When Jessi awoke the next morning, she was wrapped in Xander’s body. He’d taken the time to appreciate every inch of her body with his mouth and hands, all the while driving her into a haze of such yearning and sensory overload, it was almost dreamlike. She understood why the girls who left his bed were so dazed. She felt like a cooked noodle; no part of her body wanted to move.
As if sensing she was awake, one of his hands moved over her body light enough to tickle. He kissed her neck then nipped her. She shivered at the sensations, desire blooming hot and fast within her.
“Did you tell Ingrid you need a new assistant?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
Jessi smiled to herself and closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. His solid body was warm at her back, the arm wrapped tightly around her a sign she wasn’t going anywhere. She could avoid reality for a little longer.
“You’ll have to stick around long enough to make me coffee,” he added.
“You can make your own damn coffee.”
“Ah, then breakfast.”
“I can’t cook,” she replied innocently.
“Got it covered.” Xander pushed her onto her stomach. “Spread ‘em.”
Jessi sighed as his warm, solid body settled over hers. He kissed her shoulder and took her arms, holding her wrists over her head with one hand.
“Don’t move,” he whispered the familiar warning.
Jessi held her breath. He entered her at the same time he bit her, and her world exploded into hot desire and need so intense, she thought his passion would consume her. Half an hour later, when he was finished with her, she lay trembling.
“Breakfast in bed,” he murmured, nuzzling her face and neck. “Not so bad, is it?”
She gave a breathless laugh. Xander rolled onto his side and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his body once more.
“My god, Xander,” she whispered.
“You’ve been fighting that all week.”
“I was more concerned about my job!” she returned. “If I’m not mistaken, you’ll now toss me out.”
“Gotta find a new assistant first.”
She elbowed him in the chest, afraid to see his face and realize he was serious. She’d never felt as at peace or sated or relaxed as she did now, and she couldn’t imagine any other man making her feel the way he did last night or this morning. That he was done with her was not a thought she was ready to handle yet.
“You intrigue me. I might keep you around today so I can tap that ass whenever I want.”
Jessi roused herself enough to twist in his arms so she could see his face. Her heart was hammering at his casual declaration. The idea she might really be of interest to someone as enthralling and terrifying as Xander was almost too good to be true.
“You’re serious?” she asked.
“Absolutely. I love your ass.”
“You are something else, Xander.”
He responded with a deep kiss. When he withdrew, she reached out to touch the planes and angles of his face. His jaw was roughened, his red eyes glowing.
“What if …” she trailed off, aware she almost revealed something she wasn’t ready to.
“You betray me?” he finished.
“Sort of. Am I number seven?”
Xander sat up. She felt the loss of his warmth and body at once and assumed he was angry at her. Jessi almost sighed. Already, she ached to regain the intimacy with him.
“When I was ten, I met Eden, the woman who often hired my mother for errands,” he started. He rose and crossed to his clothing.
Jessi’s eyes went over his powerful body in wonder. He was so strong, yet he’d been tender with her only minutes before.
“Close your eyes, Jessi.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t kill you when I had the chance. I’m not going to now,” he said, amused by the suspicion in her voice. “I need you to listen to me.”
She hesitated then rolled onto her stomach for warmth and closed her eyes.
“We were at the bedside of my mother, and she was dying. Her benefactor was a human, an Oracle,” Xander continued. “I was too young to understand why she sought out my mother and me. I didn’t understand it until much later that she wanted to destroy the immortal world and use my vamps to do it.”
She listened as he rustled around.
“The night my mother died, Eden gave me advice I’ve never forgotten. She said life was about choices, the ones we make as well as the ones we don’t. She offered to take my mother and me in at one point, but my mother refused. The Oracle told my mother that she wanted to turn me into a creature beyond mercy with power no one could counter.”
“Your mother said hell no, I’m betting,” Jessi murmured.
“That she did. Eden told me my mother’s love for me was greater than her fear of the consequences of living in the streets,” Xander said. “When my mother died, Eden gave me a choice: to use my special gifts for her benefit. In exchange, she would help me seek revenge against those who cast us out after I was born. Or, I could walk away from her, from vengeance and try to make it in a society that would probably have killed me. Basically, serve her or die.”
“You went with her,” she said with a sinking feeling.
“I do not have my mother’s goodness,” he said with a chuckle. “I chose vengeance. I created an army of vamps Eden used to overthrow her enemies while I overthrew mine. In the end, not much was left standing.”
“How horrible, Xander.”
“At that point, I was more powerful than she and the existing Original Beings. Every time a vamp is created, my power grows. She, however, had no further use for me. She gave me a second choice: immortality or power.”
Jessi listened, enraptured by the tale. “You chose power.”
“Exactly. Except, she had her own agenda. The rest of the immortals had a bounty on my head. Eden could’ve left me to die at their hands. Instead, she bound my power and made me immortal. She forced me to experience all the pain I caused in my life, in the hopes of reforming me.”
“I’m afraid to ask if it worked.”
“It did,” he said with a note of laughter in his voice. “The world wouldn’t be standing otherwise. The necklace became a curse, one that siphoned off much of my power but also allowed me to live.”
“Why didn’t you get rid of it?” she asked curiously.
“It was my mother’s. I was born a predator and trained to kill. There is nothing human about me, Jessi, nothing good, except for the reminder I wear around my neck of the only person who ever gave up her life for me. What mercy I have to give comes from her memory.”
Jessi’s eyes opened. She stared at the pillow clutched in her arms, suddenly understanding the other side of Xander, the one that remained beyond loyal to a woman who had died tens of thousands of years ago. He would’ve destroyed a world for her and refused to surrender the only reminder he retained.
What would it be like to really be with someone like Xander, who loved so deeply and completely, he’d only done it once?
The bed sank beneath his weight. She waited to hear more.
“Eyes closed.” Xander lifted her into a sitting position between his thick thighs and kissed her face.
She leaned back against him, comforted by his body again. Then she felt it, the smooth nylon necklace he slid around her neck.
“The red gem. It’s the key to a great power capable of destroying a world is kept,” he said, his hands falling away from her neck. “It’s also the only part of me that’s remotely human.”
Jessi’s eyes flew open. The treasure she’d been after, the one that was supposed to save her life and those of her cousins, was around her neck. She realized he wasn’t telling her a story just for idle talk. There was a moral behind it, one that terrified her.
“There are two people who can call forth its power. I’m one. You’re the second. No one else can touch the gem without dying instantly.”
She took in this information, horrified of what it meant to have the gem nestled between her breasts.
“You … you had me put it on you the first day,” she said, realizing her danger for the first time. “What if it killed me?”
“You wouldn’t be here now,” he said with a dark laugh. “I’ve made my decision. Your turn.”
For a long moment, her fear held her captive. He moved away from her again, getting dressed. Jessi sat frozen, unable to fathom that the simple red gem was capable of such magic. She understood why Jonny wanted it. She didn’t understand what she was supposed to do with it around her neck. What was Xander telling her? That the lives of her cousins were nothing compared to the lives of the entire planet?
That the last vestige of good or hope he was capable of was now in her hands? If she betrayed him, was he turning his back on everything?
She couldn’t handle either thought.
“I don’t want this,” she said at last, reaching for the necklace with trembling fingers. “Take it back, Xander!”
“It marks you as mine. If you remove it, you are making more than one decision.”
Something Jule shared on the beach returned to her. The gifting of the necklace was like a proposal, only much more to the Guardians who gave the symbols of their families and histories to their chosen suitors.
From Xander, however, it was a dare. He was testing her again, making his offer clear. He chose her; was she going to choose him? He wasn’t going to let her walk away. The only problem: Neither was Jonny.
It left her trying hard not to show her panic.
“I can’t …” she stopped. He was gone, the door cracked open.
How long was she sitting in her stupor?
Jessi got dressed, not surprised to find the small toiletry bag in the bathroom. Xander was right about hook-ups being expected at these parties. She pulled her hair up in a ponytail, gaze settling on the necklace dangling between her full breasts.
His history, legacy and curse. He passed them all onto her. It didn’t seem possible for her to succeed at Xander’s latest trial, and the consequences were far greater than anything she imagined dealing with. Whether she chose him or obeyed Jonny, people got hurt. The chances of her living through it weren’t good. His message was clear: she was either his or she was on her own. Which meant she was probably dead.
Before sleeping with a vampire, Jessi didn’t think life could get any worse. Xander always managed to surprise her. She steadied her breathing and checked her phone.
Kids safe in Texas, Jenn had texted.
The teens’ texts were far less calm. Jessi grimaced. She’d warned them not to be freaked out but understood it wasn’t possible. After all, complete strangers showed up at their apartment and used magic to take them to some place halfway across the country.
Leaving the bedroom, she sent a couple of quick notes to them. She followed the sounds of talking to discover the balcony was converted into a small buffet with café-style tables. The scene struck her as bizarre. Xander was waiting at one table, mug of coffee in hand.
The sight of him stirred emotions that confused her. Jessi drew out the inevitable by taking her time to select her food. She joined him, warmth creeping up her face at the thought of their night. His gaze lingered on the necklace. His muscular frame was relaxed. He gave no sign of what he might be thinking.
She was too nervous around him to be hungry. Chiding herself silently for behaving like a teenager, Jessi forced part of her breakfast down her throat.
“You’re quiet,” he observed when she leaned back in her chair.
“So are you.”
“Are you freaking out?”
“I think you know that answer.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“Why is that good?” she demanded.
“If the decision was easy, I’d be furious.”
Startled by the confession, Jessi rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward.
“You really do like me,” she said.
He mimicked her pose, his intensity and nearness making her breathing irregular. Her eyes went to his full lips. The memory of what he’d done with his mouth made her lower belly burn.
“I’m considering keeping you, Jessi, assuming you survive this trial. That should terrify you,” he replied.
Her breath caught at the stark pronouncement.
“It does,” she whispered.
“If there’s anything I should know, tell me, before I find out through other means.”
She shook her head. Resistance was becoming harder, but she wasn’t going to put him in danger anymore than she would her cousins. His kiss was gentle, lingering and made her ache to feel his lips elsewhere.
“I’ll find out anyway,” he said against her lips.
“I can’t.”
He kissed her again quickly then rose. “Let’s go.” He held out a hand. She took it and walked with him through the house and to the valet.
“This place is beautiful,” she said. The driveway was lined with trees and the manicured lawns emerald green. She found herself leaning into Xander. He wrapped an arm around her, and she hugged him as they waited.
“I’m sorry to leave before I could see the look on the horse’s face,” she said with some satisfaction. “That reminds me. Did you use your mind magic to set up the photo shoot with you and me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” she looked up at him.
“I like fucking with you.”
“That’s it? No deeper reason?”
“I’ve been intrigued by you since we met. I wanted to see what you did. And how you tasted.”
“How often do you … bite people?” she managed.
“Usually only once. You, though, a few times today.”
“Hmmm. I have no idea what to think of that.”
“Consider it a compliment. I hope to be fucking you every time I do.”
Jessi flushed, her insides burning even hotter. She almost felt weak from the ache at her core that yearned for him to be inside her.
“How long can you put up with a rerun before you get bored?” she ventured.
“We’ll find out.
“I hate that answer!”
“I know.”
“You’re such an ass.”
His hand dropped to her backside, and he squeezed. She swatted him away, striding towards the car. The valet opened the door, and she dropped into the passenger seat.
***
Xander understood that some part of Jessi was stuck in hard core denial, the kind that needed irrefutable proof that she had no other alternatives. She surrendered to him last night in a way that made his body crave her, something that never happened with the other girls. He was right when he suspected sex with the intriguing woman was going to be unlike sex with anyone else. The emotional connection was even more powerful when he was inside her. It left him wanting her even worse, now that he knew what it was like to fuck her.
He didn’t expect the sight of his necklace dangling in the center of her chest to fill him with anything other than regret or dread. He was surprised that he felt neither. She glowed from their lovemaking, her gray eyes sparkling with life.
Still she defied him. He was torn again between frustration and the kind of interest that came from trying to capture a ghost. Jenn texted him earlier to let him know his condo no longer existed. It was likely why Jessi changed her mind so many times about last night.
She’d chosen him, and then blown up his apartment. Or at least, not warned him. He loved how complicated it was while suspecting she dug herself a grave, one he wasn’t going to be able to help her avoid without her telling him what was going on.
He rested a hand on her thigh. She smiled at him, troubled yet gazing at him in a way that explained why she didn’t just throw the necklace away. He’d taken a gamble by entrusting it to her. For the first time in his life, he really wasn’t certain his choice was a smart one. He wanted her, but he wasn’t going to settle for a woman unable to pass the ultimate test. There was no room in his life for betrayal.
The cops were at his condo building when they arrived, and he sensed Guardians nearby as well. Xander felt her grow tenser as they were waved down the long driveway, towards the oceanfront building. What happened soon became apparent; there was a neat hole in the top story of the building where Xander’s condo used to be.
All residents were being directed to the lawn to park, and Xander remained calm. He shut off the ignition.
“How ‘bout now?” he asked casually. “Anything to share?”
Jessi was pale. She shook her head.
Xander said nothing. He exited and closed the door. He gazed towards his nonexistent condo and crossed his arms, leaning back against the car. The place was swarming with police and displaced residents. He imagined the ocean breeze zipping straight through where his living room used to be.
“How’s life?”
Xander glanced at the man the same size as him. The White God, Damian, was cool and wary, his white-blonde hair, golden eyes and subtle white glow the opposite of Xander’s darker presence. He was accompanied by his brother, the Grey God, Darian, whose unusual power bent the air around him in a mix of light and shadows. Older by ten years, Darian’s hair was dark and his body whip like, compared to his brother’s thicker frame. Behind them was Charles, the newly re-vamped Tracker.
Darian had Xander’s cat tucked against his body.
“Talk about ocean view,” Darian said with a half-smile.
Xander snorted.
“You found the cat!” Jessi sounded relieved.
“My condo is gone, and you’re worried about the fucking cat?” Xander asked, watching Jessi hurry to claim the small black creature from Darian.
“The cat doesn’t treat women like toilet paper,” Jessi snapped.
“Wanna tell me who blew up my condo, Ms. Thursday?”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Nice necklace,” Darian said, before she recovered enough to respond. He smiled at the small woman who reached for the cat and handed it over. “I hope it didn’t cost you too much.”
“Only what remained of my self-respect,” she replied.
Darian laughed. Damian, however, was watching Xander with familiar caution.
“Jessi, have you ever seen Xander tear out anyone’s throat?” Damian asked.
Xander didn’t flinch.
“No.” Jessi’s voice was hushed. “I know he can. I saw him kill three people.”
“He can level a city and walk away without caring about anyone who got hurt. He’s done it before. He creates the parasites that are vamps, which then kill humans. There is no mercy or compassion in this creature.”
Xander felt Jessi’s gaze on him.
“You don’t know exactly what he’s capable of, of how deep that evil runs,” Damian added.
There was a tense pause. Xander wasn’t certain what Jessi might be thinking. Darian was watching her hard while Damian held Xander’s gaze.
“If he’s so bad, why haven’t you killed him?” Jessi asked at last.
Xander smiled. Damian raised an eyebrow and turned to gaze down at the woman.
“I’m not defending him, by any means,” she continued. “But really, if someone isn’t salvageable, I don’t think your … people would tolerate him or warn him or help me when I’m associated with him.”
“You’re a different matter,” Damian replied, gaze flickering to his brother. “The smaller they are, the feistier.”
“No, I’m pretty sure they’re all feisty,” Darian said.
She rolled her eyes at them. By the long, considering look she then gave Xander, she was trying to figure out what to do. The Gods now knew Xander’s intention of claiming her; what they couldn’t know was that he was also prepared to walk away, if she made the wrong decision.
If she made the wrong choice, there would be nothing standing between him and the will of those who wanted to cause irreparable harm to the human world. The Others wouldn’t spare the realm in their attempt to destroy their enemies, and Jonny wasn’t yet able to grasp his role in the mess.
Xander understood how dangerous of a weapon he was; Eden exploited it once before. He hadn’t told Jessi the entire truth about the gem. It wasn’t a weapon; it was a key. He was the weapon. He was entrusting her with more than his only treasure.
No part of him regretted it. He didn’t understand why, when she was so torn about what to do.
Xander’s gaze dropped to the red bauble at her chest. As much as he hated the idea of being cornered, he began to think there was no walking away.
“Others did this, ikir,” Charles reported.
“Not surprised,” Damian said. “They’ve been at your heels for a few weeks, Xander.”
“What are Others?” Jessi asked.
“Really bad guys. Ones even Xander can’t face alone,” Damian replied. “They’re almost untraceable and have even showed up at our compound in Texas. Charles and I can track them, and I can fight them.”
“I thought Xander could battle anything.”
“I kill Others. It’s my specialty,” Darian replied. “Xander probably could, but it might destroy mankind.” He laughed again.
Jessi appeared horrified. Xander winked at her. She definitely seemed to be thinking twice about sleeping with him.
“I’m not feeling so well,” she said.
Xander saw the subtle signal Damian gave his brother. Darian glanced at Xander, a look of warning or challenge in his gaze. Xander didn’t move as the Grey God took Jessi’s arm.
“Wanna see my cat?” Darian asked. “She’s in Texas, with your cousins.”
Jessi appeared ready to refuse, until her cousins were mentioned. She accompanied Darian. Damian waited for the two to Travel before turning his attention back to Xander.
“Are you turning her over to us?” Damian asked, crossing his arms.
“Depends on her,” Xander replied.
“Always a gentleman.”
“I didn’t survive this long by letting people fuck me over.”
“I’d believe you, if Sofi hadn’t told me to look beyond the obvious with you,” Damian continued.
“Damn oracle.” Xander’s menacing growl came from low in his chest.
“On that point, we agree,” Damian said. “Of course, she said nothing else, which leaves me in a position I don’t like. I can assume you’ll do what you need to and contact me if needed, or I can interfere now and take something I’m not sure I should.”
Xander listened, unaccustomed to being told what to do in a world where he did what he wanted.
“I won’t put three Naturals at risk of dealing with Jonny on their own. We figured out the girl can Travel, and I have a feeling I know where she’s headed, if she gets the chance,” Damian added.
“She’d make a shitty vamp,” Xander said with a shrug. Silently, he acknowledged that he was a fool to lower his guard around the teens and their cousin, to the point he recognized Ashley the first time he saw her but didn’t check her mind. He knew there was a connection between Ashley and Jonny. He assumed it extended no farther than the Black God using Ashley to get to Jessi. That the godling with the hormones of a teen might have more of an interest in the girl never crossed Xander’s mind.
“You’re a fan of choices.” Damian gave a trace of a smile. “Choose. We deal with this together, or I tell Darian not to bring your woman back from Texas.”
“You can keep the woman. Just send back the necklace,” Xander said, chuckling.
Damian cocked his head to the side. Rather than piss off the White God, Xander sensed he’d walked into a trap of some sort. Damian appeared pensive. He wrestled with himself silently for a moment – or maybe with the Oracle, who no doubt was able to talk to him mentally – then stepped back and threw open his arms.
“You’re welcome to visit whenever you’d like,” the White God said, smiling in a way that made Xander wary.
The Oracle had to have told her husband something. The White God didn’t invite the Original Vamp into his home out of a sense of kindness or moral obligation.
“There will come a day when standing back to watch someone else fuck up won’t work out for you,” Damian added. “You might have to leave that safe corner where you’ve spent your life.”
His piece said, the White God left.
Xander’s gaze remained where the White God had been. Charles was a short distance away, alert.
Xander stayed in place for awhile, gaze on the scene at the building. The Others had managed to disintegrate his condo without a hint of damage elsewhere. There was a slim chance they might’ve succeeded in making him disappear as well, had he been there. He lived through his fair share of encounters with the creatures over his lifetime. They’d have to confront him at some point, especially if they hoped to use the necklace.
No, obliterating the apartment was a message. They tracked him quietly and now were making it clear they meant business. Jessi had the necklace and was safe with the Guardians, which left Xander free to hunt Others with Charles.
Everything was as it should be. Except that he wasn’t happy with the way things were. The idea of spending the day with a vamp instead of Jessi was unappealing. He was edgy already. More than that, he felt … off. He would never admit that the White God was right aloud, but he began to think he already left his safe corner by placing his fate in Jessi’s hands.
“Ready to kill some Others?” Darian asked, reappearing.
Xander studied the wily Grey God, aware of Darian’s reputation for having a wild streak that bordered on suicidal.
“Fair warning. I won’t save your ass, just because your woman is pregnant,” Xander said.
“I won’t save your ass, just because your woman likes cats.”
Xander laughed. He respected the Grey God, even if he didn’t always like him. If Darian was surprised Xander knew about the baby, he didn’t show it.
“Let’s go,” Xander said. “I’m in a mood to kill everything I see.”
“Want me to disable them for you or do you plan on letting them tear you apart?”
“Grab ‘em and toss ‘em back.”
“Charles! Find us some Others,” Darian called to the vamp.
The immortal Tracker went still for a long moment. Xander watched him. Darian was armed with knives and a short sword for the hunt; Xander used nothing but his hands and fangs.
Facing the ocean, Charles waved them over. He held out a hand to Darian, who in turn held his fist out to Xander. Xander bumped fists with him. He was swept away by the magic of Charles, who guided them to where the Others were.
They were somewhere close; Xander smelled the ocean without seeing it. An abandoned factory was before them, the gates on it locked while the surrounding buildings reflected the same rundown condition.
“Two,” Charles said, pointing to the factory.
“Did Jenn tell you, or did you pry it out of her head?” Darian asked finally.
“Pried it out, same as you.”
Xander smiled to himself. The vicious strike of Darian’s sword against the rusted chain of the fence was enough to show Xander he was right about the Grey God not taking Jenn’s deception well. Of course, Xander now understood the frustration of knowing something was wrong without knowing exactly what.
He trailed the Grey God into the building. Darian proceeded without apparent caution while Xander’s sensitive gaze took in their surroundings. His senses were at their max. Only a mistake would give the Others away and might be all that stood between life and death.
“What’s up with the vamp-cat?” Darian asked, hacking a lock off another door and flinging it open.
“Long story.”
“I’m listening.”
“My assistant decided she wanted to turn a cat into a vampire. She couldn’t do it, so I did.”
“Is your assistant a vamp?”
“She wants to be and decided to experiment one day.”
Darian chuckled. “So you saved the cat.”
“I know when and where to use my strength,” Xander replied. He heard the brush of skin against metal, as if someone had Traveled to a spot with tighter quarters than expected. He looked towards the sound and raised his eyebrows. Darian saw and altered their path.
“What’s with the girl?” Darian whispered. They moved between the rusted equipment stealthily.
Xander said nothing.
“I guess the necklace says it all.” The Grey God glanced over his shoulder, a curious smile on his face. “I figured you’d want someone like Jenn: More likely to stand a chance if she fought you.”
“Jessi doesn’t need weapons,” Xander replied. He, too, wasn’t expecting the one woman he might consider for more than one night to be like Jessi. Sharp, sweet and innocent.
Darian was right; his mate, Jenn, was able to fend for herself in the Black God’s lair. Jessi wouldn’t last two seconds with Jonny or a vamp that was serious about hurting her. Xander should’ve been irritated about her co-dependence. Instead, he almost felt the need to wrap his arms around her to protect her.
If they survived whatever was going on.
“Got one!” Darian said.
Thoughts shifting to the task at hand, Xander stepped back to watch the Grey God do his job.