by Chloe Grey
Never us.
I would see to that.
Chapter 20
-David-
“They are evacuating the city. We could still run.”
I sighed, burying my hands into my face.
I felt the couch shift as Cass sat next to me, one hand squeezing my thigh, the other gripping my wrist. And amongst all the chaos, I felt sanity.
“Dave.”
I looked at her. She wasn’t crying, which was a shock to me. Cass used to watch the news channel every evening. At the end of the hour, without fail, she would be in tears. No matter how horrible the news got, a worse story would seem to pop up every other day.
And the tv screen showed the worst of all.
Dead bodies everywhere. Men, women, children.
Chaos.
And no tears from her.
What happened?
“Dave,” Cass repeated, cupping my cheeks and moving in front of me. “Look at me.”
I looked at her.
“We can run. You don’t need to do this.”
“I have been running for close to two years, love. I’m not doing that anymore.”
“You could die.”
I nodded. “I could.”
“Then why?” She was crying now. I watched a single teardrop stream from her right eye, sliding across her pretty cheeks, down her neck, finally stopping at leather. “I don’t want you to...” She didn’t finish her words.
I gestured to the tv screen behind her with my chin. “He could have come directly for me. But he chose to make a scene first. To goad me into facing him. He thinks I care about them. That spending time with humans had softened me up. He wants to prove to all the vampires that I will come, and in doing so, show that I’m weak, that I’m still human.”
Cass shook her head. “I don’t understand... If you don’t care, then why go?”
I sighed. “It’s a lose-lose. If I run then I’m a coward. I don’t mind. But I’m just... tired, you know? So I’m just going to end it once and for all. I won’t be going for them. I’m doing this for us.”
Her voice cracked, her grip on my cheeks trembled, and more tears poured out. “For us? For us?! You could die.”
“In some ways, I will.” I ran my knuckles over her wet cheeks. “Go. I promise I will come back to you when this is all over.”
“No.”
I sighed again. “You don’t want to see this.”
“Dave...” Her grip tightened, her nails digging into my cheeks. “If you think I’m leaving you—”
“No,” I cut in. “I know you won’t. I’m sorry.”
“You think you can win?”
Yes.
I stilled. It was the first time he had spoken in almost a week now. As crazy as it sounded, I was almost glad to hear him.
I paused for a few more seconds before answering. “I will try my best.”
She nodded, then pulled me into her lips, embracing me in a searing hot kiss, her tongue gliding in before I could do it myself, then offering long, deep strokes that sent shivers trailing down my spine and making my animal instincts kick up again.
Cass climbed onto my lap, her knees on either side of mine, then began rolling her hips forward. Slowly, erotically. The warmth between her legs was burning against my own, a welcoming contrast to the cool air.
She pulled back slightly, her sweet lips still touching mine, giving me more of her exotic taste. “Before we go, take me one more time.”
As tempting as it was, I couldn’t do that. I needed to stay focused. “I can’t, love.”
“Please.” Her lips quivered. I could feel them.
“We can do it later.”
“No,” she snapped, pressing herself even closer so that my cock was grazing her swollen entrance. “I want to feel you one more time. If sometimes happens, then this—”
I attacked her lips, and she arched her back as my fingers glided up her spine. I was surprised when she started sucking on it, like one would to a piece of candy.
I inched back, confused.
“You like that?” She nuzzled herself against my neck, her sex becoming more drenched by the second. “I can show you so much more.”
I stroked her back. She felt so frail, but I knew she could kill a man three times her size rather easily now. “Get changed, Cass.”
“Dave, I—”
“Cass.” I lowered my tone and spoke slower, so she knew I meant business. “Get changed.”
For a few seconds, she didn’t move. I thought she would disobey, but then I felt her nod slowly, then pull back.
Cass looked at me as if from far away, her forest green eyes a turmoil of emotions, then she cupped my cheeks and kissed me. It lasted longer than I desired, but when she finally withdrew, all I wanted to do was to savour her flowery lips again, then take her back to bed and forget everything that was happening outside.
But that fantasy quickly evaporated as she gave me one final barely-there peck before getting off and walking away. The defeat in her posture broke my heart, just like Amber had just moments ago.
THE HOTEL LOBBY WAS deserted by the time we got down. We hadn’t answered to the numerous people that came knocking on our room door hours ago, so I guessed they had assumed we already evacuated.
We smelled dozens of people outside before we saw them. Soldiers, hunters, and dozens of priests with wooden stakes were scattered through the streets, still clearing and comforting civilians.
I knew where Tobias was. In our old house, where my scent would no doubt be the strongest. He could’ve tracked me here, but he hoped that I would come to him. Well, wish granted.
I never cared much for the men in our group. Logan, Fletcher, Kevin. They were good people, but I shut myself in, never socialising much with anyone. Laura and Cass tried, hard, and I finally warmed up to them.
We crossed the streets, nodding at the officers who came our way to advise us where to go. There were more than I thought, way more. There hadn’t been a city-wide evacuation in many months, and from what I gathered, they knew this vampire was different from the rest, and not the type to fuck around with.
Helicopters, war machines, thousands and thousands of armed soldiers and hunters were already here, and more were soon to pop up.
I had to deal with Tobias—quick.
Let me out.
My heart quickened at the voice. Cass noticed it, gripping my hand tighter and looking at me. She had kept close to me since leaving the hotel, leaning into me like it was our last day together. “What is it?”
“Nothing, love.”
“He’s at our house, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Logan—”
“Is fine. I doubt they are stupid enough to stick around there any longer, especially with the recent intrusion.”
“But—”
“Cass,” I said, unwilling getting irritated. I hated when she thought of other men. As stupid as that sounded. “They’re fine.”
She nodded. “Okay, but please don’t be give me that tone. You know I’m just worried about them.”
“Sorry.” I brought her hand up and kissed her wrist. I felt her shiver.
“It’s fine.” But I knew she was bothered by it.
Maybe I really needed to take a good hard look at myself. I knew I was too domineering, but that had never been a problem with my past relationships. In fact, my submissives liked it. But Cass didn’t know what she was getting herself into.
I wanted absolute domination over her, and I was achieving it bit by bit. But eventually I had to stop somewhere. If not, either it would never work out, or she would relent, but be unhappy. Both scenarios were not what I wanted.
After this—if there was an after—I would change.
I made a detour away from the evacuation trucks and hailed for a taxi. I gave the fidgety driver directions which got me raised eyebrows.
“We need to pack some stuff before we leave,” I explained, waving away his concerned replies. “Don
’t worry, we will be fine. I will tip you well.”
He nodded, then began driving us there, completely oblivious that he was chauffeuring two vampires.
The soldiers were doing a good job at guiding traffic on the road. It wasn’t the apocalyptic setting the news had portrayed, with people screaming, cars crashing, dead bodies everywhere and fire raining down upon us. At least not in this part of the town. Tobias hadn’t come here yet.
But things got grimmer as we made our way away from the centre of the city and into destruction. Blood splattered the streets, abandoned cars were everywhere, and there were definitely fewer living souls here.
“Stop here,” I told the driver when he tried to make his way around a blocked road. Three cars had collided against each other, but the drivers seemed to have made it out alive. We had some walking to do, but not much.
I paid the driver generously, wished him well, and helped Cass off the cab.
“Why the hell are you wearing high heels?”
She scowled at me. “You only bought heels for me. Several black and red ones, remember?”
“There are slippers in the bathroom.”
“Really? Oh.”
The first thing I noticed was the sudden dip in temperature as we neared our old house. The sun was still high in the sky, but it felt like the start of winter, all signs of warmth already leached into the frozen air. No doubt Tobias’s doing.
Let me out.
I abandoned all our protocol for surveying. All I needed now were a few sniffs and a sharp ear. I had never really used them previously, having suppressed my senses over the years to almost human level. So I could pretend to be like one of them.
Almost. Nothing could still pierce my skin due to the cursed regeneration. There were times I would fake injuries by bandaging myself. No one ever suspected—it was soul crushing—living a double life, lying to the closest people in my life.
At least everything was finally out, and I still got to keep the woman of my dreams.
Cass came to me, squatting down to my level. “He’s the only one there, right?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, sniffing one more time to be sure. No one in a half miles radius, except the taxi driver and a woman and a crying child a few streets behind us.
Odd. Was this a trap?
I stood up. “Stay here.”
With a final glance to my lover, I proceeded to the house, walking across the familiar lawn, my strides short but confident, my fist clenched.
I heard footsteps behind me and threw a look over my shoulder.
She scowled back. “I’m coming with you.”
I sighed when I saw the fierce determination in her eyes. She was really going to go through with this. Maybe I should have asked for Amber’s help. Bringing Cass here was stupid and too much of a risk.
Cass came to my front and pressed up onto her tiptoes. She offered me a sweet kiss, and I took it, our lips parting and clinging. “Once we’re done with this, we’re going to have the wildest sex.”
I smiled, tipping her chin up. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” she said, pressing close and whispering hotly in my ear, her warmth darting through my body like a fever, even seeping into the dead air around us. “Don't die and you can have a lifetime of wild sex.”
I brushed my fingers around her neck, feeling the expensive black leather that told everyone she was off limits. Cass focused her full attention back to my lips, and I felt my cock hardening under my pants, aching for her.
“I love you,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around me. “More than anyone else I’ve ever loved. I want you to know that.”
I already knew that, but that just made it even harder to let her go.
“Let’s go,” I finally said, reluctantly prying myself away. “It won’t take long.”
Let me out.
Chapter 21
-Cassandra-
It was freezing.
Colder than when I had last been here, with a big hole in my stomach and pitifully bleeding to death.
I thought about asking why, but decided against it as Dave cautiously turned the doorknob. It wasn’t locked.
Standing in the middle of our living room, with all the furniture still in place, Tobias was nothing like I envisioned.
He had all of a monster’s traits: bright violet eyes, light purple skin with veins coursing everywhere, long fangs and deadly claws. He had all those, but he was still devilishly handsome.
With blonde hair swept back, perfectly proportionate facial features, and a jawline that no doubt had caused countless knees weakening, he was on par with Dave, yet he looked completely different.
“I’m surprised,” Tobias started, eyeing Dave, his expression smug and his voice a tad bit higher than my lover’s, but still equally as dangerous. “You actually came.”
Dave stepped forward, half blocking my view. “Only you? Where are your bonds?”
Tobias raised a brow, crossing his arms. “My girls? Why would I need them?” He gestured to me with his chin, chuckling softly. “But you brought yours. Where’s our dear sister then? Let me guess, you’re too weak to control her.”
Dave didn’t answer. Instead, he backed up and leaned into my ear, his eyes still fully on our enemy. My heart was racing so fast I felt dizzy, but oddly, Dave’s wasn’t reacting. Was he really confident that he could defeat that?
It was not just his appearance or posture. Tobias just radiated an aura of power that even the vampiress didn't exclude. That no one did.
“Cass, love,” he started, his voice soothing and calm. “Kneel.”
Tobias frowned, I scowled. “What?!”
“Do it.”
“I don—”
“Do it.”
With a final what-the-fuck glance at him, I obeyed, lowering myself to my knees at Dave’s side.
“My rules apply. Don’t move until I say you can.”
“Dave, Wh—”
“Trust me.”
I went silent, and I thought that it would be over and done with, but Dave tone grew hard. “You don’t move. No matter what happens. You start to help, and you will just get in the way. I’m serious, Cass. Please, don’t do anything but kneel here, understand?”
I nodded.
“Shut up,” Dave growled suddenly, and I looked at him, confused.
But he didn’t offer anything else. With those final words, he gave me a quick peck to my forehead, then straightened himself, walking forward then slowly circling Tobias. There was no way I was looking down.
I kept my gaze forward and up, my hands tightening on my thighs. I could see Dave was still sniffing, casting quick sideward glances, his ears prickling at the slightest of sound, triple checking if there would be any unwanted surprises.
Tobias played along with the dance, circling with him, his arms unfolding, his claws at the ready. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but you only have her, don’t you? Father says you’re the strongest, and everyone just believes him, no matter what I say. Yet here you are, without Amber, and only capable of keeping a single bond slave. You never displayed anything higher than a D rank.”
Wouldn’t Tobias come for me? I thought as Dave distanced himself from me, pushing Tobias closer. It would be like in the movies, a hostage situation.
But no, I guessed Dave knew what he was doing, because Tobias never gave me a second glance. Even when his back was turned on me, his full attention remained on Dave.
Dave’s failure to answer must have riled him up.
“Look at you. Pathetic. You look like a human.” He gave a long sniff. “You smell like a human. And you’re supposed to be our future?! You—”
Dave charged forward. I could see it this time—a flash in the air, something.
Tobias was still in mid-conversation when Dave drew first blood. It was a good hit. I never thought I would be so happy to hear bones snapping. I almost leapt from joy, but it was far from over.
Tobias grunted, then threw his hand up in a blur
of an uppercut, the confident, smug look still plastered on his features.
Dave expected it, skipping out of range gracefully and the claws cleaved cold air. He jumped backwards again, creating distance, his right hand drenched with black blood. I could see Dave now had claws too. Deadly and sharp.
Tobias dropped into an aggressive pose, then he was gone. Dave hesitated, then dodged sideways at seemingly nothing. A millisecond later, his screams filled the air.
My heart skipped a beat, and my blood ran cold at that sound. I screamed too, as if I was the one being struck, then jumped to my feet, taking a quick step forward to help, to do something, anything.
But Dave was right; I wouldn’t be much use. I came to a stop just seconds after, starting in silent shock at the gruesome sight in front of me.
The love of my life was impaled on the far wall. Tobias was still now, his hands deep in Dave’s shoulder, his other hand gripping my lover’s neck, choking the life out of him.
Déjà vu. The same nightmare, just different people.
Move. Do something.
Energy blazed within me, my body roaring to life. But as I began to run forward, I saw Dave’s blues zeroing in on me, dulling by the second, but the fire in them still strong and bright.
He is trying to say something, I realised, as I saw his cracked lips struggling to move. And when he said the single word, there was no blame in it. No anger. Just scared, broken, powerlessness, yet at the same time, it was uttered with such love.
“Sorry.”
Chapter 22
-Cassandra-
We’re monsters. That is our true form, and only the strongest can revert to that state.
His true form. Was that it? They say love is blind. Could I really love something like that?
Yes. Yes, I could.
If that was the worst he could show me, the monster he was so afraid of letting me see, then fuck me, I should have been laughing with relief.
I watched as Dave’s fangs grew, his skin turning purple, veins popping out everywhere, wrapping around his body like vines, the deep blue in his eyes becoming a horrifying shade of violet.