Dangerous Sacrifice (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 6) Page 10

  She got his point.

  “I’ll take that as a no.”

  “You’d be right,” Flynn said, standing from the floor. When he slapped Jolie on the ass, she gave him the look.

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really.”

  Upstairs, they found Vanth tucking their mate into bed. Jolie crossed to him, and left a kiss across his tattoo.

  “I love you, Jacques. We’ll fix this.”

  She only hoped they would.

  “We will,” Flynn offered. “He’ll adjust once he figures out how to control it.”

  Yeah, once he realized how hard that was going to be, he wasn’t going to be happy.

  As Flynn pulled off his clothes, he realized the human part, he’d once been, had reared up. There was an easier way to do this. So, he snapped. He was changed.

  In fact, so was she.

  Jolie stared down at her body. She was draped in some gauzy dress that accentuated her curves.

  Flynn grinned, checking out his mate.

  She looked lush.

  Ripe.

  Fertile.

  He couldn’t help but think about sex.

  “Don’t be mad. You had blood on you. Mine is caustic. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  She laughed. “This was your choice?”

  “Can you blame me?” he asked, moving toward her. When he dropped to his knees, leaving kisses across her belly and their little ones, Jolie began thinking about sex too.

  It was when his hands slid up her legs, across her thighs, and to her ass, that he had her attention.

  “We need to talk,” she reminded him.

  “Then I’m going to enjoy my mate. I’d like to pretend I can control myself, but I’m wild from Jacques attacking me. I need to take out my frustrations on someone.”

  That got her hot and bothered.

  He sent pictures to her mind, and she flushed.

  “Yeah, like that.”

  Almost as if he could turn his libido on and off—Flynn changed the discussion. He no longer was focused on sex but instead, he led her to the stairs and then back down to the family room.

  Once there, he lit a fire.

  When he turned, Jolie was lounging on the couch, the gauzy material draping around her as she rubbed the little ones growing in her body.

  It was hard to concentrate.

  Still, Flynn had no choice.

  “About the council…”

  “I know you can keep us safe.”

  “I think we should leave before tomorrow night,” he admitted. “I don’t know if I can keep you safe. What if what Jacques said was right? I didn’t know you were in danger at the store.”

  She patted the couch beside her, and Flynn sat. Immediately, she dropped her legs over his lap in anticipation of what was to come.

  He began rubbing her feet, and she moaned. “That’s amazing.”

  Flynn laughed. “Here I was thinking about sex.”

  “To a pregnant woman, a foot rub is like sex. It might be better than sex.”

  He laughed. “You’re changing the subject.”

  “Yes, I did, didn’t I? We can’t run forever, Flynn, and if we do bail, what if there’s Tueur there? They’ll alert whoever is after me.”

  He knew she was right.

  “I don’t have to like it.”

  “No, you don’t but you have to obey. I am your mistress. I say we’re not going, and we’re staying,” she teased, knowing that he wasn’t going to buy that at all. “We’ll go to the council meeting.”

  “For discussion sake, I’m going to assume that this council will be just like the other councils. We go, we ask for sanctuary, we are told we are here illegally, and then we have to face any challengers. Then we fight to the death, and we come home.”

  Jolie ran her fingers up his bare arm, and it rippled beneath her touch. “Pretty much. It’ll be the same as always, except we have the Tueur after us, I’m pregnant, and we don’t have a full family to support us.”

  “I can…”

  She stopped him. “No, you can’t. If we go in there, you can play vamp, but under no circumstance are you to play sexy demon of Death.”

  He grinned. “Afraid the ladies will follow me home?”

  Yes, she was. Then she’d have to kill them, but why inflate his already healthy demon ego?

  Jolie went with logic instead, “You’re our ace in the hole. The Tueur knows about Vanth, thus the spell at Mulduk’s. They don’t know about you. As far as anyone is concerned, you’re simply my sexy human mate.”

  He snorted. “It’s not like it’s a fairytale. I’m mostly that, right?”

  “Well, you are my arm candy.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Pretty much. You need to worship me.”

  Oh, he already did, but Flynn wanted to remind her of something she seemed to be forgetting.

  Snapping his fingers, her clothes disappeared. Around her neck was the submissive collar that Mathew had given to him. Flynn grinned. “It looks better on you.”

  Jolie gasped. “Flynn!”

  The double French doors closed behind them, the lights went out, and all the candles began flickering.

  “I was only kidding. You’re not my arm candy.”

  Flynn ran his hand up her leg, across her thigh, and to the vee between her legs. As he stroked, teased, and tormented, his fingers came away wet.

  “I think someone’s turned on.”

  How could she not be?

  “You’re over dressed,” she admitted.

  He could fix that.

  Snapping his fingers again, the outfit he wanted appeared on his body. He was in leather pants, and his chest was bare. “Better?”

  She nodded.

  “How about you answer me the proper way?” he asked.

  Jolie’s eyes flickered up to his. “Yes, Master.”

  It was music to his ears.

  There was nothing better than Jolie ready to play some sexy game for two.

  “Why don’t you show me how a good girl behaves?”

  Jolie didn’t hesitate. She moved to her knees, her long black hair caressing her body as it covered her breasts.

  Flynn watched every movement she made—from where she untied his leather pants, to when she stroked him before setting him free.

  He was hard.

  Ready.

  And filled with lust.

  “Jolie, don’t tease.”

  She smiled up at him right before taking him in her mouth. The wet sound of him sliding between her lips filled the room, and Flynn rested his head on the back of the couch. As she worked him hard, he was in her mind.

  It was the most beautiful thing to be connected to his mate like this as they shared the pleasure.

  As he got close, Flynn pulled Jolie up his body by the collar. As she straddled his hips, he stared at her with nothing but love.

  “You’re the best thing in my life next to Jacques and our children.”

  Her heart skipped.

  “I love you, mate. Let the demon free for me.”

  Flynn’s eyes bled black and his fangs slipped from behind his lips. They were long, wicked, and she wanted them in her flesh more than anything.

  As she slid him into her body, Flynn growled low in his chest. It was like a mating call to them. It pulled the darkness from her, and she allowed it take over. Jolie stared down at him with unblinking black eyes. As she rode him, she could feel him throbbing deeply in her body.

  It was Heaven.

  This was her perfect moment.

  “Always,” he muttered, watching his naked mate bounce on his lap.

  “Drink from me,” she pleaded, knowing she needed to feel his mouth working over the soft part of her throat.

  He held her still on his lap and licked his way to her pulse. It throbbed beneath his tongue, and he couldn’t wait to taste her.

  “Please,” she begged.

  Flynn gave her what she wanted.

  As his fangs sl
owly slid into her flesh, Jolie couldn’t contain herself. The pleasure was simply too much.

  She shattered apart with just his drinking.

  ‘We will have so much pleasure together, especially after your tattoo activates,’ he whispered. ‘You’re fertility and sex. It calls to me.’

  She couldn’t wait.

  When he finished drinking, he could feel the tendrils of death begging to be set free.

  “Release them. We’ll feed them as we make love,” he offered.

  Jolie did as he asked.

  It coated their bodies in the inky, swirling blackness. It tickled their flesh as she began moving again.

  Flynn moaned as she held onto his shoulders and rode him hard. Jolie was determined to give him all she had.

  ‘Mine,’ she whispered.

  As he got closer to the edge, he opened his eyes. “Taste me, mate. Take me into your body and never let me go.”

  Jolie slammed her fangs into his throat and his blood flooded her mouth. It amazed her how good it felt, and it took them both from the edge and into the pleasure.

  As she continued sipping, she thought back to the murk that had been all over him and Jacques.

  “It’s because you’re my mate, so you can drink it. Anyone else who tries will die. We’re matched. The three of us are meant to be.”

  Her heart skipped as she feasted.

  When she couldn’t take in any more blood, she set him free.

  “So tired,” she muttered, leaning against his chest.

  Flynn held her.

  She felt so fragile in his arms, and the life growing in her was even more precious.

  “Go to death, my love. I’ll watch over you both tonight.”

  “Please rest with me,” she whispered, struggling to stay awake. Jolie wanted to make sure they were safe. “Put Vanth on duty. I want to see if you can go to death.”

  He would try for her.

  “Okay, baby.”

  She relaxed.

  Flynn snapped his fingers, and she was clothed again. So was he. As he carried her to bed, she nuzzled his neck so lovingly, that it brought tears to his eyes.

  “I love you, my sexy detective.”

  “I adore you, Jolie.”

  When he placed her in bed, she moved toward Jacques to give him some room. When she looked up at him, there was so much emotion in her eyes.

  “Find me in the dark,” she whispered.

  “If I can, I will.”

  She called for death, and she was gone. Immediately, Flynn called for the other demon.

  When she appeared, he needed to know. “Can you keep us safe?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you reach me if I go to death?” he asked.

  She hesitated. “You can’t go to death like they do,” she offered. “You can try, but our mistress…”

  “I don’t care. Jolie wants me to find her. I don’t want her alone in the dark.”

  Vanth thought about it. “There’s a way,” she offered.

  “And it is?”

  “Drink from her while she’s dead. You’ll be able to find her.”

  “I thought it would kill me,” he stated.

  Vanth shook her mop of blonde curls. “It will kill a vampyre, but you aren’t one of those as much a demon.”

  He thought about it. “Are you sure about that? It will suck if you are wrong.”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” Vanth knew Death didn’t want her revealing too much. Rinnon would come to the surface as his memories returned. In time, Flynn would know everything about who he carried in him.

  He would discover all the secrets in due time.

  “Tomorrow, we’re going to the council. I need you to be ready in case we need you.”

  “Jacques will not be happy.”

  He was aware.

  “That’s why you’re going to make sure I’m awake before them. He and I need to have a little talk.”

  “Can I eat him?” she asked.

  “NO! You can’t eat my mate. Even if I hated him, I wouldn’t let you eat him.”

  She looked guilty of something.

  “What did you do, Vanth?”

  “I licked him, and I licked him good. I couldn’t help myself, Master. It was your blood all over him, and it was too tempting.”

  Flynn laughed hysterically. “I am so going to tell him that when he wakes.”

  “He was tasty. If you ever want to get rid of him…”

  Flynn pointed at her. “If I ever suggest that, you can eat me. I won’t betray my family, and I certainly won’t have you consume them. It’s creepy.”

  She shrugged. “Okay, Master. Drink from Jolie and call for her. You’ll find her in the dark.”

  He hoped she was right.

  “If I die…”

  “You’re already dead.”

  “Well, then don’t eat me.”

  She watched him drink from Jolie, over the same marks he’d left before. When he took a few sips, he swore he heard her moan his name.

  When he closed his eyes, he could hear his wings fluttering, and then he fell into the darkness.

  Now he needed to keep his promise and find her.

  Somehow.

  Only that wasn’t going to be easy. Wherever he was, it was hellish. There were screams, begging, and vampyres trying to escape.

  Yeah, this wasn’t fun, but for love…

  He’d do anything.

  ∞ Chapter Eight ∞

  The Bell and Candle

  She felt horrible.

  The way she had treated the woman, especially since she was pregnant had bothered her all night. Kiera felt like a jerk, losing her calm like that.

  Instead of being a lunatic, freaking out, she opted to do what she did best.

  She sat.

  As she shuffled the cards, Jolie’s energy was still on them. That would make it so much easier to read them.

  As she spread them out, she saw the picture coming together for her. It didn’t make her feel better.

  In fact, she felt worse.

  There was only one thing she could do.

  She needed to find them, apologize, and offer her assistance. The pregnant woman was in danger.

  No, she was going to die.

  So, she pulled out her scrying bowl, filled it with water, and got to work.

  When she had the address, she knew what needed to be done. It was time to meet them on their own turf, and hopefully, they’d accept her assistance.

  She wouldn’t blame them for being angry.

  Now it was going to be about doing what needed to be done. It was all set into motion, and she was part of this.

  She was part of their journey until the end.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Paris

  Torture sucked.

  It was especially horrific if you were barely able to fight for your life. As Alexzandre hung from silver chains in the ceiling, he was bleeding more and more.

  With each silver blade his body housed, the frailer he began to feel.

  The guardians before him were destroying him little by little, and before long, he knew he’d be gone. There was no way he’d survive this kind of abuse.

  “Why are you doing this?” he asked, trying to keep from slipping off to death. Once he did, who the hell knew what they’d do to his body?

  No one would talk to him.

  Over the last hour of being pummeled by their claws and fists, not one vampyre would speak to him.

  He needed to know what he was up against.

  As they kicked the shit out of him, Alexzandre felt the last of his energy slipping away. As he hung there, spent, abused, and dying, he just wanted it to end.

  Then it stopped.

  He could feel his head being lifted, and the pierce of fangs into his throat as someone drank from him.

  He was going to die.

  This was it.

  The darkness came, it pulled him under, and Alexzandre was glad it had.

  He wanted
to escape.

  He didn’t want to feel this pain anymore.

  As he let himself go back to their mistress, he let out a sigh of relief.

  Hopefully, it was over.

  Forever.

  He’d lived long enough.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Flynn found her.

  It wasn’t easy, but he’d know her essence anywhere. As soon as he located her in the dark, he reached to touch her. When Jolie turned, she was hideous.

  She was decayed.

  She was dead.

  She was a shell of what she was when she was with him.

  That decayed hideousness was something he’d never thought he’d see in his life. The woman he truly loved was a corpse when she went to death. If he needed a reminder of what a vampyre really looked like, here it was.

  ‘Flynn?’ she whispered into his mind.

  ‘Jolie, my love, this is hell. How do you survive it?’ he asked, looking around. The sounds, screams, and wails were more than he could almost stand.

  She moved toward him, slowly and painfully, proving that going to death was pure suffering. ‘We have to survive. What choice do I have?’

  He reached out and touched her destroyed face. Where his fingers traced, flesh miraculously appeared.

  ‘I didn’t think you’d find me here. I’m hideous. I don’t know why I wanted you to see me like this.’

  It didn’t matter to him.

  ‘I’ll find you no matter where you go,’ he promised. ‘You’re beautiful to me no matter what.’

  ‘Can you hold me?’ she asked, waiting for him to open his arms. ‘It’s so cold and lonely here. I hate when I have to leave you.’

  Flynn didn’t hesitate.

  He loved the woman she was, and not the way she looked. After all, his form couldn’t be all that attractive.

  He was a demon.

  She moved into his body, and there was peace. There was a fluttering of wings, and she swore they protectively wrapped around her

  ‘I love you,’ she whispered. ‘Please don’t leave me.’

  He understood.

  ‘I won’t, but we need to look around. Is Jacques here somewhere?’ he asked. ‘We need to find him.’