Chapter 2 Nova #3
Liam went down under me with a grunt, my fangs an inch from his face. His scent—blood, arrogance, citrus cologne—hit the back of my throat and made my lips curl. He shoved, but my claws sank into his shoulders, and the sound that ripped from him was music.
The other vampire stepped forward. Without looking away from Liam, I let my shift melt back through my limbs, leaving my claws hooked deep. It was my speciality, after all, to shift any piece of my body with precision and control.
“You want to lose your life and your career? For him?” My voice a growl layered over human words.
He faltered.
“Try me.” I wrenched one claw free and slowly licked the blood off, letting my tongue drag over each drop.
His eyes flew wide, backing away step by step until the door shut, and he was gone.
“No loyalty,” I rasped, staring down at Liam. “Must run in the family.”
“N–Nova, I-I didn’t—” His voice broke when I twisted my claws deeper, his flesh and tendons breaking beneath my grip.
“No, you didn’t.” My other hand clenched into a fist. “But you fucking will.” For once, I let all that control go.
Pound. Crunch. Slice. Splat.
Over and over, fist, claws, fist, claws. His face, his ribs, his chest, I made a mess of everything I could get to. Warm blood spattered up my arms, slicking my palms and matting my fur. He stopped trying to block when he realized he couldn’t keep up.
His cries died down as his jaw broke, becoming little whimpers of pain that fueled my soul. This was what you expected, right? The savage, beastly Nova Rossey.
I almost said those words out loud before Zeth’s arms locked around my waist, hauling me back. My claws scraped the ground before leaving him.
“It’s enough,” he whispered in my ear, all calm and level-headed. “He’ll remember. They’ll all remember. You did good, Nov. You’re so strong, and no one will doubt that. Never again.”
Liam was barely breathing, his jaw hanging wrong, his skin torn in deep red lines. I stared down at him and felt… nothing.
Something inside me slid shut. A lock turned. Never again. I will not be affected like this again.
“You're lucky he stopped me.” I blew out a breath. “A girl like me could kill you so easily." Liam whimpered, curling up into himself.
I crouched down, voice empty and cold. “Next time I see you will be your last.” He slowly nodded, curling away from me.
Getting up, I turned away, ready to let go of this disgrace, of this mistake I let happen. “I’m done with him.”
Zeth followed, his footsteps almost silent behind mine, and I hardened my heart. “I’ll take you as my second. Nothing more, nothing less. Understand?”
“Yes.”
I didn't look at him, couldn't. Instead, I closed my eyes. This was the most logical decision, so it made the most sense. And when the time came, I would let him go. I had to. For my own sanity.
The next day, our parents set us up to save them, to beat out this rival gang that had tried to make a name for itself using supes as slaves. After we beat them, proving ourselves to the community, we had Aniyah’s family birthday dinner.
It was business as usual—Tata Ternin making jabs at our dads, praising my mom, praising us. In my mom’s toast, she shared that they’d be announcing our official takeover as the new bosses the following day.
All of that was fine and dandy, but the looks on my siblings' faces worried me.
Aniyah stared at her plate, looking oddly determined.
Riot, who normally didn't show much emotion, seemed entirely devoid, like she was numb to everything.
Calix, looking utterly depressed, barely touched his blood burger, which was his favorite food.
But the one who scared me the most was Ezra.
Her eyes blazed with fury and a thirst for vengeance that could not be quelled.
By the end of dinner, a plan had been set in motion. At our mother’s encouragement, us siblings were going to get tattoos to commemorate the occasion. Ezra grabbed the keys from her, and we all followed her out and peeled off in our own cars, heading toward the nearest shop.
Bright lights blurred past my window, and my throat tightened. I was going to miss Vegas. This city wasn’t just home, it was mine. Every shadow, every glint of neon, every corner had my fingerprints on it. It felt safe.
I’d just have to make Montana my new home. It would be a fresh start, and I had a whole lot of reasons to stay focused on work. I had a fighting destination to build.
When I pulled into the parking lot, Ezra had beaten me there. She was unlocking the shop with a small woman at her side. I got out, eyeing the stranger. What was Ezra planning?
“Who’s that?”
I jumped, hand halfway up, before I realized Riot had materialized beside me.
“Quit doing that shit, fuck.” I rubbed my chest, trying to keep my heart from bolting. “No clue who she is, but you know Ezra. She’ll loop us in when we’re supposed to know.”
Riot scanned the street, eyes sharp, air knife ready, then she nodded. Even though something was up with her, Riot still did her job. She was still too focused, but that was how I needed to be. Leave behind everything in the past and focus on the future.
Inside, Ezra was waiting. Aniyah breezed in a minute later, practically vibrating with excitement, then Calix came through the door, looking like shit. Shoulders slumped, eyes unfocused, hair a mess. A heavy knot of worry coiled in my gut.
What the hell happened to him? Did that bitch Valentina start something? I’d kill her. We all hated her anyway, so it’d be no sweat off my back.
My wolf growled her agreement, that vicious, protective monster already sharpening her teeth. Nobody hurt my siblings and walked away whole.
“I know the past few days have been rough,” Ezra said, looking around at us, but her eyes lingered on Calix. Did something happen that I didn't know about? “But this is it. Our time. We’re taking the throne and building something so big, so terrifying, no one will dare cross us.”
She introduced the woman, a mage named Greta, who made special tattoos, then she told us that she was getting one to block mate connections.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I tried to wrap my brain around what she’d just said. A mate-blocker tattoo? Unheard of.
Why do you care? the voice in my head sniped. It’s not like you’re ever going to find one anyway…. Your wolf picked someone who doesn't see you like that. It's over for you.
I wanted to say it was wrong, shove the words back down its throat, but after everything with Liam… with the pain I shoved down from Zeth’s unintended rejection… I couldn’t exactly argue. Maybe removing this option completely would help me focus on what was real. What I could have in this life.
Ezra’s calm voice caught my attention. “I need to focus on the Syndicate, on protecting all of you and what our parents built, while also expanding. I want to build something bigger, more powerful, and I… can’t afford distractions.”
Her expression eased when she looked at all of us. “This is my choice, but I wanted to offer it to you.”
Like it was a goddam race, Riot blurted, “I’ll do it.”
I wasn’t the only one staring at her like she’d just said the last thing any of us could imagine. On the outside, she was a stone-faced killer, but deep, deep, deep inside, she was a romantic. The kind who’d always dreamed of finding her mate… her flame.
“How long does it last?” The question fell out of my mouth before I put any thought to it.
“I’m in,” Calix snapped. “Fuck mates. Fuck love. Just give me my lab and my family. I’ll survive.”
Watching him stomp past us and drop into the chair, I felt a strange mix of sadness and relief. Something must’ve gone down with Valentina.
He slapped at his neck. “Right here. I want everyone to see it.”
The tattooist looked at Ezra. “Blocator de mate, da?”
Ezra nodded. The woman turned back to Calix. “Nu-?i face griji. Va fi invizibil.”
“What’d she say?” he asked.
“Invisible, the tattoo will be invisible after she places the magic into it,” Ezra replied. Invisible so no one knew the grave sin we were committing. That was interesting. This was getting more and more enticing.
Calix slumped, mumbling under his breath, “Then how will she know I’ve moved on?”
Leaning into Ezra, knowing that she would have the answer, I asked, “What’s going on with him?”
“Valentina and Calix… broke up. For good.”
I nodded, a pang twisting in my chest for my brother. He’d never cared whether she was his mate or not. He’d believed their love could survive anything, but now it laid shattered at his feet.
“The spell is ancient,” Ezra explained, moving on. “She couldn’t give me a solid answer as to how long it lasts. Maybe around… ten to twenty years.”
Ten to twenty years. Not forever.
I prodded at my wolf, asking if she cared about it, but she didn’t even acknowledge me.
Zeth and Liam had proved that my instincts about men were shit, and if she didn’t care, then why should I?
Why waste time? Better to keep things clean.
Fuck whoever I wanted while keeping my focus where it mattered: the Syndicate.
I would make the doubters listen. Everyone would see that I was more dedicated to the Rossey clan than anyone else alive.
I was meant for the position, even if I was a woman.
The more I turned it over in my head, the better it sounded.
“I’ll do it.”
Ezra stepped up, squeezed my arm, and nodded in solidarity.
This was the right call. No distractions. I’d prove to my men, to the whole fucking world, that Nova Rossey wasn’t someone to fuck with. Not now. Not ever.
* Nightmare by Halsey