Sweet Last Drop by Melody Johnson Page A

crossed her arms. “What do you want?”
    “I want your word that my status as Dominic’s night blood will be respected. That means no drinking,” I said, and I directed that last part to Rene by tightening the necklace around his neck.
    Rene stiffened. “Got it.”
    “I’m here on Dominic’s behalf to mend bridges,” I continued, meeting Bex’s gaze. “I’m here to express Dominic’s sincere regret that Walker suffered in his care, and as a show of good faith, he sent me. As Walker returned to you whole and otherwise not permanently damaged from Dominic’s coven, Dominic is expecting the same courtesy for me.”
    Bex pursed her lips. “I’m listening.”
    “I accept your dinner invitation for tomorrow night, but only if you ensure my safety. If you’re at all interested in rebuilding a truce with Dominic, you should keep in mind that I report directly to him.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “The report of my visit thus far won’t speak well of your hospitality.”
    Bex narrowed her eyes. “Is that a threat?”
    “I’m only reminding you of the reality of our situation and my position, so you can make a choice. If you allow vampires, like our comedian here,” I said, indicating Rene, “to drink from me, Dominic’s attempt to mend fences will stop before it’s even really begun.”
    “I don’t need your advice to rule my coven, bless your heart. I’ve survived my enemies, and my vampires have flourished under my rule for longer than you’ve been alive. You think you can cross into my territory and threaten my vampires? You think that you can threaten me?” Bex growled. “You don’t want me as your enemy.”
    “No, I don’t. You have a choice to make, a choice that will affect you and your coven as well as mine, and I’m here to make sure you choose correctly.”
    Bex’s nostrils pointed, the first slip I’d ever witnessed in her control. “You don’t know shit about choices, little girl.”
    “You think on it. I’ll see you tomorrow night for dinner.”
    Bex snarled and stepped forward.
    “Pick me up and fly me back to the crime scene,” I whispered to Rene. “You will leave me there, fly back here, and not return for me. Now!”
    Rene didn’t hesitate. We flew through the air faster than my eyes could track the surrounding woods, so fast that the trees and foliage and blanketing darkness blurred on either side of us. His arms cradled my body. His embrace was strong and secure and without even a twitch to indicate the inner struggle he was surely battling. I remembered my struggles to fight Dominic’s mind games. I’d screamed and fought against him on the inside while physically following his every command on the outside, but I’d never followed them blindly. My struggle was apparent in the nuance of my responses and my trembling hesitation as I battled for control of my body.
    Rene wasn’t strong enough to display his struggle, but I could feel it. On the threads of my mind that plucked at his, I could hear him screaming.
    My feet abruptly touched the ground. The blur of the surrounding forest shifted into focus, and I lost my purchase on the forest floor before I even knew I’d found it. The world tipped sideways. I fell hard on my side, and pain flared through my hip. Gritting through it, I turned to block Rene’s attack.
    But as per my direct command, he was already gone.
     

Chapter 4
     
    “Had you stayed in the police cruiser with Alba, this wouldn’t have happened,” Walker chided. His tone was deliberately calm and measured, but I could tell by the clench of his jaw that he wanted to shout.
    “Officer Montgomery shooed me away from Alba because I’m a big, bad reporter from the big, bad city,” I said. I was trying to be reassuring, but I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my voice, even for Walker.
    “You’re not that easily shooed,” Walker grumbled. “On a scale from one to ten, how badly does your hip—”
    “A pain rating? Seriously?” I shook my head. “