Wild and Free

by Kristen Ashley

  Watching this, it caused Yuri to have the contradicting desire to shake her because she was being aggravating, smile at her because, regardless of how maddening it was, it was still adorable, and kiss her, mostly because it wasn’t just adorable, it was damnably adorable.

  Suddenly, her face went slack and she breathed, “Holy crap, The Prophesies are coming true.”

  He had no time for this.

  “Stop being charming and tell me what you know,” he ordered.

  Another blink and a breathed, “Charming?”

  He bent closer so his face was in hers. However, she simply stared into his eyes, no longer pressing back.

  “You know of the athame I spoke of,” he bit out. “Now, you can choose to tell me who possesses it, or possessed it twenty years ago. Or you can choose to force me to extract that information from you. What you can’t do is take time to make your choice since I don’t have time. So choose now.”

  “Extract it from me?”

  He shrugged. “Waterboarding, flaying, skinning, tearing your fingernails out by their roots, pulling your teeth out one by one, burning, pressing, choking, or I could feed from you while I play with you, denying you your climax until you tell me what I wish to know,” he shared.

  “Climax?”

  “Orgasm,” he clipped.

  Another blink.

  Bloody fucking hell.

  “Witch—” he started to warn.

  “You didn’t get them all,” she declared, and he pulled back an inch.

  “Pardon?”

  “There were witches who held power that you didn’t burn or drown. You didn’t get them all. None of the ones who’d survived held the power of those your kind swept from the earth, and they have been using the powers they have left to hide for centuries. But that isn’t it. The important thing the vampires missed is that you didn’t destroy the implements.”

  Fuck.

  “The athame,” he murmured.

  She nodded. “I know who has it. I know who used it on the hybrid. I didn’t know he was a hybrid, but the story went viral after she’d messed it up. She’s a little, well…out of it because she didn’t succeed in her mission and they were pissed and didn’t hide they were pissed. They went loco and didn’t care who knew it. But they have it. They actually have several blessed instruments that it isn’t real great they have. They sent her on that mission. They’re a coven. A powerful one. You’re fast and strong, but they have protections no way you’ll get through. You could bring a hundred vampires and you’d all burn.”

  He drew in breath through his nose as he stood.

  While he contemplated this new dilemma, she pushed to her feet and he noted what he hadn’t had the opportunity to note before: she was petite. She couldn’t be taller than five foot three. As he was six-one, he towered over her.

  Another contradiction for he usually preferred statuesque women who met his height, or close to it, in heels. However, there was something immensely attractive about her stature and he was beginning to understand the escalation in the already-rabid protection that was his nature that Callum had toward Sonia. Sonia was small for a wolf, shorter, and when Callum met her, slimmer (though, Callum had seen to the last without delay, filling out his sister’s curves as was wolf).

  Yuri had never felt protective of a female in his entire life, but regardless of the fact that he’d just been choking her, right then, he couldn’t deny he felt it with this witch.

  He also couldn’t deny that he enjoyed the feeling.

  He kept her pinned close to the wall simply by not moving as he buried these feelings that, at that time, he didn’t have the luxury to explore.

  “You wanna save the world?” she asked softly, and he focused on her.

  “I’m not hunting witches for the fuck of it in the middle of a global crisis,” he returned.

  She nodded, then asked another question. “It was really the hybrid?”

  Yuri scowled at her for he’d already given her that information.

  She studied him and she took her time doing it.

  “Time is of the essence,” he drawled. “By my calculations, you have approximately three seconds to contemplate your desire to assist me before I make the decision for you and force you to do so.”

  She straightened her shoulders and held his gaze. “You’ll need me to get to that coven.”

  “And have you lead me to my burning?” he asked and shook his head. “I don’t fancy that.”

  “Okay,” she said, throwing out a hand. “I’m not a big fan of vampires, and my mom would be, like, super pissed if she knew I was even thinking this, but for some messed up reason, I believe you.”

  “That reason might be because I’m telling the truth.”

  At his words, she smiled and he wished she hadn’t done that. It lit her eyes and made her smell like nothing but blood and sunshine and happiness, and he wanted that taste on his tongue so much, he felt it in his cock in a way it was not a desire, it was a need.

  He made a warning noise in his throat.

  She kept smiling. “And Mom would lose her mind if she knew I was gonna help you.”

  “And you’ll be doing that by giving me the names of the witches in this coven and their location,” he prompted.

  “Nope.” She shook her head. “I’ll be doing that by taking you to the witch who attacked the hybrid and helping you talk to her so you can get her story. Then I’ll be taking you to the coven and getting you in so they don’t burn you to oblivion.”

  He opened his mouth to tell her she’d be doing nothing of the sort, but she kept going, lifting her hand to point her finger at him and assuming a severe expression that was far from severe and a lot closer to adorably amusing.

  “No waterboarding,” she warned.

  “Witch—”

  “Or flaying, fingernail tearing, tooth pulling, or any of that other stuff you said. We talk, I do some hocus pocus, we get her story. But I’ll warn you now, she’s cuckoo.” She lifted her hand higher and circled her finger at the side of her head. “They did a number on her when she failed. But rumor on the witch vine is that she wasn’t all there before she went on that mission. So it might take some doing. We just have to do it without waterboarding.”

  Yuri took a step back but didn’t retreat further. He simply did it so he could more comfortably cross his arms on his chest.

  “And how am I supposed to trust you?”

  “I don’t know. Isn’t that what trust is? You just give it and, abracadabra, it’s there.”

  His brows snapped together. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “It’s still true.”

  “I’ll repeat, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, but this time I’ll share that’s the case and I’m bloody six hundred and ninety-seven years old.”

  Another blink, this one coming along with her full lips parting.

  “Witch—” he tried again.

  She stuck out her hand, interrupting him. “I’m Aurora.”

  For fuck’s sake.

  “Please tell me your witch mother did not name her witch daughter Aurora,” he clipped.

  Her hand dropped and her expression betrayed hurt when she said quietly, “She did.”

  He looked to the ceiling, partly due to exasperation but also irritatingly due to the fact he didn’t like to witness that expression, especially with the knowledge he gave it to her.

  Once his eyes were to the ceiling, he muttered, “Bloody hell.”

  “They’ll kill you,” she said softly, and he looked back to her to see she’d rearranged her features, hiding them behind a vacant mask, and Yuri found that even more difficult to witness. “They’re witches. And since they are, has it occurred to you that if they’re conniving to trip The Prophesies one way or another, they would never, not ever, ally themselves with vampires?”

  It hadn’t.

  It should have.

  Yuri said nothing.

  “They’
re planning something else,” she continued.

  Brilliant. They did not need to contend with angry, conniving witches along with everything else.

  Yuri again clenched his teeth.

  She wasn’t done and she straightened her shoulders when she continued, “So, you need me. I’m young, but I come from a long line so I’ve got juice. I also know people and they have juice. I can speak for you and get you what you need without anyone dying, most especially you.”

  He examined her. She was still wearing her mask, but she couldn’t hide it all from him. There was a hint of fear but a stronger hint of excitement. And, again, courage. Her heart was beating steady and strong, if fast.

  Her gaze was unwavering.

  Fuck it.

  “I’m not one to be trifled with,” he warned at the same time he capitulated.

  She lifted her hand to her neck, which was marked with the red welts he’d given her, and fuck him, he had to fight back a flinch.

  “I got that.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “This is dangerous for you.”

  “In a variety of ways, least of which is teaming up with a vampire, and since my kind seriously hate your kind, that’s saying something.”

  “Then explain why you’re doing it,” he demanded.

  That got him yet another blink. “Um, well, I guess to save the world. I know a fair number of humans. It’d suck if they were enslaved and forced to exist for the whim of demented immortals. And Lord knows what that coven has in mind. They’ve been chewing on centuries of rage and that’s never a good thing.”

  At least with that she unquestionably spoke the truth.

  “So you’re assisting me as well as giving me your protection,” he stated.

  “Yes,” she confirmed.

  “If that’s the truth, I also give you mine, to the death,” he returned, and her head jerked.

  “Is that a vow?” she asked.

  “It is,” he answered firmly.

  Her eyes again grew wide and she breathed, “A vampire vow?”

  She clearly knew that no vampire would break a vow, not for any reason. They’d kill to keep it, or die for the same reason.

  “I am vampire and I just verified it was a vow, so yes, obviously, it was a vampire vow,” he answered unnecessarily.

  “Well then.” The mask slipped as a smile dawned and her hand came out again. “We just became a team.”

  Heaven help him.

  He stared at her beautiful face, then he stared at her small, lovely hand.

  Slowly, he lifted his and curled his fingers around hers, engulfing her hand in his.

  She didn’t let him go as she asked, “What’s your name?”

  “Yuri.”

  “Promise me something, Yuri,” she said, still holding his hand.

  “What?” he asked.

  “When you meet my mother, be cool. No choking or the like. She’s already gonna flip. I’ll talk her around, but there’s no talking around choking, and…erm, the like. Not with my mom. She’s awesome, but I’m sure it won’t surprise you that vampires are not her thing, like at all. She’ll be big on helping to save the world, but she won’t pretend to like doing it with a vampire.”

  Yuri did not like where this was going. “And why would I meet your mother?”

  She continued to hold his hand but lifted her other one and his tightened around hers when she flicked out her fingers.

  A profuse scattering of pink and blue particles flew from her hand and twinkled for but a moment before they exploded into hundreds of butterflies that drifted about the room, lighting it with a glow from their shimmering gossamer wings. Then they exploded in miniature fireworks and disappeared.

  Yuri was six hundred and ninety-seven years old and it was one of the most beautiful things he’d seen in all his history.

  Slowly, he turned his head back to her when she tugged his hand.

  He found her grinning even as she leaned in, her mouth moving.

  “Because I have juice, but my mom…” Her grin turned into a smile he definitely felt in his cock. “She rocks.”

  Bloody…fucking…hell.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Brother

  Abel

  Abel sat in the passenger seat of the SUV beside Callum in the early morning dark before dawn.

  And he did it feeling shit.

  He’d lied to Delilah.

  He’d left her half-asleep in bed after he kissed her and he did this with her thinking what he’d told her the day before: that he was training with all the men somewhere on the property and he wouldn’t be back until noon.

  Delilah wasn’t big on early mornings, and seeing as he left their bed before four, this meant she didn’t haul her ass out to watch him train. She also didn’t ask what was up and why the training had changed.

  She trusted him.

  Completely.

  Which was part of the reason why he felt shit.

  But he’d been feeling shit for a while, the entire lead-up to having to tell the lie, knowing he’d eventually have to do it.

  So he felt more shit now having done it.

  The only good thing that came from the last four days of planning this mission was Abel coming to the understanding that Lucien and Callum knew their shit.

  With Callum, this wasn’t a surprise.

  With nothing to do but fuck, train, and sit around chatting, Callum and Lucien had explained a great deal of supernatural history to him. And although vampires kept a choke hold on their kind after the last insurrection burned down half of London, wolves didn’t. Seeing as Callum explained wolves were passionate, lusty, and prone to quick tempers, this meant they skirmished often.

  And that meant Callum had experience, including experience with the rebel wolves who wanted world dominance for supernaturals. The good news with that was he’d been successful in bringing them low during a recent battle.

  The results of this were that even Gregor’s intelligence reported that the wolf part of the current rebel faction was few. This was because Callum and his army had recently kicked their asses in a way that any who might be leaning toward that would think twice. Losing a brother and his father to it, not to mention Sonia being targeted by the rebels, it wasn’t surprising he didn’t leave a lot of them breathing.

  Lucien’s last experience was five hundred years ago as a general in the last vampire-on-vampire war, but he’d not grown rusty.

  Abel had none of their strategic or battle experience, but even so, they were cool with him, explaining everything, sharing it all, asking for his input and opinions.

  He didn’t have much to give them, and although it sucked not having anything to offer, so they’d get on with shit, Abel made it clear he was down with that. He wasn’t happy to be a soldier in this mess, but he’d do anything to ensure his future with Delilah, his mate, the one he’d waited lifetimes for, the only human who would be at his side for eternity.

  So they had it all covered, including letting Gregor in on what they were planning and utilizing his resources.

  Gregor had not done cartwheels after learning their plans. He even went head-to-head with both Callum and Lucien in an effort to put a stop to it. But the vampire was not on his game and gave in surprisingly quickly.

  Abel got this, seeing as he’d finally shared what his son was up to, this being looking for the witch who’d cut Abel in order to find out who’d sent her.

  Abel was mildly pissed about this as he’d have liked to have gone with Yuri mostly because he wouldn’t mind seeing that bitch again. That being so he’d have the opportunity to return the favor and give her a scar she’d have for a lifetime. One you could see, or one you couldn’t, he didn’t give a fuck.

  But he hadn’t been given a choice, and even if Gregor wasn’t exactly a vampire prone to great displays of warmth and kindness, it was obvious he gave a shit about his son and was worried.

  So they were off, all of them, on their mission. Free from their elaborate cage.
Abel in the SUV with Callum, Hook in the backseat; Lucien driving the SUV they were following, Ryon, Calder, and Caleb with him; and last, there was a detail of security around them that included Wei and Xun on their bikes.

  Moose had not reported back, another thing that prayed on his mind, as it did Delilah’s. Hook assured them his bud could win a medal at squeezing all he could get out of a bender. But that was before anyone who meant anything to one of The Three was in danger.

  Poncho had reported in that he’d bested the goat and snake test, but apparently, that wasn’t enough for his aunt, so something involving cactus juice and a visit with his ancestors was up next. Again, Poncho didn’t go into specifics and Abel didn’t ask.

  His cell went, taking his mind off all that shit, and he leaned forward to pull it out of his back pocket.

  He checked the screen and took the call.

  “Yo.”

  “Reporting in. All in place. We’re a go,” a man said, then disconnected.

  Abel took the phone from his ear and told the windshield, “They’re in place. It’s a go.”

  “Good,” Callum muttered.

  “Fuck,” Hook also muttered.

  Abel looked to the backseat. “You all right?”

  It was a pertinent question. Hook looked wiped, hungover, and worn way the fuck out.

  Then again, Hook had decided to spend last night with his vampire and it was written all over him they both gave it all they could give.

  “Can’t complain,” Hook answered. “Fucking with that bitch feeding, meetin’ a woman who can hold her liquor as good as I can and go all night, finally hit the foot of the stairway to heaven. So yeah, I’m all right. More than all right. But that doesn’t mean I’m not fucked out, my balls shot dry, and I don’t got bourbon instead of blood in my veins. Even so, if things go south for me this mornin’, least you know I ended my days on this earth just like I wanted.”

  Abel faced forward, murmuring, “Way too fuckin’ much information,” then heard Hook’s chuckle.

  Callum must have felt his mood because he didn’t chuckle.

  Instead, he assured quietly, “All is in place and we’ve planned well, brother.”