Sid drew a relieved breath, feeling as if the crisis was over. “What about if—”

“If you want a tattoo, Kage will do it, and I’ll supervise. But I love your skin just the way it is.”

“It was only temporary,” she reminded him woefully. “We all got them. Different ones, but we all got something.”

“Who’s we?”

“All of the mates, even Colin.”

“Who the fuck is Colin?”

“He’s mated to Sophia, she’s Lord of—”

“I know who Sophia is. I didn’t know she was mated.”

“He used to be a Navy SEAL. I think he and Cyn know each other.”

“Cyn,” he repeated drily. “I bet this was her idea.”

Sid nodded. “When she found out I was mated to you, she couldn’t believe it. She said you were a cold son of a bitch, and that you owed her money.”

“Did she? She’s just a sore loser. We hunted the same prey not long ago.”

“Who won?”

“Depends on your point of view. Cyn located the prey, but I did the killing.” He grinned. “She sent me a huge fucking bill for services rendered. What’d you do when she said that about me?” he asked curiously.

“I told her to keep her fucking opinion to herself, and besides, you were the sweetest man I’ve ever known.”

“Sweet?”

“Sweet,” she said firmly.

“Hmmm. Let me see your arm,” he said, switching subjects.

He took her arm in his big hand and examined it carefully. The skin was red and irritated where she’d rubbed the tattoo off. It was especially noticeable, given her pale complexion, and she sighed.

Pulling her closer, Aden kissed her arm with a tenderness that she knew would surprise everyone but her. But then, as if to remind her of that fact, he immediately dropped his big hand to her butt and palmed both cheeks possessively. “I think we need to establish some ground rules, habibi. But, later.” He patted her butt lightly. Sid took this as a warning of things to come and felt a zing of anticipation that quickly speared down between her thighs in a rush of wet heat.

“Okay,” she said breathlessly.

He laughed. “That’s my Sidonie. Come on, I don’t want to be late for my first Council meeting.”

ON THE OTHER side of the big house, Raphael stood silently on the mezzanine at the top of the stairs. His fellow vampire lords were gathering below, outside the conference room where they would soon meet as the North American Vampire Council to confirm Aden’s addition to their ranks. The lords arrived in twos and threes, talking and joking with each other for the most part, shaking hands and clapping Aden on the back in congratulations. Even Sophia joined in the greetings, her big SEAL of a mate standing with her, daring anyone to get too close. Not so long ago, these meetings had been hostile affairs, the individual lords arriving late and leaving early, the eight of them sitting around a huge table, barely speaking.

Raphael had worked hard over the last two years to change that, doing whatever was necessary to put vampires on the Council who could, and would, work together. He had understood when no one else had that the vampires of North America would need a united Council, that an invasion from Europe was only a matter of time.

Down below, only one Council member still remained apart, his lip curled in disdain as he skirted the boisterous group and went directly into the conference room, his lieutenant behind him. Enrique Fernandez del Solar had ruled over Mexico for more than two hundred years and seemed determined to stay there for another two hundred. He was the only remaining member of the old guard on this Council, other than Raphael himself. But Raphael saw the future, while Enrique was more likely to dwell in the past. And that made him a potential breaking point for the entire continent. He would never agree to work with the others, and so he had to go.

Raphael knew things about Enrique’s territory that he doubted even the old vampire lord knew, not least of which was that the loyalty of his lieutenant, Vincent, was no longer as staunch as it should be. Vincent had been lieutenant nearly as long as Enrique had been lord. But the Mexican vampires were increasingly frustrated by Enrique’s iron rule, by his unwillingness to change, and Vincent was the focal point for that restlessness.

Unfortunately for Enrique, Vincent was about to discover a truth that would push his loyalty to the very brink. In fact, Raphael was betting the discovery would tip Vincent right over the edge, and that Enrique’s lies would finally be his downfall.

“Are you going to tell them about the letter?”

Raphael’s mouth curved into an automatic smile at the sound of Cyn’s voice behind him. She stepped up to his side, and he slipped an arm around her waist, leaning down to breathe in the scent that was hers alone.

“Not yet,” he murmured, answering her question.

“You don’t trust them?”

“Not all of them.”

Cyn studied the group as he had, her gaze sharpening when she caught a glimpse of Enrique through the open doors as he settled into a chair against the far wall.

“Enrique?” she whispered.

Raphael nodded.

“Anything we can do about it?”

He smiled in amusement and hugged her closely. “Even I can’t control everything, my Cyn. But there are events moving even now that I suspect will see a new Council member joining us soon.”

“My lord?” Jared’s deep voice drew Raphael’s attention to the fact that all of the other lords had disappeared into the conference room and taken their seats.

Raphael bent to brush his lips against Cyn’s. This meeting was for the lords and their lieutenants only. One lord, one lieutenant. He could have taken Cyn instead of Jared. No one would have questioned him. But Jared needed to know that Raphael trusted him, and so did the others. Jared had a role to play before this was over, and he would need all of his confidence if they were to survive.

So, he kissed Cyn and said, “I’ll see you shortly.” He let his hand slide down her back and over the curve of her hip as he stepped away.

She nodded, seeming to understand, and he thanked whatever fate had brought her to his side. They would all need people they could rely on in the coming months, people who would stand by them and not flinch in the face of danger.

But he would need Cyn more than ever.

To be continued . . .