Vampish: Blood Bonds, page 3
“GG?” I asked.
“Azara’s maternal grandfather, Garrix, is the High Warlock of the Coven Council and arguably one of the most powerful men alive.”
Ransom nodded as if he recognized the name. Damn, I was way behind on Azarian history and politics. I needed to up my game ASAP.
“We need to make sure Ronin is unable to assemble the last few ingredients to complete the spell. We have no idea how many he’s acquired, but we know for sure he’s missing the final three—you, Azara, Red here, and the vampire with a soul.”
Talon’s eyes raked over Ransom. “That’s not you?”
“Nope. One hundred percent soulless here.”
His brows knitted together again. “So how do you fit in exactly?”
“I’m with her.” Ransom jerked his thumb at me.
“Interesting,” Talon mumbled, and heat swam up my neck. “I thought she was a sicari. Isn’t her job to kill vampires?”
“It is,” Ransom answered, a cocky grin lighting up his face. “She just couldn’t resist me.”
Azara chuckled, and I was a second away from punching him.
“That’s not exactly true,” I hissed.
“Anyway,” Talon interrupted, “Azara’s safety is always my utmost concern, so you don’t have to worry about this Ronin guy on our end. I appreciate the warning nonetheless.”
Azara’s hand closed over Talon’s leg, and it was such a sweet, intimate gesture, my chest tightened. “We both appreciate it.”
I began to rise, sensing the end to our visit, when I realized we had nowhere to go after this. We couldn’t return to Sky Lair or to Marlwoods. I wouldn’t put my new brother and his family at risk. So where would we go now?
“Wait,” said Azara. “I was thinking that Lucifer might be able to help.”
The prince of hell?
Ransom’s eyes sparkled. “It’s true. If anyone would know anything about the god of death it would be him. Hasn’t he been around for millennia?”
Talon rolled his eyes.
“Don’t let him hear you say that. Luci still thinks he’s in his prime,” Azara said with a laugh. She snapped her fingers, and a pen and paper appeared on the coffee table.
Whoa, pretty cool.
It was easy to forget the demon war lord was also a crazy powerful warlock. No wonder she’d survived the notorious Darkblood Prison.
As she scrawled out a message on the scrap of paper, she began to mutter the words of a vaguely familiar spell. I’d seen Vera use her fire messages more than a couple times. It was her preferred method of communication trumping simple, human text messages of course.
“There.” The note floated up into the air before catching fire and disappearing in a puff of smoke. “I’m sure Luci will get back to us shortly.”
“Luci.” Ransom chuckled under his breath.
“He only allows his precious Azara to call him that, so don’t get any ideas,” Talon warned.
Ransom grinned and pressed his lips into a tight line. “Wouldn’t think of it.”
Talon narrowed his eyes at my vamp buddy, then he wagged a finger at him. “Don’t I know you? From Moon Valley, right?”
Ransom tensed. “Yes,” he finally mumbled. “I was from the Royal pack.”
“I thought you looked familiar.”
“Yes, you too. I remember you and Hunter were friendly as children.”
Talon’s eyes glazed over, his expression going wistful. “That was a long time ago.”
What was a dragon doing playing with wolf pups? Something about the look on his face told me not to ask. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who’d been displaced as a child.
A spark lit up the air between us, and a note drifted onto the table. Azara picked it up and quickly scanned the paper. “Luci’s very interested, but he’s tied up right now in Rio.” She rolled her eyes. “He said he can be back here by morning, if that works?”
I shifted nervously beside Ransom. There had to be a motel or something in the Underworld, right? I did not like the image that conjured up, but what other choice did we have?
“If you could kindly point us to the nearest five-star establishment—” Ransom began.
“You’re welcome to stay here of course,” said Azara, cutting him off.
“Oh no, we couldn’t—”
“It would be our pleasure,” Ransom interrupted.
“Ransom!” I whisper-hissed.
“What? It’s not like we have anywhere else to be this evening.” His eyes grew wider. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand the obvious, I just didn’t like staying in the home of a stranger.
“Azara’s right,” said Talon. “Stay. I’d like to hear more about your story, Phoenix. I’m former SIA and that island you trained on sounds incredible. We need something like that for the SIA’s recruits.”
I scanned the beefy dragon up and down. Supernatural Intelligence Agency. Now, that totally made sense. “Sure,” I finally muttered.
“Perfect.” Ransom clapped his hands. “Now, what is there to do for fun around the sixth realm?”
Azara laughed. “I think I’m going to like you, Ransom.”
“That’s what all the girls say.” He shot her a wink, and she laughed again.
A scowl etched into her mate’s wide jaw as he glared at the annoyingly flirty vampire.
“No, but seriously, do you think you could conjure up some blood, Az? I’m starving.”
“I’ll have Lumi go fetch some.” She rose and wound her arm through Ransom’s. “Let’s let these two have their talk, and I’ll tell you all about the best clubs in the Underworld.”
Talon’s jaw twitched, and the faint grinding of his teeth reached my sensitive ears.
“Sorry, he’s harmless really,” I found myself blurting.
He lifted his gaze to mine, and the anger seemed to dissipate. “I know. I’m not worried really. Her demon’s got a wild side, and it’s been tough for Azara down here in the Underworld. She misses her family, her old life. It’s not exactly the most exciting realm.”
“I can imagine.”
“Anyway, tell me everything about the Isle of Mordis.”
Chapter
Four
Ransom
* * *
That Azara was a barrel of laughs. Who knew dark lords knew how to party? And ones with babies too… My mind whizzed back to the little girl who’d come running to greet her mommy upon our return. The void in my chest gaped, the emptiness threatening to swallow me whole.
Red. Where was my little sicari? She always seemed to fill the vast chasm. I followed my nose to her tantalizing scent, then paused at the door. Azara had given us adjacent bedrooms at Red’s request, but I had zero intentions of letting her sleep alone tonight. Leaving her in the dragon’s care was one thing, but not overnight while everyone was most vulnerable. Though the alabaster fortress was crawling with demon guards, I could never be too sure as to the extent of Ronin’s reach, or Thanatos’ for that matter.
Bringing Lucifer into this fight was a true piece of luck. Who better to battle the god of death than the devil himself?
Closing my fingers over the handle, I gingerly twisted. The room was dark, and I could barely make out Red’s form beneath the covers. Was it that late? How long had we gone out for? Even the baby was still up. Which meant only one thing… Red was avoiding me.
I crept inside and tiptoed all the way to the edge of the bed. Red was on the opposite side, her face turned to the wall. I watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, trying to determine if she was asleep or just pretending. My guess was the latter.
We still hadn’t discussed my little mishap at Sky Lair with the girl or what it meant for our relationship. I knew she was angry, but she had to have forgiven me by now, right?
I searched the bond for a hint of her state of mind, but all was quiet. Perhaps she truly had fallen asleep. Yesterday had been an emotional day for her. She legitimately could’ve been exhausted.
But somehow, I could feel her presence…
I tugged my shirt over my head and undid the zipper of my jeans, eyes intent on her the whole time. She didn’t move. I wasn’t even sure she was breathing. Totally faking. I pulled the covers back and crawled into bed beside her. Still nothing.
I was certain she would’ve shooed me off by now.
That’s it, it’s time to call in the big guns.
I rolled over to her side, threw my arm around her waist and pressed my body into her back. Still nothing. Hmm… It was time to play dirty. My fangs lengthened, and I dragged the pointy tips over the back of her neck. Goose bumps exploded across her flesh, and a faint gasp escaped.
“Mother fanger!” she shouted and whirled around.
I couldn’t help the dark chuckle that burst from my mouth as she glared at me.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Midnight snack?”
She narrowed her eyes, twin slitted emerald pools of anger. “Didn’t you have enough on your little night out with Azara?”
A swell of jealousy crashed through our connection, smacking me in the chest. “Seriously? You can’t honestly think something would ever happen between me and the dark lord of the Underworld? Who’s married to a huge dragon ex-SIA agent and has a child with him? How bad do you think I am?”
“I don’t know, Ransom,” she spat.
“Now I’m hurt, Red. After everything, you trust me so little?” I jerked up, sitting straight.
“Well, apparently my mom cheated on my dad with Tyrien, and they were fated mates. I guess it happens.”
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Everything. Nothing. I don’t know.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s the blood lust. That’s what I don’t trust.” Her lips screwed into a pout, and the blazing anger dissipated into disappointment.
Which was worse. Much worse.
“I’m trying,” I muttered lamely. It sounded weak to my own ears. It hadn’t even been forty-eight hours since I fed on that girl. My arm snaked out, reaching for Red’s face. I cupped her cheek, and I was shocked when she didn’t smack me away. Her eyes met mine, sadness lingering in the deep green depths. “I’m sorry. I want to be better for you. I just keep screwing up.”
“Then don’t. Be better.”
“If it were only that easy.” My thumb stroked her soft skin, and that lupine presence in my core awoke. Mate. Mate. Mate. The incessant chant began its unearthly torture. I’d promised Sierra I’d tell Red the truth, and I would eventually. But first, she was right, I needed to get a handle on the blood lust, the insane cravings. If I couldn’t prove I was trustworthy, nothing else mattered anyway. Red wouldn’t be mated to a bloodthirsty animal.
“Help me,” I murmured. “I can’t do it without you, Red. Without you, nothing matters.”
A rueful smile curled her lips, and I ran my thumb across her pouty bottom lip.
“You’re going to be my undoing, you know that?” she whispered against my finger.
“I sure as hell hope so.” I shot her a smirk and captured her lips. It had only been a few days since we’d been together, but it was already too much. My body craved hers, even more than it craved blood. I needed the connection, the spark of life I felt only when I was with her.
My tongue entangled with hers, my fingers digging into the hair at the back of her neck. I held her close, flush against my body. But it was never close enough. My flesh burned for hers, to become one with hers. My arousal pressed against my boxers, hellbent on breaking through the barrier between us.
Mate. Mate. Mate. That damned chant picked up in rhythm and intensity.
Red’s eyes snapped open, meeting mine.
“Did you hear that?” I murmured against her mouth.
“Yes,” she rasped out, and a hint of disappointment dribbled through our connection.
I pressed my lips into a tight line to keep from blurting the truth—that maybe just maybe we had a chance to complete the bond. I vowed to become the man Red deserved first, then I’d tell her. And I’d start by finally taming this bloodlust. It would be the only way she’d truly trust me. Then I’d kill Ronin and Thanatos. Hell, I’d burn down all of Nocturnis if it meant keeping her safe.
“I love you,” I whispered, the words tumbling out as a sort of consolation prize.
A faint sigh slid between her lips as her eyes drilled into my own. “I know you think you do.”
My brows slammed together, and a streak of pain lanced across my heart. “Excuse me?” My arms loosened around her waist.
“How can you tell? With the blood bond, the impending mate bond and the blood lust? How do you know how you really feel?”
As I scrutinized her expression and the tangle of emotions whirling between us, realization hit me. She wasn’t questioning my feelings for her but rather trying to figure out her own. Gods, she was as messed up as I was. I supposed finding out you were Tyrien’s daughter could do that to someone.
“I just know, Phoenix.” I forced a smile, despite my insides crumbling. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted her to love me, how much I needed it. If she believed in me, I could do anything, but without her love, none of it was possible.
Her lips brushed mine, tentatively. I felt stiff against her. I’d bared myself to her, but still she wasn’t ready to give into this thing between us. Would she ever be?
“Sometimes I wonder what it would be like without the bond,” she whispered, leaning her head back to meet my eyes.
I snorted on a laugh. “You never would’ve given me the time of day, little sicari.” I swept a tumble of auburn hair behind her ear. “I guess it’s a good thing that fate had other plans for us.”
“Fate or the gods?” Her brow arched.
“I suppose we can ask Thanatos when he decides to show up.” She shuddered against me, and I immediately regretted the words. “I’ll never let him have you, Red. Whether you like it or not, you’re mine, and I won’t let anyone take you away from me. Not even the god of death himself.”
She smirked. “Even though I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, thank you.”
I pulled her tight against my chest. The fire from earlier had fizzled, but I still needed her close. It was funny because the truth was, Red would be my undoing.
Chapter
Five
Phoenix
* * *
I gaped at the figure coalescing from the shadows. Power emanated from his impressive form, dark and ancient and all-consuming. The heavy fog cleared, and the prince of hell stood before us in all his glory. I sucked in a breath. I never in a million years thought I’d come face to face with Lucifer. Or that he’d be so devastatingly gorgeous.
In a three-piece midnight-black suit complete with a matching pocket square, the original fallen angel peered at me from across the room. His face was perfection, the chiseled cheekbones, strong jaw, cleft chin and skin like porcelain.
I swallowed hard and dropped my gaze. His beauty was overwhelming.
“Azara, my dear.” He closed the distance between himself and his granddaughter. “I see the Underworld is thriving under your rule. Well done, as always.”
“Nice of you to show up, Lucifer,” Talon grumbled. “I hope St. Barth’s won’t be too dull without you.”
“Ugh, the surly dragon, and I was in Rio this time.” He wiggled his fingers in his direction. “I still think you could’ve done much better, Azara.”
“Luci!” she hissed.
The devil rolled his eyes. “Now, where is my little great granddaughter?”
“Sleeping,” Talon barked. “And no, you can’t wake her.”
“Besides, I asked you here about the god of death, remember?” Azara eyed her grandfather with a look similar to the one she’d given her naughty toddler.
“Ah, yes.” Lucifer turned his dark gaze on me, and Ransom inched closer. “You must be the wolf with the mortal bite?”
All the words stuck at the back of my throat. Good gods, say something, Nix! My mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.
“She is,” Ransom answered coolly.
“And you are?” He eyed my vampire bloodbuddy.
“Ransom De La Sangue.” He dipped into a dramatic bow.
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed as he regarded him, and a chill skirted up my spine. “Hmm, very interesting.”
“What’s interesting?” I blurted, suddenly finding my tongue.
“You’ll find out eventually.” He smirked.
“Lucifer loves to speak in vague platitudes and riddles,” Talon muttered.
“Sit, Luci.” Azara pulled a chair out and motioned for us all to sit. “We were hoping you could give us some information on Thanatos. Could a warlock really give the god corporeal form? And does he have the power to break the shadow curse?”
Lucifer’s dark brow arched. “It’s been centuries since gods have walked the earth. No one has been stupid enough to attempt to bring one back.” He crossed his legs and shrugged. “I suppose it’s possible.”
“Do you know Thanatos?” I asked.
“I’ve encountered the Reaper in the past. It’s been more than a few centuries at least. He used to roam the hallowed ground of the Underworld, but that was long ago.”
“Well, we need to know how to kill him,” Ransom interjected.
Lucifer grinned, wagging a finger at my vampire shadow. “I like you. You don’t mince words. You cannot kill the god of death; he is a god. However, if he manages to return to earth, he can be banished back to oblivion where he belongs.”
“Okay, so how do we do that?” I asked.
“I can’t just give you all the answers…”
“Luci!” Azara stood and loomed over her grandfather. “It’s not just Phoenix he wants. He needs my blood to break the spell too.”
“My dear Azara, sometimes things need to play out as fate dictates.”
Talon hissed out a curse and slammed his fist into the table. I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Are you seriously telling us you won’t help?” he growled.
Lucifer didn’t even flinch. He steepled his hands, fingers drumming against each other. He leveled a glare at Talon, and my skin crawled. “Control your mate, Azara, or I will.”
