[Tabitha’s POV]I'm lost for words, and I'm sure it is because of the brooding hottie above me. Dammit, what was wrong with me? I hated vampires! How could I be coming undone for this one?“Should I take your silence as a go-ahead?" Vance continues when I don’t speak.Realizing that even if I wanted to fight him, I couldn’t because my body already craved him, I don’t say a word as his lips come down to mine. At first, his kiss holds an air of hesitance, but that is soon replaced by a hunger so strong that it seems to seep into me.Whimpering, I reach up and wrap my arms around his, and when he presses his body against mine, my legs find their way around his waist.All of this was wrong, but it felt so fucking right. Who the hell was I to fight it?Giving into temptation, I claw my nails into Vance’s skin in an attempt to get him closer, but by this point, he was as close as he could get.Taking my lead, his hands begin to fumble with his pants until he can pull them off, and once they
[Vance’s POV]“No… No more,” Tabitha pants beneath as she cums for the sixth or seventh time. I can’t.”“You can,” I counter, continuing to fuck her hard and fast. “And even if you can't, you’re going to.”I was nowhere near done with her. Not after thinking about her the whole fucking time she was with my brother. Usually I wouldn’t give two shits about our shared woman being with him alone, but with Tabitha, it was different.Hell, everything about Tabitha was different. Not only did I crave her blood, I craved her body. I was like a fucking addict, and she was the drug I needed to get the endorphins I need. She left me feeling alive for the first time in so many years. It was dangerous, but such a delicious danger.“More,” I hiss, digging my teeth into her throat so her intoxicating blood explodes on my tongue. “This still isn’t enough.”“Vance!” She moans, digging her nails into my skin. “I..AH… FUCK!”As the words leave her lips, another powerful orgasm crashes into her, and this
[Tabitha’s POV]I stare at myself in the mirror, taking in the woman that is staring back at me. She’s beautiful in her floor-length ball gown with rose accents and a black and red rhinestone corset that hugs her figure just right.She looks almost foreign, but like me at the same time due to the dark makeup that covers her face and her half-updo, so her curls hang down here and there. But the piece de résistance is the black, sparkly mask that sits on her face, giving her a mysterious vibe.What the hell was all of this, and why was it even necessary? They were dolling me up to prance me around their high-standing, blood-sucking council, only to turn around and turn me into a fucking toy.Sighing, I turn and find myself staring at Vance. Frowning, I turn to the mirror again and find that he isn’t reflected there, and then turn to face him once more.“Shocked?” He asks, quirking a brow.“Not really,” I admit. “It’s normal for vampires to not have reflections, yeah?”“That’s correct.”
[Tabitha’s POV]“Who is that?”The words are leaving my lips before I can stop them, but dammit, one of the suspects in the string of murders I was investigating was sitting right in front of me.“My father,” Allister responds, giving me a look. “What? Are you interested in him?”“In a way,” I mutter.Shit, what were the chances that the key to figuring out who was stalking me and murdering so many humans was going along with these vampires? But what am I supposed to do now? I couldn’t just report my findings while I was here. I had to figure out how to get away.“Come along,” Allister says, snapping me out of my head. “Let’s take our seats. Dinner should be served soon, and then the festivities will begin.”“Festivities?” I repeat just as the door behind us opens. Turning ever so slightly, I watch Vance enter with Alissa attached to his arm, and when his eyes meet mine, I’m sure that I see a twinge of possessiveness there. “Yippee.”Tearing my gaze away, I allow Allister to lead me u
[Tabitha’s POV]“What?” I hiss as Vance’s weight presses against me. “What is this about the moon?”“The blood moon,” Abigail gasps, slumping to the ground and pressing her hand between her thighs.Frowning, I take in the two, trying to make sense of what is going on. When I can’t seem to understand, Vance pushes me against the wall and presses his crotch against my stomach so I can feel the bulge there.Eyes widening, I look up into Vance’s fevered gaze.“The blood moon,” he grunts, seeming to truly struggle. "It's a heat period for all vampires.”A heat period... So they all became mindless animals and fucked like crazy during the blood moon. This was what Allister meant by it being their most sacred period. Then would this be my chance to escape while they were all so fucking out of it they couldn’t stop me?Snapping out of my head, I stare into Vance’s eyes to find not only lust but also pain there, and despite knowing that I shouldn’t care, I feel guilt.“Sorry.”Not willing to m
[Allister’s POV]"I'll let you do whatever you want.”Hearing those words leaves me feeling powerful. Who knew that it would take a single human to get this defiant woman to become an obedient pet?“Whatever I want?” I repeat, looking from her to her friend, who is lying down on the floor, so that Vanessa can straddle him. “Then come here.”For a moment, Tabitha doesn’t move as she watches the man begin to thrust his hips so that he moves in Vanessa. Her eyes are filled with an odd emotion that I don’t recognize and don’t care to understand.“Now,” I snap, drawing her attention to me. “Otherwise, I’ll kill him.”Eyes widening, Tabitha begins to move, scurrying toward me and then dropping on her knees. Fixing her gaze on mine, she waits for my next command.“Give me your hand, pet,” I order, reaching out.She doesn’t hesitate to lift her hand so that I can take it and bring it to my lips. Even if she would go along with what I wanted, I didn’t want her to be like a lifeless toy while I
[Atticus’ POV]I sit in a cell, staring at the bars in front of me while trying to figure out how the fuck I ended up in this place, especially when Tabitha needed me. Oh right, those bastard vampires set up the perfect trap and set me up.Closing my eyes, I see the scene again. The destroyed living room, Bonnie’s body lying motionless on the ground, and the empty space where Tabitha should have been but wasn't—it was all still so fucking fresh, and it caused me to feel utterly useless.The panic I felt in that moment was very similar to the night I lost my family, almost, but it was enough to make me want to turn the fucking city upside down. However, before I even got the chance to do it, the police appeared. I could only assume that Bonnie’s neighbors heard whatever commotion was going on before her death, and there I was, the prime suspect in a fucking murder investigation.It didn’t take long for me to be cuffed and brought downtown, and despite explaining the situation to my sup
[Atticus’ POV]“Mmm.”My body feels heavy and stiff. What the fuck was this, and where exactly was I sleeping? The surface beneath me is hard and cold, and the faint scent of incense drifts around me, mixed with herbs.Slowly, I open my eyes to find that I’m in a room whose walls are lined with the very things that I’m smelling.Frowning, I sit up, ignoring the protest from my back. Once I’m upright, I continue to look around until I find August sitting at a desk with a mug in hand.“You awake?” He asks, dropping the papers he is looking over. “About damn time.”“What the hell happened?” I huff, rubbing my temples. “And why do I feel like I have a wicked hangover?"“Probably because you drank yourself into oblivion,” he chuckles. “I was beginning to wonder if you managed to kill yourself.”Drank into oblivion? Well, that most certainly didn’t sound like me. At least not recently. However, when my clan was first murdered, I spent many nights in dangerous places with different women to
[Tabitha’s POV]“Then we have tonight.”If you asked me if this was the outcome I was expecting after taking down Titus and ending one threat, I would say no. I wasn’t an overflowing fucking optimist, but to know that in the end, the ones who stood beside me through this time would disappear one by one was a punch to the gut.Atticus would be leaving to go to the unseelie court, Vance would need time to calm his clan and gain control, and Anthony was gone and would never be back.“I think the lady wants you,” JD chuckles, breaking the silence that had fallen around us. “Why are you just standing there?”“Shut up,” Atticus growls, reaching out and grabbing me.It doesn’t take long for us to arrive back at Atticus’ home, and the minute we step in the door, my clothes are being ripped off along with his. Once they’re out of the way, Atticus is dropping to his knees and burying his face in my folds.“Atticus,” I gasp, spreading my legs wider. “The door.”“Fuck the door,” he growls, contin
[Atticus’ POV]“His help doesn’t come easy.”The words leave my lips as I take Tabitha in, waiting to see if her resolve will quake. Maybe this was the reason that I fell for her, or maybe it was the undeniable draw that I felt. Whatever it was I knew, with or without my memories, I would choose her again and again because of the strength she radiated.“I don’t care,” she says, beginning to move. “And if you’re just going to stand here and argue, you can..."“No,” I sigh, hoisting Titus as he begins to slip. “Let’s go.”I begin to move, heading into JD’s domain, and then lead the way to his room, where he should be waiting. When we arrive, the door swings open, and a broad smile rests on his face.“Did you succeed?” He asks, eyeing the wrapped-up lump on my shoulder. “Or did you bring me another gift?"“No,” I chuckle, throwing Titus on the ground. “It’s what you want.”“But before that,” Tabitha adds, making her presence known. “There are some things that we would like to ask him.”“
[Tabitha’s POV]I wait until Atticus disappears out of the room and the sound of his steps grows distant before turning my gaze to Vance, who is watching me curiously. I was sure that he was curious why I was still standing here. I wanted to speak with him alone. And probably, what the hell was I even doing?“Promise me,” I begin, deciding there was no point in beating around the bush. “That you won’t disappear.”I knew I was asking a lot, and I wouldn’t blame him for denying my request. Technically, it was because of my existence that his brother and father are now gone. And that his clan was undergoing something so serious. But I didn’t want to lose the one solid thing I had beside me.“I know I'm asking a lot and that you don’t owe me, but..."“Shut up.”Leaning forward, Vance grabs my chin and then presses his lips against mine. Immediately, the world and all the fucking problems we are facing disappear, and all I can feel is him. Is it because of his mark on me? Because of everyt
[Tabitha’s POV]I stand up and take in the room in front of me. Atticus and Vance are both here, staring at me as if they’re looking at a ghost, and laying on the ground is Titus, and someone clearly beat the shit out of him.“Good job,” I say slowly, nodding toward the bastard on the ground. “I’m glad the two of you managed to take care of him.”It was probably ridiculous to say this after dying and then coming back, but the awkwardness was beginning to get to me.“How?” Vance rasps, moving forward.Reaching out, he attempts to touch me, but lets out a hiss when his fingers touch the sunlight and begin to burn.“Dammit,” he growls.“Here,” I say, climbing through the hole that was made in my cage while I was out of it. When I’m out of the sunlight and standing in front of Vance, I grab his wrist and bring his hand to my face so that he can feel it. “Better?”Growing quiet, I wait as he processes what is happening, and when understanding finally seems to dawn in him, he is reaching ou
[Tabitha’s POV]I feel like I’m floating. In the blissful darkness that surrounds me, I’m weightless. My body drifts in and out of what I can only assume is oblivion. Did this mean that I died? If I did, I could only hope by this point that Vance and Atticus would be able to defeat Titus, and if not... Well, there was nothing I could do at this point.Letting out a sigh, I try to drift away again so that the worry I’m beginning to feel doesn’t continue to haunt me. However, with each passing minute, I can feel my consciousness becoming clearer and clearer until I can’t remain oblivious, and it’s frustrating.Slowly, I begin to open my eyes, but I have to close them again as dazzling light attacks them, and when I open them again, I have to squint.Frowning, I begin to take in the area around me, trying to determine exactly what was happening and where I was. Was this the afterlife? But how could it be? As a sinner and a member of the undead, wouldn’t hell be the place to which I belon
[Vance’s POV]Shouts and snarls erupt around me as I burst into the mansion ahead and begin to look around. Why the fuck would Tabitha be stupid enough to go in alone when she knew that my father was most likely waiting for her?As this thought hits, two of my father’s men rush toward me. Growling, I lift my hands and connect with them. Once I’ve got control, I liff and throw them into the next line of men that are making their way toward me.Behind me, I can hear Atticus, and when icy bullets begin to erupt around me, I extend my senses until I feel Tabitha.“I’m heading up!” I announce, taking in the scene around me. “Can you handle it here?”“Yeah,” Atticus puffs, switching out the weaponry on his arms for something stronger. “Just don’t forget; I need that heart.”Nodding, I begin to move, only stopping long enough to dodge a sneak attack.“Nice try,” I grin, kicking out and sending the man crashing into the wall and then moving forward so that I can grab his head and twist until
[Tabitha’s POV]I keep my gaze fixed on the hole where the slowly-lightening sky can be seen. I had maybe twenty minutes at most before the sun was high enough to shine down on me. Shit, what the hell was I going to do?“Don’t look so afraid, my pet,” Titus murmurs. “This was always your fate from the moment you came into existence.”“Wouldn’t that mean it was the same fate for you?” I ask."No, because I wasn’t born a monster, I was turned, and in finally getting rid of you, my true love will forgive me and bring me and my people out of the shadows.”“Your true love?” I repeat as I feel my consciousness being tugged on.Gasping, I feel my eyes roll into the back of my head as images of a beautiful field with white flowers swaying in the breeze appear. Standing in the field are Titus and a woman with flowing blonde hair and bright golden eyes. She wears a white gown that is almost transparent, allowing the perfect view of her body beneath.Instantly, I feel a sense of familiarity and
[Tabitha’s POV]I can feel Vance’s hesitation as he tries to make sense of my plan. I knew that it was a suicide mission, but to see Allister suffering so fucking much because of his own father, I couldn’t stop the burning desire I felt to kill Titus.“You don’t have to join us,” Atticus offers, breaking the silence that was settling around us. “We don’t need you anyway.”“Do you really think you stand a chance against them?” Vance counters.“I wager I have a good chance at surviving,” Atticus chuckles. “I would just have to breakout the heavy ammo.”As he speaks, ice starts to wrap around his muscular arms and form into what looks like machine guns. Damn, he really was capable, wasn’t he? With his ice magic, Vance’s blood magic, and my combat skills, I was sure that we would be okay.“Fine,” Vance huffs. “But remember, my father is mine.”“I need his heart,” Atticus counters. "Therefore, I should be..."“He’s mine,” Vance repeats more firmly. “I’ll give you his fucking heart before i
[Vance’s POV]My gaze stays fixed on Tabitha as she stares in the direction that ice fae bastard disappeared in. As much as I tried to tell myself that I didn’t give two shits if they had something, seeing her so fucking hurt over his leaving left a bad taste in my mouth.“Are you just going to sit there?” I ask, unable to continue to watch her misery. “Don’t you think we should get out of here too before someone finds this?"As I speak, I motion to the pile of ice, flesh, and bone that covers the floor. It was only a matter of time before someone realized that August’s remains were up here, and I didn’t want to be present when that happened.The fae stuck together through most things, and to kill one of their own would make you all of their enemy. I couldn’t wait to see how things would work out for Atticus due to what he did, but for now, the repercussions would have to wait.“No,” Tabitha says softly, finally snapping out of her daze. “I’m not.”“Then let’s go.” I huff, pulling up