Primal Cravings Read Online Free Page B

dealings with the Reynards in his Tribe days.
    “We asked for Domini’s help,” she reminded the Prime. “Don’t be rude to her even if you’ve got something against her husband.”
    “You are going to make someone a wonderful mother,” Piper said. “Or, possibly, evil stepmother. I’m not good at mortal familial terminology.”
    She was certain he knew exactly what he meant, but since he was still relatively new in dealing with mortals, she had to give him the benefit of the doubt. She grimaced, knowing that he knew he could get away with a lot playing the new-to-mortal-ways card.
    Dee was aware there were no mothers among Tribe vampires, even though the Clan and Family vampires were matriarchal societies. What passed for a society among Tribe vampires involved keeping vampire females as breeding stock, and mortal women as pleasure slaves. The males fought each other for places within the hierarchy. Nothing friendly or familial in a Tribe Prime’s house.
    “It’s a dying life,” Piper whispered.
    Dee wasn’t sure if he was talking to her. It didn’t matter, as a car pulled up beside them a moment after Piper spoke. A woman got out of the driver’s seat of that car and slipped into the back seat of theirs. Dee turned around in her seat. Piper looked at the woman in the rearview mirror.
    “We’ve met before,” Domini Reynard said to Dee. She gave the back of Piper’s head a quick glance, then turned her attention back to Dee. “I don’t know how much help I can be. I’m not exactly a proper medium— Do you know someone named Tower?” She blinked. “Never mind. I was telling you that I’m not a pro at telling the future. I can’t do it on command. Though the talent has gotten stronger since I started adding iron-enriched liquid supplements to my diet.”
    “Since you began tasting a Prime,” Piper said.
    Drinking blood, Dee interpreted.
    “You disapprove of bonding, Leviathan?” Domini asked.
    “Piper,” he corrected. His words came out bland and toneless. “Of course not, ma’am. I’m a Family boy, now.”
    “Excuse my rudeness, Prime Piper,” Domini said, with less expression than Piper, if possible. She glanced at her watch, back at Dee. “I don’t have much time. So, what do you want me to do?”
    Dee rather resented someone outside the Dark Angels being rude to one of the Crew. If anyone was going to rag on Piper, it should be her. She told Domini about feelings and visions and how they hadn’t a clue what they were looking for but that there was no doubt something bad was going on.
    Domini nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’ve heard about Tobias Strahan’s feelings.” She settled back against the leather seat, and closed her eyes. “I’ll see if I can add anything.” For a while there was only the sound of rain on the windows.
    Dee would have set up a warding circle, used something to concentrate energy through, done other stuff depending on what sort of magic needed to be worked with. Well, to each their own ways of working. She had a marble in her hoodie pocket, and considered offering it to Domini in lieu of a crystal ball. Maybe that would —
    “Don’t let the balloons touch,” the seer said.
    Dee thought that made as much sense as everything else they’d heard and seen today.
    “What balloons?” she asked.
    “I haven’t the faintest idea,” Domini said.
    “Why shouldn’t they touch?” Piper asked.
    “Because that’ll destroy the worlds, of course.”
    “Of course.” Piper sighed. “Anything else, ma’am?”
    “You have to go deep,” Domini said. “Deep beneath the oaks and red rocks. It’s burning under the rocks.”
    Domini opened her eyes. Then she opened the car door and threw up onto the parking lot concrete.
    Dee passed her some tissues, and a bottled water.
    “Well, that’s never happened before,” Domini said after she wiped her mouth and spit water onto the ground. “Thanks.” She didn’t close the car door this time. “That’s it,” she