His blue eyes held her captive as he stared into her eyes. “I still can’t believe you’re really mine. I never thought you would choose me.”
“I am thinking the same thing. How can you want someone like me?
“How can you say such things, darlin’?” Kieran’s eyes turned sad as he took in her face.
She just shrugged. She was still scared to talk about how Mortef had used her. The feelings were fading, just like Yerel said they would, but every now and then she heard the whispered accusations in her head.
He gripped her chin. “You’re not bad in any way, sweetheart. Your heart shines with so much compassion and love that it blinds me occasionally. I’m an Empath, I can see as well as feel it. If you had a thread of evil in you, I’d see it.”
Her mouth opened. How could she argue with that? Was she going to call him a liar? No, he had no reason to. Just as she drew a breath to respond, he covered her lips with his fingers and covered his own in the universal signal for silence. I’m not bad.
Before she could respond, a shadow moved and she held her breath. Fear choked her throat, and she realized it was coming from the shadowy figure itself. She gripped Kieran even tighter as cold fear moved across her. She had no doubt that the creature was from hell and was pure evil.
“Don’t move.” Kieran mouthed the words to her.
She nodded since she wasn’t sure she could move. Terror held her immobile as she stared at the hellhound. Thick drool dripped from its teeth as it rasped out its putrid smelling breath.
A vague memory tried to break through of one chasing her. It smelled of rotten eggs and death.
Kieran moved slowly, gently placing her farther away from the edge of the hunting blind, hiding her under the canopy of leaves from the tree. Kieran leapt soundlessly farther up into the tree. The branch he grabbed far away from her shook, drawing the hellhound’s attention. The thing scanned the tree, and then turned back around to continue walking.
Kieran dropped out of the tree, landing on the hellhound’s back. The screech it let out sounded like a scream from the bowels of hell. The hellish squeal filled the night as Kieran pulled a knife from a sheath on his belt and stabbed it into its neck.
The smell that filled the air almost made her vomit. She gagged and retched as the smell twisted her stomach.
Another figure dropped out of the trees and for a moment, she thought it was Devon. The height and build was wrong though. He wore a long trench coat, pulled a sword from his back, and sliced it into the creature. The thing shuddered as it finally died.
Kieran rolled away and then lifted to his knees, making gaging noises of his own. “Damn, those things stink!”
She had to agree, the stench was definitely hurl-worthy.
Devon came running next and stared from the dead hellhound to her in the tree. “Fuck. I knew it was too damn quiet.”
“Good thing you called in the nest. That fucker was strong,” Kieran rasped out, still looking disgusted.
Devon glanced at the other Vampire. “Lacon, grab a few of the others and see if you can find its demon master. Without chopping off the head, the hounds will just continue to rise.”
Yeah, but who is controlling the demon?” Lacon looked into the trees and she could see that bodies moved in the canopy of the trees around her.
“I am pretty sure we all know who is controlling the demons, and who he wants.”
“Why can’t they find her? She’s right here and they walked right past,” Lacon asked.
“It’s the spell. It hides her scent from supernaturals. They only smell another human. This ranch has several ranch hands. The entire land smells of humans. She is just one more in a sea of scents.”
“If they break the spell, then they’d find her, right?”
She started to shiver. Mortef was sending the hellish beasts because he wanted her back. One day he might get it right and send some who could break the spell. Channel— this is the one our Master seeks. The words whispered at her. Even though she couldn’t remember what had happened, she knew one of those hellhounds had said those words.
Chapter Fourteen
The Texas early morning breeze blew in through the open window of the apartment. Rachel glanced at the clock and saw it was just past seven in the morning. She could go and see her sister off to school and slip back into bed with her mates. Mates! Rachel covered her mouth to stifle the giddy laugh. She was really mated to the two Vampires she was head over heels in love with.
Slipping out, careful not to disturb their sleep, Rachel threw on Devon’s T-shirt. It smelled of warm spice, just like him, and covered her body down to her knees almost. She stopped to pick up a pair of shorts that she’d tossed earlier when they returned to the apartment.
She found her sister in the large bathroom staring at her reflection. Her eyes moved when she saw her sister walk in behind her. “Good morning, Rach.”
She wrapped her arms around her sister from behind. “Good morning. How’s your junior year of high school going so far?”
“It’s only the second week. So far, so good though.”
Addy smoothed her hair down with her brush and her cheeks blushed. “Is Dylan coming again today? He was here until late last night, and he stayed up with me, even when Mom and Dad went to bed.”
The hopeful look in her sister’s eyes worried her. Dylan was only doing what Sam ordered him to do, which was protect Addy and kill any hellhounds he found. Dylan had talked about killing several. She wasn’t sure if they attacked the house, or it was just too convenient for him to pass up. It all gave her little sister the wrong impression though. She didn’t want to see her sister hurt when the job was done and Dylan left.
“Yes, he will be,” she answered slowly.
Addy’s face lit up in joy and she returned to scrutinizing her face.
“Addy, listen to me. He is far too old for you. You are setting yourself up for embarrassment and heartbreak.”
“He is not. He looks like he’s maybe twenty-five at the most. I’m going to be seventeen. That’s only eight years. Mom and Dad have tons of friends with a bigger age difference than that.”
She closed her eyes. “Addy, they weren’t child and adult when they met.”
“I’m not a child! I will be an adult in a little over a year.”
“I know, and you feel like you’re all grown up, but Dylan isn’t the man for you.”
Disappointment filled Addy’s eyes and she regretted being the one to put that there. “I’m sorry. Addy, you have so much life to live yet. Go and have fun. Trust me, Dylan is boring. He works all the time and then he goes home and watches football.”
Sighing, Addy stood up. “If you say so, but he likes me.” Her voice lost the hopeful pitch it had just moments ago. “I gotta go. The bus will be here in a few minutes.”
“Bye.” Rachel hugged her sister and watched from the front window as she ran up the long driveway toward the road.
She didn’t know what she would do about Addy. She’d have to have Devon or Kieran talk to Dylan and warn him that her little sister had a full-blown crush on him. While Addy would never actively chase a guy, her feelings could get crushed if he accidentally led her on, and then he up and left.
She’d worry about it later. For now, there was a bed with her two mates that was calling to her.
* * * *
Hours later, she woke up once again with a much hotter breeze coming through. “It’s so hot,” she whined and crawled out of bed to shut the window and turn the air conditioning on.
When she came back to the bed, Devon was propped up on one elbow. The white linen sheet was pulled up to his chest, and he looked like some sort of model for bed sheets. Most women would flock to the store to buy the sheets he advertised, Rachel thought with a smile.
“Come here.” Devon had that note of command in his tone that she couldn’t resist. Her pussy melted at the way his lips firmed and his eyes smoldered as she walked toward the bed.
“Y
es?” Rachel’s peripheral vision picked up Kieran also sitting up.
“We have the matter of your punishment to still deal with. Now that your sister is out of the house and your parents are busy working, I trust no one will get an education they don’t need.”
The air left Rachel’s lungs. They were going to punish her? Anticipation and worry mixed, bringing her body to a hum that almost vibrated within her. “What are you going to do with me?”
“I saw some furniture out in the living and dining area that may come in handy.” Kieran’s gaze met hers. “Strip, sweetheart.”
Warm nectar coated her soft petals as she saw the lust in their eyes. This may be a punishment, but she knew they would never hurt her.
Once she stood before them nude, Devon smiled wide. “Good girl. Now walk into the living room and bend over the recliner with your arms draped over the back.”
She walked out to the hall and then into the living room. She found the leather recliner slightly reclined but then he kept the footrest folded. She set her knees on the seat of the chair and pressed her bare chest against the back. When Devon situated her, the way he wanted, with her bare ass high up for them to slap or fuck as they pleased.
Smooth rope circled her wrists and he tied her securely in place.
“Rachel,” Devon said as she heard him pace on the wooden floor. “Why are you getting punished today?”
“Because you wish it, Sir,” Rachel said, thankful she remembered to put in that Sir now that they were playing. He’d never said playtime, but she wanted to cover all the bases.
“And because you enjoy it. I will also be able to add a lesson in communication though. Win, win if you ask me.” His face became more serious. “You broke the rules about talking things out after saying your safe word. You ran instead of trusting us.”
She let her head sink into the soft leather. “I’m sorry.”
Devon sighed. “There were circumstances that made this the perfect storm for a misunderstanding. I am taking that into consideration. Still, I think a good spanking will be cathartic for you.”
She flinched when she felt Devon’s hand rest on hers. His hand stroked her thighs and buttocks in a soft caress. After a few moments, he stepped away and she heard his hand moving through the air, and something hard and unyielding hit her on the ass. She let out a surprised squeal and she jerked in her bindings. She looked up to see his reflection in the front window. He held a wooden paddle raised high in his hand. He brought it down hard and it hit her ass once again in a loud whack. She blinked. Is that supposed to hurt?
“No, love. I am just warming you up.”
She gasped. “You heard that?” God, she knew he could, she just never expected him to read her thoughts like that.
“You were broadcasting. I overheard, I didn’t actually pierce the veil of your mind to invade your thoughts.”
She shook her head. She’d never get used to being married to men who could tell how she was feeling and hear what she was thinking. The slightly stinging swats kept on and she was nearly lulled to sleep. She thought this was supposed to be a punishment. What did it say about her that she was disappointed? This was kid stuff she could do to herself. That was an idea. She’d get one of her mom’s wooden spoons and swat her own ass.
Whack! “Ow!” Rachel screamed and then moaned as the unexpected hard smack actually rocked her. Her ass was still burning when, whack, whack, whack.
She pulled and twisted as she tried to escape the heat of each smack on her tender flesh.
Kieran had done a much better job of restraining her than she thought. No matter how she twisted or turned, she couldn’t escape as the stinging whacks peppered her ass.
Tears fell from her eyes and she struggled against the restraints. “Stop!” she screamed. “That hurts!”
Devon didn’t stop, but the blows got harder and hurt even more. A sob escaped her throat and soon the dam let loose. Her heart broke for the woman she witnessed Mortef torture and kill. For some reason that one girl’s face was always there. Her terrified eyes as she cried for her mom. The accusation was always there, you did this. You’re evil.
The ropes vanished, and a split second after Devon started pulling her free, Kieran said, “She’s done.” Devon seemed to know without any extra empathy senses when she’d had enough. When the spanking reached the peak it needed for her to have a cathartic release.
Then Devon and Kieran surrounded her in a protective layer of their hot flesh. They stroked her tenderly as they held her in the safety of their Vampire embrace.
“It’s not your fault, love. You were just as helpless as she was. What could you have done to save her when you couldn’t even save yourself?”
A storm of raging emotions churned in Rachel’s heart that had built all these months. All the fear of what Mortef had left in her, and the guilt of watching a young woman just starting her life die so horribly. The fear of what everyone would do and say if they knew. It all rushed out like water from a ruptured dam.
Slowly, as the afternoon passed, the maelstrom started to ease and she was left feeling spent and strangely at peace. Her wet eyelashes blinked as she watched two butterflies flutter outside the window. They were two beautiful pink butterflies, and it almost felt like it was a sign sent at that precise moment. The young women didn’t blame her. They were free from the pain Mortef inflicted on them, and she deserved to go on with her life without the guilt that was never her responsibility to bear.
“Go and get her medicine Yerel sent with us.”
Moments later, she took the offered glass and somehow choked down the evil brew. Like last night, her turbulent emotions calmed. The pain was still there, she doubted that would ever truly pass, but the overpowering feeling that she was guilty for Mortef’s heinous crimes vanished. While she still hurt, the mind crushing pain was easing. For the first time in months, she sat up straight and had the clear thought, it wasn’t my fault. I’m not bad at all.
* * * *
“Kieran and I need to go into Paris today to meet with a Vampire on the council.” Devon stroked her hair as he watched her eat.
“Why?”
“I have to meet with one of the Vampire council members. He is traveling back from Italy and agreed to make a stop so I can speak with him about Mortef.”
“Can I go? He won’t see me as a threat, right?”
Devon sighed. “While he isn’t a threat, he isn’t a friend either. Most of the council misses the days where we ruled the night. Lycans grew stronger, whether by evolution or God, and many have hated humans and Lycans since.”
“But they can’t do much about it, right.”
“Yep. I am sure they hate me, as well, now. I worked with the packs. As I see it, they turned their backs on me when they turned a blind eye to my uncle murdering my father and then stealing my rightful place. They are not stupid. They know what he did.”
She put her hand on his arm. She couldn’t imagine the betrayal he must feel. An uncle was supposed to be like a second father, not someone plotting to kill you.
“Anyways. Solan can’t turn a blind eye to Mortef summoning a demon. That is an abomination, even to the Vampire council. I will give him all the information I have, and they will be forced to act.”
“I hope they take care of the demons then. I don’t want to hear it, but I would like to browse through their shops. I love those little tourist traps. My mom and dad are heading to the fair in Ft. Worth, Matt is off with his new girlfriend for a long weekend, and Addy won’t be home till late. I don’t want to sit home alone.”
Devon smiled. “Of course you can come. I do not expect any trouble.”
She laughed as her anxiety rose. Weren’t those the famous last words?
* * * *
The sun had set by the time Devon finished his meeting with Solan, and she got some supper at the restaurant in the airport. One of Devon’s soldiers, Raeff, joined them as Kieran kept her company in the shops and restaurant.
Raeff kept throwing nervous glances around as they looked through one store.
“What’s with the jitters?” Kieran asked.
Rachel glanced around. She hadn’t noticed Raeff acting particularly nervous, but then she wasn’t an empath that sensed emotions the same way she could smell what was cooking for supper.
“I don’t like this. I don’t trust that rat bastard.”
“Devon?” Rachel was stunned Raeff would feel that way, and yet stay around. He’d been helping out guarding the ranches at night. Not just her parents’ ranch, but the neighbors’ ranches, as well.
“No.” Raeff rolled his eyes. “Solan. I don’t care if he is some ancient bigwig. I don’t trust him. He knew all the shit, sorry for the language,” he said, giving an apologetic nod to Rachel. “He knew what Mortef was up to for over fifty years, and he did nothing.”
Worry etched on Kieran’s face as deep as it rooted in Rachel’s heart. “Do you think he will do anything? Maybe you should go with Devon.”
Both Vampires shook their heads in the negative. “He is too much of a weasel to ever act outright. I just don’t like this one bit.”
Devon appeared and while his face was grim, he was unharmed. Rachel breathed a sigh of relief.
“How’d it go?” Kieran raised an eyebrow at him as he stood ready to fight if need be.
“Waste of time. I got the usual bullshit from him that the council usually gives. ‘You must have misunderstood. Mortef’s ways may seem harsh, but he has your best interest at heart.’” Devon mimicked the old vampire with a hint of disgust. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” He appeared beyond frustrated and he put an arm around Rachel to guide her toward the exit.
They were almost to the car when the night suddenly felt deathly calm. A cold feeling that she hadn’t felt since the terrible night Mortef held her captive fell over her.
“Mortef!” Devon hissed.
Raeff and Kieran formed a wall of muscle around Rachel and Devon stared straight ahead and bared his fangs.
Vampires' Embrace [Southern Supernatural Alphas] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Page 17