Mafia Beasts: The Complete Series, page 45
Our magic lit up the intricate webbing of energy that created a dome over the mansion, cascaded downward, and disappeared into the ground. Concentrating, we filled in the weak spots and those that were wearing thin. My magic raced along the strands, fortifying each one and merging with my fellow witches’ energy until our task was complete.
I caught a sense of Claire’s magic and the familiarity of it hummed through mine. Our energy twisted and locked together through the web, creating unbreakable bonds in the ward.
When it was done, the ward glowed a bright blue and appeared almost solid. Gradually, it faded to become invisible to the naked eye, but the protective barrier was there. I could feel it pulsing all around us.
It would take an army to break through our defenses now. One day, that army might arrive, but that was a worry for the future. For now, we were trying to buy ourselves time.
Summer solstice seemed too many months away. Anything could happen in the meantime.
7
EMMA
Sweaty, sore, and tired, I closed my eyes and concentrated again on shifting to my evasive half-form. My inner wolf poked her head up, but she wanted to come all the way out. There was no in-between. I was either fully in human form or wolf form.
“Maybe it was a childhood fluke,” I said, giving up and opening my eyes. Lucas and Cade gazed back at me from the workout bench. They were dressed in gym shorts, a sheen of moisture on their skin from sparing, and damn, I’d never grow tired of this sight.
“I doubt that,” Lucas said, wiping a towel across the back of his neck. “Keep trying and you’ll find it. I promise. In the meantime, we won’t have you be so defenseless without your wand. You’re going to learn how to take down both me and Cade, in human form. Are you ready?”
They both stood, and I gazed at one and then the other, feeling small without my wand in hand. Which proved their point, didn’t it? How was I supposed to defend myself against two large men without magic? One-on-one, I could hold my own, sort of. But two…
Steeling myself, I nodded. “Let’s do this.”
They wore matching expressions of determination as they approached me like a couple of predators about to pounce on their prey. I widened my stance, ready as I was ever going to get.
Cade lunged first. He reached out and made a grab for me. I sidestepped, then kicked his knees out, and used his own momentum to drop him to the floor. Luckily, I still had my wolf shifter strength. My moment of glee was cut short when the huge Fae gracefully rolled, and in a second, was back on his feet. How such a big guy could move so—
I ducked as Lucas charged forward. He bounced away, circling, until Cade was at my front and Lucas was behind me. They had me caged. I angled my body to keep both of them in sight as I stepped, slowly spinning around in time with them. I kept my fists up, shoulders relaxed, yet ready to strike, duck, or skip away as needed.
Lucas kicked out, and I jumped back to avoid the blow—straight into Cade’s waiting arms. Fuckers. The Fae wrapped me up tight in his death grip. My back to his chest, I squirmed. Remembering what he’d taught me before, I stomped on his foot with my heel. He grunted but didn’t loosen his hold.
“Caught you,” Lucas said, approaching us with a feral grin on his lips. “How are you going to get out of this?”
“I thought that’s what you were supposed to be teaching me right now?” I glared at him for his obvious enjoyment over my captivity.
Lucas took my chin between his forefinger and thumb. “What would you do to escape? Let your instincts tell you.”
My gut feeling was to rely on my wolf strength, lower my center of gravity, and toss the Fae over my back. But then Lucas kissed me. Cade’s body tensed against mine, his ragged exhale tickling my neck. Desire ran through my link to Lucas, and he responded by crushing his front to mine until I was sandwiched between the two of them.
When Lucas finally let me up for air, my lips felt swollen, and my breath came in shallow pants.
“This isn’t fair,” I said.
“Who said we’d play fair?” Lucas lifted a brow. “Besides, there’s something so deliciously primal about stalking a beautiful she-wolf, pouncing, then having her at my mercy.” His gaze focused past me to Cade. “You okay holding her still?”
Cade grunted. His erection dug into my lower back, and his muscles were tense, but he kept a firm hold on me. I would have thought the intense and sexual turn this had taken would have scared him off by now. Instead, he seemed perfectly fine with whatever Lucas had in mind, which I figured out when he dropped to his knees and pulled down my shorts and panties in one fluid motion.
He lifted one of my legs over his shoulder as his mouth found my clit. In typical Lucas style, he dove in and devoured my pussy with his tongue and teeth. The shiver of pleasure that raced through me was so intense that I shuddered in Cade’s arms. A long, low moan escaped from my throat.
I tilted my head back to rest on Cade’s chest and twisted my head to the side. My gaze locked with his heated, thunderous grey eyes. “Cade.” His name slipped from my lips on a sigh.
He leaned down and captured my mouth. The kiss was slow but scorching. I teased my tongue across the seam of his mouth, seeking permission to enter. He allowed me access, and we tasted each other. Cade’s fingers flexed around my wrists. He rocked into me, grinding slowly, which pushed my pussy further against Lucas’s mouth. I groaned.
My wolf mate chose that moment to pump two thick fingers into me. I shivered and moaned into Cade’s mouth. Lucas worked me faster and harder. My skin felt too hot, too tight, that ache coiling low in my belly. I came with a scream that Cade drank in with his deep, open-mouthed kiss.
When he broke away, he cursed, “Fuck, Emma.” Those two words sounded almost reverent in my lust-hazed mind.
Since he was still holding me, I let him take most of my weight and sagged against him when Lucas released my legs. My big, bad wolf rose to his feet. His glowing golden eyes showed his hunger. I swallowed hard, unsure of what he was going to do next, and that thrilled me.
“I’ve got her,” Lucas said to Cade, taking me into his arms. He steadied me, then stripped off my sports bra, leaving me completely naked. My breath hitched as he took one nipple between his teeth. He toyed with it until it peaked, then did the same to the other. His teasing made my skin flush and my pussy clench with need.
Lucas lifted me up, my legs automatically wrapping around his hips. He strode over to the bench and sat down, straddling it with me on his lap. “You want him to watch?” he asked me, jerking his head toward Cade.
The Fae hadn’t moved an inch. His gaze was locked on us, his features slightly pained. I licked my lips. He could feel my emotions. There was no overlooking the fact that him watching me was turning me on even more.
“Will you stay?” I asked him.
He hesitated before taking a seat on the weight bench near us. His gaze burned a path over my skin. A thrill of anticipation swept through me.
Lucas briefly stood, taking me with him, and kicked off his shorts. He sat back down, our sides angled toward Cade, then lined himself up. Hands on my hips, he guided me onto his cock. I sank down, taking him all the way in. I groaned and closed my eyes.
Lucas grabbed my jaw. Startled, I gazed back at him. In a rough voice, he said, “Watch Cade while you fuck me, baby.”
I turned my head toward Cade. Our eyes locked. He sat on the bench, arms at his sides and fists clenched, his erection straining against his gym shorts, which left little to the imagination. With half my focus on him, I rose on Lucas’s cock then plunged back down. The wolf let out a low growl. I did it again, this time undulating my hips. Cade’s eyes widened at the movement.
“Touch yourself,” I breathed. “I want to watch you.”
I shivered, remembering that Zane had once given me that order. It felt like a million years ago now, that time I’d pleasured myself in the bosses’ office while they all watched. That was the day I’d learned that I liked having their eyes on me. Now, it seemed only fitting that I’d command the same from one of them.
Cade glanced down at the floor. That pink hue colored his pale neck and bloomed in his cheeks. It softened the rigid planes of his scarred face, making him seem almost… vulnerable.
“Please,” I added.
That caught his attention. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he freed his erection and took it in hand. I rode Lucas at a leisurely pace and Cade matched it. Gradually, his eyes came up to meet mine again. His lips parted and some of his harsh mask fell away as he masturbated to me riding Lucas and us watching each other.
With that small glimpse, he allowed me to see inside. I found a sensual, curious Fae. His gaze openly took in my body. His cheeks flushed and his eyes softened with pleasure. He tilted his head back, watching me through his thick lashes, and I wanted to lick up the long, strong column of his neck. My inner wolf grumbled at being so far away from her third fated mate.
Lucas stole back some of my attention by circling my clit with his thumb. I trembled, my rhythm faltering, and Cade whispered a curse.
Having had enough of my lazy fucking, Lucas took charge. He rose and slammed into me with quick, sure thrusts. He bent down to place small bites over my breasts and up my neck. I held on as he ravaged me, never taking my eyes from Cade.
Cade found the new tempo. His swift strokes on his massive dick had my mouth watering. I wanted so badly to taste him.
My orgasm, which had been building steadily, suddenly broke over me like a wave and I cried out. Cade came in his palm, his features twisted, lips parted. Lucas followed us both over the edge a couple of heartbeats later, and I collapsed against him, boneless and breathless.
Our heavy breathing filled the silence in the gym. That had just happened. Wow.
When I’d settled back into my body, I noticed Lucas’s fingers stroking lazy circles on my back. I gazed across at Cade. His scowl was back in place, but I saw something new in his eyes—wonder. I so wished I could sense his emotions. I’d have given anything in that moment to know what, exactly, he was feeling.
“Oh my God, we wear the same shoe size!” Analyssa picked up a pair of red-soled heels from my wardrobe and slid them onto her feet. “Perfection. What do you think?”
I didn’t know if I wanted to smile or groan at this young vampire. Since she’d been plucked out of high school and placed under house arrest—her phrase, not mine—she’d been my shadow. This morning we were having breakfast together in my bedroom. My empty plate sat on the desk near the window. Analyssa still sipped at her blood-infused smoothie.
“I think it’s about time for you to get to studying.” I slid my feet into a pair of comfortable, fur-lined boots. “You still have to pass your junior year. There’s what, three months left before summer break?”
Analyssa sighed. “Two and a half.” She put the heels away, tucking them in with the other pairs, and gave them a couple of pats. “I can’t wait to grow up. Look at all these amazing shoes. Did you know people look at you weird if you show up to high school wearing thousand-dollar heels?”
“Yeah, I could see that.” I shrugged a sweater over my head.
“The principal accused me of stealing them!” She took a swallow of her breakfast. “Can you believe that?” Analyssa didn’t wait for my answer. “I went home and had to put them in the back of my closet, so I wouldn’t be tempted every single day. I only wear them on the weekends.”
I eyed her. “So, where did you get the shoes?”
“They were a birthday present from Mrs. Holt. She said sixteen was old enough to start embracing my family’s social status.”
“I thought your uncle was the butler?” I frowned, confused. “No offense.”
“None taken.” She took her cup and stretched out on her stomach on my bed. “He is. Mrs. Holt meant my mom and dad—their social status. Well… Mom’s dead, so I guess she was talking mostly about my dad. He’s an asshole, but he’s rich and all that. Someday, I’ll inherit the Thorne family estate.” She made a sour face.
“You said before that your dad tried to sell you?” I slid my wand into the long side pocket hidden in my jeans, then faced Analyssa.
“Sure did. Asshole. That’s when Uncle Jace stepped in and brought me to live here.”
The fact that bringing his niece to live among a crime syndicate was safer than leaving her with her father was a terrifying thought.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I said, imagining the horror of her youth. She was young now, but she’d been even younger then.
“It’s fine. I mean, it’s not cool at all, but I lived.” She took a sip.
“When did your mom pass away?” I sat on the edge of the bed. The more I knew about her, and the closer in I could bring her, the easier it would be to keep an eye on her.
“She died giving birth to me. It happens sometimes with vampire babies. We can be too strong for our moms.”
Oh, God, I was sorry for bringing up that topic. While Analyssa didn’t sound guilt ridden about it, she didn’t seem particularly traumatized by anything that had happened to her, and that worried me that she was hiding a lot of pain deep down inside.
“I’m so sorry, hon. That must have been hard growing up without a mom, especially with such a horrible father.”
Her shoulders pulled up to her ears. “Honestly, the hardest part was when he turned on me and tried to sell me off as a child bride. I just…” she licked her lips. “Before that, I thought he loved me. You know?”
Family betrayal was seriously the worst. “Yes, I know exactly how it feels when a family member crushes your heart.”
A knock sounded on my door. “You in there?” Claire’s voice came through the thick wood.
“Yep! Come in.”
She let herself in and her gaze found Analyssa lounging on my bed. “You should be doing your homework.”
“Geez. Give a girl a break. What is it with everyone around here?” Griping the entire time, the teenage vampire scrambled off the mattress. “Why can’t I hang out with you girls and learn to be a badass?”
Claire laughed. “That’s what you think we’re doing today? Sorry to spoil it for you, but we’re headed to the library to research genetic mutations in supernaturals to try to find any hint at early signs of hybrids.”
Analyssa wrinkled her nose.
“And,” Claire continued. “That’s why you need an education, so you can read and understand all the things.”
“Besides,” I said. “Hopefully getting a good education will get you away from here.” I waved a hand vaguely around me. “You don’t really want to lead this lifestyle, do you?”
Analyssa folded her arms and sulked. “What do you think the Thorne family legacy is?” She made her way out the door before I could form a response.
I turned my shocked gaze on Claire. “Does she mean what I think? Do you know anything about the Thorne family vampires?”
“Sure do. They’re a crime family, small time, but they have a reputation for being vicious. Human trafficking is one of their specialties. Penumbra Syndicate won’t even touch that kind of slime.”
Well, that was a relief. I knew the syndicate had their hands in guns, drugs, and prostitution, as well as more legal businesses in the entertainment industry. I was glad to hear that trafficking wasn’t part of their empire. Poor Analyssa though. What kind of childhood had she experienced before coming to live with Jace? Her own father had tried to sell her into his human trafficking ring.
“Let’s get to this,” I said. “It’s going to be a long day. The library is huge, but I’m not sure we’ll find much. They had only a couple of books on dark witches when I went searching for that information.”
Claire spread her arms wide. “You have an entire living, breathing, walking encyclopedia of dark witches right here. Ask away. Oh, and we need to catch you up on your Latin too.”
Correction, it was going to be a long, long day. Hopefully at the end, we’d be smarter, if not wiser.
8
LUCAS
Fuck, summer solstice seemed like a lifetime away. It was the beginning of March. We hadn’t even hit the spring equinox yet, and there were about twelve weeks between the equinox and solstice. Forever. I paced the office and did my best to ignore Zane’s and Cade’s eyes boring into my skin.
“We could take them out now,” I mumbled. Of course we’d need to find Vexx and his cronies first.
In my periphery, I saw Zane shake his head. “No, we can’t. We need to wait until all the head families are gathered in one place. Solstice is our chance. We’re not going to screw it up by plucking them off one at a fucking time.”
“But you know they’re spending this time gathering forces just like we did to defeat Eclipse.” I shoved my hand through my hair. “The longer we wait to strike, the stronger and more prepared they’re going to be. Where are we going to get the people to fight an army of dark witches?”
“Something will turn up.” Zane sighed. Mr. Planner didn’t have a goddamn plan this time around. “Claire is teaching our handful of witches more spells, and the rest of us all about our enemy. We’ll have to come up with a strategy to best use our few magic workers to defend the shifters and vampires as we go into attack. We have time to figure it all out.”
“Too bad we don’t have any witch or Fae allies.” I stopped my pacing to glare at Cade. “It would also be helpful if we could break this fucking curse.”
Zane leveled his stare on the Fae as well. We’d talked about it and our patience was wearing thin.
Cade scowled back at us. “I’ll talk to her.”
“When?” Zane asked.
“Soon. Today.”
My shoulders relaxed a bit with relief. After our time together with Emma in the gym, I’d been pushing Cade to get over his issues and take what he had with Emma to the next level. He knew now that she wanted him. He also knew that she was definitely, without a doubt, the one to break this motherfucking curse over us all. It was time.
