by Kym Grosso
“You belong to me,” she insisted.
“Mao’s dead. And you’re going to be too.”
“I want the girl.”
With all focus on Mao, Gabriella’s stomach flipped as the familiar energy of Lilitu jolted through her. She jumped to her feet, staring up into the sky. “Goddess, no.”
Black ash descended onto the lawn, streaming down like snow. Gabriella’s breath quickened, fear and loathing churning inside her chest. “It’s her, it’s her, it’s her.”
In the chaos, Mao flashed to a weakened Viktor. She strangled an arm around his neck.
“No!” Gabriella screamed, tearing at her clothes. Her beast itched to shift.
Quintus made a move toward Viktor, and Mao bored her long talon into his neck.
“Let him go,” Quintus’ loud voice boomed through the chaos.
“Give her to me,” she hissed. Mao’s eyes flashed to the table. “The bone.”
“You’re dead, Jiangshi. I can smell your stench from here. Without blood, you’ll die,” Samantha told her. She snatched the sternum off the table and held it with both hands.
“I’ll have the wolf and the bone.” She laughed wildly.
Gabriella clapped her hands over her ears as a loud grinding sound filled the air. The demon from the party appeared before them. Thorn.
“Yeah, uh. I’m not one to usually crash but you see…I’m trying to fix something here,” he responded.
“Who invited this douche bag to the party?” Hunter asked.
“You knew she’d do this,” Quintus accused. “You’d better get her back to Hell before I drain you, demon.”
Thorn held a finger in the air, raising his eyebrows. “Half-demon. Half. It’s a technicality, I know. But it’s kinda important.”
“What an asshole.” Hunter tore off his shirt.
Viktor screamed, struggling as she stabbed another black talon into his flesh. A forked tongue extended between her lips, lapping at his gushing blood.
“Enough of this shit.” Quintus flashed toward his brother but was blocked by a bolt of lightning. Lilitu appeared in his path, her lips drawn upward in an icy smile.
Gabriella’s heart pounded at the sight of the high priestess. She steeled her nerves, swallowing her fear. The draw of the Alpha spurred her beast to shift. She caught a glimpse of the blonde female, protectively shielding the child. Luca rushed in from behind, scooping baby Kate into his arms.
“Little half-breed. Go ahead and shift. I’ll kill you anyway.” Lilitu’s brunette hair twisted wild in the wind like Medusa’s snakes.
“I’m going to kill you.” Gabriella’s inner child told her to keep running but her beast told her to fight.
“Dumb little dog. You’re no match for me. Ah, how I remember the last time I saw you as a child. The smell of your mother’s flesh burning purified the air, our coven safe from your dirty filthy family.”
Gabriella released her anger, forcing a shift. Her paws gripped the turf, and she readied to lunge. The Alpha morphed to his beast and growled, warning the high priestess away from Gabriella.
Mao gave a maniacal laugh, and plunged all four of her fingers into Viktor’s neck, tearing a chunk of flesh away from his body. Blood sprayed over the lawn as the vampire went limp in her grip.
“No! Viktor!” Quintus screamed. As he lunged for Mao, she transformed into an apparition, sending him crashing to the ground.
“The bone!” Lilitu demanded. The heavens opened from above, and a torrential rain bucketed down from the sky.
“Get out of my house!” Samantha straightened her back and held up the artifact. The high priestess of New Orleans snapped the bone in half, her eyes gleaming with hatred for the intruder.
“You’re going to regret that,” Lilitu sneered. Her head swiveled one hundred and eighty degrees to focus on the child.
Luca held tight to baby Kate as she cried, thrashing to get out of his arms.
“Come little one,” Lilitu trilled. With a flick of her fingers, a burst of black magick rushed at Luca, shoving him to the ground. Kate rolled with him onto the slick grass.
Gabriella shook with rage as Lilitu reached for the toddler. The priestess conjured an athame, raising it high into the air. Gabriella lunged at the witch, her jaws clamping down onto Lilitu’s wrist. Hunter attacked her from behind but was unable to thwart her as the high priestess shook off Gabriella.
Lilitu set her sight back on Kate. The knife sailed through the air towards the toddler, and Gabriella rolled in front of the child, shielding her. As the blade sliced into her body, Gabriella writhed, white hot pain shooting through her body. Expecting another blow, she braced herself, still protecting the child.
“Let her go,” Sydney yelled, her gun drawn. Shots rang out and the high priestess dissipated into smoke.
Gabriella heaved for breath, the poison streaming through her body. Quintus’ dark eyes met hers as her world spun into darkness. The sound of Kate’s cries echoed in her mind. She succumbed to her sleep, comforted that the baby was still alive.
“Gabby,” Quintus whispered.
The pain gnarled through her bones, and she struggled to breathe, her ribs aching with each rise of her chest. Her eyes fluttered open, awareness of her mate calmed her wolf, who lay whimpering.
“The baby.” Kate.
“She’s safe. I flashed you and Hunter out of Luca’s…”
“But the baby. Samantha. Oh God…” Panic tore through her but as she went to shove up, a stabbing pain shot down her flank.
“You’ve been poisoned, Gabby. I need you to drink from me.”
“No.” She thrashed, naked on the bed. “I’ve got to go back.”
“No, you’re not going,” he insisted.
“But Lilitu…”
“Lilitu’s gone. Luca, Samantha and Kate are safe. Kade and Sydney too. Sam will take the necessary steps to keep her from getting in their homes. When we’re outside like that…we were too exposed.”
“Nothing works to keep her out. This is all my fault.” Gabriella arched her back and exhaled loudly. She brought her hand to her side, and winced. As she raised her palm, her eyes widened at the sight of the blood. “That bitch stabbed me.”
Quintus tore off his shirt, and pressed it to her wound. “She poisoned the athame.”
“This is why I run from them…ahhh.” She sucked a breath as he applied pressure. “She was going to kill the baby. Who does that? That woman is pure evil.”
“The baby’s okay, but…” Quintus shook his head. His eyes flashed in sadness and he quickly diverted his gaze. Viktor. His gut clenched in grief, but he attempted to hide his devastation from Gabriella.
“Oh Quintus. I’m so sorry. He’s not…I mean…I know she hurt him but maybe he’s still…” Gabriella lost her words as his grief twisted through her.
“No. I don’t feel him.” He blinked away the tears. “I don’t know what happened. He’s an immortal, but I think she killed him.”
“He couldn’t materialize away.”
“I don’t know what happened. I couldn’t get to him. It was like a tunnel. I tried. Then Lilitu.” Quintus’ lips tightened, and he closed his eyes briefly, then met her gaze. “I failed him.”
“But maybe Thorn…”
“He’s a fucking demon. He brought Mao back from Hell. He did this. It’s all been a set up.”
“I’m so sorry…I can’t believe Viktor is gone. We’ll go look for him.”
“I don’t want to talk about it now. Look, Goddammit, I can’t believe I let this happen to you.”
“You didn’t do this. If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I brought Lilitu to New Orleans. She wants me dead. We’ve got to figure out how to use the bone.” Gabriella moaned, holding her side. The pain subsided as numbness bloomed in its place. “Oh Goddess…where is it? The bone.”
“Over here.” Hunter lay on a black leather sofa.
Gabriella craned her head and caught a glimpse of the Alpha, his arm outstretched,
holding a sliver of the first witch’s sternum. Blood dripped from his hand. “Hunter. Are you all right?”
“I’m good,” he replied.
“Don’t lie to me,” she reprimanded.
“What’s the damage?” Quintus asked.
“Just a scratch. Samantha has the other piece. She shoved it at me right before you flashed us.” The Alpha grunted as he shoved onto his feet.
“He’s hurt,” Gabriella said. She sensed something was wrong with the wolf but couldn’t tell how badly he’d been injured.
“I’m fine,” Hunter lied. He crossed the room and opened the door. “I’ll be back. I just need something to eat.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked.
“The Alpha will live. You, however, are losing blood,” Quintus said, his eyes narrowed in concern.
“I’ll be okay. Just let me shift.” Gabriella called on her beast. The animal crouched, refusing to transform. “I don’t understand. I just did it. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, but you need my blood,” Quintus told her.
“Where are we?” Gabriella asked. She glanced around the unfamiliar room. Flickers of light danced on its mirrored walls. A delicate art structure fabricated from blown glass and delicate crystals wove across the ceiling like a colorful web.
“Underground. My home in New Orleans has a chamber that I keep for emergencies. It’s completely sealed from the outside. Fully stocked with blood and food. We stay here until you and Hunter are well and we hear back from Samantha.”
Quintus dropped his fangs, his eyes locked on Gabriella. Her heart caught at the sight of his teeth. She went to reach for his face but struggled to move it, her arm paralyzed. “Something’s wrong. Something…I can’t feel my hands. Quintus. Help.” Her expression tensed in anxiety. Her lips moved but no sound was released.
Quintus bit into his forearm, and pressed his flesh to her mouth. “Drink.”
Gabriella’s heartbeat sounded in her ears as her body went limp, the poison taking effect. His blood rushed into her mouth, the iron-tanged essence coating her tongue. Unable to swallow and paralyzed, Gabriella’s eyes welled with tears.
Drink, Gabriella. The unspoken words echoed in her head. A drop of his blood dripped down her throat. Slowly, her mouth reanimated, allowing her to absorb the magick of her mate.
“That’s a girl,” Quintus said.
Gabriella moaned, her lips suckling, drawing a swallow. His magick began to flow through her, restoring her cells, healing her from the inside out. A prickling sensation teased her fingertips as her muscles came to life. With a groan, she reached for his arm and clutched to him.
Gabriella sensed his arousal. The sharing of blood, the exchange of magick and essence, flamed desire. Sucking harder, she draped her leg over his hip.
“Fuck…Gabby, now what are you doing?”
“Quintus.” Gabriella’s body lit on fire, his sweet blood bringing her to life. Everything dark in her life was erased, light blooming in her heart. Magick sparked through her cells, igniting passion. She lapped at his wrist and pressed her lips to his skin.
“Viktor’s gone,” he whispered.
“I’m so sorry.” Words evaded her. Nothing would bring his brother back tonight.
“You’re healed. Being with you is the only thing that makes me feel better.”
She looked up into his eyes, and sensed both sadness and desire. “We’ll find him. I promise,” Gabriella said, unsure of whether or not Viktor was alive. It didn’t matter. She’d spend the rest of her life helping him find his brother, so he could have closure.
“I need you,” he growled.
His mouth crushed onto hers, commanding her wolf to attention. His strong lips sucked and tasted hers, and she responded, matching his kiss.
Goddess, she loved this vampire. Love. It seemed impossible to fall for someone so quickly, yet his kiss, the gentle way he held her face, tasting her as if he’d been starved for centuries, was as real as the sun. He was hers and she’d save him the way he’d saved her.
Filled with his strength, she gently guided him onto his back and straddled him. Her dominance rose, and she trailed her lips from his, peppering kisses down his throat. She splayed his arms to the side, trailing her mouth along his collarbone. Her lips moved to his chest, and traced a circle with her tongue over his flat nipple.
“Gabby,” he breathed.
She released his hands, and reached for his shoulders. Ever so slowly, tasting and sampling, her lips grazed over the ridges of his abdomen. She raked her nails down his chest and placed a kiss to his hip as she settled between his legs. Mine. As she fumbled open his button and zipper, her eyes darted to Quintus, whose heated stare and curled lips told her he’d read her thoughts.
“Always,” he told her, lifting his hips as she tugged off his jeans.
“It’s time I take care of you.” Gabriella lowered her eyes in submission. This man understood her feral nature. He sought to tame her, and she’d willingly submit to his lessons.
Her lips brushed his inner thigh and he shivered underneath her touch. She gently cupped his balls, teasing the sensitive crinkled skin. Her tongue swirled over the crown of his dick and teased his wet slit. Gabriella lapped at the broad head of his cock, her heated gaze drifting up to meet his. She released her power, and swallowed his hard length. With each moan he uttered, she suctioned her lips around his cock, stroking him in and out of her mouth. His fingers tunneled into her hair, but he didn’t attempt to stop her as she took control. Her hips rocked up into the sheets, desperately seeking relief for her aching pussy.
As her mouth slid up and down his shaft, he trembled. She made love to him, and reveled in her control. Tasting her mate soothed her soul. So much darkness, yet this brief indulgence brought light into their world.
“Fuck, you’re killing me,” he hissed. “I need to be inside you.”
Ignoring his demand, she swallowed him down to the root of his shaft, tightening her lips as she sucked his cock. Her hand gripped his dick, gently twisting as she lapped at his tip. She kissed his broad crown, the salty taste of him lingering on her lips.
“I need you too,” Gabriella whispered, her voice husky.
Her long hair spilled over his thighs and chest as she crawled up his torso. She brushed her lips to his abdomen, her tongue darting over his hard ridges. As she swung her legs over his hips, straddling him, her palms pressed onto his strong shoulders. Gabriella’s eyes met his in a heated gaze and she licked her lips, hungry for her mate.
“Gabby…”
“Shh…” Her hands cupped his cheeks. The vampire had put his life on the line for her. His brother had died, chasing a memory that she knew was somehow tied to her. His pain was hers, but she’d spend a lifetime healing him, filling the pit of his loss with her love.
“Quintus.” She lowered her hips, his tip probing her entrance.
Gabriella gasped as his cock plunged inside her wet sheath. He withdrew slowly and eased back inside her, stretching her open.
“Ahh…yes.” Her skin danced with magick as he took her breast between his lips and his tongue teased over her sensitive peak.
She sank down onto him, his shaft filling her. Lit with arousal, she rocked her pelvis against his, her nails digging into his shoulders.
“Fuck me.” Primal, her wolf went feral for her mate. Her fangs released, and she dragged the sharp points across his chest.
“Jesus, Gabby. What are you doing? That feels so…” Quintus lost his words as she gently nibbled his chest. His firm hands gripped her hips as he plunged inside her to the hilt.
“Harder…yes!” Her pussy clenched down around his cock as he gave a jarring thrust. His fangs dropped, and her hungry eyes locked on his. A firm hand captured her mane, fisting it tight.
“Ah,” she cried, a sweet sting on her scalp as he tugged her head away.
“You’ve teased me enough, bella,” he growled.
She gave a small smile as he f
lipped her onto her back. He released her hair, his hands cupping the back of her thighs as he spread open her legs. Her body rocked with pleasure as he slammed back inside her pussy.
“Mine,” he grunted.
“Ah…” As he pounded inside her, she trembled.
“You’re everything,” he told her, his thumb on her clit.
Her orgasm teetered. With each hard thrust, she surrendered to the pleasure spearing through her.
“Always.”
“Please…Goddess…I can’t.” Her words rolled off her tongue, but her thoughts went blank as her climax exploded like fireworks. She screamed at the sweet slice of his fangs into her neck.
She pumped her hips, shaking in pleasure as the erotic waves rolled through her. Her beast howled in submission, at one with her mate. Forever she’d give herself to this man. Her vampire. Her mate. Her love.
“Quintus…Quintus…” she repeated as he made love to her.
“I’m not done with you yet, little wolf,” he told her.
She gasped as he withdrew and flipped her on her stomach. The momentary loss was quickly replaced by anticipation as he lifted her hips, his hard cock brushing her inner thigh. She released a loud exhale as his finger slid inside her slick hole.
“Your pussy is so fucking beautiful. Do you know that?”
“Please,” she begged.
“Always. I’ll always be here for you, Gabby. This. What we have.” He withdrew his fingers and slid them through her wet folds.
As his finger brushed over her clit, she shivered, holding her breath, waiting for his next move.
“Ahh…” Gabriella froze as his fingers played at her ass.
“I want all of you.” Quintus circled the pad of his thumb over her puckered hole.
Gabriella’s head lolled forward as he pressed his cock inside her. She lost her words as he eased his finger inside her ass. “I’ve never…Quintus…”
“Someday…I’m going to fuck you here too.”
“Quintus.” She gasped as he added a second finger.
“Easy, bella. Just breathe,” he told her.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she repeated as he plunged his fingers inside her back hole.
Gabriella’s body lit on fire as he filled her, the unfamiliar fullness overwhelming her senses. As his other hand found her mound and flicked over her clit, she splintered apart, her orgasm rushing into her. Her body shuddered in release, and she clutched at the pillow, panting for breath.
