Eternal Beast: Mark of the Vampire by Laura Wright Page B

protect her. I don’t know.”
    “That male cannot protect her,” Helo snarled, his eyes avoiding the couch and the true mate pair sitting on it. “He is an Impure.”
    Sara lifted her chin and regarded him with a tight smile. “Don’t underestimate an Impure. Especially not that one.”
    Helo glanced at Alexander, who chuckled softly and added, “You heard the woman. Gray is different. He has gifts, deep and powerful mental gifts.” He granted the
paven
a look that said, “You know what I’m talking about.” “And we didn’t just walk into his home earlier because we’re Purebloods. I felt heavy magic around that warehouse space, as I’m sure you all did. It’s as protected as this place, maybe more so.”
    “But how?” Erion asked him. “How could Impures have that kind of power? It’s not possible.”
    “We are learning that power is not black-and-white, Erion. Not confined to Purebloods.” He paused when Bronwyn walked into the library holding her infant daughter. Her face was flushed and her gaze went immediately to her mate, who jumped up to greet her. “And not defined by the old rules. Not anymore.”
    “We must convince her to return,” Helo said, his tone no longer filled with ire but with the deep concern of a brother.
    “Give her a few days,” Sara said calmly. “Alex is right. Dillon makes her own choices, regardless of the consequences. I know you care deeply for her, but how much of a fight are you willing to take on to pull her out of there?” She looked at each Beast in turn. “A fight that will only end with her escaping again.”
    “The Order will find her there,” Lycos growled, standing near a shelf of books, his wolf features unnerving in the dim light and shadows. “No matter how many charms they have unleashed. And if they get her, they get us.”
    Helo turned to the
paven
, said accusingly, “That’s what you’re really concerned with, aren’t you, Ly?”
    “You bet your water-loving ass, I am,” he spat back. “I say we let Dillon be. She isn’t one of us, not really—never wanted to be. I don’t run after anything that doesn’t wish to be caught—unless it’s a food source.” He looked to each
mutore
in turn. “I say we leave this house and get lost, find our own life.”
    Phane chuckled. “Shit, that sounds good.”
    “Too good to be true or wise,” Erion finished. Helooked at Alexander, then Nicholas. “Do you want us out?”
    “Yes,” Lucian answered quickly, then looked up from his baby and nodded at Phane. “Especially that one. He snores. I can hear it all the way down the hall.”
    Erion chuckled. Alexander too.
    “I’m surprised you can hear anything over the crying of your
balas
,” Phane returned with a playful sneer. “What is that thing you have her in anyway?”
    “Don’t be making fun of my sling, bitch,” Lucian countered.
    “No,” Alexander said, still laughing. “We don’t want you to leave. Not when we’ve gotten so used to you being around.”
    Nicholas nodded his agreement. “And not when we finally have someone for Lucian to verbally assault.”
    Phane and Lucian started laughing first; then the others joined in. Lycos smirked. “You have a great risk with us being here—you know that.”
    Alexander and Nicholas nodded. The Beasts turned to Lucian, who gave them each a vulgar glare, but in the end nodded as well.
    “We give our sister a few days, and ourselves a few days, too,” Lycos said, pushing away from the bookcase and the shadows. “But then a decision must be made.”
    “Agreed,” said Helo.
    Erion nodded.
    “In the meantime,” Phane said, his mismatched eyes suddenly bright, his tone heavy with sarcasm, “Lucian needs to decide if he’s going to change his
balas
’s diaper or let the rest of us pass out from the scent.”
    Bronwyn burst out laughing, but a growl emanated from Lucian’s throat. “I’ll change her diaper after I change yours, little birdie.”
    “My ‘little birdie’