He cocked his head and smiled slightly while his gaze focused toward the front of the house. “Crayla comes.”
She noticed he ignored her question but before she could point it out, the front door opened and a tall black-haired beauty stormed through. She wore only a sarong wrapped around her middle that barely concealed the tops of her breasts, and with her long frame, the lower hem of it just reached her upper thighs. She had blood smeared on one cheekbone and down both arms.#p#分页标题#e#
“I take it she apologized?” Velder chuckled. “Do you feel better?”
Crayla moved right to the man and smiled, her arms wrapping around his waist when she pressed tightly against the front of his body. “You know it. She’ll never do that again.” She turned her head and her bright blue gaze fixed on Dusti.
Dusti tried not to stare but knew she failed. The woman looked about thirty years old, had to be at least six feet two, and definitely didn’t appear to be anyone’s mother with her lithe body. Certainly not Drantos’s or Kraven’s. Her beauty stunned Dusti as well.
“She’s so small,” Crayla sighed. “Cute though. Not exactly what I had in mind for my baby but her coloring is attractive.” She released her mate and stalked over to Dusti. Her hand hesitated before she fingered Dusti’s blonde hair, met her gaze, and smiled again. “Is this your true color? I know humans dye their hair often.”
Dusti resisted the urge to jerk away from the hand touching her. Dried blood made her feel a little ill and the fact that it covered the hand in her hair made her shiver.
Crayla released her to step back while her smile faded. “You have no reason to fear me.”
“It’s not you.” She glanced at the woman’s hand. “I don’t like the sight of blood. What happened to you? Are you okay?”
Crayla’s mouth opened and she seemed stunned for a second. “Of course I’m alright. There was a small disagreement I had to settle between myself and one of the women.”
Velder moved next to his mate, wrapped an arm around her, and sighed loudly. “Scent her. She smells totally human, though Drantos claims she tastes slightly other. She believes we’re barbarians and animalistic for our punishments and aggressive natures.”
The woman’s features showed amusement. “I see. I suppose that’s how we would appear to you. We also love and have a lot of human traits you will identify with. You need to care for your mate. I had planned to stay but I believe it will be good for you to do this. Just clean his wounds, feed him when he wakes, and stay near him. Touch will make him feel better.” She glanced down Dusti’s body. “Skin to skin. I’m sure you prefer clothing but when you’re alone with my son, you won’t wear them.”
Dusti was outraged. Her new mother-in-law spoke to her as if she had the right to dictate. “You can’t tell me what—”
“I can.” The woman cut her off and her blue gaze turned decidedly chilly. “My son has claimed you as his mate and he’ll want to die if you leave him. While he’d never harm you, regardless of what you do, I am his mother. You and I will fight if you break his heart or make him suffer sadness with a lack of concern for his wellbeing. I won’t unleash my claws since you don’t have them, but you sure don’t want to get into a fist fight with me. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Dusti murmured, anger turning to fear.
“Good.” Crayla smiled. “We’ll get you adjusted to life with a clan. Rule number one, never fight with me. I’m in charge of all the women. You do as you’re told. Treat my son well and we’ll get along great.” She turned to her mate. “Take me home. You know how fighting makes me want to fuck. I need you.”
Velder lifted her and the woman wrapped her arms and legs tightly around the guy. He strode toward the door with her in his arms. Dusti gawked at her in-laws until the door slammed behind them.
“I’m going to need therapy,” she whispered. “Yeah. I hope they have shrinks in this clan.”#p#分页标题#e#
She slowly turned and walked to the bedroom. She really didn’t want to get a good look at the horror of Drantos’s back but he needed to be cared for. She knew he’d do it for her if she were hurt. He already had when she’d needed his blood, and he’d licked her wounds. Her leg didn’t even hurt anymore.
The bathroom light had been left on, the only source of light in the bedroom, and she paused at the open doorway. The sight of a naked Drantos stretched across the big bed on his stomach froze her. His ass and arms had been spared the whip but from shoulders to waist, the horrific cuts haunted her. They no longer bled and actually appeared a lot better than they had when he’d hung over his father’s shoulder on the walk to the cabin.”