Chapter Seven – Lucian
CHAPTER SEVEN
LUCIAN
Sleep called me, my body needed to slumber, and yet it did not find me.
I found myself enthralled, utterly captivated, watching her sleep. Her soft breaths and light snores, the way she mutters incoherent words as she dreams...
We don’t dream. Only a blank void of darkness finds us when we slumber.
I try to look away, turning my back to her, but then I feel her. Her warm body presses against mine as she wraps her arm around me, hugging me. A tiny sigh of contentment escapes her as she snuggles closer.
Casting my gaze down my body, I see her small, delicate hand splayed across my stomach as the steady sound of her heartbeat surrounds me.
I want to move. I want to move her, but I don’t. Instead, I place my cold hand over hers and attempt yet again to find sleep.
“Shit. Shit, shit,” she whispers.
I don’t move, now lying on my back, feeling the weight of her body sprawled across me, her cheek pressed against my chest. Her leg is slung over my hip, mere inches from my cock.
I hear and feel her heart rate rapidly escalate.
I can’t fight the smirk spreading across my face. Hearing her panicked whispers and her breathing quicken, even though she’s trying to keep her body entirely still. I can feel and hear every little reverberation.
It’s amusing, really.
She tries to move slowly so as not to disturb me, unaware that I am already wide awake. My body is perfectly still, ironically as if I’m a corpse. I allow her to move, saving her the embarrassment, feeling the bed shift as she leaves.
My acute hearing follows her every movement as she heads toward the bathroom. Opening my eyes, I watch her move quietly and slowly as she disappears inside, catching a final glimpse of her curvaceous behind before she closes the door.
I sit up, purposefully displaying my body, the sheet low along my pubic line. I wait, like a lion waiting for its prey.
I want to toy with her emotions. Play with her.
Break her.
The toilet flushes and the tap runs. I wait in anticipation; my gaze fixed on the door.
She quietly opens it and steps out, her gaze cast down. My eyes roam over her soft body, wondering what it would be like to taste, to feel, to fuck.
I’ve slept with human women, of course I have, but they barely satisfy the hunger. To fully satisfy a vampire, it needs to be with one of our own. No restraints. None of us like having to hold back, where passion and lust can fully explode without the worry of hurting the other.
She tucks her dark hair behind her ear as she looks up. Her eyes widen slightly, her lips parting as she sucks in a shocked breath.
Damn, this is fun.
Her cheeks begin to turn a shade of rose. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she mutters her apology as she walks towards the bed. My eyes watch her breasts move with each stride she takes, the movement hypnotising me.
She clears her throat. I look up and see her standing by the side of the bed, her hands on her hips like she’s ready to chastise me.
“Do you mind?” she snaps.
“Not at all,” I answer honestly.
She opens her mouth to retort, but a knock on the door cuts her off.
“Enter,” I yell.
Silas walks in. His eyes land on Evelynn, alighting with appreciation.
I draw my fangs and release a low, threatening growl from deep within my chest.
She’s my prey. My toy. Not his.
His attention immediately snaps to me. He gives a subtle nod of apology and takes a small step back in submission.
“Apologies,” he says.
I don’t turn around, but I feel Evelynn swiftly jump into bed beside me, no doubt covering herself with the sheet.
“I have news. News that cannot wait,” Silas informs me.
“And what is this pressing news that cannot wait?” I press, my irritability clear in my tone, wanting nothing more than to play with Evelynn.
“We’ve found them.” A slow, arrogant grin spreads across his face.
I return his smile. “Get everyone together now. Give the orders. We ride within the hour.”
“What about the girl?” Silas asks, pointing to Evelynn beside me.
I turn and look at her. Her doe-like eyes are wide with fear of the unknown as she looks between Silas and me.
“She comes with us,” I state. “Leverage.”
She frowns, giving me a disapproving look.
“Something you want to say?” I press.
She instantly drops her expression and shakes her head. “No.”
“Good. Silas, find her some clothes that are sensible for riding,” I order.
“Sure thing,” he answers, before leaving and closing the door behind him.
I look to her. “Shower and get dressed,” I order.
“I think I’ll wait until he brings me the cl—”
A light tap on the door cuts her off as Silas walks in with a pile of clothes. He places them on the bed next to her before turning and leaving again.
“How… how did he get these so fast?” she breathes, holding up each item of clothing. “And the right size?” she adds, her brow furrowed in utter bafflement. It almost makes her look cute.
Because of our enhanced speed and our heightened sight, we can see details that no human will ever see.
I want to answer. Instead, I say, “The closet is just across the hall. Go shower and get dressed.”
She looks at me like she wants to argue, but presses her mouth into a thin line, nods, then swiftly walks to the bathroom.
I hear the shower turn on. I don’t dare move until I hear her step into it. Then I walk towards the door, listening and watching her through the crack.
“Go get in the shower, get dressed,” she says in a high-pitched, mocking voice.
“Keep calm, Evelynn, keep fucking calm,” she tells herself.
“Last thing I need is for my mouth to get me into trouble. Or he’ll be like, ‘Something you want to say?’” she continues, trying to impersonate me.
“I mean, what is with his accent? American, British, French?” She keeps talking to herself, and I watch on with fascination.
“Something is weird here. I can feel it. I just need to do as they say, then I will be free to go and get as far away from here as possible,” she sighs.
She finishes washing herself in silence.
Not wanting to wait any longer, I walk in, my movement fluid and silent. She doesn’t hear me enter the shower behind her. Her body is soapy and wet. I reach past her for the shower gel.
She lets out a loud scream and spins around to face me.
“What the fuck?!” she screeches.
“I need to shower. You were taking too long.” I shrug and start washing myself.
Her gaze flickers to my hands on my body.
She clears her throat. “You touch me, and I will scream,” she says, her voice cracking with fear.
I tilt my head slightly, my arrogance rising to the surface. “My lovers always do.”
Her cheeks deepen to a rich pink. I hear her breath catch in her throat, her pulse quickening. Her body is betraying her as she stands before me, wearing a mask of pure disgust on her face.
She lets out a huff before storming past me. I allow my fingertips to reach out and lightly graze the flesh on her hip as she passes. Her body shudders, but she doesn’t stop or acknowledge my touch. She grabs a towel and wraps it around her body before slamming the door behind her.
I grin a deep, mischievous grin.
Fuck, she’s going to be fun.
“You really think this is a good idea, bringing her along?” Clutch mutters beside me, twirling the toothpick in his mouth.
I stare him down. “You question my decision?”
He shrugs and shakes his head. “No. Just seems like it might be a little dangerous, and she’s the only mortal among us.
She may see shit she cannot explain. Which means we either gotta reveal what and who we really are, which goes against the law, or we…
” He pauses, his look saying what he can’t, or refuses to say.
Kill her.
My jaw tenses. “It won’t come to that. There are only the two of them. They are significantly outnumbered.”
“So, erm… why am I here?” Evelynn mutters anxiously behind me.
I hadn’t been fully transparent with her on where we were going. I couldn’t. If she were with them, she might try to warn them somehow. Not that I truly believed she was anymore. Either way, she is a threat to our very existence.
Her being here is a gamble, and not just on my life, but my brothers’, too.
“You’ll see,” Clutch answers. His normal playful demeanour is shut down.
The others—Silas, Talon, Marko, Shade, and Rook—are ahead, surrounding the small wooden farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. While I, Clutch, Viktor, and Echo stay back. I ordered Diesel to scout the perimeter, make sure they didn’t have any watchers.
We are standing far enough back, and, with the cover of darkness, Evelynn won’t be able to see them move at their usual speed, especially as Silas jumps from the ground through the first-floor window.
Gunshots ring out, the flashes from each shot lighting the darkness.
I don’t flinch. I don’t worry that my brothers are in danger. I know they are okay. I can feel it. Each of us can feel it.
Evelynn, on the other hand, is anything but calm. Her heartbeat is thundering in her chest, her breaths are short and fast. Her body is trembling; the sound of her body’s reaction is almost deafening.
My gaze slides to her. Her jaw is clenched tight as she fights to contain her trembling hands, clutching them into tight fists at her sides.
The corner of my mouth curves.
Stubborn girl.
She would sooner give herself a heart attack than admit she is scared.
Footsteps approach, catching my attention. I look to my left as Diesel approaches.
“No watchers, but as I made my way around the perimeter, I did find something that you may find of interest,” he says, his gaze constantly flickering to Evelynn. Lust and hunger dance in his eyes.
I curl my lip and release a low warning growl.
He immediately straightens and focuses on me.
“I do not have the time nor the patience to babysit you,” I growl.
“You won’t need to. I’m good,” Diesel assures me.
I chance a look at Viktor before addressing Diesel. “Take us there,” I order.
I turn to Evelynn and yank down her blindfold.
“What? Wait. Why can’t I see where we’re going?” she asks in annoyance.
“Because,” I say, leaving no room for argument. “Now hold on to me.”
She huffs and holds out her hands, trying to feel her way around. “Would be a lot easier if I could see what I’m doing,” she mutters with annoyance as she stumbles forward.
I quickly take her hands and place them around the back of my neck, before bending down and scooping her up, gripping her thighs as she wraps her legs around my waist.
“Hold tight, my little pet,” I whisper in her ear.
Her lips part.
I give the others the nod as we follow Diesel.
Evelynn’s hair whips around me as we sprint through the long grass and swerve around trees and bushes.
She doesn’t scream or protest as her body clings to mine, her soft breasts pressed against my chest, and her sweet, alluring scent of vanilla and jasmine invading my senses.
We come to a stop, and I slowly lower her to her feet. Her hands rest against my chest. I gently slide the blindfold off. She blinks as if it’s daylight as she looks around, her mind full of questions.
“Holy shit,” Viktor curses.
I move Evelynn to my side and take in the sight before me. For the first time in over a century, fear creeps along my spine.
I step forward, transfixed on the markings before me.
“How?” I breathe.
Crouching down, I reach out to touch it.
“Don’t!” Viktor barks. “It could be alive.”
I withdraw my hand as I glare down at the ancient markings: a five-pointed star with two circles around it, with symbols and stones purposefully placed.
I stand, taking a step back, and look to Viktor, his face mirroring my own.
“What is this?” Clutch asks, kicking away a stone.
“Don’t touch a fucking thing!” Viktor barks in warning.
“I thought shit like this only appeared in movies,” Echo mutters.
I hear the rest of my brothers approach, along with the strong metallic scent of blood.
I inhale and look to my right as they draw near. My brothers’ eyes drop to the display before them. Talon is dragging one of the Crawley brothers beside him. He lifts him like he’s taking out the trash, blood covering his face.
“Thought you might need this,” Talon says, dropping him to the ground.
He lands with a grunt and a groan.
I am briefly aware of Evelynn’s gasp of horror at the sight before her, but the smell of his blood and the hunger for vengeance consume me as I stalk towards him, glaring down at the man who is a threat to my club, my coven.
My fucking family.
I reach down, picking him up like he’s nothing, holding him above me, his feet dangling helplessly beneath him. He feebly tries to worm his way free, his blood running down my arm.
“What is this?” I seethe, fury bubbling at the surface of my skin.
He grins, his mouth full of blood, his breathing ragged. Death will welcome him soon.
“You know. And you’re scared.” He coughs a laugh, blood splattering me as he does.
“Who?” I growl, knowing they are not behind it. They are too stupid. They are minions for whoever is behind this.
He gargles as more blood cascades from his mouth, his breathing becoming laboured; that familiar rattling of death as it slowly takes him.
“War is coming. A war you will not win. Your kind will perish. It will be the end of your very existence,” he wheezes as he draws his final breath, and death devours him.