Salvadora (The Last Salvadoras #1)

by Natalie Bennett

  As it rolled up the long drive she looked up at what was the largest home she’d ever seen. It was a giant tan brick Victorian styled mansion and long. There was nothing but grass and trees around it from what she could see. The driveway went straight and then curved around a corner she was guessing led to a garage. The driver came around and opened the door for them. They were directed to a set of large glossy double doors with frosted glass panes in them. She pushed the door open like Hades had told Jenna they could do and they filed in to the house.

  They immediately stepped into a large very clean foyer. Cream colored marble floor spread throughout and continued onto two long sets of marble stairs leading to a higher level on either side of the foyer with black shiny iron banisters. A round baroque table with a circular glass center sat a little ways before a thick archway over a large Straykova S insignia on the floor that led back further in the house. Two baroque bronze chairs sat angled against the walls of the stairs facing the table. A brown chandelier hung from the high ceiling. The walls were a dark creamy tan with intricate crown molding design. You could see into the foyer from the upper level.

  “Sunshine.” She heard Storm’s own masculine voice softly say and watched as he came towards them and went straight to Clover wrapping his arms around her and kissing her softly. It was sweet; she always thought her sisters matched up perfectly with who they ended up. Clover was shy and sweet and Storm was the total opposite like all of his brothers but he was always sweet and gentle with her sister. He was dressed in a dark suit; they all always wore dark suits. He smiled at her “Hello gorgeous.” He kissed her cheek and then greeted her sisters the same way. She was used to this, they all were, the first time Khaos formally met her and Jenna he hugged them and did the same thing.

  As if thinking them up the other three rounded a corner and came into the foyer. Hades pulled Jenna to him and Khaos put his arms around Scarlett. Reyes smiled softly at her and took both of her hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Alex and Sam, Jenna’s cureater both winked. She bit her cheek to not laugh and ignored them. “Were glad you could all make it, why don’t we give you a tour before dinner is served?” He didn’t wait for a response and clasped his large hand with hers and began leading them. He directed her through the archway where another chandelier hung and there were long halls left and right with thick stone pillars and open archways into a huge formal living area.

  The living room had high ceilings like the rest of the house did another chandelier hung above; this room also had intricate designs in the walls and woodwork. A large tan and darker tan damask rug covered most of the marble flooring in the room. A large olive-brown suede sofa, two baroque arm chairs, and two lounges all of the same fabric and style sat positioned accordingly in the room. A large square tufted suede coffee table with a glass center was slightly angled in the center of the room. A giant mirror was built into the wall between in the wall shelves on either side of it.

  You could see the upper level spread in two different directions over the iron banister that overlooked the room like in the foyer. A door was open that angled toward one direction of the halls that was clearly a bathroom. The house was huge just like it looked on the outside. There were three dining rooms, three. One sat ten; another was really just a round nook off the huge kitchen with a round glass table and six chairs around it. The nook had tall rounded windows that had the long drapery pulled open and you could see an in-ground pool with its lights on through them in the back of the house. The largest dining room sat twenty, it was huge.

  The house had a room with a dark tan leather sectional that had a large flat screen, pool table and rounded bar in it. The sectional blocked off the archway to another room he led her into of a cozier if you could call it a living room. It had four couches and two arm chairs and another set of tall windows with French doors in them and a view of the ocean, right behind the house a little ways. So they were definitely somewhere secluded. The room also had a tall pane of criss-crossed glass that was see through between it and the pool table room. The rest of the downstairs was a laundry room; their offices were down one separate hall, three bathrooms, two guest rooms and a huge library.

  Just as they finished being shown the downstairs a light bell chimed. He smiled down at her why Hades spoke. “Dinner is served.” He put his hand on the small of Jenna’s back and guided her towards a dining room. They ended up in the large dining room that would seat them all. The table was set with dishes of roseymary and garlic herb roast beef, vegetables, a side salad and dark wine filled the wine glasses. She knew things were about to get interesting to say the least.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  She was sat directly beside Reyes to his left as he took a seat at the head end of the table; Khaos was to his right with Scarlett right beside him and cureater Finn beside her. Hades sat at the other head end of the table with Jenna and Storm to his left and right. Clover was beside Storm and then after the cureaters were their other friends. They ate in relative silence besides her friends saying simple things to one another before Storm spoke to Chelsea who was on the side of Alex. “So, have you found anything?” He asked staring directly at her. Chelsea who had been saying something to Alex didn’t answer him right away.

  She had been under each of their stares before and still got them and she used to have the same reaction, not being able to meet their stares head on, or respond right away. They were sinfully gorgeous but that didn’t take away from how intimidating they were. “Find anything about what?” Chelsea asked finally. That was a valid question; Chelsea could work on a million things at a time it seemed. They had started giving her a hefty salary so she could research her little heart out, plus she was a giant help to them.

  “About the reapers.” Hades spoke up. “Maybe, speaking of that shouldn’t you all know more about them than me, you guys are pretty old after all.” Alex laughed outright why their other friends covered their laughs. She couldn’t believe she just said that. She sipped her drink to not laugh herself. It was blood wine, the very expensive and potent kind, the kind that could get her drunk off her ass if she wasn’t careful.

  When the brothers laughed lightly themselves which made them all the more gorgeous she knew they weren’t offended, but that was a good point. “We like you.” Khaos said to Chelsea. She never forgot the four of them could speak to each other telepathically. She knew they did it often. She wasn’t surprised they liked Chelsea either; she was a tiny little spitfire who said what she wanted.

  Like a smaller version and not anywhere as near bold as Jenna or Scarlett.

  “From our understanding they aren’t exactly party throwers.” Reyes smiled at her friend. That was also a good point; she didn’t think the reapers were dropping in to have nice chats over tea with anyone, ever. “What did you think of the club?” Khaos asked her. She could lie but Reyes could pick up on her lying before she even spoke. “It was…interesting.” She settled for. “Interesting in a good way?” Storm asked now. “Not to me no, I wouldn’t go there for entertainment.” She didn’t sugar coat it. “What about you two?” Reyes asked Alex and Troy.

  “Well, everyone is aware that is not my forte at all.” Alex quickly answered. “I do question if I should go straight for Widow every morning.” Reyes grinned at that why Neil agreed. She smiled at him, Alex was actually scared of Reyes and his brothers but his sense of humor shined through regardless. “I thought it was pretty obscene and you were all sitting there with the women your obsessed with.” Troy answered lazily. No one said a word. “What is wrong with you?” Tracy mumbled to Troy. With their way above average hearing the kings picked up on it though.

  “He didn’t offend us; he is an idiot, that’s what you called him last night right?” Reyes like always had his perfect impassive face and calm tone but she knew he wasn’t feeling as friendly as he just was. He looked at her and took her hand. She nodded yes. “I don’t know why you pine for someone who would never want you.” Storm said now as he rubbed Clover’s b
ack. Cooper who was also here began glancing around at all of them. “Did you know he wants to fuck you little fae?” Reyes asked her. “He does not.” She said exasperated. “Yes, I do.” Troy burst out.

  Scarlett started to laugh while Khaos lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss to it looking amused. Jenna shook her head “You really are an idiot Troy.” Alex sighed sipping his wine. “He’s something.” Khaos said darkly. She couldn’t believe he just said that aloud. “Why does that even matter when you just fucked Olivia last week and you were with Mallory.” He said looking at Hades referring to Olivia’s dark haired friend from the club and that was as old as Olivia. No one said a word. Reyes gripped her hand stopping her from pulling away from him and Hades placed his hand on Jenna’s arm and spoke. “Exactly what did you see us doing Troy?” Hades voice was low. He had pissed them off and her if that were true.

  “You know what you were doing, why don’t you tell her.” He gestured to Jenna who hadn’t said anything. “We feed from them, that’s what Troy is referring to. I haven’t fucked Mallory in months nor has my brother touched Olivia.” He looked at Jenna as he spoke, Reyes was watching her. Alex knew she was pissed now anyways. She understood they needed to feed, they needed blood and they didn’t take it bottled, but Olivia and Mallory?, which was a no brainer Khaos and Storm fed from Aurora and Aramninta. “He’s lying.” Troy spit out. “We don’t lie.” Storm ground out. That was a fact, they never lied, they definitely could twist their words in such a way that they would be deceiving you without lying though.

  They were known for it, they had gotten what they wanted from doing it and no one was better at it than they were. She had thankfully never done a deal with Reyes or his brothers or had to have such a serious talk where he did it to her. Their deals were final; if one didn’t hold up their end or lied they killed them or locked them away in the Grid Iron. A place no one wanted to go, death was a far better option at that point.

  “I admit we touch each other.” Reyes said still watching her. She didn’t say a word trying to process exactly what that meant. “Not sexually, well, not really.” Khaos said now. “What does that mean?” Scarlett glared at him. “He means they play grab ass.” Cooper spoke up now shocking her with how pissed he sounded and apparently everyone else. Finn cleared his throat and began studying his plate.

  “It’s okay though, one day she’ll realize how wrong you are for her.” Troy shrugged and went to scoot away from the table. “Actually I’m perfect for her.” Reyes said glancing away from her. “This is true.” Chelsea mumbled.

  She shot her a look. “What do you wanna do?” She heard Neil ask Clover who hadn’t spoken once. “She’s going to stay right beside me.” Storm answered. That was the quickest way to get Clover to lose her sweetness. “I’m going home.” Neil, ever the loyal best friend and cureater he stood at the same time she did, she walked out of the room. “Excuse me.” Storm pushed away from the table and left as well. The atmosphere of the room turned quickly. She wanted to leave to, but Reyes had a firm grip on her hand sensing this. “Are you proud of yourself?” Hades asked Troy as he latched on to Jenna’s arm so she couldn’t leave.

  “No, not my fault you didn’t disclose that.” Troy shrugged. What the hell was he doing? The fact that none of the brothers had moved toward him didn’t bode well with her. She heard her sister telling Storm to move and she yanked her hand away from Reyes and put her head in her hands. Not now, she had forgotten to take her pills. The Cimmerian started festering sensing her displeasure and seemed to grow more forceful by the second. Alex immediately knowing what was wrong took one of her hands and held it.

  She felt Reyes behind her and he placed one hand on her head gently stroking down her hair and the Cimmerian reacted to it kind of in a way a dog sniffs another dog nose to nose in first greetings, then it quietly died down and went dormant. How did he do that? Then it donned on her he knew about the “issue” she had.

  She felt more towards him right then, she could be considered insane and some would have high tailed it away from her, most would surely on her bad days.

  “What do you really want to say?” She heard Storm’s voice and looked up. Clover was beside him and Neil partially behind her.

  “That you’re completely wrong for her, you know it just as well I do, and I get it Widow, I shouldn’t of kissed you, you don’t see me in that light and.” Reyes sharply cut him off. “Shouldn’t have kissed her?” His voice was dark now. Why did he just say that? She didn’t even blink before Reyes moved and had Troy by his throat at the same time. “Let him go!” She yelled. She was over this whole damn dinner. “All of you go to your guest rooms.” Hades said coldly. “Now.” Khaos bit out when they didn’t move. Alex gave her a look and she gave him a forced smile.She didn’t want her friends to get their wrath. Troy pulled at Reyes arms, again and Reyes flung him to the ground and looked at her.

  He looked calm and collected but she could sense his anger. “You forgot to mention that little fae.” Scarlett scoffed. “So, you can play grab ass with whomever you guys want but get pissy over a kiss?” Khaos looked at her now. “A kiss she didn’t even want, kind of opposite of what you do.” Jenna ground out. She had told them about the kiss earlier. “Let’s go.” Hades walked out of the room tugging her sister along like she was a kite. “Get off of me.” Her sister growled out. “I’m leaving.” Troy said from the floor. “Excellent idea.” Storm said. She shook her head and wondered how this all unfolded in a matter of minutes. “Let’s go.” Reyes moved past her and then seemed to change his mind and grabbed her hand and gently led her with him. He walked her upstairs they went down a hall where he pushed open a door and led her into what had to be his bedroom. The room switched from light marble to black where a huge four poster canopy bed sat against a dark painted wall. The bed sat on deep tan marble flooring up to small steps on its own platform upon it. The bed had sheer black drapery tied around it and running around it on the ceiling. A chandelier hung in the center above it. Two nightstands with matching lamps were on either side of it.

  A large flat screen was mounted on the wall across from it above a dark stone fireplace; a fat plushy arm chair was angled in the room.

  The rest of the room held an armor and another set of double doors she was guessing was the en suite. The room fitted him. The bed linens were a deep tan. “The only women who’s been here is Olivia before your mind goes on a rampage.” She glared at him as he shut the doors. “Of course it was.” He looked at her for a minute. “That wasn’t my intention tonight, to upset you, I never want you upset.” He said quietly and she knew he meant it; it didn’t take away the Olivia thing. “I have to feed, I can’t take from you.” He moved closer to her now. “I know that.” She really did her being a hybrid and only occasionally feeding from him made that impossible. The biting during sex didn’t cause her any issues because he never took as much from her as she did from him.

  “How did you do that head thing?” She asked after a minute. He pulled her into his arms after removing his suit jacket and tie. “I’ve always been able to soothe your mind.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. She was suddenly very self-conscious. She was fine right now and stayed that way usually but once off the pills she would laugh normally, eat, normally, talk and sleep normally just for a little while. Then a switch would flip in her mind and she would sink into darkness, each time they wore off it seemed to be deeper and deeper and it terrified her and embarrassed her he must know exactly what and who she really was. He must have sensed the change in her because he tilted her head up to look at him. “I’ve never been bothered by your dark little fae.” He pressed a kiss to her lips “You’re a perfect gorgeous mess of chaos; I see it in your eyes.” He kissed her again.

  The kiss that steals your breath Will steal your soul instead The night is all that's left So wait Keep your heart inside My hands won't keep it safe Cross the street on dreams And smile Your soul Slowly dies- The Rigs

  CHAPTER SIX

 
“That’s why were perfect together.” He moved her to his bed now and gently laid her on it. “Why would you want that?” She asked staring up in his gorgeous face. “We all just want someone whose demons play well with our own.” He stared down at her. Her heart clenched, she was kidding herself if she said she wasn’t attached to Reyes, she didn’t know if it was a part of her that remembered him so vividly and that’s what added to it or because they were both disasters in their own way. She loved him that thought scared her; he didn’t seem like the type to love. The vamp just had his hand around someone she had thought her close friends throat and she found she didn’t care, she was pissed he picked on him but Troy ultimately should of shut up. She was actually surprised he wasn’t dead she knew the brothers had killed for less.

  “How did you know I knew you?” He suddenly asked “Was it Chelsea?” She was not about to tell him she dreamed about him, no way in hell. “Umm, kind of.” Not a total lie. Chelsea did tell her about it, after she told her first though. “Tell me.” He demanded gently. “It’s embarrassing I can’t.” She felt the hot spread of that embarrassment in her face. Half the dreams had been of them screwing like animals, the other half she was covered in blood and they were about to. This was actually the best person to ask about the dreams. Why the hell was she so smart but dumb? Why didn’t she ask? Oh yeah, he wanted her to learn about the past on her own. “Will you tell me anything?” She pouted. He smiled down at her.