Primal Instincts

by Susan Sizemore

  I put their lives at risk in an effort to help the cause of female liberation, he thought. The supernatural world had to change before it was destroyed and he’d do whatever he had to to save everybody—vampire, werefolk, faefolk, the creatures even immortals had trouble accepting. Every sentient being deserved freedom and equality—except maybe ghosts, but they were ex-humans and not really any of his concern.

  While his thoughts circled around the problems of his peoples, he circled alertly around the front of the mansion, aware of all movement. He noted the evacuation of Matris and other females by their concerned Primes, identifying who occupied each limo and the direction each car took as it left the gate. Neither Reynard female was among the exiting groups.

  “Someone needs to shake some sense into that spoiled princess . . .”

  Tobias paused to laugh at his response. I’ve already got one teenager to deal with, he reminded himself. Besides, Flare Reynard was no child. She was a dangerously beautiful female, and more than the scent of her perfume called to him. But she does that to any Prime with hot blood in his veins, he told himself. I want that glorious body beneath me in bed and the taste of her blood on my tongue. But I won’t let lust make me stupid like it has every other Prime who’s ever gone after her and failed. If I want her, I’ll have her.

  Awareness made him turn, and he caught furtive movement out of the corner of his eye. He was standing in front of Flare before she reached the side door of the multicar garage.

  “Flare, my dear,” he said with a blatantly false smile. “What are you doing here?” He leaned against the door, his arms crossed.

  He expected an imperious order to get out of her way. Instead she looked puzzled. “Dear?”

  She crossed her arms. He appreciated what this did for her breasts, and she obviously knew it. Primes were far too easy to seduce, which was why they were taught self-control, and the lessons from the crèche were reinforced by the Angels’ discipline and training. Which Tobias momentarily thought was a shame, because, damn! Flare was one fine female.

  Francesca was delighted when Strahan’s gaze focused on her breasts. She knew he wouldn’t fall for this distraction for long, but she enjoyed the flutter of warmth caused by this Prime’s sexual interest.

  She looked into his big brown eyes and said, “The Bat Signal is flashing. You need to go save Gotham now.”

  “I appreciate the comparison to my favorite vigilante, but you can’t insult me and you’re not going anywhere but back to Idaho.”

  She grinned at this challenge. “I don’t take orders from you.”

  “The Matris would disagree. I am in charge of this territory.”

  “I have an appointment at a secure facility.”

  “I see you’re using this young Prime for tongue-sharpening practice,” her mother said, standing suddenly behind her.

  Damn! She’d tried to leave the Citadel unnoticed and somehow she’d ended up the center of the attention of the very people she was trying most to avoid.

  “Lady Francesca and I were merely exchanging pleasantries, Matri,” Strahan said to her mother.

  “Yes. I know how pleasant she can be at times.”

  “She’s witty, ma’am, and sharply direct. As is proper for a vampire female.”

  “What are you talking about, Strahan?” Francesca asked.

  Lady Anjelica went on. “Don’t you have somewhere you’re supposed to be?”

  Francesca wasn’t sure who her mother was talking to, but Strahan picked up the conversational ball. “We all do. Let me escort both of you to your car.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Anjelica said. She looped her arms through theirs and led them out of the shadow of the garage.

  “I’m not going to the airport,” Francesca said when they reached her mother’s car. She threw an annoyed look at Strahan, waiting for his protest. She would have avoided the coming family argument if he hadn’t sneaked up on her by the garage.

  But the protest didn’t come. Apparently he’d decided to let her mother deal with her.

  The driver held open the passenger door for them.

  Go ahead, wash your hands of me. She was annoyed at her resentment of the Prime’s attitude. Of course he was going to leave her to deal with her mother. He wanted her out of town and she couldn’t blame him for that. Shouldn’t, at least. She shook her head and made herself stop looking at tall, muscular, gorgeous, overconfident Tobias Strahan. Something about him brought out the most petulant part of her. She didn’t want to ignore him the way she normally did Primes. She wanted to—

  Provoke the hell out of me until I kiss you senseless?

  Francesca fought down the urge to laugh at his arrogance. Laugh. Not turn on him in scathing fury? Now, there was a new reaction for her to Primal arrogance.

  I only deal in facts, ma’am. Arrogance is for the unsure.

  Oh, do be quiet, Strahan. I’ve got more pressing business than dealing with you.

  But you would like to be kissed.

  By the right person. I’m not dead, but I am picky.

  Their telepathic conversation was so rapid, the driver had just finished opening the car door when her mother replied to her, “You most certainly are not going to the airport with me.”

  Chapter Three

  Expecting an argument, a stern command to return to the safety of the Citadel from the ruler of her Clan, Francesca was left with her mouth hanging open.

  She wasn’t the only one.

  Strahan said, “Lady Anjelica are you—”

  “You heard me correctly,” Anjelica said. “My heir has accepted her duty to give the Clan children, and I am not getting in the way of her giving me grandchildren. I’ll drop you off at the clinic, Flare.”

  Francesca shot a triumphant look at Strahan, grinned at her mom, and got into the backseat. “Turkey baster, here I come,” she murmured happily—but a sudden wistfulness colored her mood.

  She knew what was required. She knew the way she’d chosen. But being so close to Strahan’s potent masculinity reminded her that there was another way for a female to become pregnant. The sooner she was away from his pheromones, the better.

  Tobias frowned at Lady Anjelica’s decision. “You are undermining my authority, Matri.”

  “I know it seems that way, Prime, but the continuation of our species is imperative.”

  “More imperative than the safety of our females?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so, ma’am.”

  “Of course you shouldn’t think so, Prime. Your rightful concern is the security of our females and your mission. A Matri’s concerns must take in a broader outlook.” She gestured. “Join me on the ride to the clinic. I believe you’re planning on going there anyway.”

  He was. But he’d had a few other things he’d planned on doing first. He didn’t like this, but if his riding along to Dr. Casmerek’s helped get one more Matri on her way to safety, he’d bite down on his annoyance and do as she asked.

  “Thank you, Lady Anjelica.” He would have handed the Matri in beside her daughter, but she gestured for him to take the center seat.

  Seated so close to Flare, he couldn’t help but come into contact with her; the way their thighs brushed drove him crazy. Her warmth flooded into his body. Once again her scent enveloped him. And despite the fact that they were both fully clothed, he could feel skin sleek as satin against him. The whole trip was delightful agony. He gave no sign. He’d been commanding a mixed bunch of species and raising a mortal daughter, and this had caused him to develop different habits about privacy and propriety.

  When the car arrived at the clinic, Tobias and Flare entered and went their own ways. He was disciplined enough to control himself despite the distracting temptation she presented, but he did take one last appreciative glance at her magnificent backside before she disappeared behind an office door.

  Francesca leaned against the door, closed her eyes, and gritted her teeth, even though that forced her slightly extended fangs into her bottom lip
. She was quivering with arousal as well as anger, and the anger just made her more aroused. That last hot look he’d given her when he didn’t think she was looking had just about done her in.

  She didn’t blame Strahan. He hadn’t made a move, said a thing, or let his shields down one little bit. She didn’t blame herself, either.

  Her mother had done that to them on purpose!

  Francesca didn’t even blame the Reynard Matri for her unsubtle attempt at matchmaking. It was what Matris did, what she’d likely do if she ever took over the job.

  But it’s not going to work on me, Ma.

  Would the mating-receptive chemicals roaring around in her body have any effect on the fertility tests she’d come in for? She didn’t want to waste her time or anyone else’s. Well, there was only one way to find out. She took one more calming breath and walked to the examination room where the lab techs were waiting for her.

  “Hi, Chiana, hi, Kea.” She’d gotten to know and like both women during her visits to the clinic. “I know you’re ready to get started, but I’m not quite myself. Are you up for a few minutes of gossip while I calm down?”

  Chiana was a small woman, supple and slender with gloriously thick dark brown hair. She was a wereseal—selkie was the old-fashioned term. She didn’t talk much, but she was incredibly easy to talk to. This made her popular with nervous vampires afraid of needles and other medical procedures.

  Kea was far more outgoing; a tall redhead, she was the daughter of a Prime and a mortal woman. She’d provocatively informed Francesca of this the first time they met, expecting the wicked Flare to sneer at her lineage and prepared to sneer back at vampire shortcomings.

  “Nice to meet you,” Francesca had said. “Do you want to go out to lunch when we’re done?”

  They’d gone out together for lunch and shopping several times, and Francesca had introduced Kea to her book club.

  “You look all hot and bothered,” Kea said now. “Did one of the new boys in town catch your fancy?”

  “Unfortunately,” Francesca answered. “Caught my libido, at any rate.”

  She sat on the exam table and crossed her legs, then quickly uncrossed them because that just made the ache worse.

  “Which Dark Angel caught your fancy?” Kea asked.

  Francesca gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Strahan himself.”

  “That makes sense.” Kea looked relieved to hear that information, then blushed.

  “Oh, no,” Francesca said. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in one of the Angels? They’re all so ridiculously macho, they make regular Primes question their masculinity.”

  Kea’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “That’s rather the point, isn’t it? I’m used to fending off the local boys, but . . .” She fanned her face with her hand. “There are a couple of Primes among the Dark Angel guards around the place who have my attention.”

  “I thought you had a crush on Tony Crowe,” Francesca said.

  “Yeah, but now that he’s bonded I’m out of the running.”

  Chiana spoke up quietly. “You were never in the running. None of us ever were.” She sighed romantically. “I wish all of us could have a love story like that.”

  Francesca had seen Crowe with his mortal bondmate at the Shagal Citadel but didn’t know the details of the romance.

  Before she could ask, Kea said, “Dr. Casmerek has issued a need-to-know order on the medical details, but apparently Tony’s lady was experimented on by the bad guys and Tony saved her.”

  “Very romantic,” Francesca said. “Very Prime.” She turned a teasing look on Chiana. “Please tell me you aren’t longing to be rescued from a horrible fate by a big, bad vampire boy.” She didn’t know if vampires and selkies would be compatible, but her best friend Sidonie had just hooked up with a werewolf. Who knew what combinations were possible?

  “Chiana’s already got a boyfriend,” Kea said.

  Chiana looked uncomfortable. “I don’t like to talk about him.”

  “That’s because he’s a mortal,” Kea said. “She’s been seeing him for a couple of months now. They met on a beach when she was on vacation.”

  The shy selkie was blushing. “I wish I’d never mentioned him to you.”

  Francesca decided it was time to change the subject. “I think you should stick some needles in me now,” she said.

  Chapter Four

  After examining damage from the attack on the clinic, Tobias’s next task was to interview a witness. Since Tony Crowe was cooperating with the Dark Angels taking over security for every immortal outpost in the city, Tobias was surprised to find Tony waiting for him outside Rose Cameron’s room with his arms crossed and an attitude that said there was no way anyone was getting past him to talk to his lady.

  “Rose is taking a nap,” Tony informed him before Tobias could ask. “And she will be taking a nap or otherwise occupied any time you or your Angels show up. She’s been through hell and I’m not letting you make her relive it.”

  “I need to ask her a few questions.”

  Tony shook his head. “You want to ask those questions telepathically, don’t you?”

  “That would be the most efficient way.”

  “You have prisoners from the house where she was held before we rescued her.”

  “It’s never good to send a werewolf in when you want to take prisoners,” Tobias said.

  “Sidonie was in on the rescue, too. I know for a fact she tied up some of the bad guys. Too bad,” he added. “I would have loved to rip out the throats of the people who hurt my Rose.”

  “I’d be happy to give you the chance. You can help hunt down the ones really responsible.”

  “I intend to.”

  “Crowe, the Matris have agreed to conduct this war my way. You’d be great working with the Angels. But I won’t let you go off on your own. You will not get in my way. May I see your lady for a few minutes? Please?”

  Tony smiled again, a bit of fang showing. “I’ll consider the Angels’ offer, Tobias. But you can’t see my Rose.”

  “You’re being—”

  “A Prime protecting his new bondmate.”

  Tobias automatically took a step back. Of course Crowe would oppose another Prime going near his mate, especially one who wanted to make telepathic contact. He was going to have to think of a way around this development. Biology and culture got in the way of doing things sensibly far too often.

  Tobias nodded gravely. “Your point is taken, Prime. My apologies.”

  Crowe clapped him on the shoulder. “Glad you see it my way. You’re a good kid, Tobias.”

  Tobias couldn’t take offense; compared to Crowe he was a kid. He walked back down the hall, saying over his shoulder, “Just don’t let any of my people hear you call me that.”

  When Tobias reached the clinic reception area, he came to an abrupt halt. “What are you doing here?”

  It was no way to address a Matri, and Lady Anjelica’s haughty expression told him so.

  He bowed. “Pardon my rudeness. But why aren’t you on a plane for Idaho?”

  “I will be.” She gestured toward an office door. “Come with me. I want a private word with you.”

  Tobias never expected anything to go exactly as planned, so he always had contingencies worked out. Only this time he hadn’t foreseen problems involving females popping up to disrupt his strategy. Between his daughter, Rose Cameron, and a couple of Reynard women, the day was spiraling out of his control—which both amused and annoyed him. How typical for a Prime that it was women who were the distraction.

  He showed no emotion as he followed Lady Anjelica into the private room, then stood in front the closed door and waited for her to tell him what she wanted. The slight nod she gave told him she appreciated his protective gesture, even if it was as automatic as breathing.

  “Of course you know I tricked you into coming here with us,” she said. It wasn’t an apology.

  Tobias answered with a slight shrug.

  “I’ve
been observing you and my daughter and wanted the chance for closer observations.”

  “She’s hot. I want her. Nothing surprising in that.”

  “Every Prime wants her, and she doesn’t generally give a damn, but she responds to you.” Lady Anjelica gave the kind of dangerous smile only vampires could give.

  He so did not like where he suspected this was going.

  “Attraction isn’t relevant.”

  Her smile only got wider. “You said attraction.”

  “I meant arousal.”

  “Nope, you can’t take it back. You are attracted to my daughter. I can see that the two of you are an obvious match. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. So has our entire Clan.”

  Her mentioning Clan ties upped the stakes of this game from personal to political. Damn! What is Flare Reynard getting me into? “Flare’s a pleasure to look at. A pleasure to touch. It would be a pleasure to have her. But I can forgo that pleasure.”

  Anjelica was totally unimpressed by his stern tone. “Are you sure? Think about her, Prime, and tell me what you feel.”

  He didn’t intend to go there, but his blood suddenly sang with fiery hunger. He swore to himself and pushed away the knowledge, the need.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked the Matri.

  “Don’t pretend to naïveté. You know very well what I want.”

  He looked at her, his thoughts guarded and his features totally blank. Maybe she won’t say it outright.

  “I want you to sire my grandchild.”

  Arranging stud services was perfectly natural for a Matri, so the proposal should have sounded perfectly natural to him. Maybe it would have if she’d been talking about anyone but Flare. He found himself wanting to defend the female. Flare might not have been likable, but he admired her spirit.

  “Flare’s already made her choice. You approved it.”

  “I’ve never liked it. Until a few hours ago I didn’t believe there was any other way to get her to do her duty.”

  She looked him up and down in the carefully assessing, appreciative way of a vampire female scrutinizing a Prime, making him more embarrassed than pleased. It was a bad sign when a Prime didn’t respond to every female out there. It came at a point in a Prime’s life when he responded to only one woman. Wanted only one woman.