Page 26

“I doubted the veracity of Michele’s claims about your value, but I think he might have actually undersold your potency. Moon, I would worship you were you mine.”

My heart felt like it would pound right out of my chest. Had Elias sensed my terror yet? My mind raced with possibilities as to why this vampyr could be here, but regardless, I needed to distract him long enough for my alpha to get back.

The elder’s fangs scraped down my neck, and the scent of my fear-laced perfume filled the room. His nostrils flared as it hit his nose and he shoved his erect cock into my stomach, hissing in pleasure. “You smell divine, little one. Had I known more clearly, I would have offered Michele as many warriors as he needed to retrieve you.”

I whimpered as he continued to grind against me, feeling ill. “Why… why would you care if he had me back?”

He ran his fingers down my cheek, taking my chin and raising my face so he could look into my eyes. Similarly to Mike, he didn’t have a natural musk like alpha shifters. But while Mike had still always smelled nice, this vampyr stunk of death. “He promised each member of the council a night with you as payment for your return. I wish I could say I was here to collect, but alas, I’ll instead just have to deal with the regret that I’ll never know the pleasure of your tight little pussy clenching around my cock.”

My fear turned into indignation and I seethed. “He promised what now?”

The elder grinned, flashing his sharpened canines. “Why so angry? I thought you loved having sex with as many males as possible?”

I growled my response. “Fuck you.”

“Ooh,” he shivered. “I don’t think that has quite the effect you want it to, little one.”

I pushed him off me. “What do you want, then?”

He clasped his hands behind his back, walking slowly around my living room and looking carefully at the pictures of Mike and I from happier times. “I’m simply wrapping up a few loose ends. Your police department so helpfully sent us a highly biased and heavily redacted report of our defeat in Wisconsin.”

I swallowed, flipping my hair over my shoulder and crossing my arms. “I didn’t witness most of the attack, so I’m afraid I can’t answer your questions.” Not quite a lie, but truthful enough.

“Hm, perhaps you can answer more than you think.” He ranhis finger along a floating shelf, scoffing at the dust. Then he looked me up and down and sighed. “I suppose I could forgive your lackluster housekeeping skills were you my Lunessa.”

My eyes narrowed. What a fucking creep. “Get on with it.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Of course. As I was saying, perhaps you can answer this question I have.”

The elder rushed across the room again, his lips centimeters from my ear. “Since when did shifters regain their wolf forms?”

My face paled and he grabbed my neck, his thumb rubbing against my jugular as he breathed me in again. My body tensed, afraid that movement could spur him on. “What are you talking about?” I whispered.

“Mmm, you have no idea how adrenaline flavors the blood—it’s exhilarating. That’s why I always keep my servaglio on their toes. I wonder what yours tastes like…”

His fang had just pierced my skin, his tongue on my neck, when the front door flew open. Elias rushed, grabbing the vampyr by the neck and slamming him into the ground. His fist pounded into the vampyr’s face as he snarled. “Get your fangs off her, you bloodsucking piece of shit!”

“Enough!” the vampyr yelled, his words garbled as his mouth filled with blood. “You kill me and you will start a war, you rabid dog!”

Elias grabbed him by the collar and smashed the vampyr’s head down onto the floor. “Then I’ll just beat you until you’re almost dead.”

He cocked his fist back again when I ran forward and grabbed his hand. “Wait, he’s an elder!”

He whipped his head back towards me, his eyes narrowing on the single prick on my neck, a red smear marring my skin. “He tried to bite you!”

I closed my eyes and nodded. “I know, it’s not okay, but we have to let him go.”

“Yes, listen to your omega, mutt.” The Elder turned his head and spit a mouthful of blood onto the white rug. The white rug that I had insisted we buy, while Mike had balked, warning me it would stain. Funnily enough, it may actually have been blood he’d been concerned about.

Elias growled, slamming him into the ground again for good measure before finally getting up. “Get out of here, and don’t you ever come anywhere near Marlowe again.”

The elder rose and wiped his mouth, hissing at Elias. “Mywarriors had chest cameras, I know what happened that night. How many of you can shift?How many of you have magic?”

“Out!” Elias barked. “If you have questions, take them to the Shifter Conclave.”

Straightening his shirt and running his fingers through his hair, the Elder finally moved to leave. He stopped for a moment, when he was next to me. “Jen says hello, by the way. Now that I’ve finally met you, too, I must say—your fiancé had exquisite taste.”

I whimpered, remembering the texts and videos between Jen and Mike I’d seen on his phone. How much he’d betrayed me in his relationship with her.