Free The Lycan Collapse (The Flux Age Book 2) by Steven J Shelley

ablaze with Jack’s heat.
    “It’s been too long, Jack,” she whispered in his ear as he thrust like an animal.
    “Longer than a lycan can possibly bear,” panted Jack in reply.
     
    Jack was zipping Yasmin’s dress when Barker, head of the security detail, popped his head around the door.
    “Sorry, ma’am,” he said uncomfortably. “My running sheet says its time for the meeting.”
    Yasmin felt a twinge of nerves, but nothing like she might’ve felt had she not run into Jack. She held him in her arms for one last moment.
    “Be careful in there,” he warned. “I know nothing of politics, but I’m certain you can’t trust any of those people.”
    Yasmin nodded, giving Jack a final peck on the cheek.
    “Keep a sharp eye,” she warned. “I’m sure everything will be OK.”
    A murmur rippled amongst the guests as Yasmin reappeared in the grand ballroom without her mask. She no longer cared what they all thought of her. She was a vampire queen - she could do whatever she damn well wanted. Her tryst with Jack had flooded her with confidence, self-belief. That was one of the reasons she loved him - he somehow managed to bring out the best in her.
    Gliding through the crowd, Yasmin felt good being herself - a young vampire with strong ambitions. She stopped at the champagne table and turned to address her guests.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, would the various leaders and representatives please retire into the Gershwin Room.”
    A set of double doors were pulled open by security staff. Yasmin was the first to enter, leading the way calmly. She took a seat at the far end of a circular mahogany table. Others filtered in behind. To her relief Mother Aurora took a seat to her left, and Gustav came and sat to her right. Hector Caliri, a powerful aquilan figure, bowed to Yasmin before assuming a seat. Others found places at the table. All removed their masks as they walked in, but Yasmin didn’t recognize them anyway. There was a mixture of men and women. At that moment they all looked like regular human beings. Their ‘normal’ appearance somehow conspired to set Yasmin’s nerves on edge. It made them difficult to read.
    Once the table was filled and it was clear that no one else was coming in, Yasmin stood and smiled at her guests.
    “I thank you all for coming tonight. My name is Yasmin Silver and, as ridiculous as it sounds, apparently I’m a vampire queen.”
    The scattered laughter around the table was reassuring.
    “We’re all getting used to our new bodies,” Gustav said, his chubby cheeks shaking with delight.
    “Indeed,” said Yasmin. “I can imagine your heads must still be spinning. One minute you were going about your human lives, the next you had been given the task of leading your species into an uncertain Flux Age.”
    “We need a common room or something,” said a jolly-looking man. “A place where we can drink and smoke.”
    More laughter around the table.
    “The reason I arranged this Ball tonight was because I feel a little lost,” Yasmin said. Long before the Ball she’d decided to be honest before her peers. She hoped it was the best way to elicit similar honesty from those she hoped to befriend.
    “When a diviner told me what I was, who I was, all I felt was confusion,” Yasmin went on. “Especially as I was convinced I was something else.”
    Yasmin glanced at Mother Aurora, who nodded in acknowledgement.
    “The thing is, I’ve come to accept who I am. I’m growing to love who I am. But the reality that comes with that takes a lot of getting used to.”
    “I can relate, child,” boomed Gustav. “Spiders aren’t usually seen as the most attractive of beasts.”
    “And yet you’re here by my side, looking for ways we can help each other,” Yasmin said with a smile. “It proves that we need to remove all our old human prejudices.”
    “Yasmin is right,” said a skinny man with pale skin. “One thing we must recognize is that all Flux creatures are intelligent. In in