by Sadie Moss
With the net no longer binding me, I had my vampire strength and speed back. I could try to fight her if it came down to it. But whether I’d win against a group this size was another question entirely. So I stayed still, keeping my hands raised.
“I’m also part vampire. I was dying, and those three men turned me to save my life. They’re hunters who have taken a vow to protect both humans and supernaturals from predators and threats.”
She scoffed. “Have they now?”
“Yes.” I dropped my voice. “When I met them, they were hunting a shade that had been attacking innocent people. Then more shades appeared. These shades are being controlled by two ancient and powerful vampire women who are resurrecting fae to serve in their undead army. They’ve stolen five ancient artifacts called the Stones of Power, and we think they’re planning to use them to bring every dead fae back to life.”
I didn’t mention the sisters’ motivation. If I told this woman that they were planning to wipe out all vampires, would she help us? Or would she bless the weird sisters and wish them luck in their quest?
But if Neoma and Samira succeeded in casting their spell, more than just vampires would suffer. The number of supernaturals that would need to be sacrificed to keep their undead army strong was unthinkable.
The fae leader’s silvery eyes widened when I mentioned the Stones of Power. And when I spoke of resurrected fae, a pained look crossed her face. She stood stock still, staring at me for a few moments, and it took all my self-control to keep myself still too.
Finally, she nodded, seeming to come to some decision. “Do you vow on the All-Soul that neither you nor your companions will harm anyone here?”
I nodded, my heart leaping. “Yes! I vow it.”
She glanced up again, distaste twisting her features. Then she jerked her head at the man she’d spoken to earlier. “Cut them down.”
His mouth dropped in surprise, but he didn’t argue. He and another fae slipped into the jungle foliage, and a moment later, the net came crashing down. I moved quickly to avoid being crushed by the three bodies inside, and they landed with a none-too-gentle thud.
I couldn’t help but think the rough landing had been entirely purposeful on the fae’s part, but I kept my mouth shut about it. Sol, Jerrett, and Malcolm leapt to their feet, throwing off the netting and stepping out quickly. Once again, everyone around us shifted, brandishing their weapons a little higher.
“I am Nahini,” the blue-haired woman said.
“Willow.” I gestured to the men beside me. “And Jerrett, Sol, and Malcolm.”
She barely acknowledged the vampire brothers. “Come with us. And don’t try anything. If you do, I promise you won’t leave here alive.”
The fae circling us began to move through the jungle, keeping us surrounded on all sides, their weapons still drawn.
I walked ahead of my men, shooting a glance back to meet Malcolm’s chocolate brown eyes. He nodded gravely, as if reading my thoughts.
We’d made it this far.
Now we just had to hope the fae would actually help us.
22
Willow
We made our way through the thick growth of the jungle slowly. Fae weren’t gifted with the same supernatural speed vampires were, so shadow running wasn’t an option. Although I wondered why Nahini didn’t just take us through a portal, like I’d seen the shades who infiltrated the Penumbra do after they stole the Birth of Power. If I remembered correctly, Sol had said it was a magic not all fae possessed. So maybe no one in this particular patrol had that ability—although I found that hard to believe.
Maybe Nahini worried about being able to maintain control of us if we went through a portal. The one I’d seen before had only been large enough to pass through single file.
But whatever the reason for it, our slow trek gave me plenty of time to think. The magical flames of the fae torches flickered, casting eerie shadows on the foliage around us. Large banana spiders camped out in thick webs strung between tree limbs, and more than once, I walked through the sticky stuff. I hadn’t noticed how many of them there were when we were shadow running, but their long spindly legs made a shiver run up my spine.
Somehow, it didn’t seem right for a vampire to be afraid of spiders, but I couldn’t help it. I’d almost rather fight shades.
To distract myself from the creepy-crawly little monsters, I studied Nahini, who walked beside and a little ahead of me. She didn’t have pointed ears or anything, but her appearance was definitely not human.
As if she could feel my attention on her, she whipped her head around quickly. “What?”
I looked away from her challenging glare, not wanting to antagonize her. “Nothing. I was just wondering how I never knew I was part-fae. Until I was turned into a vampire, I had no idea any of this existed. I think the lineage is from my mother’s side, but… well, my hair has always been just plain brunette. And same with my eyes. Always hazel. If I hadn’t seen a lot of evidence already, I’d think maybe I’m not fae.”
She tipped her head, the barest hint of a smile teasing her lips. “Why? Because you don’t have blue hair?”
Feeling a little silly, I shrugged. “Well, yeah.”
Nahini glanced around quickly, then her appearance shifted. Her features softened, becoming less angular, and her hair and eyes changed color. For a split second, a regular-looking human with auburn hair and dark green eyes looked back at me. Then she shifted back.
I blinked. “What the…?”
Now she did smile, pleased that her little magic trick had impressed me so much. “That was my true appearance. Fae look basically human, but we glamour ourselves as a means of expressing our inner truth.” She gestured to her current blue-haired, silver-eyed state. “This suits me more than what I was born with.”
My jaw dropped, but I closed it and stammered, “It does.”
She nodded with satisfaction at my assessment. “Not all fae choose to alter their appearance, but it’s generally considered a rite of passage.”
I nodded, still staring at her in awe. Then Nahini seemed to remember I was a prisoner she still didn’t trust, because instead of volunteering any more information, she turned away again and picked up the pace.
After another hour of walking in silence, lights gleamed through the trees ahead of us. Nahini barked orders to the fae who accompanied us, and several broke away from our group, sprinting ahead. When we reached the fae village, I bit my lower lip to keep from gawping.
The castle at the Penumbra had dominated the landscape, but here, the buildings were folded right into the environment. Small huts were built between trees, using the trunks and branches as structural elements of the design. Some were even situated high off the ground, nestled into the sturdy limbs of large trees. Nahini led us to one of those, taking us up a winding set of wooden stairs that jutted out from the thick trunk. When we reached the large treehouse-like building, the fae she’d sent ahead of us emerged and ushered us in.
The wooden door closed behind us, and I stopped just inside the room. Jerrett, Sol, and Malcolm flanked me, standing so close their bodies brushed against mine.
Despite our height in the tree, the floor was sturdy and solid, the room well-built. Nahini entered last and nudged us all forward. Other fae guards spread out around us.
At the head of the room, seated on a wooden chair covered with soft cushions, sat the most strangely beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Her waist length hair was white, except for two streaks of deep red that framed her face. Her nose was long and sharp, and the wisdom and intelligence in her dark eyes made me think she was much older than her appearance let on.
She wore a dress of simple but fine fabric, and she sat up straighter as we stepped forward.
“Why did you bring four vampires here, Nahini?” Her melodic voice was sharp.
“Three vampires and one part-fae, Queen Tiorelle,” Nahini corrected, her tone neither challenging nor cowering. “And they say they need help.”
> The fae queen, Tiorelle, raised her white eyebrows, her gaze moving immediately to me. “Ah, yes. I can feel it. Explain yourself, part-fae.”
So I did. I started with the moment the first shade attacked me, and didn’t stop until I reached the part where the two sisters had escaped out the tower window with the final Stone of Power.
Tiorelle traced an idle pattern on the wood of her chair with one finger. “And what do these sisters want?”
I swallowed. I hadn’t wanted to tell them this part. But before I could decide what to say, Malcolm spoke up behind me.
“They want to annihilate all vampires.”
Tiorelle’s dark gaze moved over my shoulder, boring into him. “It seems to me the vampires have deserved that fate for many, many years.”
“That may be true.” Malcolm’s voice was grave, and I heard some of the old self-loathing creep into his tone. “But if these witches are allowed to raise their undead army, vampires will not be the only ones to suffer.”
The streaks of red in Tiorelle’s hair shifted color, becoming a dark teal. Her nostrils pinched with anger.
I blinked. Woah. It was like she had a mood ring on her head.
“I don’t see how that is our problem.” Her tone was hard. “No one stepped forward to help our people when we were being wiped out.”
My heart sank. I appreciated what Malcolm was trying to do, and I knew none of the men behind me had taken part in the slaughter of fae. But Tiorelle was right. She and her people had no reason to help us, and every reason to wish ill for vampires.
I flicked a glance at the fae soldiers stationed around us. Shit. Will they let us out of here alive? Or will we have to fight our way out?
Battling the fae was the last thing I wanted. They were my people, and despite the fact that I knew even less about them than I did about vampires, I felt at home here somehow. As if the shared part of my soul knew it belonged here.
I cleared my throat, focusing on Tiorelle again. “I know it seems like the vampires brought this on themselves. I won’t lie, I’ve had that exact same thought. But the truth is, right now it doesn’t matter who’s responsible. It doesn’t change the situation we’re in now, and it won’t change the fact that hundreds of innocents will die if we don’t stop the sisters.”
She didn’t respond for several moments, staring at me while her hair slowly shifted color again, darkening to a deep blue. When I’d all but given up hope, she spoke.
“We will help you.”
Relief made my muscles weak. “You will? Thank you.”
“Save your thanks,” she said sharply. “We don’t do it for you, nor for your vampire consorts. Our ancient ancestors and brethren do not deserve to be pulled from their eternal rest and forced to serve an evil master. We will save them from that fate if we can.”
I nodded, oddly touched. She made no effort to hide her dislike of me and my men, but her voice softened when she spoke of her people—even those who were already dead. It made me like her, even if the feeling was nowhere near mutual.
“I have heard of the Stones of Power. To harness the power of all five stones will take time, but we must move quickly. Tomorrow I will gather my best fighters and make preparations, and at dusk, you must move out. In the meantime, you may eat and rest.” Her gaze sharpened, and she nearly snarled as she added, “Food. No blood. Not even an animal in the forest.”
“Understood.” Malcolm dipped his head, and I heard Jerrett and Sol murmur their assent too.
The fae queen waved a hand, and Nahini hustled us back out the door. Even though we were now technically guests of the fae, the guard that surrounded us wasn’t any lighter on the way back down the tree. Real trust was still a long way off.
Nahini led us through the village woven into the fabric of the forest. She pointed out the hut that would be ours to rest in for the coming day.
“We’ll make sure it’s light-proofed,” she added grudgingly, before sending off two fae to see to the inside of the hut.
Ahead, a large bonfire gleamed in the darkness, and as we approached it, an overwhelming number of incredible smells met my nose. I stopped dead in my tracks, unable to walk and focus on the sensory overload at the same time. Drool flooded my mouth, and I suddenly realized how incredibly hungry I was.
Before all this happened, before the brothers entered my life, baking had been my go-to activity for stress reduction. Creating and eating good food had always been one of my favorite things in the world. But the past couple weeks had been so intense that I’d been lucky if I managed to eat at all, much less enjoy what I put in my mouth.
Nahini chuckled, her silvery eyes dancing. She gave me a gentle shove toward the fire. “I know that look. Go on. Eat. These are your people, just as much as those bloodsuckers are.”
I practically ran forward. Stumps and rocks were arranged in little clusters in the clearing near the fire, and younger fae made their way around the space, offering food and drink to their elders, who congregated together. Conversation came to a halt as all eyes turned to us, but Nahini barked something in a language I didn’t understand. Everyone looked away, though I could feel their dislike crawling over my skin like ants.
That put a bit of a damper on my excitement, and I found a cluster of stones well away from the main group. I didn’t want to get jumped in the middle of dinner or submit the men to too much temptation. The scent of fae blood hovered under the delicious smells of food and sweets, making my fangs itch to drop.
When we were settled, Nahini gestured to one of the young fae, calling him over. His eyes were a soft purplish-pink, and his face flushed up to the roots of his multi-colored hair as he crept closer.
“They need food and drink,” she instructed.
His brows shot up, then he scampered off without a word. Nahini also left us, and a few moments later, the boy returned loaded down with food. He carried plates made of large leaves molded together. Another young fae handed us goblets filled with a rich, sweet drink that tasted vaguely alcoholic.
“This is incredible,” I murmured, closing my eyes for a second to breathe it all in.
“I’m glad we could bring you here.” Malcolm’s voice was low and soft, and I looked up to meet his gaze. “I hate the circumstances that made our visit necessary, but you deserve to know both sides of yourself.”
Sol nodded, firelight flickering in his white-green eyes.
“Fuck yeah.” Jerrett smiled. The young female fae serving him looked a little dumbstruck by his lopsided grin.
You and me both, girl.
I looked at them all gratefully. “Me too. Thank you for coming with me.”
There was so much more to say, but my stomach let out a loud rumble before I could form the words.
Though they hadn’t given us any utensils, I was beyond caring about niceties like that. I dove in with my fingers, scooping up tender chunks of meat and vegetables and warm pieces of bread. More food came, and I attacked it with equal fervor. When the young fae boy brought out a moist, dense cake that tasted of honey and coconut, I almost kissed him on the mouth.
It was unlike anything I’d ever had before, but I couldn’t remember ever tasting something so good. This food wasn’t as fancy as what I’d been served in Carrick’s court, but taste-wise, it beat the king’s lavish feasts hands down.
I moaned, licking the last remnants of the sweet cake off my fingers.
An answering groan startled me out of my daze, and I looked up to find three pairs of eyes fixed on my mouth as it closed around the tip of my finger.
A flash of white-hot fire raced through my veins like gasoline igniting under a match. Suddenly, I could barely breathe, as though all the oxygen in the entire forest had been sucked up by the inferno of desire blazing between me and the brothers.
“I’m…” I swallowed, trying to remember any words. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“Really?” Jerrett’s smile was panty-soakingly wicked. “Because I’m suddenly starving.”
23
Willow
I stood on shaky legs, unable to tear my gaze away from the three dangerously powerful men before me. The firelight dancing over their skin highlighted their beautiful features. Malcolm’s strong, broad face. The sharp angles of Jerrett’s cheekbones. Sol’s golden hair and dimpled chin. They were all so stunningly handsome I couldn’t comprehend it.
And the way they were looking at me nearly undid me.
“We should get some rest.”
My words came out on a low, husky whisper. Then I turned and walked toward the hut Nahini had pointed out earlier, willing my legs to keep me upright. Several fae guards followed at a distance, but I hardly noticed them. All my attention was on the three men walking behind me and the heat of their gazes on my back.
A thrill of anticipation rushed down my spine, and my sex throbbed.
When we reached the hut, the guards stationed themselves around it as Malcolm, Jerrett, and Sol followed me inside.
The moment the door shut behind us, the dam burst.
All three men converged on me in a hurricane of warm mouths and hot breath. Malcolm’s hands found the hem of my shirt, tugging it over my head, while Jerrett deftly unhooked my bra. The men’s clothes came off as well, and then Sol was before me, kneeling as he peeled my pants and panties slowly down my legs.
The brush of his fingertips over my skin sent jolts of sensation spiking through me. When he reached my ankles, Malcolm and Jerrett supported my arms, keeping me balanced as I lifted one foot, then the other. Then Sol cupped my ass in his large hands, bringing his mouth to my core. At the first fluttering lick, my knees buckled, but his brothers held me upright.
Sol hauled me closer to his mouth, burying his tongue inside me as Jerrett kissed me deeply, echoing Sol’s action with his own tongue. Malcolm’s lips ran along my neck as his hands massaged my breasts, teasing my nipples into stiff peaks. They all moved in perfect synchronicity, as if they were somehow connected, brought together by a singular purpose.