Page 112 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Thirteen

Nadia

M y shadows dance out of my skin and set to warding the apartment. I need a sound barrier and a protection ward up immediately.

I don’t bother getting up as I pull the pin from my wrist cuff and slice. Blood trickles into smoke and spills out across the room to do its job.

I’m exhausted on a bone-deep level as I heave myself off the couch. I circle the apartment, covering the ground level windows and doors in runes before heading downstairs.

Dipping my finger into the blood of my wrist, I etch the sigils over the wood surrounding the frame of each doorway. There are no windows down here, which makes a lot more sense when I consider it belongs to a vampire.

My skin burns as it knits back together. I’m woozy and exhausted as I face plant onto Echo’s bed.

Peeking out the door that leads to the parking lot, I check for anyone shady. Nope, no lingering creeps or stalkers.

My magic urges me forward with a level of insistence that’s hard to explain. It’s extremely annoying. I need a nap. The strange itch of Warren’s compulsion hits when I think of blowing off starting on the ward.

If I have a hope in hell of working on it today, then I need to eat and replenish my energy. I dart down the gravel-lined path and cringe every time the rocks crunch under my feet. Quickly sliding into my car, I head for the diner. Carina went to grab us lunch earlier, but I didn’t get to eat.

Echo is a shitty host. There’s no food and nothing to drink in his apartment. Well, except for copious amounts of alcohol. Which was tempting, considering this shit show of a day, but it would be empty calories.

North Falls is captivating in its own way. Downtown sidewalks lead to shops, restaurants, and other businesses. The mountains in the background make for a truly beautiful vibe.

A thick forest surrounds the small town. If you keep driving through the city center, you get to a massive lake that’s fed by several streams.

The parking lot for the diner is relatively empty as I pull in. My stomach gurgles, and I quickly climb out of the car. The light-headed feeling only gets worse the closer I get to the door. The diner is old, like the rest of the town, but it’s not rundown or dirty.

“Sit wherever you’d like,” an older waitress says as she eyes me.

Do I look drunk? Possibly.

I stumble toward a booth on the right side of the diner.

Before even sliding onto the bench, I smell the alpha wolf. He gently grabs my shoulders and guides me down the aisle toward the back wall.

I’m carefully shoved into the women’s room, and the wolf follows.

“What the fuck happened to you?” he growls in his low, rumbly voice.

“I met your town council,” I say before I can stop myself. “What’s your name?”

I’ve had this wolf’s blood, but I don’t know his name. It’s very on par for my life at this point.

“Ridge,” he says, shoving his face into my neck. He’s close to the same place Echo drank from me.

“Nadia,” I reply.

“I know,” he rumbles. “Why do you smell like the council’s errand boy?”

He pulls back and his eyes glow that yellowy-green color.

“He’s supposedly my bodyguard,” I say, swallowing thickly. Telling this wolf any of my secrets is a stupid idea.

“He fucking sucks at his job,” Ridge growls. His warm hand wraps under my bottom. I’m lifted and pulled into his chest. “Drink, you’re tapped out.”

“I just came to grab some lunch. I hear they have a turkey club that’s to die for. I was really looking forward to it before I got roped into that shitty meeting.” I bite my lip to shut myself up. Something about Ridge puts me at ease on a level that’s not okay.

“Drink, little witch. Or I’ll feed you another way.”

I’m not usually all about unapologetic dominance in someone I don’t really know. But damn, it looks good on Ridge. My shoulders pull back as my head shakes.

“I’ll be okay,” I say, but my fangs pop out, so also...fuck my life.

“Now,” he barks.

My teeth strike his throat. I moan, wiggling against him as I drink.

Ridge lets out a low growl that signals he’s not displeased with the pain. His hands cup my ass under the hem of my dress.

My back hits a nearby wall, and I whimper against his skin. My tongue dances over his throat, flicking and sucking every available drop as his flesh tries to close around my fangs.

My brain processes that I’m being greedy, and I pull back. The last gush of blood fills my mouth, and I swallow like the thirsty bitch I am.

Ridge’s large frame cages me in, and he grinds his denim-covered erection into my core. “I never had a bite fetish until I met you.” His eyes glow with his wolf, and he smirks before diving in to capture my mouth in a filthy kiss.

I have no idea why the hell I’m up against a wall, grinding on the wolf’s impressive cock, but I’m also not judging myself too harshly.

I saw that dick; it’s something to be smug about. I often use sex as a stress reliever, and I’m fairly sure this wolf would be a damn good fuck.

Ridge holds me with one hand. The wall helps as leverage, keeping me stable while his other hand slides up, untying my dress. The thin lace bra and panty set I put on this morning does little to obscure the view of my goods.

“You’re already slick,” he growls into my mouth between kisses. I nod mindlessly as the wolf licks his way down my neck until his warm tongue flicks over my lace-covered breast.

The door behind us opens in a flash, and instead of some poor woman who needs to pee, it’s Echo. He doesn’t look pleased.

Nope, he looks very frustrated.

Yeah, me too, buddy.

To make this moment even more awkward, three wolves follow him inside. The wolves simply look on in shock. Their gaze flicks from me to the vampire to their alpha and back again. I’m not overtly modest, quite the opposite, but I still toss an arm over my tits.

“Out,” Ridge barks with every ounce of alpha command.

Two of his enforcers comply, while the third asks, “Are you sure, alpha?”

“Get out,” he growls, covering me with his bulky body. Once the very confused wolf exits, the alpha emits a low, feral growl at Echo. “You too, fucker.”

“What part of don’t leave my apartment was difficult for you to comprehend?” Echo completely ignores Ridge.

“I was hungry,” I say petulantly.

“She was stumbling around on empty,” Ridge says as he carefully puts me on my feet. “Do you know how to take care of anyone but yourself?”

Once he’s tied my dress, Ridge spins around to glare at Echo.

“I had to top myself off so I could feed her,” Echo says in a bored tone.

“I eat human food, asshole,” I add helpfully. “Before you ambushed me with that disaster of a council meeting, you promised me food if I behaved.” I jab a finger at his chest. “You’re a liar.”

The wolf snorts a laugh. His large hand wraps around mine. “Turkey club?”

I nod, biting my lip as I study his handsome face. I have the weird urge to pull my hand up to tease it through his beard.

I make a fist instead. It would be excellent to punch Echo in the balls right about now.

“Let’s handle feeding you using the other method,” Ridge says, preparing to walk past Echo.

“Let go of my tether,” Echo hisses.

Ridge’s entire body goes rigid. “What?” His eyes bounce between the two of us. The tension in the room ramps up to the point my skin prickles with unease. “You finally found someone stupid enough to break your sire bond with Imogen?”

My eyes bounce between the two men. Oh yeah, they definitely know each other, and these guys are not friends.

“I didn’t do anything.” Echo smirks. He didn’t do a damn thing to stop it, either. I’m definitely going to punch him in the balls when we’re no longer tethered. “The council ordered me to be her vessel.”

“You agreed?” Ridge asks, releasing my hand as he turns to face me.

“I tried to decline. Warren felt very... compelled to make sure it happened,” I say, glancing away.

He suddenly feels as cold and distant as the fucking vampire, who’s still smirking.

“I was given zero warning of what I was walking into when I came here, and now I’m stuck until I finish the job. ”

“Played the long game and you won,” Ridge says to Echo. His massive hands shove Echo’s chest. “You finally broke the bond to your lunatic sire.”

I frown.

Ridge would have made a much better bodyguard. He’s not as shady as the vampire, and we agree on most things he’s said so far.

“No care or concern for how that affects the poor witch you’ve tied yourself to. Do you think Imogen will let her live? You stupid fuck,” Ridge growls, his eyes turning bright yellowy-green.

Standing around watching the two of them fight is getting me nowhere. If they’re going to go at it in this confined space, then I don’t want to be around to watch it play out.

I push out of the bathroom door and head to the counter to place my order.

I make it to the front and grab one of the menus with a grimace. The sound of fleeing customers fills the restaurant. Over that, Ridge and Echo can be heard fighting and snarling at each other.

“You should definitely bill them for the damages and pad it with bad attitude charges.” I toss a thumb toward the commotion. “That’s what my boss does when anyone fights in the club back home. They aren’t allowed back in until they’ve paid the bill in full.”

The older woman sighs, nodding to my menu. “Do you know what you’d like?”

“Does hanger always turn you into a petulant child?” Echo asks, taking a seat next to me on the couch.

“How many times a week do you get punched in the throat?” I volley.

“Twice today alone,” Ridge assures me as he takes a seat in the chair at my side.

My wards are working; I felt him the instant he tried to enter.

“I have to get to the peaks and start fortifying the ward,” I say. I’m not sure how much of that is the compulsion talking and how much is delusional hope that I’ll survive this town if I’m quick and efficient.

“You’re aware every other blood witch who touched the ward has been brutally murdered?” Ridge’s long blond hair fans around his face as he leans forward, like he’s imparting some secret information.

“Yeah, I heard all about it at the meeting.” I shove my takeout box on the coffee table. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like I’m going to be able to get out of here anytime soon.”

“More compulsion. I should have seen that coming. You’re not going up there alone with fucking Echocio Diamonte,” Ridge growls. His eyes glow with his wolf. “Better known as Echo, because all he knows how to do is echo the fucking council.”

I grimace at that. It’s a horrible nickname once you understand the meaning behind it.

“He literally can’t hurt me,” I gently remind Ridge. His body is coiled with tension, though I have no idea why. Perhaps he doesn’t want me to die until we’ve finished what we started earlier. That’s thoughtful. I wouldn’t mind a good sweaty fuck fest, either.

It would certainly improve the disaster my life has become over the last twenty-four hours.

“My life is intrinsically tied to hers now, mutt. So, you can lose your prejudice and bias against my kind,” Echo says.

The dangerous growl that comes from Ridge makes me jolt. “It’s not your kind, it’s you.” His teeth elongate and his claws grow.

“Leash your beast,” Echo says dismissively.

My dress rides up my thighs as I push myself off the couch. Ridge’s eyes immediately follow the movement, and he bares his teeth at Echo. His clawed hands reach for me, but he’s very careful not to dig into my soft flesh. My knees go on either side of his hips.

I’m a little confused about why this alpha wolf is having such a violent reaction. Maybe he feels like he has to protect me as repayment for saving Brock?

My pussy rests over his cock, and he pulls me to his chest. Bending his head down, he takes a deep breath of my scent at the juncture of my neck. A freshly humanized hand wraps in my hair as he tilts my face, so I have no choice except to stare into his eyes.

“I’ll be accompanying you to the peaks.” Ridge’s tone ensures this fact is not up for negotiation.

“Of course,” I agree. “I’ll take any backup I can get.”

“You’ll not distract her while she works,” Echo says haughtily. “Pace the woods like the animal you are, but do not get in our way.”

Ridge ignores the angry vampire and, instead, pulls my mouth to his for a deep, dirty kiss that mimes mouth fucking.

My hips involuntarily roll over his thickening cock.

There’s a weird warmth in my chest as his tongue rolls around mine.

He’s an excellent kisser, which I’ve found is a great indicator that he’ll be a generous lover.

“You taste so fucking sweet,” Ridge groans, palming the back of my head.

My tits ache as my chest rises and falls in rapid movements.

Echo lets out a grunt behind me. The next thing I know, his cool hands land on my thighs. He lifts me from behind with no problem, zipping us across the room before Ridge has a chance to object.

“Meet us there or don’t,” he says, pausing by the door. “Lock it on your way out, mutt.”