Wicked Dreams [The Wicked] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Copper Cole

  “At least tell me your name.”

  “My name is Eli, and I’m—”

  With a gasp, she realized the flashes in her head a few moments ago were of him. “You’re a vampire, a warrior, and I’m one of you.”

  Chapter Two

  Eli glanced at Genevieve, her eyes finally returning to the bright hazel they were meant to be. When the headache hit her, he watched her eyes turn an opaque white. A signal she had had a vision. He worried her abilities would kill her before the change could be completed. Her human form wouldn’t be capable of handling the powers of the Seer. At any moment she could have a stroke, an aneurism, or any number of medical catastrophes. He knew he had to get her to the Generals as quickly as possible.

  “Tell me what’s happening!” Genevieve demanded, tears brimming in her eyes.

  “You’ll learn everything you need to know in time, Genevieve.”

  “No, you tell me now.”

  “I’ll give you the CliffsNotes. You’re a very powerful and important part of the vampire race. You have the ability to see the future—”

  “Wait, vampire race? I can see the future? This is a dream. It has to be, otherwise I’m going insane.” She pinched herself. “Nope, not a dream—so I’m insane then. It’s the headaches isn’t it? That’s why I’m losing my fucking mind?”

  “You’re not crazy. The headaches are a side effect of your abilities, and if I don’t get you to the Generals right now, you’ll die.”

  “The Generals?”

  “The elders, so to speak, of my kind. They’ve been around for a very long time.”

  “So, you expect me to believe in vampires? Yeah, I think I like the insanity option better.”

  “This is very real, Genevieve, and you are in very real danger. Not only from power your body can’t handle, but the Fallen are after you.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to hear about what a Fallen is.”

  Eli ground his teeth together, gripped the steering wheel so hard it creaked under the pressure. Genevieve was hardheaded, and if he didn’t get to the compound quickly, he may very well go insane.

  “The Fallen are evil. The thing you saw at the club was one of them.”

  “The bald man with the freaky white skin? He didn’t look so tough. I probably could’ve taken him—”

  “No, you really couldn’t have. Make no mistake. They look weak and frail, but they are very dangerous. The Fallen will stop at nothing to get their hands on you. They want the power within you. When you change and come into your powers, you won’t be able to hear them.” He tapped his temple. “You’ll sense them, but that’s it. They have no souls, so you can’t hear them.”

  “What change? What are you talking about?”

  “You said it yourself, Genevieve, you’re one of us. You just weren’t born a vampire. You have to be changed. It’s part of your heritage.”

  “And how will this change come about?” The sarcasm in her voice rang loud and clear.

  Eli tapped the steering wheel as he contemplated how to tell her the process. He decided to keep it to himself for the moment.

  “You’ll learn all you need to learn shortly.”

  He drove east. Thankfully she didn’t ask any more questions. All the information she needed to know raged through his mind. He didn’t understand why she couldn’t just hear it for herself. Obviously, her powers weren’t as advanced as he thought they were. Either way, the Fallen knew what she was, and they were after her. The safest place for Genevieve was the compound where the Generals lived.

  Finally, he reached the gates, placed his index finger on the scanner, and waited until the gate opened. As Eli drove down the winding drive, he saw Genevieve out of the corner of his eye wringing her hands in her lap. She should’ve been freaking the fuck out. Instead, she just looked mildly uncertain. He assumed a part of her knew this was inevitable. No matter how much she denied the existence of vampires and other things that go bump in the night, the dormant part of her soul, the vampire side of her, eased the fear away.

  He got out, walked around to the passenger side, and opened her door. He dropped his head with a grunt of frustration as she just sat there, arms crossed. Just as he got ready to toss her over his shoulder and haul her inside, Sophia, one of the Generals, spoke from behind him.

  “Let her be, Eli.”

  He turned, bowed, and moved aside with a sweep of his arm. Sophia, the oldest of the Generals, had hair the color of the sun, and eyes the color of the sky. One would think the Generals would strut around in robes or armor. No, Sophia wore a pair of skinny jeans and a pink tank top. Her hair was pulled up into a sloppy bun sitting slightly crooked atop her head.

  Sophia knelt down next to the car, placing a gentle hand on Genevieve’s forearm. “I know this is overwhelming, but Genevieve, we’ve waited centuries for you. You’ll be safe here. Your Guardian will be here soon.”

  Eli stiffened at that. He had no idea why he cared that the Guardian had been chosen, but he did. Her Guardian would be her ultimate protector, friend, or whatever she needed him to be. The Guardian would play an intricate role in her transformation. Eli shook his hands out, trying to get rid of the feeling brewing inside him.

  “Am I a prisoner? What’s a Guardian?”

  Eli could feel the anger bubbling up inside of Genevieve. For some reason he could feel everything she felt.

  “No, not a prisoner. You have no idea how precious you truly are to us all,” Sophia said.

  * * * *

  Genevieve sighed. Overwhelmed didn’t even come close to how she felt. She looked at the beautiful woman kneeling next to her.

  “Who are you?” Genevieve asked.

  “I am Sophia, a General.”

  “You don’t look like a General.”

  “Genevieve! You shouldn’t speak like that to her—” Eli snapped.

  “It’s all right, Eli. She isn’t accustomed to our traditions,” Sophia said with a lilting laugh as she practically glided toward the door of the building.

  It was a massive, looming structure that would turn just about anyone away. However, Genevieve felt a sense of peace wash over her as she moved closer toward the door. She felt, for the first time in a very long time, that she’d come home. Everything that had happened in the last few weeks, the increasingly painful headaches, the strange and erotic dreams she had about her dark angel, who she could now be certain were of Eli, felt as though it was all leading her somewhere. Everything should’ve freaked her out, should have put her in the nuthouse. She wasn’t freaked out, though. For once in her meaningless life, she felt as though she belonged.

  “Your life isn’t meaningless,” Eli said from behind her.

  “How did you—” Genevieve started to ask, but stopped because of the sudden reappearance of Sophia, a blur of speed and frenzied eyes.

  “Did you hear her?” Sophia asked urgently to Eli. He didn’t answer. “Did you hear her, warrior?”

  Genevieve took a step back when Sophia asked the second time. Her voice held true power that echoed loudly. Genevieve watched in amazement as the giant of a man bowed deep to Sophia’s much smaller form.

  “Yes, General, I heard her thoughts.”

  Genevieve watched as Sophia’s mouth hung open slightly, and for a brief moment a pained look crossed her face. Genevieve didn’t understand what the big deal could be. She figured tapping into other people’s minds had been some weird vampire power. Suddenly, she was assaulted with thoughts from Sophia and the others who’d come outside. She grabbed her head as visions flashed. She stumbled backward, expecting to hit the ground.

  “I got you.” A deep, sensual voice spoke into her ear. Eli.

  He lifted her into his arms, the voices and pain ebbing immediately the closer he held her.

  “It doesn’t hurt as bad when I’m in your arms,” Genevieve told him, curling up against his massive chest.

  “She’s progressed much too quickly for her human mind to handle. We must start her transformation.
” Genevieve didn’t know who said it.

  She didn’t understand why she felt okay about all this. She should be running and screaming for the hills, not curling up in the arms of a vampire.

  * * * *

  Eli watched, for the second time tonight, Genevieve’s eyes go from white to hazel. He could see the artery in her temple throb with the pressure in her brain. A trickle of blood ran from her nose down her lip. He reached into her mind and eased her to sleep. She’d need her rest if the transformation was to happen so soon.

  “Do you not know why you can hear her? Or why your mere presence eases her pain?” Josiah, another General, asked as he moved a strand of hair away from Genevieve’s face.

  They all looked at her like she was the most important thing in the universe. As Eli gazed down at her, he realized he felt the same way. There wasn’t a single thing in the world he wouldn’t do for her. The pull he’d felt for her before was nothing compared to what he felt now.

  “You, Eli, are her true mate,” Sophia said, with a hint of something in her voice Eli couldn’t recognize.

  Eli nearly dropped Genevieve when Sophia’s words sank into his mind. He was a warrior who knew nothing of love or being mated. He looked from Genevieve to Sophia and back again, still not completely comprehending what the hell was going on. He looked to his left and saw Asa walking toward him.

  “Let me take her while you get your head together.”

  As Eli passed her from his arms to Asa’s, he felt an immediate emptiness. When he pulled his hands away and broke the last physical connection, she woke up with a scream, grasping her head. Blood came out of her ears and nose. He grabbed her again, pulling her so tightly against him he feared he’d crush her. A menacing growl rippled out of him as everyone tried to get to her. He knew they were only trying to help, but some part of him snapped when she screamed. Some deep part of him he’d never known existed lashed out and vowed to protect Genevieve.

  “Come, Eli, bring her inside,” Josiah said with a sweep of his arm toward the door.

  Eli carried her inside and to the closest room. He wouldn’t risk separating himself from her again. He sat down and cradled her to him, his watchful eyes sweeping the room for anything that could harm her.

  “Just give me a minute to talk to him,” he heard Asa say from behind him.

  A moment later, the doors closed to the room they were in, and Asa stood in front of him. Eli never paid any attention to all the folklore about the Seer. He knew one had existed many, many centuries ago but had been murdered by the Fallen. Other than that, he really didn’t know that much about the Seer. Up until Genevieve dove into his soul, all he’d cared about had been killing the Fallen, protecting the Generals, and the sanctity of the vampire race.

  “Eli, this is some serious shit, my man,” Asa said, leaning against the table in front of Eli. “How much do you know about this?”

  Asa was nearly six hundred years old and had witnessed firsthand what the loss of the Seer did to the race. If anyone knew about all this, it would be him.

  “Other than the original Seer got murdered by the Fallen, not much.”

  “Oh, hell.” Asa scratched the back of his neck. “Eli, you’re a part of her now, not half as much as you’ll be after the transformation, but still, you are hers. Separate, you are both strong fighters, but together you are nearly unstoppable. You’re the only one that can transform her—”

  “Not the only one,” Eli interrupted bitterly.

  “If you want to save her, you have to do it.”

  “Do you know who the Guardian is?” Eli asked through gritted teeth. He’d do what he had to do as long as the Guardian wasn’t—

  “Kota,” Asa said.

  “Motherfucker!”

  “Yeah, I figured that’d be your reaction.”

  The one son of a bitch Eli couldn’t stand was about to become one of the most important beings in Genevieve’s life.

  “The Fates hate me! That’s the only reason he’d be her Guardian.”

  Eli looked down at Genevieve again, her skin pale, dark circles under her eyes. He ran his thumb across her top lip, clearing it of blood.

  “Eli, I hardly think the Fates hate you, considering who you are to her. Despite your beef with him, you know he’s the best option. There isn’t a shifter out there more powerful than him.”

  Eli knew Asa to be right. Kota was the best option. He didn’t have to like it, though. Before he could dwell on how much he hated the fact he’d have to share her with Kota, he heard a howl outside so haunting it made the hairs on Eli’s neck stand on end.

  The snarl that ripped out of Eli would be enough to let everyone know how he really felt about all this. The howls continued to pierce the air, getting closer until the doors burst open, and then, standing there before Eli was a gray wolf with glowing yellow eyes trained only on Genevieve. The wolf paced back and forth in short, choppy strides.

  Suddenly, an icy cold gust of wind tore through the entire compound. The ground trembled and groaned. The wolf stopped pacing and lifted his muzzle to the air as a fierce wail ripped through the air. The sound was so loud, Eli had no choice but to release Genevieve and cover his ears. Her limp body slid to the ground at the wolf’s feet. The pressure in the room was so heavy, Eli felt as though he’d be crushed. Windows shattered, and a crack formed in the Sheetrock of the wall.

  Eli and Asa both fell to their knees as the wolf let out another howl. Eli tried to reach for Genevieve, but he couldn’t move. He watched as the wolf quieted, Genevieve’s eyes opened, and the blood that had been slowly seeping from her nose and ears stopped, disappearing completely. She sat up, her eyes back to the white of the Seer, reaching her hand out and placing it on the wolf’s large neck.

  “You are my Guardian. You are Kota, and you will protect me from any and all harm.” Genevieve spoke, but her voice echoed, sounding distorted.

  Eli looked on, stunned, as the wolf transformed into his human form, into Kota. He had long, black hair down to the middle of his back, tanned skin, sharp features, and deep-set eyes the color of coal.

  “I am your Guardian, and I will protect you with my life,” Kota said, reaching out and placing his hand on the side of her face.

  Seeing him touch her so tenderly turned Eli’s insides into a raging inferno. He moved toward them to pull her away, but Asa grabbed him and pulled him back.

  “You can’t interrupt the bond, Eli,” Asa shouted. The wind still ripped through the room as if they were in the middle of a hurricane. “He’ll kill you if you touch her now.”

  Eli’s fierce stare landed on Kota, watching the way his eyes bored into Genevieve’s, how his hand brought the color back to her cheeks. He hated the fact Kota could heal her physically. As little as he knew about the Seer, he did know Kota was the only one who could do that for her, who could heal her with a single touch. As much as he hated Kota, he’d be grateful to have him around should any physical harm ever come to her, like her transformation.

  Suddenly, Eli felt himself being pulled toward Genevieve, like his body was moving on its own accord. He looked at Asa.

  “Don’t fight it. The bond will tell you what to do.”

  So, Eli let go of his resistance to the whole thing. He put his uncertainty aside about being her mate, and about Kota being her Guardian. He let the pull he felt toward her guide him. He moved to kneel behind her. Not knowing why, he placed his hand on the opposite side of her face that Kota touched. Eli felt his entire being hum with some unknown feeling, like he’d been heated from the inside out. His cock twitched, and his fangs punched down violently as some strange tasting fluid dripped from the tips. A bright, white light shot out of Genevieve and straight through Eli and Kota, jolting them both.

  Eli had never felt fear before, but suddenly, he felt absolute terror for what he was about to do.

  “You won’t hurt me, Eli,” Genevieve said, her voice still strangely distorted.

  She hadn’t looked away from Kota, nor had
his gaze strayed from her. Normally, Eli would’ve excused himself so the very obvious sexual tension could be alleviated. However, he felt as much a part of this as Genevieve and Kota were.

  With a fierce strike, Eli sank his fangs into her neck. He bit deeply and drank her sultry blood as fast as he could. He’d never had human blood before, but he knew it wouldn’t make him feel like this. He’d never felt stronger, never felt as though he could take on anyone or anything. Her blood was the most powerful thing he’d ever ingested. His eyes flew open, and when he looked up, he met Kota’s hard stare. Their eyes never broke contact as Eli continued to drink from her. He didn’t know what the strange liquid was that filled his mouth just before he struck, but whatever it had been, he knew it entered her body.

  Somehow, he knew when to stop. He sensed it just before he took too much of her blood. He pulled his fangs out of her flesh, licking the remaining blood away with a slow sweep of his tongue. Genevieve’s body fell limply into Kota’s arms. Eli wanted so badly to pull her to him, to keep her from harm, but despite what his head wanted, his body moved away.

  He watched as Kota took her into his arms and lowered his head to hers. Eli let out a low growl as Kota’s lips met Genevieve’s. Eli hated every single second of it, but his hands were tied, and he could do nothing about it. His body literally couldn’t move forward, and no matter how badly he wanted to rip Kota’s head off his body, he couldn’t. Eli fought against whatever held him in place. He tried to move left, then right, to charge forward or jump over it. Nothing worked. He simply had no option but to watch as Kota’s lips moved over Genevieve’s.

  Eli sagged with relief as Kota pulled back slightly. When Kota exhaled a breath, a soft glow emanated from his mouth into Genevieve’s. Her color, which had been considerably paler after Eli had bitten her, returned to a healthy shade.

  Chapter Three

  Kota lifted his head as Genevieve slowly opened her eyes. He already felt her power growing, felt her vampire side pushing its way out. When her eyes returned to their normal hazel color, they were brighter, nearly glowing with radiance. Kota had waited his entire life for this, for the chance to be a Guardian. Fulfilling his destiny and protecting the Seer was the only thing that had ever mattered to him. The Ancients always told him there would never be a Seer in Kota’s lifetime. He always knew they were wrong. He felt it, deep down in his soul.