Dark of Night: Beautiful Monsters: Ashwood Red

by Lane, Jex

  “You don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t kill them. And besides, it was a few years ago. I mean, I’m going to kill the Pale Man, but I don’t cry every night anymore…so there’s that, I guess.”

  “Mont.” The name came out strained.

  “Mont.” She repeated the name as if memorizing it.

  Darius gripped the wheel tighter again and took in several sharp breaths. “He killed my parents sixty-three years ago, and I still feel their loss.” Why had he told her that? He never spoke of such things to anyone. If other incubi knew the pain he still harbored, it’d put him in a position of weakness, and they’d use it against him. Yet, he wanted her to know.

  “How old are you?” she asked.

  “Seventy-one.”

  “Seriously? You said you were young. You don’t even look much older than me.”

  “I am young for my species. We’re considered young until our second transformation, which doesn’t happen until around a hundred. You really should read the book…”

  She sat thinking for a moment, and he felt a shift happen within her. Her body posture changed, becoming rigid and defensive, and Darius could sense the beginnings of anger welling within her. He wanted to touch her. Sooth her. Take away the pain. But he knew she wouldn’t allow it.

  Especially not when the anger seemed directed at him.

  “In all that time—” she started to say, then clenched her mouth shut. He waited, knowing she would be unable to stay silent. “In all that time, why didn’t you go after him? If you had killed him my parents would still be alive.”

  Her words stung. They were words that he had asked himself over and over through the years. Ashamed, he couldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m not a warrior. It’s not permitted.”

  “You could have gotten the tattoos like hunters and—”

  “Don’t you think I would have if I could? Incubi can’t use magic. Only humans and a handful of other creatures can.”

  A knock on the window startled both of them. The hunter, Walla, stood there. “Everything okay, my lord?”

  “We’re fine,” Darius said, and started the car moving again.

  Kat said nothing as they approached the academy’s impressive iron gates. A large wooden sign on the other side read: ‘Welcome to Ashwood VHA Pennsylvania. Est 1753.’

  “VHA? Vampire Hunting Academy?” Kat asked as the car slowed, waiting for the gate to open.

  Darius nodded.

  “This place has been here since 1753?”

  “It was set up a year after the High Lord General drove out the vampire lord, Ascelina, and made Ashwood his home.”

  “Vampire lord?”

  “Like Mont. A really old vampire. A few centuries into their life—and I’m not kidding here—they cocoon like caterpillars and go through physical changes. Most get wings, but some get different abilities, like turning into bats or mist or bloodhounds. Silver has less effect on them. They become stronger, faster. That kind of thing. Most get an extra blood pouch.”

  “Blood pouch?”

  After driving past the gate, Darius stopped the car. “You really are new to this. How on earth did you manage to kill vampires on your own without knowing what a blood pouch is?”

  Kat crossed her arms. “I staked them, then burned them or took off their heads. Are you going to tell me what it is or just mock me?”

  Darius laughed. “You are an impressive creature, you know that?”

  “Of the two of us, I’m not the creature here. Incubus.”

  Smiling wider, it pleased Darius she wasn’t a pushover. He studied her face, his eyes lingering too long but she said nothing. “It’s like an extra stomach where vampires store blood and convert it to energy. You pierce it, and it’ll weaken them. It’s messy though. Blood everywhere. My species has something similar, a gland we call a ‘soavik’. It’s where we store sexual energy.”

  “And if I pierce your gland, would it be messy too?”

  Darius raised his eyebrow. “Are you planning on killing me? Or another incubus?”

  “I don’t know yet. Depends. You’re a monster. Do you kill humans?”

  Again, Walla appeared outside the car, no doubt eager to get somewhere warm. Darius shot him a glance and the team leader backed off. “No. Our race doesn’t kill humans if we can avoid it. Sometimes it happens by mistake before we learn to control how much energy we’re draining from a human, but that’s rare.”

  Kat tucked her wild hair back behind her ear. “So you take what you want then discard us when you’re done?”

  “‘Us’?”

  “Humans. The ones you feed on. The ones you make have sex with you.”

  “Wait a moment, we don’t make humans have sex with us. Humans have sex with us because they want to.”

  “Because you change our emotions.”

  “Do you think I need to do that? I walk into a club, and I have ten people lined up begging to ride my cock. I manipulate their emotions to enhance pleasure, not so they’ll fuck me. I don’t need to.”

  Kat fell silent. Shit. He shouldn’t have been so crass.

  “I’m sorry. You—” he sighed. “You are the first to refuse me.”

  She laughed as if she didn’t believe him. “Ever?”

  Darius held out his hand. “Let me show you why people seek out incubi.”

  She stared at his hand, unmoving.

  “I won’t harm you. I’ll stop when you say stop.”

  Cautiously, she placed her hand in his. “So warm.”

  “I told you we run hot.” With care, he pushed pleasure into her hand and expanded it outward, letting the feeling bloom across her body. Her arousal was immediate, and Darius watched as splendid golden threads surrounded her. It was such a shame humans were unable to see the beauty their sexual energy held.

  Darius leaned over. He needed to taste her. His entire body shook with the desire of it.

  Before he could consume any of her, Kat’s eyes shot wide. “Stop.”

  He pulled away, keeping his face blank to hide the powerful effect she had on him. Stop, she had ordered. And he had done it. Right now, she could order him out of the car and to his knees, and he’d fall to them.

  Not that he could tell her that, she’d probably laugh in his face at such a notion.

  “See?” he said. “If you’d allow it, I’d give you the most mind-blowing sex you’ve ever had. I am quite skilled.”

  Kat blushed, and Darius beamed. He loved how she responded to him.

  “I just want to see the academy.” She didn’t. She wanted more, her body clearly on board with the mind-blowing sex idea. Normally, Darius had to be touching his prey to get a clear reading on their emotions, but she broadcast so strong that a newly transformed incubus could have read them.

  The sweet scent of her arousal drove him mad. His incubus form stirred beneath his skin, trying to force its way out. He fought it. “I don’t understand you, Kat, you clearly want me. You—” a thought came to Darius, one that should have come to him earlier. Sitting back into the seat, he laughed.

  Kat frowned. “What?”

  “You’re a virgin. That’s what this is about? That’s why you reject me? You don’t need to worry, I’ll be gentle. I could teach—”

  “I’m not a virgin, okay? I’m not here looking to get laid. I’m here to kill vampires.”

  “It’s possible to indulge in both.”

  Her eyes flared. “You aren’t human, and I’m not going to jump in bed with you just because you’re hot.”

  “You think I’m hot?” he asked, smirking.

  She got out of the car. “I’m walking the rest of the way.”

  The door slammed shut, leaving Darius stunned as she stormed down the road. He wished she hadn’t done that so publicly. He couldn’t see his bodyguard team but he knew they were out there, and hunters were almost as bad as incubi with keeping their lips sealed. Now the entire household would know about the rejection, and he’d likely have to deal with the fallout for wee
ks.

  Surprisingly, the social humiliation was secondary to the rejection itself. And that bothered him. This…feeling. He cared what she thought of him and he hated that.

  He got out of the car. “Wait.” Darius ran to catch up. “Wait. No. I’m sorry, Kat.” Kat spun around on her heels. He reached out but stopped short of touching her when she glared at him. “I know this is all new to you. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I don’t think I like you.”

  “But…everyone likes me.”

  “Do they? Why?”

  “I’m friendly. And personable. And good-looking. And a high standing member of one of the most powerful incubi households.”

  Kat laughed. “Yeaaaaah. I’ll give you two out of four.” She turned and walked away.

  “But—”

  She waved her hand to let him know she was no longer listening and kept going. Darius couldn’t hold back his incubus side anymore. His shirt ripped as his wings emerged and his horns came forward. His eyes began glowing. For the sake of his shoes, he managed to stop his hooves from emerging, but couldn’t stop the low animal-like growl from bubbling from deep within him. It filled the cold winter silence. Kat paused as he stalked towards her. When she didn’t turn, he grabbed her arm and whipped her around.

  Her face was hard, he could feel her anger rippling off her, but the fierce warrior didn’t fight him.

  He wanted her more than he wanted anything. She’s yours. Take her. His incubus said to him. But no, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

  Instead, he stood paralyzed by her beautiful fury. Soft lips he’d never conquer. A body he’d never feel pressed against his. A wildfire he could only admire from a distance. His chest felt tight, and his breathing labored.

  “Please,” he started, “one kiss.”

  For a moment he thought for sure she was going to punch him again, but Kat tossed a hard glance at the clawed hand gripping her arm.

  He released her but couldn’t bring himself to step away, not when every part of him wanted to step in closer. “Commander Lock made a mistake pairing us together. It’s clear I’m a poor choice to introduce you to our world. I’ll let him know he should find someone else for you.”

  He braced himself, waiting for her to walk away from him.

  She didn’t. Her face softened. “You’re really arrogant. And vain. If you took like two seconds to think before you spoke, I might like you better. And—”

  He didn’t wait for her to finish. Leaning down, his lips crashed onto hers, possessive and passionate. She parted for him. Triumphant, he swiped his tongue into her mouth and drank in her sweet taste.

  Unable to hold back, he wrapped his strong arms around her. She melted against him, and golden light emerged from her body. Darius fed on it. It was a small amount, but it was heavenly—a delicacy sent from the goddess Ilertha herself.

  He flapped his wings, satisfied by the victory.

  But he wanted more. Not just a taste. Not just a night. More. All.

  A wonderful moan escaped her as their kiss deepened, and his hands slid up her back, claws tangling in her hair. He wanted to completely envelop her.

  “Ah, so this is why you ditched me tonight,” a deep male voice said from behind them.

  8

  Kat

  Kat pulled away from Darius as another low rumble escaped the incubus. This time it wasn’t directed at her, but rather a newcomer who leaned against a tree, arms crossed.

  Her head swam. Darius had been so frustrating. She was ready to list off every conceited misstep he had taken when he had kissed her. And she had liked the kiss.

  A lot.

  The man…creature…incubus drove her crazy. He was arrogant and egotistical…but she felt a connection to him now. They both lost their family to Mont. It had been unfair of her to be so upset that he hadn’t gone after the vampire. He clearly wanted to. But he wasn’t a fighter, even if he looked like he hit the gym regularly.

  He understood that time didn’t dull the pain like everyone said it would. The pain fueled her, making her more resolute in her desire to extract vengeance and bring peace to her parents’ memory.

  For a moment—before he opened his gorgeous, pompous mouth—she thought maybe she could share that with Darius.

  But the idea evaporated when she remembered why she was here. She couldn’t afford to lose focus, and the incubus was a distraction. The kiss proved that; for a moment, she let herself forget how angry she was. How dare she do that to her parents. As if their deaths were nothing compared to a kiss.

  “Go away, Tane,” Darius said through a clenched jaw.

  Tane, dressed in stylish jeans and a shirt, uncrossed his arms and pushed off the tree. He had a chiseled chin, dusty blond hair he kept messy, and dark blue eyes. He was wider than Darius but not taller. Like every other incubus she had seen, he was good-looking. He even carried himself with the same haughty attitude.

  The new incubus eyed Kat. “And you are…?”

  Darius stepped in front of Kat, his massive wings blocking her view. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”

  “Excuse me?” she asked, stepping around him.

  Darius glanced at her. “I only mean that—”

  “I can speak for myself.” She stuck her hand out to Tane. “I’m Kat. Lock is sponsoring me to be a hunter.”

  Tane took her hand and pressed a kiss on it. Seriously? Who did that? But, maybe she should have known better by now.

  He didn’t release her hand, caressing it with his thumb. “Commander Lock? You must be impressive. He’s never sponsored anyone before.”

  Grabbing her shoulders, Darius yanked Kat away from the other incubus. “She’s extraordinary. Now if you’ll excuse us…”

  “If you are going to tour Ashwood, I’d be happy to show you around. As a warrior, I know quite a bit about the academy.”

  Darius moved between Kat and Tane for a second time. “That isn’t necessary.”

  The high from the incredible kiss faded, and he was back to pissing her off.

  She stepped around his wing—again—and pointedly ignored Darius. “You’re a warrior? I thought all warriors were big.”

  Tane’s blue eyes turned dark purple at the edges as they flicked to Darius. “Not all. And I am one of the best warriors here. I’ve killed many vampires, unlike some.”

  Darius balled his fists, and his nostrils flared. A dark, triumphant expression crossed Tane’s face, and he widened his shoulders.

  “I supported the war in other ways,” Darius forced out between his teeth.

  Tane shrugged. “Yeah, buying clothes for my father and amusing his guests has certainly furthered our war efforts.”

  Darius’ eyes went wide, and he launched himself at Tane, his claws swiping the warrior’s chest, drawing blood.

  Tane laughed as his fist drove into Darius’ shoulder, sending him to the ground. He recovered quickly and was back on his feet, lunging at Tane, who dodged his attacks with ease.

  Kat backed away as the two incubi traded blows. She didn’t want any part of this.

  Green light filled the area and the hunter team that had been escorting them teleported in. The leader—at least the one Kat assumed was the leader—raised his wrist to his mouth and spoke. “Dispatch, inform Commander Cullip that Lord Tane and Lord Darius are fighting just inside the academy’s gates. Find out if he wants us to pull them off each other.” The hunter’s words came out almost bored, as if this was a common occurrence.

  If there was an answer, Kat didn’t hear it. She noticed all six hunters around her wore earpieces, along with heavy winter cloaks, thick leathers, and were armed with plenty of weapons.

  Darius slid across the ground and slammed into a tree. Something between a grunt and a cry of pain escaped him. His wings stretched as he stood and went at Tane again. Kat grew legitimately worried for Darius. Tane looked skilled enough to end this fight at any point, but instead he taunted the social incubus, chuckling. He even let Darius get
a hit in before returning with his own blow, knocking the wind from him.

  Kat took a step towards Darius. The air sizzled, and a heavy gloved hand landed on her shoulder. Behind her stood a hunter wearing a frightening black skull mask. The design of his leather uniform was like something from medieval Spain, but with lots of extra buckles. He had no cloak to hide the plethora of weapons he was armed with, including a sash of silver throwing knives.

  Five more hunters had appeared with him. The man didn’t release Kat as he motioned to his team to break up the fight. A woman—she couldn’t be more than five feet tall—teleported behind Darius, grabbed his shoulder, and yanked him to the ground.

  Darius, bleeding from small cuts and covered in freshly blooming bruises, sneered at her but didn’t resist the small hunter.

  Three other hunters grabbed Tane, who fought against them, throwing them off with ease.

  “That’s enough, Lord Tane,” the hunter holding onto Kat said.

  Tane snarled but stopped.

  Darius stood, his chest heaving, his clothes shredded. Had the fight gone on any longer, Kat wasn’t sure he’d be able to stand. He looked terrible.

  He glanced at Kat, and his face turned from one of anger to humiliation. His pride wounded. “Please excuse me,” he grunted out between heavy breaths and limped back to his car. The hunters parted out of his way, and as soon as he was in the driver’s seat, he took off.

  Tane started to leave.

  “Lord Tane, a moment. What happened here?” the hunter in the skull mask asked from behind her.

  Tane shrugged. “He attacked me.”

  “Pissing match over the girl, sir,” Walla said.

  “Her?” Tane raised an eyebrow at Kat. “She’s nothing special.”

  Now Kat surged at Tane, but the strong hand on her shoulder spun her around. He removed his mask, revealing an older man with many small scars across his hard face, and a trimmed greying goatee.

  He looked her up and down. In fact, they all studied her—twelve hunters plus Tane. Kat felt her cheeks heat under the scrutiny, but she kept her face impassive and squared her shoulders.