by Scott, Helen
I'd felt so much stronger, harder, damn near invincible after I'd supped from her. Now, after only the Maker knew how many bags of blood, I was still hungry. The brothers thought I'd been running errands these last couple days, but the truth was I was a junky craving a fix, and there was no way to get it without attacking my unconscious mate, or finding another source to drink from.
The amount I'd consumed within the last two days was probably similar to the amount I'd consumed for the whole year prior to tasting Marcella. It wasn't just her blood though, it was everything. She scented of warm nights by the fire under the stars, before concrete and cell phones ruled the world. Not only that, but she scented of darkness, the cool, silent night that wrapped itself around the world waking the nocturnal animals, like my Vampire.
She hadn't looked like I had expected either. Her hair, while red, was the color of garnets and rubies, not the brassy orange red I so often saw on humans. This was the color of blood spilled at night, and whispered temptations to me of ages that had passed, ages where she and I would have been nobles and run whatever city or town we decided to take up residence in.
Add her bright blue-green eyes to her perfect hair, which were wide and guileless, and I was lost before I'd even had a chance to look at the rest of her, or know anything about her. Her lips were wide, almost too wide for her face, but there was a pout to them that begged to be bitten. The soft, feminine curves of her body were more than I expected. Most Sixths I'd come into contact with were stick thin and had their nose so high in the clouds, that no one could ever reach them. Marcella's breasts were more than a handful each, as was her ass, but it was the soft curve of her belly that surprised me the most. She was athletically built, with strong, defined muscles, but there was a small roundness there that I wanted to hold, to see swell with child, to further our species, and those were fucking scary thoughts.
My foot floored the gas pedal, and the small car I was driving zipped around the curves and ins and outs of Phoenix like water through a riverbed. There was nothing I could do to make this coming encounter softer. It just wasn't me. I was hard as nails, I had to be to survive for as long as I had. No one grew to watch whole civilizations rise and fall, without losing some of their soul in the process.
I mentally packed all my emotions, all my thoughts, everything to do with Marcella, into a box and put it to one side. My weakness wasn't needed right now. My Vampire needed to be kept at bay, and that would only come from my strength, and me forcing my will down his throat.
The gravel driveway crunched under the tires as I stopped the car. I practically flew from the vehicle into the home. Everything looked the same, there was nothing amiss, so my Vampire calmed down. As I turned and headed toward Marcella's room, that all changed.
Sex, lust, and blood hung heavy in the air, like a fog rolling in from the ocean. Suddenly, my Vampire wasn't as willing to sit back and let me handle it. It shoved to the surface, and my body surged forward, bursting through the door even as I fought to try and regain control.
The door had been keeping most of the scents at bay though, and now that it was open? We were all in trouble.
"Move." The word slipped through my mouth, squeezing between my teeth, and through my barely open lips, but it had the intended effect.
Raven and Keiran both got off the bed, dicks swinging, but instead of backing off, they tried to block me from getting to her. When the acrid smell of fear pierced my awareness, I understood why. My actions were aggressive and unpredictable, but I could never hurt Marcella.
"I need to see her," I said, although I felt like my voice was barely understandable, thanks to the Vampire. I even held my hands up as though I was surrendering, which made me have to fight even harder for control, because my Vampire was a stubborn ass and would never surrender to anyone.
Eventually they parted, and I was able to go to the bedside. It stank of their seed, but there was also the richness of Marcella's pleasure mixed in. At least she'd had a good time.
Her hair was messy and still damp, so I assumed that when she woke they bathed her. The sheet was clutched to her chest, but hid nothing. The pert pink nipples pressed through the cream fabric, almost daring me to loosen my control a little, and I saw bloodstains from where they’d bitten her and the sheet had collected the excess. I could even see the curves of her body as though the sheet wasn't there at all, and part of me wanted to rip it away from her, to show her how a pursang fucked, something she'd never forget. That wasn't appropriate though, so I reined the impulse in. There would be time for that later, when she trusted me, which I knew she didn't, at least not yet.
"Are you well?" I asked.
She nodded, but the movement was jerky, as though she couldn't believe I was just sitting there, asking lame questions.
I took a deep breath in through my nose and exhaled, trying to ignore the fact that she scented as aroused as ever. "I'm sorry if I scare you, it's not my intention. I was merely worried about you."
"I understand," she murmured quietly. Her voice was breathy, but there was a slight rasp to it that had goosebumps breaking out over my body.
"How did they wake you?" I inquired, not wanting, or able, to move away from her yet.
"In my dreams," she said quietly.
"Good, I'm glad it worked," I replied, as I mentally packed everything away again. "When you're ready, I would like to talk to you about a case I have for your Brotherhood."
I heard one of them mumble some expletive behind me and chose to ignore it. The Vampire had receded now that it knew she was alive and well. She looked healthy, as though she had fed and regained some of her strength, which was a relief. There was also the sheen of fresh sex to her skin that made me want to lick her from her head to her toes.
"Okay," she agreed eventually. I wasn't sure why her response was delayed, but I would figure her out with time.
"I'll be in the kitchen when you're ready." I pushed off the bed and made it out of the room, before shutting the door behind myself. I wanted her more than I could begin to describe, and yet, now wasn’t the time. For her, I’d wait. Even if my Vampire was trying to pull free of the bondage in which I contained it.
“That went better than expected,” Raven commented, when he thought I was out of earshot. The problem was I was having trouble moving any further away from her. My Vampire didn’t like that there was a door between us, and it didn’t want any more distance than absolutely necessary.
“Tell me about it,” Keir murmured. “Did you see how he just switched it all off though?”
A rumble of agreement sounded from Raven.
“He’s intense, but seems nice enough,” Marcella said.
“He’s pissed about our joining—” Raven started to say.
A snort of laughter sounded and I knew that was my cue. If I heard them bad mouthing me then I’d have to go back in there, and they would know I was listening, which would be bad for our tenuous relationship. The guys were on a more level playing field with me when it came to Marcella, and that was a new thing for us. Finally, I was able to force myself a few feet away, then a few more, until I was around the corner.
The scent of sex lessened and I was able to clear my head a little more, so the Vampire settled back down. Part of me still wanted to beat the piss out of Raven and Keiran, especially since they’d still been naked when I got there, but that would only make things more strained.
In the kitchen, I set about making waffles. It was the only recipe I knew by heart, and younger people seemed to like them, so I was willing to bet Marcella would as well. I scrambled some eggs for the guys and myself, and put on some coffee. I wasn't even sure what time of day it was, but Marcella had just woken up, so it may as well be breakfast.
11
Marcella
Had Darius really just burst in and almost seen me naked? Yes, yes, he had. Was Darius pissed that Raven and Keiran had taken care of me? You betcha. Was I going to let him take care of me anytime soon? Not likely. At least
, not with that attitude.
I pulled some clothes on, not caring what they were any more, and stormed into the kitchen. Worry was radiating off Raven and Keiran as they followed. I was still weak, but I'd be damned if I let him run my life any more than necessary, and that certainly included who I slept with. He was pissed about my joining with Keiran and Raven? Well, fuck him.
When the smell of waffles, eggs, and bacon hit my nose, I almost faltered and ignored the boundary lines that needed to be set in favor of food. As we rounded the corner, I wasn't surprised to see Cade, Barclay, and Gideon already eating. Cade and Barc knew I was awake and well, thanks to the bond, and I was sure they would have told Gid. Disappointment threatened to seep in that they didn't come and see me, but after one look at the scowl on Darius's face, I knew why.
The Vampire was leaning against the back wall of cabinets, sipping what I assumed was coffee or blood. He wasn't looking smug per se, but there was something about his expression that made me want to slap him anyway. I just couldn't get over the arrogance of him trying to decide who I slept with and when it happened. It was bad enough having the Masters at the Academy controlling my life until this point, but we'd gone rogue, dammit, and that had to mean we had some control over our own lives!
I walked up to him and shoved my finger in his chest, glaring as I looked up at his dark eyes. The moment my finger connected with his chest, they had started to bleed to silver, and Maker help me, if that didn't turn me on just a little bit. "The next time you want to barge in on me having sex with two of my mates, do us all a favor and don't. I only just met you, and while you might technically be my mate, you can't tell me what to do or who for that matter. I'm a Sixth now, with a Brotherhood. We're an alpha team and that means you give us respect, whether you like it or not."
He opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off.
"I understand that you're our Enforcer, but that doesn't mean you get to treat us like trash. We'll work cases for you and with you, but you still have to respect us and our relationships with each other."
The room was so quiet that I could have heard a pin drop. For a second, I thought he just wasn't going to respond, which, in all honesty, would have been better than how he did respond.
"I am older than you can possibly understand, so I will forgive you for this indiscretion. You are my mate, and that means I care about your well-being and who is caring for you. I understand that you've had a difficult childhood, however, it's my privilege to be one of the lucky few that cares for you now. I'm not saying that your Brotherhood doesn't care for you, just that we care in different ways. You cannot expect me to not be concerned about who you are sleeping with, when our own bond isn't finalized yet."
"It's not an indiscretion, it's the truth. I want to establish this boundary right now, before anything else happens. My bond with the guys is just as serious, if not more so, right now, than my bond with you, and this attitude of yours, this behavior pattern that’s starting to emerge, is not going to get our bond finalized anytime soon."
We glared at each other for a long moment, and when he didn't respond, I turned around, grabbed a plate, loaded it with food, and went to sit with my guys.
"Glad to see someone's feeling better," Barclay said under his breath.
"Is she always like this?" Darius asked, as he approached the table.
"How do you think she survived Westbrook?" Gid commented, raising one eyebrow at his Enforcer.
"What do you mean survive? She was the top of her class, it should have been easy for her," Darius ground out.
"Yeah, not so much," I replied, before shoving a forkful of waffle into my mouth. I wanted to moan at how good they were, but I also didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Some kind of noise must have escaped me because when I opened my eyes, everyone at the table was staring at me, lust dancing in each of their expressions.
"Just while we were there, the other top student used a null spell on Marcella, cheated in a sparring match, and I assume was cheating during the selection trials, although we weren't allowed to attend those," Keir explained quietly.
I could feel the impotent rage at the way I had been treated coming not just from my bond with him, but with all the guys.
"Not to mention she had the smallest room possible," Cade grumbled.
"How would you know that?" Darius questioned sharply.
Cade looked up at the Enforcer and defiance glittered in his eyes, so I knew whatever was about to come out of his mouth was going to start shit. "Because that's where I fucked her."
"In her room at Westbrook? Those are off limits to Brotherhoods, you know that."
"Yeah, I thought trying to destroy someone's magic was off limits as well, but Barbie didn't give a flying fuck either way, so why should I?"
Darius pinched the bridge of his nose. "Because if they found you then all your claims would have doubt cast on them."
"You think I'm lying?" Cade's tone was dangerous.
"Not what I said. I'm just trying to figure everything out."
I was honestly surprised Darius had backed down. When I mentally felt for the bond I had with him, which was thin at best, I felt a wave of calm coming from it. He really did want to diffuse the situation.
"Westbrook wasn't great if you were someone like me. I don't expect you to understand that, but there is no love lost between me and that place," I said quietly.
"Because your mother is a thrall?" Darius asked. His tone was curious and casual, as though he didn't just rip the scab off an old wound and poke at it.
I wanted to demand how he knew, but I could already see the guilt on the guys’ faces. They had told him. Without talking to me about it, or even telling me after the fact. Shame and disgust coursed through me in equal measure. The worst was the thread of betrayal that seemed to underscore it all.
"How long have you known?" I inquired, trying to keep my tone conversational.
"A few days," he replied, suddenly sensing that he'd stepped in it.
"Well, it's true. She was, or is, I don't really know. And yes, that was the main reason why everyone at Westbrook treated me like something stuck to the bottom of their shoe. The other part was the fact that I'd been a servant there, so all the staff knew me, and watched me grow up as I delivered their meals and tended to the Sixth's needs.
“It was only when I developed my abilities that they started treating me differently, although, not by much. At least I didn't have to serve them food or do their laundry anymore though." I wasn't trying to rub his face in it, but he needed to know I wasn't going to give him the illusion it was somehow noble work, that I'd felt honored to be a servant just so I could be close to the Sixths, or live at the Academy. I hated every second of it. "Did they tell you I made my own focus too? Well, before it was broken. It helped me mask my abilities, because the stone was amethyst. Protection and purification aren't really up my alley, but it was all I could afford."
"Whatever happened, I'm glad you're here now," Darius said, and I couldn’t say why, but that irritated the shit out of me.
Was he placating me? Like I was a child in the throes of a tantrum?
Screw him!
"If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to get some air," I stated, as I pushed away from the table and headed out to the patio.
I knew I should have picked up my plate, that I needed to do my part in keeping the place clean and whatnot, but I couldn't sit there a moment longer, feeling as though everything I'd been embarrassed about until I met the guys was suddenly under scrutiny again.
"We fucked up," I heard one of them mumble before I exited the house.
The patio was gorgeous, and I hated that I'd only been out there once since we arrived, and that Cade had thrown me in the pool, although the memory of it did bring a smile to my face.
My gaze drifted up to the smoky-purple mountains that were in the distance. The pale greens of the aloe plants and cacti that were around the pool, only seemed to make the mountains' color more int
ense.
Part of me wondered what it would be like to live somewhere like that, where we were away from all the political bullshit that seemed to surround Vampires.
"We didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Barclay said, as he came out to join me, breaking into my thoughts of a future that was futile.
I knew one of them would, and that it was only a matter of time, but I hadn’t been sure which of them would come and smooth things over with me.
"I know that. It's just hard to think about all that stuff, to remember that my own mother left me for dead, that I've done all but wipe the asses of the Sixths that came before me, that somehow I knew no one would ever willingly let me leave." I turned to face him and saw the concern written on his face. "I was a prisoner, Barc. I may have never acknowledged it, but that's what I was. If I left, if I didn't give everything the Academy asked of me my best, then I knew I would either stay a servant or end up as a thrall, just like mother dearest."
"We would never have let that happen," he soothed.
"Even if I wasn't your mate?" I asked.
"Even if. None of us could stand the way they were treating you. We don't talk about it much, and a lot of the others never will, but you should know that life was just as bad for us at Eastbrook, if not worse. We were trained physically and mentally, in whatever way the Masters thought was appropriate for our talents and personality. Basically, they had carte blanche to do whatever they wanted to us, and no one would bat an eyelash because we are just half-breeds. None of us will ever look down on you for what happened at Westbrook, or for the choices of your parents. We understand all too well that you were merely the product of those choices."
"You guys might not, but I could practically feel the disdain coming in waves off Darius," I said honestly. I had more questions, obviously, but now wasn't the time. I didn't want to poke at their old wounds unless I had to.