by Ginna Moran
“I want it to be like this forever,” he whispers, kissing my throat again. “You’re my forever.” He leans away and searches my eyes.
I blink a few times, suppressing the emotions threatening to spill from me. I open and close my mouth, but the words stay locked in my throat.
Everett frowns. “Is that not something you want?”
My heart clenches, and I shake my head, strands of my wet hair clinging to my cheeks. “Everett, I don’t think forever is possible for me.”
Silver flashes in his eyes. “Why do you think that?”
“I couldn’t transition.”
Moving to the inlaid bench, he sits and slides me off his lap but keeps my legs over his. A dozen thoughts cloud his eyes as he thinks about my words.
“Why would a coven fight so fiercely to possess you and bestow you with a Blood Vow if you couldn’t?” He asks the question more to himself.
I don’t know what a Blood Vow is, but I can think of a few reasons, and I say as much. “Because they want to cage me. Drain me over and over again because I heal quickly? Power? I don’t know. There are so many reasons. Corona had similar ones.”
He slumps and hugs me. “Maybe. I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help you...because, I want forever with you too.”
He links our fingers together. “You do?”
I nod. “Yeah. I want it more than I realized.”
Pulling me closer, he kisses me again. “You make me the happiest man.”
I grin. “I think I can make you happier.”
“Not possible.”
Meeting his blue eyes, I touch his cheek. “I think it is. You know why?”
He smirks at me, waiting for me to continue.
“Because I’m falling in love with you too.”
***
By the time everyone returns, Everett and I are dressed and sitting at Jameson’s table. We watched the guys pop up on every security feed on Everett’s tablet as well as tracked a few of the mysterious security details that monitor the property. At one point, Everett had to close the feed, trying to stop me from seeing Mikkalo lay it on someone, probably because Thaxton should’ve never made it inside.
No one says anything as they slide into the chairs around me. I try not to pounce on them for information and take a bite of the yogurt and fruit Everett pulled out of a refrigerator hidden inside Jameson’s wall cabinet.
“We need to reassess security,” Bronx says, leaning his elbows on the table. “The fucker slipped past all but one of the cameras.”
Mikkalo scrubs his face, looking like he wants to beat himself up. “We either have a traitor among our staff or the Baron Coven has been here many times before Gwen moved in. Thaxton must’ve been watching and waiting for a while. He took advantage of Brooklyn’s arrival. It’s how he slipped past us.”
I drop my spoon, and it clanks in my bowl. “Shit.” Just the thought that he managed to get in leaves me on edge. “What if another one of his coven brothers is still here? They’re never alone.”
Mikkalo tightens his mouth. “He was this time.”
“How do you know? What if one of them is hiding in one of your rooms? They could attack us in our sleep.”
Slumping forward, Mikkalo thunks his head on the table and takes a breath. A moment later, he disappears without a word.
I stare in surprise at his empty seat.
Bronx and Everett both disappear next, leaving me in confusion alone with Jameson. He changes seats to take the spot Everett sat, and then he pulls me to him so that I sit on his lap. Grabbing my spoon, he feeds me a few more bites of yogurt in silence like he needs time to get his thoughts together.
Jameson brushes the hair from my shoulder where he had bitten me and kisses the spot. His lips tickle, but my skin feels like normal because of the numbing cream Everett applied to all of the bites just in case since it was the first time I’ve ever had so many.
A loud-ass growl sounds from the hallway, and I stiffen in Jameson’s arms. He relocates me to the bathroom and stands in front of the door protectively but doesn’t take his eyes off his room.
Another guttural rumble cuts through the air, and I can’t stop hugging Jameson from behind to peer over his shoulder. The noise doesn’t come from any of my guys, but it sounds just as threatening. My fear instincts ignite inside me, sending goosebumps over my skin.
Jameson growls deep in his throat, the sensation vibrating against my chest. “You were right, Gigi. Someone else got in.”
I inhale a sharp breath.
I don’t get the chance to say anything as Everett appears in the doorway, his eyes flashing crazy silver, and what light I had elicited inside him from our moment of lovemaking has now vanished into shadows that leave me on edge.
“Bronx found someone in his room,” Everett says, keeping his voice even. He doesn’t look at me as he says the words but keeps his gaze trained on Jameson.
I clench Jameson’s shoulders. “Ah, hell.”
“Bronx wants you both to join us in Mikkalo’s room for the interrogation. The guy hasn’t said a word, but Gwen’s appearance might strike a nerve.” Everett finally meets my gaze.
“Fuck no. I don’t want our girl anywhere near this douchebag,” Jameson says, lacing his fingers through mine like I’m the only thing that’ll stop him from exploding.
Everett remains expressionless. “It’s an order.”
“An order?”
I squeeze Jameson’s hand, stopping him from lashing out at Everett, knowing that he’s just the messenger. Tugging Jameson closer, I slide my arms around him and bury my face in his chest, just breathing in the sultry scent of his skin. He relaxes after a moment and rests his chin to my shoulder, soaking in the calmness I try to project to him.
“This dude’s going to regret ever coming here,” I say, tilting my head up to meet his green eyes.
“Damn straight,” Jameson mutters.
He takes another breath and straightens his shoulders, silently guiding me across the room where Everett awaits. Everett slides his fingers through my free hand and offers me a cute smirk, probably loving how I intervened as my way of protecting him from Jameson’s anger that’s mostly directed at the world but Everett just happens to be here to face it.
“I don’t want you within ten feet of this douche,” Jameson says, speaking up in the hallway.
I frown. “How am I supposed to punch his heart out then?”
Jameson fake-glares at me. “Not happening. We’re taking care of him.”
“We’ll see,” I say, smirking at him.
He play growls and smacks me on the ass, moving from next to me to slide his arms around my shoulders protectively while Everett shifts to the front of our little line. I hesitate at the open door leading into Mikkalo’s room, suddenly feeling more scared than I have in a while. And I hate how even the mere presence of this Baron brother sets me off before I lay my eyes on him.
“We got you, Gigi,” Jameson whispers, feeling my body tense against his. “Don’t let him see that he can get under your skin.”
He’s right about that. If the dude even suspects he can get to me by using my human rationale against me, he will try.
Straightening my shoulders, I summon my nerve, channeling my deep-seated nature as a predator. I tighten my fingers on Everett’s hand, trying to borrow a bit of his strength to get me to keep my shit together. I’m not some weak, scared donor. I’m a fierce, sometimes wild, dhampir with a whole lot of muscular goodness to back me up if I need it.
A strange noise hums through the air, drawing my attention away from my thoughts and to the handsome creep with a weird-ass collar on his neck now chained to Mikkalo’s wall. I knew Mikkalo had a lot of weapons, but I had no idea he could actually imprison someone in his bedroom.
I try to remain expressionless, but I dart my gaze to Mikkalo in silent question. He responds by twisting his lips to the side while making a face that reads he’l
l talk to me about it later.
“My Gwyneth.” The claim snaps my gaze from Mikkalo and to the creep.
I stiffen. “You did not just fucking try to claim me.”
No one has time to react as I dash forward, fueled by my annoyance and anger. Mikkalo could intercept me, but he doesn’t. He grabs the guy by the shoulders and restrains his arms. I knee the douchebag in the balls, making him holler. If he thinks that hurt, he has no idea what’s to come.
Bronx hooks his arm around my waist and hoists me back before I can show the guy. “You can have your fun in a couple of minutes, dandelion. We need him to be able to talk.”
I thrash once on purpose in an attempt to threaten the guy again. Bronx spins me around and holds me to him by my ass, his eyes lighting silver. His chest presses into mine, his body practically puffing with pride. A smile twitches on his lips, but he keeps his jaw clenched as not to react though I can totally feel that I turned him the hell on.
“I need you to use that cute ass of yours against him,” he murmurs.
I suck in my bottom lip between my teeth and nod, kissing him softly on the lips. He sets me down and spins me back toward the guy, now staring at me like seeing me in Bronx’s arms causes him physical pain.
I saunter to Mikkalo and take his hand, pulling him in close to kiss him next. “Thanks for letting me do that.”
He hugs me. “Anything for you.”
The creep full-on roars, thrashing against his restraints and snapping his teeth at Mikkalo. My affection to Mikkalo set him off, turning his eyes a crazy flashing silver. He looks like he’d try to tear Mikkalo apart if he managed to get free.
“Don’t touch her!” the guy yells. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
Pulling away from Mikkalo, I strut closer to the guy. Bronx intercepts Jameson, stopping him from trying to get in front of me. Everett hovers nearby, ready to rush me, and Mikkalo grips the chain attached to the collar on the guy’s neck.
I clear my throat, meeting the creep’s dark eyes. They’re devoid of flecks of color I catch in both Bronx and Mikkalo’s, his pupils barely noticeable even in the overhead lighting. I search his face, taking in his features, trying to figure out if I’ve ever met this vampire before. But I don’t think I have. He might’ve been there when the Baron Coven tried to attack us when we went to get Silas, but I can’t be sure. I didn’t get a good look at any of them.
The vampire freezes under my closeness, his eyes trying to lock onto mine, but I don’t let him. “You don’t belong to them, Gwyneth.” His soft voice prods at my mind, and I tense as not to react.
I lick my lips, drawing his attention to my mouth. I can feel the burning intensity of my guys remaining statue-still and silent around me, but I decide against looking at them. I don’t want to risk setting him off when Bronx wants me to try to get answers. If only I knew the questions to ask.
“Then who do you think I belong to?” I capture his stare, proving that I’m not afraid of him despite looking into a vampire’s eyes being the most dangerous thing a human can do.
“Me.”
“You? I don’t even know you.” Like, seriously? Who does this douche think he is?
“Laredo had no right to keep you away,” he continues, tilting his head slightly. “He was not next in line. Look what he did to you. Nearly wasting such a beautiful gift intended to...” His eyes flicker silver. He lets his voice trail off and licks his lips. “Let me take you home. I know you have it in you to free me. To get rid of those who don’t understand you like I do.”
It takes everything in me not to knee him in his junk again. “I don’t know,” I say. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Galveston.” He stretches his neck, trying to close some of the distance. Clenching his jaw, he releases a strange noise from his throat.
And then I see it.
Blood trickles from the collar, setting off my senses. I flare my nostrils and can’t stop myself from watching as a drop streams down his throat to disappear into his shirt. Noticing my reaction, he leans forward again, causing more of his blood to spill.
“You like that, don’t you?” he murmurs.
I don’t respond.
He flashes his fangs. “Do you want to taste?”
“Gwen.”
Bronx doesn’t get a chance to say more as my rebellious feet take me forward. Galveston snaps the restraints on his arms far too quickly for anyone to reach me. He yanks me into him, chomping down so hard on my shoulder that a scream rips from me. Tears blur my eyes as a burning sensation explodes over my skin, edging my vision in shadows. All four of my guys yell and roar and growl, and Mikkalo jerks Galveston away.
Except it doesn’t work. His fangs pierce deep in my bone, longer than any fangs I’ve ever seen on a vampire. Even when his body falls away from me, his head remains attached. I scream and punch him in the nose, knocking his severed head to the floor.
Bronx catches me in his arms, pulling me against him.
Everett says my name.
Pain radiates too intensely through me that all I do is blink.
The last thing I see is Mikkalo and Jameson tear the rest of Galveston apart.
Chapter 22
Untamed
“HURRY, LITTLE DHAMPIR. I NEED you to hide and remain as silent as possible.” Laredo pushes me toward a large chest positioned at the end of his bed. “No one can know you’re here.”
I climb inside the chest and curl my knees to my stomach, lying on my side. Laredo holds his index finger to his lips, reminding me to be quiet. A knock on the door draws his gaze from mine, and he shuts the lid, leaving me in darkness.
“Laredo, something has happened,” a deep, smoky voice says, muffling to me. “The Gallaghers are gone. The dhampir killed Rochester.”
“Why?” Laredo asks, his smooth voice stifling the nerves threatening to leave me quaking.
Rochester was the only vampire I knew before Grayson showed up a few days ago with Laredo in tow. It took me over a day to even look at him, but when I finally did, I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was nothing like my previous blood source.
“I can only assume it had to do with Jerry’s final donation and the revelation of a contract none of us agreed upon. He lied to us. Rochester never intended to propose. The contract Thaxton drew up remains unsigned,” the other vampire says.
“I see,” Laredo says, not reacting. He knows all of this already and insisted we leave everything as it was in the bunker. “What a shame dear brother wouldn’t listen to me about Rochester.”
“Thaxton thought Rochester was trying to grow a relationship with her,” the other guy snaps. “Maybe the new contract was to help. You know how Jerry was. He couldn’t see her as we do.”
“Or she wasn’t interested, which seems to be quite obvious now.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“How can you expect such an exquisite being to accept such a life Rochester had planned without her consent? I bet he even called her Gwyneth. No woman wants to be held in comparison to another. He didn’t handle the situation with care.”
“You say that like you could’ve done better,” the guy says.
Laredo hums. “I know I could’ve, Galveston. And I can’t wait to prove it.”
A growl sounds through the air, setting off my fear instincts. “You’re last in line, little brother. I’ll have her vow before you.”
“She’ll rip you apart. She’ll kill all of you.”
The slamming of a door startles me, and light erupts in my vision as Laredo opens the chest. I peek up at him, his words swirling through my mind.
“My apologies, Gwen. I didn’t intend for you to hear that.” Laredo offers me his hand and helps me to my feet.
I glare at him. “You should’ve told me that you were part of Rochester’s coven.”
“Your brother would’ve never accepted my proposal if he had known.”
“Your proposal?”
He shrugs. “Nothing to worry
about.” Holding out his hand, he waits for me to take it. “Now, come along. We must hurry. We have to get as far away as possible unless you want to seal your fate as one of my other brothers’ intended. They would never treat you as I do. They want nothing more than to control you.”
I frown.
He hooks his arm around me and lifts me to my feet. “Dreadful, I know. That’s why we must show them that you can never be tamed.”
***
Warm liquid coats my tongue, drawing me from the dark recesses of my mind. My body reacts to the taste of Jameson’s blood, and I grip his arm, pulling it close enough that I can latch my mouth around the puncture wounds.
“That’s it, Gigi. Drink what you need. That asshole bit you with venom,” he murmurs, trailing his hand across my stomach.
I moan under my breath, my body tingling like crazy, reacting to his words. His voice sounds so sexy in my ear that it awakens my lust before my mind can fully orient itself to what the hell is going on.
I flutter my eyes open and peer around the dark car. Confusion washes over me, and I manage to pull my mouth from Jameson. He snuggles his face near mine, his soft breath blowing strands of my hair away from my cheek.
“Where are we going?” I finally manage to spit out, unable to focus on anything clearly. It’s like my mind clings to the memory I had of Laredo and Galveston, refusing to let me process much else. Jameson does nothing to help either. Because I’m still so hungry. Starved, really. I want nothing more than to—
“Here, Gwen. Drink some more,” Mikkalo says from next to me.
My gaze darts to his bleeding arm, and I wiggle on Jameson’s lap so much that he releases me. I scoot from his lap and on the spot between the two of them. Mikkalo’s delectable blood tantalizes my senses, and I end up on his lap with my back to his chest. It’s me who restrains him, clasping his arm in both my hands. I draw my tongue over the pooling blood and hum, the fire burning through me dwindling the more I drink.
“I’m so sorry I failed you, Gwen,” he whispers into my ear. “That bastard should’ve never gotten his hands on you. I underestimated his strength.”
