[Tabitha’s POV]The next morning, I sit at my desk, fighting to keep my eyes open while the words I try to read blur together again and again.Fuck, I needed sleep, but I couldn’t get my mind off this damn case, especially given the photo that I found.Who exactly was it that did it, and what was their purpose?Honestly, there were plenty of supernaturals that wanted me gone due to what I did, but this seemed more personal than that.Could it have something to do with my brother and my parents deaths?No, how could it?I spent so many years searching for the ones responsible; why would they suddenly come out of hiding?Sighing, I lay my head on my desk and let the cool wood ease the headache that has taken full effect.“You should go home.” Sitting up, I watch as Bonnie makes her way toward me, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “No offense, but you look like shit.”"Usually, when you start something with no offense, you usually mean to be offensive,” I point out. “But thanks for t
[Tabitha’s POV]“Prove it,” I hiss, grabbing his cheeks and forcing him to look me in the eye. “Show me your sincerity, baby.”At my words, Anthony’s eyes grow dark, and one of his hands cups the back of my neck, slamming our mouths together while his other continues to hold me in place while we move from the wall to the couch.Panting, I find myself being thrown down before Anthony attacks, yanking my clothes off of me like a madman. Once they’re off, he starts to undress himself so that I get the perfect view of the many tattoos that cover his skin, covering the various scars that he bears from his many years as a warrior.Since we began to do the church's bidding when we came of age, Anthony was thrown into battle five years before me, and now, at the age of thirty, he bore many scars of honor over his kills.Despite being told that they showed his strength and tenacity, he still insisted on getting the tattoos that look like odd runes, but even to this day, he has never told me wh
[Tabitha’s POV]A fiery pain stabs deep into my heart as I continue to shove Anthony toward the door until he is pressed against it and has nowhere to go.“Tabitha, you need..."“I don’t need to do a fucking thing!” I counter, stepping back and taking a few breaths. “You’re the one that needs to put your fucking clothes on and get out of my apartment.”As the words leave my lips, someone begins to pound on my door, stopping any further argument."Damn, she has perfect timing,” I growl, running a hand through my hair. “Go on then, cheater. She’s waiting.”“But…” Anthony manages before the pounding grows louder. “Dammit.”Letting out a string of profanities, he quickly pulls on his pants and then yanks open the door to reveal a red-faced Holly, who looks about ready to burst into tears.“You!” She hisses, her eyes flashing an odd gold. “How dare you do something like this?"For a moment, I don’t speak as I continue to examine the woman, trying to figure out exactly what she is. In her r
[Atticus’ POV]“Why are you here again?”August, the bartender and owner of Morte Diem, stares at me curiously as I sip at my drink while extending my senses to see if I could feel anything that stood out.“Why shouldn’t I be here?” I counter.Since coming to Boston, this was the place I spent most of my time since it was the gathering place for supernaturals.I stumbled across it during my first week here and have been frequenting it ever since.“You’re making my guests uncomfortable,” he continues, nodding toward a man with glittery skin and what looked like vines wrapping around him who is watching me with a look of unease on his face. “Could you not look like such a fucking creeper?”“Creeper?” I repeat, frowning. “I don’t quite understand what that term means.I was still adjusting to human slang and terms since leaving the Darklands. It was all so foreign and unusual, but if I wanted to fit the part of belonging, I needed to know.“Freak?” he offers. “Stalker? You look like some
[Tabitha’s POV]I stare up at the bastard above me, taking in his disgusting look of hunger while his erect dick presses against me. It was clear that he really did think that he was God's gift to women, and that just pissed me off even more.It was bad enough that he was spying on me, but now he was even talking about fucking me. He had to be out of his damn mind!“Next fuck,” I repeat, letting a slow smile begin to spread across my face. “You should at least treat me to dinner first."At my words, his expression shifts to amusement, and a look of triumph flashes in his eyes."Is that what you want, baby?" He murmurs, leaning close to my ear. "Because if so, I can..."Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I kick up, connecting my knee between his legs."You're really too fucking full of yourself!"As he slumps forward, I buck my body, causing his position to shift enough for me to roll us over so that I’m now on top. Where his erection touches my bare flesh, it sends waves o
[Tabitha’s POV]I continue to stare in disbelief. How the hell did the creep spying on me become my boss? No! This was crazy! Why didn’t he say a fucking thing when I had him arrested? Was he seriously fucking with me?“Since both of you have met, I have a case for you,” the chief continues. “There was another murder last night.”“Same location?” I ask, not missing his look of unease.“No, but similar circumstances,” he admits.Nodding, I pull out my keys and whirl them around my finger.“I’m on it,” I announce, turning and beginning to move, only to stop as a hand wraps around my wrist. Looking down, I take in Atticus’ gloved hand and then snap my gaze up to his. “Remove your hand before I remove it for you.”“He said we would go,” Atticus says easily, not phased by my warning. “Not just you.”“I can handle it myself,” I counter, yanking my arm free. “And I said to let go.”“Tabitha,” the chief warns. “Atticus is your superior; mind your tone.”“Sorry,” I sigh. “But I can really hand
[Tabitha's POV]A soft groan escapes Atticus' lips, deepening our kiss, while his arms snake around my waist and pull me closer. However, this simple act is enough to snap me out of my daze and allow me to think clearly enough to take advantage of the moment.How could I possibly let him get away with touching me on multiple occasions? He needed to be shown that I wasn't some slut that he could do whatever the hell he wanted with, at least, not without my consent.I reach down, running my finger tips along Atticus' thigh, allowing them to draw closer and closer to his bulge until I finally reach it.Smirking, I wrap my hand around it and squeeze while pulling away so I can take in Atticus' glazed eyes and hungry expression."What?" I purr, tightening my hold on him. "Were you expecting me to make it feel good?"As I speak, I let a wicked smile spread across my face and then squeeze harder, causing a hiss of pain to escape Atticus as he slowly starts to come back to his senses as well,
[Vance’s POV]I sit at my piano, staring at the blank music sheet in front of me, trying to will something to come to mind. However, with each passing minute I stare at it, my anger grows more and more, to the point where I know I’m not going to be able to compose a thing tonight. Not when that woman making out with another man haunts my thoughts.Who the fuck was she to think that she could just go about doing as she pleased after I marked her as my own? She had some gall, and when I found the one she was kissing, I was going to kill him with my bare hands.Letting out a growl, I get up, knocking my glass of wine, which sits on the edge of the piano, over so that the beautiful red colors begin to spread across the white marble, staining it beautifully as if it were blood itself.I continue to stare at it for a moment longer before heading out of my studio to find Allister leaning against the wall.“What is it?” I ask, eyeing him suspiciously.“Can’t I simply come and see my little br
[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