QUINTUS

by Kym Grosso

  “Ah yeah, that’s it. Don’t stop, don’t stop,” she cried.

  Her orgasm slammed into her as he relentlessly licked over her clit, his fingers buried deep inside her. Rippling waves of energy flickered through every cell in her body.

  “Quintus.” The faint call for her lover whispered from her lips. Gabriella shivered, a roll of ecstasy flowing through her. This vampire is my mate. The words floated through her mind as she heaved for breath.

  As he rose above her, her legs fell open, welcoming him. His lips brushed her hip, a trail of kisses peppered over her abdomen. When he raised his gaze to meet hers, Gabriella’s heart caught. His intense gaze bored into her soul. She knew once the bond was complete, she’d spend eternity with this man.

  “The first time you gave me your blood, you healed me,” he said, dragging his tongue over her skin, his lips grazing her ear. “And tonight I give my blood to you.”

  Her beast roused, howling in pursuit of her mate. Mine. The wolf paced, itching to shift.

  “Ahh…” Gabriella squirmed, her core brushing the thick crown of his cock. Her channel ached in anticipation.

  “You’re mine, Gabby? Si?”

  The question rocked her, but the answer lay true in her mind. She belonged to him. Accepting fate, Gabriella claimed the vampire she craved.

  “Yes…yes. I want this.” She bared her throat in submission.

  “You belong to me, bella. Now and forever.” Quintus’ fangs dropped.

  Gabriella’s skin blossomed in gooseflesh as her vampire hovered the sharp points of his teeth over her neck. Her breath became ragged as she pleaded. “Please, Quintus. I’m yours.”

  She cried out loud as his fangs sliced into her flesh, his thick cock thrusting inside her pussy. Her wolf growled, giving her power to take her mate. She dug her fingernails into his back as he rocked in and out of her tight channel. A braid of their magick twisted through the air as he made love to her, drawing her essence.

  Her gums ached as she released the fangs of her beast. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she accepted every long inch of him as he slammed into her, stretching her open for his pleasure. He slowed, grinding his pelvis against hers and stroked her clit.

  “My vampire,” she claimed, biting into his flesh.

  Quintus grunted as her fangs broke his skin. “Ah fuck….Jesus, yes…Gabby.”

  Gabriella swallowed his blood, his pure magick enveloping her as her hips bucked wildly to meet his. She shuddered as her climax rushed at her. Taking a final deep draw of his blood, she released him, surrendering as she came. Quintus funneled his fingers into her hair, capturing her mouth. She moaned, tasting the mix of their blood on her tongue and reveled in the passion of his kiss.

  Tears streamed from her eyes, emotion pouring from her soul. Her life would never be the same, she knew. She willingly accepted the bonding, their hearts and minds intertwining as one. The Goddess had put forth her wishes, destiny predetermined.

  As he rolled onto his back, and gently removed himself, she rested her head on his chest, clutching his arm. She’d never told another soul she loved them. To do so would’ve made her vulnerable. Yet Quintus was an unexpected rush, a game changer. She’d have to trust him, trust herself, that she’d given herself a gift. Her wolf howled in approval, her mate finally in her arms.

  Gabriella floated in the comfort of his loving thoughts. As she drifted off to sleep, she smiled, bonded to her mate forever.

  Chapter Eleven

  Quintus’ mind raced. In thousands of years of his existence, he’d never felt more alive. Connected to another being, his heart pounded in his chest. Gabriella was his, forever more. Her power hummed in his body, her energy like a lightning bolt. Dangerous and beautiful, she matched his lethal nature.

  She mewled, and wrapped a leg over his. He inhaled, smiling as he nuzzled his nose into her hair. She smelled of sweet honeysuckle and the dash of her white magick tingled over her skin. Gabriella’s hair spilled over her shoulder, revealing an intricate design on her skin. My mark. Quintus’ heart squeezed as he held her tiny hand in his, drawing circles onto her palm. He never thought he’d allow another woman into his heart, yet as he brushed his lips to her forehead, his soul craved hers.

  His thoughts drifted to Mao. There would have been no way he could have completed the bond with Gabriella had she been who she said she was. At best, the woman Absinthe had presented was merely a shell of Mao, her spirit long dead. At worst, the dark magick he detected belonged to that of a demon, once masquerading as his former lover. Regardless, he planned to bring her back to the witch who found her.

  The creak of the door opening broke his contemplation, and his eyes went to Hunter. No words needed to be spoken. The Alpha knew they’d mated, had watched but left them in privacy to go dress. Hunter gave him a silent nod and padded across the room to the sofa. He quietly lay back on it, his feet propped in the air.

  Quintus speculated they could rest a few hours before flying back to New Orleans. It was only a matter of time before Lilitu found them again. He suspected that not only could the bone kill her, it could bring down the entire coven, so she’d come for them soon. While Gabriella didn’t know how to use the artifact, Quintus was certain they’d find answers in New Orleans.

  Fucking Ilsbeth, he inwardly cursed. The New Orleans’ high priestess had been the most feared and powerful witch in the country before her accident. But the last time he’d seen her, she’d lost her mind, disassociating herself from her former name and life.

  Quintus prayed like hell Samantha could provide guidance and help them kill Lilitu. Although she was rumored to be powerful, she didn’t have much experience. Spells, both white and dark magick, were passed through the lineage of witches. Because Samantha was bonded to a vampire, sired through him, Quintus trusted her more than he’d ever be capable of with Absinthe.

  As he closed his eyes, Quintus relaxed into the embrace of his little wolf. For but a few hours they’d safely rest, then they’d make their way to the Crescent City. They’d bring the bone of the first witch to New Orleans and find the spell. In the meantime, Quintus swore his life to protect his mate.

  “Stop messing around, Viktor,” Quintus told his brother over the phone. He stood and walked to the back of the private jet, keeping his voice low.

  “I’m not fucking around. I don’t know how the bitch got out. I did as you asked. Put her in one of the holding cells at the club,” Viktor said, exhaustion in his voice.

  “Are you sure she’s not there?” His blood pressure rose, a tick in his temple. “Maybe she’s just hiding or something.”

  “Sorry, she’s gone.”

  “She’s a pixiu. Or at least she was. They’ve got rare powers. It’s possible she could’ve used demon magick to escape. Or maybe one got in to help her.”

  “Or stole her back. Who the fuck knows? I’m so over this bullshit.”

  “Hey, I’ve got to tell you something. I bonded with Gabby. I’m her mate.” Quintus’ declaration was met by silence. “Did you hear me?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I heard you. I mean, I thought maybe you might wait for me. I feel like I might cry…always a bridesmaid, never the bride.”

  “Fuck off.” Quintus heard laughter from his phone and took a deep breath, tempted to throw it across the plane.

  “You’re so touchy. I’m just fucking with ya, bro. Congrats. I just…I don’t know…I guess I wasn’t sure if it would ever really happen. The Goddess…that bitch sure does take her sweet time. I guess the first one doesn’t really count. It’s kind of like you took a mulligan.”

  “Listen, Viktor. Because I need you to pay attention. Whoever this woman is…it’s not Mao. It’s as if someone is wearing her like a mask. Even her skin felt different. There’s something about her. The more I think on this, the more I think she might be a demon.”

  “Fuck me. You know what this means?”

  “It means she could be more powerful than you think. Just stay where you are. Call Thor
n and let him go find his mess. He brought her here. Make her his problem.”

  “It also means we’ve met two demons in the course of a week. This isn’t exactly good luck.”

  “We can’t know for sure what the hell she really is, but I think it’s safe to assume she’s driving on black magick fuel.”

  “I was tempted to tell her to get some holy water to clean off the Hell stink. But if she’s a demon, she’s going to need more than a few spritzes. I’m thinking more like an underwater baptism.”

  “You’re not going to get a demon anywhere near a church.”

  “Maybe a river. Ah, the good old days.”

  “The good old days weren’t that good.” Quintus raked his fingers through his hair and turned to walk toward the pilot’s cabin. “I need you to focus. Do as I said. Call Thorn. If you can’t reach him, call Absinthe. Then meet me in New Orleans. We’ll go see Samantha.”

  “Damn. Just when I was getting to enjoy babysitting,” he quipped.

  “You don’t even own a plant,” Quintus challenged. “You don’t cook.”

  “I like my blood fresh. I’m more of a farm to table sort of vampire. I’m minimalistic like that.”

  “Get your ass to New Orleans. Make the call and get out, you hear me? I don’t want anything happening to you.”

  “You almost sound like you care. I’m feeling like I need a hug right now, but I’ll get it when I see you.”

  “I’m gonna smack you in your fat head if you don’t listen to me.”

  “Hug time. I’ve got something to look forward to.”

  “Fuck off with your damn hugs.”

  “It’s going to be a moment. I can feel it now. I’ll pick a song before I get there.” Viktor laughed.

  “I’m going now. Call Thorn.”

  “I hear you,” he assured Quintus.

  “Oh and Vik?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Be careful. I’m not fucking around. Keep your eyes open and get to my place as soon as possible.”

  “Got it. See ya.”

  Quintus clicked off the call and turned to see both Hunter and Gabriella staring at him.

  “He lost her?” the Alpha asked.

  “She gave him the slip. If she’s a demon…you know it’s hard to control them.” Quintus crossed to sit in front of Gabriella and fell back into his tan crushed leather seat.

  “She just left then? Just like that?” Gabriella asked.

  “Yep. She’d said she wasn’t staying in New York. So who knows?” Quintus shook his head and shrugged. “There’re a lot of kinds of demons and creatures out there. My concern is that if she’s demon, she’s up to something else. I don’t want Viktor going after her.”

  “My bet is on demon,” Hunter said.

  “What else could she be?” she asked.

  “You’ve got your basics. Vamps. Witches. Wolves. There’re an infinite number of possibilities for the hybrids. You’ve got the outliers like the naiads and pixiu. Although technically they’re shifters. Mao was pixiu but I’m with Hunter, she’s probably a demon mix.”

  “So you’re saying Mao’s…she’s not really, um…” Gabriella hesitated to finish her sentence.

  “It’s okay, Gabby.” Quintus’ eyes softened, aware she didn’t want to hurt him. “Mao died a long time ago. That woman…no, that thing we brought home, it isn’t Mao.”

  “I don’t understand how none of us knew. I mean, she’s outsmarted a high priestess. A demon. You. An Alpha.” Gabriella’s focus drifted to Hunter.

  Quintus gave her a knowing smile as her sexy thoughts spun through his mind. “There’ll be time later to explore that.”

  “I’m just saying.” She coughed, her cheeks heated in embarrassment. “Something like that has to be special. Powerful.”

  “Maybe yes. Maybe no,” Quintus said.

  “You’ve got your hands full with that one,” Hunter commented, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. “I’m happy to oblige.”

  “Focus, people.” Quintus steepled his fingers in thought. “I think Gabriella’s point is well taken. The question is, ‘What is Mao?’ Why didn’t any of us notice she wasn’t Mao at first? She looked like her. Talked like her. Holds her memories. Witches, demons…both can wield glamouring spells.”

  “True. Even I can do that, but you saw right through it,” Gabriella said.

  “What I saw was no glamour,” Quintus asserted.

  “You sure?” Hunter asked. “No offense, but you’re emotionally involved. It’s possible she got one over on you.”

  “No way. I’m telling you. I knew her. And that isn’t Mao.” Quintus sighed, choosing his next words carefully. He refused to hurt Gabriella more than he already had. “I met her many, many years ago, but this demon, this thing…it mimics her voice, her mannerisms. It’s almost as if it’s retained part of her DNA but it’s compromised. And her story isn’t straight. The day she went over that cliff, Mao died. That woman, that thing, at my house told me that she shifted. I never saw her shift. At the moment of Mao’s death, there was simply nothing. I felt nothing.”

  “So what you’re sayin’ is we’re dealing with a zombie?” Hunter asked with a disbelieving laugh. “No way. It happens but they don’t look nearly as good as she does.”

  “Listen, I’ve seen all sorts of crazy shit in my lifetime. I never thought of this possibility until now. It’s a stretch but there’s a myth. Mao told me of it once. She said the elders had been threatened with black magick. It’s possible she’s a Jiangshi.”

  “You mean a vampire? Like you?” Hunter asked.

  “No. Yes. Well, it’s more of a zombie.”

  “Like the things you see in the movies? Video games?” Gabriella asked. “Aren’t they vampires?”

  “Pop culture has worked the myth over. They perpetuate their own ideas. But in this case, the more I think about my interactions with her and what’s happening, I believe Mao did die that day. I suspect a demon, or someone who wields dark, dark magick…they took her corpse. They created a Jiangshi.”

  “But Thorn found her in a part of Hell. He said it was for innocents,” Gabriella challenged.

  “Maybe, maybe not. That demon is an interesting sort, I’ll admit, but you can’t trust him.”

  “Maybe someone put her there on purpose to find?” Gabriella suggested. “A Trojan horse.”

  “Or she may have just been waiting for the right moment in history to work her way back into your life,” Hunter suggested.

  “Why wait though? I mean, I don’t know much about taking a corpse and making it into a zombie, but I imagine it doesn’t take too long. It doesn’t make sense. Not unless she’s been waiting for something specific. Something that belongs to you.” Gabriella’s gaze went to Quintus.

  “More like someone,” Hunter suggested.

  “Maybe both,” Quintus added. “Gabby is a special hybrid. Born into this unusual coven.”

  “Evil coven.” Gabriella’s blood ran cold at the mention of them.

  Quintus nodded. “Si. They killed your mother. Possibly your father. We’re not sure on that one. They’ve certainly tried to kill you. Or at least made it seem so. But maybe they were waiting? It seemed that way from the way Lilitu spoke in the catacombs. Maybe she was waiting for our bonding. The bones of the first witch. We both used magick to get those bones. Maybe she was waiting for us. Maybe it was all meant to happen at a particular time.”

  “How do we kill it?” Gabriella asked with a tone of indifference.

  “I like your girl,” Hunter laughed, slapping his palm down onto his armrest.

  “So do I,” Quintus said with a raised eyebrow. “Obviously we should consult Samantha but if I recall correctly, Jiangshi are pretty tough to kill. Technically they’re already dead. I remember something about them eating their own flesh. She won’t be able to maintain her living figure forever. If she’s a zombie, eventually she will rot. That smell on her. It might not be Hell. It might be her decomposing from within.”

&nb
sp; “Ooookay. Well, on that note, let me just say that I want you both to know I enjoyed that little spankin’ last night. Paris always delivers. Us wolves enjoy a bit of sharin’ every now and then but you vamps are usually possessive,” Hunter said out of the blue. “Just lookin’ on the bright side of this mess.”

  “What the hell are you going on about, wolf?” Quintus narrowed his eyes on the Alpha.

  “Hey, this has been a fun ride. We’ve got some crazy-ass high priestess looking for a fuckin’ bone. Another New York witch servin’ up a demon who looks like a game show host. He gives you a replica of your high school sweetheart. But she’s really a Suzie-zombie wind me up doll…the ‘I won’t die’ edition. They're all lookin’ to kill us. Yep, it’s been a helluva ride. You vamps sure know how to have a good time.” Hunter leaned backwards onto the head rest, a half smile on his lips. “I’ll go back to Wyoming and they’ll be like, ‘Hey Alpha, did you have fun on the east coast?’ Yeah, it’s been a party all right.”

  “Stop complaining. You did have a good time. It sure felt that way last night,” Gabriella spat back at the Alpha who wore a smile.

  “It appears this one liked her punishment a little too much last night.” Hunter raised an eyebrow at them.

  “Don’t encourage him, Gabby.” Jesus, this woman is going to kill me. Quintus loved the way his feisty witch sent the Alpha off kilter with her quick wit. She’d responded, aroused by both spanking and being watched. He hadn’t truly considered sharing her with the wolf but her adventurous spirit tempted him. He sighed, bringing his thoughts back on topic.

  “This Jiangshi.” Hunter said. “What else do you know about them?”

  “Some say they’re similar to vampires but I beg to disagree. Unlike what has been portrayed in movies, I’m not a corpse. I was close to death but never died. In that thin veil, we are transformed by the magick of our ancestors. The Jiangshi. They are dead. There are many myths about how they are created, what they can do but these are all just interpretations. Stories. Folklore. My guess?” Quintus shrugged. “It’s like any other rare creature created by dark magick.”