She shook her head and pushed out of his embrace. “You’re such a dirty man whore. Yes, I am covering for Jenna.”
Sergio chuckled. “I’d give up my whorish ways for you, Holly.”
She tilted her head and placed one small hand on his chest. “I would never want you to change that much. I love the whorish man you are. I just won’t love you in my bed.”
Sergio clasped his hand over hers. “There are so many other places you could love me on.” Holly arched a brow, and Sergio sighed in a playfully pained way. “I guess I will have to settle for watching you on stage.”
Holly frowned. “Seriously?”
Sergio released her hand. “Looks like the boys and I need to gear up for a night on the town.”
Holly groaned. “Shit.”
Chapter Two
Lothar waited outside the vampire’s compound for Cree. He watched as a petite blonde waved at the gate security guard and sped by him in her vintage roadster. The silver Corvette moved so fast Lothar barely caught a glimpse of the little vamp, but something struck him as familiar. This place was fucking with his mind. His eyes traced the taillights of the impressive car until it turned and disappeared into the desert night.
“What are you looking at?” Cree asked as he dropped from the sky and landed next to Lothar.
Lothar shook his head. “Nothing.” His brow stayed slightly furrowed as he met Cree’s gaze. “Something is going on here. I can’t place my finger on it exactly, but Evan’s hiding something.”
Cree nodded. “I feel it too, there’s magic surrounding this place and Evan himself. He’s definitely hiding something. What I can’t pin down is if it directly affects what’s happening now.”
Lothar grunted. “I can’t see secrets being something other than suspicions at this point.”
“Agreed, so let’s see what Evan has to say. Then we can figure out what to do with him.”
The gate guard buzzed them into the slice of heaven that was the vampire compound. Lothar and Cree both avoided stepping on the perfectly manicured lawns and kept to the long, palm-lined driveway that led to the beautiful, resort-style compound with its water feature, Plexiglas bridge, and sweeping staircase that led to a second-story balcony.
Cree shook his head. “This place is…” He was at a loss for the right words. Even though he had been to the vampire stronghold on more than one occasion, he still couldn’t get over its extravagance.
“ Overcompensating for something,” Lothar offered with sly smirk.
“Perhaps.” Cree smiled, rapping against the large, double doors.
They followed one of Evan’s many staff members, a vampire this time, to the large, dim library that was the Master Vampire’s office.
As they walked in, Evan gestured to the two chairs that sat in front of his large desk. “Let’s get down to business.”
Cree gracefully took a seat and studied Evan carefully. He could feel the magic again, Twilight magic he guessed, but he wasn’t sure what it was doing to his own power. He hadn’t had a vision concerning the vampire or his coven, but this magic protected the Master Vampire in a way that he guessed mostly affected Lothar’s gift of empathy.
“Fine, has there been any backlash from the breakout of Darion’s prisoners?”
Evan shook his head. “None that has hit the coven. We’ve stepped up the security around here. We’re being cautious. However, not only has it been quiet, there has been little Dark Fae activity overall during the past week.”
“How do you know?” Lothar asked.
“Because Kale took out their reason for visiting this realm.”
That he had. The underground club was incinerated when the fire demon attacked the warriors during their recon mission.
“What about the drifters and their portals?” Lothar questioned.
“I’m sure that has nothing to do with me. I thought you warriors were dealing with the drifters.”
Cree grunted. “We are. And still they evade us. You have no information that will help out?”
Evan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Something no one else would have noticed, but Cree was cautious and watching the vampire like a hawk.
“Then I believe we are done here. We’ll be in touch.”
“Let me know if there is anything else I can do,” Evan offered, rising from his seat and dipping his chin.
Cree and Lothar were silent as they left the vampire compound. Once clear of the outer gates and a good hundred yards away, Cree finally stopped and turned to Lothar, who groaned. “I’m on vampire duty, aren’t I?”
Cree smiled sympathetically. “I need you on this one. Bain is busy with Izzy. Kale is, well, preoccupied with Kat and Uriah…”
Cree didn’t have to say it. Lothar knew something was not right with his middle brother. Uriah’s wounds were healed from the burns he’d sustained during the club fire, but inside, something was off with his brother. He could sense it every time he was around him, but pinpointing the root of his emotions was difficult at best. Uriah, the noble warrior, the gentleman and sensitive soul, was struggling through something that he wasn’t ready to share. Jelena was the one person Uriah seemed comfortable around. Lothar worried about a risky emotion. Rules were rules, and his brother was headed for heartache. He loved the Immortal sister and she loved him, but that relationship was never going to become something more than an unfilled love and centuries of longing.
“Sounds like I am your man,” Lothar said.
****
“Iz,” Bain drew her name out. “Sweetheart, you need to stop that.”
Izzy sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t know how,” she said in a lusty tone.
“Katarina, I swear to the Immortals… if you don’t help her control this…” Bain gritted his teeth, trying to breathe through the uncontrollable waves of lust Izzy was pouring over him.
“I suggest you take her to your room,” Katarina said, her own lust flowing through her body. “Let her ride this… or better put, you, until the magic passes.”
Izzy let out a low whimper. Her body was on fire as liquid desire pumped through her veins, pooling in her tummy before slowly seeping lower. She had no control over the powers she siphoned from the magical creatures around her. She told Bain they should have stayed in the Human World, where there were fewer magical creatures for her to come into contact with. He told her the risk of exposure was too great. So she pretty much quarantined herself in their room. She finally decided to risk a quick lap around the palace to stretch her legs and of course, she would literally run into Kat. Kat’s power washed over Izzy, and there was no escaping the flood of lust and pleasure that flowed from the pretty succubus. There was little doubt in Izzy’s mind as to what Kat and Kale had been doing right before Kat exited their room and collided with her.
“Bain.”
Her need-filled moan of his name had his cock kicking against his zipper. Bain wasn’t sure he could move at all at this point.
“Seriously, Bain!” Kat yelled. “You need to take care of her.”
Bain growled. “You really don’t get what your fucking power does. I can’t fucking move,” he groaned.
“Son of a bitch,” Kat muttered as she moved towards Izzy.
The poor woman was in pain and much like her ass of a lover, she was unable even to move. Kat grasped Izzy’s face, cupping her cheeks and forcing Izzy to look at her.
“I’m sorry,” Kat told her.
Izzy whimpered again. “Make it stop, please.”
“I will, but you have to trust me, okay?”
Izzy nodded. Her blue eyes begged for help, for a release from the lust that ran rampant through her body. Kat took a breath before slamming her lips to Izzy’s. Kat’s tongue pushed at her lips. With little resistance, Izzy’s soft lips parted and Kat’s tongue swept over hers, twisting, licking, and teasing every inch of Izzy’s warm mouth. Izzy moaned softly, and Kat responded by slipping her fingers into Izzy’s dark mane of hair to pull her closer, deepening the kiss
further. Izzy’s arms wrapped around Kat’s curvy frame to slide up her back.
Bain stood dumbfounded as Izzy and Kat made out in the hallway. He caught movement from behind the women and lifted his gaze to see Kale, who had apparently just finished in the shower and realized something was going on in the hall. Bain was surprised that the moans coming from the two women hadn’t created more of an audience. Kale arched a brow when his gaze met Bain’s. There was a smirk on his brother’s face that said he was enjoying the show. Bain struggled between wanting to smack the crap out of Kale and just wanting to enjoy the performance himself. Kat pushed Izzy against the wall, her hand trailing from Izzy’s hair, over her neck, down her side, slowing the caress as she brushed over the side of Izzy’s breast. Kat pulled back, her eyes closed and her breathing coming in shallow pants.
“I suggest…” she struggled to speak, “you take her to your room. Now,” Kat nearly moaned as she rubbed against Izzy’s heated body.
Bain, finally able to move, pulled Izzy to him, grabbing her thighs to draw them around his waist, before disappearing down the hall.
Kale’s eyes followed the pair briefly before turning to Kat with a smirk and an arched brow. “What the hell did I miss?”
Steadying her breathing, Kat grabbed Kale by the shirt and pulled him back into their room, kicking the door shut. “You’re gonna need another shower,” she nearly growled at him before pushing him to the bed.
Chapter Three
Holly caught Sergio’s gaze, a smile lifting her lips. He might be a man whore, but he was good for a girl’s ego. Lovers hadn’t been easy for her to take. Evan and she had burned so hot that few men could compare. Their relationship had long ago ended, but she still compared all men to him. He was her support, her best friend, and her sire. It was a connection only a vampire could understand. However, flirting with Sergio was all fun, all the time, and made her feel good. So, as the lights dimmed over the crowd and she and the two other dancers took center stage, she smiled before bringing the large red and black fans up to cover her face and body.
With a deep breath, she began fluttering the burlesque fans over her nearly naked body. Black and red lace covered her bottom in a boy-short cut, and a matching bra provided a low-cut cover to her breast. Every time her eyes peeked through the feathers, she made sure to lock her gaze with Sergio. It was payback for bringing half the male vampires from the coven with him. Holly slid into the splits before pulling her legs up to completely hide her body from the whistling crowd before stretching out on the stage floor. With a deeply arched back, she threw her arms behind her, moving the fans to completely expose her body. She held back a smile as she caught a groan coming from Sergio. Vampire hearing had some major perks.
Sergio was waiting outside the dressing room when Holly exited, a shit-eating grin spread across his face.
“No autographs, please,” she joked as she stopped next to him.
“You are a tease of massive proportions, you realize that, right?”
Holly smiled with mirth shining in her eyes, but said nothing as she patted his chest and walked away, making sure to put an extra bit of sway in her hips.
****
Lothar watched as a group of vampires returned to the compound, all masters, and all flashing to the gate so security could check them in. The little, silver roadster followed not long after. The dark night made it nearly impossible for him to see inside the car until it pulled up to the gate and stopped so the driver could speak with the security guard. Again, he was struck by a moment of familiarity as he swore he saw purple eyes flash in the dim light that illuminated the cab.
He wanted to move to see what the deal was with this little vampire, but resisted the urge so as not to blow his cover as he did his surveillance of the compound.
The sun began to rise over the desert a few hours after the vampires had returned. Sleep called to Lothar, when Lucas pulled into view.
“Are you here to relieve me?” Lothar asked as he dropped out of the palm tree he’d been using for cover.
“Yep, anything exciting going on?”
Lothar shook his head. “Not so far. Aside from a few frustrated vampires.”
Lucas arched a brow. “Frustrated?”
Lothar grinned. “A group of about ten sexually charged vampires returned home a few hours ago.”
“Great,” Lucas groaned, “go get some sleep.”
****
Kat moved through the halls of Hawk’s Eye Security. She was heading out to see Jake and Juliette. She wanted to check on the succubi, who were now adjusting to the Human World, and visit with her friend. Kat passed Sienna and smiled before pushing out the door to find Lothar headed towards her.
“Good afternoon, Katarina.” He smiled brightly at her. “Where’s my little brother?”
It wasn’t all that often you saw one without the other. They seemed to always move together, one shifted to the left, and so did the other. Their connection was undeniable and truly a thing to behold.
Kat grinned. “I imagine he’s still passed out in our bed.”
Lothar shook his head. “I don’t need to know.”
Kat laughed. “You have no idea. I had a small run in with Izzy and… let’s just say she has no control over my powers. I am surprised she didn’t flood the whole castle with lust.”
Lothar’s demeanor changed. “Is she all right?” he asked with concern.
Kat laughed again. “Oh, I am sure Bain took good care of her.”
Lothar nodded. No doubt, Bain had taken care of her.
“I am glad I ran into you though. I left some papers on your desk that Cree gave me.”
“Vampire related?” he asked.
“No, I think they are drifter related. Something about a possible portal location. He didn’t seem too impressed with the intel, but he asked me to put it on your desk so you could check it out before you went back to Evan’s.”
“Will do. Thanks, Kat.”
“No problem, have fun tonight.” She waved as she disappeared into the parking garage.
He watched Kat speed by in her little Porsche through the glass wall of the lobby. Lothar found the intel report Kat had left for him and settled in to see what information was there.
Two hours later, he sat down and waited on the edge of a huge cliff. The Red Rock Canyon ravines were beautiful, all heavily eroded, displaying bands of grey, white, and red sandstone. The wide, empty plains beneath the hills were spotted with Joshua trees, among other indigenous plant life, those, and the setting sun, were the elements that made the entire canyon view completely breathtaking.
Lothar couldn’t sense magic to the extent that Uriah could or even Cree, but portal magic was distinct. They charged the air with the scent of home, the feel of the Middle World. Lothar could stay in the Human World for centuries, and his body would still remember what his home felt like. The ground seemed to shimmer below the cliff. Three men stepped through the portal, followed by a family of blindfolded Fae. Lothar opened his wings to descend on the group, but before he could leap from the cliff’s edge, the group disappeared in a vampire flash. Lothar hit the ground. The magic of the Portal had disappeared with its travelers.
Lothar pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial.
“What’s going on?”
Lothar smiled as he spoke, “Your intel was good, Cree”
“What’d you see?” Cree asked, surprise obvious in his tone.
“Three vampires and a family of four.”
Cree whistled. “Did you recognize the vampires?”
“Afraid not. Seems interesting that the portal is here in Vegas though, where Evan’s coven just happens to reside.”
“That it does, brother. Get over to Evan’s compound and see if our mystery vampires show up there.”
“I am on it,” Lothar told him before ending the call and taking to the sky.
The vampire compound was quiet when Lothar arrived. He saw the little, silver roadster speeding down the street as
he landed in the palm tree, but aside from the little vampire he knew was behind the wheel, there was no other real movement. The pattern followed for the next couple of days. Lothar and Lucas kept their schedule of surveillance, while Cree set up surveillance in Red Rock Canyon where the portal had opened. Lothar always prided himself on patience. Hell, he had two younger brothers, that alone had trained him to find calm as often as possible, but sitting and waiting was hard on any warrior.
****
Holly saw the silhouette in the sky, a sign of a warrior scanning the world below him. Her vampire sight told her it could only be Lothar. Time may have passed, but the memory of the men she grew up around never faded. She could pick the warriors out of a thousand other Fae. Her eyes told her that the massive wings that glided closer to the ground were a deep mahogany that nearly looked black and blended with the night sky.
Chapter Four
Esperanza stared at her youngest daughter’s childhood bedroom. She’d been living in this small home for months now, and she still hadn’t bothered to change this house into something other than memories of the life Tyr had forced on her. She didn’t intend to stay here long enough for it to matter what the house looked like. She’d always hated this place.
“What are you doing?” Tyr’s voice was deep and husky.
The voice fit the physical frame he carried and yet his voice grated on her… she knew the weakness that coursed through his veins.
“What am I ever doing in this place you call our home, Tyr? I am wondering why you have forced this life on me.”
“What more do you need, Esperanza? Is the love I have for you and our children truly not enough for you?”
She turned from the crackling fire to face the warrior.
“You waste my time with this talk… we should be in that palace.” She swung her arm towards the window, where the Light Fae palace loomed over them. “And you should be fighting to become the next leader. Lorna is not well; there will be a new leader within the year. It should be you.”
Immortal Promise Page 2