Page 21 of Feeding Frenzy (Crimson Coven #3)

TWENTY-ONE

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I sank onto the stool and placed my elbows on the edge of the granite counter. I sucked down a breath for the first time in a while. The smell of blood lingered in my nose. I closed my eyes, stopped breathing, and fisted my hands. Attacking Jax after Ren pulverized him like that was a line I wouldn’t cross.

“Catalina?” My hair fluttered around my shoulders with how fast I turned. Tobias reached for me. Those gray eyes . . . violent, gray eyes. My stomach turned over.

Tobias’s hand hovered but didn’t touch me. His lips thinned and he withdrew with a frown. It must have been written all over my face.

“Sorry.” I placed my hand to my chest, even though my heart wasn’t pounding like it used to. He slowly moved around my stool and pulled out the seat next to me. He sank down and set his hands on the counter. He moved with such care; I could tell he did it to not spook me.

I settled next to him. And the more he just stayed quietly studying me, the more my shoulders relaxed.

“You fear me. You fear Bastien.”

“It’s not fear,” I said defensively. “Where are the others?” Was it a method to distract the conversation? Sure was.

“They’re giving us a moment.”

I only hummed.

Tobias opened his mouth to speak about three different times, but nothing came out.

“Do you still want me?” The vulnerability in the question took me a second to wrap my head around. Tobias’s expression was fixed and stiff. Like he braced himself for my ‘no’. “I see how you flinch from me.” He paused. “You blame me. Rightfully. If I hadn’t asked for her to stay, we wouldn’t have had this—” He scrubbed his hair. “Catalina. I regret my decisions.”

A muscle jumped in the side of his sharp jaw.

I reached for his hand and lifted it in both of mine. His gray eyes met mine, blank, cautious.

“I know you’re not her, consciously, I know it. Just for the foreseeable future, give me a heads up if you come up behind me. Your eyes . . .” I licked my lips. “They’re the same as hers.” And it brought on a searing agony through my stomach. A phantom pain from where she’d carved into me.

“It’s not your fault,” I finally pushed out. I understood more than anything the love one could have for a sibling. “You gave her the benefit of the doubt, as you should have.” He avoided my eyes. I licked my lips. “You rely on your ability. You trust it. She knew that and took advantage.”

Finally, he looked at me. “All of this.” I waved my hand around my face. “It’s a lot.” As quickly as the fear had come, it disappeared. He wasn’t his sister. “I have a question about being a vamp.”

He inclined his head, encouraging me to continue. “I thought vampires couldn’t feel, but everything seems enhanced.” I pressed my palm to my stomach.

Tobias leaned until the edge of the island pressed into his back. I sat straight in the stool and still had to lift my chin to stare into his eyes.

“Your negative emotions are emphasized,” he began. Bloodlust, hunger, jealousy, irritation. Check and check. “They drown out all other emotions and if it’s not that, then it’s hunger. Think back to your past. It’s almost behind a hazy curtain, yes?” I slowly nodded. “As time passes, it becomes more difficult to hold onto those memories and the emotions that come with them. Vampires do not love because we cannot .” He brought his hand up, lifting it toward me. Slow enough that I could have turned my head away. His fingertips grazed my cheek.

“It is not easy to pull those softer emotions from vampires, but once you have, they will bond to someone for eternity. We call the one that returns that piece of ourselves a ‘Beloved.’” The corner of his lips twitched. “You reminded us what softness felt like.”

“Beloved.” I frowned. “Is that some sort of magical thing?” I thought they said magic didn’t exist. There also weren’t any other creatures from stories that existed from my understanding—all the myths came from vampires.

“If you’re asking about predestined, or a tether to tie us to you, no. But you were the one that forced us to feel .” His lips twitched up higher, wrinkling the corners of his eyes. “I supposed there is a magic in that, if you prefer to think of it that way.”

“Will I forget how to love?” I frowned. I couldn’t imagine losing myself and no longer caring about Peter.

“No. Asher and Jax had each other. You note how they have loyalty to each other? They are also a reminder of each other’s humanity. This is why they feel much easier than the rest of us.” He paused. “You have your brother and us , if you choose to stay by our side.” He stopped and his eyebrows furrowed. Suddenly looking unsure. I slid off the stool and stood, craving his arms.

“More like you’re stuck with us.” Asher entered into the kitchen, rapping his knuckles against the broken metal door leaning against the wall. All four of them came in, with a shirtless Bastien bringing up the rear. “Tobias, Bastien was infected when Ren trapped him in a cell with a blood-mad vampire.” The way he spat it out was how a kid would tattle.

“What?” Tobias hissed, straightening.

Jax moved fast and appeared in front of me. Blood stained his face, but there no longer seemed to be open wounds. He cupped the bottom of my jaw, turning my head side to side.

“Jax—”

He dropped to his knees and yanked my shirt up. His face was level with my stomach. Blue eyes scanned my skin.

He released a gust of oxygen from his mouth and dropped his forehead to my belly. His golden hair rustled. I slowly lifted my hand and sank my fingers into the strands. He shuddered, arms slipping around my waist and hugging me tight.

I remained frozen from shock. He looked for what Imogen had done to my stomach.

“What?” Tobias’s eyes flashed red, and he yanked Jax’s shirt. The cotton ripped and a low hiss left Jax. He released me and stood to face Tobias with a curled lip. Although Jax was taller, Tobias looked like he would tear his throat out. And I didn’t doubt the damage they’d inflict on each other.

“Tobias.” I lifted my hands in a staying motion. Someone pulled me back from my arm, and I looked over my shoulder to Bastien shaking his head. I pressed my lips into a thin line.

Tobias shoved Jax back, turning to meet my eyes. He looked haunted. I dragged my attention away from him, suddenly feeling so exposed. He’d likely seen Imogen carve ‘ whore’ into my stomach through Jax’s memories. Bastien squeezed my shoulder. I leaned back into him.

Every muscle in my body tensed. What was I doing, taking comfort from the star of all my nightmares?

“Are you well, Little One?” His gruff question soothed the fear that clutched onto my throat. I hadn’t moved an inch. I bunched the fabric of my pants in my fist. Squeezed once, twice . . . my shoulders loosened and with it, the urge to take off running.

“Why would you do that to Bastien?” I asked Ren, figuring distraction was the best course of action. Ren crossed his arms, not seeming even a little sorry.

Bastien’s lips twisted. “Imogen’s orders, I presume.”

“You did not hide your plans to leave the Coven,” Ren said.

“I was searching for a cure,” Bastien snarled.

“And she wouldn’t have benefited if you left.”

“So, she had me infected.” Bastien scoffed with disgust. “I managed to behead the poor blood-mad sod, but he bit me in the struggle.” Bastien crowded into me, but he wasn’t groping at me like usual. After a beat, his arm snaked around my waist, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

I struggled to swallow. The big, gentle male confused me. For the life of me, I couldn’t connect the Bastien I’d come to care for with the creature that kept me trapped.

“If it’s truth telling time, I have something to add.” I flexed my hands.

“The Pale One I told you all about, the one I thought was hunting me?” They watched me with such focus, not rushing me. “It wasn’t him. Imogen has been behind everything.”

“She had a vampire trap you?” Tobias narrowed his eyes.

I shook my head. I wasn’t explaining this properly.

“No, he couldn’t have been the one hunting for me.” I licked my lips and spat it out, “The Pale One is Bastien.”

Silence.

Bastien’s arm slipped off my waist.

“The bastard who kept you captive was him?” Asher’s expression twisted with confusion.

“You mentioned he got out once and then he returned looking closer to this?” I motioned behind me at the large, healthy male vampire.

“Ren was the one who found him,” Tobias said in agreement. Ren both caused and saved me from it. If he’d never followed Imogen’s order—no, I needed to stop. The past couldn’t be changed.

“You were there,” I said in awe, connecting the rest of it. They’d mentioned Ren was the one who found him but I’d been so wrapped up in who Bastien was, I didn’t focus on the vampire who pulled him away from me. “He’d had me pinned a-and you pulled him off me.” Leaving me bleeding, for another human to find me and call for help. “Do you remember me?”

Ren’s arms dropped to his side.

“I wouldn’t have paid attention to a human. I was too stunned at Bastien’s change.” Ren stepped back, head shaking.

“We believed he’d gorged himself and that had been what began to heal him from the blood-madness. But with each new feeding we gave him, he did not advance,” Tobias said.

“That was where he was that entire time we searched for him? With you.” Jax’s phrase at the end became less of a question.

I nodded. Asher was in Bastien’s face, and his quick movement forced me back a few steps to get out of the way.

“You were why she was so scared.” Bastien didn’t flinch at Asher’s accusation.

“What did I do?” Bastien murmured, eyebrows dropping down over his red eyes. He fixed a piercing look toward me. “What did I do to you?” The question almost sounded angry.

I put my hand on Asher’s shoulder and wiggled between them to push him back.

“He doesn’t even remember, leave it be. We have someone else to worry about.” Asher’s jaw line bunched, and he took a slow step back. He grabbed my elbow, keeping me to his side.

“So, if it was never the blood-mad male after you. Imogen is behind it all,” Tobias said.

I nodded curtly.

“She had a lot of fun gloating about everything she’d done while she broke me. She also gloated about having someone run me over.” She’d been trying to kill me for a while now. “I feel like I should get an award for surviving this long,” I said wryly.

“We’ll be bringing her ashes to you,” Ren vowed. That would mean they would hunt her down. My heart jumped in my chest in a slow agonizing squeeze.

“No. We need to stay far away from that psycho.” I shook my head hard. We . The word echoed in my head. Were we a ‘we’? I stepped back. “You know what, there’s no we . Jax woke up. It’s time for me to go,” the words flowed out quickly, almost panicked. I was too comfortable.

All five of them became preternaturally still.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Jax snarled.

“You don’t have a say in anything.” I whipped my head toward him and shoved him as I backed away until I faced all of them. They stood across various spots in the kitchen. “Am I supposed to wait until you disappoint me again?” I whispered.

I closed my eyes. Everything became so silent I could have heard a pin drop.

“We’ll remove the issue,” Ren announced. I met his brown eyes. He crossed his arms. Irritation flickered over his face, but he stayed in place. “The one who keeps hurting you.” His eyes focused on Jax.

“You’re acting like you never tossed me around or burned my life belongings.” There was a desperate edge to my voice. Because . . . because they were convincing me.

“We settled that,” he said, smiling so wide his fangs and dimples showed up. He was right. He took accountability in the car. I licked my lips.

My eyes bounced from one to the other.

“Fair,” Bastien added, nodding. “If you do not want Jaxon here, he will be forced out of the Coven.”

Jax remained silent, like he was too stunned to speak.

Asher sighed and rubbed his temple.

“If this is what you want, Love, we agree.”

“What the fuck is this?” Jax snarled. “I’m not going anywhere.” The three that spoke studied him. Tension crawled up my shoulders. Asher continued rubbing his temples.

“I . . .” I licked my lips.

Jax’s eyes widened with alarm. He was suddenly standing in front of me. His chest heaved once and then again.

“You can’t do this,” he whispered. “I can’t leave. I won’t.” His nose flared. He slammed his palms against the wall near the sides of my head. He shoved his nose into the crevice of my neck, eliciting a shiver to life.

“I need you,” he whispered it almost accusingly. I clenched my hands at my sides. He felt too good. His nose rubbed against the column of my neck.

He’d make me melt into him. I needed a clear head. I shoved him back and ducked to the side.

Jax grabbed my forearm. My throat closed up and I just reacted—whirling, I sank my teeth into his arm.

I breathed in through my nose, the taste of his sweet nectar exploded on my tongue. I moaned and held onto the underside of his arm near his elbow. I ran my tongue over the bite wound to collect blood. I sucked again.

Jax groaned, staggering back, until he sagged against the wall. I followed, holding onto him.

I yanked myself back so fast, I almost fell. My reflexes helped me catch my balance. Jax stared at me, eyes so wide. He panted. My eyes dropped to his hard bulge.

I dabbed my tongue on my lip to collect the rest of his blood.

“I’ll bring you her ashes,” Jax said, still breathless.

“What?” I shook my head hard. “No. Just leave it be.” I just wanted peace.

“She won’t let it be, Pet. Especially if she discovers you survived.”

“That will anger her more,” Ren added.

“Tobias, tell them.” Maybe he would be on my side. Sure, it would be more of a selfish reason, but that was fine with me if the outcome was the same. I whirled toward him. His gray eyes scanned my face.

“I agree. She needs to be stopped.”

He’d just agreed to kill his sister. “She’s crossed too many lines,” he continued. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince me or himself.

“Nothing will happen to us. She’s outnumbered,” Asher murmured, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“More like two against one.” Ren met Tobias eyes. “She’s your Sire. You three cannot be anywhere near her.”

“In case she orders—” Jax went quiet. He knew exactly what she could order.

My stomach did not feel good. All I wanted was for her to stay away from me. I didn’t want to even look at her, but their words rang true. I knew she wouldn’t stop coming for me if she discovered I was alive.

She was an older vampire too—much stronger.

“Shh,” Jax said, cocking his head. “Do you hear that?” Everyone went silent. The tapping started up again and all of us turned toward the sound coming from across the kitchen.

Tap. Tap. Tap. In quick succession. I started toward it, but Asher stopped me with a touch to my shoulder and approached the door leading to the garage.

Asher’s nose flared and he gripped the doorknob. He pulled it open. Maddy toppled face-down on the tile. Asher moved out of the way before she fell on him.

“Maddy!” I hurried forward and helped her turn her head to look at me. Her eyes widened on me and tears flooded them, spilling down and over the duct tape wrapped around her mouth. The muffled talking was intelligible. I couldn’t roll her over because her arms were tied tight to her ankles. She’d been trussed up like a turkey until she couldn’t move. I dropped to my knees beside her to hunt for the tab end to lift the tape. I smoothed my fingers along the textured surface until I reached an abrasive bit and used my nails to peel it up.

“This is an excessive amount of tape,” I muttered, unwinding it from around her head. Finally, at the final layer, I stopped. “It’s stuck on your hair.” Instead of tugging the tape and her hair along with it, I pulled off the final layer from the other end across her mouth.

She gasped, tears continuing to spill.

“A little help would have been nice.” I eyed Asher balefully. He’d watched as I struggled. I moved down to the rope and took hold of it with both hands.

“Why would Imogen leave her tied up here?” Asher asked, eyes narrowed.

“I’m so sorry, she ordered me to bring you the drugged tea.” She shuddered, crying until she hiccupped. With a quick yank, I ripped the threads binding her. Her arms and legs flopped out and she groaned. The position did not look comfortable.

“You’re right, it doesn’t make sense.”

I brushed at the bits of fibers that flew off the rope and clung to my shirt. A palm pressed into my spine; I looked over my shoulder at Jax. He hooked his hands under my arm and hoisted me to my feet. He brushed his hands over my clothes. I could only study him in shock. What had happened to Jax and who was this?

I caught Asher’s smirk, and he quickly smoothed his face. Maddy bumbled to her feet. I was about to make a comment to Jax about his weird behavior, when Maddy lunged toward us.

She moved in a lagging motion, as if she were under water. I stepped in her way as she lifted a sharp metal stake and swung it so hard it sliced my shoulder open. I hissed, flinching. Shock kept me in place and holding my stinging arm. She swung again, aiming behind me, toward Jax.

I gasped and put my foot out to trip her.

Ren caught her by the wrist, he squeezed until she cried out and released the weapon. It clanged against the ground.

“Don’t hurt her,” I shouted.

Ren’s lips tightened.

“I will not take chances with your safety again.”

“Ren! Please,” I cried. Jax wrapped an arm around my waist.

“If she is at fault, she dies.”

“Fine, but it wasn’t her.” They’d see, this was another stupid move of Imogen’s.

“Look at me.” The push of Ren’s compulsion forced her eyes up, so she faced him. Maddy’s lip trembled. I tried to approach but Jax held me tighter.

Maddy’s shoulders tensed and since she faced Ren, I couldn’t see her expression.

“Wh-what happened?” she croaked.

“Why did you attack?”

“I don’t know what?—”

“Tell me.” The force of compulsion thickened his voice.

“Imogen ordered me to kill Jaxon Crimson,” her voice took on a low, sleepy tone. I knew it.

“I release you from Imogen’s compulsion.” Her body went limp, and she dropped to the ground. I hurried to her side, crouching.

“Maddy? You okay?” I whispered.

“I didn’t want to do it,” she choked out.

“How sure can we be that?—”

“Stop it,” I grated out between my teeth and glared at Jax. “Let’s get you cleaned up in my room.”

“You’re not going anywhere with her.”

“Ren, stop!” I smoothed my palm down Maddy’s hair. “We might have to cut this off.” I told her. I didn’t spare them another look as I guided her to the hall. She wouldn’t stop shaking.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Jax said to the others. I whipped my head around to glare at him. “I’m not leaving you alone.”

“What has happened in my absence?” Bastien’s question reached me, as I hurried down the hall with Maddy. I turned all of my attention to her. She wouldn’t stop shivering.