Chapter 19
NINETEEN
LOCHLAN
I can’t stop staring at the darkly ethereal demon standing at the head of our table.
He’s taking us all in one by one with his glowing eyes, but his aura is warm and friendly, not at all matching his intimidating looks.
His long hair shimmers and blows in a breeze I can’t feel, and his talon-like nails click on the table as his gaze lands on Roman.
“I heard a rumor,” Auri says. “Perhaps some of you lot would know more about it.”
Roman swallows audibly. “What did you hear, boss?”
Auri raises a hand, checking out his nails. “Something about a murderous vampire hiding out in the underworld.” His gaze shifts to me, and I shrink in response. “But that would just be silly, right?”
Everyone at the table is silent, making my stomach clench. I don’t know what to say, so I wait for Roman to jump in. Jareth’s hand moves to my thigh, gently squeezing.
“All vampires are murderous, but I don’t think that’s the right way to describe Loch,” Roman says, his voice strong and unwavering. “He’s my mate, Auri.”
“Obviously, pet.” Auri sniffs the air. “I’m surprised the rest of you have appetites with the stench of mated sex in the air.”
I’m pretty sure I would blush from embarrassment if I still could.
“I like the scent,” Drax says, popping a raspberry into his mouth. “That’s what happiness smells like. Right, mate?” He nuzzles the dragon beside him, and Mac smiles as his gaze heats.
“I’ve learned to block it,” Cassius says dryly. “It happens a lot around here lately.”
“I suppose it does have a pleasantness about it.” Auri smiles slightly. “I sense there’s a situation though, or there wouldn’t be rumors.”
Roman glances at me and then Jareth before he nods, growling protectively. “Yeah, there’s a situation. Lochlan here, my mate—well, one of my mates—he was seduced by the fae. They took advantage of his need.”
“As they are wont to do,” Auri says. “And then?”
Roman inhales, clearly bracing himself, but I jump in.
“I panicked when I found out his intent and I attacked him. I tore his throat out.”
Auri doesn’t react for a few very long seconds. “Did you eat their offerings first?”
I nod, bowing my head in shame. “I didn’t know.”
“What kind of vampire doesn’t know how the fae work?”
Roman growls as Jareth wraps his arms around me.
“A sweet one,” Jareth says defensively. “And a new one abandoned by his maker.”
Auri’s expression softens. “Ah. I see.”
“So they’re after him, obviously,” Roman says. “Apparently, the one he killed was some kind of important fae in their realm.”
“Important how?” Auri asks.
“He was a prince in a consortium,” I say. “His name was Iswyn.”
Auri’s eyes widen as his lips part, exposing his dagger-like teeth. “The Nocturne Consortium?”
“That’s what he said.”
“Well, isn’t that interesting?”
Is it?
JARETH
I can’t tell if the head demon is pissed off or not, but the urge to protect Loch from him is strong. I move closer, practically pulling Loch onto my lap at the same time Roman moves closer too, tangling their fingers together.
“It was an accident, Auri,” Roman says, his tone pleading. “And Loch is my fated mate, so it’s my job to—”
“Relax, pet. I hate the Nocturne Consortium. They’ve been a pain in my ass for centuries.”
“What?” Roman asks.
“I can’t tell you how many run-ins I’ve had with them in the race for souls and artifacts.
I used to think they must be tracking me as one of their soldiers always showed up when I was summoned to the mortal realm.
I might have spent a decade or so in one of their sex dungeons. It was fun, but they get greedy.”
Cassius flinches. “Eww.”
“Oh, don’t be such a prude, Cas.” Auri rolls his eyes. “Everyone has sex.”
“Not everyone,” Rune adds. “There are some people who don’t have those urges.”
“Quit being pedantic with me. You know what I meant.”
“It isn’t pedantic to recognize that other sexualities exist on a spectrum.”
“Oh for hell’s sake.” Auri huffs. “Fine, I retract my statement. All I’m saying is the fae can offer a good time, but it comes with many strings attached.”
“We know,” Roman grunts. “That’s why Loch is here.”
Auri taps a long nail on his chin. “I have an idea.”
“Uh-oh,” Drax murmurs, drawing my curiosity.
“I could use some additions to my collection, and the Nocturne Consortium likely has many treasures that would delight me. Plus, they annoy me.” He claps his hands once. “That settles it. Your next mission is decimating that terrible little group and bringing me their treasures.”
Roman’s jaw drops. “You want us to attack them?”
“I believe I was clear.”
“But that could start a war,” Mac says. “Right?”
“We’re merely defending ourselves,” Auri says, unconcerned. “We have a right to do that. We aren’t breaking any rules. Not really.”
I turn my gaze to Roman, who is staring off into space, his brow creased.
“All of you,” Auri continues. “And perhaps I can even recruit my second line.”
“Second line?” Atlas finally breaks his silence. I’ve noticed he tends to be quiet, observing while everyone else talks through things.
Auri waves airily. “Yes, yes. I have a waiting list now to add to my crew.” He grins. “I haven’t had a need yet, but I could try some of them out to see how they handle a job.”
“Sending rookies to deal with the fae?” Roman asks. “We don’t have time to babysit.”
“Don’t worry your furry little head, pet. They wouldn’t be waiting in the wings if they weren’t ideal choices. Wait for my order, then you can start your assignment.”
With that, he dissipates and the three-headed dog that was sleeping in the corner pops one head up, whimpers, then goes loping after its master.
This place is weird, but also pretty cool.
“Well, isn’t that an interesting twist?” Rune asks. “I can’t say the idea of taking out some arrogant fae doesn’t do it for me though. I’m down.”
“No one likes the fae,” Mac says. “I’ve had my share of trouble with them too.”
“Who hasn’t?” Roman grunts.
“We have some friends in New Orleans,” Atlas says. “Well, friends is probably a strong word, but they owe us a favor.”
“Ah, yes.” Rune nods. “Some very powerful witches and maybe even the gargoyles. The more power on our side, the better.”
“We should probably join forces and make some protection tools,” I suggest.
Rune smiles. “Yes. That would be fun for me.”
I smile back, imagining actually having another magic user as a friend. While witches often converge in covens, mages tend to be more solitary, and for the first time in a long time, I wonder what it would feel like to have some community around me.
“There’s something else that needs dealing with.” Cassius swirls the blood in his mug. “Lochlan still stinks of fae blood.”
“It’ll go away, right?” Lochlan asks. “I already feel better after drinking from Rome.”
“Eventually, with lots more feeding, but for now, it makes you a trackable target.”
Roman growls, gripping Loch’s hand and looking at me. “What do we do?”
“As I’ve said…” Cassius tilts his head as his eyes fill with what looks like pity to me. “We have to drain him.”
ROMAN
I growl as my wolf thrashes, pushing to the surface. My eyes sting and patches of fur break out across my arms and chest. “Are you sure it’s the only way?”
“It is, Wolfie.” Cassius offers a slight smile. “Obviously, you’ll both be here to replenish him.”
“What exactly does it entail?” I’m hoping that what I’m imagining is far worse than the real process.
“We’ll have to deplete him, to the point of near death, and then you’ll feed him, restoring his health and removing all traces of the fae connection. Otherwise it’ll take months.”
“Fuck,” I grumble, squeezing Lochlan’s hand tight. It’s just as bad as it sounds.
His face is blank, and if he could be more pale, he would be. “I really fucked up.”
“No, don’t say that,” Jareth says, trying to console our pretty mate.
“It’s true. My actions have hurt you both. Some mate I am.”
“Clear the room,” I growl. The guys take me seriously, quickly leaving the three of us alone. Once they’re all gone, I rub Lochlan’s hand. “You’re an amazing mate and a wonderful person, and we…” My eyes meet Jareth’s, and he nods. “We’d do anything for you. Anything to keep you safe and happy.”
Lochlan looks so sad it makes my wolf whimper. “I wish I could go back in time and do things differently.”
“I don’t,” Jareth says softly. “Not anymore. What you did changed everything. It brought us together in a way we never could have imagined, and once this is all over, we get to build a life. One filled with so much love and desire and happiness. We get to have that because of the choices you made.”
Lochlan’s jaw drops. “Do you mean that?”
Jareth nods. “Yes. If you hadn’t, you and Roman wouldn’t have discovered your bond, and even if I wasn’t included, that’s important and beautiful.
” He smiles as he looks at me. “And maybe Roman and I never would have…” He blinks his glassy eyes.
“Roman didn’t feel safe enough to choose me until he learned he could. That happened because of you turning.”
Gods, I love this man, and my heart is quickly twining itself around Loch’s too. “Jareth’s right. We have all this and a promising future because of your choices. We can’t be grateful and resent them at the same time.”
Lochlan falls into my arms, grabbing Jareth’s hand to tug him close, and then the three of us are wrapped in a comforting hug, and I know without a doubt that I would do anything for the two of them.
After a few minutes of just quietly holding each other, I sigh, accepting what has to be done next. “We should go see Cas now.”
Lochlan shivers as Jareth and I share a worried glance.
“It’ll be okay. Cas won’t let anything bad happen to you, and neither will we.”
“But I have to ask for more blood.” Loch turns his worried gaze to Jareth. “I’m sorry.”
“No.” Jare shakes his head and touches Loch’s cheek. “It doesn’t bother me when it’s you. Not anymore. I’ll feed you whenever you want it or need it, I promise.”
Loch’s eyes pulse a pretty pink as his fangs dig into his bottom lip. “I’m the luckiest vampire alive.”
“And I’m the luckiest mage.”
They both look at me.
“And look what I’ve got. A pack, after all this time.”
The three of us lean in at the same time to share a sweet kiss. Our scents mingle, creating something new and beautiful, and my wolf curls up and rumbles with contentment. Yes, this is everything we’ve ever wanted.
“Let’s get this part over with,” I suggest. “The sooner we do, the sooner we get back to our lives.”
I notice the flicker of insecurity on Jareth’s face, and I have a feeling what caused it, but that subject needs to be tabled for later. We have to deal with this fae situation before we can tackle living arrangements and mortality. One thing at a time.
“We’ve got you, Loch,” I say, smoothing his hair.
“We do,” Jareth agrees.
Loch smiles. “I know.” He exhales slowly. “Let’s do this.”
The three of us walk down the hallway toward Cas’s apartment. The closer we get, the more agitated my wolf is, fully awake again now that he knows what we’re doing. He has to trust the process though, like I’m doing. This is for Loch and our future. It’ll be okay.
It has to be.