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but didn’t try to stop his triumphant smile when Flare’s glare sent the other Prime hastily back a step. She stalked off alone toward the front door.
    Tobias got out of the vehicle and watched her walk away. The other Prime watched with equal appreciation. “Don’t you dare even think, dream, or fantasize about her, Ali,” Tobias told his subordinate. “She’s all mine.”
    He knew the truth of it in his blood. He followed her to the house, unsure where the truth was going to lead them.
    I hate fighting all the time. Why do I have to fight all the time? Strahan started this one and—
    The fight had gotten her so turned on she could barely walk. And so embarrassed she never wanted to face Strahan again.
    I have to do something about my temper.
    How many times had she been told that? By how many people? Especially by herself. They calledher Flare for a very good reason. Anything could set her off. Her temper was frequently useful for keeping horny Primes at bay, but not tonight. Oh, no. Blowing up at Strahan had the opposite effect, and she still wanted to claw his clothes off, to taste his hot blood in her mouth.
    Didn’t they call that “truemating” back in the old days? “Bloodfire” was another translation from the old language they all learned but never used. Did Primes and females still practice it behind closed doors? She’d never experienced that kind of intensity with a Prime lover. Maybe you had to be bonded first.
    “Oh, no,” she muttered as she reached the door. “That’s not going to happen.”
    She could feel Strahan coming up behind her. At least she was distracted from the shiver of anticipation by the door opening before she could knock.
    “Francesca!” Ben greeted her.
    She gladly stepped into the offered hug. He was still large, solid, and strong. Despite the mortal’s advanced age, Ben Lancer was a sexy old dude. A lot of it had to do with his deep, whiskey-rough voice. That a vampire female had loved him when he was young and let him go was a shame.
    He released her as Strahan came up behind her. “What’s the most beautiful woman in the world doing here?” Ben asked.
    Francesca peered past his shoulder. “Domini’s not here, is she?”
    “She is.”
    “Then cut out the most-beautiful-woman-in-the-world crap. It’s taken years for her to get over our first meeting.”
    Strahan put his hands on her shoulders and shoved her inside the house.
    “Hey!”
    Once the door was closed, he ignored her to confront Ben. “Domini should be safely out of the area with all the other females.”
    The old man was not intimidated by the suddenly fierce Prime. “She’s not a vampire yet,” he answered. “You told the locals to go about their business. Domini’s business is her weekly gaming night with her granddad.”
    “Arkham Asylum?” Francesca asked eagerly.
    Ben nodded.
    “I want in on that.”
    “Hush,” Strahan told her, his attention focused on Ben. Who glared right back.
    After a few seconds of alpha male staring, Ben said, “Come on into the kitchen. Your witch wants you.”
    Strahan gave up and followed the mortal. Francesca followed him. Along the way Strahan’s
Why doesn’t anyone ever listen to me?
leaked to her.
    Because civilians don’t think like you
, Francesca answered before she could stop herself. He gave her a puzzled look over his shoulder.
    “Oh, were you expecting me to reply,
Because you’re an asshole
?”
    She chuckled as his very strong determination to ignore her from then on came back to her.
    “That’s not going to happen,” she said.
    I know
, he thought.
But we can both give it a try.

Chapter Eight
    The rich, dark smell of strong coffee permeated the large kitchen. Tobias noticed a half-full carafe sitting in a chrome coffeemaker, but Dee McCoy was standing by the stove, stirring a large copper pot, and that was where the coffee scent originated.
    “If she offers you a cup don’t take it,” he whispered to Flare.
    “Why? Did she flunk