Free Coletti Warlords: Vexing Voss by Gail Koger

guy. I’m going to a costume party.”
    The old woman pointed at Hothar and sobbed, “Are we under attack?”
    Smothering a groan, I smiled brightly and shook my head. “No, she looks like the real thing, doesn’t she?”
    The woman examined Hothar in disbelief. “That’s a woman?”
    Hothar growled.
    “Stop it,” I commanded him mentally. “We don’t need the police showing up.”
    He smiled at her, showing a lot of fang.
    The woman’s eyes bugged out. “Those fangs look awfully real.”
    “They do, don’t they?” I quickly slid into her mind. “Go back to your family.”
    “Certainly, dear.” She hurried out.
    “For future reference, men are not allowed in the women’s restroom.”
    “I go where you go,” Hothar stated implacably.
    “Are you by any chance related to the Battle Commander?”
    “He is my uncle.”
    Of course he was. “I want you to wait outside the door.”
    “I cannot leave you unguarded.”
    Taking a deep calming breath, I gestured around the small room. “There is only one way in or out.”
    “Anyone can teleport in and take you,” he countered logically.
    “Fine, but you are not coming in the stall with me.”
    Hothar opened the stall door and peered inside. “Agreed.”
    I rolled my eyes in exasperation, slammed the stall door shut, and quickly did my business. “Crap, no toilet paper.”
    Hothar’s big hand appeared over the top of the stall with a roll.
    “Thanks,” I said, taking it. “You haven’t told your uncle about our little road trip, have you?”
    “He is aware of your location.”
    “What!” I quickly flushed the toilet and opened the door. “How?”
    “The mate bond allows him to track you.”
    That sucked. “He’s coming, isn’t he?”
    Hothar nodded. “I have ordered our food to go.”
    A hurricane of power crashed into the room, and Voss was suddenly standing in front of me. He looked at Hothar. “Leave us.”
    The kid vanished.
    A shaft of pure gut-deep panic shot through me at the rage simmering in Voss’s eyes. Sweet Jesus, that look was enough to send seasoned warriors running for their lives. No wonder worlds surrendered when his warbird paid a visit.
    “You attacked my warrior and ran.”
    “I taught your warrior some manners, and I came here to use the facilities and get some food.” I edged around him, turned the faucet on, and began washing my hands. The mate bond kept him from killing me, didn’t it?
    The Battle Commander loomed over me. “How did Lothel offend you?”
    I met his gaze in the mirror, and something dark and terrifying flickered in the Battle Commander’s eyes. “Lothel kept grabbing my braid. I warned him if he did it again, I was gonna kick his ass, and I did.”
    “I see.” He rubbed a hand over his face and inquired blandly, “Did he do anything else?”
    “He laughed at me, and he was disrespectful. I haven’t had any chocolate today, and I’m a tad bit cranky. You got a problem with that?”
    “Yes, it is my duty as your mate to take care of disrespectful warriors.” His voice was a low, aggressive growl.
    Yanking off a piece of paper towel, I dried my hands, and my evil twin made a sudden reappearance. “You weren’t there now, were you? So I took care of it myself. Since you neglected to ask me if I needed anything like food, water, or a bathroom, you forfeited your right to yell at me for coming here.”
    “Is that so?” Voss’s hands clamped down on my shoulders.
    A yelp broke from me when his fingers dug into my bruised shoulder.
    Voss roared, “Who hurt you?”
    “El Jefe’s henchmen were shooting at me, and I took a hit in the shoulder. It’s a bruise. No big deal.”
    Voss pulled a knife from his boot, sliced open his hand, and held it up to my mouth. “Drink.”
    I looked at the badly bleeding wound in horror. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a bit?”
    His scary index shot off the charts. “Drink. Now.”
    Self-preservation kicked in, and I reluctantly took his