E.V.I.E.: 13 Slayers, 13 Missions

by Lexi C. Foss

  We’d fought.

  I’d won.

  But rather than kill her, I’d pressed my lips to her raging pulse and fled.

  We’d engaged in several similar encounters after that, all ending with me disarming her and pinning her to the ground, until one night when she managed to best me with a stake aimed directly for my chest. Only, she hadn’t struck me hard enough to kill me. Instead, she’d wavered.

  And that was when I’d first kissed her.

  My lips tingled with the memory, my body tightening with the urge to do it all over again. That was what this female did to me. One sight of her and my entire plan for revenge faltered.

  She’d left me to rot in Grigori’s prison for ninety-two very long years. Had Dimitri not found a way to get me out, I’d still be there today.

  Because of her.

  Because she’d disappeared.

  I narrowed my eyes at the back of her purple head. She would pay for what she’d done to me. Visions of her weeping and covered in blood graced the back of my eyes, causing my cock to stir with interest.

  I desired her pain.

  Craved it.

  And would ensure she felt the same anguish I’d experienced in that prison.

  Oh, how I’d take pleasure in her tears. My sweet little killer would be an incoherent mess when I finished with her. I couldn’t fucking wait.

  She continued her path toward E.V.I.E.’s headquarters—this realm’s slayer institute. I snorted at the prospect. What a joke. They had nothing on the Romanov slayer line back home. Of course, the vampires of this world weren’t anything like my brethren.

  They couldn’t walk in the sun. They hated garlic. They burst into flames from a stake through the heart, then turned to ash. And they had no royalty.

  Dimitri would scoff at them all and demand their extermination. Then he’d repopulate the realm with his own brand of vampires. Daywalkers who didn’t mind a little garlic in their food and required more than a stake through the heart to die. Oh, it’d slow us down, but we could only be killed by removing our heads. And some of us even required a little fire to completely die.

  The slayers of my world were well equipped in the art of staking followed by beheading. It made me wonder how much of those talents Kseniya had maintained in my absence.

  I cocked my head to the side, taking in her sensual form once more.

  Kseniya crossed the street, heading right toward the entrance of her employer. I stopped to observe, enjoying the view of her hips moving with each step.

  Tonight, we’d dance.

  She just didn’t know it yet.

  See you soon, little slayer, I thought at her, my lips curling at the sides. You’ll look so pretty on your knees.

  Her dog glanced back at me as though she could hear me, her wolfy grin closing. I gave her a little wave, then turned away to prepare for my date with Kseniya.

  It’d taken me nearly three months to prepare and several years before that to find her. Had it not been for Dimitri’s connection to the witch community, I might never have learned the importance of those slayer amulets. That was how my Kseniya had slipped between my fingers. Her vampire-witch friend, Rowan, had engaged the spell to transport her to this alternate reality, and they’d hidden here ever since.

  When I’d discovered how easy it was to transfer back and forth, my ire had reached a high point.

  Kseniya could have come back to me at any time and chose not to.

  Because she’d left me to die in that cell.

  A cell she could have infiltrated and pulled me out of yet didn’t.

  I loathed her.

  Yearned for her.

  Wanted to wreck her for everything she’d ever done to me. What was left of my soul still desired her, a fact that could only be mitigated by her death.

  So maybe I would kill her.

  After I played with her.

  Tormented her.

  Fucked her.

  Destroyed her.

  My devious little slayer.

  My love.

  My end.

  I curled my fingers into a fist as I walked, ready for this to be over and excited for it to begin.

  Tonight would be the inception of our mutual demise.

  And I couldn’t wait to watch us burn.

  3

  Violet

  Luci trotted along beside me, her tongue flopping out of her mouth happily. It gave her a less aggressive look and helped her resemble a friendly dog more than a ferocious wolf.

  All part of the facade.

  When we reached E.V.I.E.’s headquarters—a skyscraper littered with windows—I found Alaric waiting for me. I arched a brow at the sexy slayer in the pristine marble lobby. “Looking for a sparring partner?” I asked him.

  “You wish,” he replied, turning to walk with me through security. His broad shoulders were twice the width of mine and all muscle.

  The dude spent a lot of time working on his physique. It helped with his stamina on a gym mat, marking him as one of the few slayers who could best me in a fight. Which was why I enjoyed our little matches—he provided the competition I craved, something I hadn’t experienced since Cassius.

  Ignoring the shiver that traversed my spine at the thought of him, I continued toward the main security team.

  They didn’t ask me to disarm. Nor did they ask me to leave Luci outside. Instead, they allowed me to flow through my own line with Alaric a few steps ahead. He didn’t say anything more until we were in the elevator heading up to Jude’s office.

  “How you doin’, Luci?” he asked, giving her a dimpled smile.

  She bumped her head against his jean-clad thigh in response, asking for a scratch behind the ear.

  “Flirt,” I murmured, talking to them both.

  “Females love me,” Alaric replied, his tone as playful as always. Nothing would ever happen between us, but I enjoyed the casual attention, just as I knew he enjoyed mine.

  “Any idea what was so urgent that Jude called me in?” The boss man typically let me do my own thing, allowing me to report in to the local area superior of wherever I decided to live.

  I’d been with E.V.I.E. for decades, mostly in the European cells, but I’d recently relocated to Chicago. That was when Jude—the head of E.V.I.E.—had requested to meet me for the first time.

  He’d sent Casti to fetch me from a portal. The slayer had thought I was a real being from hell, thanks to his physical description. I quickly divested her of that notion, then she’d gone off on some tangent about a pet bat. As my only experience was with Luci, I wasn’t of much help to her.

  Luci’s ears perked up as we reached Jude’s floor, her tail beginning to wag in earnest. I removed her leash, knowing what she wanted, and smirked as she bounded out of the elevator, right for Hades.

  The male black shepherd was waiting for her in a play bow, and the two began running circles around the executive area outside of Jude’s office.

  “I guess you don’t need to be announced,” Alaric drawled.

  “Never do,” I replied. “And you never answered my question.”

  “Because I don’t have an answer. He told me he wanted to meet with both of us and to wait for you down in the lobby.”

  I pressed a palm to my heart, feigning a sad look. “And here I thought you just wanted to see me.”

  “I always want to see you, baby,” he tossed back, winking one pretty blue eye at me.

  “Stop flirting and get your asses in here,” Jude demanded from inside his office.

  “It’s telling that he thinks that’s flirting,” Alaric murmured.

  “Isn’t it?” I agreed, glancing at Luci. She was sprawled out on her back with Hades’s jaws wrapped around her throat in a playful bite. They were evenly matched in size, making them ideal playmates. For whatever reason, she seemed to enjoy letting him win.

  I left them to their dominance games and followed Alaric into Jude’s sprawling office. He sat behind his executive desk, his dark eyes on his comput
er.

  “Nice suit,” I told him, plopping down into the chair across from him. Alaric took the other with a smirk, indulging in my sarcasm.

  We were always ribbing the boss for his fashion sense. There wasn’t anything actually wrong with Jude’s attire. The man pulled off the handwoven Italian three-piece suit quite well. Alaric and I just enjoyed trying to rile him up.

  Alas, Jude didn’t smile or react.

  Instead, he pursed his full lips, his focus still on his screen. Whatever held his attention seemed important, which made sense. He wouldn’t call me here for a friendly chat.

  After a beat, he spun the screen around to show me. “We have a problem.”

  I studied the image, noting the female’s face and clear marks on her neck. It wasn’t until I realized the source of the photo that I followed the “problem” he referred to. The dead woman had made media headlines.

  “Looks like someone snacked on the wrong heiress,” I muttered. It came out sarcastic because that was how I operated, but Jude knew my personality enough to understand I meant that statement as a concern. “What are they claiming as the cause of death?”

  The exsanguination was as clear as day, but humans didn’t know about vampires, so they always came up with outlandish notions to support the otherwise obvious culprit.

  Jude brought up another series of images. “Several other murder files have been pulled in conjunction with Valaria Crimson’s death, all believed to be conducted by the same culprit. The media has nicknamed him the Bloodsucker Serial Killer.”

  “Why am I just now hearing about this?” Alaric asked.

  “It wasn’t front-page news until Valaria Crimson’s death,” he replied. “The other victims weren’t as famous.”

  “Meaning no one cared until a beloved heiress lost her life,” I translated. “But you’ve seen the reports of the others.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. Because I knew this man. He had teams who scoured media for this type of story.

  “Of course. And I already have leads for you to investigate.” He pushed away from his desk to stand, his height and stance impressive.

  The middle-aged male might spend most of his day behind a desk, but he was still in top shape and a force to be reckoned with. I’d challenged him once to a sparring match. He’d proven himself admirable, his old-fashioned techniques still very much relevant.

  Our duel had ended in a draw, neither of us able to best the other. And my respect for him had only grown since.

  Jude dropped a file in Alaric’s lap. “That’s the lead for you to explore.”

  I leaned forward to see the contents inside. “A map?”

  “Of nightclubs,” Alaric finished. “These are all known vamp havens. What do you want me to do, waltz inside, show them my stake, and demand answers?”

  “Those four clubs are the closest to the kill sites. I want to know who is frequenting them. Use tech surveillance to find out.” Jude handed Alaric a set of keys. “You know where to go.”

  The dark-haired slayer grinned. “Spy heaven.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You and your romantic attachment to technology are starting to concern me, Ric.”

  I never called him Alaric out loud. Always Ric. It was faster and frequently earned me a scowl. But not today. The pretty boy slayer was too excited by the opportunity to go play with Jude’s fancy tech gadgets.

  “And for you, I have a tracking mission.” Jude handed me a piece of thick card stock with elegant writing on it.

  I read through the invitation with a furrowed brow. “You want me to attend a charity ball?” I looked up at him. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”

  “There’s a new player in the vampire community. Some ancient calling himself King Kaos. No one has seen his face yet, but he’s hosting that fundraiser tonight, and I want to know more about him.”

  “I’d rather find the serial killer,” I deadpanned. “Or put me in the tech suite with Ric. I promise we’ll play nice.”

  “What kind of ancient vampire hosts a fundraiser?” Alaric asked.

  “The name Kaos keeps floating around the supernatural community, and I want to know why,” he continued as though neither of us had spoken. “I don’t know if it’s related, but the deaths started shortly after his arrival.”

  “Send someone else,” I pressed. “Gowns are not my thing. Give me a coven to raid instead. I excel in blood, not frivolous conversation.”

  “It’s rumored he’s a descendant of the Romanovs,” Jude added, meeting my gaze. “Or some royal Russian ancestry. Of course, it’s all speculation in the supernatural community, but the point remains—I want to know more about him. And why he’s chosen now to make an appearance in my city.”

  “Romanovs?” Alaric repeated. “Isn’t there some sort of cartoon about the missing princess of something?”

  “Anastasia,” I breathed, very familiar with the story. Only, my world held a different tale than the one told in this reality. And while Jude had never pressed me for details on my background, this case proved he knew a lot more than he’d ever let on before.

  I needed to warn Rowan.

  “How can you have so much detail about a vampire who has never been photographed?” Alaric asked. “If he’s hosting a charity gala, surely someone knows him.”

  “He’s the talk of the town and the newest wealth to move to Upper Manhattan. The rumors of his ties to royalty have only ramped up the intrigue.” My boss returned to his seat behind his desk. “Everyone wants to see his face and find out if all the myths are true.”

  “And you’re sure he’s a vampire?” Alaric pressed. “Not just some new-money bachelor looking for a society launch?”

  Jude shook his head. “Our neutral contacts have confirmed he’s some sort of ancient. The vampires are worshipping at his feet, and they don’t do that for just anyone.”

  Neutral contacts, I repeated to myself with a mental snort. That translated to bloodsuckers who were willing to provide him with information in exchange for their lives. So long as they remained good little leeches, E.V.I.E. allowed them to continue existing.

  However, the moment they stepped out of line, it became open hunting season.

  And I loved open hunting season.

  “What’s his name?” I asked. The invitation just mentioned a hosting company—The Amber Foundation.

  “Alexander Ivanovich,” Jude replied.

  Russian. I frowned. “Have you found anything else on him or his company?”

  “No. Which is why you’re going to his fundraiser tonight to see what information you can pick up. Watch and observe only.” Jude slid a card across the desk. “You have an appointment in two hours for hair, makeup, and dress selection. I recommend dark red or black.”

  My eyes narrowed at that slight taunt in his tone. So unlike Jude, the serious former assassin who danced with death more than with people. “I had no idea you were interested in retiring early, boss.”

  “Be sure to take photos,” he added, lacing his fingers before him, his expression giving nothing away. “I’m certain the others would love to see them. We could do a monthly newsletter.”

  “I love that idea,” Alaric agreed. “You could headline it ‘Princess Violet Hunts Prince Charming at the Ball.’ ”

  Jude actually wrote it down.

  And I wanted to kill them both.

  “If this proves to be completely unrelated to the idiot leaving a body trail, I’m going to demand a raise.” I stood up and turned toward the door, only to find Luci and Hades cuddling on one of his oversized pet beds just inside. My gaze slowly returned to my boss, a smile forming at the edges of my mouth. “I assume dogs aren’t permitted at the fundraiser?”

  His dark eyes met mine. “Vi—”

  “So you won’t mind watching Luci for me tonight, right?”

  All signs of amusement vanished. Not that he’d really exuded much emotion before, just a slight twinkle to his dark eyes that had died behind a sea of storm clouds.

&nb
sp; “Absolutely not,” he snapped. “Her last visit ended in nearly ten thousand dollars’ worth of damage.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s not her fault your pretentious penthouse wasn’t Luci-proof.” Some pet parents dealt with teething problems. Meanwhile, I had a hellhound who occasionally set things on fire. Big deal. We all had our issues.

  “No, Violet. I’m not taking her for the night.”

  I shrugged. “Fine. She can just stay here, and I’ll grab her later.”

  “Violet.”

  “Jude.”

  He stared me down in that darkly powerful way of his, but I stared right back. Then casually stepped to the side so he could see Hades and Luci lounging together in the dog bed. The moment his gaze dropped to his precious baby, his features softened.

  I waited.

  Five.

  Four.

  Three.

  He grumbled something under his breath.

  Two.

  “Fine,” he muttered, rubbing a hand down his face. “But if she sets my living room on fire again, you’re paying for the damages and emotional compensation.”

  “Emotional compensation?” I repeated, arching a brow. “Seriously?”

  “It was a traumatic experience for Hades last time. He lost one of his favorite toys.”

  “You mean the stuffed dinosaur I replaced that he loves as much as the original?” I deadpanned.

  “It’s not the same.”

  “Uh-huh.” I slipped the appointment card into my pocket, then folded my invitation into the other. Walking over to Luci, I pressed a kiss to her head. “Try not to set the couch on fire, okay?”

  She gave me a sleepy yawn, then nuzzled back into Hades.

  I took that to mean she’d do whatever the hell she wanted, as per her usual.

  “See you later, Jude,” I said, purposely not mentioning a time to pick up Luci after the charity ball.

  He’d probably call to check in around midnight and request a time then. By one, he’d realize my intentions to leave her at his place all night. And by six, I’d probably receive some sort of threat against my life. That would be when I’d make him promise to never give me such a ridiculous assignment ever again.