Page 10 of Love Bites (Timber Creek #2)

CHAPTER 10

MAX

“I’d probably be gamey, not gonna lie.”

Summer’s nose wrinkled as she stared down the vampire in front of us, the male casually leaning against the crumbling brick wall. Like the stories told, his skin was moon-white, dark hair slicked back from his face and dark eyes to match, and a lithe body made for deadly speed. But nothing was as ominous as the fangs protruding over his lower lip while he offered her a grin that was far from friendly.

He chuckled, his eyes scanning her body in that damn dress, highlighting her luscious curves. “And a mouth on you too. This must be my lucky night.”

I tensed, my fangs descending as I assessed him, ready to step in front of Summer. Before I could move, her hazel eyes blazed her wolf’s gold as she lifted her nose and snapped her jaw. “Seems like I might be the one with the luck tonight.”

Something flashed across the vampire’s face and his head tilted in interest, as if he’d just now noticed she wasn’t some damsel he could chomp down on, but a full-blooded wolf shifter, a predator in her own right.

“I’m here to see Grigor,” I said, breaking their stare-off before he had another moment to notice just how tempting Summer was. “Is he still here?”

For the first time, he looked at me, recognition showing as his eyes narrowed. “What’s your name? You look familiar, and I thought I knew all of us on the East Coast.”

“Dante,” I said, and luckily Summer didn’t react to my alternate identity.

The vampire subtly straightened, apparently having heard the rumors of the rogue vampire who sold himself as a supernatural hitman. My reputation obviously preceded me, despite the fact I’d never met this vampire before.

For the last few years I’d led a double life, existing on the outskirts of vampire society as Dante — my actual middle name — and in the rest of the supernatural world as Massimo Russo, Premier angel Malachi Russo’s son. The worlds could not collide or any chance I had an in with the vampires would be shot, so I kept my dark angel wings retracted and hidden from view.

The door behind him cracked open, and a second vampire appeared in head-to-toe black leather, contrasting her white hair and whiter skin. The only splash of color on her was the dark red tint of her lips as she eyed me with interest. “I thought that was you at the club, Dante.” Her tongue darted out between her lips, running across the tip of her right fang. “It’s been a long time.”

Not nearly long enough , I thought, but kept it to myself. I lifted my chin, stepping one foot in front of Summer. All vampires were dangerous, the combination of mind control, shadow walking, and strength making them one of the most powerful supernatural creatures, second only to angels with their lightning abilities. Nicolette was old and exceptionally powerful, Grigor’s second in command for the last century, and I hated her. “Nicolette. Never a pleasure.”

She tossed her head back and laughed, the moonlight glinting off her teeth. “As I remember, there was quite a lot of pleasure last time, Dante. Maybe you need a demonstration to remember just what pleasure feels like.”

Summer cleared her throat loudly, her fingers lacing between mine. The warmth of her grip was a shock to my system, and Nicolette glanced at her, dark eyes squinting.

“As fun as this little walk down memory lane is, we’re here to see Grigor.”

Nicolette pursed her lips, then nodded and the first vampire stepped aside to let us pass. My heartbeat drummed in my ears to the same rhythm as the music, a trancelike vibe that warned of the deadly creatures within. It took all my control not to grasp Summer to my side as we stepped into the warehouse, but my scent all over her and my violent reputation were hopefully enough of a statement. Forcing my fingers loose, I dropped her hand, placing my palm on her low back as we followed Nicolette. Our footsteps echoed down a dingy hall before we pushed through a set of dark curtains, and Summer staggered to a stop in front of me.

Like the club we’d left, people writhed on a dance floor, sweaty bodies grinding against each other to the beat of the music. Unlike the club, dim lighting glinted off gold-edged furnishings set into nooks in the wall, upon which lay scantily clad men and women, their heads thrown back in seeming bliss, all while vampires feasted on them. Some couches had more than one vamp per plaything, and another had multiple humans to one vampire, her fangs deep into one’s neck while her hand slipped down into another’s pants.

“Are they—” Summer started, and I pushed her forward away from the orgy breaking out. “Yep. Nevermind.”

“Don’t stare. They’ll take it as interest.”

“Got it. Eyes only on you then.”

I missed a step, and Summer winked.

Nicolette wove through the dance floor, a path clearing as we moved towards the front of the large warehouse turned den. From what I could tell, most of the victims here were human, and likely had no idea what was happening to them as tongues licked over bite wounds and sank into flesh. At the very least, they would have their memories wiped before they were set loose again.

The steady beat of the music, the flashing lights, and the strong scent of blood and arousal in the air was a heady mix.

And I’d brought Summer Larkin straight into this den of debauchery.

West was going to murder me.

In front of us was a raised platform, girls dancing in cages on either side of a golden throne. Grigor sprawled across the throne, shirtless and bored with one leg over the armrest, appraising the room. His long blond hair hung past his shoulders, a hint of shadow in the veins across his bare chest. He snapped his fingers and a man — no, more of a teen — stepped forward, knelt, and offered his neck.

Shadows shot through my veins in my anger as Grigor bit into his neck, blood spilling carelessly down the teen’s neck as he drank. His victim’s face was a mixture of pain and lust, hands moving over Grigor’s skin as he moaned.

A giggle bubbled out of Summer beside me, and Grigor’s blood red eyes jerked our way, teeth still in the boy in front of him.

I clenched my jaw as his gaze raked over her, tossing the boy aside as he stood to his full height. In an instant, the red in his eyes faded to an icy blue. His long strides made him look like he was gliding as he approached us, eyes narrowed at Summer before flicking to Nicolette and, finally, me.

His smirk was pure ice as he stepped forward, not bothering to wipe the blood from his chin. “Dante. You brought a pet.” Shadows danced under his fingertips as he brought his hand up to trace the edge of Summer’s jaw, but she recoiled at the near touch, making Grigor’s smirk grow. “How cute. Is she in exchange for the one you stole from me?”

I kept my face blank. Technically, he had no proof Quentin’s escape was my doing, merely that I’d been in the area around the same time. “Quentin wanted to leave, so he did. Last I heard, the Conclave frowned upon keeping Sources against their will. You can take it up with them if you have an issue.”

“Then I’ll just have to convince her to stay, hm?” Grigor circled behind Summer as his fingers traced just above her skin, never touching but a clear threat. “I promise to make it good for you, pet. You’ll forget all about Dante in an instant.”

Summer chuckled. “Oh, you don’t want me as a pet. Trust me, Grogu. I shed.”

Grigor’s pale eyes hardened. “It’s Grigor. And I didn’t say you could address me.”

Summer ignored him as she waved a hand at his throne, amusement lighting up her face. “I’m sorry, are you serious? You have an honest to gods throne? What is this, Game of Thrones night at the vamp club? At least add some pyro so you get the full dragon feel, if that’s what you’re going for, Gringotts.”

I fought back a grimace, my hand shooting out to grab Summer’s again, but it didn’t seem to derail her. The more she continued to speak out of turn, she unknowingly told him she was unclaimed, the defiance something that would be near impossible if she’d been a normal human or other supernatural claimed by me. I wanted to slap a hand over her mouth, but it was already too late.

“Can we speak to you privately?” I cut in, dropping her hand and taking a step forward to draw his attention back to me and begging Summer to get the hint to quiet down.

“Do you have my pet?”

I didn’t answer, and Grigor shrugged like it was out of his hands.

“Then we have nothing to speak about. Return the boy to me and then we can discuss whatever you like. Nicolette will see you out, unless you’re here to dine, in which case” — he licked his lips — “I’ll insist we all watch.” Reaching out a hand, he trailed a pale finger down Summer’s jaw, down her neck, despite her low growl. “Such a pretty thing.”

My hands clenched into fists. But he turned, heading back to his throne, when Summer spoke up again.

“Aren’t you curious how we found you?”

I whirled on her. “ Summer .”

Slowly, Grigor faced us again, tongue dragging across his fang as he considered her, then me, and I could have slapped myself. If her question hadn’t intrigued him, my reaction just had.

In a heartbeat of supernatural speed, he appeared directly in front of us, one hand around Summer’s throat, and the other tangled in her hair, tilting her head back to meet his eyes. To delve into her mind. Milliseconds passed in slow motion as shadows enveloped them, Summer’s mouth hanging open as her wolf’s golden gaze met Grigor’s. My fangs snapped out.

A snarl left me as I dove between them, shoving her back and him off her. He flew back against his throne, but in an instant was back in front of me, black veins angry under his skin. I ducked the swing he threw, and then we were a tangle of limbs and snapping jaws and teeth.

I could feel the attention of the club turning to us, but thankfully most of them were too high on the feast or drunk on actual substances to care to step in.

If only I could say the same for Summer, but no. A swirl of honey-brown hair swept in front of my vision as she leveled a solid kick at Grigor, sending him doubling over to his knees.

His roar finally had the other vampires pulling to their feet, forming a semi-circle around us. Nicolette stood directly behind Summer and me, blocking any retreat.

“You steal from me” — Grigor spat a glob of blood onto the floor — “you trespass, and you attack me? The Conclave will be hearing about this, Dante. They’ve left you alone too long, unchecked. Your days are numbered.”

Inky darkness rose like a fog around him, the shadow of his leathery wings emerging as black bled into his veins. As though they were entranced, the vampires of his den mimicked his actions, closing in around us.

“I’m going to take your pet,” he snarled, taking a step closer, “and drain her dry while you watch.”

My eyes flicked around the room, assessing the situation, but I couldn’t fight off this many vampires at once, especially if I had to keep an eye on Summer too. As half-angel, I had the ability to dip into my father’s lightning powers as well as my mother’s shadows and strength, but not without revealing myself for what and who I truly was. Magic hummed under my skin, feeling the spells put in place around the den. Vanishing wouldn’t work within the den itself, but the spell’s barrier ended just outside the warehouse. We needed to get out. Now.

I’d been an idiot to try this with Summer. I had only one avenue left to try to get out of here without a fight.

“I always knew you’d be back,” Nicolette said against my ear, her tongue flicking across my skin. “This time, I want a taste.”

“My apologies.” I kept my voice low and steady as I moved away from Nicolette. Calm. Certainly calmer than I felt. “She’s… new to me. You know how it is with wolves, a play for dominance. No one touches her but me.”

Grigor halted for a moment, contemplating my words. Then he laughed, and I cringed.

“What a horrible little liar you are. If she was your Source, she’d never speak out like that. Still” — he shrugged again — “it’s been a while since we’ve had a wolf. Your loss is our gain.”

I saw it a second before it happened, the tell-tale twitch of muscles before they lunged for us.

My arm snapped out, shoving Summer behind me as Nicolette’s shadows hit, banding my arms to my chest. A snarl told me someone was going at Summer, and I growled as I wrenched free of Nicolette’s magic, lashing back out with my own. A dark cloud formed as our powers intertwined, but rather than stand my ground, I stepped backwards, forcing Summer towards the doors.

“You’re weak,” Nicolette spat as she shoved her hands wide, the magical force that held us apart breaking. She slid back into a row of vampires, then flew forward again with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I should have known that’s why you never came back.”

She expected me to send out another force of my shadow magic to hold her back, but my entire existence was unexpected.

Shoving my hand into the In-Between, a hole between the angel and earth dimensions, I splayed my fingers wide, pulling on my father’s powers as my fingers closed around a long, smooth object.

“That implies I ever came to begin with, and I got tired of faking it.”

As her eyes widened, mere inches from mine, I sank the stake into her heart.

A wet, choking gasp escaped her lips, her gaze dipping down to the stake, and her face paled. Her wings went first, dissolving into dust, then her body crumpled to the ground, soon turning into a pile of ash.

Grigor let out a roar at the loss of his Second, and before I could move, he rushed to where Summer battled and thrashed with two other vampires. Tossing them off her like they were weightless, he twisted her hair up in his fist again. Trailing a claw down her neck, he broke open her skin in a stream of red.

“Well, I can’t let that go unpunished, can I, Dante?” he purred, his veins black as he held Summer in stasis, paralyzed by his vampire powers. I froze, the sight of her blood trailing down her neck sending a bolt of panic up my spine.

“Leave her alone,” I growled, my fingers flexing on nothing, but I’d already revealed my party trick — I wouldn’t have time to summon another stake from the In-Between before he snapped Summer’s neck.

With all my focus on Summer, I failed to notice the vampire sneaking up on me until Grigor’s eyes flicked ever so slightly to the right. I whirled, reaching for them, but they were already lunging, stake extended. I twisted enough their stake missed my heart, plunging into my bicep instead.

I clenched my teeth against the pain, and settled for ripping the guy’s arm off as I flung his body across the room.

Streaks of fire shot through my bloodstream, the stake poisoning the magic in my veins almost instantly. I hid my grimace, refusing to show weakness while we remained in the den.

Grigor’s jaw twitched with annoyance. “That’s two vampires you owe me now, Dante. I’d thought of keeping her for a pet, but now, I think I’ll drain her dry. Or maybe I should Turn her?”

I lunged forward, pain forgotten as I reached for Summer, her eyes flashing golden. In a heartbeat, she was in her wolf form for the second time tonight, her jaws sinking into Grigor’s calf and yanking with a sickening crack .

While he yowled in pain, I rushed to her side, then gripped her scruff, took the final step out the door, and called on my darkness, vanishing us away.