Free Blood at Stake (Warriors of the Krieger Book 2) by Theresa Hissong

thirty
years, but he is functioning, keeping it together enough to do his
job. But he’s not the same…never will be.”
    “Oh,” she sniffled. Bloody tears glistened
in the corner of her eyes.
    “The loss of a mate is said to be worse than
a stake to the heart. At least a stake to the heart will take away
the pain.” I touched her cheek and pulled her tiny body across the
console, so that I could hold her in my arms. The memory of that
night still hit too close to home.
    “I understand,” she whispered. “I can
stay.”
    “If you’re not ready,” I began, but she cut
me off with a tiny finger to my lips. The last thing I wanted to do
was push her. I could have trainees keep an eye on her when I was
unable to be there.
    “I saw the way Dragus was with my Charity.
If it will give you peace of mind, I will stay. We just need to get
some of my things from the house,” she sighed. “Can we go there
before dawn?”
    “After this, we can spend the rest of the
night moving some of your things,” I smiled. The tightened muscle
around my heart eased knowing she would be with me at my home.
Safe. Secure. And mine.
    “Can we see this human now?” she asked,
changing the subject.
    “Come on,” I sighed.
    Lydia followed me into the station. Taryn,
our dispatcher, stood up as we entered the room. Her eyes widened
when she took in my new eye color, but didn’t mention anything. I
was grateful when she composed herself enough to address Lydia
properly.
    “My lady,” she said, averting her eyes.
    “Hello,” Lydia smiled.
    “ Krieger Ashby, a message came for
you from Krieger Dragus.” She pulled a piece of folded paper
from a file, handing it to me quickly so that she could answer the
ringing telephone.
    I took the paper and unfolded it.
     
    Krieger Ashby,
     
    My mate and I will be returning in two
nights. I have been notified of the attack against my mate’s maker,
Lydia Duncan. Lady Charity is deeply concerned.
    Please have a report for me, and on my desk,
before I arrive Tuesday.
     
    Krieger Dragus
     
    “Looks like Dragus and Charity are coming
home Tuesday,” I said, handing her the sheet of paper.
    “She doesn’t need to worry,” Lydia sighed
and shook her head. “That child is as protective of me as I am of
her.” Lydia let out a shaky laugh and returned the note. I folded
it, sliding it into my pocket.
    We took the elevator into the basement,
stopping at the first room on the right. The corridor in the
basement was quiet. Cells that housed the inmates were further down
passed the security bars that were enchanted to drain the
prisoner’s powers. Humans that were involved in vampire related
crimes were kept in a different section on the first floor, but the
only interrogation room was in the basement.
    I flicked on the overhead light, and used
the knob to dim the lights, so that she could see through one-way
privacy glass.
    “Stay here while I have them bring the
suspect into the room. I promise to be back very soon,” I
whispered, stoking her arm before I walked out the door. My chest
ached when I closed the door. Leaving her for any reason, any
amount of time, tore at my heart. I didn’t want to bring the human
into the room, where her beautiful eyes would fall upon his form.
She was too perfect for that man to taint Lydia’s beauty.
    I found Powle in his office, working over a
file, “I need you to bring the human into the interrogation room as
soon as possible.”
    “Is Ms. Lydia…,” he paused, once he looked
up from his work. His mouth fell open, and I laughed when he shook
his head a few times before continuing. “Did you know that your
eyes are yellow?”
    “Yes,” I scowled.
    “How the hell? Who?” I laughed as Powle
sputtered a bunch of broken sentences.
    “I don’t understand how it happened, but
Lydia and I mated during the day.” Powle stood up and held out his
beefy hand.
    “Congratulations, my brother,” he smiled.
“How is she handling it?”
    “Much better than