PROLOGUE
EVERETT
Blood and lust saturated the air.
The heady concoction pulled at my senses, urging me to indulge in my baser instincts. To join the sway of sweaty bodies undulating on the dance floor and select an eager partner.
Only here could predator and prey so freely mingle. Although our DNA was vastly different, we looked the same on the outside, which was the only reason why humans didn’t run screaming from the establishment. Yet, an instinctual part of them knew that they were surrounded by danger, a feeling too powerful to resist. The thrill of it kept them here—and kept them coming back.
The allure of the forbidden was a seductive song, eclipsing the beat of the sensual music pulsing through their bones.
It was the same with every vampire-owned nightclub.
The promise of pleasure drew humans and vampires alike. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, one I’d partaken in countless times myself.
Blood and sex with no strings attached was an offering few vampires could turn down. As long as the humans were willing and left with no memory of being fed on, these nightclubs were allowed to legally operate without fear of being shut down.
This one was different though—or so my father suspected.
Sighing impatiently, I checked the time on my phone again. Not even ten o’clock. This was going to be a long night. From my spot at a velvet-cushioned booth tucked in the darkest corner of the club, I heard a human female giggle. I glanced up, my dark mask hiding the slight movement.
Not a day over twenty, the girl being led off the dance floor wore a skimpy black dress that barely covered her breasts and backside. Even through the shadows, fog, and red pulsating lights, I could make out her eager expression. She’d done this before. Probably many times. That dreamy, somewhat glazed look in her eyes told me everything.
She giggled again, teetering forward with her mask knocked askew. The male holding her hand tugged her past a dark screen and into a private alcove—or not so private. My night vision easily cut through the gloom and penetrated the thin screen, revealing the pair. They were already entwined, kissing and pawing at each other. Despite the sensual music pulsing through the air, I could even hear their feverish moans and sighs of pleasure.
Instead of looking away in embarrassment, I openly watched the display, waiting for the male to make his move. I didn’t have to wait long. The greedy bastard only lasted seconds before tugging the girl’s head back and plunging his fangs into her neck.
Her startled cry quickly morphed into one of ecstasy. At the sound, a burning need seared my throat, making my mouth water. There was a bar in the opposite corner of the club, but I’d chosen not to indulge tonight. One drink would quickly turn into several, and if I went down that road, I too would be pulling a girl behind a screen.
Impatient once more—this time with myself—I swallowed the hunger and refocused on the twined pair. The male was taking full advantage of the girl’s eagerness, hiking her short dress up to her waist. When he slipped his hand between her thighs, she gasped and arched against him. I continued to watch the erotic display, not surprised when the vampire fumbled to undo his pants seconds later.
Stifling an eye roll, I kept my gaze trained on the pair as the male whipped out his dick and frantically thrust inside the girl. I flicked a glance at my phone on the black cushion beside me, then sneered when the male orgasmed less than a minute later.
“Overeager whelp,” I muttered. He hadn’t even let the girl finish.
The couple parted soon after that, the male hastily slipping out to no doubt pursue another partner. The girl stumbled out more slowly, looking unfocused and high as a kite.
Dismissing them both, I leaned back against the booth cushion with another impatient sigh. This was a waste of my time. I had better things to do than watch vampires and humans barely past the age of maturity hump each other. Besides the required masks to gain entrance, this club was no different than the others. Sure, it was more exclusive, strictly catering to Venturi and their drothen who seemed drawn to this place simply for that fact. The anonymity and exorbitant entry fee were also a bit strange, but I’d seen no evidence of foul play.
Everyone here was rich, horny, and looking for a good time. Despite the masks, I even recognized a few of the males. They were indulging in their baser instincts, nothing more. That wasn’t a crime, so long as the rules were being followed.
My phone buzzed and I reached for it.
Anything? the text from my brother said.
Dead end, I quickly typed in reply, then rose from my seat. Tell Father that I’m headed back.
I was about to hit send and leave as quietly as I’d arrived when the music suddenly stopped. I looked toward the dance floor, just as a bright beam of light illuminated a masked figure dangling high above the ground. Decidedly female, she sat on a large silver hoop that was attached to the ceiling via a chain.
At the sight, the crowd below looked up and froze. Everything froze. No one moved, barely even breathed, as the female hung suspended in the air. The fog billowing around her started to thin, and when I saw that her graceful legs were bare, I lifted my eyes, curious to see the rest of her.
She wore a two-piece sequined outfit, one that left little to the imagination. I couldn’t help but notice her body, lithe but shapely in all the areas I enjoyed looking at. Her top openly displayed a generous amount of cleavage, and I paused to appreciate the view. My gaze dipped to her taut stomach next, to a glittering diamond pierced in her navel. Further intrigued, I sought out her face.
What I saw stole the breath from my lungs.
Her features were ethereal. There was no other word to describe such otherworldly beauty. Flawless olive skin. Full red lips. Thick black lashes that not even a mask could hide. High cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes spoke of partial Asian descent, possibly Japanese. Her hair was her most striking feature though. Dark at the roots, the sleek strands lightened to a silver gray, cascading like a shimmering waterfall to her petite waist.
A slight smirk drew my gaze to her lips once more. Even from across the room, I could see the amusement dancing there. The confidence. Her audience was captivated, and she knew it.
She suddenly let go of the hoop and fell backward. Silver hair and sequins flashed as she arched through the air in a freefall to the ground.
My heart stopped.
I couldn’t scent her from here, but if I had to guess, I’d say she was human. A fall from that height could badly injure or even kill her.
The crowd beneath her parted as she fell, but they didn’t attempt to catch her. A sudden need to save her struck me. The need was so strong that I was halfway across the room before I could think better of it.
Time slowed. I reached for her, using my supernatural speed to beat her descent to the ground. Yards away from catching her, she abruptly twisted. Faster and faster until she spun like a top. Before she could smack into the ground, something jerked her to a halt. I slowed, confused. She kept twisting, her legs spreading in an upside down split. As they did, I finally saw it. The silver silk fabric wrapped around one of her ankles.
I quietly swore.
The fall had been an act. One that I’d fallen for hook, line, and sinker.
Her body twisted once more, her spine gracefully arching as she caught the fabric, contorting herself in half. At the impressive move, the crowd unfroze. Several males wolf-whistled and hollered their appreciation. She continued to spin, holding the pose for several seconds.
I watched, unable to look away. Not wanting to. I was wholly captivated by this intriguing female.
As if she could feel my gaze, she turned her head and our eyes collided. Once more, I was struck by her ethereal beauty. This close, the silver mask couldn’t hide the color of her eyes. Dark brown around the edges and bright amber at their centers. They were like bursts of sunlight, so intense that I was struck dumb. I gaped at her like a fool, completely forgetting where I was.
Everything about this female drew me in. She was the flame and I was the helpless moth. And she knew it. Her lips tilted into that amused smirk once more. As her body twisted away from me, she threw me a wink.
At the flirtatious gesture, my cock went rock hard, straining against my pants. Like a besotted idiot, I drifted closer, overcome with the desire to touch her. Something about her screamed forbidden. She was adorned head to toe in silver, which should have turned me off. But the “untouchable” vibes only made me want to touch her more.
My legs carried me closer, close enough to touch her. But before I could make contact, she curled into a ball and shimmied up the silken fabric. I swallowed my disappointment, stepping back so I could watch her climb up to the silver hoop once more.
When she reached it, she began to dance, in a way I’d never seen before. Using the hoop and fabric, she glided through the air, sensually contorting her body in ways that made my blood heat. She moved with the fluid grace of a vampire, and yet, I was still fairly certain she was human.
Enraptured, I watched her for who knew how long. The music picked up again and so did the dancing. Bodies gyrated around me, but I didn’t move from my spot. I continued to watch her, unaware of how much time ticked by.
The spotlight on her suddenly winked out.
I jerked, as if jolted from a trance. Then blinked. Just once, but that was all it took for her to disappear. Fog shrouded the air once more, so thick that the flashing red lights couldn’t penetrate it. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I strained to catch a glimpse of her. But, no matter how hard I searched, she was nowhere to be found.
“Where is she?”
I hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but a male vampire nearby heard them and slurred, “Star always vanishes at midnight. Where she goes, no one knows.”
He laughed, the sound crazed enough that I knew he was blood drunk. No one had recognized me yet, including him, despite my sloppy attempt at staying hidden. The mask helped, and picking out individual scents was nearly impossible in a place like this. Still, I’d lingered too long. Time to pull my own vanishing act.
Slipping past the drunk vampire, I made for the exit, careful not to make eye contact with anyone and give away my identity.
The nightclub might not be the den of secretive activity my father suspected it was, but I knew one thing for certain.
I was definitely coming back.
CHAPTER ONE
ADALYN
“Adalyn!”
The all-too-familiar shout dispelled my dream, and the images scattered before I could commit them to memory.
Sighing, I rubbed my eyes and struggled to clear the fog from my tired brain.
“Adalyn, now,” the shout came again, more demanding this time.
“Coming.” My reply came out as a dry rasp, but I knew Mistress could hear it. Forcing my stiff limbs into action, I pushed myself into a sitting position. My head promptly pounded, and I grabbed it with a muffled groan.
You okay?
As the concerned words flitted through my mind, I cracked an eye open to glance at my nightstand. A brown mouse with a white streak on her chest stared back, her round black eyes blinking up at me knowingly.
Yeah, I quickly reassured my familiar through our telepathic connection and reached out to stroke her tiny head with one finger. Just had a busier night than usual.
She nuzzled my finger, flooding our bond with sympathy. You need more rest. And food. Don’t forget that you’re mortal, Ada.
I snorted, which further irritated my parched throat. How could I forget when my body painfully reminds me of that fact every day? Don’t worry, Pepper. I brought in really good money last night and kept a little extra for myself. I’ll splurge and buy a huge breakfast.
When she eyed me skeptically, I rose from the bed on unsteady legs and started to dress.
Promise? the little mouse pressed as I exchanged my pajama bottoms for a ripped pair of jeans.
Shimmying into them, I looked over my shoulder at her. For such a small creature, she was really good at calling me out on my bull. I’ll do my best, Pep. You know how busy I am. I forget to eat sometimes.
She twitched her long whiskers at me in annoyance. You don’t forget. You just give all your money to her.
I pursed my lips and turned away, not bothering to reply. We’d had this conversation more times than I could count, and it always ended the same way. I was feeling lousy enough already without adding guilt to the mix, so I ignored my familiar’s judgmental stare and threw on a torn, oversized sweater.
“ADALYN!”
Wincing at the shrill scream, I hurriedly slipped on my sneakers and called back, “Coming!”
At least drink some water. You sound like you have laryngitis.
Stifling an eye roll, I walked the three steps to my little bathroom and switched on the sink faucet to guzzle some water and splash my face. Neither made me feel better, but I threw Pepper a saucy look anyway and crooned, “Happy?”
She huffed a perturbed squeak. No. Be careful.
My smirk widened. Always am. But be careful yourself. That stray tabby has been sniffing around here again. He tried to sneak inside last night.
Pepper somehow managed to look indignant, lifting her pert pink nose into the air. I’m no ordinary mouse, Ada. I can’t be bested by a stupid tomcat.
Despite my exhaustion, a laugh burst from me.
“Adalyn Elise Starr, this is your last warning. You have five seconds to get your butt up here!”
Instead of giving in to a shiver of dread, I blew Pepper a kiss and whispered, “I’ll bring back some cheese from that deli you like so much.”
Sharp cheddar, please! she called as I whirled and beelined for the basement stairs.
Taking them at a run, I made it to the top in three seconds flat and yanked the door open just in the nick of time. A figure in a black satin robe greeted me on the other side, a matching satin scarf wrapped around her golden hair. The tall, regal woman didn’t look a day over forty, but she was much, much older. Old enough that using a phone to shout at me wouldn’t even cross her mind.
At the sight of me, she frowned, which caused her ivory skin to heavily crease.
“I’m—” I started, but she raised a jeweled hand for silence.
“You know how I feel about lateness, Adalyn. A slothful spirit is not only unattractive but highly disrespectful. I rely on you to complete errands during the day, and the sun already rose half an hour ago.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but—”
“No excuses,” she said, her tone sharpening. “Own your mistakes and accept the consequences like I’ve taught you.”
I bit my tongue to keep a retort at bay and lowered my chin a notch in submission. “Yes, Mistress. I’ll—”
“Not be paid today.”
I felt the blood drain from my face, even as I nodded my understanding.
She shoved a hand-written list at me and a wad of cash, which I gingerly accepted. “I want you back no later than noon. Georgina and Octavia should be up by then, and I want you to supervise their dance lessons again. Octavia especially needs help.” Biting my tongue once more, I nodded and turned toward the kitchen door. Before I could make my escape, she stopped me in my tracks with a stern, “Have you forgotten something, Adalyn?”
Schooling my expression, I faced her with a blank look.
She huffed in annoyance. “We’ve been over this countless times. Every morning, I need to know if you’ve seen or heard anything new at Dreamscape.”
“But the cameras—”
“Can’t pick up everything. Details, Adalyn. Details. You’ve been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We pay you well and expect your full cooperation in return. You should be grateful for this job.”
“I am.”
“Well, if it’s proving to be too much for you, I could always tell Heath that you can’t handle it.”
“No,” I replied, a little too quickly. Her lips twitched into a faint smile. “I can handle it. I really am grateful to have been given the opportunity.”
She raised a manicured eyebrow expectantly.
Ignoring my lingering headache, I quickly racked my brain and said, “We have a new prospect. He watched me dance for two hours last night and was definitely interested.”
Her brown eyes started glittering with an excitement I’d seen many times before. “And? Details, Adalyn. What did he look like?”
“Um, he was tall and dressed in dark colors. His hair was black, but since he wore a mask, I’m not sure if his eyes were blue or green.”
“Venturi?”
“Definitely. He carried himself like a noble.”
“Did you flirt with him? Let him touch you?”
“I . . . I winked at him.”
“Winked? That’s it?”
“Yes, Mistress.”
The excitement faded, replaced with an ire that made me want to shrink back. She stepped into my personal space and roughly grabbed my chin to hiss, “Is that all? Tell me the truth, Adalyn.”
A familiar pull tugged at my mind, forcing me to say, “That’s all I know. I swear.”
She let go of me with a disgruntled huff. “Sloppy work. I’ll have to dock your pay again for potentially losing us a client. Now leave before I get any more upset. And don’t forget to wear your hat.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice. Tugging the baseball cap from my back pocket, I jammed it on and slipped out the door before she could find another reason to punish me. The moment I stepped outside, warmth from the early morning sun greeted me like an old friend. I paused to greedily inhale the fresh, salty-sea air.
Inside the old, Victorian-style mansion, the curtains were always drawn, the air chilly and drenched in the coppery scent of blood. My room in the basement was even chillier—since my mistress rarely bothered to “waste money on heat,” as she put it. As a vampire, the cold Maine winters didn’t bother her. The same went for her two grown daughters. I, on the other hand, woke up each morning frozen as a popsicle.
Thankfully, the weather was finally starting to warm up. June was my favorite month here in Glassport, Maine. Everything was blooming, and the tourists were starting to make an appearance. That meant more humans at Dreamscape Lounge, which meant more vampires, which meant more money.
This month was also a reminder that another year had passed. That time was still relevant, despite how frozen it felt. In less than two weeks, I’d be twenty-one years old.
The only downside of being reminded was that I’d been here for six whole years. Six years that I would never get back.
As a sudden chill worked its way up my spine, I shook the thought off and turned toward the carriage house that had since been remodeled into a garage. The structure desperately needed a new paint job, but I didn’t dare bring it up to Mistress. I already had a big enough to-do list on my hands. Literally.
I quickly scanned the list before tucking it into my pocket, along with the cash. For three females, they sure drank a lot of blood. My once-a-week trip to Bangor for fresh blood was now becoming twice a week. Pulling out my keys, I unlocked the garage door and headed for the freezer stocked full of ice packs. I grabbed several and dropped them into a cooler, then popped the trunk of my car to place it inside.
Well, it technically wasn’t my car. There was very little that I actually owned, but since I was the only one who could go out during the daytime, Mistress had given me permission to use it almost exclusively. The vehicle was a forest green 1960s Aston Martin, one that had been collecting dust for years before I came along. I’d had to tinker with it for countless hours before finally getting it to run again.
Even though the car wasn’t really mine, it still made me feel independent when I drove it. Like I could simply take off and never come back.
If only.
Banishing the impossible thought, I hopped into the driver’s seat and started the engine. It rolled over easily, thanks to my constant tinkering, but I grimaced at the high-pitched squeal the garage door made as it lifted. I made a mental note to replace the rollers soon, then carefully eased out of the garage. If either Octavia or Georgina heard me leaving, they’d bombard me with texts, adding to my already long errand list.
Thankfully, no texts came in while I steered away from the seaside property and turned onto the road that would lead me to Bangor. As soon as the coast was clear, I whipped off my hat and tossed it on the passenger’s seat. Cranking the music, I rolled down my window and basked in the feel of the wind stirring my hair. These precious moments on the road were the only ones I had to myself, and I made the most of them the only way I could. The music effectively drowned out my thoughts, while the wind swept away any lingering traces of the world I lived in.
It was a ruse, though. A temporary band-aid fix.
As much as I yearned to leave this life behind, I couldn’t. I was stuck. For how long, I didn’t know. If Mistress kept finding reasons to dock my pay, I’d be here forever.
Feeling another shiver creep up my spine, I gripped the steering wheel and stomped on the gas. The wind whistled through my ears, whipping long, silvery strands of hair across my face.
I wouldn’t be stuck here forever, I firmly told myself. I’d take matters into my own hands if I had to. It wouldn’t be hard. In fact, it would be easy. Easier than breathing.
With a mere thought, I could make this all go away.
But I wasn’t ready to pay that price. Not yet, anyway. I’d been stuck here for six years, but I could last a little while longer.
By the time I arrived in Bangor forty minutes later, my mood had darkened considerably. Knowing that I wouldn’t get paid for the next twenty-four hours definitely made it hard to stay positive. Mistress knew just how to pull my strings. Robbing me of the ability to pay off my debt was the number one way to secure my obedience. I wouldn’t be slacking off anytime soon.
Grabbing my hat, I made sure it was sitting low on my head before leaving the car. Bangor was a big enough city that I easily blended in without being recognized, but Mistress didn’t like to take chances—not when it came to me. I was lucky she even let me drive into the city by myself.
Scurrying from one place to the next, I quickly knocked off the to-do list, saving the blood supply store for last. As soon as I was finished, I’d make good on my promise to Pepper and indulge in a large breakfast. My stomach growled at the thought of finally being filled, and I hurriedly entered the store to collect my order.
As usual, a human manned the shop—at least during the daytime hours. Vampires like my mistress and her daughters couldn’t tolerate the sun and therefore mostly slept during the day and went out at night. Since they hadn’t been born as vampires like Venturi were, life wasn’t handed to them on a golden platter. They had to work for a living like the rest of the world, not that Georgina or Octavia had ever worked a day in their lives.
The Faircrofts were made vampires, also known as Feltore. They weren’t royalty or even nobility, even if they wanted to be. Still, their mansion was as close to Sanctum Isle as it could get while remaining on the mainland. I’d never stepped foot on the island where most of the Venturi lived and probably never would. Only a few Feltore were allowed to mingle with their kingdom’s elite, and the Faircrofts had been trying for decades to infiltrate that exclusive circle.
They still were, but not for the same reasons anymore. Everything had changed six years ago when Mistress lost her husband. Unfortunately for me, I was stuck in the middle of their scheming and knew far too much.
But, despite how desperately I wanted to leave this life behind, I understood their motives for getting close to the vampire elite. Understood and agreed.
Which was why I was able to set aside my own dreams and focus on the task at hand. I’d seen the human male dozens of times before, but when I entered the shop, he greeted me with a blank look. Thralled to forget. Most of the humans who fraternized with vampires were, including the humans who visited Dreamscape. It was the only way to ensure that the vampire’s existence remained a secret. Even witches practiced spells of forgetting on humans. The fewer of them who knew about supernaturals, the better.
“You here for an order?” the human asked me, skipping pleasantries.
Nodding, I held out my cooler for him to take. “Order for Margaret Smith.” I wasn’t allowed to speak the Faircroft name in public, but my presence here had never been questioned before. Blood had become a lot more accessible for the past six years, and vampires were encouraged to visit establishments where blood was freely given. It cut back on attacks that often led to human deaths. Fewer human deaths meant less chances of vampire exposure.
I understood this plan and actually agreed with it, but the word “free” was a joke. Blood was expensive.
When the human male returned with my cooler now stocked full of blood bags, I was painfully reminded of that fact.
“That’ll be two thousand,” he said, holding out his hand.
Shocked, I pushed back my baseball cap to gape at him. “Two thousand? There must be a mistake. It’s usually only fifteen hundred.”
He shrugged. “Business has been slower than usual, so our prices increased.”
“But . . . but I don’t have two thousand with me.”
He shrugged again and lowered his hand. “You can come back later, or I can just cancel your order.”
When he moved as if to return the blood bags, panic fluttered in my chest. “No, that’s okay. I have the money. Here.” I dug into my pocket and pulled out the extra five hundred he needed. As he took the money and handed over the cooler, my stomach growled miserably. Sighing, I exited the store with my precious cargo. Pepper would be upset that I’d sacrificed my well-being yet again, giving up the only money I had to ensure I stayed in Mistress’s good graces, but what other choice did I have?
The only way I was going to pay off this blood debt was with sacrifice. Nothing short of giving up my soul would make Mistress free me of my indenture.
By the time I made it back to Glassport, I could barely keep my eyes open. Witches needed food and sleep the same way humans did, and I was running dangerously low on both, especially after the longer than usual night I’d just had. Mistress rarely kept the fridge stocked with anything but blood, so chances were I wouldn’t get anything to eat until after I’d earned some tips this evening.
Tips that weren’t mine to keep tonight, I reminded myself. Still, I couldn’t perform my duties if I starved to death. I’d keep just enough to buy a sandwich and save a few scraps for Pepper. Just the thought of a sandwich made my mouth begin to water.
Ignoring my aching stomach and burning eyes, I lugged my purchases into the house and began to put them away.
Ada.
At the gentle admonishment in Pepper’s tone, guilt flooded me.
I tried. I really tried, Pep. I’ll catch a quick nap and eat tonight though. Promise.
Her resigned sigh whispered through my mind. You can’t keep going like this.
I know, but I’m tougher than I look, I told her, trying to lighten the mood. When annoyance trickled through our connection, I changed the subject. Hear anything interesting this morning?
Nothing of importance, but Thing One and Thing Two have a guest over. He’s still here.
At the news, my amusement over her nickname for the Faircroft sisters quickly faded. Again? I glanced at my phone and scowled. They should be prepping for their dance lesson right now. If they kept me waiting too long, I wouldn’t have time for a nap before heading over to Dreamscape. Tempted to start on my household chores early, I banned the idea and shut the fridge with an extra loud snap.
Rules were rules. Straying from my predetermined schedule wasn’t an option unless I wanted to be punished again.
My mood took a nosedive, and I marched from the kitchen before I could check myself. Dimly, I heard Pepper warning me to stop, but I was too annoyed. Too tired. Too hungry.
Those two needed a wakeup call, and I was the only one who would do it. Their mother certainly wouldn’t. She allowed them their every whim, spoiling her daughters every chance she got. And when they inevitably screwed up, I took the blame for it.
Well, not today. Today, I needed to follow the rules, which meant they needed to follow the rules. Time for some tough love.
Not bothering to be quiet, I stomped up the stairs to the second floor and stormed toward Octavia’s room. I whipped open the door without knocking, then squinted through the darkness to find the space empty. Turning on my heel, I crossed the hall to Georgina’s room, once again jerking the door open without a knock.
The moment I did, I desperately wished that I hadn’t.
Several candles had been lit around the room, illuminating the luxurious space enough to reveal three forms tangled together on the massive four-poster bed. A male was in the middle, flat on his back and stark naked. The sisters were draped on either side of him, both feeding from his neck and equally naked. Octavia was feverishly pumping his dick, and before I could look away, he orgasmed with a groan, spilling a stream of cum onto his stomach.
The second he was finished, Georgina removed her fangs from his neck and straddled him. Before his shaft could soften, she sank on top of it, impaling herself balls deep. As she began to ride him, she crooned, “Have you come to watch, troll?”
I hastily stepped back, but before I could close the door, her voice cracked like a whip through the air.
“Stay.”
I started to shut the door anyway. Her golden curls tumbled forward as she looked over her shoulder and met my gaze.
Immediately, I felt the pull as she opened her mouth and ordered, “Come inside and close the door.”
Against my wishes, my feet crossed over the threshold, my hands betraying me as they shut the door. Satisfied, Georgina resumed her ride, bouncing up and down with abandon as her younger sister continued to feed from the male’s neck. After a minute, she ordered him to fondle her breasts, and he readily complied. Feeling left out, Octavia grabbed one of his hands and placed it between her legs. As he began to rub her clit, she moaned into his neck and roughly grabbed his hair.
Agonizing minutes later, all three of them were panting heavily, on the verge of release. Like a domino effect, they reached orgasm one after the other, starting with Georgina. She dramatically threw her head back and screamed, digging her nails into the man’s chest. Scratch that. Claws. As dark blood pooled on his brown chest, he loudly groaned out another release. Octavia followed suit, releasing his neck with a shuddering gasp as she came against his fingers.
I stood quietly, waiting for them to finish. Georgina languidly moved off the male, only to bend over and lap up the blood on his chest. My stomach lurched, but I forced myself to watch anyway, my expression carefully neutral.
This was punishment for daring to think my opinion meant anything in this household. It was my own stupid fault for coming up here.
This wasn’t the first time the sisters made me watch them having sex. They were attached at the hip and shared everything, including men. The first time I’d been exposed to their kinky love life, I’d only been fifteen years old. I’d cried then, but I’d never cried since. The less I reacted, the less ammunition they had.
Thankfully, they never forced me to join them. Even now, when I looked the same age as them, I knew they wouldn’t cross that line.
They despised me too much, especially Georgina.
She finally looked over at me with a self-satisfied smirk and purred, “Enjoy the show? I know how much you love watching.”
Knowing I wouldn’t reply, she made a show of stretching like a cat before grabbing a pink satin robe and slipping from the bed. The entire room looked like a tornado had swept through it. Clothing, shoes, and other accessories littered the floor, even though I’d just cleaned it yesterday.
As she sashayed toward me, slowly pulling on her robe, she said, “Octavia, take care of our guest.”
Octavia lifted her head with a pout, reaching up to wrap a strawberry-blonde curl around her finger. “But I always do it. Why can’t you?”
“Because I need to take care of our other guest.”
At the evil glint in her dark brown eyes, dread shivered up my spine.
Octavia huffed but did what she was told, forcing the man to look at her as she thralled him to forget certain aspects of their coupling. “You were never bitten . . .” she started, pricking her finger with a sharp black claw so she could smear blood over the bite marks on his neck. The puncture holes immediately began to seal shut.
“You’re late for your dance lesson,” I told Georgina, hoping to distract her. No such luck.
“I don’t remember hearing about a dance lesson today.” She lifted a hand and slowly licked the blood from her claws. “Do you, Tavia?”
“Nope,” her sister chirped.
“Sounds like you made a mistake, troll. I think a punishment is in order.” Pausing to examine her claws, she let them recede back into her skin before tapping her chin in thought. “What do you think her punishment should be for barging in on us, Tavia?”
Octavia let go of the man to clap her hands with glee. “I know, I know! Make her dance naked!”
I stiffened.
Georgina rolled her eyes. “So juvenile.”
I started to relax but should have known better.
“Well, troll? You heard her. Strip and start dancing.”
A groan pushed at my throat, but I swallowed it. As far as punishments went, this one was rather tame. And by dancing for them, I was technically still “helping” them with their lesson. It would be humiliating, but my days of feeling self conscious were long gone.
Before she could force my cooperation with thrall, I started to undress. Georgina looked on with amusement, watching until I was completely nude before her. “When’s the last time you ate, troll?” she sneered, reaching out to poke one of my ribs. A sudden violent urge to grab her finger and break it ripped through me, but I balled my hands into fists and kept still.
At my stubborn silence, she scowled, looking like a younger version of her mother.
“Well? We’re waiting. Dance, already.” She flicked her fingers at me impatiently and stepped toward a chaise lounge to drape herself across it.
“How long should I dance for?”
I should have known better than to ask.
“Until I tell you to stop.” That evil glint returned.
Gritting my teeth, I started to dance. Slowly at first, then faster when Georgina demanded it. I danced and danced, losing myself to the movements, to the rhythm until the room and its occupants melted away. Music wasn’t necessary. I created my own, my body responding to each silent note.
At some point, their male companion left, but I kept on dancing. My feet flew over the hardwood floor as I leapt and jumped and twirled. My hair fanned out in shimmering strands, catching the flickering light of the candles.
I danced for hours. Danced until my feet ached and my legs turned to jelly. The room suddenly spun, faster and faster until I lost my balance and crashed to the floor. Stifling a yelp of pain, I struggled to rise, only to fall again.
After the third attempt, Georgina sighed and droned, “I’m bored of this. Dance lesson is over.”
I barely heard her, my headache like a deafening drum in my ears. Somehow, I managed to pick myself up, collect my clothes, and leave the bedroom. How I got from the second floor to my room in the basement, I didn’t know. All I remembered was falling onto my bed right before darkness swallowed me whole.
CHAPTER TWO
ADALYN
His eyes were like green amethysts.
Pale and piercing.
They seemed to look directly into my soul.
Time froze, and for once, I didn’t mind.
The longer he looked at me, the more I wanted him to.
I could bask in his undivided attention forever.
He suddenly reached up to remove his mask, and I held my breath in anticipation.
I wanted to see him. Needed to. He somehow felt familiar to me, like I’d seen him before.
He pulled on the black strings, undoing his mask.
My heart started to pound.
The mask lowered, and I caught the first glimpse of his face.
My heart pounded faster. Faster and faster.
Only a second more and I would know who he was.
The mask lowered another inch . . .
Then abruptly vanished in a swirl of black smoke.
And so did he.
I awoke with a yelp, grabbing my index finger as it painfully throbbed like a second heartbeat.
I’m sorry, Ada. I didn’t know what else to do.
“Pepper?” I mumbled with a groan, peeling my eyes open to check on my finger. “Did you just bite me?”
Shh, keep your voice down. The brown mouse rubbed her soft head against the injured finger as if to make it all better. You’ve been out for hours. I had to reach you somehow.
Why? Is it morning already? I spoke mind-to-mind, yawning so wide that my jaw cracked.
No, Ada. That’s just it. You haven’t finished the day yet.
My mouth shut with a sharp click. Oh no. I scrambled upright as fast as I could, earning me a perturbed squeak from Pepper.
“What time is it?” I reached into my pocket for my phone, but found bare skin instead. What the—? Why was I naked? My head started to pound again as I racked my brain, finally remembering my little dance in Georgina’s room. I must have passed out from pure exhaustion. Mistress was going to kill me.
No, she won’t, Pepper reassured, picking up on my frantic thought. She needs you too much.
“Needs me?” Snorting, I dragged myself out of bed and began to dress. My dad killed her husband. The only reason why I’m still alive is because it amuses her to have a warlock elder’s daughter as her personal servant.
Taking care of this house and its occupants isn’t the only thing you do, Adalyn.
“Don’t remind me,” I muttered, grabbing my phone to tap on the screen. As the time glared back at me almost accusingly, I cursed and hurried my movements.
All I’m saying is that your abilities make you important. You’re more than an indentured servant, and once you’ve paid off your father’s blood debt to the Faircrofts, you have a bright future ahead of you.
If I survive that long, I cryptically replied.
Ada, she softly admonished. I paused to eye her on my bed. Even without a light on, I could pick out her tiny round body. That’s how used I was to living in the darkness.
Sighing, I said, You were right earlier, Pep. I’m mortal. That means I don’t belong in this world. If I stay too much longer, I think it’s going to kill me.
She released a mournful squeak. Then let me come with you tonight.
I looked down to jab my feet into my shoes. You know it’s too dangerous. I can’t risk your life.
I’m immortal, Adalyn. Celestial spirit, remember?
But your body isn’t, I inwardly snapped, pausing to glare at her. You can still be injured or killed in this form. If you rejoined the celestial plane, I would truly be all alone, and I wouldn’t survive that. I wouldn’t want to.
Oh, Ada.
I have to go, I quickly said and moved for the stairs before my emotions got the best of me. I’ll bring you back some food from the club. You have my word.
You don’t need to worry about me, Adalyn.
Pausing one last time, I looked over my shoulder at her. Of course I do. You’re the only thing I care about in this messed-up world. It’s just you and me against those greedy bloodsuckers. Don’t forget that.
Pepper huffed a semi-amused squeak. Oh, I won’t. Be careful out there.
My lips curved into a saucy smile. Always am.
Feeling a little less tired but still hungry as a bear, I hurried upstairs to start my afternoon chores. With the approaching sunset, the Faircrofts would be heading out soon. If I didn’t have my chores done before then, Mistress would become suspicious and demand an explanation. Saying that her daughters made me dance naked until I passed out wouldn’t end in my favor. She’d only see my weakness, not her daughters’ poor behavior.
Spurred on by the unfairness of it all and my desperate need for food, I tackled my chores in record time. I was just finishing up a load of laundry when Mistress called out, “We’re leaving, Adalyn. Make sure you’re at the club promptly at nine.”
“Yes, Mistress,” I called back.
Hearing the front door slam shut, I turned to leave the laundry room with a basket of clean linens in hand. A tall form in the doorway brought me up short, startling me so badly that I dropped the basket. The clean linens tumbled out and hit the floor. I quickly wiped the dismay from my face as Mistress looked down her nose at me and spoke in low tones, “And I expect you to secure us at least one new client tonight. There will be consequences if you don’t.”
“Yes, Mistress,” I replied and lowered my chin in submission.
She turned to leave, tossing her golden curls over her shoulder as she said in parting, “Oh, and rewash those linens before you leave. Don’t be late, Adalyn.”
Biting my tongue, I waited for the front door to shut before gathering the linens from the floor and shoving them into the washing machine once more. Could this day get any worse? I was used to dealing with her impossible demands, but securing clients had never been a stipulation of my job.
As the only witch working at Dreamscape Lounge, my job was to be mysterious and alluring, to dance until my audience was wholly captivated. Most of our clientele were filthy rich and could go anywhere for their nightly entertainment, but many of them kept coming back to Dreamscape.
I did that. I kept them coming back. They wanted to see the witch who dared to dance for vampires.
That’s how it had all started anyway. Dancing for hungry, horny predators night after night. Giving up my self respect and pride, piece by piece.
But that was child’s play now. My other job—my secret one—demanded so much more from me. I’d accepted the job out of desperation, and the only thing I’d had to give up was the last of my innocence.
A small price to pay for my freedom. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
But Mistress was never satisfied, always finding new reasons to extend my blood debt. Not only did I have to entertain the male vampires who’d become my clients, but now I was supposed to secure them?
“Why don’t I lasso the moon for you while I’m at it?” I grumbled, allowing myself a moment of self pity. But only for a moment. I didn’t have time to wallow, not if I wanted to survive this world.
An hour later, I hurriedly put away the clean linens still warm from the dryer and dashed out the kitchen door. I was cutting it close, but I would make it to Dreamscape on time. The club was thirty minutes away, situated on the outskirts of Bangor. It used to be a hotel, but three years ago, the building had been purchased by Mistress Faircroft and her new business partner, Heath Clancy.
Their main goal had been to set apart their club from the rest, allowing only certain humans and vampires entrance. Anonymity was key, hence the required masks. IDs weren’t needed, only money. Lots of it. Enough that only the extremely wealthy could afford the place. In no time, the exclusive club had gained a reputation of being an “exotic” feeding den for the vampire elite.
Not only were the humans carefully culled to suit their rich tastes, but they could feast their eyes upon me. These days, nothing said exotic like a witch working in a vampire-owned nightclub.
Pulling around back, I parked and quickly sent Mistress an obligatory text that I’d arrived. I had my own keycard and let myself in through one of the back doors, taking the stairs as usual so I wouldn’t run into any of our clientele. The club opened at nine, but I didn’t make an appearance until ten. Which gave me enough time to get ready, being sure to closely follow my mistress’s meticulous regimen.
She expected perfection. I was to look enticingly forbidden, the low-hanging fruit that begged to be plucked and consumed. But the clientele weren’t allowed to touch. At least while I was dancing.
My stomach was painfully cramping by the time I reached my room on the third floor. Only a couple hours more of this torture and I could finally eat. At least I wasn’t scheduled for aerial dancing tonight. That took the most energy out of me, even though it was my favorite form of dance.
It always felt good to be so high above the creatures bent on destroying me.
Tossing my phone and keys onto the glass table just inside the door, I shucked off my clothes on the way to the bathroom. I’d been looking forward to this all day. After dealing with the Faircrofts for the past several hours, this slight reprieve was a little slice of heaven.
On my way over to the elegant clawfoot tub, I grabbed a toothbrush and got to work making myself “presentable.” Mistress didn’t care what I looked like during the daytime. In fact, the scruffier I looked, the better. Less chance of being recognized that way. But at night, not even a single hair out of place was acceptable.
I didn’t mind this part of my day though. Pampering myself. Scrubbing my skin so raw that I could almost feel clean again.
When the tub was adequately filled, I turned off the water and slipped inside. The temperature was just below scalding, exactly how I liked it. Despite the heat, I barely flinched. Submerging myself in hot water felt like I was melting the taint off my body.
If only it could melt away the taint on the inside.
Nudging the impossible thought aside, I rested against the tub and breathed in the lavender-scented steam. I let my eyes close, but falling asleep wasn’t an option. After a moment, I forced myself into motion again, blindly reaching for my loofa on the cart beside the tub.
When I found a large hand instead, I yanked my eyes open with a startled squeak. A hulking vampire grinned back, snatching up my hand before I could pull it back.
“Good evening, Star. You’re looking as beautiful as ever.” The sandy-haired brute dipped his head and kissed my knuckles.
“Heath,” I gasped out, shocked to find him kneeling beside my tub. “What are you doing here?”
“This is my club, Star,” he replied, as if that was all the explanation I needed.
As he continued to run his lips over my knuckles, I tried to tug my hand back. His grip tightened.
“I need . . . I need to get ready.” Silently cursing my stutter, I struggled to slow my racing pulse. Vampires loved nothing more than frightened prey.
“I can help you. My hands might be big, but I’ve been told they can be quite gentle.”
At the insinuation, my blood ran cold.
“I think you should leave, Heath,” I said before I could stop myself.
He tensed, and so did I. This was bad. This was really bad. I was an employee. A servant. One wrong move in this bloodthirsty world could cost me my life, and rejecting the club’s owner was definitely one of them.
Not knowing what to do, I held still, barely daring to breathe.
After a moment, he slowly raised his head to look at me. He wasn’t grinning anymore, but he didn’t look angry either. More like amused that the little witch had attempted to defend herself. His cloudy gray eyes trailed over my face, then lower, boldly peering into the water to take in my naked body. I didn’t move a muscle, not even to cover myself. Doing so would only make me look more vulnerable.
Finally, he met my gaze again and said, “Don’t forget, Star. While you work under this roof, you’re half mine. If I wanted to, I could order you into my bed with a few simple words. I’d have every right.” He lifted his other hand and touched my cheek. I stopped breathing, willing myself not to pull away. To not so much as flinch. “It’s no secret that I crave you. Watching you dance night after night for the past three years has been torture. But if I had even one taste, I know that I wouldn’t be able to stop. I would take everything and leave nothing for the others, and that’s just bad business.”
At his confession, I inwardly recoiled. My body held perfectly still, but he must have seen the disgust in my eyes. Faster than I could blink, he grabbed my head and shoved me beneath the water. I screamed, lashing out with my arms and feet, but he was too strong. As the oxygen raced from my lungs, I grew desperate and willed magic to my fingertips. It readily flowed through my veins, coming to my aid. But before it could blast from me, it stopped.
Just stopped.
I was no longer in control of it. The magic didn’t obey me. It obeyed them.
When I stopped flailing, on the verge of passing out, Heath finally released my head.
I popped back up, gasping and coughing as I struggled to refill my lungs. He pushed the wet hair off my face and I flinched this time, but he didn’t seem to notice. His grin was back, softer than before. Relaxed.
Content. He was content.
Apparently, he got off on drowning girls half to death.
“Shhh, it’s okay, Star,” he said in soothing tones, letting his fingers roam over my face, then lower. I stiffened all over, but knew better than to reject him a second time. Thankfully, he stopped at my neck, pausing to press his thumb over my racing pulse. “Mmm, I bet you taste exquisite right now.”
My heart stopped as his fingers curled around my neck and slowly drew me toward him. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for what was to come.
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, I ordered myself, waiting for the inevitable.
Warmth hit my throat as his breath fanned over my skin. He inhaled deeply, drawing my scent into his lungs. The hissing sound he emitted was almost my undoing. I balled my hands into fists, refusing to push him away.
I would survive this. I had no choice.
As his lips touched my skin, I couldn’t suppress a tiny shiver of revulsion. At the same time, a sliver of anticipation cut through it. I violently shoved the feeling aside, hating it. Hating myself for even feeling it.
Sick. You’re sick, I inwardly screamed at myself, feeling the angry burn of tears prick my eyes.
At the last second, Heath pulled back and gruffly whispered, “May that serve as a reminder, Star. I could drain you in seconds, and you wouldn’t be able to do a single thing about it. Whatever you feel for vampires doesn’t matter. The sooner you accept this life, the easier it’ll be. And, who knows?” He paused to press his mouth to my throat, eliciting a small gasp from me. His lips wickedly curved against my flesh as he finished, “Maybe you’ll even enjoy it.”
With that, he let go of me and left as silently as he’d arrived.
CHAPTER THREE
EVERETT
I was at the same booth as last night, tucked in a dark corner far from the heated press of bodies on the dance floor.
Gaining entrance had been the same. A black mask hid my identity, and a wad of cash allowed me inside with no questions asked. Anytime someone got too close, I warned them away with a dark look. No one dared bother me, but when the clock struck ten, anticipation flooded my veins.
This was the moment I’d been waiting for.
I didn’t know why I was so interested in seeing her again. I’d been with countless beautiful women over the past two centuries, human and vampire alike. A gorgeous face no longer affected me—or so I thought, until last night. Her beauty wasn’t the only thing that interested me though. There was something about her. Something almost . . . familiar.
I hadn’t scented her. Hadn’t talked to her. Didn’t know if she was human or vampire. I hadn’t even seen the entirety of her face, and yet, I knew her somehow.
The feeling had plagued me all day, so persistently that I’d had no choice but to return. I had to know who she was. Once I did, I could get her out of my system and leave this place behind. My brother wasn’t the only one who’d steered clear of feeding dens for the past century. Being here chafed me in the worst of ways. The memories it dredged up were far from pleasant.
Still, I caught myself sitting straighter as I searched the place for the ethereal dancer adorned in silver. The one they called “Star.” A fitting name, considering that she’d hung suspended in the air like one, dazzling everyone who looked upon her.
When I didn’t spot her right away, I felt a strange sense of disappointment. Then frustration. Coming back here had been a waste. Time to leave before I made an even bigger fool of myself. I’d allowed my cock to dictate my actions, which wasn’t like me. Not anymore. One girl had no business affecting me this way, especially when I was supposed to be on the hunt for more important things.
This place seemed harmless though, as far as nightclubs went. I’d have to take my hunt elsewhere.
Just like last night, I rose from my seat, determined to leave this place and never come back. But as I did, the music stopped and a beam of light swung onto the dance floor. Not high above, but smack in the middle of the gyrating throng. My keen gaze shot to the crowd, racing over each face. None of them were her.
The crowd suddenly parted, creating a circle around an object rising from the floor. From beneath the floor. A hidden stage. And standing on the stage, grasping a silver pole, was Star.
At the sight of her, cheers and whistles rippled through the crowd. As the stage locked into place, leaving her several feet above the crowd, everyone froze again. Froze and waited in anticipation. She was wearing a similar outfit to last night, silver and sparkly. But it was somehow even more revealing, low in the front and barely there in the back, showing off her supple backside. Her silvery hair was down again, slightly stirring in an unseen wind.
As the crowd waited with bated breath, she slowly pivoted on her shiny silver stilettos, twirling around the pole until she was facing me. When she did, it was like a magnet drew her gaze directly to mine. I was still tucked in the shadows, but she found me anyway. As her eyes locked onto mine, the room and everyone in it disappeared. Despite my earlier pep talk to myself, I was ensnared once more, moving toward her before I could think better of it.
Come to me, her eyes seemed to beckon, filling with flirtatious amusement when I readily obeyed.
Before I knew it, I was at the stage, looking up at her like all the rest of the besotted idiots trapped by her beauty. Pathetic. I was pathetic. Apparently, I still possessed a healthy lust for flesh. There was no mistaking how much I wanted to get this girl alone and explore all she had to offer.
She was a distraction, one I shouldn’t be indulging in right now, but I couldn’t look away. Satisfied that she’d lured me in, she broke eye contact and swung around the pole again. When she lifted both legs and pressed her core to the metal like she would a lover, the crowd went wild. Money fluttered through the air and hit the stage. Every time she rubbed against the pole, the money came down harder.
Several of the people around me paired up and began to grind against each other, turned on by the erotic dancing. A female nearby tried to touch me through my pants, but I blocked her without taking my eyes off Star. I was aroused like the rest of them, but I had no interest in the people around me.
The only one I wanted was the silver-haired girl above me.
As if pleased by my undivided attention, Star paused to crook a finger at me. My pants tightened even more, and like an obedient dog, I placed my hands on the stage and leaned toward her. Smirking, she crouched with her legs spread wide. The crowd went wild again. Releasing the pole, she began to crawl toward me on all fours. The sight nearly made me come. Suppressing a groan, I watched her every move, thrilled to have her eyes solely on me.
When she came within touching range, I didn’t reach for her like last time. I didn’t want her to pull away again. Didn’t want her to disappear. Holding perfectly still, I waited for her to come to me, trying to catch even the faintest whiff of her scent. But the air was too saturated with arousal and sweat.
Inches away from me now, she reached into her top and pulled out what looked like a keycard. In a blink, she slipped it into the pocket of my shirt. So swiftly that I didn’t even feel it. Another blink and she was back at the pole.
Seconds later, the spotlight on her winked out. Fog billowed into the air, and just like last time, she disappeared. Instead of searching for her though, I slipped away and pulled out the keycard she’d given me.
306.
A room number.
My blood heated, filling me with even more heady arousal. She wanted a private audience with me.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I veered toward the elevators. The hallway was dark, but I easily spotted the two male vampires standing guard. When I presented the keycard to them, the bulkier of the two held out his hand.
“Ten thousand upfront.”
I paid him without question, and the pair wordlessly stepped aside. I kept my guard up though, making sure to keep my face downcast as I entered the elevator.
Most vampire-owned nightclubs didn’t have interior cameras—a protective measure in case the human authorities came sniffing around. But I’d already spotted a few in this place, so carefully hidden that I’d almost missed them. If one of them caught my face, my cover would be blown. Not that I minded anymore. After tonight, I had no intention of ever coming back.
I would allow myself one night of sinful indulgence. One night of letting lustful instinct call all the shots. Once I filled myself up on the silver seductress, I could move on and fulfill the task my father had set before me.
As the elevator opened onto the third floor, I cautiously stepped out. The hallway was clear, but I didn’t lower my guard. Even a rendezvous such as this could be a trap. Other clubs offered private rooms, but experience had taught me to always expect ulterior motives. Not everyone who frequented feeding dens came for blood and sex.
With that in mind, I proceeded down the hallway slowly, keeping an eye out for possible threats. All was silent. I couldn’t even hear the pulsing music from down below. They must have soundproofed the walls for optimal privacy, a fact that further stirred the blood in my groin.
I was going to make her scream tonight. Multiple times. Knowing that only I would hear it filled me with satisfaction.
When I found room 306, no one stood outside the door. I listened a moment longer, then stepped forward to knock.
Seconds later, a feminine voice from inside called, “Come in.”
It was her. I was sure of it.
Grasping the handle, I opened the door. My senses were immediately bombarded by lavender and incense. Candles decorated the room, intimately lighting the space. As I entered the room, my gaze took in a kitchen and small living room. The decor was stylishly done in whites, silvers, and blacks, but my interest was only on one thing. I stepped inside and closed the door, boldly moving toward the bedroom. The door was open, and I wasted no time seeking out the female inside. As I darkened the doorway, I stopped and took in the view that greeted me.
She was sensually resting on the king-sized bed, propped up by a mound of pillows and wearing nothing but a mask and satin silver robe. The robe was open, draped over her in a way that revealed teasing hints of flesh. The luscious curve of a breast. A flat expanse of stomach. A shapely leg from heel to thigh.
At the sight of me gracing her doorway, that smirk of hers slowly made an appearance. My pants tightened to the point of pain. As if all too aware of the torture she was inflicting upon me, her smirk widened.
“Welcome,” she said in sultry tones, eyeing me for a moment before straightening from her relaxed position. The move shifted her robe, allowing me a full view of one of her breasts. My mouth watered as I took in her hard nipple, already anticipating how it would taste. “Come,” she continued, crooking a finger at me once more. “I won’t bite.”
At her teasing tone, my gaze went to her face again. I still assumed she was human, but the heady incense made it hard for me to scent her. I took a step forward, then another, wanting to know for sure. How I handled her tonight would depend on what she was. If she was human, I would have to be careful not to break her. But if she was a vampire, I could be rougher, allowing myself to indulge in her even more.
I stopped at the foot of the bed and inhaled, drawing in a plethora of smells. Lust and blood were the predominant scents, but I also caught hints of male. Several of them. I wasn’t the first she’d lured up here.
Suddenly annoyed, I cut to the chase. “Are you human?”
She shook her head and pushed to her knees, allowing me an unobstructed view of her pussy. I swallowed a groan, beyond excited that I wouldn’t have to be careful with her. I would take her several times. Hard. That should help purge her from my system.
“Guess again,” she said, slowly walking on her knees toward me. The robe opened even more, revealing both her breasts. The air stuttered from my lungs, and I could barely focus on anything else. She was a masterpiece, her body sculpted to perfection. I didn’t know such perfection could exist. Of course it made sense that she would be a vampire. A body like that could only be immortal.
Still, I opened my mouth and uttered the word, needing to know for sure before I ripped that robe off her and consumed that gorgeous flesh with abandon. “Vampire?”
Her full red lips tilted into a roguish grin. She finished crossing the mattress and stood on her knees before me, her eyes almost level with mine. “Guess . . .” she whispered, tilting her face up to breathe the word in my ear. At the same time, she reached down and grabbed my throbbing cock, making me see stars. “Again.”
With her this close, touching me this way, I could barely breathe, let alone think. Her words didn’t register. All I could concentrate on was her hand slowly rubbing my dick and her breasts pushing up against me. My world narrowed to her, on the pleasure flooding my veins. When she used her other hand to undo my pants, I held still, enjoying her attention. I’d allow her a few minutes of control, then I’d take over.
As she freed my painfully hard erection and firmly gripped it, I let my eyes roll shut. She was skilled, no doubt about it. She’d probably handled many dicks, maybe multiple times a night. I felt a flash of annoyance again, but when she began to pump my shaft, thoughts of her touching other males fled my mind.
Allowing a small groan to slip free, I basked in the euphoria, knowing that I wouldn’t last long. What she was doing felt that good. I hadn’t felt this good in ages. Her hands were pure bliss, stroking my hardened length and swollen tip in tandem. As my pleasure built, so did my desire for her. I reached up to cup one of her breasts, fitting my other hand against her lower spine. At the move, I felt her stiffen. Confused, I let go of her breast and opened my eyes.
“Bite me,” she breathlessly said, pumping me faster. Despite how close I was to orgasming, I hesitated, suddenly unsure.
Something was wrong.
“Bite me,” she repeated, almost begging me now. She tilted her head back to expose her throat. My gaze dropped to the vulnerable column, and a new need coursed through me. A stronger one. An all-consuming one. One that I could no longer deny. I felt my fangs descend. On the verge of coming, I pushed aside my lingering doubts and gripped the nape of her neck, angling my head so I could puncture her throat.
Lust and hunger rode me hard. I opened my mouth and sank my fangs deeply into her flesh. She jerked against me, but I quickly infused the bite with my venom, easing the bite’s pain. The stiffness in her body melted away, and she sighed in pleasure. Pleased with her reaction, I pressed my mouth to her skin and began to suck. Wanting to experience that delectable first taste of her blood, I held off my orgasm for a moment longer. Only a moment more and my body could experience the full effect of what she had to offer.
I pulled her closer to me, prepared to thrust inside her the second I finished orgasming. She stroked me faster, knowing that I was teetering on the edge of release. I sucked her harder, drawing in a mouthful of her blood.
The instant the blood touched my tongue, I shoved her away with a hiss. She hit the mattress with a startled cry. Blood dripped from my mouth and onto the white duvet.
Spitting out the remainder of it, I glared down at her and snarled, “Witch.”
She stared at me with wide eyes, twin lines of blood dribbling down her neck. Pressing a hand to the puncture wounds, she blinked a few times before replying, “I thought you knew that.”
“Of course I didn’t.” Ignoring the throbbing ache between my legs from not being able to finish, I quickly zipped up my pants. “What kind of sick joke is this anyway? Vampires don’t come here to feed on witches.”
At the sneer in my voice, the confusion on her face vanished. She gripped her robe and tightly wrapped it around her body. “On the contrary. Vampires come here every night to feed on me.”
I scoffed. “That’s disgusting.”
Her expression wiped clean of all emotion. “No more disgusting than you coming up here tonight.”
I blinked, caught off guard by her candor. “You’re right. It’s disgusting that I so easily fell under your seductive spell. That won’t be happening again. I’m done here.”
As I turned to leave, she scrambled upright on the bed. “Wait.”
I kept going, storming from the room. Now that my dick was no longer in charge, I could clearly detect the magic permeating the air like a bad omen. The metallic scent bit at my nostrils, and I flared them in frustration. How could I have so completely missed it earlier?
“Wait. You have pale green eyes. Like amethysts. I saw you in a—”
“You saw nothing,” I growled, jerking around to scowl at her. I expected her to cower, but she barely even flinched at my brusque tone. “I was never here, got it?”
She pursed her lips, then smoothed them into a smirk devoid of humor. “Sure. That’s what the masks are for, right? Total anonymity. What you do here stays here.”
At the slight judgment in her tone, I curled my own lips into a humorless smile. “And I’m assuming a witch masquerading as a blood whore would most definitely want to hide her identity. I bet your coven would cast you out if they knew. The shame of it would be too humiliating.”
Her smirk faded.
Without waiting for a reply, I whirled and left her behind, hoping to never see her again. Tonight had been a terrible mistake. No one needed to know how epically I’d screwed up. If only I could wipe the memory of it from my brain. This night might have been a total disaster, but I doubted I’d be forgetting it anytime soon.
By the time I made it back home two hours later, I’d called myself every foul name I could think of. I felt violated in a way I’d never felt before. The memory of her hands on me. The lingering taste of her blood in my mouth. It burned me from the inside out.
Stalking up the steep flight of stairs to the front entrance, I barely acknowledged the guards before breezing past. No one greeted me when I barged inside, which was a good thing. My dark mood made me want to lash out at anyone who dared get too close.
With a burst of supernatural speed, I was on the fifth floor in seconds. I passed by my father’s and brother’s rooms without pause, not wanting them to see how upset I was. Besides, they were probably fast asleep beside their wives, happy as clams. No need to disrupt their blissful little bubbles with my foul attitude. It was better that I spend the rest of the night alone, if only to lick my wounds in peace.
But, as I eased open my bedroom door, I sensed right away that someone was on the other side. Sighing, I slipped inside and shut the door. Two heartbeats quickened at my arrival, and I turned to see a pair of housemaids in my massive bed.
“Your Majesty,” they said in unison, both completely nude.
Sighing again, I muttered, “Let me guess. The king sent you?”
They bobbed their heads. “Yes, my prince.”
I swept my gaze over them, but the earlier fire in my veins was gone. Looking at their supple bodies did nothing for me. It was like that witch had sucked all the life out of me.
Frustrated at myself all over again, I began to undress. Both human females eagerly watched. Their anticipation was usually enough to get me going, but not this time. I almost stopped and ordered them to leave, which only fueled my ire.
I wasn’t going to let that witch mess with my head any longer. She meant nothing to me, and the brief moment we’d shared also meant nothing. I’d lusted after her. Desired her. But I hadn’t known what she was. If I’d known, I never would have let her touch me. Never would have sunk my fangs into her soft flesh and tasted her blood.
At the memory, heat stirred in my blood once more.
Angry at my body’s betrayal, I tore the last of my clothes off and joined the ladies in bed. They giggled at my arrival and shifted so that I could lay between them. As soon as I did, they began to kiss and touch me from the neck down, their interest mainly on my dick. The redhead leaned down and took me into her mouth, moaning breathlessly. Normally, I’d be hard and ready for her eager lips, but my body suddenly had no interest in her. She stroked and sucked on me, but I barely felt it.
The other female offered her throat to me. Out of desperation, I dragged her close and sank my fangs into her neck, pulling deeply. Her sweet blood filled my mouth, and I almost gagged. Star’s didn’t taste anything like this. Star’s blood was rich, exploding with exotic flavors I’d never tasted before. Flavors I was suddenly craving.
My anger grew. To distract myself, I drank fiercely, swallowing mouthful after mouthful. All the while, the redhead continued to pleasure me. Closing my eyes, an unwanted image of her flitted through my mind. The thought of her sucking my cock immediately filled me with euphoria. My cock hardened and the redhead moaned, renewing her efforts. Holding onto that twisted image, I sought out my release, hating myself the entire time.
This was torture. Mindblowing, earthshattering torture. The longer I thought about Star in my bed instead of these two women, the more alive I felt. I hated it. Hated and craved it.
Giving into the moment of pure insanity, I rode the high that her imagined presence brought. Just like that, I was on the edge of release. Picturing that secretive little smirk of hers, a smirk meant only for me, my orgasm barrelled through me. With a groan, I swallowed another mouthful of blood and pulled out my fangs, falling back on the bed in pure bliss.
Seconds later, the bliss vanished as the redhead straddled my hips and tried to impale herself on my cock.
“Not tonight,” I told her, ignoring her disappointed expression as I lifted her off me and stood from the bed. “I’m taking a shower. Return to your rooms, ladies. I won’t need your services for the rest of the night.”
Or ever, my mind whispered.
Scowling, I headed for my bathroom, in desperate need of removing this night from my body. I doubted nothing short of stripping the skin from my flesh could erase her though.
Even then, I was pretty sure the silver-haired witch had somehow managed to imprint herself on me.
Deep enough that no amount of scrubbing would cleanse her from my system.
Forever Touched is a standalone novel in Becky Moynihan's A Touch of Vampire series. You can find it on Amazon here.
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