Page 16 of All Your Bloody Lies

“Achille,” I answer for him.

Damn, I should attack her, but I’m too fascinated. Plus, Mathas has pissed me off. I’ll let her rough him up a bit before interfering.

“No,” she hisses. “Shifters. Achille is a Mundane. Who did you report to before Achille? Who did you report to that was a Shifter!?”

I narrow my eyes, and Mathas, for Vayl’s sake. He spits at her, and at such close proximity, it splatters across her face. “Release your hold on me, you witch!”

“My sweet.” She leans back, running her fingers along her face to collect his saliva. I’m not sure why, but watching her lick them clean as though it is inconsequential spit makes my cock throb. “Witches bow to me and my kind as though we are their Gods. Do not belittle me.” Her eyes narrow. “Answer my questions, for you have already surpassed my fucking patience.”

When Mathas doesn’t speak, she turns her gaze to mine. I focus down onto her lips that are slightly parted. “Who did he report to before Achille…?”

A low growl vibrates from my throat.

“Please?” she pleads mockingly, giving me a pouty expression.

“I’m unsure, it’s not my job to know.”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, bringing them back down to Mathas. “I don’t have fucking time for this. You both ruined my night. Answer the question, cupcake!”

The moment their eyes lock, Mathas breaks through the hold she has on him. His eyes now a bright purple, ah, aNyxdrana. A Vampire that can cleanse their palate is rare, and quite useful. So much so that they are given their own designation. Now I understand why Achille wanted him.

I want to appreciate his ability, but once more, his actions are hasty. While I can see the attack coming, it seems to be too quick for the girl. He extends his hand out and slices straight through her neck, the blood splatter coating the adjacent wall.

Quickly, I move to her and grab her from behind. My one arm wraps around her waist, the other grabbing hold of her hair once more, pulling it back.

When I see the wound, heat rises from my stomach, “Mathas, Gods almighty—” I could see her damnvertebrae.

“She’ll heal,” he says with a shrug.

I am angry, not concerned she’d not heal.

“We need to work on your…” I pause, feeling her entire body vibrate as though she were the world and it were undergoing a quake.

My instincts kick in, and I drop to a laid position just as sharp shards ofbloodshoot across the alleyway. Mathas isn’t fast enough, but it won’t kill him anyway. Protruding from his neck and chest are a dozen, if not more, crystallized spikes of blood.

I can’t imagine she will surprise me, but she does. With speed I only thought imaginable to my kind, she has Mathas against the furthest wall, feet dangling before I finish my blink. She smells of rage and despair, and I swear for a moment, I sense fear radiating off of her. It doesn’t derive from Mathas...

No… She does not fear us.

There is something else—orsomeoneelse.

“Let me—” she cuts Mathas off.

“Don’t!” I scream, but it is far too late. Mathas’ head is completely gone in the matter of a breath. Blood, bone, and brain matter splatter across the narrow space. His body falls to the ground, slipping from her grasp.

Shit…

Her gaze, an unnerving intensity, locks onto me, and the deliberate twist of her neck, almost defying the laws of anatomy, sends shivers down my spine. In that moment, my entire being surrenders to a tumultuous blend of desire, an intoxicating dance that leaves me spellbound in the presence of her pull.

I see her action, and I am at my feet before she has the chance to stand above me. I might find her more attractive covered in blood.

Her mouth opens and I can see her hands raising, as though prepared to attack, when a shriek echoes from the entrance to our corridor of death.

“Oh, my Gods!” a woman calls out, and I know it will draw all the unwanted attention.

The Succubus before me lowers her hands, and in a blink, her face softens. Tears begin to pillow in her eyes as she wraps her arms around my torso. “Thank you! Thank you!”

I am so taken aback that my hands begintrembling at my side.