Page 16 of Of Flame and Fate
Gemini isn’t looking at me, his rigid stance is turned in the direction of an approaching vampire wearing a very tiny plaid skirt.
Agnes’s white shirt hangs in tatters, her lacy red bra poking through the strips of fabric as she struts forward. “This wasn’t our fault,” she says, ignoring me to speak to Gem.
“No?” Gemini counters. “Then why the hell are me and my pack picking up your fucking mess?”
I stiffen, hurrying to his side.
Agnes has no status in the supernatural world outside of Misha’s keep. Gemini does, although you’d never guess by the way she answers him. “We were informed of two rogues. Our master acted well within his rights—”
“Your master acted without informing the Alliance,” Gemini growls. “Placing my mate and her family in danger!”
I step between them when Gemini’s shoulders roll forward. He’s ready to attack and so is Agnes. Her nails elongate in succession with her fangs, “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
“No,you don’t,” he snarls.
“Gemini, stop,” I urge. “I won’t have you fighting with Misha’s family.”
“Then she needsto stand down,” he replies, his voice morphing from primal to deadly.
I’ve seen my lover angry and vicious and know his statement is no longer a warning. It’s a proclamation of death, irrespective of which hierarchy of supernatural it offends.
My hand grips his shoulder as my head whips back. “Back off,” I tell her.
She scowls, her anger turning on me.
Celia maintains a title and position within Misha’s family that affords her the right to order and lead them in his absence. I don’t have anything like that and am simply trying to avoid her re-death. Gemini is furious, and if he’s acting within Pack duty, he can legally strike her down.
“Agnes,” I say, digging my nails deeper into Gemini’s shoulder. “Stand down,now.”
I don’t think she’s listening to my pleas as much as she realizes Gemini is ready to destroy her. His eyes lock on her, the steel and ire in his gaze forcing her to obey and edge away.
Not that she’s done talking. “Your mate works for my master out of choice. She came willingly as did her sisters.”
“Not anymore. Tell your master as Second in Command to the Squaw Valley Den Pack, he is hereby summoned to meet with the Alliance and disclose any and all information surrounding the vampires you were hunting.”
She frowns. “They’re rogues,” she informs him. “More than we anticipated, yes, but nothing more.”
“You’re wrong. If your master gave a damn about anything aside from himself he would have known, we would have told him, and none of us would be here.”
Her nails dissolve within her fingertips as she watches him closely. “As Chief Advisor to the House of Aleksandr, I accept your request.”
“We expect him, not you.”
“Very well,” she says, not that she’s happy.
She turns on her heel, halting in place at the sound of Gemini’s growl. “One more thing.”
She stops, her spine stiffening when she hears him stalk forward, his voice unbearably rigid. “I swear on my honor that if youeverrisk my mate’s safety again, I’ll kill youandhim.”
Chapter Four
Gemini pulls off Virginia Street, taking a side road that leads into a modest part of town, far away from the glitzy lights. My hand slides along the armrest. I’m not one to fidget, but keeping my hand on the armrest keeps it off my throat. I don’t want to bring more attention to my bruises there, or to the ones likely lining my back. Gemini doesn’t need another reason to make due on his threat.
I lean back into the seat and try to relax my breathing. I’m not thrilled with what he said to Agnes, how he swore to kill her and Misha if he felt my life was at risk because of them. As one of the most powerful masters in existence, I don’t want him and Misha fighting, ever. I can’t be sure who would win, and neither deserves to die.
“Baby, I’m sorry,” I tell him.
He rolls to a stop at a light. “You’re always sorry, Taran. That doesn’t stop you from acting any time the vampires snap their fingers.”