She shook her head and unzipped the front of her spacesuit. “I think I’d die before I drank from someone who wasn’t my true mate.”
Joseff’s mouth twisted in fatalistic amusement. “I know you would.” He said softly. The woman was the last of the vampires’ noblest bloodline. She would never lower herself to accept less than she deserved. “You won’t die, though. I will find you human blood if I have to…” He trailed off as she stepped out of the plastic coveralls and began unbuttoning her blouse. “What are you doing?”
“Take a wild guess.” Her smile was pure invitation.
He swallowed as her shirt hit the floor and she started unfastening her jeans. “You wish me to pleasure you?” Joseff didn’t care how out-of-the-blue the offer or how bad the timing, he would gladly die for the privilege of touching her again. “Untie me first.” He moved his wrist, rattling the chain.
“Not quite what I had in mind.” Her bra joined the rest of her clothes and she smiled like a temptress. “I’m tired of you screwing things up, so we’re doing this my way. Ask me to pleasure you, Joseff.”
His eyebrows drew together. Females were the only ones who could make that demand. He could say the words, but Darcy wouldn’t feel the need to comply. This was a trick. A way to humiliate him. He knew it.
…And still, when she slipped off her underwear and stood before him naked, he found himself whispering, “Please.”
She moved closer to him, topaz eyes bright with mischief. “Please what? You’re the king, Joseff. Even chained to a wall. Order me.”
His heart beat faster. “So you can laugh at my need?”
“Aren’t I worth the risk?”
She was worth anything.
“Pleasure me, Darcia.” He said quietly and braced himself for rejection.
Instead, graceful hands with those mind-blowing red tips began unfastening his belt. “Of course, sire.”
For a second, Joseff couldn’t fathom it. He just stood there in stunned silence as she sank to her knees. She was really going to touch someone like him? When she could have anyone…?
“Darcy.” Joseff’s eyes went wide with shock as her mouth touched his skin. He’d fantasized about this so many times. He couldn’t believe it was actually happening. Her lush lips wrapped around him and he thought he would die of pleasure.
His hands twisted in the shackles, the iron cutting into his skin. Being tied just amplified the sensation. His hips instinctively moved wanting to get even deeper, but he couldn’t touch her. He couldn’t do anything except surrender to Darcy’s wicked beautiful mouth.
Joseff’s head fell back in ecstasy. She felt better than anything he could possibly imagine. And God how he’d imagined… He tried to focus on the top of her dark head, memorizing this moment, but it was hard to do anything but feel.
“I love your taste.” She licked her way up the length of him and gave a hum of pleasure. “Mine.” She sucked him harder and Joseff’s whole body arched.
“Yours.” He panted. “Fuck, Darcy. I am completely yours. I always have been.”
Darcy lifted her eyes to his. “I know.” She said simply and shifted her head. Sharp little teeth scrapped along his thigh and everything inside of him froze.
She wouldn’t.
She just said she would die before drinking from a man who was unworthy.
“What are you doing?” He whispered.
“Biting you.” Her voice was warm and sure. “Waiting any longer seems like a bad idea, given your propensity to be a dumbass. The mark will be here forever, reminding you who you belong to. It won’t hurt a bit.” She moved one of her hands to brush the brand high on the inside of her leg. “I’m very attached to mine.”
Was she tricking him? Joseff tried to think. “Wait.”
Darcy hesitated, her golden gaze suddenly unsure. “You don’t want my mark?”
His heart turned over at the small question. Darcy was serious about this. He could see it on her face. His throat was suddenly too tight to speak.
The brief hesitation surprised her. For the first time in all the years he’d known her, Darcy looked vulnerable. “But, Joseff, we’re supposed to be together. It’s always been you. Do you not love me…?”
Joseff cut off that insanity. “Neck.” He got out. “Bite my neck.”
Her eyes cleared and she slowly grinned at that idea. “Everyone will see it.” She warned.
“I want everyone to see it.”
She slowly stood up. “Okay, but, believe me, there are benefits to having the bite just for your mate’s viewing. I know mine burns hot when I think of you and it’s in a delightfully tingling spot.”
Darcy had just called him her mate.
Joseff’s brain short-circuited. He didn’t consciously think about moving. He just wrenched the shackles free off the wall and grabbed her. The chains were still dangling around his wrists as he dragged her to the ground and pushed her thighs apart.
She beamed up at him, delighted that he ripped free of iron bindings to get to her. “Baby, you are the king.” Her palm came up to touch his bruised face. “Pleasure me.”
Joseff couldn’t get inside of her fast enough. He braced himself above her, happier than he’d ever been. “I love you.”
“I know.” Darcy’s legs wrapped around his waist, her hands pulling his pants further down so he could thrust deep. Her body closed around his like she’d been made for him and she gave a sound of pure lust. “Joseff.”
“Mine.” His hand found the marking he’d left on her skin, and he somehow grew even harder. “You are my mate, Darcia.”
“God do I know.” Darcy whimpered as he stretched her to the core. “I’ve always known. What took you so long to figure it out, you moron?”
It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.
Joseff’s fingers traced the brand he’d left on her, his eyes squeezing shut. He was twice her size, pinning her beneath him, and he’d just ripped solid iron from a concrete wall. It didn’t matter. The woman was still in complete control. She always had been. Anyone else he could fight, but with Darcy he was utterly helpless.
“I have loved you forever.” He said hoarsely. “I would gladly choose death before I tasted another.”
“I know.” She leaned up, her hot breath on his throat. “Also, I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you from me, so I’m not worried.” Her fangs sank into his flesh and Joseff gave a bellow of triumph.
“Yes!” His body pistoned inside of his mate. “That’s it, my love. Take what you need.” His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her head against him. “Take all of me. I’m all yours.”
She made a mewling sound of pleasure, her bite wild and deep. Joseff fucking loved it. The savage marking would leave no doubt that she’d taken his blood in a fit of passion. The thought of others seeing it, and knowing that she belonged to him, sent Joseff over the edge. The tight walls of her sheath milked him, while her lips drank from his neck, and it was the best moment of his life.
“Darcy!” He felt her body contracting, signaling her own release, and then he was lost in bliss.
“I love you.” Darcy breathed into his ear.
Joseff the Unconquered kissed her temple and knew he’d just won his greatest victory. “I know.”
Chapter Thirteen
Bright side to the zombie apocalypse:
Don’t worry. You prepped for this by watching every season of Supernatural.
Mostly for the angel, sure. But, there were almost defiantly a couple of episodes with zombies.
Zeke found the rest of the pack by the slot machines.
The humans had arranged a series of iron cages around the casino floor and all of them were filled with supernatural creatures. The area was being used as some kind of holding area, although he wasn’t sure what they were holding them for. Three guards milled around, keeping watch and harassing the caged beings like they were animals in a zoo.
Four guards if you counted Zeke.
He walk
ed down the row of goblins, and sirens, and witches, his eyes finally falling on Powell. The shifter looked like he’d been beaten with a club, but he was still breathing. Glancing around, Zeke saw that the rest of the pack was alive, too.
He’d told Cale that they were too mean to die.
His pack-mates recognized Zeke even through the plastic suit. He could tell by the way their eyes sharpened and their smiles stretched. Shit. That probably meant they were going to want to talk to him. He didn’t have time for this. He needed to find Scotlyn. She was the only thing she cared about.
Powell’s lavender gaze gleamed and he slowly stood up in his cage. He was a big guy, with a crew cut and a goatee. Next to Brewer, he was the oldest Macready, a fact he used to try and keep the rest of them in line. “Well, maybe you’re not such a pussy, after all, Z.”
Zeke rolled his eyes, even as he forced himself to stop by the cage door. He really didn’t have time for this. “Hey!” He called, turning to the other guards. It seemed like the quickest solution. “This one’s trying to escape!”
“Oh come on.” Powell muttered, as the humans came hurrying closer. “You have to help us out here. We’re part of your pack.”
Zeke slanted him a frustrated glare. It was amazing how willing shifters were to forget the “every man for himself” dictate when they were the ones being abandoned. Worst part was… Powell had a point. Social Darwinism sucked and Zeke wanted no part of it. He’d been a jackass earlier when he voted to leave the rest of the shifters to die. Apparently, Scotlyn had been right all along. The end of the world was a good time to start helping people.
He had to save the pack… No matter how damn annoying they were.
“At least, give me a gun.” Powell hissed.
“I need my gun.” Zeke raised it as the humans hurried down the aisle. Sometimes it paid to be a Black Hat. They weren’t expecting one of their own to open fire, so it was a turkey shoot. Three quick shots and the guards fell to the balloon-printed carpet. None of them even had time to go for their weapons. Brewer would be proud.
A cheer went up from the supernatural prisoners.
“Damn.” Powell said. “I can’t believe how stupid humans are.”
“Captured your ass pretty easy, though, didn’t they?” Zeke went over to grab the keys off the closest guard. “Here.” He tossed them to Powell through the bars. “Get out of here. Take the others with you.” He began stripping the uniform off the smallest dead guy. He’d need it for Scotlyn as soon as he got her back. And he was going to get her back. “Don’t even think about leaving anyone behind, either.”
“There are vampires locked up in here.” Powell got the cage door open and scowled in outrage. “You want me to save them?”
“Get everyone.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Just do it.” Zeke ordered. “And hurry. More humans will be coming.” The casino was huge, but there seemed to be a lot of white suited lunatics roaming around. He passed out the other two sets of keys to the closest prisoners and raised his voice. “I’m looking for my mate.” He got to his feet, haphazardly folding the stolen suit in his arms. “Strawberry blonde. Smells like summertime. Probably trying to boss around some really dangerous people.”
“Lars has that woman.” A nearby fairy volunteered. Her wings brushed the top of the cage. “They’re in the arcade.” She pointed to the left. “Be careful. The humans seem to know a lot more than they should about us.”
The arcade. Right. That explained the skee-ball.
Zeke would’ve known that if his brain wasn’t on fire with panic and his body wasn’t shutting down from pain. He had to focus. Scotlyn was all that mattered to him.
“Hey.” Powell called as Zeke headed off. “We’re going to the Grand Canyon. Seems like a good spot to lay low for a while. It’s like five million acres of nothing.”
“I’m going to South America.” Zeke retorted. “You wanna tag along, fine.”
“Fuck that.” Powell scoffed. “I haven’t left the US since the US became the US. Ain’t gonna start now. You do what you want, but tell Cale to meet us in Arizona.”
“Tell him yourself. He’ll be in South America. With me.” Iasia was their best bet for survival and Caleb was going to survive. That meant Cale was staying glued to Zeke’s side, whether he liked it or not.
“You’re still a dickhead, Z.” Powell shouted.
“I’ll miss you, too. Send postcards.” Zeke kept walking. “And do me a favor and try to keep your escape from this joint subtle.”
A sign on the wall said “arcade” and pointed to the stairs. He took the steps three at a time as he headed up. At the top, he found an entire room filled with videogames and pinball machines. Funhouse mirrors lined the walls, giving the whole space a sense of unreality. The paint was a rainbow of neon colors and garish stripes. This was the place.
It was all exactly how he’d seen it through Scotlyn’s eyes.
“Scottie!” He should probably be a little more inconspicuous, but he was beyond caring. Zeke began tearing through the blinking, chirping, flashing games. “Scotlyn!” He desperately scanned around for her. She had to be alive. Had to…
“Zeke.”
It was barely a sound, but it just about drove him to his knees. His head snapped around, zeroing in on her voice. “Scotlyn.” He headed for her at a run. “Goddamn it.”
She was strapped down to a medical table, while blood was drained from her arm into a plastic bag. Given the pallor of her skin, she must have lost a gallon of it, so it was a wonder she could still open her eyes. But somehow her green gaze fixed on him and she gave a ghost of a smile. “You’re here. For once, I’m glad you never listen to me.”
A blond human stood between her pale body and Zeke. He pointed a gun Zeke. “You don’t understand.” His eyes were crazed. “It’s for science.”
Zeke didn’t consciously move. He just somehow found himself across the room, his palm wrapped around the human’s esophagus. The man gave a panicked scream as Zeke pinned him against the wall. Zeke heard the gun discharge, but it missed. Even if the bullet had hit him, he wouldn’t have felt it. All he knew was white hot rage and the feel of the man’s neck as he prepared to snap it.
“Don’t.” Scotlyn sat up as far as the bindings on her hands and feet would allow. “Don’t kill him.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“I can fix this.” The human croaked out. “Just hear me out. I know how to fix it.”
“Fix torturing my mate?” Zeke slammed his skull against the hideous paint. “I already know exactly how to fix that, asshole. It involves you losing every major organ in your body.” The guy made a gurgling sound as Zeke lifted him off the ground by his throat, cutting off his oxygen supply.
“Zeke. Please.” Scotlyn’s voice was even fainter, the effort to move exhausting her.
She was about to pass out.
“Shit.” He dropped the human and the guy crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Zeke barely noticed. He hurried over to yank the needle from Scotlyn’s arm. “Scottie?” He began untying her. “Baby? Stay with me.”
She struggled to focus on his face. “I thought you were nobody’s hero.” She said hazily.
Zeke gave a laugh that was at least partially a sob. “So did I.” Touching her again was more than he could’ve hoped for. “You alright?”
She gave a listless nod.
“You don’t understand what’s happening here.” The human rasped. “We need her blood. It’s the only way.” He started to stagger to his feet.
“Move towards her and I will kill you.” Zeke told him flatly, his attention still on Scotlyn. He carefully sat her up and started putting the plastic uniform on her limp form. “We gotta go, Trix. You with me?”
“Always.”
“She’s an angel.” The human continued. “A miracle. When she was bitten by the zombie, it started turning her.”
“She’s not a fucking zombie!”
“I know.
Because then she was bitten by a shape shifter. By you, I suppose.” He waved a hand at Zeke. “When that Change started, it fought back against the zombie bite. Supernatural creatures are protected, but there was enough time for the zombie virus to take hold within her. Enough time that her body had to create antibodies against the virus as she became a shifter. It’s all there in her blood.”
Zeke’s brows drew together, trying to make sense of that gibberish. “Her blood is the cure for zombie-ism? That’s what you’re saying?”
“No. Nothing can cure the zombies. But, with her antibodies, I can inoculate the humans who are still living. Her blood can fix things. I can make a vaccine against the virus.”
“You’re not going to be alive to make anything.”
Scotlyn swallowed. “Let him try.” She got out. “Let him try to save who’s left.”
“They only need to be saved because of him. You said so yourself.”
“I know. But, now he’s the only one who can do this. Maybe he can make up for some of the damage.”
“In science, we learn from miscalculations.” The human nodded like he really believed that bullshit. “That’s why you need to leave the woman here with me. I can do so much good with her. You have no idea how important she is.”
“Oh yes I do.” Scotlyn was the most important thing in his entire world. His person. His mate. Zeke zipped up her suit. “Make your inoculation with the blood you already stole, because that’s all you’re getting.”
“But, there is so much more I might discover…”
“I don’t care.” Zeke lifted her into his arms. “Be glad she’s nicer than I am, because I don’t also care about protecting the surviving humans. I still want you dead.”
“I’m not that nice.” Scotlyn murmured. She reached over grab a video camera off a table as Zeke carried her passed. She deliberately smashed it against the ground.
“No!” The human screeched like he’d just lost the one thing he cared about. He fell to his knees beside the shattered bits of plastic, his eyes filling with tears. “My journals… My history… Fifteen years… What have you done?!”
Love in the Time of Zombies Page 18