Chapter Thirteen

We emerged from the coffin to find a note taped to the inside of my closet door, with the instructions, “Sean, read this first.”

No good would come of that. Irritated, I handed him the note and opened the door. I emerged into an empty, silent bedroom. Blinking in confusion, I paused after a few steps. No flock, no werewolves and no one seated at my computer. The door was shut and locked, and my stomach dropped as I was blasted by an icy wave of fear.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, whirling on Sean.

He stood in the doorway to the closet, lean and so tall he nearly scraped the doorframe. Sean studied me silently, his face a placid mask, and then he slowly unbuttoned the jacket he’d just donned and set it aside.

“Sean…” My voice dropped in warning as he began unbuttoning his shirt. I growled for added effect, but he continued, stripping the shirt and then the undershirt beneath until he was bare-chested. He didn’t seem interested or aroused—Sean looked like a man being led to the gallows. I growled again, but instead of a threat it was a sound of interest voice by my stirring demon. She was captivated by the landscape of pale skin across his toned abs, wondering what his skin would feel like beneath our fingertips.

“Lean and strong, like our Athena. Wouldn’t they make a striking pair in our bed?”

“Elizabeth, come here,” Sean ordered.

I was halfway to him before I realized what had happened—anger at falling so easily into the reflex warred with my demon’s desire to obey. With a snarl I froze, planting my feet in a fighting stance just out of arm’s reach.

“What the fuck is going on?” I snapped.

“Angie is alive,” he began, his tone calm and even, “but she was injured. She was bitten by a zombie. To save her life, one of the wolves bit her. The curse took, and it overrode the necromancy. She’s alive, but she is a werewolf now.”

Angie was a werewolf. The words echoed like a church bell, and then all intelligent thought fled as Elizabeth rushed to the surface. My demon spilled through me in a furious rage and wrenched control of my body. “Our body,” she corrected as she shoved my consciousness into the backseat and grabbed the wheel with both hands.

“Filthy mongrels. How dare they touch my flock! Angie is mine! I will make those bastards beg for death!”

Claws bared, I darted for the bedroom door but was tackled halfway there. Hissing and growling, I tried to buck my attacker off but couldn’t shake him as he pinned me to the floor. Sean might be a skinny bastard, but he was a foot taller than me. My claws tore long grooves into the carpet as I struggled for traction, but then fangs sank into my throat. I cursed at the moment of sharp pain, but it was followed by blissful ecstasy. A shuddering sigh escaped me as I stilled. “Clever,” Lizzy noted. Sean wasn’t strong enough to beat me in a fight, but he could redirect my rage until it was spent. It helped that Lizzy and I were rather fond of Sean and less inclined to tear his throat out.

“Okay, he’s all yours,” Lizzy informed me. As if I needed her permission. I grinned in triumph and demanded to be fucked. Now.

“Don’t move,” Sean growled.

I froze—my Master had trained me well. Sean didn’t bother politely removing my clothes. Instead, claws feathered against my skin as he grabbed, shredded and tore the fabric free. My jeans were no match for vampire claws, and within a matter of moments I was on my hands and knees, naked except for my shoes and socks. I whimpered with anticipation as cloth whispered behind me, then Sean gripped my hips, his claws digging into my skin, and thrust.

I screamed at the invasion of hard, relentless heat. My sex was tight for all eternity and that made for an uncomfortable first few thrusts, but his demon didn’t care, and neither did I. Vampire sex was usually a mix of pain and pleasure—my Master excelled at both. Sean moaned and gripped my hips, and I writhed against him as I took him deeper, all the way to the hilt. Dear God—his cock was big and thick, the sort of monster that made virgin brides faint on their wedding night.

“Harder,” I demanded.

Sean’s grasp tightened with one hand, and with the other he gripped the back of my neck and shoved my head down. I moaned in approval as he thrust with raw abandon, pounding my pussy until climax slammed through me in a blinding jolt of sharp-edged pleasure. Yes. This. I’d had countless clients exclaim about how hard they wanted to fuck me, but the words paled in comparison to the experience. The room spun around me drunkenly as I indulged in Sean’s overwhelming lust.

I screamed into the carpet as I shuddered in ecstasy, and then Sean came with a shout a few moments later. He spilled his seed inside me, each pulse eliciting a new chorus of happy purrs. Sean collapsed atop me and licked the bleeding bite and claw marks he’d left at my throat. He seemed to think it was over.

I had other plans. Rage at losing Angie to the werewolves burned in my belly like an inferno, and one orgasm was not enough to quench it. Lizzy snickered from her view in the peanut gallery and complained that she didn’t have mental popcorn to go with the show. Poor Sean had no idea what we were capable of. Even weakened by Lizzy’s years of abstaining, I was far stronger than Sean’s demon.

I finally had an incubus to play with. I had no intention of wasting this opportunity to feast.

I shoved Sean off, rolled and pounced. Sean’s normally pale blue eyes were black and glassy, confirming that his demon was in control. I pinned him down and struck, going for his throat. My eyes slipped shut as I savored him—Sean was delicious. I hadn’t tasted vampire blood since I’d left Tara, and it packed a powerful punch. This was the reason my Master had kept me close. When joined our demons made us more powerful than any mere mortal’s blood could. I’d made the Master strong enough to build his army of loyal minions and expand his empire from sea to shining sea.

I drank him down in greedy gulps. Sean’s blood was like fine Scotch, an almost overpowering slap delivered with a heady, complex flavor. I licked the bite closed and kissed him, shoving my tongue into his mouth to let our shared blood mingle. With an eager growl he clutched me close, and then I slid down his body and guided his thick shaft inside me. The bite had made him hard again, and I was going to ride him until he begged for mercy.

Grinning wickedly, I trailed the tips of my claws down his chest as his cock impaled me. Sean snatched my wrists and held them tight, his black gaze boring into mine as I writhed atop him. He moaned and arched beneath me, abandoning restraining my hands in favor of gripping my hips. I leaned back and rode him until I came again, and again, and then pushed myself higher by stroking my clit with one hand and teasing my nipples with the other. Sean’s hips pistoned beneath me, matching me move for move as his claws scored my skin and blood dripped from the wounds in thin rivulets. I swiped my fingertips through the blood and then offered them to Sean, who suckled my fingers and laved them clean with his tongue.

He cried out as his climax filled me, driving me into a final, shattering orgasm. Spent, I draped myself over his chest, and he flipped me beneath him. Sean ground his softening cock into me as he kissed me, murmuring my name. “Elizabeth, my Elizabeth.”

“Better now?” Lizzy asked.

“Yes. I’m so glad we’re keeping him.” With a happy sigh, Elizabeth faded into contented sleep like a cat blissed out on the very best nip.

My claws receded, and I stroked Sean’s hair, staring into his eyes as they returned to normal. “Are you okay?” I asked. Elizabeth had scratched him up pretty good, but vampires heal fast.

Like the flip of a switch his demeanor changed the moment Sean regained control. Eyes wide, he pulled away and sat back, frantically checking for wounds on us both. “I’m so sorry, Lizzy. I would never—”

“I know. The note definitely said Angie is alive? She’s just…werewolfy?”

“Yes.”

It felt as though an invisible hand squeezed my throat, constricting each breath as tears stung my eyes. I hugged my knees and rested my forehead atop them. Angie was alive and that was most important. I wouldn’t be able to feed from her again, but I didn’t need to feed from her. I could still hold her, still kiss her—I’d gladly take werewolf snuggles with my sweetheart over mourning her memory. Hell, I ran a canine rescue org, so I was used to the smell of dog hair. Eau de werewolf wasn’t that far off from grooming day in the kennel.

It would be okay. But that didn’t ease the heavy, anxious weight crushing my chest. I breathed deep, and realized I was saturated in Sean’s scent. I should’ve been freaked out by that, but instead I was calm—sated.

“Don’t get used to Elizabeth,” I warned. “I don’t let her out to play unless absolutely necessary.”

“I have no desire to know your demon better.” Sean glanced around, then pulled the blanket from the nearest air mattress and offered it to me. “Please forgive me. I don’t usually behave like that. It’s important to me that my partners give their consent beforehand.”

“As long as you forgive me. Consent is important to me too.” I wrapped the blanket around me as Sean retrieved his clothing. His movements were quick and furtive, and he avoided my gaze. With a start I realized that Sean was ashamed of our bout of demon sex.

“Does your demon have a name?” I asked.

“No. Nathalie refers to my demon as ‘Bruce’, which she claims is a movie reference.”

“Bruce?” I repeated, momentarily confused. “Ha. Bruce the shark, from Jaws and Finding Nemo. Cute. I like it. Are you really all right? We haven’t really discussed how you feel about your demon.” I winced at the sudden realization that Elizabeth might have just traumatized him if he struggled with his demon as much as I did with mine.

Sean’s brow furrowed as he pondered his answer. “I feel…intoxicated. Pleasantly so. I would like to discuss the demon matter with you further, but at another time. We have more pressing problems at the moment.”

“Right. We’re going to shower, get dressed and have a nice, calm conversation with the werewolves. Then I need to see Angie, and then I can start flying the others here. Provided the building is clear now.”

“That’s a very sensible plan,” Sean agreed. “Are you certain you can speak calmly with the werewolves? I’ve witnessed Father’s anger at unexpectedly losing members of his flock before. It was…”

“Like Old Testament serious wrath?” A growl bubbled from my chest, but I quieted it with another deep breath. “I…maybe. We burned off most of my anger.”

He paused, a slight crinkle between his eyes as he pondered his reply. “If you wish, I can continue aiding you in remaining calm.”

“Yes,” my demon blurted. I scowled and rolled my eyes. “Damn it, Elizabeth. This is going to be a really long night. Okay. Less talk, more shower.”

My skin tingled with so much power I almost expected sparks of electricity to snap across my skin. Sean held out a hand to help me up, but when I stood he teetered like a drunk beside me, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Easy there, tiger,” I said as I steadied him. “Demon sex goes right to the head, doesn’t it? Your incubus must be a happy camper.”

Sean chuckled. “It’s a remarkable sensation. I’ve never experienced a reaction this strong before.”

“Not even with Isabel?” I asked, quirking a brow.

“Who?”

“Isabel. My replacement at Tara.” I stared at him, expecting recognition that didn’t appear. My gut twisted and I shivered with a sudden chill of fear. “Isabel wasn’t there when you were at Tara?”

“No. There were no women vampires there,” he replied.

The breath froze in my lungs. No Isabel. No female vamps. Questions about what happened to Isabel and what her absence meant buzzed through my thoughts like a swarm of angry bees until Elizabeth interrupted.

“Sean doesn’t know about the bond. He doesn’t understand the effects of mating an incubus to a succubus.”

Shit. I bit back the urge to argue that mating was an inaccurate term, because it wasn’t like our union could produce offspring. It was complicated. No Isabel—that was why Philippe wanted me to come home. My Master and his minions were weakened with no female to supercharge them. Oh hell no.

Well, we’d have to deal with this development one step at a time.

“New plan. We get dressed, talk to werewolves, see Angie, fetch the rest of werewolves and their people and then you and I need to sit down and have a long talk with your flock. And Angie, if she’s okay with it.”

“No showers?” Sean frowned, confused, and I patted his shoulder.

“Nope. We’ll be covered in each other’s scent for the foreseeable future. Might as well start owning it now.”

“They open doors,” Steve announced.

“Pardon?” I blinked at the non sequitur.

“The zombies. They can open doors.” He and Nathalie had set up a third workstation outside my bedroom, cobbled together with equipment she had brought with her and parts scavenged from the upper floors. They sat side by side at a desk that had also been borrowed from upstairs. Sean tensed as his demon objected to Steve’s nearness to Nathalie, and I leaned back against Sean to distract him. Our demons purred and cooed at each other like unholy lovebirds as Sean slipped his arms around my waist.

The room flinched—they watched us like bait dogs eyeing a pit bull. The werewolves took involuntary steps back, doubtless reacting to the power Sean and I were broadcasting. Fueled by demon sex, my magical batteries could keep me going for a year. The civilians had been smart enough to flee when Sean and I emerged from my bedroom, leaving the wolves and a few of Sean’s flock to stand their ground.

“Don’t say zombies. That’s racist,” I said.

“It’s not racist. I’m not sure what it is, but not that. Trademark infringement, maybe.” Steve shrugged and sipped from my “bring me coffee and no one gets hurt” mug.

Nathalie cleared her throat and spoke up. “There’s footage of them turning knobs to open doors. I’m not sure if it’s a muscle memory thing or if they have some level of problem-solving ability, but that’s how they got back in after you cleared out the building the first time.”

“So we just lock everything and they can’t get in?” I asked. It seemed too simple.

“It’ll help, as long as they’re not determined to bust through,” Steve said. “They’re kind of like a cat who is scratching to get into the house but stands there and stares at you when it does.”

“Not a cat person, I take it?” I asked, and Steve snorted.

“No. I’m sorry about your dogs, by the way.”

I swallowed hard and shook it off. “Thanks. So pretty much as long as you don’t aggro the mobs, they won’t attack. Makes sense. We’re good to move people into the upper floors?” I asked Javier, and he nodded slowly.

“I think so. We’ll stick to the top floors, and build barriers and booby traps in the lower floors.” Javier continued to watch me, waiting for me to strike. I was perversely tempted to yell boo!

“Nathalie and I worked out how much power we can use on how many floors and not run into trouble,” Steve said. “It’ll help if we go from floor to floor and unplug anything that doesn’t need to be on if we enable the power there.”

My brow rose. “Did you sleep at all?”

“Nah,” Steve said. “We can go for a day or two without sleep.”

“I slept,” Nathalie said. “I can’t pull all-nighters unless you pick up some energy drinks. Or better coffee.”

“Noted.” I changed subjects. “How are you at accessing satellites?”

“Decent. You?” Steve asked.

“Pretty good,” I replied.

Steve grinned. “I love a woman who’s good with computers.”

Nathalie blushed as Sean cleared his throat behind me. I hoped we didn’t have a star-crossed crush going on between Nathalie and Steve. I wasn’t sure how Sean would handle that. Our Master would’ve gutted Steve on principle.

“I’m taken,” I said. “So is Nathalie.”

“Figures,” Steve said with a mock sigh.

“Chew toys,” Javier muttered.

“Speaking of which, I understand you stole my flock,” I said.

Javier’s posture shifted very slightly. “Angie was bitten. She would have died. We saved her life.”

“Which is why you’re still breathing,” I replied. My voice dropped to a sultry purr as Elizabeth struggled for dominance, because she wanted to teach the wolves a lesson. Again, she’s not much of a problem-solver or long-term thinker. Sean nuzzled my hair and Elizabeth’s anger waned as she returned to purring. “That, and whoever was smart enough to leave Sean that note. I’m guessing Evelyn.”

“Got it in one,” Evelyn said.

“Good girl.” I smiled, but it was sharp instead of comforting. “My Master likes to tell of how he once lost a flock member to an angry mob who burned her as a witch. He slaughtered the entire village, burned it to the ground and salted the earth.”

Steve coughed. “Good thing you’re so level-headed.”

“I’m a sweetheart compared to him. Where is Angie?”

“In the penthouse,” Nathalie said. “I can bring up the security cameras if you’d like to see her.”

“No, I’ll stop by on my way out.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Javier said.

I waved his dismissal away. “Oh, we’re way past good idea territory now. I’m going to talk to her, and then I’ll start ferrying the others here from the center.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Sean asked, murmuring against my ear.

“Yes. You need flying practice.”

He nodded, and I stepped away. Taking Sean’s hand, I led him to the elevator. Javier was the only one brave—or stupid—enough to join us. We were silent as the elevator zipped up to the penthouse, and we emerged to find one of the werewolves—Keith?—sitting in an armchair reading one of my paperbacks as Angie paced near the windows.

She turned as I approached, and then she leapt on me and we tumbled to the floor. I blinked and blurted, “Great, now it’s a running theme.”

Angie sniffed me, eyes wild, and my heart sank as I sensed the wolf in her. Her heart raced like someone who’d taken a hit or two of Ecstasy, and I assumed that had to do with the curse. New vampires took weeks, sometimes months, to properly adjust to their new conditions.

“You smell like Sean,” she said, an accusing note to her voice. What did vampires smell like to werewolves? Brimstone? Then again my inner demon had never been to hell—like Athena springing from Zeus’s head, Elizabeth was created from a piece of our Master’s demon.

“I do. Elizabeth wanted to kill all the werewolves for taking you away from me. Sean distracted her with sex until she chilled out. That’s—”

My calm explanation was interrupted as Angie snarled and leapt at Sean. Her inner wolf surged in an explosion of claws and black fur. It always sounded painful when werewolves shifted. I grabbed Angie with my magic and held her aloft, swinging and clawing in mid-air.

Angie howled in frustration, and I shivered at the sound.

“Hey, calm down,” I ordered.

Keith inched closer to Angie and grabbed her arm. His power pushed at hers, battering her wolf into submission and forcing her to shift back. I winced with guilt as I set her down, because that had to hurt like hell. Angie stood panting and stared at me with an exhausted expression.

“I can’t drink from you now,” I said gently. “But that doesn’t mean my feelings for you have changed. I’m grateful that you’re alive. I couldn’t handle it if I lost you.” A pair of hot tears escaped the corners of my eyes. I had lost her, in a way—a piece of her humanity. Now she was a monster too.

She nodded, the movement slow and deliberate. “I thought I was going to die. All I could think about was how I didn’t want you to see me turn into one of them.”

My throat tightened as I blinked back more tears. I couldn’t fall apart now. We had way too much to do. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll find a way to make this work, even though you smell like wet dog,” I assured her with a halfhearted smile.

“I do?”

“Yeah. It’s eau de werewolf. But that’s okay. I’m pretty used to it.”

“Oh. Right. I saw your…” Angie frowned and stepped back. “We can talk about that later. Go help the others.”

“I have a lot of flying taxiing to do. We’ll talk more when I get back.”

At least I hoped we would. If she tried to kill Sean every time he screwed me then we were going to be in big trouble. Our demons were attached now, like evil Velcro, and pulling them apart would be loud, painful and difficult.

Damn it.