Clearly not impressed by Nexi, Ellery swept her dark stare over Nexi from head to toe, as if Nexi were a piece of garbage dirtying her front lawn. “You’re nothing special.”
Remember why you are here, Zia gently reminded Nexi, for Trefan and Radek.
Nexi bit her lip, restraining the good ol’ go fuck yourself lingering so close on her tongue.
Either unknowing or uncaring of Nexi’s building wrath, Ellery added, “All this talk of you and you’re so…plain.”
Mistress Vampire or not, this bitch had crossed a line. Nexi replied in her sweetest voice, “Well, I hate to break it to you, but you don’t look so special, either.” She returned the long, disgusted look, scanning Ellery’s face. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re living in the twentieth century and that hairstyle is ancient.”
Kyden barked a laugh.
Zia sighed. Can you not just stay silent?
Nexi didn’t reply, holding Ellery’s stare. She would not cower in fear of this vampire. Besides, she knew Ellery wouldn’t touch her. Kyden had said as much at Thalia’s—if a vampire killed someone on the Council’s Guard, it was the same as declaring war against the Otherworld. And Nexi suspected Ellery was wicked smart—you couldn’t live for centuries without having street smarts—and she knew Ellery wouldn’t risk her life for something Nexi had said.
A deadly arch curved the side of Ellery’s mouth. “What needs to be discussed?”
The question had been aimed at Nexi, and she lifted her chin, unafraid and equally pissed off. “Two guardians were killed, and it appears your vampires are involved.”
“Is that so?” A wicked glint flashed in Ellery’s eyes, sending caution through Nexi, as Ellery added, “I don’t want all of you in my home. It will draw suspicion to my guard and word will spread of this. If this talk is important, I will have it with Nexi alone in my soundproof room.”
Cold unease made its way right down to Nexi’s toes. Now why would she want that? she silently asked Zia.
She’s either up to something or she respects you, Zia replied.
Figures! Bitches respected others when they all but verbally bitch-slapped them back. Am I in danger with her?
No, was Zia’s hard reply.
Ellery flicked her hand dismissively. “Go and wait by the fountain until Nexi and I are finished.”
“That. Will. Not. Happen.” Kyden said each word slow and deadly.
“This is my request,” Ellery replied breezily, as if she didn’t much care either way if the conversation happened. “You don’t like it, then you won’t get my help.”
Nexi glanced from Kyden to Ellery, understanding his objection. Ellery clearly had ulterior motives. Why else would she want Nexi alone? But all the same, what choice did they have?
The sheer wrath vibrating off Kyden ignited Nexi’s grimace. She placed a hand on his flexed forearm. “It’s just a talk. You’ll be right outside. There’s nothing to worry about.” She leaned in to him and whispered, “Trust me.”
His chin dipped, bringing his blazing eyes directly in line with hers. “You never go anywhere without me. That I never agreed to.” His voice lowered as his expression became dead serious. “And that is nonnegotiable, Nexi.”
She cringed at his insistence. Yet they needed these answers, and while she trusted Ellery as much as she trusted a rabid vampire, she had her magic sizzling right inside her chest that would protect her. Knowing that Kyden would never agree, she took a step forward. When he blocked her way, she said, “I can’t believe you are going to make me say it again.” She sighed, exasperated. “You are not going to stop me, because you trust me and support me. I will be fine.”
Kyden clenched his fists at his sides, and his corded neck was a telling sign he was a second away from throwing Nexi over his shoulder and locking her in a bedroom forever.
While that idea wasn’t necessarily a horrible thought, she also knew it wasn’t appropriate. She moved around him, approaching Ellery at the doorway, all the while seriously hating that she had to use the you-are-supporting-me card, but sadly, that play worked.
When Nexi stepped into the house, Kyden growled, “If I have no say in this, then I will wait here for you.”
Ellery spun around, narrowing her eyes. “You will not. You will go to the fountain as I’ve ordered.”
Kyden’s sharp intake of breath reflected deep control. “I’m entrusting that you will keep Nexi safe in your home, but it’s my right to wait for her, and I will do so.”
Ellery stared at him for so long Nexi thought she would refuse him, but she eventually grumbled, “Guardians’ possessiveness never changes.” She pointed at him as though her finger was a dagger ready to slit his throat. “You alone can wait here. As for you, Zia”—she flicked her hand—“go away.”
Zia’s smile was bitter, her voice ice cold. “Always a pleasure to see you again, Ellery.”
The Mistress Vampire didn’t even give Zia a second look as Zia turned, striding down the driveway. While Ellery was nasty in every sense of the word, Nexi had to give the Mistress props for having such gall. Most bowed to the Council, and Ellery didn’t seem at all put off by their power, telling Nexi she was either as powerful as or maybe even more powerful than the Council.
That non-settling thought weighed on Nexi’s mind as she followed Ellery into the house and through her ridiculously lavish foyer with a staircase that appeared to be made of gold. Feeling a bit winded by it all, Nexi strode beneath a huge diamond chandelier and then entered a library that seemed so out of place in the modern house.
Books lined the shelves all the way up to the ten-foot ceilings, with a rolling ladder idling in the middle. Two red chaises rested in the center of the room, and Ellery ran her hand over one, gesturing for Nexi to sit.
Once Nexi obliged her, she kept a close eye on the Mistress, as Ellery lowered onto the other chaise. She leaned toward the table and opened a wooden box on top, taking out a long cigarette, offering one to Nexi.
“No, thanks,” Nexi replied.
Ellery lit the cigarette and then asked, “Tell me, why are you here tonight?”
Nexi shifted against her seat, finding a more comfortable position in an entirely uncomfortable moment. “We have some news for you. I don’t really know how to put this—”
“You want to discuss the vampires that have betrayed me?” Ellery offered.
Nexi blinked in surprise. “You know about what happened?”
Ellery took another long draw on her cigarette, nodding. “Yes, I had learned of the incident a few hours ago.” She dabbed her cigarette in the ashtray and added, “What do you want me to do about it?”
“What do you want to do about it?” Nexi retorted, shocked that Ellery was so informed.
The Mistress Vampire chuckled, sounding sweet. Nexi wasn’t fooled. “I assume you’re here to have me help in some manner. I’m merely extending the invitation for you to ask.”
Her directness spun Nexi’s mind, since she had expected Ellery to be cold and difficult; Zia had prepared her for that. “Basically, it’s like this. Your vampires killed two guardians. That, in itself, would allow for the Council to hunt them. But it seems they have a black witch, Astoria, alongside them as well. We can assume they’re up to something even more nefarious. So we need your help to locate these vampires.”
“Now we are getting somewhere.” Ellery grinned. “What do you wish me to do: help you destroy them, or tell you their location?”
“Tell me their location.” Finn needed their kill on his hands to avenge his brother.
A waft of smoke came Nexi’s way as Ellery asked, “What would you give for this help?”
“What will I give you isn’t the right question,” Nexi retorted. “What can you do for us?”
Ellery’s eyes searched Nexi’s. “I suppose I could order their sires to summon them.” Placing her cigarette in the ashtray, she lifted her chin. “But that might be a problem.”
This didn’t sound good. “And why would
that be?”
“I’ve already destroyed their sires,” Ellery replied, with complete indifference.
Nexi heaved a sigh, knowing their one lead just went poof. “Can I ask why you did that?”
Ellery’s fierce glare pinned Nexi to her seat. “Are you questioning the way I do things?”
“Of course not.” Nexi fought against going into flight mode, shifting uncomfortably against the chaise. “I’m asking why would you kill them before you called the others to you?” Since Nexi valued her life, she added, “It’s not meant to disrespect you, more out of curiosity.”
The glow in Ellery’s eyes settled with her long exhale of smoke. “To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t aware of all the circumstances that surrounded this incident.” She rested her elbow on the edge of the chaise, appearing much like a classic pinup girl. “A few days ago, I was told by my regime that ten of our sires had lost control of their fledglings and hadn’t heard from them.”
“So you keep tabs on them?”
Ellery nodded. “I run things in the Southwest in a very strict manner. Our vampires must check in monthly. When some of mine hadn’t made contact, we immediately dealt with the matter.” Her head tilted, her soft hair trailing over her bare shoulder. “I hadn’t realized they were protecting their fledglings that were responsible for killing guardians until tonight.” She dabbed her cigarette and shrugged. “I only put two and two together when I heard of the guardian death in Salt Lake City—and that we still have quite a few missing fledglings from that area.”
Fucking wonderful! “That complicates things.”
“I suppose it does.” Ellery’s eyes lightened, twinkling almost. “That brings me to my earlier question. What would you give in return for information on finding the whereabouts of the vampires who killed your friends?”
Hope flickered through Nexi. “Are you telling me you know where the vampires are located?” At Ellery’s nod, Nexi studied Ellery. “Why haven’t you dealt with them, then?”
Ellery smiled. “I suspected the Otherworld would prefer to deal with these vampires.”
True enough, Nexi was sure Finn wanted these killers up close and personal. But the twinkle in Ellery’s eyes had Nexi squirming in her seat. “What exactly do you want as a trade for their location?”
Ellery stood with grace and then strode around the library. “Did you know that I’m the oldest ruling vampire at the present time?”
“No.”
A slow smile spread across Ellery’s face. “I assumed not. As I suspect, you won’t be able to truly understand when I say that life for us tends to get bland—boring, you could say.” She dragged her hand over a book on the shelf. “It’s hard to find new things to remind us of all the reasons we enjoy this vampire life. It’s also difficult to have experienced things that other Mistress Vampires have not.”
Nexi regarded Ellery. “Old vampire. Bored. I get it. But how can I change that?”
Continuing to wander around the room, Ellery ran her hands gingerly over each book. “I’ve heard of you, you know.” She looked to Nexi with a dark smile, making her look like the night creature she was. “Thalia told me you visited her.”
One second Ellery was standing on the other side of the room. The next she was right in front of Nexi. “I’ve also heard of your scent.” She inhaled deeply, licking her lips. “Ah, and yes, it does smell delicious.”
Nexi’s blood ran cold.
Not even her fear could refuse the implication of those crazed eyes focused intently on her. “You cannot possibly be suggesting…”
“Like I said, new and interesting things are rare.” Ellery resumed her pacing, passing by the bookshelves and dragging her fingers over them. “I can assure you that if you didn’t work for the Council, you would be either dead or under the protection of a Mistress.”
Nexi gulped.
Ellery didn’t seem to notice and continued. “As it is, you cannot be touched. It would create a war no one in the vampire community is after. However, when you happened to arrive on my doorstep, an interesting proposition presented itself.”
Nexi glared, not caring one bit for Ellery’s authority or her allegiance with the Council. “You are out of your goddamn mind if you think that I’m going to let you drink me.”
“This is the deal I offer you.” Ellery gave a fangy grin, returning to her seat. “You need information that I possess. I want to be the Mistress that has tasted you. The decision is yours.”
Time stopped.
Nexi dropped her head into her hands, wondering when this would fucking end. Ellery might not touch her because of the Council, but it didn’t change the fact that Nexi’s blood was like a big ol’ chocolate sundae to vampires.
Some might think Nexi’s mixed heritage was a gift and she was lucky to be so powerful, but Nexi began to think it was a damned curse. She felt the weight of her choices on her shoulders.
If Ellery didn’t give up the location of the vampires, they’d never find them. Ellery was their only lead now. And the Mistress Vampire had no obligation to provide them assistance. While Nexi could’ve refused Ellery in a second flat, she reminded herself this wasn’t about her—it was about Trefan and Radek, and most of all to help Finn and Haven find closure. She lifted her head and begrudgingly asked, “If I allow you to drink from me, you’ll give up the location of the vampires?” At Ellery’s eager nod, Nexi added, “I know what a vampire bite is capable of doing, so will you hurt me?”
“You’ll feel no pain,” Ellery replied, very matter-of-fact.
“How much will you take? Like a sip? A one-second little slurp? Or are we talking like a quart of my blood?”
Ellery smiled, her fangs glistening from the light above her. “I’ll take enough to sate me, but you won’t notice any difference within yourself.” She batted her lashes, as if she were an innocent good-girl vampire. “In fact, you’ll enjoy it.”
Nexi was ready to say Hell, no! But compared to what Ellery could give them, her choice was an easy one. She stood on wobbly legs. “Fine. Do it.”
In a blink of an eye, Ellery’s hands wrapped around Nexi’s face. She angled Nexi’s head to the side, sliding her tongue along the length of Nexi’s throat, zeroing in on the thick vein on her neck. When Ellery’s fangs grazed Nexi, awareness struck her and she exclaimed, “Wait!”
“What?” Ellery hissed, her eyes glowing brightly.
“Tell me their location and how many are there.”
“Quite smart of you.” Ellery’s dark eyes reflected a soul long dead. “You will find the vampires at the SkyLake Lodge in Salt Lake City—they are using it as their headquarters. My guard scoped out the area earlier tonight, and by their count, there were over forty vampires, plus the witch.”
Without a chance for Nexi to respond, Ellery’s fangs penetrated her flesh, and Nexi gasped in disbelief. Pain didn’t pierce her skin; pure pleasure soared into every molecule of her body.
This wasn’t just like sex—it was better than sex.
Her body throbbed as the drag of blood through her veins seemed directly linked to the area between her thighs, and she couldn’t ignore the discouragingly hot flush that pooled low in her stomach. Each deep pull intensified the sensation, sending seductive heat spiraling throughout her and slickening her sex, and before Nexi could stop herself, she moaned.
Then she couldn’t stop moaning.
Each pull felt as if it brought her closer and closer to orgasm. Ellery’s lips on her skin were a tempting offer for Nexi to simply turn her head and take all that Ellery could give her. The pleasure wasn’t only building in her body, it was building in her soul, taking her higher and higher, until she moaned louder, begging for the highest climax that Ellery could offer.
Just as she peaked, consuming her with a euphoria Nexi had never experienced in her life, Ellery released her.
Nexi gasped, a sound of pure desperation, longing for the release she’d been refused. Suffering a confusing regret, she almost parted her lips to b
eg Ellery to continue. She wobbled on her feet, trying to find a way back from the ride of pleasure. Now Nexi understood why humans found a vampire bite so addictive—it was like having sex without the sexy parts touching, leaving her panting and aching for more.
Ellery wiped the blood off the corner of her mouth. “I did say you would enjoy it.” She sucked the blood off her finger. “And I certainly enjoyed that. Your taste is oddly different: very sweet and rich with power.”
“I…” Nexi exhaled, long and deep, reminding herself that she didn’t want an orgasm from a Mistress Vampire. “I thought you were exaggerating.” To quit the erotic emotions flooding her, she gave her head a hard shake. “But that was so, so gross that I don’t even have words.” Ignoring the way her limbs trembled and heat burned her in places that shouldn’t burn unless she was with Kyden, she added, “I’m leaving now. I’d say it was a pleasure, but—”
“It was business,” Ellery interjected. “I know you are new to our world, but you’ll learn quickly the necessity to barter with anything you can.” She slid into her cold stare, making ice seem hot. “Which includes unusual blood that many would kill for.”
Chapter 11
By four o’clock in the morning the Council had gathered the best of the best of the Otherworld’s Guard in response to the information Nexi gained from Ellery. Kyden scanned the hall, glancing over the fifty or so supernaturals. The werewolf tracker Alazar and five members of his squad at the police department offered assistance, since the vampires were holed up in their city. Kyden’s gaze swept over the Fire Witch Briar, who was nearly as talented with her magic as Zia was. Then he scanned the other members of the Council’s Guard.
No one was taking chances tonight, especially considering there were so many unanswered questions. What was Astoria after? Why were the vampires killing guardians? And why were they all grouping together and betraying their Mistresses? Going into this fight blind was not a position Kyden preferred.
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