by Nikki Landis
“Hey,” I chided as I lifted myself higher, looking down into his striking azure eyes. “We’ll be fine. There’s danger but we can handle it.”
His lips met mine in a passionate but brief kiss. “I won’t allow you to fall under the Ether’s spell. If I see it happening, we’ll return here immediately and damn the mission.”
“Gabe, I’m not a child.”
“No, but you’re not immortal either. Please try to remember that.”
“If I don’t remove the Thrall’s bite . . . worse will happen. Trust me.”
“What do you mean?” A deep frown marred his handsome face and I smoothed it over with two fingers as he closed his eyes temporarily, bumping my hand with his nose when I went to pull away.
He was such a wolf. Every act of touch with him seemed to mean more than with the others. Gabriel was like a contented puppy whenever my fingers grazed his hair or skin.
“We have to complete the mission,” I finally answered a few minutes later. “Failure isn’t an option.”
Gabriel pushed me gently onto my back and kissed along my throat, his nose pressed to the skin as he nipped lightly with his teeth. “Explain,” he ordered gruffly, his words part command and partially concerned.
“If I don’t remove the bite . . . it’ll kill me.”
“The ancestors can’t remove the demon’s mark?”
“They could try but it’s risky, Gabe. I could be marked permanently messing with the fade and demonic possession. It’s not something we should attempt unless I fail to find the Thrall nest.”
“We’re going to the Ether, not the fade. Am I missing something?”
Gabe probably didn’t follow witch practices that closely so he didn’t know. “The only place to find the original demon is to cross into the fade if the Ether doesn’t yield results.”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t like this, sweetheart.”
“That makes two of us.”
Chapter 4
“Ready to fuck?”
My hand flew to my chest as I spun and found Damian casually leaning against my wall, swinging a pair of metal handcuffs on one finger. “What?”
“I figure we may as well jump right on in.” His eyes held an almost iridescent glow as he pushed off the wall. “I’ve got plenty of toys to spice things up, but I think the first time I just want to –”
“Cornering me in my room definitely has the element of surprise but I think I’ll decline.” Brushing past him, I didn’t think he’d be bold enough to grab me.
I was wrong.
His hands gripped my upper arms from behind as he pressed close against my back. Instead of heat I felt the lightly cool touch of his skin through his fingertips while his cinnamon scented breath caressed my cheek. “You’re fighting a losing battle, my pet.”
A part of me wanted to give in.
‘Don’t fight it.’
‘Stay out of my thoughts.’
‘My precious pet, that pussy is all I’ve thought about since I saw you sucking Gabe’s cock.’
I couldn’t help my light gasp in response.
‘No one else speaks to you like this. They don’t say what they think.’ He turned me around swiftly as our eyes met. ‘I want to bury my own cock deep inside you.’ His hips thrust forward. “Feel how hard you make my dick,” he murmured aloud.
My hand moved an inch and it was all it took to feel his erection. Damian blurred slightly as his eyes closed. When they opened, his lip curled up on the left.
“Damian, please.”
“Want me to lick you like your strong alpha wolf? Slide my tongue into that wet tight pussy of yours?” He murmured huskily.
“Stop,” I commanded but it was more of a moan.
“Tsk, tsk. Don’t lie, pet.” He slid his fingers inside the waistband of my leggings and under my silk thong – straight down over my mound until he slipped one digit between my slick outer lips. “Mmmm, now that’s interesting.”
I gasped as my back met my bedroom wall. “Damian.”
‘Oh, pet. You’re going to be screaming my name soon.’
The piercing pain of his fangs sank into my neck before I could protest any further. I was furious for about three seconds until it was quickly replaced by a liquid heat that shot right through my core. Desire ran rampant and sliced across my brain as I cried out.
What was he doing to me?
I couldn’t stop my reaction or how my body betrayed me and reacted to the powerful vampire. His bite was like an instant aphrodisiac. The pain ebbed completely and all I felt was exquisite pleasure. My body didn’t feel like my own as I began to move my hips, rocking back and forth as his fingers stayed lodged inside me.
“Precious, you remember that vision we shared?” His tongue lapped at the puncture marks on my neck as he awaited my answer. “When I fucked you on your bed and you cried out my name in pleasure, over and over again?”
“Damian,” I protested, fighting his words and touch but failing miserably.
Was there something in his saliva?
I was drunk on Damian. My inhibitions fled. My reasoning faded and I let out a whimper.
“Say you remember. Tell me how it turned you on to know I would fuck you.” He sucked on the skin of my neck and nibbled with his teeth as I closed my eyes, lost in the magic he weaved. “Let me describe it for you, every pass of my lips across your soft skin . . .” he trailed off as he scraped his fangs along my neck and I shivered in response. “Every thrust of my tongue into your wet and aching pussy.”
“Damian,” I breathed, “yes.”
“Yes, what?” He hummed a little as he bit down and began to feed again, arching his body into mine with each expert thrust of his hips. “Tell me, my beautiful pet.”
I nearly startled with his possessive tone and words but I was far too gone in the throes of passion and pleasure. Damian would be an expert lover. I knew this, could glimpse it as his magnetic green eyes locked on mine.
“You’re mine, precious. Don’t ever forget it.”
He turned me around abruptly and pressed my hands up against the wall so my palms were flat. “Don’t’ move them, not until I say you can,” he ordered as I light shiver ghosted along my spine. He was right up against me, his torso snug against the curve of my back. “You have too many clothes on,” he whispered as he suddenly yanked my leggings and thong down in one swift movement. The fabric tore as it left my legs and bottom half fully exposed.
‘You’re gorgeous, pet.’
“Damian.” His name left my lips with longing. I knew he could hear it in my voice. My back arched as I stuck my ass out a little more, needing the return of his lips and hands.
A whoosh of air entered the room as if the window had been temporarily opened, no longer than a couple of seconds. It was odd but I was too turned on to think if it further.
Damian noisily removed his own pants as the belt buckle hit the wooden floorboards and rattled slightly. I inhaled loudly as his body returned to mine and two fingers reached around to slip between my legs. “Spread wide, pet. I want full access.” Two digits entered me again as my head fell back against his shoulder.
“Don’t stop,” I pleaded as he found the perfect rhythm. Plunging in and out, his audible growl filled the room and echoed in my ear.
“I’m so hard for you,” he admitted.
My hips rocked against him as he began to move his own body, the proof of his desire sliding between my legs from behind. I wondered if he was going to try to enter me but he didn’t. Sounds of rapture escaped his throat as he moved our bodies in sync. The pleasure began to build as the heat in my body skyrocketed.
“You’re so warm,” he murmured, lifting his free hand and biting his wrist. Placing it against my lips, he ordered, “Drink.”
I might have refused but I was so lost in the moment that I obeyed instantly. “Damian,” I moaned as I began to suck on the puncture. His blood trickled down my throat as I felt his fangs pierce my neck.
&n
bsp; Both of us were moaning and writhing with need, heightened by the potent blood that flowed freely into my mouth and his own simultaneously. “I’m so close.” The words launched from my throat before I could stop them and I didn’t care.
“We’re going to come together, precious.”
The friction increased along with the tight knot inside my core until I couldn’t stand it any longer. My body trembled and then stilled as my legs gave out beneath me the same moment one of the most intense orgasms of my life unleashed. At the exact same time . . .
I connected with Damian.
Our thoughts briefly combined. Our bodies crushed together. Our memories collided.
His lips met mine as we landed on the bed and he thrust against me, coming as hard as I was.
Liquid crimson splashed across my vision . . .
Damian stood in shackles before the council. A defiant sneer dominated his face as he turned to face the panel who would decide his fate.
“You’ve disgraced the Rockcastle name.”
“No more than my brother.”
“You’ll regret this choice,” the council threatened.
“I don’t regret anything. You’ll see.”
This council hereby strips you of your title, your lands, and your heritage. From this day forward, you are no longer recognized by this council. You’re banished . . .”
The vision appeared and faded so fast I don’t think he had a clue what I just saw.
“Damian,” I whispered as our eyes met and he pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
“We no longer have secrets, my precious.”
Frowning, I wasn’t sure what he meant.
“We completed our bond. The blood scrying is finished.”
“Scrying? That’s a form of clairvoyance . . .”
“Yes, and now it’s done.” He seemed super pleased with himself.
The truth was slow in coming and then it hit me, as viciously and callously as a slap across the face. “You used me,” I whispered, the agony in my voice so real and tangible you could reach out and touch it.
“We both found satisfaction.”
“No,” I choked, pushing him back so I could see the cold truth in his eyes. “You used me to connect to the coven. You wanted inside knowledge, access to our powers and abilities.”
He lay on his side, one hand resting on my hip possessively. “This isn’t a fairy tale, pet. Did you think I was going to fall in love with you? That any of us immortals are capable of giving you a happily ever after?” He chuckled lightly as the tears filled my eyes and I didn’t fight them.
“I never thought you were capable of love. Decency, perhaps. Maybe I thought,” my voice broke and I jumped up, brushing my fingers across my cheeks. “I thought we had enough of a friendship to at least be honest with one another.”
“Listen, precious, I only serve one master.”
“Yourself,” I snapped, becoming angry as the pain in my heart increased.
Damian stood, his gloriously naked body in front of mine in less than a second. “My master, my sire and creator, Cassandra. He even trumps my obligation to this Cosan.”
I sank to my knees, never feeling more foolish in my life than this moment. “This was all planned.”
“Yes,” he confirmed, “And now I have pleased my master.”
So, he was just a pawn. A creature that was nothing more than a soldier sent to gain my trust enough to let us bond. Now he had access to my entire lineage – all the power and magic of the Howe Salem witches.
I had singlehandedly placed my entire family and the ancestors in grave danger.
Damian’s fingers brushed along my skin and I jumped back in repulsion. “I like leaving you sticky. It’s sexy as fuck to know I’ve marked you in every way that I can.”
Gagging, I turned and ran into the bathroom, falling to my knees as I vomited into the toilet. Damian’s laugh grated across every nerve in my body as he appeared in the doorway. “You sure hurt a guy’s ego when you run to the bathroom like that.”
I was tempted to kick him in the balls and inflict actual damage.
Damian didn’t say a word.
Since when did he let these comments enter his head and not respond?
It was the strangest sensation . . . but this didn’t feel like Damian. In fact, I hadn’t heard him in my head since the moment I felt that whoosh of air.
I stared at the man in front of me and didn’t recognize the dark handsome stranger. As I peered into his face I noticed a tiny strawberry colored birthmark low on his jaw, close to his right ear.
Damian didn’t have a birthmark.
My entire body began to tremble as I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my naked body. In my head I said a quick incantation, seeking the ancestors for protection. The vampire smiled as his fangs gleamed in the light. Damian’s fangs only protruded when he was ready to bite down and feed.
Was this imposter going to feed from me again? Against my will?
“In the future, my sweet pet, I’ll be lodged deep inside you when you come like that.” I gasped at his words as he leered at me, his expression nearly cruel. “And know this, I don’t care which of your three holes I’m in.”
The vamp must think I still believed he was Damian. “I don’t think so,” I replied vehemently.
He had me pinned against the wall, my feet dangling in the air so fast I never saw him move. “You’ll do what I say.”
His stare was intense as his eyes began to glow a deep emerald. “Are you trying to compel me?” I shook my head, knowing this vampire was definitely not my Damian. “You know that doesn’t work.”
“You’ll follow my orders, witch, or else.” He licked the side of my neck as he paused. “And I’ll taste you whenever I wish.”
“We’ll see about that.”
* * *
Pacing in my room an hour later, I didn’t hear the banging on my door for several minutes.
“Cassie?”
Gypsy was trying to break through the barrier I put up the second Damian – the fake Damian – left my room. I hadn’t stopped walking and thinking since the moment I was alone. With a flick of my wrist, I opened the door. Gypsy rushed into the room, glancing around as she ran forward and dropped to her knees next to me.
“What’s wrong, Cassie?”
My hand reached for hers and squeezed as I fought back tears. “I’ve been tricked.”
Her hand rose and wavered over her heart. “I can feel such sorrow, anger, and heartbreak. You feel so awful,” she said in a rush, “I’m sorry, but it hurts.”
“It’s okay, I understand.” Sighing, I leaned against her, unsure where to start. “Something happened to Damian.”
“Damian? I just saw him a couple of hours ago. He felt fine.”
Gypsy was good with auras. She could discern the intentions of almost any immortal and human within a few seconds. “It was about an hour ago.” Gyps listened as I told her everything, starting with the moment I felt the wind enter the room.
“Girl, you got off with a stranger? Damn.” Her expression turned serious. “You’re okay? He didn’t force himself on you or anything?”
“No, Gyps. I’m fine.”
She sighed with relief. “Okay, good. So how was the sex?”
I punched her playfully on the arm but didn’t mind she changed the subject quickly. “I thought it was Damian. It started out as him, so stop focusing on that part.”
Her lips twitched with humor but she nodded. “Okay, so where is the real Damian?”
My shutters flew open as we turned to the window, both of jumping to our feet when we saw the bloodied figure outside the glass, hovering in the air.
‘Open the window, precious.’
“Damian!”
He stumbled inside and I could see his body covered in injuries that were in various stages of healing. His clothes were torn and sliced open in several spots by something sharp. I pressed him down into a chair as our eyes met.
“What t
he hell happened? Why did you disappear?”
He closed his eyes briefly. ‘This takes less energy. We ran into a slight problem.’
“We?”
‘Me and you, precious.’
“What problem?”
“My twin brother,” he groaned as he sat back with a slight groan.
Gypsy’s eyes widened. “That was probably important to know before now.”
“You think?” I asked sarcastically. “Fuck, Damian.”
‘I prefer it when you use those sexy lips for other things besides foul words.’
“I don’t care.”
He grinned slightly and pulled me forward as I fell into his lap. “Yeah, you do.” He kissed me and shook his head. “I miscalculated my brother’s vicious nature and mistakenly thought he wouldn’t come here. There was no point mentioning him until it was necessary.”
“Well, what’s this jerk’s name?” Gypsy was watching us closely, concerned. I know she thought all these men at the same time in my life were fascinating. She was often humored but I could see the worry in her eyes, too.
“Dick.”
Seriously?
“Stop,” Gypsy laughed, smacking his arm. “Be serious.”
“Dmitri.” Damian winced as I frowned.
“Do you need blood?” I lifted my wrist and he nodded, hugging my body close as he lowered his head and kissed my neck instead. “The carotid is better.”
“Well, this is just gross. I’ll be back later.” Gypsy sashayed from the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
‘He’s dangerous, precious. Stay far away from my brother.’ Damian lifted his head and I glimpsed genuine concern. ‘He would kill you just to mess with me.’
“Is that was this is about? Sibling rivalry?”
He turned toward the window, his eyes distant. “Something like that.”
“What did he do to you?” I asked softly, confused and worried by his lack of response or explanation.
“Dmitri Rockcastle is a monster. That’s all you need to know.”
It wasn’t that simple. Dmitri bonded to me and we exchanged blood. What if he could find me? Track me?
Damian pulled me in close as a hard edge suddenly radiated from his frame. “He bonded you? Fed?”
