ever.

“Kier,” Nilsa whispers against my chest, ignoring them all as her hands gently try to pull my face down to hers. “Put the sword down. I don’t think he wants to hurt me.”

I turn back to the fae.

He gives me the longest evaluating look before he slides the sword slowly into the scabbard at his hip.

“There,” Cas says, breaking the tense silence. “He’s not armed. None of us are going to take her from you. Now, would you mind moving your fangs a little further away from her?”

Only when Kier’s hands have moved away from the pommel do I finally turn my attention to the woman tugging my face down.

Nilsa can barely reach, so I adjust, using my arms to pull her up my body and support her under her ass. Her arms fall from my face to rest on my shoulders, and the others take an involuntary step forward, their eyes glued on how much closer she is to my fangs now.