Free RW1 Ravyn's blood by Jana Downs Page B

hammers on the inside of his skull.
    “Boys. Assistance. He’s attempting to claim your brother.”
    Inhuman snarls were being issued from the Ravyns. They all reached for Dageus at Salvatore’s words, running their hands over his bare chest in soothing gestures and making guttural noises that may have been a language. He reached unsure hands toward them, and one of them allowed his brother to grip his forearms as Dageus allowed them to pull him into their combined embrace. Alex hissed, flashing his fangs, and sank his power deeper into Dageus. Dageus cried out.
    “You’re hurting him!” The Ravyn with the surfer-blond hair screamed in Alex’s direction as blood began to drip from Dageus’s nose. The dark-haired one whispered something in that rhythmic guttural language, and the one who’d yelled at him quieted. Alex felt them gathering their powers to thrust him forcibly from Dageus’s consciousness.
    “Wait,” Dageus muttered. “Stop. Stop, my brothers. He hasn’t hurt me. My Prince,” he pleaded. “Make them stop.”
    Salvatore made a noise of displeasure low in his throat. He sounded downright dangerous. “Strike him, my Ravyns.” He commanded. Dageus cried out in panic this time, ripped himself from his brothers’ arms, and threw himself in front of Alex.
    “ No !” The power they had been directing struck him full force and knocked him flat on his back. The Ravyns echoed his gasp, and they shared his pain, writhing in agony. Salvatore waved his hand and dispelled the power. Dageus reached a hand toward Alex.
    “Enough,” Salvatore said. The situation had really gotten out of hand. The vampire nodded his agreement. It was enough. “I acknowledge your power, Master of Haven. However, my Dageus is not your Kalel. Only those who belong to Demontia are able to become true Ravyns, and your lover would’ve originated on this plane. It is impossible.”
    Alex snorted at his simplified explanation. “It should also be impossible for a Vampire to enthrall a demonic servant, yet I have. Not to mention that to Thrall someone you have to exchange blood with them multiple times over a two week period, and I’ve only had one blood exchange with your Ravyn, yet I call him, and he’s mine.”
    Salvatore opened his mouth to argue but was interrupted by Dageus.
    “Stop!” Dageus begged, panting from the floor. “Jesus. Can we stop arguing who owns more of me and address the problem at hand?”
    They looked at him dumbly.
    “I’m on the fucking floor, and I can’t feel the lower half of my body,” he offered. His brothers swarmed him worriedly. It was then Alex decided to change tactics.
    “Your Ravyn is very talented, my lord Prince,” Alex offered once they had gotten Dageus to his feet. “I’ve never had someone react so passionately as my partner. You are very lucky to have him.”
    “You truly think so? I hadn’t been aware of it previously. Not much dancing to be had in Demontia.” The Prince’s abrupt enthusiasm made the vampire suspicious, but it was a welcome change from the hostility of the moment before.
    Alex smiled gently, trying for diplomacy when his instincts clamored for him to claim his Bride, diplomacy be damned. “Indeed,” he replied. “I apologize for mistaking your Ravyn for Kalel. The way he dances reminded me of my former love. At any rate, would you be willing to allow him to train with me while you are here? I think it would be very favorable to both of us. You and your Ravyns can have the VIP box for the rest of the season or for as long as you’re here and—Dageus, is it—will be trained by me and used in my productions. He has quite excited my sensibilities and inspired my muse.”
    Salvatore nodded, accepting his apology as well as agreeing quickly to his suggestions “My lord, perhaps we should consider this matter a while before you make those sorts of decisions, considering we just stopped fighting with the vampire?” Tony, as usual the voice of temperance,