by Unknown
“Okay, I understand where this is leading, even if I don’t believe in this bullshit.”
Jacques pointed out one thing. “Do you believe in vampyres, mon ami?”
He stared at the man. After opening his mouth, he closed it again.
The male vampyre grinned.
“I retract that. Touché, Jacques.”
Jolie ran her hands up under his dress shirt. It had come loose from his pants, and she was dying to feel his flesh against hers. When his eyes dilated at the contact, she wanted to kiss him, but there was a time and place.
This wasn’t it.
Instead, she went back to the topic at hand. “The Dubois family was notorious for draining their donors, and then taking their souls. In fact, they preferred to feed from our kind and steal souls whenever possible. Half of the humans who are buried in that cemetery, are their victims.”
That appalled him. “Seriously?”
Jacques answered for her, “Oui. How fitting is it to have a crypt alongside all your victims?”
“Wait, you don’t need to be buried. I thought that if you were to die,” he began, pausing as the thought made him sick to his stomach. Her reassuring gaze helped him carry on, “that there will be nothing left.”
Jacques fielded this one. “There isn't, Flynn, but sometimes, the ancient ones would have all their family’s ashes placed in one crypt. Think of it as one big cremation funfest.”
“Or they would have another body put in there to cover their tracks. We’ve done that a few times,” Jolie offered. “It confirms our mortality and gives us an end to one identity, so then we can create another.”
He stared at her, mortified at the thought. “Somewhere, there’s a grave with your name on it? That makes me want to throw up.”
She lapped across his lower lip, before offering him a kiss and explanation. “Flynn, remember when you traced my family roots back to the aunts who ran my household long before me?”
He did. That one picture, which he’d been able to dig up, had given him the lead to figuring out what they were.
Sorry, who they were.
“Yes, and I’m sure that picture no longer exists”
Jacques laughed. “Oh, it’s long gone. I underestimated the abilities of the police. It won’t happen again.”
“Well, when my ‘Aunt Jolie Ann’ died, or had to look like she died, Jacques had a body interred in a grave. It’s not me.”
“Obviously,” he said, enjoying the feel of her fingers on his flesh. Jolie was practically up under his shirt, and Flynn had no intention of stopping her. Now, he only hoped that he was keeping it from his face.
“Well, the bodies in the Dubois crypt won’t actually be them. It’s going to be ash or someone they found.”
“Or dug up,” Jacques added.
“Ugh, this is getting worse.”
The two vampyres laughed. Then, sensing his seriousness, they waited for him to bring up what was running through his mind. It wasn’t a joking matter.
“Why are little children being used? If they need souls, why not take an adult’s? Not that stealing that would be any more acceptable,” he began, hoping that she knew what he meant.
They could tell that a child being killed was upsetting to their human. Jolie and Jacques didn't blame him. They found it distasteful too.
“Children’s souls are innocent and pure. It’s something they’ll never have. To them, it’s the forbidden fruit. As living, breathing beings, we always want what we are told we can’t have,” Jacques added.
Flynn stared at the woman lying across his body. Yeah, he understood that part.
“What I don’t understand is why they’re dying. I felt my soul being torn in three when you each got a piece of it. How come I lived, but these kids didn’t?”
“The soul can’t be fully removed from the body and life still exists. You share yours, but you didn't lose it. There is a big difference.”
“Like?”
“The only creature that I know of who can live without a soul is a vampyre,” added Jolie. “And that’s not without issues. We are weak during the day, have to drink blood or energy, and answer to death.”
“All of this confuses me,” he stated, getting frustrated again. When he sat up, Jolie took that as her sign to head back to her mate’s lap.
Jacques kissed her cheek as she took a seat. “By being bonded, we’re one. We don’t consume it or own all of it. You retain a portion at all times.”
“I always wanted to know this, so I guess I’ll ask now. What happens to my soul when you die each day?”
Jolie watched him as he began erratically pacing back and forth across the room.
“Flynn, when that happens, in theory your soul is once again yours. Death can’t hold claim to your soul unless it’s turned over or bargained away. If that ever should happen, you would die.” Jolie played with Jacques’s hair as she quietly explained to Brogan the in’s and out’s of what was at stake with his soul being tied to them.
“So, these kids died…”
“Because a vampyre sucked their souls out of their bodies and consumed it as energy in some ritual,” finished Jolie.
He looked horrified. Brogan stared back and forth between them. The two people before him were the same as the perpetrators committing these horrible acts. At any time, they could turn and begin to steal innocent souls.
That terrified him.
“No, we can’t.” They both had read his fears, and Jolie immediately reassured him.
“Why not?” He pushed even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“We have yours.” Jolie watched his face. “We don’t need another soul to survive. What they’re doing is a perverse thing. We wouldn’t take what isn't ours to begin with. The soul you share with us is a cherished gift.”
He relaxed marginally.
“You’re my soul, and Jacques is my heart. We share it together, Flynn. We in no way forced you into this union. You willingly came to us, and you freely allowed me to feed you and Jacques at the same time. Your soul is tied to us because you came to me of your own free will.” In his mind, she showed him the memories of that night on the balcony.
They expected him to panic, but instead he remained calm.
“Yeah, but that was my choice. These vampyres are stealing souls. That’s a huge problem. They’re preying on innocent children who can’t defend themselves. Who’s to say that they won’t devour everyone here? Then, they can move on to another place to do the same thing. Humans die, so we need children to keep our race going. Without them, we’d be…”
They had already contemplated that.
“We know,” they said together.
Jolie continued, “That’s why we need to meet with the new societies at the next council.”
“You think that we’ll find out who it is while there?”
“I think it’ll once again lead us to a murderer,” she added, pulling Jacques to his feet.
“Flynn, we’ll find them, but once again you’ll be forced to trust us and keep the police part of your life out of this. We can’t go to them and remain safe.”
Brogan sighed. “Why is it that I’m so angry?”
“There could be a few reasons,” Jacques offered. “Death isn't an easy thing, and if the soul is being ripped from these children, it’s leaving some bad energy behind.”
“Or?” he asked.
Jolie waited for him to sit, and she was immediately at his side. Taking his fingers in hers, they twined together. “I believe this is once again because of vampyres.”
“Huh?”
“Us. You are attached to us, and you’re developing more of the abilities we possess. Now that we are truly bound, and we each retain a third of your soul, you possess some of our powers too. It’s more than just being stronger at night, seeing, and hearing better. It’s pieces of who we are.”
“You feel emotions?” he asked, directing it at Jacques.
“I do.”
&n
bsp; Jolie offered an explanation. “One of Jacques’s gifts is that he’s empathic.” She glanced over at her mate and smiled. “Part of being a guardian is being able to feel what the person you are protecting needs or feels. He uses his skills to gauge when one of us is in pain, or needs something.”
“So, when we hurt?”
“I hurt too. Like now, you’re emotions are swirling around in me, and they’re making it hard to concentrate. I want to weep, scream, have sex with Jolie, and hide in a dark corner alone.”
Brogan swallowed. Yeah, that was exactly the way he was feeling, especially the sex part.
Well, this cat was out of the bag.
“Does that upset you?” Jacques asked, wondering if he would be honest.
“Yeah, it does. Some of what you just blurted out was kind of private. It should have stayed locked away in my head. I’m not used to my emotions being out there for public fodder.”
Jacques shocked him by laughing. “Do you really believe that Jolie doesn’t know how you feel, Detective? That if I wasn’t given this curse and blessing, I wouldn’t know either?”
Jolie stared over her shoulder at Jacques and issued a warning. They had already decided not to pressure Flynn into facing what was inevitable.
‘Cut him a break. We owe him that much. He’s hurting because of what we’ve made him.’
‘Very well, mon amour.’
What could Flynn do? Now, it was out there and the topic of their discussion. “Well, from your perspective, Jacques, this is more of a curse. It’s not much fun at all.”
“No, it’s not. Honestly, it takes centuries to feel…comfortable with it and adjust.”
He opted to discuss work, since sex with Jolie was bouncing around in his head. “So, I’m picking up the emotions of dead souls. That sounds crazy.”
Jacques added, “It’s no crazier than vampyres being able to talk in each other’s minds.”
“Once more, you’ve made a good point.” Flynn glanced back and forth at them before yawning. “So, we’re going before another council?”
“We?” they both said together.
Oh, they’d been down this road before too.
“Yeah, as in the three of us. I know you understand what I’m saying, since you’re old, not senile,” he added, watching Jacques’s eyebrow go up with a hint of amusement at the turn in the discussion.
“We would prefer that you stay here and remain safe, Flynn.” Jolie didn't want to risk him.
“Uh, yeah, no. Once again, let me break this down for you, Mistress,” he began, knowing he was pushing his luck, but why beat around the bush? “You’re the figurehead. Picture the Queen of England,” he began.
Jolie crossed her arms and lifted a brow, waiting to see how this one would unfold. Apparently, her human was growing a big set and willing to throw them around.
“He’s the mate, and your chosen one.” Yeah, that was like a dagger right to his damn heart. What he wouldn’t give to have that role, if only for a day.
Jolie saw the emotion in his eyes, despite his face remaining neutral.
“I’m the guardian, and it’s my job to make sure you both stay safe. We wouldn’t want Balzac’s undies in a bunch.”
Jacques looked confused at the slang terminology, and Jolie spoke to him in rapid French to explain. He turned to look at Flynn in amusement.
Obviously, insulting Balzac was appreciated.
“No, we wouldn’t want that.” Jacques laughed as he stood. “I think the way he put you in your place and insulted Balzac should earn him the trip with us,” Jacques admitted.
Jolie wasn’t swayed quite as easily. “Flynn, we’ll discuss it tomorrow, but I think you need to get some rest. You didn’t sleep well yesterday, and you need to catch up.”
“Yeah, I'm beat.” He stood up, and then paused. “What if Genevieve comes back?” he asked, his back still turned from them but his body was visibly stiff with fear.
“She won’t be able to harm you. We’ll stay in your mind and keep you safe.”
“Can you fight her?” he asked, hoping it was possible.
Jacques had a solution. “I have something even better than that, Flynn. Remember when you were hurt and first bonded to us? Well, I can help you rest peacefully.”
“You mean die?”
Jolie offered him reassurance. “Well, it’ll be as if death has taken you, but there will be no dreams and you can wake if you need to, unlike Jacques and myself.”
“Okay,” he said immediately, without even doubting them. “I trust you both.”
“Come. Let’s retire.” Jolie stood between the two men and took their hands to lead them to the bedroom. There was a time when Jacques would have been hostile and Brogan would have been scared to come to their bed, afraid Jacques would kill him. Now, it was somewhat more comfortable of a habit.
“Don’t you both want to be alone?” he asked hesitantly.
“No, we’re fine, Flynn.” Jolie hated seeing him worry so much.
“I just don’t want to interfere with…anything,” he said, trying to imply something.
“Are you referring to sex, Flynn?” asked Jolie, teasingly.
“Uh, yeah.”
Neither one of them missed that he looked incredibly uncomfortable.
“I don’t know how I feel about sleeping in your bed while you two are…” He trailed off, helplessly.
“Doing it?” she asked, laughing.
“Yeah.” His eye flickered to Jacques and saw no emotion whatsoever, and that scared the bejesus out of him. If he’d at least make a comment, he’d know where he stood. Now, it was a guessing game.
“You could join us,” Jolie suggested with a wink, still laughing.
“That’s not something to joke about. Ever,” he said, turning and walking away. “Men, who are not having sex, take the topic VERY serious.”
Jolie reached for his mind. “Who is joking?”
Brogan wasn’t sure if she had really said the words or if his hormones were out of control, like always. Once inside the bedroom, he turned to face them.
“Goodnight.”
Jolie knew that he was trying to escape and hide in sleep, so as to not have to discuss sex. It hurt her heart that he wouldn’t just come to her to be open about it. Then again, she did just scold Jacques. They promised to give him time to adjust.
But damn! It was getting hard.
“I need to feed you, Flynn. You’re drained.”
It was the last thing he wanted. “Okay. Where do you want me, Jolie?” When she directed him toward the bed, he dropped down wearily onto it. It had been a long day, and he needed to sleep.
Or hide.
Whichever.
Jacques took this as his sign and excused himself to go into the bathroom. If the detective was this uncomfortable still, far be it for him to make it worse. He understood how it felt. At one time, he too was new to Jolie and her antics.
When Jacques was gone, he stared at her.
“What?” Jolie was missing something.
He pointed at the clothing on his body. “Uh, I need to strip. You watching me isn't going to make it any easier.”
She grinned. “It would make if fun for me, Flynn.”
Brogan stared at her.
“You’re too much,” she admitted, laughing. Jolie turned her back so he could strip down to his underwear. She was always entertained by his modesty, especially whenever he was near her. There was the sound of his gun harness landing on the floor, the thud of his boots, and the sound of the bed moving behind her. When she was sure he was covered, Jolie turned.
There he was in all his tan glory, waiting for her. She fought to not lick her lips and crawl toward him. It would just provoke the need in him and obviously, he wasn’t ready.
“Can I touch you?”
God! He wanted that in the worst way.
“Yes.”
He knew what was coming, and it was both heaven and hell. As she moved around the bed to his side, stra
ddling his body, a multitude of thoughts popped into his head.
None of them were pure and chaste.
Instead, the sexy vampyre porn started playing out in his head.
When Jolie placed one hand on his throat and the other in his black hair, he felt his body spring to life. Now that he was bonded to them, and would be alive for as long as they lived, it was getting hard to ignore how much his body wanted her.
Desiring Jolie, and not being able to touch her, would be hell for all eternity.
Jacques was a lucky bastard.
Jolie leaned into him, reading all his thoughts. Deep in her heart, she felt horrible for his situation. Her feeding him should be enjoyable and instead, it was truly was torture for him.
When the front of her clothed body touched his bare chest, she heard him groan. When she went a step further and put her lips against his, to push energy into his body, she could feel him responding to her being so near.
Flynn began growing hard beneath her, even as he fought valiantly to not let it happen. It was simply too much for him to handle. All he wanted was Jolie. She’d become his sole focus and daily obsession. If he wasn’t having nightmares, she would have been in his dreams too.
As Jolie shifted, trying to send him calming energy, it wasn’t helping. The poor man was suffering to no end, and she wasn’t quite sure, other than sex, how to help him.
When nothing was easing his misery, Jolie stopped the energy and touched his face. “Flynn, are you unwell?” she whispered softly.
The thin threads of control ripped even more with the breathy low purr of her voice. When he opened his eyes, the look on her face said one thing.
She knew he was out of control.
“Flynn, I’m sorry.”
“Jolie...” It was all he could say before he roughly pulled her to his lips and drove his tongue deep into her mouth. He just needed to have her. He had been so good for so many months, and now he was starving for just a little taste of her. Flynn continued to devour her from the inside out, unable to pretend that he wanted to be good.
Flynn Brogan wanted to take her in some sweaty romp and be nothing but bad.
He couldn’t stop, and he didn’t want to.
Jolie could sense the strangling hold that lust had on him, and she allowed him to continue the kiss, because he seemed to need it. His hands slid down her body, and pulled her even closer to him. It was done in such a desperate manner, that her heart broke more for him.
