Trisha stared at Nakuni. His hair was messy, his normally perfect outfit all askew. Darkness lingered in his eyes. He held a hand out for her. "Trisha, I can explain," Trisha screamed and scrambled backward as the rocks bit into her skin.
"Claw?" she called.
But she knew the truth.
A jaguar hadn't magically just appeared here. Nakuni hadn't just dropped out of the sky either.
"Trisha, please, calm down." Nakuni continued to wait for her to grab his hand. "Let me help you up."
Trisha whimpered as she withdrew away from him. "You're all monsters?" she demanded. "All of you?"
"Monster is such a harsh word," Nakuni countered. "We're not going to hurt you, any of us."
Trisha turned her head away as she bit back a sob. "Why do you all just lie to me?" She hiccuped. "What's Logan?" She demanded. "Surely Logan has to be some creature too, right?"
Nakuni sighed. "Please, return to the apartment. I'll tell you everythin
"What are you doing next?" Nakuni questioned as Trisha spun her phone on the table."I'm going to call Logan," she replied. "I know he's lying to, but I want to give him a chance to come clean.""He won't," Nakuni replied. "You knowing the truth about him will only put you in more danger. The guy won't allow that to happen.""More danger?" Trisha snorted. "What was with that hitman? Was he from the Council?""No," Nakuni responded his lips thinning. "I'll find out where he came from though. I promise they'll never attack you again." there was a sneer to his tone as his lip lifted and she could see her kitten hissing as his posture changed.He nodded to her phone. "Call Logan, wanting you to stay with me is selfish. I can't guard you all by myself in my small place."Trisha hesitated as she picked the phone up. She wanted to call him and hear his voice, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. The numbers were easy enough bu
The rest of the ride Lauren fumed in her seat. The ice-cold glare she leveled at Trisha did not go unnoticed by the subject.Whenever Trisha opened her mouth to say something Logan would squeeze her hip reassuringly. "Don't worry about it," he announced as they neared his mansion. "Lauren will just have to get used to you.""Logan, when your deals dry up, when interviews fade away, and when no one wants to use you anymore, I don't want to hear you whine to me. I told you what was needed for this, and you're the one fighting that."She paused for effect. "Also, I've signed you up for a celebrity auction.""There's no way I'm doing one of those things," Logan objected."I did it right after you announced that you had a lover," Lauren countered."My job is to make your star shine bright. I know you're going to go downhill over all of this, but until that moment hits I will sign you up for every event I can. Celebrity auctions, win a date
The rays of the sun peeked in through her curtains and warmed her skin. Trisha turned toward the warmth and her cheek brushed against another source of heat. A hand was right next to her head. She cracked her eyes open and looked into Logan's eyes."You stayed here all night?" she asked as she glanced around the room."You never told me to go to my own room," he replied with a faint smile.His smile broadened. "Well, would you like some breakfast? I'm not a cook, and I don't have any here, but I have a ton of sugary sweet cereals in stock. My manager hates it, but a wolf's metabolism is so high it doesn't matter." He winks. "Just like with those burgers."Trisha yawned. She had slept great, completely at peace, but the lack of Kanda made her feel strange. She'd gotten accustomed to him in her dreams. This was the first time he had been absent. Was that on purpose?"You okay?" Logan leaned forward now. "I can make Lauren grab you something else if y
Trisha bit her lip as she stared at the phone as it continued to buzz. "Should I answer it?" she asked Logan.Meanwhile, her boyfriend was glaring at the screen and his fist was clenched so hard on his little spoon that he bent the thing in half, snapping it in two.His own phone was buzzing now and he growled as he answered it. "What?" he demanded. "Yes, I see them. Yes, I know you warned me, but my answer remains the same, Lauren. I don't care."Trisha took a deep breath and answered her own phone."Are you okay?" Ryan's smooth voice filled her ears. "I've been worried about you."That's right, she hadn't even said goodbye to him, she'd just bolted when she'd discovered the truth. "I know what you are," she whispered instead.Silence was as loud as to her as hearing Lauren scream profanities at Logan."I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It wasn't meant to be something that carried on. And I'll apologize more in person, b
"Quiet," Logan demanded of the others. He gestured to the screen as his lips thinned.The reporter had stumbled onto Daisy again. The young woman tossed her hair back again as she flat-out glared into the camera."I didn't want to do this, I didn't think it was my place. But I think it's time that our Logan realizes just what is going on. How he's being fooled by that evil woman!" she stomped her foot for emphasis."Evil?" the reported asked with wide eyes. "Could you tell us more? It sounds like you know a lot!"Daisy smirked. "That's obvious. I've been in Logan's fan club since the very beginning. I always vet anyone that even gets to spend a single minute with him." She smiled. "Now, which secret would you like to hear first?""Do you know who she is?"Daisy nodded.Trisha's stomach boiled inside her and her fist curled inward causing crescent moon wounds in her palms. She didn't do it enough to cause bleeding, but she did it
"Fiancee?" Trisha repeated. Ryan was good at doing things she never expected and her stomach lurched at this information. As furious as she was with him, she still liked him, though she couldn't puzzle out why just yet."Yes," he replied with a grunt. "They want me to meet her right away, and want you to be there.""Why would I ever do that?" Trisha demanded. "They tried to bite me last time, remember?""I know but I just can't go alone. I have to convince them that you're my wife and I don't need this fiancee of theirs. I can't accept their meddling.""Just let me think about it, okay?" she demanded. "Right now I just want to go let off some steam. I'm tired of all this bad news I've received today.""Goodbye for now then," Ryan mumbled.Trisha hung up on him and sighed. Why did she feel compelled to help him? He'd caused so many problems. And yet, she couldn't help but remember the few tender moments she had experienced with him. She
Trisha stared at the screen as she shook her head back and forth. "No," she whispered as the screams finally faded away. "No, this can't be possible!" with tears trailing down her cheeks she turned to the others. "You can see my character right?" she asked.Lauren rolled her eyes. "Why is she so upset over a video game?"Trisha's eyes narrowed. "Because that's years of my life gone. I've had that character since I started the game. There's no way she can just be erased like that." She bit her lip and logged off. "Kanda, try yours," she commanded.Kanda nodded and typed in his information at his slow and deliberate speed. By the time he was finished, Trisha wanted to beat him with the keyboard.But no, she liked the way every key-press sounded. Like all her other gear, Logan had wasted no expense in her top of the line mechanical keyboard. Maybe she could roll up her mouse pad and whack him with that instead."Everything is here so far," Kanda annou
After his bold declaration, Trisha found herself ignoring Kanda until the incubus got tired enough to go to sleep himself. She couldn't bring herself to answer that.He was okay with sharing with her? How could he say something like that? She pondered over his words when her phone buzzed.Trisha answered the phone on the first ring. "What is it?" she whispered. Kanda snored softly from her bed."I found out why he didn't include you," Nakuni whispered his words as well. "The entire reason he agreed to this decision was to protect you. The Council was going to take your life if he didn't give in. So he's agreed to not only meet this fiancee of his also but marry her.""Oh," Trisha whispered as she set the phone down on the bed and she collapsed into her computer chair. She should have known Ryan would do something like that. But to marry her? No, she didn't want that. "Does she even love him?" she wondered out loud."Do you?" asked a sleepy vo
Trisha's fingers flew over the keyboard as she nibbled on her lip. She paused to take a sip of her water before getting back to work. A step behind her made her freeze and glance over her shoulder. Ryan smiled down at her. "What's up?" she asked."You've been working hard here. We haven't seen you in a while."Trisha chuckled. "You know how Rachel is. I need to finish this coding for her before I can come downstairs. It's the least I can do for everything she's done for us."Ryan wriggled the fingers on his robotic arm in perfect mimicry as if he'd never had his arm ripped off, to begin with. "True, but you still deserve a break."Trisha rolled her neck from side to side. "I think you're right. Is Nakuni finished with lunch?"Ryan nodded. "Part of the reason I came to get you. I wanted to escort you down." He smiled. "Any chance to get to spend some time with you."Trisha's smile widened. "Which is why I'm working so hard. We almost have it
Trisha was stripped bare to Nakuni's ravenous gaze. There was no turning back now, and even if Vanku, or hell, if any of the others walked in, Trisha wouldn't stop. Not until she fucked him.The shifter stripped himself faster than he'd even done to her. Trisha's eyes were glued to his massive dick that bobbed as if acknowledging her gaze and she licked her lips."You're not getting a taste of that, not yet," Nakuni whispered. "I'm too far gone for foreplay, all I want to do is bury myself inside you. I want to feel your walls flutter against and clench me," he growled.Trisha nodded. She wanted that too. "Wait," she whispered as she frowned."What?" he questioned a bit his edge fading away by concern. "Are you too tired?" he bit his lip hard. "It'll be hard but I can stop if I have to."Hard, ha. "No," she answered with a shake of her head. "But, protection?"Nakuni tilted his head to the side with a grunt. "No cubs yet?" he que
A thousand years. Trisha tried to wrap her mind around the words but no matter how she fit them together, they didn't make sense. "Why would you do that?""I repay my debts. I admit I was not aware of the Council's other doings. And why they were stupid enough to bring them here, I am not sure. My guess is it was those children of Westworth's. Those twins never did have brains. You eliminated a threat to the Assembly."The vials. Trisha sat up and her body didn't scream at her for doing so. Vanku moved back as she did so. Vanku's eyes focused on hers, a challenge in their depths.And the pieces fell into place."It wasn't them being stupid," Trisha whispered. "They were going to attack you guys, that's why they brought it here."Vanku smiled, this time her teeth were kept hidden. "Yes, good job, Trisha. I admit I didn't think your kind were capable of critical thought. It's likely they were taking advantage of the situation.""I'm not going
An ear-splitting roar forced Trisha's eyes open. A jaguar bounded down the stairs and following him was a bear, a lamia, wolves, demons, and things that Trisha couldn't even comprehend.She was dropped to the ground like a sack of garbage as the vampires turned to confront the swarm.Jace writhed this way and that, easily looping around Raphael's leg and squeezing it until the vampire was forced to stay still. Jace smirked. "I'm not your death today.""I am," Kanda promised and the demon launched himself at the vampire as Jace let him go. The two tumbled into the dirt on the ground and Trisha could only watch.Liliana laughed as Ryan teetered toward her. "Did you really think there were just two of us here?" she demanded and she snapped her fingers. From all sides, the vampires flowed in as if just waiting for the signal.The fighters were swarmed in seconds. Kanda rolled by Trisha with Raphael on top and Trisha reached out for him, but her a
Trisha didn't speak to anyone else until she was alone with Ryan. The pack had given him his own house as he recovered. As she entered, his eyes were on her."It was about what we expected, wasn't it?" he asked. What was left of his arm was in a sling and the stench of burned flesh lingered in the air."They're making you leave with the others," Trisha answered. "All of the Council has to leave, so after all this, you're just back at square one again."Ryan shrugged. "But you're safe, and you'll be safe. That's all I care about. I know that asking you to help me in the first place was selfish, and I ask for your forgiveness."Trisha didn't answer. His words had a tone of finality to them. A sense that she couldn't push aside. "They're going to kill you, aren't they?" she whispered the words.Would Liliana allow that? The crazy vampire was obsessed with him, there was no way she'd let him die, was there?"We shouldn't talk about t
"We have to talk."Trisha never liked hearing those words. Considering they came from Vanku, she liked them even less. Especially considering they were directed to her. "Are you sure?" she asked.The dragon nodded her scales clinking as she did so. "You will come with me now. There has been a severe accusation." Her eyes flickered over the group. "I can not deny there has been an attack.""I told you," Sofia piped from the side. "You can smell it too.""Yes, vampires did attack this group. I will talk to the main human, alone. The rest of you may go.""I'm not leaving her alone," Logan growled out. "Not with you."Vanku snorted and a plume of smoke trickled from her nose. "I am the Assembly leader. Are you seriously insinuating that I can not be trusted?""Not with a human," Nakuni answered from his place on Mark's back. "Your hatred for them is known.""Why wouldn't I despise the race that has driven mine to the br
Logan moved like a bullet train. Trisha sensed the world flickering around her as he raced but she couldn't pull herself out of her spiral.Was she about to lose Ryan? Lose him before she could even truly get to know him?No.Logan slowed down and her head shot up. She prepared herself to yell at her husband, but the words died like ash on her tongue.Jace was in front of them. The lamia grunted and flicked a hand in greeting. Blood streaked all over his body and his tail was wrapped around Ryan's arm. A giant puddle of blood pooled under the two."Is he?" Trisha whispered not able to force the words.Jace rolled his eyes. "No, but you guys got here too late for the battle. The cowards ran off." He smirked. "Those that survived anyway."Sofia snarled. "What? They attacked you and then left? I hate vampires," she shook her head with a snort and a roll of her eyes."What are you doing here?" Kanda demanded. He h
The rest of the meeting was a blur for Trisha.Did Vanku talk more?She couldn't be sure.The only thing that Trisha did know was that she would not let Ryan be taken from her. She hadn't been able to spend as much time with him as some of the others, but that was something she planned to remedy and him being somewhere overseas wasn't part of those plans.She'd do whatever it took to save him."Very well, human, you've said your piece, and I have said mine. I am leaving now to talk to the wolf pack leader. I expect you to be gone by the time I return. I will not tolerate humans being around me longer than I have to endure."Vanku's eyes slid past her and the dragon clicked once more as she walked away from the group. The other Assembly members besides Sofia filed after her and ascended the creaky steps."I'll take you guys back to your house," Sofia offered, soft so Vanku didn't pick up the conversation. "Besides, I wanted to ta
"We find that the Council is not at fault for any of these transgressions. There is no proof besides what out demon swears they have found, but as we know they can't always be trusted. And so, I will rule in favor of the Council. You may leave, Madam Westworth, we will handle matters from here."What? How could any of this be possible? Trisha wanted to throw something at the smirking monarch of a woman. Why didn't they believe Sofia? And if she had more secret help, why hadn't they shown themselves? She knew better than to talk though."I believe I'll stay here and witness the punishment for these barbarians. It is my right." Westworth replied with a sly smile."No," Vanku responded with a click that confused Trisha. Had she made that sloshy snap sound with her mouth? How?"What?" Westworth demanded. "You're going against the rules. The Assembly does have to abide by them.""The rules only state that I would find if your words involving your organi