Ripper

by Lexi Blake

  Castle pressed his advantage. He used his powerful fists in a way he hadn’t been able to use his claws. He punched me in the face, the stomach, the chest. I felt like a body bag. I might have fallen over, but Castle kept me upright with the force of his blows. Pain as I’d never imagined ripped through my body. As I absorbed the agony from one blow, another landed. It seemed to never end. The crowd was chanting, screaming something, but it was a distant thing. Marcus was trying to tell me something, but even his voice was far away. I felt his panic. There wasn’t a lot I could do about it.

  Castle finally decided to let me hit the ground. I tumbled to my knees and I realized my right eye must be swollen because I couldn’t see out of it anymore. My left shoulder screamed and was kind of stuck at a weird angle. It must have separated at some point. My whole body was on fire. The pain was so bad I started to hope Castle got this thing done soon.

  I pitched forward and felt the sand against my swollen face. Marcus was pleading with me and the wolf inside was howling for me to get my ass up, but I thought about Gray. He was going to be sad when he found out. I wondered if he would blame himself. I wished I’d never gone after those class rolls. If I’d done what Gray had asked, I would be planning the menu for our reception. I would be arguing with Gray over fish or chicken, and when we got sick of fighting, he would take me to bed. If I’d chosen him over my stubborn instincts, I wouldn’t be dying in this terrible place.

  Castle was enjoying his fans. He kicked me a couple of times, but I hurt too much to even grunt. I’ve heard that when pain gets to be too much, the body shuts down and a blissful numbness takes over. I didn’t get that. I got misery that seemed to never end.

  Finally, he kneeled down and lifted my head up by the hair. From my angle, I could make out the queen weeping openly and pleading with her husband. Donovan looked like a man who wished he’d never put a freaking crown on. Zack and Jamie were moving toward the front of the crowd.

  Castle leaned down. “I think I’m going to like killing you most of all, little girl. Do you know what I’m going to do when you’re dead? I’ll give it a month or so, but I’ll kill every single bitch who works in those clubs and I’ll pin it on a vamp. I’ll have my war, you understand? You changed nothing.”

  He dropped my head and reared back to change. He would kill me in his wolf form. It was traditional. He took his wolf form and howled before he pounced, his teeth going for my throat.

  I used every bit of energy I had left to flip my body over, ball my good hand into a fist and shove my right hand up. I saw the look on Castle’s face when he realized what was going to happen. There was nothing he could do. He couldn’t change course and his own heavy weight helped me. My claws sunk deeply into his chest. I fought to shove them in further even as his big body fell onto me, forcing my arm to go into an odd angle. He landed on top of me and he snarled as my claw found his heart. Even as the light went out in his face, he growled at me.

  The arena hushed. Our final moments had been a close battle. I wondered if anyone really knew what had happened. The wolf lay on top of me, his snout in my neck, my hand in his chest. The crowd seemed to be waiting to see who got up.

  “Very good, cara mia,” Marcus whispered in my brain. He knew what had happened. He would have felt me die. “You’ve done well, but you must finish. Listen carefully. I want you to…”

  He gave me the words to use. I had to follow both wolf and vampire traditions. Marcus talked me through everything. He let me know he would be with me after I finished, but I had to get through this part by myself. I rolled the wolf off of me, shoving his body to the sand with as much strength as I could muster.

  There were shocked cries as the alpha of the Dallas pack slumped over in the sand and I struggled to get to my knees. I didn’t feel that overwhelming urge to continue my kill the way I had before. Marcus gave me the strength to force my wolf to calm down. She gave me the strength to stay on my feet and do what I needed to do, but I was in control.

  Some of the wolves began crying, but I saw many seemed relieved. I leaned exhausted over the carcass to fulfill the last of my duties. Donovan was on his feet, looking down on me with satisfied relief and something like respect. He nodded as I reared my good hand back and punched through Joseph Castle’s chest. I had to work at it and it wasn’t pretty, but I claimed the heart and managed to get to my feet. My left hand dangled. I couldn’t see out of one eye. I saw the horror in Liv’s eyes as I walked past her on my way to the king. I knew I must be really fucked up to get that look.

  Donovan walked down the steps to the edge of the railing. He stared across the arena to where McKenzie sat. “The battle is done. I declare the killing of these wolves to be righteous. I need to know this is done, John.”

  McKenzie’s low voice carried across the arena. “The Packs are satisfied that justice has been done. I will select another alpha after I speak to the pack. I’ll choose carefully, Your Highness.”

  “And I will trust your judgment,” Donovan promised and then turned his attention back to me.

  I held the heart out to him and he took it with no hesitation. Daniel Donovan wasn’t afraid of a little blood. I braced myself because it wasn’t easy to stay upright. I gave him the ancient words between a king and his death machine. “Your Highness is satisfied with his Nex Apparatus?”

  Donovan’s face fell and then hardened. His words ground out of his mouth. “I am. You’re dismissed.”

  Suddenly the queen was by his side and Quinn was close behind her. Their faces registered shock.

  “Daniel,” the queen said, putting a perfectly manicured hand on his arm. “You have to heal her.”

  Quinn shook his head. “She won’t let him.”

  He was a good judge of character. I wasn’t letting that vampire anywhere near me.

  I began to turn to leave the arena when a small face caught my eye. He was trying to hide behind a pillar at the top of the arena, but when he saw me looking, he stepped out. Lee Donovan Quinn had avoided his bed again. He was dressed in pajama pants and a T-shirt. He looked down on me and smiled, holding his small hand up in greeting. I tried to smile back, but before I could he was gone again. The kid was fast.

  Marcus’s hand was on my elbow. “Brace yourself, Kelsey.”

  He held me tightly and shoved my shoulder back into place. I screamed as the pain threatened to take me under again. I could move my left arm, but I didn’t particularly want to. Every muscle in my body ached, but I was going to walk out of that arena. Marcus seemed to sense it and took a step back.

  “Marcus,” Donovan shouted as I started to stagger out. “I’ll send a doctor to her room.”

  He’d probably send Sharpe. It would be just like that bastard to send Jack the fucking Ripper in to examine me. I held up my good hand as I walked out of the arena and managed to give the king my happy middle finger.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Marcus held his hand out and I let him lead me onto the water taxi. It was private, of course. Marcus liked to have the best. I was rapidly learning that Marcus Vorenus was a legend in Venice. The minute we’d stepped off the plane he’d been inundated with admirers who were thrilled the vampire had come home.

  They knew what he was. Venice is a tolerant city. I’d been promised many new experiences as he taught me about my power. I breathed in the air from the Adriatic Sea as the boat took off. We had no luggage with us. We were fugitives. I was wearing clothes Marcus had bought in New Orleans, where we’d hidden for two days before taking the plane across the Atlantic. Marcus had spoken to Zack several times and been assured that while the king was furious with us, he was calming down as Zack and the queen worked on him. They’d talked him out of hunting us down and dragging me back.

  I went to stand with Marcus, who was gazing at the ocean over the cabin of the water taxi. He looked and felt so peaceful. I let my hands go around his waist. I was getting used to my desire to be physically connected to the vampire. It was an impulse between a Hunter and her
trainer. Marcus didn’t mind and it made me feel better, though not as good as his blood had made me feel.

  We’d fled in the car Zack had left for us and driven immediately to a hotel in Fort Worth where Marcus convinced me to take his blood. I’d been hesitant when he cut a place in his chest and urged my mouth to it, but once I tasted it, I’d been ravenous. That blood was better than any drug I’d ever encountered. It healed me and made me feel warm and safe. It connected me to Marcus, who in the course of a measly few days had become everything to me. He was my teacher, my protector, my only friend in the world. He was not my lover, but that was my choice for now. I wasn’t sure how long I’d hold out because I slept beside him at night. I started out on the edge of the bed, but before too long I’d rolled and tossed until I curled against him. He would chuckle and put his arms around me, pulling me close. He’d held me that first long night after the arena when I’d finally given in and cried. The experience had been purgative and healing and not possible without him.

  The boat slid across the water and Marcus’s dark eyes lit up as Venice rose like a jewel on the ocean. My eyes opened wide to take it all in. I’d never been out of the US before. Hell, besides Arkansas and Louisiana, I’d never been out of Texas before. Venice was a stunning sight, a beautiful, alien world, and Marcus seemed extremely satisfied to be home. He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it firmly before holding it to his heart. This was our home for now.

  I studied the man beside me and wondered what would happen between us. I wanted to open myself to him, but I hesitated and I knew why.

  The drugs were out of my system. I was no longer under the influence of any spell.

  I still loved Grayson Sloane.

  It wasn’t like before. My love for him was a wary thing. If I met Gray at this point, I would push him away. I would never let him in. I would find a way to sabotage any relationship we could have. I had to heal myself before I could consider even talking to Gray. I needed to discover who I could be. I wanted to be the woman Marcus was sure I could become.

  “That is it,” Marcus said, a wealth of satisfaction in his voice. He pointed to an elegant townhouse with a pier for his private boat. There was a line of servants waiting to greet us. “Welcome home, cara mia.”

  I smiled at him, genuinely happy to be alone with him. I would take this time to explore, to learn, to grow because I needed to become all I could. I had a new mission. I might not be able to be with Gray, but he was my client even though he didn’t know it.

  I would save Grayson Sloane if it was the last thing I did.

  The boat pulled up to the pier and Marcus hopped out. He placed his hands around my waist and lifted me lightly onto the landing. He leaned over and kissed my forehead affectionately. The sun was going down. I slid my hand into his and walked into the night.

  * * * *

  Kelsey, Gray, Marcus and the entire Thieves gang will return in Addict.

  Author’s Note

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  Addict

  Hunter: A Thieves Novel, Book 2

  By Lexi Blake

  Coming Soon

  When Kelsey Owens returns home to Dallas, she is a changed woman. After months of training with Marcus Vorenus, she has more control over her abilities. She’s ready to start her new job, even if it means dealing with the King of All Vampire and his partner, Devinshea Quinn. Her first assignment, however, will force her to face her past. Grayson Sloane is in trouble and she has to find him.

  With the help of Gray’s brother, a full empath demon, Kelsey tracks her one time lover down. Before she knows it, she’s pulled into Gray’s undercover operation in a demon sex club and sitting across from a Duke of Hell. Abbas Hiberna plans to use her city to test his new drug, Brimstone. It doesn’t just give supernatural creatures a high. It also leaves them vulnerable to demonic persuasion.

  When the king’s own men begin to turn against him, even the royal family is in danger. Keeping them safe will put Kelsey in the duke’s crosshairs and test her fledgling relationship with Marcus. With her new life crumbling around her, a dark secret about her former lover is revealed and Kelsey will have to choose between saving Gray Sloane and the revenge she’s waited a lifetime for.

  * * * *

  Excerpt:

  “Stop fidgeting,” the demon ordered as the elevator began its climb. He’d told me to refer to him as Matt. It wasn’t his real name. Demons jealously guarded their real names.

  “You try having a piece of dental floss shoved up your ass, and we’ll see how you like it,” I grumbled back. I tried not to look at myself, but it was hard because the entire elevator was mirrored. I didn’t like to think why they’d done that. I was just thinking about the fact that my ass was hanging out. We’d been allowed into the club when Gray’s brother had explained he’d procured me for Gray. I could tell the bouncer wasn’t that impressed. He’d looked at me differently after I walked out of the “dressing room.” The demon had taken charge, briskly ordering me out of my nice clothes that covered me up and into lingerie. I don’t even know if I could call it that. Marcus had bought me a ton of pretty, frilly things he liked to see me in, but they tended toward filmy nightgowns and beautifully made corsets.

  I was dressed in a white lace demi-cup bra that pushed my boobs up and made them look a lot bigger than they were. There was the white thong currently stuck between my ass cheeks. I had on thigh-high white hose and four-inch stilettos. Gray’s brother had brushed out my hair and placed a white mask over my face. I didn’t know what I hated more, the shoes or the so-called underwear. I longed for my nice cotton bikinis and my comfy Uggs. Apparently both of those were a no-go in the house of sin Gray was currently residing in.

  I was grateful for the mask as the elevator stopped on the fifth floor, and my heart started to race. I reminded myself that I was here on a case. I was just going to make sure Gray was all right. That was all. I didn’t have any interest in him beyond the fact that he was my brother’s best friend and potentially had information I could use.

  So why was my heart thumping as loud as the heavy rock beat that filled the space as Matt led me out onto the floor?

  There was a large man in a tuxedo standing at an elegantly appointed desk.

  “My lord,” he said deferentially. His eyebrows arched as he looked at me. “Trying something different tonight, my lord?”

  Matt laughed. “Not at all, Kevin. Let Tristan know I’ll be requiring his services. This one is for my brother.”

  “Very good, sir. Lord Sloane does like slender brunettes,” Kevin said, nodding us in.

  We walked past the security desk and into some combination of a strip club and a place for swingers. All of the women were dressed in a similar fashion to me, though they seemed to favor leather and dark colors. I was the only one in the room wearing white. Naturally every eye turned to me.

  Behind my half mask, I studied the room. It looked like a grand ballroom. The floors were polished hardwood and the room was lit with chandeliers. The walls had those white panels favored in European palaces. It had an old world feel to it, if one ignored the stripper poles at the far end or the various women and men tied up and being spanked across the room. There was also a bar, naturally, and several intimate spaces with antique couches.


  “You do seem able to catch my little brother’s attention, don’t you?” Matt said, satisfaction oozing from his pores.

  I turned and there he was. He was sitting on a couch, his big body lounging negligently. He was wearing tight black jeans and a dark shirt he’d left open as though he’d walked out of the bedroom without bothering to button his shirt. It left his perfectly cut chest on full mouth-watering display. The tattoo that covered the left half of his torso looked sexy as hell in the low glow of the room. His face was a tribute to masculine perfection. Marcus was the perfect European male, all fine lines and aesthetic grace, but Gray was an all-American hunk of masculinity. He screamed dominant male and for good reason. He was and made no apologies for it. He was the kinkiest man I’d ever met. He preferred to tie up his sexual partners and when I was that partner, I’d been happy to do it.

  I was thinking about doing it right now.

  His deep blue eyes were looking lazily around the room. He had a female at his feet, her head resting on his lap. He didn’t seem terribly interested in her. He was talking to another man whose face I couldn’t see. He was smaller than Gray, with almost white hair. Gray stopped midsentence when his eyes caught sight of me.

  Gray sat up, and I noticed that his hair was longer than it had been when we were engaged. He used to wear it in a strict, military-style cut. It was a little shaggy now, reaching to the tops of his ears. It was thick and wavy. I had always wanted to run my fingers through it. I flushed under his gaze, unsure if it was just the outfit I was wearing or complete and abject shame that I had a man who cared about me, and I couldn’t help but think about someone else.