Page 31 of Upon Blooded Lips (Vengeance #1)

NATE

T here is very little in this world that scares me beyond something happening to Tessa or Eric.

The one exception to that is The Duke—I’ve never met anyone deadlier or more terrifying than her.

But as God is my witness, she better fucking hide from me after leaving Tessa alone and unprotected when there’s an unknown stalker on the loose.

What the fuck was she thinking? And what is Tessa up to, covering all the cameras like that?

She knows they’re for protection, to provide us with leads should anyone break in.

I know I have control issues; Eric has complained about them more than once over the years.

But goddammit, it’s my job to protect them, provide for them, and ensure their freedom.

The car screeches to a halt, and Eric and I both leap out and race up the stairs. I throw the door open, coming to an abrupt stop when my eyes land on the foyer table. I snatch up the envelope with our names on it, my heart pounding so hard I barely register Eric’s pained gasp.

Is she fucking leaving us?

A chill spreads over my chest, and Eric takes a step back, shaking his head. “You read it,” he whispers. “I-I can’t look.”

I wet my lips and run my finger under the gum, opening it and pulling out the letter. Dread turns to instant lust, my cock hardening so fast it makes my head swim.

Hunt me. Find me. Claim me.

PS: My safe word is Beetlejuice.

I hand the note to Eric. His eyes flash as he reads it, and his hand covers his chest, a relieved grin spreading across his face. “Fuck, yeah,” he murmurs. “She couldn’t have picked a better day for this.”

I nod, my gaze catching on two small boxes on the table bearing our names. I pick up mine and open it, finding a gold half-skull mask and a small note.

For my golden demon.

A dark laugh slips from me, and I hand Eric his box. Inside is a silver Phantom of the Opera mask and another note.

For my silver demon.

A shiver runs over my shoulders as the dark entity inside me awakens.

I was trying to be careful with her. To give her time to adjust to us, to come to terms with what it means to be part of our family.

I wanted to make sure she felt safe and comfortable before subjecting her to our true natures.

But she’s made the decision for us, and I’m so fucking proud of her for standing up to us, for standing up for herself.

If this is what she wants, if she’s ready for us, who am I to deny her?

I grab Eric by the back of the neck and slam my mouth over his.

He tears away, panting, his tongue sliding over his lips.

“Let’s do this.” We exchange lust-filled glances and slip our masks on before stepping out into the hallway.

The lights go out, covering the house in darkness and hiding the feral smile transforming my face.

“Tessa! Come out, come out, wherever you are!” I call, my voice carrying through the house.

A breathy giggle comes from the left, and we follow after it, sliding through the house on silent feet.

The living room is empty. As we creep through the room, checking behind sofas, footsteps pound overhead.

We turn and hurry out of the room, pulling up short when we hear rustling coming from the kitchen.

“What the fuck?” Eric breathes. “She was just upstairs.”

“She’s fucking with us.” I think I’m in love. “Split up. You take downstairs, I’ll take up.” Eric nods and slips away, the shadows swallowing him as he heads toward the dining room.

As I creep up the stairs, a haunting melody seeps through the ceiling. How the fuck did she get in the attic? “Tessa, when I find you, I’m going to paint your ass red.”

The song stops, the sudden silence almost jarring.

“So many promises, never any action” comes Tessa’s voice from the guest bedroom.

I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist my jabs, and I’m almost disappointed at how fast she caved.

I could’ve played this game all fucking night.

I throw the door open and stride inside, only to find an empty room.

A low growl rumbles in my chest when I find the closet and under the bed empty. What the fuck?

I spin around at Tessa’s giggle, finding a discreet speaker tucked behind a vase on the dresser. Clever, clever girl. I can’t believe I underestimated her. That’ll teach me.

I scoop it up and take it with me before searching the rest of the upstairs.

She’s nowhere to be found, and the speaker has gone suspiciously quiet.

I race through the hallway and back down the stairs, checking each room I pass for my brother.

I want to be the first to find her. After I leave my palm prints on her ass, I’m going to split her open on my cock, make her take every inch of me.

She’s going to howl my name and come so hard they’ll hear her scream from miles around.

Eric’s gone missing, so I head to the basement. Frustration claws at me. Where the fuck are they? Is he already balls deep inside her, making her come on his cock? The vision of him fucking her nearly brings me to my knees. Fuck. Why did we wait so long?

“You’ll never find me,” Tessa singsongs before giggling. “Maybe I’ll have to make myself come.”

“You better fucking not,” I mutter, heading toward the voice. I find another speaker at the exit door leading to the tunnel. Is this a clue or another misdirection? As I step closer, a light blinks on, blinding me. After I blink away the spots, my vision clears. Taped to the door is a note.

Am I here?

Am I there?

Am I fucking anywhere?

If there was even the slightest doubt left that she belongs here, it’s now obliterated. She’s fucking perfect for us.

I turn away and jog back through the basement. Tessa might enjoy playing games, but she isn’t reckless. The tunnel is over a quarter of a mile long, leading well past the edges of the property. She wouldn’t put herself at risk, not when her parents and this stalker still pose a danger to her.

As I head upstairs, I run through all the things I know about Tessa. I pause outside the library, mentally running through the list Eric put together of Tessa’s most popular books. Many of them have one thing in common—they contain consensual non-consent, dubious consent, and primal play.

My head snaps up, and I stride over to the windows facing the backyard and the trees beyond. My reflection grins back at me while I search the tree line, my heart rate kicking up.

She’s in the fucking forest.