Chapter Eleven
He couldn’t leave. Fuck. Scepter hadn’t ever dematerialized and then flashed right back within moments, ignoring his own best interests. Hell, he tossed the book of best interest in the fucking air and set the damn thing on fire.
As he watched the trio walk out the door and get into Savage’s armored vehicle, he let out a muttered curse.
They were going into New York City’s shopping district, where rich fucking people shopped.
It wasn’t a hotbed for crime. He shouldn’t be worried about an attack, but he was Savage’s second.
Which meant he needed to watch the male’s back.
“We following the Boss?” Maryse asked.
“You just want a reason to shop at Saks,” he muttered.
The deadly female vampire smiled, flashing fangs at him. “Of course. Plus, I have a feeling your mind is going to be on one sexy female half-breed.” She jumped out of the way as he swiped at her.
“Are you saying I can’t do both?” he asked, growling.
Maryse grinned. “Absolutely not. You’re the king of multitasking. I am just saying, you were totally eye fucking her so hard, I almost took pics for OF.”
He huffed a laugh. “How would my doing that make any money for you?”
She pointed her fingers at her eyes, then at him. “If women saw the need you were exuding while staring at a female, they’d pay. Especially if you saw the way she watched you when you weren't paying attention. Seriously, the two of you are completely clueless.”
“Are you riding with me or what?”
Maryse slid a pair of leather gloves on her hands, her black eyes narrowed. “I’ll follow. I have a feeling shit is going to go south. I don’t want to be stuck without my own ride if and when it does. Besides, someone needs to drive dumb and dumber.”
Thane and Godsven stomped into view. Godsven wore wraparound shades, while Thane wore small circular glasses that probably cost more than most people’s entire outfit. Both males wore black from head to toe, and neither was smiling.
“Ready when you are, Scepter. Is the princess riding with us, or is she still throwing a hissy fit?” Thane asked.
Scepter looked at the two men and then at Maryse. “Maybe it’s me who should be riding by myself while the three of you work this shit out?”
Maryse lifted her middle finger. She took a step and then another before breaking into dozens of bats.
“Fuck, she’s so theatrical.” Thane shook his head.
“Well, you shouldn’t have fucked with her boyfriend,” Godsven growled.
Thane shoved the other male. “She was going to let him mark her. She hasn’t allowed herself to search for a true bond with a male of worth. Taking a chosen mate is stupid, especially with that idiot.”
Scepter let out a breath. “Listen. We have a Boss to protect, boys. Maryse is a big girl. If you have an issue with a male and her, you know who you should’ve gone to?
Savage and his female. They have the right to speak to her and, honestly, the ability to do so without pissing off a female who can and will kick you in the nuts. ”
Thane placed his hand over his groin.
He ignored their antics—the need to follow Starla riding him hard.
Scepter climbed into his custom 2025 Knight XV, firing up the bulletproof SUV before the others were inside.
He shifted into gear, ready to roll, when Godsven slammed the back passenger door.
“Better buckle the fuck up, ladies and gentlemen. This might be a bumpy ride,” Scepter said.
He floored the 6.8-liter V10, sending his passengers into the backs of their seats.
If he weren’t worried about getting to Starla, he’d have made a joke or two.
The hair on the back of his neck was standing up, which didn’t sit well with him.
Scepter pushed his worry aside, putting it down to nerves and the reality of Starla’s return.
“Good, lord, Scepter. You probably should’ve warned us you were in such a hurry. I’d have written a Last Will and Testament or some shit,” Thane muttered.
He looked in the rearview mirror, meeting the glowing green orbs of the other male. “Who would you have left your shit to other than your sister Thana?”
Thane shrugged. “Good point. Still, I’d like to keep my nuts in the lower part of my body if you’d kindly not drive like you’re trying out for the next Fast and Furious.”
Maryse twisted in her seat, touching Scepter’s arm as she did.
“I got this, brother. Thane, I’m afraid to be the one to tell you this, but the big guy here is on a mission.
Which means, we are all at his mercy. He has the scent of his female in his psyche, and until he has satisfied himself that she is safe and well, under his care, we’re all FUBAR. ”
She settled back into her seat, dusting her hands.
“Hold up. Who is his female?” Thane asked.
Godsven sighed. “Jesusfuck. Can someone give me a roll of tape? Industrial strength, please and thank you.”
Maryse bent down as if she were going to grab her bag, which Scepter assumed carried everything from makeup to a grenade.
“Don’t even think about it, Rys,” he warned her.
With his rig going much faster than what he was sure Savage allowed Oakley to take them in their custom Mercedes-Maybach GLS 800 SUV, he figured they’d catch up to the other vehicle in no time.
“Maryse, can you pinpoint where Savage is?” he asked.
The female vamp closed her eyes and nodded. “They’re about three minutes ahead of us. You’re making good time.”
He jumped another curb, ignoring the honks, and swerved around several vehicles. Being the biggest rig on the road aside from tractor-trailers had its perks.
Up ahead, he could see the blood-red Mercedes carrying Savage and the females. Knowing he had them within sight, Scepter let out a relieved breath quietly. His knuckles clenched on the wheel reflexively, but he willed himself to relax.
The red SUV pulled up to Saks. He watched as Savage exited first, his body stiff. At the same time, he tested the air before allowing his bonded mate to exit. By the time he pulled up behind them, Starla, Aurora, and Savage were already inside the store.
He maneuvered into the CBS parking garage, finding the spot reserved for them next to Savage’s Mercedes. Oakley waved from where he stood by the front of the other vehicle.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Not sure. You good?” Scepter asked him.
Godsven and Thane slammed their doors as they moved beside him, eyeing Oakley. Maryse strode in front without waiting for any of them.
“Yeah. I’ll watch both rigs. Have fun.” Oakley nodded, lighting a hand-rolled.
He shook his head, turning to follow Maryse.
They entered the store, ignoring the employees who looked at them with equal parts fear and awe.
While Maryse wore an outfit you’d see on a runway, they eyed him and the other two males as if they wanted to either run or call the police.
Scepter didn’t need to ask if they’d seen Savage and the females.
His body moved like a magnet toward the fourth floor.
“When did they put these multicolored escalators in?” Thane asked as they walked past the entrance.
Scepter looked at the bright colored, moving walkways' iridescent dichroic film covering. “Within the last year. They needed to keep up with the competition moving in.”
Maryse turned and walked backward. “I think it’s quite beautiful.
Some say it’s tacky and takes away from the nostalgia of the past. Those people are fools.
They have no true sense of the past or what life was really like a hundred years ago.
If they’d had to live back then, or heaven forbid, a few hundred years ago, like some of us, they’d be happy with the advancement the times have afforded us. ”
“Fuck, save me from her speech about women’s rights and shit. I get enough of that from Thana.” Thane strode forward, ignoring the curious stares they were gathering.
Scepter ignored them as he walked around Maryse, taking the escalator up to the second level. On the third floor, he moved impatiently to the next set, nearly knocking a woman over as they finally hit the fourth. The sweet scent of cinnamon and vanilla hit him the moment he stepped off.
“He’s like a bloodhound,” Maryse joked. Under normal circumstances, the sound of someone high-fiving would’ve made him turn and hit whoever was making a joke on his behalf. Yet, the smell of cinnamon became overpowered by another pungent scent he recognized.
He came to a stop, holding up his hand. Through their clan link, he reached for Savage. ‘Astaroth is here. Where are you?’
As the silence stretched without Savage responding, he and those with him fanned out.
‘Astaroth is here. I don’t know how he masked his scent or how many he has with him, but Savage isn’t responding to me.
I can smell Starla’s unique signature up here.
It’s faint, though.’ He sent them an example of her signature.
Maryse moved first, heading toward the ladies' dressing rooms. His nails lengthened.
‘Don’t engage, Rys. If you find them, you disperse and call for me.’ He didn’t doubt her abilities as a fighter, but if Astaroth took out Savage, he obviously wasn’t working alone.
Feeling like his head was on a swivel, he scanned the racks of clothes, looking for the female he couldn’t get out of his mind. Her soul called to his.
His mind refused to believe what he saw.
Starla was walking hand-in-hand with the bastard, Astaroth.
Anger filled his entire being. It took monumental effort to press the rage down so he could see through the red haze.
His nails began to recede, becoming those of his human counterpart.
His female’s head came up. Her dark as night eyes met his.
Scepter heard her breath catch.
Astaroth’s hand slid around Starla’s hip, touching her as if he had the right. “Starla, come here,” he said, holding out his hand.
She licked her lips and took a step toward him.