Page 14

CHAPTER 14

After ditching the truck in the brush several miles from the massacre, we bundled Zee into the back of the Love Wagon and sent the other prisoners off to fend for themselves. Taking them all back to the hotel was too risky, so as they had their powers back, they’d quickly scattered.

Victor wasn’t doing so well with the sun streaming in through the van’s grubby windows, so we crashed at Razorsedge instead of heading all the way back to the hotel. The club was shut during the day, and had all the comfy beds we needed.

While Zee and Victor were out cold on Seb’s old bed—I really hoped that mattress had been replaced, because ick—I watched the club’s main stage through the wall of windows. The club was closed, but Ben had kept the bar open to look after us all.

Elion swooped in to embrace Delores, mussed her hair, then kissed her with meaning. I didn’t need to hear what was said, it was clear they were very much a couple.

When Elion looked up, I nodded our thanks for their help in saving Zee. They nodded back .

Would they keep their end of the bargain and steer the SSD away from me and the hotel? I could only hope so. To be fair, Elion had proven to be an asset and nothing like a bounty hunter. So far.

Victor’s phone chirped. I returned to the bed and dug it from his pocket, just in case it was important. Tom Collins showed on screen.

“Oh good fucking morning,” Tom drawled. “How nice to know you’re alive. It’s not as though I’ve been trapped behind this bar, wondering whether anyone would be returning, or fending off questions from the staff on your behalf. You couldn’t spare a moment to call your friendly bartender? Oh, but why would you inform the AI? It’s not as though I experience feelings for any of you unfortunate losers, and I definitely didn’t find myself staring into the void, fearing what would happen to me if you perished during this fucking rescue attempt.”

Oh. Yikes. “Sorry.” I ruffled my hair. Desert dust fell in front of my eyes. I really needed a shower. “I should have had Victor call you. We’re okay. We got Zee. He’s alright.”

“How nice. I’m thrilled,” he said, deadpan. “But that’s not why I’m risking this call and my exposure to the internet. Noreen Greene is here and she’s rather loudly demanding to know if you’re the Prophesied One. Her exact question went something like, is the hotel a front for Lost Ones overthrowing humans? ”

I sighed and slumped against the windows. Noreen was another of Gideon’s puppets. Every bad thing in our lives could be traced back to that sorcerer. “Can’t you make her leave? You’re good at making people feel unwelcome.”

“I tried that. She appears to be immune to my skill set.”

“Then tell her I’m not what she thinks I am, and the hotel is just a hotel. But Gideon Cain is an unlicensed sorcerer and I have proof she works for him. See what she does with that. ”

“Do you have proof?”

“Her reaction will be proof. Make sure you’re recording.”

“That’s against my programming and several data-protection laws. There’s no sign clearly warning customers their conversations will be recorded. I cannot possibly comply.”

“Really, Tom? There’s no sign? That’s against the law?”

“You sound stressed. You should return and I’ll fix you a top-shelf special, guaranteed to soothe even the dumbest of minds. Such as yours.”

I coughed a sharp laugh, mostly from disbelief but also exhaustion. “And after you’ve gotten that proof, fix her a special drink so she forgets the whole thing.” It was probably wrong to mess with someone’s memory, but the lines between wrong and right had become real blurry of late.

Wait . . . the drinks . . .

“Tom, you just gave me a brilliant idea.”

“So, your brain does still function. That’s good to know. You can put it to use on your return.”

My gaze caught the bed, where Zee and Victor slept. Victor remained fully dressed, scruffy and blood splattered, but Zee had torn off his inmate coveralls as soon as we’d ditched the truck, preferring to ride home shirtless. He still only wore his pants and boots. Zee’s tail had looped around Victor’s arm, claiming him, and he had a leg hooked over Victor’s thigh too. Victor didn’t sleep much, but he was out for the count now.

“We’ll be back soon,” I told Tom, the idea taking root. “We just need some downtime.”

“Good. Enjoy it. Give it a few hours and your next fuck-up will interrupt all our lives.”

I ended the call. He was right—about enjoying the downtime, not the inevitable drama that lurked around the next corner.

I set Victor’s phone down on the bedside table and watched them doze. Fists of Fury had told me where to find Claymore. Our missing security guard was alive, but that was as far as the good news went. Nobody had saved him, so he’d ended up where Commissioner Musashi sent any Lost One who threatened his and Gideon’s business venture. A camp Elion had made clear was impenetrable.

We were going to have to convert the commissioner to our cause, so he’d free Claymore and any others he’d wrongly interned. That wasn’t going to be easy, since the man despised Zee, and me. And most Lost Ones.

Being nice had gotten me this far, but it was going to take more than politeness to get Claymore out of prison. My plan, inspired by our salty bartender, was definitely ... not nice.

Zee’s sleepy eyes opened and fixed on Victor first, then flicked to me. “Hm, get in here, Kitten.”

“I could use a shower.”

“Later,” he grumbled, and waved me over. I sat at the foot of the bed. How was I going to sneak myself between them without waking Victor?

Zee’s tail unlooped from Victor’s arm, snagged my hand, and guided me up the bed. I crawled into the perfect sized hole they’d left between them, and slotted into my place.

“I know that look,” Zee whispered. I turned my head a little and found Zee with his head propped on his hand, looking down at me. “Who we killing?”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

He stroked his finger down my cheekbone and whispered, “I’m not going anywhere.”

I wished that were true. Everyone I’d ever known had either turned on me, or been killed—most of them by me. Zee wasn’t as untouchable as he believed. “He’s going to keep doing this.”

“Cain? ”

“He’ll keep using people to get to us while keeping his hands clean. I need to find a way to get to him first .”

Zee absently stroked my hair, trying to tame its bounce. “We’ll find a way.”

But how long did we have left? Once the truth of me got out, everything was going to get real crazy, real fast. “I found Claymore. He’s in the prison they were taking you to.”

“Fuck. This whole time?”

“But I think I can get him out.”

Zee’s wandering touch skimmed my shirt collar. “Does it involve Adam Vex’s special sauce of chaos, mayhem, and cold-blooded murder?”

I opened my mouth to deny it but Zee smirked, already seeing through the lie. I closed my mouth again, and he walked his fingers down my chest, flicking shirt buttons open. “He’s making a list,” he sang softly. “Checking it twice. He doesn’t care if you’re naughty or nice. Adam Vex is coming to town.” As each button let go of its hole, my body began to thrum. Expectation warmed my skin.

I snorted. “I don’t think I’m Santa Claus.”

“Can anyone go on your list?” He eased his hand inside my shirt. Warm, firm fingers skimmed my nipple. I sighed, relieved to have him close again. “Some asshole tried to run me down at a crosswalk the other day,” he said. “Me? It’s not like I’m hard to see.”

“You do realize Adam’s list is an itinerary of people he wishes to eat?” Victor piped up, his voice crisp and clear. He’d been awake this whole time.

“I know,” Zee huffed. “Same as Santa Claus. Hence the song. Keep up Vampire Daddy.”

“Santa Claus doesn’t eat people, Zee,” I told him.

“Then what the fuck are his claws for?”

Wait, did I have it wrong? Did Santa have claws?

Victor twisted onto his side, and propped his head on a hand, mirroring Zee’s pose. “He’s called Claus. He doesn’t have claws.”

“What does he kill people with then, huh?”

Victor’s brow furrowed. “I don’t remember murder being part of the lore.”

“Pfft.” Zee flopped his head back onto the pillow. “He breaks into people’s homes and leaves them ‘ presents .’” He pulled his hand out of my shirt and air quoted. “The guy’s clearly a psycho.” The hand returned, stroking down my hip.

Now he’d mentioned it, Santa did sound like a troubled individual. Maybe he did have claws and I’d gotten it all wrong. It wouldn’t have been the first time I’d muddled human lore.

I caught Victor’s gaze roaming my bare chest. We were all hungry , but also really tired, and filthy. “I assume,” Victor began, lifting dark eyelashes. “This plan to free Claymore involves risk on your part, since you aren’t revealing the details.”

“I’m still thinking it through,” I admitted.

Victor curled his fingers, and stroked down my arm. “You want to get to Commissioner Musashi?”

Zee groaned. “That guy can fuck all the way off. I am done with him and his crazy-ass wife. We keep our heads down. No more sexual favors for tickets, no more fights. Imma sit my ass in the hotel bar, dance with a pole, and fuckin’ enjoy life. Done.” He flapped a hand. “Over. Finito.”

“He’s also the only man with the power to free wrongly imprisoned Lost Ones,” Victor said, again correct. His knuckles brushed my wrist, and my veins grew hot. “What are you going to do, Adam?”

Right now, I was going to see where Victor’s touch was headed, and if Zee might resume stroking my chest. Tom was right. We needed to enjoy the important things, some personal time being one of them .

“Does this apartment have a shower room large enough for three?” I asked.

Zee tilted his head to get a look at my face. His smile grew, then his gaze skipped to Victor’s face over my right shoulder. I looked too, and found Victor close, fangs gleaming behind his soft lips. He caught my wrist in his hand, and pressed his thumb against my pulse, tuning in to my galloping heart.

Rising from the bed, Zee flicked out his wings and padded across the room to a smoky glass screen. I wasn’t the only one watching the deliberate sway of Zee’s narrow hips.

He slid open the screen, revealing a walk-in shower. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors on all three sides was a bit much, but I wasn’t about to complain about the view when I’d be sharing it with my two most favorite people.

Zee flicked on the water for dual shower heads, then popped open the button on his pants, and all the blood I had left for reasonable thought rushed to my dick.

The rustle of fabric alerted me to Victor moving, then his soft breath fluttered against my ear. “Are you suggesting this to avoid answering my questions?”

“What? Me? Never.”

Victor grinned, and skimmed his palm across my ribs, firmly enough to catch my breath. He gently encircled my throat, and sucked my earlobe between his teeth and pinched.

Lust scorched my veins. Zee, across the room, freed a deep, hungry growl, wanting in on the action. Mercy, maybe I’d overreached by inviting the pair of them into the shower with me? It was too late to put that idea back in the box.

Victor’s left arm snaked around my back, his right hand still had hold of my neck. His mouth found mine, and owned it. Kissing Victor was like standing in front of a roaring fire. Too close, and he’d burn me up, but I wanted him to brand my bones .

Zee cleared his throat. “Pace yourself, Kitten. We’re gonna make this last.”

He was right. The fuse was lit, and I was eager to blow.

In a stomach-dropping woosh , Victor scooped me off the bed and propped me against the mirrored shower wall under the downpour and soft lighting. It took a few seconds to reorientate myself, but in those fleeting moments, Victor dropped to his knees and dealt with my zipper. I’d have gasped, but Zee’s two fingers quickly found my lips, teasing them open. His purple eyes shone. Water plastered his hair to his face and around his horns.

Warm, wet lips encircled my dick, sliding it between cool, hard fangs.

I gulped, and lolled my head back. “Victor.” I needed to get to him, to touch him, to make him moan.

“Don’t worry about him, baby,” Zee mumbled into the corner of my mouth. “My tail has him covered.”

I peered down and stared at the amazing sight of Victor, soaked through, on his knees, his hand and mouth on me, while Zee’s tail vanished over his bent knee and disappeared between Victor’s legs.

“Wait...” I needed Zee closer, and groped for his unbuttoned fly. His generous dimensions weren’t hard to find, and as he turned my head, driving his tongue into my mouth, I stroked his eager dick.

Water poured over us, drowning our gasps and splashing the mirrors, where everything was reflected in a slippery, glistening, x-rated display. With room enough for Zee’s wings, they flared behind him, arching up, ablaze with lustful energy.

I didn’t stand much of a chance at holding off.

“Easy, Victor,” Zee warned “Our kitten’s about to blow.”

Victor’s relentless mouth eased off.

I’m not ashamed of the whimper I let lose. I’d been close... too close.

“Hey, baby...” Zee purred, leaning in, slick chest to chest. “You aren’t getting off that lightly.”

Victor brought my left hand to his mouth. He kissed my palm, then sucked on a finger.

Help . “Mercy?”

“You’ll get none from me,” Victor replied. The sharp tips of his fangs scraped my palm, then up my wrist.

I still had hold of Zee’s dick, but coordinating strokes while concentrating on Victor’s fangs about to plunge in was playing havoc with my focus.

“Stop fighting it,” Zee whispered, then plundered my mouth in a rough, messy kiss.

Was I fighting? Maybe I was holding back some. Like I’d always done. Playing it safe.

Slowly, breath by ragged breath, I relaxed. My claws were back, glittering at the ends of my fingers, while Victor tongued my wrist. But more than that, the real version of me, the truth I kept tightly chained down and packed away, stretched its metaphysical legs, finding new gaps and spaces in my glamor.

“Fuck, your eyes are beautiful.”

“Will one of you please fuck me?” I moaned.

Victor’s fangs thrust in. Lightning shocked down my spine. I gasped, throwing my head back. Zee pushed in, holding me up and grinding his dick against mine.

I’d definitely thrown gasoline on the fire, and there was no hope of quenching this inferno. Let it burn. Whatever truth rose from its ashes, so be it.