by Susan Bliler
Bellis canted his head as he studied her. She was holding something back, and Monroe was oblivious to it. He would be. He didn’t know Sam, not the way Bellis did. “What?” he demanded. “What aren’t you saying?”
Monroe jerked his attention to Sam as his eyes narrowed. The Dominant studied her intently, and just the merest flex of her fingers told Bellis that Sam was uncomfortable under the scrutiny.
“Say it!” he commanded.
She licked her lips and took a deep breath, holding it a moment before staring straight at Monroe. “I think I can get a Walker inside with me.”
Monroe’s brows hiked to his hairline while Bellis’ speared into a frown.
“Do tell.” Monroe reclined back in his chair, elbows resting on the armrests of his chair while his fingers steepled over his chest.
“Odium knows of Walkers. He knows of Keepers. He’s certain other…creatures exist.”
Monroe didn’t even blink.
Sam turned to look at Bellis. “I can convince them that he’s a demon.”
Bellis barked a laugh, his incredulous eyes tracking from Sam to Monroe. He sobered when he saw the look on Monroe’s face. “You can’t seriously be entertaining this,” Bellis growled, before turning back to Sam. “Is this a trap? You trying to set me up?”
Emotion flicked across her features before she masked it, but not quickly enough. He’d wounded her with the accusation. “Sam…”
Her attention went back to Monroe. “He looks nothing like a Skin Walker, not the ones they’ve seen. He doesn’t even resemble a Keeper. He is like nothing they’ve ever seen.”
“They’ll know he works for me. Won’t they have seen him in their…rescue attempt?”
“They believe demons, like them, are born bad.” She jerked her chin toward Bellis. “He’s my ticket outta here, my way back in. I’ll say he turned on you all and helped me escape.”
“And what’s to keep them from simply killing him?” Monroe countered.
“The same thing that kept you from killing me. Information. They’ll know he has insight into your Estate, your numbers, your goals.”
Lowering his hands, Monroe sat straighter in his chair. “Could this work?”
She gave a curt nod. “Only…”
Both Monroe and Bellis asked in unison, “What?”
Swallowing hard, Sam turned again to look at Bellis. Her eyes slowly lowered to his throat. “You’ll need to get rid of that.”
Bellis’ hand lifted to clamp around his halo. “Princess, this comes off for one reason and one reason alone.”
She pulled her gaze back to Monroe. “Then it won’t work. They’ll know the second they see it. They collect halos.”
Contemplative eyes slid to Bellis, and Monroe offered, “We could put it in the safe.”
Bellis snapped, “No! You know what happens,” he accused angrily. “I’d be compromised.” His hand lifted to fist his halo again. “This goes on a female, or it stays on me. Period!”
Sam shook her head sadly. “Then it can’t work. They know only Walkers or their Angels wear halos. I’d never be able to convince them.” She sighed dejectedly, and it drew Bellis’ attention back to her. “Maybe a Keeper,” she offered. “Rohm would be perfect; he looks different enough, but they already know him. I’ll need to meet the other Keepers. See if…”
Her words faded to background noise as Bellis watched her. Her lips moved as she tried to convince Monroe that she might be able to get the perfect looking Keeper into Odium’s hive. Monroe was engrossed in her words, but Bellis’ thoughts were on Sam going into Odium’s hive with a Keeper who didn’t know Sam like he did. Would a Keeper sacrifice his life to protect Sam from the Megalya? Would a Keeper be patient enough, smart enough, to follow Sam’s lead? One of their own had been taken. A few Keepers had been injured, and Bellis’ experience with them was that they were highly emotional creatures. Volatile.
His eyes tracked down Sam’s frame in that sexy fucking suit she wore. Skintight, shiny black, leaving nothing to the imagination, it hugged each curve lovingly from ankle to high on her neck. His eyes lingered there.
“It’s decided.”
Monroe’s declaration drew him from his appraisal.
“I’ll get Fatal to assemble his Keepers and we’ll go from there.”
The fuck we will! Bellis was already moving. Three quick steps, one hand lifting to rip off his halo, and then he was on Sam. She turned startled eyes to him, and when he lifted his halo and she caught sight of it, her mouth fell open and she jerked back. Too late. His free arm clamped around her waist, pulling her into him even as her hands planted on his chest and shoved. Good! It left her throat exposed. Thrusting his halo forward, it clamped around Sam’s throat with a high-pitched whine and a blinding flash of ethereal light. Her eyes rounded, she gasped, and then her body went lax with unconsciousness, and holy fuck! His gut tightened and his spine tingled. Hell, he’d nearly come just from collaring her. His breathing was harsh, his already elongated incisors extending further, and feral possessiveness filled him. When he turned to eye Monroe, the Dominant was grinning. Fucker!
Bellis bent and swept Sam up into his arms.
“This is a better plan,” Monroe offered calmly. “Her suit will hide your halo, you won’t be depleted by it sitting on a shelf somewhere, and the Megalya will have no proof that you’re one of us as long as we can hide that brand on your throat.” Bellis had nearly forgotten that a Skin Walker’s halo branded the Walker upon removal. He hadn’t even felt it, still didn’t. No, the only thing he felt was a visceral need to fully claim the unconscious female in his arms. He’d collared her with his halo, and his inner beasts didn’t understand. They now believed she was his, affliction or not. This was going to be hard to undo later.
“She’ll be pissed when she wakes.” Monroe jerked his chin toward Sam. “Take her and clai…” He cleared his throat. “Calm her. When you’re both ready to come back, we’ll meet with Commander Drago to formulate a plan of action.”
When Bellis turned toward the door, Monroe shot at his back an amused, “Good luck.”
Chapter 26
Sam woke slowly. Experience taught her to ignore the discomfort that plagued her. Hell, she didn’t even swallow to relieve the sandpapery feel in her throat. No, she kept her breathing steady as she listened and took stock of her body. Where was she? What had happened?
StoneCrow. She remembered she’d been speaking with Monroe, and Bellis was there. Bellis had shot down her plan, and then…
Sam’s eyes flew open. Darkness met her, but that wasn’t her concern. Her hand flew to her throat and there, beneath the smooth fabric of her suit, she felt a hard object circling her throat. No! Sitting up, she swayed and had to plant a hand at her hip while the other pulled on the halo. It didn’t budge and panic seized her. She pulled harder.
“It doesn’t come off, Princess.”
Her head jerked up to where Bellis’ deep voice spoke from the corner.
“Not unless I want it to.”
“I didn’t mean for you to put it on me!” she forced out. The words sounded pained, and they were. She needed a drink of water something fierce.
The shadow in the corner moved, and it never ceased to amaze her how terrifyingly beautiful Bellis was. He melted out of the darkness, the neon-blue pinpoints of his eyes visible first before she saw the flash of his sharp white teeth as he directed, “Drink this.”
She didn’t even see the glass he held until he was mere steps in front of her.
Typically, she’d fight him, but right now she was so damn thirsty she didn’t care what it was he was offering her. She took the glass with shaky hands and drank most of it down before stopping to cough.
“Easy, Angel.”
Sam’s head snapped up. “Don’t call me that! Don’t ever fucking call me that!”
He flashed a grin. “Seems my little Devil doesn’t like endearments.”
“I’m not your anything, Demon. Remember that!”
She turned and dropped her feet off the bed, but they didn’t reach the floor and she realized it was a med bed. She knew she had to be in StoneCrow’s infirmary. “And take this halo off me, now!”
Bellis shrugged, but otherwise didn’t move. “It was your idea.”
“I said it needed to come off! I didn’t say it needed to go on me! Put it in Monroe’s safe, put it back on, or shove it up your ass, I don’t care, but it is coming off me!”
Crossing his arms, Bellis watched her with clear amusement etched in his features. “A Walker’s halo is either on him or a female. If it sits on a shelf, or in a safe, then the Walker will become diminished. We can’t risk that, not where we’re going.”
“Fine!” Sam snapped. “Find another female!”
He shook his head. “It’s not coming off, Samantha. Not until I want it off.”
“And if Odium sees it?” She struggled to her feet where she swayed. When Bellis dropped his arms, and crossed to steady her, she shoved his hands aside. “What then?”
Expression gone hard, Bellis fisted his hands. “I’m sure you know what happens then, which is why I’m certain you’ll keep it covered and keep that prick from seeing it.”
Sam turned, wanting to get away from him, but didn’t know where to go. “Why am I here?” she gritted out.
He shrugged. “Jenny needed more blood.”
Incredulity flooded her voice. “You let that bitch poke and prod me while I was unconscious?”
His expression darkened. “Don’t call names, and yes. I let her take a blood sample, but I was right here, watching over you.”
“Why?” Sam’s anger was boiling now. “What is she looking for?”
“Since you won’t tell her, she’s trying to find out what you are.”
“I don’t know what the fuck I am! The scientists called me in for my periodic examination. They were just supposed to check my health, ensure I was still viable for when they were ready to attempt with me what failed on Odium and the others. They lied! They put me out, and when I woke up I felt different. They’d done something and wouldn’t tell me what. They still haven’t told me. It’s one of the reasons they want me back so badly. I’m one of their pet projects. A success with whatever in the hell it is they’d tried to do.”
“You couldn’t ask your brother?”
Sam shot him a look. “Don’t call him that. He’s Odium. My brother’s dead! And no. I never told him what they did to me. He doesn’t know I’m different.”
“So, let Jenny help you. She’s excellent at what she does, and…”
“And maybe I fucking would if someone would give me a choice in it instead of always just taking, taking, taking! She couldn’t wait until I woke up to ask?” Sam was overreacting, maybe, but it seemed that even now with Monroe’s backing, Bellis and the rest of the Skin Walkers were still treating her like an outsider, a traitor. The way Bellis had scoffed at her plan had been, well, hurtful. She’d devised a plan to get him inside. Something Monroe had been wanting for years was for Sam to get one of his Walker males into the Hive, and the second she offered it, Bellis had accused her of laying a trap. So the fact that he’d collared her with his halo was not only confusing, but infuriating, and just another thing done without her permission.
Bellis stilled. “You’re right. We should have waited. Should have asked.”
Dark Demon Motherfucker, she didn’t want him agreeing with her right now! It was easier to be angry when he was being stern, bossy, broody. “You don’t even trust me,” she snapped. “This can’t work. I can’t take you into the Hive and have you question my every move. You’re going to get me killed. I want this halo off, I’ll find someone else to work with.”
“Nah,” he shook his head with a knowing grin, crossing those thick-ass arms over his broad chest. “You’ve been planning this. You’ve thought it out, and when you devised this scheme, it was me you were hoping to work with.” He canted his head to study her. “When did you decide you could trust me, Sam?”
Rolling her eyes, she gave a feminine snort. “Listen to you. Hope? Trust! Who in the hell do you think you’re talking to? Christ, if your mistrust doesn’t get you killed, your naivety will.”
“Wait!” He uncrossed his arms. “Let me get this straight. I should trust you, but should do so knowing that you’re never going to trust me?”
Sam’s eyes thinned to slits as her temper flared. “Why do you have to be so damn difficult all the time? I’m just looking for someone to charge headlong into battle with me. I’m not looking for promises, or pretty words. I’m never going to vow my allegiance to you, but I will try my best to keep you alive. That is all I’m asking for in return.”
“And why me, Princess?” His smile was mocking. “Of all the Walkers, and all the Keepers, you formulated this plan with me in mind. Why is that?”
Sam felt heat singe high on her cheekbones, and she hated it. She hated any visible flare of emotion that wasn’t anger or hate. For a moment she considered taunting him, tossing the implication back in his face, because it was obvious he believed she’d chosen him because she favored him. That belief needed to be dispelled now. “For some reason, you’re the only one I can drink from. I’m blaming that on you until Jenny tells me otherwise.”
“So, you chose me because I’m your lunch?”
“He’s going to hurt me, Demon.” And there it was, the truth, and that nickname he despised so much. Time for her to give him one huge shove. “I’ll be punished for being caught.”
Bellis’ arms uncrossed and the amused expression slipped from his face to be replaced by dark fury.
“You said there’d be a reckoning, and you’re right, but it won’t be from Fatal. Odium is going to make an example of me.” Her lips sealed closed, jaw ticking a second as she struggled to keep any trace of emotion from peeking through. “I’m going to need help recovering, and I won’t be able to seduce one of the other monsters into allowing me to drink from them while they take what they want from me, because now their blood can’t sate me.”
She watched as Bellis’ expression darkened further, but it couldn’t be helped. So what if the truth stung.
“No one is going to lay a fucking finger on yo…”
“YES!” Sam yelled. “He is! And you’re going to have to keep your damn mouth shut and watch!”
He was in her face in two long strides, hands gripping her arms as he pulled her hard into him. “THE HELL I WILL!”
“If you want in, you will!” She blinked up at him, her eyes gone hard. “He can’t kill me. He won’t. But he’ll bleed me, and you need to act like it’s a normal fucking Tuesday. You can’t react, can’t interfere. Hell, it’d be best if you laughed or made a joke or,” she swallowed hard. “Joined in.”
His voice was fraught with refusal as he shook his head for emphasis. “Samantha...”
She shrugged and stepped back out of his hold, giving him her back as she turned away. She considered telling him about Odium’s psyblade, but that could wait. It’d be easier for him to see it in action than for her to try and explain it. “It won’t be the first time. I’ve survived this before.” Behind her she heard a hiss, and when she looked over her shoulder, Bellis head was bent back, his eyes closed as his hands fisted his hair.
“I don’t want to hear this.”
“Better you hear it now so you know what to expect.”
Slowly, he lowered his head, sad eyes locked on hers. “I don’t…I don’t think I can do this.”
A humorless laugh chuffed from her as she lifted a hand to the halo around her throat. “Then take this off so I can find someone who can.”
For long minutes they stood staring at each other, Sam wishing she had Skin Walker or Keeper senses. Right now, she’d give anything to scent the emotions she knew were filling the room as Bellis expression morphed from sad to imploring to angry.
Sam’s voice was soft when she prodded, “Take the halo off.”
At her words, his lips thinned into a d
etermined line. She knew this Bellis. This was the stubborn as hell, get his way, won’t back down an inch Skin Walker assassin.
“I’m in.”
“No complaints,” she commanded. “You can’t attempt to save me from him.”
Bellis looked toward the wall and chuckled, a humorless sound. “Yeah. I’m just gonna watch him hurt you.”
“You have to. It’s that, or get us both killed.”
Suddenly, his eyes went soft and he begged, “Fuuuck, Samantha?”
“Huh-uh.” She shook her head. “From this moment on, until we’re back out, no more emotion. None! And you call me human, and you say it like it’s a curse.”
Hands fisting, eyes going hard, jaw flexing, and nostrils flaring, Sam couldn’t tell if Bellis was taking her direction or contemplating killing her.
Chapter 27
Getting back into the Hive had been easy. Too damn easy, and it had Sam on edge as her hand gripped the rungs of the metal ladder that would lead her and Bellis down into the sewers of Billings. He’d been horrified that the Hive location was so close to StoneCrow. She’d explained that they’d known for some time that the Skin Walker home base was in Montana, but the actual location of StoneCrow hadn’t been divulged to the Megalya until days before the attack. By the time she’d found out, she only had mere minutes to warn Monroe. Apex and the North Fortress had been a concern for Bellis, but she assured him that, as of the date he’d kidnapped her, neither Odium nor any other Megalya knew either location. Apex and the North Fortress were secure…for now.
Twice on their way through the tunnels, Bellis had gripped her arm and had tried to go ahead of her until finally she stopped to hiss, “What in the fuck are you doing? A demon wouldn’t care to go first. He’d want me to test the waters, be the bait. Stop. Being. A fucking. Hero! You’re a demon, remember?” Her eyes pinched nearly closed as she let venom drip from her voice. “Act like it!”
Turning, she quickened her pace. It was best if it didn’t seem like she and Bellis were trying to sneak back into the Hive, so Sam threw her shoulders back, lifted her head and made zero attempt at keeping their approach silent. After a few yards. and when no one approached, she started whistling and swinging her arms as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Behind her she knew Bellis was tense, she could feel worry pouring off him and she knew it was for her. Stupid bastard…sweet bastard!