by LJ Swallow
I think I’m in for one huge learning curve.
4
EWAN
Tonight I'm supposed to be on full alert for demon and fae activity at the club, but the only thing that has me on alert right now is Vee.
The whole time she's spent with us, Vee's worn slouchy clothes. Her long legs and cute ass look amazing in jeans, that's undeniable, but Vee in a dress ready to visit a club?
Mind wrecking.
Does she understand the effect she has on the four of us? I've no idea if Heath and Vee kissed again—or more. Nothing about their behaviour in public indicates they have, but I have my doubts. But Vee could never be mine—or any of ours—because we all belong to each other. Where will that lead?
Vee slept with Joss last night when I fucked up, but he told us nothing happened. I believe him based on the mess she was in, and Joss being the guy he is wouldn't take advantage.
But he held her, and she wanted him to.
Fuck, Ewan. Jealousy won’t work in this situation.
I hold my breath as Vee approaches me. Tight black dress reaching above her knees, heels impractical for the environment she's walking into, and a small jacket pulled in at the waist. Her hair's loose, touching the exposed skin above the low-cut dress. She disguised her usual natural look with smoky eyes and shining lips; I bite mine as I imagine doing the same to hers.
"Looking good, Vee," calls Joss. "Wish I was the one going out for a night with the hot chick!"
"You have your job for the night, Joss, and that job isn't hitting on Vee again," retorts Xander.
Joss pulls a mock-offended face and clutches his chest. "I am perfectly respectable around our beautiful Fifth."
"Then don't call me a hot chick," replies Vee with a scowl.
Heath wanders from the house. "I don't see why we can't all go to The Warehouse. We could check out the other places tomorrow."
"I told you, this is time sensitive. Plus, we split up in case someone wants all of us in one place again," replies Xander. "Ewan's the only one of you three who doesn't constantly look at Vee as if he wants to tear her clothes off. I'm not interested either, so it makes sense we go to the club with her."
Can Vee tell he's lying? Because I bloody can.
"Ha. You're just looking for a hook up, Xan," laughs out Joss. "Once you're satisfied there aren't any demons at the club, you'll look for a different kind of satisfaction, right?"
"Whatever, dude."
Vee takes our constant banter better than I expected she would. This time, she turns her eyes skyward in amusement before she looks over and gives me her heart-wrenching smile.
A night with Vee is going to kill me.
"We travel separately," Xander says as he hits the button to unlock his car. "Safer in case one of us has to leave while the other stays."
Xander's lovingly cared for red Aston Martin is parked beside Heath’s SUV, my bike, and Joss’s Audi hatchback. The Aston stands out wherever we go, and Xander takes his car whenever he can. Flashy bastard. He had a choice of cars he could’ve bought to shout prestige, but his decision to drive an Aston Martin adds to his cultivated image: English guy who’s rough around the edges despite his cultured accent.
I wheeled my motorbike out from the garage earlier. Screw his Aston; I wouldn't swap my Moto Guzzi for anything. No Harley for me; I’m not part of anybody’s crowd but my own. I don’t want wannabe bikers passing on Harleys and acknowledging me as if I’m part of them.
When I need breathing space away from these three, this bike can move fucking fast and wherever the hell I like.
Vee's short dress stops me asking if she'd like to ride with me.
"Nice bike," she says. "I don't know much about them but, uh, big and shiny and great for outrunning demons, I guess?"
"I think he tries to downplay his geek image," says Joss with a laugh.
"Geek image?" She runs a look the length of me. "Tattooed guy in a leather jacket? Not my classification of a geek."
Vee’s defence of my status amuses me. "I'll give you a ride when you're more suitably dressed," I tell her.
"I'd like that."
And she smiles that smile again, the one to fill and break my heart.
XANDER
Alone time with Little Miss Truth at last.
She climbs into the car beside me and straightens her dress, pulling the material to reach her knees.
I watch with interest. Hell, this girl will attract a lot of attention tonight. I half wish she’d chosen to go with the other two guys. I’m not in the mood to watch Vee closely; she’d better not freak out once we’re at the club. Vee’s already uncomfortable, and we haven’t arrived yet. But she’s too big a distraction for Joss and Heath, and not just because they’d probably compete for her attention, but because they’re too protective of Verity.
Verity who isn’t Verity. That nugget of information was one to stay quiet about for a few days. If I hadn’t been tightly wound after taking out the demons at Portia’s house, I wouldn’t have lost my temper when she challenged me a few hours later. If I hadn’t hinted at her true history, Ewan would never have opened his mouth and dropped the truth on her from a fucking big height.
I lost my shit when Ewan told me and Heath what he’d said; and I stayed up half the night ready and waiting to stop her leaving if she tried. I’m stunned she didn’t; again the guys don’t give her enough credit. Vee’s strong. But is she hiding her real feelings about how this affects her, or did we do Vee and her situation a favour?
Mine and Vee’s original introduction could’ve gone better, but I didn’t have time for niceties. I have a job, she has a job, we took down the attackers. Maybe I shocked the hell out of Vee, but we succeeded. End of.
I swear she covers the other three in "stupid" every time she’s around them. They knew she had a power, that Vee isn’t some human chick who needs protecting, but they treat her like she’s as delicate as she looks. When I held Vee’s hand and her power amplified mine, the physical intensity also flowing between us couldn’t be denied, but this is how it will be. The Four are supposed to centre ourselves around Verity, but because she’s Truth, not because she’s a girl whose legs and ass knock me dead in the dress she chose tonight.
Yeah, I see their problem, the sexual energy’s around me and Vee now, but I don’t want to let this interfere. Seriously, I’m not getting involved in any "see who can screw Vee first" competition. One focus: I—we—have a job to do, and so does she.
I start the engine, the car purring to life, as I straighten my arms on the wheel and feel the power biting on the clutch beneath my foot. I speed away from the house and onto the dark lane; Vee grips the edge of the seat as I swerve across the road.
"Don't worry, I'm a good driver," I say.
"I'm fine, just happy you don't ride actual horses, otherwise I’d fall off if you rode like this." She tips a wry smile in my direction.
Not wanting conversation in case she asks me a million and one questions, I shake my head and keep driving.
The journey into Grangeton takes half an hour; the first half spent in relative silence as I'm lost in planning: how to deal with any demon we find, and if we do which sort are they likely to be? Have we brought the right weapons? How will Vee react if we're confronted again? I can't have the girl freezing in fear.
"I don't go to clubs often," she says.
"I bet you don't go to ones like this," I reply. "An interesting clientele. I'd call them Goths, but I've no clue what they’d call themselves. Their music’s shit, that’s for sure." Vee laughs. "The vamps pick up donors from places like this."
"Donors?" Her amusement stops abruptly. "Ewan mentioned that the vampires were under control."
"Yeah, mostly. The vamps have their human donor partners who they’re supposed to stick with. Some younger ones don’t always comply because they like to experiment, and that’s when some trouble for us to deal with appears. Arlo allows vamps into his club when he thinks we’re not looking. I think t
hat’s too dangerous."
Vee shifts in her seat, the dress riding up her legs distracting me. If I stay focused on my current job, I don't succumb to her. Hell, that sounds crap. She has no intention of forcing us to succumb, but the daily struggle is real. Joss is right. I need to get laid because walking around wanting Vee isn't helped by the need to get sex out of my system.
"Right."
Hopefully that shut her up for now.
I grip the steering wheel and look ahead again. No. She needs info. "There's a chance you could meet any of the following as they’re the other kind often drawn to the place. Imps, incubi, or succubi. Plus fae of course."
"Imps? Like little fairies?"
"Whoa! Don’t say that in front of the fae. Hell, they’re demons. More annoying than dangerous, but not welcome. Don’t you know anything about this stuff?’
Vee narrows her eyes at me. "I know what incubi and succubi are. I bet they fight with the vampires."
"Huh?"
"They both feed off humans, yes?"
"Yeah. They both kill too, so keep away."
"But not me." I raise a brow at her confidence. "Right?"
"Did the guys say nobody could kill you or something?" I ask. The roads become brighter lit as we leave countryside behind for the town’s outskirts. Vee doesn't reply, and I smack my forehead. "Seriously, aren't you pissed off those three didn't tell you everything?"
"They said we’re all immortal. Which means nobody can kill us."
"Permanently."
"Yes, which makes me immortal."
"Immortal. Definition: never dying or decaying. Not: can't be killed."
"That's very confusing and contradictory."
"And painful at times." I bite back the joke when her face pales. "Part of Heath's job."
Vee’s mouth parts and she blinks. "Can he resurrect people?"
Oh for fuck’s sake. "I have an idea, Vee. Should I write you a 'Guide to the Four Horsemen and Your Place in Their Lives'?"
"Very funny. I've read about the Horsemen online and none of it matches you."
"Haven't you seen enough of what we do to see we're both ends of the spectrum? Joss starves people but in a positive way too." I pause. "As you know from the night you spent with him."
Verity looks down at her hands, pink tingeing her cheeks. Aha. She does have a thing for Joss; now I need to figure out if she acted on the "thing."
"Me? I'm a peacemaker as well as troublemaker." I side glance her. "Though you haven't seen the peacemaking yet."
"Definitely not. You're very aggressive."
"And do you like me when I’m not?" I throw her my look, the slow smile that catches girls’ attention.
She pokes her tongue in her cheek. "A little."
I slap my hands on the wheel and chuckle. "I love that you have to be diplomatic because you can't lie. Which little bit of me do you like?"
Vee narrows her eyes at me. "The part I have to."
"Too funny! No straight answer from you." I shake my head. "I'm sure you'll like me eventually. Most girls do."
"But I'm not a girl, remember?"
"Ha! Smart answer." I smile to myself as I pull the car into the darkened car park behind the shipping containers, and outside the club. I never expected to like Vee. Yes, I knew how important she was, and when Truth came up in our research, I cheered that we had a way to meet the growing problem in the world, but I was really pissed off when I discovered Truth was a chick. A female amongst the four of us? Not good. And no, I'm not a chauvinist, but a realist.
As typical guys, we've not had a conversation over how Vee affects us; I don't think we need to. What she does is clear—she amplifies everything and not just our powers. She's the Fifth and at the centre.
What would happen if we united?
I run my tongue along my lip as she climbs out the car, unable to draw my eyes away from her shapely ass. Uniting with Vee? I might be able to resist the effect she has on me, but only if I concentrate really bloody hard.
Although, concentrating on her backside and allowing naked Vee images into my mind isn’t helpful.
I step out of the car and shrug on my jacket. Her eyes meet mine, uncertainty in them. Both our barriers are softened from being in the small space with her, and I’m unsure that’s a good thing.
The other guys might want to chase around after her. Me? I’ll wait for Vee to come to me.
5
VEE
I stand by the Aston Martin, which Xander parked in the shadows, hidden between two shipping containers in the corner of the lot and away from the nearby warehouses.
"Don't you think your car's a bit conspicuous?" I ask him as he looks at me over the roof of the car.
"And? Why does that matter?"
"People—demons—will know you're around if they see your car. Aston Martins are expensive and unusual."
"And cool as fuck, right? Maybe I want them to know I'm around. Besides, once I'm this close anybody I’m pursuing won't have a chance to run far, especially with more than one of us around."
"But, still..."
Xander slams the door closed. "You ask questions about the weirdest things. This car looks awesome and moves fucking fast. End of."
"Wow, okay, Mr. Attitude." I turn away from him. What have I done to him that causes him to be this rude? I dismiss taking his attitude personally. From what I’ve witnessed, this behaviour isn’t only directed at me.
"Am I dressed okay?" I ask, sudden self-awareness hitting to match the cold slapping my legs.
Xander's slow appraisal sets the familiar tingle along my spine as his green eyes meet mine. "I don't think you'll stand out too much with what you're wearing. Have you much experience in dealing with overfriendly guys, though? This is a club. Political correctness won’t apply and hands might wander."
"I can look after myself," I say, and he nods, but his expression doesn't support his agreement.
We cross the uneven ground between the darkened parking area and approach the warehouse building housing the club. Music thuds from inside and through a doorway, the door painted black and squeezed between two other buildings. A painted sign above reads, imaginatively, "The Warehouse." People hang around outside, talking in groups or bunched together as they pass into the venue. Relief wipes away some apprehension as some girls' dress resembles mine: dark clothes, short and tight. Others wear skintight jeans, many with interesting hair colour choices.
Even better, nobody pays any attention to us.
A man rests against the wall outside, smoking, as he stares at his feet. I tense and halt, as he shifts and the dim light above the door catches his blue hair.
Xander looks down at me. "Yes, he's fae and from Portia's locality. Same as your attacker the other night, but don't stress, I know him."
Uh huh. Right. No stress here.
Xander approaches the guy, and I hang back as they hold a low conversation. Wrapping my arms around myself, I watch two girls in short skirts and high boots enter the building.
I look back in the car park's direction. Where's Ewan? I didn't notice him behind us when we drove here, but surely he can't be far behind?
Xander beckons me over and gestures. "Verity, this is Ronan."
Ronan mirrors Xander's earlier slow appraisal of me and runs his fingers along his bottom lip. Obviously he isn't the same person as my attacker, but his tall, wiry frame and violet eyes trigger an anxious memory.
"Hey, Verity. Great to finally meet you. I heard a lot about you."
"Who from?" I ask hastily.
"Portia. She mentioned the Fifth was with the Horsemen the day she was attacked, and helped save the day, so now we're extra curious about you."
I stare back, unsure how to respond.
"You're freaked out by how I look, aren't you? I've nothing to do with the guy your friend Heath killed. We haven't figured out who that was yet."
"Surely you've noticed someone's missing?" asks Xander.
Ronan rests against the wa
ll and pushes his feet forward. "A few of our guys are missing; he could be one of half a dozen. Our council told everybody they've been abducted, and fae would never side with demons, but the dead guy’s actions contradict that."
"Why did they want to... take me or whatever?" I ask.
"Same reason these behind the plot attacked Portia," replies Ronan. "They want to interfere with the Horsemen's control over the portals and therefore the world. You're key to their fight. Nobody knows for sure how or why yet, but you're pretty damn important. That's why they've tried to get hold of you before the Horsemen found you."
I shiver at the implication behind "get hold of," and Xander's silence worries me. Ronan pulls himself from the wall and claps Xander on the back. "But, we have other things on our mind tonight, right, Xan?"
Xander shrugs his arm away. "I'm here in a professional capacity."
Ronan tips his head. "There's a smoking-hot new barmaid."
"There's a smoking-hot new barmaid every time I visit," replies Xander with a sly grin.
"All looking for a piece of Xander." Ronan slings an arm around Xander’s shoulders. "Man, I had my eye on this one for a couple of weeks and here you are, ready to cockblock me."
Xander chuckles. "Not my intention, man. But what can I say? I’m irresistible."
Seriously? I shuffle from foot to foot uncomfortable by their conversation. Perhaps Joss is right and Xander's motives tonight are only half professional.
"Go on in." Ronan gestures to the door.
"What about Ewan?" I ask.
I've listened for his bike's arrival the whole time I waited, but no other vehicle has appeared in the darkened car park. Ewan left before us; surely he should be here?
"Knowing Ewan, he probably took the scenic route," says Xander. "Let's go. He’ll find us."
Xander slides an arm around my waist, and I look up at him in surprise. He hasn't touched me since the afternoon at Portia's house. A surprise intensity burns in his eyes as his touch spreads warmth into me. He clearly responds the same way to me as I do to him, despite our mutual ambivalence.
