Free Liquid crimson by Carol Lynne Page B

into the flames. The first attack on Michael had come at the hands of an outsider, but this one bothered Neo more because it came from one of his own. “Make sure everyone knows that Rafi is no longer welcome here. Ever.”
    “I figured as much, but I knew it wasn’t my place to issue the order until I received it from you.”
    “Twice I failed to protect Michael.” Neo levelled his gaze on Gunnar. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Can we handle this with our own men or should I bring in additional guards?”
    It was to Gunnar’s credit that he didn’t immediately answer out of pride, but took the time to weigh the security forces already in place versus the potential threats. Gunnar broke eye contact and stood. He walked to the edge of the stone patio, back to Neo and gazed out over the vineyard. “I think we need a few specialised guards, but you’re not going to like it.”
    “Why? What’re you proposing?” The hair on the back of Neo’s neck prickled.
    “My wolves are stretched pretty thin since the LaMont coven decided to target Michael. The cats are good workers, but easily distracted when it comes to holding a guard post.”
    With his hands stuffed into his front pockets, Gunnar turned to face Neo. “I think we need strong guards who are used to functioning at night.”
    Neo’s eyes narrowed. The answer to their problem was the one species he loathed. “Vampires.”
    Gunnar nodded. “I know the thought of bringing vampires into your home turns your stomach, but there are some good, trustworthy men out there who would be perfect for the job. Besides, who better to fight the LaMont coven than one of their own species?”
    Neo’s immediate reaction was no. He’d never liked vampires so how could he trust them to keep his mate safe? However, he believed in Gunnar’s instincts. Despite his personal feelings, in the end, it boiled down to what was best for Michael. “Where would we get these trustworthy vampires?”
    “There are a few who work for the Realm,” Gunnar offered.
    Neo shook his head. “I’d rather not bring the Realm into this. Besides, if I’m going to allow vampires on Le Uve del Regno , I’d prefer to have enough to do the job right.”
    He ran his hands through his hair. The only place to go for help was the Clan of Kildare, the ruling family of vampiric society. “Do you think Ian Kildare will loan me some of his guards? The man can’t stand me.”
    “You’re right and with good reason since you’ve been very vocal of your loathing of his people. However, this is your chance to not only bridge the gap between Kildare’s family and the Realm, but it will be good publicity for the vampires. There are a lot of Blessed Creatures who don’t trust them. It would give Kildare a chance to do something good for the Realm.”
    Neo had met Ian Kildare on several occasions. Before his capture and torture at the hands of Francois LaMont , Neo had actually enjoyed the man’s company. When Ian visited the Realm after Neo’s rescue, Neo refused to see the vampire King, thus creating a rift between the Realm and the Clan of Kildare.
    Dammit . Neo stood and addressed Gunnar. “I’ll see if I can get a meeting with Ian.”
    “And in the meantime, I’ll talk to the guards to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
    Conversation over, Neo went to check on Michael. Neo sat on the edge of the bed and stared down at his mate. Michael’s brow was furrowed in sleep, leading Neo to wonder what the man was dreaming of. He smoothed his thumb tenderly over Michael’s forehead until the worry lines relaxed. Before leaving the room, Neo placed a soft kiss on Michael’s plump pink lips.
    He found Joseph in the study trying to clean away the mess Neo had made earlier. Neo cleared his throat and waited for Joseph to look up. “I’ll take care of the rest,” he told his long-time employee. It was as close to an apology as he would come. He wasn’t sorry