“For?” She reached up to the heated spot on her face. “I’ve not called any magic.” Could have. Could destroy this whole place, and you with it.
“Drew.” His eyes flashed black and he hit her again, knocking her to the floor. “Mind your tone. Lucius won’t care if you are roughed up a little.”
“Who the hell is Drew?” Alice glanced at the door as a small black spider crept near the bolt. He hadn’t locked it in his fit of anger. Magic gathered around her.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at her. Stand up. The command in her mind was a shout.
Alice stood and covered herself with her hands as best she could. Sorry, spider, I’m not dying today either. “I promise you I don’t know who Drew is.”
Go to the manacles. He stepped into her space, matching her steps until she was pinned between him and the wall.
The cold metal against her skin chilled her to the soul as the locks snapped in place. Where was Lucius? Or Matthias?
Ambrose didn’t say another word before he left, locking her in again.
Alone. Even the spider vanished.
She wiggled her wrist in the restraint. Naked and chained to a wall in a witch trafficking den. All in a day’s work. It was better than dead, but only marginally.
Something had gone wrong. Ambrose was angry about the vampire she’d cried for, Drew. Why? Was he competition? Maybe another relic middleman?
Magic sparked at the tips of Alice’s fingers. The stalker was in the building and moving closer at a rapid pace. Ambrose and whoever Drew were, didn’t matter now. Lucius wanted her alive, didn’t he? Make sure he does. How? Ambrose treated her as merchandise. If Lucius wanted a sip he would have taken it sooner. She was merchandise. That had to change. Fast. What is more of a treat than blood?
The presences moved closer and their voice became clear.
“Do you realize how complicated this makes finding forgiveness with Kindra?” Ambrose’s voice carried. “She despises the den, and now Drew. After a night at a den, he’s dead. She’ll link it to me.”
“Forgiveness? How did a child of mine pick such a thick child of their own?” A smooth voice replied. “This is business.”
“Your bloodline is more important than some hybrid troublemaker.” Agitation edged out anger in Ambrose’s voice.
“Don’t be absurd. Nothing is more important than my empire. Without my business, your den would be empty.” The voice and the energy that preceded it in a chill remained steady.
“Without my den you wouldn’t have a place to launder your witches.” Ambrose sounded as if he was standing at the door. “Let me give her to Kindra. She gets one child. You know how this will affect her. Vengeance would go a long way to her finding peace. You must understand the bond of a maker and child. No vampire is so old they lose that emotion.”
“No? You are mistaken. And as usual, overreacting. My decision is final on the matter. She’s been paid for. I will speak to Kindra myself. She and I always see eye to eye.” The statement was firm.
The door opened. A tall, sleek figure emerged from the shadows. His black hair blended with the darkness, making the lines of his pale face catch the flickering light. His perfection was tempered. Timeworn smoothness on his skin matched his voice.
The temperature in the room dropped. Sweetness drifted on the chill. Maple. Bait. Thick lashes formed black crescents on his pale skin with each deliberate blink while he assessed her in a slow sweep.
Alice strained to cover herself, but the short chain wouldn’t allow her the modesty.
Black pupils grew as he stared at her. “Look at her. You do realize what kind of shape I need them in for the ritual. She’s a mess. I allow sips, but really.” He waved a hand in her direction. “Leave us.”
“I only smacked her. I want a hazard fee and something extra for Kindra.” Ambrose pulled the door closed.
Alice sobbed, using every memory of her parents she could summon to fill her tears with pain. “You!”
Lucius crossed the room. With a finger he caught a tear, while kissing another away from her cheek. He closed his eyes a second as if savoring the taste.
She wrapped her magic around him, holding him in a light embrace while pushing it into his presence as hard as she could. Want me, damn it. “Why did you send me to this awful place?” She cried deeper, giving him more sadness.
“Those tears could cause a war.” When he looked into her eyes his hunger reflected in the black depths of his wide pupils. A small ring of translucent emerald was absorbed as they grew. You are going to do everything I say. He caught another tear, and sucked it from his finger.
Alice shivered as his suggestion tested her will. Part of her knew he was trancing her and she could resist, but her soul said to do what he asked. She tightened her grip on her thoughts and pulled her magic back, using it to hold out against him.
He unlocked her restraints and unfolded a robe that was draped over his arm. “Let’s get this on you, shall we?”
“Yes.” She slipped her arms into the robe. The velvety material caressed her skin. He hadn’t taken a nip. Not even after her tears. She needed to be more than merchandise, if she was going to get out of this alive. “You wanted me here. Can I feed you?” She offered her wrist. “A taste of my unique blood, or was there another reason you wanted me in a place like this?” That sounded trampy. Did she just offer sex? No. Blood. “Blood or tears, I mean, with magic.” You’re babbling now.
His gaze flicked from her wrist to her eyes. “Such a bold little thing, even covered in nothing more than tears.” His look gave no clues if he was tempted. “You have a busy night ahead, dear. Save your strength.”
Damn it. She bit her lip until it bled.
Lucius stared at the small drop as she licked it away. “Tempting my hunger isn’t wise.” The tone said it hadn’t phased him, but his eyes and energy said he was seconds away from giving in.
“Take me,” she said in an offering tone before adding, “With you.”
He turned her around. His firm chest pressed against her back. Fangs sliced into her neck. Warmth rushed from his bite.
A soft moan pressed out as she was flooded with desire. “Touch me.” Jesus, his injection was strong and instantly affected her longing. Her knees went weak as his touches burned a trail of pleasure across her skin.
His hands roamed down her waist and back up to her breasts. The tip of a finger traced across her skin. “You are different. I could tell from the first night.”
She licked her lips. Her hands rested on his, guiding him to where she needed to feel them. What was he saying? Words didn’t make sense. Only touching mattered. “Yes.” Did she agree to something?
He pulled back and jerked her around. His eyes went solid black.
Magic sparked at her fingertips. This was it. A warm trickle dripped down her neck. She reached up and swiped a drop of her blood. Her gut knotted with the instinct to run. A vampire so callous he left bleeding bites on his victims. “Yes.”
“Decadent.” He licked a spot of blood from the side of his mouth. His gaze lingered on her neck.
He’s hooked. Protect yourself. He’s dangerous. Alice ran her hand up his neck and into his hair. Kissing his jaw lightly. She closed her eyes and caressed him with her light. You want me to make the relic. Otherwise, you will protect me. Love me deeper than a child, deeper than a dearling.
He purred and ran his tongue over his bite, closing the wound. “Time to go, precious one.”
Love me? Why did I do that? His injection. Shit. Love, protect, that would serve her. Her response was a muffled purr against him as she pressed to his side. The craving to be near him hadn’t eased. “So soon?”
He gazed from her toward the door and then nuzzled into her hair. “Give me more magic.”
Alice strengthened her hum. Did she want to tone down that curse? Was there any of her blood left? The desire that coursed through her veins clouded her reason. Touch me. Love me.
“That is worth killi
ng for.” His fingers gripped her behind and he pulled her closer to him.
She nuzzled against his ear. Maple again. He smelled sweet. To mask the old and dangerous warning signals?
He bit the other side of her neck. “Pure. Beautiful. Still holding innocence. I want to destroy that.”
Her mouth opened but all that came out was a small gasp. She tried again. “Des…tro…oy.” Had the curse not worked?
“Yes. Ruin.” He licked his lips. “Scar you with my darkness, precious.”
“Oh.” She hugged against him. Thoughts blurred as sensations clouded reason. He was hers. If that made things less or more dangerous remained to be seen. That was done. She was on the way to the relic location.
Lucius walked her toward the exit. His arm wrapped her, while his hand gripped her hip firmly.
Each spot his body pressed against hers with it’s cold, firm strength sent heat spiraling through her.
The doorman glanced at them as they approached. His attention stopped at Alice’s face. “Always a pleasure, sir. See you soon.”
Was he looking at the hit from Ambrose? Alice looked away.
How many witches did someone like Lucius go through? They weren’t for him. Did he traffic witches for drinking and death who weren’t strong enough to make relics? Were there dead bodies scattered farther from his ‘clients’ whose blood was on his hands? Hands that were on her waist. Hands that she wanted in places that belonged to Matthias. Love me? Protect me would have been enough.
They stopped at a black car and he walked her around, opening the passenger door.
She slipped in and relaxed against the seat. What kind of car was it? Did that matter? She glanced over to the steering wheel. Wings with a ‘B’ in the center. No help. It probably wouldn’t matter. Unless he left her at the coven to do the ritual. If he got away the squad would need something to go on.
He got in and started the car. “Relax. I can hear your heart beating and it’s talking to me.”
“What is it saying?” Kill her?
“Drink.”
Yep. As they drove she watched the street names, committing the path to memory.
“You are playing a dangerous game.” He turned off the main road, leaving the city.
Her heartrate picked up. What did he know? His trance almost worked. Had he seen something? “I’m not the one playing games. You stalked me.”
His laughter was smooth and filled with genuine amusement. “What do you imagine it means to be craved by something whose inclination is to dominate, possess, and kill?”
“Vampires crave magic blood. That’s no game and not my doing.” She stared defiantly in his direction. “It’s how I make a living. I don’t judge your nature. Would you judge my circumstances?”
He pulled onto a rural highway. “You felt me bending your will. That’s rare. In fact, unheard of in human witches.”
No. No. Please don’t let him know. “That’s not so useful to know when one is being manipulated.”
“Perhaps. But it is useful when a witch can bend the will of the vampire.” One of his fingers drummed on the steering wheel. “Is that the elf magic you used on me?”
Deny it. “My blood you mean? I will give you more. I don’t understand why you are upset. You followed me. You sent me to that awful place where I was chained and abused. Now you are upset because I fed you? I wanted out. Witches have manipulated vampires for much worse. I didn’t ask for parts.”
His hand reached over, resting on her thigh. “I’ve been around a very long time, and never known a witch who could get under my skin. Not even my dearling. You did, in minutes. Which do you think I will pick now that you have my affection? Dominate, possess, or kill? I’d advise you to break whatever spell you have me under, before it takes root and you get that answer.”
“Spell?” He doesn’t know. He’s guessing. “Is it so farfetched that my blood is unique enough to lure you? Are you so old that no blood would trigger…”
“Yes, I am that old.” His tone grew clipped. Agitation came from him in waves.
“Perhaps not.” Was it grating on him, like her suggestions had on Amarok? That was bad. It was working, but he was aware. Aware and annoyed.
“Last warning. My will is struggling against your suggestion. When the strain snaps it in one direction or the other, only you will suffer.” He gazed over to her. “I don’t want that. That alone indicates tampering. You were just a thing, until I stepped in that room, now you are my thing. Being my thing holds its own dangers.”
She licked her lips that had gone dry. “Where are you taking me?”
“Very well. Foolish decision.” He looked back to the road. “When we arrive, my dearling will instruct you on a ritual. Perform it with your soul and you will survive. I will protect you from the vampire who demanded this from you and at great cost, as he offered extra to be the one to kill you.”
Matthias. Offered extra to kill her? For her return. Clever. “Thank you. I will perform the ritual. What is it?”
“It’s an ancient spell to make a valuable relic. Your magic is strong enough. With my witches to help you should survive.” His face wrinkled in frustration.
Her influence. Make the relic at great risk and protect her. Sell a relic containing the blood of someone he now considered his. Conflicting desires. Worse, love her, deeper than a dearling. What did that mean for a creature who just said he didn’t even love his dearling? Maybe that would temper the spell.
Trees blurred. Each street looked like the next. The more rural things grew, the less street signs there were. They were isolated. Alone with the oldest and likely most dangerous vampire she’d encountered.
After what felt like hours, a large building appeared on the horizon, reminding her of her mother’s coven. It had the appearance of an old school. The closer they got, the more magic vibrated in the air.
When he stopped the car in front of the building, distinct differences in magic energies were easy to feel. At least five human witches milled about. It was the one that wasn’t human that sent Alice’s heart fluttering. Her stomach clenched. A pure witch.
She turned to Lucius. “A proper witch?”
“She won’t hurt you.” He stroked the side of her face. “Time is short for me. I will settle you in and see you again after the ritual tomorrow night.”
If I survive.
Chapter Eighteen
MATTHIAS POSITIONED THE witch on his lap. Another leisurely nip felt wrong. Alice was at the relic den. Possibly in danger. Reginald sending him back to the Central den for a feeding was punishment. Lucius would expect him there was the reasoning given. True enough, but not so soon.
While he contemplated the next steps, he drank. Even the weakest witch was delicious compared to what the PPK provided with its chemical preservatives. It wasn’t Alice.
The darkness in a witch’s heart put a bitter taste in the blood. Bitter he used to enjoy. Alice was nectar. Her blood was as sweet as tears, and those tears of hers. They melted his heart to witness, and delighted every sense in his being to taste. She was alone with Lucius.
Old. Ruthless. Insatiable. Would he stop at a sip, even for a billion dollars? What depraved desires would Alice’s light trigger in one so removed from humanity?
He closed his eyes against images of humans he drained and the things he’d done to get tears in the past. As dark as he’d gone, a vampire like Lucius would still consider him young and pure.
The witch moaned and reached her free hand down, caressing his knee.
White flashed in the corner of his eye. He stopped feeding and put two fingers on the token sitting on top of a white business card. Who left that? Thoughts of Alice were entirely too distracting.
After paying the doorman, he called a cab and typed out a fast message to Reginald, letting him know that he’d been invited to a special tasting at the den where Alice was.
Buildings flew past in a blur as he considered the hundred reasons for that. Alice annoyed someone and
they wanted her dead. They wanted him to do it, so they could make the profit as well. He had offered money to kill her. His jaw twitched. Together they could fight their way out of a den, provided Lucius was the only challenging one.
His phone buzzed.
We are on standby outside of detection range.
That was good. Reginald and Amarok, for everything he disliked about them, were the kind of backup they would need, if the den held too many strong vampires.
The taillights as the cab drove away cast a red tint on everything. Bloody. Ominous. The hairs on his skin rose. No presences inside felt powerful. Not inordinately so. Alice wasn’t there. That might be best. Better to walk into a trap that didn’t have her as the bait.
He handed the token to the doorman. “I believe I’m expected.”
The doorman flipped the token and caught it. “Come with me.”
Inside Matthias was walked across the main room to Ambrose who stood in the corner with a tall, slender witch.
Ambrose extended a hand. “Good evening, I’m Ambrose. So glad you could join us.”
“Why the late-night request? I’ve already fed, twice.” Matthias felt the doorman leave but kept his eyes on Ambrose.
“This is one of my favorites. Let me tempt you with a nightcap.” Ambrose put his hand on the witch’s waist and started toward a table. “This one is on the house.”
Matthias scanned the room. Only a few vampires were feeding. A pair looked like they were in a magic induced stupor. Most of the energy radiated from behind closed doors. Something wasn’t right. Where was Alice? Gone with Lucius? “I can sample your wares tomorrow. I don’t need charity.”
“I’ve heard. That is precisely why you are here. Sit, sip, spend.” He put a ball in the witch’s hand and moved a bowl of chocolates closer to the center of the table.
“Small nip. Let’s see what you have, doll.” Matthias pulled the witch into his lap. Have to stay in role. An addict wouldn’t refuse a free nip. Something wasn’t right.
Ambrose stepped away.
The witch levitated the ball.
Matthias took a sip. Unremarkable. He glanced around. If they wanted his money, they would have given him the best. He held her against him and drank a little more. Nothing special. He had better at the first den. There was no way this was Ambrose’s favorite. Not at a den this deep in the underground.
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