Sixteen
Fifteen
Marcus
He’d listened closely to Lysander as he’d revealed himself to Avalon. But now that the house was completely silent, he worried. Gently, he knocked on her bedroom door. “Avalon?”
No answer, and no sign of movement.
“If you don’t want me to come in, you have to tell me now.”
Nothing.
Slowly, he turned the knob and pushed the door open—and his heart sank to the pit of his stomach. She sat on the edge of the bed, likely where Lysander had left her. Her cheeks were smeared with blood, her blouse drenched—she was crying.
“Oh Avalon.” He rushed to her, sinking to his knees and cupping her face in his hands. “What is it, little dove?”
Avalon shook her head, smearing her tears into his palms.
“Did Lysander upset you? Because he won’t hurt you. Not now and not during a full moon.”
She shook her head again, this time trying to wrench out of his grip.
“Please talk to me.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“I know and we are here to help you figure yourself out.”
Avalon shot him a look so cold that he shivered. He knew he couldn’t fail her. No matter what, he had to keep her safe from herself.
Varos sat on the other side of her, handing her a damp towel—black of course. “We know you are scared, but we are here. We know how you feel, and we would give our lives to protect you from yourself. We will stick by your side until you’re ready to be on your own.”
“What if I never am?”
Avalon’s untouched glass shook in her hands, and Varos reached over to take it before it spilled. “We will be by your side for eternity if that is what you need. While I did act without thought, I will do anything in my power to keep my promise.”
“We know this is not what you intended for yourself,” he interjected. “But we will do anything to make it as close to what you wanted.”
Avalon looked down, wrinkling her nose at the sight of herself. “I’m sorry.”
“One of the downsides of our kind,” he chuckled. “There is no need to apologise.”
“It looked expensive.”
“I’m sure it was, but you want to know something great about being with us?”
She worried her lip, more gently this time.
“Money is no object for us. If you want something, you get it.”
“It isn’t?”
Fuck, she was so damn lovable. “No.”
“You should be careful saying those things. Books are expensive. Especially those pretty special editions.”
“And I’ll fill this whole fucking house with the rarest books if that makes you happy.”
“I do need something to keep me occupied now that I can’t sleep anymore.”
He swiped away a bloody tear, bringing his thumb to his lips and sucking it clean. Avalon’s wide eyes amused him. “I assure you; we can keep you occupied even without books.”
Avalon watched him closely, jaw slack as he sucked on her blood.
“Now why don’t we get you cleaned up?”
Varos took initiative, hooking a finger under her chin and gently wiping her cheeks with the towel. He, however, had the pleasure of undoing her blouse. He took each button slowly, giving her the opportunity to protest. If she didn’t want this to happen, it wouldn’t.
Though when she remained silent… Well, if his heart could have stuttered it would have. He unfastened the second, then third button until her breathtaking cleavage was revealed. Her tears had soaked through the thin fabric, streaking her chest red. He couldn’t wait any longer. He straightened, leaning in and taking in her sweet scent. She stilled completely, her body frozen like a statue as he ran his nose over her collar bone and took in a deep breath.
“Your blood smells so good,” he huffed. “All I want to do is lick it off your skin.”
“We won’t do anything you don’t want, Avalon. You say the word and we stop.”
Varos’s words made him feel like a dick. She’d been through hell and all he could think about was to fuck and feed on her. What an asshole he was. He rested on his heels, waiting for her next move.
“I trust you.”
Her words meant everything. Varos took Avalon’s hand in his, eyes shining with pride. “That means the world to us.”
“Do you want us to leave?” he asked, though he was terrified of the answer.
“No.”
“We can run you another bath,” Varos suggested.
She shook her head, dropping her gaze to Varos’s hand. “ What does our blood taste like?”
Marcus’s short answer was good, but that probably wouldn’t satisfy her curiosity. “It varies from person to person. Though our own blood won’t satisfy our thirst. Here…” He pricked his thumb with his own fang, then held it to her mouth. “Try.”
Avalon hesitated—briefly. Curiosity won out, and she sealed her lips around his thumb. She sucked, her eyes fluttering shut. He clenched his jaw, cock hardening behind his pants.
Varos chuckled, offering her the glass he’d saved from destruction. “Here this might not taste as good now that it’s cold, but it will satisfy you a little better.”
Avalon pulled back, surprised at herself. She eyed his thumb, then met his gaze. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Avalon gulped down the blood, then tilted her head towards Varos. Knowing immediately what she needed, Varos pricked his own thumb and offered it to her. They’d never shared a woman, but he could get used to this. The taste of her tears still lingered on his tongue as he leaned forward and licked over her collar bone. Her blood was sweet—innocently sweet. Avalon shuddered her approval, so he pressed a soft kiss to the crook of her neck.
“I want to taste more of you,” he whispered. “I’ll make sure not to hurt you.”
“It’ll feel good,” Varos added, suppressing a groan. “The antidote works on us too.”
“It does?”
“Yes, and I’m more than willing to show you.” Though he tried to keep his cool, he was rapidly losing control. He caressed her skin with loving kisses, never dipping below her collarbone. He needed to feel her, to taste her—fuck, he just needed her . But if she said the word, he’d be gone in an instant.
Avalon nodded slowly, muscles flexing beneath his lips.
He let his fangs expand, tickling that sweet spot on her neck. She gasped, and he sank into the tender flesh. The sweet sound of her moan filled the air as the warmth of his drug slowly spread through her system. Then it was muffled. Marcus was confused at first, then he recognised the soft sounds of a first kiss.
Bastard, he cursed his friend. Though with Avalon’s blood washing over his tongue, he couldn’t help but feel that he was the true winner.
Especially as Avalon’s hand snaked around his neck and her fingers thread through his hair to hold him in place. She spread her legs, and he pushed himself between her thighs to get closer.
“How does it feel?” Varos hushed, hand slipping between them to finish off her blouse.
“Good,” she slurred.
He heard Varos steal another kiss and felt the fabric fall from her torso. He withdrew and sat back on his heels, licking his lips. There was no way he was wasting a single drop of her precious blood. Avalon wore a thin fabric sports bra that didn’t seem comfortable in the slightest. He reached for her but before he sliced the rough fabric with his nail, he paused.
“This looks awfully uncomfortable. Mind if I remove it?”
Almost of its own accord, her hand rose to cover the spot on her chest where that bastard had branded her.
He reached out, stilling her hand. “They’re gone. You’re healed.”
“I know. I saw it in the mirror, but I can still feel them.”
He sighed, cupping her cheek. “I don’t think the memory will ever fully fade. It’s going to be part of you, but we can help you create new ones that are less painful.”
She smiled, leaning into his touch.
“Would you like that?” Varos asked, letting a little bit of hope bleed through his tone.
“Yes,” she finally said, voice barely more than a whisper .
Marcus lurched, capturing her mouth in his before she could change her mind. Avalon jolted slightly before relaxing into the kiss. Her lips were soft and still tasted like the blood she’d drank. Varos gave an appreciative hum, shifting on the bed to kneel behind her. The moment he settled, Avalon reached back and wrapped her arm around his neck, holding Marcus in place with the other.
Varos’s lips met her neck and she hummed, skin vibrating against Marcus’s lips. He eagerly swallowed the moan she fed him once Varos’s fangs were deeply embedded in her flesh.
One hand tightly gripped his hair, and the other came down to slip beneath his shirt. Avalon teased a path over his skin, leaving tingles in her wake.
Just as she found the spot where his heart used to beat, she wrenched her head back with a frustrated groan. Marcus opened his eyes, seeing Varos pull back to take off his shirt.
Marcus grinned at her and ran his thumb over her kiss-swollen lips. “You enjoyed that, huh? Varos feeding on you?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Oh, I’m not done yet. But I thought you’d like to feel our skin on yours.”
Her only answer was a gasp as Varos sank into her neck once more. Her head fell onto Varos’s shoulder, her arm reaching around to hold him in place. Her lips parted on a sigh and she closed her eyes, soaking in the buzz coming from the bite.
He couldn’t resist her exposed throat. He pressed his lips against the hollow, trailing down to her sternum. As he tore the bra from her skin, he made sure to lick her clean. He took one of her luscious breasts in his hand, leaning over to lick her other nipple. Another sweet moan, and she arched towards his mouth. He ached behind his pants—he needed every piece of her. Closing his lips over the stiff peak, he sucked it into his mouth and slipped his hands down her sides. He expertly unfastened her jeans, tugging on the waistband .
“Lift those gorgeous hips of yours,” he demanded.
He popped off her nipple, sitting back to admire the dainty lace covering her pussy. Of course: fucking Lysander had to go overboard and buy her undergarments the colour of the blood he’d just licked off her body
“Th-there were no others,” she stammered.
“Good,” he growled. “I don’t think I ever want to see you in anything else.”
Varos agreed with a groan into her neck, helping her lift herself.
“But I think I would rather enjoy seeing you without them,” he finished.
“Please don’t rip those too,” she protested.
Reluctantly, he wrapped his fingers around the delicate fabric and slid the panties down her legs, tossing them aside.
Now that she was completely bare, he couldn’t help but take a moment to admire her. Her porcelain skin was flawless, and thanks to Varos’s venom, there wasn’t a single mark on her skin. While still human, he’d been able to steal a few glances of the stretchmarks covering her thighs. Now, he mourned the opportunity to run his tongue along each and every one. His lips were on her inner thigh before he could even think about it. His fangs ached as he aimed his next kiss higher. By his third kiss they scraped over her skin and by the fourth they were deep in her flesh.
“Marcus,” she moaned, rolling her hips towards him.
While her liquid gold dripped down his throat, his thumb teased the soft curls between her thighs. She tensed under his touch, seeming self conscious about the hair, but Marcus preferred his women that way. His thumb found her clit, and she jolted off the bed.
The tiny whimper she gave made him add more pressure, needing to hear that sweet sound over and over. Varos’s fingers pushed passed his, seeking out her entrance. Avalon’s hands scrabbled, looking for something—anything to hold onto. She found purchase on his shoulder, digging her nails into the skin. The pain was seductive, nothing like the aching torture his cock was enduring. He needed a release, but this wasn’t about him. He needed to wait.
Varos pushed through with one finger, opening her up while he pulled more melodic sounds out of her with his finger on her clit.
She circled her hips and drowned in their antidote. Her body was theirs to please. Never had he wanted to share a woman, but Avalon deserved all she could get. He wanted to give her so much more than he could accomplish alone.
He pulled his fangs from her flesh and kissed his way up to the nest of hair tickling his nose. Varos retracted his hand, giving him space to replace his thumb with his tongue. He couldn’t help but seal his lips around her swollen clit, sucking the sensitive bundle into his mouth. Her thighs clenched, body writhing beneath him.
“Does it feel good, little dove?” he hummed, loving how their chosen name sounded.
“Yes,” she whimpered, crying out when he rewarded her with another suck.
“Do you want to feel more?”
He peered up between her legs to see her nod.
Two fingers slid in easily, thanks to Varos. He was slow and steady, giving her time to adjust despite the way she rocked her hips against his hand. Once knuckle deep, he curled his fingers before pulling back and adding a third.
“You’re doing so well,” Varos praised, Marcus adding his own with his tongue against her clit.
Avalon’s body vibrated, eyes shut and a pleasant little smile curling her lips.
“Do you want more than just our fingers?” Varos asked, for which Marcus was grateful.
He wanted her to feel in control and if left to his own devices, he would have blown it. The last thing he’d ever want to do was hurt her, but something as simple as asking a question would slip his impatient mind. Though he would always respect her boundaries—no matter how desperate he was.
“I do, I just don’t know…” she trailed off, insecurity preventing her from finding her words.
“We can figure it out together,” Varos shushed into her ear. “We have never done this either.”
He leaned back, keeping his fingers buried deep inside her. “Would you like to feed from us too?”
Avalon nodded, tongue pushing past her fangs.
Trying to tame himself and not overwhelm her with his own desires, he turned her attention to Varos. “Varos first?”
The words hadn’t even left his lips, and Varos was undressed. Hesitantly, he removed his fingers so she could move, and Varos snatched her into his lap. Avalon straddled him, gasping when she felt his erection pressing against her.
“I thought we should make it even,” Varos explained.
“When did you…” she started, then answering her own question. “Oh, yeah, super speed.”
“Clever girl,” he praised, tossing his own clothes aside.
Seemingly unsure, she eyed Varos’s neck. He tipped his head, exposing the skin. “Don’t be afraid to take what you want. You won’t hurt me.”
She hesitantly lowered her head, pressing her lips gently against Varos’s skin, just as they had done for her. Then, very timidly, she bit him. Once she tasted the first drops, her instincts took over and her fangs embedded deep into Varos’s muscle. The man groaned and ran his fingers up her spine in silent reassurance. Emboldened, she sucked harder and Varos’s head rolled back. Her antidote was drugging him, and Marcus knew far too well how good that felt.
He stepped up behind her, placing his hands on her hips and smoothing his fingers over the flawless skin of her ass. It felt so good to have her and knowing she was giving herself to them—it made his dick throb. Slowly, giving Avalon time to protest his next move, he slipped his hand over her ass and dipped between her legs. His fingers easily slipped back inside of her. Avalon moaned and arched her back. Her ass pushed up and her pussy onto his fingers, while her fangs were still deep in Varos.
“Does that mean you want my cock, little dove?” he teased.
She didn’t pull away, only humming her consent.
“Will you tell me if it hurts?”
Another hum, this time a little more impatient.
With his hand on her waist, he stepped closer and situated himself between Varos’s legs. Groaning, he wrapped a hand around his cock and guided it to her entrance. With a wiggle of her hips, she sank onto him—and that was all the permission he needed. Though he forced himself to be slow, he was grateful they’d stretched her up beforehand.
Not wanting Varos to miss out, he pressed her hips closer to the other man. When he gave a tentative thrust, Avalon rocked with him. Varos’s groan let him know that his plan had worked, trapping Varos’s cock between the two of them.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her spine. “You feel so good.”
“Fuck Marcus,” Varos growled, squirming beneath Avalon. “You’re going to make me come.”
“I thought that was the point,” he teased with a grin.
But when Avalon growled and grabbed his jaw tightly, Varos accepted his fate.
Avalon’s pussy felt like heaven, squeezing around his girth with just the right amount of pressure. He couldn’t have slowed down if he’d wanted to. He rocked her onto Varos, wanting them to fall over the edge together.
Varos ground his teeth and stiffened but didn’t dare move. Avalon took control, rocking forward on to Varos and backwards onto him. Far too soon for his liking, his spine tingled and his cock pulsed, spilling his come deep inside her. At the same time, Varos gave into his own orgasm, muscles twitching.
He eased up on Avalon, peppering her body with kisses. “Avalon, it’s time to give Varos a break. You’ve fed a lot.”
A low growl rumbled her throat, hitching as if she’d realised what she was doing. She jerked back and stared down at Varos. Lazy eyes found hers, his fangs pushing past his smiling lips.
Anticipating her thoughts, he wrapped his arms around her. “I think I’ve never seen him so satisfied.”
Only then did he realise: Avalon hadn’t come. Yes, she’d enjoyed herself, but she hadn’t climaxed with them. Guilt replaced his afterglow but before he could say a word, Avalon found the mess on her stomach.
“Just like our tears, our cum is bloody too,” Varos explained.
“Oh…”
“We should have warned you.”
Surprising them both, Avalon dragged her fingers through the mess and brought them to her lips. Marcus nearly came a second time.
“How does Varos taste?” he husked against her earlobe, his dick already hardening once more.
“Good.” Then she lifted her head again. “Is that bath still an option?”
“Of course,” Varos chuckled. “You shower off while I fill the bathtub.”
He stepped back and watched Varos guide Avalon out of view, wondering how in the hell he’d gotten so damn lucky.
Varos
He joined Marcus in the kitchen, having left Avalon in the bath with a glass of blood and a book.
“How about I go out and fill up our reserves while you stay behind?” As he spoke, he wrote down his real intent for leaving the house. I will also check on our little friend.
Marcus nodded and scribbled a reply. “We are running low.” Better you go, I might lose my shit with him.
He grabbed his car keys but before he left, he went back to Avalon. He knocked and waited for her explicit permission before entering. This was her private space and even though she’d shared her bed with them, he would never enter without her permission. “I’m going out.”
“I heard.”
He knelt next to the bath and brushed his lips across her shoulder. “Would you like me to grab you anything while I’m out?”
“I miss my own clothes,” she sighed.
“I can go by your house if you like. Maybe even get some of your books?”
“I don’t have my keys.”
“Rest assured a pesky little lock won’t prevent me from getting you whatever you want.”
“My knight in shining armour.” She giggled. “You know where I live, don’t you?”
“We do. We got worried after you didn’t show up to work. Marcus was able to obtain your address shortly after. We know you kept that information from us for a reason, but we had a bad feeling.”
Avalon shrugged. “I can’t be mad. I guess your instincts were right.”
“I will call you from there and you can tell me exactly what it is you want me to bring home.”
She turned her head and smiled at him. “This is my home now, isn’t it?”
“It is, for as long as you need.”
“Will you come with me if I ever decide to leave?”
“Of course, we will. We’ll go where you go as long as you want our company.”
“Thank you.”
“There is nothing to thank us for.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead, hesitating before he left. “I have something to ask you and I want you to be honest with me. Can you do that?”
She too turned serious, her forehead wrinkling as her eyes narrowed. “I’ll be honest.”
“Did we go too far today?”
“No.”
Avalon answered immediately, but it did little to soothe him. “We didn’t mean to persuade you by letting you feel our antidote. We just wanted to help you but now looking back, I can’t help but feel like we’re no better than he was.”
Avalon held his gaze for a long moment before turning her attention to the water, using her hands to make waves across the surface. “The antidote made it easier to say yes. It was almost like a drug.”
His heart sank. He knew exactly how it felt. He’d felt the high for himself, had felt how every worry melted away and the things he normally wouldn’t do felt possible. And now he felt as if he wasn’t any different from the man he’d tried to save her from.
“You asked for my permission, and at no point did I feel unsafe with you. I trusted that if I told you to stop, you would. I felt safe because of it. I didn’t want you to stop—any of it. It made me feel something else but the shadow of him on me. I wanted every bit of it and I don’t regret trusting you.”
“Not even now that your mind is clear again?”
Avalon shook her head and gave him a sincere smile. “No.”
Varos immediately felt the weight lift from his shoulders. “Thank you for speaking so openly with me. Now soak a little and rest. I’ll be back before you know it.”
An hour later, he parked at an empty warehouse they owned. Or rather, one of their aliases owned. They’d bought it just in case they needed it for Lysander, learning from previous mishaps that multiple backup plans were necessary. The closer he got to the silver-lined cell, the more his skin itched.
He unlocked the three deadbolts and stepped inside, clenching his teeth against the burn of the silver. The high purity metal was aggravating. Troy’s head shot up and he thrashed against the chains, though he was trapped in place.
“Good. You’re still alive,” he purred, dropping Troy’s food rations just out of reach. “It’d be a shame if I found you dead.”
“They’ll find me,” Troy said in a weak attempt at a snarl.
Varos couldn’t help but laugh. He crouched down and grabbed the chain, yanking the bastard closer to him. “No one will ever find you. They will find nothing but remnants of your truck and a path of burned storage units. You see, yours is not the first body we’ve ever hidden.”
Troy’s eyes widened and he bucked against the chains once more, only succeeding in drawing blood as the collar cut into his skin.
“I wish I could torture you the way you did her. Avalon is the only one who has the right to make you pay.”
“She’s dead.”
Varos stood up and smirked down at the pesky, worthless worm. “So, you thought.”
On his way out, he kicked the food rations towards his victim, then secured the deadbolts and went back to the car.
While he’d focused on saving Avalon, Marcus had taken control of Troy, ensuring that their paths were destroyed. After all, Marcus had always enjoyed destruction. Blowing up a few gas tanks and the storage units had come easy to him. At first, they’d both wanted Troy dead for what he’d done but as their minds had cleared, they’d realised that Avalon needed to be the one to take revenge.
Traffic was a nightmare but once he made it to Avalon’s apartment, picking the lock was easy. She had a small living space with a kitchen and breakfast nook to the right of the door. The flowers they’d given her were on the breakfast table in a plastic cup, already drying out. Though it warmed his heart that she’d displayed them, he shook his head and made a mental note to buy a multitude of vases.
He took out his phone, and dialled Marcus’s number.
He must have handed over his phone, because it was Avalon’s voice that drifted through the speaker. “Hi.”
“I’m in. Have you thought about what I should pack?”
“There are some sweaters and leggings in my closet.”
He bypassed her bed and reading nook, finding exactly what he needed in her small closet. It wasn’t as full as he’d expected. Her whole apartment was fairly modest, actually. The only thing that stood out were a tidy bookshelf in one corner and her paintings in another.
“I see them.” He put her on speaker and looked around, searching for a bag to pack her things in. “I can add your underwear too if you like.”
“Only if you don’t judge me.”
“Never.”
After he’d made sure to pack all her clothes, he reached into the drawer that he suspected housed her underwear.
“I think I’ve got everything now.” Though Avalon wasn’t finished, listing off a few more items that he added to the duffel. “I see I should have thought this through better and brought more bags.”
Avalon giggled, and Marcus laughed in the background. “There should still be a few moving boxes under the bed.”
He found the boxes exactly where she said they’d be. “Perfect.”
“Can you grab my e-book reader and laptop? They should be next to my bed on the nightstand.”
Varos added the devices to the bag, then searched in the drawer for the chargers. As he pulled them out, a small satin bag fell to the floor. Curiosity getting the better of him, he opened it and peeked inside—then grew lightheaded from the rush of blood flowing south. It was one of those vibrators women used to fuck themselves. If he could blush, he would have. He quickly closed the bag and returned it to its home.
“Got it. Would you like me to pack your books too?”
“If you can.”
“A few books are nothing compared to the mountains I would move for you.”
Keeping her on the phone, he emptied her bookshelf, then collected the random books scattered about the apartment. He could tell that her giant beanbag was especially loved, so he ordered one on rush delivery to be there by that evening. He stuffed the blankets in the boxes, then his attention fell on the paintings.
“I would like to take your paintings too, but only if you allow it.”
Avalon hesitated, but then agreed. “Okay.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re the one who has to stare at them.”
“I would rather admire them. I should be back in about an hour. If there’s anything else you need, we can always come back.”
“Okay.”
Thankfully avoiding the nosy neighbour, he packed everything in the car and locked the door with the spare key Avalon had guided him to.
Restocking their blood supply went off without a hitch. Humans were still easily bought. At least one thing that hadn’t changed during his existence.
Back at home, he stored away the blood and found Avalon in the garden, yet again in the midst of the roses. Marcus lay in the sun by the patio, simply enjoying his view of her.
“She’s been standing there since you called. The butterflies love her.”
“And she clearly loves them.”
At the sound of footsteps, he turned to see Lysander exit the house. He went to the car and returned with the boxes of books, disappearing into the small sitting room. Curious, he followed him to find Lysander rearranging his own library to make room for hers.
“For someone who hates her, you’re trying pretty hard to make her feel comfortable in your home,” he stated, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I don’t hate her . I hate what you have done. Disliking a person and disliking a situation are two completely different things. She shouldn’t be punished for your screw-up.”
“Is the big bad wolf saying he’s warming up to our little dove?” If looks could kill, his life would’ve ended then and there. “Fine. While you take care of her treasures, I’ll get her clothes.”
Though as he got to the car, Avalon already had her bags of clothes and Marcus was carefully transporting her paintings into the house. Once he had the last of her things, he followed her to her room where Marcus was delicately setting the canvases down.
“Will you allow us to hang them around the house?” Marcus asked as Avalon disappeared into the closet.
“Only if you do the hanging, and I’m allowed to keep the ones we made together in here.”
“I think that is an unfair exchange as mine and Varos’s are horrendous compared to these, but I’ll agree.”
“I like them.”
“Then they are all yours,” he agreed, helping Marcus with the paintings.
Once everything was out of the car and in her room—except her paintings—he and Marcus retreated, finally giving Avalon some space to get settled.