Consuming Damien (The Possessed Series Book 2)

by Tressa Rabbit

  Stopping next to Ben’s giant form, Damien watched in surprise as the familiar shifted into a hawk and flew off in the direction of the Sanders’ place.

  Damien snatched up Ben’s discarded clothing and caught up with him in a second, pacing himself to keep from arriving ahead of the soaring bird. The last thing he needed was a fight with the wolves before he could make it safely inside.

  * * * *

  The sky began to turn a light shade of pink as Damien came to a stop near the tree line that bordered Jaxon’s yard. The sting on his skin told him he had mere minutes before he became toast. He scanned the ever-brightening sky for signs of the hawk.

  “Looking for me?” Ben stepped from the trees, wearing nothing but a grin.

  Damien tossed him his clothes. “I would really hate for your nude form to be the last thing I saw before I died. Which is what will happen if we aren’t inside in the next sixty seconds.”

  Ben jogged ahead without bothering to dress and rounded up Jaxon’s wolves before signaling for Damien to join him.

  With a quickness that belied the lethargic feeling now overcoming him, Damien blurred his way across the yard, onto the porch, and inside the house seconds ahead of the rising sun.

  “There’s a door down that hall,” Ben nodded in the direction of an archway. “It leads to the basement where I stay on occasion if Claire needs me. It’s yours for the day.”

  Damien sent him a grateful look and staggered off in search of his resting place. He would give anything in that moment to see Victoria’s beautiful face before he fell asleep, instead of imagining her in that damnable Kyle’s naked arms.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “You don’t have to carry me, Kyle. I am capable of walking,” Tori insisted for the tenth time.

  “I realize that, but you’re not heavy, and I really don’t mind.”

  “Please put me down.” She wriggled in his arms to get her point across.

  He tightened his grip and peered down at her with his yellow-green eyes. “You aren’t wearing shoes, and I’ll not have you injuring your feet.”

  Tori had never seen eyes as mesmerizing as Kyle’s. “You’re not wearing shoes either,” she pointed out with a lift of her chin. “Tell me how you know Ben.”

  “I’ll make you deal,” he offered, lifting his head to study their surroundings as he trekked along at a steady pace.

  Tori tightened her arm around his neck in hopes of alleviating some of her weight. “I’m listening.”

  “If you allow me to carry you the rest of the way to the Murphy sisters, I’ll tell you everything about myself, including how I came to be here tonight.”

  That caught her interest. She adjusted the robe across her legs. “Okay, deal. But if I become too heavy, please tell me.”

  “No worries. I’m stronger than I look.”

  Victoria listened in amazement as Kyle recited the details of how he came to be in her life.

  She stared at his profile in disbelief. “So, you’re telling me that you are my cat, Psycho?”

  He merely nodded, never slowing his steps.

  “I can’t believe it. All this time that you have been with me, how come you never revealed yourself? I mean, Jesus, it’s been years.”

  “I was sent to you by the Murphy sisters to protect you from Harvey, which I failed to do. I was never meant to stay beyond your childhood.”

  “Then why are you still here? And you didn’t fail in anything.” She thought of her stepfather’s break-in and the timing of the deputies responding to a call about shots being fired in her area.

  “You were the one that called the sheriff’s department.” It wasn’t a question.

  He glanced down, briefly meeting her gaze. “I was almost too late. Had they not shown up when they did, I would’ve had no choice but to show myself. I imagine I would have gone to jail alongside Harvey, if you didn’t shoot me first.”

  “Why would you think I’d shoot you?”

  He sent her a small smile. “A naked stranger bursting through your door?”

  “I see your point, but Harvey had the gun. I didn’t.”

  “Yes, well, I had no way of knowing that at the time. I had to shift in your bedroom in order to call 911. I barely had time to return to feline form before Harvey noticed me and tossed me outside. The cops made their appearance in the nick of time. But nothing compared to the relief I felt when Damien arrived.”

  Tori’s heart ached with the mention of her lover’s name. “I’d prefer not to discuss Damien Devain.”

  “Damien saved your life, Victoria,” Kyle murmured softly. “He loves you.”

  “He deceived me.”

  Kyle spoke without slowing. “If you want to get technical, I deceived you as well.”

  “And you were sent to protect me as Ben protects Claire. Damien came to kill us all.”

  “Perhaps,” Kyle conceded. “But he didn’t kill you. He took the life of his uncle to save yours. That should tell you something about his feelings for you.”

  Tori felt conflicted. Damien was a vampire sent to kill off the Sanders family and everyone close to them, including her; yet he’d done the opposite by annihilating his own flesh and blood.

  “I trusted him, Kyle. He should have come clean with me before I…”

  “Before you what? Fell in love with him?”

  She wanted to scream that yes, she’d fallen in love with Damien and given herself to him in a way she had never been able to with another before him.

  Instead, she said, “I don’t love him. He was a mistake, and I’m done talking about it.”

  Kyle remained quiet for a long moment. When he spoke, Tori could hear the underlying sorrow in his voice. “I lost the only woman I have ever loved due to stubbornness on my part. I allowed my jealousy and distrustful nature to drive her into the arms of another. I pray you do not make that same mistake.”

  Curiosity overrode Tori’s painful musings. “Are you still in touch with her?”

  He shook his head. “I have not seen Rebecca since 1918.”

  Victoria’s mouth dropped open. “Holy…1918? How old are you?”

  “Older than I look, I assure you.”

  They broke through the tree line and the Murphy sisters’ house came into view. Memories of sitting on the porch swing, drinking sweet tea poured through Tori like warm water.

  “I spent most of my life in that house,” Tori softly admitted. “It was my safe haven when things got bad. And things were always bad.”

  Kyle placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head. “I remember, kid.”

  “It’s still hard to believe that you are the cat I grew up with. I’m trying to wrap my mind around it…”

  “I’m sure it’s going to take some time to digest it all, and I’ll be here to answer any questions that you have.”

  Another thought struck Tori, and her face burned with embarrassment. “You’ve seen me shower, change clothes, and—”

  “Sing off-key,” he interrupted with a laugh. “No worries, Tori love. I honored your privacy above all else. I would never have disrespected you in such a way.”

  Tori believed him. Her shoulders relaxed, and she inhaled deeply as he deposited her on the steps of the porch.

  She gently squeezed his hand. “Thank you for everything.”

  “No thanks necessary, sweet girl. I would protect you with my life.”

  The door burst open, and Claire came running out. She threw her arms around Tori, nearly toppling them both down the steep steps. “Oh, thank God, you’re all right, Tori. I have been worried sick.”

  Tori hugged her back. “I’m fine, Claire. Are you okay? Where is Grayson?”

  “He’s sleeping in one of the spare rooms.” Claire broke off the hug and took hold of Tori’s hand. “Let’s go inside. Everyone is worried sick about you.”

  Motioning for Kyle to follow, Victoria preceded Claire through the screen door of the Murphy sisters’ kitchen.

  Sadie, Madge, and Jaxo
n sat around the breakfast table, sipping on coffee and nibbling on donuts while Adele busied herself preparing a fresh pot of Columbian blend.

  Tori would know that smell anywhere. The sisters were creatures of habit, and they’d been drinking the same brand of coffee for as long as Victoria could remember.

  Jaxon got to his feet first and embraced Tori before pouring her a cup of coffee from the carafe resting in the center of the table.

  He peered over the top of her head. “Kyle. Can I get you anything? Something to eat or drink? Maybe some clothes?”

  The corner of Kyle’s mouth lifted. “I appreciate that, but I think I’ll go purr myself to sleep somewhere.” After placing a kiss on Tori’s forehead, Kyle trailed off toward the living room.

  “Sit down, Victoria, and tell us what happened,” Sadie murmured, patting the vacant chair next to her.

  Tori reluctantly took a seat. She really didn’t feel up to reciting the night’s events, but the sisters had never been known for letting things go, and this time would be no different. She blew out a shaky breath. “Where to begin…?”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Damien arose with the setting sun. Though his body had healed during sleep, his heart remained crippled.

  The accusing look in Victoria’s eyes would haunt him for centuries to come. He’d let her down the same as her family had her entire life. Regaining her trust wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to try.

  He threw his legs over the side of the bed and got to his feet. He needed to return to his hotel room, assess the damage, and change his clothes.

  Footsteps could be heard from above him, along with voices and the scent of a shifter. Jaxon Sanders, Damien assumed, leaving the room and slipping into the hall.

  Jaxon’s deep voice rang out from the living room. “Well, he needs to be gone before Tori shows up. She doesn’t want to see him.”

  “He loves her, Jaxon.” Ben’s quiet words surprised Damien. He hadn’t expected the big familiar to come to his defense.

  Sanders immediately retaliated. “It doesn’t matter. He’s a vampire, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “Jaxon Sanders,” Claire barked. “I’m surprised at you. How can you say that after everything your father put us through? He shouldn’t have tried to stand in the way of true love, and neither should you.”

  Yeah, Damien definitely liked Jaxon’s wife. “No worries,” Damien announced, stepping into the living room. “I’ll be on my way.” He met Claire’s concerned gaze. “If Victoria does show up here, will you let her know that I’ll be at the hotel and I really need to talk to her?”

  Claire’s gaze softened. “You don’t have to go, Mr. Devain. Jaxon is the pot calling the kettle black. It’s not his decision who Tori chooses to love. And she does love you.”

  Damien’s chest constricted. “She told you this?”

  “Not in so many words, but I can see it in her eyes. She’s in shock right now and will need some time to come to terms with everything that’s happened. She’ll come around. I just know it.”

  “Then perhaps it is best that I take my leave and give her some space.” Damien nodded to Claire and extended his hand to Jaxon. “Thank you for not staking me in my sleep.”

  Jaxon’s shoulders visibly relaxed. He accepted Damien’s outstretched hand. “Thank you for not killing my father last night. I understand your uncle’s reasoning for wanting him dead, but my dad wasn’t responsible for Ursula’s death.”

  Damien released Jaxon’s palm. “Are you sure about that?”

  “I’m not entirely sure about anything when it comes to my old man, but I do think you should hear him out.”

  The only person Damien was interested in speaking with at the moment was Victoria. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  With a nod in Ben’s direction, Damien pulled open the door and waited for Jaxon to call off his wolves before stepping onto the porch and blurring his way toward town.

  He could easily kill the two animals or outrun them for that matter, but respect from beasts such as Alabama and Kojak was better earned through submission. And if Damien intended on visiting the ranch again, he needed to prove he wasn’t a threat.

  Kyle—or Psycho, as Tori referred to him—was a different matter altogether. It roasted Damien’s ass to have the exotic-looking familiar traipsing around Victoria half dressed. She would no longer need Kyle in her life once she had Damien’s protection. If she will accept it…

  * * * *

  Damien spent the next hour answering questions and giving an account to the police on his whereabouts during the break-in of his hotel room.

  After explaining that he’d stayed the night at Jaxon Sanders’ ranch, and had no valuables in his room at the time of the supposed robbery, Damien was handed a key by the hotel’s manager.

  “This goes to the new door we had replaced this morning. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. If you find that anything is missing, please let me or one of the housekeepers know, and I’ll see to it that you are compensated. As for the rest of your stay, it’s on us.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Damien assured her. “No harm has been done. I’m more than happy to pay for the room’s rent.”

  The manager studied him for a moment. “If you’re sure?”

  “I’m positive. Now if you’ll excuse me, I am in dire need of a shower.”

  “Oh, I— Yes, of course,” the elder woman stammered. “Have a good evening, Mr. Devain.”

  Damien trailed off toward the staircase, wearing nothing but his borrowed jeans. He’d been so lost in thoughts of Victoria he hadn’t thought about showing up at the hotel without a shirt or shoes on his person.

  He arrived at his room seconds later, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

  Victoria’s scent still lingered, faint but discernable. His gaze landed on the bed they’d recently made love in. The linens had been changed, removing any physical evidence that she’d been there at all.

  Damien turned from the reminder of the most incredible mating he’d ever experienced and padded across the floor to the bathroom. He needed to shower and feed. It had been days since his last meal.

  Tori’s essence hit him full force upon opening the bathroom door. Her clothes from the night she’d showered there were folded neatly and stacked on the counter connected to the sink. Her necklace rested next to them.

  Damien’s fangs descended, and his body came alive as the unique scent that was Tori invaded his senses.

  Picking up her shirt, he brought it to his nose, basking in her sweet smell. He reached for the zipper of his jeans to free his erection as he stood there, breathing her in.

  What was he going to do if she rejected him? Could he go through the rest of his life without her?

  Damien stilled at the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. He returned Victoria’s shirt to the counter and blurred his way across the room in anticipation of trouble. He didn’t have long to wait.

  A knock sounded, and a deep voice echoed from the hall. “It’s Jaxon Sanders.”

  Damien opened the door in surprise. “What brings you here?”

  “We need to talk,” Jaxon announced, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation.

  Closing the door, Damien gestured to a chair perched in front of a desk beneath the window. “Have a seat.”

  Jaxon stopped in the center of the room. “I prefer to stand.”

  “Very well.” Damien stood also, his feet spread apart and his arms crossed over his bare chest. “I’m listening.”

  “I’m here about Victoria.”

  Damien raised an eyebrow. “I gathered as much.”

  “Look, Devain. I’ve known Tori my entire life. She is my wife’s closest friend. Claire and I both care about Victoria and what happens to her.”

  “As do I,” Damien stated with finality. “If you have come here to ask me to leave, you’re wasting your breath. I’ll not go without her.”

  Jaxon
sighed and ran a hand down his face. “I’m not asking you to leave. Although, if it were up to me, I would kill you and be done with it.”

  Damien slowly uncrossed his arms. “What are you waiting for, shifter?”

  “Relax, vampire. I’m not here looking for a fight. I’m here because I couldn’t prevent my wife from coming any other way.”

  The corner of Damien’s mouth lifted. “Ah, yes. I do like your wife, Jaxon. She’s a rare jewel indeed.”

  “She’s also stubborn to a fault, and she somehow has it in her head that you are the right man for Tori; no matter that you’re not a man at all.”

  “And you disagree.” It wasn’t a question.

  Jaxon stared back at him for a long moment. “I need to know what your intentions are. I won’t allow Victoria to be hurt by you.”

  “Because you came here out of some misguided attempt to protect the woman I love, I’ll let your threat slide. Once.”

  Damien strolled over to the dresser and poured himself a glass of wine. “As for my intentions?” He took a healthy drink and twirled the wineglass in his hand. “I intend on making her my bride.”

  “She’s human, Devain. She’ll never survive in your world.”

  “Then I will stay in hers,” Damien murmured before taking another sip of wine. “I have a question for you, Sanders.”

  Jaxon nodded. “By all means.”

  Damien poured another glass of wine and handed it to the shifter. “How come your wife remains human?”

  “That’s none of your business,” Jaxon growled. “I didn’t come here to discuss Claire with you.”

  “Then tell me what you know of Harvey Cohen…”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Victoria sat on the window seat in the Murphy sisters’ den, staring up at the stars twinkling in the night sky.

  Damien was out there somewhere, probably packing to return home, back to his exciting life of art, money, and no doubt, women.