by Kym Grosso
“You can’t leave us on a boat staffed by vampires,” Willa blurted out without thinking. “I mean…not that there’s anything wrong with…it’s just that…it’s…”
“Dangerous. No fucking way, Vik. You flash us all the way out here and…” Hunter went silent as several servants placed dinner plates in front of them and proceeded to pile them with crab legs and grouper. “Thank you.”
“This looks amazing. Thank you, Viktor. But where…” Willa watched with curiosity as the servants retreated to the galley.
“Just because I don’t eat human food doesn’t mean I don’t keep it in stock for guests. Look around. We’re in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s plentiful.”
“All this. We could have just gone back to my house.” Hunter picked up his fork and flaked off a chunk of fish.
“We’re a team.” The vampire took another sip.
“We are, aren’t we?” Willa laughed, intrigued by their unlikely friendship.
“The grouper’s delicious,” Hunter commented. “Tell me. All the crew on this ship are vampires, yeah?”
Viktor nodded. “Of course.”
“How do vampires know how to cook like this if they don’t eat?” Willa asked with a moan. “Hmm…so good.”
“It’s delicious,” Hunter agreed.
“We need blood to survive. To be strong. But,” he held the glass up to the moonlight, “some choose to still eat. Like Quint. My chef too. I had to make the break.”
“The break?” the Alpha asked, continuing to eat.
“Yes. The break. Quintus prefers to remember his humanity, but I cannot allow myself to go there.” He stared off into the darkness, the lights of the boat flickering on the waves. “My life. I can barely remember it now. Life before Baxter. In Scandinavia. I had a wife, children. And then in one day in a battle…well, needless to say it didn’t go well. I never saw my family or my homeland again.” He looked to Willa and Hunter, giving a wistful smile. “So, you see. The day I awoke from being nearly dead to being newly turned, I broke. I broke from human ways. The pain of living was far worse than dying. Trust me on that.”
“I’m sorry, Viktor,” Willa told him, her voice soft with empathy.
“Ah, no worries. Life evolves and so did I.” He set his glass down onto the table. “Let’s discuss the skin book, shall we?”
“After our meal, we can take a look at it, but I doubt that it’s going to tell us anything. Right now, we just have to trust like hell that the witch isn’t lying about the demon wanting it.”
“I think it’s safe to assume she’s lying about something,” Viktor countered. “It’s Ilsbeth.”
“She could double cross us. She seemed sincere but…” Julian. “I have to find my brother.”
“Wherever he is, he’s trying to keep you safe. Divert the wolves. Which it seems he’s done a pretty damn good job of so far.” Hunter cracked open a crab leg and slid the delicious meat into his mouth.
“We’ll find him,” Viktor assured them. “He’s powerful. Can hold his own.”
“I know he’s trying to protect me, but I don’t like the thought of him on the run by himself. If anything happens, we can’t help.”
“We’re on the run too,” Hunter said.
Viktor stood and walked into the living room, returning with the book in one hand and the knife in another. He placed the items onto the table and sat. “While you both were cleaning up, I took a look at this diabolical thing and guess what? Surprise, surprise. It has some kind of a self-locking mechanism in place.”
“Honestly I could care less what’s inside of it. I just want to trade it,” Hunter told him. “Freedom for the book. Done.”
“But she said there were spells…” Willa said.
“I could break it, but the witch…I suspect she’ll know how to open it.” Viktor shrugged.
“Normally I’d say, yeah let’s bust into it but I can’t see what we have to gain,” Hunter said.
“I agree with Hunter. If it’s made from who she said it was, he may have had royal blood, but that doesn’t mean he was a good person.” Willa reached across the table and brushed her hand over its cover. The tanned supple skin tingled beneath her fingertips. “This book still has energy. I can feel it.”
She quickly withdrew her hand and shivered. “No. If the demons want this, there’s something bad inside. Something dark. Something that doesn’t belong here. We shouldn’t open it. None of us practices the dark arts.”
Viktor raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Speak for yourself, princess.”
“Something you want to tell us, vampire?” Hunter asked, setting down his fork.
“You don’t think I’ve lived all these years off my good looks, do you?” He tilted his head. “I dated a witch a long time ago. And no, it wasn’t Ilsbeth. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Your point is taken. This book.” He glanced at it then focused back on Willa. “It’s bad mojo. Maybe you’re right. Nothing good is going to come from opening it. I know Ilsbeth says she wants the spells, but I think we hold on to it. Let her summon the demon and we’ll get rid of it.”
“I’m with you. Ilsbeth wants the spells but I doubt she forgets her latest tour of Hell. It’s not worth it.” Hunter lifted his glass and took a drink of his whiskey.
“I don’t trust her,” Willa said.
“Something else we all agree on.” Hunter reached for her hand. “This is going to be all over soon.”
“All I know is I have exactly zero plans on going back. As far as I’m concerned, they owe me one. I was dragged there trying to do something good.” Viktor stood and lifted his glass into the air. “I do love a warm gulf breeze.”
“Nice boat, Vik.”
“Thank you. All two hundred feet of it. I enjoy being here perhaps more than anywhere else. When I’m not partying on a penthouse deck in Miami. Or New York. Love New York. Of course, there’s WeHo. Malibu. Ibiza. Ah…and Paris. Thailand. Forgot Thailand. The Mediterranean. Ah…I did love Mary.”
“Did?” Willa asked.
Viktor smiled. “A girl from Croatia. Austrian duchess. Long story but I’m afraid not enough time.”
Willa exchanged a confused look with Hunter.
“I’m going to have to flash to go get a donor. I won’t be gone long,” he promised.
“No, please.” Willa refused to be stuck in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico with a crew full of vampires.
“I’m sorry but if I don’t feed, I may not be strong enough for what we are about to do. I can’t risk not being one hundred percent when we go summoning demons from the depths of Hell. I think I just mentioned it but I’m not going back. I’ll die before that happens.”
“If any of these…” Hunter glanced up to the bridge, “vampires…well, you know. I know you’ll say you trust them, but I don’t. The only reason we’re safe is because you are here. You’re going to have to take us with you, take us back to New Orleans or…”
“Not an option. It’s not safe in New Orleans. Out in the middle of the sea makes it harder for them to find us.”
“Then drink whatever bagged blood you have on board to get you by until we get back. You can drink from a witch at Ilsbeth’s.”
“No that’s not going to work. It’ll take too much time. It’s too risky.”
“We’ll take our chances.”
“No, I won’t risk your life or mine. I…”
“Take my blood,” Willa whispered. As the words left her lips, Hunter’s anger rushed over her. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes met Viktor’s.
“What did you just say?” His eyes widened in disbelief.
“I…” Willa glanced to Hunter whose lips were drawn tight. “I said you should take my blood.”
“Willa…” The Alpha began but she interrupted him before he had a chance to finish.
“No, listen to me.” She squeezed Hunter’s hand, focusing on her mate. “He needs to feed. We can’t make any mistakes. Not one. Leaving us here with the vampires isn’t an option. We
can’t trust that they’re all loyal. Someone or something could have gotten to one of them. A demon might detect Viktor leaving us. Seriously, we’re only safe for a few hours until all Hell literally breaks loose back in Baton Rouge or New Orleans or wherever we’re making this shit happen with a witch none of us trust. All of us have to be at the top of our game. There cannot be any weakness. He must be as strong as you and me. We are a team.”
“But Willa…you know the implications, right?” The corner of his mouth ticked upward. “It’s just not that easy at this point. You saved his life in Hell. He saved yours. You’re lucky you haven’t created a bond already.”
“Viktor senses me. He probably could find me anywhere. I’m certain of it. But the only bond I’ll ever truly have is with you…my mate. Maybe there’s a way…” Willa plowed her fingers through her unruly mane. Her thoughts spun with possibilities. “He could bite you too. Spread it out. We won’t be weakened but he’ll have both royal blood and Alpha blood. You know that would make him stronger than any old human blood.”
Hunter blew out a breath and looked at Viktor. “Maybe…I don’t know about this.”
“It will work,” she insisted.
“You both understand the ramifications, yes? Because I’d never ask you to do this. You’re newly mated and Willa…you’ve already helped me.”
“You’ve helped us too. You stayed with me and Hunter for far longer than you should have.”
“That’s what friends do. We don’t leave each other when the going gets bad. And as unlikely as I would have thought it, I care about both of you.”
“We are friends and that’s exactly why we’re agreeing to it,” Hunter told him. He smiled at Willa.
“The twenty roaming vampires had something to do with it,” Viktor replied.
“True, but this is your boat. And we’re safe because of you,” Hunter said.
“The effects of my bite. You know how this works. There’s only two ways.” Viktor shook his head and looked off into the distance. “I refuse to hurt her. Or you.”
“You won’t. We know what we’re signing up for. I can’t promise my reaction or what’s going to happen but…” Willa reached for Hunter’s hand and nodded.
“Do not attempt to form a bond with her, vampire. I just fucking mated with her. This is a one-time deal. Get that straight. Whatever goes down, you’d better damn well take note.” Hunter blew out a breath and looked to Willa. “Are you sure about this? Like really sure? Whether you know it or not, you’re probably traumatized from what happened to you in Hell. This could trigger something.”
“It could but my wolf…my heart…you’re here. As long as I’m with you I know I’ll be safe.” Willa took a deep breath. Viktor won’t hurt me . “I can’t explain it. If there was any time he could have killed me, it would have been in Hell. But he saved me.”
“Ah good then. Because if I don’t eat soon, I won’t be dematerializing us anywhere.” Viktor raised his glass with a chuckle.
“Where’s our room?” Hunter grumbled.
“The Alpha doesn’t waste time, I’ll give him that.” The vampire set his drink on the table and clapped his hands together. “All right then.”
“I’m well aware of the effects from your bite,” Willa told him. “I want to be comfortable. As much as I love this warm breeze, I won’t feel safe out in the open. Our guard will be down.”
“Exactly. We both need rest too,” Hunter said.
“No time like the present. Shall we?” Viktor gestured to the galley.
Willa’s stomach fluttered as she rose from her chair and headed into the yacht. She smiled, admiring its lush interior. The vampire didn’t do anything small. Opulent white leather furniture in the living room matched a grand piano that sat next to a marble fireplace. A life-sized black and white portrait of a gorgeous nude woman stared back at her as they made their way to a staircase, and Willa couldn’t help but wonder who she was.
Her heart raced as her palm slid over the cool chrome railing descending to the guest quarters. A series of overhead crystal lights illuminated the sleek hallway. They passed several rooms before coming to an intricately designed golden door. Viktor inserted his palm into a scanner and glanced back to them with a smile.
“Biometric devices. Not sure what we ever did without them.” A lock clicked open and Viktor opened the door, ushering them inside the master bedroom. “Safe. From humans. Witches. Vampires. Other underworldly creatures we dare not speak of.”
The lock clicked as the door shut behind her, and as she took in the sight of the room, her eyes widened. Located in the bow of the boat, two arched metallic shutter walls lowered to reveal windows. The ship’s lights reflected onto the blue gulf water. The enormous bed sat against a rich mahogany wall, a large sitting room with leather sofas to the right.
“I’ll leave you to sleep in here after we’re done. It’s the one place I can absolutely ensure your safety. Don’t worry about the windows. We can see out, but no one can see in. I’ll put the shutters back up if it makes you more comfortable.”
Willa approached the window and placed her palm onto the glass, taking in the sight of lights twinkling on the water.
“I’ve instructed the Captain. No anchor tonight. I don’t want any ties to the earth. Whatever seeks us from below will not find us,” Viktor assured them. He turned and looked to the sofa. “I’ve got the sofa or the bed. I’m not sure…well, where you’d like to begin.”
Willa smiled, hearing a tremor in his voice. Was the usually overly confident vampire actually nervous?
“The bed?” Willa took a deep breath and looked to Hunter.
“You sure?”
“I just want to lie down. It’s pleasurable, right?” she asked.
“Of course. I swear on my life I won’t hurt either of you,” Viktor promised.
Willa climbed onto the mattress. Like a cat she stretched out onto the soft black satin comforter. She closed her eyes and moaned. “Nice bed, vampire.”
Hunter laughed. “I don’t ever want to hear those words again.”
She smiled. Her eyes fluttered open, excitement swirling inside her belly as he crawled onto the bed towards her on his hands and knees.
“You look pretty comfortable.”
“That’s because I am. I really, really miss my bed.”
“I’m going to get us a new bed. Our bed.”
“Hmm…in Wyoming? I suppose I’m leaving Guatemala?”
“You can hire someone. I need my own personal physician.”
“But wolves don’t get sick.”
Hunter lay on his side, draping his arm over her waist. “You’ve got me tied up in knots, woman.”
Out of her peripheral vision, she caught the flicker of candlelight, Viktor blowing out a match. “Hmm…you’re definitely hot. So hot.” She laughed, rolling toward him. “You do know what you’re doing to me?”
“Help me, doctor.” He brushed his lips to hers.
Willa’s heart raced as his mouth captured hers, passion burning between them. She ached to be in his arms, to have Hunter deep inside her once again. Vampires. Demons. Danger. Nothing mattered in that moment but her Alpha.
Hunter tore his lips from hers, leaving her panting for breath. Her hands drifted underneath his robe, exploring his muscular chest. The throbbing between her legs intensified as she stared deep into his eyes.
“You know what’s going to happen here? You don’t have to do this,” Hunter told her.
“He’s right.”
Willa heard Viktor’s voice but couldn’t see him. She turned toward the window and caught sight of him watching them from a distance.
“Unless you’ve got really long fangs, you’re not going to get much blood from over there.” Willa released a nervous laugh. She couldn’t have imagined in what lifetime she’d willingly let a vampire feed from her, but she couldn’t deny the connection with Viktor.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his tone serious. “Are you both sure? Once
this is done, it cannot be undone.”
“You can’t leave us on this boat alone, Vik.” Hunter told him. “This is our choice.”
“I swear it. Nothing will happen to you.” Viktor unbuttoned his shirt.
Willa’s pulse raced at the sight of the vampire’s bared chest. Well-built and muscular, like a Nordic God, he approached, his usually coiffed blond hair casually tousled as if he’d been in the wind.
“Willa. It’s just you and me,” Hunter whispered.
“No.” Willa smiled. “We’re a team. You, me and the vampire. We started this in Hell, and we will escape this nightmare together.”
“Did I tell you how beautiful you are today?” Hunter cupped her cheek, love stirring in his gaze.
“You can tell me for the rest of my life, and I won’t ever tire of it.” Willa’s heart fluttered as he brought his lips toward hers. She meant every word. This Alpha owned her, and for the first time in her life, she accepted she’d no longer be alone.
His lips crushed upon hers, his tongue sweeping into her mouth. Her body ignited with passion, her hands gliding over the hard planes of his chest. Her fingers trailed down toward his stomach, and she shoved open his robe.
“Willa,” he whispered into her lips.
“Goddess, I love this.” I love you. Her pussy ached with arousal. She wrapped her hand around his thick cock and glided her thumb over his wet slit.
“Ah fuck,” Hunter hissed, thrusting into her fist.
Willa reluctantly broke their kiss, her chest heaving with emotion. Viktor. She sensed him before he ever touched her hand.
“My dearest pet, you’re exquisite.” He smiled. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
“Hmm…it’s okay.” Willa rolled onto her back to face him. “You’ve taken care of us here. We’re clean. Warm. Fed. And now,” she glanced to Hunter then back to the vampire, “we feed you.”
Viktor lifted her wrist and brought it within inches of his lips. Gooseflesh broke over her as he spoke, his warm breath teasing her skin. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she whispered, transfixed on his ice blue eyes that swirled with lust.
“Absolutely sure?”