by Cassia Briar
We were in a dim alley. Dumpsters lined both windowless concrete walls. The smell of organic rot mixed with human waste. Lovely.
I glanced down at Angel. “You’re naked.”
“Yeah, I know.” He turned his attention back to Jaxon. “That’s fucking reckless, man.”
Montrell intervened. “That’s enough. We’re out of danger and alive.”
“I’ve been plenty reckless lately,” Jaxon said. “That’s the third time I’ve teleported someone who’s injured. A huge no-no. Dangerous, and now I can see why. Caprice, your dragon genetics must make you a superior being to me ‘cuz I’ve never felt this terrible before in my life.”
I crawled toward Jaxon. His satin shirt was covered in blood. I was pretty sure most of it was mine. A deep gash crossed his forehead and his eyes were glassy with pain. We needed Liam. He was the only one who could heal us. My heart squeezed tight.
“Stay with me,” I said. “We need to get out of here before someone sees us.” We were quite the sight to behold. All of us coated in blood. Angel naked. Montrell wearing his shapeshifter outfit of black slacks and a white shirt, now smeared with grime. I didn’t understand how shapeshifters formed clothing for themselves, but it was a handy trick.
Angel rose and limped over to Jaxon’s prone form. He riffled through the witch’s coat pockets, drew out a pair of pants, and stepped into them.
I arched a brow, my head resting on my witch’s shoulder. “You’re keeping clothing in Jaxon’s pockets now? I’m assuming that’s magic of some sort.”
“If there’s anything I’m learning from all this it’s be prepared.” Angel lifted me off the ground, one arm under my knees, the other across my back.
With a grunt Montrell stood. “I’m sure we’re doing better now than what the Tromara had in store for us.” What an optimist. “I’ve got Jaxon.”
He groaned when Montrell picked him up.
“At least we’re in shifter territory,” he cradled the witch. “Think you can summon up an invisibility spell?”
“Not a chance.”
“Call Josh,” I said, clinging to Angel. “Have him send someone.”
We moved further back into the alley, out of sight of passersby, and settled down.
Montrell took Jaxon’s cell and called Josh, while pacing the narrow alley. He spoke in hushed tones, then hung up. “He’s sending someone.”
I blew out a sigh. Now all we had to do was wait. I glanced down. The murky light showed me just how much I was covered in my own blood. Drenched. The dress was torn and crumpled. Somewhere I’d lost my shoes. My heart ached at Liam’s absence, and pure exhaustion threatened to take me under.
“Sleep, princess.” Angel wrapped me in his arms.
I tried for a nod, but that was too much effort. Instead, I let the exhaustion claim me.
The first time I woke was to warm water surrounding me and someone scrubbing my skin. The next was to a couple of familiar voices cursing, accompanied by a spike of fear through the mate link. I bolted upright, but I felt feverish and couldn’t form the words to ask what was going on. Angel and Montrell put me back to bed.
Some time later, consciousness slowly crept in. The pillowcase was silky against my cheek. As my bodily awareness expanded, I noted a dull pain at my collarbone and the back of my head. My eyelids refused to open, my mouth dry, and my limbs were too heavy. In general, I felt like reanimated roadkill.
Montrell’s voice was pitched low across the room. “I know what she’ll want to do. Besides, we don’t have much choice.”
“No, we don’t,” Angel answered him. “We also can’t let him win like this. We need a plan, and Caprice back on her feet.”
“I think she’s regaining consciousness.” The chair creaked as Montrell stood. A moment later he kneeled beside my bed. “Caprice?”
“I’m awake.” My voice sounded rough. Opening my eyes, I found Montrell’s intense hazel ones, relieved that my head felt clearer. I could focus, and form words. Slowly, I eased to a sitting position.
Jaxon lay in the bed beside me. A clean white bandage wrapped his head, but he was also awake. His grey gaze found mine.
Angel moved toward him, but spoke to me. “He had a concussion and some internal bleeding, but he’ll be find soon. Both of you will be. The witches Josh sent were skilled healers.”
A strange tension built between the four of us. Avoidance radiated from Angel and Montrell—they were hiding something. Jaxon frowned between them, filled with suspicion too.
“What happened to me?” I trailed my fingers across my chest.
The wolf and shapeshifter exchanged a glance. Montrell answered. “Magic—fae magic—almost slit your throat. It sliced across your collar bone instead. It was a near miss. Any higher and you could have bled out in moments.”
I sucked in a shaky breath remembering Liam’s father with that smug grin. I’d been about to shift when it happened. Too slow, too late.
“What else is going on,” I asked. A groan escaped me as I settled against the headboard. I was feeling better, but not near ready to face any new challenges. I hated being so susceptible to injury. Why couldn’t I be like a werewolf and self-heal? Beast shifters got the short end when it came to certain abilities. Jaxon didn’t look in any state to use healing magic anytime soon, and without Liam… My chest clenched and twisted.
“Ah, fuck!” Angel’s outburst startled me. “Show them,” he ordered Montrell.
The shapeshifter retrieved his phone and held it where both Jaxon and I could see the screen. Sebastian’s ruthlessly beautiful face filled the area and he began speaking.
“This message is for Caprice,” he said. “I have Liam. I’ve taken him and several other of your followers captive.” He flipped the screen around to show Liam, Tyler, May, and others chained to a wall. “You may not care about your own life, but I’m willing to bet you’ll do anything for them. I’ll send my demands in a while.” The recording cut off.
A fresh wave a panic and agony raced through me. Sebastian had me in a corner, he held every advantage. I waffled on the edge of despair and rage. Tears stung my eyes, but the anger burst free first.
“Fuck him!” My skin vibrated with fury—causing me to partially shift. At least I was gaining back my strength.
Montrell gently gripped my shoulders. “No, no. You need to recuperate and shifting takes energy. We’ll come up with a plan. I promise. Caprice, let go of your shift.”
I released it, letting out a sob. “I’m going to kill Sebastian. No one takes one of my mates and lives.”
“I know.” Montrell pulled me into his chest. “Later though. Be patient and rest now.”
If it weren’t for the bond between us revealing the hatred, pain, and rage going on inside Montrell, I’d think he lacked emotions. His calm tone, and impassive face, revealed nothing. But I knew. And it made me feel not so alone. We were all in this together.
Two days. Two fucking days had passed and we’d still not heard from Sebastian. I was going out of my mind with worry envisioning all the ways the Tromara were torturing Liam. May. Tyler. Itzel. Dean Wright. All of them.
Along with the worry I was pissed off. I’d seen Liam’s father at the ball when he’d tried to kill me. Worst of all he’d turned against his own children and let the Tromara chain them up. Torture them. Maybe even sacrifice them.
I couldn’t eat. Jaxon spelled me to sleep each night, but even then my slumber was restless and plagued by nightmares.
My waking hours were occupied by texting Josh and Elena. Reports from the fae territory said the Tromara and their allies swept in, took prisoners, then disappeared. Twenty deaths in all, most of them fae. Thankfully, the fae weren’t backing down. If anything they were out for blood—Tromara blood.
Even with winning over the fae’s support, everyone had seen Sebastian’s video and we were all beside ourselves with worry. Fear had taken hold and spread through us like a plague. The worst was the utter sense of futility. We were at Se
bastian’s mercy and he was tormenting us by letting the days slip by without a word.
We were staying in one of the Freeman family houses on the outskirts of Greenwich, Connecticut. The place sat on a good chunk of acreage, though the structure was modest in comparison to some of the larger estates. This one was also seldom used, and just the four of us inhabited it. Our rescuers had returned to the city.
The isolation was getting to me already. I needed to know what was happening to my mate and friends. I needed Sebastian to send his demands. He was right, I’d give him anything at this point.
I paced in the living room, where Angel and Montrell sat stiffly in armchairs. Angel on his phone and Montrell with a laptop resting on his knee. Jaxon came in from the kitchen with a steaming mug.
“Drink this,” he said to me. “It’s a simple potion that will calm your nerves.”
“I don’t want to be calm,” I snapped. “I’m done waiting. We need to pull everyone together and head back to Oregon.”
Jaxon shook his head. “This is what Sebastian wants. You so riled up you’ll make stupid decisions.”
I lunged at him. Surprised, he toppled to the floor. The cup smashed to pieces on the hardwood, leaving a puddle of hot liquid. I straddled Jaxon and pinned him with my forearm braced against his neck.
“You promised to never call me stupid again.” I seethed. He could be such a fucking asshole.
A grin split his face right before he rolled, switching our positions. “You want it rough, baby?” His mouth crushed down on mine. Our teeth clashed, his lips demanding, bruising.
I bit him hard enough to draw blood, the metallic taste on the tip of my tongue.
He put only enough space between us that I could look into his heated, liquid silver eyes. There was an edge there I’d never seen before. His whirlwind of emotions entwined with mine as we stared at each other. Then my hands were on him, tugging off his shirt, trying to get him naked as quickly as possible.
I kissed him hard, pouring my anger and desperation into it. His tongue battled mine while he divested me of my clothing. He broke from the kiss. His fingers dug into my hips, holding me in place, as he buried his hard cock in my drenched core.
A pair of tan hands found my breasts. Those hot palms rubbed in teasing circles, hardening my nipples. Angel rolled them between his fingers and tugged until I gasped. I turned my face, breathing hard, to find Montrell still sitting in his chair with an impassive expression. His hazel eyes filled with lust as he watched me get fucked.
Jaxon set a relentless pace that soon had me panting. He thumbed my clit and Angel continued to torment my breasts. I came hard, my cry muffled by Angel’s mouth on mine. Jaxon followed me over the edge, then he collapsed at my side.
I slowly came down from the high and settled back into my body. My gaze found Montrell’s again as my breathing evened out.
26
Montrell
Watching my little mate come had me hard and ready. I crooked my finger, beckoning her to my chair. Caprice slid out of Jaxon’s arms.
Angel hesitated, catching my eye. We were in my territory, at my house, and I was in charge here. The deference he showed me now, confirmed that things had changed between us. Sure, there would be more wolf and bear fights between us in the future, but we were finally friends. More than. Just as Caprice was tied to the four of us, we’d found a bond with each other. I nodded to Angel, giving him the go ahead to join us.
Caprice was on her knees between my spread legs. I undid my fly, freeing my erection. She licked her lips and my dick twitched with anticipation. Her hot palm wrapped around the base, making me groan.
Angel undressed, then positioned himself at her back. Her eyelids fluttered as he entered her from behind. Caprice dropped her head to my lap, her mouth closed around the head of my cock and eased down as she stroked my shaft with her hand. I tangled my fingers through her hair, taking control.
Watching her pleasure me, feeling her arousal through our link, and even Angel’s intense lust, had my balls tightening. The tip of my cock reached the back of her throat. My breathing grew ragged. I came with a grunt, emptying myself in that sweet mouth while she screamed her own release around my dick. Holy fuck.
My head fell back in the chair. The three of us stilled, spent. We’d needed that distraction and rush of endorphins. Now, calmer and more clear-headed, we could figure out what the hell to do.
I tugged Caprice up and into my lap then trapped her in my arms. For a moment, I wanted her all to myself. Languidly, I kissed her and she opened up for me. I tasted myself on her tongue.
She went rigid in my arms.
“What’s wrong,” I asked, sensing the sudden spike of fear.
Angel had also stopped in the middle of pulling on his shirt. “Tromara. They’re here.”
Jaxon cursed. We all scrambled to get dressed. We had to get the hell out of there.
A voice boomed from out front. “We call a truce.”
I swept the curtains aside to find three dark figures approaching the porch. How the hell did they find us? The place was warded against intruders. Or it had been, decades ago. I hadn’t realized witch magic faded over time.
The Tromara stepped onto the porch. “Do we have a truce?”
Truce? This had to be a trap. “What do you want?” I asked through the window.
“We would speak with the dragon queen. We bring a gift.”
Definitely a trap.
Caprice brushed against my arm. “Only three of them.” She studied them through the glass pane. “I’m not running anymore. Sebastian should know any Tromara sent after us won’t live very long.” As she said the words, I felt her doubt. The unspoken fear: Would Sebastian retaliate and kill Liam?
I was positive Sebastian would retaliate if we killed more of his creatures. But it was either fight or give into these Tromara. Either way, we were screwed.
“Let’s go see what they want,” she said and shifted to her half form. I was glad to see she had the energy to hold a shift.
Angel and I opened the front door and stepped onto the porch. Jaxon followed, his wand at the ready. Caprice emerged, her shiny black scales reflecting the porch lights. The three Tromara backed away, giving us room, and kneeled. I wasn’t going to lower my guard over their false submission.
“What do you want?” Caprice asked. Flame built in the back of her throat.
“We bring a gift,” said the same one who’d spoken before. He reached for a large bag slung over his shoulders.
“Not too fast,” Jaxon warned. To Caprice he said, “This ugly bastard is Cyril. He holds a seat on the Tromara Council.”
Caprice hissed through her sharp teeth. “And the other two?”
“I don’t know them.”
I studied Cyril as he slowly opened the satchel and set it at his feet. This Tromara was huge, like the rest of them, with long silver hair and a scarred face. He upended the bag, letting the contents thunk on the wooden deck.
My breath froze.
Heads. Four heads landed on the porch. I dreaded recognizing any one of them as a friend—but I didn’t. They were all men. None was Liam.
Instead, I knew them as the Tromara who’d crashed the fae ball, who’d come after us in the SUV and driven us off the road, and would have killed us.
“Uh,” Jaxon said, “those are the rest of the Tromara Council. Lorenzo, Javier, Rafael, and Valdis.”
“Why?” Caprice demanded. “Why would you kill your fellow leaders?”
Cyril motioned to his companions. “By your mercy, we would like to die. After the war. Until then we are at your service, Dragon Queen.”
Shock held all our tongues. Tromara switching sides? Why?
I recovered first. “I will repeat the queen’s question. Why? Death is hardly a believable reason, and your king is winning at the moment.”
“You don’t understand. Death is the ultimate reason.” Cyril’s jaw clenched. “We are tired of living. King Sebastian forbids us to
end our lives, and as you know we are difficult to kill. But dragon fire is a sure, clean death. As for which side is winning, that remains to be seen. With our help, you can turn the tide.”
Caprice snorted, smoke escaping her nostrils. “As if we’d ever put trust in you. If you really want to help, leave. Leave. Us. Alone.”
Jaxon’s cell phone rang. “Hello.” Wand still trained on the Tromara, he set the phone to speaker with his other hand.
Sebastian’s voice said, “I have decided on my demands.”
I held my finger to my lips with a pointed look at Cyril. He and his companions kneeled rigidly, waiting, listening.
“And?” Caprice prompted.
“And, my first demand is you return to Oregon. Once you are in Portland, I will be in touch with when and where I want to meet. The rest of my demands will be heard in person by you alone, Caprice.” The call ended.
At least we knew our next step. The waiting game was over—for now.
Cyril said, “We will also return to Portland.”
“Running back to Sebastian already?” Caprice snapped.
The Tromara’s face remained stony. “We will be there. On the inside. If you need me, call this number.” He produced a card and set it on the floor.
“What are you going to tell Sebastian happened to his council?” Caprice gestured toward the severed heads.
“I’m going to tell him you killed them.” Cyril eyed Caprice. “He is furious that you’ve destroyed two of his strongholds. When he learns you killed his council, he’ll be livid.”
“Then he’ll hurt my mate,” Caprice said through clenched teeth.
“No. He will not.” Cyril glanced between us. “Sebastian prides himself on his calm. He doesn’t believe in making rash decisions. He certainly won’t kill your mate in a fit of anger. Once he regains his level-headedness, then you need to worry. Also, the prisoners are being held at Academy Obscura.”
I narrowed my eyes at them, still unconvinced this wasn’t a trap. An elaborate trap, that cost them four lives, but what wouldn’t Sebastian and Isabella sacrifice to put an end to us and Caprice?
