“Other daughters and even a few mother’s we’d see on occasion secretly told us how

incredible it was that our father was letting us choose who we’d have at the time of our new moon. You have to understand that knowing one day you could die if you don’t have sex, sounds crazy, even to a young succubus’ ears. You know it’s going to happen but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“But Francis left you to me anyway,” Tyrian said.

“Yes, and I don’t know why. He never mentioned it to my sisters or me. He spent our whole lives making us independent from men. He told us we could choose whom we wanted to mate with, who we wanted to become our Protectors. Then he died so suddenly,” she stopped speaking, her voice clouding with grief.

Looking away, she blinked away the tears. “I loved him so much, you know. And the one thing I’ll always remember about him, the one thing he stood for, ended up being a lie when he died. He wrote away his daughters to three unfamiliar, strange men as the last thing he did. He left me to you.”

She took a ragged breath and looked back over at him. He had his hands planted on the shower wall, his head bowed as water poured over the long lean muscles of his back and legs.

After what seemed like minutes passing, he spoke. His words were carefully chosen as if it was difficult for him to speak about it. His words were icy in their control.

“I was raised in a vampire clan near what is now Hungary. Only certain men, and

occasionally strong women, were trained to become warriors. Everyone had their place in the clan. Some were workers who made clothes or weapons. Others were frimars respected highly among all.” Chloe’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping in shock that he was actually telling her about his past.

“We warriors trained every day. No matter rain, snow, or storm, day or night, we were constantly tested, always fighting. It hardened us, made us good fighters.” He rolled his neck back so the water streamed in rivulets over his face. When he spoke again, his words were muffled from the water. “The seal of my clan was the crow. Crows are intelligent creatures.

Myths from my clan said the crow was a clever hunter. It would plan before it fought, then attack and kill its prey swiftly. This was what we were taught.”

“So they tattooed the crow on your back?”

His back stiffened and she wondered if he remembered getting it. How painful was it?

“All the warriors have one. It was a great ceremony, a proud celebration to receive the brand. You were not allowed to shed a tear or cry out as it was done or else you would shame your family and the clan. It was the last step to becoming a full warrior.”

Chloe looked at the etched pattern of short and longer lines that formed the pattern of the crow. “It’s not like any tattoo I’ve ever seen,” she admitted. “How was it done?” His fingers reached back as if to touch the marking, but then he pulled away.

“A very sharp knife. You laid on your stomach. One person specialized in creating the brand. He sharpened the blade for hours until it was perfect, then as everyone gathered around, he started cutting.”

Chloe grimaced at the sheer size of the brand. It covered him from each shoulder blade and down nearly to his waist. It must have taken quite some time to do that with such meticulous, straight cuts.

“Do vampires not regenerate skin back?”

He grabbed the soap and lathered the rest of his body before answering. “We do but not very quickly. Within a few days or even a week depending on how bad the injury is.”

“How did they get the crow brand to stay, because it’s not very deep looking. Wouldn’t it have fixed itself?”

He shook his head. “After the final cuts are made, the blood is rinsed off with water, then dried. The salt is the final test. If you cry out, then they will clean off the salt. Your skin will grow back and you will not be a warrior. They pack the salt on it in heavy clumps.”

“You never made a sound,” Chloe said in wonder. He shut the shower off and stepped

out. He wasn’t modest about his nudity but grabbed a towel from the wrack and wrapped it around his waist. He started past her, but Chloe grabbed his shoulders.

She gasped. “You’re cold! You took a freezing cold shower this whole time? You are

such a bastard.”

He flashed her an angry look. “Excuse me?”

Chloe shook her head at him quickly hopped onto him from the sink, wrapping her arms and legs around his icy cold skin.

“Shit, baby,” she said, her teeth chattering.

“God dammit let go of me, Chloe.” He tried to push her away but she locked her ankles together.

“Not until you’re warm. Besides, I like this.”

He took a deep, angry breath, then marched out the room with her on him. Chloe grinned when he started pulling back the bed covers. He sat down and pulled them both under.

“You’re really sweet sometimes, you know.”

“I am your Protector. It’s my duty to see to your comfort.”

Chloe burst out laughing and pressed kisses over the stubble on his jaw. She pulled back and looked at his scar. His eyes watched her, but she ignored him. The growth of beard coming in spread over his neck, chin, and jaw but not in the crevice of his scar, making it stand out even more.

“How did you get it?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does,” she insisted.

“Why?” He sounded sincerely confused.

“Because I want to know.” His skin was warming up nicely against hers, making her feel all kinds of sexy.

“In the Great War, I was fighting a group of demons and another came up on me by

surprise. His sword flew at my neck and I never saw it coming. Francis kicked the demon back and killed him. The blade only nicked my skin.”

Chloe’s jaw dropped. “Francis as in Frank Bellum? My Papa? He saved your life in the war?” Tyrian shifted his eyes away looking uncomfortable. “Oh my God, that’s the debt you owe him, isn’t it?” She couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice.

In her excitement, Chloe wiggled her hips against him and felt an unmistakable, hard press. Her eyes popped open and she looked down between their bodies to find his cock a massive pole between them.

“Oh, baby, why didn’t you say so? she purred.

“No,” he said, already denying her. His hands grabbed her hips and started pushing her to the side.

Chloe squealed with laughter as she fought against him. She ended up on top of him. She didn’t waste any time placing her hips in just the perfect way, then quickly pushed down on him.

He entered through her soft wet pussy on a hot, hard glide. His hands stopped pushing her away and instead held her there, his hands gripping and squeezing her.

“Wow, it feels...different like this,” she said, her voice breathy. Chloe leaned onto his chest and watched as pleasure tightened his face, made his breathing labored. “I didn’t know.”

She lifted herself partway then lowered. The motions were shallow but repeatedly hit her in some deep spot that drenched her in pleasure. “Tyrian,” she gasped.

His hips started pumping then, working his length into her with a vigorous passion that stole her breath away and left her gasping. His hands curved around to her bottom and urged her faster against him.

Oh God, it was so good. She couldn’t breathe fast enough. He was so deep inside her.

Every downward push pressed her core against him and threatened to send her toppling over.

“Chloe,” he said, his voice hoarse and hot. Chloe’s eyes fluttered open to see him staring with hunger at her breasts bobbing near his face. “Bring them to me.” She was mindless with pleasure as she leaned forward and brought her breast to his mouth.

He made a growling noise, then her breast was in his mouth. One hand came up to