Page 5 of Feeding Frenzy (Crimson Coven #3)

FIVE

jax

I sighed and tipped my head back. Difficult female. I thought vampires were stubborn—this human girl gave any female vampire a run for their money. This wouldn’t be easy, and I hadn’t made it easier with my big fucking mouth. Asher called it ‘lacking impulse control’.

The rest of them believed I deserved her ire, because I’d chosen . I clenched my teeth—I hadn’t been given an option. They’d written me off so easily. Just like my human. I’d hurt her . . .

No, I shouldn’t be blamed for my initial reaction to Catalina. My yearning for her fostered anger. How could I crave her? That question was all that swirled my thoughts. She’d been an unknown human, stepping where she shouldn’t, causing things to shift. I hadn’t understood the difference between her and Imogen. Or how it felt to be cared for. Of not being on edge, of no pain.

I hadn’t known.

Catalina could not punish me for my ignorance. The thought was tinged with desperation, but I kept my desires sealed. I would not let her see my devotion to her—as much as I wanted her, she could not know the power she held over me.

Kitten wasn’t malicious. She was soft. She was the opposite of Imogen. She was what I wanted. I hadn’t known having Catalina could be so addicting.

If Imogen knew, she’d rip her to shreds, especially after the rejection from Ren and Asher.

Upon discovering Tobias also valued the human, she’d been close to ripping Kitten’s throat out, so I’d gripped her shoulder to stay her, but if I would have known Catalina would look at me with such cold eyes, I wouldn’t have.

“Earth to Jaxon Crimson.” Catalina waved her hands in front of my face.

“What I needed to tell you.” I cleared my throat and lowered my voice, so the approaching Imogen couldn’t hear. “I will stay after Imogen leaves.”

Catalina raised her eyebrow.

“You don’t want to leave the guys.”

I frowned, shaking my head, but before I could tell her it was for her, she continued, “I mean, I get it, you guys have been together for a long time. You didn’t expect all this drama.”

I scowled, confused.

“Jaxon.” Imogen’s footsteps echoed down the hall leading into the kitchen. Catalina’s lips thinned.

“I don’t get why you’re telling me. We’re done. Plus, I don’t need you. I have a better version of you anyway.”

I internally recoiled, while my body remained stiff as stone. She shrugged. “As for the others, you have to talk to them about how you guys will handle the separation. Leave me out of it."

Her words rocked through me with acute pain. A shroud crept over my thoughts. Her mouth was moving rapidly, but I struggled to focus on her words.

If Imogen knew my doubts. Of the insane, illogical, weak urge to collect the human to me, she would kill her.

Yet, I was being punished for wanting to keep Catalina safe.

“Can you explain it to me?”

“What?” I said, harsh. Her lips thinned but she didn’t flinch or recoil . . . almost like she was used to my outbursts.

I didn’t like that.

“What did Imogen mean about Bastien looking different before?”

The switch in topic restarted my sluggish brain. Imogen was talking about the time Bastien escaped and was gone close to a month. Ren was the one who found him.

“He looked nothing like he does now. Bastien was emaciated, not even a shadow of himself. He was unrecognizable. Drained and skeletal.”

Her eyes widened and fear flitted through them. She took a step back.

“How long ago did he disappear?”

“About four years ago. That’s an estimate. When Ren brought him back, Bastien was as he looks now. We’ve tried to figure out how—” I shut up. Her chest stopped moving and her heart stuttered. I collected her hands in mine.

“Breathe, Cat,” I said with more force than I intended, but humans needed oxygen to breathe, she could hurt herself like this.

She coughed, dragging in breaths with each rattle. “What is wrong?”

“N-nothing,” she said, but her eyes were wide and spooked.

I frowned, scanning her features. I couldn’t figure out what feelings she grappled with.

“I promis?—”

“Jaxon,” Imogen called out again. It was close enough for Cat to become stiff.

I clicked my teeth together and released her hands.

I couldn’t collect her into my arms as I craved.

The look on her face crushed me. Like I’d betrayed her.

I avoided looking in her eyes. Every second I stood here, while she stared at me accusingly, chipped at my resolve.

But I couldn’t pull her into my arms without endangering her. Imogen would not kill this human. Even if it meant I could not have her.

“You should go,” she said, hollow, fixing her eyes on the floor. I gritted my teeth and turned, walking down across the kitchen and through the hall with clipped steps. Imogen stood in the middle of the foyer with bags surrounding her.

“There you are.” She grinned at me. “We really need to get more servants. Can you work on that for me?”

I inclined my head, but she was already striding to the stairs. “Be a dear and bring my things.” She snapped her fingers toward the bags sitting where she’d been standing.

I stiffened, but she was already halfway up the stairs. The compulsion of her direct order forced me to collect her bags and trail after her.

She’d begun to set up the third floor for herself and once that was completed, she would have me fuck her. All that had held it off was that Imogen needed her area perfectly to her style. Her compulsion to ‘redecorate’ had saved me insofar, but it would not hold off. I had to speak to Tobias.

Asher’s words from earlier echoed. A meaningless fuck. I could tell the difference now.

Something needed to be done quickly. Kitten was a jealous sort and based off everything I’d learned about her, if I fucked Imogen, she would never willingly touch me again.

I stepped into the disarray of the prior second living room.

“Jaxon,” she clapped, “I purchased us each a coffin to sleep in. They should be delivered in a few weeks.”

And she would not be here.

“Jaxon.” Her warm hand touched my cheek. She’d fed recently. “My loyal Jaxon. You’ve remained faithful.” She slipped her hands around my back, petting my spine. I gritted my molars.

“Yes,” I forced out.

“You seem so cold now, my child.” Was she doubting me? Fuck, she couldn’t. Catalina wouldn’t be safe.

I hissed a breath out.

“You left me.” Appealing to her pride would be the only way to get her thoughts away from my behavior.

She squeezed her arms around my waist once more.

“Not by choice.” She sighed and stepped away. “I can’t wait to go through all my new things.” She flounced over to her shit. I scrubbed my face with my palm and looked over my shoulder at the exit—fuck, I wanted out.

All these new emotions would be the end of me.