"Y-you okay?" Laurie asks, putting out a hand close to mine without actually touching me.
"Yes," I find my voice. "I knew that. I have a picture of the clubhouse from... after."
"Right," Declan said after a long pause. "Well, we thought we'd spread out in a wider radius. Interview more packs in the nearby area, see if anyone knew what happened."
"Yeah. Sounds good." I cover my hand with my mouth.
"I'm s-s-sorry for your l-l-loss," Laurie stutters softly.
I jerk my head. "It was a long time ago. Do you think…" I swallow. "Do you think you could ask around to find out what happened to my family, too?" I tell them the date my family died. Laurie looks even more stricken. Declan glares at the table.
"Do you remember anything from that night?" Parker asks.
A flash of pain sears my temple. "No," I rub my head. "Nothing. It must have been traumatic. I usually get a headache when I try to remember."
Declan and Parker exchange looks.
"Do…" I rally before I lose my nerve. "do you think you can find out the vampire who did this?"
"I don't know, lass," Declan says grimly, a muscle clenched in his jaw. "But we're gonna try."
Lucius
THE AIR of my crypt thickens as night falls. The magic that makes me what I am tingles along my body, waking my senses. I open my eyes. The night stretches before me, filled with delicious possibility. I have a pet to catch and punish, or reward.
I taste the air as I leave my crypt.
I fully expect Selene has run away. No worries. I will find her. I won't hurt her--I would never harm the little wolf, but I'm not finished with her yet.
I stop when I catch her fresh scent. Selene's room stands open, but she's still here, somewhere in the house. After all that's come between us, she didn't run.
"Pet," I call, stalking barefoot across the carpet towards the telltale sounds. She's on the Sybian, her hands and feet slipped through the bonds.
Oh fuck. Did it not release her? I hasten to her side. "Were you here all day?"
"No." She gives me a tired smile. "I left when the cuffs unlocked, but I wanted to be back before you woke. I wanted you to find me like this."
"Why, pet?" I stroke down her bare back. She's a miracle. I've never known anyone like her, not in two thousand years.
"I wanted to please you," she whispers, closing her eyes and pushing into my hand. She's in that sweet space after a scene, when her resistance has blown away.
"Oh, pet," I stroke back her sweaty hair. "You have. You do."
She whimpers as I lift her off the dildos. As I carry her into the bathroom she twines her arms around my shoulders, settling close until I coax her into a warm bath.
"I take it that you no longer wish to kill me."
"Jury's still out." The corners of her mouth tip up. "I talked to Declan and friends. They're looking for my pack. They told me they'd help me, and I believe them. I think I can trust them."
"You can. They help shifters of all sorts, and hate anyone who threatens the weak." My mouth twists is self-derision. "They owe me a debt, otherwise they'd never work for me."
"That's not true," she surprises me. "They spoke highly of you. Said you were okay... for a leech."
I chuckle and hold a bottle of water to her lips.
Her throat works, her eyes on my face as she drinks. When she's done, she lets her head fall back with a sigh. "So I guess we have a truce?"
"Truce," I agree. "Now hush and let me take care of you." She closes her eyes and I wash her, massaging her feet, her calves, her toes. She's limp and pliant when I'm done with her, her skin pink from the bath. I slide a hand down her inner thigh and she closes her legs, tucking away from me with a whimper.
"Poor pussy," I croon and give her a few painkillers. Her shifter healing has kicked in, healing her labia of all but some residual puffiness, but I don't want her feeling any pain. She lays back, lets me wash her hair.
When I lean close, her lips part, her throat working.
"Shhh," I tell her. "Just be quiet."
She shakes her head.
"Pet. Obey me."
"I watched the sunset," she whispers, her throat hoarse. She sits up, capturing my hand. "It started with a glow. A yellow light on the mountains. The sky had already turned navy blue…"
I sit frozen as Selene describes the dawn, every minute.
When she's done, she licks her lips. "Did I do all right?"
I blink. "Pet. That was perfect."
Selene
I WAKE to cool air blowing across my face. Beside me, a giant form breaks his stillness to stroke the hair back from my face.
"Pet. You're awake."
"You're still here.
"Where else would I be?" He keeps playing with my hair, spreading it over my shoulder, gathering it in his fist. He's obsessed with it. "You feeling all right?"
"Not dead yet."
We're together, alone. The room is familiar. The master bedroom, on the giant king bed across from the fireplace where I was trapped.
I guess he's forgiven me for tearing apart his bedroom.
I twine my legs with his.
"Pet, no. You're sore."
I take his hand and place it on my lower belly. "I'm ready. I want it."
Lucius slides his hand lower, eyes glittering. "You know, you're not really submissive."
"I told you that." I roll my eyes, my breath coming in pants.
"You've always been too brave for your own good. Even when you kneel for me, you show no fear."
I snort. "I've always been afraid of you. I'm not dumb."
He pinches my nipples. The pain rings through my body, sets my senses singing. I hook my bare leg around his hips, coaxing him closer, well aware that I can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do.
"I want this."