by Erin R Flynn
“What rug did she pull out from under you, Enzo?” Apollo asked gently, sitting next to the councilman and pouring a drink in another glass on the bar. I realized this was what he’d been doing, trying to figure out what was going on too.
“That I’m a fool and there are many laughing at me behind my back,” he grumbled before tossing back what was left of his drink. “One female pup shattered all I thought I knew, and she did it easily, with a smirk no less.” He gave me a hard look. “That is not a woman full of light.”
“Because you did something to her,” I snapped. “She is full of light and sunshine. She is happiness and joy. If you are good to her, that’s all she is. If you hurt her, yes, there is darkness in her and even more so now that she’s a wolf and siren and all three will lash out. But only if you hurt her.” It was my turn to wave him off. “She is a woman who plays in the sprinklers with the teenage boys she adopted.
“They love her, and she loves them, and there is no hurt between them. All of them experienced horrible pain in their childhood and understand it. I can’t. I had a good childhood, but she brings light to them. Nothing is so beautiful or full of goodness as when Sera runs through the sprinklers with them or they play with water guns. Water balloon fights and everything pure. You hurt her and the darkness came out.”
“Why is he crying?” Dubois asked Apollo, making me realize that I was. I wiped my eyes and turned away, seeing the worried look Sands gave me.
“Seraphine is missing,” Apollo explained. “She was abducted at the airport.”
Dubois blinked at me when I turned back around and then at Apollo. “I didn’t take her. I asked her to please leave after she shredded my soul.”
I wasn’t the only one giving him a shocked look at that, but I pushed past it. “Would anyone else have done it for you? Would someone have punished her thinking it was a good idea for whatever she did?”
He shook his head. “No, she was grateful for what Seraphine did. There was no anger. And my people are too old to do something rash and short sighted. We don’t get to live this long and be stupid.”
“Mine would have no reason as well,” Apollo agreed. “But we will question them all and talk to others. Let me get Bijan on the line so you may speak with that human.” He gave me a worried look. “She upset a lot of people who have powerful friends or are worried about secrets getting out with that madam fox. I would check your NSA and others who were looking for help and a reason to get her.”
“He’s not wrong,” Sands agreed, and I nodded.
“You had to have tamed her,” Dubois grumbled into his refilled glass before taking a sip. “All women need taming.”
“I would highly disagree with that statement, and I bet my little sister did as well,” Melicent purred from behind us. “And he did not tame her. He won her. He won her heart by treating her like a goddess. You treat women like animals to do tricks and give you sex on command like whores you don’t even please as well.”
I blinked, and Dubois was being blocked by Bemus and a few others. Sands and I shared a look again, and he looked ready to faint. I was more used to it being around Sera and the others, but that was still fast.
“She called you to laugh about me? She ran her mouth about what happened?” Dubois demanded, stumbling when Bemus pushed him away.
“No, she called to warn me, as you seem obsessed with ‘taming’ a siren now that you have met one. She worried for me, as I was staying and you will be around longer. She was worried you might take out what she did on me. Or try to. She was worried she let out the monster inside of you that you keep a tight fist on when she showed you reality. And the rest I knew already. Most women would just from the way you look at women.”
Dubois snapped back at her that it wasn’t true and slurred something else, but I was focused on Apollo as he walked towards me. He handed his phone over, giving me a worried look but then sighing as he saw the fight going on behind me. I wasn’t concerned about that, as Melicent could handle herself.
I just needed to find Sera.
“They were getting Roberson,” he muttered and then went over to Dubois.
“Hello?” I checked, but no one was on yet.
“Havers?” Roberson said a few minutes later.
“I tried calling you first.”
“Yeah, I saw that. What’s going on? Why are you going through the fucking leader of Iran to—”
“Sera’s missing. We think someone took her from the airport.”
There was a pause. “You fucking asshole. You let someone get her?”
“You’re the asshole who put her on the radar of so many! Don’t put this on me. We all share some blame, but you more than others.”
“I didn’t take her,” he snapped. “I’ll make some calls and keep my phone on me. Update me, and I’ll let you know what I find.”
“I’m going to gut him the next time I see him,” I seethed as I stared at the phone after he hung up. I gave Apollo back his phone and told Melicent I was heading to the airport to retrace her steps and start investigating.
And that was what we did. Hours and hours, and there was nothing. The reality of the situation started to sink in when I talked to Dain.
“I can’t feel her,” he informed me. “It’s like she’s not there. I can’t feel that part of me connected to her. It’s like static. I didn’t feel it go out either. I feel her flare of emotions, but I didn’t feel any of that. I felt a flare of fear this morning, but then it was normal. Nothing odd. I didn’t even think about it until Reagan called, and then I realized it was like the connection was unplugged.”
“How could that happen?” I squatted down in the security office I was using, covering my eyes. “Does that mean she’s gone?” I couldn’t even say the word. Dead. Was she dead?
“If she died, I would have felt it,” he answered quietly. “It would feel as if I was dying too. This… I don’t know what this is, but Queen Laila is speaking with other elders as to what it could mean. She’s ordered a team to comb the archives.” He let out a shaky breath. “I feel so fucking useless.”
“Yeah, we all do.”
“I found some video!” someone called out from the other side of the room.
“I thought all the cameras were checked and had nothing?” I demanded, totally forgetting about the phone call as I hurried over there.
“Yeah, but I found a reflection and it’s not great,” Emilio explained as he backed the file up.
I watched as a slightly blurry Sera walked towards the plane with her wheeled luggage, checking something on her phone. She stopped, glancing around before walking faster. Then she seemed to see something at the plane that wasn’t in view and moved faster.
And then she was gone. The video didn’t cut out. There wasn’t a flicker or a loop. She and her bag were suddenly just not there.
I slowly brought my phone back to my ear, remembering Dain. “Talk to Nina. I just saw the video, and if that wasn’t magic, someone pulled a fucking miracle out of their ass because she just disappeared from view without even a flinch in the feed.” I let out a quiet sob. “She’s gone. She’s really gone. Someone took Sera.”
Seraphine After Dark
There was something I had to handle before I left New York, as I did not want to leave this particular thing unresolved and risk it following me back to Chicago. I headed directly to the coven after breakfast, able to push everyone back so I could handle it privately, as I wasn’t proud about what I planned to do.
Sometimes there were things more important than pride. I knew that as a woman, as a survivor, and as someone who had a lot to lose.
“Mistress Sera, we were not expecting you,” the guy who opened the door greeted me.
“I apologize for coming unannounced, but I needed to speak with Councilman Dubois before I left town.”
He stepped back to let me inside. “I will see if he’s available. Can I get you anything while you wait?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.” I
watched him race off, wondering how it wasn’t rude like running was considered in a house. Did it not work the same when they could move faster than humans could keep up with? Maybe there was some other etiquette that you bust your ass when it’s in regards to a council member? I didn’t know, and honestly, I had a feeling it was one of those vampire changing rules.
He was back before my mind could wander anymore. “He asked I show you to his suite if that is acceptable to you. He just finished breakfast.”
“That’s fine,” I agreed, almost relieved we could keep this as private as possible even if I really, really didn’t want to go into the den of the lion. I followed the guy and thanked him when he showed me the right door. I knocked.
“Come in, Seraphine,” Dubois instructed.
The guy left as I opened the door and went inside, closing it behind me. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
“I would always welcome a visit from you,” he murmured, eyeing me over with interest. He was in the sitting area with a cup of coffee, already dressed for the day in a very nice suit. “I thought you were leaving today?”
“I am. I have a stack of everything to sign at both offices, and then I’m flying out.” I swallowed my nerves and moved towards him. “We have something to settle before I leave though.”
“The job for my people is not done,” he reminded me, amusement in his eyes. They filled with heat and the excitement of the hunt.
“The job they’ve done is excellent, and I can admit that. I doubt you will slack off because I leave, as I know it’s not me pushing them but you.” I stopped right in front of him. “However, though it was your suggestion and I didn’t agree to it, I do not want you biting me.”
He smirked at me as he set down his cup. “Yes, I figured you would realize that was unwise. What would you offer instead as payment?”
I swallowed my anger. “It is not payment. What you do is your job as council and I allowed, as it’s in my jurisdiction and you asked to handle it.”
“Fair enough,” he accepted after a moment. “A gift then. What gift would you offer instead for the job well done and what we’ve helped with that would have been on your shoulders?”
I let out a slow breath and dropped to my knees, telling my siren and wolf to stuff it. “Something you want more than a bite of me.”
He slowly licked his lips as he moved closer, sitting on the edge of the chair. “Yes, I do very much want this, but it is not better than a bite from you like this.”
“What do you want?” I asked as he leaned in closer.
“I want you bare before my eyes as you kneel at my feet,” he whispered, his fangs coming out. “Even more than that, I will ask for five minutes to do whatever I wish to you as long as it’s what you allow a lover to do to you. I can last longer than that when receiving oral sex, so it is comparable to ask.”
“No biting? No blood?” I checked, nervous since I allowed that, but he could see way too much if he had my blood.
“I will not taste you nor will my fangs pierce you,” he agreed.
I swallowed again and decided to push a bit. “And you won’t follow me? You won’t come play in Chicago? Find some excuse to visit?”
He sat with that a moment before giving a slow nod. “Apollo has already declared that, but there are ways around it. You are worth giving chase, but I find meeting you when neither have the home advantage to be fun. I agree.”
“Done.” I blurted, hurrying to undress. He clucked his tongue at me, and I went slower, only getting the jacket off so far. I pulled out my phone and set the timer, going to start it.
“No, it starts when I touch you,” he argued.
I nodded. Fine, he would stare his fill and draw out the anticipation. Whatever, I could handle that. I slowly undressed, getting to my feet to do it and letting him look all he wanted. I even turned for him, knowing the game and not caring either way, which he didn’t seem to like.
He stood and came over to me, nodding to the floor. I knelt back down and undid his fly. I pulled him free but then stopped, glancing up at him and waiting. He smirked at me and touched my hair as he started the timer on my phone, tossing it onto the chair. Then he grabbed my head and shoved me onto him, moaning as I sucked him. I let him control it, and me, for about a minute before he stepped away.
He pulled me to my feet and bent me over the back of the couch. “I have seen a lover touch you this way.”
I nodded, knowing we weren’t going to have sex. Sure enough, his hand landed hard on my ass, and he hissed in pleasure. I fisted my hands, noting the design of the suite and liking the decorator’s tastes as I ignored what he was doing to me.
“You were abused,” he muttered, rubbing his hands over my ass. “I did not know that. You are very good at controlling your reaction, but you are panicking. That happens mostly from abuse.”
“Yes, I was abused as a child and by multiple parties,” I confirmed.
“I did not know.” He had me stand and carried me over to the sideboard, pushing stuff out of the way before setting me on it. He thrust in me before I caught up, gasping at his size and not being ready for him. It wasn’t enough to tear me, but I would ache from it.
Which I was pretty sure was his goal.
He growled in approval and thrust hard and fast as he forced me to look at him. I did, trying to keep my reaction as blank as possible. It seemed to incite him and he moved harder, faster, until I had to bite my lip to keep back the moan.
He stopped, giving me a quick kiss. “Admit you like this. Admit you enjoy the feeling of me inside of you.”
There was no reason to deny it, especially when we both knew it was true and I couldn’t lie to him. “Yes, I enjoy it.”
He gave me a victorious smile. “Good girl. I’ll make sure to give you an orgasm as a reward.”
And just like that I stopped enjoying it, totally done with him. He seemed to notice the change in me, looking frustrated as he moved again. He stopped and stared at me a moment.
“Why are you giving me a bored look and not enjoying it anymore?”
Luck never had better timing as the alarm went off for the timer. “Your five minutes are up, Councilman. I do still have some power to take back though.” I mashed my lips to his, drinking him down until I not only had some of his energy but took the level I’d given him. When I finished, he was shaking against me, boxing me against the wall with his arms. “Have a safe trip home.”
“You cannot seriously just leave right now,” he argued, moving back and giving me a disbelieving look.
I kept his gaze as I pulled away from him and slid off the sideboard before heading to get my clothes.
He growled and went over to the connecting door, opening it. “Get in here.”
I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew I didn’t want to be naked for it, hurrying to redress.
“Stay, watch the fun, Seraphine.”
Yeah, I didn’t think that was a real invite but something he expected if I was to leave without a problem. I nodded, still dressing as a gorgeous woman came into the room. She dipped her head at both of us before facing him and pushing her dress off her shoulders. She never said a word or waited for him to say anything, dropping to her knees.
She just opened her mouth and let him vigorously fuck her face, neither even noting or caring that he had my wetness on him still. He watched me the whole time, hunger and more in his eyes. He finished with a grunt, and after she swallowed everything, she stood and went over to the nearest flat surface, which was the desk the suite had near the sofa. She bent over it, and he moved behind her.
She gasped and counted each time he spanked her. He started hard and upped the level until honestly, he was hitting her so hard he would have broken something if she’d been human. His eyes never left mine.
He turned her so they were facing me better and proceeded to absolutely drill her. Her body banged against the desk, the force of his thrusts too much for her to hold herself up really, so
she sort of just flopped against the desk with the momentum. She seemed to know when he got closer, as she moved her hair to one side and angled her neck.
Dubois struck hard and fast, sinking his fangs deep and drinking her down as he climaxed. His hand was fisting her hair hard enough he had to pull some out, but she just gasped as if she enjoyed it and accepted all he gave her. When he finished, he pulled out of her, and she collapsed onto the desk.
“Thank you for your favor and my bliss, Councilman,” she panted, her eyes closed as she recovered.
“May I leave now?” I asked after he fixed his clothes and was zipped back up.
“Nothing to say?” he challenged.
I shook my head. “You are not a bear I ever want to poke, Councilman Dubois. Our deal is done, and it’s time for me to leave. May I leave?”
“No,” he snarled, suddenly in front of me. “You didn’t answer me before, and I can see it in your eyes that you have lots to say.”
“With all due respect, I cannot and will not lie to you and say what you want to hear. You will not like my answers, and I don’t want problems,” I replied, trying to swallow my own snarl. “I did as you wanted, as we agreed. I don’t owe you any answers.”
That last part was a mistake, as I saw it fire the flames in his eyes. “Answer me. I will not retaliate or start problems. I want answers though.”
“No punishment?” I checked. “No games later. No coming to Chicago or trickery you all like to pull so much?”
“None, you have my word.”
I nodded and moved around him, going over to the woman and touching her, getting several images from her that confirmed what I thought. “The same for her. The answer involves her. Is she protected, or will you punish her?”
“Yes.”
I studied him closely and frowned. “Fine, you want to know my reaction?” I waited until he nodded. “You have a very well trained pet here, and that’s how you treat her, as she didn’t even enjoy it.”
