by Eve Newton
“Run,” I say to the Hunter, who backs off in a hurry to the truck that is parked idling a few hundred meters away.
I lift my foot up and kick the gates wide open, stalking out in my bare feet, fangs and claws ready for a fight. I want the chase and to taste his blood. My bloodlust is at an all-time high after my little rendezvous with Axl earlier and I want to sate it.
“This isn’t over!” he yells at me as he leaps into the back of the truck as the Coven loom menacingly at my back.
“Come here again and you will die,” I yell back.
“You’ll see me again, sooner than you think!” he shouts and throws something at me that hits me in the side of my neck, making me gasp with pain.
I clap my hand up, but I can’t feel any blood. “What the fuck?” I murmur as Axl lunges towards me, pulling my hand away as the truckload of Hunters disappears at a rapid rate down the beaten track that leads to the Coven mansion.
“You aren’t hit,” he says, looking first at my neck and then at my hand.
“Something got me, I felt it,” I murmur.
“Lily,” Lloyd exclaims as he races to my side. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine,” I say with a smile, feeling Axl’s eyes boring into me at Lloyd’s familiarity. “It must’ve just grazed me.”
“What was it?” Jacob barks, striding over, full of irritation that is definitely aimed at me.
“Don’t know,” I reply. “Something sharp.”
“Don’t ever do that again, Lil,” he snaps at me. “You don’t know that there weren’t a hundred more out of sight in the trees.”
“But there wasn’t. I saw the fear in his eyes. He knew he was outnumbered,” I explain.
“You can’t have known that for sure,” Jacob says, his dark blue eyes simmering with worry.
“She made a point and now they won’t return in a hurry,” Axl says, having my back.
“We hope,” Jacob mutters under his breath, then he turns to the Coven behind him. “I want this land scoured until you find what that prick threw at the Queen,” he orders. “Lily, get inside and stay there this time.”
I glare at him for his demand but do as he says anyway because he is right. We can’t stand out here chatting when the Hunters might return. Although I’m fairly sure they won’t tonight. I let Lloyd take my arm to lead me back inside the gates. I’m agitated and I need a release. I need blood and an orgasm that will rip my insides apart in the best possible way before I let the post climax bliss sew me back together so that I can do it all again. Too bad, we have something of the utmost urgency to deal with first.
“Get Mason,” I snap out the order to whoever is listening. “I want to know what he did to that Hunter to piss him off so bad.”
“On it,” Axl says and strides over to the Wolf, who, despite his obvious bravado, failed to join us outside the gates earlier. His fear of the Hunters is as real as ours, but now I need to know why the fuck he fell into a wounded heap outside my gates with a pissed off Hunter on a personal mission on his tail.
Chapter 6
Axl
As it turns out, I don’t make it to the Wolf. He bounds off after Lilith, so I turn tail to head back inside. I pause to make sure that the Coven is doing as instructed, but there’s no worry there. Lilith’s uncle is on the case.
“Axl, right?” A deep, smooth voice says my name, making me stop and turn towards it.
“That’s right,” I say, taking in the tall, well-dressed man with eyes the same shape as Lilith’s.
He nods and approaches me, hands behind his back. “You know who I am?”
“Big guy of the Coven,” I retort, remaining casual, mostly because I know he wants me to be on edge. It’s why he snuck up on me.
He smirks at me. “Something like that,” he says and indicates the gates. “You had her back over there.”
“Of course, she’s my Queen,” I reply with more caution than I wanted to. I’m starting to get unnerved by his whole presence. He almost has a shimmer of visible magick coming off him. I don’t care for Witches and Warlocks as a rule. They are sneaky and devious whereas Vamps are blatant and in your face. I prefer it that way. You know what you’re dealing with.
“I think it was more than that,” he states.
“Is that right?” I ask with a small laugh.
He ignores my question. “You are stronger than most other Vampires. Your age?”
I narrow my eyes at him, debating whether to share my personal information with him. I’m guessing that he probably already knows, though, so don’t bother with a lie. “Hundred and eighty plus some change,” I say with a sniff and looping my thumbs into my belt hooks.
“You would be a good asset to my daughter’s team,” he says. “Despite your limitation.”
“Limitation?” I ask, knowing as I say it, exactly what he means.
He lets out a chuckle. “You’ll forgive me. My wife and daughter suffer no such affliction to daylight.”
It’s an insult meant to test me. I’m a pretty good judge of character; have to be when you’re a Vampire with an attitude to back up the fangs.
“Lucky them,” I drawl.
“Indeed,” he says, sobering up again in an instant.
Test passed, I’m guessing as he moves in closer with a tilt to his head.
“I want you to move out of the barracks and into the room next to Lilith’s. You will help protect her, guide her, show her how to deal with the Vampire inside her, while still maintaining a respect for the crown on her head.”
“Oh?” I ask, eyebrows raised. “Why’s that then?”
“I think you will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
“You’re not wrong,” I reply, straightening up slightly. He’s headed somewhere, but I’m failing to figure out where exactly.
“Good,” he says and turns to leave, but I stop him with my next words.
“And what do I tell her when she asks me why I’m suddenly her neighbor?”
“Why, you tell her the truth,” he says as if in surprise. “I have no secrets from my daughter.”
“Huh,” I murmur. I wasn’t expecting that. So far, sneaky and devious aren’t two words I’d use for the Head of the Dark Raven Coven.
He turns to leave again.
“So what do I get out of it, apart from a bedroom that floods with daylight during the day?” I ask, stopping him once again.
He inhales deeply and moves into position right in front of me, probably so that he can look down his nose as he says his next words. “You do this for me, and I’ll make sure you are bestowed a great power when the time is right.”
“Sorry, mate. I don’t do magick. Gives me the heebies,” I drawl.
“Oh, I’m not talking about magick, Vampire,” he replies steadily, those hard eyes boring into mine and making my stomach churn slightly. “When the time is right, my daughter will need a strong man by her side.”
“And you think that’ll be me?” I ask with a slight scoff. “Is Lilith also aware that you plan on arranging her future that way?”
“No,” he says with a short, harsh laugh. “That is our little secret.”
“I see,” I say. “You, uh, don’t think the Warlock is good enough to be that man?”
His expression turns to ice, but I don’t back down. I want to know why he has singled me out when it’s clear that one of his own is shagging his daughter.
“You are aware of their relationship?” he asks.
“I have eyes,” I point out. From the second he burst in on me and his hunny in an indecent pose, it was obvious he is as in love with her as a man can be. The fact that she pulled away from me to go to him, when I could smell her arousal that I caused, proves to me that she feels the same. Or maybe not exactly. She wouldn’t have gotten so turned on by me if she did.
“Lloyd is a good man and a powerful Warlock. But he isn’t what she needs. She is the Vampire Queen. She needs to nurture that half of her to the point where the Witch in he
r is but a simmer under the surface. It pains me to say that, but it is a fact. Out of all of the Vampires that I’ve come across, with the exception of my wife, of course, you are by far and away the most powerful, in spite of your limited years. You will be a good match for her. Challenge her and show her how to harness the power inside her.”
“You have a lot of faith in a man you’ve just met,” I say lightly.
“It has nothing to do with faith. My power speaks to yours; don’t you feel it?” he asks and then teleports out with flashy gold lightning.
“Can’t say that I do,” I murmur and look up at the house. “King of the castle, eh? Well, Strawberries. If I didn’t already get a fucking hard-on from just your scent, your father has just made you damn near impossible to resist.”
With a slow smile, I stalk back into the mansion, only to be hit with a tension so fierce, it’s like walking into gelatin. Suddenly, the Wolf in human form skids past me, grappling with the Warlock as the Queen yells at them to quit it.
Man, this is going to be fun to watch play out.
Chapter 7
Lilith
“For fuck’s sake!” I storm over to the two men and haul Mason off my Warlock by the scruff of his neck. Lloyd doesn’t lack manly strength and in a fight with magick will wipe the floor with most, but it seems that the Wolf is way better with his fists.
I dump Mason on the floor, still naked after his shift, I might add and help Lloyd up.
“I’m sick to death of his jabs!” Mason spits out. “You want to seriously take this outside, I’m up for it.”
“Not a fucking chance,” I growl. “Now, Lloyd, please will you summon up Mason’s backpack so that he can get dressed. He told you where it is. Just do it,” I growl the last three words.
“Fine,” he grouses. With a vicious scowl and a flash of blue, the backpack is dumped at Mason’s feet.
“Thanks,” Mason spits out and proceeds to roughly open the bag to root through it. He drags out a pair of black sweats and a tight black t-shirt that he shoves on and chucks the bag into the corner of the entrance hall.
“Better,” I mutter, not really meaning it. But it’s very distracting trying to talk to him when he is flashing his dick in my direction. He is extremely well-built in all areas, large and enticing with an eight pack that makes me want to drool all over him.
“Now, seeing as you came to me seeking asylum, you need to start talking. What brought you here?”
I catch Axl’s eye and give him a slow smile. He has been watching this display with his arms folded and a smirk on his face. I’m really grateful that he didn’t get involved in the petty scrap.
He returns my smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He follows us back into the drawing room with Lloyd under a massive cloud, which is only partly due to Mason’s fist connecting with his face only moments ago.
Mason sits down heavily on the leather sofa and drops his head in his hands. “I came here because that prick Philip shot me with a crossbow.”
“Philip?” I ask.
“The Head Hunter. Fucking dick.”
“He mentioned something about his wife…” I add delicately.
“I didn’t murder her. I’m not a fucking murderer. I killed her, yes, but it was self-defense.”
I pause at his adamance, weighing up his words. He sees a very clear distinction between murdering and killing. I suppose the word ‘murder’ does invoke a sense of premeditation.
“Details, please. I need to know everything.”
He sighs and looks up at me with those pretty gray eyes. “Do I have to?” he asks quietly.
“Please,” I reply gently and sit down on the coffee table right in front of him. I place my hand lightly on his knee. He surprises me by covering it with his own before he laces our fingers together. It’s not contrived, at all. It feels completely natural.
I ignore the bristling going on from not only Lloyd, but Axl as well, it seems.
“She was a…she seduced me. I fell hook, line and sinker for her and then she turned around and tried to kill me. I killed her first. Shifted and ripped her throat out. I’ve been running from Philip and the Hunters ever since.” He lets out a huge sigh.
“Ever since?” I murmur. “How long ago did this happen?”
“Five years ago. They finally caught up with me on my way here.”
“Why were you coming here?” I ask.
He gazes intently at me. “I’m tired of running. I wanted to come here and convince you to take these fuckers out before they wipe every supernatural off the face of the earth. They aren’t just going after Vamps anymore. Every non-human is fair game to them. We have to fight this. Fight them.”
“I agree,” I say slowly. “But in order for us to do that, we need a plan, and I need to know that I can trust you and that you aren’t going to go off on some hot-headed revenge mission on Philip. His own vendetta will be his downfall and you will prove a useful tool in bringing that out in him.”
He squeezes my hand tightly. “You can trust me, my Queen,” he states. “I will follow whatever orders you have, unless I feel there’s a better move, in which case, I’ll speak up. I don’t sit on the sidelines and go blindly into trouble. Can you handle that?”
“Yes,” I say, my insides turning to goo at his words. “I can handle that.”
He smiles at me and it lights up his face. He brings my hand to his lips and brushes them over my knuckles. “Good girl,” he murmurs, making my skin tingle.
“Uhm…”
“What?” he prompts me when I don’t continue with my question.
“How old are you?”
“Does it matter?” he asks.
“It does if you’re my age. I only take orders from experienced men,” I murmur.
“Oh?” he chokes out, his eyebrows going up as my cheeks blush furiously.
“I mean…in a tactical sense…tactical experience that comes with age…”
Oh, shut the fuck up, Lil.
“I see,” he says, a slow smile curving his lips up sexily. “Well, I’m thirty-five. I don’t claim to be an army general, but I see things others don’t. Wolf senses,” he explains.
“Hmm,” I mutter and rake my nails down his palm before I shake my hand free of his. “Feel free to make yourself at home. One of the Coven will show you to the barracks downstairs and the kitchen is through there…” I point behind him to a doorway that leads into the dining room and then the kitchen from there.
“Thanks,” he says. “I’m starving.” He stands up and without a look back heads to where I directed him.
I stand too and feel a bit lightheaded. “I need to rest,” I mutter and push past Lloyd to go upstairs.
“Lilith, wait…we need to talk,” he says, grabbing my arm.
“Not in the mood right now,” I mumble, my vision going a bit blurry.
“Are you okay?” he asks urgently.
“I syphoned off a hell of a lot of magick before. It’s made me woozy. I’ll be fine after some rest.”
Lloyd shoots a worried glance at Axl before he looks back at me with pursed lips. “I’ll take you upstairs.”
“No, I’m good,” I say and turn from him, annoyed at his petty jealousy with both Axl and Mason.
I wave at Axl over my shoulder and then I’m taking the stairs two at a time just to get away from the both of them, hoping that someone remembers to bring me my shoes back.
Once inside my room, I close the door in relief and strip off to just my matching black bra and panties. I pad across the thick black carpet and slip into the sumptuous king-sized, four poster bed, wiggling on the luxurious black silk sheets. I stare up at the ornate frescoed ceiling and smile. This used to be my parents’ room, and they have extravagant tastes, but I love the opulence and the dark wood furniture. I prefer dark to light not only with regard to night and day but also fashion and décor. It hurts my sensitive Vampire eyes less.
I yawn and close them, sighing happily now that I’m lying down. I
soon sink gratefully into a slumber.
I awake sometime after full dark, the throbbing between my legs making me gasp. I open my eyes and groan. The dream I was having was sexy and hot. Sweaty naked bodies tangled around each other, sweet kisses and rough bites, my hands fisted into his short blond hair, his hands pulling my long hair so that he can devour my throat with his mouth.
“Fuck,” I groan and slip my hand into my panties, my fingers gliding over my clit. I moan and bring myself to a quick climax, thinking of the Hunter who’d invaded my dreams.
“Damn,” I murmur as the shudder abates, leaving me craving the real thing. “What the hell?”
I sit up at a soft knock on the door, knowing instantly who it is. Lloyd has a distinctive manly scent that arouses me and fires up my engines even though I’m still pissed with him.
“Lily, it’s me,” he says quietly. “Please can we talk.”
I climb out of bed and stalk over to the door, opening it wide, letting him see me in my underwear, turned on by my dream and my impromptu masturbation.
His eyes laser over me. “Ah, fuck it,” he growls and grabs my upper arms as he strides into the room, kicking the door closed behind him before he slams me up against it. He kisses me, bruising my lips, his tongue meeting mine in a passionate swirl that makes me whimper with need.
“I’ve wanted you in your bed for so long,” he pants. “But I can’t even wait to get there.” He drops to his knees and drags my panties down to my ankles, helping me step out of them and then discarding them on the floor. He grabs my hips and plunges his tongue to my pussy, flicking my engorged clit until I cry out.
“Fuck, Lloyd! I need you,” I pant.
“Lily,” he rasps, his mouth still on my pussy.
He takes my clit between his teeth to tug it gently before he stands and picks me up by my waist. I wrap my legs around him, fumbling to undo his pants. I let out a cry of triumph as I get his cock free, hard and smooth in my hand. I jerk him off a couple of times before he removes my hand and guides his dick inside me.
