Dangerous Influence (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 5)

by Morgan Kelley

  She looked up.

  That wasn’t what she meant.

  “This is because of me, Flynn.”

  “No, Jolie, It’s for you. There’s a big difference.” He pulled the blade from his boot. “It’s silver. End me. You might as well.”

  “I can’t do that, Flynn. I won’t.”

  “Then I’ll do it myself.”

  She watched in horror as he slammed the blade right into his heart. He staggered, hit his knees, and then fell backward.

  “Flynn!” she shouted, crawling toward him.

  The panic welled up.

  What the hell had she done?

  She pulled his head into her lap and reached for the blade. When she yanked it from his chest, his eyes opened.

  She gasped. “What the hell?”

  “I can’t die. I’m trapped now, and you don’t want me anymore. I’ve lost it all. If you walk away from me, I’m destined to suffer alone—forever.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I do want you. I hate that I’m responsible for this. I left the house. I made you do this. Had I…if I…” She began crying.

  Flynn sat up and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Jolie. I’ve always loved you from the moment I saw you in that office. You’ve owned my heart, and now we’re bound together. My gift lives off your gift. Rinnon and the Harbinger are a matched set. Death didn’t punish me. She gave us a present. I can keep you safe. I can defend our family.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder as he comforted her.

  “I’m a demon-y vampyre mix, but that’s not bad. Yes, my soul is gone, but I’m still here. Instead of having to protect me, you can now trust that I’m here to keep you safe. I can offer something more to our union. Before, I was the human. Now, I’m an equal.”

  She knew that he was more than that. Flynn was now the most powerful one in their family.

  He was kissed by Death.

  It gave it a whole other meaning.

  “What if Death takes you away from me? What if, when this is all over, she reneges on her deal, and we lose you? What will I do then, when I have to look at your child and know you’re lost to me?”

  “Ask her.”

  “She won’t be honest. She’s freaking Death!”

  He called for her.

  “Mistress, I need you.”

  There was laughter, and Jolie’s skin crawled. When she glanced up at Flynn, his eyes were black, his fangs were out, and she heard wings.

  Death brought it out in him.

  She could call forth his demon and vampyre side.

  “You rang?” she asked, sitting in the nearby tree watching them.

  “Turn him back.”

  “I can’t, and even if I could, I wouldn’t. You don’t know what’s coming, Jolie. You have no clue. You’re about to face off against an army of killers, and all you have to use against them is my gifts. You needed this, and you can hate me all you want. Flynn is indestructible. He’s not limited like he was before. Now, he will do battle and defend you.”

  She sat there.

  “I need a blood oath.”

  Death hopped down and moved toward them. When she approached, Jolie stood.

  Flynn didn’t.

  He bowed to no one.

  Not then.

  Not now.

  Instead, he stayed in the same place watching his beloved mate. He could tell one thing…

  Jolie hated this.

  He was in her mind.

  She hated that someone had power over her mate. Demon or not, he was hers. Flynn was her soul mate.

  “What oath do you require?”

  “I need a blood oath that you swear you’ll never take him away from us. I need a promise that you won’t screw us over once you get your way.”

  Death laughed. “You think very little of me, don’t you?”

  “No, I think highly of him. He’s my mate, and you’ve already made him into something more. I was his mistress, and you took that without giving me a choice. You knew I wouldn’t have let you do this, so you were deceitful.”

  Death laughed.

  “I don’t want to lose him.”

  “Very well. I’ll give you the blood oath.” She cut her wrist and the black murk bubbled. When Jolie started to move toward her, Flynn stopped her.

  “I’ll do it. I don’t want her blood to change you. You’re growing our babies. We don’t need more demons.”

  Death laughed. “Very wise, my pet.”

  Jolie cringed.

  “He’s not your pet. He’s my fiancé. He’s my love. Flynn is mine, so remember that. I have to accept that you own and control him, but I don’t have to like it.”

  “Actually, I don’t own him. Flynn, pick up that knife and kill her.”

  Jolie gasped.

  He didn’t move.

  “See? He has free will. I made sure he only has a few extra bells and whistles under the hood. I can’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to do, or I would have had him in my bed. I offered. He declined. I say he has a deep well of control, or you’re hot in the sack, Jolie.”

  “I love her, that’s why I wouldn’t betray her.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Let’s get this oath over with. You get my blood, and I promise not to take Flynn from you, or you from Flynn when this is over.”

  Flynn took Death’s wrist and drank the blood.

  He hissed, his eyes went even darker, and his fangs appeared to lengthen.

  “Your oath is done. Anything else?”

  “From here on out, you won’t do anything like this again. They are off limits. Our children, until they are older, are off limits too.”

  “You know, you could be a little more grateful for what you’ve been given.”

  She snapped her fingers and Jolie grabbed her chest. The pain burned through her. Death brought her to her knees.

  Flynn picked Jolie up and held her to his body. There was a fluttering of invisible wings, and his energy eased the pain. Death couldn’t hurt her.

  Flynn was immune.

  “Don’t hurt my mate,” Flynn ordered.

  Death listened.

  Surprisingly.

  “So be it.”

  “Thank you, Mistress.”

  “Now, if you don’t mind, I have some mayhem to raise in a third world nation. You know I love reaping the casualties of war.”

  Jolie blinked, and Death was gone.

  Flynn stared at her.

  “Are you okay?”

  “No. I’m not.”

  Jolie clung to him as he placed her on her feet. “What can I do to help you?” she asked. “I put us in this mess, and I want to fix it.”

  “Let me have you. Don’t push me away. Don’t fear me. Love me, Jolie. Love me with all you have. Hold me to you. I’m scared too.”

  She moved into the warmth of his body. “I do love you.”

  “Then prove it. Love the man I am right now without holding back. Don’t see what I’ve become. Instead, see who you fell in love with.”

  She touched his chest above his heart.

  Flynn’s heart reacted. It skipped beneath her fingers as proof of who owned it.

  Jolie moved closer.

  “I want to see what you really look like. What does your new form take?”

  He wasn’t sure.

  He spoke to Vanth in his head. She sent him a picture. He made sure Jolie wouldn’t be hurt if she saw it, like everyone would be if they saw Vanth.

  When he opened his eyes, he had his answer.

  “Slip into my mind. It’s there.”

  Jolie did what he asked. When she saw him, Jolie was intrigued. It was a mix. It was Flynn, but not Flynn. He was a vampyre but more. His eyes were deep dark black, and when she focused on them, she wanted to fall into them. His body was the same, bulky, strong, and familiar.

  Then she saw him open his wings.

  They were beautiful. The black shiny feathers looked touchable. Then she looked closer. They were as sharp as razorblades, and kissed wi
th blood.

  Jolie gasped.

  “Hideous?”

  She shook her head. “No. You’re stunningly beautiful, Flynn. You’re still the sexiest man in the world. Well, demon, or is that vampyre?”

  “Go with man. I’m still me.”

  When she opened her eyes, he was watching her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For?”

  “For making you feel like you wouldn’t be attractive, sexy, and wanted. You are, Flynn. I just need two things from you.”

  “And they are?”

  “To know you don’t blame me for this.”

  “Never. It was my choice, and honestly, we both know that I wanted to be more like you than like who I was. Now I am. I’m strong, Jolie.”

  She ran her hands over his shoulders.

  He certainly was.

  It called to her. He was still her mate—her sexy detective.

  “What was the second thing you needed, Jolie? Ask, and it’s yours.”

  “You, Flynn. I need you.”

  His eyes dilated. “Jolie.”

  “Here, Flynn. It seems right. Here’s where you came to grips with losing your humanity, and here is where we’ll discover your new self. Together.”

  He pulled her to his body.

  The scent of mate overwhelmed him. Whatever it was that was living in him, it recognized her as his other half. That was still the same, and he was glad.

  He wanted her more than anything.

  When she went up on her toes to meet his mouth, Flynn was praying that it would be the same as it always was.

  Only, as she kissed him, it wasn’t.

  It was better.

  Her death and his demon came together. They mingled and they joyously found each other again. As lips and tongues tangled, the heat built.

  It made them wild.

  The vampyre in her reacted to her mate even more than before. Her body temperature rose as Flynn destroyed her with the kiss. It felt like he was trying to crawl into her body by way of her mouth, and Jolie never wanted him to stop.

  Wings fluttered.

  Jolie swore they protectively wrapped around her body. The tickle of feathers kissed her skin.

  ‘They are,’ he whispered into her mind. ‘I’ll always protect you, mate.’

  That gave her chills.

  Flynn lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his hips. As soon as she was pressed to him, he hissed.

  She froze.

  “Flynn?”

  “I’ve never wanted you more,” he said, the lisp gone. Apparently, he was accustomed to his new fangs.

  They looked wicked, and she couldn’t wait until they were buried in her body.

  “I can’t either,” he admitted, reading her thoughts. He didn’t really have to try. They were so connected that the words were just there...

  “I’ve wanted to touch you all night.”

  “Is that all?” she asked, staring into his eyes.

  Flynn snapped his fingers.

  Her teeth slid into her mouth, and her eyes bled black. Apparently, Flynn could control the predators in them.

  She didn’t mind.

  “I wanted to take you. I wanted to fuck you. I wanted to make you mine.”

  She got wet.

  Her heart pounded.

  The words nearly did her in. Jolie couldn’t imagine what was going to happen when he actually started.

  Goose bumps rushed across her flesh.

  “May I have my woman?” he asked.

  “It’s not like you to ask,” Jolie admitted.

  “This is the only time I will. Past this moment, you’ll be mine. I won’t ask again. If you want me to leave, I will. If you want me to stay, I will never wander from your side. I will be loyal until the day we both die.”

  She knew what he meant.

  Flynn was asking for a promise.

  “I’m yours. Mate with me, Rinnon. Mate with me, Flynn.”

  He growled low in his chest. Without warning, he began licking across her throat. When her sweater got in his way, he tugged it from her body.

  His hands wandered.

  His mouth wandered.

  His erection throbbed against her.

  “Can we make this fast?” she asked. “I don’t know if I can handle waiting. I need you, Flynn. Take me.”

  He hissed. “Be careful what you ask for, Jolie.”

  She did something she rarely did.

  Jolie grabbed him by the hair, yanked his head to the side, and slammed her fangs into his throat.

  Flynn dropped to his knees.

  The pleasure was unbelievable.

  It stole his breath.

  As she feasted on his blood, he lowered her to the ground. There, he worked on getting her free from her pants. Once they were down her legs, he tugged on the panties. They rubbed and pulled free of her body.

  Jolie moaned.

  She heard the zipper.

  She knew what was being set free.

  There was no way she could wait forever. Instead, she broke the kiss and dropped to her knees. As she stared up at him, Jolie stroked his erection.

  “I owe you this for the show at Mulduk’s.”

  He growled as her hand moved up and down his dick.

  “Jolie,” he hissed, trying to concentrate.

  “Let me show you how much you’re loved.”

  And she did.

  Jolie worked him hard. Flynn had to lean against the tree as she practically swallowed him whole. His erection moved in and out of her mouth, and with each stroke, she wanted him even more.

  The need would never end.

  It was unmatched by anything she had ever felt in her life. Even with their other mate, Jacques, this was more. Jolie could feel the ties to him tighten. It was as if this one act of mating was changing everything.

  The bond was so much stronger.

  She couldn’t explain it other than they were meant to be, and now would be for all eternity. Flynn, even changed, was now forever her mate.

  He tried to stay on his feet.

  It wasn’t easy.

  Jolie kept nicking him with her fangs, and he didn’t buy for a single second that it was an accident.

  She set him free.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” he said, lifting her into his arms. Again, her legs went around his hips. Only, now it was flesh to flesh.

  Flynn leaned her back against their tree.

  He stared into her eyes.

  “Mine.”

  With that, he buried himself in her body.

  Jolie came.

  It was like nothing she’d ever felt before in her life. It was like a wave of intense pleasure cascaded over her so she couldn’t catch her breath.

  So, this was what sex with a demon was like?

  Holy hell!

  It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. This was Flynn, but something more. It was edgier, darker, and hotter than ever.

  “Oh, God,” he muttered, as her body reacted to his.

  It was amazing.

  Then he began moving.

  As he slid in and out of Jolie, as she was pressed to the tree, he saw starbursts behind his eyes.

  Everything felt a million times more powerful. This mating mattered.

  She mattered.

  As he continued to pound himself into her, Jolie begged for more. Her nails kissed his flesh with a little pain as he took his mate.

  As she came again, he couldn’t stop.

  He wouldn’t.

  There was no way he wanted it to end.

  Jolie wanted to feast on him in the worst way. His blood was calling to her. One taste, and she couldn’t stay away.

  Flynn was her addiction.

  He was her all.

  “Go ahead, mate,” he growled, reading her mind. He wanted her mouth on him. Flynn wanted his blood in her body, in their children, feeding them all.

  As he continued the assault with his lower body, marking her
forever, Jolie took a bite.

  His blood rushed into her mouth.

  It fueled her.

  While she had been feeling helpless, lost, and alone, now she was tingling. Flynn’s blood began coursing through her body.

  She gulped.

  She drank.

  Jolie couldn’t stop.

  Flynn didn’t tell her to, and suddenly, she realized she had to have taken too much.

  When she pulled away, he was still taking her.

  “Like our love, I’m endless. I’m yours.”

  She got it.

  Here was one of their gifts. When they needed blood, Flynn could supply them whatever they needed.

  That was priceless.

  She came again, and this time, she bared her throat as he threw her off the edge of control and into the storm.

  Flynn saw the jump of her pulse, and he wanted her.

  He needed her.

  As he hissed, his fangs lengthened more, and they shone in the moonlight.

  “God, yes, please,” she begged. “Take me.”

  “It will bind us together forever, Jolie. It will change everything from here on out,” he offered, slowing down his pace.

  She didn’t care.

  Jolie wanted them to fall together into the pleasure. She wanted to share that with him.

  “I don’t care. Just do it!”

  He gave her what she wanted.

  Roughly, he slammed his mouth down on the elegant column of her throat.

  She gasped in pleasure as he exploded in her body.

  He finished drinking from his mate and they slid to the ground, him cradling her in his arms.

  It was done.

  Jolie was forever his.

  “Wow! For a demon, you’ve still got it.”

  He started laughing.

  “You’re a naughty vampyre, and I love you that way.”

  Jolie touched his cheek. “I meant what I said. I will love you forever.”

  “When this is over, and I have to leave to keep my promise...?”

  She stopped him.

  “I will be by your side. I will help you. When I had to play Harbinger, you didn’t run. You made sure you went to battle with me, Flynn. I plan on sticking close by you.”

  That was what he needed to hear.

  He kissed her. “Thank you, Jolie.”

  Flynn didn’t need to say those words to her—ever.

  They were a unit.