Once clean and dressed, I sat on Ryker’s bed to pull on boots that matched Tyger’s, sans the spikes. At least I like the punk rocker look, albeit I didn’t dare glance in the mirror. After seeing how beautiful the predators surrounding me were, I didn’t wish to feel even more like an ugly mutt. Sighing, I stood and turned towards the door, only to find Tyger blocking my path while twirling a small black stick with a grin promising trouble. Oh no. “Oh yes,” the shifter chortled while stepping towards me.
“See, that wasn’t so bad,” Tyger chuckled after tying a black ribbon around the end of my braided hair. I had no choice in the matter, and he lined my eyes with his damn black eyeliner again. “You look ravishing with your eyes emphasized, so get over it,” he declared nonchalantly. Bastard.
Trying to pretend my cheeks weren’t burning, I left the bathroom while the shifter followed, radiating smugness. Why do I feel that if I were to leave this place, Tyger would follow me? Glancing over my shoulder, I took in Tyger’s broad grin, and a shiver raced along my spine. With a soft whimper, I focused on watching where I was going while trying to pretend I couldn’t hear Tyger’s pleased chuckles.
Matty barreled into me once I stepped into the kitchen, and I hugged him as tight as I could. “I’m sorry for worrying you so,” I whispered painfully, and his arms tightened.
“I’m glad to see you on your feet,” Snow murmured before hugging me too. “Arctic bragged about how he took care of the problem,” she added with a roll of her eyes and my cheeks heated. He honestly did. If I tried to recall the image that so horribly affected me, my mind latched on to Arctic kissing me instead. I could even feel the tingles dance across my lips, which made my cheeks burn, and I felt antsy about it. “One of these days, you should kick that boy’s ass. It’ll do him a world of good.”
Snorting because of Snow’s dry tone, I met her eyes with a soft laugh escaping my lips. Nodding with a pleased smile, she indicated the plates full of cookies on the counter, and my mouth watered. Not needing to be told twice, I happily munched on the still-warm cookies while Matty chattered about how much fun he and Snow had making them. I snapped my teeth at Tyger when he tried to take one, and he held up his hands in surrender while laughing. “Sorry,” he chuckled, “I forgot all cookies are yours once you see them. You’re worse than a dragon protecting its hoard.” Damn straight I am. Touch my cookies and lose a hand. “At least you come by it honestly,” he added after a moment before paling. Honestly? As in someone I’m related to? But mom didn’t like cookies, not really. And Matty doesn’t care for them all that much either. So, who? “Nothing, forget I said it,” Tyger pleaded, and I blinked rapidly.
With a sigh, I nodded, albeit I wasn’t happy about it. Still, I had cookies to eat, so I wasn’t terribly upset. Once I ate my fill, Snow tutted and moved Matty and me to the entertainment room. This time, however, I noticed the door near the back left corner. Matty giggled while following my lead, his presence brightening once I turned on the light in the larger room. Instruments lined the walls, and shock filled me while I looked around, albeit peace thrummed through my soul as well. I spotted a balcony off to the right but ignored it in favor of staring at the piano in the center of the room. My fingers twitched with the desire to play, and Matty oozed excitement. I haven’t played for him in a long time. Once he was old enough to remain upright, however, he sat beside me when we visited mom’s friend. She’s the one who taught me to play on the piano in her apartment. We couldn’t go every day but usually visited a few times a week. Mom needed someone to talk to, and well, Matty and I could amuse ourselves once I learned to play.
Sitting on the bench, I raised the cover so I could stroke the keys with a shiver racing through my veins when the piano purred throatily. Matty sat beside me with anticipation practically making him vibrate. Humming a song that was stuck in my head, I played the intro. Everything around me faded, and my mouth dropped open to sing Missing by Evanescence.
“Please, please forgive me
But I won’t be home again
Maybe someday you’ll look up
And, barely conscious, you’ll say to no one:
‘Isn’t something missing?’
You won’t cry for my absence, I know
You forgot me long ago
Am I that unimportant?
Am I so insignificant?
Isn’t something missing?
Isn’t someone missing me?
Even though I’m the sacrifice
You won’t try for me, not now
Though I’d die to know you love me
I’m all alone
Isn’t someone missing me?
Please, please forgive me
But I won’t be home again
I know what you do to yourself
I breathe deep and cry out
‘Isn’t something missing?
Isn’t someone missing me?’
Even though I’m the sacrifice
You won’t try for me, not now
Though I’d die to know you love me
I’m all alone
Isn’t someone missing me?
And if I bleed, I’ll bleed
Knowing you don’t care
And if I sleep just to dream of you
I’ll wake without you there
Isn’t something missing?
Isn’t something
Even though I’m the sacrifice
You won’t try for me, not now
Though I’d die to know you love me
I’m all alone
Isn’t something missing?
Isn’t someone missing me?”
Once I finished, I flinched when applause filled the silence. Jerking my head, I discovered several vampires sitting on the banister of the balcony. My cheeks cooled, and I wavered at the piano, albeit Matty lay his hand on my arm with his worry spilling into me through our point of contact.
“You have a beautiful voice, little omega,” one vampire murmured while his dark blue eyes watched me with sorrow.
“And such pain,” the female vampire to his right added sadly. “How you have suffered to sing that song the way you do. I shared your pain it was so poignant.”
“I-I’m s-sorry,” I stammered, “I-I d-didn’t mean t-to disturb you.” I grabbed Matty’s wrist, ready to stand and pull him behind me if need be.
“You didn’t,” another vampire murmured with his hands held in the universal signal for ‘I mean you no harm.’ “Your voice is beautiful and haunting. We came closer to appreciate it better, and to see the one so full of pain. Peace, omega, we mean you and yours no harm. Only to listen if you wish to play another song.” Swallowing nervously, I glanced at Matty, who smiled brightly. He was entirely at ease now, which caused relief to fill my soul. However, when I glanced at the six vampires, unease filled my soul again. What if the predators were only waiting until I turned around to pounce? What if they hurt Matty? These are the thoughts I should have agonized over. Instead, I feared them hating my music choice. I was worried they would mock what I sang or torment me over a wrongly played note.
A soft noise had me glancing left to discover Tyger and Snow standing inside the doorway while Arctic leaned against the wall. Arc smiled encouragingly, and my cheeks heated. Chuckling, he pushed off the wall to stand behind me. Humming a familiar tune, he covered my fingers with his. I shivered while tingles danced across my skin, mimicking our fingers on the keys. Matty watched us with wide eyes when I glanced at him, although he seemed pleased that Arctic and I played the piano together. While my fingers knew the notes and played them obediently, Arctic refused to give me relief. Instead, his long fingers shadowed mine, keeping the warm tingles plaguing my senses. If he hadn’t chosen a song I knew, I’d have faltered because of how distracting his nearness and the tingles were.
Arctic’s subtly spicy scent filled my lungs until every breath was him, and my fingers trembled on the keys. As we played, he relaxed until his chest pressed to my back, so it felt like he molded himself
to me. His knee eased the awkwardness of his stance, resting on the bench by my hip. Matty didn’t seem to mind the distance it put between us, and I wondered if he moved to invite Arctic to rest it there. Slowly Arc’s heat soaked into my body until I feared I would freeze if he moved away and took his warmth with him.
Once the song ended, I trembled while Arctic’s fingers relaxed, so his hands lay on mine, causing the warm tingles to intensify while they danced across my skin. Chuckling, the fox shifter pressed a kiss to my temple, and a shiver raced through my veins. “Easy, Angel,” he whispered in my ear, smirking while his lips brushed my skin. He knew what he was doing to me, and I was helpless to do anything other than accept it. “You played beautifully, and our audience grew by a few.”
Shock broke the spell he wove, and Arc straightened to allow me to look at the balcony only to discover thirteen vampires watching us. “Pity,” one newcomer murmured, “you had her quite ensnared, Arctic.”
“True, but that’s no way to live,” Arc sighed, his words vibrating through his chest to my back. “Decisions should be made with a clear head.”
“Yes, but you’re the most intoxicating,” another vampire chuckled with a slight smirk. Snorting, Arctic offered his hand to help me stand. Swallowing nervously, I took it, and he effortlessly pulled me to my feet. He didn’t let go, and I gulped while my fingers tingled. My soul, however, thrummed with happiness because I touched the fox shifter.
“All the more reason to not push my advantage,” Arctic replied while staring into my eyes. With my cheeks heating, I glanced at my feet and shivered. “Besides, the only reason you like it is you adore anything that screws Ryker.” The vampire laughed so hard he nearly fell backward off the balcony, and something deep within me relaxed. Raising my gaze, I meet Arc’s eyes, and he smiled with a gentleness that calmed the nerves plaguing my soul. Cupping my cheek, Arctic chuckled and murmured, “you’re not a game to be won. Ryker and I won’t treat you like you are, although we might get competitive. Still, you’re a gorgeous young lady, not an object to be owned.” These tingles were comforting, and I wondered if Arctic could control them. If so, he was a jerk for tormenting me like this.
“Thank you for realizing that?” I asked hesitantly, and Tyger burst out laughing, which eased the tension filling the room. Still, I wanted to nuzzle into his palm and snuggle as close to his chest as I could.
“Oh, Angel,” Tyger laughed, pulling me away from Arctic to throw an arm around my shoulders. “I adore you. But, come, let’s give Arc a little time to get his hormones under control, and leave these losers behind. Damn vamps, always showing up uninvited to the party.” The watching vampires catcalled the shifter who grinned devilishly with delight dancing in his eyes. Laughing, I relaxed to lean into his side, offering Matty my free hand, which he grabbed with a delighted smile. Snow chortled, following us with a shake of her head.
We returned to the kitchen where a grinning chef handed me a bowl of chili that smelled divine. My mouth watered, and I hurried to the kitchen island to eat, laughing at Matty, who did the same. Tyger and Snow joined us, with Snow snickering upon seeing us trying to eat too fast and breathing like dragons to get cool air in our mouths. “Hawt,” Matty and I explained when Tyger shook his head.
“Well, they definitely like chili,” Snow commented with a laugh.
“Yeah, Liam and I smelled it on Matty’s breath when we picked him up,” Tyger agreed with a chuckle. “I mentioned it to the chef in hopes it might make them feel better.” Matty rolled his eyes, as did I, and we ignored the shifters in favor of eating the spicy bowl of deliciousness. Once we finished, the chef placed several cookies in front of me, and a brownie loaded with fudge and chocolate sauce for Matty. I eyed the plate of chocolate dubiously, thankful the vampires and shifters ran fast. They would need every ounce of speed to keep up with my baby brother. The kid got hyper when he had sugar, let alone chocolate.
Still, I was happy to see Matty enjoying his favorite dessert. For me, that’s way too much chocolate. It coats your tongue, and all you can taste is the bitterness of it rather than the sweet you’re used to. Bleh. But, if it hit the spot for someone else, all the power to them. Once I finished my cookies, I laughed because chocolate covered Matty’s face. It looked like he picked up his brownie and rubbed it around his mouth like a napkin. I knew he didn’t, but it was an amusing image.
Chuckling, I told my smug little brother to follow me so we could clean his face. He didn’t protest which surprised me. Humming, Matty skipped beside me while we forged down the hall to a different bathroom than the one I used the other day. That one felt cursed to me, and I didn’t want to risk triggering any memories. It didn’t take too long for Matty to scrub the chocolate off, albeit I supervised to make sure he didn’t turn the sink into a playground. Matty was mature for his age, but everything changed when the sugar attacked.
On our way back to the kitchen, I heard a noise that made my skin crawl, and my feet stuttered. Turning, I stared at the ajar door at the end of the hall while a shiver raced along my spine. The last room I looked into did not end well. Still, that noise sounded again, and I realized it was a scream of agony. Matty bit his lip beside me, his confusion and worry dancing across my awareness. I grabbed his hand, squeezing gently to reassure him everything would be all right, and he sighed with relief. Poor sprout.
I wavered, not sure if I should investigate. On one hand, another creature suffering pained me to my soul. On the other, Matty was at my side, depending on me to make the right decision to ensure his safety. Biting my lip, I hesitated until another scream filled the air. Along with it came a sense of familiarity that made the hair on the back of my neck stand. The soft sob that reached my ears afterward pained my soul and caused my heart to ache so badly I feared it would stop working to escape the pain. My lip trembled, and I glanced at Matty, who searched my face. After a moment, he nodded before starting down the hall towards the open door. Alarm and fear stirred within my soul along with a need to run to the door. However, I kept pace with Matty.
Upon reaching the ominous room, I warned Matty to stay close, just in case there was danger, and he promised he would. Swallowing nervously, I pushed the door open the rest of the way, and the scent of blood filled my nose until it was all I could perceive. Soft light spilled from the doorway, almost as if to apologize for what happened inside.
After a few hesitant steps into this new space, I reached the end of the small hallway inside the door. Upon rounding its corner, my heart ached so terribly I feared the horrible pain was all it would ever feel for eternity. Tears of woe stung my eyes while they took in the cruel scene I intruded upon.
Both of the vampires’ eyes were filled with cruel delight, and their knuckles had blood on them, but it wasn’t theirs. No, definitely not. Their clothes were unruffled, which only added to their cruelty. Did they start this? Or were they enjoying the labors of another? Either way, I loathed them. The one standing closer to me had most of my focus because of the metallic rod in his hand, from which blood dripped. He lowered it to the battered body at his feet, pressing a switch which caused electricity to dance across the tip.
Horror rooted me to the spot, but the scream of agony that echoed throughout the room snapped me out of it. Patting Matty’s head to silently tell him to stay away from the cruel bastards, I stormed across the room on silent feet. Neither vampire was aware of my presence until I tore the rod out of the closer one’s hand. A sneer curled his lips while he turned his head towards me, only to scoff when he saw who took his toy. “Get out of here while you still can, omega,” he scoffed. “What we do to these trespassing dogs is no concern of yours.”
He took a threatening step towards me when I refused to retreat or return his cruel toy, albeit Arctic appeared in front of me. With a low snarl, he shoved the vampire back. “Back off, vamp,” Arc warned in a terrifying voice. Glancing over my shoulder, I discovered that Snow had Matty’s hand in hers while Tyger approached the other vampire who had mo
ved to help his friend gang up on Arctic. As if that would save him. No, my soul believed Arctic could take them on his own. With a smile once Arctic shoved them back several feet, Tyger held his hand out for the rod. Sneering, I gave it to the shifter who grinned with malicious delight at the vampires while twirling it.
“Those dogs are significant to me,” I warned quietly, my hands curled into tight fists while I let anger burn through my veins to hold back my tears. “Judging by the shape you are in versus them, they never had a chance. Yet you continue to hurt them while they are down. You’re nothing but spineless cowards.” With that, I spun on my heel to let the shifters deal with the vampires. I was thankful they arrived when they did to offer their aid. Had they chosen to side with the vampires, I never would’ve forgiven them.
Kneeling, I brushed matted black-tipped white-blonde hair from a bruised and bloody forehead while tears of sorrow burned my eyes. The first tear fell when beautiful sky-blue eyes fogged with pain opened only to widen with alarm once they recognized me. “Angel,” Riff rasped, coughing with blood leaving his lips in rapid drops, “Angel, run. I’ll hold them off, just go.” Several more tears fell while my heart warmed and curled in on itself because of the agony his words inflicted. Oh Riff, you stupid, beloved fool. His voice was so tormented that my soul radiated a pain which caused even my teeth to ache.
“No, Riff, I cannot. Even if I could leave, I wouldn’t. Not with you like this,” I whispered past the painful lump in my throat. Riff weakly pushed himself up, an argument on his lips, but I shook my head and moved to check on the still body next to him. My fingers ran through his ashen brown hair while my eyes desperately watched to see if his chest rose or fell to indicate he still breathed. My breath shuddered past my lips when a rattle declared the badly beaten boy still lived.
Bouquet of Regret (Angel's Shifters Book 1) Page 28