Lanie âOh, no.â | groaned and let my head fall back against the couch cu shions. âDo we have to?â
âRelax. Iâm not going to ask you to get into all the dirty details. But itâs clear that you've inherited the...well, how do | put this delicately? The sexual side of things.â Malachi chortled.
| looked at him. âI thought itâs because Iâm a hybrid.â
âYou are correct. Two sensual natures binding together, combining to create an even greater desire. Iâve been thinking quite a bit about it since your arrival, and-
âGross!â | protested.
Malachi sighed. âSometimes | forget how truly very, very young you still are.â
This annoyed me. âSorry.â
| really wasnât.
âAs | was saying, or trying to say, | believe it is exactly this part of your nature that allowed your Moon Goddess to gift you with not one or even two mates, as had become the custom of your kind. Three mates at the same time is a genuinely rare instance for wolves. Even for us! And vampire-kind is notoriously, shall we say...â
He paused as though trying to think of the right words. Malachiâs expression brightened, and he snapped his fingers. âGenerous with our favors.â
| had to giggle at that.
âUh huh. Generous is one way of putting it. You mean you sleep around with a lot of people.â | thought back to what Braden had told me what felt like a million years ago.
âBut rarely more than one at a time,â Malachi protested, sounding actually affronted. âYes, | had my wild times, but | myself practice serial monogamy and have done for well, literally decadesâ
âYou have a rotation,â | said âThatâs one way to put itâ My grandfather leaned back in his seat to study me. It was clear he was trying 10 get at something, but what?
âIt's something you might need to think about La | could feel my untire expression twist into disdain shook my head. âNot even a consideration Wolves ampires dont. | love my mates The Moon Goddess gave us the gift of each other. Iâm not mate for life, even just being greedy frin not talking about greed, but rather, nu My jaw dropped, and | could feel myself trying to sp is a fire. | squirmed around in my seat.
â| think three mates is plenty.â | thought about what ind another bolt of heat flooded me. | was sure Malach sound like Iâm some kind of...| donât even know Sexual glutton!â
âThree might sate you for now, but might not alway to his mouth to nibble on a knuckle.
It seemed out of character for my grandfather to be want to press him about it. | felt like maybe | didnât reall Finally, though, | couldnât hold back from asking. âW âYour energy comes from within, and it is fed by the conjunction and harmony,each of you providing what th Moon Goddess. And, the additional dual nature you've g own gifts. A different sort of energy. One that-â
Again, he cut himself off and looked like he wanted âWhat's so difficult about this, Malachi?â | demande.
Spit it out!â
The red flash from his eyes was intimidating, but | c him and sent out an involuntary push of Luna energy. | c physical, but in surprise.
âBy all the g ods old and new,â he muttered.
âYou are like nothing Iâve ever seen.â
âJust tell me what you have to say. Please.â
âVampire energy consumes, Lanie. Wolf energy, the pushes outward. But vampire energy draws in. If itâs not could end up draining themâ
âDraining like their blood? | grimaced and shook âNot their blood. Their very essence. All that makes you. If youâre not careful, you could consume it all and le