Lounging back on the chair in the library, I swung mindlessly, thinking about the pretty brunette in the room down the hall. My tongue still tingled from the single smear of Marley’s blood.
My instinct was to run back to her room, smash down the door and take her on the cold floor. Screw the consequences, it would be totally worth it and if someone saw us? Bonus. I didn't mind a little voyeurism every now and then.
Holy hell, I had never tasted anything so sweet in my life.
Now I knew what had Absinthe so hot over the human woman. Not only was it her fight and spunk, but it was her blood. Absinthe had been the only one to feed from her and since then, he had been a walking talking pain in the ass with his smug looks and flushed skin.Asshole.
But Marley was right. There was no way I would fight him.
Even over her. Absinthe was almost one-hundred years older than me. He was stronger and faster. There was no way I would entertain that ass kicking. Even if it meant I got the girl.The consequences from that would not only affect the coven we were in, but the larger Vampire Nation in itself. Some already didn't like the fact Absinthe left the hunting of rogues in our territory to a human. If the Nation knew a pair of its pureblood brothers, had fought over her... well, the coven would be taken away from Absinthe and I would be hunted... just like Marley had said.
Things, while completely fucked up and wrong... were better as they were. Even if it meant my heart got trampled every time I saw Marley and Absinthe in the same room, or smelt my brother's scent on her skin.
“Is she okay?”
My gaze snapped to the man at the door of the library. My brother would have just seen off the elders. Waving to them as they drove out fo the mansion's ground and back to the covens. I was glad I hadn't been invited to the meeting. One- I didn't knoto keep my mouth shut and two- Elders were rank.
When I had walked into the library, to wait for my brother, the stench of rotten blood and dusty corpses still lingered.I shrugged, quickly sucking my tongue over my teeth to rid any scent of Marley’s blood from my breath. “Meh. She’s Marlene.”
Absinthe chuckled and close the door behind him.
“And of the pair she found?” Abe walked the length of the table and stood behind his chair, resting his arms on it. “Does she realize what’s happening?”
Again, I shrugged. I didn't know what to tell him.
And this was definitely not my favorite room. All work and no play; the thought of stripping Marley down and ahving my way with her on the table in front of me, invaded my thoughts... until my brother spoke again.
“Rhayden.”
My eyes rolled and I looked at my brother. “She knows enough to be concerned.”
He paused for a moment, before nodding, as if satisfied with what he'd heard. “Good. I have a job for her.”
“I’m sure you do.” I muttered and his eyebrow rose. “I have to go and get the armory sorted.”
I lifted myself from the chair I had been comfortable in and turned on my heel. Striding to the door, I flung them open and stormed out.
I admit, I was a broody fucker. Especially when Mars was in the mansion, knowing she would be touched by my brother and not me.
The armory was in the basement, behind the cars and by the time I had got there, my mood had not lightened. Looking around the room, I sank to one of the benches and wallowed deeper in my dark mood.
I should not have let him touch me. Vampires were territorial. Everything revolved around scent, and I knew I would have Rhayden’s scent on me. Which was why I was standing in the shower, the water as hot as my skin could handle. I had already scrubbed it from top to toe with my favorite soap, hoping it would be enough.Not for the first time, my mind wandered to how I had found myself the center of a vampire’s attention. A chance encounter with a bloodsucker had put me squarely in the crosshairs of Absinthe Raynes and he’d offered me the job of being his bounty hunter.While they were deadly creatures at night; they could not hunt during the day and a human hunter would be able to kill a rogue while they were in hibernate.At first, I had told Absinthe to shove his job and his salary of one-million-dollars a year, up his ass. I did not want anything to do with him, especially after finding out he had been creeping into my past. I had left the mansion with the knowledge of what he w
I didn't want this meeting. But I wouldn't be able to find the culprit of my mated being slaughtered, skulking around in the dark. We didn't know what kind of killer it was.Vampire, Human… or other.Pushing open the double doors, my gaze fell on my little brother. Where I was dark haired, he was pale. My skin was olive, but his was as pale as cream. While I took after our father, he took after our beautiful mother. He also had a pension for leather, denim, and biker boots, which were on the table.“Rhayden. Boots.” He flipped me off, as usual, but the boots disappeared from the surface of the table. “Thank you.”I turned, waiting for Marlene to enter the room behind me. Her gaze lifted to mine, and she smiled as she walked past. Every fiber in my undead being wanted to throw Rhayden out of the room and have Marley on the table behind me. She had been gone for two weeks. Two weeks without her warmth against me, without waking up from hibernate with her by my side. The moment we had
“Fucking stupid ass!” I shoved clothing into my bag, not caring to fold them.Did Absinthe not know how Rhayden, and I felt about each other? I stopped for a moment. Of course, he did not know, or he would not have sent us off together. This was not going to end well. I could feel it deep in my guts. This was going to go so far sideways; it would resemble a crab walking, and then what? Shoving more clothing into the pack, I zipped it closed, as the door to my room swung open. Turning, I sucked my tongue over my teeth at the man who was leaning against the doorjamb. “I thought you were getting things ready.”Rhayden's gaze raked up and down my body, “Already done, Mars. Just waiting on your slow, but delicious ass.”My eyes rolled and I picked up my heavy pack, throwing it at him.The thought it would hit him in his pretty face was dashed when he caught it and let it hang by his side. “Is that all you are taking? Need anything else? Like the kitchen sink perhaps?”“Fuck you.”“Not li
Of all the dumb missions Absinthe could have sent me on... this was the dumbest of all. He could have sent me to our cousin, I could have had some fun with the girls he liked to play with. Or I could have gone chasing around after some idiot official, who was surveying the mansion's security, for reports back to the big-big boss... But no... my perfect big brother had to go and send me off with Marlene Brennan... The one woman in this whole world, I would happily sink my fangs into, even if it meant death. Surely sitting in with the eldres earlier had scrambled the idiot's brain. Maybe he needed some sun... The last thought had me chuckling, then grimacing. Yes, it was funny... but at the same time, it wasn't. I wouldn't hurt a hair on my brother's head. We'd been through so much, I had been a loyal soldier for him for almost two-hundred and fifty years.That wouldn't change... even for Mars.Speaking of the beautiful human hunter...I knew she was outside the armory before she'd
The Alfa’s V8 engine was purring, and I was finally used to Rhayden’s erratic driving. He sped past every car, racing who he could, with a glee only shared with himself. He'd chuckle every now and then at people's attempts to race the Alfa, making me roll my eyes. My knuckles were no longer white, and my heart rate was finally at a comfortable level, but I couldn't watch the scenery though… he was driving too damned fast.“Another ten minutes of driving, then I’m going to have to find shelter.”I looked over to him as his gaze slipped past me, and I turned my head, seeing the pale tinge to the horizon. It will be sunrise soon.Most of what people knew of vampires was bullshit.Garlic was just a nauseating smell to them, and religious crosses did squat.Silver had a sedative effect on them, if it was in a large enough quantity and pure. But the one major thing which did affect them was the sun.It was one of the best ways to kill a vampire. But if they were safe from its rays, it sent
Holding the phone to my ear, I listened to my brother droning on the other end. My eyes rolled as he went on and on and on, about how important this mission was; for the hundredth time. Like I didn't already know that, by the fact we'd lost twenty members of our fucking coven. men and women I had practically grown up with. “I know, Abe. I am not stupid.”There was a pause, then a chuckle. “That’s—”“Don’t fucking say it.” I growled. I had always been considered the brawn of the two of us. More muscle than brains, but I was not some dickhead killing machine. I could outthink Absinthe if I wanted to, and if the idiot had listened to me in the first place, we wouldn't have twenty dead vampires, and I wouldn't be here, babysitting Marley.A waft of scent and I turned, watching my brother's hunter as she paced the room beyond the one, I was in. I had been harsh to her earlier. It was not fair the way I was treating her. I knew she could not do anything about her relationship with Abe.He
I had forgotten to grab underwear.In my haste to get away from Rhayden, and to wash the scent of his brother off me, to keep him happy I had managed to forget one of the most vital pieces of clothing. Something which would, in my mind, protect me from the creature I travelled with.Padding through the house, I kept my eye out for the vampire. I did not want him to know I was panty-less. I'd seen the way he looked at me, when I was fully clothed. Going to my bag, I rummaged through it, trying to keep my long night-shirt covering my backside. “Where the fuck are they?”I had packed at least three pairs and they all seemed to be missing...“Looking for these?”My stomach contracted as I turned. Rhayden was leaning against the doorjamb, one of my lace thongs hooked over his index finger, the other two pairs of panties, gripped in his hand. I blinked and stared at him. “Did you seriously go through my bag?”His grin widened. “Just wanted to see what kind of underwear you preferred. Wou
The scrap of lace she called panties fell to the ground with the others, as I launched myself at her. My hands gripped her face, my mouth crushing against hers and I kissed Marley deeply.Her taste was sweet, her hands scrambling for my hips, and I growled as her fingernails dug into my flesh. A soft mewl escaped her lips as my tongue drove into her mouth and her knees weakened.I laid her softly on the cold floor, my body next to hers as I buried my head against the side of her neck, her breath ragged to my ears. Marley’s back arched as my lips travelled along her neck to her ear and I moaned against her skin. “Beautiful, mortal woman…”My mouth moved down her neck, laying wet, cold kisses to her skin and her heart hammered loudly in her chest, igniting a fire within me I'd never felt before. Down over her night shirt, I teased her nipples through the fabric with my teeth, resisting the urge to unleash my fangs on her soft skin.To mark her, would be to place a target on both mine a
My hands were on Mars again, grazing over soft flesh, raising goosepimples along her skin. Marley tipped her head back as my lips trailed up her neck, nipping at her skin with my fangs, drawing tiny drops of blood which tasted sublime. “Mars.”She wrapped her arms around my neck, letting me plunder her mouth with my tongue. I didn’t know why the simple act of kissing this woman sent me crazy. Maybe it was the difference in temperature. My cold tongue against her hot mouth, the sensation was phenomenal.My hands gripped her buttocks, squeezing them and she sighed against me, pulling away and looked up at me, raising an eyebrow. “You know he’s in the other room, right?”“So?” I asked, smirking, kissing along her jaw.“You’re going to fuck me, with your brother in the next room?”“Yep.”I turned Marley around, pushing her against the cold tiles, bringing her hips back
He looked younger in the picture than when I’d spoken to him two weeks prior. But that smug look… was still there.I let my hand off the page, letting Rhayden flip to the next one. He turned the book, turning it toward me.Looking down at the picture, my eyebrows furrowed. “He looks like… Hang on.”I reached out and grabbed my phone, and held it to the book, looking between photos. “It’s… It’s him. The one in the alley.”“It might not be.” Absinthe muttered, pulling the book toward him and I stared at him.“I’m not fucking stupid Absinthe; I know it’s him. It’s the tattoo on his neck.” I said, turning the phone and stood, putting it next to the picture of the man. “See, there.”Rhayden leaned in, looking at it. “She’s right you know.”“You shut it.” Absinthe said, looking at me and he pushe
All I wanted to do was break down the doors of the library and go to Mars. But I waited patiently behind my brother, as the doors opened, and we calmly walked through them.Marley stood as we walked over to the table and at any other time, she would she poked her tongue out or said something snarky. But not this time. Her gaze dropped to the table and she sat down as Absinthe and I took our seats.She looked tired.Beyond tired. She looked drained and… sad.“Marely, are you okay?”My head turned to Absinthe as he asked her what I’d been wanting to and I looked back to her in time for her to nod. “I’m fine. Lord Othello and I have been talking.”“About?” I asked.What had they been discussing for the last few hours. For that was how long we’d been pacing and waiting.Mars’ gaze went to Othello, who nodded. “Go on, you can tell them.”S
Othello had walked me to a bathroom, leaving me to do my business and then back to the library, where a plate of food was waiting. “Eat, I will be back in a few moments.”I stared at the food, my stomach rumbling with hunger, but also churning with sickness.Othello was nothing like the monster others had told me he was. He’d been sweet and kind, listening to me speak about my sister. He had questioned me about my working relationship with the Raynes and what had me agreeing to the contract I’d signed with Absinthe.I’d even told him of my doubts about my lover, about him keeping information about Johan from me. Which had been rebuked.“Absinthe wouldn’t do that.” “Which part?”“All of it.” Othello had replied. “I was present when he was born, with Absinthe being the heir to the Raynes’ coven, it was my duty as Lord of the Vampires to oversee the birth. Strapping, healthy young vampire he was, his hair as dark as night. So, I know Absinthe and what he is like, he would not tarnish th
If I could have been in the cell with Marley. I would already be there.Not being allowed to be anywhere near her, while she was going through this was breaking my heart and my spirit. And not to mention what it was doing to Rhayden.My brother had always told me he would never sully himself with a human, that because he was a born vampire, sleeping with a human was beneath him… Until he set eyes on Marlene Brennan.I had to admit, even I was quite surprised with how visceral my attraction to her had been when we first met.Now I sat here, in an empty parlor, watching my brother pace and brood. “I don’t give a fuck who he is, if Othello touches a single hair on Mars’ head I will skin him.”That threw up images of my pale haired, alabaster skinned brother, covered in black blood, while he carved Othello’s skin from him… and honestly, it painted quite a pretty—“Are you listening to me?”Rolling my eyes, I looked at my brother. “Of course I’m not.”“Asshole.” Rhayden spat, continuing hi
There was someone in the room with me…“I will get you a better bed.”My body stilled as the voice spoke and chills sped across my skin. Slowly, I opened my eyes and rolled over. There was a man standing at the door, barely taking up the doorway, but the authority he threw off, told me he was important.I climbed to my feet and stepped back, pressing myself against the wall, as he stepped inside the room and the door closed with a heavy thud behind him.The man… no creature in front of me was old. There was a blue tinge to his pale skin. Head bald, mottled with dark spots, he wore a dark suit, which hung off his thin frame. But there was not even a hint of danger coming from this man.Finally, I found my voice. “W-who are you?”There was a moment’s silence, “I am Othello, human hunter.”Oh shit.This was The Lord of the Vampires. The one every coven in the United
I paced the room, aware of Absinthe watching me from his comfy chair. My mind was on the woman in the room, near the armory.It had broken my undead heart, pushing Mars into that room and closing the door.“Rhayden, you’re making me dizzy.”Rolling my eyes, I glared at Abe and kept pacing.How the fuck had everything gone so fucking wrong? And Mathias…“I’m going to gut him.”“Othello wouldn’t approve of you slaying one of the vampire Lords, little brother. No matter how much of an asshole he is.”And by god, Mathias was one of the most assholey of all assholes. He had a mean streak to him, which came to the surface with his superiority complex. He thought he was better than everyone else, just because of his bloodline, because he was a vampire lord.Yeah, well that didn’t excuse his behaviors. Especially in our mansion.“Rhayden.”&ldq
“So, this is the murderess of my Coven member?”Barely had I stepped out of the elevator, when I was overcome with the scent of spoiled blood. Great… he was one of those vampires.Looking past Rhayden, who had stopped in the middle of the corridor, I looked at the vampire before us; his skintight on his bones, his eyes copper with anger, claws descended.In seconds, Absinthe had stepped past me, and was standing shoulder to shoulder with his brother, blocking the volatile vampire from reaching me.“You are in my mansion Mathias, remember that. If you even lay a finger on her, I will rip your head off and use it for a soccer ball.” Abe’s tone was blunt, to the point and my fear kicked into overdrive. What would happen if the vampire didn’t heed Abe’s warning? Would I become a casualty of a fight between them?Mathias leaned forward, looking past the vampires protecting her, lee
The five hours it took to drive back to my mansion, was the longest five hours of my life.Marley and I didn’t speak much, and I was glad, because I knew if we did, the inevitable talk of Johan would arise and we would argue.Seeing the gates of the mansion loom ahead of us though… my stomach churned. And when I drove up the drive, to see more than twenty cars lined up in front of the building, the churning became worse. I knew those cars and why they were there. I turned my head a little, looking across to Marley, as her gaze took in the vehicles, as we drove past and toward the back of the mansion to the garage. “I am not going to be able to speak with you much, once we get inside. Othello will want to speak with you alone.”“Awesome.” Marley muttered and I could hear not only the emotion in her voice, but the way her heart fluttered quicker, the closer we came to the garage. “If you knew that I was in danger, why com