Instigated (Daywalker Academy Book 3)

by Maya Daniels

  I whimper.

  His thigh is moving just enough to make me crazy, and it’s preventing me from being able to think. I don’t even know I’m breathing until I take a few pathetic gasps. Wanting Zoltan from afar, or even flirting with him—and let’s not forget dry humping him like an idiot—is one thing. Sex with any male can be whatever you want to call it, a quick fuck, a hump in the dark, or a mistake. Or ignore it as a lack of judgment on your part. The vampire looking at me like he wants to drink in my soul and bind me to him for eternity is not one of those males. He will screw me up for the rest of my life and hurt me. I’ve stayed away from developing any form of closeness with everyone in my life, including my own parents, for that very reason.

  I am a half blood.

  No matter how much they need me, none will ever need Francesca Drake. They need my blood, or bloodline as Fenrir pointed out. How much of this is Zoltan seeing and wanting Francesca, and how much is a powerful Daywalker scoring a power point in the war we started? Those thoughts bring my libido down a bit, clearing the fog in my head. My lips part so I can tell him to let me go.

  The world tilts around me when Zoltan swings me over his shoulder. My head is dangling above the round globes of his ass while I watch his powerful thighs eat up the space from the wall to the door of the basement. I don’t have time to voice my outrage before he spins again, slamming the door closed and pushing my back against it.

  I feel the touch of his lips on mine and my brain turns off.

  18

  I expect him to be rough, dominant, and downright harsh in the way he kisses me. My shoulders stiffen when he takes his time, devouring my mouth like some gourmet cuisine he wants to savor. Angling my face the way he wants it, his tongue swirls around mine in sensual, slow strokes before he sucks it gently into his mouth. My entire being comes to life, and I claw on his shoulders to bring him closer. Or maybe it’s to push him away. I’m not sure what I want in this moment. I think Zoltan is one of those people that enjoy kissing as an integral part of intimacy. And he has had a very long time to perfect his skill. Enough to make me forgo breathing just so I don’t ever have to remove my lips from his.

  I knew he would destroy me for eternity.

  I just didn’t know it’d be with a kiss.

  Pulling back, he nips on my bottom lip before gliding his tongue over the sting. Slow kisses are peppered over my face until he gently presses his mouth on the corner of my lips, flicking his tongue there just for a split second. Then he surprises me by nuzzling his face to mine, the skin of our cheeks grazing. Taking a deep breath, he leans his forehead on my shoulder, still keeping me pinned to the door as both of his arms tighten around me.

  I would’ve preferred it if he fucked me stupid and left me to pick up the pieces.

  Males like Zoltan don’t show weakness.

  It takes me a second to blink away the daze and unclench my fingers that are digging into his shoulders. Closing my eyes, I tentatively reach my hand and spear my fingers through his hair. His deep sigh breaks my heart and I press my cheek to the side of his head. Zoltan crushes me harder to his chest when I wrap my other arm around his shoulders. We stand like that for a while, neither my libido nor his erection taking the hint and going away.

  “I could’ve killed you.” The bones of my ribcage protest in his punishing grip.

  “You didn’t.” The spike in my heartbeat doesn’t go unnoticed. I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him that everything is fine, or myself.

  “I was aware deep inside that it was you.” His deep voice drums through both of us. “I was raging inside my mind to stop but I couldn’t do anything about it.” He nips my shoulder in punishment. “What were you thinking?”

  “I didn’t let you loose. Myst did.” I bite my tongue hard. Why the hell did I bring that psycho up?

  “I’ll have a word with her about it.” My blood curdles at the threat in his words.

  “She did save you from your feral state, and me from a certain death.” I keep running my fingers through his matted hair because I can’t help myself. “I don’t think she wanted us dead. She just needs to finetune her tactics.”

  “Sounds like someone else I know,” Zoltan drawls, and I thump my knuckles over his skull.

  He growls.

  “There is a method to my madness, I’ll have you know.” Chuckling weakly, I breathe through my nose in hopes my body will get the hint we are not having sex because when the male before me makes those sounds, it’s not getting the memo.

  “I’m looking forward to figuring it out.” His face turns and he drags his lips to the hollow where my neck meets my shoulder. “And I’m going to take my time learning everything you are, Francesca Drake.” His lips graze my skin with each word he speaks, making me shiver involuntarily.

  “We should go meet the others,” I choke out when he starts kissing a slow path towards my ear.

  “Mmmm.” His chest vibrates. “We should.” His tongue swirls out and takes the earring dangling from my lobe in his mouth, tugging on it.

  “We should,” I repeat as I struggle to breathe.

  “They’ll be fine for just a few more moments.” His hand burns a path from my back around my hip until I feel his fingers curling under the hem of the ripped dress.

  I shouldn’t have ripped it.

  The silk tickles my thighs as he painfully and ever-so-slowly tugs it up, the tips of his fingers pebbling my skin. He sweeps the edge of my panties, up and down, back and forth. I can’t stop the low moan that comes from deep in my throat. Zoltan groans at the sound, then his fingers slip inside. His thigh nudges my legs apart and he dips between the folds of my wet center.

  Back arching, my knees go weak and I sag against him. He presses his chest harder on mine, crushing my breasts so hard my nipples poke him. It sends a delicious thrill through my insides. Zoltan takes his time, the rough pads of his fingers gliding through my nether lips with controlled strokes. Circling my entrance makes me moan again. My hand tightens in his hair. Without giving me reprieve, he plunges two fingers inside me, his thumb pressing hard on my nub.

  “First, I need you to fall apart in my hands, Francesca.” He kisses the daylights out of me, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. “I almost lost you, so I need to feel you alive.”

  I chase his lips when he moves away with a whimper of protest and he chuckles with arrogant male pride at the power he has over me. The pumping of his fingers doesn’t ease, and I feel the tightening in my lower belly getting to the point of no return. My hips move in pursuit of his hand and the release it promises. The tempo of his hand is fast and unyielding, but his kiss stays the same, a seductive dance of our tongues. I think I’ll go insane if he moves away.

  Releasing my grip on his hair, I shove my hand between us and fumble with the button of his pants. He pulls his hips away to give me room to yank them open and wrap my fingers around the hard, warm flesh of his shaft. Zoltan grunts in pleasure and starts swiveling his hips, gliding his erection in my hand at the same time as his fingers stretch my channel. Our breathing speeds up and his kisses become less controlled, more frantic. It gives me an adrenaline surge to see him lose control. I tighten my hand on his cock and he grabs a handful of my hair, jerking my head to the side. I clench around his fingers, sucking them in just as his fangs sink into the skin of my neck.

  The orgasm hits me like a tsunami. My body jerks and twists in his arms, and I taste my own blood from biting my lip to stop myself from screaming his name. He pumps his hips faster, his cock swelling in my fingers while he drags deep mouthfuls of my blood, animalistic growls rumbling from his chest. Fingers still pumping inside me, he pulls his fangs away but swirls his tongue over the punctures before he erupts in my hand.

  “Francesca.” My name is a deep groan passing his lips before his mouth crushes mine, the warmth spurting from his cock all over my hand and wrist.

  We stand like that for several moments, both of us breathing heavily and Zoltan’s fingers sti
ll inside me, his hand cupping between my thighs possessively. I’m still not satisfied. I’m not sure I’ll ever have enough until he is inside me, and I have a weird feeling not even then. He is too addictive for my own good, but like the moth and all that, I guess I never learn a lesson the easy way. He is still gyrating his hips, pumping in my hand lazily as if he doesn’t want the moment to end. Judging by how hard he still is, I have no doubt we can stay here for a few hours more, if not longer.

  With great reluctance he moves away, holding my upper arms until I nod that I’m good to stand on my own two feet. Tucking himself in, he jumps down the stairs in two long loops. I frown and wonder what he is doing until I see him ripping the shirt of the hunter with the broken neck at the bottom of the stairs. The dead bodies in this room don’t even enter my mind while having Zoltan’s all-consuming presence wrapped around me like my own personal bubble.

  Taking the stairs three at a time, he comes back. Taking my hand, he cleans it up with an unnerving focus. His grip is gentle as he turns my wrist this way and that. When he deems it fit, he lifts it to his face and presses a soft kiss to the center of my palm. I swallow thickly, keeping my mouth shut so I don’t say something stupid. Zoltan rubs the balled-up fabric over the mess on his shredded clothing and on my dress. We are both covered in varying degrees of drying blood, so the evidence of our lust is hardly noticeable.

  The scent of it clinging to our skin is a totally different matter.

  You should’ve thought of that before riding his fingers, Franky. I shove that stupid voice as far in the back of my head as I can.

  Chucking the dirty shirt aside, Zoltan looks around before facing me. I know my face is turning red, but I refuse to look away from him. When his look softens at my tilted chin I want to scream. I don’t, but I really, really want to. Cupping my face in his large hand, he rubs his thumb over my cheekbone.

  “We have a lot to talk about, mo ghaol.” My stomach does a freefall somersault when he kisses my forehead. “First, let’s see what’s going on out there.”

  He pulls me to the side and opens the door, sticking his head out to check if anyone is waiting for us. I follow him dumbly, still shocked at how nice and natural it felt for him to be gentle—almost loving—like that with me. It’s a very dangerous way of thinking on my part but I can’t help it. I’ll blame it on hormones and post orgasmic bliss later on, I’m sure.

  Tugging on my hand, Zoltan leads me out of the basement and down the hall. I move faster to compensate for his longer strides, that way he doesn’t have to drag me behind him like a child. Then it hits me what he said.

  “What did I say to you back when you were playing a monkey in a cage?” Okay, so I could’ve phrased it better, but he has enough shit to stroke his ego. I need to bring him down a notch … or ten.

  “You don’t know?” He looks at me over his shoulder, but I’m pretending to pay attention to where we’re going.

  “Not all of us speak hundreds of languages and we haven’t all had centuries to learn them, either.”

  “You spoke it, not me.” I really want to slap the amusement off his face.

  “Yeah, well you have Fenrir to thank for that.” Glaring at him, I raise my chin. “He made this monster inside of me blend in and speak. I had nothing to do with it, nor can I control what it says.”

  In the back of my mind an idea forms. I can blame my dragon blood for acting deprived and getting all hot and heavy with Zoltan while dead bodies witnesses our little hump. My eyes flick to his face and the idea dies a sudden death from the knowing look he gives me. Grinding my teeth, I dismiss it. Fine, I’ll own up to being a horny freak. Damn vampires and their mind fucks.

  “He did well if he helped you integrate your magic. I remember Soren at the beginning having the same problem.” My eyebrows crawl up my forehead and hide in my hairline. Zoltan chuckles. “He told me about it, but I wasn’t around to witness it. I’m not that old.”

  “You’re still a cradle robber, mister.”

  Throwing his head back, he laughs.

  I stare at his throat working and the softening of the lines on his face. My lips twitch despite my trying to stay pissed at him. Then he squeezes my fingers, which he’s holding in his hand, and tugs on my arm good-naturedly. My insides turn to mush and, as stupid as I am, I’m surprised I don’t melt into a puddle on the floor.

  “You said, ‘I know that my love.’ Did you know?” It takes me a moment to understand that he translated my dual personality glitch.

  “I did not call you my anything. Stop making shit up.” I try to jerk my hand away as we round a corner, but of course he doesn’t allow it.

  “You’ll call me many things of yours when we get home.” I have to swallow the lump in my throat at his heated gaze.

  Home. What a strange way to phrase his or Fenrir’s apartment. I almost slap my forehead when it dawns on me that he is talking about the academy. As much as I like to talk crap just to naysay him, he has a very good point. Somewhere along the way, Daywalker Academy became my home. Warmth spreads through my chest at that.

  It disappears just as fast.

  “I have a problem with you going anywhere.” Alexius stands at the entrance of the foyer where the long hallway ends, his arms folded across his chest.

  19

  “Alexius.” Zoltan’s voice is harsh, and I feel like running the other way just hearing it. I’m not sure how Alexius stays facing him.

  I bristle when he nudges me behind him, the protective shit getting too frustrating to ignore. Not wanting to encourage any remarks from Alex, I grind my teeth but still step out to position myself next to the arrogant male. His shoulders stiffen slightly but thankfully he keeps his mouth shut. The two males are glaring at each other, so I have the time to look over Alex’s shoulder into the large, open area behind him.

  While we were secluded in our basement, everyone has continued to fight. There are too many people crowded together. They look like a shifting sea of black and white as they move around each other. A line of hunters is standing guard behind Alexius, protecting him from any of our people stabbing his stupid ass. Quite unfortunate, if you ask me.

  “Zoltan, I see you’ve had a little snack.” Cocking his head to the side, Alex narrows his eyes and glances from me to Zoltan. “I wondered if her blood could cure the poisoning from the potion.” I almost miss the muttering under his breath. “I’m happy to have my assumptions confirmed.” Speaking louder, he seems like he is growing in size when his arms drop to his sides. “Unfortunately, it means I can’t allow you to take her out of here.”

  “It’s a good thing I’m not asking for permission.”

  “You can try stop me.” I speak at the same time as Zoltan.

  A muscle ticks in Alex’s jaw, at the same time as one jumps in Zoltan’s. What can I say? I’m a woman of many talents. Pissing arrogant males off seems to be my specialty. A grin spreads across my face the longer Alex glowers at me. If the jerk expects me to let Zoltan fight my battles, he will be sorely disappointed. I may be a fish out of water when navigating the human world and dealing with daylight, but I’m way too familiar with putting assholes in their place. I’ve done it my whole life.

  “Oh, this asshole is mine.” Anger sparks up inside me when the hunter Zoltan called Jack steps next to Alexius. “Don’t you dare touch him; his ugly mug has a lot to answer for,” I hiss at Zoltan before he dares to shove me behind him again.

  “Arrogance can get you killed fast, Drake,” he growls under his nose and I turn to look at him incredulously.

  “You don’t say.” Sandpaper has nothing on the dryness of my words.

  Zoltan grins at me. There is no humor in the tilt of his lips.

  “Stay safe, Drake.” My pulse leaps at the intent look in his eyes. “I’ll kill you myself if you get hurt.”

  Facing Alex and the hunter, I roll my shoulders. “Ditto, buddy.” My stomach clenches when he chuckles next to me. “I’ll keep your feral ass for entertaining the mass
es on a daily basis if you let them poison you again.”

  “I have plans for you as soon as we get out of here, Francesca.” Both of us bend our knees when the two males move toward us. “Nothing will stand in the way of finishing what we started, that I promise you.” Well, as for motivation goes, I must admit the vampire has it down pat.

  Kill the assholes now, have sex later.

  It works for me.

  Alexius and the hunter move cautiously at us, their eyes darting to judge when we will move. Planning attacks has never worked for me so far, so I do what I’ve always done best. Jumping up, I bounce with one foot off Zoltan’s thigh and sail through the air right at Jack. He is still far enough away that I use the wall to propel my body further, taking advantage of the momentum to force Alexius a couple of steps back so they don’t end up on the ground together.

  Jack hunches in preparation of our collusion but the idiot doesn’t know I have something else in mind. I feel Zoltan right at my heels, his feet thumping on the ground while I move on the sides of the wall like gravity has no pull on my weight. The world bursts into colors and the hunter’s eyes bulge out like they’re ready to pop out of their sockets. He tightens his grip on the daggers in his hands, but I don’t give him time to even lift his arms and use his weapons.

  My fangs drop from my gums and I tear into the closest forearm, shaking my head and ripping out a chuck of muscle just as my shoulder hits him full force in the chest. We crash into the wall on the side, the daggers clinking on the ground when they slip from his fingers. There is a loud slap of two bodies smacking into each other when Alex and Zoltan slam together. It’s disappointing that the hunter doesn’t make a sound even when his nasty blood fills my mouth.

  I’m spitting it out and trying not to gag when he shoves me away from him. My ribs protest when I hit the opposite wall hard, barely missing the slashing claws from the two vampires fighting without holding back. Jack is up too fast, facing me with one arm bleeding like an open faucet at his feet. The stench of the tainted fluid is overwhelming to my senses so I breathe through my mouth. It doesn’t seem to bother anyone else.