Dangerous Influence (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 5)

by Morgan Kelley

Jolie would rather lose her children and her life than go there with another monster.

  Jolie spit the blood from her mouth. She couldn’t see from her one eye, the blood had run down her forehead, and she was temporarily blinded.

  “How do you feel?” he asked. “I have to admit that I’m very turned on right now. The Tueur told me to kill you fast, but I think I want to take you to my bed, Jolie.”

  She was nearly empty.

  The blood puddling around her meant the end of her life. Maybe Flynn didn’t know she was unwell.

  Maybe it was too late.

  As the silver began unsnapping, she tried to muster more to fight him off. She just couldn’t.

  “Are you ready for me, pet?” he asked, lifting her into his arms.

  Jolie prayed for death.

  She prayed she could forget.

  His laughter filled her ears as he sunk his teeth into her neck.

  She wanted to be sick.

  She wanted…

  “Let’s get you undressed.”

  He tore at her clothes, raking his nails down her flesh. When he stripped the rest of the material from her torso, his hand touched the black markings.

  Mulduk hissed.

  The room wavered.

  “Flynn,” she whispered, as the darkness threatened to pull her under.

  She heard his reply.

  It was a howl.

  Then, Jolie went to death.

  Hopefully, not forever.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Flynn heard her plea.

  The spell blocking the wall and door was wavering. It gave him enough to break through.

  With his bloodied fist, he got the door open.

  As they raced in, Jolie’s blood was in the air.

  Above her, on Mulduk’s bed, he stood, naked.

  Flynn roared in anger. The monster in him knew what was coming, and he couldn’t let it happen.

  Charging the vampyre, he took the silver knives to his body. Mulduk had no idea who he was challenging.

  Flynn’s eyes were black, sparks of red surfacing in them as he filled with hate.

  His fangs lengthened, and his claws came out.

  He took Mulduk to the ground.

  Viciously, he tore into him.

  With each swipe, organs came out, the vampyre screamed, and Flynn kept digging his way through his body. He wanted to make him hurt for spilling Jolie’s blood.

  It was time to end this.

  “You’ve touched my woman,” Flynn growled, wrenching the man’s head from his shoulders. With a powerful yank, he tore it from his body, some of his spine joining it.

  He howled in anger as he heaved it at the wall.

  They heard a commotion.

  There were vampyres entering the room.

  “Take care of her. I have this,” Flynn ordered, standing up. His body crackled and popped and he appeared to get bigger. As he raced at the vampyres approaching, his mate handled their woman.

  “Jolie, my love,” Jacques said, picking her up in his arms. She was a mess. “Vanth!” he called.

  The demoness appeared.

  “Oh, she’s in bad shape.”

  He was well aware.

  “Get her home, and I’ll stay with Flynn.”

  Jacques was unsure.

  “Trust me. We have this.”

  She sent them home. With a snap of her fingers, they were gone, and she could help her Master.

  As she headed toward them, the undead were trying to stop him. Only, they wouldn’t be able to do it.

  Flynn was gone.

  This was the demon.

  And to stop him, it would take only one thing.

  Someone just like him.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Jolie could feel the darkness shimmering around her as Death appeared before her. She was lounging on a bed and surrounded by beautiful men.

  “Hello, Jolie,” Death said silkily.

  “Hello, Death.”

  “I see we barely dodged the bullet on this one.” Death rolled over to look down the vampyre resting on her bed.

  Jolie laughed.

  “You think this was funny?”

  “No, I think it was horrific, but you have to admit, Death, I beat them. As long as they continue after me, we will beat them. Flynn saved me.”

  “You sound sure of yourself. You know what happens when you tempt fate, right?”

  Jolie sat up and touched the cheek of the sexy man sitting beside her. “I do, but they don’t get it. Torturing me isn’t the way to beat me. Mulduk should have killed me fast. They’re arrogant, and we’ll win.”

  “I hope so.”

  “We have the advantage.”

  “Yes, we do but how long until the Tueur figures out, Jolie?” she asked, running her tongue up the chest of one of the men as she enjoyed their shudder.

  “I don’t know, but let’s hope they are too ignorant to really get to know me.”

  “Do you need to feed?” Death asked. “I’ll let you pick a man first. Unlike you, I’ll share.”

  Jolie laughed. “Uh, no. Flynn and Jacques wouldn’t like me snacking on random men. In fact, Flynn would go demon on anyone who came near me.”

  Death knew it was true. The harbinger was claimed. Rinnon would kill to keep her.

  Still, she sighed. “You both are impossible. It’s only blood. It’s not a commitment you have to lock yourself to!” she teased.

  Jolie disagreed.

  It was everything.

  “Again, thank you, but I pass.”

  Death stood and offered Jolie her hand. “How about some chocolate then? I promise there will be no strings attached.”

  Jolie accepted her chilly hand.

  “That sounds lovely. Is there any tea? I really need something to warm me up.”

  Death grinned. “How about coffee? Do you want to taste it?”

  She absolutely did.

  Maybe having Death on their side wasn’t a bad thing.

  Maybe.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Late Monday Evening

  Flynn had him pinned.

  This was Mulduk’s right hand vampyre. He wasn’t going to stop until every one of the undead was…dead.

  As he held the man to the wall, he prepared to reach into his chest to remove his heart.

  “Wait,” Vanth said, touching his arm. They’d gone through everyone in the club, questioning and torturing to get Mina’s whereabouts, and no one had a clue. This was the final vampyre, and their last chance to find her.

  “What for?” Flynn hissed, his fist clenching in anticipation. He really wanted to make this vampyre bleed.

  “We need to know what he knows. Breathe, Detective Brogan.”

  The use of his name calmed him.

  The second Flynn heard it, he knew that this wasn’t all he was about. They needed to know more. They needed to find Mina. They had a missing person, and that had to come before the bloodlust.

  She was somewhere, and it was now obvious that she wasn’t being held at the club

  “You’re right. Where is our donor?” he asked, focusing on the vampyre.

  The bouncer didn’t answer.

  “Tell me.”

  Still, nothing.

  Enough was enough.

  Vanth picked up his hand and began chewing.

  Flynn stared at her. “Really? Now? We’re in the middle of an interrogation, and you needed a snack, Vanth?”

  The vampyre being eaten howled in pain.

  “You question him, and I’ll chew,” she offered.

  Maybe that would work.

  With his mind, Flynn held him there as Vanth continued up his arm. At the elbow, the crunching became so gross, even Flynn wanted to puke.

  “Where is our donor?”

  “The council! The head of the council’s family!”

  That had Flynn’s attention. “Louis Deveraux?”

  “Yes! She’s at his place. He’s hiding her for
the Tueur. They gave him no choice. We’re all dead if we don’t help them. Please call it off!” he bellowed, as Vanth continued munching.

  “It?” she asked. “I’m now an it?”

  Flynn would have laughed if she wasn’t eating a vampyre while he was still alive. Blood was spraying everywhere, and Vanth was coated in it.

  This was a horror movie plot run amuck.

  Flynn rolled his shoulders to help the anger dissipate. He wanted to take Louis’s head off his shoulders, too, for helping the Tueur. Nathaniel, Death rest his decayed soul never would have dared to play this game.

  Death had been right. Killing off one would just give way to something worst. It reinforced his need to rule the Tueur.

  “Can I finish him?” she asked. “Please, Master? I’ll save you the soft squishy parts. Vanth will share.”

  “Uh, no, thank you. Have at it, Vanth.”

  As his demoness counterpart had a snack, he reached for Jacques.

  ‘I need you.’

  At first, there was no reply.

  ‘I’m worried about her.’

  Flynn reached for Death and had his answer. ‘She’s with our Mistress. She’s safe.’

  There was immediately a sense of calm from Jacques. While they’d rather Jolie be with them, Death was the next best place. She would be safe. Their mistress wanted these children born in the worst way.

  ‘What do you need?’

  Flynn told him what he’d learned, and how he’d gotten it out of the vampyre.

  ‘I’ll meet you there. Percy and Tommy will have to stand guard.’

  With that, he disconnected the communication.

  “Vanth, finish up.”

  She snapped, and he was gone. “Okay, I’ll save him for later.”

  “Where did you just…?”

  Then he came to his senses.

  “Never mind. I really don’t want to know where demons store their people snacks. I need to get to Nathaniel’s old home. We have to get Mina back. Jolie won’t be able to rest if we lose another family member. Nathaniel’s replacement is about to have a very short reign.”

  She was aware.

  “What about the club?” she asked, looking around. There were bodies everywhere.

  Granted, they were going to decay, but still…

  “Light it up as soon as we’re out of here.”

  Vanth grinned, her wicked eyes swirling. “Perfect, Master. That’s just rewards for them all.”

  He was aware.

  By the time Flynn was done, everyone who tried to hurt his woman would be in the same position.

  Dead.

  ∞ Chapter Thirty-Six ∞

  When Jacques arrived, he was dressed in black. His fangs were out, and his eyes were the deepest color ever. He was pissed, and that was their sign.

  He wasn’t going to be nice when they went in. He was going to make sure there was spilled blood.

  Speaking of which…

  Flynn tugged on his shirt collar, freeing his neck. “You need to feed. If we’re going in there, you should be ready for anything. I can feel your hunger.”

  It was definitely there. Jacques was starving, but it had very little to do with the need to keep up his energy, and more about being drawn to his mate.

  “Thank you, Flynn,” Jacques said, moving closer. As he touched Flynn’s neck, there was a sizzle of energy across his flesh.

  “Hurry. We need to get in there and find Mina. Once word of Mulduk’s demise gets out, there will be hell to pay.”

  Jacques didn’t hesitate. His fangs found the soft flesh of Flynn’s neck, and he sunk into it. The heat and taste of blood washed across his taste buds until he was overwhelmed with the sensation.

  He continued sucking, and as Flynn’s arms came around his torso, Jacques let the sensation take over.

  It was amazing.

  “We have to hurry,” Vanth said, scanning the house. She could feel them mobilizing. Jacques pulled away, licking the blood from his lips.

  “What’s happening?”

  Vanth focused on the fleeing vampyres. “He’s sent them out of there. We have to hurry.”

  Flynn searched the house, scanning as much as he could. In the basement, there was a human.

  She was still alive.

  As the garage opened, Flynn glanced over at his mate. He was riding the high from his blood, but they had work to do.

  “Break time is over. Look.”

  That’s all it took.

  “Let’s go.”

  As they headed toward the place, Flynn didn’t have to stop at the door. Instead, he walked right in.

  Vanth followed.

  They waited to see if Jacques could do it, and at the door, he stepped through.

  It was definitely Flynn’s blood.

  This would make all of their lives so much easier. Flynn was glad that he could share it with his family.

  Inside, they moved silently through the rooms. Most of the vampyres were gone. At the top of the basement door, they could hear screams.

  It was definitely Mina.

  “Vanth, you get her home, Jacques and I will handle the ‘situation’.”

  They all knew what that meant. Louis had one of their family, and he was working for the Tueur. He had a choice, and he feared them more than the Harcourte family.

  Well, that was about to change.

  Heading down the stairs, they could tell that Mina was in danger of being killed. There was no time to waste.

  As they hit the room that their donor was being held, the smell of blood overwhelmed them.

  Mina was being tortured. Fortunately for her, she’d been bonded to Percy after Zola had attacked their home. She was stronger than a normal human.

  It bought them the time they needed.

  In the room, Louis and three guardians stood. Flynn and Jacques didn’t hesitate. They raced toward them. Jacques went into fight mode, taking down one guardian and working on the other two.

  This was his thing.

  He was a warrior, and the hunt and kill were music to his ears. As he battled, Flynn faced down Louis.

  “How did you get in my home?” he bellowed, picking up a blade to protect himself.

  “I walked in.”

  “Get Mina out of here,” he ordered Vanth.

  She snapped her fingers and they were gone.

  “It’s time I handled Jolie’s pet,” Louis stated, his eyes bleeding black. “I am the Tueur.”

  He wasn’t surprised.

  Since he was openly admitting it, he had to die. They couldn’t leave any of the assassins alive.

  “I’m going to cut you apart, human.”

  Flynn laughed. “You have no idea what you’re saying, Louis. I’m not here to play with you. I’m here to end you for my mistress. You took one of our family.”

  “You think you can stop me? I’m older than your mistress. I’ve trained for centuries. You are merely a human.”

  Flynn took that moment to show the vampyre what he was up against.

  His eyes went deep black.

  His fangs lengthened, and he used his connection to Death and the harbinger to call the tendrils.

  They ebbed from him.

  “I’m the reaper, Louis, not a human. I’m here to take you home.”

  There was a fluttering of wings, and the laughter of his new mistress in the room.

  Death had called for his destruction.

  She was calling her vampyre home.

  With that, he leapt across the room, his larger body slamming into the vampyre’s. They hit the ground, sliding across the floor and to the wall.

  “You’re sentenced to die.”

  “Wait!”

  “What?” Flynn asked, pausing.

  “I can tell you where they are. I can tell you where to find the rest of the Tueur!”

  “Where?”

  “Will you let me leave?”

  “Sure.”

  “Paris. He’s in Paris. That’s where his home is.”
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  Flynn laughed. “Thank you, and now you die.”

  “Wait!”

  He was getting impatient. Jacques was still battling one last vampyre, and he wanted to help his mate.

  “You promised to let me go.”

  Flynn’s laughter filled the room. It was dark, scary, and full of malice.

  “I lied.”

  With that, he called the tendrils. They began feasting. They were devouring the vampyre’s energy, then his flesh, and finally his bones.

  “Ashes to ashes, Louis.”

  He turned, and as he did, Jacques ended the last guardian.

  “Good to see you took your damn time,” Flynn stated.

  Jacques started laughing. “I like the thrill of the hunt. That was fun. A part of me is going to like hunting when you head the Tueur. I miss the thrill.”

  Flynn was glad he had a good time. “We need to get home. I want to make sure Mina is okay, and then we need to take drastic measures.”

  Jacques was well aware. In a week, they’d killed the head of council, and now his replacement. There was going to be hell to pay. If they weren’t going to leave New Orleans before, they definitely had to now.

  This was their death warrant, and they knew it.

  It was open season on the Harcourte family.

  “I have a bike in the trees,” Jacques stated. “We should get home, and fast.”

  They headed outside to see the sun peeking over the trees. It was likely the final one they’d see in New Orleans.

  Flynn was good with that.

  Their lives were taking a turn, and they needed to come to grips with that. As Flynn hopped on the back of the bike, Jacques took off.

  Neither man spoke.

  They were both thinking the same thing.

  This was going to be the turning point in this game of cat and mouse.

  They could feel it.

  Jolie was marked, they were going to be killed if they came back into the city, and they still had to find the head of the Tueur and end him.

  This was going to be one hell of a battle.

  ‘Disband the family,’ Flynn whispered into Jacques head as they screamed through the dawn filled streets to get home.