Free Blood Love (God Wars Book 4) by Connie Suttle Page A

me now with the other. I couldn't handle that and suddenly I wanted to cry.
    "Hey," fingers stroked my face. I shivered.
    "Ashe, she's going into shock," Kevis said softly.
    "No, no, no," his arms tightened around me again. Kevis' fingers touched my forehead and I was out.
    * * *
    Ashe's Journal
    "What happened?" Trajan glared accusingly at me.
    "Traje, I can't explain how intense," I raked fingers through my hair. For those moments I'd spent with Breanne, all thoughts of Kay fled my mind and it had been the two of us, connected in an intimate way. I couldn't tell him that—he was in love with her. Hadn't ever had what I'd just experienced, either.
    "I've never been bitten by a female vampire," Dad spoke up. We were still inside my bedroom—Kevis and Bill had taken Breanne back to hers. "I can't say how intense that experience might be. I recall the climax I received with the bite lesson very well, but as it was delivered by a male, there was some guilt and shame attached to it."
    "You were worried she'd hurt me. I think the opposite just happened," I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment.
    "Son, she's relatively inexperienced. I just wanted to be present, in case there was additional instruction needed."
    "I understand that," I nodded. "But I think we upset her."
    "And I understand that," Dad agreed. "Is she all right?"
    "Kevis says she's still out but her breathing is normal and her vitals are good," Trajan broke in. He'd had a mental conversation with the healer, apparently.
    "Traje, look, we'll sort this out, I promise. I'm just worried how this is going to affect her, going forward."
    "Yeah. Me, too, since this was my idea." Trajan stalked out of my bedroom. I watched him go with a sigh.
    * * *
    Earth—past
    "Hey, bro," Trajan offered Charles a grin as he and Gavin dumped bags in the foyer.
    "Good to see you again," Charles smiled back. "Anything new?"
    "Nothing yet. We're waiting on you to help us hunt down Vernon Clark. Last known location was in Valencia, just south of here," Bill said. He, Opal and the others had gathered to greet the vampires when they arrived shortly after midnight, local time.
    "I read up on Valencia—has a scattered population of less than three thousand," Charles let the strap of his laptop bag fall from his shoulder as he set the bag down carefully.
    "Charles, I'd hire you in a minute if you weren't otherwise employed," Bill grinned. "Are you tired or do you want to get started tonight? I have a couple of addresses to check out."
    "We can go, I just want to change and brush my teeth," Charles said.
    "I agree. I despise this man, and worry that he may get away from us," Gavin growled.
    "Same here, man," Jayson sighed.
    "We're rested and ready, so whenever you say, we'll hit the road," Opal nodded.
    "Give me five minutes," Charles said.
    "I'll take you to your room," Hank offered.
    "Thanks."
    * * *
    "I don't like this—it's kinda creepy," Opal shone her flashlight in the bedroom of the empty house. "Power off, cleared out, carpet stinks of blood," she added.
    "We need some light in here," Bill agreed, stepping up behind her. "Is there any way to determine whether this is human blood?"
    "Most of it is," Gavin growled. "And there is quite a bit of it," he added.
    "I keep forgetting you can see a lot better than we can," Bill sighed. "Tell me what you're seeing, here."
    The abandoned house was on a dirt road south of Valencia, and barely within the city limits. Bill couldn't tell how long it had been empty, but the air smelled stale and there was a stink of spoiled meat and rot about it.
    "I think this floor is," Hank wandered in and bounced cautiously on the carpet. "Yeah. There's something beneath this floor. It's not slab, like the rest of the house."
    "I hate to disturb evidence, but let's pull back the carpet," Bill handed his flashlight to Jayson, who'd followed Hank inside the bedroom. "Just be careful doing it. Anybody bring gloves?"
    "Is this an investigation or what?" Opal pulled