by Aubrey Ross
“I don’t answer to you, human.”
“Well, you do answer to me,” Rebecca reminded him. “What’s our next step?”
“I had intended to keep things simple. Your ability to transform isn’t widely known, and I didn’t want to alert Taerok with my actions.”
“Taerok obviously knows about my abilities or he wouldn’t have tried to kidnap me.”
“I agree. His attempt changes everything.”
“Is it more likely he’ll make another attempt for me or move on to his next target?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“What does that mean?” Katsu’s tone was less confrontational, though challenge still burned in his eyes. “How do we prevent Taerok from trying again?”
“We?” Before Katsu could respond to the provocation, Lukas explained, “Rebecca must be moved to a safe house, somewhere beyond Taerok’s reach.”
* * *
Fangs slashed into Raze’s throat. Flesh tore and blood flowed freely. Raze screamed then moaned. Pleasure rushed in, mixing with discomfort, confusion, and arousal. Taerok, his master, held him tightly, feeding with long, deep pulls. The wound ached; his entire body ached. Why had Taerok awakened him so violently? Had he done something wrong?
Raze’s skin tingled, his senses electrified by the master’s demand. His cock hardened and his body heated, ready to take or be taken, whatever the master desired. He stroked Taerok’s hair, enjoying the unguarded moment and the frantic need so obvious in his master’s actions.
It had been so long since Taerok turned to him for sustenance or sexual relief. Raze had nearly given up hope that Taerok would ever return to his bed. The master’s obsession with the Dichotomy bitch had overshadowed everything else. But the bitch was gone and Taerok had returned.
Taerok tore his mouth away with a snarl. Blood coated his chin and ran down his neck, decorating his naked chest with shiny red rivulets. Without warning, he shoved Raze off the bed and crawled to the edge of the mattress. He unfastened his pants and pushed them to his knees, freeing his massive erection.
“Suck me. Strengthen yourself with my come.”
Raze shivered. It had been like this for years shortly after his transformation. The master fed deeply then used his essence to energize Raze. By depriving him of blood and nourishing him sexually, their frenzied bouts of fucking could go on indefinitely.
Without hesitation, Raze knelt beside the bed and clasped his hands behind his back. If the master wanted to be touched, he would ask for Raze’s hands. Until then Raze was only allowed to use the soft suction of his mouth.
He parted his lips and licked the tip of Taerok’s meaty cock. Unlike human males, organic vampires had complete control over their erections. Taerok could come repeatedly while his shaft remained hard.
The flared head of Taerok’s cock stretched the circle of his lips. Raze swirled his tongue and angled his head, lost in the rapture of utter submission. No one tasted like the master. No one else filled his soul with longing and made his body burn.
He placed his hands on the bed, careful not to touch Taerok. Then he pushed forward, savoring the hot slide against his tongue. His own cock swayed, eager to please or be pleased as the master commanded.
With an impatient growl, Taerok grabbed his hair and thrust to the back of his throat. “More. Take it all.”
Raze tilted his head back and swallowed, gagging as the thick mass slid deeper. Taerok shuddered, his shaft jerking violently. His seed shot down Raze’s throat, igniting fiery sensations as it descended.
Lust flared within Raze, fueled by the master’s essence. He sucked and licked wildly as Taerok pulled out, unwilling to separate for even a moment. His cock bucked, demanding release in one form or another.
Taerok stood beside the bed, his flame-bright eyes moving over Raze. “Do you want me to fuck you?”
“Yes, Master, please!”
“What will you do to please me?”
“Anything. You have only to name it.”
“Good. Take a quick shower. She’s expecting us.”
Dread dropped into the pit of his stomach. Who did Taerok mean? He knew better than to ask. Too often his questions had been met with displeasure and impatience.
He moved across the room and stepped into the shower stall. Within the master’s chamber, Raze wasn’t allowed clothing or any form of privacy. He belonged to Taerok, body and soul.
Raze tried not to worry as he cleaned the blood from his shoulders and chest. The wound on his neck had closed and was beginning to regenerate. Immortality and physical perfection were the master’s gifts. In exchange he had demanded twenty-five years of unconditional submission.
Submitting to the master felt natural and thrilling. There was nothing Raze wouldn’t do for Taerok. Unfortunately, Taerok also offered Raze’s body and blood to other vampires. Raze had been devastated the first time he’d been fucked by another as Taerok watched. Despite the physical pleasure, he had felt degraded and abused.
“You don’t look happy.” Taerok stood on the other side of the shower enclosure, fully dressed, all evidence of their recent indulgence gone. Of average height and lean build, he wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. It was only the smoldering intensity of his dark eyes that revealed any hint of his deadly nature.
“My twenty-five years are dwindling quickly.” Raze kept his gaze lowered, yet angled his body to better display his erection. “I don’t want to squander any of my time with you.”
“Your years are mine to squander or hoard. I thought you had come to terms with what you are.”
“I’m your willing slave. That will never change.” The pressure in his crotch suddenly flared and he groaned. Why was Taerok tormenting him? He’d felt sexual compulsion often enough to recognize the unnatural surge. “Please, Master, may I…pleasure myself?”
“No. I want her to see you in all your naked splendor.”
“As you wish.” He turned off the water and slicked his wet hair back from his face.
“Come.” Taerok held out his hand. “It’s not wise to keep her waiting.”
Dreading the inevitable, Raze slipped from the shower stall and placed his hand on top of Taerok’s. The room spun out of focus and he instinctively reached for the only solid object left in the distortion. He wrapped his arms around the master and held on tight.
They rushed through the night, propelled by Taerok’s power. Raze trembled in his arms, awed and terrified by the spectacle. Taerok could instantly teleport to any location within a hundred-mile radius of his lair. Taking others with him required concentration and a massive withdrawal of energy. This was different. They were flying, speeding across the night sky toward some distant destination. Raze could barely breathe, could only cling to Taerok’s body and pray for a soft landing.
The earth below them rolled and pitched, blurring landscapes and waterways. Relax. We’re almost there. The reassurance was out of character for Taerok. More often he orchestrated situations for maximum chaos.
Gradually, the breath-stealing momentum slowed. Raze consciously eased his grip on Taerok’s torso and turned his head so he could assess their destination. Rounded hills undulated toward the shadowed horizon. He could make out scattered clumps of trees, but nothing that resembled a dwelling.
They plummeted. Raze cried out, bracing for impact. Utter darkness engulfed them for a moment, then they emerged into golden light. Though excavated from solid stone, the walls were perfectly angled and smooth. Dense carpeting cushioned his feet and there was no visible light source. No doorways or windows. The illumination simply existed within the room. Taerok disentangled their arms and stepped back. Raze swayed, shaken and out of breath.
“What took you so long? I’m tempted to rescind my invitation.”
The woman’s melodious voice sent icy shivers down Raze’s spine. He could still feel the cruel bite of her whip and the bruising pressure of his chains as she drove him to the brink of madness.
&
nbsp; It had been thirteen years since the master sought out Ella. What had prompted the journey now? Was this her lair? They had always met her at vampire strongholds within teleportation range before.
“You won’t send me away and we both know it,” Taerok told her. “Would you like to hear my offer?” Raze didn’t understand the nuances of their relationship. He only knew they were distant cousins and Taerok desired her nearly as much as he resented her.
“I’d like to see your slave. Bring him closer.”
Raze cringed. After watching him yield his body to various members of the vampire elite, Ella had become obsessed with Raze. She coaxed and cajoled, bartered and bribed until Taerok granted her one night in which to explore her cravings. She found Raze’s reluctance amusing and negotiated more time to explore his “potential”.
“Turn around and display yourself for your mistress,” Taerok directed.
Dread slowed his movements, making each step painful. He turned and approached Ella. They might demand he use the term, but she would never be his mistress. Such a relationship required loyalty and trust.
She sat at a table, which was pushed against the wall, wearing a satin dressing gown. With common brown hair and a heart-shaped face, some might find Ella pretty. Raze had only to look into her light brown eyes for her to lose all physical appeal. She was selfish and cruel, controlling in a way that left him cold.
He stood proudly, refusing to cower before her even if it cost him his life. Raising his arms, he clasped his hands behind his head and stared into the shadows beyond her.
“Still so arrogant.” Her chuckle was humorless. “And so delectable.” She rose and closed the distance between them.
Taerok insinuated himself between them before Ella’s fingers made contact with Raze’s naked flesh. “My offer is simple. You help me abduct a Dichotomy halfling and Raze is yours for the seven years remaining in his apprenticeship.”
“Master!”
Taerok raised his hand in warning then turned back to Ella. “You began coveting my slave the first time you saw him. I can’t blame you. He is spectacular.”
“Which Dichotomy halfling?” Ella stared at Taerok, suspicion clear in her expression. “What are you hoping to accomplish by the abduction?”
“The details are not important to our exchange.”
“I disagree.” She folded her arms beneath her breasts, causing the robe to gape strategically. “I never pledge myself blindly. If you want my help, you’ll tell me what this is about.”
Blood roared through Raze’s ears. Why would Taerok offer him to this coldhearted bitch, not for a night or two, but for seven years?
“You know of the Dichotomy?” Taerok’s tone revealed nothing.
“I’ve never interacted with them, but I’ve heard the name.”
“They’re a fascinating people. Full-blooded Dichotomy are born with two distinct personalities and appearances. They’re one person at night and a completely different person during the day.”
“There are many fascinating beings in the world. What does this have to do with me or you for that matter?”
Taerok paused and Raze watched the exchange more closely. It seemed foolish for Taerok to explain his true motivation. If Ella realized he was trying to escape the solar trance, she would demand to be included in the outcome. Taerok would then lose his best advantage.
“Their unique nature drew me to one of their kind. I became unusually enamored of her.”
“They didn’t appreciate you seducing one of their daughters?” Amusement made her eyes gleam and curved her lips into a subtle smile.
“It’s more complicated than an affair.” Taerok rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “I tried to transform her.” He sounded utterly miserable. It was all Raze could do not to laugh.
“What happened to her?”
“I thought we’d succeeded. She survived the first few days, but… Blood lust drove her insane. She went on a rampage and my only option was to kill her or return her to her people.”
“You killed her, didn’t you?”
“She murdered the son of one of their council members. If I hadn’t turned her over to the Sentinels, I would have been included in their hunt.”
“Sentinels? Why are those sanctimonious bastards involved in something so incidental?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. I was ready to let bygones be bygones, but the Dichotomy council called in the Sentinels.”
“I still don’t understand. If you kidnap a Dichotomy now, won’t that accomplish the same thing? The Sentinels will hunt you down and kill you.”
“I suspect that’s their intention anyway, but I have to know why they want me dead. I need to know what they’re planning. I will not let Max use the Sentinels to further his personal agenda.”
“Max.” Ella sighed. “I haven’t seen Max in ages.”
Taerok snarled. “Will you help me or not?”
Raze was amazed. Everything Taerok said was true, but he’d carefully skirted the crux of the issue. His desire for the Dichotomy halfling had nothing to do with the Sentinels or Max. The Sentinels were simply trying to stop him from getting his hands on a halfling.
“Why me?” Ella asked. “What specifically, would you expect me to do?”
“I’ve selected the council member most likely to know what the hell is going on and most likely to submit to my interrogation.”
“A beautiful female, I presume.” She glanced at Raze. “You already possess the most beautiful male I’ve ever seen.”
“As soon as you take me through the Veil, Raze is yours to do with as you wish.”
Ella stilled, gaze sharp with speculation. “Why do you need to go through the Veil? Elves are even less tolerant of vampires than humans.”
“Lukas Mandalay has been assigned to protect the halfling I need to interrogate. There are only two places he can take her that are unreachable to me, Sentinel Headquarters and the Otherworld. My money is on the later.”
“Lukas Mandalay can navigate the Veil?” she sounded skeptical. “How is that possible?”
“His father was a Dark Elf.”
She was silent for a moment, apparently considering her options. “Do you have someone watching Sentinel Headquarters in case you’re wrong?”
“Of course, but I’m not.”
“I want prepayment before we depart and Lukas is mine as well as Raze.”
Distrust narrowed Taerok’s eyes. “Do whatever you like with Mandalay, but what do you mean by prepayment?”
Chapter Three
“A safe house?” Rebecca echoed. “If there is such a place, why don’t we move all three of Taerok’s targets there until after the Sentinels find and deal with him?”
“The Sidhe are very particular about who they allow into their realm. They seldom involve themselves in the conflicts of others. We’ll have to convince them we’re lovers determined to have a few days to ourselves.”
“The Sidhe as in Irish elves?” She pushed her hands into the pockets of her pants, afraid she’d trace the sensual shape of her protector’s mouth. Despite the lingering danger, his strong arms were inviting. She wanted to cuddle against his chest and press her face into the warmth of his skin. There had never been a time when she could relax and let someone else take control. She had to be strong and ambitious, half a step ahead of everyone else. Driven. It was exhausting.
Lukas chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. “You don’t believe in elves?”
“I know elves are real. I just didn’t realize there were any left on Earth.”
“D’arcy Aiden isn’t technically on Earth. I’ll have to take you through the Veil.”
“Through the Veil?” She dragged her gaze away from his handsome face. She couldn’t think straight when she looked at Lukas. He was simply too desirable.
Katsu slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. “When she starts echoing everything you say, it’s time to back off.”
“I
can’t back off. We need to get out of here before Taerok has time to reassess his options. She’s stronger than you think, maybe stronger than she realizes.” He held out his hand. “Rebecca, come here.”
Her heart leapt and tension gathered low in her belly. He wasn’t actually asking her to choose him over Katsu, but the possibility flowed around them like a heated undercurrent. Lukas was unrelenting passion, commanding and dangerous. Katsu was serene strength, comforting and protective. What a combination the two would make…
“You have to trust me if I’m going to keep you safe. Taerok senses conflict. It draws him like a moth to a flame.”
“Is that how he found me so quickly?” She moved away from Katsu and stepped back into her shoes. If she was going to another dimension, she wasn’t going to tromp around in her stockings. “Was he drawn by my argument with Katsu?”
“I don’t know. It’s more likely he knew where to find you, and the negativity allowed him to burrow past your shields.” He took a step toward her, his hand still proffered. “We need to go.”
“We can’t leave Katsu here. As soon as Taerok realizes where I’ve gone, he’ll use Katsu to lure me back.”
“I can take care of myself,” Katsu protested.
“We both saw how well you fared against Taerok.” Too much was at stake to indulge his pride. The image of Katsu’s listless body crumpled against the wall made her try again. “Taerok saw me in his arms. Katsu has to come with us.”
“How will we explain his presence?” Mischief ignited in the depths of Lukas’ bright blue eyes. “A romantic getaway for a lustful ménage à trois?”
Refusing to back down, she called his bluff. “Whatever it takes. Katsu is important to me, so he better be important to you.”
Katsu pressed his body against her back and wrapped both arms around her torso. “Am I really important to you?”
His warm breath teased her ear and her nipples hardened. “I’ve never denied caring about you. Please don’t start this all over again.”
“We didn’t settle the argument. We were rudely interrupted.”
