Vampire's Hunger by Cynthia Garner

gentle and let some of his confusion show through. “He’s been gone a year now. I thought you’d come to terms with his true death.”
    Her eyes snapped with heat. “Never. I will never accept his true death. He is my mate, Duncan. My partner.” She dropped his hand and returned to her chaise. As she settled on it, she waved one hand in dismissal. “And you will assist in his return.”
    He ground his jaw. There was no talking to her when she went into her regal mode. He’d have to find another way. With a bow of his head, he turned and left the room. As he entered the empty hallway, he frowned. Where were the two guards he’d assigned to his quarters? He ran the few yards to his door and flung it open. He roared at what he saw.
    Three emaciated vampires surrounded Kimber, Natalie, and Bishop. Kimber held one of the fire pokers, Bishop had taken up a burning log, and Natalie had her short sword. They appeared unharmed and relief mingled with his rage.
    At Duncan’s entry the vampires turned and shrunk back from him. “These humans are here under my protection,” he said as he stalked forward. He curled his fingers into his palms. “Get out.”
    They hesitated. One of them eyed Kimber and ran his tongue over his cracked lips. “But the queen told us—”
    Duncan snarled, showing his fangs, and grabbed the vamp. With a quick wrench he broke the vampire’s neck and let the body fall. The broken neck would heal, but with the vampire as underfed as he was it would take a long time. Duncan looked at the other two. “Would either of you care to tell me what the queen said?” When they shook their heads, he motioned to the body on the floor. “Take your friend and get out. And from now on my quarters are off limits to you.”
    “Yes, sir.” They grabbed their fallen comrade beneath his arms and dragged him out of the room.
    Duncan looked at Kimber and the others. “Let’s get out of here.”
    Bishop tossed the log back into the fireplace, though Kimber held on to the poker. Her hatchet still hung from one of her belt loops. The three humans followed Duncan out of the room and exited the complex without question. Once they were near the front gates, Kimber asked, “What the hell was that all about? I thought you said we’d be safe there.”
    His jaw tightened but he didn’t respond.
    Kimber grabbed his arm. “Duncan. You said we’d be safe.”
    When he looked at her, he knew his eyes had gone silver with rage, knew that his irises were rimmed with crimson. Not all of it was fury. Some of it was good old-fashioned lust, the desire to take his woman and claim her, to pierce her with fangs and cock. “I will die before I let something happen to you.” His voice was guttural, nearly inhuman.
    Damn Maddalene. Damn her and her ill-advised quest. Damn his own need. He would protect Kimber from the other vampires, but who would protect her from him?

Chapter Five
    S o what did Maddalene say?” Kimber asked Duncan, keeping her voice low as they made their way back to the apartment complex. It was still dark, though the moon was bright enough that they didn’t need to use their flashlights. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Natalie and Bishop were still right behind them.
    Duncan shook his head and refused to answer her question.
    She frowned up at him. “What, it’s top secret?”
    “Something like that,” he muttered.
    “Frickin’ vampires,” she responded in a grumble. She glanced at him. “Did she really mean for those vamps to chow down on us, or was she just showing me that they could?”
    “It was a demonstration of power.” His green eyes glittered with shards of vampire silver. “She wouldn’t dare harm someone I’ve placed under my protection.”
    She stared at him. “Are you sure about that? Because that wasn’t the impression I got.” She started to say more but stopped when he held up a hand. Then she heard them. Zombies. A lot of them.
    The sound they made was like the air