Bane of Tenebris (Wolfgods Book 2) by Blaise Ramsay (i love reading books txt) 📕

The hallway of the hotel was lined with black wallpaper with decorative red rose patterns swirling at the bottom of the paper. The floor held the same pattern only with flecks of silver woven within the petals.

The fresh scent of vampire lingered within the air, its presence making Kain’s sense of protection grow stronger. He kept as close to Damien as possible while Gabriel and Cade swiveled their eyes at each room.

“We’re here,” Zane commented while opening two large double doors to reveal a rather spacious room. “The event isn’t until tomorrow night. Try to keep a low profile until then. You have Desdemona’s protection but don’t assume it keeps you safe from the occasional troublemaker. Room service is available so feel free to order what you want.”

“You can count on it,” Gabriel said, plopping down on one of the beds. “This is going to be sweet.”

Kain could only shake his head at how infantile his friend acted. Cade rolled his eyes and took his place next to the door like some bouncer at a club.

Lune placed himself in the chair next to the window. Jill kept close to Lune.

With nothing more to say, Zane departed the room to leave the lycans to settle in.

“Kain, a minute?” Damien asked in a low voice.

Kain joined the alpha on the far side of the room.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“About what, Damien?”

“This whole thing. I don’t want what happened to you the night before the fight with Lilith to happen again,” The young lycan ran his hand through his dark hair, hand on his hip. “I don’t want Jill to get hurt again.”

Kain looked out of the window at the city lights. The world looked beautiful from the height of the suite. “As I have said to you before, the struggle to survive is the life of both lycan and vampire. I do not know how this will turn out, but I do not believe we will lose. There is too much at stake.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

The night their plan was to be enacted, Kain took a moment to call Tala and check to see how she was doing and to hear her voice for what could be his final time. She spoke highly of how Joel did what he could to take care of her to repay Kain for his kindness.

Kain smiled, shocked at the subtle hint of jealousy he felt to learn another lycan was caring for his mate in his stead. He had to choke back the rising unease he felt in his gut to continue talking to her. “Are you sleeping well?”

“It’s been hard. Your scent is so strong I must keep some hint of composure just to relax into your side of the bed. Come home to me, Alex. I don’t know if I could handle losing you.” Kain could hear the tears she held back on the other side of the speaker.

The desperation in her voice almost made Kain crush the phone. He wanted so badly to tell her he would return to her but the nagging in the back of his mind seemed to indicate the contrary. “I will do my best, my love. Until then, I will try to reach out when I can. Keep your mind open for me.”

“Always do. Joel just arrived with dinner.”

“Go eat. I will text you when I can.”

“Okay. Talk to you soon, babe. Good night.”

Kain hung up the phone and looked out at the bright face of his mother peeking through the dark clouds. Her silence left him feeling unnerved at what he knew to be coming.

A familiar, yet unwanted scent invaded his nose, bringing about a low growl from the pit of his throat. The wolf inside of him wanted nothing more than to deal with the newly arrived vampiress.

“What are you doing here, Emeline?” Kain said, keeping angry eyes focused on the sky.

“How rude,” Emeline strutted up to him, running her fingers over his butt. “And here I was going to offer my assistance.”

The lycan couldn’t help but tense at the audacity of her touch. Had this been earlier in the Wars he would’ve broken her hand and ripped her head off without hesitation.

“You’re planning to end Cardoza, isn’t it so, Kain?” Emeline whispered, blowing heated air into Kain’s ear.

Kain glared at the vampiress, daring her to challenge him. “What of it?”

Emeline held her hands up defensively. “Easy, handsome, I have no intention of getting in your way. I’d love nothing more than to see the Don of Great Falls’ reign come to an end. Tell you what, I’ll even offer you some additional help, what do you say?”

Caution and years of experience with vampires, kept Kain’s suspicion high. “I would assume such information or help would not be free.”

She gripped his hips and pulled him to her. “Come to dinner with me. Just a simple outing. It’s been so long since we’ve seen one another. I know you have feelings for me, Kain. I know you enjoyed our night together.”

Despite wanting to throw her from him, Kain knew how to be cunning. He’d use Emeline’s lust for him against her. His thumb ran the length of her lower lip, stroking her fangs and making her moan. “Just dinner?”

Emeline’s scent indicated to him she was indeed aroused at how close he was. Kain backed her against a concrete pillar and leaned in close enough he could kiss her if he so chose.

Her breath hastened as she reached for him just to have him back away.

“Never again, vampire. If you want to help, do so out of your hatred for Cardoza but leave your lust for what never existed out of it.” He turned on his heel and walked away with her hissing behind him.

It was three hours before sunset when the lycans met Zane outside of Crimson where Kain had been at only three short days earlier. The drive remained silent with everyone except Damien