Lure (4 page)

Hunter’s lips broke from mine and I saw the dazed look in his eyes as he blinked repeatedly.

“Wait,” he said, grinding against me. “This isn’t right. This…”

“Damn, her venom needs to get stronger already.” Sayer’s hand stroked up the human’s long length, slapping the head against my ass. “Tessa’s going to be your Mistress, Hunter. If you want that, this is the way it will be. These are my terms.”

More, Hunter’s face sobered. He looked between us, shaking his head. “You want to witness what happens between us? I don’t know. Watching might be one thing, but I’m not yours to touch.”

“You are now.”

“No—”

My mouth was back on Hunter’s before he could finish. I was tired of Sayer’s terms. Of his voice in general. I wanted him gone, away from me and this human who was mine.

“Tessa.” Hunter broke away, breathing against my cheek. “We shouldn’t. I can’t do this.”

My mouth quickly found his again and surprisingly, he didn’t rebel. But I could feel his tension return and although he continued to slide his tongue against mine, I felt his withdrawal.

Repeatedly, I moved against him, but it wasn’t the same. Hunter had lost interest and it showed in the lack of response from the one thing I wanted most. The curse behind me proved what I already knew. Hunter didn’t want me.

Chapter 6

Hunter

She wasn’t my Tessa. That’s what I kept reminding myself the moment I felt the urge to continue. She wasn’t the same person and she wasn’t in control of her mind. It was like I was cheating on, yet raping, the woman I loved, and I couldn’t do it. The intimacy wouldn’t come until I knew Tessa was in control.

“I have very little patience for you right now, human.” Sayer stood, but I refused to look at his face. His actions and demeanor were changing. Or maybe he was just letting his true colors finally show. Either way, I had a really bad feeling about the man I’d overlooked through this process. I’d been happy at the thought of having Tessa, but I never considered Sayer a threat. I was starting to think I’d made the biggest mistake of all.

Tessa rose to climb off, but Sayer jerked her by the hair to make her stop. A blur of claws slashed toward him, catching his bicep, shredding the skin and black button up shirt he was wearing.

“You think you’re a match for me, Princess?” Sayer’s arm went around her throat and he threw his weight forward, slamming her to the bed and covering her nude body with his. Frantically, I jerked against the cuffs. My legs were trapped under them and I couldn’t get free. It was like their weight was cement, grounding me to the mattress. “I’m the one in charge here. Not you, Tessalyn. Not Julius, or anyone else in this city. Me,” he growled. “And I get what I want. You’re going to fuck your human or I will. Make him want you or I’ll leave him little choice on my end.”

My eyes widened and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Il ne veut pas de moi.”
He doesn’t want me.

“English,” Sayer yelled, reaching back and striking her across the face. “Speak”
Whack!
“English!”
Whack!
Tessa’s hands shot up as she tried to defend herself, but he was too strong.

“Get the fuck off her!” A deep yell poured from my throat as rage like I’d never felt engulfed me. Again, he reared back, just in time for the floor and walls to rattle with Marko’s presence. It only had him pausing before he hit her twice as hard. The cry that left her collided with my anger and although I’d never wanted anything from Marko, I would have given my life for him to see this. To stop Sayer with his powers…if he could.

“Please, fine. Just stop. Tessa, baby, come here. Come…” Nausea threatened as his fist came back and hit her again. One minute, they were on the bed, the next, Sayer was pushing to stand and Tessa was being thrown through the air, right for the wall. The crunch as she made impact with the concrete left the room spinning for me. Her small body fell to the ground, not moving as she lay there. “Jesus,” I breathed out, drawing up my feet to try to sit. “Tessa? Tessa!” Vampire or not, I couldn’t take seeing violence against her.

Knocking registered on the door and Sayer panted heavily as he surged forward and threw it open. “Later,” he ground out.

“Prince, Julius says it’s urgent. He wants you immediately.”

Sayer turned and glanced at Tessa before he nodded. “Tell him I’ll be right there.”

The door shut and his hand came down to run over the wounds on his arm. “Fucking bitch. You’ve attacked me one too many goddamn times. Get up,” he said, storming over, “get the fuck up. You come from my blood. You are not weak!”

His hand shot down to grab her, but she was on him before either of us could comprehend her moving. Nails tore into his face and throat as her legs locked around his waist. A table caught the back of Sayer’s legs and he fell back with Tessa still latched to him. Her lip peeled back and I saw the fangs for only a split second before she buried them in the front of his throat. Blood sprayed and trailed down his neck while he let out a gargling sound that made my skin crawl. His hands flew to the sides of her head and her screams overpowered his while he managed to unlock her jaw.

“You…” he trailed off as he managed to stand and pull her up. The cuffs fell free from my arms and gravity disappeared as I collided with the wall not a few feet away. The comforter was somehow trapped around my legs and I fought with it as I scrambled to my feet. “You’ll stay locked down until I get back.” His stare came to me. “If you think about setting her free, I’ll tear you limb for limb while you suffer through the pain.”

Tessa’s body thrashed wildly as he pinned her down and got the cuffs buckled. It was like I suddenly didn’t exist as he went to the closet and changed his shirt. The ragged flesh on his neck had healed before he even got Tessa restrained. I couldn’t believe it.

Slowly, I eased to the side, reaching down and putting my rosary back on. It didn’t take me long to slide on my clothes. My fingers connected with the dagger and I held it tightly in my grip while he cleaned the blood off him and headed for the door.

“Oh, and Hunter,” he said, glancing over, throwing me a smile, “this isn’t over. We’re only beginning. Welcome to your new life.”

The door slammed behind him and I rushed to Tessa’s side. Tears and sobs were constant, even as she snapped her teeth in my direction. Blood trails flowed from both nostrils, covering her chin and neck. Tears burned my eyes while I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” I couldn’t get past the agony in my heart. Wetness trailed down my cheeks and I wiped it away angrily. “We’re going to figure out how to fix this. God, what the fuck was I thinking? You tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I was too greedy to have you as mine, I didn’t even let myself fathom this.” My head lowered. “This is hell. It has to be.”

Marko shaking the walls returned and Tessa looked around, sniffling, and closing her eyes.

“Si cela est l'enfer, alors je prendrai une décision. Je vais gouverner et détruire tous ceux qui se ma façon. Dead. Je les tuerai tous.”
If this is hell, then I will rule. I will rule and destroy all who gets in my path. Dead. I'll kill them all.

It took me a few seconds to piece the words together. I kept my head down, trying to make what just happened disappear from my mind. But I couldn’t.

“Go…to him.”

“Who?” Still, I stared down at the bed. I already knew who she was referring to and it made me even sicker.

“Help…me.”

My head shook in a steady rhythm while I clenched my teeth. “He can’t help us, Tessa. He’s behind bars. Locked away. And for good reason. He wants to kill me.”

“Go.”

The order was just that: a command. And it wasn’t put nicely. I stood, flexing my fists at my sides. “It’s pointless.”

“Go!”

Silence played out behind me and I grabbed my belt full of weapons, putting it on. The glance back only made me wish I hadn’t. More tears slid down her cheeks and they had me stalking toward the door. I hated leaving her alone, but what else could I do? Sit around and wait for Sayer to return? God, I hated this fucking place. I knew no one. No one but…Marie. I swallowed hard. No, she couldn’t help me.

Music poured from the heart of the city and it was all but deserted on my end. The shops in the distance were filled with people coming and going and I rushed the length of the far side of the room, slipping into Marko’s tunnel. Faster, my heart raced, until I was sure it would explode. The moment I stepped into the large, open space full of cells, he eased from the floor. Neither of us said a word as I closed the majority of the distance between us.

“What’s happening? Something’s wrong, I can feel it. Is Tessa okay?”

I didn’t dare look into his eyes. Not just because of his powers, but because I was on the verge of breaking in front of the one person I had to be strong against.

“Sayer has to go,” I said lowly. “He…I don’t want him around Tessa anymore.”

“Hunter,” he growled. “What happened?” His hand shot out between the bars to grab me, but I jumped back just in time. “Show me,” he went on. “Let me see.”

“He hurt her,” I managed. “He…beat the fucking living shit out of her right in front of me and I couldn’t do anything about it. What he wants for the three of us...” My head just kept shaking. “I can’t do it. She can’t. She asked me to come to you.”

I glanced up for only the briefest moment, seeing the pain on his face.

“Tell me. What does he want?”

How in the hell was I supposed to divulge that? “He…wants all of us to be together. Like…”

“Sexually?” Marko rushed in.

“Yes. He trapped me with his eyes.” I paused. “Cuffed me and tried to get Tessa to... Anyway, I couldn’t and he got mad. Then, he and Tessa got into it. I can’t see him do that to her again. Fuck, I want to kill him. I’m
going
to.”

Marko’s arms shot out to try to grab me again, but he went back to gripping the bars after a few seconds. “He’ll kill you. Let me see, Hunter. I
have
to see. You know I love her. Let me see what happened.”

“No way. I’m tired of people fucking with my head. I can’t take this! I hate this place. I…” My jaw clenched shut and I took a deep breath.

“I just want to see,” he said calmly. “I want him dead, too, and I don’t need an excuse to kill him, but I have to see what he’s done.”

The deep tone of his voice made the end of the words almost impossible to make out. Deep, heavy breaths left his mouth and I braved bringing my eyes up enough to see his fangs were exposed.

“Hunter, please.”

Cautiously, I stepped forward, meeting his stare. Darkness sucked me in and it felt like I was falling down a deep, dark tunnel. My fingers twitched and I could think, but I couldn’t break away from the darkness. Seconds went by while Marko’s exhales became louder, turning into what sounded like snarling. Fear vibrated my insides, humming down the length of my arms and legs until my body trembled at the power he was expelling.

Yelling filled the space, followed by unhuman growls. Even though Marko didn’t hold me captive with his abilities, I couldn’t turn away. I stayed trapped in utter terror at the veins bulging from his neck in his rage. His hands clutched tightly to the bars, jerking at them every few seconds. And then, like I was introduced to a new scene, he grew still.

“He’s dead,” he said calmly. A little too calmly. “Protect her as best as you can. But rest assure, Sayer will not make it out of this alive. Death will be paying him a visit when the time is right. Tell Tessa not to fear. They can’t keep me in here forever.”

I shifted, remembering the conversations between Sayer and Julius. “They’ll try,” I said lowly. “They fear you.”

Marko’s eyebrows drew in and I quickly looked back down to his lips.

“Go on,” he urged.

My mind battled over whether I should say anymore. Marko wasn’t my friend. He was the enemy just as much as Sayer was. They both wanted Tessa for their own selfish reasons. But who was the bigger threat? Right now, it wasn’t Marko.

“I have to get back to Tessa before Sayer returns.”

“Hunter, wait.” Marko’s hands moved down the bars as he tried to stay even with me. “Why do they fear me? Explain.”

I stopped, grabbing my flashlight. Slowly, I looked up, only glancing into his eyes for a moment. “You’re ready to rule and they know it.”

Chapter 7

Marko

Reality blurred in and out, casting me into episodes of complete blackouts. My vampire was taking over and it was all due to what I’d seen in Hunter’s eyes. The once bonded male I used to be was losing it. After seeing the woman I loved hit repeatedly in the face and thrown across the room so brutally, I was ready to cut my limbs off and place them through the bars just to see if I could put myself back together again on the other side. I was gone. Going insane from the rage and separation, and there was nothing I could do about it. I’d exhausted every option. I couldn’t break free from this cell. It was physically impossible. So what did I do?

I didn’t know.

From what I gathered, days had gone by. Maybe two. Maybe more. I wasn’t sure. Only one meal had arrived from multiple leaders, but not Julius. And the members were too careful, too strong together, when placing the supplier in my cell. I was losing precious time. With every minute that passed, I feared something worse was happening, yet there was nothing I could do to stop it. Sayer was going to pay. I’d kill him if it was the last thing I did. But I couldn’t yet. Not obviously, anyway. I may have been past the point of being rational, but I wasn’t stupid. He was a member of Axis. They’d have me sentenced in a heartbeat if I murdered one of their own. I had to play this smart. I had to come up with a plan.

Footsteps in the distance had me coming to the bars. Was it meal time again already? The hours were getting away from me. I could barely tell if the sun was up or down, which was odd since my vampire lived on instinct in this state of mind.

Closer, they came, until Sayer appeared in the entrance. My fangs shot down and I couldn’t stop the threatening sound from escaping my lips. In a leisurely pace, he strolled forward, locking his hands together in front of him. That stupid smile I’d come to hate was plastered on his face and it had me squeezing against the bars even tighter.

“I saw you had a visitor a few hours ago.”

Hours? Surely, it had been longer than that?

At my silence, he continued.

“What did he tell you, Marko? What did he hope you’d do, locked away as you are?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sayer’s mouth twisted, but he remained still. “I know Hunter came to you. I saw it in Tessa’s eyes. She told him to come and then he left.”

“He didn’t come here. Do you seriously think I’d have anything to do with him? Besides, he knows better. Do you forget I’m going to kill him for what he’s done? For who she chose?”

A laugh filled the space. “You say that now. Good luck getting near him. He’s guarded well.”

I knew about the rosary and dagger, it was his shield against us, and it would work as long as he kept his eyes safe from ours. But that didn’t mean he could withstand a beating or the powers we held. We just wouldn’t be able to touch him physically. Not without risking injury.

“The fact that he’s guarded well doesn’t worry me, Sayer. What do you want? Why are you concerned that he told me something? What would he have to say? Something about you?”

“So many questions. Ones I’ll answer just after you prove to me that he didn’t come here.”

It was my turn to laugh. “You fucking wish.” I turned my back, walking deeper into the cell to collapse down and sit against the wall. I didn’t want him to know what I saw. I didn’t want him to suspect me as a threat at all. “If you’re not going to set me free, leave. I have more important things to do than have a conversation with you.”

“Like what? Continue to scheme over how you’re going to get Tessa back so you can take over? It’s not going to happen, Marko. Tessalyn belongs to me now, as does her pet, and I’m not going to let you kill him. It’s time for you to move on.”

Her pet. Yes, Sayer would see the human that way. So beneath us, just as I used to view the situation—how I still did concerning everyone but him. Hunter was different, I just wasn’t exactly sure why. I hated him. Hated him with a passion. But his arrival to help Tessa had twisted something within me. Maybe it was his love for her. Even though I despised it, I knew he’d try to take care of her—especially when I couldn’t.

“Nothing is set in stone yet, Sayer. Just because you changed her and Julius is going along with your bonding, doesn’t mean it’ll happen. She has to agree, and I don’t see that happening any time soon. She’s a newborn. All she wants right now is food. Not a future.”

“Tessalyn will agree. She’ll have to.”

My chest jumped at my sarcastic laugh. “Why, because you’re going to threaten to use something against her? Sounds right up any of our paths. What will it be, her human? She might still say no.”

“Perhaps,” he said, shrugging. “But once I complete our bond, I don’t see her disagreeing with much of anything I say. Together, our blood will thrive under the marks. She’ll be like putty in my hands. Besides, she and I had a deal. She wanted the change and agreed she’d become my concubine if I did it. There’s no going back on her word. I won’t let her.”

My jaw locked as I held in what I wanted to say. His gloating about bonding her was enough to make my insides boil. The fact that she had become one of us on those terms was a verbal contract she couldn’t break. Not in our world.

“No come back? No threats? What’s wrong, Marko, is your blood thinning within her? Are you losing the love you two once shared? She’s speaking better English, so I’m guessing that’s the case. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her. I’ll love her so good, she won’t be able to get enough.” He walked forward. “How does it feel to know you once had it all and now…nothing? I bet it hurts like hell.”

I flew from the floor, crashing into the bars with every ounce of strength I possessed. My claws were inches short of reaching him and he only laughed harder.

“Do you want to know my plans for your beloved Tessalyn?” He glanced down at my outstretched fingers, taking a step closer, teasing me. “I’m going to make her my own personal whore. She’ll fuck me or whomever I want on command while I watch. And she’s going to love it. Especially at this stage where she runs from instinct.” He licked his lips, reaching up and trailing the tip of his finger over one of my claws. “I think I may just go do that now. I haven’t been with a woman in a while. Perhaps I’ll fuck her while I make her human watch. Hunter will love that. Maybe I’ll even make her suck his cock while I drill her tight, little ass. I can come back and let you enjoy the show after I’m done. If you’d like, of course. I know you must be bored in here all by yourself.”

Had I thought I’d been mad before? My power was blistering my insides as I held his stare. For the first time, I wasn’t worried about him pushing into my mind. I had confidence that he couldn’t. Hunter hinted I was ready. I believed him.

“Un jour, je vais vous déchirer. Je baigne dans le sang pendant que je vous fais souffrir. Le temps est court. Votre mort sera la mien.”
Someday, I'm going to rip you apart. I'll bathe in your blood while I make you suffer. The clock is ticking. Your death will be mine.

“God, you make me sick,” Sayer spat out. “Such a coward not to say what you want to my face.”

I let my smile stretch across my mouth. “Coward…no. You shall see.”

The pull of Sayer’s cheek caught my attention. He stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Was that a threat?”

“What reason do I have to threaten you? You’re right, I’m losing Tessa and my bond. It hurts, but I’m okay with that. I may not like you using her as part of your sick game to get back at me, but it is what it is. I have bigger things to worry about right now. I’m starting to find the need for a new slave. One who’s more obedient than she
ever
was. I’m ready to hit the streets once Julius sets me free.”

“A new slave?” The disbelief was there, but I could also see something resembling relief. “I should have known it was only the bond making you love her. You’re incapable of feeling anything for anyone. Or, portraying loyalty,” he ground out.

“I’m only loyal to myself and my beliefs. As we all are,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Loyalty, trust, we both know those don’t exist toward others in our world. We prize ourselves above all others. To deny that would make you the biggest liar there is.”

Sayer grew quiet, glancing down at his feet. “You’re right to an extent, but my loyalty is to Axis. Tell me, when you come to lead this city, what will you do? How will you run it? Will extreme mayhem break out under your rule? Massive slaughters because the community will not accept you, or will you change laws and make them bow at your feet the moment you walk into the room?”

My eyes rolled and I went back to lightly gripping the bars. “I will be a great leader. I do not expect anyone to bow to my feet, but they
will
respect me.”

“Someday, we may see. Then again, maybe not. You still have a long way to go before either of us have to do worry about that. At the rate you’re going, your enemies are piling up.”

“My enemies? You mean you?”

He laughed. “Amongst others. Julius isn’t too happy with you. Or any of the members, really.”

“They
fear
me. As they should. But I will rule, Sayer. Don’t doubt that.”

His eyes scanned the surrounding as he let out a deep, slow breath. “I’m done talking about this. I have things to do. Tests to put my princess through. Try not to have too much fun in here by yourself.”

Sayer turned and I felt anxiety for Tessa kick in. My brain scrambled for a way to buy her more time.

“If you want to test her, why don’t you put her up against some real competition?”

His steps slowed and he turned to look back at me. “Who? You? I’m not stupid, Marko. You just want her in your clutches again.”

I laughed, letting my evil bleed through. “She owes me some satisfaction for what she’s done. I promise to take it easy on her. Besides, don’t you want to see how she reacts around me? Maybe it’ll help put your mind at ease. I’m ready to move on. Is she?”

“You’re a grain of salt in the back of her mind. She can’t even remember what happened hours before. Trust me, I’m not worried about her nonexistent feelings for you. You’re the one I don’t trust.”

“What’s there to lose? You’re more powerful than I am. If you don’t like the way things are going, you have an excuse to get what you want. I’m just curious about what my future leader is capable of.”

His head shook. “I thought
you
were the future leader.”

“I am. I’ll be ready before she will. Or do you know something I don’t?”

Sayer’s mouth broke into a grin. “She might beat you to the punch. We’ll see.”

My fingers gripped tighter. She’d beat me because they weren’t going to allow me to advance. It had my anger flaring more than it already was.

“So, are you bringing her here or not?”

“Not,” Sayer said, continuing to the exit.

“And you said I was the coward. I bet her powers aren’t even that strong.”

Sayer’s body jolted to a stop. Black eyes met mine as he spun around.

“You dare call me a coward? Me, the Black Prince? I could kill with just a whisper of your name. I’m not afraid of you Marko, and I assure you, in a few months, Tessalyn won’t be either. I doubt she’d be right now. Maybe I will bring her here so she can try to kill you. After all, Axis wouldn’t blame her with her status as a newborn.”

“Seems like a logical enough plan to me. But I’m sorry to say, your little shadow doesn’t stand a chance. Probably never will. You have such high hopes for her, but I’m going to watch her fail. And I’m going to laugh right to the throne.”

Red tinted his cheeks before he spun, stomping and disappearing into the tunnel. I laughed, shaking my head as I turned and moved back to the wall. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to bring her, but it felt good to put him in his place. Other than our assumptions, there was no proof Tessa would be stronger than me. The greed in me prayed I was right. Then I could rule and have her, too.