The zombies continued to stream in. Donovan, Beth, and Gideon killed as fast as they could yet Gregory's minions seemed endless. The entrance was littered with bodies, forcing them to step back into the kitchen.
They heard growls from the bottom of the stairs. Gabe had arrived and was attacking them from behind. Gregory emerged from the middle of the horde, standing at the doorway with a look of pure evil. He watched in sick fascination as Emily transformed into her human body. He watched with lust in his eyes as she quickly threw on a long shirt.
The zombies all stopped, waiting for their master’s orders.
Gregory's eyes fell on Beth. His disgust evident from the sneer on his face. He said words under his breath as Beth’s eyes turned white. “Kill her,” they attacked.
Emily reached for her wolf. Nothing happened. She looked at Gideon. No one was moving except Donovan. He was killing the zombies that were attacking Beth, seemingly oblivious to their immobile state.
Gregory approached Gideon. “You and your twin have caused more trouble than your worth. I’d intended a more elaborate end for you but time has run out so it will be quick and painful.”
Emily saw Gideon struggle against unseen bonds unable to respond.
Gregory walked over to Emily, running a hand down her hair. “I knew you had shifter blood. I would have brought out your latent abilities myself had that priestess not interfered.”
Emily's heart thumped hard in her chest. Was he saying he knew she was a shifter when she was a child? Was that why he wanted her? She struggled to speak. Her lips barely twitched. She had thought the totem at her neck would protect her. Madeline said the Bokor couldn't spell a child. She connected with the baby's consciousness, feeling the spell fall away. Still, she didn't move.
Gregory rubbed the bone necklace around his neck. “Don't bother trying to speak. I am not interested in your opinion, only your body. Our children will have my powers and your shifting abilities.”
Emily flexed her fingers out slowly, allowing her claws to extend. The Bokor was smirking when she attacked.
Chapter 11
Emily slashed Gregory across the chest. Her wolf was satisfied with the look of surprise and pain, adorning his face. Her animal wanted blood. The smell of iron in the air heightened the need to kill. She struggled to reign in her predatory instincts.
Gregory's look of desperation preceded the low chant that made Emily's wolf increasingly uneasy. She had no idea what he was doing. Only that it wasn’t good.
Donovan groaned, struggling as his eyes clouded over white.
Beth looked at him in alarm. “Fight him! Don't let him...”
Donovan attacked her. His speed so fast, Emily couldn't track the movement until Beth hurtled across the room. She hit the wall hard before getting up.
“Oh no, you didn't!” Beth said, flying at Donovan.
The two vampires clashed with a resounding noise, knocking the pictures from the walls.
Emily was so focused on the vampires, she was to slow to block the punch Gregory slammed into her stomach. The pain sliced through her. Fear for her baby was more painful than the blow.
Beth started chanting low, surprising Emily. She felt the oppressive feeling in the room start to lessen. The Bokor, recognizing the threat Beth represented, pulled a pole from his belt. Two metal spikes ejected from the ends. He lunged for Beth, raising the spike, impaling her back as Donovan kept her distracted.
Emily jumped on his back, biting his neck with her incisors extended. Blood flowed between her teeth as he hit her with an unseen force, knocking her to the ground as the spell broke.
Donovan knelt at Beth's side, cradling her in his arms, rocking her as he told her repeatedly he was sorry.
Emily tried to catch her breath as Gideon growled, circling Gregory to place his body between Emily and the Bokor. She was winded, trying to force air through her lungs, wanting to return to the fight. Her wolf was pissed. At Donovan. At Gregory. The latter taking precedence had her getting back on her feet.
She skirted Gideon to face the Bokor. This man had hurt Gideon. Her. Beth. He needed to be removed from their lives. He had to die.
Emily circled around the Bokor, ignoring Gideon's warning growls. She was reaching for her wolf when a vampire appeared.
He was tall and lithe. Good looking with an aura of power Emily had never experienced. Julius had been a master vampire and so was Donovan yet this man had simply appeared. No rush of wind. No sound. He stood over Donovan's shaking form.
Emily wasn't sure if he was a friend or foe. He didn't attack yet when she looked in his eyes there was no emotion. She knew he could annihilate everyone in the room and would feel nothing. She swallowed her rising fear.
Donovan looked up at the newcomer. “Silas,” he choked out.
Silas turned to the Bokor. “You have broken the accord. Your own people have stripped you of your power.”
Donovan's head fell. “The damage is already done.”
Emily sucked in a quick breath. Beth couldn't be dead. Donovan couldn't have killed her. Could he?
Silas looked at Beth’s broken form. “The fledgling is strong. She will recover.”
Donovan huffed. “Physically, yes.”
“I don't remember you being so sentimental. Perhaps you are not strong enough to tutor a ward of your own,” Silas said with the same lack of emotion.
Donovan cleared his throat. “I apologize Silas. I had a momentary lapse in reason. I didn't think it possible for a Bokor to take over an ancient.”
Silas regarded him coldly. “It is the reason the accord was made it the first place.” He looked over Beth's hunched form. “I will check in on you in the future to monitor your progress with your ward.”
Emily didn't think a vampire’s face could pale. She was wrong. Donovan looked like he was about to be sick.
She turned back to Gregory's shaking form. His eyes darted back and forth. She stepped toward him.
Gideon growled as Gabe’s wolf form blocked the only exit.
She looked at the sad excuse for a human before her. “You lost everything. And it still isn't enough to make up for what you did.” She motioned her hand.
Gideon and Gabe lunged at Gregory.
Gideon clamped down on Gregory's arm, tasting hot blood as the Bokor screamed. He watched his brother do the same on the other side, instinctively pulling in the opposite direction, stretching their prey between them until a shadow fell across the man's body.
The black form coalesced beside the begging form of the Bokor. It held a human shape but with no distinguishing features.
The wolves released Gregory, assessing the new threat.
The Bokor pulled his mangled arms close to his body. “Please. Let me find another. I’ll give you ten souls in return.”
The shadow entered Gregory's body, a dusky haze surrounding him. “No!” he screamed.
His shins broke first. Bone splintered through serrated flesh, forcing him to his knees as he howled in pain. He held his hands out as the dark mass enveloped them. His fingers broke and shriveled one by one. His arms were next, splintering in the same way his legs had.
Gideon growled, warning his brother to stay back. This torture went beyond anything Gideon could have imagined. As much he had wanted to kill the Bokor, this level of torture sickened him.
His wolf wanted to put the maimed creature out of his misery. If he advanced so would his brother.
He held fast, watching as the Bokor attempted to push the dark force away. It did nothing to deter the unseen vise from crushing his midsection. The sound of Gregory’s ribcage cracking vibrated through the room as he fell to the floor, dead.
There was a stunned silence in the room. Donovan stood with Beth’s body cradled to him.
Emily stepped over a body to get to the grief-stricken vampire. “She's alright, isn't she. She won't die...”
“She will live. I told her I was incapable of harming her. That no matter what happened I would protect h
er.” Donovan's face was as ravaged as his voice.
Emily put a relieved hand on Donovan's shoulder. “Trust me. She will forgive you. This wasn't your fault any more than it was Gideon's. You are a victim as much as she is.”
Donovan's face hardened. “I must feed her. She will contact you as soon as she is able.”
There was a rush of wind and they were gone.
Gideon and Gabe shifted, standing naked over the carnage, streaked with blood.
Emily looked them over for damage. Finding none, she surveyed the room. “How do we clean this up before the other tenants wake up?”
As if to answer her question. Little amber flickers ignited over the dead bodies, spreading rapidly until nothing but grey ash remained.
Emily put a hand to her forehead. “Do they normally do that?”
Gideon shook his head. “No. I believe Madeline has far more power than she is letting on.”
Emily tilted her head to the side. “I guess we are sweeping.”
They all grabbed clothing and began cleaning up the mess. They were in the hallway, getting the last of the mess when Tanya entered the hall, yawning. When she saw Emily, she rushed over.
“Hi, Emily! Where's Gabe? I can take him to the park for you if you like?” Tanya smiled hopefully.
Gideon knelt down in front of the little girl. “It warms my heart that you take such good care of Gabe.”
She scrunched her shoulders shyly. “I love Gabe. He's so sweet and gentle.” She leaned in close to Gideon's ear. “And he’s a real wolf.”
Gideon smiled at the child. “That he is. He’s recuperating from an illness but I know he will want to take you up on that walk soon.”
She looked over at Gabriel. “I wish I had a twin.”
Gideon glanced at his smiling brother. “Yes, I'm very lucky.” He looked at the child, then Emily.
Emily noticed her reluctance to leave as well. “Honey, where is your mom?”
She looked down. “She had to take a third job cuz of the rent increase.”
Gideon put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’m confident that increase was a mistake and your mom is going to get a new job at the cafe in my building downtown. She will only have one job from now on, and you will have appropriate care.”
She held her hands to her chest. “You mean it!”
Gideon smiled. “I do. Have her come over to our apartment when she gets home.”
She hugged him. “Thank you! I’ll go call her now!” she skipped as she ran back to her doorway.
Gabriel smiled at Gideon. “Sometimes, you make me proud.”
Gideon stood. “Tomorrow we are adding your’s and Emily's name to all my holdings.”
Gabe looked down. “Thanks,” he said, his usual sarcasm missing.
“I should have done it after Julius died.”
Emily could feel her wolf rising. She knew her eyes were glowing.
Gideon looked alarmed. “What is it?”
Emily wasn't surprised he misunderstood her wolf intentions. “My wolf is very... enamored with you right now.”
Gideon's eyebrows raised. “Is she?” He didn't hide his smile.
Emily hugged him. “Yes, and she would very much like to show her mates how much she loves them.”
Gabe put his hand on Emily's back. “Would you like to go back to the penthouse or...”
She kissed Gideon, knowing he would understand she couldn't wait. He did.
Gideon picked her up as Gabe opened the door to the apartment. Emily was on her bed with her mates pulling her clothes from her body before she could open her eyes.
She lay on her bed naked watching as they removed their clothes. “Wait a second.”
Her twin mates each raised an eyebrow.
She smiled, opening her knees. “I want to tell you I feel very lucky to have found you both.” Her hand moved between her legs, circling her clit. “I can't wait for our baby to be born...”
Gideon groaned. “You don't expect us to stand here while you pleasure yourself, do you?”
Emily smiled seductively. “I thought you had more restraint than that?”
Gabe knelt on the bed. “Well, I don't.” He removed Emily's hand and replaced it with his tongue.
She moaned. Her body tightened under Gabe's expertise.
Gideon moved to the side of the bed and leaned down. “Emily my love you can't tease your mates. Not when it comes to your body.”
She tried to smile but Gabe’s fingers went deep inside her causing her to arch her back.
Gideon took the opportunity to massage her erect nipples. “When you come, Gabe is going to stick his fingers in your ass while I fuck your mouth.”
Emily couldn't hold out. She came from the sound of his voice. Gabe's fingers immediately entered her ass as Gideon's cock tunneled to the back of her throat.
She sucked long and hard, trying to bring him to the edge. She must have come close as he moaned, pulling out of her mouth.
Gabe sat on the bed. “Come here, baby.”
She complied, putting her knees on either side of Gabe’s and lowered herself down on him.
His shaft filled her as she rocked her hips against him. She kissed him, tasting herself on his lips, grinding harder until Gideon's hands held her in place as he sunk into her ass.
They moved in tandem, slowly rising to the peak without the raging urgency that usually surrounded them.
Emily felt the difference in their lovemaking. They always saw her needs first. Always made her feel loved and adored. Now there was an element of reverence she hadn't noticed before. They weren't just making love. They were worshipping her.
The men came, taking her with them as they shouted her name.
Prologue
It had been two months since the massacre in her apartment. Since Gideon owned the building, they fixed it up one suite at a time. Emily stood on the top floor of her now fully-renovated penthouse. She shouldn't be surprised the boys had agreed to move once she said she wanted to be close to Beth.
Beth and Donovan were in their new three-bedroom apartment downstairs though it was still under construction.
She rubbed her extending tummy as Gabe came in the front door.
He walked over and kissed her cheek. “Hey, babe.”
She smiled. “Hey.”
“So, we have a little issue.”
Gideon walked in from the bedroom. “What happened?”
“Well, I think Tanya is as enamored with me as she is with Gabe the wolf,” he said.
Emily smiled. “Do you blame her?” she teased.
Gabe smirked. “Of course not. That little lady has excellent taste. However, she wants me to take her and Gabe for a walk. She knows she isn’t allowed to walk alone after dark.”
Beth walked in. “Hey, sistra. What's up?”
Emily smiled. “Tanya wants Gabriel to take her and Gabe for a walk."
Beth laughed. “I can understand her fascination with your wolf. I miss your furry form around all the time.”
Gabe threw his hands in the air. “I wolfed out and watched chick flicks with you last night.”
Beth shrugged. “True but I miss rubbing my feet on your fur in the mornings.”
Gabe blew on his fingernails. “I do have the softest fur.”
Gideon huffed. “Pansy.”
Gabe rolled his eyes at his twin. “What do we tell her. I hate turning her down.”
Gideon started pulling off his shirt. “You don't. I can be Gabe today.”
Gabriel looked stunned. “You’ve never posed as me.”
“You were able to pose as me, and I was a stuffed-up asshole at the time. I am sure I can pose as a charming wolf.” He cocked his head to the side. “Just remember when you pet me, that I like long single strokes on my fur. Not that willy-nilly back and forth shit.”
Emily and Beth put their hands to their mouths as Gabriel’s chin dropped. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”
Gideon smiled. “
You’re just worried because you know I have softer fur.”
“No way asshat!” Gabe barked.
Beth's eyes brightened. “I think we have to have a fur off!”
Gabe pointed to Beth. “Oh yeah, it's on!”
“I will go arrange it with daddy vamp.”
Gabe groaned. “Are you still calling him that. He hates it.”
Beth smirked. “I know.” Then she was gone.
Emily put her hand on her hip. “You just made her whole century.”
Gabe laughed. “I know.”
Gideon removed the rest of his clothes.
Emily admired his naked form. “You are pretty hot.”
Gabe winked at her. “He was lucky enough to get my genetics.”
Gideon huffed as he shifted.
Emily walked over and knelt beside the wolf, waiting as Gabe joined her.
She watched as Gabe gave one long stroke on Gideon's back before rubbing quickly back and forth.
Gideon snapped at his brother, missing the skin by millimeters.
Gabe laughed without flinching.
Emily was reminded of her first meeting with Gideon when Gabe had snapped at him. There had been complete trust then. She hadn’t recognized it as love at the time. She did now. Her mates were happy. With their baby on the way, her family was complete.
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Tia Didmon writes exotic paranormal romance and is happily married with three kids and one fur baby. While she calls Vancouver Island, Canada home. She loves to travel and can usually find a zip line along the way. She loves to connect with her readers as well as share her favorite meme’s. You can check those out on her Facebook page or Instagram.
Twin Shift Page 9