by Lexi C. Foss
Leaving me on the outside looking in.
Again.
My tail twitched, my ears flattening. Part of me wanted to celebrate with them, while the other part of me felt incredibly alone. I knew this was all meant to be temporary, but the last few weeks had been among the best of my life. Which was saying something beneath the shroud of stress.
I enjoyed being with Luna and Edon. A lot. And not just in a sexual sense. They just felt right, like they could be my home.
Which was crazy.
I had no home.
Only temporary beds.
I just happened to favor the one I’d slept in last night most of all. With Luna’s head on my shoulder and Edon’s arm around her waist, it’d been heaven. Only, I’d awoken this morning to reality shining down on me in the face of a coming moon.
Edon had provided a temporary distraction by having Luna go down on me while he fucked her from behind. He hadn’t taken her ass yet—neither of us had—but I knew he would soon. After learning about her lack of real experience, he decided to ease her into it with my help. And while I loved being involved, something told me I wouldn’t be there for the eventual climax.
Just an instinct.
A whisper of fate.
In the shape of a full-blown orb over my head.
I gazed up at it, my nose twitching at the growing stench of the undead descending upon our property. Rather than brooding, I should be checking the other boundaries, searching for anything untoward.
Luna and Edon were counting on me, and I refused to let them down.
The problem was, I had no idea what to look for. With all these foreign scents and the heightening energy in—
My instincts flared, the distinct sound of a branch snapping to my left drawing my focus. One of the vehicles had stopped, pulling to the side of the road while all the others had continued onward. It left only me and the unknown entity inside alone on the perimeter.
Something that couldn’t be a coincidence.
My suspicions were confirmed the second the door opened and a male in a black suit stepped onto the gravel path.
Dark eyes flashed beneath the pale moon, zeroing in on my location within the trees. “Silas,” the royal vampire said, his voice easily carrying to my ears.
I shivered.
That he recognized me in wolf form after only one previous meeting spoke of his intense power. Not that I ever doubted it.
Kylan was notorious, after all.
Violent. Ruthless. Cruel.
And mated to one of my only friends.
He stepped aside, holding the door to his black car open, and arched a brow. Apparently, he considered that an invitation. Rae popped her head out with a frown. “Where is he?” she asked.
My lips curled. I missed that voice. Hell, I missed her.
And Willow.
We used to be so close, but it felt like a lifetime ago. A memory consisting of false dreams and hopes that were all slaughtered by the reality we now resided in.
Kylan nodded up in my direction. “He’s playing in wolf form at the moment. Shall we bark at him? Maybe that’ll encourage him to move faster.”
I snorted. Asshole.
Excuse me? Edon replied.
That was meant for Kylan, not you.
Kylan? he repeated. As in the most lethal vampire in the world?
I shifted while saying, The very one. He’s summoning me.
What? His concern radiated through our link as I looked around for the pants I’d purposely carried here in case I needed to be in human form. Although, this wasn’t one of the scenarios I’d originally anticipated. Not that I minded.
It’s fine. I told him about how Kylan arranged for Rae and me to speak during the last full moon, and felt Edon’s shock through our link.
For once, the alpha was speechless. Good thing, too. I only had enough room to handle one dominant personality, and I needed all of my focus to approach the royal standing by the car.
He wore a suit—something that I assumed was standard issue for all vampires. While his relaxed position against the car appeared unthreatening, I knew better.
Rae peered out at me as I approached, her beautiful face lighting up in relief. She practically leapt out of the car and directly into my arms. If it bothered the royal, he didn’t show it. He merely observed with a stoic expression, his boredom palpable.
“You’re okay,” Rae whispered, her hands running over my bare arms like a mother checking her child. She checked every inch of my torso as if needing to convince herself that I wasn’t hurt.
I chuckled. “You’ve gotten rather handsy, Rae. That professor from our socialization course would be so thrilled.”
She startled, then laughed. “Hey, I aced that course.”
“With my help,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, yeah.” She scoffed, then smiled. “I’ve missed you.”
“Likewise.” I hugged her again, this time without all the petting, and sighed against her hair. “It’s good to see you.” I had no idea how much I needed this embrace—how much I longed for my friend—until she arrived.
Emotions welled up inside me.
Abandonment.
Confusion.
Loyalty.
Adoration.
Loneliness.
“What’s wrong?” Rae whispered, pulling back to study my face. She palmed my cheek, her gaze flickering between my eyes. “What have they done to you?”
“Might I suggest we return to the car?” Kylan said, his focus on the empty road ahead. “I would rather we not draw undue attention.”
A soft beam of light appeared on the tail end of those words, indicating another approaching vehicle.
Rae slid back inside first.
Kylan gestured for me to follow.
My neck hummed with awareness as I adhered to his unspoken command, then my blood chilled as he joined us inside the stretched-out car. There were two benches—Rae and Kylan took one, while I took the seat across from them.
A tap on the roof sent the car into drive, navigating us toward the heart of the territory.
“Arriving with you is going to inspire questions,” I noted dryly.
I must have telegraphed that to Edon, because he immediately replied with, Oh, I have several for you.
Later, I replied. For when I’m not sitting across from a royal vampire.
Apprehensiveness tingled through the bond, Edon’s worry for my safety a warmth I rather liked.
I promise I’m fine, I told him. Focus on Luna and the ceremony.
“Are you talking to your new alpha?” Kylan asked, interest coloring his features as he wrapped an arm around Rae’s shoulders. His fingers danced over the strap of her red dress—a color that matched her striking auburn hair.
I met his knowing gaze and decided lying to him would not go over well. “Yes. I am.”
He nodded, his approval palpable. “That’s an intriguing development. It’s not common for an alpha to care about his progeny. At least, not anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Rae interjected.
“In the old society, alphas took exquisite care of their made lycans. But in today’s world, those in power are no longer expected to care for the young. And lycans, especially, prefer to create offspring through fucking rather than gifting immortality to an adult mortal.”
He spoke with such stoicism, as if his words meant nothing at all. And maybe they didn’t—to him. But they meant everything to me.
“Edon’s not common,” I said, realizing the error in my statement the second it left my lips. “What I mean is, he’s a decent alpha. And he was checking in with me on security.” Not exactly a lie. It just happened to be my personal security he was worried about more than the perimeter.
Kylan smirked. “Sure.” His gaze glittered beneath the dim light overhead. “He seems to be taking excellent care of you. Based on your increased muscle mass and general health, I mean.”
I swallowed. His astuteness and candor unne
rved me. And I didn’t know how to respond.
Fortunately, Rae did. “Shouldn’t he look healthier? He’s a lycan now.”
“Most don’t survive the turning these days,” Kylan replied, his eyes not leaving mine. “Nor are they cared for afterward.”
She snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”
Kylan grinned down at her—finally giving me a reprieve—and stroked her pulse with his thumb. “Because you’re learning, Raelyn.” He kissed her before she could reply, the move a strike that had my hands curling into fists.
Too fast.
Too harsh.
And fuck, I didn’t want to smell my friend’s responding arousal. But I was trapped in this very small space while he devoured her as if I wasn’t seated across from them.
She squirmed, a protest sliding from her lips as he kissed a path down her neck and slid his fangs into her flesh. “Kylan…” His name came out on a chastising groan that had me swallowing across from them.
I’d seen Rae fake pleasure countless times in class.
This wasn’t fake. At all.
My stomach churned, my heart skipping a beat. This was not how I wanted to see my childhood friend. Ever.
You have a lot of explaining to do, Edon growled into my head.
Yeah, I suspected I did. Although, it wasn’t like my past came up much in conversation. He was more focused on the present and future, not my years at the university.
Kylan released Rae with a dark chuckle, leaving her winded and gazing up at him in confusion. “That should buy you about twenty minutes of privacy,” he said, nuzzling her chin before nipping her bottom lip.
“Wh-what?” she asked, her chest heaving as she blinked several times.
He focused on me, his hand going to the door beside me. “Twenty minutes, Silas. Then I’m coming back for my consort. Be advised, allowing her to stay in a confined space with another male isn’t something I enjoy. I suggest you not give me any reason to be even more uncomfortable. Understand?”
The car rolled to a stop beside yet another royal vampire—Jace. And beside him was a dark-haired female wearing what appeared to be a lingerie-style gown.
“Silence does not appease me, Silas,” Kylan pressed. “Shall I repeat my concerns?”
“She’s one of my best friends,” I bit back, my irritation getting the best of me. “Your Highness,” I added, hoping to temper my statement at least a little.
He grinned. “Edon looks good on you, young wolf. As does Luna.” He twisted the handle before I could reply, then glanced back at Rae. “Pull yourself back together and meet me outside.” The chill in his tone whipped through the car, but he winked at her before stepping out into the night. He slammed the door behind him and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dab his mouth before addressing the royal standing outside. “She’s a work in progress.”
“I see that,” Jace replied, his lips going to the neck of the beauty beside him. “As is Juliet. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
She didn’t lift her eyes from her shoes but nodded stiffly. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Does her presence here mean Darius is nearby?” Kylan asked as the pair began walking.
“Yes, he’s mingling with Luka and Mira somewhere.”
“Ah, of course he is,” Kylan murmured, his voice still strong in my ears despite his growing distance.
One perk of being a wolf? Fantastic hearing.
Just as I could hear Rae’s heart beating a mile a minute in her chest. “Are you all right?” I asked.
She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah. Just. Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “He’s just… Kylan.”
“And he’s treating you okay?” I looked pointedly at the wound on her neck. “Because that looks like it hurts.”
She laughed. “Trust me, it doesn’t. He just got me all hot and, well, anyway. Biting is fine. It was his way of giving me a cover story for my absence so we could talk, and we’re wasting time. How are you really?”
“I could ask you the same question. That’s one hell of a cover story, Rae.”
“As I said, he’s Kylan. The only thing he’s guilty of is making me crave more, which, I suspect, was the point. He’s a territorial asshole like that, and you’re sort of a button for him.”
“Me?” I almost laughed. “A button? How?”
“He knows we used to, you know, for class. And for a while, he used your fate over my head because he thought I loved you as more than a friend.”
My eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“It’s neither here nor there, and you’re deflecting,” she accused. “Talk to me, Silas. What’s going on?”
I blew out a breath and rubbed my palm over my face, shaking my head. “There’s not enough time for me to tell you everything.”
“So summarize it.”
“It’s really nothing. I’m just glad to see you, Rae. That’s all.”
Her icy blue eyes narrowed. “I can smell your lie. I can also smell Edon and Luna on you.”
“Really?” My brow furrowed. Since when could vampires scent lies? “I thought baby vampires could hardly sense anything at all. And how do you know it’s Edon and Luna?”
“Because my link to Kylan isn’t, uh, typical.”
I knew the circumstances surrounding her turning weren’t exactly normal, but I thought that had more to do with politics than with the physical change. “How so?”
“We’re not talking about me right now, Silas. We’re talking about you. Why do you smell like the alpha heir and his new mate? And what’s with the morose energy you were oozing earlier? It’s not like you.”
Ah, typical Rae, refusing to let me off easy. I sighed again. Deflecting her questions would only make her more suspicious and fight harder for an answer. And I didn’t have the energy to fend her off. Besides, if I could talk to anyone, it was Rae. She knew me better than most, with the exception of maybe Willow.
My heart gave a pang at the memory of our lost friend. She was either already dead or wishing for death. I preferred to think of her as the former; it was less painful than the alternative.
Giving my head another shake, I met Rae’s gaze and told her a short version of everything that had happened since my turning. If anything, it would be nice to have another ally on our side, someone to keep an eye on the surroundings and maybe clue me in on anything her new vampiric senses picked up on.
She remained eerily still while I spoke, her expression giving nothing away even as I explained my recent sleeping arrangements—with two alphas. I didn’t give her specifics, but she read between the lines.
And I ended with a summary of Walter’s exploits.
That reddened her cheeks. “What a dick,” she said.
I laughed out loud. “Oh, Rae, I’ve missed your version of a filter.”
“What? He sounds like an ass.”
“You’re not wrong,” I admitted. “But it’s left us all a little on edge for tonight.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “And you’re not on edge at all about the fact that the two wolves you’ve fallen for are mating each other—without you.”
I blinked. “That’s not, I mean, I care about them, sure, but they’re supposed to be together. Whatever is happening with me is temporary.”
“What you described doesn’t sound all that temporary to me.” She cocked her head. “I’m pretty sure Kylan would tell you it’s downright uncommon.”
“Same could be said about a harem member being turned into a vampire consort.”
“Touché, but again, we’re talking about you, not me.” Some of her fiery personality surfaced with that comment. “You can admit to me how you feel, Silas. I won’t judge you.”
“I’m not afraid of you judging me, Rae. It’s just a fact of life I have to accept. Edon and Luna are alpha mates. That doesn’t involve me at all.”
“Except you were roaming the perimeter and searching for threats—to protect them.”
“As is my job as his progeny.”
/> “And their lover,” she added. “Don’t discount what you are just because there’s not a proper term for it.” Her smile was sad. “I might be a vampire now, but I still know you, Silas. You’ve always been amazing at hiding your feelings. That small slip in your facade tells me just how exhausted you are. You never slip.”
I allowed my head to fall back onto the headrest behind me, my throat tightening. “It’s been an enlightening few weeks, Rae.”
“Months,” she corrected. “And I agree.”
“It was all bullshit,” I continued, allowing some of my anger to slip free. “All of it. The grandeur, the promises of immortality—it was all bullshit.” Fuck, how many people did I kill in the Immortal Cup? Six? And the problem was, I would have killed them all for the future I thought waited for me on the other side. People I knew. And how messed up was that? “It makes me so angry, Rae. So fucking angry.”
She reached across to grab my hand and gave it a squeeze. “I know how you feel.”
“Do you?” I asked, laughing humorously. “I suppose you do. Kylan, huh?”
Her lips quirked up. “He’s not as bad as you think.”
I snorted. “That wound on your neck says otherwise.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll bite him back later.”
“How does that work?” I wondered out loud. “You’re both vampires. Don’t you need human blood?”
Some of her amusement faded into a secretive expression. “Like I said, my turning wasn’t exactly common.”
I opened my mouth to press that comment, when an approaching scent tickled my nose. Death. Not the same perfume Kylan and Rae wore, but one similar to the putrid stench I kept picking up near the borders over the last month.
Except we were nowhere near the border now.
No, we were in the heart of Clemente Clan territory.
I glanced out the windows, searching for the source, everything falling silent in the car. Rae must have picked up on my alertness, because she didn’t say anything but instead glanced around, too.
“Vampires,” she whispered. “A lot of them.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, searching the darkness with my wolf vision.
The door flew open, causing me to scramble back as Kylan appeared. “Come, Raelyn.” He held out a hand. “Now.”