by Raven Steele
“That’s a piece of garbage, Oz,” Briar said.
“No it isn’t! It has his number on it. Rocky told me I could call him anytime.” When all of us stared at him in disbelief, he clarified, “Anytime Samira’s life is in danger.”
Briar ooed and awed at me. “I think someone’s sweet on you.”
“Why did you go see him?” I asked, my stomach muscles clenching with hunger. I’d need to release the sensation soon. Oz was starting to look tasty.
“To ask for his help.”
Aris groaned. “We should not get humans involved in our battles.”
“Why not?” Oz asked. “Put a weapon in our hands, and we are just as good fighters as you all.”
Lynx smiled kindly at him. “It’s not that we don’t think humans are strong. It’s because we are trying to keep our species secret. It’s bad enough that many humans in Rouen are aware of us, but what happens when word spreads outside our boundaries and people start to believe?”
She let her words sink in. “What do you think the governments of the world would do?”
Oz’s eyebrows lifted as realization hit him. “It will be like on X-men.”
Lynx nodded. “Exactly.”
I had no idea what he was referring to, but it had helped him make the connection.
“Then how about just some of them? The ones who already know about you, the ones who know how to keep their mouths shut. They are eager to help.”
Briar leaned back in her chair, considering the idea. I did the same.
“I don’t like it,” Aris said. “We are to protect humans, not put them in harm’s way.”
Briar groaned. “Stop with the superhero shit. If there’s a human who wants to help and isn’t freaked out by us, I’m all for it.”
“Me too.” I touched my stomach and closed my eyes. The pain was growing. “I need to see Mateo.”
Briar shook her head. “Not going to happen for at least a few hours. I got a text from Angel. They were heading out to Mandeville to bring the rest of the Nocs here. They’re going to be living at Blutel for a while.”
My gaze shot to Sersi in surprise. She usually had to individually approve all who came to stay here. I didn’t like it, and the little bit of anger and growing hunger inside me billowed. I hated that bringing the Abydos here put her in danger.
“They are welcome here,” she said to me, reading my emotions. “Drastic times and all. This place has always guarded powerful objects, and therefore, always been vulnerable to attacks. Mentally, I have been preparing for this day for years.”
My fingers curled into fists, and I resisted the urge to punch the lamp next to me. I hated that she was in this position. Inhaling a deep breath, I realized that my hunger was making me more volatile. Mateo was right. I needed to take steps to negate the Kiss from raging. “I should go.”
“Where?” Briar and Aris asked.
“Out, but I’ll be back.”
Aris appeared in front of me. “I think you should stay.”
“Listen to him, Samira,” Lynx’s quiet voice said.
My heart thundered in my chest. The Kiss needed some kind of release. I could feel its tentacles begin to encircle my most sensitive organs, and without Mateo around, I didn’t know how to stop it.
But I had to try.
I looked up at Aris. “Compel me to stay, because I can’t stop what’s coming.”
Briar came to her feet, concern in her eyes. I expected to see a reaction from Sersi too, but there was nothing. She didn’t look worried at all.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Aris asked.
A small part of me wanted to say yes, but the Kiss didn’t like my plan. I turned to leave, but Aris spun me back around to face him. His worried gaze met mine, the bond of friendship between us making me feel a little better. He stared deeply into my eyes, compassion filling them. Out of all people, Aris could understand my struggle. “You will do as I command.”
A wave of power washed over me at his words, and I sucked in a breath.
“You will stay in this house until Mateo returns. You will feel calm. You will feel safe.”
A cold pressure closed around me as I, or really the Kiss, fought against the command. The sounds of gnashing teeth and snarls filled my mind, but my body went still.
Aris stepped back, his shoulders relaxing.
Briar’s mouth fell open. “I can’t believe that worked on her.”
“Pshh,” Oz snorted. “No one can break Aris’ compulsion.”
With my body more at ease, I sat down and remained silent as they continued to discuss plans. It wasn’t just Mateo’s coven that would be coming here, but the Wild Dogs and Silver Claws too. They agreed to stay as long as required.
Roma called while we were discussing plans and said the Witches of Rouen would come over at daylight and begin to place spells and wards all over the estate, which already had several. The way Roma spoke about it, they were going to make the place impermeable.
I tried to pay attention to it all, but the Kiss was making its own plans inside me. I could feel it coiling tightly like a cobra, feel its poison dripping from its sharp fangs, before striking at Aris’s compulsion, which remained firm and steadfast with all the cold emotionlessness of a medieval stone wall. The Kiss changed its tactics again and again, but each time Aris’ compulsion held. My pulse raced and fear gripped me as the Kiss’ strength grew, stitched together with rage, but I remained motionless, giving the others no clue as to the battle that raged inside me.
Someone knocked on the door.
“It’s Luke,” Sersi said as if she could see through it.
Briar opened the door. Luke stood in the entry with his mother and several other shifters.
“We were hoping we could get a tour of the place?” Luke asked. “We’d like to look for weak spots in your security.”
Sersi motioned toward Oz. “He’ll show you. Even though he’s only been here a short time, he knows this place better than most.”
Oz jumped to his feet, grinning big. “A talent I acquired at an early age.”
Aris joined him. “When you became a thief. What was your nickname? The Eel?”
“It sounded way cooler back then.” Oz walked toward Luke. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
Lynx followed. “I’d like to go too, to see what kind of magic surrounds this place.”
“You’ll find it’s the best!” Sersi called after her.
With Briar talking to Sersi and everyone else distracted, I also headed toward the door, mentally pushing against Aris’s compulsion. I had to get out of here. His compulsion had only kept me from lashing out, unable to placate my burning hunger. Only made it so I had to suffer through the pain.
And the Kiss was having none of it. Its darkness continued to storm inside me. I needed to feed. Now. Or I would let loose the rage inside me and kill everyone.
I slipped outside the room and stumbled when a shot of adrenaline shot through my veins. No one noticed. I headed for the front door, pressure building. The others had disappeared into a hallway.
Another jolt of adrenaline pushed so hard and fast through my system, it felt like my heart was going to explode from my chest. Something inside of me cracked with an audible pop. I inhaled a great breath and stretched tall.
I could hear Briar’s footsteps leaving Sersi’s office, but I no longer cared. I was free. Aris’ compulsion hadn’t held. I chuckled to myself, feeling invincible.
I reached the front door just as Briar said, “What are you doing?”
Glancing back at her, I smiled. “Going to go have some fun.”
“You can’t do that! You’re com—”
I threw open the door and darted outside, her voice a whisper on the wind. Night wrapped me in a cool embrace as I sped away from the grand estate and into the forest. The Kiss expanded inside me, stretching my muscles and strengthening my bones. A small part of me was very aware I had given it too much power, but I’d held it down too
long. It needed to stretch and breathe.
A truce. That’s what I felt it was communicating to me. If I gave it blood. If I gave it Mateo. We could work together.
And so I let the Kiss free. Let it have its time to seek out fresh, warm blood.
I moved so fast, the trees were a blur in my peripheral vision. They gave way to suburbs and eventually the outskirts of the city. I headed straight for Hell’s Peak and over to Nine Lives. I didn’t stop until I reached the front door of the old club.
Throwing it open, I stepped inside and was greeted by the deep, throbbing beat of bass. Flashing lights across the darkness illuminated dancing bodies, twisting, writhing against each other. Rocky’s club was back in business.
I maneuvered through the crowds, my fingers grazing human bodies, igniting every part of me with pleasure. I was a predator among them, and it turned me on immensely.
A tall and muscular human stepped in front of me and eyed me up and down, a gleam in his eye. I smiled and collapsed the space between us. My hips moved into him, the slow movements matching the beat of the music. Deep and powerful. I ran my fingers up the man’s arm and to his neck. His pulse thundered under my thumb.
Spike spotted me and hurried over. He jerked me away from the human and shook his head. He pointed at Rocky’s office.
I sighed wistfully and stared back at the man as I walked away, smiling seductively. I’d be back for him.
I opened Rocky’s door and came face to face with him. He was a good six inches taller than me. His pupils dilated at my presence, not in fear, but in excitement. Seeing that turned all my attention on him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked and searched my eyes. “Never mind. I’ve seen that hungry look before.”
He glanced behind him. “Leave us.”
Two of his men kept their gazes to the floor as they hurried past us. They had to squeeze between me and the doorway to get through.
As soon as they passed, Rocky took hold of the front of my shirt and jerked me forward so he could close the door. I’d never let a human touch me in such a forceful way, and yet, coming from Rocky, I liked it.
“You want blood,” he said, his hand still fisted into my tank top.
“Yes,” I hissed.
“Then take it.” He tilted his head to the side, offering himself. My stomach clenched with hunger and his eager offer had me leaning into him. “I could kill you.”
“I’m willing to take that chance.”
I sucked in a breath at his courage. I reached up and lightly touched his massive chest. My fingers crawled up to his neck and slid into his thick beard. I jerked his head further, fully exposing his neck to me.
“Do it,” he growled.
I didn’t. Instead, I furrowed my eyebrows, staring into his eyes. There was something about the way his gaze burned into me. Not lust but something else. Anger. Rage. Even guilt. There was a darkness about him that matched my own, and it connected to that darkness. The Kiss liked it.
“Why?”
He jerked his head back, his eyes clouding over. “Because I want it.”
I tightened my hand in his beard, drawing his face closer to me. Our lips were so close we could’ve kissed, except there was no heat between us. More of an understanding, from one monster to another. Regret and remorse showed plainly on his face. I struck forward, my teeth piercing the skin into the nape of his neck, tasting of sweat and cologne. But the sweet taste that came next filled me with sick pleasure.
Guilt, shamefully sweet, guilt. It poured into me, feeding the devouring fervor of the Kiss. There was no end to it; it washed over me and through me, seeping into my body, drowning me in it.
I moaned and sucked harder. The Kiss loved it, fed off it. Consumed by it, reveled in it, bathed in it. It was delightfully delicious.
His hand came around my waist and pulled me closer. He needed this as much as I did.
I drank my fill and could’ve continued, but when I felt him grow weak in my arms, I unlatched and sucked in a great breath. The Kiss purred, mostly satisfied, for now. Until I would see Mateo again.
Rocky stumbled back and collapsed into a chair behind him, a softer look about him. As if feeding the Kiss had helped him somehow. I licked the remains of his blood on my lips.
“Why did you let me?”
He met my gaze, his throat bobbing but his eyes hard. “It seemed a fitting punishment.”
“For what?”
“I have many sins to atone for.” His expression softened, his eyes finally moving behind me, unfocused. “From my past. The things I brought down on my family. My sister and her daughter.” He looked back up at me. “Is there ever atonement for people like us?”
“No.”
His throat bobbed again, and he shook his head. “I see.”
“But never stop trying. That is the only thing that will keep the demons at bay.”
He nodded, a determined look on his face. “Speaking of that,” his eyes gleamed, the old Rocky resurfacing. “I have a proposition for you.”
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Speak.”
“While I was trapped in the cathedral, I befriended some supernaturals who had also been imprisoned. The guards had just begun giving them small doses of that formula, the one that turns humans and sups into monsters?”
“Hydes,” I interrupted. “That’s what we call them.”
He drew his brows together. “For Jekyll and Hyde. Fitting. Anyway, after we escaped, we’ve kept in touch. I would like to use them.”
“This is your proposition?”
“Yes. Use them to fight Korin and the people kidnapping everyone. They aren’t as strong as the creatures Korin created since they haven’t had the full regimen, but they can still fight, and they’re training to be even better. They suffered, and they want revenge.” His eyes darkened as they locked on mine. “I want revenge, so if you ever have the opportunity to fight them, let us help.”
I stared him down, considering his words, understanding his driving needs. After a while, I slowly nodded. “It’s a deal.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head in response. I turned to leave but when I placed my hand on the doorknob, he added, “Come back any time. I am yours to command.”
I didn’t look back at him. “For how long?”
“Until my penance is paid.”
I nodded and left the room, the Kiss only a low throb inside me.
I returned to Blutel Estate to find Mateo’s car parked out front. As soon as I reached the driveway, the front door flew open. Briar, Aris, and Mateo all rushed out with Lynx trailing behind them.
“You came back!” Briar cried.
“Of course I came back.” I walked past them, glancing quickly at Mateo.
“Do you need to eat?” he asked softly.
“Soon, but not now.”
His eyes met mine and an understanding passed between us. He knew I’d fed from someone else.
“But my compulsion—” Aris began.
“Didn’t work,” I finished. I walked into the great home and headed straight for Sersi’s office. She was still sitting on her desk as if she hadn’t moved. She smiled at me thoughtfully as if she knew I’d be back. She probably did.
I dropped onto the sofa next to Roma and nodded at her in greeting. She nodded back, snickering quietly at the commotion that had followed me in. Briar was still yelling at me, with Lynx trying to calm her down.
Briar stopped in front of me, her arms crossed. “Answer me!”
I flashed her a cold look. “What was the question? And say it calmly because I don’t respond to raving lunatics.”
She faltered for a moment at my declaration, then stood firm. “I asked how many people you killed.”
Mateo lowered onto the sofa next to me, gently, as if I might bolt if startled. “She’s your friend. She cares about you.”
I scowled, trying not to let a smile creep up my face. The Kiss liked how upset they all looked, especially Briar. It was
as if they thought I’d slaughtered a small village.
Not liking the smirk I knew I was showing, Briar growled. “Samira. Stop shitting with me. We smell fresh blood. Tell me how many you killed.”
“How many do you think I killed? All of you get one guess. The winner gets a prize.”
“Samira,” Mateo said, his voice low.
Before he or anyone else could lecture me, I sighed and gave up the act, which disappointed the Kiss. “I fed from a willing participant.”
“Who?” Briar asked as she searched my eyes for any deceit.
I turned to Mateo and spoke only to him. “I went to Nine Lives. In the past, Rocky had humans I could drink from there. This time, however,” I paused, “he let me feed from him.”
His brows furrowed and his body tensed.
“There was nothing intimate about it,” I added quickly. “It was almost… a punishment for him.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Lynx asked. “It was a punishment?”
“I don’t really know.” I could guess, but I didn’t want to reveal anything he’d told me. It felt too personal.
“Did it help at least?” Roma asked.
“It did. The Kiss has gone quiet inside of me.”
Mateo’s expression softened a little, but his muscles were still strained.
“Really?” Briar asked. “Well, that’s something. You may have found a way to manage the Kiss with Rocky.”
“Actually,” I gripped Mateo’s hand, “Mateo found a way to manage the Kiss far better, and I vastly prefer his methods. Rocky is just a last resort.”
I leaned into him seductively. His body relaxed and satisfaction flowed through our bond. He liked that I revealed how much he affected me, and that I gave him the credit.
Briar eyed us with narrow eyes, but Aris cut in, forcing us to move on. “Now that Samira’s back, I take it we can move forward with our plans?”
“Absolutely.” Sersi looked at me. “In truth, our plans never stopped. I knew Samira would be back. She knows what’s important.”
I stared at her, my heart full of gratitude. In all the centuries I’d known her, she’d never doubted me.
Glancing at Aris, I asked him, “Did you speak with the Ministry? Will they help us?”
