by Kym Grosso
“Make love to me. Take my blood,” she pleaded.
“I can’t.” Quintus reached for her lapels, gently pulling her robe closed. “I loved you Mao. I grieved your death. And when I say that I mean my gut was ripped out…” It almost fucking killed me. “I grieved every single day for over a thousand years. And now here you are. But Mao, I’ve got to be honest with you. There’s someone else.”
“I never would expect you to wait for me,” she insisted.
“I’m bonding with another,” he confessed. “Please, Mao. I’m so fucking sorry. If I’d known you’d been taken…Jesus, you know how things were back then. It was impossible.”
“You’ll come to me, Quintus,” she told him, her eyes hopeful. “Whatever this is…I assume it’s that wolf. She’s not the real thing. We were. We will be again.”
“We’ve got to get you to safety.” Quintus changed the subject, doubting her words. It was normal to expect denial, he reasoned. “The Alpha. He’s going to take you back with him. Last month, I met another pixiu. She’s in California. I doubt you’re related, but she’s of your kind.”
“I don’t need protection. I want to stay here with you.” She shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears. “I know I’m damaged but you have to give us a chance.”
“I’m sorry, Mao. I’ve got some things I have to do. Gabriella…she’s in danger. I can’t explain it, but I’ve got to take care of this situation. When I return, when things are settled, I’ll come visit you. I promise I won’t leave you by yourself.”
“Please don’t leave me here,” she begged. “I don’t even know where I am.”
“Mao. Think about this. Whatever you went through changed you. We aren’t even speaking in Chinese. Did you think of that? How do you know how to speak English? You smell like…the scent of a demon’s all over you.”
“I can’t explain any of this. It’s a blur…but I’m me. It doesn’t matter what language I speak. I’m the girl you met from the village.”
“You are…” Maybe yes, maybe no. “Look, at the very least, you’re traumatized. Once whoever put you in Hell finds out you’re missing, they might go looking for you again. I have to go to France. Hunter’s an Alpha. A shifter. He can keep you hidden and protected until I get back. He’ll be back in a few hours.”
“No, I’ll go with you.”
“No, Mao. You won’t. We may not be bonded but I’m not allowing you to go.”
“You can’t make me go with him. He’s a stranger.”
Quintus took a deep breath, considering the situation. He wasn’t convinced the woman in front of him was Mao. She looked like her…talked like her, but whoever she was, she was no longer his. Perhaps Hell had changed her or something worse, but caution warned him to go slowly. Still her fragile state pulled at his heart. He’d once loved her, would have died to save her.
“I can’t stay with you…” He sighed, plowing his fingers through his hair. “Viktor. You remember my brother, si?”
“Of course. He helped us so many times. He brought me here.”
“If you won’t go with Hunter, you can stay with him until I return.”
“I should go back to China. This country of yours…this is not mine,” she told him.
“No matter where you go, you’re going to have to start over, start a new life. I think it’s best to stay here but I can’t stop you from going back to your homeland. This demon who took you? Is he still alive?”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Then it’s possible he’ll be back for you. You can’t leave my home. It’s the only thing that will protect you.”
“How long will you be gone?” she asked, a demure tone to her voice.
“I don’t know…a few days,” he told her. After they found what they needed in Paris, they’d go to New Orleans. Quintus didn’t trust Absinthe, yet he had no choice but to pursue the only lead they had. He questioned her motives for sending them to France. Witches notoriously sought rare ingredients for spells, and he suspected she was sending him on a wild goose chase.
“The wolf?” Mao asked.
“What?”
“The wolf at the party. She consumes you?”
“Yes.” It was of no use to lie. “We’ve already begun the bond.”
“She’s in trouble?” Mao asked, touching his arm.
Quintus’ gaze fell to her hand, still confused that he wasn’t stirred by her touch. “Yes, but…” He looked up to her, searching her eyes for deception. “Gabriella is no concern of yours.”
“I could help.”
“No, Mao. This bond, our bond…nothing should have broken it. Something, I don’t know what it is just yet, it’s not right. You’ve spent a long time in Hell and I think we’d be stupid not to think it didn’t have an effect on you. The sulfur…”
“I was in Hell…”
“Exactly but it’s still all over you. And the bond…” You died. He refrained from using the words, but kept speaking. “There’s nothing that should have broken my bond to you. You hadn’t completed yours, but you were mine. I couldn’t live without you. When you died…” he sighed, “I thought I’d died too.”
“Quintus.”
“I grieved. Over a thousand years passed and no one entered my life…not until last week. And then magically, Thorn rescues you from Hell. I can’t say exactly what’s going on, but I know this much…something isn’t right.”
“Of course it isn’t. I’ve been in Hell. Look at me. Really look at me. The things I’ve endured…” Tears welled in her eyes. “Those bastards stole everything I had. My life with you. My body. My mind. My soul. I wish I’d died.”
“Mao.” His voice softened yet he resisted touching her. “I would have traded places with you. I’m sorry…but…” Quintus paused, searching for his words. “You stand before me as the woman I loved, but you’ve changed. The bond is gone.”
“It hasn’t changed for me,” she insisted.
“I’m not your mate. And you know how it is for a vampire. We can make love to many, drink from many, but when we form a bond with someone, it’s nearly impossible to resist. The call of their blood…no other will satisfy us. Your beast, she knows. I’m no longer her mate.” Fuck, I sound like a dick. Quintus inwardly cringed at his words. If only it was as simple as him not being her mate, but he feared she had a far greater problem. Death, Hell…the aura grew more intense. If he hadn’t known any better, he’d guess her to be a demon.
“Maybe it’s just delayed. You aren’t even giving us a chance.”
“I’m sorry. I have Gabriella. We’ll soon be bonded. I’m her mate.” Quintus’ thoughts drifted to his little wolf. She needed him, and he needed her. He’d spent far too much time with Mao.
“I’ll stay here until you return but I’m going back to China. I don’t belong here.” Her tone went cold, her eyes flat as she turned her back to him.
“I’m sorry.” He sucked a breath, backing away toward the door. “I can’t tell you where to go. But please stay until I get back. At the very least you’re safe here. I’ll help you.”
“Your wolf is more than she pretends to be.” Mao’s monotone voice filled the room. She remained with her back to him, staring out the window.
Quintus went still at her statement. He could have sworn he detected a hint of dark magick. He feigned indifference, answering with a nonchalant tone. “My wolf is of no concern to you. She’s mine. That’s all you need to know.”
“She lies to you,” she continued. “Her magick is strong.”
“Mao.” He paused as a flurry of magical currents zipped through the air. Even though he resisted, it drew him toward her. “Whatever you’re doing…”
“I’m a pixiu. Nothing more.”
“I don’t know what went on down in Hell, but don’t think of stirring trouble in my home,” he warned.
“All I can promise is that I will wait for you. But I could change my mind. And if I do, I’ll be gone.”
“China won�
�t be the same. It’s likely your village is gone.”
“I’ll find my ancestors. I’ll begin anew.” She turned to face him, dropping her robe. “And this flesh,” she cupped her breasts, “this belongs to you, Quintus. What I feel…all those years ago when we made love. You’ve tasted all of me. Make love to me again and we’ll reunite.”
The scent of her arousal spun into the room, the magick pulling him toward her. Although his mind warred against it, he stepped toward her and she rushed into his arms.
“Feel me,” she told him. “Remember.”
“Mao.” As she brought his hand to her breast, he recoiled. His fingers brushed her nipple, and he pulled away as if he’d touched fire. “I don’t know what’s happening but…no. I can’t do this.”
He backed away, his face without expression, concealing the shock that plowed through him. Dark Magick.
“It’s our bond. You feel it, don’t you?” she asked, her voice demure.
“No. This won’t happen. Viktor will help make arrangements for you. I’ve got to go.”
“I know you feel it. You cannot lie to me.”
“Viktor will see that you are kept comfortable in a secure location until I return. I highly suggest you consider going to California where you could be near another pixiu.”
“I’m not a pack animal like the dog you lay with. I’m a great lion.”
“There’re many creatures in this world and the underworld that can take you down. Need I remind you that you just spent lifetimes in Hell? Just take a few days here in New York.”
“My blood will call to you again.”
“Viktor will be up soon.” Quintus shut the door behind him, drawing a deep breath as he walked away.
He strode down the long hallway, his mind racing. As he stepped into his office, he heard the pattering of water running above in his master bathroom and thanked the Goddess that Gabriella was settling.
The flicker of attraction that had spiked through him earlier dissipated and his head cleared. He looked at his hand, recalling his touch on Mao’s breast and cursed. “Fuck.”
Viktor, he silently reached for his brother.
“You called?” Viktor appeared before him, wearing purple pajama bottoms.
“I need a favor.” Quintus glanced to his attire. “Nice.”
“I know, right?” He smirked.
“We have a problem.” Quintus rubbed his face with his hand and stretched his neck.
“Seems like they’re racking up. What now?”
“Mao. Something…she’s…I don’t know exactly.” He paused and blew out a breath. “I touched her.”
“That seems kind of normal to me. I know you’ve got it for Gabby but Mao? She was your first. Jesus, it took you centuries before you’d even kiss another woman. I was there.”
“Yes, but this thing with Gabriella. I can’t explain it.”
“It’s her blood.”
“No, it’s more than her blood. I almost died in NOLA. That fucking demon vampire bitch from San Fran almost took me down. And then comes Gabriella, like this breath of fresh air in my life, saving me in the darkest of places. She was scared but still brave as hell.”
“The bond?”
“I know I wasn’t looking for this. But this attraction to her…I can’t ignore it. I don’t want to ignore it.”
“Okay, but you loved Mao. You just met Gabriella,” Viktor challenged.
“I was a fledgling vampire back then. Aside from our asshole sire, there weren’t any predators. Things were simple. Mao and I had time to get to know each other. Things with Gabby are different. I just want her.” Quintus shoved his fingers through his unruly hair and began to pace. “I told you…I can’t explain what’s happening.”
“What’s going on with Mao?”
“It’s not just her scent. Something’s off. She’s not right.”
“She was in Hell for over a thousand years. A little soap isn’t going to wash that shit off.”
“True, but the bond we had is broken. Something or someone broke it. She claims she still feels it, but I think she’s lying. Her eyes…” Quintus paused mid-step and glanced up to Viktor. “I touched her.”
“I don’t think that is going to go over too well with the woman you want to bond with.”
“She did something to me. It was almost like a compulsion.”
“Well yeah…I mean your hand didn’t just float there.”
“Would you stop fucking around, V? I’m serious. I was walking out the door and I sensed the dark magick.”
“Did she have any clothes on? Because you might be sensing something all right.”
“No she didn’t but that’s what I’m saying. I felt nothing, but then for a split second…it was dark. I wanted to resist but then I started to feel aroused.”
“Yeah, that’s kind of how it works, Quint. A pair of titties generally does that kind of thing. What the hell did you expect?”
“No, that’s not how it works when you’re not bonded with someone. Right now, all I ever crave is Gabriella. Like I’m seriously looking forward to spanking her ass later and…”
“Hold on there, bro. If there’s spanking involved, I’d be happy to lend a hand.”
“Not fucking happening, Viktor. Just stop talking…let me finish.”
“Fine.” Viktor rolled his eyes and sighed. He strode over to a leather desk chair and sank down into it.
“She did something. And before you ask, no I have no idea how anyone could practice dark magick in my house even if I invited them here. I’ve got this place warded tighter than a nun’s panties. No way is any demon crossing through. I’m worried that whatever changed her broke the bond, and it’s part of her now. It doesn’t make sense, but my instinct is telling me that woman upstairs…she may look and talk like Mao, but that’s not her. At the same time, I can’t let her go until I do right by her.”
“Okay, let’s just say she’s wielding some dark mojo. She could have already done some damage.” Viktor shrugged. “She looks the same. It’s just that smell. But she was down there a long time.”
“Yeah, she looks like Mao. Talks like Mao. The magick was subtle but it was there for sure. I wasn’t going to touch her…”
“Maybe we ought to be callin’ on Thorn to pick her ass up,” Viktor suggested.
“That day she went over the cliff…” Quintus plowed his fingers through his hair.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I’ve thought about that day a million times. I couldn’t see her. I couldn’t sense her. She was gone. But she told me she shifted. She’d never shifted while she was with me. She says a demon, one who she doesn’t know the name of, picked her off. Sold her to Hell.”
“It’s possible.” Viktor nodded.
“I tried to get her to go to California to meet Kai but now I’m not so sure it’s a good idea. Maybe if she wants to go back to China, I should just let her go. The very least I can do is get her set up monetarily.”
“Again. Maybe we just ship her back to Thorn.”
“Maybe.” Quintus released an audible exhale, his emotions torn.
“So what are you going to do with Mao?” Viktor asked.
“I want you to stay with her for a couple of days while I go to Paris,” Quintus replied. “Maybe if she has time here on earth, in our realm, she might be different. I don’t know.”
“Well fuck. You go to Paris and I get stuck with your ex?” He laughed. “You’re just going for the croissants, aren’t you?”
“Croissants are delicious.” Quintus gave a smirk. “I hate to ask you to do it but you’re the only one besides me she knows. I was going to ask Hunter to take her out west, but she refused to go with him. Like I said, I’m starting to think it’s best she go back to her homeland. It’s far away from New York. There’s no way she can stay here. As it is now, Gabby is freaking out.”
“And the Alpha?” Viktor raised a questioning eyebrow at Quintus.
“I’m going to ask him
to come with us to Paris. I might need an extra pair of hands.”
“Fucking wolf. If you need any extra hands with Gabriella, I thought they’d be mine.” Viktor gave a devious smile.
“Not this time.”
“This bonding shit is cramping my style.” Viktor scrubbed his shortened beard with his hand. “I’ll watch Mao, but the second she pulls any dark magick shit on me, she’s going back to Thorn. I’ll have his ass on speed dial.”
“Fair enough. My suggestion is that she stays in her room, but in case she thinks to go snooping, I’m locking the door to my bedroom and my office. Your room is protected, as always.”
“On any other occasion I’d be thanking you for leaving me alone with a hot chick, but this is like the ultimate in sloppy seconds.”
“I said watch her, not fuck her. Jesus, you’re sick.”
“Got ya.” Viktor smiled, cocking his head. “As if I’d do the love of your life.”
“You’re an asshole.” Quintus shot at him. “Si, I loved her. But now, she’s a memory. You and I have lived thousands of years. We’ve met all sorts of creatures in our lifetime. If Mao were truly Mao, I’d know. The bond, even if it had been broken, I’d feel something for the woman in that bedroom. I felt nothing. Not until the magick. And it wasn’t strong enough to hold me. No, there’s something going on with her. Either she’s simply changed or possibly something worse. I can’t tell just yet. I’ll keep her safe, but I have to focus on finding the bones of the first witch.”
“When are you leaving?”
Quintus retrieved his cell phone and glanced at the time. “The jet leaves in three hours. It won’t leave much time for Gabby to rest but she can sleep on the plane. I’ve gotta text Hunter and Jax.”
He quickly tapped out a few messages to the Alphas, pleased at their quick response. “Ah, good. Jax said Finn is already in New York. His beta’s got his pack. Hunter agreed to come with.”
“It amazes me how you snap your fingers and the wolves come running like a couple of Chiweenies wearing diamond-studded collars. You’re like the wolf whisperer.” Viktor stood and glanced at himself in a long wall mirror, running his hands over his stomach. “Do you think these pajama pants make me look fat? Hmm…maybe I should have bought the yellow ones.”