The Cursed by Blood Saga

by Marianne Morea

  Lily chewed her bottom lip. He could see the wheels turning in that head of hers, but at least there was no steam coming out of her ears. Not yet, anyway. The only steam he wanted tonight, was the kind generated between the sheets.

  She lifted her hand, resting her palm against his cheek, and a familiar prickle danced along their shared mind path.

  Lifting one eyebrow, he gently took her hand from his cheek and held it in his. “Don’t you trust me?” he asked, sending her a mental kiss, while at the same time redirecting her out of his head.

  “Of course, I do, but…” she said, hesitating.

  “Then leave it, Lily,” he told her, linking his fingers with hers. “We’ll both be back in Maine soon enough, and you can have full access to the files, both in my desk and in my head. Right now, we need to focus on what you sense here. If it seems familiar, like you say, then perhaps there’s a connection to the Compound. Vampires are no joke under the best of circumstances, and I want you sharp. No distractions, not even me. Even a Weres accelerated healing is no match for a full on vamp attack. You’re still human, Lily, and that makes you completely vulnerable.”

  She considered him for a moment. “Jack said the vampire council would consider me a Were, regardless of the trace amount of Jerard’s blood in my system. He thinks I’ve put us in a precarious position, working with the police on this case and all. Is he right?”

  Sean let go of her hand and sat up, running his fingers through his hair. “Technically, yes. However, you are also the alpha female. I took care of that before I left the Compound.”

  “Took care of it? How?”

  He flashed a sheepish grin her way. “Since we’re talking in technicalities, I basically took back what was mine. I disbanded the council and took back the traditional role of alpha, naming you as my mate. That should give you enough status to circumvent any trumped up legalities the vamps might throw at us.”

  Lily sat up as well, hooking one leg under the other. “Wait a minute, disbanded the council? Why? Is this because of me? Does this mean the debate over my acceptance by the pack is over?”

  “Technically yes, but in reality, no. I threw a gauntlet down, literally, telling Edward if he wants to challenge me as Alpha, it would have to be done old school.”

  Technicalities. The word was starting to get on her nerves. Lily exhaled, her eyes narrow and questioning. “What does that mean?”

  Sean shifted on the bed, lifting Lily’s hand to his mouth and kissing the tips of her fingers. “It means simply, if Edward wants to be Alpha he has to fight me for it.”

  Lily burst out laughing. “Fight you? Oh brother, how quickly did he turn tail and run?”

  Sean smirked, shaking his head. “He’s got a good poker face, but I think my dictate made everyone think twice about the prospect, Edward included. He’ll never agree to a blood arena, especially not when the rules state it’s a fight to the death.”

  Lily’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. “You didn’t mention the fight was to the death. That son-of-a-bitch is sneaky, and he’ll cheat anyway he can. I don’t like it, Sean. Not one bit,” she said, shaking her head.

  Now it was his turn to laugh. “What’s the matter, do you doubt my abilities? Where’s your faith, alpha girl?”

  Lily shot him a dirty look. “I don’t doubt you. What I doubt is your hunter’s intel, and their ability to flush out Parr’s con before you end up dead.”

  Slipping his arm around her waist, he pulled her to standing. Leaning down, he kissed the tip of her nose. “That’s what I have you for, my beautiful stealth weapon,” he said with a grin. “No one can get in and out of people’s heads like you. They won’t even know what hit them.”

  Lily leaned back, searching his eyes. “My abilities aren’t exactly state secrets. They all know what I can do, and I doubt they’ve forgotten my little display in the war room. Don’t you think they’ll expect some kind of telepathic surveillance? I wouldn’t put it past them to plant false information just to throw me off the scent.”

  He shook his head. “Edward is cavalier, and overly confident. If he thinks you’re still exiling yourself in New York, he’ll believe he has us at a disadvantage. They know what you can do when you’re close by, but none of them know about your long-range capabilities.” He waggled his eyebrows and kissed her mouth hard. “But enough about that. I’m hungry, woman! Then after you feed me, I’ll throw you over my shoulder again and show you just how caveman I can get.”

  Lily laughed, but her eyes never left his muscled thighs as he pulled on his jeans. He left his fly undone, and stood barechested, and the subtle invitation of what waited for her south of his belly button left her mouth watering. “Whatever you say, baby...you Tarzan, me Jane.”

  Chapter Eleven

  A delicious soreness greeted Lily as she stretched, her feet searching out Sean’s under the downy comforter. She shifted, wincing at the familiar yet satisfying twinge in her thighs, twisting to mold herself to Sean’s broad back, softly rising and falling with each breath. He was still asleep, but as far as she was concerned, he’d more than earned his rest. “You’re amazing,” she murmured, snuggling in closer.

  “You’re not so bad, yourself,” Sean’s deep voice answered, still rough with sleep.

  His voice and the memory of how he’d filled her, sent jolts through her lower abdomen and a fresh dampness slicked between her legs. Her eyes closed, and a secret smile spread into a full on grin against the warmth of his back. With a sigh, she slipped her arm under his elbow, curving it around his waist. “Good morning,” she said, kissing his shoulder.

  She breathed in the clean, masculine scent of his skin and sighed, resting her cheek against his shoulder blade. At the contented sound, he twisted to face her, his gaze taking her in as if memorizing the contours of her face. “That it is,” he murmured back, brushing her lips with a soft kiss.

  Scrunching up her nose, she rubbed her chin and lips with the side of her hand. “You’re tickly and scratchy this morning. What’s with all the scruff?”

  With his chin up, Sean stroked his heavy stubble. “Beats me. Maybe it’s you.”

  “Me?”

  A low, seductive growl rumbled deep in his chest. “What can I say, you bring out the animal in me,” he said, running his hand over the curve of her hip and waist.

  “Cut it out, Sean! Anymore and I won’t be able to walk,” but her own body betrayed her with a dull, wet ache between her thighs.

  He nuzzled her neck, rubbing his chin against the hollow at the base of her throat. “You won’t need your legs once I get you on all fours.” His voice was low, with an edge of sex and sin that made her gasp in spite of her protests.

  “Sean…”

  She didn’t stand a chance. He rolled her over onto her stomach, entering her with one quick thrust. With a swift, sharp breath, Lily brought her knees up, grinding her hips back. She met him thrust for thrust, and when he drew back to enter hard and deep, she winced as his thick member slid between tender folds.

  Tension gathered as the electricity of pleasure and pain sent her to the edge faster than ever before. Reaching down between her legs, she wrapped her fingers around the base of his corded shaft and squeezed. Already rock hard, his cock spasmed in her hand, and his balls rose high. Sean growled, plunging himself deep as Lily’s walls convulsed around him. Good morning, wolf-style!

  He sighed heavily, the sound both satisfied and exhausted, before kissing the hollow between her shoulder and throat. Rolling over onto his back, he smirked. “Now that’s how you say good morning. Care to try for good afternoon?” He turned his head on the pillow to face her, waggling his eyebrows.

  Lily snorted. “Uh, no. A quickie good morning is one thing, but unless you want to see me wearing icepack underwear all day, we need to give it a rest. And by it, I mean me! I’m not a full Were, yet. More to the point, we have a lot to do today, or did you forget about the little problem we have with an unwelcome member of the undead? Besides, y
ou haven’t even checked in with Jack, yet.”

  “Oh, I think he knows I’m here.”

  Lily’s cheeks grew warm, and from the look on Sean’s face, she knew she had pinked to the tips of her ears. “Don’t remind me.”

  He chuckled, deep and resonant “Lily, Jack’s a wolf. If anyone understands mating and the moon, it’s him,” he said, sitting up and swinging his legs off the edge of the bed. “Trust me. He’s not going to say a word.”

  Lily frowned, despite watching Sean pull up his jeans commando style. “Maybe not while you’re around, but I know he’ll find a way to break my chops about the noise last night—not to mention this morning’s little interlude.”

  Sean pulled her to her knees and wrapped his arms around her naked waist. “To use your word earlier, it was amazing—noise, and all— both last night and this morning,” he said, smacking her bare bottom. Kissing her quick, he released her. “I smell coffee. Jack must be up, so get that shapely butt of yours out of bed, and let’s put together a plan of undead attack.”

  Grumbling, she pulled on sweats and a long-sleeved tee shirt, and followed him out into the hallway.

  “Something smells great,” Sean said, taking the lead and heading into the kitchen first. “Your first rate coffee-making skills were one of the reasons we let you into the hunters so young, Jack.”

  He clapped the younger wolf on the back, pulling him into a hug, but Lily didn’t miss the faint scowl that passed across Jack’s face.

  “Leave him alone, Sean. Jack probably hasn’t had his coffee yet, either.” Lily said, giving the younger wolf an apologetic shrug.

  Sean let go, lifting his arms in surrender, but shot Lily a questioning glance. What’s going on? The words filtered through their shared mind link, but Lily gave her head a quick, almost imperceptible shake. Not sure, but he’s been a little touchy since yesterday.

  As if Jack knew they were talking about him, the tension in the kitchen seemed to ratchet up a notch. He rattled the frying pan on the stove, plopping a couple of pats of butter in the center before turning the burner to low.

  “Anyone else up for eggs?” he asked, taking the pink and white carton from the clear Plexiglas shelf in the fridge, and closing the door with his hip.

  Lily leaned against the dark green counter next to the sink, watching Jack’s short, terse motions as he went about making his breakfast. A slow drip from the faucet behind her sounded metronomic, adding to the tension floating through the room.

  “Don’t everybody answer at once,” he added, swirling the butter around in the pan. He looked over his shoulder at Lily and flashed a quick smile, but the ghost of a frown still lingered puckering the area between his eyebrows.

  “None for me, Jack, thanks. You know how I need my coffee first,” she answered, lifting her hand mutely when Sean looked at her for an answer.

  Something was bothering Jack. It was there, just beneath the surface, even at dinner, though he waved it off with some lame excuse about bedpan duty. Lily was certain Jack knew Sean didn’t mean anything by his remark. He trusted Jack, or he wouldn’t have sent him to New York. The hunters were a brotherhood. They laughed hard and fought hard, but each was willing to spill blood for the other. Little digs were just part of the sibling rivalry. Perhaps Jack just needed to be reminded of that.

  Jack grabbed a mug and poured himself a cup of coffee, while three eggs sizzled and popped in the frying pan. “Don’t mind me I’m just grouchy because I didn’t get much sleep. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear a pair of feral cats was getting it on right outside my door.” He glanced down at his mug, but a wicked half-smile teased the corner of his mouth.

  Lily just stood there for a moment. And men complain about women and their monthly mood swings. Can we say moon-mad wolf? She shot both men a dirty look and picked up the pot to pour herself some coffee. “See? What’d I tell you?” She gestured toward Sean with her mug. “You’re both nuts...mad as hatters with hard-ons!”

  Both Weres just looked at each other before they both burst out laughing.

  “Oh, come on!” Lily hmphed, banging her mug down on the counter. She turned her back, but only so neither would see her satisfied smirk. At least the tension had ebbed, even if it was at her expense. Now they could get down to business.

  ***

  The morning was bright, with a clear, crisp blue sky. Snow had fallen overnight, and light Sunday traffic allowed the delicate white drifts a little more time before eventually turning them to puddles of grey slush.

  The cobblestone street held a turn of the century appeal, despite the cars parked alongside lengths of concrete curb. In Manhattan, no one voluntarily gives up a parking space, especially on the weekend, so both Lily and Sean decided to leave their cars where they were, and walked to the corner to flag down a cab.

  Shopkeepers had cleared the sidewalks, though Lily’s biker boots gathered slush along their bottom edges as she walked beside Sean. Jack was directly to her left, and the three made quite a picture—two hulking Weres flanking a petite, leather-clad porcelain doll. At least that’s what Sean always said she resembled.

  Sean glanced sideways, watching Lily from the corner of his eye. “What’s the matter? You haven’t said more than twelve words since that detective called earlier.”

  Lily looked across her shoulder at him, and shrugged. “Nothing’s the matter. He just sounded different on the phone, almost urgent. There’s been another attack, but there is no way it’s the same one Jack and I witnessed in Washington Square.”

  “Not unless the NYPD has bloodhounds that are part Were,” Jack snorted.

  With a cheerless sigh, she nodded. “He’s right. There was nothing left in the park for anyone to find. No body, no witnesses, no crime. That’s how it works in the human world, usually,” she added.

  Martinez wanted her down at the morgue, insisted, in fact, but this time, she was bringing reinforcements. The detective’s voice had held an edge that went beyond the clipped tone of a professional phone call. Maybe he was good to his word, and had actually thought about everything she said the other night.

  Sean stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled for one of the gypsy cabs waiting for the light at the corner. One pulled over, and the three of them slid in across the scuffed and taped blue leather seat.

  “Bellevue Hospital Center, 462 1st Avenue,” Lily announced into the dirty speaker at the center of the scratched Plexiglas divider. The driver mumbled something unintelligible back, starting the taxi’s meter before pulling away from the curb.

  The inside of the cab smelled like the subway in summer, and both Sean and Jack looked sick. Neither said a word, but both rested a hand above their upper lip. The main roads were wet, with most of the snow now a sooty, black sludge, as opposed to the white fluff still decorating her tiny side street. Lily bit the side of her cheek watching the two big Weres take each pothole and traffic swerve in stride.

  The taxi’s windshield wipers went back and forth, keeping pace with the dirty spray kicked up from the street and the cars ahead of them. She looked out the window at the rainbows spreading across the road, where water mixed with residual gas and oil, giving the blacktop a hazy, broken dream-like appearance.

  Traffic was still light and moved at a steady pace, despite Sean and Jack’s discomfort, and before long the cab pulled across from the hospital’s main entrance.

  “Well, that’s a first,” Jack hmphed as he climbed out from the back of the taxi.

  “What’s a first?” Lily asked.

  “That I’d pay to ride in a moving sewer,” he said, after dragging in a lungful of air.

  Lily rolled her eyes. Jack was uncharacteristically moody, and if she hadn’t uttered more than twelve words this morning, then he had said even less. “Oh, please. Are you sure you don’t have the wolf equivalent of PMS? You’re bitching about everything, and your mood swings are giving me whiplash, Jack. The cab was just old, that’s all. So it had a funky smell, so do half the cabs and cabd
rivers in the city. Get over it.”

  Jack grimaced. “What did I tell you about trusting that bulb in the middle of your face? It smelled like something died in there.”

  “Okay, you two, enough. First off, Lily’s nose is not a bulb. And Lily, Jack is right. The cab stank. Done. Can we do what we came here to do, please?” Sean said, in an attempt to stop whatever was starting to brew. “You two are acting like siblings stuck in the back of a station wagon road trip. It’s National Lampoon’s, Vacation, without the benefit of it being funny.”

  “Exactly. So quit it, why don’tcha?” Jack added, glancing at Lily over the top of his sunglasses, a cheeky smirk plastered on his face.

  Lily opened her mouth, but closed it again. Jack was egging her on simply because he could. For some reason, he thought if he pissed her off, she’d keep better focus. That was bullshit, of course. She was a professional, but it struck her as ironic how Terry used to do the same thing when the stakes were high. Am I that easily sidetracked, that I’m better pissed off?

  “So, Miss Leather and Lace, where are we supposed to meet this dude?” Jack asked, pulling her away from her thoughts.

  “Detective Martinez,’ she replied, stressing Ryan’s formal title before continuing, “…said he’d be waiting downstairs, outside the morgue’s main doors. I didn’t exactly tell him you were accompanying me, so maybe I should just go in alone.”

  “Not a chance,” Sean replied, with Jack shaking his head in silent accord.

  Lily considered them both for a moment. Neither was going to budge, not even to let her through to reception. There was no arguing the point, so why waste more time and energy? Pick your battles—at least that’s what Beverly always said.

  She pursed her lips. “Okay, but let me do the talking first. I already prefaced to Ryan this case might require extra help. He wasn’t too thrilled about it then, but since letting him in on what I saw at the crime scene, he might be a little more obliging.”