Page 5 of Unsanctioned (Devilish #2)

Waylon’s nerves were a complete mess. After days of not seeing Audor, and the feeling of going out of his head worsening by the second, Waylon turned up first at Frost’s for the barbecue.

He pretended to be fine. The way he always did.

Waylon chopped vegetables and chatted. His face hurt from the faked smiles.

Then, one by one, other people arrived. Waylon sat in the corner with a beer and held his breath each time the door opened.

Everyone Frost invited, including a few he hadn’t, had already shown.

No Audor. He waited ten more minutes and then headed outside to hover over Jacen at the grill.

Jacen flashed him a smile. “Hey. You look tired. Do you ever get a break?”

Waylon tried to hide his emotions, even though it would be impossible with Jacen.

His wife Deidra and he were fairies. They could read and control the minds of animals.

That was the biggest reason the people of Wulfe had tried to steer clear of them when they moved to town.

But Frost had immediately struck up a friendship with the pair, and they had slowly grown on everyone else.

“There’s only one of me, but I try.”

Jacen nodded. “Do you mind watching these burgers for a second while I grab a beer?”

A genuine smile snapped to Waylon’s lips. Fairies asking for a favor was a genuine honor. No matter how small. “Sure. Take your time.”

Waylon took over Jacen’s spot and focused on the chore. It was nice to empty his mind for a second. Jacen was back too soon. He had a beer in each hand.

He handed one to Waylon. “Here.”

Waylon nodded his appreciation. While everyone knew not to accept food or drinks from fairies, Jacen had manned the grill at every one of these get-togethers in the past six months.

None of them had gotten stuck in the fairy world yet or lost their ability to eat anything other than the guy’s cooking. Waylon assumed they were safe.

A familiar voice caressed his ears, as if Waylon had been waiting to hear its tune. “Sorry we’re late. Fen had a meeting with the king this morning he couldn’t miss.”

Waylon tempered himself as he turned. His fur already stood on end. He feared himself when he saw how closely the Fen guy stood to Audor.

Audor was all smiles.

Frost looked as if he fought himself, swinging between being a proper host and upset on Waylon’s behalf. Audor had brought a fucking date.

“I don’t think we’ve met,” Frost said, obviously trying to cover his reaction.

Fen held out his hand. “Fen Baird.”

Fuck. He had a Scottish accent.

Frost shook. “Frost Leo.”

Fen dipped his chin. “I know. You’re the reason I’m here.”

Audor jumped in, as if Fen needed him to clarify. “Fen is one of Scotland’s king’s personal guards.”

“Was,” Fen clarified with a laugh. “Your safety is a top priority now. To the heedful seldom comes harm.”

Frost officially looked uncomfortable. Gemini came to his rescue and Audor led Fen to the nearby lawn chairs.

It was a nice day, and everyone felt the same itch of spring on the horizon.

Waylon openly studied Fen. He was tall, with red hair and unnaturally bright green eyes.

As much as it hurt his chest to admit it, he was a gorgeous guy.

He was also a vampire, exactly as Audor needed.

Waylon chugged his beer and headed inside for another.

He couldn’t watch Audor be with someone else.

He grabbed another beer from the fridge and stood at the kitchen counter, staring at nothing.

Warm arms encircled him. Lips brushed his nape, sending chill bumps down his spine.

Waylon’s eyes fell closed at the sensation.

His chest hurt. While the humans in this town weren’t technically part of his pack, they were still his responsibility as their sheriff.

He had lost two today in a horrific car accident.

Teens, driving too fast for the lack of experience.

Their parents’ faces haunted Waylon’s mind. Audor’s touch soothed him.

“You’re a good man. This town is obviously favored by the gods to have you, but you need a break sometimes too.” Audor’s lips skimmed his skin with every word, making Waylon’s breathing deepen.

“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

He felt Audor smile against his neck. “That’s okay.

I’ve got you.” Audor urged him to turn and stepped into his arms. Before Waylon had time to decide where things were headed, his feet were swept across the floor.

Music fired to life. Their dance was slow at first before the music changed to something fast. Before long, laughter bounced from the walls of his tiny kitchen as he tried to keep up with Audor.

The sound was silenced when Audor’s mouth covered his.

Waylon had never felt so much, and he didn’t understand why.

“I take it you’re no longer seeing Audor.”

The words ripped Waylon from one of the few good memories he kept for only himself. He glanced over. A vampire who had come with Leif leaned his hip against the counter and studied Waylon, waiting for a response.

“Sorry. I don’t remember your name.” It was all Waylon could think to say. Obviously, he had become the talk of the town already.

“I’ll bet. You were with Audor when we met. I don’t think you even looked away from him to catch my name, much less match it with a face.”

Gods. He hurt. Why had this vampire come to torture him?

“It’s Stone.”

Waylon had a hard time looking at the guy’s eyes. All vampires had an unnatural glow that saw too much. “That’s modern for a vampire.” He had nothing to talk about.

“Or just unoriginal for peasant parents.”

Despite everything, a chuckle escaped Waylon at the humor in Stone’s voice. Waylon sipped his beer.

Stone took it from him and set it aside. “You don’t know much about matters of the heart, do you? Otherwise, you’d be outside with me, fighting fire with fire.”

Waylon finally met Stone’s stare at the comment. Interest flashed back at him. Waylon didn’t think it was personal. He had a feeling vamps were just a horny lot.

Stone didn’t stop. “Sometimes, people think they’re through until that jealousy stirs.” He took a step closer, invading Waylon’s space. “You’re just as capable of that as he is.” Stone’s gaze moved to Waylon’s lips. “More so, I’d say.”

“I’ll get a beer later.”

Waylon’s gaze shot to the kitchen doorway just in time to see Audor’s retreating form.

A low chuckle slipped from Stone. “Now it’s a party.

” He handed Waylon back his beer. “Come on, sexy. Don’t let him see you hurt.

” He took Waylon’s free hand and headed for the backyard.

Waylon went with his heart in his throat.

He didn’t know what was happening to his life, but he let it happen.

Stone was right. Two could play this game.

If Audor didn’t want him, someone else would. He wouldn’t play the fool.

A hot coal burned inside Audor’s gut. It felt a little like jealousy.

The night became like a tennis match. Each time Waylon served him a helping of jealousy, Audor hit back just as hard.

By the time darkness fell and everyone had drunk way more than their share of alcohol, Stone sat on Waylon’s knee and Fen stared at Audor like his next meal.

Things were a mess. He felt like all eyes were on them, waiting to see who broke first. It was a nightmare.

Audor tried tuning out everyone’s thoughts. Waylon’s hurt, anger, and determination to punish him was beating at Audor’s brain. He couldn’t be the only vampire who felt it. Audor had never experienced such deep hatred focused his way… and Lucifer had ripped off his leg.

“I can feel your hunger.”

Audor tore his gaze away from where Waylon rubbed Stone’s back. He focused on Fen. “What?”

A wicked smile stretched Fen’s lips. “You’re hungry. When was the last time you fed?”

Audor searched his mind. He was an ancient.

Audor could go weeks without feeding. Since he started sleeping with Waylon, he hadn’t drunk from anyone else.

Waylon’s blood was strong. An alpha’s blood held him longer than any human’s or other vampire’s would.

He hadn’t even thought of blood in a while.

Now that Fen mentioned it, he was starving.

He had just ignored the sensation. The thought of sinking his fangs into anyone other than Waylon hurt his chest. He swore he felt Waylon’s stare, as if he too suddenly felt Audor’s need to feed.

Fen stood and took his hand. “Come on. We’ll step out of sight.”

Audor allowed Fen to lead him to the side of the house where no one could see. Darkness shadowed them, but Audor’s perfect night vision showed him everything.

Fen backed him against the cabin. The rough wall met his shoulder blades.

Fen stalked him, closing the gap between them.

His fangs peeked out, as if he was the one getting ready to bite.

Audor could practically smell Fen’s lust. He begged for Audor’s bite.

His pulse beat in Audor’s ears. He leaned closer—like a moth being drawn to the flame. Audor couldn’t resist the call.

An angry growl rent the air.

Fen went flying backward.

Audor blinked in confusion, still under the spell of his needs.

An enraged alpha was there in all his glory. He was terrifying, even knowing vampires were technically the stronger species. Waylon was still the top dog in this town. His wrath was epic.

Leif held Fen back. Fen kept trying to dissipate and escaped the hold to get at Waylon. Leif simply stuck with him every step of the way. They had been best friends for centuries. Leif wouldn’t let Fen get involved in this.

Fury filled glowing yellow eyes focused on him. “You dare sink your fangs into someone else.”

Audor blinked. It hit him. He was enraged too. Waylon had a lot of nerve. “My fangs are mine. You didn’t want them. I was wasting your time, and I remedied that for you. You have no right to do this shit.”

He found Waylon in his space and hovering over him, looking ready to tear him apart. “You chose that. I didn’t. You know I’m bad with words and you wouldn’t hear me. Those fangs belong to me, and I will kill that vampire if you touch him.”

Frustration welled inside Audor. Waylon said the things Audor had wanted to hear before it had been too late, but it was now. He had already broken Audor.

“You want them? Fine.” He grabbed two handfuls of Waylon’s shirt and lifted him from the ground.

Audor spun, slamming Waylon against the wall.

Waylon’s lust hit him. He enjoyed the rough treatment.

Audor was furious. He wanted Waylon to hurt the way he had been hurting Audor for months, but he knew Waylon would have to feel the same about him for that to happen, and he didn’t.

He didn’t love Audor the way Audor loved him.

Waylon’s eyes widened, as if he heard his thoughts.

Audor didn’t give a shit about anything any longer.

He was done. Without warning or easing the pain with his mind, Audor tore into Waylon’s throat and drank.

As blood filled his mouth and he swallowed, Audor experienced an odd tug in his chest. His muscles relaxed.

His motions became more loving than angry.

When Waylon moaned, Audor hated himself for that.

He retracted his fangs and licked the wound, sealing it, before pulling away.

Audor took a step back. He opened his mouth to let Waylon know this would be the last time.

His gaze locked on the scar forming on Waylon’s neck.

Shock rendered him mute before pain sliced through him.

It couldn’t be. Waylon couldn’t be his mate.

Audor’s gaze snapped to Waylon’s.

Waylon panted like he had run a marathon.

He didn’t want this. Waylon hadn’t loved him without that scar.

Now, if he said the words, it would only be because of it.

Plus, this shouldn’t even be possible. There had to be a mistake.

He couldn’t live with that. Audor would walk into the fire.

His heart couldn’t take this. Without a single thought, he dissipated, leaving the other half of his soul behind.