Bending to Break

A woman’s job is never done!

Bending to Break Kayden Gray wants to be left alone to hunt demons peace! Peace eludes her when she is forced to hunt with her annoyingly attractive, would-be partner, Micah McKenzie. During their hunt they stumble upon a succubus who strips them of their restraint.

After being forced into an intimacy that seemed inevitable, they must deal with the resulting emotional turmoil, and hunt down an ancient demon that is gaining power each time they fall into each other’s embrace. As they battle death, the succubus, vampires and more, they learn more about one another than they ever expected.

Ebooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Cacoethes Publishing House, LLC. 14715 Pacific Avenue South Suite 604 Tacoma, WA 98444

Bending to Break Copyright © 2007 by AJ Hampton Cover by PK1 Studios Photo © Coka ISBN: 978-0-9799015-7-7 Ebook ISBN: 0-9799015-8-8 www.cacoëthespublishing.com

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Cacoethes Publishing House, LLC. Electronic publication: December 2007

Bending to Break by AJ Hampton

Dedication This novel would not have been possible without the continued support of Kyria, who should win some kind of award for her Google Kung Foo, and Chloe, who is always right. I only hope I can help you girls half as much as you’ve helped me.

Chapter 1

“You’re so not helping me right now,” Kayden Gray hissed to the man lurking behind her. Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on the vampire who had so far eluded her. The night thrummed through her. Silence filled her every sense until she was completely immersed in it, until she became the darkness. The light sprinkling of rain they'd gotten the previous day had left an earthy, real scent behind. The dewy ground was covered in soft beads of moisture that clung to the grass. If she concentrated hard enough, Kayden could hear the dewdrops as one melted into the next, trickling down until they dropped to the ground. Closing her eyes, Kayden became motionless. With a slow, deep inhalation, she took in the scents beyond what was right before her. Her eyes fluttered, and everything around her seemed to stop. Below her, she smelled the decay from the rotting corpses resting as peacefully as they could in a demon-infested cemetery. With every careful step, as her black combat boots sank into the moist earth beneath her feet, Kayden could sense which of the corpses below were truly dead and which would become the undead. Past the smell of death, if Kayden honed the vampiric senses she'd spent the last five years learning to cope with, she could make out the scent of blood. It was salty and metallic. Disgust roiled through her as her mouth started to water in anticipation. She’d kicked a lot of things since her turning, but the bloodlust always hovered under the surface.

Eyes closing, she tried to picture in her mind what she smelled. Blood, dark and thick, ran down a human’s neck. Kayden knew she was too late to save the victim. Far in the distance, she heard the heavy thud of a corpse dropping against stone. The blood had smelled of fear and something sweet; it had been a woman. Jullian, ex-lover, ex-sire and boogieman to misbehaving vampires, had taught her how to tell the weak from the strong, the men from the women, and the sick from the old by just the scent of their blood. Then he’d left her alone in a world where she didn’t belong. Kayden Gray wasn't just a vampire hunter; she was also a vampire, a half-breed. When the Reaper stood laughing behind her shoulder, her lover had saved her the only way he knew how. Trusting him had been the one mistake she’d never be able to forgive herself for. She’d neither died nor survived that night. Instead, she became an abomination, even to the vampires. Her soul had been twisted into something that shouldn’t have been possible. Caught between two worlds, she was now the one thing she’d been raised to hunt—the one thing Jullian had pledged an oath to destroy. The wind blew against her cheeks, bringing the overly sensitive skin to life and filling her with a rush of adrenaline. There was no time to dwell on Jullian when she had a vampire to chase. With the mind of a human and the strength and agility of a vampire, she’d become a dangerous huntress lurking in the night. Even before the change, she’d loved the chase, but now she sought a perverse pleasure in slaying her brethren. Kayden loved the feel of her hair tickling the base of her neck as she sprinted through the night like a phantom. She loved the feel of her fists connecting against solid muscle and bone. She loved the feel as her stake pierced flesh, and she loved the bitter

taste of the ash that erupted soon after. All these sensations became a rush aching inside of her, like a muscle waiting to be flexed. That rush was her pent-up energy, and right now, it was begging to be unleashed on something. Hunting was her job, passed down through the generations. Kayden had learned to cherish it. She loved everything about it—with the exception of Micah MacKenzie, her newly appointed partner. Micah, with his dark hazel-green eyes, was six feet of pure pain in the ass. Currently, that pain in the ass was cocking his shotgun. The scraping of metal echoed through the silence of the cemetery, and just like that, everything shattered. Kayden completely lost her focus, and the vampire they'd been tracking for the last twenty minutes was suddenly gone. "Are you kidding me?" Kayden growled in frustration. "A shotgun? So not helpful right now." Kayden paused for a moment, her pale green eyes narrowed in aggravation at one of the Gray family’s newest additions. Micah was tall, and his wide, muscular shoulders just screamed pure raw male. As she looked up at him, her neck tilting back, she noted that he was taller than Jullian had been. That was saying something in comparison to Kayden’s five-foot two inch frame. Micah’s lips, pale and thin, were curved into a rakish smirk that looked entirely too smug… and entirely too yummy. Would it really be a bad idea if she took his favorite toy and hit him over the head with it? He was looking down at her with arrogance, his eyes sparkling with that never-ending stream of mischievousness that lingered in their depths. Kayden’s stomach fluttered with arousal.

"A shotgun is very helpful, princess,” Micah replied in a very faint mid-western accent. He sounded just as annoyed as Kayden. Kayden drew in a deep breath to quell her irritation and regretted it instantly when she drew in nothing except Micah’s rich, masculine scent. It wrapped around her, drew her a step closer to the man she'd spent the last few months trying to get away from. His scent was a mixture of spice and musk, laced with just a hint of soap—her soap—that he'd used to wash away the sweat from their earlier sparring match. The picture of Micah, naked in her shower with water moving over the rigid planes of his body, suddenly distracted her. Trying to put that image out of her mind, she instead focused on his bravado, smug looks and annoying sarcasm, which—much to her dismay—seemed to mirror her personality in a very aggravating way. He was a good fighter. Better, in fact, than she had been before her change. Roy Gray, her uncle and mentor, noted several times a day with a rising sense of pride that Micah had improved remarkably while training with them. His speed, agility and strength had nearly doubled under her uncle’s careful, yet patient training. And while Kayden pretended not to watch the beads of sweat rolling down Micah’s finely chiseled chest when he worked out, she had to fight the increasing lust she felt. She blamed her desire on inactivity. With the MacKenzie demon hunters, Micah and his brother Elijah, camped out on their piece of hell for God only knew how long, demon activity was down. So was Kayden's morale. What happened to the good old days when she woke to someone trying to cut off her head? She needed to kill something, or get laid. Not that Micah would be interested in having sex with her anyway. They spent

their time between daily sparring matches locked in verbal ones. They couldn't agree on anything, from which station to tune the radio to in his beloved Mustang, to which cemetery they'd go hunting in first. They fought about the weather. They fought about the lack of weather. They fought about fighting. And currently they were fighting about his stupid shotgun. Micah and Elijah MacKenzie were the prodigy demon hunters she’d spent her childhood hearing about. Six months ago, they’d shown up in her little town in search of a particularly nasty creature that had slain their sister. They'd blown in like a tornado. Much to Kayden's increasing annoyance, they hadn't left. As it turned out, Roy knew the brother’s father, Michael MacKenzie. Her uncle Roy and Michael went way back, even sharing their old-school methods of demon hunting. So when Michael asked her uncle to keep an eye on his boys, Roy had accepted. What’s more, he suggested a few training methods for Elijah’s growing powers and Micah's increasing potential. Roy, with his own private funding founded on years of family hunting profits, had converted Kayden’s basement into a training facility. And just like that, Micah and Elijah had moved into the bedroom that used to be occupied by her cousin Paige. After her father’s death, Kayden had inherited the family house and suddenly found herself responsible for her teenage sister. Once hunting evil had just been a job, a family legacy. But after she’d seen the horrors done to her father, Kayden made it her personal quest to kill the things that went bump in the night. After her sire left, mere weeks after he turned her, it seemed like every evil entity Jullian had ever battled rode into town looking to take their vengeance out on her. As

child to one of the most powerful vampires that had walked the earth, she’d become their main target. It was just another parting gift he’d left her. For the last few years, Roy had been talking about bringing in help. Help she’d accept, but having to put up with Micah for God only knew how long… she’d suffer through the seven-day-a-week patrols that lasted from sun down to sun up. And speaking of the devil, she was about to send her so-called help packing. "For the last time, Micah, don't call me princess!" Kayden shouted.

Micah's eyes moved over the delicate lines on Kayden’s face before they settled on her mouth. Her lips were full and pout-y. When she was really mad, like right now, the scowl she shot him should have struck him dead. But instead, it made his heart beat a little faster. "Okay, how about spoiled brat, or, I could go for broke and just tell you that you're being a real bitch right now," he retorted, slinging his gun over his shoulder as he regarded the angry brunette with amusement. It was true; he had entirely too much fun watching the way her cheeks tinged red with anger. Her eyes, a light shade of green that complemented the golden hues of her skin and the dark strands of her hair, always seemed to shine a little bit brighter when they were directed at him. Half the time Micah didn't know if the she was going to kill him or kiss him. Right now, he'd take either if he could get her to shut up for just a few minutes. If he admitted it (which he wouldn't), Micah had become addicted to the energy that crackled from every inch of her hot little body. It was like nothing he’d ever

experienced. His hatred of demons had reached a gray area when he’d met the huntress he’d spent so many years hearing about from his father. She was more human than vampire, he’d been told. This didn’t make him feel any more comfortable. For the first month he’d known Kayden, he’d cringed every time he’d seen her walk into the sun. Would her luck run out? Would she burst into spontaneous flame? He’d never actually tried to put out a vampire. If Micah were honest, he wasn’t even sure what made her a vampire. She had no fangs, had a pulse, and he hadn’t seen her show the slightest interest in blood—not that he’d been paying that close attention to her meal-time habits. "You are this close," Kayden pinched her fingers together, shaking Micah out of his musings, "to a stake in the heart! You might have gotten in one good punch earlier, but I still kicked your ass all over the mat. I will hurt you." Micah took a step closer, and Kayden held her ground as she tilted her chin up so she could stare him in the eyes. She'd faced a group of master vampires by herself, she'd gotten over Jullian’s betrayal, she'd defeated death, and she could face Micah MacKenzie. Her heart pounded in her chest and all that pent-up energy inside her snapped in her veins. "You have super-human strength, while I just have my good looks,” Micah retorted. “Of course you kicked my ass, but I sent you flying on that cute little butt of yours more than once, so what does that say about you and your holier than thou attitude?" "What didn't you get about me staking you?" Kayden groaned. She took one step closer to the scent that wrapped around her and drew her in.

The collar on Micah's worn tan leather jacket was cuffed up, framing his narrow jaw. Kayden could see the tension thrumming through him: the way his eyes darkened, the way his lips pursed. She could feel his heart beating with an elixir so potent it sent waves of energy crashing over her. They were standing nose to nose—well, chin to nose—their nostrils flaring as they squared off against one another. His heart was hammering. She could almost imagine the taste of his blood sliding over her tongue—a painful reminder of what she was. As human as she wished she was, she had to deal with the fact that she was part vampire. She wanted blood, craved the comfort of her bastard sire like all good little childes should, and spent half her energy keeping Jullian’s prying mind out of her business. "Fine!” she yelled. “I don’t care how you kill them, but thanks to your big mouth, you've messed with my tingly sense and let the damn vamp get away!" Micah huffed indigently. "Me? Right. You lost the last vamp all by yourself because you were too busy staring at my ass. And what's wrong with blowing its head off? Less mess, just as effective." "Less mess? Ha! Is the big, bad hunter afraid to get his hands dirty?" Kayden said with a lilting tone and a mock pout. "Please, sweetheart. I've been hunting demons since you were in diapers, so cut the attitude. I've seen more fucked up shit then you could dream of." Oh, that was it, Kayden thought. She got closer, tilting her head and letting the predator in her fill her eyes. “You think you’ve seen it all, huh?” Kayden slid her fingers down the front of his shirt, her eyes following their trail until she heard a hitch in his breath. Her gaze flicked

up to meet his. She hissed, “Until you’ve been stalked, bitten and turned, you haven’t seen anything. You chose this job, I didn’t. Your suicidal sense of vengeance is all macho bullshit. Someday, you’ll turn your back on all this ‘fucked up shit’ and walk away from it. But, I’ll be here until I truly die, and after that, I’ll be some flunky vampire stuck in the shadows kissing my sire’s ass as I watch everyone I’ve ever loved grow old and wither away. So, I think I’m entitled to my attitude, asshole.” Micah narrowed his eyes, truly ticked at her pissy little rant. He closed the distance between them, fighting the urge to wrap his hands around her neck. He grabbed her arm, fingers biting into the muscle as he drew their faces together so that the tips of their noses touched. If they hadn't been screaming at each other, if he didn't see the fury in her eyes, he might have meant to kiss her. "You think I do this for vengeance? I do this because of my family, because of Eli! I had to step up and be a man, to take care of things! I can't walk away any easier then you can, so don't act like you are beyond me. Elijah is my life—he's all I have." Micah released her arm. His lips curved into a condescending smirk. "We're more alike then you think and that's what really pisses you off." "What pisses me off…" Kayden started, ready to tell Micah to take his gun and shove it up his arrogant (perfectly shaped) ass, but her words trailed off as she caught a flash out of the corner of her eye. Kayden heard the annoyed click of Micah's tongue against the roof of his mouth when she didn't finish her sentence. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but stopped when he saw what she was looking at. Kayden heard the rustling of his denim jeans as he straightened his body and brought his shotgun down by his side in firing

position. It was a silent movement, one of a true hunter, but she was too finely focused on Micah and the sound of his increasing heartbeat to miss it. A gust of wind swirled around them, exciting their skin into goose bumps. They both moved into an automatic fighting stance, perfectly mirroring each other. Kayden concentrated on the darkness, sending her senses into the distance like an extension of herself. On the horizon of her sight she fixated on an old mausoleum. The stone walls were cracked and covered in green ivy that grew around it like a blanket. To the right of the crypt was an angelic statue; the white concrete turned ivory with age. Between the two, Kayden could make out a shapeless ball of light that hovered above the ground like a cloud of mist. Kayden turned her head to the side, eyes directed at Micah. "Stay back." Micah shook his head. His eyes flickered from Kayden to the object that was starting to take form, billowing in a glowing white beacon of light. "And miss the fight? I don't think so. This one’s mine." Melodic music drifted over a slight breeze in the otherwise still night. Kayden’s hair danced against her neck, her skin tightening even further. Her nipples drew into hard points. She cast her eyes to the nearby trees. The leaves were perfectly motionless, despite the breeze that lapped at her suddenly hot cheeks. A wave of desire rolled over her with the false draft of scented air, and Kayden felt a staggering bolt of arousal rush though her. What the hell was going on? Micah moaned beside her, and Kayden rolled her eyes up at him in curiosity. Did he feel it too? "Wonderful," Micah whispered as he lowered his gun and relaxed his stance. "I

think it’s a succubus." "What—like a sex sucking thingy?" Kayden asked in disbelief. Rolling his eyes, he said, "Yes, ‘like a sex sucking thingy.' We should go before it gets any closer. We can come back later once we have a spell of protection. While I'm all for a bit of fun in the sack, I prefer my women less of the demon variety." Micah finished with a lazy wink, the contours of his mouth curving in a wolfish grin. Kayden cheeks flushed as she blinked up at him. Her head suddenly felt thick, heavy, and all she could think of was having some fun in the sack with Micah. The only thing she could picture was scraping her nails down his chest and trailing her tongue up the wounds. She shook her head, fighting against the sudden haziness that was making it hard to move. Anger, Kayden thought; focus on how much he annoyed her. "Now, wait just a minute." Kayden meant to sound annoyed, but her voice hitched and it came out huskier than she intended. "Despite what your manly pride says, Roy put me in charge." "Now isn’t the time for this, babe," Micah rasped. His eyes fluttered shut in a dizzying wave of arousal that hit him low in the stomach. Micah tried to move, but he couldn't. The faint music that drifted over him now sounded loud. A soft feminine voice sang through his head, echoing and caressing his most intimate parts. When Micah opened his eyes, it wasn't Kayden that he saw in front of him; it was the succubus. We’re screwed, was Micah's last coherent thought. Beside him, Kayden blinked, her eyes widening at the ethereal-looking being that hovered suddenly before them. The demon was the most beautiful thing Kayden had ever seen. The creature had long black hair that floated in the windless air, moving in tandem

with the flaps of her white see-through robe. Her skin was pale, translucent, and through her Kayden could still make out the statue of an angel in the distance like a double exposure. The demon’s eyes, blue as the brightest sapphire, shone like diamonds in the night as her pout-y lips curved into a sultry smile. Kayden’s head started to spin. Her hand slowly uncurled from around her wooden stake, dropping it to the ground. Beside her, Kayden was only faintly aware of Micah's gun dropping at his feet with a clunk. She wanted to ask how useful his shotgun was now, but she couldn't manage to form the words. Micah was overcome with lust, with need. The voice, soft and heavenly, called out to him. Invisible fingers moved along his jaw and down his shoulders to grasp at his hand, pulling, beckoning. With the last ounce of willpower Kayden could muster, she stepped in front of Micah when he started to move towards the succubus. Somehow Kayden knew that if he went to this demon, he wouldn't come back. Not alive, at least. Micah's front pressed against Kayden’s back, from the tops of his thighs against her ass to his hard pectorals against her slender shoulder blades. With each breath, Kayden could feel the tense muscles in his stomach tighten against her. He was hot—so damn hot. Kayden felt beads of sweat gather at the nape of her neck. Like a heater, waves of fire engulfed her from where his body touched hers. He was aroused, his erection digging into the small of her back with each slight movement from either of them. Another bolt of desire shot straight through Kayden. Kayden's lips parted in a moan, and she felt the warmth of Micah's hands as they settled on her hips, holding her against the swell of his manhood. The beautiful demon in

front of them laughed, ringing a sweet siren’s song that had Micah pressing his body further into Kayden in an attempt to walk through her. For the first time since she’d been changed, she didn’t feel Jullian lurking around in her head. No, there was something much worse in there now. "Oh, my…" The succubus clapped, her long graceful hands appearing to touch, but Kayden knew better. "Aren't you a pair? So much passion; so much want; so much power." Motionless, Kayden was caught in a trance. Her eyes, hazy and heavy lidded, drooped and became unfocused to everything around them. The succubus trailed a ghostly hand down her cheek. Micah whimpered behind her, his fingers bruising her hips as he squeezed her flesh almost painfully. “Look away,” Micah panted with exertion. A slash of pain sliced through his stomach. It hurt to look away. It ripped his insides to fight the voice that lingered in his head. They had to leave, had to get away. He couldn’t. He couldn’t fight the feminine flesh in front of him. It was too much. The scent of vanilla and lavender filled him, and an echoed moan crossed through him. Flashes of images, one by one, moved through his head. They were images of Kayden, of her lithe huntress’s body moving sensually over his. Of her breasts, small and perky, lost in his mouth. In his mind she was spreading her legs, exposing the dripping folds of her sex to him. Stroking, playing, he watched in want as her fingers moved over the delicate flesh. He could feel her, like she was right there and not in his head. With each image that filled him, Micah was losing the battle. He

wasn’t strong enough; he couldn’t free himself of the temptation the succubus baited him with. The demon turned its bright blue eyes up at Micah, holding his gaze, sucking him further into her power. She looked through him and into him, caressing his energy so that she could hold him in the palm of her hand. Kayden looked to the spirit, her eyes tracing over the delicate profile of the translucent skin, down her neck, and stopping at the bountiful mounds of her breasts. A sudden movement in the darkness caught Kayden’s eyes. The succubus unfolded a pair of shimmering wings that spanned three feet in each direction. A gust of wind picked up around them as the demon flapped the beautiful, glittering wings. It was a gust that danced only around them, and the sweet scent of lavender filled Kayden's senses. "And you, my most precious," the succubus whispered towards Micah as it wrapped its velvet wings around the couple. “Do not fight what you desire. I see inside you, I feel you.” A swift heat, strong and heady, moved along Kayden’s body like a lover's caress. She moaned, her head moving back to rest on the wild beat of Micah's chest. His hand, large as Kayden's entire abdomen, curved around to her stomach. It teased her flesh as he pulled her tank top up until he felt bare skin. In an upward stroke, Micah moved his hand, his gaze focused on the succubus before him. Kayden melted into his touch. She curved her body against his, and Micah lost himself in the pleasures that the succubus whispered into his ear. She moaned into his thoughts about all the naughty things he should do to the woman in his arms. Fuck her. Take her. Make her yours.

Micah cupped Kayden’s breast underneath her shirt, his eyes fluttering like wings of a butterfly when the succubus moved a hand down the side of his cheek. She held him with her eyes, forced her will upon him. Kayden’s knees threatened to buckle. Her mind spun as Micah applied more pressure against her tender, swollen flesh. He pulled the lace material of her bra down and a breast spilled into his palm. His other hand moved from her hip to the front for her stomach, just the tips of his fingers dipping below the waistline on her tight black pants. Effortlessly, Kayden shut her eyes, one hand moving over the hand Micah had currently sliding inside the front of her pants. She threaded her fingers through his, guiding him—moving him lower to where she needed him to be. Micah’s hand moved more insistently along her breast, moving with the succubus’s will. Kayden cried out against him, writhing and rubbing her body against his when their combined hands moved under the soft matching lace of her panties. Kayden’s eyes fluttered opened as Micah’s hand found her center. She was wet and dripping with arousal in a way only one man had been able to do before. She let go of his hand, moving hers behind him to cup his neck and hold his body against hers. Kayden felt like she was floating. Nothing felt real; it all felt like a dream. The succubus leaned into them, her large breasts pushing against Kayden’s. It put more pressure against Micah’s hand that still moved under her shirt. The succubus pressed the gentlest of kisses against Micah's mouth. “Bring her,” the demon whispered against his mouth. Her tongue flicked out to run over his lower lip before their mouths sealed in a kiss. The kiss was soft; like walking on a velvet cloud. Kayden felt the dripping

moisture between her thighs increase when Micah's mouth parted at the demon's gentle demand for entrance. Their tongues met gingerly and Micah's jaw, covered in a faint dusting of hair, flexed with his mouth’s movements when the kiss deepened. Micah moaned into the swirling embrace that ate at his soul. It pulled and stole his breath, and as much as he fought the nagging in his brain, he succumbed to the need in his veins. His hand moved lower, cupping the weeping sex of the huntress in front of him. It was heaven. She was wet, hot, and dripping against his palm as her breathing grew ragged. This was wrong. Micah knew it. Somewhere in his mind, he knew they couldn’t go back after this. And with that thought came a lashing of pain from the demon that was sucking out his soul. “Bring her...” echoed and danced inside of him. Micah cupped Kayden’s flesh with more force and determination. The tips of his fingers entered her core each time he moved the palm of his hand against her clit. He rubbed her up and down, bringing her, making her energy spill into the night. White, pure energy swirled and danced around them. Micah’s energy moved along Kayden's body, inside of her depths, and spilled from each moan and plea for more. As his energy grew and melted, it went straight into the succubus as the hunter and huntress merged into one. Kayden cried out on the brink of her plateau, Micah’s hand moving faster and harder against her tender swollen clit. Without mercy he pumped against her. He moved his hand so two fingers began to stretch her. Harder, faster, deeper Micah’s fingers fucked her. Kayden dug her nails against his shoulder in desperation, drawing rich crimson blood that made her mouth water and increased her pleasure. Kayden was too caught up in the wisp of pure bliss to move when the demon

released Micah's mouth with a needy moan and caught hers next. Kayden parted her lips soundlessly, eagerly, accepting the kiss despite the nagging feeling within her. The creature’s tongue was warm and inviting as it moved against her own. Each stroke was deliberate and encompassing. Micah's hand was still gripping at her swollen tender breast, rolling a hard nipple between his thumb and his forefinger. This was wrong—so wrong—and Kayden cried out when a jolt of pain shot through her at the thought. This...this was divinity. Nothing on earth should feel like this. Kayden's hand rose with the succubus’s will, to thread through her jet-black hair and tangle around her fingers. The kiss grew insistent, urgent, and Kayden whimpered when Micah curved another finger inside of her scalding depths. Micah was going out of his mind with lust. He needed Kayden, needed to be inside of her. With every twist of his wrist as he flicked over her g-spot, he imagined his cock pressing into her. When she whimpered and moaned in need, Micah felt his pleasure increase. He watched, his mouth moving over Kayden's neck as she lost herself in the succubus’s kiss. Micah no longer saw a demon, he saw two beautiful women kissing and writhing against each other as he stood behind them and played their pleasure. With lips that were hot and moist, Micah pressed against the back of Kayden's neck. He moaned against her. With a passion filled, open-mouthed kiss, he moved and tickled along her skin, feasting on the taste of her flesh. He couldn't get enough; it would never be enough. Where he touched her, fire moved from those spots and traveled the length of Kayden's body to bring her into rapture. She felt the rough stubble on his cheeks scratch against the tender skin, drawing

out her bliss and making her beg for more. She felt the pressure building inside her stomach, hard and penetrating. Her knees were weak, and the only reason she was still standing was because Micah held her. Kayden cried out suddenly, her hand tightening in the succubus’s hair. All hell broke through her body at once. Kayden reached her brink, pulsing around Micah’s fingers. Her climax poured into the succubus's mouth in long moments of pure orgasmic pleasure. Kayden heard Micah behind her. A hungry whimper sounded from his throat as he thrust his hard cock against her back and spilled himself. His teeth broke through the skin at her collarbone, just inches from where Jullian had once bitten her. He drew blood and Kayden could smell it, sticky and warm. Their combined energy spilled out in an explosion more powerful than anything any of them had ever experienced. Blood, pain, and rich white pleasure surrounded them, mixing, melting, becoming one, and the succubus fed long and deep as Micah continued to stroke Kayden into another mind-numbing climax. Drinking in another powerful wave of lust, the demon reluctantly pulled back. Slowly, carefully, she withdrew from the dazed lovers. A sense of euphoria filled the succubus, and a wide, delighted smile crossed over her doll-like features. "Bound now by blood and lust, a truly special pair you make. With my kiss I give to you the most precious gift as you give to me," the succubus purred. Her hands lingered, one against Kayden’s cheek and one against Micah’s, before she backed away and broke final contact. The demon glowed bright, her flesh no longer white, but now a pale pink— healthy with life from the energy she’d fed from. It wouldn’t last, the succubus knew this,

but it was a beginning. The ritual had begun. A wicked smile crossed over her now deep ruby lips. She flapped her translucent wings into the night. She floated away, leaving a hazy huntress and her hunter to bask in just a faint taste of what ecstasy she could bring them. They would fight it, the succubus knew, and with that anger, came their passion. It was the true lover’s passion she'd been seeking for over the past five hundred years. She’d finally found it. "Feed me well, my lovers. Feed me and I will be free." With that, the succubus vanished.

Chapter 2

The large custom-built engine of the black ’67 Mustang GTO roared as it skidded precariously through the dimly lit suburban streets. The heavy steel sound of Slayer blared from the speakers. Neither Kayden nor Micah heard it. If Kayden had been in her right mind (which she wasn't), she would have demanded that they find something that resembled music. Wind ripped through the interior of the cab, making the short choppy strands of Kayden's hair whip against her cheeks as she stared numbly out of the window. Nothing made sense. Desperately, she tried to remember, tried to force some thought into her head, but she couldn't. Her body trembled as if she was cold, but she wasn't. She was hot, too hot, like there was a fire consuming her. Aftershocks rippled through her, whispering delights of pleasure in her ear. Kayden felt each heavy pulse of her heart between her legs.

Beside her, Micah blinked, feeling the heavy press of pulsing blood through his veins. Where she throbbed, he ached. Every pore of his body was aroused, sensitive, and thrumming from his climax. His knuckles whitened from his tight grip on the thin, black steering wheel. Micah blew out a deep breath of air. Home, he needed to be home. His heavy, boot-clad foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, speeding the car faster down the road. Micah was on autopilot, moving without thinking. How they had gotten from point A, the cemetery, to point B, his car, was lost in the translation. Everything was

hazy, yet so unbelievably clear that he couldn't make any logic out of it. He could sense Kayden beside him, her hair blowing around her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her pout-y lips were still swollen. Micah could feel her heart pounding in her chest as if it was his own. He could smell the sweet nectar of her arousal that still lingered on his fingers. He felt it… felt it in his own blood. Everything inside Micah was chaotic and blurred, the exact opposite of the view from the car window. It was a clear night, and the bright stars shined and shimmered against the black backdrop. A faint hint of rain lingered in the air. Micah could feel that moisture all throughout his body. It was cool out, no breeze. It was October and the leaves were starting to transform to a nice rusty orange. Despite the wind from the moving car, Micah felt hot. His skin was crawling, itching, and he felt an unbelievable smoldering sensation tickling against his spine. Micah turned onto Clearwater Drive, pulling to an abrupt stop in Kayden’s driveway before he cut the engine. He was home, but something wasn’t right. Kayden’s eyes fluttered open and shut, her hair a mass of tangled waves that made her look wild and untamed. Her breathing was shallow and labored as she slowly turned her eyes on Micah. Everything was so unclear except for him. Him, she could make out in striking clarity. She watched with longing as his tongue moved over his lower lip. She remembered how divine his mouth had felt against her neck. Against that one spot no one but Jullian knew about. His hair, a nice golden brown, was short and glistened with just a faint hint of gel that made it stand in small spikes. Her hands itched to scratch against his scalp, to hold his head to her breast while he devoured her. His jaw twitched like he was grinding teeth,

and Kayden felt a sudden need to feel him move through her. She wanted him hard, thrusting deep inside of her. She wanted to feel his skin beneath her teeth, his blood in her mouth when he spilled inside of her. "Gods..." Kayden panted, drawing a finger down the middle of her chest, lighting a fiery trail of uncontrollable desire within her. "I feel so... so..." The desire flickered, multiplied, and Micah felt himself harden at the look of pure, unadulterated lust coming off of the woman beside him. Micah let go of the steering wheel, leaving moist imprints where his hands had been. He rubbed his hands against the coarse material of his jeans. He soon regretted the action as the sensation of his own hands sparked an added fire along with the image of replacing his own hands with hers. He looked over at Kayden; his normally hazel eyes turned a rich, vibrant green. "Hot," Micah supplied. He licked his lip erotically in a calculated response to how Kayden had lazily, but deliberately, traced of the outline of her breasts for him with one delicate finger. And she didn't stop there: her clever fingers moved lower to smooth over her thigh. She moaned and pressed her breasts outwards. Her hand curved, moving against the inner muscle on her leg and up towards her dripping sex. "How did we get here?" Micah asked, forcing his eyes away from her roaming hands and straight into her illuminated depths. If he thought that by shifting his gaze from her devastatingly alluring body, he would be able to control the rapid surge in his hormones—well, he was gravely mistaken. Their eyes met and like a flash of lightening, sudden, powerful and demanding, something moved through them. Kayden gasped as if all the air in her lungs had been

sucked out. It was as if she were dying all over again. Her hands moved to the edge of her seat. Kayden continued to gasp as though she were drowning. Her eyes fluttered as waves of pleasure washed over her. Micah stared with his mouth open, and with a force that seemed entirely beyond his own control, he reached out to touch her. His fingers smoothed over her face until he cupped her cheek. It was then that Kayden finally drew in a rich, heavily-scented breath. The pad of Micah's thumb moved along her cheek until he reached her lips. He drew a finger across her lower one, pulling it down as he traced the soft skin. Languidly, Kayden sucked his finger into her mouth, her tongue slowly passing over the flesh before she brought it between her teeth. She moaned, tasting herself on his skin as she surrendered to a new wave of bliss. Kayden writhed in her seat, gasping out. Micah's other hand reached across the seat to trail down her neck and arm. The infectious heat of his skin moved over hers, licking like a thousand mouths nibbling at her most tender parts. "Micah..." Kayden moaned around his finger, sucking the digit all the way into her mouth as her hips started to buck in the air. Micah closed his eyes, and the pleasure that was hers moved through her and into him. It was overwhelming, like nothing he could explain. Like nothing that should have been possible. Next came a blinding frenzy of movement, one too quick to see. One second Kayden was in her own seat and the next, she was in Micah’s lap, their mouths fused together as she panted and writhed against his hard cock. Micah's hands were everywhere

at once. He felt her small, yet powerful, body on top of his, this sensation alone throwing him into cataclysms of ecstasy. With her fingers threaded through his short hair, nails scratching at his scalp, she came unglued just from the passionate lust in their kiss. Their tongues dueled, fighting and playing as rolling waves of pure orgasmic bliss passed between them. Kayden peaked in his lap, her muscles going stiff when Micah devoured her mouth and rubbed her body against his. He knew nothing except her, knew nothing besides the fact that he needed to be inside of her. He could see his body thrusting into hers. He could even taste it. Home, he needed to be home.

In the homey living room, the light click of keyboard keys tapping combined with the rustling of paper. The three occupants sat in a comfortable, familiar silence. Alex Gray, Kayden’s fifteen-year-old sister, was curled in an oversized tan chair, her large brown eyes riveted to the glossy pictures in her newest Teen Beat magazine. The teenager gave a despondent sigh—half in boredom and half in longing—as she readjusted her long, willowy legs to hang over the arm of the chair and dangle in the air. She ran a slender hand through the dark locks of her hair, moving the shiny strands over her shoulder. She flipped another page and gushed over a picture of Chad Michael Murray. On the couch adjacent, separated from the chair by a light-brown oak coffee table, sat Paige Gray, Kayden’s cousin, and Elijah, Micah’s younger demon-hunting brother. The gentle curve of Paige’s smile was visible through the wafting steam that rose from

the large navy-blue cup of chamomile tea she cradled in both hands. A certain calmness washed through her. Paige couldn’t help but think about how right things felt these days. Sweet, hot herbal tea moved down her throat, and Paige tucked her legs beneath her a little tighter before she took another sip from her mug. It had been six months since Micah and Elijah had come crashing through their small town with their tome of ancient rituals. Somehow, they had managed to avert an impending catastrophe just seconds before Kayden met her second demise. From that moment, when Kayden had knocked the eldest MacKenzie brother on his ass and pressed her heeled boot to his throat, demanding to know just who in the hell he thought he was storming onto her turf, their feuding had been non-stop. Paige cast her olive eyes at Elijah’s profile, noting the narrow, prominent point of his nose. It was Micah’s nose, the only striking similarity that she’d found between them. While Elijah was younger than Micah by nearly four years, he was about three inches taller and ten pounds lighter. Micah had short golden-brown hair, where Elijah’s dark-brown hair was straight and at that length where the ends had started to flip out. Paige watched as Elijah’s warm coffee eyes narrowed in concentration. His lips pursed up in determination. Every few seconds the rapid tap against his keyboard would pause so he could push the bangs that hung well below his eyes out of his way. Elijah fit right in with the Gray family, like he’d found a niche he hadn’t been looking for. While Micah was mostly all brawn, Elijah had an extra intelligence and wit about him. This wasn’t to say the younger MacKenzie wasn’t strong and that he couldn’t give Micah a run for his money sparring-wise. Elijah’s real strength was in his mind, and

in the potential that they were just starting to discover. Even now, Paige could see the wheels turning in his head as he hacked into the city’s mainframe. But under that, she could also see the burdens: the pain and the loss. Micah, with his outlandish charms, seemed to live a carefree, risk-filled life to the fullest degree possible. Elijah was a bit more reserved. More like her. Looking at Elijah, who was now just as much part of the team as her or her older brother Kyle, made her think about Micah and the less-than-stellar impression he’d made, and continued to make, on Kayden. The thought of Micah and Kayden’s constant bickering, both annoying and amusing, made Paige’s grin turn into a full-blown smile. With every shout—every time Kayden stepped into his face, and Micah pushed back just as hard—the energy around them flared to life. Roy had told Kayden that if they would use just a fraction of the effort they put into infuriating the other and transferred that it into defeating evil, the world be a safe place and his kind would no longer be needed. Through Kayden’s whining and ranting over late night mochas, Paige had tried to get Kayden to admit to any lusty thoughts she might have about Micah. And while Kayden vehemently denied having anything but loathsome exasperation for the demon hunter, Paige knew her cousin all too well. There were the looks she caught when Kayden thought no one was watching. There was the spark that filled Kayden’s eyes, and for the first time since Paige could remember, Kayden hadn’t mentioned, or complained about, Jullian in a few weeks.

“What are you smiling about over there?” Elijah’s deep voice cut through the silence as he lifted his eyes over the rim of his silver laptop.

His fingers paused on the keyboard, his lips curving upwards as he watched the smile on the redhead’s pale, oval face brighten. They shared a tender look. “I’m just thinking about Micah and Kayden,” Paige sighed. “It’s so romantic.” “It’s pathetic!” Alex called out from her seat on the chair. Paige and Elijah couldn’t help but chuckle at her tone. “I mean, could Kayden drool any more? Hello, like, get a life!” Elijah’s chuckle turned into an honest, carefree laugh as he moved a floppy lock of hair out of his eyes. “I’d say it’s pathetic all right, but only because my brother is a total moron when it comes to women—Kayden in particular. You'd think he was in elementary school, not twenty-nine.” “It’s because he’s hot,” Alex replied. She twisted her head over her shoulder to smile at Elijah. “That’s why he acts like a moron, or at least that’s what Kayden says.” Paige shook her head at the glazed look that passed through Alex’s eyes when Micah was mentioned. It wasn't a secret that she had a crush on him. “I think Micah’s a little too old for you, Alex.” The teenager rolled her eyes dramatically, huffing around in her chair until her back faced the couch once more. “As if I’d want him anyways. Besides, Kayden is the one who gets all the hot guys. Vampire or not, how she pulled in Jullian is beyond me. Besides, I’m not allowed to date, remember? Elijah, do you think I should dye my hair? Joy dyed her hair this really pretty shade of golden blonde with these really faint brown highlights. Should I do that, ’cause there’s this boy in homeroom, and he gave me this note saying he wanted to ask me out?”

Sitting back on the sofa, Elijah stretched his long legs under the coffee table and brought his arms behind his head. He smiled affectionately at Alex before he turned to Paige, sharing a smile over Alex’s random comment. Randomness was a trait that the Gray sisters shared. “Brunettes are way hotter than blondes; just ask Micah, he’ll tell you. He can give you a list why brunettes are more fun,” Elijah replied with a smirk. His tone turned serious as he felt the protectiveness well up inside of him. He’d never really gotten to know his own sister. “Besides, kid, you don’t want to change yourself just to impress some guy. And about those notes, do I need to pay him a visit? Because I’ll kick his ass, you know. I’m taller than him.” “Wonderful,” Alex whined. “If Kyle wasn’t enough, now I’ve inherited two more overprotective brothers. I’m never going to get a date! And don’t call me kid. I’m almost an adult.” “Alright, Ms. Almost an Adult, it’s time for bed. You’ve got school in the morning, and it’s eleven,” Paige said gently as she set her cup of tea on the table. It wasn’t a role she liked to play, but with Kayden’s late night patrols, Paige had stepped into the maternal position when her cousin couldn't be there. Like Micah and Elijah, Kayden and Alex had been raised with no mother, and after the death of their father, Kayden had been burdened with the weight of a teenage sister alongside dealing with Jullian’s betrayal. “Come on, Paige, just another half an hour.” Alex’s voice dropped an octave. It gave away the genuine concern she felt. “I just want to make sure they make it back all right.”

Elijah and Paige shared a sad smile; it was part of the job. You never knew what to expect. Kayden was proof of that. “You know Micah would never let anything happen…” Elijah paused, blinking as a wave of chaos rolled through him. It took a second to shake it off before he could continue, “to Kayden. He might act like he doesn’t like her…” Both Paige and Alex looked at each other, then at Elijah, as he brought a hand up to the side of his head. He rubbed his temple in a slow smooth circle. His eyes scrunched up. Paige moved closer, placing a very gentle hand on his arm. “What is it?” Elijah shook his head, his hair rustling with the motion. “I’m not sure… when I just said that, I got this feeling. I just… I can’t,” he said in confusion. Something wasn’t right. “Its okay, just breathe like Roy showed you. Concentrate on the feeling and see where it takes you. Don’t fight it,” Paige said slowly as she gave him a reassuring squeeze. She wasn’t a clairvoyant like Elijah, but she had her own breed of skills she’d had to work through. Alex sat straight up in the chair, her magazine discarded as she watched Elijah relax the muscles in his body. He sat there, completely still, and Alex couldn’t calm the worry bubbling in her chest. “Earlier tonight, I felt something, but I shrugged it off because it didn’t really make sense. I didn’t say anything; I’m still new at all this premonition stuff, but now I’m feeling it stronger.” “Can you describe it?” Paige asked in a soothing voice, trying to help him focus.

Elijah shook his head. “It’s hot. I don’t know how else to explain it. I just feel all this heat and this consuming pit inside my stomach. The more I focus on it, the stronger it feels. Something isn’t right, Paige. I don’t think they are hurt, but something is definitely wrong,” he said, suddenly serious. A screech of tires broke the tense silence. It wasn’t just Paige who breathed a relieved sigh when the familiar sound of Micah’s car sputtered into silence. Paige smiled, her eyes shining as she removed her hand from Elijah’s arm. “See, it’s okay. They’re home—must have been a slow night. Maybe you just sensed Micah coming back; you’ve been doing that a lot lately.” Paige smiled. “You have that uncanny knack for knowing just when he’s about to burst through the door.” "With an angry half-vampire in tow." Elijah chuckled at the release of tension, and with that, the consuming bite in his stomach faded away. Alex sprang up from her chair and hurried to the blinds to peak out the window. “You only know Micah’s coming because you can hear him arguing with my sister from about a mile away… and ewwww!!!” Alex shrieked, jumping back from the window like it had bitten her. “They are totally making out! Oh my God, gross!” “I knew she liked him!” Paige cried out. “See Elijah, you were right—they were just off with the lust bunnies, that’s what you felt.” Elijah shook his head. “Okay, I’m going to go with the kid on this one: ewwww!” Alex moved back to the window, peeking out in morbid curiosity as she pressed her nose to the glass. A faint mist of moisture from her heated breath fogged the windowpane, and Alex frowned when she couldn’t see anymore. “All right, that’s enough. Give them some privacy,” Paige said.

“Give them a room is more like it! I swear, they are all over each other. You’d think they were dying in there the way they are kissing.” Paige was about to laugh until she looked over at Elijah, who now had a perplexed look on his face. “It's happening again, that feeling... Something is not right and this time I’m sure.”

Blindly, Micah threw open his car door and dragged Kayden with him, mindless to anything else. They moved as one, feet tripping and scrambling against one another, mouths never unfastening as they maneuvered their way to the house. As they moved, Kayden's hand fought with his jacket, pushing it down and off his arms as he walked her backward up the driveway and onto the porch. The heavy jacket landed on the covered entrance, discarded and forgotten. She moved her hands over the taut muscles of Micah’s arms, chest and back, all seemingly at once. She needed him; she needed his flesh under her fingers, his blood on her tongue. Micah wrapped his arms around Kayden’s back. He hugged her slight frame to him and slid his hands underneath her shirt so he could feel her skin to skin. Their chests were flushed and their pulses raced in each other's veins. The shared rhythm anchored them to each other. Micah kept moving forward until Kayden's back collided against the first solid object that he could use as leverage. That object happened to be the front door, and the thud as her head banged against the wood resonated inside the house. Without missing a beat, Micah threaded a hand through her dark silky locks, pushing his erection between her thighs. He drew her head to the side, away from the

door, as he slid his mouth over the curve of her jaw, over the prominent scar that had changed her into something not quite human. His kisses were hot and insistent against her neck while he suckled the sensitive point. Kayden keened against him, and didn't think twice when he urged her to move her legs around his waist. His hands were there, cupping her ass and smoothing up her back as their lips met once more. Micah moved his hands up her tight black top, drawing the material up as he went. Panting, eyes heavy with desire, they separated for just a moment so he could pull the material over her head. He threw the shirt, mindless to where they were, and who could see them. Kayden shook her head free until her bangs moved away from her eye line. She welcomed Micah's hand as he smoothed the stray locks out of her face so he could devour her mouth once more. The stubble on his cheek and chin rasped against her smooth skin, abrasive and arousing. Nothing mattered; nothing but being joined; nothing but extinguishing the fire that raged through them. The door they were leaning against gave way, and Micah didn't even flinch as he and Kayden tumbled clumsily inside. Their mouths were still locked together, and Micah's hands were now busy fumbling with the stubborn clasp on her bra. They were ignorant to the gasps of shock as Micah regained his balance and pushed forward with a topless woman in his arms. Kayden moaned loudly when one of Micah's hands cupped a breast, drawing another gasp of shock from their audience. Kayden's hand fumbled between the pair, nimbly working Micah’s leather belt from the

buckle before she pulled it out of the loops. Kayden got the belt free and before it hit the ground, her fingers were already working on the button fly of his jeans. "Micah?" Elijah asked incredulously, his mouth hung open. He watched his brother move toward the stairs with a trail of clothes in his wake. "Oh my God!" Alex shrieked. "Are they going to do it right here?” Paige slapped a hand over Alex's eyes, pulling the lanky brunette out of harm’s way when Micah plunged forward, mindless of who, or what, was in the way. Elijah called out again, concern rich in the deep tones of his voice. "Micah, man, can you hear me? What the hell is going on?" Neither Kayden nor Micah answered. By the time Paige snapped out of her shock, they were halfway up the stairs and kissing like they really would die if they separated. "Elijah, you were right; something's wrong. Their energy, it’s..." Paige stammered as her pale cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment. Looking over at the redhead, Elijah’s eyes darted between her and Micah, who now had Kayden pressed against a wall at the top of the stairs. He saw a flash of golden flesh and a hint of rose-colored nipple as Micah threw Kayden's black lace bra to the ground and then bent to cover the areola with his mouth. Elijah blinked in astonishment, frozen, as Kayden thrust her hand inside of Micah’s pants. Elijah pivoted on one foot, quickly turning from the sight. He slammed his eyes shut as tight as they would go. "You don't say!" Elijah exclaimed. He was too afraid to open his eyes, even though he knew he couldn't see anything with his back turned to the pair. After a few

seconds and lots of deep breathing, Elijah reopened his eyes. "What where you saying about their energy?" Alex giggled beneath Paige's hand, moving it out of her way. She opened her eyes only to snap them shut. "Is that... I mean is he? Why is her hand down his pants…? Oh my God, she’s not… is she?" Alex stuttered, blushing as she too turned her back and slapped a hand over her eyes. “Okay, I’m having nightmares for the rest of my life.” “Gods yes, Micah…please, I need to feel you. I’m hot… so damn hot. Bring me, Micah, please bring me,” Kayden begged loudly, forcing Alex to slap her hands over her ears instead of her tightly closed eyes. “And now I’m deaf! Make 'em stop, Eli.” "Okay, we need my dad here now," Paige squeaked, moving as quickly as she could towards the phone. At the top of the stairs, Micah licked the breast he had in his mouth, his teeth nibbling against the flesh. He rolled the other nipple between his fingers. Kayden ground her hips in a circular rhythm against him. She threw her head back, her swollen clit pressing against the ball of her fist. She moaned out his name, breathless and needy as her hand encircled the thick crown of his penis. "Yes," Micah hissed. Desperately, he curved his hands into her pants, finding her pussy dripping before he thrust two fingers inside of her core. Simultaneously, Kayden pumped her fist over his hard flesh. "You’re on fire, babe. Fuck, you feel so good… too good. I can’t stop, never stop," Micah panted loudly.

They were completely oblivious to their audience as they worked each other into a frenzied, fevered pitch. To Micah, to Kayden, they were the only ones in existence. Micah reluctantly pulled his mouth from her breast, his lips moving up her chest in wet hot kisses before he found her wanting mouth. He removed his fingers from her depths, cupping her ass as he drew her from the wall and moved them blindly down the hallway. Bed, he wanted a bed. As they went, a massive fury of smoldering lust, they bumped against the wall to knock down a picture frame that shattered into a million tiny glass pieces. The glass crunched under Micah’s heavy boots, scratching the wood surface of the floor. Nothing mattered, not the picture, not their family and friends; there was nothing, nothing but their mindless need for each other. With blind luck, Micah maneuvered them into the bedroom he shared with Elijah. The door slammed shut behind them, rattling the windows in the living room from the force. The door locked, invisible hands sealing them inside of their paradise of sin as Kayden and Micah tumbled onto the bed in a mess of limbs. With a sultry grin, Kayden pulled her swollen lips from Micah’s. She pushed him onto his back, moving to straddle his hips as she grabbed the cotton of his shirt and ripped it over his head. The light green tee sailed through the air, sliding across the floor and onto the dresser. Kayden purred, moaning as she pivoted her hips to rub her center over the hard ridge of his cock. She looked down, her eyes a brilliant shade of green as she took in the sight of Micah’s well-defined muscles. His chest heaved up and down with his labored breath, and his tight-ridged abs rippled when he flexed his muscles in an effort to sit up. He needed her; he needed to feel her mouth on his, needed to feel her breath in his lungs.

Kayden pushed down against his shoulders, playfully scolding him before she bent down to take a flat, taut nipple into her mouth. Micah moaned at the contact as he felt the consuming fire explode within him. Kayden raked her nails down his chest, scratching over the trail of hair that led under his unbuttoned pants. A wake of blood beaded from her where her nails had been, the scent more alluring than anything Kayden had ever experienced. She bent forward, the strands of her hair tickling against his flesh before she pressed her mouth to his wounds. Moaning, Kayden almost came right then, the taste of him better than anything she’d ever experienced. She tasted salt and something so fundamentally him, she knew she’d never want another again. "I need you now. Jesus, Kayden, I need to be inside of you," he panted hungrily before he flipped them over and covered Kayden’s blood-stained mouth with his own. His teeth nipped at her lips, forceful and passionate as their teeth clinked against each other’s. His hands fumbled with her pants, pulling them ungracefully from her hips. He dragged her black thong down her legs as she helped kick off her shoes and unwanted clothing. She was sweating, her skin flushed and red with the heat that radiated from the lovers. The cool air hit her skin, moving along her body like a ghostly kiss, and Kayden's back bowed off the bed. Micah's lips moved up her legs as he used his hands to spread her thighs wide, opening her to him. Micah's eyes fluttered shut as he nipped at a spot at the back of her knee. He massaged as he went, his mouth hot as he let the sweet perfume of her center draw him into insanity. This, Micah knew, was crazy. He found her hot and wet, dripping with arousal as he cupped her weeping sex.

Kayden arched off the bed once more, every touch ten times more sensitive then it should have been. She climaxed; his fingers brushing against the tight bundle of nerves made her scream out his name just before he rammed two thick fingers inside of her. Micah groaned, her climax exploding inside of his head. He could feel it; could feel every dance of wicked pleasure that washed over her as if it were his own. He thrust his fingers inside her, his wrist twisting as their mouths found one another. With a few more pumps he brought her off again, addicted to the feeling of her muscles clenching around his invasion. Teeth, piercing and sharp, pulled against Kayden’s lip when Micah broke their kiss. He withdrew his fingers, replacing them with his mouth. He wrapped his arms under her thighs and brought her leaking slit to his mouth. Kayden screamed out once more, her voice already raw as she bucked against the smooth velveteen surface of his tongue flicking at her hard nub. Micah clutched her, his fingers bruising her thighs where he held her still and brought her off again. She poured into his mouth, and Micah drank her, drank her essence, her power, and her energy. Her heady taste filled him, sweet and musky, as he sucked the hard nubbin into his mouth. He alternated quick thrusts and nibbling bites, driving her mad. From top to bottom, from her clit to anus, he ate her, licking, kissing and biting until she dripped off his chin. "Now. Micah," Kayden cried out as she threaded her hands through her tangled hair in an attempt to keep herself grounded. She was floating; her body felt too light to be real as one climax rode into the next. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced, nothing that should have been possible.

Kayden wasn't able to control it. Power moved over and through her, and she could feel it like it was a solid object. She felt Micah, felt who he was, the pain, the loneliness, the hunter. It was in his blood, just as the huntress was inside of her. They joined together, flowing in one smooth connected line until Kayden couldn't harness it. It spilled from them, and Micah cried out in what sounded like agony. It was— it was the beautiful torture of a true union. It was time, and Micah pulled himself from between her thighs. It only took a second—one second of painful separation that they both felt in the pits of their stomach—for Micah to pull down his pants and boxers enough to free his burgeoning erection all the way. He needed no guidance, nothing more than instinct as he flipped Kayden onto her stomach. He pulled her hips up, angling her heart-shaped ass in the air right before his cock thrust so deeply inside of her center he feared where he would come out. Tight, scalding heat pressed through his entire body, and he knew he was home. Hell or heaven, he had no idea, but fucking Kayden was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Micah cried out, raw and husky, the sound moving over Kayden's body like a crashing wave. Her walls were slick and tight, and she pulsed around him. He split her in half with heavy, powerful thrusts that sent them both spiraling. He was truly home for the first time since his life had been ripped to shreds by the demon who’d killed his sister and shattered his innocence. Through Kayden's scream, through the sound of her nails as they shred over the cotton flannel sheets, Micah could hear the faint echo of the succubus's song. It was overwhelming—too much—and Micah came within the first thrusts. He filled Kayden, bringing her and himself to a climax as he pumped hot milky white pleasure inside of her.

Micah didn't stop; if he stopped he would die. If he had to pull away from the heat and the passion and the energy that was so tightly wound around him, he'd asphyxiate. His hands on either side of Kayden's narrow hips grasped harder, bruising her with just the right amount of pressure. He slapped his pelvis against her backside in a fast, pulsing rhythm. His climax was euphoria, pure and simple. The harder he thrust, the deeper his shaft went inside her, and the better it felt when he gave way to the darkness moving through them. Kayden moved her hips backward, tears of pure ecstasy leaking from her eyes as she felt Micah spend himself inside her. His climax moved along her skin, his pleasure arousing her that much further. She arched her back, lifting to rise on her knees with Micah still thrusting against her. Micah took her cue, moving one hand to cup her breast roughly, as he held her back against his chest. His lips found her neck, found Jullian’s mark, while his other hand moved down to where they were joined. His fingers rubbed against her clit. His teeth bruised her neck, temporarily erasing the marks of the man who ruined her life. Micah rubbed the flesh there, desperate for each whimper and moan that floated around him. His hand moved with fury, their bodies already slick with sweat. Kayden rose and fell with his movements, impaling herself on his hardness. He brought her to climax again, his fingers pinching her nipple as another paralyzing orgasm washed over them. Kayden moved, craning her head back and to the side. Her lips found Micah’s as they kissed blindly. The room was pitch black, and the only thing either of them could see was the other. The more they touched—the more times they got off—the more they

craved. It was a vicious, unending cycle, and the minutes melted away like seconds. Using her vampiric strength, Kayden pushed Micah back. Twisting her body, she speared herself on his still rock-hard cock. She rode him, bringing her body up and down against his. They both closed their eyes and let the sensations overtake them. Kayden reached up, cupping her breasts as her thighs flexed in beautiful grace. She moved quickly, faster than she should have been able to. Her eyes opened, fixating on Micah's hazel depths as they melted into one another. Micah watched as Kayden drew a berry-red lip between her teeth to stifle a moan of carnal bliss. Her hands cupped her breasts harder, her nipples red and swollen from Micah's mouth and teeth as they worked their bodies in tandem. When one rose, the other pushed, over and over again. Micah came again, groaning her name, telling her how beautiful she was, how good she felt. Kayden lowered herself, pressing her breasts against his chest. Their mouths met, and their slick bodies dragged along each other in a stunning friction that made both of their minds numb. Micah rolled Kayden's lithe body beneath him. He did not want to leave the haven that he knew was going to be impossible to forget. She was imprinted in him, so ingrained in his soul that even after the night was over—the succubus gone—her taste, her scent, and her feel would never leave him. They moved tirelessly, coming and screaming and moaning as their energies and souls came together again and again. Cloaked in the shadows of the room, the succubus fed. With her arms wide and her head thrown back up into the heavens, she basked in the glory of true love’s passion.

Chapter 3

"I should have known," Elijah croaked out hoarsely, his fatigue echoed in his words. "I mean, I felt something, and I didn't say anything until it was too late." Elijah rubbed his shoulder as he spoke, doing his best to ease the ache from when he'd tried to force his way inside the locked bedroom with sheer strength. The door hadn't budged, and Roy’s powerful words hadn’t been any more effective. Eight hours had passed, and they’d gotten nowhere.

Roy Gray closed his eyes, trying to ignore the reverberating moans and grunts that hadn’t seemed to stop since he’d arrived, responding to Paige's frantic phone call. He'd lay down his life for his niece, but having to listen to her in the throes of passion... it was indecent. She was a daughter to him, and no father should have to listen to the obscenities coming from her mouth. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to concentrate on some solution they might have overlooked. "Elijah, you can't blame yourself. You are still learning to harness your powers. You've made a lot of progress in the last few months. Right now we need to focus. What haven't we tried?" Paige groaned, her eyes fluttering. She lifted her head from the table and looked across at her father. His hair was light brown, starting to gray around the edges from age and stress. Even when he was tired and worn out, he still had an air of calm sophistication about him. His thin wire-rimmed glasses were perched on his nose, hiding his clear blue eyes.

"I could try and…" Paige started. She hated the useless feeling inside of her. Her father shook his head. "Paige, it’s not safe, not when we don't know what we are dealing with. There’s dark magic involved here; surely you must feel it. Kayden wouldn't forgive me if I let something happen to you. While this situation is serious, I do not believe it is dire. They are still alive... and apparently... still going strong." Elijah gave Paige an apologetic smile, knowing how hard it was for her to sit back and do nothing but flip through countless Grimoires looking for love spells. She felt the same sort of protectiveness for Kayden that he felt for Micah. He was about to suggest something—a possible way to counter the ward that had been placed on the bedroom— when he heard the front door slam open with a rattling force. "Where is he?" came the angry voice of Michael MacKenzie, looking pissed as hell as he clutched Micah's leather jacket in his hand. "What in the hell is going on here?" "How nice of you to show up, Dad," Elijah snapped, feeling bitterness creep upon him. He stood from his chair and regarded the father he hadn’t seen in over two years.

Micah came with one last final powerful thrust, exploding in a never-ending stream of pleasure. It felt like his soul was being ripped from his body in the process. Micah groaned Kayden’s name like it was a prayer, and it had been. His hips bucked against her heat on instinct, his mind racing with blinding pleasure. Her nails trailed a fiery wake down the corded, sweat-slicked surface of his back, and she clutched onto him as if she were dying. She tightened around him, her back bowing as she gasped and fought for breath.

“Yes, Micah! God, yes!” Kayden screamed breathlessly as the same soulwrenching feeling of rapture shot through her. Micah let his head fall forward into the crook of her neck in exhaustion, heat emanating from every pore on his body. He panted and wheezed. Stifling heat engulfed him, his moist hot breath trapped in the space between the bed and her shoulder. Micah finally felt a sense of himself return. Before there had been the insistence, the whispering of a foreign song in his head urging him on, telling him to bring her again and again. The only thing Micah heard in his brain right now was his heartbeat. He felt the light trailing of Kayden’s fingers against his back, stroking up and down. Her depths continued to flutter around him in delicious aftershocks, gripping him and elongating his ecstasy. Micah breathed deeply. He used all of his strength to roll off the sweaty woman beneath him and onto his back. “Wow,” he whistled. His lips curved into a wicked grin of pure male delight. He moved his hands behind his head, a replacement for the pillow that had been thrown from the bed sometime during their tryst. He closed his fluttering eyes, focusing on the heavy thrum of the blood charging through him. Kayden panted beside him, haphazardly tugging the slate-blue cotton sheet over her heaving breasts. She stared dreamily up towards the ceiling. Her lips, full and swollen, were curved into a lazy grin of pure and total satisfaction. She took in a few deep breaths, calming the racing beat of her heart that pulsed through her entire body. The heat, the fire that had consumed her in an overwhelming need to feel Micah inside of her had faded a little, and Kayden felt nothing but a hazy fog swirling in her mind.

“Yeah… wow,” Kayden answered as her eyelashes fluttered against her brow. Micah let out a soft whistle and shook his head, his smile contagious. One by one the muscles in his body that had gone numb with need started to tingle, regaining feeling. The heat, the passionate urge to touch Kayden, slowly started to fade until it was only a dull ache inside of his bones. He closed his eyes, his heart pounding as he breathed. “That was…” Words just couldn’t express the thoughts crossing through his mind. The insistent whispering dulled, and for the first time in hours Micah was finally able to grasp his own thoughts, thoughts that were still consumed by Kayden and the soft heat of her wrapped around him. Damn. All he could think about was the feeling of home. She was home. Double damn. “Really bad,” Kayden finished, grinning from ear to ear when she said it. Micah rolled onto his side, the sheet that covered his abdomen shifting lower to expose the curve of his hip. Kayden rolled towards him, her eyes slowly moving over the toned sight of his body. It looked different somehow—like she was looking at him through different eyes. A flutter of want moved through her. Kayden remembered her fingers moving over his hip. She remembered her mouth and teeth trailing down the trail of hair that led to his… “Bad as in ‘whoops, I cheated on my taxes’ bad, or bad as in ‘whoops, I cut off my foot and I’m bleeding to death’ bad?” His lips curved into a slow grin as he slid his legs together, the hair tickling his still sensitive skin. Kayden focused on the hem of the bed sheet as it shifted just a little bit lower. Through the sheet, Kayden could make out the soft swell of flesh that she now knew very

intimately. If Micah moved just a little bit more, Kayden wouldn’t have to look at the silhouette. She shook her head, her fingers clutching the sheet. She shifted her own legs together in an attempt to quell the lingering wisps of need that still pulsed through her. Her thighs, just now starting to ache, pressed the swollen, sticky flesh of her womanhood together. Kayden groaned, her eyes rolling back a bit as a sudden, surprising flash of pain shot up through her core. That pain morphed into something else, and Kayden felt her abused insides start to moisten at the thought of Micah and the hours she’d just spent with him. How could she possibly want him again? Was it the remaining effects of the succubus still sparking through her veins? It had to be. Kayden shut her eyes, searching for that need she’d been frenzied with, but she found only her own desire. That whispering, that shroud of haze that had surrounded them was gone, and Kayden couldn’t distinguish her own feelings from the passion forced upon them. She rolled her eyes up Micah’s chest, ignoring the scratches and imprints of her teeth that littered his golden-red skin, until she met his amused grin. His eyes twinkled in mischief and Kayden’s heart quickened in her chest. Never had she seen Micah so unguarded. His hair was a complete wreck, stuck up at several angles. His lips were swollen and dark, and his smile, the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, was making her stomach flutter. Now that he was sated, there was laziness in his eyes, turning their shade closer to green than brown. It was the first time, Kayden mused, that she didn’t feel like smacking him upside the head.

“Bad as in that really shouldn’t have felt that…” Micah’s smile beamed a little brighter, making Kayden suck in a breath.

A wave of desire passed through Micah’s stomach and into his groin at the sparkling look of lust that crossed through Kayden’s eyes. He reached over, his hand settling on her hip. He pulled her toward him. It was the first time in hours that it didn’t hurt to be separated from her, yet at the same time, he felt a different kind of an ache at not touching her. “Bad. It definitely felt very bad,” Micah joked as he rolled Kayden further onto her side and slid his legs between hers. Kayden scooted a little closer to him out of instinct, her hand soft as she set it on his arm and moved it up towards his shoulder. His skin was warm under her palm, no longer scorching, just pure male muscular flesh that somehow felt more real then it had an hour ago. Micah’s muscles twitched under her touch as she trailed her fingers softly back down his arm. Her gesture was a lover’s caress, gentle and caring, and Micah wasn’t sure what to make of it. Kayden smirked, blinking lazily at him. She slid her thigh between his legs and against his soft member. “Definitely bad,” she agreed. Micah moved closer, his hand curving from her hip to her lower back so that his manhood nestled against her still hot, throbbing center. She was sticky with his seed, and Micah closed his eyes as his blood picked up in his veins. That was them; the rush of moisture was evidence of their passion, of the heat that been almost unbearable. Micah’s fingers inched lower, cupping a smooth, firm ass cheek in his palm.

Lust moved through him, a feeling that had nothing to do with the succubus’s pull—which he was pretty sure had vanished—and everything to do with the woman in front of him. He could still feel Kayden, her softness, and her desire. He could still feel her pleasure in his veins; hell, he could taste it in his mouth. Micah’s lips were soft on Kayden’s collarbone, his tongue slowly lapping out to taste the skin he’d already memorized. His lips gradually moved up the side of her neck, passing over the bruising marks his mouth had left on her skin. A small sense of pride washed over him, knowing that he’d left something behind, that after the succubus had finally left him, he’d still be imprinted on her like she was on him. Kayden moaned. Her neck arched to the side as she let her hand move to cup the firm globes of his ass under the sheet, holding him against her. She pressed his lower half against her, rolling her hips when she felt him harden and curve against her tender flesh. “So this,” Kayden purred, gently scratching her nails over his buttocks, “is what a sex sucking thing-y does? I mean, is it still here…?” Micah rolled Kayden beneath him, loving the suppleness of her flesh against his hard body. He could feel her now that he wasn’t so distracted by the need to be inside of her. That need was gone, replaced with something else, something confusing and something that didn’t quite add up. He shouldn’t still want her like this. Beneath him, she was all muscles and lithe lines, a huntress, but at the same time so damn soft. Her skin, her fingers, her mouth were all addicting, and despite the pain that now radiated from his body, he wanted to feel her flesh against his. Kayden moaned, loving his masculine weight and the hard lines of his well-

defined body as he pushed her into the mattress. This, Kayden mused, was almost better then sex. She could feel his heart beating against her chest. The rough scruff that covered his jaw rubbed against Kayden’s neck, making her arch into him. She could feel his warm breath against her neck, and his open-mouthed kisses made her breath quicken. She never thought she could have this with anyone besides Jullian. Where the vampire had been cold, Micah was warm. Something was different, but Kayden couldn’t put her finger on it. Shouldn’t she feel consumed? Shouldn’t her skin feel like it was on fire, like all of the other times? Shouldn’t her body be numb with pleasure? Right now it was prickling with arousal that was slow and seductive. When Micah pushed forward, Kayden couldn’t help it when her thighs parted to allow room for his hips. Micah’s lips moved over her cheek, his fingers tugging on the sheet tangled between them. He tore it away so that it was just flesh against flesh. His arms flexed, resting on either side of her body as he thrust his hips against the juncture of her thighs, his erect member rubbing against her clit. Both hissed a little, feeling a certain realistic pain that hadn’t been there before. Somewhere they both knew they weren’t up to doing it again, that his body’s reaction betrayed both of their exhaustion. Neither of them possessed the energy to complete anything more, but they needed to stay close. Their lips met, slowly pressing together as Kayden rolled her tongue into Micah’s mouth. They kissed softly, the urgency that had been between them drained, and all that remained was the soft duel of their mouths. Micah’s hands rose, cupping Kayden’s face with a deep throaty moan against her mouth. His teeth dragged along her lower lip,

pulling away for just a moment until their heads realigned and their lips met at a new angle. They kissed softly, tenderly, mouths moving in a leisured pace that belittled what they should have been feeling if they were still in the succubus’s grasp. Micah moved his hands from her cheek as he stroked her arms. Tenderly, he moved his hands to her side, cupping them beneath her. He cradled her in his arms, their kiss continuing for long minutes of swallowed moans. A bird chirped in the distance, catching Micah’s attention. He pulled away from Kayden’s mouth, panting, to stare out the window. Kayden followed his lead, turning her head to see what he was looking at. A confused look crossed their faces as bright daylight filtered into the bedroom to cover them in a glow of morning light. They both looked back to each other and they heard voices echoing from downstairs. For the first time in hours, they were aware of their environment, aware of the audience that lingered downstairs. Kayden could suddenly feel the tension, her senses spiking at the air of worry in the house. Had her family been there all night? Micah rolled off of Kayden, groaning as a heavy wave of pain rolled through him when he flexed his muscles. The pleasure that had moved them and had given him an inhuman stamina was fading fast, as was his erection. “It doesn’t make sense. We should be dead.” Micah shook his head, trying to grasp the facts. There was no explanation other than a succubus… but why were they still alive? “Is that what it does?” Kayden asked softly. The repercussions of their coupling started to sink in. She’d had sex with Micah. She’d spent the entire night screaming, moaning, writhing, and acting out all her carnal

fantasies with a man she supposedly hated. “Normally, it chooses a victim and uses sex to drain them until they are dead. And unless I’ve died and gone to heaven…” Kayden laughed bitterly, the sound thickly saccharine. Self-consciously she moved the sheet back up her body. She tugged on the bedding, taking more to tuck around her aching body. She hurt, from her toes to her head, and the parts in between were starting to throb the most. Kayden closed her eyes, hoping against all hope that she’d just disappear. “Oh, that’s good, Micah.” Kayden snapped her head to the side. “Do you use that line often?” His shrug said everything and nothing as he picked up the hostile note in her voice. Playtime, he guessed, was officially over. Not that he’d expected it to last: the sweet look of carelessness on her face, the twinkle in her eye, the feel of her breasts pushing against his chest as she tangled her tongue with his. This morning—whatever had just happened between them—was an anomaly he was going to blame on the succubus and her lingering influence. It was like a little “fuck you” that Micah couldn’t wait to repay the demon for. As soon as he could walk, he was going to hunt it down and kill it. “You don’t just get to waltz in here and tell me what to do!” Elijah’s angry voice echoed in the bedroom. Micah winced, hearing his father’s angry voice resonate over Elijah’s. “You’re a hunter, damn it, a soldier, and you’re all Micah has to watch his back. How could you let

this happen? Why weren’t you there? He could be dead for all we know, and you’re just sitting down here doing nothing!” “Doing nothing! I’ve been up the entire night looking for something, anything that could help break the ward on that damn door! You’re the one who left; you’re the one who wasn’t here to watch his back! Do you think it’s easy for him? Jesus, Dad!” Elijah yelled back. With a shake of his head, Micah drew a hand down his face, his fingers scratching against the rough scruff that had grown during the night. He tossed a glance over his shoulder at Kayden, who had rolled away from him. “I should go assure them we aren’t dead, and stop Eli from killing my dad,” Micah said, and suddenly he sounded tired. He was always the one to keep the peace, to look after both his younger brother and his father. Elijah was right, it wasn’t easy for him, but it’s what he did. Nothing mattered more to him than his family. Micah pulled himself out of bed, his legs shaky against the ground. A hiss of pain shot through his over-worked muscles. Kayden turned her head at his grimace. She watched as the sheet fell from his backside to give her a glimpse of his tight behind and muscular thighs. Quickly, Kayden turned her head back. Even though she’d seen every inch of him, tasted almost as much, it was wrong to look at him in that light now that the thrall had passed. An ugly truth washed over her. Kayden realized that this morning, kissing him, loving the feel of his mouth on hers, had nothing to do with the succubus and everything to do with her own lusty desires. Passion. She felt it spark whenever she looked at him,

when she sparred with him, when she argued with him. Right now, that scared the shit out of her. For the first time since she’d been turned into a vampire, she didn’t feel the invisible fingers trying to pry into her thoughts. And with that thought, like Kayden summoned him, she felt a power force trying to nudge its way through her shields. Jullian. As if he’d let her forget him for more than a few hours. The tie between sire and childe didn’t go both ways, not exactly. While she couldn’t read his thoughts like he could hers, she could pick up on his emotions. Right now he was feeling concern and that pissed her off even more. What right did he have? “I’m gonna…” Kayden stuttered through the sudden awkwardness that was both in her mind and in the flesh. “I’m just gonna clean up a little. I’m a bit… sticky.” God, she couldn’t do this, Kayden thought. Micah’s bare feet padded across the room, breaking the silence as he moved towards the dresser. He turned his head around, his eyes moving over Kayden’s bare back. She was sitting up, her back towards him, and the sheet pooled low so that he could see the twin dimples above her delicious rear. A little bit higher, he saw a beautifully drawn tattoo that reminded him of a dragon. Micah turned back around, pulling a pair of soft blue hospital pants up his legs with a hint of anger. Kayden had pulled away, he’d felt it. While he understood her action, it pissed him off for some reason he didn’t want to get into. What had he really expected? It took a moment of ruffling through the drawer until he found a white tee shirt. The muscles in his arms flexed as he stretched the cotton over his head and drew it down

his back. He ran a hand through his hair, making the strands even messier then they already were. His hand paused on the doorknob, a spark of electricity jumping through him. He contemplated saying something to ease the tension between them. They’d been fine in their own bubble. After he killed the succubus, he was going after the bird. Micah opened the door and a gust of chilled air wafted from the hallway. The door shut behind him with a soft click, leaving Kayden alone in the bedroom. Micah winced as he walked down the stairs, stopping at the restroom before he made his way into the kitchen, where the angry voices were becoming more hostile.

All sound stopped as Micah assumed a brave face and casually strolled into the kitchen. "It wasn't a lust spell, it was a succubus. We ran into one last night and then wham bam, thank you ma'am," Micah offered with a smug smile, hiding his heavy heart as the memory of Kayden consumed his mind. Micah knew, somehow, that it wasn’t just a succubus. The energy, the passion… it was more than that, and something Micah wasn’t sure how to explain. Something had been nagging him since Kayden asked about what the succubus did; there was something that wasn’t adding up. Since when did a succubus target a couple? Not that he and Kayden were a couple. Micah closed his eyes; should he still be feeling like this? Like he wanted to go back upstairs and run his lips down Kayden’s spine? Micah ignored the open mouths of Paige, Roy, Elijah, and his father. He reached into the fridge, soft yellow light bathing

him as he rummaged around for something to quell his hunger. He emerged with a shiny green apple and a false smile. Micah shut the fridge and turned back to face his audience. He leaned against the closed door and Micah realized the shirt he’d thrown on was his brother’s. It tightened uncomfortably against his muscles when he brought the fruit to his mouth. "Do you happen to know which one we are dealing with?" Elijah asked seriously, his eyes roving over Micah for any apparent damage. The crisp sound of Micah’s teeth sinking into the tart apple filled the silence, as the elder MacKenzie brother gave an indifferent shrug. Micah's teeth ground against the apple, sweet juice coating the inside of his parched throat and dampening the lingering taste Kayden had left. If he could erase her from his senses, maybe his mind would forget. "How many of these things are out there?" Micah asked through a mouthful of food. Elijah shook his head with an amused smile. Same old Micah. His fingers flew over the keyboard, searching for any information he could find. “Are you feeling any lasting effects? Is Kayden alright?” Roy asked gravely. Nodding slowly, Micah looked around at the tired faces and felt a sense of nagging guilt. Elijah’s eyes were droopy and rimmed with red spidery veins. Micah had seen that look many times through the years, and knew his brother had been up all night. Paige sat next to Elijah, their chairs almost touching as she rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. Her strawberry-red hair was choppy, disheveled like she’d just woken up, but Micah knew that wasn’t true. In the weeks he’d spent here, he’d really

connected with her, and he knew that she’d stayed up too, pitching in where she could. Kayden’s uncle stood grimly across from them, his glasses resting on a pile of books that were all opened in various places. There was a mug of what Micah knew was coffee. At this hour, having had to listen to him and Kayden all night, Micah wouldn’t have been surprised if were laced with something stronger, something that the old hunter kept hidden in the cabinet above the stove. His father—whom they hadn’t seen in two years—stood at the other end of the kitchen, his full-beard-covered face haggard and aged. Micah met his eyes, and felt his dad’s anger fade away to pure fatherly concern. Micah felt a pull at his heart; in the recent years there had been a change in his dad, one that he and Elijah—especially Elijah—were struggling with. Micah took a ravenous bite, speaking through a mouthful as he tried to calm them all down. “Kayden’s fine. Just, ah, cleaning up a bit. As for lasting effects, I don’t think so. The heat and whispering are gone. I feel like I can think, but I can't stop thinking..." Micah trailed off, deciding not to go there. His thoughts were none of their business. Micah's speech went in another direction. "It was crazy; I mean, we just couldn't stop. It was overwhelming, the heat, the passion, the…" Micah’s words drifted off as Kayden strolled into the kitchen looking more beautiful then he'd ever seen her. Her face was freshly scrubbed and her hair pulled up in a short ponytail that made her look younger than he knew she was. Micah watched as she uncomfortably tugged at the collar of the ivory turtleneck she’d thrown on; he assumed to hide the numerous bruises he’d left. She was wearing a pair of form-fitting black cargo

pants, and all Micah could focus on was what he knew was underneath them.

"Enough. Please, just don't say another word about it," Kayden grumbled, hugging her arms around her waist self-consciously. Kayden cast her eyes towards the ground, a slight hitch in her walk when her thighs pressed against the now-throbbing flesh between her legs. Pain, worse than what she’d felt after the first time she’d had sex, throbbed through her. “Where’s Alex?” Kayden asked softly, her voice husky and hoarse from screaming. When her voice cracked, Kayden felt a new wave of heat creep up her neck. God, had her family been here the entire time, listening to her scream and pant out Micah's name? Worried and thinking she was going to sex herself to death? Kayden chanced a look at their tired faces and it confirmed they’d been there all night, waiting for whatever mystical occurrence had happened to fade away. When this was over, she was going to kick Micah’s ass and then tear that damn succubus to shreds. Kayden knew it wasn’t directly Micah’s fault, but at the same time, it was. If he hadn’t distracted her she would have been more on her game. Or, if she hadn’t been too busy inhaling the scent of his cologne or staring at his ass, maybe she could have sensed the sex thing-y sooner. Some vampire she was… It was Paige who spoke up first, her voice shy and stuttering, almost apologetic when she looked at her embarrassed cousin. “Kyle picked her up. She was freaked out by the whole thing, and you guys were pretty… um… vocal… so yeah. We were researching to see if we could break the wards. Elijah tried to break down the door, dad tried a spell…

but we couldn’t. So we waited. Michael just got here, and they were yelling… and Micah just walked in and acted normal, so he's okay, and then you...” Paige blushed brighter and clamped a hand over her mouth to stop her ramblings. A new wave of humiliation rolled through Kayden, and all she could feel was annoyance that Micah stood by looking pleased as punch. Didn’t he care that he’d been invaded? That the succubus had made them sex crazed? Of course he wouldn’t, he was Micah. Everyone was now looking at her, including Micah; his mouth paused in mid-bite around his apple. Kayden got a sudden flash of his mouth between her thighs, his tongue lapping up her juices like he was doing to that apple. Kayden wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to look at Micah the same way again. With an even stride, Kayden kept walking, straightening her back. She put on a false bravado that seemed to work so well for Micah. She snatched the apple out of his hands, her teeth scrapping off a bite before she settled her back against the counter, as far from Micah as she could get. Kayden’s eyes met Micah’s father’s, and she was completely mortified that he might have heard them together. What a great first impression. While Micah and Elijah had shown up a few months ago, the oldest MacKenzie had been an urban legend up until now. He was tall, not as tall as his boys, but he was distinguished in that older man sort of way. He had a full beard that had started to gray, and his pale complexion was almost ashen. His eyes, a warm brown, looked troubled with age. He was a demon hunter, Kayden could see it in his eyes, and by looking at him Kayden saw where Micah got a lot

of his traits. “Hi, I’m Kayden… but I’m guessing you figured that one out. Sorry about the circumstances; seems you caught us at a bad time. Not that there is ever a good time around me, but yeah…” Kayden rambled before she took another bite of apple to shut herself up. "Okay then. So how do we find this succubus thingy and kill it? ’Cause right now, I really want to kill it." Roy regarded Kayden with a sad smile. "I'm afraid it's not that simple, my dear. We have to find out about any lasting effects, or any adverse reactions you two might have. If we are dealing with a succubus…" "Definitely a succubus," Micah interrupted, watching the way Kayden's full lips closed around the apple. Her jaw clenched as she bit into the fruit before she pulled away, sucking the juice from the meaty part of the apple. Nectar dribbled down her chin, and Micah watched when she wiped it away with the back of her hand, much like he'd done after he'd devoured her. “Hey!” Micah piped up, finally realizing what had just happened. “That was mine.” Kayden shook her head, meeting Micah’s eyes and trying her best not to notice the answering flutter. She struggled to remember if she’d felt this way before she’d spent the entire night in his arms. It was one of those which came first situations: the chicken or the egg? “My house. My apple. Get over it.” She flashed a tight-lipped smile at him. Micah scoffed, turning his back on his guests and stalking towards Kayden.

Annoyance rolled through him. Micah had always thought she just needed to get laid, but he’d taken care of that very thoroughly, last night and into the morning. Maybe she was just a spoiled brat. “Actually, Roy pays for all of this, so it’s not technically yours.” As Micah turned, Elijah’s mouth dropped open, and he stood from the table. Dark red blood had started to seep through the back of Micah’s shirt, the threads becoming stained as it spread and soaked up the blood. “Jesus, Micah, you’re bleeding!” Elijah exclaimed, moving towards his brother. Kayden discarded the apple as she turned Micah to see his back. Micah knit his eyes in confusion, trying to move his head over his shoulder to look. Now that he thought about it, pushing past all the other nagging parts on his body that hurt, his back was kind of tender. Kayden grasped the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head to get a better look at the wounds. Raising his arms to aide her, Micah hissed as the cotton peeled from the now very real pain throbbing through him. How could he have missed that? Right, he was too busy undressing Kayden in his mind. A chorus of gasps rang through the room, and Paige put a hand to her mouth in shock. “What is it, dude?” Micah asked Elijah in confusion. Once more he tried to glance over his shoulder to see what was so bad. “Did that thing do that to you?” Michael asked angrily, taking in the red, bleeding scratch marks that marred his son’s flesh. No one was sure if, by that thing, he meant Kayden or the succubus.

“I…” Kayden stumbled, lightly touching the wounds and remembering the feel of his skin under her fingers, the taste of his rich blood in his mouth. Even now she wanted to taste him, to drink her fill and sate the hunger inside her. "I’m sorry, Micah, does it hurt badly? I didn't mean...” Micah jumped when her fingers touched his skin, just the tiniest spark of heat flashing between them. Kayden trailed her finger next to the angry red scratches on his back. There were three of them, the flesh parted deeply and seeping blood. Elijah and Micah met eyes, and Elijah could read the desperate question in his brother’s eyes. “She scratched you, man. Damn, these are pretty deep. I think you might need stitches. You didn’t feel this? I mean, you had no idea?” Elijah asked and wondered what in the hell had happened upstairs. Changing his mind quickly, Elijah decided he really didn't want to know. Not that he could stop Micah from telling him, no doubt in too much detail, later when they were alone. Kayden, with a nagging sense of guilt, moved under the sink to retrieve the firstaid kit she’d stashed there. She remembered scratching him in ecstasy at some point in the night, when the pleasure had been too much. She remembered the scent of blood, salty and spicy, male, but Kayden hadn’t realized how deep she’d dug until now. “Well, we were…ah… preoccupied.” Micah grinned. “At the time it didn’t hurt… trust me, nothing hurt.” Micah met Kayden’s eyes, and the look they shared spoke volumes about what had taken place upstairs. Nothing had hurt except the sheer amount of bliss they'd

exchanged. Clearing her throat, Kayden pulled out a chair, her eyes now fixated on the floor. She did her best to ignore the looks coming from Paige and Roy, not to mention Michael’s glare. Thankfully, Elijah was too concerned about Micah to watch Kayden’s face changing colors. “Sit down, I’ll clean it,” Kayden said, her hands pushing on Micah’s shoulders, arranging him so that his chest pushed against the back of the chair. Micah turned his head and used his hand to still Kayden’s, which remained on his shoulder. He could feel the heat of her touch moving through his body. She lifted her head, feeling the same thing. Their eyes met. “Hey,” Micah gave a light chuckle, trying to lighten the mood, “don’t feel bad. What’s a little bit of blood between lov—” Kayden shook her head. Her eyes narrowed; how could he joke about this? It was far from funny. “Don’t even say it, Micah. I swear…” “What?” Micah’s eyes gleamed in mischief. He gave a slight tug on her hand, pulling her toward him. “That we’re lovers now? That I—” “Okay, let’s get one thing straight. We are not lovers.” Kayden pulled out of Micah’s grasp, roughly turning his head so he wasn’t looking back at her anymore. “Whatever you say, sweetheart. Denial—it’s not just a river in Egypt,” he flipped. Why did it piss him off that she denied what happened this morning? Kayden’s lips slanted in a frown. Harshly, she pressed some alcohol-drenched gauze to the open wound and squeezed maliciously. The clear, stinging fluid poured

inside the scratch and ran down Micah’s back in a pink line that curved along his spine. With a flinch, Micah jumped from his chair. "Ow!" He shot his head over his shoulder, his jaw clenched in anger. It was wrong to hit a woman, even if that woman had super-human strength and could knock his teeth out. "Damn, woman! Are you trying to kill me?" Kayden smirked. She pushed him back into the chair and drew the pad over the scratch gently this time, acting as if she'd never done anything wrong. She wiped up some of the blood that had started to dry around the wound before discarding the stained pad and getting a fresh one. "If I were trying to kill you, you'd already be dead. Now stop being a baby and take it like the man you claim to be." "Oh, I think I proved myself last night... didn't hear you complaining. In fact, you were begging." "Micah…" Kayden warned. She pressed against his tender wounds hard enough to make him whimper and close his mouth.

Chapter 4

Roy, who had been silent until then, interrupted the mounting argument. His head was pounding and Kayden and Micah weren't making it any better; but then again, they never did. The bourbon he'd sneaked into his coffee wasn’t nearly strong enough to help him deal with the two quarreling children in front of him. “Enough, you two! You are lucky to be alive, so act like it!” Micah flashed his brother a rakish grin that was pure mischief. "But man,” he whistled. “What a way to go.” Elijah shook his head at his brother with a heavy sigh and wondered when Micah was going to stop using humor to cover up his real emotions. Something had shaken Micah, and Elijah was going to find out what before the night was through. "Okay, so what do we do now?" Kayden asked as she delicately applied a white butterfly strip to the widest part of one of Micah's deeper cuts. It was hard to believe that she'd really done that. Elijah's fingers continued the familiar clicking over the keys as he pulled up any information he could on succubae legend. He spoke without looking up, going from one source to the next until he found what he was looking for. "We need to find out which one we are dealing with," Elijah repeated, his eyes quickly skimming over the black-and-white text on his laptop. Kayden shook her head in confusion, retrieving a new gauze pad and starting on the next scratch. "There’s more than one type?" Micah nodded. Kayden felt rather than saw his confirmation as the muscles in his

back flexed under her fingers. She ignored the bubbling she felt in her chest when Micah turned around to meet her eyes for just a moment. "That's exactly what I said." Elijah read from the screen, making both Kayden and Micah break eye contact. "There are a few occult sites that list several types of succubae. Each one seems to have a unique characteristic, but the overall effect is the same." Roy nodded, processing the information. "First, we identify it. Then we need to summon it, find out why it attacked you two, and how we reverse the effects—assuming there are any." Paige looked back and forth in bewilderment, tired lines drooping around her eyes. It would have been so much simpler if she’d been able to do a spell. At all times, she felt each person’s energy crackling though her, like a unique signature. Calling out to the elements, she’d tried to pick up on the demon’s unique brand, hoping to follow the trail back to what had infected them. Whatever had attacked them was using dark magic that was far superior to her power. As soon as she’d put her hand to the door, a bolt of electricity had shot through her with enough intensity to send her flying backward onto her ass. "What exactly is a succubus?" Paige asked. From across the room, Michael spoke up, his voice deep and echoing in the kitchen: "A succubus is a demonic seductress. From legend, the demon supposedly attacks mortal men while they sleep. It’s a sexual vampire of sorts”—he paused to shoot a disapproving glare in Kayden’s direction. “The lore is that they draw energy from the men to maintain themselves. They use their victim until there is nothing left, until they kill them."

Adding in his two cents, Roy nodded enthusiastically. "The actual name has its origins from early Latin- succuba, which means prostitute. In Medieval Latin the sub meaning is 'that which lies beneath.' There is also a male version of the demon, incubus which means, ‘that which lies above.’” “Ugh.” Kayden made a rude sound in the back of her throat. “That’s pretty damn sexist. Just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I just lay there.” Under his breath, Micah whistled, “Ain’t that the truth, sweetheart.” Ignoring the disgust on Kayden’s face, Roy continued to rattle off facts about medieval times and the contrasting stories that linked succubae to vampirism. After ten minutes, he stopped and met several blank faces. Micah's eyebrows knit together. "In English, please?" The corners of Kayden's lips curved just a tiny bit as she tried not to give into Micah and his husky voice. It was deeper than normal, laced with sex and fatigue, and all she could focus on was how it felt when he whispered into her ear while thrusting inside of her. "In English, it means that after eight hours of non-stop... intercourse," Michael coughed uncomfortably, "you should be dead. The fact that you aren't means that this thing might come back again, and keep coming back until you are drained, the both of you," he finished seriously, crossing his arms over his chest. “That is,” he added at the last minute, “if that girl”—Michael looked at Kayden— “is even human enough to be affected.” Kayden’s smile fell and she sent a glare in the older man’s direction. Before she could say anything, Micah spoke up.

“She isn’t that girl. Her name happens to be Kayden, and she’s human enough to have saved my ass, as well as Elijah’s, more than a few times.” “I taught you better than that, boy; she could have killed you out there tonight. How do you know she isn’t working with them?” his father hissed back, advancing a step closer to the duo. Kayden walked to the other side of the chair, her palms curling into fists. Her anger rose. No one spoke down to her in her own home. “Just leave it be,” Micah said softly, his hand wrapping around her wrist as he drew her back behind the chair. “I’ll talk to him later.” Micah sent his father a scalding look, causing the oldest MacKenzie to reclaim his position against the counter. Glaring, Kayden shot daggers at the back of Micah’s head as she resumed her task of bandaging his wounds. The pressure she applied to his gashes grew firmer with her anger, until he twisted a little in his chair. "I am SO not talking to you," Kayden ranted, hastily throwing the gauze to the floor before she got a fresh piece. Micah stiffened, turning almost all the way around. "What in the hell did I do to you?” “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” she huffed. “Bullshit!” Micah yelled. “That thing attacked us because you couldn’t shut your mouth for two seconds.” Kayden crossed her arms over her chest, her foot tapping as fury moved through her. A flash of heat sparked, but she pushed forward, ignoring it.

"I said from the start it wasn’t a good idea to take you on my hunts! One look from that thing and you were gone. If I hadn’t stepped in front of you, who knows what would have happened!" she finished as an overwhelming ache of need began to throb in her veins. Fed up, Micah threw his hands in the air. The first whispers of what felt like wings fluttered inside his mind. He pushed the feeling aside and brushed away the bead of sweat trickling from his nape before he continued. "I told you it was a succubus! But no, princess Kayden can take care of herself." "I, not you, am the hunter here! This is my area, I patrol it. I didn’t ask for your help, and I certainly didn’t ask you to stay here and baby-sit!" Kayden shouted. "Well, excuse the hell out of me sweetheart, but I've been doin' this a hell of a lot longer than you. Just because you let some asshole vampire suck your…” "Enough!" Roy shouted. "You are both adults, so start acting like it! Stop bickering like schoolchildren." Both Kayden and Micah jumped back at the spark of power that rolled from Roy and through them. Only when he was really angry did her uncle give them a glimpse of power that she sometimes forgot was there. Both of Paige's parents had been gifted in magic, and while she'd been raised to fight physically, her cousin had been trained to use a variety of spells to battle the darkness. Micah looked a little chagrined, but he kept his mouth shut, his lips slanting downwards. He turned back around. The whispering in his mind faded until he forgot it had even existed.

“I need to know exactly what happened last night, so one of you better explain,” Roy demanded, taking a deep breath as he reigned in his anger and put on his glasses. To say it had been a long night for all of them would have been the understatement of the year. Kayden paled a little, her hand freezing on the piece of white tape that she was securing over a bandage. It had all happened in such a haze, a frenzy of heat and passion. Now that the smoke had cleared, things weren't very hazy any more. How could she explain the things she'd felt? Beyond the foggy pull and non-stop action, there had been something more, something else driving them. They'd felt connected, almost like they’d been one. She’d felt that before, and look where that had gotten her. She remembered, as she pressed a cool liquid-soaked pad against the next angry welt on Micah’s back, how it felt to have her lips move over that same skin. Maybe they could leave out certain details. Her uncle didn't need to know everything, did he? In response to their sudden silence, Elijah moved his curious eyes between Micah and Kayden. His brother coughed with just the faintest blush coloring his cheeks, and Elijah had to resist the urge to goad him. “Son?” Michael said in a demanding tone, the command in his voice difficult for Micah to ignore. Some things, he mused, never changed. Elijah huffed, shooting his dad an angry look at the tone he was all too familiar with. They weren't kids anymore. The drill sergeant routine was getting old. The atmosphere of anger in the room shifted, and Roy took a deep breath. They were never going to accomplish anything at this rate. Elijah and Micah met eyes, and Micah gave his younger brother a slight shake of his head, silently asking him to drop it for now. They’d

discuss it in private, one issue at a time. With a slant of his jaw, Elijah brought his focus to his laptop, his fingers hovering over the keys in waiting. "Fine, how did this thing sneak up on you? We'll start there." Micah narrowed his eyes, scuffing. "Well, it didn't exactly sneak up on us..." Taking a deep breath, he rested his chin on his crossed arms and gave his report, leaving out what details he could and focusing on the ones that were more helpful, like how the succubus looked and what she said. As Micah spoke, Kayden was silent, occupied in cleaning and bandaging the other two wounds. The task should have taken five minutes, but she drew it out and used it as a distraction, taking her time to make sure each piece of tape was perfectly applied. The entire time, she told herself her slow work had nothing to do with how smooth his skin was or the shivering pleasure she took from touching him. Micah could feel her, and he concentrated on that, on the continuous stroke of her hands against his skin. Every time her fingers accidentally touched him, he drifted off in the memory of her lips on him. There were definitely after-effects, there had to be. When he was done, Micah looked up to the embarrassed faces of the room’s other occupants. Paige blushed furiously, her pale complexion almost a cherry red. Elijah, for his part, was too busy trying to find information on a specific succubus to react to the lurid tale. Roy had taken off his glasses and put them on more times than he could count. Michael just stood on the other side of the room, his arms crossed over his chest as he clutched his coffee mug. Roy shifted in his seat uncomfortably, drawing both Micah and Kayden’s

attention. He cleared his throat, and Micah braced himself for what was to come. He'd never been on the receiving end of one of Roy lectures, but he had a feeling that was about to change. If it weren't for Elijah and the things Roy had done for him, Micah would just get up and walk out. He knew that as much as he wanted to protect his little brother, they needed Roy’s help to develop his powers. "Is it safe to assume that while in this thrall, you didn't use contraceptives? I mean, there was an actual exchange of vaginal and seminal secretions?" Roy’s tone was clipped. "Okay, ewwww," Kayden grimaced. Her face, much like Paige’s, was beet red. Did they have to talk about all the details? Thankfully, Kayden thought, Micah had only given the relevant details and left out the other, more intimate parts. Across the room, Michael spit out the coffee he’d been nursing so it sprayed dark liquid on the tile floor of the kitchen. Paige jumped up in a flash, more than happy to have something to do as she mopped it up. Everyone, including Elijah, was now looking at the couple like they’d grown a couple of extra heads. "Tell me, son, please tell me you used protection." Michael demanded, his arms falling to his sides. Slowly, Micah shook his head. The dread sank inside his stomach at the repercussion of that statement. He felt Kayden still behind him, and he didn’t even wince when her nails dug into his shoulder. Three pairs of eyes, Paige’s not included, looked disapprovingly at him.

A father? No way. He’d spent his adolescent years being a father to Elijah and his dad. There was no way he was ready for this. Shit. "What?” Micah asked defensively. They were looking at him like it was his fault. “I couldn't even get her clothes off fast enough. We almost had sex against the front door! Jesus, Elijah, I almost screwed her in front of you and the kid. A rubber was the last thing on our minds." Paige looked up sympathetically. "It’s okay; babies are a non-issue, if that’s what you’re worried about—Kayden's on the pill." Paige’s voice was cheery, which would have been annoying if not for the sigh of relief that passed through Micah, Michael and Elijah collectively. "The pill?" Michael asked in bewilderment. "You know, oral contraceptives..." Paige lectured and then trailed off at the horror-stricken look on Kayden’s face, as if she was just now getting it. "Oh, no—Kayden, please tell me… please say you didn't stop taking them," Paige said with a shake of her head. She crossed the room to put a soft hand on her cousin’s shoulder. Back and forth Kayden shook her head, a feeling of anxiety crawling inside of her stomach. Pregnant? She could be pregnant? All eyes were focused solely on Kayden. A bead of sweat rolled down her back. In her mind she felt the whispering effects of Jullian. The potent feeling of anger made that single bead of sweat multiply into two. "Don’t look at me like that! I wasn't planning on having sex with anyone ever again! Why take them if you aren’t having sex!"

A wave of nausea curled in her stomach. Kayden felt her knees weaken as fatigue washed over her. Having babies and getting married were things she used to dream about, before her change, but she never would have considered having one with a snarky pain in the ass like Micah MacKenzie. "Where are you at in your cycle?" Roy asked, raising his head to look his niece straight in the eyes. "Huh?" Kayden asked distractedly, her mind still wrapped around the fact that it was possible she could be pregnant. Pregnant with Micah's succubus-induced love child. Demon spawn. Wonderful. "When was your last menstrual cycle?" he clarified in an annoyed tone. "Two weeks ago this Sunday," Micah answered automatically, too distracted to think before he spoke. Kayden moved around to face Micah, shock on her face. She rested her balled fists on her hips. "How the hell did you know that?" Shrugging nonchalantly, Micah lifted his chin so their eyes met. Something passed between them, just a flicker of energy too light for anyone to pick up. "While you are normally pretty bitchy, you were extra..." Kayden shook her head in warning. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Micah MacKenzie, or I swear..." She seethed as a wave of energy started to rise through her. Her skin puckered, and goose bumps rose on her arms. A slow wave of heat nipped along her spine. Micah squared his shoulders, sweat tickling across his skin before it dripped down the side of his cheek. He could feel the heat coming from Kayden, and just the faintest of

whispers started in his head. "Or you'll what? I'm telling you, sweetheart, after seeing you unglued—you don't scare me so much." Micah made a move to stand, but shook his head instead. The heat in his body faded as he turned his attention from Kayden to Elijah, who was cursing under his breath while tapping on his keyboard. “Damn," Elijah grumbled. What?" both Micah and Kayden shouted simultaneously. “It says here…" Elijah started, turning the laptop so they could see a picture of the female reproductive system. Using clinical terms, he explained to Micah, in detail, about periods and their purposes. "Okay, dude, that was just wrong," Micah deadpanned. Elijah looked up at Roy over his computer. "Do you think this is relevant? What if this attack wasn't so random? If Kayden was ovulating, maybe she was giving off some kind of hormone, something that drew the demon in. Were you guys doing anything else? Anything before you saw the succubus?" "So this is my fault?" Kayden asked indignantly, ignoring Elijah. "I said it was your fault from the beginning," Micah mumbled before looking between his brother and Roy. "We were hunting a vampire, and Kayden was blaming me when she lost track of the damn thing." "You were the one getting all cocky with your shotgun. It’s kind of hard to sneak up on something when it can hear you coming a mile away!" "Damn! My shotgun!" Micah shouted as he remembered how it dropped from his

hand. “I liked that gun. Do you think it will still be there?" "Focus, Micah, the gun is irrelevant," Elijah intervened, trying to wrap his mind around the facts. In a tone that made Kayden smile despite not wanting to, Micah pressed on, “But I liked that..." "Focus," Elijah snapped, gesturing with his hand to continue, "so you guys were arguing, then?" "When aren't they?" Roy huffed. "Paige”—Elijah turned his head sideways to look at her—“you said something about their energy being combined, being one—what if the succubus bonded them together some how?" Roy nodded and stood up suddenly. He paced the kitchen and took off his glasses, folding them behind his back as he contemplated. "That's an excellent theory, Elijah." A small grin curved across Elijah’s face when he caught his father's proud smile across the room. Quickly, Elijah turned away with a frown. He wasn’t looking for his father's approval. "We'll have to cross reference fertility demons with succubae.” Rapid tapping sounded through the room as Elijah typed and Roy talked. “It's rare for a succubus to target a couple. There had to be a reason. What’s bothering me is the line about 'true love’s passion.' It sounds familiar, but I can't pinpoint it. That, and the fact that the demon became more human after she fed is alarming. This demon has let them live for a reason, so it's likely that she'll seek them out again for another feeding."

"This is just wonderful! So now I'm going to spawn Micah's demon child? And I'm going to jump him again?" Kayden asked in exasperation. Elijah shook his head. "Not necessarily, on both counts. Besides, the chances of you becoming pregnant are about twenty percent; it just depends on how fertile you are and how strong Micah’s swimmers are. Some couples try for years and never conceive. Others don't even have to have sex. It’s rare, but it happens." "Okay, Dr. Ruth. How in the hell do you know so much about cycles, hormones and pregnancy?" Micah snapped. "I had a scare once," Elijah said, and left it at that. Kayden shook her head, not finding any relief. Twenty percent was a lot more than zero percent. She was only twenty-five and not ready to have a child. Could she even carry a child to full term? Vampires couldn’t reproduce, and God only knew what kind of genetics her child would get. Baby fangs? “Oh, for the love of God, stop looking at me like that!” Kayden shouted as she felt Micah’s eyes boring holes into her. Despite the desperation of the situation, a bubble of want shot through her as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Like how?” Micah asked, forcing his gaze to move away from her breasts and up to her eyes. “Like you know what I look like naked!” She frowned, feeling the heat in her cheeks rise. Micah shrugged. “Well, I do.” “Cursed! We’ve been cursed, Roy! Shouldn’t we like, ya know, forget everything

while we were… ya know…” Kayden pleaded. “I think we’ve all been cursed…” Elijah mumbled under his breath, drawing a smile from Paige. Roy ran a tired hand down his fatigued face. “It would be common for the person in the trance not to remember, or it would be like it was a dream. I’m going to assume you ah… remember all the details clearly, then?” “Yes.” Both Kayden and Micah answered at the same time, looking at each other, then quickly looking away. "Okay,” Kayden huffed, “so we find the succubus, pump it for info, and then kill it." “I second that,” Micah grumbled and then voiced some of his concerns. "Is there a trigger that sets us off? Like while we sleep or touch? Last night was a blast, but..." Micah still wondered if the stirrings he felt were his own, or if they came from the succubus. Looking at Kayden, watching the heat rise in her eyes, did something unnatural to him. "How do you feel now?" Paige asked. "I mean, Kayden, you are touching him. Are you wanting to rip off his pants?” Micah chuckled, a grin spreading from ear to ear. "You mean more than she usually wants to?" "Would you just shut up? You’re so infuriating!" Kayden groaned, and a rush of staggering heat zapped through her with her anger. "Me! I'm sorry, princess; I'm not the one who got us into this mess. If you would

have listened to me instead of fighting me every step of the way, we wouldn't have to worry about any of this!" As Micah yelled, the whispering in his head grew louder, taunting him with softness. His mind became cloudy, and everything in the room narrowed until only Kayden remained. They were both standing, closing the distance between them as their rage mounted. "For the last freakin’ time! Stop calling me princess," Kayden screamed, and in response, her fingers started to itch with the need to feel Micah's skin beneath hers. She looked at him, his chest, and the marks littering the smooth tanned surface from where she'd bitten him. Kayden could still taste him in her mouth. Powerful, gutwrenching memories swirled over her. Anger, passion, and arousal all started to consume her until she couldn't think past having him inside of her. Where she was sore, she was now wet and dripping with need. "Oh, you didn't mind last night," Micah whispered in a husky voice as his mind fluttered at the memory of her around him. He could smell her desire. He could almost taste the musky juice rolling in his mouth like he was lapping at her core. She was wet, wanting, and he needed to bring her. "Last night..." Kayden panted in a breathy moan, her eyes fluttering. It felt like Micah was already between her legs, bringing her into rapture. She watched his tongue move over his lip. Kayden moaned. "Last night I was out of my..." Kayden never got to finish her sentence. With a magnetic pull greater than anything either had felt, Kayden and Micah attacked each other. Their lips bruised and their hands fumbled at each other's clothes before Micah spun them around to set Kayden

on the kitchen table. With a wide, sweeping arm, he sent books scattering across the floor. He moved between her legs, his erection pushing against her tender, swollen center as he started to move against her. He needed her, and he needed her now. The lust consumed them and inside Micah's head, he could hear the succubus laughing with glee. Micah pushed forward, crawling onto the table while his hand struggled with her pants. He wanted them off. He wanted to be home. Roy, Paige, Michael and Elijah all sat there in a stunned silence, blinking in confusion at the sudden shift. One minute, they'd been ready to kill each other, the next... well, now they were about to devour each other. Heat pumped off them in waves, and Paige felt their energy shift and roll together. Where there had been two, there was now one. Energy crackled through the air like an electric current, and the heat between Kayden and Micah ignited. Micah's hands pushed at Kayden's top, skimming the soft skin of her stomach as their tongues dueled in each other’s mouths. Kayden had his pants untied, and she started to push the soft blue cotton over his hips to expose his ass. Kayden moaned into Micah's mouth, her hands scratching up over his bandaged back and then down to make Micah keen in need above her. "Okay, I think we found the trigger," Elijah drawled in horrific shock as he grabbed his laptop and jumped out of the way. Everyone jumped up, and it was Michael who pulled his son off of Kayden just before Micah had been able to get her pants down past her hips. "Son, can you hear me?" Michael panted. He was sweating as he struggled to pin Micah's body against his.

Micah fought to get back to Kayden like a bull fighting to be free. He grunted and pulled, struggling as pain at their separation seemed to rip him in half. "Let me go," he hissed through clenched teeth. Every one of his muscles flexed in an effort to get free. Kayden made a move to follow Micah, but she was stopped by Elijah and Roy. It took both of them to hold her back from Micah. After a few tense minutes, Micah started to relax along with Kayden, both panting and breathless as they looked at each other. Paige felt their energy, felt the slow pull until it split apart. Kayden shook her head, the haze of arousal slowly starting to fade. Drawing her fingers over her lip and the stinging pain there, Kayden’s fingers came back stained with blood from where Micah must have accidentally bitten her. "You bit me?" Kayden asked, her eyes lighting with more than just the bloodlust she fought so hard to keep a secret. "I..." Michael slapped a hand over Micah's mouth, shutting him up before he dragged him further away from Kayden. "Okay, this is just unnatural," Elijah commented as he panted, regaining his breath from his tangle with Kayden. Paige nodded. "You can say that again." "So what do we do now?" Elijah asked, tentatively stepping away from Kayden and nursing his arm where she'd bruised it in an effort to break free. Slowly, Michael let go of Micah, his hands hovering in case he needed to restrain his son again. He looked up and across the room to where Kayden was panting, her hair mussed, with a few strands falling from her ponytail.

"If fighting is the trigger that releases the succubus, then they don't argue." Elijah’s bark of laughter echoed through the kitchen. He shook his head back and forth in doom. "If that's your plan, then we are screwed." "For now, let’s keep them separated. Micah can stay with me. Paige, you can stay here with Kayden until we figure this out." Roy said, worry edging into his voice. "Fine with me!" Kayden huffed, her skin still prickling in arousal. Kayden and Micah met eyes, both blinking as the fire between them started to rekindle. "Okay, that's enough," Michael said, pulling Micah out of his trance. The phone rang, a shrill sound breaking the heavy tension in the room and making Kayden jump. She made a move for the phone, thankful for the distraction, but was stopped mid-step when Roy gently pulled on her arm, tugging her back into place. Kayden looked at his firm hold on her wrist, where his warm power emanated, and then up to his eyes. "It’s okay; I'm just getting the phone. I promise I won’t run across the room and jump Micah." "Like you could resist!" Micah piped up, and the sound of Michael smacking Micah upside the head echoed over the ringing. "Micah," Michael warned with a shake of his head.

"Hello?" Kayden asked, panting into the phone. "What the hell is going on over there?" The voice growled over the phone and Kayden felt her knees weaken at the familiar, smooth velvet sound.

All of a sudden, her breath stopped and an ache resounded through her body, erasing her arousal. Her head throbbed with pressure, like someone was prying their fingers into her skull. Like someone had flicked a switch in her body, Kayden felt very tired and drained. "Jullian." Kayden kept her voice level as she pulled the mental shields in her head as tight as they could go. For the first six months after Jullian had left her, agony had twisted her guts until she felt like they were spilling. His thoughts lingered in her head like a whisper when he tried to soothe the broken heart his betrayal had caused her. The harder he tried to make the pain stop, the worse it was. Nothing was safe, nothing was sacred, and that pissed her off. Crying in her bedroom late at night pissed her off. So, she’d learned to shield herself from him, just like Paige had learned to deal with the magic in her veins. All that shielding worked wonderfully in her quest to push Jullian out of her heart, but the second she heard his voice, felt him inside of her, the walls seemed to crash down around her. Kayden turned around to face the gang, her eyes pleadingly meeting her cousin’s. She was silent, but her breathing became more rapid with every second that passed, with every second that Jullian lectured her about blocking him out. He was her sire and had certain rights that claimed her as his. The anger only increased as he explained about the power he felt inside of him, crackling and energizing. It was that energy that had the council upping the bounty on her head. She’d become a liability, a fledgling Jullian could no longer control.

For a few thousand, most demons deemed Kayden not worth the risk. For half a million, just about any fledging with a weapon would be knocking on her door. That was, if the calvary Jullian belonged to didn’t take her out first. Bringing the phone away from her ear, Kayden’s eyes moved from Paige so that she could address the entire group, including Micah, whose gaze felt like it was pressing into her most private places. His look invaded her privacy more than having her sire fishing into her thoughts. "Guys, we've got a problem. A big one."

Chapter 5

"What happened is none of your damn business," Kayden hissed, lowering her voice into the phone. She turned away from the expectant faces of her audience to hide the blush she felt heating her cheeks at the memory. Sharp like a knife, she felt Jullian try and stab into those memories. "Damn it, Kayden. I can’t help you unless I know what I’m dealing with. I’ll make a plea on your behalf; I can protect you,” Jullian huffed. “Yeah,” Kayden snorted, “like you protected me when you ran off with your bitch sire. Fuck you, Jullian. I don’t need your help, and for the last time, stay out of my head.” He was annoyed. Kayden could feel his emotions spilling into her almost too potent to block out. "Energy surge…badness…who cares about the specific details?" Kayden answered after long minutes of an internal battle. Jullian growled, and the sound sent a shiver down her spine. "Tell me, now." Kayden closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose between her forefinger and her thumb. Now, in a room full of people, wasn't the time to get into it. "Look Jullian, it seems like I’m going to have a lot to deal with over here, I don't need you to deal with too." Kayden’s voice became tired as she finished, "Now just really isn't the time to get into this..." "And I don't have things to deal with?" Jullian snapped over the line and then drew in a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you; you know that. I've got a

bad feeling—something painful in my gut—I don’t know if I can get them to rescind the order. No more prying, or pushing, just tell me how bad it is." Slowly, Kayden turned around and rested her back against the wall. Her eyes seemed to automatically meet Micah's. She held his gaze. Heat rolled through her stomach at the fresh memory of his mouth against hers, the way it felt when his abrasive cheek moved against her neck. She could see it in his eyes, ones she hadn't noticed as being this expressive in the past. When he looked at her, like he was doing now with lust and desire, he made her knees wobble. "It's ah... bad," Kayden supplied, and she didn't miss the way Micah's lips curved up into a grin. He might not have been able to hear her exact conversation, but he knew exactly what she was talking about. The smug bastard... Shifting, Kayden turned her body against the wall once more, doing her best to ignore the heat of Micah's gaze on her ass. He was across the room, yet she could feel him as if he were standing behind her, his hands on her hips, his lips moving over her jaw and towards her mouth. "I’ll by there by tomorrow night." Jullian's voice sounded through the phone and snapped Kayden out of her fantasy. It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. Jullian was coming to her home? A rich, bubbling sound of laughter broke free from Kayden. One laugh turned into another, until tears leaked down her face. The entire room was staring at her like she’d gone crazy. Kayden wondered if she had, just for a second.

“I’m sorry,” Kayden chuckled, reigning in her mirth. “Did you say you were coming here? As in the she-bitch from hell is dropping your leash?” “I’m glad you find this so amusing my dear, charming childe.” His words were sweet, but his voice was dipped in venom. “We all have someone to answer to, Kayden; you’ll learn that sooner or later.” “I don’t answer to anyone except myself. I didn’t ask for this, Jullian. The next time you come to town, you better have orders to kill me.” Her voice had completely sobered. "I have missed you," Jullian said softly, almost too soft for her to hear. "I’ll be there tomorrow night, with or without orders.” "Look, I've got to go..." Kayden mumbled before she hung up the phone, desperate to get off the call before Jullian could say anything else. Her stomach was a mass of knots and guilt surged through her, unfounded and completely ridiculous. She and Jullian were over, had been for over five years—why did she feel like she was betraying him? Maybe because in her heart she still loved Jullian, still felt his blood pulsing through her. But maybe it was because somewhere else in her heart she felt Micah MacKenzie, the pain in the ass that he was, stubbornly worming his way inside. If she weren't careful, Micah might turn out to be someone she could love. "Kayden?" Roy asked softly, as if it wasn't the first time he'd called out her name. When she looked up from the floor and met his soft blue eyes, they were full of concern. He took off his glasses, regarding her with his full attention as he rested a hand on his hip. "What did Jullian say?"

"Jullian? What kind of name is that...?" Micah mumbled under his breath, feeling an unfamiliar bubble of jealousy roll through him. Pain formed in Micah’s stomach, radiating throughout his entire body, from resisting the urge to touch Kayden. From watching the longing pass through her entire body at the mention of her sire. She was in pain, not physical, but he could see the tiny frown lines on her forehead at whatever that bastard had said to her to make her upset. Didn't they have enough to deal with? Wanting to screw her six ways to sundown wasn't a big enough issue? Getting her pregnant, that wasn't enough? Apparently, with Kayden, nothing was enough. "Here’s the story: the energy spill that happened last night has turned some heads. Through Jullian, the vampire boogiemen found out it was me, and apparently they’re scared. And no,” Kayden paused to look at Paige’s raised eyebrow, “those weren’t his exact words. Anyways, they’ve upped the price on my head for reasons Jullian didn’t get into. Not only are we going to have every Tom, Dick, and Harry demon trying to rip my head off, they’ve sent down orders to have me… extinguished. For good." Elijah crossed his arms over his chest, his head and back resting against the wall. "Are they familiar with the succubus that attacked you?" Kayden shrugged her shoulders, her eyes soft when they regarded the youngest MacKenzie. She wondered—not for the first time—how he and Micah could be brothers. They were like two sides of the same coin. Sure, she saw the similarities when they bantered back and forth, Elijah showing only a fraction of the wit she knew he had. He was quiet most of the time, dealing with his own issues just like everyone else.

"He doesn’t know it was a succubus. Apparently I’ve gotten better at shielding. He’s coming to town tomorrow with good news or bad; either way he’s going to be pissed when he finds out. I’ll deal with Jullian, and then we’ll find this succubus. Things will go back to being normal in no time." "Yeah," Micah snorted. "Like things are ever normal around here. You know, this succubus is a real bitch. Worse than you, sweetheart..." "Funny," Kayden deadpanned, rolling her eyes in the process. “Kayden, I know how much you dislike him, but he could be very valuable in this situation. It might not be a bad idea to share some information with him, see if he can dig anything up,” Roy said. “What? No way. He’s a last resort. Jullian doesn’t do anything for free, and I’m not willing to pay the price he’ll demand. Not to mention he’s going to be pissed as all hell when he finds out about Micah.” Exhausted, Kayden leaned against the wall and let her body slide down it until her butt touched the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and winced at the answering pain that throbbed through her center. As if she needed more of a reminder. Micah's gaze moved over the delicate lines of Kayden's face. He watched her lay her head down on her crossed arms. A strand of russet hair laid flat against her cheek and he couldn't help but note how drained she looked—she appeared almost as weary as he felt. She took a deep breath and blew out, that strand of hair moving away from her face only to flutter back down in almost the same spot. Their eyes met and it was almost unbearable, the throbbing he felt pass through him. He wanted to touch her, to feel her skin under his, to be home again.

He kept his eyes focused on her and her deep even breaths, wondering why she wasn't writhing in the agony he felt. If she were feeling half of what was going on in his mind, she'd be crying out for him. He pushed at those feelings, pushed at the invisible grip that hazed his thoughts and emotions. The whispering faded a little with his efforts, but not nearly enough. Like a coiled snake, the succubus was just waiting to strike. Elijah spoke up, his eyes moving back and forth between Kayden and Micah, who seemed to be locked in some kind of a staring contest. "I'd like to stay for a little longer, look through some in the books in the basement. I've got this nagging feeling I can't shake. Roy, I'll bring Micah with me back to your place when I'm done, if you don't mind." Nodding in tired agreement, Roy moved towards where he had slung his thick leather jacket over the back of a chair when he'd arrived last night. He gripped it, his knuckles whitening as he spent a moment in careful thought. He opened his mouth to say something, then changed his mind and closed it. As much as he wanted to coddle his niece, there were some things he couldn't help her with. Roy placed a gentle hand atop Paige's head, stroking evenly until he woke her from her doze at the kitchen table. "Paige, it's time to go. We should get some sleep before sundown; we'll need all the help we can get tonight." Paige lifted her head, her tired eyes fluttering open as she looked around, trying to figure out where she was. She'd only fallen asleep for a moment, but it felt like longer. "I'm up." She yawned, flashing a sleepy smile as she stood. "I'll come back over when I get some of my stuff. I’ll set myself up in Alex’s room. Try and get some sleep,"

Paige said, walking over to where Kayden had managed to break Micah's gaze and stand up. The two girls hugged fiercely. Paige held Kayden as tightly as she could. Micah coughed behind them, shrugging off the heavy hand that rested on his shoulder. He shot his dad a look over his shoulder, telling him that his comments earlier still hadn’t been forgiven. "If we are done with the chick-flick moment, I'm gonna grab a shower while the bookworm over there rummages," Micah quipped. Paige let go of Kayden, turning on her heels to face Micah and his amused smirk. "And you, mister," Paige frowned as she shook a finger at him, "stop with the lusty jumping of Kayden. I don't look like much, but I could take you." Micah chuckled, pointing at Kayden, "She's the one you have to worry about. Tell her to keep her hands off the goods." With that he turned up the stairs and made his way towards the shower before he really did jump Kayden. Closing her eyes, Kayden felt tension snapping through her. "Why can't I kill him?" Elijah laughed. "'Cause knowing him, he'd come back and haunt you until your untimely demise.” "Right." Kayden smiled. Michael stepped forward, standing closer than he wanted to Kayden as he looked at Elijah.

"I have a friend who can help us with a talisman that might help counter some of the effects until we can figure out how to reverse this. I'll give him a call and meet back up with you later." Following the crowd out the door, Michael paused before turning to Elijah. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "I trust you to look after your brother. You know how he is; it's probably worse then he's letting on. He's in pain; I can feel it. Make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid until I get back." Elijah rolled his eyes at his father’s concern but nodded anyway. "When has Micah ever done anything that wasn't stupid?" "I can hear you, Eli!" Micah shouted from upstairs, "Don't make me tell Dad about the mess you got into back in Nebraska.” Elijah blushed and closed his mouth, doing his best to ignore his father's knowing half-smile. For just a moment, they actually felt like a family. "Right. We'll see you tonight then... and, ah, Dad," Elijah raised his eyes to meet his father’s straight on, "I'm sorry..." Michael shook his head, squeezing Elijah's arm a bit more firmly in what was the male equivalent of a hug. "It's okay, son. You don't have to say anything." Elijah nodded, watching his father walk out the front door and close it softly behind him, leaving the house empty except for Kayden and Micah. Kayden had stayed out of the way, watching the exchange in silence as she rested her hip against the door jamb that separated the kitchen from the living room. Elijah turned back towards her, giving her the embarrassed half-smile he sometimes got when

Micah teased him. "Breakfast?" she asked, feeling her stomach rumble. The plan was to eat, burn the sheets on Micah's bed, and then pass out in her room until Alex got home from school. After that, well, then it was time for some serious demon ass-kicking. "You're cooking?" Elijah snickered with a shake of his head. "No thanks. I'm hungry, but not that hungry." Kayden frowned. "Hey!" She hit him playfully on the shoulder. "That’s so not fair. I only burnt those waffles because your brother wouldn't shut up." With an expressive grin that looked too much like Micah's for her liking, Kayden watched as Elijah replayed the memory from a few days ago in his mind. "And why do you think he wouldn't shut up?" "He started it," Kayden stated indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Funny." The corners of his eyes crinkled up. "He always says the same thing about you. I wouldn't call what you two have 'true love's passion,' but you definitely got somethin'." With that, Elijah moved to the basement to grab the ancient tomes Roy kept there. He shut the door closed behind him.

Micah swiped a hand over the fogged glass with a squeak, his large palm erasing the moisture so he could see himself. The man who stood before him looked like him. It didn't feel like him. He studied his short hair, running a hand through the thick, sodden locks. The eyes that stared back at him were his, a mixture of brown and green, darkened

by the bags starting to form under them. When he turned to the side he saw his profile, the sharp line of his nose and the purse of his lips, mirrored in the glass. If it looked like him, if it felt like him when he drew a hand down the three-dayold stubble on his jaw, why wasn't it him? Inside him, Micah felt that thing: that demon bitch with her striking blue eyes, leering at him with a pleased smile on her pout-y lips. She was in his head, lounging on a bed in glorious nakedness, laughing. When Micah drew his eyes down his neck, following a rivulet of water that ran between the defined muscles in his chest, he could feel her simmering heat inside of him. The line of water moved down the rigid abdomen he spent so much time maintaining and disappeared into the towel he had wrapped around his waist. He could feel her amused smile; he could hear her humming and infecting his thoughts with every second that passed "Find her... bring her. The pain will stop if you seek her out." Micah shook his head, desperate to free himself from the constant purr that echoed in his mind. Arousal thrummed through him like a grave weight, pressing along his spine. It wasn't about the release; he'd tried that during his thirty-minute shower. It had done nothing but spike the heat that ran through his veins. He needed Kayden, and every second he fought the need, his skin felt like it was tearing in half. The longer he stayed away, the longer he went without touching her, the louder the laughter rang in his head, along with the pain. The bitch was punishing him. Micah pushed away from the counter and did his best to put the rest of his thoughts to the back of his mind. If he could avoid Kayden, could go one more minute

without seeing her naked and screaming out his name, he'd be all right. Steam billowed out of the bathroom in a cloud of mist as Micah walked out into the chilled hallway. He focused on the small things, the cool floor beneath his moist feet, the feel of air licking across his skin and evaporating the water that clung to him. He didn't see Kayden until he felt her, the smooth lines of her body pressed up against him when they ran right smack into each other. Micah's hands sprang forward, catching her before she fell to the floor. The movement drew her closer to him so that Micah's slick chest pressed against her scratchy wool sweater. Looking up, Kayden’s lips parted invitingly and she was stunned into silence when their eyes met. Heat flashed between them where Kayden's hands landed on his chest to steady herself. Her fingers pulsed with need and moved up the muscles, over his shoulders and down his arms until she cupped his elbows. Taking a step forward, Micah moved Kayden with him until he had her backed against the wall. The unbearable pain faded where Kayden's hands touched his skin and relief washed over him. The sting lessened with each slow second that ticked by, only to be replaced with blind hunger. Micah didn't think, didn't stop, just kept pressing forward until their chests were flush and his mouth was pressed ravenously against hers. "Bring her..." Kayden could feel him through the towel, his erection pulsing and seeking out her heat. Roughly he tugged open her mouth and drew her tongue against his. The wall was hard against her back and Micah was even harder in front of her. Trapped, she felt helpless at the sudden loss of control. The panic Kayden experienced at the first bruising contact of his lips against hers liquefied into ecstasy as she gave herself over to him. She

moaned, her fingers clutching at his arms as she poured every ounce of her desperation into him. The kiss grew in intensity and all the pent-up passion inside of them boiled over. Micah's hands skimmed up her sides, grazing over the round edges of her breasts until he could cup her heated cheeks in his hands. He held her head still, his lips and tongue moving against hers, and he felt a part of his soul move into her. He was desperate, consumed with more lust than he'd ever felt before. Kayden gasped, her head swimming with a need that wasn't driven by the heat, but by Micah and the sheer volume of desire he poured inside of her. With every stroke, with every twist of his tongue, Kayden felt her stomach clench in an arousal that left her dripping wet. Passion ignited to a new high, jumping back and forth between them until Kayden ripped her mouth away from his just moments before she drowned in it. She drew in a much needed breath of air. Blinking up at him, she panted, her eyes growing dark with need. His large hands dropped from her cheeks, skimming the soft supple skin of her stomach before he moved further underneath her sweater. He felt the muscles in her abdomen flutter under his slightly callused hand as he cupped the soft mound of her breast. Kayden let her head fall back against the wall, and she let out a whimper of need. Micah bent to her, their lips meeting in a fury of tension when he rolled her erect nipple between his fingers. They kissed and groped, Micah reveling in the feel of her as his hunger morphed into something he was struggling to control. His eyes snapped open, his free hand deftly catching her hand as she made a move for the knot on his towel. He gripped her wrist

tightly, his fingers forming a full circle. He squeezed hard enough to draw her attention away from his wanting cock. This wasn't right. With reluctance he released her mouth, pain scalding through him with enough force that he almost staggered to his knees. If he weren’t holding onto her wrist, anchoring himself to her, he would have fallen into a crippling ball. Micah panted as he fought against the pain, against the succubus whose eyes were bright with anger at being denied again. She wanted to feed... she wanted to taste Kayden, and she couldn't unless Micah was bringing her. He realized with a flash of clarity in his mixed up head, that it was through him that the succubus infected Kayden. "Go. Now." Micah panted, struggling with the succubus that whispered with more force in his head and twisted his desires. It was a fine line, one that made it hard to tell what he truly wanted and what was being forced through him. Did he want to push Kayden to her knees and watch her swallow his cock because that was what he desired? Or was it the succubus in his head that sought out the feeling of him releasing into her mouth? "Huh?" Kayden asked, shaking her head, lost in the haze she felt radiating off of Micah. "I can't..." Micah panted, taking a labored breath and a step away from her. Pain ripped through him, staggering him mid step. He straightened his spine stubbornly and let go of her wrist. "If you don't want me to fuck you against this wall, you need to leave. Now! You've got about two seconds before this bitch that is playing with me..."

Kayden nodded in understanding. An ache clenched at her wildly beating heart. It wasn't her that he wanted... that thought hurt more than it should. The succubus was playing with them, and Kayden had to remember that. Right now she could feel it, the drawing heat between them, but it wasn't consuming her the way it was Micah. He was panting, sweating, his eyes screwed shut as he clenched his fists in tight balls. Every few seconds he'd open and then close them in time with his erratic breathing. There was tension in his body; Kayden could feel it crackling in the few feet that separated them. His chest rose and fell heavily. She could see the vein in his muscled jaw twitching as he fought not to push her against the wall and plunge inside of her. It hurt him; he felt physical pain when he didn’t touch Kayden. Kayden had to walk away, had to move past him despite the overwhelming yearning she felt racing inside her. While it didn't hurt her like it did Micah, she felt his ache like a phantom moving over her. Her body was on fire with a gut-wrenching desire to drop to her knees and feel Micah bumping against the back of her throat. She had to remember that it wasn't what she really wanted. Or was it? Confused, aroused, and just a little bit terrified of the hungry need on Micah's face, Kayden forced herself to move past him and into the bathroom. She shut the door, locking it with a flick of her wrist. Kayden rested her forehead against the firm surface of the door before she let out the breath she'd been holding. The warm, damp air smelled of soap and Micah. When she turned to the mirror, she could see the place where he'd smudged off the fog of steam. She walked over to the mirror, her heart racing inside her chest as she brought her hand up to her lips. They were scarlet from his kisses, and her bottom lip was divided in

an angry line that split down the middle from where he'd bitten her earlier that morning. Her eyes were bright: greener then she'd ever seen them. The more Kayden looked, the more reality sank in. Tears pooled in her eyes, blurring her vision and making her chin scrunch up. With a shake of her head and a strangled sob, Kayden turned away from the mirror and drew her sweater over her head. A shower, a cold one, would do nothing to ease the ache inside of her body, but something was better than nothing. Tension moved over her, flexing her muscles and causing a familiar restlessness inside her. Their passion, both spent and undiscovered, was awakening the vampire inside of her. While everyone else would find sleep, Kayden would lay awake in her bed, replaying the feeling of Micah panting and thrusting above her. No, sleep wouldn't come until she could tear that damn succubus limb from limb. Kayden wondered, as she automatically turned the shower to the coldest setting, stripped off her clothes and stepped under the icy spray, if Micah would find any reprieve. The water hit her like tiny pinpricks of pain all over her body, and Kayden gasped. She sputtered, pressing a hand against the wall in front of her as she struggled to draw in a breath. It took Kayden took a few minutes, her unevenly-cut hair now soaked and clinging to the sides of her face and down her neck, to feel completely numb. The heat, the need, was all pushed aside. Kayden found a second of lucidity as icy liquid ran over her sore body. She snapped her eyes open in dismay, cursing her stupid moment of clarity when she felt Jullian snake into her mind like a viper. Ripping pain seared through her with enough intensity to send her to her knees. Savagely her sire tore through her memories, his anger mounting with each scene that he

replayed in her head. Kayden whimpered, wrapping her arms around her knees as she tried to force him out of her mind. She felt like a small child being punished, as Jullian forced his anger into her like a whip. She cried out, fighting the tears that threatened to leak from her eyes. It was futile. She fell back and writhed in pain. Kayden had always heard that sires had a certain way of controlling their offspring, but until now, she’d never experienced Jullian’s true fury.

Out in the hall, Micah groaned, his head twitching to the side. He felt his skin start to itch with ice that was so cold it burned. It was the exact opposite of what he felt when he touched Kayden; no, this was pure torture and was caused by the angry beast that he'd pissed off. That thought, at least, made him grin. He listened for the scrape of metal and felt only a slight relief when Kayden flipped the lock on the bathroom door. If he really wanted to go after her, a flimsy door wasn't going to stop him. At least it would slow him down. The sound of water splashed on, and Micah could hear the heavy jets ricocheting off the tub. He did his best to ignore the picture in his mind of Kayden stripping naked and walking under a stream of water. More than anything, he wanted to be in that shower, wanted to cup her breasts and spread milky white bubbles of soap over her nipples until they were hard. It was hopeless, Micah groaned. He walked into his bedroom and to his dresser, ignoring the bed in the center that was beckoning to him. While Elijah finished his research—hopefully sooner rather than later so they could get the fuck out of there— Micah would try to catch a nap.

Glancing back towards the stripped bed, he shook his head as the whispering grew louder. He sure as hell wasn't sleeping in this room. He'd prefer Kayden's bed, but he'd take the couch for the sake of seeing a new day. Wearing a fresh pair of jeans that slung low on his hips and a faded long-sleeved navy blue shirt that fit snugly around his muscular body, he walked down the hall, only pausing for a moment outside the bathroom door. He could hear the water, could almost imagine it spraying off Kayden's toned body as she leaned her head back to rinse the shampoo from her hair. In his mind, he pictured a white stream of soapy water move along her spine and down the crevice of her ass. He could see that stream pass over her tender folds where it would curve and run down her inner thigh and then, finally, down the drain. Micah looked down and drew back with a start when he realized the doorknob was in his hand. He hadn't even remembered reaching out to it. "That bitch," Micah hissed. "Have you lost mind?" Elijah asked, causing Micah to jump away from the door. Micah looked down the stairs to where his brother was looking up at him, one eyebrow raised in question. The curve of Elijah's hip rested against the wall at the bottom of the stairs, as he looked at his brother expectantly.

Chapter 6

Micah closed his eyes, sucking in a breath through his nose. He felt the charged air crackle around him in wisps of electrical energy. Every hair on his body stood at attention, making his skin feel tight and too thin. Inside his head, a whispering lullaby raged. The sound pressed against his skull, like a fist that just kept being stretched open inside his brain. He forced one foot in front of the other, and that none-too-gentle push was now as painful as needles being jabbed into his eyes. Elijah asked if he had lost his mind? He almost wished that were the case. His sock-clad foot lingered on the first step of the stairs. Micah’s eyes fluttered in rippling pain. He hesitated there, fighting with himself to take another step, to put distance between himself and Kayden. His eyes were forced open by unseen fingers, his head snapping toward the bathroom as his eyes flashed iridescent blue in the dim light of the hallway. Micah’s lips were set in a grim line as he gritted his teeth. He drew in one tattered breath after the other, a pregnant pause making the sound of raining water from the shower sound like pennies being dropped on a tin roof. When he finally spoke, his voice was gruff, strained, and full of barely restrained agony. "What's good for the goose, right...?" he said out loud to no one in particular. With that humorless attempt at a joke, Micah jogged down the stairs two steps in one stride, schooling his face to hide the blinding pain that shot through his body when he moved. Each step pulled at him, but the pain was almost a welcomed relief from the siren’s song in his head.

"Micah," Elijah said cautiously, the name lingering on his lips. The lanky brunet turned his body out of the way, his back pressing against the wall, as his brother descended the stairs and walked right past him. Elijah pushed off of the surface with his shoulders, snapping the book in his hand shut with a puff of dust. "Come on, Micah, talk to me." Micah didn't even have to look over his shoulder to know his brother was following him. He ground his teeth together tensely, anxiety consuming him. "Talk about what?" he responded. "About what's really going on. About whatever the hell just happened." Elijah sounded exasperated and tired. Coming to a sudden halt, Micah spun on his heels to face his shadow. Elijah slowed his stride to a stop and straightened his spine to his full height. He might have been a few years younger, but he was a couple of inches taller than his older brother, and that was saying something impressive. The young MacKenzie crossed his arms over his chest. They stared at each other, with nothing but the sound of the shower filling the empty house. "Drop it," Micah seethed, spitting his words before he set off toward the living room. All he wanted was to fall asleep and forget every inch of Kayden’s body. Next on his list of wants was to find the succubus and torture her until she felt the agony she was causing him. "Damn it, Micah! No, I won’t. Something else is going on here. I can't help you if I don't know all the details."

Micah turned his head, meeting his brother’s eyes before he lifted an eyebrow that seemed to tug on the corner of his lip. They exchanged a knowing look before Elijah groaned in annoyance and threw his hands in the air. "Not those details, asshole." As if breathing was the worst thing he had ever had to do, Micah labored a heavy sigh. It was painful, and the ache that resounded through him had half his body already pointed toward the stairs, toward Kayden. “Go to her, lover… she can make it better…” A voice whispered in his head. It was true, Micah knew that Kayden’s touch would make the pain go away—but it was a temporary fix. He drew a tired hand down his face, the coarse stubble scratching his palm. Heavily, he plopped down on the couch, the old springs groaning at the weight. He hung his head between his outstretched legs, resting his arms on his knees. His eyes were fixated on the floor, willing a wormhole to open and suck him into hell. Anything was better than what he was feeling right now. Micah curved his head to the side, meeting his brother's gaze from where he'd taken a seat beside him soundlessly. They were good at being unheard when they wanted to be. "When you were with Mia, how did it feel?" Micah asked sullenly. Elijah released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Sad remembrance filled his dark eyes with sorrow. "You aren't going to make fun of me?" he asked cautiously.

They had never really talked about Mia, about how Elijah had loved her with every fiber of his being. What he would have been willing to do for her—to give up for her. She was going to be his wife; that was, until he found her with another man. Motioning with his hand, Micah urged his brother to answer the question without fear of repercussion. For the first time in—well, ever—he was too tired to make fun of his brother and his feminine feelings. Real men, in his opinion, didn't have feelings; they had base urges and testosterone. The younger MacKenzie gave Micah a brief nod as he struggled to find a way to explain himself. He needed to find words that his brother might understand. Elijah took up a similar position to Micah's, his long legs buckling in half as he rested his elbows on his thighs. He curved his head to the side, meeting Micah's expectant face. "I don't know, man, it felt right. Perfect. Like I'd found the piece of me that I'd lost. She felt like..." "...Home," Micah finished as he blinked his eyes closed. "Kayden felt like being home. When we were together, it was more than just..." His gruff voice stopped midsentence as he searched for the right word. Elijah countered with a brisk bob of his head, "sex…" Micah sighed, his eyes blinking back open. He straightened and leaned against the couch. Stretching his arms behind his head, he cast his eyes in the direction of the stairs. He had a flash of images, of pressing Kayden against the stairwell, of feeling her delicate soul in the palm of his hand as he devoured her.

"I don't know, Eli. It went beyond whatever pull this bitch has over me." He gave his brother a serious glare. "Which, by the way, man, is fucked up. I feel like I'm being eaten alive—and not in the good kind of way a hot redhead can do with a flick of her tongue. But through all this shit, everything that’s going on, all I can see is Kayden—the look in her eyes when..." He trailed off, picturing the rapture on her face. "Oh. My. God," Elijah rasped with a short laugh. "You're in love with her, aren't you? The mighty Micah has fallen." Micah's eyes shot open, and he whipped his head to the side to stare at Elijah without missing a beat. "Whoa, dude! NO. I didn't say that. I just meant that she is a really, really good lay. The things she does with her hips, her teeth…that's all." There was a bark of laughter, short and disbelieving. "Tell me, how did you feel about her before all this happened?" Elijah shot one look at his brother, making Micah close his mouth and forget the flip remark he’d been about to make. Elijah held up his hand. "I want to know honestly. Don't feed me some bullshit line like you've been doing for the last two months." Micah kicked the ground in reluctance. He rubbed his hands down his thighs until he cupped the knobs of his knees. "Honestly?” He met Elijah’s eyes. "I don't know. Half the time I wanted to strangle her, the other half... well I wanted to nail her until she couldn’t walk straight. Sometimes I wanted to do both at the same time." With a roll of his eyes, Elijah shook his head. "Gosh, that was just down-right poetic. You ever think about doing greeting cards as a side gig?"

The look on Micah's face mirrored his brother’s, making the resemblance almost uncanny. "Don't be a bitch. You asked, and that's how I feel. I don't think in flowers and long walks in the park like you do—translation: I'm not a pussy. I think in cup sizes and how long it will take before I can make it to the door before they wake up." After a few seconds of silence, Elijah worked through his brother's words and picked out the real meaning. If he wasn't in love with the half-vampire, he was pretty damn close, closer then he'd ever been before. "How does she feel about you?" Elijah asked after a few silent moments. "Who?" Micah asked distractedly, his mind wandering in and out of consciousness. It felt like his skin was splitting in half with every second he spent away from Kayden. Elijah's hand collided with the back of his brother's head, forcing a grunt of anger and a mumbled curse out of Micah's pursed lips. "Jesus, Micah! Who do you think? Kayden! Does she feel the same way about you? God, you’re a moron." Micah scowled at Elijah for a second before he dropped his eyes to the rug under the coffee table. It was cream and brown in an elaborate oriental pattern that tied in with the colors of the room. Kayden loved that rug, not because of the pattern or the color, but because it was the last thing she and her mother had picked out together. There was a maroon stain on the far left corner: blood. It was his blood from when he and Kayden had fought a little over a month ago.

It had been the first real taste of her power that he'd felt, and he’d never forget it. She’d slapped him so hard and so suddenly that Micah hadn't even seen her hand move or her fist coil. After a few long, speechless moments, the rattle in his teeth had dulled, but the ringing in his ears had gone on in an endless symphony of bells. She'd split his lip and given him a black eye before he had even blinked—the dark -haired vixen had been holding back, he’d realized, in that moment. Micah had straightened his shoulders and wiped the dripping blood from his chin with the back of his hand. He realized in that second, looking down into the fiery passion that glowed in her illuminate depths, that he had never wanted anything more in his life then to grab her by the shoulders and haul her against him. He wanted to kiss her; to force his bloodstained lips on hers until she conceded and kissed him back. He wanted to bend her over the couch and fuck her until she was screaming his name. Was that love? Micah pulled his eyes from the carpet to his brother, pushing the memory aside. "This morning... after everything had worn off and we were just staring at each other, our legs tangled... Oh, for the love of Christ!" Micah cried in outrage, his pride taking over as he stood up abruptly. "This is fucking lame, see what you do to me?" His face cracking into a grin, Elijah suppressed a chuckle at the honest-to-God look of true horror on his brother’s face. "Maybe true love’s passion isn't so far off, bro—there is some truth there, even if you aren’t willing to admit it." "I will kick your ass if you keep bringing this love shit up," Micah snapped, but his voice was devoid of anger. Elijah knew he'd touched a nerve.

Elijah stood as Micah sat back down. He straightened his back with a twist in an attempt to starve off the fatigue. "We should get out of here before Kayden gets out of the shower. My eyes can't take another peep show—I mean she’s hot, but you…” Elijah shuddered visibly at the unwanted memory. “And not to mention, I'm just not strong enough to peel you two apart. She damn near tore off my shoulder to get to you. That being said, it's probably not a great idea that we're even still here. We told Dad…" Micah groaned as he felt the atrophy crawl through his arms and legs. Aside from the raging she-beast from hell that had taken residence inside of his head, every single muscle in his body hurt with a tingly numbness that made his skin stretch and spasm. Even his toenails hurt. "Screw Dad. I really just want to sleep—can't you just do what it is you need to do here while I nap on the couch for a bit? I don't think I can get up." "Micah..." Elijah warned in a low voice. "Come on, man!" Micah flung himself back on the couch, stretching out so that his feet hung off the end. A shooting pain snapped up his spine from the three claw marks on his back, which he had forgotten about. He flipped over, moving onto his stomach, and the couchsprings creaked at the motion. He used his hands as a pillow, curving them under his head as he nestled in. Cracking one eye open, Micah peeked at his brother, who was glowering at him. "What's the worst that could happen?" Micah asked.

Elijah gave him a pointed look and then snickered. "Do you really want me to answer that?" "Go do what it is that you do in those books." Micah closed his eyes, shooing his brother away with a dismissive hand as he wiggled his body into the soft cushions and got comfortable. Sleep immediately started to pull at his eyes, making them burn beneath the lids— but the dream state didn’t come. Micah grumbled, feeling his brother’s shadow as it loomed over him. It was really hard to fall asleep when someone was staring at you. "Go away, Elijah. I'll be right here catching up on some beauty sleep." Elijah laughed in resignation, walking out of the living room as he heard the shower upstairs click off. There was a pause and a creak of door hinges. A few seconds later, a second door slammed shut. Elijah turned his shoulder, hovering between the kitchen and the living room. He smiled affectionately at Micah, whose feet were hanging a good foot off the end of the couch. Micah barely heard the basement door click shut before the darkness beneath his lids gave way. For one flashing second, his body fell into dreamless abandon, and he was suspended in a moment where time meant nothing. His body jerked, his muscles twitching as he shut down in an artificial calmness that overrode the pain lingering throughout his body. He felt warm and oddly comforted as the throbbing faded away into nothingness. Micah breathed in the lingering scent of lavender, and the arm curled under his chest fell limply aside the couch. His fist unclenched, the backs of his open fingers resting against the Oriental rug as he succumbed to sleep.

The scent of lavender wrapped around him like a cocoon: safe and warm. Beneath his closed lids, Micah's eyes shifted back and forth as he entered REM sleep. He felt sunshine, bright and warm, and the rays beat down upon him like fingers massaging his muscles. Micah's eyes narrowed in confusion. He looked down at his naked chest, his clothes vanishing before his eyes. Beads of gleaming perspiration gathered along his skin as the sun rose higher in the cloudless sky. He watched the beads roll. They moved as one to create a thin rivulet that trailed down to tickle his golden skin. The rivulet moved lower, over the bump at his hip, then trailed down his bare thigh. In the far distance, the soft sound of lapping waves washed over him. He looked up, the concern on his face melting into relaxation that shone in his eyes. He moved slowly, feet treading over the balmy sand beneath his feet when he made his way towards the ocean’s edge. There was no stripe separating the sea from the sky, just one continuous line that was seamless in its beauty. He walked slowly, heels sinking into the sand with every step. The only sounds were the ocean and the soft breeze that blew over him. Micah paused, drawing in the moisture-rich air as wind danced around him. The heat faded until his skin felt numb. It was neither hot nor cold, just the perfect temperature that made him sigh in contentment. The shoreline, which had seemed so distant when he'd first looked at it a second ago, was now right in front of him. Water nipped at his heels, splashing up to his calves. The crystalline water moved over the shore, moistening and darkening the sand when it

retreated. Cool water pooled over his feet, licking his skin. The ocean drew back, and Micah concentrated on the rushing pull as he sank further into the sand. He heard the faintest bubbling noise, and he bent his head to watch the sand crabs burrow back underground. He smiled wryly, a distant memory coming to mind as he bent on his haunches. His hand moved through the wet sand, digging a hole where it had popped and left tiny air bubbles. He brushed away the clumped soil in his palm until he found what he was hunting. A soft gray crab wiggled in his grasp, feet scurrying against his skin before he set it back into the coming tide with a smile. He had always wanted to teach Elijah how to find sand crabs—they’d never gotten the chance. Micah looked to his left and then to his right as he rinsed his hands clean in the water and stood. The beach was desolate, the shore running for miles on either side of him with no end in sight. There were no trees, nothing except beige sand and blue water. "It’s beautiful here." A husky voice sounded behind him, tickling his spine. He straightened himself into attention. Fingers moved along his spine, and Micah turned slowly, blinking his eyes at the succubus. The ocean continued to play at his feet and calves. Her white gown was transparent, flowing in delicate strands with the soft breeze that seemed to pick up in her presence. Her jet-black hair, almost purple in the sunlight, moved in contrast to the pale fabric. She was breathtaking. Micah's mouth moistened, his eyes outlining the dark nipples he saw through the sheer cloth. They were full and tight with arousal, and he felt an automatic response well within him. On instinct, his eyes

moved lower to the soft swell of feminine flesh that merged into the dark triangle of curls between her legs. The white fabric of the dress wrapped against her lithe legs, outlining them as if there was nothing protecting her tender skin from the sun. He grew hard, curving into the air and his stomach tightened in anticipation. The sun that beat down on him was now suddenly hot again, burning his skin into a golden shade of bronze. Micah opened and closed his eyes, shaking his head at the invading song that pushed inside his brain. The tickling feeling of fingers moved up the line of his back again. It was identical to the feel of the crab in his palm, feet scurrying. The demon in front of him curved her pout-y lips into a smile, her cheeks flashing a soft set of dimples. She batted long, dark eyelashes, and her eyes sparkled in the sun like blue topaz. His fists clenched at his sides, and Micah grasped the anger that hummed just under the surface. She was a demon, a lowly creature that was driving him insane. "Bitch..."he hissed through clenched teeth, "you better get out of my head." She drew a toe through the sand, blinking up at him demurely. The sun shone on her pale skin, her cheeks already turning pink. Her skin was no longer translucent, and Micah had a flash of knowledge when he felt the softness of her skin under his fingertips. "This is where your mother took you, no?" the succubus asked, a train of fabric moving over the sand as she approached. The demon looked at Micah like a cat eyeing a bowl of cream, her gaze slowly moving up and down his form. She closed in on him, resting a delicate hand on the curve of his cheek. Water crashed around their legs, the material of her dress melting away into nothingness. Micah jerked backward, stumbling away as if he'd been burnt.

He had, but not with heat. Her skin felt like ice. Her eyebrows knitted together as she tucked her ruby lower lip between her teeth. It was a mannerism reminiscent of Kayden. "You fight me so. Why?" She looked up at him innocently, and Micah felt the pointed tips of her breasts pressing against his chest. She drew herself even closer to him. He could feel the slow, dull thud of her heart against his racing one. Her hand was so cold, so unlike the hot sun, and he shivered. She trailed ice over his face, her fingers moving over his body like a hushed whisper of pleasure. "I offer you ecstasy. Don't you want to end the suffering? The ache?" she whispered seductively, moving lower to cup the heavy sack of his balls in her palm. Encircling him, she tugged lightly as she nipped at his neck with her teeth. “I can cure all that ails you, lover… if you’ll only let me.” Micah jumped, batting her hand away, and he took a shaky step backward. "Stay the fuck away from me, you demon whore." The succubus seemed to ponder that for a second, her eyes tilted upwards toward the heaven-less sky. She basked in the sunlight, and Micah watched the delicate lines of her face curve into a smile until she lowered the point of her chin. "It’s not me you want." She said it simply as she trailed around his body in a circle. The next time she spoke, her lips pressed against his ear as her hands moved over his shoulders and down his chest. “Do you love her?” Micah fought, his teeth grinding against one another to hold his body steady. Yielding breasts pushed up against his flesh, and the ocean waves moved against the back

of his thighs like silk. He could feel the softness of her lips as she sucked on his earlobe, blowing a cool breath across his skin that seemed to flow over his entire being. She circled him tauntingly, fingers trailing over his shoulders as she went. She came to a stop in front of him, her head tilted upwards in an invitation for a kiss, but when Micah looked down, it wasn’t the succubus. Large green eyes batted up at him, full lips curving into a heart-stopping smile as Kayden drew a warm hand over his heart. It skipped a beat. He sucked in a breath that was baited with vanilla, and just like that, he could taste her essence on his lips. The waves disappeared, and Micah suddenly found himself on the shore once more, just a hint of crashing water in the distance. The sun kissed her skin like he longed to do, bronzing the line of her nose and the high contours of her cheeks. Her hair shimmered in the yellowing rays of light, making the dark strands of her hair almost red. Her eyes were bright, iridescent with love. The hand she pressed against his chest moved to cup the back of his neck. "Micah," Kayden moaned with promise, submitting into the curve of his body as she panted against his neck. “Do you love me?” Micah felt his knees buckle, and with a force that was out of his control, his hands roamed over her nude body like it was the most precious thing he’d ever touched. He started at the flair of her hips, hands trailing upwards until he could cup the now familiar weight of her breasts that were pressed between their bodies. They were full and perky, fitting perfectly in his palm. She moaned his name like a prayer, silently begging as she gently scratched her nails up and down his arms.

Behind them, the ocean pounded the shore, waves cresting and peaking in an intensity that broke the tiny granules of sand into smaller and smaller pieces until they vanished. Micah bent, smoothing his hands away from her breast and down her back until he cupped her ass in his hands. He ground her hips against his erection, his mouth slanting over hers. Their lips met softly, a gentle melting of tongues as he poured himself into her like it was his last wish. Micah felt the world spinning, but he knew he was standing still. After long seconds Kayden pulled away, her eyes fluttering in passion. "Do you want me?" Kayden whimpered, biting her lip in question. Closing his eyes, Micah inhaled her scent. He breathed her in and nodded. "Yes," he whispered in answer to both questions, his voice breaking with the strain he felt at having to hold himself upright. The brunette’s lips curved into a smile before she pressed a chaste kiss against the line of his jaw. Her lips moved downwards, teeth nibbling against his throat. Her mouth drew along the line of his collar, lips exploring his flat nipples before she sucked them into her mouth. Nimble hands trailed down his abdomen, the muscles rippling in excitement before she took his cock into her hand. With a maddening slowness, she stroked him up and down, her hair ticking his chest as she knelt in the sand before him. Kayden looked up at him with a demure smile, asking a silent question that he heard echoing inside of his head. Micah instinctually arched his body against her hand, pressing his rock-hard member in and out of the ring her fingers created. Affectionately, his hand cupped her head, smoothing over the silky strands before he threaded his fingers

through the unkempt tresses. Micah opened his mouth to protest, but his words fell short in a deaf whisper when she wrapped her lips around him. He sucked in a harsh breath, his grip tightening in her hair as she sucked him deeper into the haven of her mouth. It was wet and warm, and so damn soft when her tongue swirled around the underside of his sensitive nerves. Slowly she bobbed up and down, her tiny hand encompassing his shaft in an up-down rhythm that forced his eyes closed. “Yes…” Micah panted as his breathing started to skip. When his eyes opened and he looked down at her, Kayden’s lips were ruby red, so dark compared to the paleness of his member that slid against the back of her throat. The pleasure moved through him in even waves that matched the ocean. Micah's hips flexed, pushing into her mouth like it was her womanhood, and in response she increased her rhythm. A throaty moan was torn from Micah’s throat as he felt teeth scrape along the underside of his shaft. Consciousness pulled at him as his balls tightened in pleasure, and he felt numb. He struggled to keep his eyes open, to watch Kayden kneeling before him, sucking him harder and quicker as she made hungry little sounds. She was begging him to come in her mouth. Micah released her hair, his hands twisting over her neck to finger the puffy white scar that had changed the very fibers of who she was. She moaned around his shaft, and Micah let out a strangled cry as he felt his climax nearing. His eyes blinked open, and the moan on his lips fell into a gasp of shock. Where there was brown hair, it was now black. The succubus rolled its eyes upwards, and before Micah could protest, he felt the comforting press of lips on his back. His spine stiffened

as Kayden trailed her hand across his shoulder blades, coming into view. She reached up on the tips of her toes, pressing her mouth against his to silence his cries. She swallowed his moan as the wet sucking sensation increased on his manhood. Harder, quicker, stronger. Micah felt his soul slipping, felt the blinding pleasure building at the base of his spine. For all it was worth, Micah closed his eyes and cupped Kayden's cheeks as he poured his love into their kiss. Their tongues dueled voraciously, pressing and bating, chasing and capturing. Her hand moved down his abdomen, teasing his flesh until she wrapped her fingers around his length in double sensation. He cried out, but the sound was lost in the commotion of having two women racing him towards his pinnacle. Micah looked down to see Kayden’s tanned hand move in time with the ruby lips that belonged to the succubus. They stroked him, bringing him to a fevered pitch that he knew was wrong but felt so damned good. The succubus stood suddenly, her lips swollen with lust. Kayden’s hand still worked him, moving swiftly over the wet skin. She curved her palm over the crown, twisting her wrist with every upstroke. The succubus pressed her lips against Kayden's arm, trailing upwards. One pale, white hand curved around to cover the brunette’s breast. Micah whimpered, Kayden's hand moving deftly over the velvet hardness. Micah met Kayden’s mouth, and he felt her moan as the succubus attached her lips to the side of Kayden’s neck while she tweaked a dusty nipple between her fingers. Kayden broke the kiss, pulling away with moist red lips as she rested her head against the succubus' shoulder. She panted, and Micah watched the pleasure move over

her face as the black-haired creature bit her neck and curved long fingers down Kayden’s stomach. A hand moved up Kayden’s hip. Micah realized it was his own as it trailed over her ribcage in an opposing direction to the succubus. Cupping her shoulder, he pressed down, urging Kayden to resume her kneeling position. Time erased, and there was nothing but hungry moans, a soft breeze, and the ocean’s continued push-pull with the earth’s tide. The succubus leaned forward over Kayden, and in a flash Micah saw black caressing hair fall over Kayden’s shoulder to arouse her breasts. The succubus met Micah's lips in a fiery kiss, forcing a bolt of energy into his soul. She sucked his tongue into her mouth. It was cold, like sucking on an ice cube. Micah felt a throaty moan move through his lower body as Kayden took him into the heat of her mouth once more, erasing the chill that ebbed inside his gut. Micah felt his body being lowered, felt the scratchy sand against his back as he lay. The sun flashed blinding rays into his eyes as Micah let his head fall back. His head didn’t hit sand; instead, it rested on the silkiness of a pillow. What was once coarse and rough beneath him was now the velvet softness of a bed. He sucked in a deep breath, still smelling the salt of the ocean as the two girls settled on the bed before him. They leaned forward, tongues meeting in the middle before they pressed their lips against one another. A needy sound escaped his throat. Their kiss became passionate. Their hands moved over one another, touching and caressing. Kayden cried out as a hand that wasn’t her own disappeared between her thighs. Micah fisted the sheets in his palms, desperation bucking his hips into the air.

The succubus pulled back from the kiss, pulling out Kayden’s lower lip. She guided the other woman’s head towards Micah’s aching member with her free hand. His cock was purple with need, the crown swollen and full, seeping cum from his impending climax. Sharp nails trailed up his thigh as Kayden encompassed his shaft, her hips bucking against the fingers buried inside of her. She moved frantically over his cock, sucking and licking him into a brink that he knew he’d never return from. The succubus knelt on the other side, her dark head resting on Micah’s thigh as she propelled Kayden closer and closer to orgasm. Kayden's back arched. She cried out his name in a full-throated scream, and Micah suddenly found his head between her legs. He had no recollection of how he had gotten there. His arms were wrapped around her thighs, holding her open as he drank in the energy and power spilling from her. A cloud of need and lust swirled hazy red lines of pleasure around them. He felt lips, teeth, and tongues licking all over him. A hand pulled at his shaft, stroking him harder and quicker. His mouth moved over the hard nubbin of Kayden’s clit as she moaned and writhed. Her hips bucked against his mouth, and he felt the first sparks of her climax infecting his soul. Her decadent taste filled him like a fine wine. Harder, faster, his tongue flicked against her bundle of nerves before he dropped his mouth lower. His tongue delved between her swollen folds, arching as deep as he could in her scent. She screamed out, her body reaching into the air before he guided her back down with a steady hand. He felt lips against his neck, a soft mouth moving up his throat. Hair tickled his skin as the succubus continued to stroke his cock. "Bring her, Micah... do not fight me."

Kayden cried out once more, hands grasping the sheets, ripping them when her back bowed off of the bed. Power crashed down on him like the ocean’s powerful waves. The ground shook, trembling. He panted and moaned at the feelings overwhelming him. Micah's jaw worked harder, his tongue moving through the sopping folds as he sucked and nibbled. His fingers moved in and out of Kayden’s depths, pressing into her, stroking the soft walls. His brain was hazed with passion, and nothing meant anything anymore. "Yes!" The succubus cried out, the sound moving through Micah to triple the pleasure that surrounded them a shroud of indecency. The succubus pulled back, letting go of his member with a tight squeeze around the base. Her lips were frigid around the lobe of his ear as she tugged with blunt teeth. She moved behind him on the bed, stretching her arms. She grazed her nails up his chest, leaving red angry welts in her wake. There was a blurring of lines before Micah found himself on his back. The red welts disappeared under Kayden's mouth as she lapped at the blood that spilled. Just moments ago, he’d made her moan with bliss, and as the thick substance of his blood filled her mouth, she let out the same tortuous moan that had the sheets ripping under his grasp. Soft and pink, Kayden’s tongue gently worked its way up his body until she was straddling him. Her eyes met his, her face looming above, and she guided his throbbing member towards the dripping folds of her sex. The succubus was there, guiding his mouth to her neck and over the scar that marked her as another man’s. His mouth closed around the scar, sucking the flesh into his mouth. Kayden cried out, shattering above him as she rode back and forth against his

member. He wasn’t inside of her, not yet, but he could feel the drenching of her climax above him when his teeth sunk into the skin. “Bring her,” the succubus whispered into his ear, and he could barely hear over the loud screams. Kayden keened and trembled above him. She came over and over again as he worked the tough tissue in between his teeth until he tasted copper. Micah flexed his fingers on her hips, quickly moving her body back and forth over his cock in a frenzy of movement. She moved with him, her breasts dragging against his chest with every thrust. Micah’s mouth was stained with blood when he pulled back and looked up into Kayden’s now-blue eyes. The sapphire eyes flashed. She cupped his cheeks between her hands, lowering herself onto his shaft. Her mouth moved lower, whispering, "find her, Micah. Find her and bring her home," over his lips before she sank down on him and his world shattered.

Chapter 7

“Jesus, Micah, wake up!” Elijah yelled, his hands bruising his brother’s shoulders when he tried to shake him awake. Micah was thrashing. His back bowed off the couch as deep rich lines that could only be blood seeped through his shirt. He moaned in his sleep, hips arching off the sofa. His head moved roughly from one side to the other. Elijah heard the heavy thud of footsteps echoing down the stairs before Kayden came crashing into the living room. Her hair was now dry; a testament to how long he’d dozed. The more-than-normally disheveled strands of her hair and the thin cotton pajama pants that rode her hips suggested she’d been roused from sleep when Micah’s cries of agony had sounded through the house. “What the hell happened?” Kayden cried, her sock-clad feet skidding to a halt before she ran a hand over the blood-stained shirt. For the first time since he’d met her, Elijah saw the tick in Kayden’s jaw as her fingers drifted over the moisture in an almost caress. Whatever she’d been thinking was quickly pushed from her mind as he watched the concern flood her eyes. Elijah shook his head, looking between the oversized chair and the heavy book that lay discarded on the floor. “I’m not sure. One minute I was reading, the next I was woken by Micah screaming out your name. I tried to wake him, but he just keeps thrashing.” Kayden leaned over the couch, her pants dipping further down her lower back to expose an intricate pattern that was as delicate as henna, but dark like a tattoo. Her hands

fitted around Micah’s shoulders. She tried to shake him awake. He thrashed beneath her, almost knocking her off balance as her name ripped from between his lips. Micah’s hand rose, grabbing her by the shoulders before he forced their chests together. Startled, Kayden screamed, making Elijah jump behind them. The warmth of his blood soaked through her thin chemise, making her skin hot. His scent moved over her. Micah’s eyes snapped open, full and bright, and Kayden felt like he was looking right through her. Gasping for breath, Micah stared at her, his chest pounding beneath her body before he moved his hands up her neck and threaded them through her hair. She tried to protest, to use some of the superior strength she’d been given, but it was too late. Biting teeth stung her lips when Micah pulled her into a kiss. His arms felt like a vice around her body as his tongue flooded her mouth. Kayden swallowed her moan. A bolt of fire moved through her and into her body. Caught in the lure of what she knew would be disastrous, Kayden knew she had to break away. Vaguely, she could hear Elijah behind them, chanting something ancient. When nothing happened, he started to yell, begging Micah to snap out of it. One second she was on top of him, his erection painfully hard against her hip. The next moment she was flat on her back, the hard ground beneath her shoulder blades when Micah rolled them to the floor. All the breath in her lungs was forced from her chest as his weight pressed into her. He pulled away from her mouth, his eyes no longer the mischievous hazel she was used to, but now blue. It was a luminescent blue that told her he was too far gone to stop himself.

“I need to feel you,” Micah whispered, his hands skimming over the tight, thin top she’d fallen asleep in. Large hands cupped her breasts as he nudged his way between her legs, spreading her wide before he thrust against her. Instant heat flared inside of her as she felt him ready against her opening. Clothing separated them, but not for long, Kayden realized when Micah pushed his hand beneath her shirt. “Micah, no! You have to wake up. Fight her, you have to!” Kayden hissed, fighting as hard as she could. A searing bolt of pain ripped through her chest cavity, as if someone were crushing her heart. One second she was fighting him, the next she felt her body give way to the sensation that the abrasive feel of his hand caused within her. Years of working with weapons had made his fingers callused, and the feel of his rough skin against her sensitive breasts made her moan. Her breath escaped into the heated air as Micah’s fingers found her tight, erect nipples. He thrust against her center, his clever hand already snaking inside the material until he found her panties. She bucked against him, using more strength then she normally would have for fear of hurting him. As she pushed forward, he pressed down. Something gave him a strength that rendered her helpless. Feelings unknown welled inside her as the first bolt of panic seared through her. Eyes wide with arousal and fear, Kayden looked deep into the unseeing depths of Micah’s eyes. He was a shell, nothing more than the succubus’ vessel to get what she

wanted. All thoughts left her as Micah curved two fingers through her curls and straight into her center. She was wet; already ready for him when she felt him part her abused depths. Once, twice, he stroked that special place deep inside her that forced her eyes shut in bliss. Harder, faster, he pumped inside of her, and Kayden remembered how it felt when his cock stretched her wide. “Jesus, Micah!” Elijah yelled, and Kayden was only vaguely aware as the younger MacKenzie tried to stop his brother. Everything paused for a moment, and whatever unseen presence was in the air showed itself. A long, flowing gown appeared like a cloak covering Micah’s body. A vicious sneer covered the once-beautiful face of the succubus as she bared her teeth at Elijah. Her hand reached out to touch him, but she never got the chance before Micah lashed out in what seemed like a clear, concise movement. “No! You won’t get him!” Micah yelled, pushing his brother back with enough force to send him crashing into the coffee table. Wood splintered with a loud bang before Micah cried out, his hands moving from Kayden’s depths to grip the blinding pain in his head. “He won’t interfere!” the succubus hissed. She raked long, claw-like nails down his back and split the flesh. “You are mine!” Kayden hissed in retaliation, baring fangless teeth as if she were a fully-fledged vampire. Before she could lash out, she felt the heavy press of fingers around her wrists as Micah pinned her to the floor. Like night and day, Micah shifted into something she

didn’t recognize. He lowered his head, his mouth moving against her ear before he found the lobe. “We have to, Kayden. Home, I just want to be home,” he whispered, ignoring her struggles as he began to inch the cotton panties down her legs. “I can make you feel it.” “Micah! God damn it! This isn’t you! Fight her, please, Micah don’t do this,” Kayden called out, pushing with all her strength against the hands that held her captive. The sweat from their skin slipped his hands from her wrists just enough so that she could break free. Kayden reared up, slamming her head against his before she shimmied out from under him. She instinctively flipped onto her stomach and crawled away from him, desperate to gain some distance. Her body was aching, on fire with need. She felt the phantom touch of his fingers tickling inside her. Fast as lightening he was there, pinned on top of her and making it hard to breathe. He settled onto her back. With a fistful of choppy hair, he drew her head back to expose the long line of her neck. His teeth found the scar on her neck before he bit down. Kayden came unglued beneath him, wetness flooding out of her as the sudden climax rendered her unable to move. One rough wave of pleasure rode the next and she cried out Micah’s name. He suckled the spot, nipping and suckling against her. He prolonged that bliss until his hands found their way inside her pants. “That’s it, let go,” he whispered as he rubbed against her clit. “Let me bring you, Kayden; let me feel that beautiful pussy around me. I want to feel you, hear you; I want to be so deep inside of you I disappear.” The scratch of nails reverberated through the house as Kayden clawed at the floor, half in ecstasy, half trying to get free. Bucking back, she managed to throw his weight off

of her long enough to flip over. She swung her leg up, forcing her body momentum upwards until she was on her feet. Her lips felt heavy, and she could taste a drop of blood that seeped from the slit that had never quite healed. Micah rose with her, panting, his hair as wild as his eyes. He looked like beautiful sin, the kind she longed to lose herself in. Her brain scrambled, running through any information she had that might help Micah break free. The only thing she could think of was violence. Acting before she could think, she hit him. His head spun left, and then right when she slapped him as hard as her strength would allow. In slow motion, she saw the spittle fly from his lip, tinged pink with blood. “Micah, please listen to me. You have to wake up. Fight her, damn it!” Kayden yelled as her fist coiled to hit him again. Micah reared back. It was as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice-cold water on him. The black shroud that filled him slowly dissipated, and he found himself standing in the middle of Kayden’s living room. He felt like he was waking after a month-long slumber; his eyes had to slowly adjust to the surroundings. The coffee table lay in shambles, scattered around an unmoving form that lay in the center. In front of him panted Kayden, her lips swollen and her thin shirt ripped down the front. Blood dripped from her neck, curving down toward her chest before it disappeared under the fabric that just barely concealed the ample swell of her breasts. One heavy breath turned into two as the vicious memories hit him one by one. The dream; waking, but not really waking. Kayden around him, pulsing, hot, wet. Elijah yelling, screaming, rushing towards him.

No, Micah thought, and his breathing turned violent. He turned, rushing towards his unconscious brother as wave after wave of guilt broke the fragile threads of his sanity. What had he done? “Elijah! Wake up, please, you have to wake up!” he yelled, his hands fluttering over his brother’s face and shoulders roughly. Elijah stirred, moaning, as he lifted a hand and then dropped it. Micah let out a sigh of relief as a pair of russet eyes cracked open and then settled on him. “Oh, thank God!” Micah groaned. He lifted his brother into a hug, tears forming behind his eyes. “Ouch, dude,” Elijah gasped, wobbling as he tried to stand with his brother’s help. He hurt but, to his relief, nothing felt broken. Elijah looked around the disheveled room, his eyes landing on Kayden, who looked more frazzled then he would have ever imagined she would be. He suddenly got a picture of her younger, vulnerable. With a swollen lip and a wide gash above her eyebrow, Kayden looked like she’d just gone a few rounds with a demon. “Jesus,” Micah gasped, following Elijah’s gaze. He took a shaky step towards Kayden, and she took an unstable step back until she hit the wall behind her. Raising a hand, Kayden stopped him mid-step. Her body began to tremble with spent endorphins. Micah’s head dipped, and for the first time since Elijah had known him, a single tear fell from the corner of his eye. Slowly, his brother backed up, smoothing his palms down his thighs.

“I never meant to hurt you. Jesus, Kayden, look at what I’ve done,” he whispered. His back hit the wall, his position mirroring the woman across from him. “It wasn’t you, Micah, you have to understand that,” she pleaded as she took a step into the room. Wood splintered under her feet as she came closer, but Micah retreated, slowly inching along the wall until he felt the door jamb that led into the kitchen. “I can’t…” he stuttered. The tear that rolled down his face fell to the floor as he turned and stormed towards the back door. Kayden jumped, hearing the door slam shut before she watched almost helplessly when Elijah made a move to follow him. “Micah, wait!” she yelled, sprinting across the room before Elijah stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’ll talk to him; I think he just needs some time to deal with this,” he explained, hating the pain that flashed through her eyes. “But he didn’t do anything. It wasn’t him. It was her: the succubus.” Her voice held a slight, but unflattering degree of a whine, and Kayden hated the emotions that were spilling from her. Elijah shook his head, smoothing a few strands of hair out of her face before he fingered the bruise already forming around her eye. “You don’t understand Kayden. Our sister… she was raped before she was murdered. Micah feels responsible. He almost did the same thing to you; he can’t live with that. I know my brother and what he thinks he did to you. That’s unforgivable to him.”

An unsteady hand moved to her heart. Kayden’s mouth dropped open in shock. She’d known their sister had been killed, violently, but she’d not a clue as to the details. “Oh, Eli…” “Don’t. You don’t have to say anything. I was too young to remember, but Micah… it stayed with him, stayed with our dad. That’s the reason I think we don’t get along. Micah blames him, dad blames Micah, and I blame dad for blaming Micah. We’re one hell of a dysfunctional family.” “Go be with him, he needs you,” Kayden said, pulling Elijah into a hug and speaking against the solid wall of his chest. “Promise me you’ll look after him, won’t let him do anything too stupid?” Elijah pulled away from her embrace, a ghost of a smile curving his lips in a way that reminded her too much of his brother. “We are talking about Micah here, stupid is his middle name.” Kayden chuckled, her laugh choking on a sob that threatened to break loose. She wouldn’t cry; it was a promise she’d made herself. As Elijah walked away, limping on his left side, she knew that promises were meant to be broken. The first sob bowed her shoulders, and the second dropped her to her knees as the fatigue caught up with her. Emotionally and physically exhausted, Kayden collapsed right there. Soothing fingers smoothed over her mind from the inside out, cooing soft words of comfort that just made her angry. This was a private moment. Kayden stood, fury in her eyes. Her jaw slanted. Ripping at her hair, she looked upwards, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Stay the fuck out of my head, Jullian!”

A cool wind whipped through the air, but Micah didn’t feel it. He didn’t feel anything except the nausea that curled his stomach. He was no better than the thing that had torn his family apart. Micah sat, legs dangling from the picnic bench in the Gray’s backyard. The back door creaked open softly, too gingerly to be Kayden, and for that he was thankful. He was far from a coward, but the look Micah had seen on her face was something he wasn’t soon to forget. Quietly, his brother joined him on the table, sitting next to him silently. A few moments passed as the dull sky whipped clouds into thin gray strings. The air was moist with rain, and the storm they’d been expecting was about to touch down. “She doesn’t blame you,” Elijah said softly, his hand hesitating before he brought it down awkwardly on his brother’s shoulder. Eyes that were rimmed red shifted to the side when Micah turned to look at him. “Does it matter who she blames? I hurt her, I hurt you.” A tight smile thinned Elijah’s lips as he attempted a playful expression. “You think that hurt? Really, dude, I could have kicked your ass. I was just waiting for my moment.” Micah chuckled, a dry, shallow sound that broke his brother’s heart. “Kayden will be fine. She’ll heal. You know she will,” Elijah said. “And what if she weren’t part blood sucker?” Micah snapped as he jumped off the table and walked off, staring into the budding garden that Elijah and Paige had planted.

He remembered the smile on his brother’s face, the dirt smudging along his cheek as he and Kayden’s cousin had thrown dirt at each other. Elijah should have had that: a sister to tease, to chase around the yard. It was Micah’s fault that he didn’t. Elijah sighed and let his feet rest on the ground as a bolt of pain shot up his left side. He limped forward, chasing after his brother before he really did go off and do something stupid. They didn’t have much, a spare bag of clothes in the trunk and a little over a hundred dollars, but it was enough, Elijah knew, for Micah to go on a bender. “We’ll find a way to beat this thing.” Elijah said, stopping next to his brother. Micah walked forward, shaking his head, and Elijah followed, trailing in his brother’s footsteps much like he used to do when they were boys. Suddenly Micah stopped, causing the younger MacKenzie to crash into his back. He turned and looked up at him. “And until then?” Micah growled, the guilt melting into anger. “I’m not just going to wait around and hope this bitch decides to back off. I can feel her, Eli, in my head, in my body. Whispering, touching…” “Keep your distance. I promise you, I’ll find a way to break this thing.” Nodding, Micah turned back towards the wooden gate that caged in the yard. Distance. Elijah was right. He needed to get as far away from Kayden as he could before he did something he’d really regret. A chill ran down his spine and he shivered, crossing his arms over his chest and rubbing his forearms. Her smell was on his hands and his mouth. He tasted her blood in his mouth, sweet and so unlike what he would have expected. His body throbbed with need and fatigue. Through that, the succubus was there, laughing as she clapped her hands together.

Micah thought he’d heard her whisper, “you will be sorry.”

In an unspoken agreement, Micah entered the passenger side of his car, too tired to argue when Elijah slid into the driver’s seat back before starting his car. The engine purred to life, and with a grind of gears, they peeled backward out of the driveway. Elijah knew his brother was out of it when he didn’t say one word, not even when he slammed on the breaks to avoid a rear-end collision. The only thing that kept them from silence was the heavy rock music blaring from the stereo. A motel came into view just miles off the freeway. Micah was barely aware of anything. He sat in the car, the last twenty-four hours running through his mind as the insistent chill inside of him kicked up a notch. The wind from the open window swirled around him, despite the fact that the car was now parked. A gust of cold air blew the first sprinklings of rain into his window, but he was too tired to care about the upholstery. After a few minutes, Elijah came out of the motel office, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. Micah numbly got out of the car, and the cold rain actually felt warm against his skin when he followed his brother into the room he’d gotten them. This motel, Micah noted, was no different from all the others they’d stayed at over the years as they hunted across the country. Inside the room, a single dim light flickered to life, drawing Micah attention to the yellowed curtains that had been stained from the years of cigarette smoke. The smell still lingered in the air. Cheap, peeling wallpaper flaked from the walls. Mauve comforters that he knew to be scratchy were tucked immaculately around beds that were too small and too lumpy. This, Micah

thought, was home before he’d met Kayden, before he and Elijah had insinuated themselves into her life. Micah was silent as he walked past his brother, peeling off his sweat and bloodstained clothes. The door creaked open to the bathroom to reveal a tiny room with a single brown toilet and a cracked mirror over a leaking sink. There was no bath, just a small triangle shaped shower crammed into the corner. Micah turned the knobs of the shower and waited for the pipes to stop creaking before the water sprayed from the nozzle. It took a few minutes for the water to warm into something that resembled heat. Shaking, his legs quivered as he stepped under the scalding water. Micah leaned forward under the spray and rested one hand on the wall. The dark strands of his now-wet hair plastered against the tile as he used the hard surface to support his weight. Water ran in rivulets down his back. Stinging pain closed his eyes as the water washed out the fresh cuts on his back. He cracked open his eyes, pushing a hand through his hair to watch the blood-stained water spiral down the drain. Too tired to stand any longer, Micah dropped to the ground, cracking his knee against the metal door handle on his way to the floor. He folded his long legs against his chest before he leaned back against the wall. Hot water drizzled down and did nothing to ease the aching frost that had started to chatter his teeth. The soft hair on his legs scratched against his palms as he rubbed his calves up and down, desperate to get some kind of heat pumping through him.

An echoing laugh rode on the steam that now filled the bathroom. Micah looked up, tears cloaked under the water that dripped from his hair and down his cheeks. His head throbbed, but it was nothing in comparison to the cold.

“Micah?” Elijah called out as he pushed open the door to the bathroom. Hot steam rolled over him, causing the pale cotton of his shirt to stick against his chest. Billowing clouds of moisture rushed towards the door. Elijah walked carefully over the now-slick tiles. Through the fog he could see his brother, clutching himself as the dwindling spray of the shower beat against his skin. “Micah, you all right?” Elijah called out again, worry creeping deep inside of him. His brother said nothing, not a word when he opened the door and gasped at what he saw inside. Micah’s skin was red from the heat of the water, and when Elijah reached in to shut off the water, he grimaced at the heat that stung his skin. “What in the hell are you doing?” he snapped, looking over his brother from head to toe. Micah shook his head, shivering. His teeth chattered against one another. He looked up, where his brother’s shadow blocked the light. Micah’s lips were tinged blue, matching the color of his eyes as he croaked out, “It’s cold, Eli… so damn cold.”

Chapter 8

Kayden leapt, her body spiraling through the misting rain. The slick, dark strands of her hair lashed against her reddened cheeks like miniature whips as her body made a full three-hundred-sixty-degree rotation. She lashed out her leg in a flawlessly executed roundhouse kick that cut through nothing but air. “Damn,” she hissed. She’d missed the demon who had made a solemn vow to see her unconscious. Instead, a cyclone of sand rained down upon her. Finely ground pebbles wove into Kayden’s hair and covered her in a thin layer of dust that clung to the beads of rain on her jacket. Grimacing, she blinked away the dust that settled in her eyes as she spit out a mouthful of gritty dirt. A sudden flash of gutwrenching pain heated across her lower back, staggering her body back a few inches. Her chest constricted. She sucked in a breath of air, paralyzed by the intensity of the pain that lapped at her skin. It took a second for Kayden to exhale through the agony, her skin prickling in numbness as she recovered. It took her two more seconds after that to realize the demon she’d been about to kick across the cemetery and into the mossencrusted mausoleum had dissolved into a cloud of sand, reformed, and slashed its fiveinch claws through her shirt before it disintegrated once more. It had all happened in less than a blink of an eye. Kayden felt a sudden dizziness. With only four hours of sleep and her ears ringing from the tongue-lashing she’d gotten from her sister about not going into details, she knew she was off her game. It could have been that, or the five other demons that had already tried to attack her since

sundown. Jullian had been right: the bounty on her head had turned her small town into a feeding frenzy. She was the bait. Blood welled immediately from the wound at her gut, and dismally Kayden felt the warm sticky substance ooze from the wounds. From the sluggish blood flow, she knew the cuts weren't deep enough to be fatal, but damn, did they hurt like a bitch. Parts of her shirt adhered to the thick fluid, soaking it in. When a heady wisp of wind and water tore through the cemetery, it slipped through the gashes in the fabric to drift chillingly along her spine. The scent of blood carried through the night, and she could taste the metallic salt on the tip of her tongue before she gritted her teeth. Kayden spun backward in a flash of movement, her cocked fist drifting through another cloud of dust as the demon twisted sandy granules into a faceless object. “What’s the matter, sandman? ’Fraid of itty bitty ol’ me? Can't stay and fight like a real demon?” Kayden quipped though a hiss of pain that had spread outwards from the claw marks, which now formed a gash from her shoulder blade to her lower back. The wounds burned and throbbed, and Kayden felt that lashing pain infecting her blood as it began to move through her system. The problem with demons was that you never knew what kind of nasty poison ran through their veins. Once they drew blood, it could be disastrous. Kayden’s eyes widened, her pupils taking in everything at once. She caught the flash of movement in front of her. It had taken a few years, but Roy had taught her how to hone her instincts and flex the strength that always hummed through her. Kayden threw her body into a rolling duck, moving on the screaming impulse that tightened her skin as the demon reformed and arched its clawed fist towards her head.

Screw knocking her out, the thing wanted to deliver her head on a plate. What was new? The rain shifted with the missed blow and blew a blinking gust of wind in her face, ruffling the loose strands of her hair. The ground below her was wet, slippery from the storm that had just barely begun to show its fury. Sand clung to the blades of grass, transferring to her clothes to make them an odd mixture of damp and abrasive. Kayden jumped to her feet with a grunt of annoyance. The demon puffed away before she could attack. The wind kicked up to a howl. Too late for Kayden to realize, the demon reappeared and shoved its clawed fist into her shoulder. As Kayden gasped at the pain, her head spun with the staggering bolt of heat when the claws dug and ripped through flesh and muscle, just narrowly missing the bone. The pain intensified as the demon reared back, pulling bloody claws back through the ragged hole in her skin. Tremors of shock moved up her rib cage, constricting her throat and watering her eyes as she fell backward. Ignoring the pain as easily as she ignored Jullian’s powerful lure, she recovered before she hit the ground. Kayden reached behind her back to pull out a silver blade. She held the familiar weight in her hand for a moment before it slipped from her uncurled fingers to drop useless to the ground. Flexing her hand sent a warm gush of blood from her shoulder wound. Kayden smelled the infectious sludge of the demon venom dripping to the ground. Kayden blinked before moving her hand over the gaping holes that sheared the front of her shirt. She wasn’t exactly sure how much poison her body could handle before

it was too much. Determined, Kayden forced her eyes wide and ignored the spiking pain that was pulling her body in half. Her fingers were sticky and the tips were dipped in crimson blood when she brought them in front of her doubled vision. Clarity cut through the pain. Kayden heard a rustle of movement to her left that pulled her out of her trance. With everything she had, Kayden pushed out the poison she felt coursing through her veins. She dropped a knee to the cold, wet ground just as the sand molecules of the demon formed beside her. As Kayden lashed out in a tucked rolling ball that hurt more then she'd ever admit after she kicked this thing’s ass, her fingers curled around the hilt of her blade. She struck upwards and hit solid flesh, causing the demon to hiss in a highpitched squeal as the sharp blade of her knife slid through its abdomen and split its body in half. Kayden looked up through pain-hazed eyes, her face framed in tangled hair. Her gaze met the tar-filled depths of the demon, shock registering in its eyes. The demon’s form was mummified, wrapped in beige strands of fabric that were tinged yellow with age and decay. Slowly the strands unraveled, dripping like an hourglass of sand as the monster melted into a cloud of dusty debris. Kayden felt her head spin the second before she fell backward, her fall cushioned by the remains of the demon, which seemed to have sprinkled a layer of sand in a circle around her. She felt like she was lying in a sandbox. The sky was gray above her, full of morphing clouds that rained water down on her cheeks. The cool water was a relief against her heated skin, and she watched as the drops fell. Her sight crossed and then doubled before her eyes fluttered shut. Injured and

laying in the middle of the cemetery during the heart of the night was the worst place she could be. She’d learned that the hard way. Pushing the pain aside, Kayden forced her eyes open before she rolled to her side with as much effort as she could muster. The blood had stopped seeping from the wounds on her back and stomach, and where it had dried, her skin felt tight and itchy. Her shoulder, however, still oozed, dripping down her arm and out the cuff of her jacket. Bleeding, she was like a fawn among a pride of hungry lions.

“Dad!” Elijah’s voice was panicked. He turned away from Micah and spoke hurriedly into the phone he clutched against his ear. “Something is really wrong. You have to come. Quick.” Elijah shifted his eyes behind him to where Micah lay shivering on the bed, arms wrapped around his body. After the shower, things had gone from bad to worse. Micah couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep; he couldn’t do anything except shake. Kayden’s name fell from his blue, chapped lips like a desperate prayer. “What is it, son?” Michael’s voice sounded through the phone. “Its Micah—he won’t stop shaking. He keeps asking for Kayden, but I didn’t think it was safe to go to her. It’s the succubus; his eyes are blue. She’s killing him.” “Shit. You did the right thing; keep him away from that vampire. I used to trust Roy, but now… I’m not sure.” Elijah shook his head, his sweat-slicked hair plastered against his forehead. He’d cranked up the heat in an attempt to help Micah, but all it had done was make the stench of cigarettes almost unbearable.

“Damn it, Dad! This isn’t the time for that! You don’t know Kayden; you don’t know what Roy’s done for us, for me. Micah needs you. Are you coming or not?” Michael grunted before speaking again, “I found a shaman, he gave me something that might help with the succubus and her hold over Micah. I’m about an hour away…” “Fine. Whatever,” Elijah snapped, too tired to show respect to a man who, in his opinion, deserved none. “Just get here as quick as you can. I don’t know how much longer he’s going to last.” Elijah heard another grunt on the end of the line before the noise disintegrated into static. His head buzzed, and on the edge of his skin, he felt the chill that was affecting his brother. Call it a premonition, or just instinct, but he had a feeling there was only one way to cure Micah.

The hour passed in slow agony as Micah got progressively worse. Now he was unconscious, and Elijah was doing all he could to keep his brother alive. The door to the motel burst open, the flimsy lock no match to the breadth of his father’s powerful shoulders. As his father strode into the room like a knight on a horse, Elijah remembered how he used to look up to the man. That had changed over the years, and right now, the only man he considered a father was almost dead on the bed next to him. Backing away from the bed, Elijah made room for Michael to sit. From the inside of his jacket, the father pulled out a thin, red leather rope that held a small golden medallion. The small circle was encrusted with ancient symbols that even he couldn’t decipher.

Working fast, Michael tied the necklace around Micah’s neck before smoothing a worried hand down his cheek. A moment passed, silent except for the gentle rainfall pattering against the hotel rooftop. The roof had already begun to leak, and drip by drip, Elijah pictured the cup he placed under the puddle growing. If Elijah had expected his brother to jump up in a full recovery as soon as his father arrived with the magic cure, he’d been sorely mistaken. The single moment turned into a long, awkward pause where nothing happened except Micah’s mouth parting open to moan Kayden’s name once more. “Kayden…” That was it, Elijah thought, as he pulled out his cell. “I’m not waiting any longer. I should have called hours ago. If the succubus wants Kayden, then that’s what she’ll get. This isn’t worth Micah dying,” Elijah ranted, turning his back on his father’s outraged face. “You can’t give into her demands! Give the talisman time to work,” Michael pleaded, his chest constricting in genuine fear.

The shrill ringing of a phone seemed to snap Kayden out of her trance. Lazily, she patted around her pocket with her good arm before she fished out her phone. Pain lanced through her stomach when she moved, lifting the gadget to her ear. “What’s up?” Kayden whispered, the pain making it hard to talk. “Kayden?” Elijah asked in panic.

“Eli, what’s wrong? Is Micah okay? What happened?” Suddenly, the pain was gone, replaced with a sinking feeling in her gut that had little to do with the poison that infected her. “Thank God you picked up. It’s bad, Kayden—he won’t stop shaking. He says he’s cold, and his lips, they’re blue like his eyes.” Kayden’s heart stopped in time with her feet. “The succubus?” “Yeah, I think so. After we checked into the hotel, he just sat in the shower for an hour.” “You went to a hotel?” Kayden asked, interrupting. Somehow she couldn’t stomach the thought of Micah sitting alone in a dingy room, drinking his sorrows under the table until he found that level of numbness that made him forget. Elijah ignored her question. “I found him in the shower with his skin red from the scalding water. He keeps moaning out your name. I don’t know what you’re supposed to do, but I know you can fix him. You can fix him, right?” Nodding dumbly, Kayden resumed a faster pace towards her car. Desperation drove the fatigue back until she felt normal. Well, as normal as a half-vampire could feel. “Bring him to the house. I’m just finishing up a hunt. I’ll be home by the time you get there. Call Roy, maybe he knows something that would help,” Kayden barked. Elijah was already moving around the room, looking for the keys to the car before she’d even spoken. They ended their call without saying goodbye.

“You aren’t taking him there,” Michael hissed, placing a hand on Elijah’s arm when he tried to get Micah to sit up. Michael had been quiet as long as could, listening to the phone calls Elijah had made, first to Kayden and then to Roy. “Are you planning on stopping me? I won’t let him die, Dad. I just won’t. He’s all I have,” Elijah said, pushing his father’s hand away as he threaded Micah’s limp arm over his shoulder. His brother might have been shorter than him by a few inches, but right at that moment, Elijah knew he must have out-weighed him by what seemed like a ton. Struggling, he got Micah to his feet and caught his head before it, and the rest of his body, fell forward. Micah moaned beside him, teeth chattering noisily. “You have me, son.” Michael gave in, wondering, and knowing where he went wrong. “No, I don’t. You made sure of that the day you walked out of our lives. Now you have a choice, help me get him to the vampire,” he spat, “or move the fuck out of the way.” It was the first time in years that Elijah remembered swearing. Micah swore left and right, and Elijah had always cringed at his brother’s vulgarity. But somehow, with the look in his father’s eyes, he knew that he’d made his point loud and clear. Michael moved to Micah’s opposite side, pulling Micah’s other arm around his shoulder as they began a slow waltz towards the car. The rain had picked up in its intensity, and now it was pouring down on them. Elijah threw his head back to clear the

hair from his eyes. Struggling, he maneuvered Micah’s body into the passenger seat of the Mustang. It was nearly five in the morning, and the sun should have started to rise by now, Elijah noted as he peeled out of the parking lot and left his father standing alone in the darkness. With the sun hidden behind the clouds, the darkness made the night stretch on. The long trip from the hotel to the quiet suburban street that housed the Gray residence proved Elijah’s thought that this night would never end. Micah moaned beside him, whimpering time and time again as he moved restlessly in the seat. The windshield wipers struggled against the rain, squeaking back and forth from under use. Heat poured from the vent, and Elijah had to adjust his sweaty hands on the steering wheel every couple of seconds as he kept glancing sideways at his brother. Everyone seemed to arrive at Kayden’s at once as Elijah squealed into the driveway. Kayden jumped out of her car first, her hair plastered against her face. She raced towards Micah’s car, and Elijah had hardly unbuckled his seat belt before she was yanking the car door open.

Kayden gasped. Panic welled in her chest as her gaze moved over Micah. She’d never considered him frail, and never would have imagined the moment when he would look weak. Curled in the front seat of his car, he looked like a little boy. She pressed a hand against his cheek, her warmth spreading through the tips of her fingers and straight into Micah’s soul. Micah gasped, his eyes fluttering open at her first touch. “Kayden?” he whimpered.

“Shush, it’s okay. I’m here,” she whispered as she brought her lips against the raspy surface of his cheek. Micah rolled into her embrace, his hands rising until he found her fingers and twined them with his own. It wasn’t magic, and the shivering didn’t stop all at once, but it abated, slowly crawling away. For the first time in hours, Micah felt his limbs. There was no whispering, no pain, nothing except Kayden and the warmth that she offered. She was his oasis, his drink of fresh water after days of being in the desert. They’d been apart for only hours, but to him, it felt like years. Kayden struggled through her own pain to get Micah out of the car, hissing as he leaned against the blistering heat in her shoulder. It was still bleeding; she could smell it, and she began to worry. It should have stopped by now. Her vampire powers should have started to heal it. “Kayden, are you hurt?” Roy asked, holding open the front door as he watched his niece grimace and shift the man in her arms to a better angle. She flashed a tired smile, nodding as she lied, “I’m fine—just a long night. Remind me to tell you the story about the sand demon who tried to lob my head off. It’s a real riot.” “This is no time for jokes, babe,” Micah croaked, his fingers snaking under her shirt as he sought more of her warmth. The color in his face was returning little by little, but he needed more. He needed all of her pressed against him. Her smell was tantalizing, and the only thing he wanted was to bury his face into the crook of her neck and sleep.

Kayden couldn’t help but chuckle when she rolled her eyes. For the first time since she’d met Micah, him being a pain in her ass actually made her smile. Micah was stubborn as hell; she knew it would take more than an ancient demon to wipe him out. “Paige,” Roy called out, looking for his daughter who was lingering out of the way, her back pressed against the wall as she nibbled on an already too-short fingernail. She nodded, jumping to attention. “What can I do?” “Run a bath, help Kayden get Micah in it. The more skin-on-skin contact, the quicker it will bring his temperature back to normal. I don’t know what this thing did to him, but it seems like they’ve been bonded together. I’ve seen it with vampires and their childes, but never like this. Without Kayden, I’m afraid Micah will die.” Stopping, Kayden felt her breath hitch at the information that had just rushed through her. Bonded? As in she was never going to get rid of him? Right at that moment, his fingers crawling soothingly over her back, she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to go anymore. That thought, along with the idea of her and Micah taking a bath together, made her heart speed. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?” Her voice strangled when she spoke. Her eyes lay on the broken coffee table, still in splinters all over her floor, and she remembered earlier that day. Or, she wondered, was it yesterday already? The bruise around her eye from when he’d slammed her cheek against the ground had already faded, along with the split on her lip. The gash on her forehead had sealed, but was taking longer to fade into nothingness. She knew, thanks to Jullian, that if she drank blood she’d heal even faster. It was a price she wasn’t willing to pay.

Roy shrugged, “I don’t see what choice we have. Being together didn’t kill you, but being apart is having a fundamentally negative reaction. Until we can figure out how to summon this demon and find out what she wants, I think we have to play by her rules. Her rules say that Micah needs to touch you.” “Fuck that,” Micah hissed, his tired eyes cracking open as he joined in the conversation. Elijah shook his head, placing a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulders. “Roy’s right. What else can we do? Dad gave you a talisman, said it was supposed to help with the effects. It didn’t break the bond you have with Kayden, but maybe it will help keep the succubus out of your head so you can control yourself a little bit better.” Confusion knitted Micah’s brows. He decided to focus on the subject of his father and not on what he’d done to Kayden earlier that day. “Dad’s back?” “He’s at the hotel, he, ah… didn’t agree with our strategic method.” As Elijah spoke, he did his best not to look at Kayden. “Because he hates me, or because of the demon?” Kayden asked. Sighing, Elijah looked at her and avoided answering as best he could. “He doesn’t know you like we do.” “She can be a bitch,” Micah said, a smile lifting his voice but not his mouth. “You know!” Kayden yelled, taking a step away from Micah. She let him teeter on his own. The pain was catching up with her, stealing her breath until she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stand up straight. She pushed the throbbing into anger and narrowed her eyes at the infuriating male beside her. Just because he was dying didn’t mean she had to put up with his shit.

“I don’t have to help you!” Kayden snapped, and for the first time, Micah noticed how pale she looked. Her skin was ashen, and her eyes, normally so vibrant when she was aggravated with him, seemed dull and bloodshot. Every breath she took was a grimace, and when he really looked, he noticed the dried blood that lay just under the hem at her wrist. Under her nails on her right hand, her skin was caked with it, as if she’d hastily wiped her hands off. Two steps back and Micah began to shiver. A whispering reminder of how cold he’d been lapped at his skin. Before his brain could register, he crossed the distance between them and pulled her to his side, careful of the area she seemed to be nursing. Gently, he wove his hands under the back of her shirt, caressing the skin softly as he let her warmth seep back into him. “It was a joke, princess, lighten up,” Micah quipped, his voice still raw from the torturous pain he’d just endured. Micah burrowed his head against her neck like he’d been longing to do. His lips found her neck, moist with rain and sweat when he barely drew his mouth across her skin. “Fine,” Kayden gritted through clenched teeth as she shifted some of her weight to Micah. Every second she stayed standing, she thought would be her last. Her vision was doubling and then narrowing, as if she’d pass out at any second. Micah’s fingers were under her shirt, the calloused pads running gently back and forth in a rhythm that was pulling her into sleep.

Straightening, she did her best to stand up right on her own two feet. The last thing she needed was everyone fawning over her. Micah’s hand dipped lower on her back, and with the last bit of strength she had left, she caught it. The glare she shot him must have cleared some of the fatigue from her eyes, because at her next words, Micah gave a devastating half-smirk that said he was feeling better. “I swear to God, Micah, if you try anything funny, I’ll let you die on the lawn.” The stairs, Kayden quickly realized, were going to be more of a bitch than she thought. Her left leg lifted, sluggishly, but her right refused to move, just like her hand had slipped from her knife. All the way through to her bones, she felt the few pairs of eyes in the living room staring at her, just waiting for something climactic to happen. Roy, most of all, was studying her, and she willed her body to corporate. All she needed was to get out of sight and to sit. Beside her, Micah’s hands tightened around her midsection, and seamlessly he shifted her weight to him. From the side, his eyes narrowed. He shot her a glance that said she’d better explain. One step at a time, they made their way up the staircase that Kayden had never realized was so steep. Stopping at the top, Micah turned. When his hand just barely loosened his grip on Kayden, she faltered, as her entire right side weakened without his support. He’d seen Kayden heal a lot of stuff in the months he’d known her, but this was different. He knew she was hiding something big, and Micah wasn’t sure why.

“Jesus, Kayden,” Micah whispered, catching her only moments before she tumbled backward down the stairs. “It’s nothing,” she hissed back, turning a stubborn jaw up at him that Micah found sexy as hell despite their dire situation. As if sensing her urgency, Micah moved forward before he called out to his brother, asking him to bring up the first-aid kit so Kayden could change the bandages he felt pulling at his skin. His brother, Micah mused, must have changed them sometime during the hours he was passed out. When the door clicked shut, sealing them alone in the all-too cramped space of the bathroom, Kayden used the door to slide to the floor. The wound on her back stung as it re-opened, but that feeling was nothing in comparison to the fire raging through her arm. “What the hell happened to you?” Micah asked as he dropped down in front of her, his hand smoothing her cheek. Not that it helped, but Micah noticed that whatever he’d done to her the previous day had almost vanished. “It’s nothing, really,” she lied, sighing when her eyes finally closed shut and she felt the darkness closing in around her. “Nothing my ass!” Cupping her face, his fingers tightened against Kayden’s cheeks. He gripped her face. “Stay with me, Kayden. You have to wake up,” he growled as he tried to shake her awake.

Her head lulled to the side when she surrendered into unconsciousness. A bubble of panic rose in his chest, the same feeling he’d had when he’d woken to see Elijah amongst a pile of wood.

Chapter 9

Hazy, clouded, Kayden blinked awake and gazed across to Micah. “I thought I told you not to call me princess,” she groaned. Micah let out a breath of relief and pushed the frizzy strands of her hair behind her ears. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Micah half-grinned, half-scowled when he began to peel the jacket off her shoulders. The fabric was black, and it wasn’t until he was close that he noticed the blood. Instead of whimpering like she wanted, Kayden bit her lip as he pulled the heavy material from first one arm and then the other. His eyes fretted over every inch of her as if he wasn’t sure where to start. Black, like the coat, her ripped shirt seemed to be covered in blood from the collar all the way to the hem that rested against her stomach. “Start with my shoulder, it hurts the worst.” Kayden grimaced, sitting up as she readjusted her legs so that her knees were touching Micah’s hips from where he kneeled between her legs. “You’re not going to throw up on me, are you?” Micah asked, his hands already pushing her shirt up to expose the scratches etched across her stomach. Normally her skin was tan, but right now, where the maroon blood wasn’t dried and caked, it looked pasty. The three red scratches he found were nothing more than pink, puffy knots of skin that were nearly closed. Each welt had several purpling spider lines that moved outwards from where the poison had begun to spread. Micah encouraged her to lift her arms so he could discard the now ruined shirt. He paused when she shook her head. She couldn’t lift a finger, let alone her arm.

“You’ll have to cut the shirt off. There’s a knife in my pants, and under the sink there’s a box of salt. You’re going to have to purify the wound. I figure if you can get out most of the poison, my body should do the rest.” “You know,” Micah remarked as he reached into his back pocket, his hand fitting around the familiar weight of the blade he kept on him at all times, “all the ways I imagined getting you out of your clothes, none of them were like this.” A smirk lifted Kayden’s full lips despite how awful she felt. “So you thought about getting me naked a lot, then?” The knife gleamed as it reflected light from the row of large, round bulbs lining the top of the bathroom mirror. Slowly, Micah moved the sharp blade in an upward motion, careful not to cut anything more than her shirt. In a different setting, the act might have turned him on. “Yeah, well, I’m only a man,” he mumbled. Slicing the fabric in half, he peeled it apart like he was unwrapping a treasured present. Her breasts spilled from her black lace bra, and the sight seemed to draw Micah’s attention. After a few seconds he looked away, taking in her entire abdomen in one sweep until he locked on the infestation at her shoulder. “Jesus, Kayden,” he whistled. “I think we should get Roy.” Shaking her head made her dizzy, but when the words wouldn’t form, she had no other choice. Lethargically, she lifted her left hand, cupping Micah’s cheek until he turned his eyes to hers. Her thumb moved over the thick stubble that she liked more than she was willing to admit.

“If I wanted someone to lose sleep worrying about me, I wouldn’t have lied to him when he asked me if I was hurt. Once he goes into father mode, it takes a good week before he lays off enough for me to hunt on my own. We can’t afford that right now. You can handle this.” His brain must have still been fogged from the deep freeze, Micah thought, when his hand covered hers and brought her palm to his lips. Gently, his pressed his mouth against her skin, applying a feather-light kiss. “You think I don’t worry about you?” For once, Kayden noted, there was no joke lifting his voice. “No, I guess I don’t.” Embarrassed, he dropped her hand and moved his fingers back to her shoulder. An inch out, Micah delicately pressed down on the purple and black skin that radiated outwards from the wound. The gash itself was a round hole, wide enough that he could easily fit the tip of his index finger inside. Blood still trickled from the void where the inner tissue was barely visible. Within, a thick, ivory chunk of whatever had penetrated her remained. The bastard had left a memento. Experimenting, he looked at her, pushing a little bit more firmly on what appeared to be dead skin. He met her eyes, both confirming that she felt nothing. In his book, that wasn’t a good sign. “Nothing?” he asked, pressing again, this time closer to the hole. Kayden tucked her lip between her teeth, determined not to cry out. “Okay, that I felt,” she confirmed, automatically clenching her left hand into a fist.

“You know this is going to hurt, right?” Micah asked as he reached to the side, his arm long enough to open the cabinet and fetch the salt without actually having to break contact with her. Not at one hundred percent yet, he still felt the ice on the edge of his skin like a haunting memory. “You’re not man enough to do it, MacKenzie? Do I need your little brother in here to get the job done?” Micah’s laugh reverberated off the walls of the bathroom, echoing and drawing a smile across her face. She opened her eyes and met his amused ones. Only Micah, Kayden thought, could look that handsome after spending the entire day in a coma-like state. He was on his knees, and the snug fit of his shirt just hinted at the beauty that lay beneath. The dark strands of his hair had already started to dry and were softly skewed from a cowlick she’d never noticed before. At some point, he must have dragged a hand through those strands, because there was a streak of her blood on his forehead. Micah’s eyes sparkled with a challenge, and Kayden couldn’t help how her heart beat faster when he winked at her. “That’s a low blow, Gray.” Leaning forward, Micah let his nose trail down the side of her face, and when he got to her neck, his tongue just barely snaked out to lap at the scar on her neck. She shivered, and a needy moan escaped her lips, encouraging him. With as little pressure as he could, Micah ran his hand up her stomach and between her breasts until he cupped the back of her neck. Gently, he pulled her forward, head tilting to the side, as if to kiss her. At the last moment, when her eyes closed and her

lips parted, he guided her pliable body towards the floor until she was lying on her back. He straddled her hips, sitting gently until he had her pinned and at his mercy against the shaggy blue rug that cushioned her. “I’m plenty man enough, baby,” he whispered. “You’re a bastard,” Kayden groaned under him, deliberately keeping her eyes closed so that he wouldn’t see how much she wanted him. His heart was beating as fast as hers, and each pounding thud made her mouth wet with want. Rich, salty, she needed to feel the warmth of his blood spilling into her mouth almost as badly as she needed his hot cum flooding her. Jullian had turned her into a freak. However, being a vampire did give her certain perks: strength, agility, healing powers. But with everything, there was a price. The bigger the wound, the harder it was to heal. She needed blood, not just to replace what she’d lost, but also to kick her immune system into hyperdrive. It hadn’t been pretty, but she had seen her sire grow back an entire hand after taking enough of her blood that it had taken her a few days to recover. “Kayden, look at me,” Micah said, adjusting his weight so that she could move more easily. “No.” “Come on, don’t be stubborn,” he coaxed as he trailed a finger over her clenched jaw. Slowly, unsure, she opened her eyes, and Micah saw everything that he needed; her pupils were wide with hunger. It was the same look he’d seen on her face when he’d

watched her lap like a kitten with a bowl of cream at the scratches she’d drawn on his chest. “You need blood, don’t you?” Micah asked gently, applying more pressure to her hips when she struggled to push him off and sit up. In a fair fight, she would have won. “Screw that,” Kayden huffed, angered at the way her body started to respond at just the hint of getting what it wanted. “You’ll heal faster, won’t you? I’ve seen that, vampires healing after they feed.” When Kayden straightened her jaw and glared up at him, her eyes were clear of fatigue and pain. Micah felt a wisp of her power move over him, and he fought the urge to tremble in excitement. “Just because I asked for your help, don’t start thinking you know what I need.” “Kayden, you can’t even move your arm! It’s going to take you two or three weeks to heal this. We don’t have that much time, and I know you’ll heal faster if you drink. So, drink from me.” Kayden shook her head. “No way. I’m not taking from you or anybody else. Just clean it and let’s get this over with. I’ll figure out a way to help it along.” “Just so you know, you haven’t won this argument.” Micah glared at her for a second before he pointed to her shoulder. “The demon left behind a keepsake. I’ve got to get it out before I salt it.” “Whatever,” she mumbled, her mind still wrapped up in the taste of his blood playing on her lips. “Just do it.”

A week ago, Micah thought he might have enjoyed something like this. Turns out, the thought of hurting her the way he knew this was going to tore him up inside. Solemnly, he picked up a pair of tweezers from the first-aid kit. “You’re sulking,” Kayden huffed, her eyes large as she looked at him expectantly. Micah paused, looking between the wound and her face. Didn’t she know that he didn’t want to do this? Torture had never been his thing. “This might sting a bit…” Micah trailed off. “Oh my God, Micah, if you don’t do it, I will,” Kayden snapped as she reached for the tweezers. Just out of her reach, Micah jerked his arm back before he pressed hard on her left shoulder to bring her body flat against the rug once more. Moving downwards, he used his knees to pin her thighs to the floor in a makeshift restraint. He just hoped she was weak enough for him to hold her down. Bending over her put his head near her nose, and Kayden took deep, even breaths when she felt his hot breath caress the skin just above the wound. She smelled the fragrant shampoo he’d used mixed with his own special scent that marked him as Micah. He said nothing, and the breath he let out was the last she felt before he went fishing. White, searing hot pain blazed through the deepest parts of her. The tears came automatically, and it was all Kayden could do not to scream out before she stuck her fist in her mouth to muffle her cries. The three seconds it took Micah to grasp and remove what looked like the end of a claw seemed to Kayden like an eternity in hell. “Gotcha!” Triumphantly, Micah held the piece up, his grin only faltering when Kayden pushed him off with a sudden bolt of power and rolled onto her side.

Knees jerking up towards her stomach, she assumed the fetal position as the tears spilled from her eyes. An open palm slapped along the cold, tiled floor. Kayden counted down from ten, hoping to hell that by the time she got to one, the pain would fade back into something manageable. When she turned over, she exposed the lines of her back, and Micah growled. His eyes moved over the long, deep gash that crossed from the top of her shoulder blade to the middle of her back. “Damn it, why didn’t you tell me there were more?” While the wound wasn’t as bad as her shoulder, the indigo lines had spread through the network of veins under her skin so that her flesh no longer even looked human. Blood leaked from the wound that wasn’t quite knitted together, staining the rug she’d been lying on. “Finish it, Micah, or I will,” Kayden gasped, keeping her body on its side so her right shoulder was still off the ground. Saying nothing, Micah went about the task of pouring in the salt, his heart breaking at the mewling sounds she made. He worked methodically, packing the mineral like his father had shown him long ago. He’d been nine when he first did this for his dad. When he finished with Kayden’s back, he turned her gently and ignored her silent tears when he poured the salt into her shoulder. Her body jerked, convulsing in pain, but she made no more than a whimper. Whatever admiration he’d had for her tripled.

Only vaguely aware of what was going on, Kayden heard the shower kick on, and she knew with a small sense of hope that it was almost over. Salt, rinse, clean: it was a painful ritual she’d used over a dozen times in the last ten years. “Strip, baby,” Micah leered at her, attempting to lighten the mood now that she’d regained consciousness. “I knew you just wanted to get me naked,” she croaked. She forced herself to sit up. The steam from the shower was already rising. Like magic, the long mirror over the side-by-side sink was starting to cloud from the edges inward. Carefully, she reached with her left hand behind her back to unclasp her bra. Eyes riveted, Kayden watched Micah’s mouth drop open when she pulled the undergarment free and dropped it to the ground with her other ruined clothes. “Well,” Micah rasped, and he felt his body responding to the sight of her. “You do have great tits.” Kayden’s breasts were small, perky, with medium-sized coral nipples that fit wonderfully in his mouth. Looking at them brought back the memories of him doing just that, of rubbing his hard cock between them as he watched her tongue snake out to lick his weeping slit. Though she was covered in blood and sweat, the sight of Kayden still got him hard. Micah wasn’t sure if that was perverse or fitting given their relationship so far. The quicker he undressed her, Micah thought, the faster he could get her under the water so he didn’t have to replay the taste of each inch of skin he had to look at. Her pants slid off her hips, and Micah groaned loudly at the tiny black triangle that covered

her curls. When she slid those over her hips, fingers trailing over her muscles, he almost lost it. With her back against the wall, despite the pain there, Kayden sat back and watched Micah pull his shirt over his head. His stomach rippled with the action, and she slowly drew her gaze up until she found the white bandages that cut across his tan skin. “I bet you’re the type,” she said, pointing to his bandage, “who likes to just rip them off, huh?” A rakish grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “You bet your ass, gorgeous.” After throwing the soiled bandages in the trash, Micah ditched his pants and boxers, leaving him to stand before her naked and hard as a rock. He couldn’t help it, not when she was sitting against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest to expose the beautiful flower of her sex. “Well, then.” Kayden blushed, averting her eyes from his cock and turning towards the shower. Micah put an arm under her left side, lifting her as she used the wall for support. Each inch of her skin that pressed against his felt like heaven. The cold was gone, replaced by nothing but need. The talisman was hot against his chest, the metal burning into his skin, and for the first time since he’d gotten Kayden in the bathroom, he realized the succubus was nowhere to be found. The want, the need he felt to be thrusting inside of her, was his own. It was a scary thought, one that sobered him enough to help get her into the shower. Hot, pulsing water rained down on them, and after the initial sting faded, Kayden began to purr in pleasure as the heat eased the ache inside her. Gently, she felt Micah

behind her, his breath almost as hot as the water when he leaned in close and began washing the grit from her skin. Only after the water ran clear down the drain did Kayden turn, her hand on Micah’s chest to keep her upright. She looked up at him, the wet, freshly washed strands of her hair reaching just below her neck. When he was aroused, Kayden noted, Micah’s eyes were no longer muddy. Through the fog of the shower, they seemed to stare right through her as everything became silent. He swallowed, and Kayden watched the lump in his throat move downwards. His erection curved upwards proudly, touching her stomach. She moved closer to him. Nearly ten inches shorter than him, her wet breasts barely cleared his belly button. “Bath?” he croaked, and his voice cracked like a schoolboy’s. Micah knew if he had to look at her naked, dripping body for one more second, he was going to fuck her against the wall, whether she was hurt or not. “Yeah, that sounds good,” she said softly, hiding her smile at his nervousness. It took a few minutes of adjusting before Micah leaned back against the tub. He helped Kayden turn, sitting her between his legs so that his chest lined her back. In front of them, their legs tangled together intimately. Relaxing didn’t come naturally for Kayden, and it wasn’t until she reached forward with her toes to turn off the now full bath that she let herself lean against him fully and rest her head against his shoulder. His hands moved over her arms, spreading hot water over her skin in a lover’s caress. Micah’s skin was no longer cold to the touch, and she knew that she’d cured whatever the succubus had done to him. And while the

soft hair on his legs tickled her skin when he rubbed his calves against hers, the ramifications of their bonding were too scary to think about. “About earlier today, yesterday…” Micah spoke softly as he continued to pour water over her arms. “I just wanted to say…” Kayden’s palm covered his, stilling it as she interrupted both his apology and his movements. “Micah, you don’t have to. It wasn’t your fault.” Her insides clenched at the memory, not of the physical fight, but of the look on his face and what he must have seen when he’d looked at her. Was it like finding his beaten sister all over again? Water sprinkled over her shoulders when he shook his head. He moved his hand down, lacing their fingers together. Micah drew their tangled hands over her skin until he hugged them around her stomach. “You’re lucky you are naked and looking sexy as hell, or I’d be tempted to gag you. You’ll probably never hear me apologize again, so just shut up a second and listen, will ya?” A soft chuckle bubbled from her chest, making the gentle sound of the water lapping against the porcelain tub fade into the background. “All right, all right, but only because you told me I was sexy. I feel like crap, and I know I look like crap, but there is a part of me that’s still a girl.” Purring, Micah grinned. “You’re all girl, babe.”

As if to prove his point, he moved their combined hands up her stomach and towards the breasts he’d been eying over her shoulder. When they’d almost reached his target, Kayden tugged his hands back down. “What did I tell you about behaving?” Sighing dramatically, Micah let his head fall back against the wall. He closed his eyes. Peace surrounded him for the first time he could remember. Nothing was trying to kill him, and in turn, he wasn’t going out of his mind with lust. Sure, he was hornier then hell, but he was taking a bath with an extremely good-looking woman who kept insisting on wiggling her ass against him. “You can talk about it, you know,” Kayden said out of the blue. She clarified, “your sister I mean.” Kayden felt the tension roll through Micah’s body. He stiffened behind her. After a long pause, he relaxed and started trailing a finger up and down her right arm. As the feeling on her right side returned, the pain humming through her lessened. Micah was right, she did need blood, but it would be a cold day in hell before she gave in to her bloodlust. “Let’s get this straight. Just because I’m taking a bath, I’m not a chick. Only women share their feelings. Real men, like me, keep that shit bottled inside.” “Oh, please!” Kayden laughed, moving her head to the side so she could splash water at him. “You’re so full of shit.” “What happened with Jullian?” Micah asked, almost as out of the blue as her question had been.

Frowning, Kayden flicked her big toe in the water to send droplets against the wall. “Its not important,” she lied. “Bullshit. He made you a vampire. Or a semi-vampire, whatever.” Curving her head to the side once more, she met his eyes. “You really want to know?” “I asked, didn’t I?” Actually, he’d asked a few times, both Elijah and Paige, but neither one of them felt kind enough to share. “I was sixteen, and he was the head enforcer of the area. His lineage had sworn to keep their race a secret. Third in line from the top, he is more powerful than most. For generations, he’d traveled the world killing off vampires and their fledglings that got out of control. They have a strict order of things: only so many victims, childes, that sort of thing.” “And what, he didn’t like you hunting on his turf?” Micah asked as he started to rub the back of her neck. Kayden’s head dipped forward, the longer strands of her hair hovering just above the water as his thumbs started to knead her muscles. “Nothing that dramatic,” she moaned when he hit a sensitive spot. “We were both doing the same thing, more or less. Dad’s heart wasn’t faring well and Roy was still back east. So, I got a few training tips. One thing led to another, and suddenly fraternizing with the enemy didn’t seem so wrong anymore. He didn’t appear to be evil, and he changed my whole perspective on demons.”

“And that turned out well,” Micah snorted, his fingers moving lower on her back as he carefully avoided the healing gash. “Hey, you wanted to know. We became friends first, and then after a few years of him ‘courting me,’ it turned into something more. Another year after that, he had stolen my heart hook, line, and sinker. I was in love; nothing mattered except him and the hunt. There was a brief time when I thought things couldn’t get any better.” “He was your first,” Micah stated. “Maybe that made it worse, hell, I don’t know. It was soon after my father died that I was attacked. I was distracted; I hadn’t been paying attention. Or maybe I was just too cocky, too stubborn…” Micah interrupted, “or all of the above.” “I got bested, plain and simple. And you know how humorous demons can be; they thought it’d be funny to use my own weapon against me. They staked me in the gut and left me like an injured fawn in the cemetery. I don’t remember much…the pain, the regret, I don’t know…I didn’t dwell on it long before Jullian found me. I was almost dead and I guess he panicked, so, he turned me.” “But you were too willful to die.” There was a proud hitch that lifted Micah’s voice. “When I woke up a few hours later, I was neither here nor there. A couple of weeks later, Jullian got summoned by his hell bitch of a sire. She told him to leave, he ran, and then that was it. Just like that, after all the times he told me he loved me, he just walked away to be with another woman.” “Ouch.”

Micah pulled her back against him, smoothing his hand down her left arm, massaging as he went. He felt her sigh against him, like she was reliving the pain all over again. “What was worse than him leaving me was the jackass bond he created between us. Normally, a sire has a certain pull over his offspring. They spend years together, perfecting it. We were no different, and just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, he’d slip into my mind and try to soothe the ache he’d created. I could never read his mind, but I can feel his emotions, even now. But do you know what he felt those nights that I cried myself to sleep? Pity. He felt bad for me, and when he was in the arms of his maker, he felt rapture. I felt it, each time he took her, I felt his pleasure crawling over my skin, almost as if he were trying to include me.” “That’s fucked up.” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I got over it, learned to block him out of my head. It doesn’t always work, but I do what I can. Since I don’t answer to his call, it makes me a bad little fledgling, a dangerous one because he can’t control me. His beloved sire put a price out on my head, but it’s not much, not enough to bring out any heavy hitters. I keep to myself, and his people leave me alone for the most part.” Kayden shifted, turning her body around so that she was sitting in Micah’s lap. Her right arm lifted with a lot of willpower, joining the left so that one arm rested on each side of his shoulders. She watched his eyes take her in, from her mouth to her breasts, to where they were joined below the water. “What about you? Any loves lost?” she asked, her fingers twirling the short hairs at his nape.

“You kidding? I don’t think I’ve even had a second date, let alone a first one. After my sister, Megan, I did what I had to in order to keep Elijah and me above water. When I got older, I took what I needed, but I was never away from my brother for too long. There was a time when he went off, did his own thing, and I just sort of roamed the country, hunting crazy shit and getting wasted at no-name taverns.” A slow grin warmed Kayden’s eyes. “I’d love to go, leave everything behind and just feel the night, let it take me somewhere. Do you know I’ve never been out of the state?” Micah shook his head, affection making his eyes sparkle. He lifted his hands. Water ran from his fingers, making a dripping noise when he cupped her cheeks and brought her face forward. Their lips met softly and Kayden leaned into the kiss, pressing her breasts against his chest. Gently, their tongues met as their mouths opened, each accepting the other. Lazily, they explored, Micah’s hand moving to grip her hair before he deepened the kiss. Pulling back, Kayden’s eyes were heavy-lidded with both arousal and fatigue. “What was that for?” she asked, blinking at him seductively. Shrugging, Micah leaned over to the side, his hand fumbling along the ground until he found his discarded knife. “Every time I look at you, my mind is flooded with memories. How you taste, how your eyes change colors right before you’re about to come. The way your back arches when I enter you. But most of all, I remember the softness of your mouth. Just wanted to see if you lived up to the memory.”

Kayden felt stupid, but the smile on her face just didn’t seem to want to go away. She remembered this feeling. “And did it?” “It was so-so.” Micah laughed when she scowled at him. “As much as I love you sitting naked on top of me, my self control can only take so much.” Puzzled, Kayden’s eyes knit and she made a move to stand. He stopped her, his hands gripping her waist before he drew her back down on his wanting cock. “I didn’t mean that I wanted you to move. You’re hurt. I don’t know how gentle I can be when all I’ve wanted for the last day and half is to tear into your body. You need blood, and I’m going to give it to you.” His tone was matter of fact as he pulled the knife into view. “Oh, no. While I appreciate your chivalry, I’m not taking anything from you, Micah. I did you a favor; you did me one. We’re even.” “So we’re back to this?” There was hurt in his eyes, and he didn’t even try to hide it. Bending forward, Kayden captured Micah’s lips in a short-lived kiss. Angry, he pried her mouth from his. “I know Jullian fucked you over, but I’m not him. I’m not looking for anything in return.” “Micah…” Kayden began, but was cut off when she watched the sharp blade melt against the skin where his shoulder and neck met. The blood welled immediately, thick and red, and the smell hit her low in her stomach. Her pupils widened, and she unconsciously licked her lower lip.

“Listen, I know you hate Jullian and all things related, but you are who you are. I’m not going to think less of you if you drink.” The cut was deep enough that the blood started to run down his chest in a thin line that gained speed over the wet surface of his skin. It moved lower into the water, diluting into a very pale pink. “You need to do this,” Micah insisted as he cupped the back of her head and drew her head towards his neck. No words were needed, not when Kayden drew her tongue first over the line that streamed from the cut. Working upwards, she lapped at his sweet elixir until her tongue found the incision. Her breath was hot against his skin, and the moment she put her lips against the flesh, a needy moan purred from her throat. Micah tensed, his hand tightening in her hair as his arousal skyrocketed. There was something so sensual about what she was doing to him. He’d never understood until now how vampire bites could become addictive. Mewling, she rubbed herself against his hard cock. With each suckle of her mouth working the blood into her system, it felt like she was sucking the come from him one drop at a time. It would have been so easy, Micah thought, to just slip inside of her. Hot and wet, her body hummed with need above him. The medallion at his neck burned hot against him, giving him enough of a distraction to keep from impaling her. While she looked better, she was still far from well. He’d be damned if he hurt her again. Curving his hand around, Micah slipped his fingers through the curls at the apex of her thighs. Her sucking drew harder, and the moan that fell from her mouth made his

eyes fall shut in agony. He’d never wanted a woman as badly as he wanted Kayden Gray. His fingers found her sex slippery under the water. Micah cupped her mound, his hand tightening in her hair as he rubbed her clit back and forth. She drew from his neck, her lips staining with his blood as she panted out his name and rubbed herself against him. “I need you, Micah, please,” she pleaded. Her heart was racing. Micah could feel it against his chest when he drew her lips back to his neck. She hadn’t taken nearly enough to sate the appetite he imagined she suppressed at all times. Two fingers slipped inside of her, stretching her. He drew them in and out in a slow steady pattern that he instinctually knew would aggravate her. When she tried to move atop him, he stilled her and increased his rhythm until her insides were fluttering around his digits. It didn’t take long to send her careening over the edge, and Micah drew in her pleasure when she shattered. Her blunt teeth sank into his shoulder almost painfully, and it was the only thing that kept him from exploding. Sated, sleepy, Kayden let her head fall forward before she placed a gentle kiss on the bruise her mouth had left behind. Softly, he stroked her back, giving her a few minutes to come down from her high. “Thank you, Micah,” she said in a sleepy haze. Her hand moved over his chest as she cuddled him.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed.” He patted her butt in the universal gesture that said move. “You’re starting to prune, and let me tell you, it ain’t sexy.” “What about you?” Kayden drew back, glancing at the red crown of his penis. “I already told you, not now. Now come on, let’s go to bed and get some rest before the sun comes up, if it hasn’t already.” Nodding, Kayden stood, and Micah watched almost painfully as the water ran down her body. Standing put her sex in front of his face. The outer lips were full with engorged blood. All he wanted at that moment was to lean forward, grab her ass, and press his nose into her clit. He shook his head and stood, accepting the towel that she held out to him. They dried quickly, eyes never quite meeting before they exited the bathroom. The house was silent, and the only thing that could be heard was the rhythmic rain clattering against the roof. Kayden grasped Micah’s hand, pulling him behind her as she tugged him into her bedroom and shut the door behind him. The wet towel dropped to the floor, and, naked as the day she was born, Kayden crawled between the crisp, cool sheets with a pleasurable sigh. Micah pulled the towel from his waist and tried not to care when the fluffy fabric rubbed against his sensitive tip. Much like Kayden had done, he slipped between the sheets after he put the knife he always carried under the pillow. On her side, Kayden watched with a smile, wondering about all the other little things she didn’t know about him. Their legs found each other, rubbing against one another before Micah tugged her close so that nothing could pass between them.

Within seconds Kayden was sleeping, her hand curled between them as it rested on the thud of Micah’s heart. Blindly, hoping to hell the talisman held up, he followed her into the unknown after he kissed her forehead softly.

Chapter 10

On the fringes of sleep, the first thing Micah noticed when his eyes fluttered open was the warmth that surrounded him. Under his head was silky soft skin, and he was damn sure it was better than any pillow he'd ever had before. Lethargically he stretched, smiling as his legs tangled against smooth, slender ones. With a stifled yawn, Micah snuggled further into the heat that he and Kayden radiated. The only thing he could hear was the steady thud of her heart; that was, until the piercing tweet of a bird broke through the lazy fog he'd been enjoying. Frowning against her navel, he did his best to ignore the annoying sound. Instead, he ran his palm up the soft, feminine leg that rested under his fingers. In response, Micah felt the slight shiver that ran though Kayden as she let out a sleepy moan. Gently, he smoothed his lips over her stomach, a lazy grin flashing as the thump of her heart increased. As he curved a hand towards the inner muscle of her thigh, her right knee bent upwards, and the thin sheet that covered them fluttered over his foot to expose it. Ever so slightly her legs parted, giving him greater access. Heat from her body rolled over him, and at that moment, Micah cared less about the chill he felt moving over his uncovered legs. Chirp. Chirp. Chirp. Micah's teasing hand fell away from his goal, and regretful fingers trailed toward her knee. The hand Kayden had just begun to tenderly stroke through his hair stopped, and just like that, the best night’s sleep he’d ever had was over. He was going to have that fucking bird for breakfast.

“You think I could hit that God damned rodent with a knife without having to get up?” Micah croaked, his voice a heavy mixture of sleep and arousal. Thick beige curtains shaded the single bay window in Kayden's bedroom, and the light that filtered through was just enough to make the room glow dimly. With or without the sun shining brightly into the window, Micah’s instincts told him it was at least three in the afternoon. Closing his eyes, he tried to pretend that it was only dawn and that he and Kayden had all day to lie in bed together. As if to mock his pansy-ass, sentimental thoughts, the bird began another annoyingly cheerful song. Call him superstitious, but he'd never liked birds. To be honest, they scared the shit out of him. It was the combination of beady eyes, sharp beaks, and the way they cocked their little heads and just stared; it was creepy. “First off,” Kayden said with a yawn, “it’s not a rodent. It’s a bird. And second, you couldn’t hit it, but I bet could.” A content smile tightened her cheeks as she pushed her toes straight out, flexing the stiff muscles. A chill ran up her legs as the sheet moved up her calf. Kayden twisted her leg closer to Micah’s, rubbing her cold foot against the heat of Micah’s. Micah chuckled, the sound of his laughter tickling her abdomen almost as much as the coarse hair on his jaw did as he tried to burrow into her. He was cradled against her side, both arms wrapped around her midsection, his head resting below her breasts. Impossibly tangled, his legs threaded through hers in a way that was more intimate than the bath they'd shared the night before. During the night, she'd woken a few times with the feeling of being trapped, suffocated. That’d been, until she looked down and saw the peaceful smile on Micah's

face. The more she thought about it, the more she realized it wasn’t such a bad way to wake up. And really, she tried to tell herself, it had nothing to do with the hard length of him against her thigh. With a suggestive purr in his voice that simmered the arousal between them, Micah walked his fingers between her breasts. “Oh, I’ll take that bet, what do I get if I win?” Mischievously, his hands reversed direction and dipped low, trailing over her thighs until he could caress her hip, then moved back up towards the edge of her ribs. He repeated the motion a few times, content, for now, to just feel her skin. “Micah, you’re all talk and no action,” she goaded, wishing that he’d stop teasing her. The only person she’d ever woken to was Jullian, and each time his body had been cold and stiff against hers. Micah was hot, his skin thrumming with life as the thump of his heart echoed in her head. She could smell his blood; she could still taste him in her mouth. She could almost feel him moving through her veins with each heady beat of her heart. A slow burn started between her legs until she felt her pulse swelling her womanhood. Growling playfully, Micah sprang on top of her like a wild animal. His hair sticking up in all different directions attested to that. Eyes bright with naughtiness, Micah moved between her legs and rested his forearms on either side of her head. He hovered just an inch from her face, eyes making contact with hers, before he bent so that their noses bumped. Like music, her rich, husky laugh filled the room as she blinked up at him coyly.

“Is that so, princess?” Micah purred, and he made sure to dip his hips and taunt his erection against her already damp sex. Beneath him Kayden quivered, her eyes dilating. Her hands rose to caress the firm muscles of his chest before moving behind his neck to tug him forward. “I know so,” Kayden whispered against his lips before she captured his mouth. Their tongues met softly, and the lazy, sleepy feeling Micah had woken with moved through them. Kayden’s body arched into his, her knees hooking around his hips to draw him closer to where she needed him to be. Already wet, the thickness of his cock glided between her nether lips before curving upwards to bump the tight bundles of nerves that seemed to hum in response. In a push-pull rhythm, Micah thrust against her clit until her nails moved down the line of his back and she was gasping into his mouth. Micah broke the kiss, loving the taste of her skin when he ran his mouth over her jaw and then neck. Between them, his hand found a breast and he cupped it. Softly, he massaged the flesh there as his entire body shifted downwards. Over the slim column of her neck to her collar, he rained hot, opened-mouthed kisses that grew more insistent as the need inside of him woke. Like fire, the medallion around his neck burned, and he knew his need was different from the succubus’ pull. There was a fierce calmness about his want, a warmth that made his heart ache to be closer to her. He’d told Elijah he wasn’t sure what love was, but waking up next to Kayden, feeling her skin under his mouth, he was pretty damn sure that now he understood.

He took the dusty peak of her nipple into his mouth, and Kayden’s breathy moan broke through his thoughts. His hand tickled down the stomach that was hollowing from her shallow breathing before he let his fingers drift lower to tease her thighs further apart. Fingers skimming through her wetness, he applied the barest of touches. “Micah…” Kayden moaned as her hands grasped the sheet around her in an attempt not to grab him. “Yeah, babe?” he responded, teasing her with another taste as he drew his hand through her moisture. “I feel so… hot. It’s not the succubus, is it?” Hating that she had to ask, Kayden couldn’t relax completely until she knew. Having sex with him while he was infected with that demon’s lure just seemed wrong. Micah’s hands stopped, and he moved his hands to her hips and squeezed ever so slightly. He looked up, making sure to meet her eyes. Unconsciously, he drew his lower lip between his teeth in longing as he watched her mouth open ever so slightly. “I couldn’t want you any more than I do right now, and trust me when I say it has nothing to do with that bitch.” Not waiting for anything further, Micah moved back to her breast, his teeth hardening the nub he drew into his mouth. His tongue swirled over the bud, suckling it as his hand curved back between the damp heat of her thighs. Tweet. Tweet. Tweeeeeeeet. A heavy, annoyed sigh sounded from Micah as Kayden’s swollen nipple fell from his mouth. The messy strands of his hair tickled against her chest when he rested his forehead between her breasts and panted for just a moment.

“I swear to God,” Micah growled. The tell-tale sound of footsteps squeaked over a weak spot in the hall, and Micah didn’t even have a chance to pull away before Kayden’s door creaked open. “You guys awake?” Elijah asked, his eyes rising from the floor to the sultry sight on the bed. As soon as Micah heard his brother’s unsure voice, he grabbed a corner of the sheet and rolled off Kayden. On his back, Micah took a moment to calm his raging hormones by taking in all the small things about her room that he’d never noticed. The walls were pale peach, a shade he wouldn’t have pegged her liking. Strategically placed, antique cherry-oak furniture left the middle of the room open for the king-sized bed he was laying on. To the left of the window, opposite the door, was a rectangle mirror setting atop a feminine vanity. Unfamiliar pictures lined the frame of the glass, and on the surface of the table were various shades of lip-gloss and nail polish. If he looked closely, he even spotted a worn jewelry box. When had Kayden Gray ever worn nail polish, let alone jewelry? “It’s okay, Eli, you can come in. We just got up,” Kayden said with a grin as she tugged the sheet under her chin and inadvertently exposed the leg Micah had twisted around hers to keep contact. Kayden wasn’t covering up because she was shy; no, she’d had too many injuries where clothes had been ripped, cut, and discarded to care who saw her nude. Call her a feminist, but she wasn’t ashamed of her body. The sheet was to cover the wound on her shoulder that was nothing more than a dull ache and a nasty bruise.

“Hell, no.” Micah gave his brother a teasing glare. “He can’t come in; I don’t perform well with an audience.” As Elijah stumbled back and hit the door, Micah tried not to smile at the look on his baby brother’s face. It was priceless. Micah knew Eli well enough to realize he wanted to jet out the door, but loyalty made sure he’d stay until he was positive the couple wasn’t under the influence of the succubus. “The, ah, succubus, she isn’t here, is she?” Elijah stumbled. It was so unlike his brother to stutter, it caused Micah’s straight mouth to tilt up on one side. Maybe it was just an honest-to-God good mood, or the damn good night’s sleep, but he felt cheery. He, Micah Richard MacKenzie, actually felt cheery. If the world didn’t end in the next second, it was bound to happen just a few more moments after that, Micah thought. “Come on, bro, you try waking up to a naked chick, see how it makes you feel.” A smack reverberated through the room, followed by Micah’s laughing grimace as Kayden slapped his stomach with her palm. “Ignore him. The talisman is working, and I promise we’ll be down in just a few minutes. We’re just going to get dressed.” Her voice was soothing, and it seemed to melt the worries right off Elijah’s face. Nodding, with a disapproving glare directed at Micah’s way of joking about anything and everything, Elijah pulled the door shut behind him with a soft click as he left. The hall squeaked in that one spot, followed by the stampede of feet going downstairs before the footsteps faded into the distance.

“Down in a couple of minutes?” Micah whined, reaching over to cup Kayden’s hip and pull him towards her. “It’s going to take me longer than that to get you screaming.” Kayden stopped him with a surprisingly strong hand against the middle of his chest as she scooted away from him. “Oh no, you don’t, big boy. It’s four thirty.” Kayden glanced at the clock to confirm. “As much as my body wants you to prove you’re all action, several times over, we don’t have much time. It’s going to have to wait.” The loud grumbling of her stomach echoed through the room, and she grinned. “Not to mention that neither one of us has eaten in, well, in a while.” Micah grumbled under his breath, “Stupid bird.” His eyes narrowed so that his brow was furrowed, and if asked, he would have sworn he wasn’t pouting. Kayden would have disagreed. Disentangling the sheet from her body, Kayden threw her legs over the side of the bed. The cool wood floor beneath her feet helped calm the pulsing need inside of her. Stretching, she arched her back and drew her arms up over her head. Whatever pain thrummed through her arm was forgotten as she felt Micah’s heavy gaze moving over her body. As she padded her bare feet over the floor, Kayden added an extra sashay in her hips for Micah’s benefit. Across the room, she deliberately bent over her lowest drawer, and when she heard his intake of breath, Kayden tried not to grin. “You’re an evil, dirty woman, Gray,” Micah growled before he threw the soft sheets to the side and followed her across the room.

What had taken her several strides, he did in half as many, and before she stood up with a pair of crimson lace see-through panties in her hand, he was behind her with his lips curving hungrily over her neck. Hands on either side of her waist, he turned and lifted her slight weight until she was settled on the edge of the dresser. His hot, insistent tongue found hers as their lips smashed against each other’s. Letting her panties flutter to the floor, Kayden wrapped her arms around Micah and pressed her body into his as the kiss grew deeper. His thick fingers moved through her tangled hair, roughly shifting her head so that he could access her mouth better. With each heady pass of his tongue over hers, Kayden felt him like hot licks of an inferno invading her. Her stomach rolled, clenching with need as arousal flooded her depths. The heavy press of Micah’s cock throbbed against her stomach, and she deftly sneaked a hand between them to stroke the velvet length. The skin slid over the hardness with each firm tug, and their kiss deepened as Micah’s hips jerked forward. A deep, husky moan fell from Micah’s mouth, electrifying their passion when she stroked him faster. Up and down, she used the tight ring of her fingers to pleasure him much like he’d done to her the previous night. Micah’s fingers found her dripping pussy and slid inside. “Jesus, Kayden, you’re so wet,” he moaned in bliss. More than ready, he inserted another finger knuckle deep before he curved to hit her g-spot. Roughly, he pumped inside of her, finding the rhythm that made her clench in the first drawing spasms of an orgasm.

The kiss went on, only small pauses drawing them apart for breath before they found each other again. When the need was too strong, he drew his fingers from her one last time and batted her hand away from his member. He couldn’t wait another second to be inside of her. The hot, wet tightness of her clutching around him was the best thing he’d ever felt. While he still remembered every second of their sex-induced trance, feeling her with a clear mind was unbelievably heady. Each moan, every breath, all gathered together and made his stomach hurt in the most pleasant way possible. Fist around his burgeoning flesh, he guided the thick crown of his cock towards the weeping slit. Back and forth he rubbed the mushroom tip against her opening, teasing them both into madness. “Fuck me, Micah,” Kayden purred, her eyes full of need as she watched him work between her legs. Just before he was about to thrust home, the door creaked open and instead Micah pulled Kayden’s nakedness into him, blocking her out of instinct. “I swear to God, Eli, I’m going to kick your ass!” There was no teasing gleam in his voice this time. Like a whip cracking through the air, a lashing bolt of pure energy snapped through the room, and both Micah and Kayden jumped apart, gasping for air. “Oh my God,” Paige shrieked as she turned into the wall and pressed her nose against it. Secretly, she wished a vortex would just open up and suck her in. “What the hell was that?” Micah asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Sorry,” Paige mumbled, voice muffled. “Sometimes when I’m startled, there’s a bit of a backlash. I didn’t expect to see you two with the naked and the…” One drawback of having magic was the surge of energy that rode through you. Emotions could be enhanced or drawn out with just a simple surge. Growing up, Paige had lost count of the lamps she’d busted when she was angry and couldn’t control her power. While every instinct inside of her told her to run from the room screaming, she stayed because her father had asked her to bring them down so they could discuss their options. “No biggie, Paige, I know you can’t help it sometimes,” Kayden said gently, giving Micah a look that said he should apologize. It took him a few moments, his words stumbling. “I didn’t mean to yell, I thought you were Eli. The kid’s timing is almost as bad as Alex’s.” A thud sounded as Kayden jumped from the dresser and reached down to pick up her underwear from the floor. Shimmying into them, she turned and picked the matching red lacy bra that gave her an extra cup size and a whole lot of cleavage. Just as Kayden pulled a tight olive green shirt over her head, she saw Micah tug on both his boxers and his jeans from the previous night. When he was finished zipping, Kayden smiled. “Its okay now, you can turn around. Everything naughty has been covered up.” From the top of her chest, which was exposed in a scoop neck shirt, to the roots of her hair, Paige was red when she turned.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt, it’s just that I made brownies, and we have a plan that my dad wants to talk to you about, and...” Paige babbled nervously, eyes cast towards the floor. She fought to hold back the tingling sparks that danced inside her fingers. Looking up from the floor and hearing the elation in Kayden’s voice, Paige felt the magic retreat, and her embarrassment eased when she saw the smile that lifted her cousin’s face. She hadn’t seen her cousin smile like that since before Jullian had left her. “You made brownies?” The lift in Kayden’s voice was like a small child’s, and Paige nodded in response. “The ones with the chocolate chips in them?” “Brownies?” Micah asked, one eyebrow rising before he pulled his shirt over his head. The cheerful look on Paige’s face fell, and Micah followed her eyes to the bloodstains on his shirt. Shit. He’d totally forgotten about Kayden’s shoulder. How in the hell could he have forgotten about something like that? “Yeah, I might have had an accident last night,” Kayden said sheepishly. “It’s okay, I already know. I saw the blood on your jacket when you came in last night. I figured you had your reasons for not telling my dad. I know how he can get. I’ll give you two a moment, not to ya’ know, but to… Right. I’m going now.” The door shut as Micah turned. “How is your shoulder?” “I don’t know, I kind of forgot about it,” Kayden replied as she pulled the shirt over her head. For just a moment Micah gawked, appreciating the view in front of him. Clad in only a matching set of panties and a bra, she looked like she just walked out of a lingerie

magazine. That was, Micah considered, if the lingerie catalogue was S&M and didn’t mind models that played up the scars and bruises from their rough and tumble lifestyle. Shaking free of the images that stirred in his head, Micah moved his fingers carefully over the now-smooth skin at her shoulder. Micah noticed the wound had completely sealed together and was puckered like she’d been shot. Once purple and black, the discolored skin was now green and white, still a nasty bruise that, even with the extra blood she’d taken, wasn’t quite healed. Micah pushed against the tender skin around the mark, cringing when Kayden winced. Apologetically, he drew his gaze up. “Does it hurt?” “It does now that you’re pressing on it,” she scoffed. Worry lines etched around Micah’s eyes as he rose and helped draw the shirt over her head. “You’ll be okay for tonight?” An ear-to-ear grin drifted across her face. “Lucky for me I’m ambidextrous, always have been. I’m just as good with a stake in both hands. In fact, I throw better with my left.” Micah peeled off his soiled shirt and made his way out the door, shaking his head. “How did I not notice that?” Just within earshot, Kayden called out as she went to search for some pants, “because you’re a moron.” She didn’t stay to hear his response, instead rushed toward the bathroom to brush her teeth.

At the base of the stairs Kayden paused, inhaling a deep breath of chocolatescented air. Rich and dark, the air even managed to smell warm. It wasn’t a secret that Kayden’s cooking skills were limited to boiling water. Paige had been the one gifted in the culinary department. “Alex Lynn! Hands off that brownie!” Kayden yelled as she stormed into the kitchen, a bright smile making her tanned complexion appear to glow. “I take it you slept well?” Roy asked, setting a steaming mug of coffee in front of Kayden as she nudged her sister into the next chair and took a seat. Eyes closing in bliss, Kayden took just a moment to let the smell of coffee and chocolate fill her. She let out a soft sigh and without even having to open her eyes, she slapped her sister’s hand playfully off the few brownies left on the plate. “I slept great,” Kayden mumbled through a bite of brownie. “Yeah, right. You’re never in this good of a mood after waking up,” Alex sneered while she picked through a few crumbled remnants of dessert. As if magnetized, both Elijah and Paige turned their heads to look at each other, and their cheeks shared the same pink tone that told Kayden they’d had a conversation about what they’d seen. “Did the talisman work?” Roy asked, trying not to think about Kayden and Micah having sex. Kayden nodded, shoving another bite of food in her mouth before she washed it down with the thick, black coffee.

Swallowing, she managed to wipe off the crumbs around her mouth. “Seems so, the succubus hasn’t made an appearance yet.” “About that,” Roy nodded to Paige as if giving her some kind of a go ahead, “we decided on a plan last night. We can’t wait any longer. Talismans work, but I’ve seen demons find a way around them.” Heavy footsteps echoed through the house and just seconds later, Micah jogged into the kitchen with a huge grin on his now clean-shaven face. Sitting across from Kayden, he snatched the mug from her hand and took a long deep pull of the thick liquid before setting it on the table. “Unless it involves killing it, I don’t want to hear it,” Micah said with a scowl. “Micah,” Elijah chastised as he gave his brother a solid slap to the back of his head. “You shaved,” Kayden said with a frown. She pulled the cup Micah had just put down into her hand, taking a sip before she set it between them in a silent offering to share. “It was getting a little bit scruffy,” Micah said with a wink. The entire room was silent as they watched the exchange, moving back and forth between them like a ping-pong match. The fight they expected never happened; instead, Kayden met Micah’s eyes and they shared a smile. That was all Alex could take. “Okay, you two are just freaking me out. What’s going on?” Alex huffed, throwing her long, shiny hair over her shoulder. With a shrug, Kayden replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Breaking off a piece of her brownie, she handed it to Micah. Their fingers brushed each other, and Kayden had to repress the shiver that passed through her. When their eyes met, heat smoldered, and Micah leaned forward with the urge to kiss a piece of chocolate from the corner of her mouth. “That!” Alex yelled, jumping up from her seat and pointing. “Since when do you two share? You’re practically feeding him! And he’s about to kiss you!” Laughing, Micah sat back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his head, amused at the fire he saw in the littlest Gray’s eyes. Just like her big sister. Whatever guy was lucky enough to capture Alex’s heart was in serous trouble. Affectionately, he looked back at Kayden, unable to keep the smile from rising. “You are being awful damn endearing this morning. Someone wake up in a good mood?” Micah laughed as he brought the mug between his lips. Like fires tend to do, this one seemed to jump from Alex to Kayden as her eyes took on that electrified quality he loved so much. The heat turned into something else, and Micah watched Kayden’s eyes as they softened. “You know what,” she huffed playfully, “don’t ruin it, Micah. I’d hate to have to kick your ass on such a beautiful day.” “I think its romantic,” Paige said wistfully. Roy pulled his daughter into the crook of his arm, placing a soft kiss atop her head. “That’s our Paige, a hopeless romantic.” “Beautiful day? Have you seen outside yet, or is your head still up in the clouds from…” Micah stopped mid sentence as she glared.

Elijah shuffled a mouth full of eggs into his mouth, barely swallowing before he jumped in. “It’s supposed to really come down tonight.” “Sweet!” Kayden said, her big smile getting even bigger. Micah stole Elijah’s plate right out from under him and took a bite as he swatted his brother’s attempts to get it back. “Dude! Get your own,” Elijah yelled. Chuckling, Micah cradled the plate like a football as he guarded it with his life. Sure, he could have gotten his own, but where would the fun be in that? “What? You try keeping up with Kayden! A man needs his protein,” he laughed. There was an odd moment, almost like the eye of a hurricane, where everything was serene and perfect. He and Elijah had a family here. “What’s so sweet about hunting in the rain?” Micah mumbled around a large bite of food as he squashed the sentimental feelings he’d been having since he woke up. Paige grinned as she looked at the window. Where the sun had been an hour ago, now dark clouds swirled and morphed into thunderheads. Turning back around, Paige looked at Micah. “Kayden loves hunting in the rain. It’s her single most favorite thing to do.” Nodding, Kayden agreed. “There is just something about the smell that awakens something inside of me. I love the way the ground shakes when the thunder rolls through. Everything is so alive, so full of energy. I don’t know, I just like it.” “You’re a freak, you know that?” Alex said, pushing away from the table as she stood with her empty plate.

Even at fifteen, the youngest Gray was nearing five foot six. Long and willowy, she took after their mother where Kayden was petite, oddly enough, like her father had been. Big things, Kayden always said, came in small packages. Kayden turned, sticking her tongue out at her sister, and then laughed when she got an eye roll for her efforts. Had she been like that as a teenager? She had probably been worse. “So what’s the plan?” Micah asked as his foot found Kayden’s under the table. “The best we can come up with is a devil’s trap,” Paige said hopefully. Kayden’s brows furrowed. “I know that demons are drawn to it, but how do we get the one we want to come? There could be a ton of demons near by.” Beside Micah, Elijah nodded before pushing a hand through his hair to keep it out of his eyes. “We thought about that, too.” Continuing to eat, Micah barely looked up from his plate. “I don’t care what you do, just let me know when I get to kill it.” This time it was Roy who spoke up. “The best we can tell, the succubus is tied to you, Micah. If we kill it, we might kill you along with Kayden. While normally I’m more of a violence now, talk later kind of a man, we need to find out what this thing wants. See if there’s a way to separate it from you.” “All right, so how did you guys figure out how to just draw in the succubus, when we don’t even know her name?” Kayden asked before accepting the forkful of eggs and a touch of bacon Micah placed in front of her mouth.

Over the sound of running water, Alex groaned in disgust as she watched Micah feeding her sister. If anyone asked her, which they weren’t going to, the real problem was whoever had kidnapped her sister and replaced her with an alien. Paige blushed, kicking an invisible spot on the ground. “Ah, well you may or may not like this part.” Micah and Kayden shared a look. “In order to get the succubus close enough, we were thinking we’d use you two as bait. You draw her in, and then we do the spell. As long as there aren’t any invisible demons in the house, she’ll come first. She won’t be able to resist it.” “Hell no,” Micah barked as his head shot up. “I’m not letting that bitch get her claws into me again. No offense, Kayden.” He looked at her. “You know how much I want you, but I don’t want it like that. After last time… I won’t hurt you again.” “Just hear her out,” Elijah said, giving his brother a reassuring pat on the back. “We don’t think it will take much. You and Kayden get with the lusty and then take off the talisman when you’re ready. Give us five minutes, ten at the most. Once she’s in the circle her effects will disappear and you’ll be in control again. If you don’t fight it, what happened in the living room shouldn’t happen again.” “You told her?” Micah growled in outrage, glaring at his brother. “No one blames you,” Roy intervened. “Most people who fall victim to a succubus don’t survive it; how you and Kayden have managed to fight it off is admirable.”

Micah nodded slowly, agreeing to the plan. A few moments of silence passed, and Kayden watched her uncle and her cousin exchange a look that said they were talking with their eyes. “Okay, what else?” Kayden asked, slightly annoyed. “While we don’t require the specific name of the succubus, it would be useful to have so we can research it, find some possible bargaining power,” Roy said evenly. The chair Kayden was sitting in slid back, and the scrape of wood against the linoleum echoed through the kitchen before she stood. “I know what you’re getting at. No way,” she said, shaking her head. “No way what?” Micah asked. “They want me to ask for Jullian’s help. I’m not doing it,” she answered offhandedly, looking straight at both Paige and Roy. Roy heaved a labored sigh. “Kayden, I wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t important. Micah’s life, your life, could depend on this.” “You don’t know…” she drifted off, thinking back to the shower where he’d sent her to her knees in pain. Never in her life had she experienced anything like that before. If that was what it meant to be a fully-fledged vampire tied to a sire, she’d stake herself now. “It doesn’t matter.” Kayden lowered her voice. “He won’t help me, not anymore.” Roy’s eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me? Have you had contact with him?” Micah turned, his eyes burning a hole into her gut. She swallowed.

“Not exactly talked per se, but he got into my head in a big way. He’s seen everything, and he’s pissed. Okay, pissed might not be the right word. Even right now I can feel his fury, and I’m shielding pretty damn tight. When I see him, I don’t think we’ll be doing much talking.” A non-humorous laugh left Micah. “Were you planning on telling any of us this? It seems pretty damn important.” “Micah’s right,” Paige added softly. “Why didn’t you say anything? Besides, it’s Jullian, he’ll listen to you, let you explain.” Kayden’s jaw straightened as she drew herself up to her full measly height. “Since he went back to Marissa, he isn’t Jullian. Don’t make me crawl back to him, to her. I won’t do it.” Micah rose, crossing the room until he stood in front of Kayden. Gently, he took her chin in his hands, lifting her face so he could look into her eyes. There was a wealth of emotions swimming in her depths, and the urge to kiss her was overwhelming. “What did he do to you?” Micah’s tone was serious, demanding, and the look in his narrowed eyes was enough to make even Kayden squirm. “It’s nothing, Micah, just drop it. I can deal with this.” Shaking his head back and forth, Micah picked up on that special tone she used when she wasn’t being completely honest. “Try again.” Roy stepped up beside them and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Kayden, did he do something to you?”

Back and forth, her teeth moved against one another to create a tick in her jaw. She felt the electrified energy inside of her, and she pushed it through to the surface to help her breath. She felt claustrophobic. Choosing not to answer, she backed away from both Micah and her uncle before she cast her eyes towards her sister. Kayden was already walking backward towards the exit. “Get your stuff, Alex; I’ll drop you off at Kyle’s. I don’t want anyone to use you against me. He’ll keep you safe until this thing blows over.” She turned. Kayden’s back faced the silent crowd as she snatched up her keys and her coat that were hanging by the door. The front door slammed shut, and everyone just looked at each other. “The thing you have to understand about Jullian is…” Paige started but was cut off as Micah shook his head, anger sizzling in his veins. “I know you mean well, Paige, but you don’t have to explain. I already know. She loves him, even still.” With that, Micah went for the basement door. It was a few hours until sunset, and he needed to blow off some steam before he went out hunting.

Chapter 11

Only five minutes into Kayden’s drive to drop off her sister, the rain had started to fall. Light, sprinkling drops were just a hint of what was to come. Two hours later, as Kayden pulled into the parking lot of the cemetery, the drops had become heavy and fat. Like hail, the drops pinged off the roof rhythmically. Kayden let her shoulders relax as she turned off the motor and drew in a deep breath of the scented air. Earthy, real, cool, the rain and the darkness brought something to life inside of her. As she stepped out of the car, her boots landed in an inch-deep puddle. Water splashed upwards against the rain, dotting her black cargo pants with mud. Silently, she pushed the door closed and drew her head back, looking up at the dark, smoldering sky. Through the never-ending lines of rain, gray clouds streamed across the sky and morphed into shapeless objects. The moon was concealed, making it even darker than it should have been this close to sunset. It would have been eerie if Kayden weren’t so damned pumped to kick something’s ass. The sun had gone down a half an hour ago, and she could still feel the pull of it deep inside of her gut. That was the first thing she’d gotten accustomed to after the change. The rotating push-pull of the sun thrummed through her each time it set and rose. Instincts told her to stay out of the harmful rays, but what was still human in her craved the heat of it on her skin. Heavy drops rained down and splashed against Kayden’s face as they drenched her hair. Dropping her guard for just a moment, she let herself enjoy the sensations the storm invoked. She’d never wanted to admit it, but she felt at home here in the cemetery during the darkest parts of the night. The dead were her kin, even if they didn’t want her.

The smell of soil moved over her, and under that, the smell of death raised the hair on her arms. Kayden lifted her hands, palms face up as she let the precipitation massage her skin. Water ran off her fingers in rivers, dropping to the already-saturated ground. A longing sigh fell heavily from her. Kayden let her hands fall to her side before she moved to the trunk of her car. It wouldn’t be long now. As she leaned into the trunk, the water that ran down her face slowed to a stop. Her fingers dug under the false platform that concealed her weapons, and she bit her lip excitedly when the shiny and dull objects came into view. Not exactly sure what type of evil came out for a half a million, she’d packed an arsenal. Parks and cemeteries were a demon favorite, but with the carnage she expected, Kayden felt the graveyard was an appropriate place to start the dance. Her eyes ran over the contents of the trunk until she found what she was looking for. The first things Kayden grabbed were two simple and effective wooden stakes. Next, she focused her attention on a twenty-four-inch, expertly crafted blade that was encased in a black, custom-made sheath. Damp fingers clutched the leather as she pulled it free from the trunk, and the familiar weight of it drew a sly smile across her lips. You couldn’t count on it working all the time, but decapitation was the number one way to kill a demon. The trunk slammed shut, and the noise carried through the near empty graveyard. Instantly, the rain was upon her again, soaking through her clothes and making them cling to her skin. An edge of cold pressed along her spine, and she welcomed it. It kept her alert and seemed to make her senses keener.

Efficiently, Kayden slipped the harness onto her back and adjusted the crisscross strap of black leather that ran between her breasts. Deep pockets made a home for her stakes, and she stretched to make sure her movements weren’t hindered. Once she was ready, Kayden closed her eyes. The power inside of her flexed outwards as she searched through the night. Too much energy pulsed through her, and the excitement made her stomach knot. Everything hit her at once, and Kayden knew if she didn’t relax, she’d end up driving herself crazy. Hearing movement in front of her, Kayden snapped her eyes open. Before Micah even came into view, she’d known who it was. His aura tickled along her spine, stronger than she normally felt it, and a new wave of awareness drifted through her. Her ears felt like they were twitching as all of the little sounds of the cemetery jumped to life, one thing at a time until it was almost maddening. “Is this a private moment, or can I join in the fun?” Micah’s asked, a half-smirk making her heart beat a little bit faster. Standing four feet away was the man she couldn’t stop thinking about. How could she when the twenty-minute drive to Kyle’s had turned into an interrogation by her sister? “Did she love him? What was she going to do if she were pregnant? Was he good in bed?” The list had been extensive and disturbing, considering it had come from a fifteen year old. Micah wore no coat, and the navy cotton of his shirt was already soaked through as he stood there looking like something she could get lost in. He was menacing; the danger that rolled off of him sent a thrill inside of her. His hair, like hers, was waterlogged and pressed against his forehead. Water dripped from his chin, and Kayden

could hear not only the water dancing on the ground, but his quickening heartbeat as well. As her eyes scanned his body, she knew from the slight bulges in his clothing that not only did he have a stake, he had a wrist sheath that shot out a five-inch blade. Even through the rain, she could smell the blessed holy water that he’d dipped it in. “Well, it is a free country,” Kayden quipped, crossing the distance between them as she fought not to smile. Truth was, she did love him. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but there was something about Micah MacKenzie that riled every single one of her nerves. He challenged her, made her think, and made her be a better hunter. When he wasn’t making her want to choke him, he made her smile. To her, that was love.

They stood just a few inches apart, and Micah’s eyes heated as they roamed over her. The first pressings of cold had started to stir inside him about thirty minutes ago, and he’d driven on a whim to the cemetery. He knew her well enough to guess she wouldn’t wait for him. Red hot, the talisman he wore helped to chase the cold away before it got the better of him. But seeing her, watching as her pupils dilated when she drank him in, made every wavering emotion inside of him still. He felt warm despite the rain. Kayden wasn’t dressed in anything particularly flashy, but Micah thought she looked sexier than hell. Dressed in a tight see-through black shirt and a pair of formfitting pants, he knew that she’d changed since she left the house a few hours ago. Under the transparent shirt, she wore a thin black tank top, and the teasing red straps of her bra stood out under the material. How was he supposed to keep half a mind on hunting when he knew what was under those clothes?

Before he could think, Micah moved. His hands were wet, slippery against her cheeks when he grabbed her. Pulling roughly, he tugged her forward until their lips met in a sultry kiss. Her hips moved against his as Kayden’s hands automatically clutched at his wet shirt to hold him close to her. Micah’s fingers curled behind her head, threading through her hair when he held her even more tightly against him. Water dripped between them, making the kiss wetter as their tongues fought against one another. Moving left and then right, the kiss was like a dose of fuel on a fire that hadn’t quite gone out. Moaning, Kayden moved her hands up Micah’s chest and neck, until her fingers found his short hair and she deepened their embrace even further. Dizzy and breathless, Micah pulled back after long minutes, his hand trailing free from her tresses. Her wide, green eyes glowed in the night as he watched her parted mouth fishing for air. Her chest was heaving and through the thin material of her shirt, her nipples were hard. Kissing her hadn’t had the impact he was hoping for. Micah had hoped that by getting it out of the way he’d be able to move on, to think about how dangerous their hunt was going to be. Not only was he still distracted, but now he had the taste of her in his mouth. Coffee. She must have had a nice, relaxed cup at her cousin’s house before heading here. He, on the other hand, had spent the time bruising his knuckles against a punching bag while he ignored his brother’s inquisition.

“What was that for?” Kayden purred, and a shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with the temperature.

“Would you believe if it I said I actually missed you?” Micah mumbled as he turned and made his way west of the parking lot. Large mausoleums were scattered through the cemetery, creating homes for demons that needed the dead to survive. Mixed in throughout those decrepit buildings were beautiful gravestones, some standing several feet in the air, while others were just small blocks of concrete. The ancient soil seemed to draw in evil, and Micah knew Kayden would want to start there. The echo of boots splashing through water was the only thing Micah heard until Kayden caught up with him. She walked close, the sound of her footsteps disappearing when their feet moved from pavement to grass. Shoulder pressed against his arm, he felt her shrug beside him. “Wow, Micah, that almost sounded sincere,” she teased, looking up at him coyly. “I might have believed it if I didn’t know you were just trying to get laid.” Micah stopped, his head curving to the side as he met her playful gaze. “Knowing you seems to be making me into a God-damned pansy.” “You’ve always been a pansy, Micah, you just didn’t know it. And would it be wrong if I told you I missed you too, maybe just a little bit?” To go with her words, she pinched her fingers together to show him exactly how insignificant a little bit was. Rich laughter rang through the night. He walked forward with a shake of his head. The sun had just set and it was dark out. Micah knew the real fun wouldn’t start until true darkness hit. The more powerful demons wouldn’t start to come for a few hours.

“I’ve already swept the grounds, and it’s empty. Looks like we have some time to kill, any ideas?” he winked at her suggestively, his eyes moving up and down her body in a way that was unmistakable. The anticipated rush of electricity that pumped off of her flowed through him, and despite his surroundings, he felt the first stirrings in his groin. As if she sensed him, her gaze moved down his chest until it found his cock. Not fully hard yet, Micah knew if she didn’t stop looking at him like that he would be. “Now that’s romance: dirty sex against a building.” Kayden laughed before she sprinted ahead like a little kid running from one amusement park attraction to the next. Hands out, she spun, and the movement made her hair fan out, the wet strands slapping against her face when she stilled. Micah stood, hands in his pockets, as he watched the emotions pass over her face. He’d never seen her enjoy anything this much. Micah pushed forward and with each step he took, the adrenaline inside of him surged up a notch until his insides were thrumming with an energy that he was desperate to burn off. Pushing Kayden up against a wall was on top of his list, but she’d already shot down that idea. A few feet in front of him, Kayden pointed straight ahead, her sultry laugh rolling through the night. “See, no waiting. Where I go, they follow.” He could hear the excitement in her voice, and he knew that she was just as eager to start ripping into things as he was. Sprinting forward, Kayden moved like a whispering wind in the night. Coyly, she turned her head over her shoulder, lust and excitement sparkling in her depths.

“You going to stand there all night, or are you going to come play?” It was then, watching her lips quirk upwards, that Micah decided he was going to tell her he loved her. In the distance, three shapes moved through the rain, and even without enhanced night vision he could see the iridescent glow in their eyes. Vampires. Micah knew it by the way their mouths opened to expose white fangs that gleamed in the darkness. Micah jogged forward, quickly catching up with Kayden, and when he met her eyes they shared an excited grin. Even between their constant bickering, they’d always had this. The shared passion of the hunt. “Can’t let you have all the fun, princess.” Even with the threat of battle before them, she had time to make a disgusted sound in the back of her throat, and it brought a smile to his face. That was his girl. “When this is over,” she pointed ahead, “we’re going to have a talk about you calling me that, and I’m not going to be nice about it.” Leering, Micah moved in close and drew his nose down the wet surface of her cheek until he found her ear. Nipping, he sucked the lobe into his mouth and whispered, “Sounds kinky, babe. If it has anything to do with me taking you against a crypt, I promise not to be gentle.” Before Kayden could respond, three fledglings circled them in a flash of movement. Created from what Kayden guessed was one of the more powerful bloodlines, their movements—which should have been slow and jerky—were fast and seamless. They flashed again, moving too fast for the naked eye, and Kayden relied on her other

senses to track their movements. When two of them came to a stop behind her, Micah read her body language and moved out in front of her to give her the space she needed. The knife made a scraping sound as Kayden pulled it free from its sheath with her left hand. As she spun in an upward jump that rotated her five hundred and forty degrees, the blade cut through the falling rain. The vampire appeared just as the slashing blade came down, and like it was nothing, the weapon cut through the thick meat and bone of the demon’s neck. Ash exploded into the night before mixing with the rain. A feral, predatory grin spread over Kayden’s face. Her eyes grew bright. She wasn’t vampire enough to get the shine their eyes had, but her eyes were bright enough to show she wasn’t completely human. The second fledgling showed an instant of panic, and that fear washed over Kayden. She fed on it, letting that emotion sink deep inside of her. “So you are Jullian’s whore,” the vampire hissed, backing away as it snarled at her. An eerie laugh sounded through the night as Kayden took two steps for every one the demon she chased retreated. “Your first mistake was thinking I was anyone’s whore,” Kayden hissed back. With that, the fight she’d been looking forward to all night had begun.

Micah’s closed fist hooked against his foe’s jaw, barely snapping it to the left. Pain coiled through his hand like he’d just hit a steel wall. Ignoring the throb that he felt not only in his knuckles, but also in his jaw where he’d taken more than one punch, he jumped forward. With a practiced ease, Micah used the strength in his arms to propel the

stake through the thick muscle and bone of the vampire’s chest before he hit the heart dead on. Turning through the mist, Micah took a second to catch his breath. In awe, he watched the beautiful lines of Kayden’s body dance as she toyed with her prey. This was the tenth vampire to attack them, and he could tell she was enjoying every second of the fight. Tauntingly, she circled the demon as she twisted the knife back and forth through the air. The wind picked up speed, howling over the continuous rumble of thunder. Like she was stepping through air, Kayden arched her body into a back flip. Landing just a foot away from her enemy, she delivered a perfect roundhouse kick that hit the demon’s jaw squarely. The power in her movement surged through the night, crackling. Micah heard the bones snap in the thing’s neck. It landed nose to the ground, fingers clinging to the wet ground when it tried to crawl away. Micah laughed, the thrill of the hunt almost more potent than sex as he watched her do what she’d been born to do. “Now honey, stop playing and just kill it already,” Micah yelled, but he was barely heard over the howling sounds of the night. Kayden dropped, her knee pushing into the vamps lower back before she slipped the stake from behind her and drove it straight through its heart. She sank downwards when the body dissipated into the earth, leaving her kneeling on the soggy ground. As she rose, Micah watched her eyes scan through the night, and he just barely made out her chest heaving. A snarling sound drifted through the air, making Kayden spin around and into a fighting stance. Her shoulder had started to ache somewhere

between the fifth and sixth vampire. While nothing thus far had been a challenge, the fight was still tiring. Someone, or something, was just toying with her. “What the fuck is that?” Micah asked, using the knife that shot from his wrist as a pointing device. Crouching low, Kayden shook her head. The first sprinklings of doubt crept inside of her. Coming into view were two demons, and her head craned backward to take in their full eight-foot height. Snarling in front of them was a beast, barely restrained by a thick chain around its neck. It scratched long, clawed paws against the ground. “Stay back, Micah,” Kayden hissed, stepping in front of him as she tested her grip on her sword. “We were doing so good, let’s not ruin it now. I’m not leaving you alone with that thing,” Micah yelled through the rain, taking a protective stance on her right. Ancient power washed over her as the demons started to chant, their words whispering through the night and raising the hairs on her neck. Somberly, they released the great beast and stood their ground, waiting for it to do their bidding. With only a second to brace herself, she just barely got Micah out of the way before the gigantic animal jumped upwards and flew through the air like it weighed nothing. It’s snarling teeth were dripping something awful, and Kayden rolled to the side as it landed where she’d been. The knife slashed through the air, aimed at the animal’s head, until the beast opened its mouth and caught the weapon mid-swing. Kayden’s face fell into a frown as the creature shook its head, ripping the knife from her hand just before it crushed the metal and dropped the remains to the ground.

“Shit,” Micah hissed beside her, and they both looked at each other for a moment. Sizing the thing up as quickly as she could, Kayden tried to formulate the best plan. Jumping on its back was out. Razor spikes fanned outwards from the thick hide, and God only knew what poison lay in them. The only real weakness she saw was right under the throat. The beast circled, pushing Kayden and Micah back to back as it advanced. “I have a plan,” Kayden whispered, but she frowned when she realized how stupid that was. “Yeah?” Micah asked, and she could hear his heartbeat thrumming through his body. “Yeah,” she responded and with that, she tucked herself into a ball and rolled forward. Wet grass stuck to her as, head over feet, she moved forward. The thing jumped to attack and just before it landed on her chest, her hand found the blade she had strapped to her calf.

The whole thing was over in less than a minute, but Micah watched breathlessly as Kayden pulled a knife from seemingly nowhere. The creature jumped on her with its full weight and when it did that, Kayden used the momentum to push the blade straight under its jaw. A grunt of exertion sounded over the pitiful howl as she yanked forward with her knife and split the animal’s neck open. Blood, hot and sticky, poured from the beast, and Kayden thought that maybe she’d found a cure for a bloodlust. The dead animal stunk like something rotten, and she

pushed its body off her. Her face twisted in disgust as she struggled to her feet. She shook her hands outwards. Blood that wasn’t her own flew off. “That was your plan?” Micah asked with a shake of his head. “You know me. I take a real hands on approach,” Kayden answered distractedly as the two ancient beings moved towards them. If she had to guess, they weren’t too happy. Keeping light on her toes, Kayden rushed forward and yanked the chain free from the dead carcass in front of her. At two inches thick, the metal was heavy in her hand when she wrapped it around her wrist. A whooshing sound crisscrossed through the air as she swung the metal back and forth to gain speed. Never an idle fighter, Kayden wasn’t about to wait for them to strike first. Only a foot separated her from her enemy, and this close, she could see the rotting lines that made its skin blue and black. Red eyes glowed in anger and when it breathed, it smelled just like the rotting blood that was all over her. Drawn over its eyes were symbols painted in dark blood that she’d never seen before. Swinging outwards, Kayden drew the heavy metal through the air until it made contact with skin. The chain wrapped around its neck twice, and with all of her might, she tugged forward until it fell to its knees. Her success was short-lived as clawed hands found the chain and pulled, tugging Kayden forward before the demon lashed out its talons. Kayden tried to drop the chain, to get out of the way, but the chain was wrapped too tightly around her hand. Throbbing pain lashed through her face as her head was thrown to the side when the demon’s fist struck her jaw. The blood welled immediately, and Kayden let her instincts kick in.

Using nothing but the power inside her, Kayden snarled with fangless teeth as she retaliated and surged forward with a matching blow. Kicking, punching, twisting, she used a variety of fighting styles that kept her attacker confused.

A few feet ahead, Micah’s body flew through the air, stopping only when his back hit a gravestone. Pain lashed through him, sudden and hot, and it was all he could do to bring himself to his feet. Blood ran from a gash on his forehead, and his eye already felt bruised from where he’d taken a few good licks. In the distance he watched Kayden tackle a demon three times her size, her fists moving in a flurry when she began to take the upper hand. It was all the motivation he needed. While he didn’t posses Kayden’s gymnastic abilities, he had something she didn’t. Where Kayden kept stakes, he housed a Browning high-powered gun loaded with bullets that had been specially crafted for the supernatural. The heavy weight of the gun was familiar, and Micah rose with it in his hands. A single shot rang out into the night, and the bullet cut through the rain before it hit the demon between the eyes. Black blood pooled in the wound and Micah just stood there, staring, as he waited for it to do something. It wavered for a moment, a stunned look on its face as Micah watched the wound start to spread into a large sinking hole. Skin crackled, sizzled, and smoked until the demon’s head exploded in a raining shower of nasty chunks. Micah sprinted towards Kayden just in time to watch the small blade of her knife slice through the neck of the demon she’d been struggling with for the last hour. She

straddled the thing’s chest and either the skin was too thick, or her knife was too small, but he watched her swipe the blade a few times before the head rolled off to the side. Pleased with herself, she rose, wiping off her hands as she panted and tried to catch her breath. “Cheater,” she smiled. Despite the bits of dirt that smudged her face and the blood that welled from her wounds, Micah thought she’d never looked more stunning. He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. Slowly his hand moved around her waist, and she came to him easily. Their mouths found each other mutually, and Micah poured himself into her. In return, he felt the deepest parts of her moving into him as their tongues batted against each other. Pulling away, Micah smoothed Kayden’s hair off her face, and their romantic moment standing bloody and covered in gunk was ruined when he grinned wolfishly. “You smell really bad.” Kayden’s eyes slipped shut, and no mater how hard she tried not to smile, she felt her lips curving anyways. “Just so you know, whatever chance you had at getting laid just washed down the drain,” she smiled sweetly at him before walking ahead. “Come on, babe!” Micah smiled and limped after her. “I didn’t mean we couldn’t shower together.” “Nice try,” Kayden laughed before her smile fell. “You’ve got to be kidding me. There can’t seriously be more.”

The northern edge of the cemetery was bordered by tall, gangling trees that made that area darker then the rest. From the forest, five vampires fanned outwards, moving in a formation that made her uneasy. Deep inside of her head, she felt a gentle pressing that was so subtle she could have easily missed it. A frosting gust of wind blew against her and caused her hair to dance erratically behind her. “It’s a decoy,” Kayden hissed, and she grabbed Micah’s arm to draw him near. Looking around, she scanned the area, but her senses were too overwhelmed to pick up anything else. “How many are there?” he asked, pulling his gun out into view with the arm she wasn’t holding. “Five that I can see, but there’s more, I can feel it. You go left, draw them out into the open, and I’ll span right. If you get into trouble, yell and double back, we’ll meet in the middle,” Kayden explained, already backing away one step at a time. “Me? Get into trouble?” Micah joked. Their eyes met one last time before they parted and Micah darted through the night. Kayden watched, apprehension tightening her chest as two vampires followed after him. The truth was, Jullian was near. She could feel him, but she couldn’t tell where he was. The cavalry had finally arrived. From the front, three vampires met her head on, and in the rear she felt another two approach like they’d just floated in on thin air. They snarled; she could hear their heavy breaths on the air louder than the rain. Stilling, Kayden closed her eyes. The night pressed into her, and when the first vampire attacked, the blueprint of his assault was already in her mind.

Dust coated the front of her shirt when she made quick work of the first vampire. Her hand felt slick against her stake, and she had to readjust her hold when she did a summersault back-handspring. The ground became solid under her feet, and just when she landed she felt a tight fist in her hair pulling her down. The grass was surprisingly soft under her ass when she landed on it, and it took Kayden only a second to roll out of the way before a fist breezed by her face. Flipping upwards, she kicked her leg out hard enough to send the advancing vampire falling backward. Scrambling, she rushed forward and plunged her stake as hard as she could through its chest. From the side, Kayden caught sight of a heavy black boot aimed at her head. Reflexes jumped alive, and just a hair’s breadth away from her cheek, she caught the demon’s ankle. Twisting, she heard the sick pop before the leg went limp in her grasp. From five to three, Kayden felt her chest stinging as she flipped left and then right, dodging one blow after the other. The vampires moved like speeding bullets; she heard the movement from both the front and back. Jumping upwards, Kayden soared through the air with just enough height that her two attackers crashed headfirst into each other. Kayden’s boots stuck into the muddy ground when she landed, and it took more effort that she would have liked to propel her body forward. A stake in each hand, she attacked first one vampire, then the other, until they were nothing but dust. Adrenaline surged through her, making each drop of rain on her skin feel like tiny sparks of electricity. She circled the remaining vampire, no longer the prey but the hunter.

Twisting to the side, Kayden threw out a side flip that drew her behind her enemy. Bringing her knee forward, she grabbed the vampire’s shoulders and forced its lower spine into her leg. It hissed, its body dropping forward before Kayden helped it along and pushed it to the ground. Her stake spun in her hand just before she plunged. Just like that, it was over and the thing beneath her foot turned into a pile of dust. Bending forward, Kayden rested her hands on her legs as she drew in a deep breath. Just as her eyes closed, they snapped open again. She felt power wash over her. Straightening, Kayden heard the sound of applause. Lounging against a moss-covered crypt stood Jullian, a wide smile lifting the pale lines of his face. The long black coat he wore danced in the wind and did nothing to hide the hard planes of his body that were displayed through his tight, black clothes. "Well done, sweetheart." Jullian purred, the pet name dropping from his lips like acid as Kayden fell to her knees.

Chapter 12

The cold rain pelting against her face was a welcome relief to the inferno that raged inside of her. It had been five years since Jullian walked out of her life. Mixing with the beads of rain that slid down her face was sweat, and Kayden clenched her jaw. Her heart was pounding like it was going to explode. Pushing off the wall, she watched Jullian through narrowed eyes as he walked towards her. As though he were the devil himself walking through his playground, Jullian’s coat billowed around his frame to give him an otherworldly facade. Kayden had always thought he’d been too beautiful to walk among mortals. At over three hundred years old, Jullian looked no more than thirty. In an attempt to keep up with the times, he’d let his jet-black hair grow long enough so it caressed the collar of his jacket. Like silk, a fluttering remembrance caressed her deep inside her mind, and Kayden knew exactly what those strands felt like between her fingers. Green eyes narrowed even further, and forcefully she pushed those images out of her head. The bastard was feeding her memories. The knowledge of what power her sire held over her washed through her, and it felt like a barbed whip had struck her. That was more than enough motivation to break from his thrall. With pain, she rose to her feet and let him feel how much she’d grown to loathe him. A crack of lightening struck the ground, and the vibrations moved through her in a powerful rush that raised goose bumps along her arms. One instant Jullian was several feet away. Now—in a blink—he stood just a few inches away. Honey and cider wrapped around her, his scent making her shiver as she let the smell mix with the rain. Water dripped from her long eyelashes, obscuring her view as

she looked at him. Through the darkness of the night, his pale skin glowed. Mesmerized, Kayden knew her reaction had nothing to with his porcelain-smooth skin, but with his eyes. Clear, like pools of calm water, his eyes were the only things she saw. Like a magnet, Kayden let herself be pulled into the ocean of his gaze until everything else lost focus. Water cascaded off his shoulders, and Kayden watched in a trance as his fingers pushed through the long strands, slicking them back to leave his eyes unobstructed. She opened and closed her eyes, a line creasing her forehead when she frowned. God damned vampire trickery. “Bastard,” Kayden whispered as the first conscious thought moved through her and she took a step backward. Now, fully conscious of the meddling going on in her mind, Kayden had the awful thought that he’d been manipulating her from the start. At sixteen, she’d always been so eager for him to teach her. Had he twisted that for his perverse pleasures until she fell into his arms? To a hunter, ten years was practically a lifetime. She’d been a baby. As the pieces fell together, Kayden realized her love could have just as easily been caused by vampiric maneuvering. Anger, powerful enough to make her eyes glimmer with an iridescent shine, rushed through her. Inside her, the rage twisted into something beastly, and for a few seconds Kayden lost cognizant thought as she rushed at him. Before she’d even remembered reaching for it, her stake was poised in her hand. When she attacked, her knee was already angled upwards and aimed at his groin to catch him off guard. Her target was his cold, black heart and the killing blow she associated with it.

Blistering pain speared through her right arm. Jullian easily caught her wrist and batted her knee to the side so she fell forward. Using that momentum and little else, he twisted the limb in his hand and spun until he drew her back against his chest. Struggling, he held her in a vice-like grip. Hot breath panted against her ear, and it was all she could hear over the erratic beating of her heart. Grunting, she twisted only to have the vampire behind her pull harder against her shoulder until the pain doubled and her vision went blurry. The first thing she’d been taught, by Jullian ironically, was to never attack with emotion. Use skill, power, and intelligence. The first mistake she’d made was letting her anger rule her, the second was attacking with her wounded arm. “Tsk, tsk. Aren’t you happy to see me, little one?” Jullian purred. He gripped her delicate arm tighter until she made a growling sound in the back of her throat. “Fuck you,” Kayden spit, attempting once more to lash out of his hold, despite how much worse the action made her shoulder feel. The wound was healed enough so that it wouldn’t split open, but that was only on the outside. Inside, she felt what had mended of the muscle and tissue unraveling with each extra ounce of pressure he applied to it. Either the bastard had been watching her all night, studying her weakness, or he’d picked out of her mind that the injury had been hurting like a son of a bitch. Moving with a speed Kayden knew she’d never be graced with, Jullian flashed through the night until he had her cheek pressed against the soft moss of the crypt he’d been leaning against only moments prior. Her stomach lurched at the speed, and she took a full three seconds to catch her breath.

Jullian’s free hand found her hair as he tangled his finger through the sodden strands. Roughly, he tugged her head to the side and bared her neck to him. Drawing the tip of his nose down the line of her throat and shoulder, Kayden felt the heat of his mouth like it was moving over every inch of her. She felt his pleasure deep inside of her when he found his mark and closed his mouth around it. Bucking in an attempt to wrench her head away, she felt the sharp nick of his fangs piercing her skin. Ecstasy rolled through her, and with every thing she had, she fought it. “Is that what you want?” Jullian’s voice dropped lower, and each syllable he spoke felt like fingers stroking her into climax. “Me to fuck you against this building? Make you scream before I fill your sweet cunt over and over again? It’ll be just like old times, lover.” Painfully, his cock hardened against her spine, and humility washed over her when she grew wet. A rush of images hit her at once as he showed her every single time he’d taken her in a cemetery, every time he’d sunk his teeth into her neck and devoured her. She didn’t just see it; she felt it deep inside of her. He was bending her will, trying to break it. Fuck that, Kayden thought. Rearing back, she smashed her head against the bridge of his nose with enough force that he dropped her arm and gave her an inch to roll out from beneath him. Panting through the arousal, she made no move to run. Instead, she leaned back against the old, damp concrete and glared up at him with as much disdain as she could muster. “You finally got let off your leash?” Kayden sneered.

Jullian’s laughter rang out through the night. “You’ll never understand loyalty, will you?” he asked, his tone serious. His hand melted through his hair as he moved under the two-inch lip that protected the crypt’s entrance. In a stance much like Kayden’s, he pressed his shoulder against the wrought iron gate that had sealed the doors for the last few centuries. Kayden’s quick eyes followed his movements when he pulled an immaculately rolled cigarette from his pocket. The strong scent of sulfur flashed outwards into the night as his nimble fingers struck the match against the small box he held. All the money in the world, and the bastard used a matchbox. The flame flashed to life with a brilliant display of red and orange, and Jullian cupped it, protecting it until he brought it to his lips. Through the cigarette, he inhaled the flame, transferring the life from one object to the next as he drew in a deep breath of acrid smoke. The gray cloud he blew out lingered just a moment before it disappeared. “Those things will kill you,” Kayden remarked bitterly, and just for a second, her eyes lingered on the sight of his thin lips hugging the rolled tobacco. The ice in his eyes melted, and he smiled genuinely at her. “I’m already dead, remember?” Kayden’s lips curved upwards, but as soon as she realized what she was doing, her mouth fell into a grim line. She was falling into his trap again. “Did you come to talk to me about loyalties or about how your girlfriend wants my head on her mantle?” Standing too close to Jullian, Kayden felt him sifting through her thoughts, and to her ire, she found there was little she could do to stop him. Wild energy wrought with

hatred pulsed through her, and she scanned the distant landscape in hopes of finding something that would distract her. Hell, for all she cared at that second, the distraction could have killed her. Death was better than being near Jullian. “You don’t mean that,” Jullian said, unashamed when he picked the thought from her mind. “Death is not as pleasant as you think it is.” Kayden narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ll take my chances. Now stop avoiding my questions and just answer me.” The silence echoed between them, the rain her only comfort as she waited. Jullian watched the lines of water that dripped from her chin as she stood without a care in the elements. She looked like a drowned rat, with her hair plastered against her and her clothes hanging from her thin frame. “I forgot how much you loved the rain,” Jullian said wistfully as the memories rolled through him. “Don’t.” Kayden stiffened, pushing off the wall so she was standing at her full height. “We aren’t friends, Jullian. You betrayed me, manipulated me into loving you. I’ll never forget that. Say your peace, kill me, or leave. I’m tired of games.” Jullian harden, and the warmth in his eyes disappeared. Carelessly, he flicked his half-smoked cigarette to the ground. With every step he advanced towards Kayden, she felt his anger rumbling through her head like thunder. It wasn’t just anger, it was wrath. Her gut coiling, Kayden moved to her left. She wasn’t fast enough. Jullian’s thick, long fingers found her hair, and he tugged her motionless. Like someone reeling in a stray rope, he twisted the strands around his fingers until he could pull her the rest of the way forward.

Now that they stood nose to nose, she saw up close just how bitter his eyes were. Lifeless. She knew now, without a shadow of a doubt, that she’d never loved him. “You stupid girl! You make a fool out of me!” Jullian hissed, too angry to yell. As he unleashed his pain, Kayden felt it in every inch of her body. Like he had while she showered, Jullian forced himself inside of her head. Blistering heat buckled her knees, but she had nowhere to drop to. “You are mine, Kayden. Mine. Do you understand that? You sent to me my knees, in front of my mistress. All because my childe was fucking another man. The power, the energy that spilt from you made my eyes shine like they were jewels. Not even Marissa had been able to do that. It’s a mockery, someone with my power not being able to control their chosen mate. It cannot go on.” Kayden did the only thing she could. She wrapped all the pain and anger that he pushed inside of her and threw it back at him. His hand loosened in her hair, his fingers falling from the strands until she was able to scramble away from him. “God damn you, Jullian,” she yelled. “I was never yours! You wanted this, wanted to turn me into your perfect wife. Instead, you made me into a monster. You can’t take what isn’t yours. I’m not sorry if I made you look weak in front that bitch you heel to. I won’t apologize for finally understanding what a manipulative, self-centered bastard you are.” His lips, once so beautiful and serene, curved into an ugly snarl. His fangs flashed. “That ‘bitch I heel to’ has ordered your warrant, and this time there was nothing I could do to convince her otherwise.”

Slowly, his head dipped. Chin rising, he pushed those long fingers of his through his hair. For the first time since she’d met him, Jullian looked unnerved. Good. “Do you think I want to kill you? Jesus, Kayden, I love you. All I’ve ever wanted was you by my side. Why don’t you understand that?” “If you loved me, you would have let me be.” And that was the simple truth. “If you’re not here to kill me, then leave. I can’t do this, Jullian. I can’t stand here and look at you, knowing how badly you’ve fucked up my life.” Pivoting, Kayden turned and let the muddy soil slide under her boot as she took two steps away from her sire. It was her first step at cutting him out of her life altogether. “I have information on the succubus. The one that is so devoted to your hunter,” Jullian called out, his voice floating above the wind. Stopping mid-step, Kayden froze. She waited, listening to nothing but the rain. “Jullian, don’t make me stand here all night.” A ghosting smile she couldn’t see crossed his face. “Some things don’t change, do they? Still impatient, still beautiful.” Jullian pushed his hand through his hair once more, edgily slicking the strands out of his eyes. Kayden twisted, looking at him with apprehension. “She’s a fallen angel who goes by the name of Ashura. After Michael kicked Lucifer out of heaven, she followed him. It is rumored that she was the most cherished, the most beautiful of Lucifer’s mistresses. She started the succubus legend by preying on men and stealing their souls with sex and debauchery, ensuring that they would spend an eternity in hell with her lover.” “What a good girlfriend. What does she want with us?”

“After they spent centuries together, Satan finally cast Ashura out of hell when he got tired of her. Not welcomed in heaven or hell, she roamed the world, feeling nothing except heartache. Almost five hundred years ago, a prophecy surfaced, rumored to be about a demon using the power of true love’s passion to become a mortal. She’s using you and Micah to heal her heart, to become human, to repent, to drink the blood of the lamb and all that. It is the only way she can win her way into God’s graces.” Softly, Kayden’s teeth moved over her lower lip. She wondered how much of his story she could believe. “How do we stop her from killing us?” Jullian’s fangs flashed in the darkness as he grinned. The distance that she’d struggled to maintain through their conversation disappeared. The soft pads of his fingers tickled her skin when he drew them over her cheek. Jaw growing tight, she ripped her face to the side, desperate to get the feel of him off her. Jullian gripped harder, pinching her cheeks as he drew her face directly in front of his and whispered, “I think I’ve told you more than enough.” Blinking, she saw her reflection in his eyes just seconds before he grabbed the back of her neck and pushed his lips onto hers. That empty piece of her soul flared to life, and like she was dying, she parted her lips and drew in a deep, rich breath from his lungs. Like the cigarette, he took life from one thing and gave it to another. Velvet soft, his tongue stroked hers in a way only a man with centuries of experience could do. Chasing after him instinctually, Kayden’s tongue traced the outline of his fangs. His hand tightened in her hair. He tilted her head to the side and scraped the sharp point of his tooth on her lower lip until he could taste the sweet elixir of her blood.

The pain stung like a bucket of cold water, and Kayden pushed back with a gasp. Blood trailed from her lip and mixed with the rain. Heat lined her back, and Kayden closed her eyes in dread as a rich, warm masculine scent invaded her senses. Blood, spicy and rich, mingled with that aroma, and it was only then that she turned and met Micah’s eyes straight on. Anger. Pain. Betrayal. Those were the things she felt when she looked at Jullian. These were the things she saw in Micah’s eyes when he looked at her. Without a word, he turned and walked away. “Micah, wait!” Kayden yelled as she made a move to chase after him. Quick as lightening, Jullian’s hand clamped down on her wrist like a steel manacle. When she lunged forward the only thing she felt was the ripping sensation in her right shoulder. “We aren’t done here,” Jullian growled. Kayden turned her fiery eyes on Jullian, so furious she couldn’t breathe. He’d done it on purpose. The bastard had kissed her because he’d sensed Micah’s arrival before her. She was going to kill him. “Don’t even think about it,” the vampire in front of her hissed as he twisted her arm and drew her to her knees. Struggling, Kayden was ready to sacrifice her arm in order to avoid kneeling to him. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours to make your choice. I’ll let savage beasts the likes you’ve never seen tear through your body, or you can join me fully and walk by my side.”

Kayden shook her head, and looking up into the rain, she could barely see his face. “I’d rather eat my own entrails then have to submit to you as your whore.” As though she’d been burned, Jullian dropped her arm when she tried one last time to tug free. He turned, his coat swirling around him as from the ground, still on her knees, Kayden watched him walk away. Jullian paused a few feet ahead, and his body stiffened into something like a statue. Without turning his head, he spoke, “the succubus only has one weakness. Emotion. She’s lived for centuries devoid of any real feelings of her own, forced to experience everyone else’s through dreams and trances. When she feeds on you and the hunter, it’s not just the energy that’s making her whole. It’s the feeling behind your passion. You have twenty-four hours, Kayden; don’t make me find you.” Confused, stunned, and extremely pissed, Kayden watched Jullian walk into the darkness until he disappeared. Standing, she brushed off the short, broken pieces of grass that clung to her wet pants. Her hand paused on her thigh as one clear, precise thought that wasn’t her own pushed through the barriers she’d maneuvered, obviously not very well, back into place. Your lover dies tonight. “Shit,” Kayden cursed. Micah. There was an hour until the first sunrays rose.

The pungent liquor burned his throat as Micah threw back his third shot. The glass slammed against the bar loudly enough to draw the eyes of the other two patrons in the rundown tavern. Located on the outskirts of town, this was the only watering hole he’d found that would look the other way when you came stumbling in covered in dirt and blood. Micah gritted his teeth and pulled in a humid breath to help tame the flames that licked a path down to his stomach. Twenty minutes and now four shots later, he found himself no more numb then when he’d walked in here. A few more, he mused, and he wouldn’t feel much of anything. Both elbows rested on the scuffed surface of the bar as, despondently, Micah twisted the dewed beer between his fingers. Lazily, he lifted the mug to take a long swig in hopes of chasing away the bitter taste that wasn’t left by the Jack Daniels. How could Kayden have been kissing Jullian? Next to him, the rusty hinges of the vinyl seat moaned. Without turning, Micah watched the buxom brunette sit before she slid a worn twenty across the bar. Tight ringlets tumbled over her too-slender shoulders. On any other night, he might have thought she was attractive. Big breasts spilled out of a tight top, and full ruby lips made for sucking cock were curved upwards in a sultry smile that said she was looking for a good time. It would have been his typical one night stand; that was, before he’d met Kayden. Nothing was the same since he’d met her. "Name's Cindy," the voice purred from beside him.

Throat constricting, Micah took another long swig of soothing liquid before he acknowledged her with nothing more than a nod. He was there for one reason and one reason only, to get drunk. Besides, he was done with brunettes. "There are other ways to dull the ache," Cindy whispered, drawing a crimson nail down the side of his face. She leaned in closer. Before Cindy curved that finger down his jaw, Micah slammed his beer down and caught her wrist in one fluid move. Jerking a little bit harder than he meant, he almost pulled her from her seat. His pain-filled eyes narrowed, and he dropped her hand. “I’m not looking for company, find another seat,” Micah barked before signaling for another round. “I could be her if you want, it doesn’t cost much.” She grinned, crossing her long legs to the side so the slit of her skirt opened indecently. Her red fuck-me-pump fell to the dirty floor with a thud before she arched a stocking-covered foot over his calf. Micah opened his mouth, about to tell her fuck off in the nicest words he could assemble given his piss-poor mood, when the rackety door flung open. For a brief moment, the rain-saturated air flooded into the bar, easing the heavy stale smell of cigars and smoke before the door slammed shut. Although it was cold outside, the heat inside of the bar felt sticky hot. For just a second, that blast of cool air gave Micah a moment’s clarity. The pain cut through his chest, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved Kayden.

That one second of cold air spread throughout the bar and Micah felt it moving over his spine. Ignoring it, he slammed back another shot. He wasn’t going to stop drinking until he forgot her name. “The woman, she does drive a man to drink, doesn’t she?” spoke a deep voice from behind him. Sighing in aggravation, Micah felt his anger spiraling inside of him. Tired, bloody, and bruised, Micah still felt the fight spoiling inside him despite whomever it was interrupting his bender. He’d been called a hothead more than a few times, and he believed it. “Listen, dickhead, mind your own business,” Micah growled, slamming the untouched shot back to the bar before he turned. From the expensive black shoes all the way up to the wool trench coat, Micah felt his fury triple. The liquor he’d consumed was like a fire in his stomach, consuming every angry thought he’d ever had until it melted into a smoldering pit. Dripping puddles to the dusty wood ground, Kayden’s sire stood before Micah. Jullian’s eyes, a clear blue, were unmistakable, and the arrogant sneer that pulled up his lip only pissed Micah off more. “Priceless,” Micah hissed. He rose up from his stool until he stood a few inches taller than the man in front of him. Powerful vampire or not, at that moment Micah couldn’t have cared less. “You boys take it outside, would ya?” husked the barkeep as she scuttled Micah’s drinks back behind the bar. Thick, deep lines made her face droopy and added about twenty years to her age. “The place ain’t much, but it’s all I got.”

Jullian turned his head just a fraction of an inch until he met the barmaid’s eyes dead on. Growling, his eyes shone in the dim smoke of the room before she took a shaky, frightened step back. Melting through air, Jullian grabbed Micah’s throat before anyone in the room could blink. “Listen, boy,” he spat. His fangs grew long, pressing against his lower lip. He squeezed his fingers against Micah’s windpipe. “Kayden is mine.” Choking out a response that sounded like nothing but a gurgle, Micah sputtered for a breath as heat moved through his entire body. Yet again, the door crashed open and collided with the wall. Through the haze of the rain, Micah’s blurry eyes focused on Kayden’s petite form as she stormed inside like a tornado. From night to day, the clothes he’d admired at the beginning of the night were now torn and dirty with blood, guts and who knew what else. The rip that ran across her midsection gapped when she strode purposely towards him, revealing just a hint of the rain-wet skin beneath. Her lips curled from a determined line into a sadistic smile as she drew in deep breaths through her nose. Micah could tell she was livid. A bruise lined the side of her face, wrapping around her eye and accenting the color of her eyes. The mark was red, swollen—something she must have gotten after they’d separated at the cemetery. “Let him go, Jullian. Now,” Kayden snarled. One finger at a time, Jullian released his grip. Micah’s feet dangled in midair for a split second before he fell to the ground. Gasping, he lifted his hands to his neck on impulse as he struggled to feed the oxygen back into his bloodstream.

“Now, now, sweetheart,” Jullian taunted as he turned and looked down his nose at Kayden, “I wasn’t going to hurt your toy. Much. Just wanted to see if you’d come.” “You son of a bitch, don’t patronize me,” Kayden yelled. Beside her, Micah felt his world spin as the whiskey stirred through him. Standing next to them as they squared off, Micah felt his chest constrict as he saw how good they looked together. Pissed or not, Micah knew from experience that a woman didn’t have to like a man to sleep with him. As if that thought was suddenly the most hilarious thing in the world, Micah threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, that’s rich, babe. A half an hour ago you couldn’t get any further down his throat, and now what? Now, you hate him. Typical Kayden: deny him, hate him, fuck him.” Kayden’s face blanched. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” “Lover, I think he’s trying to tell you that you’re a bitch,” Jullian suggested, his lips hovering against her ear as he made eye contact with Micah. “He is good about putting his foot in his mouth, isn’t he?” “I’m not your lover,” Kayden said to Jullian before she turned to look at Micah. “And you,” she poked a finger into his chest, “need to get a cup of coffee and sober up.” “Why?” Micah snickered. “So I don’t tell him you come like a bitch in heat when I suck on the mark he left behind? That no matter how much you say you hate being his thing, you get off on his bloodlust.” Shifting his gaze, he looked at Jullian. “Did she tell you how hard she came when she drank from me last night?”

If Jullian didn’t kill him, she just might. Moving as quickly as she could, Kayden brought her body in front of Micah’s. Pushing outwards, her hand just barely caught Jullian against his chest when the vampire lunged at Micah, trying to rip out his throat. Jullian was breaking his own rule, Kayden realized, as he struggled against her but didn’t push her aside like she knew he could. He was angry and not thinking with his head. “You know why she screams, lover boy? It’s not because of you, it’s because she’s thinking about me, remembering the first time I tore into her. Do you know long she bled? How long I drank up that sweet nectar from between her thighs? Hours. You think you know her, know what she likes? I’ve done more things to her body then you could even imagine.” “I’m standing right here,” Kayden cried in outrage, amazed they had the nerve to argue over her as if she wasn’t even present. Attempting to separate them, Kayden pressed one hand on each of their chests. Each comment they made was worse than the one before, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could take their pissing contest. Very tempted, Kayden contemplated saying screw it and letting them kill each other. If it had been a fair fight, she might have. “What really pisses you off? That she moved on, or that it’s my child that she could be carrying?” Micah retorted. Snarling, Jullian lunged for him again, and it took every ounce of Kayden’s power to shove him back. “I. Am. Right. Here. While I’m tempted to let you both just kill each other as the sun rises, I’m too tired to listen to Roy lecturing me on how irresponsible my actions are.

Micah, you’re drunk; Jullian, you’re just an arrogant asshole. You said I had twenty-four hours; until then, I don’t want to see you or feel you poking around in my head.” “If that’s what you desire.” He spun around, the heavy coattails of his jacket beating against his legs as he stormed out of the door and into the rain. The first tingling started in her gut, and a large part of her hoped Jullian wouldn’t make it to safety before the sun rose. The clouds were still thick and the rain still poured. Unfortunately for her, he’d be just fine. “Pay your tab. I’m driving,” Kayden said, her voice flat with fatigue. Silent, Micah dropped a few folded bills on the counter. The bartender moved her hand over his, bringing it flat against the sticky surface of the bar. Drawing his eyes away from her thick, yellow nails and up towards her face, Micah met her light-brown eyes. “She doesn’t love him, not like she does you. You just remember that now.” Years of chain-smoking made her voice as rough as her face. Micah pulled away and ran a hand down the side of his cheek, wincing at the stinging pain. On a good night of hunting he came home battered; on a bad night such as this one, he was barely going to be able to walk. They rode home in silence. The only sound came from the pattering of rain against the windows and the squeak of the windshield wipers. Periodically, Kayden glanced from the road to Micah, and her eyes fretted over the swelling bruise that ran from his temple to his jaw. His lip was swollen, a dried bead of blood splitting it. She should never have let him go off on his own.

Several times she opened her mouth to say something, but then the entire scene at the seedy bar replayed in her head, and all she felt was rage. He didn’t mean it, just like she hadn’t meant it when she’d returned Jullian’s kiss. Despite being angry and hurt, if she were honest, the only thing she really wanted was to feel the warmth of Micah’s skin beneath her fingers and the steady thud of his heart under her ear. A soft glow of light shone from the living room window as Kayden pulled into the driveway with a sigh. For a moment they sat, both seeming to remember the last time they pulled into this exact spot. Heat blossomed inside of her, and when Micah turned his head to look at her, she ignored him by exiting the car and letting the rain soak her. Paige, Elijah, and Roy looked up from the grimoire they’d been reading as Kayden trudged inside and leaned against the doorframe. Too tired to stand up straight, she had a moment to wonder if, without the wall to support her, she would fall straight onto her face. Water and mud transferred from her clothes to the wall, and she couldn’t care less. The door slammed behind her, rattling the windows, and Kayden was aware of each one of Micah’s footsteps as he walked by her, through the living room, and straight into the kitchen. “Thank God you’re okay!” Paige was the first one to break the awkward silence as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Kayden’s slender frame. Nodding, Kayden ignored her cousin’s face when the redhead backed away with her nose wiggling in disgust. Kayden’s clothes needed to be burned. When Kayden spoke, her voice was raw and her eyelids drooped. “We aren’t looking for a succubus, it’s a fallen angel,” she explained with a yawn she tried to stifle.

Paige shook her head, a tiny smile lifting the corner of her pale lips. “Oh, honey, that’s good that you got information, but all demons are fallen angels, just different types of them.” Holding a frostbitten bag of peas against the throbbing side of his face, Micah reentered the living room. He stopped there, on the opposite end of the room, leaning against the wall for support much like Kayden was doing. “Duh,” Micah slurred, “even I knew that one.” Elijah narrowed his eyes, looking between his brother and Kayden. “Is he drunk?” Closing her eyes, Kayden took a deep breath. “Trust me. You really don’t want to know.” From across the room Micah gave a short, sarcastic bark of laughter, and Kayden had to fight not to acknowledge him. “Her name is Ashura…” Before Kayden could explain further, Roy interrupted, concern written in his eyes. “I take it you spoke with Jullian then?” “That’s not the only thing she did,” Micah scoffed as he moved around the room to stand opposite Kayden. His arms flexed as he crossed them over his chest with the forgotten bag of vegetables hanging from his fingers. “Micah, don’t start with me. I’m trying really, really hard not to punch you right now, and you aren’t making it easier.” Their audience turned their heads from Kayden to Micah as the pair faced one another. The talisman around Micah’s neck glowed as the energy in the room started to rise.

“Tell me, why should I make it easy for you? You’re the one with your tongue down someone else’s throat,” Micah shouted. “‘Comes like a bitch in heat,’ really Micah! You were being a chauvinistic, jealous asshole!” she shot back, taking a step closer to him. Elijah jumped up, his hands gently pressing against Micah’s shoulders until he got him to walk away. The tension dropped, and Kayden let her head fall forward in exhaustion. Mentally, physically, she could only take so much. A thick strand of hair, stuck together with something God-awful, fell in front of her nose. Recoiling at the stench, she pushed the strands behind her ears. “I know you’ve had a long night, Kayden, but is there anything else helpful that Jullian might have mentioned?” Paige asked with innocent diplomacy. Nodding, Kayden threw Micah a glare before she explained almost word for word what Jullian had told her. The only thing she left out was her sire’s offer to walk in an eternity of darkness by his side. Roy and Paige started to mumble, nodding and fawning over the newest bits of information. Paige’s nimble mind was already revising the ritual they had planned for tomorrow. Kayden turned without another word as she watched Elijah sit on the couch and throw a casual arm behind Paige’s shoulder when he joined the huddle. It was like she’d never walked through the door. Too tired to move, Kayden looked up the long stairway with trepidation. Each time she lifted her foot to climb the next step, she felt agony. Echoing behind her was a second set of feet, and it wasn’t until Kayden walked into the bathroom that she realized Micah was on her heels.

Standing in the threshold of the bathroom, Kayden turned right into Micah’s chest, her chin forced up so she could meet his eyes. Expectantly, he looked at her, and when Kayden finally realized that he actually thought he was getting into the shower with her, she laughed. Where her hand pressed against his chest, sparks ignited. Shaking her head, she stepped into his body and shoved, effectively sending him back a few steps. “If you think for one second you’re getting in here with me, you’re delusional.” “Come on,” he whined. “There’s only one shower.” They were both dead on their feet and too tired to put any real emotion behind their words; it was the most pitiful fight they’d ever had. Micah’s shoulders hunched forward, and he gave her his best pleading look. “I won’t touch you, I swear to God.” The thought of Micah in the shower with her did funny things to her insides. Too tired to fight with her stubborn side, Kayden stepped back just an inch to let him through. “Touch me and I’ll hurt you.” She turned around, still speaking as she toed off her boots. “And another thing, if you think for one second you’re using me as your human pillow tonight, you’re sadly mistaken. Oh, and don’t think you’re getting within an inch of me unless you brush your teeth. Whiskey? Really, Micah, what the hell were you thinking?” On and on she rambled, and Micah hid a grin as he shut the door behind him. She was damn sexy when she rambled. “What was I thinking?” he asked as he pulled his shirt over his head and cringed at the pain radiating from his ribs. “I wasn’t the one making it with a dead dude.”

Micah watched as, with her left hand, Kayden peeled the ruined shirt from her torso and let it drop to the ground with a splatter. He had one last fleeting thought before she ditched the bra: she must not be that mad if she was going to let him see her naked.

Chapter 13

“Ow,” Kayden cried out when the smooth upward stroke of her razor stuttered against the back of her knee. A vivid drop of blood welled, beading over the small knick before it started to drip downwards. With a glare, she swiped it away and resumed the tedious task of shaving. She looked over her shoulder, catching Paige’s reflection in the mirror from where she sat behind her on the bathroom counter. Back against the wall, her knees hugged against her chest, her cousin was filing her nails in an even motion. “So you’re telling me that you and Micah took a shower together last night, and nothing happened?” Paige asked. Setting the emory board next to the sink, Paige turned so that her legs dangled over the edge of the smooth, blue counter. A rhythmic thud echoed through the room as she swung her legs back and forth. Where Paige was fully dressed in a flowing rust-colored skirt that caressed the backs of her knees and a beige v-neck top, Kayden was balanced on the rim of the bathtub wearing nothing but a tight black tank top and a pair of red jogging shorts. Both of Kayden’s feet rested in the two-inch filled basin. The water sloshed quietly as she rinsed the shaving cream from her leg with a handful of water. “Is it really so hard to believe that I have self-control?” Kayden asked, drawing the blade around the curve of her ankle.

Enchanted laughter rang through the bathroom, drawing a smile to Kayden’s lips. Her cousin always did have a way of making her smile despite how bad she might be feeling. With a headache from hell, a throbbing pain in her shoulder, and a pesky need to have Micah pounding his body into hers, she’d woken up cranky and annoyed this afternoon. “Let me get this straight.” Paige grinned and flashed a pair of dimples. “Naked. Dripping with water. You two did nothing?” It was the fifth time she’d asked in that half hour, and if Kayden had turned around, she would have seen her cousin’s eyebrow raised in accusation. It had been eight o’clock in the morning when Elijah and Paige stumbled upstairs, eyes blurry with fatigue, when they realized Micah wasn’t in his bedroom. Partly with concern and partly with morbid curiosity, they peeked their heads into Kayden’s bedroom. Through the dim light that managed to find its way in through the thick curtains, they saw Micah’s nude form sprawled on top of Kayden as she cradled him to her chest. It would have been cute if Micah hadn’t shifted and given them an eyeful. Paige was already giddy with tiredness, and the look on Elijah’s face had been too much. One laugh turned into two, and it wasn’t long before she could hardly breathe, the tears were falling so rapidly. In an attempt not to wake the pair, she’d pressed her face into Elijah’s chest. Strong arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he laughed into the top of her head. Even now she could smell him, feel his aura wrapping around her. Kayden groaned as she dunked her razor in the cloudy water, pulling Paige from the memory.

“Please don’t remind me,” Kayden whined. “It was bad enough when I woke up this morning—we were all tangled and naked. I swear to God when I went to sleep last night, we were in our respectful corners. The shower was completely platonic. No looking. No touching. No kissing.” If Paige had smiled any wider, her face would have been in danger of cracking. “Someone sounds disappointed,” she sang. “Shit!” Kayden hissed, cutting herself in the exact same spot on the opposite leg. A thin stream of pink blood ran down the back of her calf, where it mixed with the water. After fifteen years of shaving, and armed with the reflexes of a cat, Kayden thought that by now she would have learned how to keep her legs hair-free without opening an artery. She could gut a demon and string it up by its entrails with her eyes closed, for God’s sake! Mumbling about Paige’s true nature, an evil one, she did her best to ignore her cousin. Problem was, what Paige guessed was true. Kayden had wanted Micah to touch her. Despite what Kayden had said, she needed him to erase the memory of Jullian from her mind and her body. Would it really have been so hard for Micah to just take her against the wall with the hot water beating down on her sore muscles? True to his word, he’d showered, brushed his teeth and then curled into a ball and started to snore, all without even grazing his skin against hers. When they woke this morning, his delicious hardness pressed against her, she’d stretched and felt tight, tingling arousal pulsing through her. Like nothing was out of the ordinary, Micah had risen, griped about his ribs and then hobbled

blissfully nude out the bedroom door and into his own room. The bastard was punishing her. “Do you love him?” Paige asked out of the blue. Kayden’s hand stopped mid-stroke, and a few seconds passed before she said anything. “I don’t know. Maybe. Then again, I thought I loved Jullian. I couldn’t have made a bigger mistake if I’d tried.” The semi-permanent lift to Paige’s mouth faltered. “That’s different. My dad’s never even heard of a vampire being able to make someone love them. We all underestimated Jullian, not just you. Your father trusted him to train you, you trusted your father. It’s not your fault. All sexy and grrr, it’s hard to say no to that, vampire powers or not.” “It’s in my blood to say no. And did my father really trust him, or was it more tricks? Who knows anymore? My head’s so messed up it’s hard to think. And don’t even get me started on how badly Jullian fucked up my shoulder.” Shaking her head, Kayden silenced herself before she started rambling about his insane ultimatums. One way or another, Jullian was soon going to be a closed chapter in her life. Dropping her razor into the water, Kayden turned to meet Paige’s eyes. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about Micah, even before this all happened. When I said I didn’t like him, I might have liked him a little. He’s so infuriating and annoying and sexy.” Thankful for the distraction, Paige let the somber moment pass. She didn’t need any negative energy surrounding her when she did the ritual in a few hours. A knowing half-smirk curved her lips as she picked up the nail buffer and started to buff her nails.

The words I told you so were on her lips, but Kayden never gave her the chance to express them. “I know you want to say it, but I swear to God, best friend or not, I will hurt you.” Kayden grinned before she turned back around and fished the razor from the water. With even strokes, she went to work on finishing her other leg and tried not to think about why she was shaving in the first place. She was pretty sure that Micah wouldn’t care if her legs were smooth or not when he was under the influence of the succubus. For some reason, though, here she was primping. Come to think of it, Kayden realized, it was just like Paige and the nails she’d been working on for the last hour. You didn’t have to be an expert at demon-summoning to know magic had nothing to do with how manicured your nails were. Thinking back over the past few weeks, Kayden picked out all the times she’d been sneaking indulgent looks at Micah only to find Elijah looking at Paige. A gentle touch here, their fingers brushing when they handed each other objects there. Last night, Elijah had put his arm around Paige’s shoulder and his nose into her hair when he joined in their discussion. “Hey, Paige,” Kayden sung out, hiding her smile as she ducked her head down towards her knees. “Just how long have you been screwing Eli?” Stuttering silence. The rhythmic buffing sound coming from behind stopped. “What!” Paige stammered, and a shock wave of energy rode the air and raised the hairs on Kayden’s arms. With firmer strokes that hinted at nervousness, Paige resumed her task and filled the bathroom with another sound besides the rasping of the razor.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and could you be any blunter? Geez Kayden, not all of us are as sexually liberal as you.” With a look behind her shoulder, Kayden confirmed her cousin was blushing beet red. Where black had always been Kayden’s color, red suited Paige better than anyone she’d ever met. Cherry strands of hair fell from a sloppy ponytail, making her cousin look young and innocent despite the wisdom in her wide-set eyes. “He stares at you, you know, when you’re not looking.” Kayden rinsed off the last of the shaving cream she’d stolen from Micah. As she stood, water moved down her legs. “I’ve been watching you two. He touches you whenever he can and you do the same, so don’t even try and deny it.” “I’m like a sister to him! Just because you’re getting laid doesn’t mean I am.” Paige defended herself as she hopped down from the counter and handed Kayden a towel. Hands now empty, Paige turned to study her seemingly plain reflection in the mirror. What she saw was an ordinary girl. Pale in comparison to her cousin, lacking the deep chestnut bangs that swept across Kayden’s forehead to join the other messy strands, Paige felt there was nothing special about her. Her nose was too pointed and her lips were too narrow. She saw nothing that would attract a man like Elijah. “Oh no, you don’t,” Kayden chastised. Walking across the small space, Kayden stood on tiptoe as she rested her chin on Paige’s shoulder. Gently she wrapped her arms around her cousin’s waist, giving Paige the hug she knew she needed. Looking at them in the mirror brought back memories she hadn’t thought about in years. It made Kayden think of the times when they’d been thirteen, blissfully unaware,

and doing the same thing: shaving in the bathroom and talking about boys. At twelve, Kayden had already sworn an oath to lead the solitary life of a hunter, while Paige couldn’t wait to find her soul mate and start sharing cosmic energy. Since they’d been born, only months apart, they’d fit into a niche that other kids growing up didn’t understand. Outcasts, they’d only had each other for as long as Kayden could remember. She wasn’t going to take advantage of that friendship any longer. “I know what you’re doing,” Kayden said, pulling away. “If Elijah could get a woman half as beautiful, sweet, and compassionate as you, he’d be a lucky man. Don’t put yourself down, Paige; you’ve done nothing to deserve it.” “I never admitted to anything, just so you know. Not that we are, though, having sex. I mean,” Paige’s nose wrinkled, “not that I even think about having sex with him or anyone else.” Kayden laughed, twisting the slick doorknob. Cool air wafted in from the bottom seal of the closed window that took up most of the wall at the end of the hall, and Kayden cursed when her legs rippled in goose bumps. So much for that fresh-shaved feeling. The sun was just starting to set, according to her internal clock, and the storm that had plagued their small town didn’t seem to be letting up. She only hoped the rain would give her some kind of strength when she dealt with her sire. “So”—Kayden’s smirk grew mischievous when she turned her head over her shoulder—“are you gonna let him feel you up at least? You’re going to have to lose that virginity of yours before you’re thirty.” “Sometimes,” Paige reprimanded, “you’re worse than Micah.”

Energy crackled through Paige’s fingertips as she knelt on the cold, concrete floor. An invisible wind swirled inside of her, making her dizzy with endorphins. The chalk smoothed against the ground, bright white lines curving against a black canvas. Not only had Roy installed a gym in the basement, he’d also set aside a section that they often used for spells and summonings. Methodically, Paige drew the first lines of a scorpion, detailing The Fifth Pentacle of Mars as the grimoire she’d had her head buried in instructed. The main component in the devil’s trap, this particular pentacle was irresistible to demons and should work just fine for trapping their succubus. Biting her lower lip, she strained her eyes in the dim light as she stretched her arm outwards to draw a pentagram around the ancient symbol. It took her another half an hour to sketch out the Enochian symbols around the five-pointed star. A stray lock of ruby hair fell from her ponytail. Hastily, she pushed it back before she drew an obtuse heptagon around the entire picture to complete the marking. Paige stood, chalk between her fingers, and she felt excitement move through her. Magic was a deep part of her soul and it wasn’t until she was practicing, calling the elements to bend to her will, that she truly felt peace. “Wow, Paige,” Elijah whistled as he came to a stop next to her. “That’s impressive.” Smiling proudly, Paige turned her head to the side and tilted her chin up to meet his warm eyes. At six-foot-four, Elijah was more than a foot taller than her. Standing as

close as he was, his arm pressed against her shoulder, and for an intense second their eyes connected. Their gazes locked and Paige felt a sudden, unexpected bolt of sexual chemistry she’d never noticed before. Blushing, she looked away. The only thing she could hear were Kayden’s words echoing through her head. Did Elijah really see her as more than just a sister? Blinking at the picture on the ground, she jumped when she felt Elijah tenderly smooth his thumb against her cheek. A spark ignited, growing between them until it flashed out like an electric shock and hit everyone in the room. Never in her life had Paige had so much trouble containing her magic. “Sorry, you had some chalk on your cheek,” Elijah explained, his cheeks coloring pink.

Across the room, Kayden rubbed her arms free of the goose bumps Paige had caused. She nudged Micah’s elbow. He faltered, and the sharpening tool he was using on his knife slipped, nearly slicing his finger. He’d been avoiding looking at her, and for the last hour all she’d heard was the scraping of metal. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could take it. For the first time in a while, Kayden had actually taken the time to comb her hair. A wrap-around black skirt rested mid thigh and each time she moved, it tickled her skin into awareness. Not that Micah had even taken the time to note how her legs looked in something other than pants. “See?” Kayden motioned, bumping Micah once more as she ignored his responding glare.

With nothing but her eyes, she pointed to where Elijah was wiping something from her cousin’s cheek. Micah shook his head and went back to attending to his knife. Between the vampire and hellhound demon from last night, the blade could barely cut through a piece of paper. “I never pegged you for a matchmaker,” Micah said absently, totally focused on his task. “I’m not trying to fix them up! I’m just asking you to tell me what you know.” Huffing, Micah threw the sharpening tool on the table and folded his knife in half. He tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans and turned his full attention to Kayden. It took more willpower than he had not to notice how her breasts looked in the tight blue sweater she was wearing. He wasn’t even going to get started on the skirt. Throughout dinner, she’d made it a point to bend down in front of him. She was punishing him. “Have I done something to make you think I’m a chick?” Kayden attempted not to grin, but failed miserably when her eyes looked him over in a slow steady sweep. His loose t-shirt, as blue as the bruise on his cheek, and his jeans that looked comfortably lived-in made her pulse speed. Under those clothes she knew there were muscles; she also knew that soon she’d be getting up close and personal with them. “You mean besides your love of baths and cuddling? Let’s not talk about how long you spend on your hair, or how you always seem to be dressed better than me,” Kayden teased.

“Oh, you’re going to pay for that, darling,’” Micah growled. “I think someone’s just bitter because they need to get laid.” Laughing, Kayden took a few steps back to bait him forward. A playful vibe in the air made her feel like her worries were miles away. Micah’s sense of humor was one of the things she loved about him. “You think so?” she purred. “Well, I don’t see anyone in the room that can get the job done. If you find someone, call me.” With a wink, Kayden spun and walked towards her cousin, leaving Micah tilting his head as he watched the skirt swish teasingly around her thighs. Limping forwards, he grimaced and clutched his chest. On his left side, his ribs were bruised with red and purple welts from what he vaguely recalled were boot imprints. “We almost ready?” Kayden asked, giving her cousin a knowing smile that made her blush worse. It took a moment for Paige to clear her throat as she pointed at the ground. “Almost. I need to enclose the circle with salt, and then we are pretty much good to go. Dad will be here any second with the sage, but you guys don’t have to wait for him to show up. I mean, if you wanted to get started, or whatever…” Micah threw an arm over Kayden’s shoulder for support as he cradled his ribs with his other hand. He nodded towards the pentacle, looking at the scorpion with apprehension. Much like Paige did for Kayden, Elijah mostly took care of the occasional rituals the brothers had to perform. “Are we sure this is going to work?”

For what must have been the millionth time that day, Elijah nodded. “Dude, it’ll work. Paige knows what she’s doing. You two know what to do, right?” Kayden and Micah exchanged a curious glance. Coughing, Micah looked at his brother like he’d grown another head. “Are you asking me if I know how to have sex?” he deadpanned, eyes widened in question. Beaming, Kayden slowly untangled herself from the heat of Micah’s body. Pressed against him, she was aware of each beat of his heart and how it affected her. She was too on edge to be touching Micah when he even mentioned the word sex. Practically dripping already, she wasn’t looking forward to how badly Micah was going to rub in the fact that she wanted him. “Well…” Kayden let the pause linger. Her tone held a humorous glint that said she was on the verge of laughing. “You could use some tips.” “Oh, that’s it,” Micah snarled playfully, and quicker than Kayden expected, he grabbed her wrist and drew her against him. Hand pressed against his chest to keep them from touching completely, Kayden leaned her head back and caught the mischief in his eyes. Passion simmered between them, and she could feel the warmth of his talisman as it started to heat against her fingertips. Bending, Micah angled his head as he drew close to her lips, his eyes locked on hers. Blowing a hot breath of air against her mouth, he captured her lower lip between his teeth in a teasing kiss. “For the love of God, I can’t take it anymore! I don’t want to speak for Paige, but I’ve seen enough of you two in the last couple of days to last me a lifetime. I can’t take

another episode of you having sex right in front of me,” Elijah said, his words breaking them apart before Micah had a chance to deepen the kiss. Micah smirked, his hand trailing over Kayden’s arm until he found her fingers. Gently, he laced them with his before he started to tug her out of the room. He walked backward, gripping his ribs to help keep them from hurting as he looked casually between Elijah and Paige. He’d taken some painkillers about twenty minutes ago, and he hoped like hell they’d get him through the next hour. “Yeah, well, no one wants to see you and Paige making eyes at each other, but did I say anything? No. And yes, I know how to screw Kayden, so if you don’t mind I’m about to find out what naughty panties she has on under that damn skirt.” Out of the corner of her eye, Kayden caught the embarrassed blush that spread between Paige and Elijah as they looked first at each other and then at the ground. Walking behind Micah, Kayden pushed him up the stairs. She chuckled softly. “That was mean!” she reprimanded. Over his shoulder, Micah gave her a sinful half smile that made her stomach flutter with arousal. “That’s why you love me.” Heart stopping, Kayden felt her breath stutter. She pushed harder against his back to keep him moving. He was almost as good as her at reading the emotions on people’s faces, and she didn’t want him picking up on what she was feeling. Moving through the living room and up the stairs, Kayden was unusually quiet. It felt strange to have Micah leading her towards her bedroom, his hand almost uncomfortably warm in hers. Out of nowhere, the nervousness began to build, and each step closer to the top made her heart beat a little bit faster.

“Just so you know,” Micah said in that cool nonchalant voice of his that irked her, “this is the best date I’ve ever had. No dinner, no movie, and I know I’m going to get laid.” The nervous jitters disappeared, and with a half smile she knew he couldn’t see, Kayden relaxed. This was Micah, and this is what she’d wanted since she’d turned around and watched his pants drop around his ankles last night in the bathroom. Hell, this is what she’d wanted to do since the first time she looked down at him with her boot pressed against his windpipe all those months ago. “Who says you’re getting laid, hotshot?” Kayden quirked, eyeing the way his denim-encased ass tightened with each step. The stairs leveled into the hall, and it was there that Micah stopped. Like she was his prey, he backed her against the wall, his eyes searing and his breath even hotter when he pressed his lips to hers. Despite the heat that swelled between them, the kiss was strangely calm. His lips caressed hers, coaxing her mouth open until his tongue found hers. Stepping closer, Kayden could feel every one of his muscles tightening in anticipation. She grew wet, her thighs humid and sticky as he deepened the kiss and released a husky moan that vibrated through her. His hand wove through her hair, holding her close, and like a dam that finally broke, Kayden pushed all of her sexual frustration into that kiss. Pulling back, Micah looked deep into her eyes, and his lip lifted in a quirk. “That tells me I’m getting laid. You want me every bit as much as I want you. No more bullshitting.” Frowning, Kayden pushed him away softly. “You’re a bastard, you know that?”

The cool temperature moved over her as she entered her bedroom. Reaching around her, Micah hit the switch, and the room flooded with light. Kayden felt a split second of panic when he pulled the door closed behind them with a loud click. Another flick, and the flimsy lock on her door latched with a sound that echoed throughout the room. This time there weren’t going to be any interruptions. Posing causally against the door, Micah watched Kayden fidget, her teeth worrying her lower lip. Almost nervously, she looked around the room, her gaze avoiding the bed. He’d never seen her so anxious before. It was kind of turning him on. Against the peach walls, the azure sweater that hugged her curves so deliciously made her pale green eyes look almost blue. Slowly, Micah licked his lower lip as he imagined what she’d worn underneath. If it was anything like the red lace she wore last night, someone should just shoot him now. “Now that we’re alone,” Micah husked, feeling himself grow stiff at the mere thought of her, “tell me what sinful delights you’ve hidden under that skirt of yours?” Whatever apprehensions she’d been having vanished, and he watched her entire demeanor change. She went from tense to sultry. Her eyes filled with a wicked gleam that made his chest tighten. She closed the short distance between them and smoothed her hand up his chest. Rubbing her bare leg against his knee, she made sure her breasts pushed against his chest. Capturing his hand, she pulled his palm towards her until he was touching her leg. Ever so slowly, Kayden smoothed his fingers up the inside of her leg as she parted her thighs.

The tables suddenly turned, and now Micah was the one who felt nervous. His chest tightened while the pads of his fingers moved up the silky skin, and he found it hard to breathe as he got closer to his goal. Never in a million years did he think he’d be touching Kayden Gray like this. A coy smile curved her lips, and she batted her eyes up at him like the true vixen she was. “Depends on what you’d consider sinful,” she purred. “What if I said I wasn’t wearing anything?” As she said it, she guided him to the wet space between her thighs. Eyes fluttering closed, Kayden felt her heart falter when his fingers found her bare pussy wet and exposed. He groaned low in his chest and experimentally drew his hand against her swollen, aroused sex. One swipe of his finger against the opening of her femininity released the floodgates. “Jesus, Kayden,” Micah moaned, cupping her sex as he rubbed her ever so slowly back and forth. What was once slippery with wetness was now drenched. He felt her heat spread up through his hand and straight to his cock. “If I’d known you weren’t wearing anything under that skirt, I would have bent you over the table at dinner when you kept shaking your ass in my face.” As they looked into each other’s eyes, whatever chill she might have felt when she first entered the room was gone. Heat multiplied around them, and there was something erotic about watching his face change when he pressed his middle finger as deep as it would go inside of her. He twisted the digit, and his mouth parted in longing when she moaned out his name.

“Are you trying to kill me?” he rasped, adding a second finger to stretch her wider. Her hair slashed against her cheeks when she shook her head. “I’m not trying to kill you, Micah, I’m just trying to get you to fuck me.” Before she could blink, he bent and smashed his mouth against hers in a way that was far from gentle. Moaning, Kayden pressed herself into him as he started dragging his fingers in and out of her in a fast rhythm. Without letting go of her sex or her mouth, he started to back them towards the bed. His thumb curved around to apply pressure to her clit. He dragged his lips from her mouth to her neck. Searing, wet open-mouth kisses made her knees weak as she bent her head to the side to give him more room. Nibbling, he sucked the flesh into his mouth and added another finger. Tight like a vice, she clamped down around him. He did the only thing he could; he finger-fucked her harder until he felt the first tremors start from the inside out. The talisman around his neck burned in a painful reminder of what was to come. He was going to push it, to have Kayden for as long as he could before he had to unleash the beast. He had fifteen minutes to experience her without anything but the passion that simmered between them. They both tumbled when the backs of Kayden’s knees hit the bed, and they fell in a tangle of limbs. Wincing at the pain, Micah readjusted them until he had his lover in the middle of the bed. Breaking away from her neck, he looked deep into her eyes and felt the odd compulsion to spill his guts. Micah withdrew from her heat, ignoring her protests when he never gave her that final push over the edge. He brought his fingers to his mouth, sucking the digits between

his lips. The exquisite taste of her rolled over his tongue, and he closed his eyes with a moan. “If I thought for one second that you’d believe that I was telling the truth and not just trying to screw you, I’d tell you how much I love the way you’re looking at me right now. How much I love you.” Micah’s voice was husky when he opened his eyes. His hand moved under her sweater, and he drew his damp fingers back and forth until her skin puckered. The muscles in her abdomen tightened, and she spread her thighs. She panted in a silent plea for more. With her lips parted and her eyes wide, Micah had never seen her look so unguarded. Kayden blinked up at him through the fog of desire, unsure if she’d heard what she thought she heard. Her mouth opened to ask, but Micah shook his head. “Just give me a second here before you say anything. There are a few things about last night that I want to apologize for.” He didn’t want to go here, but his gut was twisting with guilt. Slowly, he pushed her sweater up, and with her help he dragged the cotton over her head. Her small breasts tightened from the sudden chill, and Micah’s cock swelled even bigger. “Which part?” she asked, the innocent tone in her voice ruined as her back arched, pushing her breast into his hand when he cupped it. “The one where you called me bitch?” Clever fingers moved over her thigh, dragging the material of her skirt up her legs until his hand inched towards her weeping center. Tenderly he rubbed the dripping, swollen sex back and forth but didn’t enter. Not yet.

“No,” he answered simply, curving two fingers inside her, not finding any resistance. “I’m not sorry about that. You are a bitch, but it’s just one of the things I love about you.” Kayden felt like there was a massive weight was sitting on her eyelids. No matter how hard she tried to keep them open, her eyes kept falling shut as the endorphins in her body rushed through her system. Each stroke of his fingers hit her deep, and the pleasure mounted to a place where she thought she’d pass out from the intensity of it. Husky, her voice stammered when she spoke, “I’m sorry that you had to see me with Jullian.” She felt the loss of his fingers deep inside of her and before she could protest, she felt the coarse hair of his jaw scratching against her inner thighs when he parted her wide with his hands. Kneeling between her legs, he wasted no time before his mouth found the folds of her sex. Like he was kissing her mouth, his tongue traced the seam of her pussy before he sucked the perfectly symmetrical lips into his mouth. Pleasure spiked her hips off the bed, but Micah was there to hold her down. With more pressure he opened the kiss, stiffening his tongue as he penetrated her with it and drew her wetness into his mouth. Rich like wine, her juices spilled into his mouth and set his taste buds alive with ecstasy. When he spoke against her, tremors passed through her body from the way his breath hit her sensitive clit. Quick and hard, three fingers filled her, and Kayden thought she’d forgotten how to breathe. “I don’t like it, but I understand what happened.” He looked up at her, watching her face contort in beautiful bliss. “I’m sorry if I treated you like my whore, just some

woman I fucked. I didn’t mean to degrade you in front of him. I was angry, but you didn’t deserve that.” “Micah?” Kayden moaned as she guided his head where she needed him to be. “Stop talking.” She felt his smile against her. He sucked the hard clit in his mouth. His teeth nibbled her as he sped his fingers inside her. Like it was his shaft thrusting into her, his hand pumped more insistently as he felt her climax trembling through her body. Harder, faster, he brought her off with his mouth and fingers until she screamed. White-hot pleasure spiraled through her, making her breathless. Her body shook. Each beat of her heart drew out her pleasure as he kept sucking against her, spinning her into a climax that forced his name from her mouth. Before she’d even come down from the high, he was climbing up her body. Rough calluses from years of handling weapons scratched against her skin as he drew her legs around his waist. Fully dressed, his shirt and jeans felt abrasive against her oversensitized clit. She wouldn’t have had it any other way. When his eyes hovered directly over hers, Kayden blinked hers open and lifted a hand to cup his cheek. Feather soft, her thumb stroked over the bruise on his jaw. She never would have thought herself a sucker for a rugged man who looked like he just lost a bar fight. Kayden took dominance of their kiss, and the spicy flavor of herself in his mouth only turned her on that much more. Her back arched against him and Kayden didn’t know how much more foreplay she could take. She wanted him, wanted him so deep inside of her he’d never leave.

They’re kiss grew sloppy and wet as, blindly, Micah reached behind him to rip his shirt over his head. Smoothly, they broke apart, and before the material dropped to the floor, their lips were nipping against one another again. Hot, the talisman between them burned Kayden’s throat from where it dangled. Her fingers reached upwards as she traced the thin leather that held it around his neck. She meant to pull it free, but his hand closed around hers. Gasping, eyes hot with desire and hair skewed from Kayden’s wandering fingers, Micah shook his head. “Leave it. I want to feel you, all of you, without that bitch shoving thoughts into my head.” His head dipped, and his teeth bit her lower lip. Between them, Kayden made quick work of his jeans, using her feet to push the denim down his thighs. His heavy, thick shaft sprung between them and made her breath quicken with need. Micah kicked his clothes to the floor as he angled her thigh up, pushing it towards her stomach so it left her exposed. With his hand grasped around his thick cock, he drew the tip against her opening. Maddeningly, he teased her slit until the crown of his penis was slick. Their kiss broke and both of their eyes were drawn to the sight of him entering her. No matter how ready he’d tried to make her, he still met resistance when her slick folds wrapped around him. Pressing only an inch inside of her, he felt the gut-wrenching pleasure that made him want to rip into her body and come with a never-ending bliss. “Wait,” Kayden groaned, her hand softly pushing against his chest until he backed away enough for her to think. “We need a condom.”

A deep breath shuddered through Micah as he nodded. Never in his life, before Kayden, had he ever taken a woman without one. There was something about her, so hot and so wet, that made him lose all reason. As she reached to the side, Kayden’s nails drew up and down his back in a soothing rhythm that was anything but relaxing to Micah. Fumbling inside of her nightstand, Micah searched for what he was looking for. It took only a few seconds for him to spread the condom over his shaft, but it felt like an eternity. Sudden movement flipped them, and Micah found himself flat on his back as Kayden loomed above him. He grinned, his hands shoving the strands of her hair out of her face. Drawing her close, his hand closed around the base of her neck as he brought her lips to his. Lowering herself, Kayden felt his impossible girth spreading her. She hadn’t remembered him being so big last time, but then again, she hadn’t been in her right mind. Ever so slowly, she impaled herself on top of him, loving the way he filled her like no one else had. “Christ, Kayden,” Micah groaned against her mouth as his balls clenched tight with the need to release. Pulling back, Kayden arched her back and started a trying rhythm that allowed her to adjust to his size. Full and pulsing, she felt his heart beat deep inside of her, bringing her bloodlust too close to the surface. Closing her eyes, Kayden threw her head back and let the sensation of him filling her drown out everything else. Nothing mattered except Micah and what he was doing to her body.

Rising and falling, his cock penetrated her, rubbing against sensitive nerve endings that were already on high alert. Micah sat up, his mouth latching onto her nipple. He guided her hips into a faster, more demanding pace. Up and down, she pleasured them as Micah’s teeth gripped her nipple to the point of pleasurable pain. Forgetting his own discomfort, Micah pushed her backward and onto her back. He never left her hot, clenching tightness. His elbows framed her head and his back arched as his buttocks flexed with his pistoning hips. In a frenzy of movement, Micah pressed his mouth to Kayden’s neck and bit down hard enough to make her nails dig into his back. Pain lanced through him, but he paid no attention to it as he brought her closer and closer. “Fuck me, Micah,” Kayden moaned, her mouth finding the thick vein in his neck before she latched on. “That’s it,” Micah panted and his heart, among other things, felt like it was going to explode. His balls clenched tightly, his climax too close for him to stave off much longer. Between them he reached, grasping the talisman before he ripped it off. A sudden burst of bright energy exploded the second the fiery metal in his hand fell to the ground. Micah reared upwards, his head thrown back as he felt everything rush at him. Too fast to stop it, too powerful to fight, the lust and love he felt for Kayden detonated. Eyes bright blue, he growled his pleasure as he came, thick hot jets exploding from his body as he felt the woman beneath him succumb with him. Strong hands found the back of his neck as Kayden drew him to her mouth. Micah felt nothing but bliss when her teeth wrapped around his skin and tore it open. Kayden

cried out, her orgasm melting into another and another as his blood spilled into her mouth. Jasmine filled the air, choking them, as the energy of their passion grew into something intangible. Micah continued to thrust, milking their pleasure as the siren’s song in his head narrowed everything down to him and Kayden. He pulled out, unmindful of the blood dripping down his chest, and he wrenched the condom from his cock. He needed to feel all of her. He needed to be home. He was still hard, and after the filled rubber slid off, it only took a second for him to throw it to the floor before he had Kayden spread wide and his face buried in her hot pussy. Screaming, Kayden felt the orgasm shatter through her, and like before, Micah felt it. He felt her pleasure, felt it spiking, growing, and telling him exactly where she needed him. His hand moved lower, smoothing over the tight rosette of her ass. Without warning, his finger found her opening, the orifice slick from her juices as he began an assaulting rhythm on her clitoris. “Yes, Micah, God, yes!” Kayden yelled, her voice cracking as she felt her mind melting in bliss. His cock was slick and her sex was even wetter as he rammed himself inside of her harder than he knew was possible. Fast, powerful movements that drew power from the succubus gave Micah a speed that was unknown to him. Holding her hips, he jerked her body against his, eyes wide and focused on nothing except the blue hue of Kayden’s eyes. “You’re mine, Kayden, say it,” Micah growled as she met him thrust for thrust.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Kayden screamed as another gut-wrenching abyss of ecstasy washed over her. “Don’t stop, Micah, please don’t stop,” she begged, her nails raking down his chest to open deep wounds. Blood dripped and Kayden was there, her tongue tangling with the fluid until she felt the pleasure grow to a place so unfathomable her heart stopped beating and she took one last gut-wrenching breath.

Power exploded through the house, and Paige stumbled forward. Elijah caught her around her waist, drawing her against the side of his body before she could fall to her knees. Grasping at him, she clutched at his shirt as she pulled herself to her feet. “It’s time, Dad,” she rasped, her pale green eyes glowing bright when she released her magic.

Chapter 14

Dressed in a thick velvet robe that covered him from head to toe, Roy nodded at his daughter, his own eyes shining electric blue. From between the folds of fabric, he drew out a long jagged blade. With a quick slash, the knife drew across the palm of his right hand, blood immediately pooling to the surface. The power in the room moved through him, merging with his own magic as he felt it enter through the open wound. Blood dripped to the floor in large splatters; landing just inches away from the salt barrier that kept them safe from the evil that would rise within it. Roy handed her the knife, and Paige mirrored her father’s actions. Wincing, she tried and failed to hold in her cry when the blade sliced her palm. Holding his hands out to the heavens, Roy tilted his head back and called to Mother Earth. Potent blood dripped down his arm, the thick fluid his offering to the goddess. “Now, Paige,” he commanded. A soft wind rose from the ground, swirling the edges of his robe against his legs.

Letting the power flow outwards through the right of her body like she’d been taught, Paige released everything she had. In her mind she visualized the wispy strands swirling around the circle, dancing with her father’s as the elements came to life. She always envisioned her magic as red tracing lines that floated through the air like fiery whips.

A green mist clouded the vision in her head, and she knew it was the energy that Micah and Kayden were creating. Her skin tightened with the echo of their pleasure. Where Paige and her dad’s magic were distinctly different, the fog her cousin and Micah had formed was one single entity, a sure sign that Kayden had met her soul mate. “With my blood and by my will I call forth the demon Ashura! Come forth and bend to my will!” Roy shouted, his voice commanding as it rumbled through the basement like thunder.

Elijah looked between Roy and Paige, his head throbbing from the sheer amount of power in the room. Visions came to him, one by one, so rapidly it was too much to pick out one concrete image. Danger, love, passion, death; he felt so many conflicting emotions he had to press a hand to his head in order to help alleviate some of the pressure. He’d been around magic before, but nothing of this magnitude. The tunnel of wind gusted up around them, a cyclone of fury. A crack of lightening struck the center of the scorpion and shook the floor. Dimming on and off, the lights flickered as the scorpion in the middle turned from white to red. “Come now, I command thee!” Roy shouted once more and flicked his hand so that blood spattered the inside of the circle like paint being thrown against a wall. It sizzled; blue smoke rose into the air until it disappeared. Paige started to chant, her voice no longer soft and innocent as she recited ancient words. Over and over, she repeated the same phrase, and the power in the room tripled. In the center of the pentagram, a swirling vortex of furious electric lightening opened. The tunnel of wind kicked up another notch, blowing the pages of the book Paige

held in her hands back and forth. Slowly, up through the ground, rose a shimmering being. Ethereal, transparent skin began to solidify as it thrashed through the black hole. Jet-black hair whipped, tangling in the currents of air, and Elijah felt stricken by the beauty that came into view. Porcelain skin glowed in the diffused light of the room as the see-through gown the succubus wore pressed against full, high breasts. When Elijah tried to breathe, he found he could do nothing more than gasp. Ruby lips parted and the demon known as Ashura snarled, snapping pearl-white teeth as she fluttered iridescent wings. She was caged; the width of her wings hit the edge of the salted circle, and the barrier forced them closed.

“NO!” Ashura shrieked, a deafening cry that pierced their eardrums. Petite hands snarled into fists as the demon screeched with fury. She’d had them, held their lives, their energy, in the palm of her hand, and now it was gone. The feel of their pleasure, of their love, vanished. The overwhelming sensation that she’d experienced when she’d taken their last breath, and the euphoria that came with it, was gone. For one beat, her cold, dead heart had come to life. Slowly, the wind died down and Paige stopped chanting, her knees weak with fatigue. Roy let his hands fall down to his sides as all three of them stared at the succubus they’d trapped. Simmering to a low boil, the power in the room dropped down to something Elijah found he could breathe through. “Why? Why have you done this?” the demon demanded, wings flapping only to be stunted.

Trapped, Ashura plunged to her knees in agony. Blistering, red tears leaked from her sapphire eyes. The empty pain swelled through her, worse then when she’d been exiled to earth. Although they’d passed through her just seconds prior, the emotions— passion, pain, longing, love—whipped through her like a distant memory. Numb, Ashura felt nothing but betrayal. She was empty, and for the first time in centuries, she wept as she felt the bond she’d forged with Micah slipping away. She couldn’t feel him any longer. His anger, wrath, and passion were dead. Without him, without Kayden, she was doomed to spend eternity feeding off cheap infatuation that sustained her only long enough to find another victim.

Chin tilted up proudly, Roy stepped closer to the circle, drawing his hood back to expose his eyes. Paige shook, her teeth chattering as if she were cold, and Elijah slipped his hand in hers. Squeezing, he offered himself as an anchor like she’d done for him on countless occasions. Grateful, she squeezed back and let the warmth of his hand ease the cold the magic sometimes left inside of her. “I demand that you release Micah MacKenzie from your grasp,” Roy insisted. Eyes still glowing with eerie magic, Elijah saw just how menacing Paige’s father could be. A quiet, patient man, he was hiding so much emotion behind his blue eyes. Elijah wondered if Paige would grow to be the same way. Shaking her head in a slow back and forth motion, the demon drew her legs to her chest, exposing the glistening folds of her sex. Rocking, the succubus cradled herself without comfort. There was only one cure for the never-ending chill that invaded her.

She’d shared that frost with Micah, let him experience it for what in her life span was only a fraction of a second. “What have you done?” Ashura shuddered, red lines tracing down her face and falling to the concrete. Ignoring the question, Roy took another step closer, the tips of his feet touching the rim of the circle. He crouched down on his haunches, meeting the demon’s eyes. “Tell us what you want from them, and we may let you go.” Roy’s voice was cold. “I want life, emotion, to feel. Their passion was like nothing I have ever tasted. It is like nothing that has existed on this realm. It is over. They are gone now,” she wept, hiccupping over tears that seemed like they would never end.

A trembling breath snapped Kayden’s eyes open. Gasping, she drew in a gulp of air as her heart pulsed back to life with an electric shock. What she felt in that second, when her climax washed over her, was the most intense pleasure she’d ever experienced. Micah shuddered above her, his hips thrusting erratically as his come filled her long and deep. Panting through the overwhelming ecstasy, he fell forward, his body heavy against hers. The air crackled, tightening their skin as he lay, breathing fire against Kayden’s neck. His heart was beating faster than he thought possible, and with that, the song inside of his head faded until the only thing he felt was warm, feminine flesh beneath him. The beautiful echo of Kayden’s racing heart pounded against his chest, and he breathed a sigh of relief. They were alive.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Micah rasped, struggling to lift his elbows so she could have room to breath. Wide eyed, Kayden shook her head. Trembling aftershocks made her womb clench around his invading length. Sticky, hot cum seeped from between her legs and made her quiver from the backlash of her culmination. She felt marked, not by the pulsing mark on her neck, but by the very essence of Micah inside of her. His smell, his energy, she felt more connected to him than she’d ever had with Jullian. “I’m alive, barely. How do you feel?” Kayden asked, her fingers just now regaining feeling as she pushed her sweat slicked hair from her face. “I don’t feel anything,” Micah said sleepily. Making an effort to roll off of Kayden, she stopped him, tightening her legs around his waist to keep him inside of her. Too raw, she couldn’t stand the thought of him leaving her. “I need to feel you,” she whispered against his neck, ashamed at having to admit her vulnerability. Nodding in understanding, Micah cradled her, rubbing an unsteady hand up and down her side. She trembled beneath him. Tenderly, he drew his lips over her neck, paying tribute to the vicious bite mark that he’d left. Purple and blue, it was a perfect imprint of his teeth. As the fog around them faded, Micah tried to focus on all the aches and pains he should be feeling after what he’d done to Kayden. Ribs, chest, neck; there was nothing except the tight knots in his muscles. Either the painkillers he’d taken were something out of this world, or he was dead and just didn’t know it yet.

Gently, his mouth found her lips, the flesh bruised and swollen from the violent passion of their kisses. Eagerly Kayden responded, threading her hands through his sweat-laced hair to hold him closer against her. Leisurely, their tongues moved against one another, making love like their bodies were incapable of doing at that moment. Micah moved instinctually inside of her, flinching back when Kayden cried out in pain. “I did hurt you,” he exclaimed, and his eyes were angry when he pulled out of her with a slick sound. Rolling onto his back, he stared up at the ceiling as the guilt crept inwards. As soon as he got a hold of that demon bitch, he was going to kill her. Twice, he’d hurt Kayden. There wouldn’t be a third time. Lifting herself on one elbow, Kayden snuggled her body into his side, amazed at how well she fit next to him. “It’s lucky pouting looks so sexy on you. You can stop brooding; I’m fine. Really.” Her lips trailed over his chest, moving over perfectly smooth skin. Hadn’t she scratched him? His blood lingered in her mouth, sung in her veins, but there was no proof to back up the feel of his skin under her nails. Where there used to be red, angry welts on his ribs, there was now nothing. “You’re healed,” Kayden said in astonishment, sitting up fully. Her hand moved over the unblemished skin. “You are one hell of a lay, babe,” Micah rasped as he too sat up, pushing into his flesh and feeling nothing but solid, healthy bone and no pain. Rolling her eyes, Kayden shook her head. “I didn’t do it, you moron. I think it was the succubus; I don’t how else to explain it.”

Hungry, she let her eyes move over the rest of his chiseled body until they rested on the lower parts of him. Flaccid, yet no less impressive, his cock rested against his thigh. No wonder she was sore. She licked her bottom lip, calling forth a memory of how it felt to have the thick crown of his shaft bumping against the back of her throat. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, we are going to go for round three, and I’m not sure if either one of us is up for it,” he groaned, trying not to get lost in the pleasure her eyes promised. With a frown, Kayden gave him a cute pout and danced her fingers up his chest. “Who says I’m not up to it? I’m only a little bit sore, and I can feel myself healing already.” The guilt eased as his grin cocked his lips halfway to a smile. “Yeah?” “Oh yeah.” She smiled, leaning over to plant a soft, lingering kiss against his lips. Pulling away after a few moments, she met his eyes and felt the bubble of panic move inside of her. It was only right that she tell him. “Just so we’re clear,” she said nonchalantly, “I love you too.” Whatever Micah thought she was going to say, it wasn’t that. He blinked, silence making the room shrink several cubic feet. Slowly, his perplexed look turned rakish, and he pulled her on top of him. Straddling his waist, Micah made sure Kayden could feel him harden against her. “Well, I already knew that. Tell me something I don’t know, Gray,” he teased as his hand moved up her torso to cup a breast. He leaned forward, sucking a pebbled nipple into his mouth. He laved the diamond-hard nubbin with his tongue until he felt her tremble. Pulling away, Micah pinched the erect bud and smirked up at her.

With a dramatic roll of her eyes, Kayden slapped his chest and untangled herself from him. “What, that you’re an ass?” she called over her shoulder as she rose from the bed. Moving helped loosen the pain, and by the time she made her way to her dresser, it was just a dull, distant ache. She wasn’t sure how much blood she’d actually taken from him, but her shoulder felt blissfully normal. Not that she’d planned it, but she needed to be at one hundred percent if she had half a chance against her sire. The thought made her stomach turn. “Hey! Where you going?” Micah asked, rolling onto his side to watch her from across the room. Rain pattered outside and a rolling wave of thunder shook the house and drew his eyes towards the muted flash of light. He’d forgotten about the storm. He’d forgotten about everything except Kayden. Maybe, if he put on enough MacKenzie charm, he’d be able to convince her to stay in tonight, to let him explore her inch by inch until he had her memorized. If he were lucky, she’d let him tie her to the bed so he could hear what begging sounded like coming from her gorgeous lips. “Well, since I’m all sticky, I’m going to wash up, and then I’m going to the basement,” Kayden said, her voice muffled as she pulled a tight shirt over her head. She shook off her worries about Jullian and flashed Micah a rare smile that was pure mischief. “Care to join me?”

“What do you mean, gone?” Elijah yelled, his eyes narrowing with anger. Looking up, the succubus managed to give a coy, innocent look. Naked and exposed, it was hard to do. “I do not feel the life inside of them any longer.” There was a pause as Ashura watched her audience’s faces fall. “But I can bring them back. Release me and you will see them again. Do it now, before it is too late.” Paige took a step forward only to have Roy hold his hand up. “Don’t, Paige. She’s lying. It’s a trick of words. One of you go and check on them, make sure they are all right before we do anything more.” Mouth-fishing for a moment, Paige turned to her father and tried not to whine. “What if they are, you know…?” Roy closed his eyes, showing that Paige wasn’t the only one exhausted by the expulsion of magic. “Does it mater? One of you go, now.” “Rock, paper, scissors?” Elijah suggested, shrugging his broad shoulders when he turned to Paige. “Deal,” she agreed, and the smile she flashed when she threw out rock as he threw out scissors made Elijah forget that he never wanted to see his brother naked ever again. With a mock frown, Elijah cursed under his breath. “You tricked me,” he called out before he turned and made his way up the stairs. Entering the kitchen, he realized it was oddly quiet in the house after the roaring of wind in his ears finally died down. The rain pounded against the roof, but that was the only thing he could hear. No screaming, moaning, or arguing. It wasn’t a good sign. As nosily as he could, he stomped up the stairs, making sure they could hear him coming.

Eyes closed, Elijah gripped the doorknob but didn’t twist just yet. If they could talk, surely they were okay. “You two all right in there?”

Micah had his hand on the doorknob and was ready to turn it when he heard the loud echo of feet coming up the stairs. He’d known it was his brother before he heard his muffled voice through the door. Grinning, Micah threw a look over his shoulder to make sure Kayden was decent before he pulled open the door. Blissfully naked and semi-erect, he leaned against the door jamb with nothing but an antagonizing smile. “We’re fine, as you can see.” There was a teasing note in Micah’s voice. It was one that should have made Elijah know to keep his eyes closed. Stupidity, he figured, was the only thing that made him open them. He really shouldn’t have. “Dude! You did that on purpose! So not cool!” Elijah griped as he punched Micah in the shoulder and closed his eyes as tight as they would go. Laughing while Kayden just shook her head, Micah rubbed the spot where his brother had hit. “You hit like a girl.” Padding across the room, Kayden came up behind Micah and placed a chaste kiss on the middle of his back. She drew her arms around his waist, hugging him as she poked her head around his arm. Micah’s hands moved over hers, holding her against him. “We survived. Did things go okay?” Kayden asked.

“Can he put on some clothes?” Elijah groaned as he opened his eyes and looked at Kayden. “No, I can’t. We’re about to hop into the shower, so what’s the point of dressing?” Shaking his head, Elijah kept focused on Kayden’s eyes and nothing else. “Roy and Paige have some crazy magic going on. I had no idea they had so much power. The succubus was going on about how you two were dead, which you obviously aren’t. Roy mentioned something about a play on words, so I think she meant to say that whatever hold she had on Micah was dead.” “I don’t care what she says; until she’s vanished into the great abyss, I don’t trust that she can’t get to me,” Micah said. He pulled Kayden to his side and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “All right, you two are just being gross now. I’ll let them know you haven’t screwed each other to death, yet.” Turning, Elijah jogged down that stairs and didn’t wait for their response. “You think he lost a bet, having to come and make sure we were okay?” Kayden asked, her smile spreading as Micah rubbed his lips against hers. His only response was to deepen the kiss and start backing her down the hallway, his hands gripping underneath her ass to lift her. She threw her legs around his waist, laughing when his mouth found a ticklish spot on her neck. “How long do you think we have before they come looking for us again?” Micah asked as helped take off the clothes she’d just put on after he kicked the door closed.

Naked and aroused, Kayden bit her lip. She wrapped her hand around the proud length of Micah’s shaft, pulling him back into the shower as she stepped over the basin. The pipes creaked as the water sprayed out cold. It made them both gasp before it turned warm. “I think we have a few minutes,” Kayden moaned as she pressed her throat into Micah’s mouth. With firm, even strokes, she used the raining water as lubricant to stroke Micah’s cock. Micah had a second to catch the gleam of mischief in her eyes before she dropped to her knees. His next breath was a gasp as he felt the heat of her mouth wrapping around his cock. Slowly, she sucked him into her mouth, her tongue laving the underside of his shaft. Knees weakening in pleasure, Micah leaned forward and placed a supportive arm against the slick wall, trapping Kayden below him. Tightening her mouth, she sped her pace and took him a little farther into her mouth. “Oh, God,” Micah groaned, and even through he’d just come moments ago, the sinful pleasure of her mouth was almost too much. As if reading his mind, her hand reached between them as she cupped the heavy sack of his balls to push him a little bit closer to that edge. In a smooth up-down motion, she drew him into the back of her throat. Her hand wrapped around the base of his manhood, moving over the thickness as she forced him to pant out her name. With the last of his willpower, Micah pulled out from her mouth and urged her to stand. Moaning, he found her hot mouth and pushed her up against the wall before

wrapping her legs around his waist. His tongue tangled with hers and for the first time in a few minutes, he realized how hot the water was against his back. Ever so slowly, he rubbed the head of his penis against her opening, teasing her body until he knew she was ready. Inch by inch, he entered her until he was fully sheathed. Never letting go of her mouth, Micah used his body to show her how much he loved her. After a few moments he released her lips and opened his eyes into hers, his palm cupping her cheek. Each gentle thrust tore down the bricks around his heart until he was so fully encased in Kayden that he felt weak. Slow, the pleasure that mounted between them was almost torturous. “I love you, Kayden; whatever happens, just know that,” he whispered, each slap of his flesh against hers a testament of worship to her body. Nodding, Kayden felt like Micah was staring right into her soul. Guilt washed through her, and she had to close her eyes. Tonight, she had to face Jullian. If Micah, or anyone, knew they’d try and stop her, they’d try and protect her. Stupid or not, her fight with her sire was her own. It was her mistake and, by God, live or die, she’d fix it without hurting anyone else in the process. She had right now, and that was what she had to focus on. “I love you too, Micah,” Kayden gasped as the first rolling waves of bliss washed over her. Gently, her orgasm lapped at her sensitive nerve endings and opened a part of her soul that only Micah had seen. Jullian may have had a part of her heart, but he hadn’t earned it, not like Micah had.

Micah let himself go when he felt her tremble against him, her cries of pleasure echoing over the sound of the shower. When it was over and the lazy feel of euphoria made everything foggy and surreal, he tenderly set her feet on the floor. When his shaky hands captured her face between his palms, he kissed her like he was never going to see her again. They washed quickly, stealing kisses under the spray of water until they were clean. Ten minutes later, they were dressed and walking into the basement with a sudden sense of foreboding when the cracking energy of the room hit them. The last time they’d seen the succubus in the flesh, they’d been infected.

Micah walked off in front of Kayden, his eyes hot with anger at the first sight of Ashura. She looked different, less threatening as she curled her knees to her chest in the middle of the circle. Behind her, the magnificent wings were folded, and she truly looked like the fallen angel she was. “How do we kill it?” Micah growled as he pulled his knife from his back pocket. Like an extension of his hand, the blade flipped open and found the one source of light in the room to reflect a menacing beam from. “Micah, no!” Kayden yelled, sprinting forward just as his boots touched the outer rim of the salt barrier. “Don’t cross it.” It took a considerable amount of force to pull him back, and like before, she moved her body in front of his to keep him from going to her. “Micah, Kayden is right,” Roy said softly, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder that Micah shrugged off.

Ashura raised gracefully, the shimmering pink tracks trailing down her cheeks, absorbing into her skin until it was unblemished. A look that resembled astonishment crossed over her delicate face. She put a hand against the invisible barrier. “Why have you denied me, Micah? Have I not given you pleasure? Have I not given you what you desired?” she pleaded, her voice thrumming in a sultry whisper. Shaking his head, Micah struggled against Kayden, but he couldn’t break free. “Fuck you! You gave me nothing! I hurt my brother and I hurt Kayden. I almost died, is that your version of giving me what I wanted?” Micah yelled. “Your anger lashes like a whip,” she purred, her hand trailing in the air as she tried to imagine how it would feel. For so long, her life had been black and white, dull and tasteless. Then she’d met Kayden and Micah and seen life in a multitude of colors. “Give me your word, demon, that your ties to Micah have been relinquished,” Roy commanded, and once more his voice thundered through the air. “For now, I have nothing but memories, just a faint taste of what power these lovers create between them,” she answered. “What the hell does that mean?” Micah growled. “It means that while she cannot lie when asked a direct question, she will evade the truth,” Roy explained bitterly. “I want your word that you will leave these two be and live out your sentence on this earth without harming them,” Roy clarified. “What?” Kayden asked as she whipped her head around to her uncle. “You’re going to let her go? Just like that?”

Whispering, Paige leaned across Elijah to speak to Kayden. “We can’t make her do anything more. She’s already told us what we want to know. You and Micah fulfill a prophecy about the power of true love. She wants to become human; she’ll have to find another way because whatever you did or we did, the bond is broken.” Hissing, the succubus flapped its wings outwards as it tested its boundaries. “There is NO other way! I will not agree, not when the taste of them is so fresh. They are mine and I won’t release them!” she cried out. Eyes turning into ice, Roy met the demon’s soulless expression. “My heart is cold enough to leave you here, trapped in this circle so that you cannot feed, cannot feel. I will do everything in my power to keep you here as my prisoner until you give me your word you will not do them harm. Do not cross me, demon.” With eyes that were just as cold, Ashura drew a sharp nail down the center of her breasts. The material of her gown split open, and her flesh parted. Before their eyes, the skin melted back together without even a drop of blood spilling. Ashura knew she was more powerful they could ever imagine. She would fight, press against this foolish trap that she’d fallen victim to and free herself. “What life do I have without the feel of their passion? I’d rather sit in this circle and feel nothing but the freezing fires of hell than have to walk the earth aimlessly. Starve me, I care not. The only thing that matters is the feel of them inside of my head, my body, filling me until I can walk this earth and feel the sun on my face and the grass beneath my feet. Without that, I am already dead.” “I’d tell you to rot in hell,” Micah hissed, “but you’d enjoy that entirely too much.” He turned to look at Roy. “We vanquish her, that’s the only way.”

Paige stepped up on Micah’s left and looked at her dad. “I agree. She’s too dangerous to let go. I get a creepy vibe from her.” Nodding, they agreed. They’d leave her in the trap until they found a way to banish her to a place that she couldn’t free herself from.

In a ritual they’d performed a million times, they marched single file up the wooden stairs that led to the kitchen. Paige automatically went to the coffee maker. She scooped almost-black grinds into the filter, and the air started to fill with an enticing aroma. Elijah pulled out his laptop, and Roy took off his glasses as he started to pace back and forth. The only difference this time was that when Micah took a seat, he pulled Kayden into his lap. The light tapping of keys and the percolating sound of coffee filled the room, and Kayden felt a sense of peace. There was no imposing force inside of her head, and for the first time in years, she felt calm. It was a very bad sign. “How do we vanquish the demon back to hell and keep her there?” Elijah asked as he brought up a few familiar pages on the screen. Shaking his head, Roy rasped a hand down his cheek. “That’s the question. The devil cast her out once; he’ll do it again.” Listening, Paige filled the mugs of coffee as she drew in a rich breath of scented air. Though she wasn’t a coffee drinker herself, she loved the way the brew smelled. She passed out the steaming cups, her brain rolling around for answers.

“What if destroying her isn’t the way to go? What if we make her human, strip her of her powers so that she can’t hurt anyone? Jullian said all she wants is to win her way into heaven. She just sounds lonely,” Paige said softly, and her eyes met Elijah’s. Kayden looked back and forth between them as she drew in a scalding sip of black liquid that burnt her tongue. As soon as the taste hit her throat, she knew it had been worth it. “That’s not a bad idea, Paige,” Kayden said. Micah huffed and turned Kayden enough so he could look at her face. “Have you gone loony? Since when have you ever shown anything mercy? That thing down there almost killed us.” Standing, Kayden placed her hands on her hips as she glared down at Micah. “I show lots of things mercy!” “What, by killing them fast?” he snorted. “Maybe,” she scowled and took a seat on the opposite side of the table. Under the table, Micah found her leg and smoothed a hand over her calf. He picked up both of her legs and set them in his lap and started rubbing the muscle absently. “Being ruthless is a must in our field of work,” Roy said from across the room. “But I agree with Paige. Making this thing human might be the easiest way to remedy the situation. Kayden, will you be going out tonight?” Drawing a deep breath, Kayden shrugged her shoulders. At an hour till dawn, she would meet Jullian. Until then she might as well enjoy her night.

“I was thinking I’d stay in tonight. I’m feeling a little wiped from earlier. If last night was any kind of a prelude, I’ll need my full strength,” she explained and was insanely proud when she managed to tell most of the truth. Grinning, Micah snaked his hand up her leg and tickled her thigh. Kayden smiled back at him over the rim of her coffee cup, but she didn’t feel content. Inside, she felt sick as the minutes ticked on. She should tell them, or at least Micah. She would never forgive herself if Jullian killed Micah just to get to her. “Elijah,” Paige called out, catching his disgusted look when he finally caught sight of his brother’s hand moving under the table, “we’ve got some good books back at the house. You’re welcome to come over there so we can check them out. Maybe we can find a way to anchor her here somehow. You can help me modify some kind of a spell. I’ve got a few ideas.” “Dude,” Micah grinned, flashing his brother a wicked smile, “I think she just asked you out on a date!” “Oh, shut up!” Elijah hushed his brother. His skin started to turn pink. “That sounds great, Paige. I’d appreciate that.” “You know,” Kayden grinned, “one day, he’s going to figure out he’s bigger than you and kick your ass.” The next half an hour passed in a blur as Kayden struggled to keep herself tuned in to the conversation that consisted of Micah and Elijah teasing each other, Paige smiling around her cup of herbal tea, and Roy mumbling something under his breath. The only thing Kayden could focus on was the dread settling in her stomach.

In a group, everyone left except Micah. Wrapping her arms around Paige, Kayden gave her a heartfelt hug that lasted long enough to get her cousin’s suspicions rising. “Everything okay?” Paige asked softly, pulling away and searching Kayden’s eyes. Nodding, Kayden flashed a brilliant smile. “It’s perfect, now get out of here.” As soon as the door closed, Micah had Kayden in his arms, her back against the wall and his mouth pressed to her lips. It was finally the distraction that she needed. Returning the kiss with equal fervor, she started to peel his shirt up his abdomen. His muscles rippled under her fingers, and she felt the first tingling inside her head. Jullian was looking for her. Clamping down tight, Kayden sealed that part of her closed. She looked up at Micah, panting. “Make love to me, Micah,” she whispered softly, and this time when he bent to kiss her, it felt like goodbye.

Chapter 15

Soft snoring floated above the rhythmic sound of the rain. With her eyes wide open, Kayden let her hand move up and down Micah’s torso. The steady thud of his heart danced against her palm, and even in his sleep, his arm tightened around her stomach. Quietly, Kayden untangled her limbs from Micah’s as she pulled, letting the sheet covering her fall to the floor. Micah moaned in his sleep, causing her to freeze. Flipping suddenly, he turned onto his stomach and nuzzled his head into the pillow as his hand searched outwards for her. A sleepy grin lifted his lips when he found her. Micah smoothed his hand over her stomach like a small child would rub his favorite blanket against his cheek. Kayden never thought she’d fall in love, not after Jullian. A sad smile rose on her face. She took just a moment to study how truly beautiful Micah was when he was sleeping. Eyes closed, his lashes looked long and thick. Her gaze moved over the point of his nose and the purse of his lips as he breathing evened. She knew he was dreaming once more. Every molecule on her body tingled from the effects of Micah’s touch. Kayden felt cherished. Micah had made love to her and then some, showing an entirely new side that existed in his twisted psyche. Tender, sweet, he’d done exactly what she’d asked and wanted nothing in return. Slowly, her hand traced over his cheek, the thick hair scratching against her palm, before she bent down to press a chaste kiss to his lips. Lingering, she felt the tears well in her eyes as she said goodbye.

“I love you,” she whispered before she slid gracefully from the bed. The cool wood under her feet seemed to freeze her skin. A shiver ran up her legs as she stood at the edge of the mattress, her lip tucked between her teeth, and secondguessed herself. What the hell was she thinking? She should be going in with backup, an ambush, something. Anything would better her chances of making it back to Micah so they could explore their explosive relationship. Her father’s mangled body flashed before her eyes, and the tears she fought to hold back softly rolled down her cheeks. The group of vampires had been after her, and instead found him. It had been her fault. Those that she loved were in constant danger. She wouldn’t put Micah in the middle of this fight. Pulling on a pair of black cargo pants and a long sleeved black shirt, she looked like she was about to rob a bank or go to a funeral. Kayden tied what she could of her hair back in a ponytail, and the shorter strands of hair she tucked behind her ears. Boots in hand, Kayden moved silently as she crept from the house. Outside, the cold night air hit her like a slap in the face. It was bitter, the rain and the wind, and it lashed at her like a punishment she felt she richly deserved. Micah had asked what was wrong as they lay in bed drifting in and out of sleep. The slight roughness of his hands had moved over her thigh in a soft caress when she told him she was just sleepy. She had lied to his face, and it was hard to stomach the fact that it had been one of the last things she’d said to him. Guilt unleashed the energy inside of her as Kayden tugged on her boots and stepped out from the porch into the rain. It stung, but it was a welcomed pain, and like

clockwork, she felt Jullian slip into her mind. Hugging her arms around her body, she felt a frost that had little to do with the weather pulsing through her. Running off into the night, Kayden went towards the abandoned warehouse where Jullian had condemned her life to hell. It was fitting he pick that spot; really, it was. By foot, it took twenty minutes for her to arrive at the ominous building. The wind seemed to blow the decrepit structure like a flimsy tree branch. The windows of the two-story warehouse were blown out, and the jagged remnants of glass were tagged with bright graffiti. So much had changed in five years. Looking left and then right, Kayden opened her senses further as she searched for her sire. The stake she felt in her back pocket was a foolish reminder of what Jullian was and what it was going to take to overpower him. The apprehension inside her grew, overwhelming her to the point where she was near hyperventilation. Slowly, she drew in a deep breath of stale air and entered the building. The cutting rain vanished, and all she could hear was the water dripping from her hands. From out of the shadows, Jullian walked forward like something out of a torrid fantasy. Pulled back in a black tie that almost matched the dark strands, his hair looked as short as it had been when she’d first met him. He was shirtless, and his pale chest gleamed in the dark. His small, flat nipples were tight and set perfectly on a pair of sculpted pectorals. His chiseled abs flexed when he sauntered forward like an angry panther that had just found dinner. Pants that looked like they had been painted on

hugged his slender hips and rode low enough for Kayden to see the dark trail of hair that led to his semi-aroused shaft. His beauty was painful, Kayden thought, and she had to make a conscious effort to keep her heartbeat steady. Her body stiffening at the first pulse of his power, she shuddered at the wicked pleasure he offered. Desperately, she tried to shield herself as he pried her mind open in an attempt to control her. “You reek like the whores in the brothels I used to be so fond of. You smell of sex and blood, sweetheart,” he clipped, his voice carrying through the empty structure. Jaw tightening with anger, she knew he was only trying to bait her. Kayden hadn’t set foot in this place since Jullian had left her. Besides the dust, not much had changed. She supposed that long ago there had once been a ceiling that divided the floors. Now, there was just a hole. It had been her body that had created that hole. She’d been thrown onto the ground, the rotted wood splintering around her. Falling fifteen feet, she hadn’t felt anything until she landed on a dowel sticking up from the floor. The metal had ripped through her stomach, impaling her as she gasped for breath and stared up at the then-exposed roof of the second story. In those few moments, when she’d straddled the line between life and death, she’d looked into the beady eyes of a raven that had been perched in the rafters. She had no idea how long she laid there; all she remembered was how hot Jullian’s blood had been when it spilled into her throat and then dripped out the side of her mouth. The last thing she recalled of that night was the gravelly cry of the bird before he beat magnificent black-tipped wings and flew out into the night. “It is a beautiful memory, isn’t it?” Jullian remarked, circling closer.

Pain moved through her head as he shoved his version of that night into her mind. She felt his shock, his worry and his elation when he’d found her. Jullian had been aroused by the blood and by the way her face had paled almost to white. When she woke in his bed several hours later, she experienced his disappointment that she hadn’t crossed over. The pleasure washed over Kayden when she felt Jullian’s bliss as he thrust into her willing body. Even then, he had contemplated killing her just to see the life drain out of her eyes. Scorching eyes moved over her, as Jullian sized her up and absorbed every inch of her in a slow sweep. Kayden pushed him out of her mind and brought herself firmly into the present. What he gave her was just another distraction. His delicious scent wrapped around her, tickling her skin and making a bead of sweat drip between her shoulder blades as she stood perfectly still. Up close, she could see just how silky soft his skin was. Standing tall, Kayden felt all her bravado vanish. She had to forcefully keep her hands at her side in order to keep from reaching out to him. Cockiness wasn’t going to score her any points in this fight. For the first time, she didn’t give a damn at how her weaknesses looked when she gripped the material of her pants to stop the itching in her fingers. Her eyes adjusted further to the dark as she scanned the room. Keeping her senses focused on Jullian’s every move, she felt her heart starting to race. Shielding tight, she was having a hard time feeling his emotions. It was better that way. “I’m twisted, Jullian, but beautiful isn’t the word I’d use to describe that night. You’re a pervert, asshole.”

“He doesn’t love you, you know,” Jullian whispered, and Kayden fought the urge to jump when he appeared right behind her. He had moved without her seeing. His cool lips caressed the shell of her ear. “You’re a wonderful fuck, but that’s all.” Stiffening as the anger mounted inside of her, Kayden balled her fists at her sides. “What I do with my life is my own business. Leave Micah out of this. You wanted an answer, and I’ve come to give you one. Stop with the games, Jullian, I’m not in the mood.” Turning, she met his eyes dead on. Without the tricks, she felt nothing but hatred when she looked at him. One step at a time, she advanced on him. With each step, her heart started to pound a little faster. “I’d rather die than be controlled by you. Kill me if you must, but I will never willingly be your whore. You raped me, Jullian, stole my mind and convinced me that I loved you. You better kill me, Jullian, because we’re through. One of us isn’t walking out of this warehouse.” Rich laughter rung through the night, and the fluttering of wings scattered through the building as a flock of birds flew above them. “Do you know what is precious about you?” he purred, curving a finger over her neck. “You actually thought you had a choice. It was never a decision for you to make. Willing or not, you will become my bride tonight, in every sense of the word.” As he spoke, he pressed his erect cock against her ass, letting her know exactly what he meant. Revulsion turned her stomach, but Kayden kept her mouth shut for fear of what she’d say.

“So, my brave little one, did you actually think that by coming alone you’d spare your family?” Jullian asked as he drew away. Making her dizzy, he kept walking a circle around her. “You really are a stupid girl. When you are reborn as a true vampire, I will see to it that the first thing you do is slaughter those that you love. We’ll take our time with Micah. Show him the true pleasure that being tortured by a master can bring.” “I thought your place was to uphold vampiric law, not slaughter innocent people,” Kayden growled through clenched teeth as she tried to control her spiraling anger. “When you are the law, you create your own rules. Just one of so many things I still have to teach you.” Kayden struck the first blow. Not out of anger, not out of hatred, but because she was tired of his dance. She pulled left and kicked out with her leg until she spun into a flip that should have buried her boot into his stomach. Easily, he caught her ankle and twisted it until she fell, face first onto the ground. Her wrists stung as her reflexes kicked in and she caught herself just a centimeter before her face touched the floor. Dust and debris stirred, tickling her nose. She rose to find Jullian still moving around her in a maddening circle. “Sloppy, Kayden,” he chastised and shook his head in disappointment. He was toying with her. Jullian pushed a wave of anger at her as he lashed out, hard and quick. Kayden felt the whipping pain across her face when he slapped her with the back of his hand. Her head spun from left to right, and her body followed as she was knocked back to the floor. Blood welled at the corner of her lip, and the wound stung when she reached the tip of her tongue out to taste it.

Kayden growled. The settled debris on the ground felt grimy on her hands. She jumped up and arched into a back flip that bowed her back in the air. Landing low, she crouched and swung her leg out. Jullian moved to the right as she anticipated. Springing upwards into a roll, Kayden caught him square in the nose with the base of her palm. Cartilage popped, and the blood started to pour immediately. Down his chin, the bright crimson fluid leaked on his chest and the ground. Caught off guard, he stumbled back as a hand rose to feel his crooked nose right itself as it healed. Kayden took advantage of that second. Quickly, she pounced forward and spun her stake from her back pocket. Picking the move from her head, Jullian reared backward, and the wood hit him in the chest but missed his heart. His lips covered in blood, he smiled, and masochistic pleasure filled his eyes when he ripped the stake from his chest. He threw it to the ground. Kayden listened as it rolled across the floor. The gaping hole she’d made sealed shut before her eyes. The blood that painted his body was the only evidence that she’d hit him. “I’m going to enjoy this, Kayden. Feeling you beneath me, submitting as I take what’s mine,” he sang, and she could feel the aroused whisper in his voice. Jullian flew through the air, and Kayden barely saw a trace of him before he tackled her. As she crashed to the floor, the wind expelled from her lungs. Snarling above her, Jullian extended his long, pointed fangs in excitement. Like a viper striking its prey, Jullian ripped his teeth into Kayden’s neck, tearing like a rabid dog as her blood gushed into his mouth. Screaming out in pain, Kayden struggled, rolling both of them to the side. She kicked her leg up and caught him in the back with enough force for him to release his grip.

With a pant, she tried to take control when he flipped her again, but his superior strength forced her onto her stomach despite her efforts to stand. Jullian drove his knee into the middle of her back, keeping her immobilized. Pain wrenched through her body, and she ignored it, rearing her head back and hitting him in the nose once more. “Bitch,” he hissed. Hot blood dripped onto her back, and it felt like the liquid was melting through the fabric of her shirt. Scrambling, she crawled towards a piece of roof that lay broken on the floor, her nails scratching against the dirty floor. Just barely, her fingers grasped onto the wood, curling the unfamiliar shape into hand. There was no second to think, nothing but the surging adrenaline that kept her moving when Jullian tightened her hair in his fist and wrenched her onto her back. She caught sight of the gleaming knife. Time seemed to stop. Terrified, all Kayden could see was her horrified reflection in the silver blade. Blinding pain melted through everything that was real. With the last bit of fury she had, she righted the wood in her hand, plunging upwards into Jullian’s heart as he drove the knife into her stomach. The blade went all the way through and hit concrete, the sound ringing out as Jullian gasped in shock above her. Breathless, she watched his eyes widen. Slowly, the pale beauty of his skin began to shade gray. Crumbling, she watched in horror as his skin aged until it rotted and turned to ash. Grief like she’d never known struck her, twisted her pain into something unfathomable. Softly as a summer drizzle, her sire’s remains started to rain upon her. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, causing the grizzly remains to stick to her skin.

Trying to breathe, Kayden found she couldn’t. Fumbling, she searched the ground with her fingers, flopping almost lifelessly. Sticky, thick blood pooled beneath her. That wetness spread to her palm before she found the strength to move her hand over the knife protruding from her belly. The hilt was encrusted with jewels. Jullian had used his good knife on her. It was a strange thought, and ironically, the last one she had before darkness pulled her eyes closed.

“Do you really think that would work?” Paige asked with giddiness. Pacing behind Elijah in the small confines of her kitchen, Paige took longer than she’d hoped to translate the text. Breasts against Elijah’s back, she leaned over his shoulder and set the book in front of him. Pointing, she showed him a sketch of a teardrop pendant. Digging into her pocket, she pulled out a similar necklace, placing it on top of the yellow-tinged page. On a silver chain dangled a clear crystal teardrop, almost exactly like the one in the book. The necklace had been a gift from her mother, one of the only things that she had left to hold onto. If it would save Micah and Kayden, she would be willing to sacrifice the heirloom. Pouring over numerous books, she and Elijah had scoured her father’s library in search of something they could use. Finally, they’d found a Sumerian text that had explained how to contain a spirit into a vessel. If they could summon a lost soul and bind it to Ashura, they could make her human. Or so Paige hoped.

Elijah grinned, his dark eyes shining with happiness. He nodded in excitement. He turned his body into Paige’s, and he found their faces just inches apart. His hand curved around her waist, just above the cotton band on her baby-blue sweat pants. Time stood still and the breath he felt coming from his lungs stuttered as he pulled her just a little bit closer. The soft, lingering scent of her shampoo hung in the air, and all he could feel was her hot breath caressing his lips when she bent towards him. Slowly, his hand rose to touch the fire-red strands of Paige’s hair that felt like silk. Her chin tilted, and their heads moved in a way that aligned their lips. The dark lashes of her eyes beat against her eyebrows as she blinked them shut. Elijah had just that moment to realize he was about to kiss her. A spark danced between them at the first contact of his lips against hers. Her lips were so soft; Elijah relaxed into the kiss as his tongue slowly traced her lower lip. That’s when it happened. Elijah reared back, a splitting pain searing through his head and forcing his eyes closed. Panic lanced through him. His brain felt like it was being twisted apart, like it was a wet rag being squeezed free of water. Vaguely, he heard Paige, heard the concern in her voice as she asked him what was wrong. Elijah shook his head; he couldn’t talk. He couldn’t explain the feeling inside of him. Hot, his stomach felt like it was on fire. The wood of his chair scraped backward and Elijah fell, but he never felt the pain of hitting the floor. When he looked down, it wasn’t his body that he saw. Flat on his back, Elijah looked up at jagged hole in the ceiling that left dusty cob-web infested rafters exposed.

Liquid heat poured from him, and Elijah took several seconds to adjust to the vision. The body wasn’t his. How he knew it was Kayden, he’d never be sure. Overwhelming, the sensation rode his brain, and only when he felt the crack of magic moving through his arm did he pull back from the macabre sight. Eyes wide, Elijah found himself on the floor of Paige’s kitchen, her hand on his arm as she looked at him with wide, frightened eyes. “What is it?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Kayden,” he whispered, and he felt like he could barely talk. Fumbling, Elijah seemed to be all thumbs as he searched his too-tight pockets for his phone. Growling in frustration, he finally ripped the device from his faded Levis. Micah’s voice was husky with sleep when he picked up, and Elijah didn’t waste any time. “Where’s Kayden?” All Elijah heard was the fumbling of sheets, and then a curse that made his heart heavy. So it was true; his vision was true. “Don’t fuck with me, Elijah. What’s going on? She’s not here, and how did you know that?” his brother yelled. “Paige and I will be there in a few minutes; Kayden’s in trouble. I don’t know where or how, but I saw it. She’s bleeding in some building. We have to find her.” The sound that came out of Micah was one he’d never heard before. “What do you mean, a building? What the fuck, Elijah! There are hundreds of buildings! I can’t wait for you, I gotta go, I have to find her,” Micah rambled. Elijah could hear his brother throwing on clothes.

“What good will that do? You don’t know where she is! Paige and I are leaving right now. Meet us outside.” With that, Elijah snapped the phone shut. Paige was by his side, trembling with the aftershocks of magic, making it hard for Elijah to think. “You have to calm down, Paige. I know you’re worried, but we’ll find her. I promise we’ll find her.” She nodded, her wide eyes shimmering with tears as they rushed out of the house. The thought of waking her father didn’t occur to her until after they’d slammed the door shut and jumped into Micah’s car. The Mustang skidded out of the driveway and into the rain as Elijah jammed one gear into the next. The engine made a loud, purring noise when it shifted from second to third, and then third to fourth. “What did you see?” Paige asked fretfully as she squinted through the onslaught of pouring rain. “A two-story warehouse. There’s some kind of a hole in the ceiling; all I could see was dusty rafters,” he explained. Paige’s face blanched white, and a pulse of heat flashed outwards. Elijah looked between her and the road. “What is it?” “Jullian,” she croaked. “She must have gone to meet him. That’s where she died—well, kind of died, I guess—the first time. It’s an abandoned building not too far from here. Kayden used to meet him there when they were dating.” “It’s not too late, Paige, we’ll find her,” Elijah said, reaching across the seat to take her hand. Their hands were slick from the rain, and the heat they generated where their skin met felt humid.

Even through the heavy sheets of rain flooding the streets, Elijah could see the agony on his brother’s face when he pulled up. He hadn’t understood until that moment how much his brother loved Kayden.

Pacing back and forth on the sidewalk, Micah hadn’t felt a single drop of rain. He felt nothing but the pit of loss opening inside of him. He felt the deep, cutting wound spreading outwards at the thought of what he’d do if he lost Kayden. He’d just found her. Before the car even came to a skidding halt, the door opened and Micah jumped in, his body sliding over the leather as he crawled into the back seat. “Paige knows where she’s at. It’s not far from here,” Elijah explained, glancing at Micah in the rearview mirror. “What the hell was she doing?” Micah yelled, his teeth making a hair-raising noise as he wrenched his jaw back and forth. “I don’t understand…” Paige and Elijah met eyes and as if he read her mind, he decided he’d be the one to tell Micah the news. “Paige thinks Kayden met Jullian there. I don’t know what for, but obviously it didn’t end well. I didn’t see him in my vision. It seemed like she was alone, but we should be prepared for a trap of some sort.” Micah closed his eyes, and when the darkness behind his lids faded, he saw Kayden’s face and the pleasure that contorted her mouth into a moan as he made love to her. He’d known something was wrong, deep in his gut, he knew and he didn’t press it. She’d said nothing was wrong, but he’d known she was lying.

“She knew she was going to meet him,” Micah said softly, shaking his head as they spun to a stop in front of the ratty building. Jumping out first, Micah marched to his trunk as Elijah popped the lever. Eyes scanning over his arsenal, he picked out a curved blade and a heavy gun, which he slipped into the back of his pants. Elijah and Paige followed right behind him, but Micah was blind to his surroundings. The assaulting rain stopped as soon as he pushed the door open with a creak. A wretched twisting sound of groaning wood echoed, and for a split second, he thought the structure might collapse. Then he saw Kayden. Lifeless, Kayden lay on the floor like a sacrifice, a pool of black surrounding her. Dust floated atop the blood, swirling in the breeze that whipped through the room. Sprinting the distance between them, Micah threw himself to the ground on his knees as he skidded to a stop next to her. Gingerly, he cupped her cheek in his hand, a staggering pain taking hold of him. He noted how, with an unnatural pallor to her chilled skin, this powerful woman suddenly seemed so fragile. Swallowing deep in his throat, Micah ran his eyes over her body. She was covered in a fine sheen of dust. He felt overcome with emotion. “Baby, wake up,” he whispered, his eyes welling with tears. “I love you, Kayden, please open your eyes.” Blurring, her face faded in and out of a clear focus. Micah gripped her limp hand in his and brought it to his chest. Elijah came to a stop on the other side of her and when Paige saw her cousin, a heart-wrenching gasp left her throat as tears fell from her cheeks. “Is she…?” Elijah couldn’t stand to say it, to ask if she was still alive.

“Barely. She needs blood.” Micah picked up the blade he’d thrown to the floor, teeth gritting as he slashed the sharp edge against his forearm. Pinching her face until her mouth opened, Micah brought the wound to her lips. He closed his eyes, trying to will her to drink. Groaning, he felt her mouth moving from side to side as she tried to pull away from the blood. Kayden coughed, her frail body lifting from the ground as her eyes fluttered open. “No,” she gasped, trying to push Micah’s arm from her mouth. “God damn it, Kayden! Just drink, you can heal this, don’t let him win,” Micah pleaded as the warmth of his tears splashed against her cheeks. Trailing, the moisture left clean streaks on her face when it washed away the ash. Micah knew without a shadow of a doubt that she’d given her bastard of a sire all she had. This time, Jullian wasn’t coming back. “I can’t… it’s too late, Micah. Let me go,” she whispered softly. Blinking her eyes open as if it was the hardest thing she’d even done, Kayden lifted a hand to Micah’s cheek. “I love you.” With that, her hand fell to the ground. Micah felt like his heart had been burned from the inside out. “No,” he whispered as he lifted her body to cradle her chest against his. Micah wasn’t going to let her go, not when there was a chance she could survive. The succubus had healed him; he would make her heal Kayden. One arm under her knees and the other under her back, he stood. Elijah and Paige both looked at him, the pity in their eyes more then he could bear.

“Don’t look at me like that!” he yelled, his voice echoing through the building. He stormed towards the entrance of the building. “We need to take her to Ashura. The demon can heal her, I know she can.” “Micah…” Elijah started, but stopped as Micah whipped his head around and glared at him. “I won’t give up, not on her. Just drive me to where I need to be, and then you can do whatever you want.” Paige put a soft hand on Elijah’s arm. “Why would she help us?” Micah turned, giving them his back as he mumbled just loud enough for them to hear, “because I have something she wants.” The entire way back to Kayden’s house, Elijah tried not to look at the scene in the backseat. Micah had Kayden’s head in his lap, his hand stroking her face as he forced blood into her mouth. A thin stream dripped from the corner of her lips, and he could see the blood seeping onto Micah’s clothes. He only hoped Kayden was vampire enough to heal from something like that. If she’d been human, she would have already been dead.

Storming into the basement, Micah pushed the full force of his anguish into his voice as he found Ashura sitting cross-legged in her circle. “Save her,” he demanded. Slowly, Ashura stood, wings flapping gently but not extending. Sapphire eyes moved over the sight before her as she lifted a hand to the invisible barrier. She’d tried, for hours, to break the spell, to find a way out of their trap. Like a cruel joke, she could

hear the ecstasy from upstairs. Hear but not feel the love that Kayden and Micah were creating, and it was tearing her apart inside. “Why should I, when you have done nothing but torture me?” she cried, her pouty mouth slanted downwards. “Don’t fuck with me. Do it, I know you can. Heal her now, or I swear to God I’ll rip you limb from limb. When you heal, I’ll do it again, and I’ll keep doing it until I find a way to trap you in a dimension that is worse than anything you can imagine,” Micah yelled as he came to a stop in front of the circle. Kneeling, he set Kayden’s limp body on the ground and turned his full attention back to Ashura. He pumped his fists by his side. Blood covered his shirt and jeans so that the material stuck to him, reminding him of how dire the situation was. He would do whatever it took to save her. “You love her with all of your heart,” Ashura stated simply, reading his emotion from the torment in his eyes. Aggravated, Micah sighed, and his nostrils flared. “Tell me what you want, I’ll do it. You’ll never become human if she dies, and you know it.” “Release me,” Ashura said, holding her chin proudly. “What promise do you make that you will help her?” Micah countered, jaw clenching as he felt his heart speeding with adrenaline. “I only ask one thing, Micah, and then you have my word that I will cure what ails her. I’ve sat here for hours, the void inside of me growing into the blackest pit. You say you’d have me in a place worse than hell; we’ll, you’ve succeeded. I can save her, but it will cost us both.”

“I don’t have time for this,” Micah shouted. “Just tell me.” Tilting her face to the side in a way that gave her an air of dignity, she met his eyes. “A kiss. Kiss me the way you kiss Kayden. I want to feel what it is like to be loved, to be as cherished as she is. In all my years, I have never experienced the passion that you hold in your heart. I want to taste it from your lips, not take it from your thoughts.” “Micah…” Elijah warned. “This isn’t your choice, Eli!” Micah called out, never taking his eyes off the demon. Slowly, Micah stepped forward, his heavy boot straddling the line that trapped Ashura inside. Drawing in a deep breath, he broke the circle with a simple swipe of his shoe. He reached a hand inward, grabbing the cold frost of the succubus’ hand as he pulled her out. Eyes fluttering, Ashura felt the air lap at her skin. Micah’s hand was warm against hers, and for the first time since she’d been cursed to these treacherous lands, she felt the heat warming the place where her soul used to be. It wasn’t a memory, and it wasn’t something she felt through someone else’s eyes. Letting his fingers move up her arm, Micah caressed the silk of her skin and tried to imagine she was Kayden. He closed his eyes, picturing the natural pout of her lip. Micah’s hand moved through Ashura’s long hair, fingers cupping the back of her head. He pulled her forward. Her hands felt cold, even through his shirt, as she pressed her palms to his chest. Slowly, he tilted his head and pressed his lips to hers. Heat blossomed, and Micah did what he’d been requested to do. He kissed Ashura like he was kissing Kayden,

like it was the last kiss that they would ever share. Their tongues met, and the chill of her lips eased as he breathed into her. A needy moan escaped the woman in his arms as she felt the overwhelming emotion being pushed into her. Tears pooled in her depths, red lines leaking down her cheeks. For the first time she knew what true love felt like. For one single moment, she felt more human than she’d ever thought possible. The second split and Ashura opened herself up, absorbing Micah into her as she swam through his memories. From birth to adulthood, she experienced the love, the loss, and then Kayden. Slowly, she stalled over the memories he cherished with her, and they made her weep. Energy swirled, rising from the tips of Ashura’s feet upwards. Like it was dancing, the energy moved around them until they were fully enclosed. Ashura pushed everything she had into Micah, used the precious gift he had given her and plunged it into him. Blinding light spread from her mouth as every single drop of energy she’d devoured from him went crashing into his body. Micah pulled away, gasping, choking on the power that reared his head back and made his eyes close. Ashura teetered, her eyes fluttering shut before she dropped to the ground. Dropping to his knees, Micah pulled Kayden into his lap as he wrenched the knife free from her gut. It clanked against the floor, spreading blood against the concrete, but he could care less. Cupping her cheeks, he bent forward as he pressed his lips to her parted ones.

Breathing what felt like fire, Micah transferred the energy into her like a deep breath of air. Her chest rose with his effort, and all he could do was wish with all his might that her body would heal from the inside out. Shakily, his hands moved through her hair, spreading the strands out of her closed eyes. Tears fell from his cheeks, and Micah was unaware of anything around him except the woman in his arms. Releasing her mouth, he trailed his lips over her cheeks and forehead. He pulled back, his chest caving in pain, before he watched her take her first breath. One breath turned into two, and Micah felt his eyes grow along with his smile. Scrambling, his hands ripped open her shirt, and he watched in amazement as the skin started to close. As though an invisible needle and thread were sewing her up, her tanned skin melted until there was nothing but unblemished flesh buried under dried blood. Rocking her back and forth, Micah held onto Kayden, peppering her cheeks and nose with kisses as he felt her heartbeat steady into something that resembled the rhythm of a human being. Kayden’s eyes fluttered open, and Micah watched her eyelashes dance against her brow. “If I turn into a succubus, I swear to God, I’m kicking your ass,” Kayden croaked, her voice raw and husky. Overwhelmed, he laughed. Micah lifted her and pressed his mouth to hers in a sloppy kiss that said everything he couldn’t. Pulling away only to breathe, Micah had a hard time releasing her mouth. His hands were everywhere, touching her, reconfirming that she was alive in his arms.

“I swear, you have to be the stupidest woman alive, but damn it if I don’t love you,” Micah whispered affectionately against her lips. “I’m sorry,” she stumbled as she made the first move to sit up. “I couldn’t bring you into the middle of my fight. I couldn’t live with myself if your death was on my hands.” Besides feeling stiff and like she really wanted a shower, Kayden felt good. Better than good, actually. Micah’s hands guided her up and she stretched, helping to alleviate some of the tightness knotting her stomach. Smoothing her hair behind her ears, she stood, and everything became blurry and out of focus. It took her a few minutes to adjust to her surroundings. When the fog cleared, what she saw surprised her. Across the room, Paige was leaning over the succubus, pushing her fingers through long black strands. Kayden focused her ears and, just barely, she could hear her cousin start to chant. While the succubus had cured Kayden’s injuries, she hadn’t fixed everything that was wrong with her. Kayden was still half-vampire.

Pulling the crystal pendant out from her pocket, Paige held it in the air. As her eyes drifted shut, she felt her magic spreading through her fingertips and out into the air. Her voice grew louder as she stood, calling the elements to aid her. “What’s she doing?” Kayden asked, and her voice was raw enough that her words cracked in the middle. Wind started to dance around the room, blowing Kayden’s hair back behind her. Micah cradled her, bringing her closer into the safety of his arms.

Elijah moved closer to his brother. “We found a spell. Paige thinks she can capture a lost soul and put it into that crystal. She’ll bind it to Ashura; it should make her human,” he shouted over the tunnel of sound. Shaking her head, Kayden climbed to her feet and leaned against Micah for support. “That sounds dangerous.” she shouted back. “How do we know what kind of soul she’ll get?” “Paige has a pure heart; she will only attract a pure soul.” With a grin, Elijah cast affectionate eyes to where Paige had her hands lifted into the air. Paige held a small dagger securely in her hand, and without even so much as a flinch, she drew it across her palm, reopening the wound from earlier. Blood dripped as she called out, summoning a soul to bend to her will. Almost immediately, a violet cloud started to seep from the walls like a heavy fog. Moving slowly, they all watched as it gathered around Paige, circling her as it waited for her command. “By my will, enter this pendant and find your peace on this earth,” Paige demanded, and with that a powerful lash of magic spread outwards. Repeating the chant, Paige held up the necklace, eyes gleaming with power as the mist did what it was told. The clear teardrop charm started to color, the mist swirling inside like a never-ending cyclone of movement until it resembled an amethyst tear. Kneeling by Ashura’s side, Paige threaded the necklace around her neck and began to recite the Sumerian words she’d memorized to bind the soul to her. Red wisps of magic began to shoot across the room, and Paige’s voice grew even louder. The demon on the ground shuddered, back bowing off the floor as she writhed in

agony. Placing a hand on Ashura’s chest, Paige pushed her magic into her much like the succubus had done to Micah. The echo of a heartbeat sounded; slow at first until it began a fast rhythm. The beautiful iridescent wings behind her started to melt, fading into the wind that still whipped through the room. When the spell was over, Paige breathed a sigh of relief and fell back onto her butt. Ashura blinked bright blue eyes open. Shaking, the once-demon curved long arms around her knees as she struggled upwards and hugged herself. “Where am I?” she gasped as the air began to inflate her lungs. “Remarkable,” Elijah whispered, moving across the room to help Paige to her feet. Leaning heavily against him, Paige pressed her cheek to his chest and let him hold her. Smiling, Paige looked at Ashura when she rose on unsteady legs. “I feel it,” she said in astonishment, her eyes growing wide, “its beating.” Realization started to sink in, and she pressed a hand to her chest. Looking down, she lifted first one foot and then the other as the chill from the floor seeped into her bones. The air lapped at her skin and a bright, wide smile parted her mouth as clear tears rolled down her pale pink skin. “I’m human? How?” she asked. “It was the least I could do,” Paige said softly, her eyes fluttering shut as she fought the exhaustion.

Kayden looked up at Ashura, then at Paige, before she tilted her chin up at Micah. The goose bumps faded from her arms, and she let out a shaky laugh that everyone in the room felt. “Remind me not to make fun of Paige anymore, will you?” Kayden asked with a smile just before Micah bent down and pressed his lips to hers. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing myself,” he purred. The kiss deepened, their tongues softly tangling together. Micah pulled away, eyes sparkling with a stream of mischievousness. “Now, we’re going to have to talk about your punishment.” Nodding, Kayden looked up at him innocently before she pressed his head down to resume their kiss. “I love you, Micah.” “I’m going to have to live with that, aren’t I?” Elijah asked Paige as he faked a gagging sound in the back of his throat. The smile on his face turned into laughter as Micah flipped him off and kissed Kayden back for all it was worth. Slowly, he backed her up and led her towards the stairs. Paige looked up at Elijah and slipped her hand into his as she met his eyes. “It could be worse.” “Yeah?” Elijah asked as he turned them and began to lead her upstairs, leaving Ashura standing in the middle of the room. Looking left and then right, Ashura knit her eyes together. “What am I am supposed to do now?” she asked, but no one was around to hear her.

Epilogue

“Come on babe, let me in,” Micah yelled as he tried, not for the first time, to jiggle the locked knob open with sheer strength. He pounded against the wood surface, his knuckles starting to rasp with pain as his demands went ignored. He pressed his face against the door, listening for movement. With a sudden gust of air, the door flung open, and Micah fell forward. Annoyed, Kayden stood in the threshold of the room, her eyes bright with that extra spark that made her who she was. Straightening, Micah curved his lips into a satisfied smile when he walked into the bathroom. “See, was that so damn hard, you stubborn woman?” With perfect aim, Kayden launched the bright pink box in her hand at Micah’s forehead and stopped him mid-step. She watched as it hit him between the eyes and then bounced to the floor. “For the last time! It only takes one person to pee on a damn stick! I can’t go with you out here rattling that damn knob! And I certainly can’t go with you watching me!” Kayden huffed. Hands against his chest, she unleashed just a fraction of the strength that hummed through her veins. Jullian was gone, nothing more than a pile of ashes in a warehouse, but his blood still ran through her, just waiting to be unleashed when she died. Not that anyone would let her, it seemed. Shoving Micah, she sent him stumbling out the door and into the wall behind him before she slammed it shut. After a second of silence, she leaned against the door. Sliding

down it, she let her ass hit the ground, spreading her legs out in front of her. It had been two months since her last period. Shit. She couldn’t wait any longer. Gracefully, she rose as she squared her jaw and snatched up the pregnancy test she’d left on the counter. In five minutes, she’d find out just what deep shit they were in.

Marching down the hall, Micah furrowed his eyebrows as he mumbled about the impossible nature of women, especially Kayden. He loved her, but damn it if the urge to strangle her didn’t come up on a daily basis. Knuckles rasping against the wall outside of his brother’s room, Micah waited impatiently. Unlike Elijah, he wasn’t stupid enough to walk into rooms where people might be screwing. While he had no proof that there was anything going on between Paige and his brother, he had no desire to see either of them in the throes of passion. “I don’t know why you’re knocking; the door is unlocked, you moron. You can come in,” his brother answered in an annoyed tone. Micah pushed open the door, his eyes moving to the bed where Elijah and Paige were sitting innocently with a book spread out between them. The bed was rumpled, as if just slept in, but their clothes seemed intact. If it had been anyone else except them, he would have thought it was a cover-up. “You have to talk to Kayden! She won’t even listen to me, and she’s been in that damn bathroom for an hour!” Micah griped as he focused his attention on Paige and ignored his brother.

A small smile brightened her eyes, and Paige shrugged her shoulders before she and Elijah shared a secret smile. “When does she ever listen to you? I’m not sure she’ll listen to me either.” Rich laughter sung from Elijah’s chest as he threw an arm around Paige’s shoulder and brought her close enough to press a soft kiss to the side of her head. “I’m just amazed they haven’t killed each other yet. Last week, when she threw the knife at him, I thought that was it.” A slow nod bobbed from Micah’s head as he recalled the memory fondly. Even now, he could still see her angry scowl as she stitched him up. Especially, he could still see her fluttering around him as he recalled how she had made it up to him later on that night. Angry make-up sex with Kayden was almost worth picking the fights. “Why do you think I moved out? I love her, you know I do, but we need space. Lots of space.” Shaking his head, Elijah pushed his bangs out of his eyes. “I’ll never understand you two.” With a wistful sigh, Paige rested her head on Elijah’s shoulder. She rolled her eyes up at him, “I do. I think it’s romantic.” From the hallway, Alex walked into the room and leaned against the door jamb. Crossing her arms over her chest, she gave Paige a crooked grin. “You so would! You think everything is dreamy.” “What?” Paige asked as she looked around the room and met the same look. “They love each other so much they’re willing to accept their differences and work around them. Kayden’s independent; she always has been. Whenever she needs

Micah, or he needs her, they always find their way back to each other. No matter how much they may want to strangle each other.” Snorting, Alex rolled her eyes. “Sounds dysfunctional if you ask me.” “And how would you know what a dysfunctional relationship was?” Kayden asked as she appeared out of nowhere and lifted an eyebrow at her little sister. “Pul-ease!” Alex gasped. “Yesterday, I went into the basement to get a book Roy wanted me to start reading. What did I find?” She shuddered dramatically and tried not to smile when Micah grinned at her. “Roy and Ash were totally making out! I mean, gross! She’s, like, been here for what, a month? Besides, she’s too young for him! And another thing, am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that she used to be this powerful demon that almost killed Micah and my sister?” Micah’s hand shot straight up in the air, making Alex giggle. “She creeps me the hell out.” “Let’s not forget she saved my life,” Kayden said as she crossed her arms over her chest and gave her lover her best glare. With a grunt, Micah shoved his hands into his pockets. “Sometimes, like today, I wish she hadn’t! What’d the test say?” Mouth parting, Kayden gave Micah a look that said she thought he was out of his mind. “Right! Like I’m going to tell you after that!” A sly smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Micah changed tactics. Slowly, his hands curved around her waist until he could pull her against his body. He bent, his lips moving over her cheek and neck until he felt her melt into him.

“Come on, you know how much having you with me means to me. Don’t make me say it.” Lips pursing, Kayden seemed to take a moment before she decided on a bright smile. “It was negative.” Eyes growing wide, Micah let out a relieved laugh. He picked her up and spun her around. “Oh, thank God!” Kayden’s feet hit the ground and as soon as they did, her hands were threading through his hair to pull his mouth to hers. Passionately, their tongues met as Micah backed them out of Elijah’s bedroom and down the hall. Blindly, he traced the path he had memorized until he had her inside her room and up against the closed door. Inside Elijah’s room, Alex made a barfing sound before she walked off and stuck the buds of her iPod into her ears. Loud music flooded her ears, drowning out everything else. Elijah and Paige turned, sharing a look. “I think I owe you a walk,” Elijah said, stretching his legs before he stood and pulled Paige up with him. “It’s midnight,” she countered. “Ah, but it’s a full moon.” From ear to ear, her grin spread. Elijah pulled on their joined hands and pressed a chaste kiss against her head before he led her out of the bedroom. From the sound of things, Kayden and Micah would need at least an hour to celebrate their good news.

The End.

About AJ Hampton Born and raised on the west coast, I’ve enjoyed the beach for more years than I can remember. Listening to the wave’s crash upon the shore and smelling the salt in the air is one of the most inspiring things in my life. Besides that is my husband, who I married right out of high school, and my son. When I’m not taking care of my family, I work at a small manufacturing company as an office manager. Surrounded by four walls all day, I find writing a wonderful way to stretch my creative imagination. Growing up on bad science fiction and popcorn I’ve wanted to be a writer since I could remember. Also an avid reader, I fill my spare time with books of all genres, movies, the beach and writing erotic novels where the characters get to fulfill all my wildest fantasies!

AJ loves to hear from her fans, so feel free to email her anytime! To learn more about AJ Hampton, please visit her at www.cacoëthespublishing.com/ajhampton. Send an email to AJ Hampton at [email protected].

Look for these titles by AJ Hampton…

Holiday Nectar Hostile Devotion Breathless

Hostile Devotion © 2007 by AJ Hampton Private Investigator Maya Walker is good at getting to the bottom of a mystery. However, she is not so good in the relationship department. Especially when it comes to expressing her true feelings for her business partner Alec Montgomery. When Alec is suddenly stricken with the flu, it is up to Maya to care for the cantankerous P.I. Alec has no problem expressing his love for Maya in his own special way, but Maya holds fast to her quickly thawing reserve. Maya is brutally attacked while investigating a ritualistic case. Alec, still fairly ill, comes to her rescue. Together they battle both personal and very real demons in an effort to wrap up their case, and discover what they really mean to one another. Will Maya trust Alec with her heart?

Cacoethes Publishing House, LLC. (cacoethes=uncontrollable desire) Action/Adventure Fantasy Historical Horror Mainstream Mystery/Suspense Non-Fiction Paranormal Romance Science Fiction Western And Much, Much More! http://www.cacoëthespublishing.com