obedience. Mica is my best
friend and her mate. I sired Mica three hundred years ago, and through that
bond I can feel what he feels for your friend. They are soul mates. Vampires
are fiercely loyal and protect their mates with their life. Through their bond Mica
would feel every stroke of the whip as it rent through her flesh, and each
strike would tear at his heart. I, in turn, would feel his pain through our bond. I do not wish to cause her harm, but if
she slips and is defiant in front of others, I will have no choice but to
demand punishment or my clan would perceive my lack of reaction a weakness.
That, I cannot allow.”
***
Mica whispered in Desiree’s
ear. “Now do you understand why I keep intervening? I know the consequences of
your actions. I have seen the results. You remember Denise; she crossed Drake a
time or two. Her smart mouth has been known to test a man’s temper. One day she
pushed Drake too far and made the mistake of doing it in front of others. He
was left with no choice, and now her back will forever carry the marks.” Desiree
closed her eyes and a tear slipped from the corner as Mica continued. “That’s
why she doesn’t live with the nest. It took a lot from her to go back there
with us and fight last night. She fought the other clan and risked facing Drake
again for us. I know this goes against your independent nature, and I love that
part of you. If it makes you feel better you can argue all you want with me in
private. In fact, I look forward to it, but to cross Drake purposefully is
dangerous for both of us. Do you understand?” She relaxed in his arms and
nodded. “If I remove my hand, will you stop arguing?” She opened her eyes and
nodded again. He kissed the top of her head and dropped his hand.
She turned in his arms,
burying her face in his chest, sobbing. “My God, Denise, I had no idea. It must
have been awful.”
Her crying over Denise
surprised him. Not two days ago she herself had thrown a fireball at Denise for
her smart mouth. Denise hadn’t liked the idea that he was involved with a human
and had played a huge part in an elaborate plan to separate them. It had almost
worked too. Desiree was devastated when Denise lied and claimed to be his mate.
When he forced Denise to tell Desiree the truth, Denise had made the mistake of
making light of the situation.
He reached out and
touched her mind. You’re crying over
Denise? I did not tell you about her to make you cry for her. I was just trying
to warn you—to make a point.
She sniffed. I know, but Denise is my friend.
Friend? Since when?
She and I connected in the cave. I like her. If it
hadn’t been for Caleb—
She wouldn’t have been there causing trouble in the
first place. He finished for her.
Yeah.
You have a very large heart and are very protective of
those you love. Please, just let Sherry be. For whatever reason, Drake seems to
be attracted to her. To cross him—
She wiped the tears
from her eyes, then gazed into his, giving him a watery smile. Back off. I get it. He nodded. I promise to try. I see that my punishment
would not just hurt me. I love you, Mica. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt
because of something I did. I promise to let Sherry be, unless—
Unless?
She shrugged. If she comes running to me for help, I can’t
turn my back on her.
Promise me that you will come to me before you do or
say anything foolish.
I will try—in the heat of the moment, it doesn’t seem
foolish at the time.
Mica shook his head in
exasperation and wrapped her in his arms. It looks like my safest bet is to keep you as far away from Drake as I can.
Good luck with that. I am his slave, remember?
Mica sighed. How can I forget?
***
Sherry watched the
silent exchange between Desiree and Mica. She was happy that her friend had
finally found love, she just hoped that Desiree
wouldn’t do something stupid like crossing Drake. She smiled when she saw
Desiree smile up at Mica. “I’m happy for you kiddo,” she
friend and her mate. I sired Mica three hundred years ago, and through that
bond I can feel what he feels for your friend. They are soul mates. Vampires
are fiercely loyal and protect their mates with their life. Through their bond Mica
would feel every stroke of the whip as it rent through her flesh, and each
strike would tear at his heart. I, in turn, would feel his pain through our bond. I do not wish to cause her harm, but if
she slips and is defiant in front of others, I will have no choice but to
demand punishment or my clan would perceive my lack of reaction a weakness.
That, I cannot allow.”
***
Mica whispered in Desiree’s
ear. “Now do you understand why I keep intervening? I know the consequences of
your actions. I have seen the results. You remember Denise; she crossed Drake a
time or two. Her smart mouth has been known to test a man’s temper. One day she
pushed Drake too far and made the mistake of doing it in front of others. He
was left with no choice, and now her back will forever carry the marks.” Desiree
closed her eyes and a tear slipped from the corner as Mica continued. “That’s
why she doesn’t live with the nest. It took a lot from her to go back there
with us and fight last night. She fought the other clan and risked facing Drake
again for us. I know this goes against your independent nature, and I love that
part of you. If it makes you feel better you can argue all you want with me in
private. In fact, I look forward to it, but to cross Drake purposefully is
dangerous for both of us. Do you understand?” She relaxed in his arms and
nodded. “If I remove my hand, will you stop arguing?” She opened her eyes and
nodded again. He kissed the top of her head and dropped his hand.
She turned in his arms,
burying her face in his chest, sobbing. “My God, Denise, I had no idea. It must
have been awful.”
Her crying over Denise
surprised him. Not two days ago she herself had thrown a fireball at Denise for
her smart mouth. Denise hadn’t liked the idea that he was involved with a human
and had played a huge part in an elaborate plan to separate them. It had almost
worked too. Desiree was devastated when Denise lied and claimed to be his mate.
When he forced Denise to tell Desiree the truth, Denise had made the mistake of
making light of the situation.
He reached out and
touched her mind. You’re crying over
Denise? I did not tell you about her to make you cry for her. I was just trying
to warn you—to make a point.
She sniffed. I know, but Denise is my friend.
Friend? Since when?
She and I connected in the cave. I like her. If it
hadn’t been for Caleb—
She wouldn’t have been there causing trouble in the
first place. He finished for her.
Yeah.
You have a very large heart and are very protective of
those you love. Please, just let Sherry be. For whatever reason, Drake seems to
be attracted to her. To cross him—
She wiped the tears
from her eyes, then gazed into his, giving him a watery smile. Back off. I get it. He nodded. I promise to try. I see that my punishment
would not just hurt me. I love you, Mica. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt
because of something I did. I promise to let Sherry be, unless—
Unless?
She shrugged. If she comes running to me for help, I can’t
turn my back on her.
Promise me that you will come to me before you do or
say anything foolish.
I will try—in the heat of the moment, it doesn’t seem
foolish at the time.
Mica shook his head in
exasperation and wrapped her in his arms. It looks like my safest bet is to keep you as far away from Drake as I can.
Good luck with that. I am his slave, remember?
Mica sighed. How can I forget?
***
Sherry watched the
silent exchange between Desiree and Mica. She was happy that her friend had
finally found love, she just hoped that Desiree
wouldn’t do something stupid like crossing Drake. She smiled when she saw
Desiree smile up at Mica. “I’m happy for you kiddo,” she
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