to know better - the mixing of the species was most often frowned upon. They'd played together, discovered a passion for females together, and they'd fought together, guarding each other's backs.
After Susan, well, the nymph king had taken him in and cared for him until the emotional anguish gave way to a thirst for revenge.
Perhaps Zane needed someone to care for him. His time with the demons had probably razored his soul to tatters.
"Sure you want to know?" Zane inquired.
Layel nodded.
"Before, when you asked me whose blood I had taken..." Zane's fingers tightened over the rock and sparks erupted at the tip of the stick.
His stomach twisted into a knot. Do not say Delilah. If her name left the vampire's lips, Layel wasn't sure how he would react. Someone would die, he suspected. "You refused to tell me."
"I took from a woman."
No.
"From an Amazon."
No!
"From Nola."
First there was anger that Zane had strung him along, most likely out of shame. Then relief. It nearly felled him, and he realized he'd been reaching for the dagger he'd sharpened only a few hours ago. Thank the gods. His hands fell into his lap. "She allowed this?"
"She did, though I doubt she remembers." Yes, that was shame dripping from the words.
He blinked in surprise. "Why would she not remember?"
"I went to her while she was sleeping."
"And she did not awaken?"
"No."
"How?" he insisted. The Amazons were highly trained; they would awaken the moment a man settled atop them. That he knew firsthand. And even if Nola had somehow failed to do so, she would have noticed puncture wounds afterward.
"I invaded her mind." The shame morphed into self-loathing.
Layel scrubbed a hand over his face. Some vampires were gifted with the ability to insert thoughts and images into another's mind. Most were not. Layel could not, though he'd always wished otherwise. How much fun would it have been to convince one dragon warrior to slay another?
"I filled her mind with dreams of making love to me, and when she opened her arms and spread her legs, I took what I needed."
"And how did you hide the marks from her? From others?" The moment he spoke, Layel realized what the answer had to be. With as little clothing as the Amazons wore, there was only one hiding place.
Zane glared at him for a moment. "If you were not my king and my friend, you know I would kill you right now, yes?"
"Yes."
"Still you wish me to say it?"
Another, "Yes." Without hesitation. Making him say it might prevent him from doing it again, the shame voiced, never to be forgotten.
"I bit between her legs."
Though he'd known what Zane would say, the words still managed to shock him. Once again, I have lost control of my men. Under Layel's rule, the vampires lived by a code. They could drink from dragon warriors anytime they wished, but never - never! - were they to take from another race without permission.
Some creatures enjoyed being bitten, but some refused to even consider it, mistakenly afraid of being turned into blood-drinkers themselves. Over the years, Layel had learned only humans could be turned. Most died, however, which was why he'd never attempted to turn Susan.
Suddenly a flood of his mate's screams bombarded Layel's mind, loud enough to crack glass if they'd been audible, and sharp enough to slice his soul. They were always close to the surface, but he usually could keep them at bay. Shut up, shut up, shut up!
It was only when his gaze locked with Delilah's that he was able to beat them into submission. How? Why? He was sweating. Panting. Frowning, Delilah turned to her sister. To escape her hold, he did the same. Thankfully, the screams did not return.
Earlier, Delilah had called Nola pale, but the woman was pallid, the blue lines of her veins evident. Dark circles formed half-moons under her eyes.
"You took too much," he told Zane.
"I know," was the gritted response.
"You will not touch her again. Do you understand?"
"She is your teammate. Of course you want her strong. What next? Will you demand I lose for you?"
Fire burned beneath his skin. "You had best watch your tongue before you lose it. She deserved a choice, Zane, a real choice, and you did not give her one." Hypocrite, he thought, for wasn't he planning to take the choice from Delilah?
"I know!"
"Trouble among the bloodsuckers?" Brand laughed, drawing Layel's attention and rage. "How sad."
Several creatures chuckled.
"Save it for the next challenge," Delilah said. At least she sounded angry