Embrace Me At Dawn Read Online Free Page A

because I’m female or because I’m your best friend’s former mate.”
    He smiled. “No mercy asked, no mercy given.”
    Anka sent him a sharp nod, and Bram looked her over. She was aware of her demure beige skirt, delicate heels, silk blouse, riot of curls. Without a word, he cataloged everything wrong with her wardrobe and general appearance.
    “ I’ll be dressed in something appropriate.”
    He nodded as if that was a given. “And come with energy. If you’re not ready, you’re out.”
    Energy. From Shock. Tonight. Right, then.
    Bram stared with a raised brow, and it took Anka a moment to realize that she’d been dismissed. She turned and made her way off of Bram’s estate, then teleported back to the one place—to the one man—she dreaded having to beg again. But she had no doubt Shock would make her plead for everything he gave her. And he’d enjoy the hell out of it. Tears fell as she opened his door.
     
    ~ ~ ~ ~
     
    The summons to join Bram in his office had come not a moment too soon. Lucan had been ready to lose his mind. What the hell had Bram said to Anka?
    Before he could confront his friend, the rest of the Doomsday Brethren filed in, many joined by their mates. Olivia curled up on Marrok’s lap on a sofa in the corner, the human warrior no doubt enjoying a rare opportunity to touch her in the middle of the day. Ice filed in, holding Sabelle’s hand. She looked pink and flushed and deliriously happy. Envy pierced Lucan—and a strange relief. He wanted what they had, but was glad that Sabelle had refused to mate with him after Anka had been lost. The move would have been politically expedient, yes. It would have helped magickind. But they would have made one another miserable.
    Raiden and Ronan both filed in with a fist bump for him.
    “ Where are Kari and Tabitha?” he asked.
    “ Kari is at The Witch’s Brew, preparing for the Friday night crowd,” said Ronan, the woman’s mate, of the bar she owned and ran in London.
    “ And Tabby isn’t feeling well. I think the youngling growing inside my she-cat is already giving her hell.”
    “ It will serve you right if it’s a girl,” Ronan snickered to his twin.
    Raiden punched his brother’s shoulder a bit harder than playfully. Bram broke it up by clearing his throat and sending them a pointed look.
    Duke led Felicia in. He propped his length against the wall, drew his lovely wife’s back to his chest, and whispered something in her ear that made her blush. Finally, his own brother strolled in with his mate, fiery-haired Sydney. The couple’s eyes met and held, and Lucan could actually feel the love flowing between them. It was tender and passionate and so thick it damn near choked him.
    He’d had that once. But he hadn’t protected Anka. Now she was lost to him forever, warming that motherfucker Shock’s bed. He had no one to blame but himself. Of course she’d be terrified to come home to the man who had failed her. In her shoes, he’d avoid himself, too.
    That fact hurt like hell.
    Caden and Sydney stood beside him, a silent show of support. She cupped his shoulder. “You know I love you, but you look ghastly.”
    No doubt. Anka’s visit here had truly riled his temper. How could he want someone so badly who had chosen to give herself and her love to one of the worst wankers ever to disgrace magickind? Who had chosen his rival, his enemy?
    “ Thanks, Syd. I can always trust you to sugarcoat things.” He smiled wryly.
    “ That’s my mate.” Caden slipped an arm around her waist.
    “ Thank you for coming so quickly,” Bram said to everyone. “And thanks to you lovely ladies for being here on short notice. We have several situations you should know about. I’ll need to ask you for help.”
    “ You don’t have to ask,” Olivia assured, still perched on Marrok’s lap.
    “ Of course not, brother.” Sabelle smiled from Ice’s embrace. “We’ll help however we can.”
    “ I’ll hold you to that. It may be dull