Page 125 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nadia

E cho chucks me into his car for the most uncomfortable ride in existence.

Fury wafts off him in waves. My chin tilts in the air as I glance out the window.

Okay, so I definitely look like an idiot for getting myself into something I couldn’t control.

However, my magic has never failed me so epically until I came to North Falls.

I need to get out of this town, which is practically impossible with the council’s compulsion. I should have tested whether I could ask Wraith or Knight to pass on a message. Maybe they could pop into Haven and visit The Den.

“I’d like to check on Milania, if that’s possible?” I ask to break the incredibly awkward silence.

Echo grunts. “Once we move to the next runestone. You’re more optimistic than me if you don’t believe the council has eyes on us at all times.”

“Is that where we’re headed?”

“Hardly. We’re going to my apartment to regroup. They’re probably wondering why the hell we were on pack lands to begin with. The last thing we need is to draw them directly to the newly turned fae.” His hand flexes on the steering wheel.

Echo also has strong forearms, at least the one currently flexing as he drives. He’s covered in black tattoos. His right hand has a galaxy pattern that swirls into planets around his wrist and up his forearm.

“Why do you live there?” I ask conversationally, but truthfully, it’s been bugging me.

I’m surprised he didn’t live with Imogen.

At least, until the maker bond is severed, it’s rare for progeny to be away from their creator.

I mean, as far as I’ve been taught, it is.

“I’m sure Imogen isn’t used to letting you out of her sight for long. ”

Echo scoffs, pulling his hand down to shift gears.

My knees actually clench as he downshifts.

I’m not sure why that’s so sexy, but here we are.

“It’s my job, or it was before I became your walking, talking blood bag.

I manage the club and keep everyone in line.

It’s not like I’m scheduling appointments, but that’s the employment I was given. ”

“I’m sure it’s not so bad.” My eyes are still focused on the way his forearm flexes as he downshifts again. “I love my job. Even on my days off, I still end up at The Den or Venom. That’s the nightclub, but to be honest, that might be because Haven doesn’t have a lot of other nightlife.”

Echo shakes his head. “North Falls is not Haven. The Mirage is an apt name for what that place provides.”

My heart drops. I don’t like the sound of that one bit. “And you actively help the council keep that place in business?”

I’m all for sex work and monsters fucking each other to their hearts’ content, but I draw the line at coercion.

“As I’ve extensively pointed out,” he says in a clipped tone, “I was physically incapable of denying a command issued by my maker until you dissolved our bond. Now I get the joy of being commanded by an altruistic, but suicidal, witch.”

I scoff. “I’m neither of those things, but I am going to burn that damn council to the ground on my way out of town.”

“Not everyone at The Mirage is innocent.” Echo sighs, taking a turn that leads us into the main area of North Falls.

“Some are reasonably indebted to the council by their own choices and deals they struck. A few, I feel especially bad for, but if you get us all murdered by pulling another stunt like today, then they’ll truly have no chance at respite. ”

I bristle, tossing myself even farther back into the leather seat, but he’s right. It’s bizarre. I don’t like needing to rely on anyone else, but at the same time, I’m not so independent that I can’t see the value of having a team.

“I’m sorry that I commanded you not to interfere.” I gasp as Echo whips his car into the back parking lot near the pool and his apartment. “Not immortal. Just a reminder.”

“You’re such a pain in the ass, baby darkling.” He pulls into a spot, shutting off the car. It’s still bright out. I start to freak out a little, but my door opens and my seat belt gets unclipped before I can do much more than blink.

Echo lifts me and zips us inside. The ward sizzles, letting me know someone crossed it while I was out. I wait for any lingering feelings to indicate someone else was here while we were gone, but outside of Echo, it’s clear no one was.

“Stay.” Echo places me on my feet. He’s gone in the next instant, and I feel him leave the ward through the door. It’s strange.

He’s only gone a few moments, but I need a drink. He’s got quite the freezer stocked full of liquor and the cabinet next to the fridge, from what I remember.

There’s a lovely bottle of half-empty vodka in the front of the cabinet. I grab the handle, yanking it down. I drop it on the counter and look around for a tumbler. Eventually, I give up and drink from the bottle. My nerves are completely shot.

“What the hell did you do to me?” Echo growls.

I jolt, nearly dropping the bottle. I guess I was so preoccupied that I didn’t pay attention to the ward. The vampire grabs the bottle, setting it down on the counter. His hand lands on my hip as the other wraps in my hair. He tilts my head back until my eyes meet his milky white orbs.

Oh shit, Echo’s monster is fully in charge.

“What do you mean?” I lick my lips nervously, sucking off the last drops of remaining alcohol.

“What did your shadows do while they were restraining me?” His arm lifts and he shakes it in my face.

“Not even a hint of irritation. I just stood in direct sunlight for over five seconds. My skin should be blistering right now, if not breaking open in spots. The UV shield around the town keeps the sun from being deadly, but it’s still a painful experience. ”

I blink, studying his forearm. There are no signs of what he described. My magic pulses, and I’m reminded of how shitty I felt in the clearing for not considering that he might be one of those vampires the sun can be problematic for.

“You made me swallow enough shadows that I thought you were trying to drown me in them.” He nips at my neck, causing my entire body to shiver in response. The way his tongue flicks over my skin makes my nipples tighten painfully.

“Yeah, well, I thought they were restraining you, but I did feel like a terrible tether for not considering the sun,” I admit, shoving my ass back into his pelvis.

“Is that right?” he muses, teasing his hand around to the button on my shorts.

“Yes,” I agree.

I’m not sure if he mistakes that for consent or if he’s just excellent at pushing boundaries, because he pops the button, handling the zipper before I can blink. “You smell absolutely fucking delicious, and my addiction to your scent is growing over time.”

“I’m sure it’s the power in my blood,” I moan. My head rolls back against his chest as he slides his hand down the front of my shorts, cupping my sex and squeezing my lower lips.

“That’s not it.” His tongue flicks over the column of my neck, making my tits throb.

“I’m beginning to think it’s the tether.

Or just the smell of your slick cunt egging me on.

” His middle finger teases my clit over my panties.

I bite my lip to keep from begging him to move lower.

“Do you have any idea what I can do when my tongue moves at super speed?”

The moan escapes, despite my best effort, and he grins against my neck and shoulder.

I’d normally be a little concerned. Logic dictates keeping a hungry vampire away from your throat is a good idea, but there’s something about the thrill I get from having a predator so close that makes me sure I am too stupid to live.

“No, but I’m totally open to finding out.”

Echo growls and the sound vibrates against my back. My body has a visceral reaction as my core tightens around nothing.

“Such a responsive little thing, aren’t you?

” Echo murmurs close to my ear. He squeezes the lips of my sex, and I thrust my ass against his thickening length.

“Shall we remove these?” He snaps the band on my panties, and my hand falls down, disintegrating the fabric.

“Nice trick.” He chuckles. “How about the top?”

I repeat the process up top, and my heavy tits bounce as they’re freed from their confinement. My nipples tighten in the cool air. Echo licks the shell of my ear as one hand cups my left breast and the other teases over my sex.

“You still smell faintly of the mutt.” Echo works his palm over my clit while sliding a finger down to test my hole. “I don’t like it.”

“Then, do something about it.”

He nips at my neck, lifting me while spinning around.

He takes a few steps and sets me on the edge of the counter that has no top cabinets.

My hands wrap around the cool surface to keep myself upright while Echo drops to his knees.

The long black hair on top of his head falls over his eyes as he pulls my hips forward.

My feet come to rest on his back as he crudely licks his lips.

“Hold on tight, baby darkling,” he says, smirking.

“I might not stop with just a taste.” His tongue slides out, licking slowly from my hole to my clit.

His forearms are trapped under my thighs, but he still manages to pin my pelvis down with his strong hands.

He works my sex in different patterns and pressures until my feet bounce against his back as I beg.

At some point during his torment, I release the counter with one hand, burying it in his hair. “I thought you were going to show me what you can do. Teasing is no fun for either of us.”

The speed of his tongue increases until I’m a wriggling, sobbing mess. Sweat breaks out on my hairline as my pleasure coils tight. My tits ache, feeling heavy and tender.

“Not impressed?” he asks, licking his lips.

“Ungh,” I moan, trying to shove him deeper into my sex.

“That’s what I thought.” He moves his hand from holding my hip down to pulling apart the top of my sex. His thumb teases my clit as he switches to tongue fucking me.

My hair falls around my arms as my head falls back. “Deeper!”

Echo works me over as electricity zips through my entire body.

My pussy milks his tongue, but I’m desperate for something more.

He growls, lifting me with my thighs hanging over his shoulders, and slams my back against the wall.

I’m high, but my head doesn’t touch the roof as he licks and sucks me through my orgasm.

I can barely see straight again before he’s tossing me over his shoulder and heading down the stairs to his bedroom.