Page 62 of Protected by the Vampire

Cellie opened her mouth and closed it when he snarled in her face.

He shook her. “Do you understand?”

She managed a nod.

Theo released her just as abruptly as he’d grabbed her, letting her drop back to the floor as he straightened.

There was no hesitation or regret, only certainty.

I felt how strong and unshakable his resolve was through the bond.

Mine.

Slow, dangerous satisfaction settled in my chest as I walked over to him, placing a hand lightly on Theo’s shoulder as he turned to everyone else, staring them down, making sure they got his message.

He was making his claim clear.

“Remember that,” I said, sweeping my gaze over the room.

No one dared look up—they knew that things had just changed, and everyone felt it.

EPILOGUE

Spade

The moment I pushed open the door to the compound, it hit me. Not just the familiar scent of oil, leather, stale beer, and sweat, but every single layer beneath it. Old wood soaked in years of spilled alcohol. Gun oil. Cigarette smoke embedded deep into the walls.

It should’ve been overwhelming.

Instead… it felt like home. It was just louder, brighter, sharper, and it felt alive in a way I’d never noticed before.

I paused for half a second on the threshold, taking it all in, my senses stretching out further than I meant them to. Every heartbeat in the room registered—steady, uneven, fast, calm. Every shift of weight, every breath dragged into lungs that still needed air.

Humans.

My family.

My brothers.

And thank fuck I was strong enough to not want to eat any of them.

Grinning, I turned to Soren. He stepped in behind me, and his scent cut through everything else like it owned the damn place. Clean. Powerful. Undeniable.

The bond between us pulsed, steadying me even more.

Soren matched my grin. “I knew you could do this.”

“Fuck yeah. Nothin’ will keep me away from my family.” I took his hand in mine before I brought them up to my lips and kissed the back of his. “Not when I’ve got you at my side.”

“Careful, pet, or I’ll drag you to your old room, and you won’t get to see your brothers.”

I cocked my head to the side and thought about it. I mean, my brothers would still be here later.

Soren chuckled as he reached out to walk his fingertips up my stomach, then my chest, where he tapped twice. “Later. And maybe I could show you how good it feels meeting your prostate.”

Christ. I’d been curious, since he looked like sin when I fucked him. It drove him wild every time I hit it in the right spot.

I yanked him to me and kissed him. Against his lips, I said, “I could be down for that.”