She recoiled at his audacity. The tip of her fang scraped his skin. A tiny dab of blood welled out. She wrapped her hand around his wrist and brought that finger to her mouth.
The blot of blood was the most satisfying drink she’d ever had. Warm and rich, it was all Creed. A refined, pleasant scent that spoke to all things feminine, reminded her of the days she’d bury her nose in a magazine’s cologne ad and dream of her ideal man.
She raised her gaze to Creed’s. His was infused with heat. A deep red, like tiny rubies grew behind his eyes.
Didn’t vampire’s eyes glow when they were aroused?
She released his finger with a pop. Self-control, eat your heart out. That her fangs weren’t buried in his neck this second tanked all her worries that she couldn’t control herself.
Quution cleared his throat. They both whipped their heads toward him.
She didn’t know what to feel. Embarrassed? Irritated? Irate at Creed?
No. He was right. Her anger was about her. “I don’t know why I lash at you, Creed. It’s like there’s this bottomless tank of rage and resentment inside of me and when you talk, you flip the lid right off.”
Creed’s expression darkened. He didn’t like being the reason she raged.
“Really, though, there hasn’t been anyone else around to interact with. Maybe it’s not just you. And I’m hungry. So hungry. Always. Then you say something and it mixes with the other emotions and it’s like a volcano erupts from this black pit in my head.”
“Interesting,” Quution said. “Then perhaps bringing you topside won’t pose such a danger. We’d just have to keep you from Creed and see if you react to another.”
“No.” Creed spoke so quickly it looked like he surprised himself. “It won’t do hiding the problem. But I agree. We should bond and get you out of here.”
Melody frowned at Creed’s sudden pivot regarding the bonding. Was it from Quution’s threat to keep him away from her, or just her wishful thinking?
Voices halted any discussion. Quution rushed to one side of the entrance, she and Creed crouched on the other side.
“What’s that smell?” Sniffling, like someone was smelling something as loudly as they could came from the corridor. “Is that vampire?”
“Perhaps someone feasted recently. Forget it.”
Yes, forget it. Melody willed the beings to decide not to investigate.
Quution caught her eye and tilted his head toward the door, like this was her chance. She should be really happy that potential lunch was walking by. But now that she was confronted with hunting something other than deer and eating it on the spot, her resolve wavered. It’d been hard for her to hunt at first. Only her dad’s disappointment and muttering that a son wouldn’t be as tender-hearted had spurred her on. But she’d made sure she shot to kill and that they only hunted what they needed.
And the deer and fish couldn’t talk to her. It was one thing to take down a creature below her on the food chain, quite another to hunt an equal.
“We need to find our master. I sense something wrong,” the male said.
“One can hope,” the female muttered.
“You must not speak like that down here.”
“They cannot do what that bitch herself has already done.”
“Shh. Do you smell that?”
“She’s close.”
Quuion wiggled his fingers. Creed’s hand moved like he was signaling Quution.
No, she wasn’t going to eat things she’d just heard conversing. Not demons who already alluded to living in fear.
She was shaking her head, but the males were talking over her without saying a word. They weren’t including her in their plans. For a heartbeat, she resorted to her old ways and stayed quiet. But they kept interacting without looking at her.
“I’m not going to eat them!” she shouted. If they wanted her to have sustenance, they could find a way to order a pizza or ten.
The two popped through the doorway with a roar. Creed barreled into the male, and they both plowed across the passageway into the wall.
A nude female, surprisingly humanoid, bared her fangs at Quution and they circled each other.
Melody skittered backward, wanting to yell at them to go away. She was not going to feast on beings she could have a chat with. Those demons she’d killed and…maybe snuck a sip or two from…had been trying to kill her. “I’m not eating them.”
The female growled at her, then froze. Quution paused, as confused as Melody was at her reaction.
“Santi! Save the mistress.” The male grunted as he fought with Creed.
Mistress? Were they talking about her and did they think Creed was a threat to her?
A copper bloom of fresh blood filled the air. Creed’s arms wheeled as he landed hit after hit. The other male fought with claws and fangs, but was no match for Creed.
“It’s not the mistress,” the female called.
“The hell you say.” The male ducked out of Creed’s reach. “But I smelled her.”
“Hypna’s lackeys,” Quution said as if that explained everything.
Oh. Oh god, it did. They smelled her and thought she was their master. As one of the Circle, Hypna would’ve had second-tier demons to do her bidding.
“She smells of her, Rell. I don’t understand.” Santi circled her, peering at her closely. Melody stood still. Creed crouched close to her, ready to attack if they posed a threat to her.
Melody couldn’t lie and say she didn’t like it.
“Master Quution.” Rell snapped to attention. “Forgive the intrusion.”
Melody’s brows rose. The first sign of the power Quution had down here.
Santi bowed her head. “Master. Is Mistress Hypna dead?”
“Would you be glad if she were?” he asked in return.
The female shook, but none of her body language smelled of fear. The crown of ivory horns around her head vibrated like a rattle snake. “Is she? Really?”
Quution drew himself up to his full height. Melody craned her head back. He was at least a foot taller.
“It has not been announced yet.”
Confusion rippled over Rell’s face, his heavy brow drawn even farther down. His own black horns were angled up, slender like antennae. “Would the others not sense it?”
Creed threw Quution a guarded look. Melody worried her lower lip with a fang. She’d give herself a blood blister, but it eased her need to either panic or launch into a vicious attack.
“I saved her power, for Meladonna here.”
She sputtered a laugh. Meladonna. She was poisonous, like belladonna. Another laugh burst out. Everyone was staring, even the two new arrivals.
She took a few deep breaths to get herself under control. Was she going to have issues with every emotion?
“Has she replaced Hypna on the Circle?” Santi paused in her examination.
“She will,” Quution replied smoothly.
Melody hid her reaction. A fight with these two could alert others or injure any of them. They couldn’t risk it.
Creed didn’t flinch, either.
“What’s with the vampire?” Rell asked.
“He’s my servant.” Melody sneered. Might as well act the part. Two demons born and raised in the underworld wouldn’t accept Quution answering for her. She rose to all five foot four inches of height. Her horns straightened as if sensing her attempt at aggression she didn’t want to follow through on. “You question me?”
Santi’s eyes flared, her gaze going to the horns. Rell automatically assumed the subservient position.
Santi dropped her head and folded her hands in front of her. “Forgive me.”
She had power!
“Demons don’t forgive,” Melody snarled. The power was heady. She could almost have fun.
Quution inclined his head. “Your silence is required for your life until Meladonna ascends to the ranks of the thirteen.”
“As you command, Master.” Santi peered at her out of the corner of her
eye.
Melody bared a fang, and the demoness’s gaze skittered away.
Who would win in a battle? Santi and Rell were too humanoid to be purebred demons, while she was human and had purebred powers. How human was she anymore?
How weird. She had as much demon in her as all the second-tiers down here…but she had full-blooded power.
Awesome.
For months, she’d been at the mercy of her benevolent employers. They gave her shelter, a job, semi-acceptance. Before that, she’d been abducted from her dreary life of constantly having to prove herself at the sporting goods store she’d worked at. All day, men filtered in and out and challenged any knowledge she had.
Compound bows? Let me talk to your manager, sweetheart.
Which rifle is the best for mule deer hunting? Oh…is there someone else around who could help me?
Who was the manager now?
“I need minions,” she announced. “You will serve me.”
Quution nodded. Creed’s gaze shot toward her. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but thought better of it.
That’s what she was talking about.
Santi’s troubled gaze rose to her horns.
Melody made a retching noise. “I’m not interested in fucking either of you. I’m not Hypna; the horns aren’t for recreation. They’re for my enemies.” Her gaze strayed to Creed. But the two demons trembled, thinking she meant to use her horns on him—or one of them.
Rell’s hand twitched, like he wanted to grip Santi’s hand in comfort.
“Are you two a couple?”
He jerked his head up and immediately bowed it again. “No, Mistress. We are siblings.”
Her facade threatened to fade. She’d never had a sibling. Mom hemorrhaged after she’d been born. One hysterectomy later and Melody was the reason for all her mom’s lost dreams of a little princess.
No wonder she’d been easy pickings for Rourke’s brother who’d kidnapped her. All alone and depressed, and she’d been targeted for it.
Melody studied their innately protective nature. “You are loyal to each other over your master then.”
Santi shook her head, her thin platinum hair glinting in the torchlight. “We would serve you first.”
“Mistress before family,” Rell echoed.
“Uh-huh. First order, let’s not bullshit each other. I prefer to command out of respect, not fear. But I’ll rip your throat out and feast on your organs if you double-cross me.” They were demons after all.
The threat slipped out so easily, and they ducked their heads. Had her threat been mild? Or were they so used to living under those terms that it was normal chit-chat?
Could she ever live up to doing what she had to if they tried to cheat her?
Because if that was in her future, then she’d end herself and her new powers with it.
***
I can’t believe my damn ears.
Creed listened to Melody issue orders like a boss. Which, she was now. A boss. He couldn’t argue in front of her new second-tier servants. The wave of pride he experienced while watching her in action was shoved to the side.
Quution led the three through the chants that linked Santi and Rell to Melody.
And his human wasn’t even officially one of the thirteen yet. Or was she? Hypna’s powers, new host. Did her status transfer?
Hell no. Not once the remaining twelve found out. They’d each leverage their own chosen one. How’d they make the final decision? Probably a messy, gruesome battle where she could get hurt or killed. What a coincidence. His two worst fears.
What a mess.
Melody’s orders were to carry news of Hypna’s death far and wide and spread tales of the fearsome new demon in the realm.
Their proof? Their shiny new dedication to Melody. That she had the power to bind them to her as her very own second-tiers.
What would his boss Demetrius say when he relayed the sudden development? They’d gone from saving Melody’s life, to figuring out how to rid her of power while sparing her life, to making her the leader of the fucking underworld.
What. A. Fucking. Mess.
They had to get her out of here before the rest of the Circle hunted his female.
And she would have to become his in order to leave. He was her ticket to the human world, and she was his ticket to the realm. Other demons had to find hosts and possess the body. The Circle members could find a vampire willing to bond, but they were too chickenshit to flirt with death in the human realm. They’d just shuttle back to the underworld if their host died and start over.
Once the two second-tiers left, Creed faced Melody. She was in too much danger for them to dally about what to do. “We need to bond.”
“I agree.” The first signs of stress presented as worry lines around Quution’s eyes. “Whatever tales they tell will bring the entire underworld out looking for you. There’s no way the rest of the Circle will allow you a spot. They won’t buy that you’re a purebred like them. You’re too pretty.”
Creed clenched his jaw. Of course he thought she was pretty. She was more than pretty. She was a damn goddess.
Melody’s gaze met his. The green specks within her soft blue irises glowed. They did that almost constantly now. How else was she going to change? The female who spoke with utter confidence, full of dark promise, wasn’t his Melody. She made his Melody look like a glass of water next to blood-red merlot.
He preferred a quality wine over water any day.
“But you would—”
He cut his head to the side. They didn’t have time to argue. Santi and Rell could already be leading others their way. “Yes, I can only bond once, but others have figured out a way when it all went to shit. We will, too.”
A light brow rose. She shuttered her expression. Ah, hell. What had he said?
“Fine,” she said tersely, “Quution, how do we do this?”
Quution snorted. His shoulders were tensed. He crossed his arms so he could massage the bridge of his nose. “Good question. Creed, do your vampire thing. Melody, do whatever you feel moved to do. I’d tell you, but then I might accidently bond us. That wouldn’t help in this situation. I’m going to step out because I don’t care to see any kissy face.”
Quution stomped into the corridor. His huge platform shoes so fitting with the rest of his misshapen appearance.
“How do vampires bond?” Melody’s tone was clinical, but he’d kill that as soon as he answered.
“Sex.”
The flush in her cheeks was back. The green in her eyes ignited.
Did she like or hate what she heard?
“Isn’t there another…”
He sighed and shoved his hair out of his eyes. Since he’d drank Quutions’s powerful blood and healed, his hair had caught up to where it should’ve been had he been well-nourished the last couple of weeks.
“I don’t know. Like you, I’ve never done this before. Most vampires ready to bond are at the point in their relationship where they have sex.” He hadn’t run across his true mate in his ten-plus decades of life, hadn’t felt like he deserved her, either. “Why don’t we start with drinking blood.”
“Feeding?” She feathered her hand over her own hair, but her fingers bumped her horns. She grimaced and dropped her arm.
They were both a mess. Was there a way to pull this off without fucking?
Although, if he had to…
No. No. It was wrong.
“Don’t we need to do something more…passionate…than feeding?” Her pupils dilated, her words were breathy.
She’d been attracted to him before. Since she’d come out of her coma-state, she’d run hot and cold with him. Hot in a bad way.
Her reaction affected him. His palms itched to touch her. His heart rate kicked up. Could she sense it? His fangs throbbed to sink into her.
“Feeding in our kind usually leads to something more passionate.” His voice had dropped. Blood rushed south to his growing erection.
Her g
aze swept up and down his body, licking him as tangibly as her tongue. “It seems so sudden. Like, bam! Feed from me.”
“I’m afraid we’re in a time crunch.” He closed the distance between them. He shouldn’t. He should try harder to find another way to bond them without the fevered yearning brought on by sex. He should at least try, but his thoughts were stuck on wanting to touch her. “Do you feel like we need to do more?”
It’d kill him, but he’d slow down. Start with sweet words. A kiss. Tell her about all the wicked fantasies he had refused to let himself dwell on after he met her.
Desire in her eyes flared. The primal male in him roared to life. Her fangs had retreated, but the sharpened ends were still visible when she opened her mouth.
So hot. His gaze traced her lips. Plump and pink and he’d never wanted a taste so badly.
Just a kiss.
He dropped his head. She tracked him the entire way, but didn’t meet him in the middle. The height difference between them meant he had to bend over her, arching her backward. He wrapped his arms around her to secure her to him.
His mouth touched hers. That was all. How he had the restraint to not smash his lips to hers, he didn’t know, but he was grateful he did.
But he needed more. Was she as sweet as she smelled?
She opened for him, her hands landing on his shoulders. He swept his tongue inside to meet hers.
A groan escaped. Yes, she was decadent.
The coppery tang of her recent attacks lingered, and it pleased the vampire part of him. Her soft curves and hard muscles pleased the male side of him. Everything about her was arousing.
And as his hands reminded them as they sunk into warm flesh, she was naked. Her breasts smashed between them and he cursed the rags draped over him. What would they feel like? Pert nipples pressed into him, rounded globes begging for his touch.
She tightened her hold.
His female wanted more.
He deepened his kiss. Her fangs nicked his tongue. He tensed. Would she lose control?
She moaned, her tongue finding the wound and stealing any blood from it.
One drop of blood-letting had never felt so good.
Creed (New Vampire Disorder Book 5) Page 7