CHAPTER 6
Rue
When I wake again, I’m groggy and barely hanging onto consciousness. Pretty sure a whimper escapes, but I can’t be certain. Arms are around me and there’s talking, but I can’t really make out the words.
A face swims into my line of sight, and my vision clears enough to get a look at him. He’s one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen. A lock of brown hair hangs in his face, and he flicks it out of his gorgeous hazel eyes. His jaw is peppered with stubble that only adds to his ruggedly handsome features.
He leans in and his fresh linen and fine whiskey scent surrounds me. He murmurs something to his companions and his voice seems semi familiar. “I’m sorry,” he whispers before his wolf canines appear.
At first, I think he’s going to sink them into my neck, and I struggle as much as I can against the arms. I turn my head to find a familiar, equally handsome face and relax slightly. Rhys’s got me and it’s going to be okay. Don’t ask me how I know that I simply do.
The hazel-eyed shifter leans in closer and ever so gently, he licks the venom off the surface of the wound, his rough tongue scraping my skin as he adds his saliva.
An entirely new feeling enters me as the shifter enzymes mix with the venom shooting through my veins, igniting me from the inside out in an entirely separate way. I thought it would be painful, but it’s not. It’s like my body is coming alive to every single brush of skin against mine.
Rhys’ fingers are on my waist as he leans me against his chest, and there’s another large hand threaded through my hair keeping my neck steady from my stranger.
I’m shifted and Rhys’ face swims into view. He looks absolutely wrecked, his features are pulled taut, and he seems seconds away from raging and lashing out at the feral vampire over me being in agony. As he stares at me, I can make out every single fleck of blue in his oceanic eyes. This sensation is doing strange things to my brain like making me want him, them, all of them right now. I’m hexin’ losing it, aren’t I?
Rhys holds me steady, rubbing small circles on my skin to comfort me. He mistakes my moans for pain, whispering, “It’s all right, vixen. You’re going to be okay. We’re here now. Caylix’s shifter enzymes will save your life.”
So, the gorgeous hazel-eyed shifter is named Caylix, my muddy brain registers. My handsome stranger, Caylix, backs off with a frown pulling at his brows. He reaches up to push a piece of hair out of my face and it hits me. Holy cauldron. His hands match the man from the dance floor.
Hang up your hat Prince Charming. This witch found her stranger in only three guesses.
He glances over my shoulder and says, “Rhys, she needs you and Kathan too. We need to be certain we neutralize the feral fucker’s venom, and I’m worried mine won’t be enough with as much as she’s taken. Look”—he points to my neck, but I can’t see what they’re talking about—“her magic is already turning her veins silver as it eats the venom.”
Rhys nods, and gently—almost reverently—lowers his mouth to my neck. When his rough tongue lowers to the wound, his breath fans my neck. There’s a pause as he hovers there, and I wait with bated breath to see what he’s going to do.
He mumbles something, but it’s too soft for me to hear and flicks his tongue across the wound. I swear my entire body comes alive with something other than pain. Something dangerous that starts all the way down in my toes, crawling up between my legs causing my panties to flood. The sensation continues up my spine and explodes behind my eyelids, which I can’t help but close as a soft mewl escapes my lips.
Yep, totally losing it.
At least you’re not in agony anymore, I remind myself, thinking of the vampire’s teeth sinking into me.
To distract myself, my gaze flicks to Kathan, who is a mountain of a man by the way. Inner me wants to climb him like a tree and see what would happen. The other knows he’d probably shake me out of his branches like a bad apple before I’d get far. Oh wow, am I still drunk? The mix of everything is making me loopy.
Kathan’s gaze locks onto mine and intensifies. There’s a wariness there I don’t expect, but also hunger. That can’t be right, can it? It’s gone before I can be sure as he purses his lips. I try to tell him with my eyes he doesn’t have to give me his saliva, but no words come out. And if he understands my meaning, he doesn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he does as Caylix asks. Rhys shifts out of the way, holding me from behind like he can’t bear to let me go.
Kathan closes the distance between us, leaning over so that we’re eye level. I hold my breath, waiting for him to gently place his hand on me like the others, but it never comes. His lick is quick, and rougher than the other two, as his tongue forcibly rolls over the bite. Despite myself, another wave of lust crashes into me.
Hexin’ hex me, hex, hex.
The last thing I need is these shifters scenting my arousal and thinking I’m getting off on this shit. I barely know them. I’m all for a quick fuck in a motel between two horny strangers but this is entirely different. It’s intimate, it’s cozy, it’s—
A groan escapes me. It’s saving my life. Without their intervention, I would die, which I think excuses all the rest. I don’t want to die at the ripe age of twenty-three. Surely, my story doesn’t end this early. I’ve got a life to live, ex besties to ignore, handsome strangers to meet. Speaking of which…
My vision clears further and a little of my strength returns to me. The enzymes are working faster than I expected, and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. “It’s been a while since I’ve read up on shifter lore,” I say out loud, capturing their attention. My voice is hoarse and weak sounding, even to my own ears. “I’m not going to turn into a wolf, am I?”
Caylix’s lips twitch. “No, little witch. There won’t be any extra hairiness in your future. Nature always creates a balance, which is why shifter saliva neutralizes venom,” he explains.
I nod and my eyelids flutter closed as my body warms to the point of boiling, trying to burn out the icy feeling of the venom. I know I shouldn’t be so comfortable around three wolf shifters I don’t know, but I am. Something about their presence makes me feel safe in a way I never have before. Especially not with the warlocks back at the coven.
A hiss makes my eyes snap open, and I find the pixie-haired vampire bartender staring at me. Her eyes are completely red, and her fangs are fully descended. She sniffs the air and the next thing I know, she’s in front of us, staring me down. I jolt from the sudden movement, hexin’ vamps and their vamp speed. Kathan’s eyes capture mine once more, dripping with desire, lust, and confusion. Everything that’s likely reflecting in my own, but the moment between us is over before it can even truly begin as the bartender inches closer, and he turns to face her.
Cocking his head to the side, he studies her. “What are you doing out here, Carla? You can’t leave the bar unattended, and I know damn well your shift doesn’t end for another two hours.”
Carla opens her mouth, looking pained. “That smell,” she mutters, voice strained as she sniffs the air like a damn crack addict snorting a line of coke, her eyes on me even as she speaks. Her gaze narrows on my neck, where the vamp bit me. “Must taste.”
Faster than my eyes can follow, she lunges for me, but Kathan intercepts her by wrapping his hand around her throat. Probably a wise decision as she appears seconds away from trying to bite him to get to me. I’m too bewildered to say anything. What the hex is wrong with vamps tonight?
“Whoa, Carla, stop. What is wrong with you?” he demands as she snaps her teeth at him. “You need to get yourself under control, right fucking now.”
Her face twists in confusion and her eyes stop glowing like she’s fighting against her body’s own urges. “I–I can’t. I have to get out of here.” Without another word, she breaks free from his hold, shoving him out of the way as she flashes away from the building.
Caylix glances in the direction Carla darted off like he’s afraid she’ll phase back any second. While they’re keeping watch, I try stretching my fingers out, and when that works, I try my legs, finding I have some, if not limited, mobility back. Rhys tightens his hold on me, knowing if he lets me go, I’ll crumple, so I’m glad he’s keeping me upright.
Kathan returns his depthless eyes to mine then flicks them to his two companions. “Fuck, we have to get the witch out of here. Something’s seriously wrong. Carla has never lost control like that before.”
“We need somewhere safe to take her. Somewhere without prying eyes—”
Someone groans, interrupting Caylix. Three heads snap to the source in unison with predatory senses. If I had any doubt they were shifters, that certainly confirms it. Alpha’s more than likely from the way they carry themselves. Their eyes narrow on the vampire who is currently sitting up, rubbing the back of his head where he smacked it when Caylix’s wolf tackled him. The wound is already stitched up and his hand comes away without any fresh blood, thanks to his accelerated healing. Must be nice. Witches are almost as fragile as humans, but not quite.
“Where the bloody hell am I?” the feral vampire asks, voice rough and scratchy, with a slight accent. He looks disoriented, like he legitimately has no idea where he is and that he just tried to drain me dry. When he takes in the scene his eyes widen. “What’s happening?” he asks again.
And here I thought feral vampires weren’t coherent…
Kathan’s wide-as-saucer eyes ping pong between me and the vampire until eventually, he runs a hand through his hair and says, “Holy fucking shit, this night just got so much more interesting,” before punching the vampire in the temple with his full weight behind it to knock him out.
I’d wince in sympathy if the fanger didn’t just try to kill me.