I peered into the darkened place where I knew Jenner stood. His energy was tense but ablaze with intrigue. How long could he hold out?
“Jenner.” His name was a faint whisper on my lips. Again, I beckoned to him.
Grasping the irresistible force, I held a hand up and blew an invisible kiss across the stage. The power swirled and danced around as it sought and found my target. My power wrapped around Jenner, drawing him into my thrall.
The audience grew restless. Affected by the brewing storm around us, they squirmed in their seats and spoke in hushed whispers to one another. When Jenner stepped into view, they all fell quiet again.
His shoulders were stiff. He moved with a graceless gait as he fought the pull. It was no use. No matter how much Jenner may have meant it when he said he didn’t want to taste my blood, he was a vampire, and ultimately, it was always about the blood.
Desire burned in his icy blue eyes. A pained expression crossed his face. His attempts to resist us were weakening. Arys’s satisfaction echoed in my mind. Having Jenner fall victim to us pleased him more than giving him a beating ever could. He kept the sex-charged energy flowing while I gave it focus and intent. We worked so well together, finding the perfect natural rhythm.
A cool breeze swept through the theatre. I held a hand out to Jenner and laughed as Arys kissed the ticklish spot on the back of my neck. Arys’s hunger for me was palpable, and I knew Jenner felt it too. Jenner took my hand, and the power leaped from me to him. It wound through all three of us, taking us higher.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Jenner murmured. He rubbed my hand against his face, inhaling the scent of the blood pumping beneath the surface of my skin. The scruffy bit of facial hair he sported was softer than I expected.
“Do you want to taste me?” The question came unbidden. I slipped into the zone, to the strange place I went when the vampiric power consumed me.
“No, I don’t want to,” he said, a crack in his voice. “I need to. And I hate you for that.”
I hushed him with a finger against his lips. His words were a little too close to something I’d heard from someone else. This wasn’t the time to question the morals of my actions. Power was the only thing vampires understood.
A shudder racked me as Arys nipped playfully at my neck. The touch of his fangs and tongue on my jugular vein had me ready for him. The chaise lounge was starting to look inviting.
I pulled Jenner forward, planting one hell of a kiss on him. I breathed the manipulative force through him, dragging him deeper under. A quick nip of his lip spilled enough blood for me to get a taste of him. With my curiosity sated, I offered him my wrist.
He grasped it tight, eyes locked on Arys, waiting for him to spill the first drop. I licked my lips, my breath thin and choppy. With my free hand I reached back to stroke a finger along Arys’s face.
Arys’s low chuckle echoed around us, though I wasn’t sure if it had only been inside my head. His bite forced a cry from me and nearly drove me to my knees except he had wrapped an arm securely around me.
Without hesitation, Jenner followed suit and sunk fangs into my wrist. I watched those sharp points pierce my vein. The blood burst forth, and like a good performer, he ensured the audience got a good view before covering the wound with his mouth. At the first taste of my blood, Jenner’s head snapped up, and he stared at me like he was seeing a ghost. He mumbled something that didn’t sound like English and dropped to his knees before me. Never loosening his hold on my arm, he licked the crimson flow and groaned.
I grew dizzy, not from blood loss but from the heady rush of having two vampires feast upon me. It was exhilarating, a storm of overwhelming sensations.
Wind whipped through the theatre, howling like the creepy breeze in a horror film. It took me several moments to realize the howl came from Shaz. After a month away from us, he was still ours. Would any amount of time ever change that?
Arys’s hard-on pressed against my rear end. I wanted him to take me in all ways.
‘Sorry, my wolf,’ he spoke inside my mind. ‘You want it now, but I’d catch hell for it later.’
A pout curved my lips. His denial displeased me. He bit me a second time, and my displeasure was swept away on a sigh.
Jenner responded to the call of my desire. With one hand, he gripped my wrist while the other slid up the inside of my leg. From calf to thigh, he touched me with the brazenness of one completely under my spell.
I caught a glimpse of the spade tattooed on the back of his hand before it disappeared beneath the hem of my skirt. His skin was hot on mine.
Impatiently, I waited for him to find the throbbing ache between my legs. The arousal of both vampires created an intoxicating buffet of energy for me to devour. Despite what they took from me, they gave as much in return. A beautiful arc of power encompassed the three of us, spilling over to the audience who had grown increasingly restless.
“Touch me,” I commanded Jenner. My patience had run out.
I gazed down at him, watching him lick every drop of my blood that dared to attempt escape. Our eyes locked, blue on blue. Staring up at me like a smitten fool, Jenner slid his hand toward the warm place nestled between my thighs.
There was no time to enjoy the shock of pleasure. The bliss moment was shattered suddenly, our spell broken by the explosion that rocked the building.
Chapter Nine
The theatre shook from the blast. I tumbled off the stage and hit the floor hard with Jenner crashing down on top of me. Winded and stunned, my mind scrambled to make sense of what had just happened. People screamed and rushed for the exits. Smoke began to seep into the room, coming from the arena. The wall between the two rooms still stood, indicating a small blast.
“What the fuck was that?” I said through strangled breaths.
Jenner shoved himself off me and hauled me to my feet. I searched frantically for Arys and Shaz, finding neither of them in the crowd’s mad dash to escape.
“You need to take the fire exit and get upstairs,” Jenner shouted over the commotion. “Find Sloane. Take her and your friend and get out of here. Go to Planet Hollywood and find Roscoe. Send him here.” He indicated the emergency exit at the back of the theatre and gave me a push to get moving.
I remained rooted to the spot, refusing to go alone. “I’m not leaving without Arys and Shaz.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to be here right now,” Jenner hissed, giving me another shove. “The blood ring we’ve all pissed off is behind this. They’re probably storming the building. Do you know what they’ll do to you if they find out you’re here? Get out. Now.”
Terror shook me, urging me to heed his warning and head for the door. But where were Shaz and Arys? I couldn’t go without them.
‘Run, Alexa.’ Arys’s voice was loud and clear in my mind. ‘Listen to Jenner and go. I’m needed here.’
‘No,’ I resisted, searching the smoky haze for him. ‘I’m not leaving you guys. They’ll kill you both if you stay.’
‘Jenner and I can handle this, especially with your blood in our veins. I promise. I’ll keep the pup safe.’
I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving without them. Panicked humans tripped me up, and smoke burnt my lungs. There was so much I hadn’t told Shaz, so many things I hadn’t said since he got back. So much he didn’t know.
‘You’ll get your chance to tell him. Now get the hell out of here.’
The house lights came on, and I spotted Arys on the opposite side of the theatre, headed for the door connecting to the arena. He paused to look over at me. I shook my head, unwilling to be parted.
Then the door burst open, and he was under siege by several vampires packing weaponry. Jenner was a blur as he flew past me to come to Arys’s aid. He shouted at me to get moving and instinct told me to listen.
I ran for the fire exit, dodging people as I went. The invading vampires had already taken down some of the remaining audience members. I’d almost reached the door when a hand closed on my
arm. Shaz jerked me into his arms and hugged me tight. Then just as fast, he shoved something into my hand and kissed me.
“I’m staying with Arys,” he said. “You need to find Jez.”
“It’s the blood ring, Shaz. They’ll find out who you are. You’ve got to come with me.” I tried to drag him along with me, but he resisted.
“No, I should be here. As long as they don’t get a hold of you, I can handle it. Ok? Now go. I love you.”
He was gone before I could reply. I opened my hand to find the hotel room key card. Mine was in my shoulder bag backstage along with my phone and wallet. I had no choice but to leave without those things.
I ran, easily outrunning those who hadn’t yet made it out. More than once, I had to toss people aside when they risked blocking the way. Taking the stairs two at a time, I quickly reached the top floor.
My feet barely touched the floor as I moved with stealth and speed. The best of both monsters were alive in me, wolf and vampire, fueled by the power we’d called. Despite the drawbacks, having the strengths of both sure had its perks.
The fire escape continued up to the roof. It was likely our only way out. I opened the door to the top floor quietly, listening and sensing. There was no sign of the security guys that had been stationed here. Erotic energy hit me like the wave of heat when opening an oven door. It was raw and hot. But that was all. The chaos of the underground floor did not resonate here.
I moved with silent steps down the hall, seeking Sloane’s room. Not one door had her name. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I had to focus, somehow, to sift through the myriad of energies, seeking Jez.
Standing in the middle of the hall with no quick hiding place terrified me. I kept expecting someone to come storming up the stairs from the main floor. Creeping to the top of the stairs, I gazed down, finding the club operating as if nothing was occurring downstairs. What the hell?
Then a smoke bomb went off in the middle of the dance floor, and commotion broke out all across the main level. Good Lord, I hoped Jez wasn’t down there.
I moved back into the hall, away from the stairs. Jez, Jez, Jez. I chanted her name to myself, seeking her shifter vibe. There! I followed my senses to a door that said Lady Melanie.
There was no time for manners or knocking. The lock gave way easily enough under my adrenaline and power-charged strength, and I burst into the room. It was nice, much nicer than the rooms back home. Soft beige carpet squished beneath my feet. A flat screen TV hung on the wall across from a king-size bed adorned with satin sheets and a mountain of pillows. A mirror above the bed reflected the image of entangled limbs and luscious hair.
“Alexa? What the fuck? Knock much?” Jez was understandably confused and embarrassed. She looked up from between Sloane’s legs, and I did my best to avert my eyes.
“We’ve got trouble. Blood ring trouble. We have to get out of the building.”
“What?” Sloane was up off the bed instantly grabbing her clothing from the floor. “Where’s Jenner?”
“He’s downstairs with Arys. They were under attack by a swarm of angry vampires. They told me to run, to find Roscoe and to take you with me.” I motioned frantically for Jez to spring into action. She did, thankfully steadier on her feet than she had been earlier.
Sloane shook her head and smoothed her dress back into place. “I can’t leave Jenner. You two go. I’ll try to find a way to keep the peace here.”
“Keep the peace?” I asked, incredulous. “It’s total chaos down there. This is what you wanted Arys to help with, isn’t it? The blood ring won’t let you out.”
“There’s only one way out. Nobody just walks away from an operation like that and lives to tell the tale.” Sloane sniffed at the air, scenting my bloody wounds. She took a step toward me, and I held her off with a raised hand. “I can smell Jenner on you.”
“Yeah well, if we all live through this night, then he can tell you all about that.” I knew that look, the flash of hunger in her eyes. She couldn’t help it. It was in her nature. “Come on, Jez. We gotta go.”
She dressed in record time. Golden hair disheveled and lipstick smeared, Jez looked very much like a woman who just had a fun-filled romp with a lover. In about five seconds, she’d be running for her life.
“Are you sure you won’t come with us?” Jez turned back to Sloane, concern heavy in her green eyes.
“I belong here, whether Jenner likes it or not. Just go while you still can.” As if it were an afterthought, Sloane pulled Jez close and planted a serious kiss on her. “When this shit is settled, we’re going to finish what we started here.”
Jez caught a strand of Sloane’s blonde hair, twisting it around her finger. “You got it.”
I would have objected to that if I hadn’t been in such a rush to get moving. Grabbing Jez’s hand, I dragged her into the hall. Several doors were now open as vampires and their willing victims surfaced to see what was going on.
We ran down the hall back to the fire exit where we took the stairs to the roof. As we rounded the landing, we ran right into a crossbow-toting blood ring member. He advanced on us with a grim smile, aiming the crossbow at my head.
Jez didn’t hesitate. She sprang forward and slammed her fist into his throat, following up with an elbow to his face then a knee to his groin. He grunted and stumbled down the remaining stairs toward us.
The crossbow went off, and I ducked, narrowly avoiding the flying bolt. It lodged in the wall behind me. I jerked it free while Jez continued her assault. The vampire was strong; he recovered quickly. He smashed her in the face with the crossbow. Her insanely high heels failed her, and she fell on the landing, almost tumbling down the stairs. I slammed him with a psi ball, immobilizing him long enough to plunge the bolt into his heart. I didn’t wait for the ash and dust of his remains to settle. I got Jez on her feet, and we surged ahead to the rooftop.
“Are you ok?” I asked, afraid to look back in case we were being pursued. So far so good.
“I’ve had worse.”
We found the fire escape mounted on the side of the building and wasted no time getting down to the ground. Jez kicked off her heels, carrying them as we descended. My lungs heaved, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. I breathed a sigh of relief when we made it down without another encounter.
We waited in the dark space between The Wicked Kiss and the neighboring building. Nobody came down after us. Leaning against the concrete wall, I focused on taking a few deep calming breaths. It didn’t work.
“What the hell happened to you?” Jez spoke in a hushed tone. She gestured to the vampire bites decorating my neck and wrist. I was glad to see she didn’t have any. Sloane was lucky.
“Do you realize how long you’ve been upstairs with her?” I whispered furiously. “Arys lost the poker game. Shit got stupid. You missed Shaz’s cage fight.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? He won, right? Come on; tell me about it while we walk. You’ve got to get cleaned up, and we need a plan.”
Leaving Arys and Shaz behind felt all kinds of wrong.
I pressed a hand to my neck. The bleeding had stopped. Arranging my hair to hide the wounds would have to do.
Carefully, we made our way down The Strip toward Caesars. We blended easily into the thick, human street traffic. Traffic was heavy on the street as well as the sidewalks and pedways. At times, the bodies were crammed together like the mosh pit at a rock concert. Blasting them all out of my way would have taken just a thought with well-guided intentions. It was hard to swallow the urge and maintain a firm hold on my patience.
It felt like ages before we finally crossed the pedway from the Bellagio hotel to Caesars and broke free of the throng. Caesars Palace loomed large before us. It stood against the Vegas night sky, boasting of beauty, intrigue and adventure.
As we walked, I spoke quickly, giving Jez a basic rundown on what she’d missed.
“You weren’t really going to let Jenner get you off, were you?” She asked, her voice loud
enough to draw the attention of a few passersby.
I gaped at her. “That’s what you focused on out of everything I told you?”
“Well, yeah. You’ve never had two vampires before. That’s gotta be a rush.” She held the hotel door open, allowing me to go first. “Wait, you haven’t been with two vampires, have you? Because I’d be pissed if you kept something that juicy to yourself.”
The icy blast of the air conditioning was a refreshing slap in the face, a sharp contrast to the desert heat outside. We entered the busy lobby where people milled about, checking in and taking photos in front of the fountain with people dressed up as Caesar and Cleopatra.
We veered left, past the twenty-four hour bar and the Starbucks, to the elevator that would take us to our room. I kept my head down, hoping to go unnoticed with my bloodstained attire and fresh wounds.
“No, I have definitely not been with two vampires at the same time. And I was not going to let Jenner get any farther than he did.” It felt like a lie, so I changed the subject, embarrassed at how affected I was by my own succubus power. It was a real double-edged sword. “How are you feeling? I need you alert.”
“Uh huh,” she nodded knowingly, giving me a pointed look. “You smell like lies. You wanted them both, you filthy little energy sucker.”
“Jez!”
“I feel fine. In fact, I’m ready for another round.”
The elevator door slid open, and we almost collided with a family of four in their haste to pile in. I rushed by a little girl who peered up at me with wide-eyed wonder. I tucked my injured wrist close to my body and averted my gaze.
“I don’t think you’re taking this seriously, Jez,” I said when we were safely inside the hotel room. “Things got bad back there. Really bad.”
I sat on the couch and then stood up again. Putting my head in my hands, I closed my eyes and focused on Arys. ‘Tell me you’re all right.’
Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 7) Page 11
