Apocalyptic

by Trina M. Lee

His ice-blue gaze fell to my mouth, then my cleavage. “I’ll be anything you want me to be. Here to help, you know.”

  Yeah, he was here to help alright. Because he needed us to come back to Vegas with him, and if we didn’t make it through this, his city was fucked. Jenner had self-serving motivations. Of course, so did I right then.

  With a hand under his chin, I jerked his gaze up. “My eyes are up here. Don’t look. Don’t touch.”

  I shoved him down onto the chair and climbed onto his lap. Jenner groaned and clutched the arms of the chair. “No touching? That’s just cruel.”

  “Did I forget to say don’t talk?” I asked with a smirk, roughly grabbing a handful of his bleached-blond hair. “I meant to say don’t talk.”

  Jenner and I hadn’t screwed but the one time. That’s not to say we didn’t come close. Being a succubus, temptation came with the territory. I’d accepted that some time ago. Although my motivation for doing it the first time hadn’t been succubus urges. It had been the need to lash out at Arys. To hurt him.

  That’s what we did. We hurt each other.

  Jenner had his own reasons for saying a big fuck you to Arys. He’d use me to say one every night if he could. Although that may have more to do with his unfortunate addiction to me.

  Using the handful of hair I clutched, I jerked Jenner’s head back against the chair, pinning him to it. My other hand went to his throat, circling it like a snake. I pinned him in place, enjoying his first onslaught of desire. I’d barely done anything yet.

  Succumbing to my role as the aggressor, Jenner eyed me with a cold hunger. A hunger he’d never wanted, for which he resented both Arys and me. Regardless of how he felt about it, or me for that matter, that hunger would always burn.

  As I saw the streak of resentment flash through him, he saw the twisted satisfaction in me. No remorse. Did that make me a monster? I’d felt bad about Kale and worse about Willow.

  It wasn’t really me that enjoyed Jenner’s suffering though. It was Arys. That sick joy I got out of it, that was all Arys, echoing inside me. Every time I looked at Jenner, I wanted him to hurt.

  I faltered, losing my hold on the rising swoon. Jenner and I, we were both pawns to Arys’s vengeance. The sudden weight of it struck me numb. I stared into Jenner’s eyes, panicked. Spiralling.

  Jenner saw it. He could have laughed in my face and dumped me on the floor. Probably should have. What he did was give a slight shake of his head. Without saying a word, he used a fang to nip his bottom lip. Then he kissed me.

  The sudden taste of his blood brought me alive. I sucked on the small cut, running my tongue over his lip before slipping it into his mouth. He grew hard beneath me, just what I wanted to feel.

  A little blood, a pull on that erotic incubus energy, and I was on my way to feeling pretty damn good. Not quite the otherworldly high of Falon, but one couldn’t indulge in an immortal narcotic every night. All I needed was a little kick to bring me back to where I needed to be: calm, in control, and ready to kick some ass. I did have a vampire to hunt.

  Holding his head pinned to the back of the chair, I sought out a nice soft spot on the side of his neck and bit. A little bite, just enough to splash my tongue in blood.

  Jenner groaned as his hands grabbed my ass. “Fuck the no touching rule.”

  I laughed against his neck, basking in the power of his arousal. Pulling back, I extended my arm, willing to play fair. With no hesitation he took my hand and sank fangs into my offered wrist.

  A glimpse of dark hair in my peripheral view accompanied a new werewolf presence. Juliet. What was she doing here? It wasn’t like her to drop by much these days. Not since Arys had taken a bite out of her.

  I met her dark gaze as it landed on us. Her brown eyes, so much like mine. They widened, pupils dilating in response to me atop Jenner, his mouth on my wrist. The acrid scent of jealousy slipped from her, like she struggled to rein it in.

  Jealous? Of Jenner and me? How curious.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” she said, sharp enough to cut. “I’m just here to meet Briggs.”

  Jenner released my wrist, but slowly, ensuring to give the wound one last leisurely swipe with his tongue. Because he’d sensed that jealousy too. He’d wanted to screw my sister since he first laid eyes on her. Naturally, I’d forbidden it. Jenner was the worst kind of incubus. She’d be just another warm body to fuck and bleed. I didn’t want that for her.

  I climbed off him, ignoring the judgment in Juliet’s stare. She was in no position to judge me. I would never apologize for who I was or what I did within my own walls.

  “He’s not here.” I grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and dabbed at my bleeding wrist. When she started toward the back hall, I flung myself into her path. “You can’t go back there. I’m sorry. It’s off limits.”

  Doing her best to keep from looking at or acknowledging Jenner in any way, Juliet crossed her arms and cocked a hip. “Let me guess. Participants only.”

  “Pretty much. Just wait for Briggs out here. It’s safer for everyone that way.” And how. Briggs came here to fuck and feed as much as any other vamp. Juliet had to know that on some level. She didn’t have to see it.

  Licking my blood from his lips, Jenner patted his lap with a lascivious smile. “Feel free to wait for him right here. I don’t mind at all.”

  Juliet turned a scathing glower on him. “Not if you were the last man alive, Jenner. Get over yourself.”

  He continued to grin at her like he didn’t notice the poison in her expression. “You say that now, but you’ve had a taste of our kind. You’ll want more. And I’ll be here when you do.” Cocky as ever, Jenner rose from the chair like he’d been poured from it. Smooth and flowing. Every movement meant to entrance.

  Leaving her speechless, he glided away like a fading shadow.

  She watched him go with flushed cheeks and a racing heartbeat. He was right. Juliet had enjoyed what Arys did to her, even as it had sickened and pissed her off. I wondered if she’d sought out the same thrill with Briggs yet.

  Doubtful. Juliet was incredibly uptight about the whole vampire thing. Understandably.

  Clearing her throat, she tore her gaze from Jenner’s retreating form. “I didn’t know you two were, well, whatever that was.”

  I caught the arm of a passing waiter and ordered a drink for my sister. Seemed like she could use one. “Don’t worry, Juliet. I don’t do that shit with Briggs, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Of course not,” she huffed, wrinkling her nose at Ebyn who was draped over the arm of the couch, sniffing in her direction. “I know he’d never sleep with you.”

  Before Ebyn could graze her leg with a finger, I stepped in front of the couch, blocking the intoxicated werewolf. His hand groped drunkenly at my thigh instead as I steered Juliet away.

  No, Briggs would not sleep with me. Not that I wanted him to. I knew he wasn’t interested either. My blood however? That he would happily take, although I preferred to save that for when I needed to coax him into posing as a good little federal agent-turned-vampire.

  “What’s Briggs been up to lately anyway?” I asked.

  Since I let Agent Thomas Briggs go free, I hadn’t seen him much, other than in passing when he came here to feed. He tried to do it when I wasn’t around, because I so rarely gave him my blood that my mere presence was agony.

  “I’ve been keeping him busy working on some cold case files.” Juliet gratefully accepted the drink the waiter brought her. “I thought with his new abilities it may be worth having him take a look at them. He’s been working from home. I haven’t let him step foot back on FPA property.”

  That was a huge relief. Vampires couldn’t keep their shit together in that building. Briggs had been unhinged before I turned him. Despite Juliet’s many misgivings about me, she’d taken me seriously when I said he couldn’t go back there.

  “What kind of cold case files?” Naturally I wanted to know what kind of unsolved mysteries the FPA had stashed away
.

  After sucking back a third of her long island iced tea in one go, she said, “Unresolved ritual murders. Reports of strange sightings. Creatures. Shadow people. That kind of thing. Old cases abandoned by former agents.”

  There was more to it than she was saying. Confidential information and all. But nothing about it struck me as problematic. It didn’t have anything to do with me.

  “I’m glad he’s keeping busy and staying out of trouble. I was worried about letting him go.” Keeping Briggs as a pet was an insult to both of us. Not that I gave a damn about insulting him but who had the time to deal with a freakin’ prisoner?

  We’d come to an agreement. Briggs would keep a low profile and do nothing to give me a reason to kill him. His loyalty to Arys and me, should we need him for anything at all, was expected. I didn’t like to throw around the vampire queen of the city crap. It made me feel weird. But with Briggs I kind of enjoyed it.

  Juliet nodded and took another, smaller sip. “So was I. But I’m keeping a close eye on him, Lexi.”

  “Good. Are you two still seeing each other? Or is that over?” She was my sister. I had to ask.

  The federal agent side of her wanted to remain tight lipped. The twenty-four-year-old female side of her wanted to share. “That’s what we’re meeting to talk about. We’ve been taking a break. I love him, but I’m not sure I can sign on for this.”

  This was the part where I was supposed to feel bad. For turning him and ruining their relationship. But I didn’t. If they couldn’t be together now, it was all on them, not me.

  “I understand,” I said, and I did. It wasn’t easy to love a vampire, especially an incubus.

  Right on cue, a good-looking vampire with dark hair and gray eyes approached Juliet. He gave me a respectful nod before introducing himself to her as Xavier. It hadn’t taken long for someone to notice my knockout sister.

  She blushed and fumbled her words as she accepted Xavier’s flirtation but ultimately shot him down. I watched the exchange with keen interest, suppressing my laughter. She was cute and awkward. Most of all, she was interested. There was no hiding the way her pulse raced or how she drank in the sight of him like a parched woman in the desert. He was crazy hot. She’d kick herself for this later.

  “I’ll be around for a while if you change your mind,” Xavier said with a wink before moving on.

  I smacked Juliet’s arm. “He’s a looker. You’re not interested?”

  “Oh please, I’m just a snack to him. Why would I want to be part of that?” As she spoke her gaze followed him. Without giving me a chance to respond, she drew closer and ducked her head so her hair hid most of her face. “Tell me the truth, Alexa. How much action does Briggs get in this place? Does he have a steady stream of women?”

  Yes, he had more than his share. Lucky me, I’d been fortunate enough to catch him in the act. I couldn’t say that to her though. It wasn’t my info to share, and I would not be responsible for what it might do to her.

  Speak of the devil. I sensed Briggs’s gritty vibe seconds before he walked in, saving me from having to answer.

  “Maybe you should ask him that, Juliet.”

  I expected her to leave my side to go to him, but she waited for him to reach us. Dressed office casual in dress pants sans jacket, his shirt open at the collar, Briggs moved like a man on a mission. I didn’t think he knew how to move any other way.

  Spying us together, his expression darkened. Yeah, I wasn’t keen on seeing him right now either. Already he harshed my buzz.

  Once Briggs drew close enough to catch scent of my wounds, his gait stiffened. He eased to a stop, slashing a glare my way before gracing Juliet with a smile. “Sorry, I’m late. Do you want to sit down somewhere? I’ll order you another drink.” All smiles and friendly demeanor, Briggs morphed into something I’d never seen from him before: a decent person.

  Juliet downed the rest of her iced tea and handed him the empty glass. “Sounds good, thanks. I’m going to use the restroom first.”

  She left us to glower at one another. When she was out of earshot, I said, “What’s your angle here, Briggs? What do you want from my sister?”

  Crossing his muscular arms over his broad chest, the Fed pinned me with his best stare down. “I don’t believe that’s any of your damn business, O’Brien. I’ve been playing by your rules. Leave me alone.”

  “Have you though?” I countered, unfazed by his hardass Fed stare. I’d seen it too many times. “She asked me if you’re taking other lovers. I didn’t tell her. That’s on you. Whatever you do, Briggs, don’t toy with my sister. Love her properly or leave her.”

  A shock of anger rolled through him. He took one menacing step closer. It still left a few feet between us. “Stay the fuck out of it.”

  Extending my arm with the bite, I let blue and gold light crackle over my fingertips in warning. “That’s my younger sister. Don’t for a second think I won’t protect her.”

  He didn’t press it. Backing off, Briggs glanced in the direction Juliet had gone. Certain nobody was listening, he asked, “What will it take to convince you to tell me how Willow was made?”

  I didn’t miss a beat. “A miracle.”

  “Do you have any idea the kind of soldiers we could create? The kind of power an army of hybrids would have. You’d be doing your country and its allies a service.” There was the nutty federal agent talk I’d come to expect from Briggs.

  Eyes narrow, lip curled in derision, I shook my head. “Not interested. It’s a secret that will die with me and Willow.”

  I didn’t mention Arys, because Briggs didn’t know for sure who or what had been involved. But he’d been locked in the room adjacent, so he had his ideas.

  “I might not have lab access right now, but I’m still working on theories. There has to be a way to recreate a hybrid while isolating the strengths from the weaknesses.” He paused, chewing on something he wanted to ask. Something that would piss me off, based on the way his dark brows knit together. “If you won’t tell me how Willow was made, would you consider donating your eggs? I’m willing to strike a good deal.”

  My shocked laugh died immediately. He’d reached a new level of mad scientist. It scared me. “Vampires can’t breed the way humans do. You know that.”

  “Perhaps not, but that doesn’t mean the eggs wouldn’t be viable in a human host. The possibilities are endless, and the only way to know for sure is to test it.” So sure he was that he had something worth pursuing, he didn’t hear the insanity I heard.

  Searching his brown eyes, I found him to be calm, level headed. Nothing manic or crazed at all. Which made this all that much scarier.

  “I want nothing to do with your theories, Briggs. Make a play for my eggs, and I’ll gut you while you watch. Just one reason to take you out. That’s all I need.” I saw Juliet turn the corner from the restrooms. Backing away, I snapped my fingers. The power arced from me, hitting the floor at his feet. A final warning.

  I walked away before Juliet reached us, leaving them to talk. Did she know he was still thinking about this stuff? Plotting and theorizing? Did he really think he could buy my eggs? For all I knew they could be shrivelled little nothings. But what if? I could not let Briggs answer that question. For his own good and the safety of all humanity.

  CHAPTER NINE

  I fired off a text to Gabriel, arranging to meet. Hopefully he’d have some good news for me. His personal connection to this vampire hunt was both unfortunate and potentially helpful. If he could nab Lizzy before she did much more damage, I’d give the kid the credit he deserved.

  Pulling car keys from the pocket of my leather jacket, I strode outside. And ran smack into a chest as hard as stone. I’d been looking down at my phone, but he seemed to have come out of nowhere. Just there.

  Forgetting the phone, I tucked it away and eyed the beefy stranger. Correction. Demon.

  I sucked in a breath and back peddled a few steps. Then I stopped, holding my ground.

  Red eyes
flicked over me. A scar slashed through one brow and down his cheek. He eyed me with blatant curiosity. Tall and broad, he was a mountain next to my short frame. Dark hair fell to his shoulders, wild and unruly. Like a lion’s mane.

  His hard face held square edges and chiselled features. Dressed in a warrior tunic and dark pants, his muscular forearms were thicker than my thigh. Skin a deep, golden bronze, he was striking. Attractive but menacing, intimidating despite not having said a word yet.

  “Alexa O’Brien.” Deep and gruff, his voice sent a tremor of fear through me. He had a slight accent, the way some of them do when they speak their immortal language more than the languages of humans.

  Instinct kicked in, and I surrounded myself with a circle to keep him at bay. “Who’s asking?”

  The demon took two heavy steps, stopping inches from my barrier. He held up a hand, hovering it over my circle, analyzing my power. As I watched, he ran a finger over the circle’s surface and brought it to his mouth. Literally tasting my power.

  His lips peeled back in a snarl-like grin, revealing upper and lower fangs. “So the rumors are true. No wonder he’s so infatuated with you. His queen of light and dark.”

  My world turned upside down. Nobody but Falon had called me that. I suspected that’s who the demon referred to. Shock and horror made it hard to swallow.

  “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with these rumors,” I said, wary of the mere inches that separated me from the mammoth demon. “And who might you be?”

  His grin turned downright vicious. Like it alone could tear me apart. “You, your highness, can call me Bane. There’s been a lot of talk about you in the underworld since Shya went missing. Rumor has it that you’re responsible for that. Among other things.”

  Bane openly leered as he took in my appearance. But it didn’t feel sexual. It felt hungry, like he was legitimately thinking about eating me and using my bones to pick his teeth after.

  “Rumors are a funny thing,” I quipped. “Most of them are just that. Rumors.”

  Holding up both hands, Bane feigned harmlessness. “Very few people miss Shya, and I am not one of them. It makes no difference to me if you did it.”