Dangerous Influence (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 5) Read online

  She saw his face.

  Jolie hit the nail on the head. She was a doctor, and she could spot sickness a mile away, especially in a vampyre.

  “Then it’s a date, Mistress Harcourte.”

  “Yeah, unfortunately.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait,” he whispered, as he shuddered at the same time.

  Jolie had one huge problem.

  Make that two.

  Jacques and Flynn.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Flynn could feel his body leaching of life.

  With each strike to his flesh, he fought not to howl in pain. It wasn’t easy. The sick vampyre in front of him was sticking him with so many silver daggers.

  He was like a human pincushion.

  Flynn wasn’t alone. From across the room, Jacques was also being tortured. With each crack of the whip, the silver tips tore his flesh.

  Neither man would give the women the satisfaction of screaming for them. It was quite clear that they were getting frustrated.

  In fact, she was becoming more brutal with each punishing lash.

  ‘Don’t succumb,’ Jacques warned.

  He wouldn’t.

  ‘Jolie had better hurry up,’ Flynn whispered. ‘I’m losing a lot of blood.’

  Jacques could smell it in the air.

  While he was having his back shredded, Flynn’s life was dripping onto the filthy floor.

  They didn't have much time.

  Jacques continually called for Jolie, but they were hitting a wall. He had no doubt it had everything to do with the garish looking symbols painted on the stone.

  Flynn flinched, his body bucking as the small vampyre turned a spike.

  “Scream for me,” she said, wickedly pressing a spike close to his heart.

  Flynn’s fangs broke free, and he hissed as her hand touched his cheek.

  It shocked her.

  “What do we have here?” she asked. “Apparently, I’ve been too gentle. Let’s try harder.”

  Flynn was weak.

  ‘Jolie, I need you. Please,’ he whispered. ‘I need you now.’

  He lowered his head and prepared himself for the next wave of pain. All Flynn could hope was it wouldn’t be his last.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Jolie was ill thinking about what she had agreed to do. She was about to ask another question, regarding the Tueur, when she felt that touch to her mind.

  It wasn’t from her mates, but her mistress, Death.

  ‘Hurry,’ it warned.

  Jolie stood.

  “What are you doing to them?” she said pushing her chair out of the way. It slammed against the wall.

  He looked surprised. “I don’t know what you mean,” he offered. “I merely asked my guardians and Bella to hold them until we were done negotiating.”

  Jolie smelled the lie.

  But there was no time to deal with it.

  Jolie headed for the door. “Where are they?”

  Mulduk followed. “They’re in my private area. I thought it was best for them to stay there where it was safe.”

  He nearly laughed at the last word.

  Bella was cruel and sick, and he loved her for it. Now he would see what they were up against.

  Losing Bella was worth it.

  Jolie raced toward her mates. As she passed all the patrons of the club, she was desperate to get there.

  When she finally reached them, she sent so much energy into the door, it shattered, spraying the area with wood splinters.

  What she saw horrified her.

  Immediately, she was assaulted with a very familiar scent. It was the blood of her mates.

  Jolie wanted to find the animal who was responsible for touching her mates. No, she wanted to kill the person.

  Control was gone.

  Jolie wanted to destroy everything in the room. She was horrified to see both her mates stripped to their pants and being tortured by two women in leather.

  That was enough to boil her blood. Add in that they were bleeding and in pain…

  Jolie was ready to kill.

  “Stop!” she hissed, freezing everyone in the room. Jolie headed toward her closest mate. “Jacques!”

  He was bent over a barrel and was being whipped with a multi-pronged whip, tipped in silver spikes. The blood poured down his back and was puddling around his knees.

  “Help Flynn—he’s bleeding more,” Jacques hissed. “Save him.”

  Jolie didn't hesitate. She moved around the frozen women and guardians. Her other mate was leaning against a rack. His beautiful tan skin was covered in red.

  “Oh, Flynn,” she whispered.

  He opened his eyes. “Hey, baby, I missed you. Come to this shithole dive often?”

  Jolie began yanking the spikes from his body. When they were all removed, she yanked the silver manacles from the wall.

  Flynn dropped to his knees.

  “Oh, my love,” she whispered.

  “I need blood,” he murmured. “I need a lot of blood, and I’m out of control,” he warned.

  Jolie understood.

  Flynn didn't want to drink from her for fear he’d hurt her in his blood lust.

  She crossed to the one guardian.

  “Go to him. Your life is forfeited.”

  The vampyre didn't fight. Instead, he did what she asked. When he dropped to his knees, Flynn grabbed him. He attacked, sinking his fangs into the vampyre’s throat. They all watched as he gulped the life from the man.

  After he drained him dry, he dropped him.

  “Better?” she asked, moving to his side.

  “Yes,” he hissed, the wounds already healing. “Get these off me,” he said, staring down at the manacles dangling from his wrist.

  With Jolie’s mind, she popped them.

  Immediately, Flynn went to their other mate. He ripped the chains from the wall and then freed Jacques’s wrists.

  Jolie pointed to the next guardian. “Feed him.”

  The man did what she asked. He crossed to Jacques, and waited.

  Her mate was being held up by Flynn. As soon as his snack approached, he lunged at him. Jacques rode him to the ground, sinking his razor sharp fangs into the vampyre’s neck.

  They all watched as he fed.

  When he was finished, he stood.

  “I want to kill her,” he said, pointing at the vampyre who had abused his mate.

  “No. She’s mine,” Flynn hissed. “I want to destroy her.”

  Jolie shook her head. “No, my loves, she’s mine. I warned them if they touched what was mine someone would pay. Now, she pays.”

  The men stepped back as Jolie approached the woman. Bella looked nervous as she struggled to get free from the invisible hold.

  “Let’s see if you both enjoy pain,” she whispered, as her eyes bled black. There was no doubt that they weren’t alone in the room. As Jolie’s long, raven hair began whipping around her, the invisible wisps of Death’s misty claws kissed at the victim.

  “What’s your name?” she whispered, and it sounded like thunder crashing in the room.

  Everyone jumped.

  “Daphne.”

  Mulduk gasped as the room filled with something dark and dangerous. If he wanted proof of her power, here it was.

  Jolie moved closer to the woman who had been torturing Jacques. She was overcome with more rage than she had ever felt before in her life—not even Louisa’s death, or Genevieve’s attempts to kill her, had she been this angry.

  No, nothing compared to seeing the fathers’ of her children being abused like this.

  Jolie held up her hand and the woman stopped breathing. When she was turning blue, Jolie slowly waved her hand, opening every major artery on the woman. With her mind, she made sure they didn't close.

  As the woman bled out in torrents, she smiled evilly. “You made him bleed, and now I’ll do the same.”

  Oh, Jolie would finish it and painfully.

  Walking to the barrel, where Jacques
had been tortured, Jolie picked up the whip. As she flicked it, she had a plan.

  “Daphne, you touched what was mine. No one touches my mates. You’re to die.”

  Stepping back, Jolie flicked the long wicked whip until it wrapped around the girl’s bare throat. With all she had, Jolie pulled and severed her head.

  Mulduk gasped again.

  When Daphne’s head rolled toward her, she kicked it out of the way.

  Bella was scared. She was begging for her life.

  “Please, Mistress,” she whispered, having gone pale white. “We didn’t...”

  Her voice died in her throat.

  Jolie didn't want to hear it.

  “You touched my mate. What is her name?”

  Mulduk answered for her. “She’s Bella. She’s my consort. She’s been with me since I opened this club over a hundred years ago.”

  Honestly, Jolie didn't care.

  “She hurt my Flynn. No one touches my mates, Mulduk. I warned them. Now she has to pay.”

  He opened his mouth, but it was too late.

  Jolie grabbed the bloodied silver knife that she’d used on Flynn. “You put your hands on what is mine alone to touch. I will destroy you, and I will enjoy every bloody second of it for what you’ve done.”

  Bella’s mouth moved like a fish out of water.

  “Hold out your hands,” she ordered, and the woman had no choice but to do it.

  Jolie laughed. “Since you like pain so much, and since you put your hands on something that is mine, I will take them,” she said, hacking through the woman’s hands.

  Mulduk gasped as they fell to the floor.

  Both he and his consort looked horrified.

  Blood gushed, and Jolie stepped back. “Death, she’s yours,” Jolie whispered.

  The black tendrils wafted through the room, heading right for the vampyre. As Jolie stepped back to get out of the way, she saw the fear in Mulduk’s eyes.

  He had baited her, and here was his reward.

  A bloodbath.

  “You wanted to see how I’d react. Here it is, Mulduk. I’m pissed. You lost your consort. Don’t fuck with my mates.”

  Death devoured the vampyre. The energy was sucked from her until she was nothing more than a gray figure going to ash.

  She was satisfied.

  As was death.

  “Any questions as to what I will do to avenge my mates?”

  “No, Mistress.”

  Jolie moved toward her men. Placing herself between them, she pushed energy into their healing bodies. Flynn was slower to heal, but Jacques’s back was already better.

  “We’re leaving,” she stated.

  Mulduk stared open mouthed. “You are stronger than they say.”

  “You have no idea, Mulduk. This was nothing. If you test me, you will not like the outcome. You don’t want to screw with me. Get one of your worthless guardians to get my car,” she said, tossing him the keys.

  “Yes, Mistress,” he said bowing.

  “I’ll return tomorrow and finish my bargain, but let me warn you, Mulduk. If you’re playing any kind of game with me, I will make you suffer more than either of these women did. You haven’t seen the worst of what lives in me.”

  “Yes, Mistress,” he said, handing his one guardian the keys when he entered the room.

  Jolie let her mates lean on her. They weren’t too wobbly, and that was a good thing.

  All the way out of the club, there was silence. Jolie was still furious, but now she had a dilemma.

  She still had to return.

  And she still had to tell the men about her deal.

  Once in the Hummer, she opted to drive. The men climbed into the back, and she wanted to get them home.

  “Are you both okay?” she asked.

  Flynn had been until he heard Jolie mention she was going back. That freaked him right out.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “I’m not either.”

  She knew what was coming.

  Jacques and Flynn rested against each other. They were both a bloody mess, but this conversation had to happen. “Why are you going back?” he asked.

  “I have to. Mulduk knows why the Tueur is after me, and the only way he’ll talk is if I’ll return.”

  She didn't tell them the rest.

  There would be time for that nuclear explosion later.

  “How about we get you both home and cleaned up, and then we’ll discuss it?”

  Neither man spoke.

  Yeah, they weren’t happy.

  “I don’t like this, Jolie,” Flynn offered. “In fact, I’m not happy at all.”

  She got that, but it was going to get worse.

  As they pulled into the driveway, she was glad to be home. The welcoming Christmas lights cheered her up. At least they were safe. Pulling into the garage, Jolie knew she needed to tell them the truth.

  She wanted to get it out of the way where no one would hear the discussion.

  “I’m afraid it’s worse than just going back,” she offered, keeping her fingers crossed.

  Both men waited for it.

  “I have to bring someone with me.”

  “Why?” Flynn asked.

  “Mulduk is playing a sick game.”

  The men waited.

  “He wants to watch me dominate someone.”

  Both men opened their mouths.

  “Jacques, Flynn…” Jolie began.

  Then it happened.

  Jacques exploded.

  ∞ Chapter Eleven ∞

  When it came to tempers, Jolie was queen. Only this time, they had crowned a new monarch. Jacques Degaul was a vampyre on the edge. The second he heard what she said, and it registered, the anger ebbed up.

  The explosion was epic.

  He wasn’t proud that he couldn’t control his anger, but enough was enough. His woman wasn’t going to be going to that club to do any such thing.

  “It’s not happening,” he said, jumping out of the Hummer. “My mate is not playing that sick fuck’s game. It’s not ever going to happen, Jolie. Bondage isn’t something that I want to ever see happening when it comes to you.”

  Jolie didn't speak.

  Flynn’s hand went to her shoulder in support as they, too, climbed out of the vehicle.

  “Jacques,” Flynn began.

  “No! It’s not happening. She’s not going to degrade herself by playing a game. I refuse to watch it happen. She’s a primus and isn’t like Mathew. Our mate isn’t going to do it!”

  Flynn knew they were at a crossroad. Jolie and he had played the game, and in fact, Jolie needed that part of their sex lives.

  In fact, so did he.

  It was apparent that Jacques didn't like the idea. This might also be why Jolie didn't tell him.

  “Jacques,” he said, trying to figure out what to say. It was a fine line, but he could see that Jacques’s words were hurting Jolie.

  He had to step in and deflect some of that.

  “Some people like the pain. It’s natural. You need to calm down.”

  “I can’t! I won’t!”

  Jolie’s eyes filled with tears.

  “She’s not going, and I don’t care. I don’t often put my foot down,” he stated, his voice getting thick with an accent. “In fact, I can count on one finger the times I’ve taken a stand, and this is it!”

  He paced angrily.

  It was proof he was pissed.

  “I rarely say no to anything, but look at Mathew. Look what this did to him. He can barely function, and it’s become an issue. Mulduk is sick, Bella was sick, and this whole thing is vile. She’s not going, and she’s not taking anyone with her. That’s it.”

  Jacques stormed away.

  When he was gone, Flynn knew there was going to be major damage control. He wasn’t resting any time soon.

  “Jolie.”

  “It’s okay. Maybe a part of me knew that would be his reaction, and that’s why I never said anything to him,” she offered. “Maybe h
e’s right. Maybe I’m sick.”

  Flynn went to touch her cheek, but Jolie pulled away.

  “I’m going to go shower and change. He’s likely in our quarters, so I’ll find someplace else,” she stated, heading toward the kitchen door.

  “Jolie.”

  She stopped him. “Thank you for not erupting. I don’t think I could deal with both of you being pissed at me. I just need some time. I’ll be okay.”

  Flynn watched her walk away. His heart ached for her.

  There was no doubt that she wouldn’t be okay. He could see it in her eyes. Jacques words, while unintentional, had wounded her.

  He had to fix this. One way or another, he couldn’t let his family fracture apart.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Jacques angrily paced their room.

  His temper was still simmering over what she had planned on doing. While he felt horrible for snapping at Jolie, enough was enough. There was no way he was going to let the mother of their children play dominatrix in a club.

  It wasn’t happening.

  He was doing it for her. After what she’d had to endure in her past, Jacques couldn’t let her go there.

  It would open old wounds.

  It would create new ones.

  There had to be some standard for them. Jolie was above all this nonsense, and there was no way he could tolerate her lowering herself to this vile filth.

  As he moved across their room, he heard the door open. It wasn’t Jolie, but his other mate.

  “If you’re coming here to talk me out of it, I won’t be swayed.”

  He got that.

  “Actually, I need to shower, and I’m feeling a little dizzy. Can you make sure I don’t fall?” he asked.

  Immediately, some of the anger dissipated. Flynn’s wounds had been so much worse, and he had to be suffering. The marks on his chest were still raw.

  “I’m sorry, Flynn. I should have thought about you. This has me all tied up in knots.”

  “It’s okay, Jacques. I understand. I just need you to stand there in case I fall over. I don’t need a concussion too.”

  He paused.

  “Can vampyres get concussions?”

  He stared at him. “I don’t know.”