Page 24 of Unholy Gambit: Checkmate in Blood (A Paranormal Halloween #5)

When he opened the door for her to get in, she wondered when it might be appropriate to feel for his dick. To tease him. That wasn’t like her at all, and she realized the dress had put her in a mood .

Also, the heels on the boots. Walking in them made her feel like a sex goddess.

“If you need to grab someone, just make sure it’s me,” he told her, and he scanned from her head to her feet and back up again. “I’m not sure it’s actually legal for you to be in that dress, in public.”

Her face flamed red, realizing he’d heard her thoughts about grabbing his dick, but he closed her door so she had to wait for him to walk around and slide into the driver’s side to retort, “Everything’s covered.”

“I might have to hurt anyone who undresses you with their eyes.”

She laughed. “Oh no. Rip doesn’t get jealous of men who ogle Beth. He knows she’s his. Others can look all they want because she always returns to him.”

“I researched them a little. Met as children, unbalanced relationship, and yet, Rip’s strong enough to be her rock, someone she can always return to. Count on.”

“Yeah.”

When they arrived, the party turned out to be everything she’d hoped: fog machines, creepy music, and fun costumes. Also, grotesque but tasty food, and lots of alcohol.

The hostess shrieked when she saw Aury, and immediately dragged her to the drink table.

Axel followed at a steady distance, watchful. Always scanning. She could feel the heat of his gaze every time a man looked at her too long. Could sense the moment he went to pour himself a drink, eyes still on her.

He was possessive as hell, but it felt like protection. Like he’d die before he let anything hurt her again.

* * * *

Axel stood in the ridiculous clothes with the preposterous belt buckle, and watched his Aury cut up with people she’d known for years along with people she’d just met.

She introduced him to everyone, and he could see a lot of curiosity about him.

A dip into their heads told him a lot of the men had tried and failed to gain her interest, and they wondered what he had that they didn’t.

He wanted to tell them she’d always been his, but he mostly stayed silent, providing his arm for his Aurélie to hold.

He’d come very close to saying something catastrophic when he’d first opened the door and seen her in the gold fabric she called a dress. Holy hell.

And then she’d mentioned the coat, and he’d thought it might make everything okay, but three minutes after entering the party, a helpful little nerd offered to hang it up for her.

But these were humans. He couldn’t slaughter an entire house of partygoers. Well, he could , but doing so wouldn’t be wise. Since he had to play human tonight, he walked to the bar and was happy to see a bottle of Buffalo Trace.

Not enough of a consolation prize to be forced to watch men undressing his Aurélie with their eyes, though. Not by far.

So far, he’d seen two other Beth/Rip couples, and his Aury put both of the other Beths to shame.

Not even close.

When Aury wanted to go outside to the fire, he suggested she might need her coat, and was pleased when her thoughts went towards him looking out for her, rather than wanting to cover all her delicious curves.

Once outside, the conversation turned to where the various Sanatorium buildings had been on the property, and one of the neighbors said, “The local wannabe-witches had something of an altar.” He motioned his hand off to their left, up a hill.

“We’ve seen more activity in that area than anywhere else, like maybe they managed to call something up that can’t find its way home. ”

When the group decided to go up the hill and check it out, Axel considered all the ways he could point out how bad of an idea it was to go looking for ghosts, and worse.

He considered pointing out she might break her ankle in those heels, but didn’t want to crush her newfound self-confidence in them.

So he offered his arm for her to hold, and he walked at her speed.

* * * *

Aury curled her fingers around Axel’s forearm and remembered him talking as if ghosts really exist, but surely he’d just been yanking her chain, right? This was just for Halloween funsies, looking for haunted places.

Up the hill they trooped, crunching over leaves and gravel, so she was happy for Axel’s cool, steady arm. The view was amazing — stars overhead, the lights of the city glimmering below.

Except, when they got to the top, the air changed. Her neck prickled. A tingle went down her spine.

Probably just her imagination. There were no signs anything except the green grass and incredible view had ever been here.

She heard a low, growling noise and figured someone had set up a speaker to scare them—

A scream tore into the night.

Then another.

Axel moved in an instant — arms around her waist, lifting her with an invisible push of air under her feet. “Let me move us,” he said aloud, and in her mind, Relax. I’ve got you. I’ll get us away.

She clung to him, heart slamming against her ribs.

One of the other Beths was on the ground, a long red line across the top of her forearm. Her Rip staggered with a slice across his chest, shirt torn.

We have to help them!

It’s a ghost, Aurélie. Or worse. I don’t know how to fight non-corporeal beings.

Give it one of your fucking suggestions . At least try!

He set her feet back on the ground. Go inside the house and I will. I’ll draw attention to myself when I try, and I won’t risk you.

She knew arguing would only give the non-corporeal being more time to hurt people, so she stepped away, took two steps down the hill…

Pain ripped into her thigh, hot and fast, before she could take a third.

“Fuck!”

She staggered, clutching at her leg, her fingers slipping on wet heat.

Blood .

People were shouting, running for safety, but Axel swore under his breath and caught her before she fell, his strong arms cradling her to his chest as if she weighed nothing.

He didn’t slow for the chaos, didn’t heed the other screams. He barely slowed on his way down the hill, and strode straight for the car.

Seconds later, the world blurred into dark trees and glints of high-end homes as they plunged back down the ridge.

“You’re bleeding. I can feel your pain. How deep is it?”

“Not bad enough for stitches but it’s close. Ruby has first responder training and the trauma kit that goes with it. I can use her stash to clean it, and then use either the butterfly things or glue, if it needs it.”

“Why does an eagle shifter need first responder training?”

He was trying to get her mind off the pain, but she didn’t call him on it.

“Because sometimes people get hurt doing dumb shit.” She shrugged.

“Some of the charity things she does, it comes in handy for her to treat the basics while waiting for the pros. There’s often minor scrapes and the occasional twisted ankle at the Haunted Swamp, and sometimes bigger issues at the endurance and sports events.

She’s trying to look competent and in charge, and being able to step up and handle shit in a crisis helps. ”

She blew out a breath. “You haven’t said you told me so, yet.”

“Some stuff, you don’t fuck with. I’m one-third demon, and you’re surprised I believe in ghosts and demons?”

Well, fuck . When he put it like that…