This Time

by Alisha Basso

  Holy shit, I’ve never seen him vamp out like this before.

  Lucian was no less impressive. His skin glowed as well, like the light from a spitting fire, his golden skin sparked. I took a step preparing to stand between them when my legs buckled and I fell to the ground.

  Lu was covered with leaves and dirt, he rolled to the side, and I watched as he gained his feet. He looked at his leg. A twig stuck out of his jeans, blood seeped from the wound. He gripped the tip and pulled it free.

  I cringed in pain and he looked up, meeting my eyes.

  I reached for the men at my back. Seth and Lucian each grabbed one of my arms and helped me to stand.

  Lu smiled. His face a mask of delight. He knew something and I was terrified that I did too.

  I felt the energy build behind me as Lu moved closer. I swallowed hard.

  “Guys, stand down for now, okay?” I pleaded as Lu stopped just in front of us.

  “It seems you found a way to bring them back, I didn’t see that one coming, well played,” Lu seemed way too pleased. “Too bad I don’t share.” He pulled a blade from his boot and smiled.

  “Get back, demon!” Lucian spat. “We have more power than you could ever fathom, you don’t want to test it, you’ll bleed.”

  Lu laughed and shook his head. “You know, that’s just precious. It means nothing, but I enjoyed hearing it,” he smiled, meeting my eyes.

  I took another step back. Lu looked confident and when he looked that way, things tended to burn. Seth looked down at my worried face and stepped back as well only to look disgusted and move forward again.

  I closed my eyes and tried to ease my shaking limbs when Seth spoke.

  “Why have you come?” he growled. “Grace has already struck her deal with you, Satan.”

  Lu snorted and met my eyes. “This whole thing would be a lot more fun if we weren’t the only ones in on the joke.”

  “That nightmare was no joke,” I fumed.

  “Nightmare? Oh, you weren’t suffering the entire time, my darling,” he leered. “But I do agree with one thing. It was a joke, and it turns out it was on me.” He frowned. “And now, I no longer have the luxury of getting my way by being nice.” He smiled and I goggled.

  “That was you being nice?” I wanted to laugh, but this conversation was becoming too revealing and I stepped back and closed my mouth.

  He snorted, his lip curled. “I suppose it matters little. I can’t always have everything my way.” He stuck out his bottom lip. “Or…” he arched a brow, “…can I?”

  I felt my body stiffen as he grinned at the blade in his hand.

  My eyes widened and I gasped as he slashed the blade across his own wrist. I stared in horror as blood poured from both of our arms. Lucian and Seth jerked and cried out, gripping their own arms. I dropped to my knees, tears flooding my eyes. The wound was shallow and began to close on its own.

  Lu’s head swept back with his laughter and I glared.

  “My contracts may be null,” he sneered, “but the most important bond remains. You are my wife, Grace.” He smiled and held out his arms, beckoning. “Now come to me. Enough games.”

  “No!” I stood, turning, I looked at Seth and Lucian. They looked angry as hell and under that they both held looks of suspicion and hurt. It was more than obvious that I was holding back several truths, but at the moment, I had a point to make and the only way to do it was to push them further away.

  I filled my hands with power and met their eyes each in turn.

  “Forgive me,” I muttered and closed my eyes. I sent the bolt of power into their bodies. Lucian’s eyes rounded in alarm as he crumpled to the ground. Seth sucked in his breath and dropped to his knees as his eyes filled with confusion. I immediately pulled the power back into myself, hating that I had to cause them any more pain.

  I stood tall, the only one unaffected. I didn’t need to hurt myself to make the others hurt because I knew the link was much bigger than Lu had assumed. If he had chosen to cut me instead of himself, Seth, Lucian and I would have felt the pain, but I would be the only one to bleed.

  I looked to the gravel drive, Lu lay sprawled on his back. The power had hit him completely unaware. He was part of the bond as a whole now too, and any pain they suffered, he would suffer as well. We were all linked.

  Good God, this was bigger than a nightmare.

  Lu’s face was pale with shock. He pulled himself up, his eyes scarlet orbs of fury. With angry movements he swiped the dirt from his clothing all the while his jaw clenching. I watched him dust himself off. He was stalling. I couldn’t let him think too much, at least not while we were all together.

  “No one wins tonight, Satan,” I folded my arms. It sucked, we were all bound together. It meant that we were all stuck, but it also meant that none of us would be trying to kill the others.

  Lu looked thoughtful.

  “It seems you are correct.” His shoulders rose and fell with his sigh. “We seem to be stuck in a stalemate.” His eyes cooled to blue and he smiled. “But a new deal is in order, wife. I look forward to our negotiations,”

  I frowned, not looking forward to that at all. He would turn on the charm and try to get me into bed. But, I remembered his real form and that was enough for me to keep my distance. He scared the shit out of me. I’d watched him kill the men I loved. I didn’t think even with his charm and skill he could get me to forget that.

  Lu watched me, as if reading my thoughts, he smiled and turned to go. I watched him move, my shoulders easing with each step he took. Heat and anger beat at me from the men still standing close, and I just wanted to run away and hide from the questions I knew where sure to come.

  I felt tension build in my stomach just as Lu froze. A ripple of fear spread and he turned.

  “Question.” He looked at us, his index finger pointing into the air.

  Of course there had to be more.

  “What is it?” I sighed.

  “You say that whatever I inflict upon you shall translate through the bond we share to the others, correct?” His brows rose.

  “Yeah?” I answered slowly, alarm prickled my skin. “And vice versa.”

  “You receive the painful wound and they receive the pain, yet no wound?” He pressed his finger to his lips as if pondering his next words.

  I lowered my brows. “Yeah, and vice versa,” I reminded again. I had no idea where he was going with this but I knew I wouldn’t like it. “Get to the point, Devil?” I watched him. He was having way too much fun.

  “I wonder,” he pursed his lips, “would pleasure translate the same?” He smiled as my face flooded with heat. “I’ll see you next month, Wife.” Lu bowed low and straightening, he winked and disappeared.

  I fell to the ground, my hands shaking. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten out of that alive!

  EPILOGUE

  My bed. The best place in the world as far as I was concerned. After that horrid encounter, I’d abandoned the men. Unable and mostly unwilling to explain, I’d made a beeline for my bedroom, locking the door firmly behind me.

  My emotions were so erratic and confused that whenever I figured I had the puzzle of love worked out, another piece seemed to go missing. The bonds between Seth, Lucian and I had been strong, I knew, but now that we had a creature as strong as Lu in the mix, who knew how powerful those bonds had become? I was attached to three men, all extremely powerful. Two by love and one by ceremony, but all were equally binding.

  Tension beat off of me in waves. No one knocked as I slid off my shoes.

  My clothing felt sticky and thick. I peeled off my shirt. Cripes, I needed another shower badly. I was covered in blood, yet again. I snorted to myself. Amazing. I’d managed to go almost a full day without seeing my blood.

  My arm had healed perfectly. It wasn’t a deep wound. I doubted Lu wanted to hurt himself that badly. He didn’t need to, he’d made his point.

  The water felt wonderful. I stood under the jets and let them pound out their therapy w
hile I tried to clear my mind of everything bad. It wasn’t working and I finally gave up.

  My room was brightly lit. I switched off the lights and snuggled into the soft cocoon of comforters and sheets. I hugged my pillows close and closed my eyes.

  I knew I would dream. I knew he would be there.

  His lips slid along the length of my arms and up to nuzzle the base of my throat. His teeth grazed and bit lightly. I sighed. My torment was his touch. So gentle, so full of temptation.

  “You have no power over me,” I whispered in the dark. “You know I won’t do this, not after everything you’ve done, not even in a dream.”

  He remained silent. His fingers gliding across my skin. The barest touch.

  “Why do you try? This isn’t your game anymore.” I moved, sliding away only to end up closer.

  Damn him.

  “I won’t allow you to control my dreams, Lu.” I growled as the velvet touch of his lips floated across my cheek, his teeth nipping my lip, his tongue lightly tasting. “No.” I persisted.

  My nightgown was gone. My flesh broke out in goose bumps as he rolled me onto my back. I moved to get up only to remain. His body skimmed along mine. His knee slid up slowly, spreading my legs apart.

  Anticipation crawled up my spine and I sprang up in anger.

  Conjuring light, I screamed, “You can’t have me. Lu!”

  I balled my fists and looked at him. I sucked in a shocked breath and scrambled from the bed.

  “Cain?”

  Smiling, he propped his head on his hand just as the room went dark again.

  “I won’t tell Daddy if you won’t,” he whispered.

  The End

  Books by Alisha Basso:

  This Blood – The Grace Allen Series – Book One

  This Curse – The Grace Allen Series – Book Two

  This Night - The Fourth and Final Installment of The Grace Allen Series! Coming Soon!