Chloe looked like hell.
Oh, the irony.
“Morning,” Chloe said, approaching the bed. “Blood or energy, Mistress?” she asked.
“Energy,” Jolie replied, hoping to give Chloe some peace and help her relax. They really needed that donor from Jasmine.
And soon…
Unfortunately, there were bigger issues on the horizon. The second their fingers touched, Jolie felt the cold blackness of death start to tear from her body.
Both men went on alert. They could feel the darkness rising to the surface. This was something new. Jolie had grown strong and controlling it was a relatively easy task. Since coming to Paris, there hadn’t been any flare ups.
Jolie scrambled away from the donor, trying to put space between them. Unfortunately, they were all in a cuddly pile of mate bodies.
She was trapped.
“Mistress,” Chloe said, her voice going dark. “Come to me.”
Everyone in the room felt it.
Jolie couldn’t reply. There was an immense pain as the black tendrils of death were being called from her body. A victim was needed, and somehow, Chloe had been the catalyst to kick it off.
Without warning, the tendrils crept up her body toward Flynn. She began pleading silently with the darkness living in her. There was no doubt what Death wanted.
Her mate.
They wrapped around him. Flynn couldn’t get past the searing pain. It forced him to push away from Jolie. There was nothing he could do to keep her safe, not as long as Death was using her to feed.
Chloe’s eyes were now the swirling vortexes of Vanth. “Our mistress is hungry.”
Instinct told Jolie to move, but she was caught in Death’s web. Every time she moved, Flynn howled in pain. As his body bowed, and he fell from their mattress to the floor, she’d never felt so helpless in all her life.
Flynn struggled to breathe. His eyes were firmly locked with Jolie’s.
Jacques couldn’t let his mates suffer. As soon as he tried to touch Jolie, his hand was seared with so much heat and pain.
“An offering,” called Vanth. “The mistress required an offering.”
Jolie could feel her body moving toward her human mate. He writhed in pain as he struggled to hold on.
“Chloe!” shouted Jacques. “Stop!”
“My old mistress and master are calling to me with the original spell.” Her fangs appeared below her lip as little beads of perspiration showed on her forehead. “They’re calling Death to them. I can’t stop them. They want Master Flynn.”
Jolie felt the energy wavering as Chloe battled to get her body back from the demoness. Reaching for Jacques, she slipped into his mind.
He flinched from the lack of finesse.
‘Please help me. I can’t kill Flynn. I won’t survive if I take his life.’
He was well aware.
Reaching under his pillow, he pulled a silver blade. With a flick of his arm, it found its mark.
Chloe wailed in pain.
Jolie wasn’t far behind. Death was distracted with Vanth’s injury. She wasn’t forcing her toward their downed mate. Instead, she dropped to the floor and screamed in agony.
Death was going to take it from her.
Jolie was going to die.
Flynn was free from the pain. It was ripped away, and he could focus. His cool cop eyes assessed the situation. He could hear Jolie in his mind, begging for the pain to stop.
There was only one choice. Flynn crawled to her, throwing his body over hers. “Take me,” he offered, knowing who he was tempting with the offer.
It wasn’t Jolie.
It was the dark within.
“Baby, focus on me,” he called, pressing her into the carpet so she was trapped beneath him. Immediately, there was that cold touch of death.
It began draining the energy from his body.
He didn't try and stop it. If one of them had to die, he’d sacrifice himself. After all, Vanth had stated that Death demanded him as offering.
“Take me!” he yelled, knowing he was screwed. If he had to live without her, he might as well be dead.
Death began swallowing him in big greedy gulps. There wasn’t much time left. Grabbing Jolie’s hair roughly, he slammed his mouth to hers, kissing her with everything he had in him.
That one action gave the tendrils access to deep within his body. His eyes bled to the darkest shade of blue as he recognized the feeling of dying. He reached into Jolie’s mind, and found her trying to fight hard.
‘Goodbye, baby. I love you.’ On that last thought, the darkness swallowed him.
Jolie knew he was gone, torn away from her heart and mind. She screamed in anger as his body rolled limply from hers. Everything in him went dark.
Jacques howled in pain, rushing from the bed to his mates on the floor.
“Flynn!” he called, placing his hands on the man’s chest. His eyes were open and they were returning to the pale blue. The fangs that had been present were also slipping away.
This was a bad sign.
“No! Please!” begged Jolie. “Give him back! You can’t have him! Please don’t take him from me!”
Jacques watched helplessly as the people he loved suffered.
“What have I done?” Jolie asked, pulling her mate into her arms. “Why would you do this, Flynn?” she asked, holding on to him. “Please come back to me.”
The three vampyres opened her door. They’d been pulled from death by the energy.
“Oh no!” whispered Trina.
Jacques rushed into Flynn’s mind. He dug for anything to prove the man was still there. Then, he felt it.
There was the little flutter of Flynn’s soul still in his body. It hadn’t left yet. They had a chance.
“Blood,” whispered Chloe, pulling the silver dagger from her body.
Jolie grabbed the dagger and began slashing at her wrist. It dripped sickly down her arm, splashing across Flynn’s torso. She reached into his mind, finding Jacques holding that tiny little light to him.
‘Flynn, feed, my love. You have to listen to me. Just swallow. Fight for us. Please fight for me.’
She held her wrist over his mouth. It didn't take long for it to fill with her blood. When he didn't swallow, she forced him. The compulsion overtook him, and his throat began working.
She kept feeding him until his eyes opened.
He reached for his mate and pulled her to his mouth. With fangs, he tore into the already sliced wrist as he began gulping.
Everyone watched.
Jolie prayed.
The room around her wavered.
She couldn’t give him much more. Glancing up, her eyes met Jacques’s. “Save him.”
He pulled Flynn’s mouth from her wrist. “Let me feed you, my friend.”
Brogan didn't hesitate. He was so hungry. Reaching over, he pulled Jacques toward him. His mouth didn't seek out his wrist, but this time, his throat.
Jacques didn't even flinch. He let his mate feed from him, even when he was dangerously close to taking too much. Then, like it started, it stopped.
Flynn closed his eyes. When they opened again, he noticed his mates were lying on the floor. There was silence around them. As Chloe moved toward them, he held up his hand. “Stop.”
She didn't move.
Flynn stared down at the ones he loved and immediately knew he needed to give them energy. He’d fed twice from Jolie, and she’d been drained from death.
Placing his hand on their chests, he pushed the warm energy into their bodies. Slowly, Jolie began coming around.
Again, Chloe moved toward them.
His fangs reappeared as his eyes bled dark blue. “Stay the fuck away from them.”
His voice wasn’t calm like it normally would be. In fact, the young vampyres all moved away from the man.
Jolie moaned. “Flynn,” she whispered, her hand finding his on her chest.
Jacques mimicked the same action.
“Don’t leave
me,” he said, staring down at them.
Jolie struggled to sit up. She was already feeling better. Well, physically. Emotionally, she was ready to lose her mind.
Jacques took a deep breath before opening his eyes. “That sucked,” he muttered.
She laughed. If she didn't, Jolie would have wept. That was something Flynn would say and had said quite a few times when they’d been injured.
Flynn pulled them against his body, holding them in his arms. He didn't look away from Chloe. “You nearly killed us. Get out!”
She stared at him, eyes filling with tears.
“Until we figure this out, you have to stay away from us. Don’t feed the others either.”
She nodded.
Flynn focused on the other three vampyres. “Go to your rooms. Jolie’s fine. Don’t go near Chloe. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Master,” they said in unison.
He didn't stop them from calling him that. Instead, he focused on his mates. “Are you both okay?” he asked, the harshness gone from his voice now that they were better.
This had been a little too close for his liking.
“Yes,” Jolie said. “Unless you want to discuss how pissed I am that you nearly died touching me. That was dangerous, Flynn.”
He was well aware. “I bought us time. That’s all that matters.”
Jacques struggled to get up. Flynn released Jolie to help his mate to the bed. Once there, he returned for her.
Jolie went into his arms until she was cuddled between them on the bed.
They stayed there, curled around her.
“We have to find a solution,” stated Jacques. “We can’t risk this happening again.”
Flynn agreed.
“We need that donor from Jasmine, and soon.” Jolie was out of options.
Mina stepped forward. “I’ll call them right now,” she offered. “That was really scary.”
Yeah, it was.
As she headed out, Jolie quietly spoke, “We’re screwed.”
Neither man commented. This wasn’t a bunch of killers after them. This was someone they relied on to stay alive, and now it looked like she was a loose cannon.
“How do you kill the Demoness of Death?” Flynn asked.
Jolie only held on to the men tighter. She knew the truth.
You couldn’t.
CHAPTER thirteen
Wednesday Evening
No one wanted to go to the Halloween ball, but what choice did they have? The younger vampyres were looking forward to it, and Jolie didn't have the heart to disappoint them. Instead, they’d regrouped and opted to get ready to go.
Yet, they were rattled to their cores.
What had happened earlier was dangerous, and no one wanted to see anyone get hurt again.
They needed a distraction, and this was as good as any that they could come up with.
So, they did what they had to do.
As usual, the men had finished dressing and were patiently waiting for the women. Flynn didn't want to leave Jolie alone, but she had insisted on privacy as she got ready.
He stood against the fireplace, looking dark and lethal as a gangster in his pinstriped suit. It fitted his mood. Flynn was on the verge of murder, and if he could, he’d stake Chloe himself. While he was morphing into something new, he still didn't trust Death.
That was a runaway train.
“You can’t do it,” stated Jacques, reading his mind. “She’ll know your plans. You won’t get close to her.”
Flynn glanced over, not quite sure how Jacques was staying so calm. He was anything but.
“Years of practice,” he replied.
Jacques, ever the master of regality, stood in the center of the room dressed as a soldier. Although he wasn’t alive during the Roman conquests, he would have fit in exceptionally well with his green eyes and black hair. His armor shined in the pale light, and the bejeweled sword looked real and dangerous, just like he did dressed in the costume.
“Maybe we should send her home.”
He nodded. “We may have to. I’m pretty sure that despite the evening’s festivities, Jolie will be thinking about just that.”
Flynn was glad. “I hate that she’s dangerous and carrying this secret.”
Mathew glanced over. He was dressed as a pirate. It was more costume-y, and less accurate, but that’s exactly what he wanted. He’d read up on pirates, and they weren’t exactly nice people. While he wanted to think of happier things, even he was worried.
How could they forget how Chloe went all Vanth on them? She could kill them all.
“You have a few secrets too,” Jacques stated.
Flynn knew what he was talking about. “Yes, I do.” He knew it was time to discuss it.
“I’m less Flynn, and more vamp-y as of late,” he admitted.
Jacques lifted a brow. “Blood?”
He nodded. “With Jolie’s, I can pick up some of your gifts.” He told the man about the ability to hold her frozen in place, his hunger, and how he was going to go with it.
“Interesting.”
Mathew stared at the man. He’d always feared Jacques more, but now…Flynn had pretty much admitted that he was as strong as the other two.
Mathew moved away from him.
Flynn glanced over, his eyes no longer the pale blue. “I won’t hurt you, Mathew,” he offered.
Jacques moved closer. “I like the more vamp-y Flynn, if that matters.”
It did.
He was really expecting some pushback from the man.
“Are your fears because of what I said the other night?” Jacques asked, knowing what the man was thinking.
“Yes.”
He nodded. “It won’t happen. I won’t ever go there again, Flynn. You saved Jolie tonight. You saved my heart yesterday. I’ll feed you too, if you want.”
It touched him.
“Do you feel differently after drinking from me?” Jacques asked.
Flynn played with his fedora. “I feel stronger. I also have this overwhelming desire to kill something. It’s like I’ve picked up pieces of you.”
Mathew swallowed, and they both looked over.
Before they could reassure him, they heard the women coming.
It was about damn time.
Trina and Clariel wandered into the room and giggled the second they saw them. They just knew the mates would be the best looking men at the ball.
Flynn tipped up the corner of his hat to check them out. “Wow! You both look great,” he offered, giving them a boyish grin.
When both blushed, he laughed.
“Thank you, Master,” they offered, bowing their heads. Mathew had just warned them in their minds that Flynn was now dangerous, but they didn't see it. He looked the same.
“Fairies, huh?” he asked, taking in their shimmering little dresses with big glittering fairy wings attached to their backs. They had rubbed pink and purple tinted cream into their skin to give them an otherworldly hue to their pale flesh. Hair was pulled up and hung in ringlets of curls with sparkling strands of colors crisscrossing throughout.
“Yes, Master.”
He moved toward them.
Immediately, they took a step back.
Worry lines appeared on his brow. “Why are you afraid of me?” he asked. Then, he realized that Mathew must have said something. He gave the young male vampyre a look. “I won’t hurt you, ladies. Please trust me,” he said, holding out his hands.
Trina didn't doubt him. She jumped at the chance to touch her master. She was crazy about him. How could she not be?
“I trust you, Flynn.”
He grinned, right before dropping a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you for that, Trina. Finally, someone uses my name and not that ‘master’ BS.”
Clariel slapped her arm. “Really? Could you lust after him when I’m not standing right here?”
It made Jacques and Flynn laugh.
Trina winked at her. “He’s dressed as a gangster. I can’t help it. I loved th
e Roaring Twenties.”
There was no harm done. Clariel smiled at the two alpha males in the room. “Sorry we took so long, but we had a lot of make-up to take care of tonight.”
“Wait until you see the mistress,” Trina teased. “Here she is,” she said, before stepping back.
Jolie stepped into the room, watching the faces on her men before her. She couldn’t help but laugh at the antics of the two women.
“Wow, baby!” stated Flynn, checking out his mate. “You look hot!”
Jacques had the same reaction.
Both men moved toward her.
Jolie was dressed in a scantily wrapped, almost transparent toga that showed off her entire back and barely covered her breasts. There were gold ribbons crisscrossing her bare flesh and stomach, holding the cloth to her body. Around both upper arms were intricately carved bands, and a gold fig crown sat nestled in her mounded pile of curled black hair.
“You’re a Goddess,” Flynn admitted.
“Yes, ours,” stated Jacques. “Aphrodite?” he asked.
Jolie fluffed the curls that cascaded down her back as the semitransparent cloth trailed delicately behind her on the floor. “Here, I thought I’d have to tell you,” she admitted.
“Come here, Goddess of Love,” Jacques stated, opening his arms. The flat sandals gave her the appearance of being dainty and delicate.
Jolie didn't hesitate. She loved when the men looked at her like this. Plus, she was hoping they were over the debacle which happened earlier. She just wanted to enjoy the night with her family.
They needed this.
“Please tell me that there’s something under that artfully draped sheet,” said Flynn, checking out his mate’s body.
She kissed Jacques before leaving the safety of his embrace. “Now what fun would that be, to tell you what I’m wearing underneath?” she asked.
Flynn waited patiently for her to come to him. When she was against his body, Jolie nuzzled his cheek with her own. It was hard not to notice that her gangster had given himself a wicked looking scar on his cheek.
It was very apropos.
Jolie held out her hand, and Jacques took it. They wrapped around her, keeping Jolie safe between them.
“Mmmmm... a gangster. You would have enjoyed me during my Bonnie and Clyde era,” she admitted, running her hands up and across his body.
Dangerous Misery (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 3) Page 23