by Brenda Trim
“I’ll show you screaming, wench. Come here,” he ordered. His fangs ached to sink into her flesh.
“Not on your life, blood-sucker. I’m not done yet,” she countered and sucked him back into the hot, wet cavern of her mouth.
“Fuuuuck,” he whispered. He wouldn’t dream of asking her to stop what she was doing right now. She enjoyed giving him pleasure and her orange-vanilla scent filled the room. She wanted him and that thought alone had him wanting to stop her so he could reciprocate.
When he tried to pull back, her hands reached around and clutched his ass. She pulled him tight and continued sucking and licking him. He reached down and pushed her bra from her breasts, exposing her nipples. He pinched and pulled the peaks and was rewarded by the vibration of her moans. His spine tingled and his balls drew up tight, signaling his orgasm was close.
Her hand left his ass to tease his perineum, sending him over the edge. He bit his tongue to hold back his shout as his climax barreled down on him. His seed shot down her throat and she swallowed greedily, giving him the most exquisite pleasure he’d ever known.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Shae Mitchell sat huddled in her own filth, holding onto the tattered ends of her hope. It had been too long since that human female had found them and promised to return with help. If she had to guess she’d say it had been weeks, if not, months. It was difficult to tell with no way to signify the passing of time. For all she knew, the female never made it out of this hell-hole.
She glanced at the cage on her right that was crowded with the other females. She missed the companionship. It wasn’t just about having other bodies near to warm her on cold nights. She was isolated and alone in more ways than one. She had forced herself to detach from those around her when the demons had moved her weeks ago.
She crawled to the bars and grabbed onto the cold metal, surprised she felt the temperature difference. As a vampire, she was able to regulate her body temperature, but since the archdemons had bitten her, she hadn’t felt much. And, with each successive bite, she felt less and less like herself. Once a peaceful vampire, she had become capable of such violent acts, it made her skin crawl.
She would give anything to go back to the night she had been kidnapped when she was leaving work. She had been no one important, a teller at a Tehrex Realm bank that was run by Dante Tresean, the Cambion Lord. She was walking to her car when she had been hit over the head and her wrists bound with silver. At first, she thought they were after money, but when they teleported her away from the scene, she knew she was in trouble. She had no idea how much trouble until they arrived in a dank, dark location and a handsome archdemon sank his fangs into her neck.
She had never felt pain as intense as his venom burning through her veins. Everyone in the Tehrex Realm knew about the stories of skirm bites and how they left lasting wounds and scars, but there were none about what she had experienced. The demon’s bite was very different from that of one of his minions.
Once she had managed to stop writhing, she noticed several changes. She had always had superb vision, but now she saw the world in infrared. That was disconcerting enough, but then her heart rate had slowed and remained slow no matter how frightened or angry she was. Adrenaline would dump into her system, but have no effect on her heart. She was also much stronger than before, but what was most disturbing to her was her temper.
She was on a hair trigger and each time those vile creatures came in and bit her, it became worse. She had fought it as long as she could, but ultimately, she had no choice. She had been bitten at least a dozen times, if not more, and had to be isolated from the other females shortly after she started attacking the others. She had no idea why she did it. At times, she was able to fight the urge and others she felt like someone else was in the driver’s seat. The more they deprived her of blood, the more violent she became.
Shae tensed as she sensed a creature approaching. She flared her nostrils and aside from the urine, feces, and body odor, she was overwhelmed by the smell of lower demons. Apparently, the abnormally large and grotesque archdemon, Kadir, was bringing lesser demons to earth. A lot of lesser demons. She had no idea how they had opened portals from the hell realm to earth and wondered if her King was aware of this breech.
She watched as a hellhound entered their room. He walked up to her cage and she bared her fangs, hissing at the creature. When it stood there she lunged at the bars and tried to sink her claws into its leathery hide. It danced out of her grasp, keeping an eye on her as it prowled toward the other cages. She began screaming as it pawed the group of a dozen terrified females. The dogs and other lesser demons taunted them several times a day. At first, she hadn’t understood why, but then she realized they seemed to grow bigger and stronger as their anger increased.
She stopped her tirade and focused on the other cage, trying to soothe the females. “Shhh, it’s going to be okay. Zander and the Dark Warriors will come for us,” she reassured even though she didn’t believe it herself.
Tears streamed down their faces, leaving tracks in the dirt. They hadn’t been allowed showers, or any water, for that matter, since their capture. They had no toilets or clothing, leaving them stripped of all dignity. Humans were thrown into the cages for them to feed from. Initially, she and the other females had tried not to drain the humans, but with each successive bite from the archdemons, leaving their meals alive became impossible. In the end, their uncontrollable bloodlust had won out.
She could hear the city above them and had wondered if they were in Underground Seattle. She doubted the demons would set up shop in the midst of a major tourist attraction, yet everything she had seen made her think that was exactly where they were. She had lived through the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and recalled the burnt mess downtown had become. She noticed that the room where they were kept, as well, as the fight arena was charred in places.
A noise caught her attention and she braced for what she knew was coming. She strode to the front of her cage, ready to face whatever it was and save the other females from further harm. She would die trying to save as many as she could.
The deceptively good-looking archdemon, Azazel, entered and looked them over. Shae couldn’t suppress the bile that rose in her throat at the sight of him. Or the hatred.
“Ah, my lovelies. How are we this evening?” He licked his lips voraciously, never taking his eyes from her.
“What do you want?” she spat, despising that he could enrage her so easily. She would try to maintain her calm demeanor, but that easy-going vampire she used to be was dead and gone.
“Always the same question, Shae. I’ll give you a hint, seeing as you are becoming my greatest creation yet. You are the key to the downfall of the Tehrex Realm and Lucifer’s freedom. Once I have control over your mind, you will retrieve the Triskele Amulet for us.”
“Over my dead body,” she vowed. She refused to be the reason Lucifer was let loose to wreak havoc on earth, but she couldn’t ignore the ripple of foreboding that raised the hair on the back of her neck.
“That is where you are wrong. It is only a matter of time before I break you, Shae. And, I have nothing but time,” he cajoled. His good looks and soft voice were deceptive.
She didn’t want to take his bait and told herself to ignore him, but as usual, her mouth got the better of her. “I will rip your head from your body before you ever get control of me. And, I will relish every second of your pain and misery. Why don’t you come in here and test me?” she challenged.
His attention was solely on her and she was okay with that, even when she saw the rage flash through his eyes. Nothing good ever happened when he became angry, but she’d take her chances. Suddenly, Azazel disappeared and she braced herself for what was to come. She crouched and took a fighting stance, waiting for him to reappear.
Before she was able to react, her wrists were trapped at her sides by two powerful arms and the feel of the archdemon pressed against her back had her fighting with everything she had. She
thrashed in his hold and tried to head-butt him. He held her easily and evaded her maneuvers, infuriating her. She kicked and bit, but made no progress. The press of his erection into her backside stopped her cold. He was enjoying what he was doing to her and she’d be damned if she gave him any more pleasure.
He tsked her and spoke into her ear. “You think to deny me? I don’t think so, lovely Shae,” he murmured before he brutally sank his fangs into the side of her scarred throat. She fought the tears threatening to escape as his venom entered her system. He groaned, climaxing on her back and one tear slid down her cheek.
He would die by her hands, she swore, even if it was the last thing she did.
*****
Gerrick gaped at Angus, unsure of what he was talking about. Sure, the male had often quietly added his bit of advice, and invariably, it was the answer they had needed, but he wasn’t sure why the majordomo believed he had any answers regarding Kyran’s disappearance.
Gerrick recalled the day Angus had come to them nearly two centuries before. It was before they had built their current home and it had been completely unexpected. He had approached Zander one fall afternoon and informed him that their household was vulnerable. He proceeded to explain to Zander that his servants needed someone to oversee them, and, in a matter of minutes, pointed out no less than three weak spots in their perimeter protections. From that moment on, they came to trust the dragon shifter and he had done nothing to make them doubt him since. In fact, Angus had continued to earn their loyalty and trust and had saved their asses during countless battles.
Gerrick watched as Angus entered the war room and set down the platter of food he was holding. He stood tall and held the same quiet confidence they had all come to respect. Zander sat forward and placed his arms on the table, meeting Angus’ pale green gaze.
“What exactly do you mean, Angus? What do you know aboot Kyran’s disappearance and that portal?” Zander demanded, not hiding his impatience.
“Before I can explain that, I need to tell you my story. Understand this was something I put behind me years ago. I didna think it would be part of my life again. That being said, I am no’ exactly who you think I am. I come from the Khoth Realm,” Angus said as he sat in one of the leather chairs around the conference table, capturing their undivided attention. “Khoth is the home realm to my people, the Cuelebre, and I was King for many centuries. I fled after Kiera, the female who was to be my queen, was lost to me millennia ago. As you can imagine, I was despondent.” Angus sat back and crossed his ankle over his knee.
Gerrick rubbed the scar on his face. Angus’ words were a poignant reminder of everything he had lost. Three hundred years ago he had found his Fated Mate, only to lose her to skirm. Despite the fact that he was a time-tracer, Gerrick had been helpless to save her. He was limited to traveling back in time ten minutes and by the time he had arrived, she had already been murdered. The scar he bore across his face was the consequence for using his power, but he’d have borne a thousand scars to be able to save her.
“You are the King of your people?” Zander asked, incredulous. Gerrick whipped his head around in utter shock. The thought was surprising, but also made sense to Gerrick. Angus had never been your average majordomo, and now he knew why.
“Aye, I am.” Angus appeared and sounded calm, but Gerrick could tell by the twitch of his fingers the male was far from calm.
“What led you to the Tehrex Realm? And, why havena you returned to your home?”
“Like the archdemons and skirm are your enemy, the Buggane are the enemy of the Cuelebre,” Angus continued. “I suspected they had taken Kiera to break me and I became a male possessed, refusing to accept defeat. I did things I am no’ proud of and when I caught wind that she had been sent through the portal to your realm, I jumped through withoot thought. I didna consider the consequences. With my departure, the portal closed. I searched high and low for Keira, but wasna able to find her. It took me centuries to get control of my rage and grief and by then there was no going back. That is when I came to you. I had to make what remained of my life mean something. There isna a day that I doona think of my fair Keira, but I have accepted what I canna change,” Angus confided.
Gerrick understood all too well wanting meaning in his life. He joined the Dark Warriors for vengeance, nothing as lofty as helping others. He had vowed to protect the weak and innocent until his dying breath, so maybe that counted for something.
“Och, Angus. Why didna you tell me sooner?” Zander asked. “I would have helped you look for your mate.”
“I didna tell you because I doona want your pity.”
“You said you never found her. She could still be out there, Angus,” Elsie replied, hopefully.
“I appreciate the thought, lass, but I doona believe she is. I would have felt her before now,” Angus explained. “I’m no’ telling you this to revisit the pain of my past. I’m telling you this because the night Kyran disappeared I felt the signature of my home realm. As King of Khoth I am connected to the land and all of its magic. Withoot a doubt, the portal he slipped through was to my home.”
“Is there a chance he is still alive? What will he encounter there?” Zander ran his hands through his long, black hair. Something had happened to cause animosity between the brothers before Kyran had disappeared, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore. Zander was fraught with worry for Kyran.
“I havena been back for so long that I canna say for sure. I can only assume that the Buggane continue to strip the land. My second in command, Legette, was my most capable Máahes and if he has managed to fend off the Buggane, then Kyran will be welcomed by my people. We are the Guardians of Khoth and despite the fact that I left withoot imbuing the power of the King onto Legette, I have no doubt he has fought tooth and nail to protect the land.”
“Bluidy hell,” Zander muttered. “And, if Legette has failed?”
“Then Kyran will find himself in hostile territory. The Buggane are ruthless ogres,” Angus shared.
“Is the portal still open?” Gerrick asked. He’d go in there guns blazing and rescue Kyran and the human.
“Nay. The portal opened for a brief time and I havena sensed its power since Kyran disappeared.”
“As King, can you reopen the portal?” Zander inquired, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Angus.
“I doubt it. I have tried many times in the spot where I entered this realm, but have never been successful.”
“Did you come through in Seattle?” Elsie asked as she leaned over and grabbed one of the croissants Angus had brought in.
“Nay. I came through in the Calanais stone circle in Scotland,” Angus replied, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. Gerrick had never seen the male have one drop of alcohol and knew his nerves must be shot.
“Do you know why it opened?” Zander took a long draft of his beer.
“I have no idea what activated it. In Khoth, the King is tied to the land and its people by magic. It reopening makes no sense withoot me present. Perhaps, ‘tis the work of the Gods.”
“It might be pointless, but I want you to go with Bhric and Gerrick to Mack’s house and try to reopen the portal,” Zander ordered.
Gerrick looked at their majordomo and nearly winced at the pain in his eyes. Whatever the outcome, this wasn’t going to be pleasant for the male.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Mack was weary clear to her bones and ready to fall out, but needed to take stock in case they had to suddenly leave again. She tucked her knife into her backpack and checked their water supply. They were out and hadn’t refilled at Nate’s house before fleeing. Thankfully, she had eaten enough because they were out of food, as well.
She watched Kyran pull his boots on and was amazed at how relaxed the guy was now. Then again, an explosive orgasm would do that to you. She hadn’t been able to stop him when he insisted on reciprocating, not that she tried all that hard. She didn’t think there was a woman alive who could resist Kyran. Not only was he sexy as sin, he
was gruff, obscene and confident, but she found those qualities irresistible in him. She was way too independent to have some guy fawning all over her and following her around like a lost puppy.
Right now, she wished she had some of those vampire abilities of mind-reading because Kyran was a mystery and she would love to know what was going on inside of his head. Kyran had told her she was his Fated Mate and that they were made for each other, and, that was all fine and good when they were on a deserted island, but would she fit into his way of life when they returned home? She would never allow him to do some of the things he had described, and yet, she knew a man like him needed to dominate, and apparently, inflict pain, as well. She wasn’t submissive and he couldn’t live without her blood, so could they find common ground? The only thing she knew with any certainty was that getting home was going to be the easy part.
She put up her defenses, refusing to get caught up in him. Yeah right, her mind told her, you are as caught up as they come.
“I’m going to the bathroom and then check on the women. We’re out of water and I need to refill these bottles,” she said, breaking the silence.
“You’re too nice,” he protested.
“Maybe, but I’m going.” She made her way to the bathroom and the light went on automatically when she entered. She shut the door behind her, silently staring at herself in the mirror. Her hair was flat to her head, her face was flushed, and she had no make-up on. Her lips were red and swollen and her eyes were bright. She barely recognized herself.
She refused to think about what had caused the glow. She barely restrained her hormones when she was close to Kyran and thinking of what they’d done would only make her want more. It would be so easy to forget the fact that they were trapped in a realm and being hunted by dragons and indulge in her every fantasy with Kyran.
She shook her head and turned on the faucet. She splashed cold water on her face then filled her bottles. She relieved her full bladder and left the stall. She went to the kitchen area, opened the small refrigerator and grabbed the lunches that were there.