Crave (Shadow Bred, #4)

by Grace McGinty

As they worked, I sent a thanks to the Moon Goddess that these psychos existed.

Susannah had reached out and punched the big vampire in the tit. She’d hit a fucking vampire in the chest to shut him up. Fuck, we were going to die.

Can we keep them? I mouthed in his direction. He grinned back at me, before mouthing back, Absolutely.

She turned to me and snarled, and I raised my hands again. “Not gonna lie, kiddo, I’ve already been eaten by one apex predator and I’m not looking to do it again. Bite wounds are a bitch.”

I was stuffed. How did Manix do that every twenty minutes for days on end? It was fucking lunacy. Merrick laughed from where he was nuzzling against Quinn’s shoulder. Whoops. I’d said that out loud. “That’s just the beginning,” Murphy purred. “Welcome to the frenzy.”

Tanner screwed up his nose. “There’s a lot to unpack right there, and I’m not sure I have the brainpower for it today. How was seven mates not enough? Nine just seems excessive.”

“What?” Quinn gasped, his eyes whipping to Tanner. “You came back here to confess, knowing they might decide to kill you?” He punched our vampire in the arm, hard. “You fucking dick.”

Man, what I would give for an ounce of your blood right now.” I stiffened, and he laughed. “For research. Not for tasting.” He paused. “Well, maybe for tasting. You smell kinda nice.” “Uh, thank you?” There was no fucking way I was giving him my blood. Hybrid or not, I was still a trained warlock, and I knew better than to give my blood to anyone. Bowie was laughing hysterically. I really like this guy.

I looked at the vampire, and raised an eyebrow. “I have no designation.” “Holy Harold Holt in a bathtub…” Understanding lit up his face. “That could be rather problematic. So when the Alpha General does that staring growl thing that kind of makes even me want to shit myself, you feel…” I shook my head. “Nothing.”

“Are you trying to woo her?” Murphy teased. “Nah, man. She’d rather cut off my balls than have sex with me. Her words, not mine.”

I’d made a concerted effort to rein in the Alpha instincts that screamed Jericho was wrong, and get to know him. And I kinda liked the angry little fucker.

“I hate them too. Want me to eat them? They’d probably taste rotten, but anything tastes good with enough tomato sauce.” He laughed softly as he pressed away from my chest. “Thank you, Tanner.”

“Bowie, the rock means everyone can hear your inside voice on the fucking outside,” I hissed, but I was the only one who could see Bowie’s look of horror.

Tanner hushed him. “This is a classic. Just appreciate the beauty of Patrick Swayze shirtless.” Murphy laughed at the big blond vampire. “I thought you didn’t ‘swing that way,’” he teased. Tanner looked up at me, his eyes dancing. “Apparently, sometimes I can be swayed.”