Free Sweet Last Drop by Melody Johnson Page B

her presence, and I definitely didn’t know that you were previously acquainted. Upon discovery, why wouldn’t I bring her to you?” Rene narrowed his eyes, and despite his obvious loyalty, returned Bex’s laser look with heat of his own.
    Bex lifted her chin defensively. “She might be new to us, but she’s not new to our territory. She’s Lysander’s night blood, and by bringing her to me you risk—”
    “When has territory ever stopped you from claiming what’s yours?” Rene interrupted. His chest vibrated in a low, rattling growl, and his lips thinned across his sharpened teeth. “DiRocco is in your territory, and anything in your territory is rightfully yours to take. Lysander knew that when he allowed her to leave his territory. You shouldn’t need me to explain this to you.”
    I pursed my lips and wondered if what Rene was saying was accurate. He seemed to be a font of vampire etiquette, and if Bex’s expression was any indication, Dominic had thrown me to the wolves, almost literally. Except wolves might have been preferable.
    “She doesn’t want me as her night blood,” I interjected, hoping to turn the heat under someone else. Walker was certainly a subject of contention between them, so I’d play on that. “Or at least, she doesn’t want me enough to risk war with Dominic. The only night blood she’d risk anything for is Walker.”
    “By pursuing Walker, she risks everything,” Rene growled.
    “Enough,” Bex growled back.
    “Other night bloods exist beyond Walker.” Rene continued. “They might not be the night bloods you want, but they’re the night bloods your coven needs. Your love of Walker has blinded you from the destination we’ve worked so hard to reach, and if you continue leading us astray, someone will come along to right our path.”
    Bex’s chest rattled. “Is that a threat, Rene?”
    “Never, Master. I serve only you, but as your loyal servant, I fear for the stability of our coven.”
    “I’ve lived many lives with many covens, and I’ve transformed many night bloods. In all that time, I’ve gained something that I didn’t possess in my former life as a night blood, nor after I was transformed, for many, many years: patience. Walker is my night blood, and when he’s ready, I’ll be there. Looking back years from now at the time it took for him to accept his destiny, you’ll see that the extra time we waited was a mere blink in our existence. Y’all haven’t realized this because you’ve only lived one human life, but when you’ve lived five, ten, one hundred human lifetimes, you’ll understand this inevitability.”
    “I understand, Master,” Rene growled through clenched teeth, his tone anything but understanding. “But in the meantime, while you’re exercising patience with Walker, other night bloods are ripe for the transformation.”
    “Night bloods must be chosen carefully. If they’re unwilling—”
    “Walker is unwilling!” Rene snapped.
    “DiRocco isn’t worth the trouble that changing her would stir with Lysander,” Bex finally admitted, and as the words tumbled from her lips, she realized her mistake.
    “You fear Lysander and his growing power, despite his approaching Leveling,” Rene accused.
    Bex lifted her chin higher, refusing to bend. “I fear nothing.”
    “Then if you don’t want the night blood, and you don’t fear Lysander’s wrath, may I drink from her?” Rene asked darkly.
    I looked back and forth between Bex and Rene in the sudden, quelling silence. The exchange had escalated so rapidly that I wasn’t sure how their attention had once again shifted to me, but I held my breath as I became the focus of both their honed, targeted gazes.
    Bex froze for a moment, her expression like chiseled stone. She’d trapped herself between pride and fear, and my heart sank. In her place, I knew which I’d choose. Quickly, nearly imperceptibly, she nodded.
    I didn’t wait to see if Rene would make good on his request. I