Vermilion Lies

by L. D. Rose

  Blaze bent over and removed the blanket, unfolding the black fabric. Shifting out of his seat, he shrouded every inch of Dax’s bare skin, gently tucking him into the wool. Dax squeezed his eyes shut, unable to look at him, tasting salt and blood on his tongue. Blaze rested his scarred hand on his head in a gesture of comfort, his brother’s skin almost hot to the touch as his warmth seeped into Dax’s very soul.

  “We’re going to find her, D,” he rumbled softly. “I swear it.”

  “Ah,” JJ announced, but paused for a beat, listening to something none of them could hear. “Looks like we won’t have to.”

  Dax’s eyes snapped open as he moved to sit, but Blaze eased him back. “What?” he croaked, a spark of hope kindling in his chest.

  JJ sped up, taking West 14th to 10th Ave. “She’s with Rome at the Hudson Yards. They’re both safe, but Alek got away.”

  “Fucking sissy,” Kayne growled, but Dax didn’t give a shit about Alek right now.

  They’re safe. Thank God.

  “Looks like King Leech froze an entire train,” JJ added, reciting Rome’s words while they communicated telepathically, his obsidian eyes meeting Dax’s in the rearview mirror.

  “What?” Kayne again, dumbfounded as Blaze’s lips parted.

  Dax set his jaw. It didn’t matter. They would deal with it.

  Grimacing as he sat up, Dax wrapped the blanket around himself and Blaze let him. No way was he lying down now. “Let’s get them.”

  “Don’t have to tell me twice,” JJ said as he rocketed up 10th toward West 34th Street. “They’re at the entrance to the High Line.”

  They arrived in no time and Rome strode out from behind the security gate, his stone-cold expression cracking with relief at the sight of them. Cindy stood there, watching uncertainly, her fingers intertwined between the gray bars as if she were peeking out from behind a cage. In that moment, she was the most beautiful thing Dax had ever seen, her raven hair tangled around her pale face, her skin bruised, her lips pursed, and her brow pinched with worry.

  Rome motioned for her to follow him across the street while Blaze opened his door and climbed out. When she glimpsed Dax through the darkly tinted windows, she raised her hands to her mouth, her delicate features transforming with shock as she ran toward him.

  Blaze ushered her in while Rome rounded the SUV and she crashed into Dax’s arms, releasing a sob that broke his aching heart. She hugged him tightly, so tightly, as if she never wanted to let go, and he locked his arms around her, promising he wouldn’t. Nuzzling her neck, he breathed her in, that sweet cherry and ash scent no longer reminding him of death but life. Her body trembled so hard against his as he cupped the back of her silken hair, pressing a kiss to her temple.

  “I’ve missed you,” he whispered, pouring every ounce of emotion into the words.

  She drew back, grabbing his face, her bloodshot eyes brimming with tears as she took in his swollen features, his countless wounds, his half-naked skin. “What did he do to you?”

  Dax winced as his back brushed the leather seat, the hooks making their presence known. When she noticed them, her jaw slackened, her expression burgeoning with horror as he shook his head, beating back his own tears.

  “I’m okay, it’s nothing—”

  “No! I’m going to murder him—”

  “Shhh.” Dax traced her lips with his thumb, framing her cheeks in his battered hands. “I’m alive. You’re alive. We’re alive. Nothing else matters.” He caressed her already healing contusions. “What about Montague?”

  “He’s dead,” she said hoarsely, unable to rein in the flood of her scarlet tears. “I . . . I killed him.”

  “Now that’s my girl.” He smiled, wiping the moisture away as he kissed her quivering mouth. “Let’s go home. We’ll murder Alek another day.”

  She let out a cross between a sob and a laugh, pressing her lips to his fingers, gazing at him with so much love in her onyx eyes he could hardly bear it. He felt it too, from the deep, dark depths of his soul, his pain a little less now, his strength a little more, his hope refilled and overflowing.

  He loved her. No matter what she was, who she’d been, she’d crept beneath his skin and snuck into his heart, suffused his mind until all he could think about was this gorgeous creature cradled in his arms at this very moment.

  And he would keep her for as long as she’d have him.

  Careful not to hurt him, she nestled against his chest, her hands balling in the blanket as if she wanted to crawl inside him. He rested his chin on the crown of her head and they stayed that way, the Expedition moving again, cruising onto the highway out of hell.

  Rome ended up in the seat in front of him with Blaze opposite, el Diablo side-eyeing them from behind his shades, his lips twitching. JJ kept looking in the rearview mirror, his eyes scrunched up like he was grinning, and Kayne propped his boot up on the dash before the Fed slapped it down with a curse.

  “Calm your tits, Johnnie James.” Kayne chuckled as he slouched in his seat. “It’s already filthy. Pull the cork out of your arse.”

  Dax couldn’t resist a smile as he leaned forward slightly, one hand grazing the back of Rome’s nape and squeezing his brother’s shoulder.

  Rome craned his head, revealing his hard-edged profile as Dax murmured, “Thank you. For saving us all.”

  The corner of his brother’s mouth lifted as he covered Dax’s cold hand with his warm one, the inside of Dax’s scalp tingling with their renewed connection.

  Thank her. She saved us all. Including me.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Warmth.

  Cindel drifted awake to the sensation on her face, her throat, her arm. The backs of her eyelids shone red, and as they fluttered open, she met the brilliant light of the sun.

  Her heart cartwheeled, but she didn’t panic this time.

  Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly, reveling in the rays’ warm kisses. She was getting used to this. Her skin didn’t so much as prickle, her body’s rhythm unperturbed as she eased into awareness.

  The blankets shifted beside her and she turned her head, peering.

  Dax stared back at her, wide-awake, head propped up on an elbow.

  She blinked a few times and he gave her a languid smile, his exotic eyes twinkling, looking glorious and so, so happy. They were in his massive bedroom—a resting place designed for a billionaire—with floor-to-ceiling windows, mahogany furniture, and a cool blue and gray color scheme. Even the king-sized bed felt like floating on a cloud, the pillows and covers steeped in his mint and bergamot scent.

  Her own little slice of heaven.

  He tapped her nose, her chin, then trailed his finger along her jaw. “Good morning.”

  She purred and turned toward him, huddling under the covers. “I like mornings.”

  He laughed, a lovely, deep sound. “You’re in the minority on that one.”

  “You don’t?”

  “Only when I wake up next to you.”

  She grinned as he tucked her unruly hair behind her ear, his azure aura subdued but glowing contently. It’d been one week since that nightmare in the Meatpacking District and neither one of them had left the Senary compound since. As soon as they arrived, his brother Kasen had miraculously healed him, erasing any and all evidence of the horrific trauma he’d endured. But Dax still had a long way to go, and he needed time to recover, so his brothers allowed her to stay with him.

  She’d met them all, including Kaj, the shapeshifter, and Shaul, a hybrid with eyes as empty as a graveyard and whose aura held one of the darkest hues she’d ever encountered. Blaze, Lawan, and Jon had visited frequently, familiar faces that comforted her amongst these terrifying strangers. Even Valerie, Blaze’s mate, became a cautious friend, and Cindel quickly grew to admire the human’s strength and tenacity.


  But through it all, Cindel hadn’t left Dax’s side for an instant, spending every waking and non-waking moment with him.

  She must’ve been staring at him, because he suddenly asked, “I look weird without the piercings, don’t I?”

  His lips curved as she cupped his cheek, smoothing her thumb across his eyebrow. “A little,” she teased. “The tattoos are more shocking. You almost look normal. Like me.”

  He leaned over and kissed her softly. “Babe,” he murmured against her lips. “You’re far from normal.”

  She pushed him away playfully. “That’d better be a compliment.”

  “The best kind.” He grinned as she stroked his arm, running her fingertips along the olive skin that once displayed his inked death count.

  “It’s amazing,” she said, sobering. “How he healed you. Not a single scar left behind.”

  “Yeah, well . . .” Dax rubbed the scruff on his chin. “I don’t know what any of us would do without him.”

  Yesterday, while Dax underwent physical therapy, the fair healer and his pregnant fiancée had broached the topic of experimentation with her. Because both she and Alek were able to acquire Dax’s traits, Kasen and Veronica hoped to obtain a blood sample from her in order to study how it occurred. By understanding why, it could potentially give them an advantage in the event they faced off against Alek again. Or, God forbid, if another hybrid was ever taken hostage.

  Cindel agreed without hesitation. At this point, she’d do anything to defeat that monster and keep them all safe.

  Pulling her out of her reverie, Dax framed her face in his hands and tugged the corners of her mouth up. “Stop frowning,” he said and she laughed.

  “I’m sorry.” She put on her best smile. “I was just thinking.”

  “I know.” He kissed her forehead before releasing her. “I can tell. Too much of that lately.”

  “Are you going to get them again? The tattoos?”

  He nodded. “And the piercings. Unless you prefer otherwise.”

  “No,” she blurted. “I want them all back.”

  He flashed her a knowing grin, waggling his brows. “All of them, huh?”

  She trailed her fingers over his bare chest. “Only if you want them too.”

  “Of course I do.” He took her hand and pressed his lips to the center of her palm. “They’re who I am. And I won’t let anyone take that away from me.”

  Her heart stuttered at both the gesture and his words. “Me too.”

  Smiling tenderly, he scooped an arm around her waist and dragged her to him. She spooned her back against him as their bodies melded, his lean, hard physique beside her soft, pliant one.

  He nuzzled her hair as she murmured, “I’m going to meet Rome today.”

  Dax stilled. Then sighed, his breath tickling her shoulder. “Cindy, you don’t have to—”

  “I do,” she interrupted, silencing his objection. “I want to.” She shifted to meet his eyes, his irises so blue and deep she could easily drown in them.

  And she had.

  “After what Alek did to me, to you, I want to help.” She swallowed around the growing lump in her throat. “And if Rome can find out anything through me, then so be it. What’s the harm?”

  Now Dax frowned, worry lining his chiseled features. “You don’t know Rome.”

  “What?” Confusion settled in. “Will he hurt me?”

  “No.” He shook his head for emphasis. “He won’t. But it’ll take a lot out of you. And you don’t owe him anything—you’ve proven your loyalty beyond a shadow of a doubt. He’ll know everything about you, and I mean everything, your every secret and desire. Are you prepared for that?”

  She nodded after a beat, infusing resolve into her voice. “I am. I don’t have anything to hide anymore. I’m tired of hiding. Of lying.”

  He pursed his lips, kissed her shoulder. Met her eyes. “All right. But I’m going with you. No negotiation.”

  “Dax—”

  “Nope, shhh, quiet.” He plugged his fingers in his ears. “La, la, laaaaa.”

  She rolled her eyes, elbowing him. “All right, master—”

  He nipped at her earlobe and she gasped at the tantalizing sting, goosebumps rippling over her skin and tightening her nipples.

  “Hmm, what’s this?” He chuckled before he drew his tongue along her neck, his hand sliding from her belly to massage her breast. She whimpered as he licked that oh-so sensitive spot between her throat and shoulder, biting and sucking on it gently. Heat flared in her sex while he hardened behind her, pleasure spreading from her core to the tips of her toes.

  “When are you meeting him?” he whispered, blowing his hot breath across her wet skin.

  “This afternoon,” she moaned and suddenly found herself on her back as he hovered over her, easing that muscled body between her legs.

  “Good, we have time.” He seized her mouth, his tongue plunging inside her, erasing all rational thought. She wrapped her legs around his waist, but he didn’t enter her, torturing her with his lips instead. The sun bathed him from behind as he licked the recesses of her mouth, tracing her teeth with his tongue, and nibbled on her lips until she squirmed.

  When he broke the kiss, he gazed down at her with so much passion and intensity her breath stalled in her lungs. He caressed her face with his left hand—the hand that once bore LOVE—leaning in to whisper three words against her lips, three tiny little words that sent her soul soaring.

  “I love you.”

  She drew back enough to see his Adam’s apple bob, fear and hope glimmering in those gorgeous eyes as he worried his bottom lip with his teeth. He looked so vulnerable, so beautiful, and her heart tried to leap right out of her chest, joy singing in her veins and lighting the backs of her eyes.

  Finally, she uttered, “I love you. More than anything in this world. Or the next.”

  He grinned with a relief so profound she couldn’t resist kissing him again, packing her every emotion behind it. When they drew apart, she let out a throaty laugh as he sat up, taking her with him.

  “Hang on.”

  Her legs tensed around him as he cupped his palms under her rear, lifting her up. Then he stood, carrying her toward the bathroom as she locked her arms about his neck.

  “Let’s finish this in the shower,” he rumbled and she smiled, a shiver of anticipation skittering down her spine.

  “Let’s.”

  ~ ~ ~

  When Dax strode into the compound’s training facility, Blaze was pumping way too much iron, as expected.

  Dax’s lips curved as he approached, wearing his gi pants and a tank top after a long and utterly satisfying shower with Cindy.

  Now that needed to be a daily occurrence.

  “Hey,” he hollered as Blaze racked the barbell, sitting up. “Need a spot?”

  Blaze eyed him in the wraparound mirrors and chuckled, shaking his head. Sporting nothing but gym shorts and sneakers, his brother’s turtleneck sweater of tattoos came alive, glistening and contracting under the fluorescent lights.

  “You should be resting.” The bass note of Blaze’s voice reverberated in the cavernous room.

  “Nah, I’m done slacking off.” Dax halted beside him, crossing his arms over his chest and cocking a brow. “Miss me?”

  Blaze regarded him, his milky eyes exposed as he offered a faint smile. But then he glanced away, his face sobering as if it pained him just to look at Dax.

  Frowning, Dax clapped his shoulder. “Hey, I’ll be back to normal soon. Promise.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, D.”

  Okay, so maybe not entirely back to normal. Sure, the nightmares were atrocious. And he still flinched at sudden movements, his heart kicking up like a bull. Every once in a while,
he’d reach behind his back in fear of finding the hooks again, their phantom sensation penetrating his body. His ankles still gave out and he tripped up sometimes, but the physical therapy was helping. And the notion of shoving metal into his skin again made his stomach flip-flop, but he wasn’t about to let that monster strip him of everything.

  “Look, man, I’m not going to pretend it’s all sunshine and daisies. But I survived. Because of you. And I want to thank you for that.”

  The hard muscles in Blaze’s jaw ticked, his eyes drilling holes into the weight bench. “We should’ve gotten there sooner—”

  “Stop, B. Just stop.” Dax leaned over until his brother had no choice but to look at him. “I’m alive. So what if I’m a little damaged? Now we’re two of a kind.”

  Blaze scoffed, lips twitching. “Shut the fuck up.”

  “What I went through is only a fraction of what you did,” Dax said somberly, chest tightening at the mere thought of what Blaze had suffered for seven whole months. “But I need your pity as much as you need mine. I still want you to turn to me if you have to work shit out. Mentally, physically, whatever, bro. You got me?”

  Blaze shook his head, but smiled, a real honest-to-God smile this time. “Yeah, okay, fine. Ditto.”

  Dax squeezed his shoulder, relieved and grateful for him. “Maybe we should get matching tattoos. It’ll be fun.”

  Blaze snorted. “Get the fuck out of here.”

  “Kaj will love it. I can get a giant Quatze-whatever-the fuck-it-is on my back—”

  “Dax,” Blaze growled, his timbre loaded with playful menace.

  “Or maybe El Frosto across the abs.” He patted his belly, barely able to contain his laughter.

  “I’m going to punch you in the mouth,” Blaze threatened, but he bubbled up with humor too, his opalescent eyes shining with it.

  Dax tapped a finger against his own jaw. “Take your best shot.”