by Raven Steele
I couldn’t stop the heat shooting through my belly, or the way his mouth was pulling me into him. Those soft lips slowly caressing my skin, commanding me to be still.
His other hand moved over my hips, and he slid them up to my rib cage, gripping my flesh tight. “You have no idea what you do to me. Every time I close my eyes, you’re all I can think about. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop wanting to make you come apart under my mouth.”
He lowered to his knees, scraping my shirt up to softly nip at my stomach. The sight of him on his knees before me had me melting into him. The way he was making me feel. The way he was tearing me apart. I wanted him, and if he kept at it, he was going to win.
“I…,” I breathed heavily, “… don’t come apart.”
His phone beeped again, and he jerked up, grabbing my ass to wrap my legs around his waist. I could feel his hardness press between my legs. He kissed me again, holding me up with one hand. With his other, he opened the car door. Pulling on my bottom lip with his teeth, he nipped it softly, then shoved me into the car.
I bounced onto the seat. “What the hell?”
He leaned over, and I raised myself up to jerk him in with me, but he pulled back, grinning. Then he lowered himself slowly until he reached my lips, this time kissing me softly, gently, forcing me to slow down. He cupped my jaw with his hand, tracing my bottom lip with his thumb. After a few seconds, he pulled away, but I grabbed his shirt, trying to keep his lips against mine.
He didn’t let me. He just stared into my eyes, his gaze twinkling. “I told you to ask for it.”
I frowned, stubborn as hell.
“Your loss.” He stood up, his shirt slipping through my fingers. Just before he closed the door, he winked and circled the car. A rumble escaped my throat, angry that he’d just kissed me then tossed me into the car like a rag doll. Angry that he wasn’t kissing me anymore.
He jumped into the driver’s seat and started the car. “We gotta go.”
“Where?”
Grinning, he shifted the car into gear and began to drive. “Silas gave me orders. It won’t take long, but I can’t put it off any longer or take you with me. I’ll drop you off at your house first just in case Maera wants another crack at you.”
“What about Ryder or my…” I stopped myself just before saying “uncle”, “Vincent?”
“Vincent? Is he mixed up in your shit too? Hell, Briar, who else are you conspiring with?”
“No one. Just forget about it.” I straightened my disheveled shirt, my skin still on fire.
He sensed my frustration and took my hand in his. Lifting it to his lips, he scraped his teeth along my knuckles. “Don’t you worry, pup. Tonight, I will claim you in every way possible.”
He said the words with such passion and possessiveness, I sucked in a breath, my chest heaving. Without warning, he slammed on the breaks and swerved to the side of the road. He leaned over, grabbing my chin. “I can’t stop kissing you.”
He kissed me again, harsh enough to bite my tongue.
“Screw Silas.” I pushed him back and straddled him, kissing him back just as fiercely. We were squished together, the wheel at my back. The angle was awkward, but he’d opened something inside me that came rushing out, filling me up, overflowing all feelings. I couldn’t stop it, couldn’t push it down.
I had to have him.
His hands roamed over my back and moved up to my neck, pressing me to his mouth, gripping it like he was claiming me, like he fucking owned me. I couldn’t stop touching him, running my hands over his chest, loving that he was rock hard beneath me. I moved my hand down to his crotch, squeezing it lightly. The guttural noise that escaped his throat made me grin. His hands snaked up my shirt, brushing across my stomach as his lips left my mouth to trace down my throat.
For a brief moment, my reasoning mind broke through my physical desires. I leaned away, breathless. “Shit. You need to go.” Silas would be pissed if he was late and might even want to hurt Luke for it. I couldn’t bear the thought. I added, “But come to my house tonight.”
He leaned back, staring up at me with hooded eyes, he nodded, brushing my lips with his thumb. “It’ll probably be late.”
“I’ll wait as long as I need to.”
He kissed my mouth briefly. “Just text me when Silas leaves.”
I pulled back abruptly. “Silas?”
He tucked stray hairs behind my ear. “He’s at your house.”
“Why?”
“He’s waiting for Samira to question her. He thinks she’s the one who compelled the Greybacks.”
I moved back to my own seat, caught off guard. “Did she?”
“Without question. I texted her the moment I found out Maera was interviewing pack members. I didn’t think you’d be able to block her mental attack.”
I stared out the window as Luke pulled back onto the road, but he kept one hand on my thigh, slowly rubbing it up and down. “A lot of people care for you, Briar. We don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
It took us a while to get to my house and he let me out a few houses down, pulling me into his arms to kiss me harshly, with a promise to meet me later. When he let me go, I had a funny smile on my face, amazed at the way I was feeling. Light and carefree, something I wasn’t used to. I liked it.
My heart felt strangely warm as I walked into the living room, but as soon as my eyes locked with Silas, it turned to ice.
Silas smiled slow and cruel. “Just the person I wanted to see.”
Chapter 43
Silas scooted to the edge of his seat on the sofa, his very presence upsetting everything good about this house. “I figured you’d come here instead of obeying Dominic’s orders.”
“Orders?” I asked, and closed the door. Stay cool.
“He didn’t give permission for anyone to leave.”
“You left.”
His hand tightened on the arm rest, and his left eye twitched. “I don’t need anyone’s permission, but you sure do. Maybe you need another private punishment. I sure enjoyed our last one.”
Samira glanced at me, her brows furrowed in confusion, but I kept my eyes focused on Silas, determined not to show any fear. He held no power over me. I said it again in my head so I believed the words.
An uneasiness settled in my throat as he continued to stare at me with cold, dark eyes. They were holes that promised pain and agony. Something wasn’t right.
“I’m glad you’re back,” Samira said, ignoring everything Silas had just said. “I could use some good company.”
I finally looked her way. She was sitting across from Silas, leaning back with her legs crossed. She was moving her mouth in a strange way—was she chewing gum? That was something new. But she definitely looked relaxed. Like Silas’ presence didn’t bother her at all. And that’s when I knew she was sending him a signal: I’m not afraid of you.
“How’d you get home?” she asked.
“A kind pack member dropped me off.”
By the knowing look in her eye, she knew who I was talking about. “Good. What—”
“I was just talking to Samira about family,” Silas interrupted. His angry gaze swiveled to hers as he tapped his cane on the floor. “How important it is that we can count on each other. Ever since you started working with us, we’ve considered you like family, despite your being a vampire. And one thing family never does, is betray each other.”
She casually tapped her fingers on the chair’s armrest. I bet she was counting each touch in her head. “I absolutely agree.”
Silas nodded, and I could tell this conversation hadn’t gone as he expected or wanted. "Rightly so. Family is important." He looked up at me. "Where did you say yours was from?"
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
He bristled and pressed his hands to his arms as if he was cold. "That's not the kind of reception I expect to receive from a pack member. You should be honored to have me in your home."
"Honored isn’t the wor
d I’d use."
He leaned into his cane and used it to help him to his feet. He opened his mouth to say something but Samira interrupted him. "He came by to see me. He had some questions about the two Greybacks who were found at the restaurant."
"And did you learn anything?" I pressed my lips into a straight line to keep from laughing in his face. So far I’d always been a step ahead of him, thanks to good friends, friends I hardly deserved. I’d have to repay Samira and Luke somehow.
“She has given me some good leads to follow up on." He touched the top of his cane to his forehead. "I just remembered, Samira. If we cannot recover the briefcase, then we will need you to set up another meeting with the Nocturnas. We will need more drugs."
Ah, I understood now why he hadn’t pressed the issue about the compulsion thing. He still needed her. Badly.
Samira shook her head. “The deal they made is with the Silver Claws, not me. It would be bad business for me to intervene on your behalf."
"But as a vampire, you can explain our loss in a way they can understand. I trust you can do this?"
She reached up and slowly removed her glasses. “And if I refuse?"
He chuckled as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. He stepped toward me and leaned in slightly. "You still smell."
“Are you finished here?" I said quickly, before Samira karate chopped him in half. I opened the front door, letting in a breath of much needed fresh air.
“For now, but Briar, you will return with me. I’m sure Dominic is wondering where you are. Plus, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"I have to work tonight."
“I'm not asking.” He walked onto the porch, then paused waiting for me.
“You don’t have to go,” Samira said. She had come to her feet faster than I could blink.
I looked from her to Silas. If I left with Silas now, I’d be in a car alone with him. Maybe this was my chance to get rid of him once and for all. I couldn’t pass that up.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” I said to Silas.
He huffed, and I expected him to argue, but he said, “I’ll wait in the car. I'll give you three minutes, but then I’m coming in after you.”
As soon as the door closed, Samira asked, her voice low, "I trust everything went as expected?"
I cleared my throat, a thank you itching its way up. I wasn’t used to someone helping me. Not without a motive. What was hers?
“How did you do it? How did you manage to get two Greybacks away from their pack, compel them, and put them in a restaurant in such a short amount of time? And compelling a supernatural? I'm impressed."
She walked into the kitchen with me trailing behind. She opened the fridge and pulled out her jug of blood. "As soon as Luke texted me saying you would be in trouble, I acted. I was already nearby watching the Greybacks so it made my job easier.”
Surprised, I opened my mouth to ask her how she knew where they were, but she kept talking.
“It only took three minutes to locate a couple. Shifters always have men patrolling away from their pack, a weakness I exploit often. It took less than thirty seconds to compel each of them. I don’t normally do this. It is forbidden among my kind, but I had no other choice with the short amount of time I had been given.”
“But why did you do what you did?” I asked. “Couldn’t you have just caused an explosion or something?”
“Luke told me to find a Greyback and make it so he couldn’t talk. He said it was the only way. Was he wrong?" She guzzled from the jug, nearly drinking it all.
My mouth fell open, watching her drink all that blood cold.
“You don’t mind that it’s cold?”
“I prefer it.” When I still stared at her, she chugged down the rest, shrugging. “It’s an acquired taste. But warm blood isn’t good for me. It reminds me too much of the living.”
I wanted to ask her what that meant but the clock behind me chimed, reminding me that Silas was waiting for me outside.
Instead I sighed, realizing Luke had been right. If Samira did anything other than produce a compelled Greyback, then eventually the witch would read their minds. It had been the right thing to do.
“One last question. Why would you help me?" No one helps without a motive.
"Because anyone working against Dominic is not my enemy. We may have different reasons for wanting his destruction, but our end game is the same. We can help each other, if you’d allow it.”
“I don’t trust you, or anyone, for that matter.”
“Whatever you have planned, you can’t do it alone. You proved that today. And I could use your help. There is much strength in you, like there is in me."
"Meh. I think I've got a little more." I winked at her, but when she didn’t take the bait, I continued. “Fine. You want me to trust you? Let’s start with why you want to destroy Dominic.”
She looked at me pointedly. "Because he wants something I’ve been looking for, for a long time.”
“And what’s that?”
“The Abydos.”
Chapter 44
“Abydos?” I nearly choked on the word. What the hell? Did the city put out a memo? It seems everyone knew about it.
“I think you know something about it,” she said, staring at me pointedly.
“I don’t.”
She moved toward me slowly and silently, a shadow darkening the room. “I think, you’re messed up in something much bigger than you could ever imagine. It’s time I heard the truth.”
A horn blared outside. I exhaled. “Sorry, but I have to go.”
I rushed up the stairs, my heart pounding as I thought about the Abydos hiding in the cave. Was it safe there? I mentally slapped myself for being so surprised about Samira’s knowledge of the Abydos. Of course, an old vampire like her would know about the blood. It was a legend in some circles.
But I had to think long and hard about aligning myself with her. What would she do for the blood? Was this all a ploy so she could get her hands on it, just like Dominic? The powers the blood gave would work the same whether on a shifter or a vampire. Either way, it was dangerous.
I tore off my pants and quickly pulled on a pair of skinny jeans. I should’ve been more careful. The fact that Silas kept pointing out the smell on me made me wonder if he suspected something.
Rushing outside, I expected Silas to be pissed that I’d taken longer than three minutes, but he didn't say a word when I hopped into the passenger seat. This was the first time I’d seen him drive. Again, I got the feeling that something wasn’t right.
I glanced in the backseat, to make sure we were alone. We were. My pulse raced. This is my chance. I could kill him now and no one would know.
As if reading my thoughts, Silas picked up his phone and dialed someone. “She just got in. I'm bringing her back to Fire Ridge. We will be there in twenty minutes."
Any thoughts of killing him disappeared. Unless I could make it look like an accident.
While my mind worked through different scenarios, I asked, “So what's this about? Did I do something wrong again?”
He turned the steering wheel onto a main road and pressed on the accelerator. "I just have some questions for you. Nothing to worry about."
"Will the witch be there again? I don’t like witches."
"Interesting for someone who lives with a witch."
“Lynx is different."
“Is she now?” He laughed a sound that made the hair on my arms prickle. "You know who her mother is, right? Blood will always be stronger than friendship. You would be wise to remember that. In fact," he glanced at me sideways, "if you’re living with Lynx, there's a reason. Cassandra doesn't make a move without it being well thought out, including in her daughter's life. I'd watch your back."
I shifted my weight against the cold leather of the seat. "Don't you worry about me. You've got bigger problems."
"Now those are the first true words you've ever spoken to me."
“I’v
e told you the truth from the beginning, yet you still refuse to believe me. If you can't get over it, I'll just find a different pack to join. I thought yours was the best, but I'm starting to believe otherwise."
"We are the best, and soon we will be the most powerful too. None will be able to stand against us, including the Sangre Nocturnas. Our power will stretch beyond Rouen all the way to Coast City."
"That's a grand vision," I scoffed. “Besides, I hear Coast City has some kind of super vampire who’s cleaning up the filth and will kill anyone who dares to stop him.”
He chuckled. "When we get what we want, we won’t be worried about some vampire with a hero complex. Coast City will be ours, just like Wildemoor and every other city between."
“What makes you so sure? Is it because of Scorpion’s Breath? That drug isn’t going to give you control, it’s just going to make people crazy.”
"Scorpion’s Breath is just a distraction. Once people become hooked, they won't even see what's coming before it's too late. No, we have something much better."
I wet my lips and swallowed, hoping beyond hope he wasn’t referring to the Abydos.
“Then what are you waiting for?” I baited. “Why not skip to the main event now?”
“Patience, my dear. One step at a time.” He patted my leg. “First we have to find it. Our secret weapon. It's hidden in our very city. Never have we been so close to ultimate power!”
I bit the inside of my cheek, words escaping me. Had Silas insisted I stay close to the pack all this time because they found me out? Maybe Samira told him something that made him connect the dots. But how could she know? Or maybe even Lynx. She was a witch after all, from a powerful family. Maybe this whole time I was just a pawn on a chess board in a game everyone else was playing but me.
I considered my options. I could kill him now, sneak back and take the blood. Leave the city.
Except that left Dominic. And Samira, if she really had sold me out. Maybe she knew I had it from the beginning and that’s why she wanted to live with us. I was grateful now that I’d kept the blood outside of the house. When she said that she wanted the blood, I’d assumed that she wanted to keep it out of Dominic’s hands, but maybe they were working together.
