One moment, the oppressive pressure constantly pushing at the barrier of Antonia's mind was there, doing its best to creep in, and the next it was gone. Vanished. Extinguished like the candle given to her days ago. But while the candle left a sign of its existence in the form of a glob of wax on the dirty stone floor, the overbearing presence that she'd grown used to in her head evaporated without a trace. Only once it disappeared did she realize just how much it had weighed on her. Stifled her. Tainted her with its vile and dark oily feel. How light she suddenly felt. She even managed a smile, the first in what seemed like forever. I'm free. Free of that bastard. Not entirely, or so she reminded herself considering her current location. Her momentary elation couldn't last when faced with reality. Mentally free didn't equal physically free, but then again, judging by the noise coming from outside her cell, that was perhaps a good thing. What's happening? S
Marc couldn't have said what led him to the farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. He'd never seen the place before, and yet something had compelled him to come here. As he stared at the sagging porch, the peeling wooden boards paneling the exterior of the house, and the curled shingles on the roof, he couldn't help a sense of dj vu. Why does this place seem so familiar? Why did he feel drawn to it? Actually he knew why. Signs of their presence and smell was everywhere. Rogues used to live here, but he doubted any did anymore. Not living ones at any rate, or so his wolf assured him. He'd yet to change back to his man form. Why would he? No clothes. No wallet. No reason. Best to stay as an animal for now. Maybe if he got lucky, a hunter would shoot him. Although, he doubted it would happen here. Death had already visited and taken its due. A few bodies littered the property, some of the mangled corpses partially hidden in the tall grass heavily speckled with weeds
During his escape from the castle, where his council of peers tried to murder him, Thaddeus had to kill two thralls and one vampire, whose head he lobbed from a window, and maimed two vampires-the arm he tore off would eventually grow back, but not the earlobe he bit and swallowed. Did he fight dirty? Damned straight. One didn't live to a ripe old age by showing courtesy to the enemy. If you're going to attack me, you'd better come prepared. A lesson they'd never learned, and so they failed. Losers. As coups went, Morpheus didn't plan very well, and he'd underestimated Thaddeus's strength. Did this mean it was over? That Thaddeus was scot-free? Of course not. Morpheus would try again, of that Thaddeus was certain, which meant returning to his home was a bad idea. A shame, Thaddeus had grown quite fond of the penthouse condo he'd bought in the city. Perhaps once he'd prevailed over his enemies, he'd return. Or buy a new one. When one was immortal, it was always best to
The newly born wolf ran. And ran. And ran some more her first night of freedom. The fresh air, crisp and clean, burned her lungs as she exerted herself, but it burned in a good way. A free way. It felt so good to have escaped. To bathe in the light of the moon. To lap at the cold water of the stream and chase down the squirrel for sport and much-needed food. As to the annoying buzz in her head that pounded and cried, the wolf ignored her. The weak one wasn't in charge anymore. She was. And she had no intention of relinquishing control anytime soon. She wouldn't be imprisoned again. It wasn't until the dawn that she slowed her mad dash, her limbs finally tiring. A rocky outcropping provided an alcove for shelter where none could sneak up on her. She curled into a ball, muzzle tucked onto her forelegs, and closed her eyes, trusting in her hearing and senses to alert her if danger approached. How long she slept she couldn't gauge, but it wasn't enough to feel
Marc's wolf shape didn't allow him to sigh, but he let one loose in his mind. When he'd first tracked down the female he'd freed, she'd reacted with distrust. He couldn't blame her. Having seen the state of the house, knowing what Roderick was capable of, he could only imagine her incarceration at the vampire's hands had proved less than pleasant. When he came across her, huddled under a rock outcropping, her lip peeled back in a snarl, it occurred to him for a moment to shift into his human shape and try reasoning with her. Not a great idea, especially if it set her off and she decided to attack him in his more vulnerable form. With manbits to protect, he stuck to his wolf and settled down to wait. And wait. The female seemed determined to outlast him. He fought not to twitch or grumble or drool because she emitted the most pleasing scent. He wondered if he'd have to give in and perhaps come back later after he sated some pressing needs, but his waiting finally paid off. H
Antonia's cheeks burned bright. Talk about a fucked-up day. Life. Or was it a dream/nightmare? Given recent events, she really had to wonder about her grip on reality. She'd gone from being a vampire's torture toy, to thinking she would die of starvation as a prisoner, to becoming some savage wolf, to hugging a naked stranger and blowing her nose in the bushes. What happened to going to work as a dental assistant, enjoying a beer after work, and watching Sleepy Hollow? How long ago that normal life seemed. How she missed her comfortable apartment with its second-hand furniture and her fuzzy slippers. She especially wished for her flannel pajamas given how chilly it had gotten, now that night had fallen and she only woreÉnothing. "Fuck!" she couldn't help but exclaim when her nude state finally sank in. And lucky her, she wasn't just naked. She had an audience, a man just as naked as her, whom she'd hugged. Naked. Her mother would have fainted and then had her do
Thaddeus returned to the place where Roderick had met his demise. He didn't have any problem finding it, especially given he'd volunteered to gather the remains when the death was confirmed, remains he'd managed to steal and bring with him when Morpheus betrayed him. Morpheus probably had a hissy fit when he discovered the box in his possession was a decoy, filled with the useless ash of a campfire. As if Thaddeus would give the real, precious ash to that idiot. He wasn't stupid. Thaddeus knew his enemies would use it against him. Paranoia ever was his best friend. After his unproductive phone call with the alpha leader, Thaddeus wasn't sure why he'd decided to revisit the parking lot. Despite his claim to Nathan he'd find the missing rogues, it wasn't as if Thaddeus expected to spot any of them milling around waiting for a collar, nor did he intend to put his nose to the ground in hot pursuit. However, where Roderick went to his final destination-probably an express elevat
As if a spectral presence, Marc watched from above, a floating, bodiless entity as a dark-haired man snorted from a box that seemed familiar. Probably because I saw some vamp dude sweeping Roderick's ashes into it. With a detached interest, he noted the man's reaction, the way he fell to his knees and struggled to compose himself, as if fighting an inner battle. Probably allergies given the snort of dust. Or was it something else? A part of Marc understood he dreamed, yet it didn't detract from the realness of the moment nor the sense of connection he felt toward the vampire who stood and surveyed the area around him, in full control of himself once again and appearing predatory with a glint of red shining in his eyes. The male stripped himself of unneeded items and locked the box in his car before loping off into the woods in search of prey. Marc's wolf grew agitated. The hunter is on his way. Evil comes. Danger hunts us. Run. Run now! Marc bolted upright
Days laterÉ Thaddeus surveyed his demesne, a house he'd never really shared, until now. And now? Now the place was overrun with vampires and wolves. Had he lost his mind along his tumultuous journey? No, but he'd definitely lost his heart. Toni slid an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. Through their bond, her love for him warmed and filled his heart-and his cock. On her other side, Marc appeared, his stealthy abilities increasing daily with practice, enough that even Thaddeus found it difficult to spot him unless he cheated and used the thread that tied them together. "A penny for your thoughts," Toni murmured. He gave her the disgruntled truth. "How did I go from loner to this?" He gesticulated at the rescued wolves, a quad of them, sparring with Sasha in the courtyard. Toni laughed, the sound so sweet he'd kill anyone who dared threaten it. "You fell in love," she stated. He sighed. "That I did." "Do y
If someone would have told Toni watching two guys bite each other with her sandwiched between them would be one of the most intense moments of her life, she would have scoffed. But even though neither of them had bitten her, she caught some of the backlash from their joining. She couldn't help but bask in the warmth of knowing they did it not just for themselves but for her. To be with her. Because they loved her. And to think I wondered why any woman would agree to more than one lover. Toni was more than ready to let them claim her. She wanted to join them and belong to them and have them belong to her. Not because of any laws or protection, but because she wanted them. She loved them. I want them to be mine. Marc might have thought to tease her or shock her with his words of making her wetter, as if that could happen. Her pussy had never hummed so strongly or felt so slick. She crooked a finger, beckoning to them both. On to the bed they came, on their knees b
Thad drove the last leg to the compound in their borrowed car. A two-seat sports car, which meant Toni got to sit on Marc's lap. His naked lap. His naked lap with an erect cock poking at her backside. Something about prevailing against death and danger was arousing. Stimulating. Having a wet woman, whose scent drove him wild, who kept wiggling deliciously and casting him sultry glances, just added fuel to the fire stoking him. Thad must have felt some of the simmering energy because his fingers danced along her thigh, skirting the vee between her thighs and causing Toni's breath to catch. They couldn't get to the compound fast enough. Oddly enough, Toni, her voice breathy and soft, spoke in the erotically charged silence. "That was pretty intense back there." "If you mean fucking scary, then, yeah," Marc noted. He wasn't too macho to admit he'd feared. Especially for her. And there was a moment where I wondered if I'd end up a vampire puppet again. Thankfu
Okay, perhaps offering the warm heart to his comrades was perhaps not the sanest thing he'd ever done, but in Thaddeus's defense, it was considered quite the compliment in the vampire world, as it meant he was willing to share his power. With grimaces of distaste, Toni and Marc declined. Their loss. With a shrug, Thaddeus finished his treat, feeling his strength return and his wounds healing. Nothing like partaking of a master vampire's warm heart to give a boost to a weakened body. The skies chose that moment to release their moist bounty, a cool, fresh rain pelting them and cleansing the blood from their skin. But even clean, Thaddeus stood apart, watching as Marc held a shuddering Toni, a woman who'd unleashed her savage side and watched him eat another man's heart. What does she think of me now? Thaddeus wouldn't make excuses for what he was. He was a vampire. Eating the flesh of his enemies was a part of his life. A need. Although, in this case, he could have don
Despite the knock to her head, Toni understood they were in deep shit. Just one problem, she was too muddled to do anything about it. Through the ringing in her ears, she vaguely heard the word ambush and Thad's admonition to stay in the truck. Thing was staying in the truck wasn't a guarantee of protection. Evil lurked outside, and she could feel the nudge of it at the edge of her mind. Knock, knock. Who wants in? It wasn't Thaddeus. She knew his touch; it was gentle and not creepy. This mind probe reminded her more of Roderick's methods. Like a battering ram coated in slime. Someone on the impromptu battleground was trying to take over her mind. But who? Taking in deep breaths, she managed to calm the spinning in her head, enough so she could open her eyes without wanting to throw up. She wanted to shut them just as quickly. Chaos met her gaze. Despite the darkness, the one remaining headlight on the truck lit the surrounding area enough for her to see a nasty
Marc had only seconds to call upon his wolf, which meant bye-bye to yet another set of clothes. However, if he managed to get out of this ambush naked but alive, he'd count himself lucky. His initial estimate of half a dozen to the left proved accurate, but not so for the right. Marc only had a moment to realize Thad was going to get swarmed before his first ghoul attacked. Knowing what to expect this time, he didn't waste time grappling; he went for weak spots. Throat if he could reach it to tear it out. A close second was the legs. If they couldn't walk, it made them less of a threat. His strategy proved effective. While ghouls twitched on the ground and reached for him, he managed to keep to his four furry feet and cause some damage, enough that he felt the need to leave his group of ghouls and head to help Thaddeus, who was practically buried in them. He had to hand it to the old bloodsucker though. Thaddeus wasn't going down without a hell of a fight. Partway the
An hour or so later, they were on the road, the vehicle they borrowed not exactly luxurious, but the pickup truck in the garage, with the plow hooked to the front was less noticeable than Thaddeus's car with the torn hood and roof. Marc drove this leg of the trip, with Toni seated in the middle and Thaddeus on the other side. Cozy, but surprisingly pleasant. Thaddeus was still trying to come to terms with the speed at which his immortal life had changed. He'd gone from a boring and dull existence, where his primary amusement was stalking miscreants and taunting Morpheus, to embarking on a quest to save his kind, stop a war, oh, and get romantically involved with a woman and another man. Or at least the woman. The fact that she came with a hairy attachment he had yet to kill was something he still couldn't quite comprehend. I have never been one to keep pets. In times past, Thaddeus would have easily solved the dilemma by snapping a neck and claiming her for his own. He had
Wakening to one side of Toni, while Thad slumbered on the other, didn't freak Marc out as much as he feared. What began as a dislike and rivalry with the vampire had transitioned. He wouldn't exactly claim to like the guy, but he did have more respect for him and could now see him as a person instead of just a vampire. It also helped that Toni made it clear she wanted both of them, or neither of them. She wouldn't tolerate jealous bickering. Or, as she told them when they entered into a staring, growling match, "Behave, or I'll take my pussy and play with it myself." Nothing like the threat of no sex to calm them the fuck down. Then again, Marc wasn't serious about staking the bloodsucker and sticking him out in the sun for a tan, but a guy had to have some fun. Easing out of the bed, careful to let her eke out as many minutes of sleep as possible, Marc took first turn in the shower then headed off to scrounge up some breakfast. Within a half-hour, Toni arrived in the kitchen, he
This time Toni recognized the setting for what it was: a dream. I just wish I could choose a nicer location, say like a five-star resort. But no, her subconscious apparently harbored a sadistic side, and once again, she found herself in her dreary cell, wearing a gauzy nightgown trimmed with red hearts and ribbons. Ready for a loverÉor two. Unlike her last visit, this time the door to her prison was open. A shame, she'd quite enjoyed Thaddeus's appearance, and Marc's. They'd opened her eyes in this dreamscape to the possibilities, and now that they'd shown them to her, she had to wonder why she'd held back. But back to her dream. Why was she here? Was there something to be learned? Done? Only one way to find out. She strode from her former cell, the silence around her oppressive but not threatening. It seemed the fear she'd lived with for so long was losing its grip. Apparently eating some dead guy's ashes, kicking some ghoul butt, and then having the courage to take