Two Thousand Shadows (Kings of Chaos, #4)

by Jocelynn Drake

Leo lifted one eyebrow and smirked. “Cats are not helpless. They’re skilled hunters and predators.” “Then you’re lazy.” “Precisely.”

“Rei and Huli knew it too,” Kai blurted out. Whoosh! Just like that, Rei and Huli were thrown in front of the oncoming bus.

That was all it took. Junjie knew he’d die for this child. He’d destroy entire armies to keep him safe. He didn’t know anything about raising children or caring for them, but nothing had ever felt so right to him.

Yep, that settled it. He needed to decide on a name for the child. He couldn’t let him go through life as fruit.

Friends didn’t bite friends. They weren’t food.

“I don’t understand. I didn’t think you wanted to do this. You seemed nervous a minute ago.” “I was. A minute ago. But I’ve had time to think about it, and all the vampire movies I’ve watched are so sexy the way the vampire holds his victim and kisses along their neck before biting them. Besides, it’s not like the mated members of your clan are all that quiet. You don’t need a cat’s hearing to pick up on Moon shouting, ‘Bite me! Bite me! Bite me, my sexy master!’ at the top of his lungs every morning.” “Enough!” Chen roared, but no one paid attention to him. Mei Lian was laughing so hard, she was choking on air. If she hadn’t been wearing a seat belt, she would have fallen to the floor. Junjie buried his flaming cheeks in his hands. Only Leo would have the balls to say something like that. They’d be lucky if Chen didn’t pull the car over and skin Leo alive.

Why settle down with just one person? Because, sometimes, you got really lucky and Bastet shined her light on you, the perfect person walked into your life, and you didn’t need anyone else.

Huli leaned around Rei and smirked. “I’m still a mate-in-training, but I will get Xiao Dan eventually.” “Yes, you will!” Moon cheered.

“I’ve read the legends about fox spirits. We don’t do mates. We’re supposed to seduce and kill people. Steal their souls. And while that might sound like a lot of fun, nothing could ever make me ruin my shot at having Xiao Dan. He’s the most amazing human ever. I’ve lived a thousand years, and I’ve met a lot of humans. Wanted to kill most of them. But not Xiao Dan.”

“I believe what he’s trying to say is that if you’re lucky enough to find the person whose heart matches your own, don’t walk away from him. Treasure them always, because it is unlikely you will find another like him,” Kai stated. “Isn’t that what I said?” Huli demanded. “Not even close,” Rei muttered.

Kai’s harsh whisper suddenly cut through the SUV. “You tie up your mates?” “No!” Moon snapped. “Sometimes,” Rei purred. And that was more than Leo needed to know about Rei and Yichen’s sex life.

Erik lifted his head from where it rested on Junjie’s chest. He pointed at Junjie and proclaimed, “My gege.” He pointed at Leo. “My kitty mao.”

“Stop staring and get over here,” Junjie commanded as he wiped the water from his eyes. “Gotta say I love how bossy you become when you have no pants on.”

Junjie pulled away and beamed brilliantly at him. “Say it again,” he whispered. “Wo ai ni,” he repeated with more confidence this time. “I love you, too.” Their lips met in another sweet kiss that felt like the vampire had wrapped his arms around his soul.

“Moon, you swore to never use blood magic again!” Xiao Dan called from across the forest. “Oh, this isn’t blood magic, Shifu,” Moon said with a mad cackle. “I talked with Sky, and he had a different opinion about my magic. He says I’m not a blood witch anymore, but a necromancer.”