by Deanna Chase
“Hello, Dax.” Her rough voice floated through the thick air from somewhere behind him.
Dax’s skin prickled. It looked like he was going to get those answers sooner rather than later. “Why’d you do it, Phoebe?”
“I’m not sure you really want to know.” Her voice came from in front of him now even though he hadn’t turned.
“Don’t play games. It’s not your style. Not with me anyway,” he said, unable to keep the irritation out of his tone.
“You’re right. I never did play games with you. But things are different now. You’re the one standing in the way of what I want. So unless you hand over those two shifters you’re protecting, the games are about to get real sporty.”
“Stop fucking around, Phoebe. Just tell me why. The truth this time.”
“I already told you. They killed my brother,” she snarled. “All because he refused to do their bidding.”
“That’s a lie. Willow saw Seth just a few days ago,” Dax said, scanning the area for any hint of the dark-haired beauty.
“So he’s back here, is he? That figures. Even after eight years, he still doesn’t give a shit about me.”
Dax had no idea what she meant. At that moment, he really didn’t care either. All he wanted to do was take her in and get her a psych evaluation, see if she’d suffered a major breakdown. To his uneducated eye, it sure seemed as if a switch had flipped that day she was supposed to leave the healer’s office.
“Why do you say that?” he asked, just to keep her talking.
She snorted. “Because all he cares about is her, that’s why.”
“Who’s her?”
Phoebe didn’t answer.
Instead, he felt the first effects of a spell hurtling right toward him. “Fuck!” Dax threw himself to the ground, simultaneously shifting into his wolf form. It was his best shot at outrunning or surviving her spells. In his wolf form, he could shake off certain spells as well as move faster if he needed to dodge her wrath. His paws hit the pavement and he darted around a nearby 1950s-style truck, taking cover just before the magic hit the fender and sizzled all over the metal bodywork.
“Don’t be afraid, Dax. I just want to go somewhere and talk. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
He let out a growl. If she really just wanted to talk, she wouldn’t be throwing her magic around.
“I’m just trying to persuade you to see reason.” Another bolt of magic flew right past him and blasted a chunk out of a nearby tree.
How? By taking off a limb? He darted under the truck and came out the other side, just in time to see her touch the ring on her index finger. Sleeping potion. As long as she hadn’t changed the spell, she was intending to knock him out. That was better than the death curse, he supposed.
“Come on, Dax,” she cooed. “It’s just me and you now. You don’t really think I’d hurt you, not after all the nights we’ve spent together?”
If he’d been in his human form, he would’ve snorted. Did she really think she could use their sex life to convince him to do anything? If he knew anything about Kilsen, it was that physical intimacy came easy to her. It was the emotional closeness that was deeper and meant something. If she was going to appeal to his sense of loyalty to her, that’s where she should’ve been focusing her efforts. The fact that she wasn’t was interesting.
He crept along the row of cars, circling back to where he’d left his clothes and personal items. He might be able to fend off a magical attack easier in his wolf form, but taking her down without ripping a limb off would be quite a bit harder.
“Come here, puppy,” she sang, sounding like a lunatic.
His nostrils flared and for a second, he wasn’t sure he was going to be able to shift. He was too angry. But then he saw his pile of clothes and the tranq gun. In an instant, he was back in human form. There was no time to get redressed. He just grabbed the tranq gun and fired.
Phoebe held up one hand, creating a magical shield of light that illuminated her dark expression. The dart lodged into her magical barrier and when she snapped her fingers, the dart fell to the ground. “That was… disappointing.”
Dax gaped at her. He’d never seen her use such a spell before, and the brimstone scent in the air told him everything he needed to know about why. Brimstone was an illegal substance. Witches used it to enhance their powers, but it also messed up their brain chemistry.
Suddenly Dax felt sick. Was that why all this was happening? She’d poisoned herself with brimstone and had now gone off the deep end? “You don’t have to do this, Phoebe. The Void is ready to help you through this. We’ll get you a psych evaluation, and from there—”
“No! I will not be a prisoner again,” she cried and threw her hands up in the air. Raindrops so hot they burned fell from the sky and sizzled when they hit Dax’s skin.
He hissed and dove for the stun gun, but Phoebe’s foot hit the weapon just before his fingers closed over the metal case.
“Get up,” she ordered, snapping her fingers and making the rain turn to tiny slivers of ice.
Dax immediately turned back into his wolf and roared at her, his jaws open, and then he pounced.
She pivoted quickly, her movements as graceful as a dancer’s when she turned back toward him and reach out her left hand.
He took his shot and clamped his jaws around her wrist.
But instead of trying to get free, she just gave him a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin and said, “Good night, Dax. We’ll talk in the morning.”
Gold dust sprinkled down on him, pulling him into pure darkness.
21
“Fuck,” Dax whispered, taking a step away from me.
I turned around and met Allcot’s caustic stare. “Hello, Eadric. I didn’t think you’d be in tonight.”
“I came to collect my wife. I see I shouldn’t have bothered,” he said, moving gracefully into the room, straight toward me.
“I’m sure Pandora would’ve come and gotten me.”
“She’s tending to Lex.” His cold gaze landed on Dax. “I told you I’d end you if you ever touched her. Did I not?”
“You did,” Dax agreed, standing his ground right next to me. “But it appears she isn’t the property you thought she was.”
A small cheer rose up in the back of my throat, but I swallowed it. Now wasn’t the time. “Listen, Allcot,” I started.
“Stop talking, Phoebe,” he ordered and reached for Dax, grabbing him by the shirt and yanking the shifter toward him. “You, servant, are a dead man.”
“Allcot!” I jumped between them, grabbing Eadric’s wrist and forcing him to let go of Dax’s shirt. “You will not harm my oldest and dearest friend.”
The chill of his gaze landed on me, and he let out a hiss that made my ears ring. “The only reason this loser isn’t dead already is because I promised your brother I’d keep him alive. But you ruined that, didn’t you, Phoebe? Once a whore, always a whore.”
Oh, that was it. I’d had enough. “I was never a whore, you low-life, second-class vampire. I’ve seen you in your three-way sex-fests where all you care about is what pleasure your women can give you. I’ll never understand how Pandora—” Shit. My anger had gotten the best of me, and I was giving him a dressing-down for the actions of the Allcot from my world, not this one. Not that I thought any better of him.
“Pandora?” he asked, showing the barest hint of interest. “Pandora and I…” He shook his head and narrowed his gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. It was probably just a false memory or a dream or something,” I said, again biting back a wince.
“No. I don’t think so.” He reached out and grabbed me by the neck, pushing me back toward the wall. “Explain yourself, Phoebe.”
At least we were on solid footing now. I knew how to fight vampires, especially vampires who were pissed. I answered with a knee to the groin.
Allcot easily sidestepped my attack, but I’d known he would. I’d been here before. Maybe not with thi
s Allcot, but one who moved in very much the same way. I countered by going for a knee. My foot hit the target, and I put everything I had into the blow. It knocked Allcot off-balance, causing him to topple to the side. He went down and started to roll, but Dax was on him, already in wolf form, his gray and white fur illuminated by the overhead light.
I ran around the pair, automatically reaching for the agate I kept in my pocket. My fingers came up empty as I remembered I hadn’t had it on me the day I’d slipped into this other realm. “Dammit!” Instead, I reached for the dagger I had strapped to my leg and felt whole for the first time in days as my hand wrapped around the hilt.
Dax had wrapped his jaws around Allcot’s shoulder and was hanging on with a fierce grip as he shook his head. It looked as if the wolf was trying to tear Allcot’s arm right off. And why wouldn’t he? The vampire had been prepared to keep Dax chained to this business for the rest of his life, and all because Dax had feelings for the wife Allcot had fucking purchased. The entire thing was so gross, it made my stomach turn just thinking about it.
Allcot got his other hand wrapped around Dax’s furry neck, grabbed on, and threw the wolf so hard he hit the plaster wall and slid down in a heap of limbs and fur. Before I could even move, Allcot was on his feet and coming straight toward me.
Fine. I was ready. I kept a tight grip on the dagger’s hilt and danced out of his way, anticipating which way he’d move before he even got there. Then I pivoted and landed the dagger right in the same shoulder that was now marred with puncture wounds from Dax’s impressive canines.
“Fuuuuuuck!” Allcot roared, twisting and grabbing my wrist. His grip was so tight it caused me to release the hilt, leaving the dagger still sticking out of his shoulder. And that’s when the blow came. His fist landed just to the left of my right eye, sending me spinning back. Pain exploded in my skull, and I felt as if my head had literally cracked in two.
It was my turn to go down in a pile of limbs, but as I did, I saw Dax going back for more, his lithe body leaping through the air and catching Allcot on the neck.
Good, I thought. Let’s see how he likes it. Though judging by the grumbling coming from the salty vampire, I was guessing it wasn’t a pleasurable experience. That was no surprise. Allcot understood pleasure. He understood bringing himself pleasure by belittling others. It was rare when he actually fought his own battles. Though I’d seen it before, seen him sacrifice himself for Pandora actually.
Dax went flying through the air a second time. I didn’t hesitate—I grabbed my dagger, which had been thrown to the floor, and bounced back up on my feet, ready for him. But the vampire moved so fast I didn’t even see him coming. The dagger was ripped from my hand and the next thing I knew, I was pressed up against the wall, Allcot at my back and his fangs at my neck.
“Now what’s the plan, Phoebe,” he hissed in my ear.
“I could still spell you,” I said, running on pure adrenaline and bravado. If this were the Allcot I knew in my reality, I wouldn’t be afraid of him. It was highly unlikely he’d kill the best friend of Willow Rhoswen. They had family connections now, not to mention Willow was a damned valuable fae to the vampire community. But in this reality? I likely wasn’t valuable at all.
“With what? That death ring you’re still wearing from last week that we had you spell just in case it was needed?” He ran his fingers down my throat as if searching for the best place to lodge his fangs.
“That’s a possibility,” I said and swallowed hard.
He pressed his body into me, letting me feel his arousal against my back. It made me shudder in disgust. Leave it to Allcot to be turned on by violence. Not that I was surprised. It was a fairly typical response for vamps. “I’m already dead, remember?”
Of course I did. But it was likely potent enough to at least knock him out. “I remember.”
There was a groan across the room, and I took that to mean that Dax had shifted back into his human form. That meant he was hurt and likely hadn’t had a choice. Damn.
Allcot let out a growl of impatience as he ground his hips into me, but then he suddenly jerked back, letting me go.
I fell against the wall, stunned, unsure of what was happening. Slowly I turned around and faced him.
Those gray eyes were full of lust but also anger as he studied me. “Who are you?”
“What?” I gave my head a little shake, trying to follow his sudden pivot.
“You’re not Phoebe Kilsen. I knew a week ago, but I bought your story about taking herbs.” He scowled and glared at me. “You’re someone else. The Phoebe I know doesn’t fight like you do. She’s dirtier, more vicious. Scrappy, like a street fighter. You… you’ve been trained.” He walked over to his desk and leaned against it, his arms crossed over his chest. “Not to mention that the minute I pressed my dick into her ass, she would’ve crushed my balls. But twice you just stood there, seething while fear rolled off you. The Phoebe I know doesn’t give a shit about what I do. She’d rather die fighting than let me see her afraid. Mind telling me where my wife is?”
“I wasn’t afraid,” I said, lifting my chin. Though I had been at least a little bit. I didn’t know this vamp. Not this version of him anyway.
He snorted his derision. “You just keep telling yourself that, honey.” He glanced at Dax. “Did you know she’s a fake?”
Dax, who had managed to get back into his jeans, walked over to me, placing a hand on the small of my back. “No,” he finally said, not looking at me. “But it makes sense. She’s softer. More heart.”
“I’m not soft,” I insisted.
Both of the men just stared at me, saying nothing. But then Dax cleared his throat. “I see you aren’t denying it.”
“Dammit.” I stalked over to the velvet couch and sat down, impressed with Allcot. He was still a dick, just like he was in my world, but he was smart. He was also complicated, with many layers. His ethics were problematic as usual, but when he cared about someone, he was loyal. Even to my counterpart, who had bailed on him. “Listen, I’m not crazy, okay?”
“Okay,” Dax said, taking the seat next to me. Allcot stayed where he was, a stormy expression on his face.
“I’m from a parallel universe,” I blurted. “I am Phoebe Kilsen, just not the one you two have known all these years.”
Allcot blinked at me.
Dax studied my face as if he was seeing me for the first time.
“That’s not possible,” Allcot finally said.
I shrugged. “That’s what I said. Then I ended up slipping through some portal and your wife took my spot in my realm. Trust me when I tell you I’m not happy about it.”
“But the portals have been sealed,” Allcot insisted.
It was my turn to blink. “You knew there were parallel universes?” I asked, shocked. Though I don’t know why I should’ve been. If anyone knew about the portals, it would be Allcot. He was a resourceful bastard. It would serve me well to remember that.
“Of course I knew. Shifters from the Masterson clan opened them to escape their death sentence after they killed Phoebe’s brother.”
Holy shit. He knew about Seth. “So you know then. About Seth.”
“I know,” he said.
“How? Were you around when he died?” I asked, wanting to know how much he knew about the portals.
“My wife told me. She tells me everything. That’s why this week has been so… challenging.” He pushed himself up from the desk and said, “You should’ve just been up front with me from the beginning. It would’ve made everything easier.”
“Seth said… Never mind. I just didn’t think it was safe to start talking about parallel universes. One never knows how people are going to take those things.”
Allcot studied me and then gave me a quick nod as if to say he understood my position. But then he pivoted when he said, “Phoebe will be back. When she’s done with her business, she’ll come home to me.” His gaze moved to Dax’s guarded one. “You won’t be here when she does.”
A shiver went up my spine at the look Allcot gave him. It was full of venom and jealousy.
“Dax didn’t do anything wrong,” I insisted. “In fact, you probably owe him your gratitude.”
“Phoebe,” Dax said, shaking his head.
“No, Dax, he needs to hear this.” I stalked over to Allcot and stood right in front of him. “Did you know he gave up his freedom to watch over her eight years ago?”
Allcot cut his gaze to the shifter, but only briefly. He didn’t answer.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“I guess that means you also don’t know that Phoebe’s brother, the one who died, also promised to come back here with enough cash to free both Phoebe and Dax. And then four years later, you stroll in and purchase her freedom, but no one did anything for Dax here. And to make matters worse, you were just going to let him rot here, bound to this place forever. That’s… it’s fucking cruel, Allcot. You know that?”
His lips twitched into that sinister smile he wore when he was amused by something. “The shifter is right. You are softer.”
“Fuck you,” I said and met his steely gaze with one of my own.
“Yeah, you are. You care too much.” The vampire took a step forward and placed his large hands on my shoulders. Then he did the oddest thing. He lowered his head and kissed me on the forehead. “You and I would’ve been a terrible match. At least I understand your demand for new contracts now.” He let out a small snort. “And the reason you were locking lips with that one.” He jerked his head in Dax’s direction. “I bet he’s a lot like the Dax in your reality.”
I turned my attention to the shifter in question and sighed. “Yeah, he is. This one has a bigger hero complex though.”
“Hey, I’m sitting right here,” Dax said.
I chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s pretty endearing.”
“Listen, Phoebe. I’ll make you a deal,” Allcot said.
I stiffened. “About what?”
“I’ll let the shifter go free, no strings attached, if you tell me about Eadric Allcot in your realm.”
Dax sat up straighter, interest lighting his handsome face.
