“Where are you going?” she asks me, clinging to my hand when I try to release her.
“To ensure Dorian is never your problem again,” I tell her, turning to go.
She clutches my hand tighter instead of releasing me, and I stare ahead at the hallway, spotting various pairs of curious eyes peering around corners.
They all disappear when I catch their spying, but I remain rigid, as Violet steps in front of me. Staring over her head, I do all I can to hold my composure.
“You can’t go after Dorian. He feeds regularly, and you don’t feed at all.”
My eyes cut down to hers, and then they narrow.
“He put his hands on you. I’m Head of my family. You’re a daft girl, Violet Carmine, if you think I’m not going to go after him. When I’m done with him—”
“He did this to intentionally provoke you,” she cuts in, almost sounding angry. “Don’t play right into his hands because you’re pissed off.”
A humorless laugh bubbles out of me, and my head drops back. “Pissed off?” I ask, my laughter quickly tapering off, as my mind stirs with wild images of all the terribly painful things I wish I could do to him right now. “I’m afraid I’m well beyond that point, Violet. Stop forgetting who I am. I’m an alpha, and you’re the woman I intend to claim—”
She kisses me so suddenly that it catches me off guard, and she climbs up me, her legs effectively clamping around my waist. I break the kiss, my hand cupping her cheek, as I glare at her.
Her gaze stays fixed to mine, and her legs tighten around my waist.
“I’m still mad at you, but if you’re not going to let me talk you out of this, then you’re damn well going to feed until you’re strong enough to take him,” she says on a hushed breath, eyes determined and expression deadly serious.
“I’m not going to use your body for a feeding just after my brother—”
The damn woman won’t let me finish a sentence before her lips are back on mine, fingers twisting in my hair. She almost succeeds in making me forget how very on edge I am right now.
My eyes slowly open, as her lips break away from mine, her breathing heavy as those scared, worried eyes stay fixed to gaze.
“I’m mad at you right now, but I’ll get over it. However, if you go into this fight without feeding, just because you want to underestimate what I can and can’t handle, and end up losing everything you have because of me, I’ll never forgive you for putting that on my conscience. If you really plan on claiming me one day, you better feed on me before you do anything stupid.”
She kisses me again, and this time, I hesitate for only a moment before I kiss her back, unable to help myself.
She moans into my mouth, body grinding against mine, as the pheromones start driving their way into her veins, warming her from the inside.
“Take selfishly,” she whispers across my lips. “This is for your pleasure. Not mine. Take as much as you need.” She pauses her words, greedily drinking me in, as I carry her away from the office and to the bed in her room, kicking the door shut behind me on my way.
“Take more than you need,” she amends, her touch growing more insistent, as she rips my shirt open.
I drop her to the bed, and she tears my shirt open the rest of the way, shoving it over my shoulders.
“Take as much as you can stand,” she almost begs, as fresh tears rim her eyes.
I’ve begged for death more nights than I can remember. I even dropped to my knees and prayed for it.
She’s the first thing to give me a purpose in too long to remember, and I keep almost losing her.
“When I finish destroying Dorian, you’re going to be my Flame,” I tell her very seriously.
She smiles up at me, only a single tear escaping her lids. “Only if you stop pissing me off so much.”
I nip her lips with more playfulness, trying to comfort her, as I hold my own emotions at bay.
I’ll feed, and when I’m done, I’ll ensure no Morpheous—by name or by blood—ever touches her again.
Tearing her pants down her legs, I return my lips to hers, kissing her the way I’ve wanted to since the day I met her. Kissing her the way I should have those five months I stood still. Kissing her like she’s the last breath I’m ever going to have.
She moans into my mouth when I shove her legs open and slide inside her with ease, and I don’t hold back…much.
I force every bit of pleasure into her that I can, and she immediately clenches around me, already crying out my name.
My lips descend on hers so I can swallow the sounds, because she said I could be selfish. Damn this girl for making me care so fucking much about anything, even if she is my new favorite addiction that I never want to let go.
I forgot what it was like to have to feel. I have a love/hate relationship with it.
A rush of power swells inside me, fire burning in my veins, as I move inside her with abandon.
Take selfishly.
Take all you need.
This is for your pleasure. Not mine.
Take more than you need.
Take as much as you can stand.
She’s more intoxicating than I remember when that power flows inside me with a heady rush, almost leaving me high on the outrageous dose. My lips crush hers in a bruising kiss. I hold back my sounds, feeling each pulse of pleasure, as my spine stiffens and my body releases inside hers.
Her nails dig into my back as she clenches around me again, my orgasm setting off her next one.
But I’m already moving again, because I can certainly stand more. Much more.
“As much as I can stand?” I ask, double-checking the ambitious woman’s request.
Her legs tighten against me, and she kisses her way up my neck, as she holds me to her with as much desperation as I hold her to me.
“As much as you can stand,” she echoes. “And then some.”
Chapter 5
ARION
Where did that bloody cock run off to in such a hurry?
Obviously, the first place I go is Sanctuary. The omegas scatter like flies as I stalk through the doors, pausing to inspect the fact one is hanging precariously to the side.
Bobo rounds the corner with a toolbox, smiling over at me before, he bows at the waist.
“What happened here?” I ask when he straightens from the weird bow.
He shrugs, and I remember he’s fucking mute.
Right.
Guess I’ll get answers elsewhere.
Leiza freezes when she rounds the corner and spots me.
“What happened to the front door?” I ask her.
She turns and darts inside a wall. Bloody hell. I’m not wearing an angry expression, am I?
I check the mirror, finding no major scare factor. I’m fucking devilishly good looking and my smile is positively charming.
Usually she’s less skittish around me. At least in recent days.
Shera is coming down the stairs, but she oddly pales when she sees me.
“What happened to front door?” I ask her.
I’ve never seen my beta run so fast.
“I’ll let Violet tell you about it,” she calls over her shoulder. “Gotta run, Boss.”
Again, I check the mirror.
Good hair.
Perfect teeth.
Excellent outfit.
Not a fucking clue what’s going on.
Typically, I enjoy instilling that sort of terror, but I’m still in trouble with Violet, and she doesn’t like her Sanctuary members feeling scared in their own home.
I work harder on giving a wider smile and aim for looking like a nice vampire alpha.
Literally, everyone scatters and disappears, aside from Bobo, who starts hammering away on the door, trembling just a little after jerking his gaze away from me.
My smile falls.
“You’re all scared little insects,” I call out very loudly, feeling mildly insulted.
I think a cricket chirps, and it’s the only sound I g
et in response.
Rolling my eyes, I head up the stairs to Violet’s room.
I pause in front of her office, because…what the actual fuck happened in here? Did someone have another tantrum? Was she hurt?
I shove the door open to her room…and pause when the potent stench of sex wreaks havoc on my sense of smell.
Damien is lying on Violet’s bed, and Violet is sprawled on top of him.
“You devious wanker!” I hiss. “You left us to deal with Idun’s bullshit all on our own so you could come make up with Violet while we were distracted?”
I put my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes on him.
Why the hell didn’t I think of this? Is he really so pathetic that she just rolls over whenever he comes groveling? Why does she make it so much harder on me?
He doesn’t spare me much of a glance, as he runs a hand over her flawless pale skin, marred only by Emit’s mark, that has now healed into a scar of ownership. Her dark hair is wavier than usual, and it’s draping over one shoulder, as she sleeps peacefully on top of him.
“I’m still in trouble. She was rather adamant and clear about that,” he states with a barely-there smile.
But the smile vanishes from his face, as his eyes lift to meet mine.
“Idun called a meeting today,” he tells me.
“Yeah. I know. We finally got out of there, and I came to find out what stole you out of that torturous shite over three hours ago. Then I find you getting your rocks off with our girl. How is this fair?”
“Amos had an emergency House problem that needed his immediate attention yesterday, and only finished up today,” he says.
I frown. “What the hell does that have to do with the price of eggs? Did you bop your head? Is that why the door is jacked? What happened to Violet’s office?”
His eyes fog over with a white sheen that proves he’s barely staving off his monster. What the hell?
After his eyes settle back down, the control quickly returning to him, he gives me a look I know all too well.
“I’m tired of being five steps behind on a good day, and ten miles back on the bad days,” he continues, that gaze only worrying me more.
“Seriously, what have I missed?” I ask, actually expecting an answer this time.
He’s clearly distracted, the wheels of his mind turning as he plots something. That’s that that look is.
I’ve seen Damien be calculated and lethal throughout history. It’s never a good thing. Regardless of how calculated and lethal he is, he’s still no match for Idun.
“Anna, if Violet needs us, I want you to come find us immediately. Understood?” he asks, just as Anna pops her head through the wall.
How did he know she was there?
She grins.
“How long have you known I was there?” she asks him, echoing my own inner thoughts.
“I’m starting to wonder if you ever leave her side,” Damien answers without looking at her.
“Very rarely. She gets herself into too much trouble. She practically needs twenty-four hour surveillance. Good thing she has four boyfriends. Oh, wait, that’s right, you guys are—”
“Why are we listening to the ghost we said was nothing but trouble?” I ask him, very confused by this evening’s events.
I almost leap out of my skin—which is one hell of a feat to pull off around me—when a set of impossible triplets suddenly appear.
“What the fuck is going on around here?!” I demand, more than agitated by the fact I damn near shrieked like an omega. I’d never hear the end of it if I did something that ridiculous. “Why are dead ghosts suddenly popping up everywhere around here?”
“Violet saved Anna. Anna saved us,” the three of them state in unison.
“Was it the three of you who possessed Violet and made me feel like a dirty pervert in a Sunday morning sermon?” I growl.
They smile like they’re proud of themselves.
“I’m going to salt these bloody ghosts and send them back to that alleged third dimension—”
Damien is suddenly walking by me, pulling on his ripped shirt as he goes, pants hanging undone around his hips.
“Where the hell are you off to?” I ask, pointing a finger at the triplets. “This isn’t over. I will destroy you three.”
A dramatic shudder wracks my body, and they disappear from sight, as I hurry to steal a kiss from Sleeping Beauty.
I catch up to Damien, who is rather intensely focused, his eyes lost to thought, as he does his jeans up. He leaves his shirt hanging open, presumably because half the buttons are missing.
“Did Violet get excited or something? That’s really not fair. I could have left early and been the one to quell any needs she—”
He disappears for a brief moment, and I dart a look around, cursing when I see him already outside by the time he becomes visible again.
He’s gotten so much stronger, that I can’t even see through his illusions anymore. Which is…certainly frustrating.
I like that edge.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on around here?” I ask the silent house.
Bobo continues to hammer away, not even acknowledging me, until he manages to free the broken door at last. He smiles at me again, lifts the door over his shoulder, and hurries out of the room with it.
“Nice. Real nice,” I gripe, as I hurry out the door.
I sniff the air, finally catching Damien’s scent. Why is he returning to the Van Helsing rings?
My steps slow when I see him stalking through the doors with deliberate, determined strides. Something’s amiss.
My phone rings, and I answer, absently glancing around for some sort of clue as to what’s happening.
“Yeah?” I ask distractedly, unsure who I’m even speaking to.
“Is Damien with you?” Vance asks me.
“I just followed him to the Van Helsing rings, but he seems a bit unlike himself. I’m not sure what’s going on right now.”
“Amos called and said Dorian issued a challenge to Damien over an hour ago,” Vance tells me.
“Dorian issues a challenge to Damien periodically. He always tries his best to provoke him. He hasn’t succeeded in centuries. Why is it suddenly important?”
“Dorian slaughtered a houseful of omega succubae just outside of town during the time he issued that challenge. I’m about to deliver my own punishment for that, because there was no justifiable cause for extermination, even if they are his own people,” Vance says, his voice echoing.
I realize he’s walking toward me, and I hang up my phone, really confused by this day’s turn of events.
“Violet’s not going to be happy to hear that,” I say on a groan. “She’s very much too soft for our world. Make sure to leave him in a bloody heap and do some major punishment or something. I don’t want her so outraged that she can’t focus on the four of us. Not when we’re finally making progress.”
Vance gives me a dry look.
“I have to challenge Dorian Gray after a massacre, and that’s what you have to say?” he asks, slowly exhaling.
“Good luck with that. He’s one major pain the ass to spar with,” I tell him, clapping him on the shoulder as I grin. “This is why I made an effort to be at peace with him. Not even I like tangling with that mind-fucker.”
Emit comes jogging up, brushing his hair out of his face. “I’m not missing this fight. If he kicks your ass, it’ll be one hell of a reckoning. Are you sure you can take him?” he asks Vance.
“He’s Vancetto Van Helsing. Even off his game, he can still rock Dorian’s world,” I state, championing the slacker Van Helsing.
He’s going to need the confidence boost.
Dorian really is one hell of a—
My thoughts shut down when Damien comes walking back out, a challenge card in his hand. My brow furrows, and Vance sucks in a surprised breath.
“You can’t seriously decide today is the day you’re finally going to tackle the Dorian issue,”
Vance growls. “You haven’t properly fed in far too long. You’re no match. I’ll handle today’s problems. You feed and rest up so you can handle him for the long term, if you finally want to do your part.”
Damien’s eyes lift, and I swear I see the devil in their depths, as he levels Vance with a stoic, yet chilling, look.
“Dorian’s my problem. Not yours,” he tells him in a dead tone. “Keep the vampire and wolf at bay.”
He turns and stalks back inside, only blowing my bloody mind.
“He’s insane if he thinks today is the day to finally deal with this. He fed from Violet today, but he’d need at least a few months of regular, proper feedings to get himself in shape enough for this battle,” I say, running a hand through my hair.
Idiots.
I’m constantly surrounded by idiots.
Why can’t everyone be as smart as I am?
“He fed from Violet today? When?” Vance asks.
“Never mind that. It’s not enough. Go be a Van Helsing and talk some sense into him like the golden boy you are,” I tell him, shoving him toward the door.
Vance turns and glares at me, before dusting the wrinkles off his sleeves, and then he walks in.
I hurriedly follow, because this shit is just too bizarre.
Damien hasn’t allowed Dorian to provoke him in ages, even though he should have taken action numerous times against his bastard brother. What bug flew up his ass today?
“What brought this on so suddenly?” Emit asks, clearly as suspicious and bothered by this as I am.
I slink past him and Vance as they chat, and I move through the hallways, toward the foyer, spotting Damien, as he eyes himself in the mirror.
Just before I can form words, Violet comes rushing toward him, her body clad in a shirt two sizes too big and a pair of sweatpants.
“Damien, you can’t do this,” she tells him on a choked sound. “You need to feed more. I can’t let you—”
He suddenly grabs her by the throat and slams her into the wall, and her eyes widen in horror. My fist is flying toward his face in the next instant, but I crash to the ground when I suddenly hear a violent foghorn blaring in my ears and see a race car speeding toward me.
It takes me a long second to realize that son of a bitch just somehow invaded my mind and sent me to the ground. It’s been a long time since he was able to attack my mind with anything less than something mild and subtle.
Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters Book 6) Page 5