Page 38

THIRTY-EIGHT

Ashley

Micha gripped my wrist much harder than a corpse ever should and then he grabbed my head with his other hand. The chains that bound him clanked against the metal as I stared at him in shock.

“Micha, you’re dead,” I cried out before his palm covered my mouth.

“Did you think you could kill me? It seems to me you’re sorely mistaken,” his voice rasped.

He didn’t let go but his chilly hand slid from my lips to grab me by the front of my throat before he tugged me down. “I’m sorry,” I gasped, trying to pull away. “I’m sorry.”

His chest rose and fell, a cool breeze brushing against my chest before he stopped moving again, his eyes fluttering shut. “What do I do?” I hissed at him. “Tell me what to do.”

“Stop... stealing from me.”

I slapped his chest. “Not funny. I’m trying to help you.”

“You’re a grave robber.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I muttered, and walked around the table. His comedic timing needed some work.

Both his ankle and wrists were bound to the table. An electric shock wound up my fingers and through my wrists each time I touched the chains while trying to figure out how to loosen them. There hadn’t been anything in the desk drawer and all the shelves bore were knives, stakes, and other pointy instruments I had no idea how to use.

Returning to his side, I lifted one of his arms and ran my finger around the shackle but couldn’t find a latch or other mechanism with which to free him. My efforts had zero effect on the magical bindings.

“I don’t know what to do. I have no idea how to get you out of here,” I stated. “Help me help you. If you can. They’ll notice I’m gone, soon.”

The chains dragged against the metal as he stirred. “You’re not going back to Samuel. I’m going to separate his head from his body.”

I scoffed. “Not like that, you’re not.”

“Wanna bet?” Another clank of metal as he pulled a leg up, bending it at the knee. “Come here.”

I moved back beside the table, placing a hand on his chest again. You’d never know I’d stabbed him. His skin was unmarred, other than some faint silvery marks he must’ve acquired sometime in the past by his shoulder. I’d never noticed the blemishes before and traced one line with a finger.

He hefted himself slightly on his side, making a racket and my head swiveled to the entryway. “Please tell me what to do,” I begged him, facing him again.

His eyes were muted and my heart slammed against my ribs. He looked like a statue come to life, only with long, sharp fangs and glossy hair. “Closer,” he said.

I bent down, my face practically touching his as he thrust his fingers into my hair and grabbed me. His lips felt foreign, cold and rubbery, as they trailed along my cheek. “You really are an angel now,” he murmured, right before he bit me.

His arm wrapped around my neck, one hand covering my mouth when I screamed. He wasn’t gentle or careful when he sank his teeth into my flesh. My legs gave out and I held onto the table with all my might as he drank down my blood. My vision went white while he lapped at me with his tongue. His grip on me loosened as he viciously swallowed me down.

I sank into him when the pain subsided, transforming into something else. I felt life leaving my body as it was replaced with a soothing warmth, wrapping around me like the softest blanket. I felt him sucking in my spirit, the same as Samuel had often done. But instead of being terrified and feeling violated, all I wanted was to give Micha my all.

Before I knew what happened, I was on the table and in his arms, tangled up in the iron chains right along with him. He’d stopped drinking from me and was covering my neck with kisses, one hand caressing and stroking my side, starved to touch me. I pressed into him, desperate for more contact, a willing sacrifice.

His tongue was in my mouth and my hand at his waistband before he said, “He didn’t fucking touch you.”

The comment pulled me out of the moment and reality set back in. We were seconds away from fucking on an embalming table. I stifled the ill-timed giggle that fought to come up when I realized Micha meant Samuel hadn’t fucked me. “No, not like that. You’re the last person.”

Isaac had fucked my brains out. Repeatedly.

“But he fed from you. I’m going to erase him. You won’t remember where you start or end by the time I’m through with you.”

“He won’t let me go,” I warned him. “You need to get out of here. Go back to Josiah.”

I began untangling myself. “Drink some more from me,” I ordered, shoving my curls over my shoulder. “He won’t think anything; he keeps me drugged to oblivion. There’s no telling what I do in that state.”

Micha’s eyes glittered, the nourishment he’d extracted from me starting to do its job. “You’re coming with me.”

A chill ran down my spine while my pulse raced. No matter what I did, I was going to die. My eyes welled with tears as I gave him a small smile. If I had a choice of executioners, I’d choose Micha every time. That had never changed.

An electronic chirp beeped somewhere in the distance, and I hopped off the table. Micha’s gaze swung toward the door before focusing on his wrists. I watched as the air wavered around the bonds before the heavy metal dropped to the floor.

He sat up and I backed away, watching as he got his bearings. He stretched out his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists, skin changing from snow white to ivory as his color returned.

Micha beckoned me with two fingers, and I approached him slowly. “What now?” I quietly asked.

Footsteps sounded and we were running out of time. He held his hand out and I placed mine in his. “Look at me,” he demanded.

Soon, this would all be over. The might and power of the Second Realm held no quarter for people like me, people who broke the rules. Micha may have been strong enough to break the chains with the magic he contained but the two of us didn’t stand a chance against an army and he’d broken the most important rule when he killed Ezra.

I met his gaze as he flipped my palm over and lifted my wrist to his mouth. “Keep your eyes on me.”

His teeth punctured my skin with a popping noise, and I winced. His eyes softened while he licked and sucked. I was trapped between his legs, his thighs flexing to keep me close with one hand holding my hip to keep me still.

My legs trembled as I weakened and I gripped his knee, attempting to remain upright. “Enough; you’re going to have to carry me,” I protested. My eyes shut and I let my head loll against his torso before I was weightless.

Faintly, I heard something fall to the floor right before a crashing sound. Shouting. A bloodcurdling scream and the sound of ripping flesh. It didn’t matter what was happening around me—everything went black.

* * *

“She looks so peaceful.”

“Don’t let her fool you.”

Voices weaved around me as I reached for the surface. It remained just out of my grasp as I floated in darkness. The chatter seemed like an after-thought, registering seconds after it had been articulated.

I’d always imagined dying in bed when it was my time to go, surrounded by family and friends. I’d pictured myself in a nightgown, my gray hair piled atop my head in a messy bun, while people took turns hugging me.

Who knew where I’d gotten the visual from. It was more likely I’d die in a skydiving accident when I was forty—or maybe I’d finally stick a fork in a light socket just to see what happened. I certainly hadn’t figured on floating contently through purgatory or whatever was going on right now.

“Ashley,” an earnest voice pleaded. “Wake up.”

Why? I needed the rest. I’d continue on whenever I was damn well ready to.

A deeper voice; warning. “Wake the fuck up.”

Something jostled me and tugged. I fought against it, pushing deeper into the recesses of wherever I was. “No.”

It was impossible to tell if my eyes were open or shut and I couldn’t see what had grabbed me. Vaguely, I had a sense of flailing my limbs and attempting to grasp whatever I could to stop myself from being dragged. Suddenly I felt a breeze, a rush of wind, and then my head was on something soft.

“Is she okay?” A female voice.

“I don’t know yet, move out of my way.” The surface I was lying on moved, the sensation reminding me of floating on water.

“I’m not going to repeat myself, Della.” A familiar voice racked with pain.

Della .

The familiar name sent me reeling and I gasped for air as my vision swam. I blinked, and Micha’s face came into focus. My heart slammed against my ribs, and I swung as hard as I could before he captured my wrist and Della barreled into view.

The bed I was in bounced as she did her best to shove him out of the way and hug me. “Oh my God Ashley, you were so dead. You were gone,” she cried. Her tears dropped to my shoulder as she crushed me.

She clung to me as I hugged her back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” I said. “I love you.” Relief overwhelmed me at the sight of her face. I’d thought I’d never see her again. Josiah fluttered a handkerchief in front of me and I let go of her so I could wipe my face.

Reluctantly, I grabbed it. His face was unreadable, but he gently pulled Della away. I refused to release her but soon my arms slid down, and she was ushered out of the room.

After taking a look around, I recognized the guest bedroom I’d stayed in a couple times before at Josiah’s house. The well-known surroundings were a welcome sight, complete with the sunbeams streaming through the stained-glass windows that cast rainbows across the bedspread.

I was alone with Micha. After swallowing the lump in my throat, I said, “Just get it over with.”

He lowered himself to the mattress and perched on the side, angled toward me. “Get what over with?” he tossed back at me, his voice full of dark amusement.

He grabbed my wrist. “Wrapping you in chains? Punishing you?”

I sucked in a breath and scooted back to the headboard. “What should I do about you entertaining Samuel?” he asked.

He grabbed my other hand, and I tugged, but he increased his grip. “Maybe I should suck you dry, leave you a shell of your former self.”

He laughed at his own words as I struggled for air. My wrist dropped on my lap when he climbed onto the bed and straddled my outstretched legs. He was too tall in this position, and I found myself staring at his chest. I didn’t stand a chance against him.

“Maybe I should fuck you right here and take back what’s mine,” he whispered from above.

I shook his hand away and placed my palms on the mattress as panic filled me. “What...” I stuttered, not sure what was about to happen next. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to make a run for the door or dig my claws into him.

Sharp nails dragged down the front of my chest and I glanced down, watching the pinpricks of blood left in his wake. Somehow, his glossy nails had grown considerably longer since the last time I’d seen the man. I yelped when they reformed right before my eyes, shrinking back to near normal length.

Micha laughed again, the sound low and rumbling, and God help me, but a heavy pressure built in my core as my body betrayed me. He sucked in a breath and crawled his fingers to my waistline before he moved the blankets down.

He tucked an arm around my back and swung me closer, backing away slightly. “Angel,” he said quietly, right before he shoved me onto my back and licked my chest with a long stroke. I shuddered, wiggling when a finger traced my side.

“Micha,” I gasped. “Why are you doing this to me?” My irrational longing for the man swinging the axe over my head left a deep, aching void in my chest.

My eyes watered again, the tears threatening to spill over. “Why does it have to be this way? I never stole from you.”

His voice hitched. “I know.”

My heart skipped several beats, and the oxygen was torn from my lungs as he slammed his mouth against mine, digging his fingers into my side. He ripped my leggings away with one hand, tearing the material away as he thrust his tongue in my mouth.

“I thought you were going to kill me. I thought you wanted to,” I gasped. He thrust two fingers into my pussy, curling them as they plunged in and out.

“I will always want to kill you,” he growled. “Every second of the rest of our lives. And I’ll bring you back every time so I can do it all over again.”

Fear trickled up my spine, along with a little thrill. I’d already died once, and he’d brought me back. That had to be where I was, moments ago. “You killed me?” I asked.

Micha bit my lip, and I heard him unbuckle his belt. He chuckled, “No.” He lapped at my mouth. “I killed Ethan after he strangled you and I brought you back here.”

I threaded my fingers through his silky hair. It really wasn’t fair how nice his hair was. I’d always wanted to touch it and see if it was as soft as it looked. “I’d say thank you, but he just beat you to the punch.”

“You stabbed me...through the heart,” Micha snarled at me, but his voice was tinged with humor.

“You lied to me, Isaac .”

“You fucked him,” he bit out. “You let someone else touch you.”

Micha shoved his cock inside me so hard I slid back on the bed. I cried out and he pulled back, before he began slamming into me over and over. “Only me,” he ground out while I hung onto him for dear life. “Only I am allowed to touch you.”

I clung to his shoulders as he thrust into me, each stroke sending waves of pleasure pulsating through my body.

From the first moment I’d seen him, when I’d begun working at Ipomoea, his exotic beauty had captured me. His eyes had been covered by the pair of sunglasses he’d worn but even with the black shields covering his face, I’d been struck speechless.

I’d known he saw me, too. Not just because it was obvious he was looking at me or because I’d drawn attention as the new person in the room. No, it was something else. A current of electricity, an exchange of energy. The pull between us threatened to suck me in and drag me under. I’d quickly left the room.

It hadn’t taken long before I found him constantly in my orbit.

My face was buried in his neck as he lifted me up and flipped us around. Slowly, I lowered myself back down on his cock. My eyes fluttered shut as I writhed in circles, his grip clamping my waist. He let go for a moment, moving my hand to place it right over the very spot I’d shoved a blade into his heart, and I felt his cock swell inside of me.

He bent his head forward right before his teeth sank into my neck. The hands gripping my hips held me down while he angled upward and the orgasm that tore through me ripped a scream from my lungs.

“Jesus Christ,” I whispered. Dazed, I let him place me down on the bed.

Micha clutched the sides of my face as he hovered over me and kissed me until I couldn’t breathe. “I’ll always be your savior,” he said.

He stiffened before he found his own release, his face contorting with pleasure as he filled me. I was entirely wrapped up in him, breathing him in, touching him anywhere I could reach.

My hand drifted down his back, feeling his muscles flex before he untangled our legs and got out of bed.

The man had bought me. He’d literally signed a blood contract stating I was his property, and I’d agreed to it. On one hand it was a relief that Isaac was actually Micha, but I was still angry he’d tricked me. Clearly, he wasn’t too happy with that either since he made the comment about Isaac.

“What happens to the contract?” I asked, sitting up in the bed.

“Why did you put yourself in that position?” He crossed the room, and I heard the water turn on in the bathroom.

I didn’t follow and waited for him to come back. “What else was I supposed to do?” A flash of guilt colored his eyes. “You didn’t really leave me with too many options, you and Josiah.”

“You could've gone to work in a shop or something, you didn’t have to go to Angels,” he shot back at me.

“Boring.”

He shook his head and laughed. “Matthew already knows Isaac doesn’t exist. He would’ve found out when the spell was broken. There are conditions, but the contract is not broken. I still own you.”

“Am I in trouble?” I asked. His eyes glittered with swirling mercury. “What will he do to you?”

“You already know you’re in trouble,” he warned. The air was heavy with his unspoken threat as he stalked toward me. “I have a desk you fit under perfectly where you’ll make it up to me.”

Licking my lips, I asked, “So what’s next?” He’d put on black jeans and left his torso bare. I’d never seen him dressed so casually and it was highly distracting. The least dressed I’d ever seen him was dress pants and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a couple buttons undone. I could definitely get behind this new look. Or under.

Micha nodded toward the bathroom. “Get yourself cleaned up and meet me in the living room.”

I didn’t move, caught up in the sight before me. He smirked, seeming to read my thoughts. “Go,” he ordered.