Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
GRAYSON
The necklace leads me through the forest and straight to an abandoned factory.
Ethan, who has been trotting along beside me, practically rams into my back legs as I halt.
“This is it,” I growl out, tightening my grip around the pendant.
Ba-bum. Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
Ethan makes a strange howling noise and then drops to his belly with a whimper. His limbs twist and elongate in a fizzle of magic before the naked wolf is replaced by a very, very naked man.
“Holy fuck,” Ethan pants out, moving to his hands and knees. He bends his bald head and sucks in a deep breath. “My wolf was acting crazy. Bastard wouldn’t give me control until just now.”
“Which means Izzy is close,” I murmur, studying the factory with renewed interest.
The building stands like a ghost of its former self, a hulking structure of rusted steel and crumbling brick.
The factory’s once pristine facade is now covered in layers of grime and peeling paint.
The steel support beams have become corroded, their surfaces pocked with rust, and vines snake up the dilapidated walls, their tendrils creeping into cracks and crevices.
The tall smokestacks, now dormant, rise like skeletal fingers, their tops faded and cracked.
It’s apparent no one has been here in many, many years.
So where the fuck is Izzy?
Why did the witches bring her here?
“Do you have a phone?” Ethan’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I turn to see him standing behind me, his hands awkwardly cupping his junk.
I roll my eyes but dig my burner phone out of my pocket. Snatching it from me, he takes a few steps away and dials someone. Every second that passes without anyone picking up causes the furrow in the center of Ethan’s forehead to deepen.
“No answer.” Ethan stares at the phone as if it personally betrayed him before handing it back to me.
I arch an eyebrow at him. “You gonna leave a message?”
“Hell no. What could I even say? That I’m traversing the forest with a vampire who’s in love with my fated mate and about to take on a coven of witches?” Ethan shakes his head. “Nope. Bad idea. Em would lose his shit, Ashton would have an aneurysm, and Reid would try to kill you…again.”
He scratches absently at his wrist, his gaze flickering around the factory. “Besides, they probably already figured out that the vamps were behind the attack.” He momentarily spears me with an unreadable look. “It wouldn’t be the best idea to be seen with you.”
I grunt and begin crossing through a pile of debris, heading towards the front entrance. “Didn’t have a choice.”
“The vamps didn’t? Or you didn’t?” Ethan manages to stay directly beside me as I duck beneath a hole in the chain-link fence.
“I didn’t.” I have no idea about the others, but I’m assuming most of them were on board with the Elders’ plan.
There’s a beat of silence as Ethan seems to gather his thoughts before he tentatively asks, “They threatened her, didn’t they?”
I don’t bother responding, mainly because guilt niggles at me.
How could I have been so blind? When Kain first reached out to me, I assumed the Hunters discovered my feelings for Izzy and wanted to use them against me.
But this entire time, it was my so-called “family” who was pulling the strings.
The vampires have only ever seen me as a tool to use and sharpen, to hone into the perfect weapon.
And after years of failed attempts, they finally discovered how to properly wield me.
All they needed to do was threaten Izzy. Gracie.
I should’ve been more goddamn careful. I tried my hardest to keep her off their radar, but nothing I did mattered.
“You really love her, don’t you?” Ethan whispers.
When I glance at him over my shoulder, his features are drawn taut, his eyes simmering with an unreadable emotion.
“She’s my entire world,” I respond tightly.
Ethan nods as if he expected as much. At first, I think he’s going to warn me away from her or go all macho-alpha on me, but he surprises me by smiling softly.
“Good.”
Did I hit my head at some point? Did he hit his head at some point? Did he really just say, “Good,” to the discovery that I’m in love with his mate?
“Good?” I stare at him incredulously, and a blush crawls up his neck and cheeks.
“I just meant that it’s good Izzy has people in her corner.” He shrugs a single shoulder and then scratches at the back of his neck. “I may not know you well, Grayson, or even like you, but Izzy does. And as long as you can protect her…”
I don’t know if he trails off or if I just cease hearing him. Suddenly, all I can think about is the moment Izzy was taken from me. I don’t remember ever feeling so helpless before, trapped and suspended, watching a group of witches cart off the woman I love.
How many times have I failed her now? The number is too high.
Way too high.
“She’s my mate,” I whisper, my voice failing me. I clear it and try again. “She’s my mate, and I would do anything for her.”
Ethan stares at me in surprise. Obviously he didn’t expect me to confess that. His lips part, but no sound comes out. His gawking stare is unnerving as shit.
“Come on,” I grunt, turning back towards the building.
Izzy is near.
I can feel it.
But here?
There must be magic involved.
There must be—
Warmth tingles across my skin, and I freeze. What the fuck is that? It feels as if thousands of flaming needles are jabbing into my skin simultaneously. Sweat drips down my face and the back of my neck.
Then I see the most beautiful sight in the world.
Holy fuck.
I thought no one could compare to Izzy, but I was wrong.
My cock instantly hardens, and I cup it through my jeans, taking a step closer to the sexy creature.
“Um…Grayson? What the fuck are you doing?” Ethan asks from behind me, but I don’t pull my attention away from the object of my affection and obsession. “Why are you staring at a garbage can like that?”
“You’ve been a dirty girl, haven’t you?” I purr, running a finger across her smooth metal lid.
The smell of rotten meat and trash permeates the air—the sweetest fucking scent I’ve ever smelled.
“Grayson…” There’s a hint of warning in Ethan’s tone, and a wave of possessive anger crashes through me.
I swear to fuck if he makes a move on my girl, I’ll rip his head off.
“Don’t worry, my love.” I lower myself slightly to wrap my arms around her robust metal frame.
“I’ll take care of you.” Absently, I begin to grind myself against her, lust burning white-hot inside of me.
“You like that, don't you? You’re my dirty girl. Such a dirty girl. I’m going to lick your little whore body all over.
” I peel off her lid and place one finger into her opening.
“You like that, you little slut? Do you want my fist in you?”
“Okay…nope! Can’t let this happen.” Ethan reaches me from behind and attempts to pull me away from my lover, but I snarl and fight him. “Grayson! That’s a goddamn garbage can, you horny fuck! The witches obviously put a spell on you or something. Snap out of it.”
I throw my elbow back into his stomach, and he lets out a muffled oomph. How dare he try to pull me away? I’m going to fuck the garbage can like the trashy little whore she is. I’m going to—
Ethan spins me around, and my mind goes blank. Suddenly, I see Ethan in a completely new light. Has he always been this…muscular? This handsome? I’ve never been into naked mole rats before, but I think I can get behind it.
I peer down at his flaccid cock and lick my lips.
“I don’t like this,” Ethan says, horror widening his eyes.
He releases me and takes an automatic step backwards. I counter it with one forward.
“I’m going to suck your cock so fucking hard,” I tell him, my words a growl.
“Yup, I definitely don’t like this.” He continues to back away from me, his hands raised in the air as if he means to fend me off.
But why would he want to? I’m all about consent, and as soon as he gives me his, I’m going to fuck his tight ass until he’s screaming my name.
I continue to rub myself, relishing the delicious friction of my jeans against my hard cock.
“Bend over, you sexy sphynx. Spread those ass cheeks.” I take a step closer as Ethan darts to the side, his hands still raised.
His cock still hangs flaccidly between his legs. What would it take to get it hard? My mouth? My hands? Maybe I’ll let him fuck my ass. I don’t normally like giving up control, but for him, I will.
“SNAP OUT OF IT!” Ethan begins to clap his hands in front of my face, and I playfully growl at him.
I don’t know what type of foreplay this is, but I fucking love it.
“I’m going to fuck you so hard that your insides get rearranged,” I tell him, slowly advancing.
“That’s super disturbing,” Ethan tells me. “But the only person going near my ass is Izzy with a strap-on. It’s kind of a fantasy of mine.” He pauses and stares at me in wide-eyed horror. “Why did I just say that out loud? Oh god. I must be under some truth spell.”
What the fuck is he rambling on about?
“Your mouth can be better used elsewhere.” I reach for the zipper on my pants.
“No offense, dude, but I would rather stab my own eye out than suck your cock.” He shakes his head and lunges swiftly to the right.
I pivot on my heel to continue watching him. Then, abruptly, he drops to the ground, and my eyes land on the object directly behind him.
Well, well, well…
What do we have here?
I’ve never seen such a sexy lamppost before.
I swagger forward and gently caress her thin body. Then, my heart hammering in the general vicinity of my throat, I lean forward to lick her smooth skin.
“You’re so fucking sexy, light of my life.” I tug my cock out of the confines of my jeans and begin to stroke myself, base to tip. “I’m going to cover you in my cum. You’ll like that, won't you? Be my good little slut and take it.”
I begin to stroke myself even faster as I rake my hungry gaze over her thin body. And those fucking bulbs at the top… My god. She’s going to kill me. So fucking sexy.
“When I got a notification that some of my spells have been activated, I didn’t expect to see this,” a voice says from behind me, and a cold chill washes over me.
All at once, the lust dissipates.
What the…?
I stare at my hand wrapped around my cock in alarm. Then at the lamppost. Then at the garbage can I was dry humping earlier. Then at Ethan, who stands a short distance away, his mouth agape.
Fuck.
I release my now flaccid dick and shove it back into my pants so quickly, I’ll be surprised if I don’t get chafed.
A mixture of anger and embarrassment ripples through me as I spin to face the intruder.
A familiar red-headed woman stands before us, her arms crossed over her chest and an impish smirk on her lips. I recognize her instantly—the Maiden.
She volleys her gaze between the two of us as one eyebrow arches. “You two are here to see Izzy, aren’t you?” Without another word, she turns on her heel and moves in the direction of the front entrance. She takes a few steps before pausing and asking, “Are you coming or not?”
I exchange a glance with Ethan—before instantly looking away when I remember what I said to him. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be able to show my face around him again.
Hopefully Izzy won’t be too angry with me if I kill him.