Reece sat casually in the upholstered chair with one leg hanging over the side of the arm and slouched. He looked at his nails as he waited to be summoned to the King’s study. He was already annoyed that he was sent on a fool’s mission to look for something Reece knew nothing about. A devilish grin crept across his face when he remembered how scared he made the hybrid before she threw him across the room. Who knew she was so fearless and beautiful, he thought to himself.

“Reece!” the King yelled out.

Reece rolled his eyes as he exited the uncomfortable chair and strolled into the study. When he walked in, Reece bowed respectfully to the King and made his way to the chair in front of his desk. He plopped into the seat and rested his feet on the edge of the King’s desk.

The King sneered at him. “Comfortable?”

Reece dropped his feet to the floor and sat up in the chair. “You bellowed, my king,” he said sarcastically.

Emil looked up at Reece and narrowed his eyes at him. “Do I need to remind you who you are talking to?” Emil questioned.

Reece shook his head as he reigned in his annoyance for the man and behaved. “No, your grace.”

Emil continued staring Reece down until he saw that the young vampire had submitted to him. “Were you able to find the lavaliere I asked you to get?” Emil asked.

Reece shook his head as he looked bored with the conversation. “No, I couldn’t find this lavaliere or whatever you asked me to look for. It wasn’t in the study or hanging on any of the walls.”

Emil stood up and placed his hands on the edges of his desk. He could feel his rage growing inside him. “A lavaliere is a pendant necklace, you insolent fool,” Emil yelled as he flung his desk up.

Reece moved to the corner of the room, away from where the desk fell and broke to pieces. Reece looked around the room but didn’t see Emil anywhere. His eyes were red, and his fangs grew long as he got ready to fight for his life. Slowly, Reece moved away from the wall and toward the center of the room.

Emil descended from the ceiling behind Reece and flung the disobedient vampire across the room. Reece hit the wall and fell to the floor. He shifted into a grey mist and tried to escape, but Emil leaped up, grabbed Reece around his neck, and slammed him into the floor. The floor cracked beneath Reece as he reappeared, clawing and fighting to get Emil off him.

“You disrespectful little vampire, I should kill you and be done with you here and now. Give me one reason not to kill you,” Emil demanded.

With both hands wrapped around Emil’s, fighting against his hands from tearing his head off, Reece squeaked, “I’ve seen the hybrid.”

Emil released Reece immediately, walked over to the couch in his study, and sat down. He crossed his legs and rested his arms on the back of the sofa. “Tell me everything, and leave nothing out,” he ordered.

***

Amanda searched the library, trying to figure out what the vampire was looking for. Without a point of reference to help her, looking was almost useless. Amanda squinted as she rubbed her forehead. She could feel a headache coming, and it was a strong one. Her body temperature started to rise as she fanned herself, trying to cool down. What was going on with her?

She could hear the warriors that were on the upper levels starting to sniff loudly and growl hungrily.

Willow howled in her head, Get out of here, now!

Amanda turned to look at the entryway, but another warrior had entered the room; he looked at her with hunger and desire in his eyes. He shifted quickly into his wolf form and started to walk in her direction.

What is happening? Amanda cried out in her head to Willow.

Willow yelped out only one word. HEAT

Amanda’s eyes widened as she backed away from the warriors; they were all shifting and coming toward her. She yelled, “HUDSON!” as loud as she could.

Amanda was backed into a corner and scared. She didn’t want to hurt any of them, but she didn’t want them to get too close to her. Amanda flung her hand in the air launching the wolves across the room. Using her magic to keep them away from her only made them angrier as they got up and continued to hunt her. Amanda was looking for anything to help her out of this. Her body temperature was getting hotter, and she needed a release. Her hand passed over something that felt like a lever and quickly pressed, causing a secret door to open. Amanda escaped quickly into the hidden room and locked the door behind her.

Hudson reached out to her through their mind link.

Hudson: Are you okay? Where are you? I ordered all the warriors to leave immediately and create a border around the house at least fifty yards away.

Amanda fell to the floor as she regained control of her breathing.

Amanda: NO! I’m not okay. We haven’t even been mated that long. Why is my heat coming now?

Like she didn’t have enough things going on in her life at the moment, now this!

Hudson: Amanda, it will be okay. Please tell me where you are, and I can help you get through this.

Amanda’s eyes widened when Hudson used his husky tone to reveal where she was. She shook her head. Amanda needed to talk to someone else about this. She patted her pockets and groaned when she couldn’t find her phone.

Amanda scrunched her forehead as she tried to get ahold of Ruby through her mind link, but there was no response.

Amanda let out a sigh. Her body was hot and sweaty; her skin was itching like crazy. Her body shivered, letting her know that Hudson was close by.

Hudson pounded on the wall. “Amanda! Open this door, now!”

Amanda got up and scrambled back to the farthest wall in the room.

“Amanda, please! Aramis and I can help you and Willow through this,” he cooed.

LET HIM IN!! Willow screamed in her head.

But Amanda was too scared. She decided only one person could help her with all this.

Amanda closed her eyes as she sent out her mind link.

Amanda: Luna Cynthia?

Luna: Yes, what is it, dear?

Amanda: Can you please help me? I went to Deak’s house to look up my family’s grimoires and found a vampire hiding inside. And then my heat started, and Hudson is going crazy, as are all the other warriors. We haven’t talked about what happens during a female wolf’s heat. Please help me!

Luna: Hang on, dear, I’m on my way.

Amanda sighed with relief as she closed her eyes and gained control of her hormones.