Crave Read Free

purr, and I blushed, but Victor merely laughed.
    â€œHe is developing nicely, my dear. You’ve done a good job with his training.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œCome now, Deirdre,” Victor admonished, “I do have eyes and my senses are even more finely honed than yours. The glow of transformation still lingers over him. He will do well, and for what it’s worth, I approve.”
    Mitch came back to the table and handed Victor his wine. “And exactly what is your approval worth, Lange?”
    Victor looked up at him calmly. “Quite a bit, actually. As head of the Cadre, I have the final decision on most transformations, especially one such as yours, since you now both fall into the house of Leupold. Never underestimate the ties of blood, Mitch. As you grow older, you will eventually lose your human family, but your blood clan will continue. And,” Victor gave a low chuckle, “like it, or not, I am the head of that clan.”
    â€œI’d like it a lot better if you could teach me that little trick you entered with.” Mitch sat down and leaned back casually in his chair. “How on earth do you do it?”
    Victor gave me a puzzled look. “Deirdre should be able to teach you. It merely requires concentration and practice—years, or more properly, decades of practice. I wish I could take the time to teach you, but I’m afraid my business here is not pleasant and my time is short. I am needed back at the Cadre before tomorrow evening.” Victor stood up and brushed at his jacket again. “And, although I hate to interrupt your honeymoon, the two of you must accompany me.”
    â€œMust we?” Mitch still sat in his relaxed pose, but the glitter of his eyes and the set of his jaw betrayed his animosity.
    Victor glared coldly at him, and leaned over the chair, his posture threatening, his tone of voice even more patronizing than usual. “You do remember when you promised to perform a service for the Cadre at our discretion? Well, quite simply, Greer, we are now calling in our marker, and as you value your life and Deirdre’s, you will not refuse. A private jet is waiting for us at the airport and we will leave in an hour and a half. Be there.”
    Victor turned to me and the anger in his eyes faded, replaced by something that could have resembled tenderness. Taking my hand, he kissed it; then he spun around and was gone.
    Mitch looked where Victor had been standing and shook his head. “Do you suppose he’s actually gone?”
    I laughed. “Your guess is as good as mine, my love. Shall we close up now and go home and pack?”
    â€œJust drop everything and do as we were ordered? Give me one good reason why we should have anything to do with Lange.”
    â€œI can give you several reasons, Mitch. We did promise to do the service for the Cadre, whatever it may be. I know that we were hoping never to have anything else to do with them, but so be it.” He nodded reluctantly, and I continued. “And Victor is right about the bond between the three of us, there is no way to deny that.” I stood up and smiled at him, reaching out for his hands. “Plus, if you stay in his good favor, he might even teach you his little parlor trick. I have no inclination to dissolve myself. And even if I did, I have no idea how to go about it.”
    â€œOkay, okay, you’ve convinced me. But you’ll have to break the news to Pete.” He pulled me to him and kissed me, his lips cool against mine. Then he held me out and studied my face. “Deirdre, if whatever we are called to do is dangerous,” and he gave a small humorless laugh, “as I’m sure it will be, I want you to promise that you’ll let me bear the brunt of it. Don’t take any chances; I don’t think I want to exist eternally without you.”
    â€œNor I, without you.”
    â€œSo then, we’re agreed.”
    â€œNo,” I