Enslaved in Shadows

by Tigris Eden

  Maybe he was like a Death Walker, only still partially alive? Something was seriously wrong with Oliver.

  “Who’s your master?” Royce asked then.

  “I can’t!” Oliver yelled. “He’ll kill me.” Oliver tried to struggle in the chair but couldn’t. Ronin moved to the side and Jes was able to get a better look at his insides. Ronin slinked back into the corner of the room, the shadows swallowing him whole. She knew he was there could see his silver eyes glinting in the darkness, staring at Oliver.

  “It would have been perfect.” Oliver suddenly spat. “But that bitch had to go and ruin everything.” Oliver was staring at her. The corners of his mouth tilted as much as he could and tried to smile.

  “I’m not interested in perfection.” Royce said quietly. There was menace behind his voice, deadly, determined. Serious Royce was scary.

  “Fuck you!” Oliver screamed. “I’ve sworn fealty to something much bigger than all of us put together and when it comes time to collect his dues, you all will suffer.”

  “Who did you swear fealty to Olly. Please enlighten us with your tale. Promise me you didn’t do it for a box of candy or,” Royce feigned shock. “You did it for the ass, right? Your woman didn’t want you so you traded sides for ass? Am I right?” Royce asked.

  Royce was lazy in his movements, and his gait looked relaxed but she could tell he’d be ready to attack at a moment’s notice. He walked from the wall and then back over to Oliver.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll be the next in line to rule House Deadcrest, I will be in charge!” Oliver tried to yell but it came out as a whine. Having your jaw slashed open could not be the best thing for him.

  “Ah, now we’re starting to go places. The doc did tell us we’d get far.” Royce stopped in his tracks and faced the window. Royce was a performer, an attention grabber. Ronin still in the corner hugged by the shadows said nothing.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today, to bear witness to an asshat. That’s right a real asshat. This idiot of all idiots swore fealty to a moron. Because only a moron would promise fucktard over here, Dagas’s throne.” He paced the length of the glass as he spoke. Jes wanted to laugh at his hysterics, but thought better of it.

  “The Red Sun, I’ve given him my daughter as a blood sacrifice. There is power you can’t even fathom Royce. More than you or this mixed breed sitting next to me. I know all your secrets! All of them!” Oliver shouted. He was belligerent now. Twisting and turning trying to get free. He only made the entire ordeal messy. Black ooze was dropping out of his body’s cavity in chunks. Fucking gross! Hysteria at its finest!

  Royce didn’t budge, there was a slight falter to his step, and anyone else would mistake it for swagger. She knew there was something more. In a dark smoky voice, Royce looked to Oliver and said. “What do you know Oliver?”

  “You’re a blue blood.”

  “Go on.”

  “You’re race is supposed to be a myth. Feral they called your kind. Uncontrollable. Your kind was blood slaves to the Gods.”

  “Hmm, did you hear that Ronin?” Royce asked. “Uncontrollable.” Royce repeated with a dead even tone.

  There was dark laughter in the corner and then Ronin stepped into the light. “I believe that’s what they said about us back in the days. Although, I was never a slave to anyone and neither was my brother.” Ronin looked normal but he didn’t look any calmer. He walked over to Oliver and pulled him back by the hair on his head, stretching the other man’s neck. She could see the definition of his veins. More black ooze fell from his gut.

  “Yeah, you may know what we are, but I bet you didn’t figure on me doing this.” Ronin said calmly.

  There was a moment of silence as everyone waited. Then Ronin brought his hand up and with his claw, scalped Oliver. He actually scalped him! It’d happened so fast, one minute he had his hair still attached to his scalp, the next minute gray matter with veins oozing with black blood appeared. Brains. She was staring at Oliver’s brain.

  “What the fuck!” Dravaggio and all the men were up on their feet headed towards the door. She couldn’t see because the men rushed to the front of the room where she was sitting. There was a sickening slurping sound. The inside of her stomach dropped and was headed for the nearest exit. Ronin couldn’t be actually drinking that thick blood could he? Draven had never left her side and pushed her into his shoulder. She didn’t resist. She didn’t want to see it. Royce calmed the others and told them to wait. The men were standing when she finally looked up again and she would have screamed if it weren’t for the bile clogging her throat.

  Oliver was dead, and his brain was missing. She looked further up and Ronin was licking blood from his fingers and wiping his blood-black mouth on his shirt. He looked to Royce and nodded. The entire time he sucked and licked his fingers, a picture of her back at her friend’s house sucking the marrow at of a chicken bone came to mind. Totally fucked up!

  Royce turned to the group on her side of the window. “We have Marcus’s location and the location of the other vampires. Let’s put something together fast and shake the spot.”

  * * * *

  Draven looked at Solon. He was still strapped to the chair. Calm, like the man sitting next to him, only he didn’t just have his head literally handed to him. He didn’t look the least bit worried about the outcome of his life, and Draven didn’t know if it was because the man knew they weren’t going to do him in. Yet. Or if what he’d said back at the hotel was true. The nasty scene in front of him, gnawed at his stomach. He’d seen a lot of things in his life. Never thought a day would rise or set with Ronin eating someone’s brain. That shit was fucked up. What he did to Oliver was gruesome and wrong on all sorts of humane levels. The brother wasn’t even the least bit jarred by his action. Just the opposite. He was smiling as he grabbed a new shirt off the back of the chair in the corner, buttoned up and was ready to head out.

  Blood still stained his lips. He’d eaten a piece of Oliver’s brain, the cerebrum, the part of the brain that retained memories and had tossed the rest. Draven witnessed many forms of tortures in his long life. Fuck! A screwdriver jabbed inside the ear would have been a better way to handle the situation than just eating the guy’s brain. His body swayed as he’d watched in horror. The entire time Royce was as calm as can be. He didn’t waste any time, but he had a funny feeling there was more to this than just getting information of out the man. A lot more. He wasn’t about to speculate either, as long as the twins were on his side he was golden.

  “I can’t believe he did that,” Jes whispered. He was glad he’d shielded her from the worst part. Gods she’d really have issues with men because of Ronin’s violent display. The location and plans to secure his daughter was the outcome he’d wanted. A small part of him wanted to rescue the vampires, but his mind was consumed with thoughts of his daughter. Royce knew it, and made sure he pressed the correct question button. Jes needed to rest. She could stay here or go back to his parents’ and wait for the mission to be complete.

  “Fuck,” Dietrich breathed. “I’m a bad motherfucker, and I mean I’m pretty fucked up in the head sometimes, but I want some of what the twins got going between them. That shit right there, was beast.” He pounded Gabe on the back, who looked over his shoulder with a troubled look on his face and continued walking. Gabe usually had jokes. Lots. Dravaggio gave them two hours to rest up. Meeting in the war room would happen only after Gabe scouted their location with his high tech shit. Dude was the best scout and surveillance whiz out there.

  Melissa was at the end of the hall, her fury beat at his body, and his skin stung from the emotional assault. The rest of the team slowed their pace. Fucking gossip whores the whole lot of them! They wanted to see the drama unfold. Watch Melissa go into her bitch fit. He only wanted to get him and Jes back to the room he kept here. They needed to talk.

  Melissa’s face scrunched at the brows. Her gaze was on his left hand. He’d wrapped it around Jes�
��s waist to guide her back towards the elevators.

  “You know,” Melissa began. She cocked her head to the side and took a disgruntled sniff in the air, her posture stiffened. She narrowed her eyes. Turbulent storm grey eyes, glazed with hatred.

  “You fucking marked her, Draven?” She yelled. Her voice was coma inducing. How did he ever stand their fights? Her tone bled his ears and turned his skin cold.

  “I could have over looked your blasé attitude for a quick roll in the hay, but marking another female after we’ve been together for over seven years?” Lie number one. Draven thought to himself, he felt Jes stiffen in his arms, because yeah she wasn’t stupid. She was doing the quick math in her head, which granted wasn’t hard at all five plus two equaled seven and his daughter was five, which meant if she was in mind to believe the shit Melissa was piping, then she would think he was scum and that she was just a side fling. Which she wasn’t.

  “Oh don’t get so upset doll, he does this all the time. Like the stray wolf he is. He goes out to scratch an itch only to come crawling back my way. It’s no wonder I let him back home.”

  “Knock it off Melissa,” Draven growled. Lie number two. “You knew in the beginning this could happen. We were both on board with the possibility that at any time we’d find our mates.” He squeezed Jesminda tighter in his arms. They both knew the consequences of the type of relationship they were in. Either one of them could find their true mates. Destiny put its finger on the trigger and pulled without aim. When it hit, it hit.

  “She’s mine.” He simply stated. Melissa knew he was right, could see the knowledge in her eyes, but she continued the arguing anyway.

  “You will grow tired of her soon. She can’t produce cubs. She’s human after all.” Melissa spat the words. They were words she wanted to hurt. But she’d play any card at this point. Even if she didn’t realize her errors.

  “He has a cub already, he doesn’t need yours.” Draven looked down at the fighter in his arms. Jes didn’t think she was strong enough for their relationship. She thought she was dead inside. She was stronger than she gave herself credit for. Her actions contradicted her words. Melissa wouldn’t be a threat to a woman who wasn’t concerned about an ex. But his island flower was defending her position by his side whether she wanted to admit it or not.

  “You got her with cub? She doesn’t smell like she’s ripe. If you’re trying to make me jealous it worked okay, I’m thoroughly jealous.” She pouted and took a step toward him. She’d ignored Jes and addressed him directly. His team slowed at the entrance to the elevators. They hung back waiting for the explosion. Melissa’s skin was a bright red, blotchy and sweaty. She was preventing her change as best she could. Still, her wolf qualities showed with distinct clarity. Her eyes were wider, dilated. Her hair was thicker and lengthened preparing her for the change.

  He made a move to step in front of Jes, to shield her from Melissa, but she took a step in front of him, blocking his ex’s progress. Melissa drew up short; the hands at her side were balled in semi-fists as she made room for her elongating nails. He knew her wolf took it as a direct challenge, and Draven tried pulling Jes into his safety, but she sidestepped him. She was determined to stand her ground and he’d let her and be there if she needed him. She eyed Melissa and grinned.

  “Honey, I didn’t say I was gonna keep him,” The men in the room coughed. “Look, our daughter is five years old, and as far as marking me, I didn’t ask for it.” Jesminda turned to look at him, but he didn’t hear anything past the not keeping him part. What in all the heavens above did he need to do to make her understand there was no going back? She was his and he was hers. The woman pushed all his buttons, held his heart in a vice grip. She’d squeezed too hard this time. He took a menacing step forward and shoved her behind him and held firmly to her wrist, when she tried to struggle. Message received and rejected. He thought.

  “Back off Melissa, it’s none of your concern, once I’m finished here with my team, I’ll stop by tomorrow to get my things, don’t fuck with me on this. I can be a real bastard and you know I can. Go home.”

  Draven turned, ignoring Melissa’s fury. He bent at the waist and shoved his shoulder into his mate’s stomach off balancing her, he placed one hand on her thigh and squeezed tightly, causing her to squeak. The other hand splayed over her ass in a possessive gesture. It was time he reminded her why he was alpha of this relationship and master of her universe. The others would handle Melissa.

  Chapter 20

  The barbarian act was getting old, quick. She was tired of being man handled from all sides. She’d only trembled slightly when he’d hefted her over his shoulder. Progress. She knew she’d not over reacted. In a way, she was prepared for his outburst. Was she baiting him? Maybe a little. They had two hours to spare before he left. Why she’d pushed him, she wasn’t sure. The effects would prove interesting. The man had a gorgeous back and ass. The muscles flexed and bunched as he stomped down the hall. And why was her brain clouded with arousal? Things had not been settled between the two of them. She knew he was giving her time to adjust, but really did she want to? Maybe.

  She’d gone completely limp, because, well, there was no use in fighting a man quadruple her size. One who could turn furry at a drop of a hat. He’d never turn on her and she knew that. Somewhere deep inside her safe corner, she’d come to realize he’d never intentionally hurt her or their daughter.

  He swung back around to his men ignoring Melissa and her current tirade. She’d suffered an alarmingly dose of heavy jealously. The entire time the other woman ran her mouth Jes only saw two things. Her hitting Melissa and Melissa hitting the floor. No dignity what so ever. If she’d been the one on the receiving end of Draven’s words, she’d have left. Why stay and further humiliate oneself? When Melissa ignored her, the urge to stand up to her was all-consuming, and so she’d reacted. Killed two targets with a few words. Draven and his ego were hurt due to her declaration of not keeping him. Then to the female, by insinuating she wasn’t going to keep him. Insinuate? As in to imply? Jes groaned. The hole of miscommunication was getting deeper and deeper. She’d dig her way through the entire core of the planet if she kept acting one way and saying something completing different. Wishy-washy wasn’t her. She always stuck to her plans. Never deviated. She couldn’t keep Draven. She doubted any one woman could. He was the thief in the night, the wolf on the prowl, and she knew in time he’d get bored with her. Right? Maybe that was him five years ago. He was different now. Unprocessed sexuality fused itself to his skin. A constant aroma wafted into her nose and played to her feminine side. The logical side of her tried to resist him at every turn.

  She argued a bit more with herself while studying the ass encased in black sweats. He still was wearing the Henley shirt, but every time he took a step toward the elevator, his muscles would undulate and mold to his skin. Niiiceee. The shirt couldn’t hide his predators’ grace. It molded to his body, adapted to him. Not the other way around. He’d let the others know he’d meet them in the conference room in two hours. She figured he’d drag her back to his parent’s house where he’d give her a tongue-lashing. Maybe with actual tongue? No!

  She wasn’t worried, she could handle it, and she realized with a sick feeling in her gut that he no longer required her assistance. They had the location of the vampires and possibly Marcus and the creepy guy Oliver called The Red Sun. It sounded like an organization, but the way Oliver said the name hinted at maybe it was someone instead of something.

  Draven moved with purpose and hit the elevator button. She had to balance herself on his lower back with her arms to lift her head up. All the blood rushed forward making her temples pound. She felt his warm hand on the cheek of her ass, squeezing it. Distracting her from her thoughts.

  The doors to the elevator hissed open. They walked in Jes still in his arms. He gently adjusted her to face him. The heat from his hands seared her thighs as he wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Now what,” she ask
ed.

  They were eye level now and his eyes were dark and purposeful. The hands splayed on her thighs squeezed. Her pulse spiked and her nipples hardened. The elevator was too small and the pit of her stomach hollowed. Her mind may not be on board with his barbaric ways but her body was. Draven turned and pressed her into the elevators wall. His lips pushed softly against hers. She surrendered, fighting was too exhausting. Jes wrapped her arms tight around his neck and wiggled against the hard erection cradled by her core.

  “Stop moving woman,” he groaned, pulling her tighter in his hold. His infectious taste made her deepen the kiss, tangling their tongues in a wet embrace. She didn’t want to breathe and he wasn’t trying to let her either. He explored her mouth, cruel and hard he latched on to her lips and sucked. Liquid magma threaten to burn her alive. Her skin tingled and her pussy wept moisture onto her panties. He did this to her, on such a massive level she didn’t have any other choice but to hang on for the ride.

  Draven’s hands moved to her waist in a firm hold and he lifted her so that she rose a bit higher than his head. Their lips were still connected by their kiss. “Put your feet down baby,” he said against her lips. She didn’t want to let go she wanted to stay securely wrapped around him. But he was lifting her, pulling her legs free. He slid her down his body in a slow delicious glide that had them both groaning in pleasure. His mouth traveled to her neck and licked. Her lips and skin tingled from his kiss, leaving her weak and dizzy. Her groan was loud, bouncing inside the small enclosure of the elevator, filling her with a need for more, more of him. He held her suspended between him and the wall. The heat of him penetrated deep into her womb.

  His hand slid its way to her breast and squeezed. A delicious sting sending salacious information through her body. She wanted him even if she wouldn’t keep him. There was nothing wrong with a small slice of happiness. A corner would be okay. Draven bent his head and continued the assault on her mouth. The sensation of their fused mouths, dueling tongues warmed her body and her heart.