Careful or her monsters gonna eat you, Julian warned. Got the 411 on that, E?
Sorry, Im blank.
Victorias brow furrowed in confusion. Yes. You know you are.
And you have to do whatever I tell you to do? Right?
Yes. The word was gritted, as if pulled through a meat grinder. Clearly, she knew what he planned to say next.
So, as your king, I command you to unbottle your feelings. Here. Now. Let them out.
At first, she gave no reaction. Then she said, Youll regret that order. Then, shockingly, she screamed. Long and loud, so loud he was sure his eardrums were bleeding, but he didnt allow himself to cringe. He didnt want to discourage her.
When she quieted, she was panting. She scanned her surroundings with wild eyes before marching to a large, round boulder and lifting it in her arms as if it weighed no more than a feather. A second later, that boulder was hurtling through the forest and slamming into a tree trunk. That tree cracked in half, the top falling and slamming into the ground.
Aden remained silent, but, uh, maybe this hadnt been such a good idea. Someoneprobably Danwould hear the noise and come gunning. No way Aden could explain this.
My God, Julian said. Such strength
Im thinking, I dont know, run like hell, Caleb said. Just a suggestion to, I dont know, save our lives.
Elijah was as silent as Aden.
Scowling, Victoria turned to the tree in front of her and punched. I cant save you. Punched again. Youre going to die. To leave me. Those girlstheyre beautiful and smart, and what if you like them better? You say you love me now, but you havent spent time with the others yet. They could charm you. Theyre morehuman than I am. Or what if they hurt you? Ill have to kill them. I will kill them. Youre mine!
Youre right about one thing. Im yours. Im not going to change my mind about that. I dont care how charming they are, how human they act. I love you.
Either she didnt hear him or she didnt believe him. The punches never slowed. This tree split just like the other, the top half crumbling to the ground. Then, glowing blue eyes finally focused on Aden.
Aden, listen to me, man. Run. Please. It was the first time Caleb had ever begged. What if she turns all that anger to your man business? We could lose our favorite body part!
Victorias panting intensified, air sawing in and out of her mouth, probably burning her lungs. She stepped toward him, slowly, menacingly. Her hands werent cut or bleeding from the jagged bark, he noticed. They werent even bruised.
Aden, she growled in a voice he didnt recognize. It was layered, as if two people were speaking at once. Raspy. Enraged. Powerful. Her beast?
He kept his expression blank, but couldnt stop cold fingers of dread from creeping down his spine. Hed asked for this, had commanded it. He had to take the bad with the good. Yes? If she wanted to break him in half, just like the trees, hed let her. He wouldnt fight back because he wouldnt risk hurting her.
You should not have demanded this. One menacing step, two, she continued to approach him. Closercloser still
His eyes widened. Was thatcould it be? It was; it had to be. She was halfway to him, and there was something rising above her shoulders. Something monstrous. He gulped. There was a glittery outline of wings stretching from Victorias back, and over her head, he spied a long snout with big nostrils, black scales and eyes hed see in his nightmares for years to come. Fire swirled in those eyes. Orange-gold flames that crackled with the promise of a painful death.
The demon reached for Aden, claws outstretched. Not in a threatening manner, he realized with shock, but insupplication? Surely not.
Still. Aden expected to be cut down the moment Victoria reached him. What he didnt expect was for his girlfriend to grab his wrist and jerk him into the heat of her body. Breath pushed from his nose as the world around him faded, as his feet lost their solid anchor, as his mind scrambled for an explanation. What was happening?
A car suddenly materialized around him. He was at the wheel, Victoria beside him in the passenger seat. She was still panting, and over and over the beast, which was still perched over her shoulders, reached for him, those claws whooshing through air.
What would happen if the creature solidified, as shed warned?
Uh, I think your wards have worn off, Aden said, the souls inside him shouting with concern.
Without a word, Victoria removed her shirt, her bra, leaving her bare from the waist up. Adens jaw dropped. Dear God. Over her heart were two tiny swirling black and red tattoos his eyes could have traced forever. Caleb fainted.
Elijah and Julian merely gasped.
No. Theyre still there. Her voice was still layered. Now, kiss me, she commanded, climbing over the console and fitting herself in his lap. Tight squeeze, with the wheel at her back, but he loved it. Her knees pressed against his waist, and her hands tangled in his hair, her nails cutting into his scalp.
Her lips smashed into his, and her tongue, which he welcomed wholeheartedly, thrust inside his mouth. Hot, branding. He wound his arms around her, flattening his palms against her shoulders, trailing them down her spine. So much heat Her skin was as hot as her tongue, and he wanted to be burned.
On and on the kiss continued, until his every breath was filled with her. Until her tastecherries, of all thingswas all that he knew. Until she was purring, her sweet little moans blending with his groans. The windows on the car had long since fogged.
Elijah and Julian were blessedly quiet, offering no helpful advice about how to make this more enjoyable for her, not telling him everything he was doing wrong. They were probably as awed as he was. Just as lost.
Are you thirsty? he managed to say when she kissed her way along his jaw, his neck, stopping to lick his hammering pulse. He opened his eyes, and realized the beast was no longer visible.
No. Another lick of his pulse.
Tendrils of his jealousy returned. Whod you drink from?
No one. Ive been drinking from bags.
The tension drained from him. Sweet, sweet girl. She knew how much he hated her lipsher wonderful, soft, pleasure-giving lipson anyone else. Cant taste as good as fresh blood.
Doesnt. The word was slurred.
So start drinking from me. Please.
Want to know youre with me because you love me, not because youre addicted to my bite.
Well, he couldnt fault her for that. Being desired for who you were, not what you could do, was a rare and wonderful thing. He knew because hed experienced the other side of that coin. Throughout his life, hed been discarded for what he could do, the person he was never taken into account.
More kissing, she said.
Like hed argue with that. Their lips met again, and he lost himself again, hands roaming, exploring. Hers did the same, and he thought this was, perhaps, his first true taste of heaven.
All too soon she pulled back, still panting, lips glistening, ending the kiss. I-Im calm now. I can feel my beast inside me. We should stop.
Adens head fell against the seat rest as he stared up at her. Each of his pulse points was hammering wildly. His blood was molten in his veins, blistering everything it touched, and his lungs had long since smoldered to ash.
You kissed me to calm down? he asked.
She gave a hesitant nod.
Part of him wanted to be angry. The other part of him was just happy this had happened. Well, we need to unbottle you more often, he said, trying to lighten the mood.
A laugh escaped her, and she covered her mouth with her hand, as if she couldnt believe shed found humor in such a horrifying topic.
He didnt care. His chest puffed with pride. Hed done that. Hed made her laugh again, just as hed hoped. Thats what he wanted more of, just as much as the kiss.
So why did you teleport us to this car? he asked with a wave of his hand. We dont need it, do we?
Riley and I always keep one nearby, just in case, but no, we wont need it. I wanted a little privacy.
Smart. He reached up and cupped her face. Dont shut me out again. Okay? I think I proved I can handle your beast.
I wont. She fisted his T-shirt, expression darkening, and his heart jumped up to meet her touch. But, Aden, you will have to date those girls to keep the peace, and that will make me angry.
Maybe you shouldnt tell me that. I like your anger.
Another tinkling laugh filled the car. Be serious.
I am. Im not your father. I dont want you to be afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Besides, Im not afraid of your beast. In fact, a part of him still thought the beast had actually liked him, wanting to stroke himor be stroked by him. Which was crazy. And listen. You have my vow. I wont do anything with those vampires. Youre the only one I want.
She traced a hot fingertip down the slope of his nose. How are you so wonderful, Haden Stone?
He liked the sound of his full name on Victorias lips. Youre the wonderful one. Now get dressed and well join Riley. Hes probably worried about you.
She rolled her eyes as she climbed back into the passenger seat and tugged on her shirt. His concern is for you nowadays.
The loss of her weight, her heat and the sight of her bare skin left him moaning. Intense concentration was the only thing that kept him talking. Riley needs a good ass-kicking and if he isnt careful, Ill give it to him.
Please. You like him. You know you do.
At last Caleb woke up. What happened? Whatd I miss?
Dude. You missed the Holy Grail of Babe Land. Awe layered Julians voice. I never wanted to leave.
Caleb whimpered.
Aden experienced another tendril of jealousy. Guys, please. Shes mine.
The souls? Victoria asked with a smile.
He nodded.
Ive been thinking, she said, tapping her chin with a blunt-tipped fingernail painted silver. Well, not silver, but with the same metal as her opal ring. That way, she could dip a finger into the je la nune without injuring herself. The wards I have keep my monster at bay. What if we tattooed you with wards? That might keep the souls quiet.
For a moment, just a moment, he was tempted. Having Victoria all to himself, kissing her like that, without any interference, every time
The souls immediately began to protest.
No, he said. Thanks for the offer, but I like them and dont want to hurt them.
They calmed, but only slightly.
Maybe its time for a new girlfriend, Elijah huffed.
Victoria began tapping her chin again. Perhaps, then, we will ward you against the witches. We cant protect you from all their spellsyou dont have enough skin for that many tattoosbut we could cover the basics, the most dangerous. Mary Ann, too. No one can be warded against a spell thats already been cast, of course, but after the meeting, when the death magic has worn off, we can ward her against another death spell. Until then, it will be wise to protect her from other curses.
Dan would throw a fit if Aden came home covered in tattoos. And Mary Anns dad would probably have a heart attack if she inked anything, even something as innocent as a rose, into her flesh. Well think about it. So why arent you warded against spells? Why isnt Riley? He reached out and linked their fingers.
Some vampires are, but we arent around the witches enough to concern ourselves, really. For the most part, they avoid us and we avoid them. Wolves, though, cant be warded. Their animal form doesnt hold the ink, so its a waste. The moment they shift, their wards fade. I suppose we could ward Riley against certain spells for the meeting since hell be in human form. Knowing him, hell insist on going with you.
He lifted her hand, kissed her wrist. I dont understand why Riley doesnt just take over the vampire clan. Hed make an excellent king.
Andthere it was. The spark of anger that always accompanied talk about crowning a new king. Seriously. What the hell?
The wolves have more loyalty than any other race. The need to guard is ingrained in them.
Well, leading is just another form of guarding. Well talk about that later, though. Lets guard him for once. What do you think? He was fighting the urge to jerk her back into his lap. If they stayed here, he would kiss her again. Guaranteed. That witch is probably giving him fits.
Victoria nodded and a moment later, the world around him disappeared.
A DESERTED CABIN, miles from town. From anything. Filled only with wolves, a vampire and weapons. Well, and also a blindfolded witch who was tied to a chair in the center of an otherwise empty bedroom. Not Marie, Mary Ann had realized upon first arriving. This witchs hair was too short and too dark a blond. She wasnt sure if that relieved her or disturbed her.
Riley had immediately begun his interrogation, and it had gone something like this:
Riley: Where is the meeting between your kind and Aden Stone supposed to take place?
Witch: Go suck yourself.
Riley: Maybe later. Meeting?
Witch: Enjoy death.
Riley: I have once already. Now, decide to talk or lose a body part.
Witch: May I recommend a finger?
Riley: Sure. After I take one of your very necessary hands.
Witch: Look, you mangy mutt. The elders will be here any day now. They had planned on contacting you. After this, well, Im sure your invitation will be lost in the mail.
At that, frustration had filled the room. Guilt had filled Mary Ann. This had been her idea, but it had done more harm than good.
The same futile exchange was repeated three more times.
Let me try, Lauren finally said, moving behind the witch and placing her hands on the girls shoulders. Her fangs were longer than theyd been a moment ago, and there was such hunger in her eyes it actually hurt Mary Ann. In that moment, she was willing to hold out her arm and let the vampire go to town. No one should be that hungry.