Before I could enjoy watching the light fade from his eyes, something whipped around my whole torso, strapping my arms to my sides as I was yanked off the dead fae. I looked up to a demon with long, curled, purple horns staring down at me with an angry smile.
“Looks like I got the prize.” His rotting yellow teeth were on display as he reeled me in like he’d caught a fish.Yeah, I would not be caught by this fucker.
I dug my heels in the dirt while waiting for him to use all his strength before I pushed forward, causing him to stumble. I took advantage of that, rolled on my back, and used my legs as an anchor and snapped up to standing. As he looked up at me, I kicked him so hard in the face his jaw cracked, and he slumped to the floor. The magical whip around me disappeared, and I turned to my next opponent.
I zoomed around, taking out as many as I could, tearing off heads, crushing hearts, bashing faces in. By the time I looked up, all four of my men were dead, and there were still five hooded figures left.Shit!
The demon with the dagger from earlier stepped up, frowning at me. “This was harder than it was supposed to be. I will commend you for being a strong opponent, but it’s over now.”
A drop of blood leaked from my mouth, and I swiped at it. One of the earlier fuckers got a lucky shot, so I kicked him in the stomach and ripped out his vocal cords. “It ain’t over until you all are at my feet lying in a pool of your own blood.” My muscles twinged with fatigue as I took a fighting stance. I didn’t have time to feed from my kills, and I was feeling the negative effects of my choices.Damn it!
I felt a shift in the space around us, like something had descended. No one else felt it, as all five stepped closer. I flicked my eyes around, trying to pay attention to my enemies but also see what was going on behind them, and I saw nothing but darkness.
The yellow-horned demon opened his mouth as he raised his dagger, about to say something, but paused. His eyes widened as the dagger fell from his fingers to the ground. His veins popped out around his face, filling with a raven substance. His eyes bulged like he was a squishy toy, and his body convulsed until he dropped to the ground.
Like dominos, the four others dropped, and they all had those bulging eyes and black tar-like veins popping out of their faces. A breeze swirled around me, and Lex appeared before my eyes from inky smoke, smiling at me like I was the only one here and not surrounded by dead bodies.
“Hello, again, my rose.”
I was sure he could hear the pounding of my heart as my eyes feasted on him. He was wearing a hooded leather jacket, black shirt, and black jeans that fit his body like they were made for him. As he stepped closer, I was choked by the smell of the sweet scent of myrrh partnered with the warm, earthy aroma of musk. The tempting aroma made my mouth water and throat close at the same time.
“Lex,” I choked out, then gazed down around me, pointing to the dead yellow-horned demon. “I’m guessing this was you because it was most definitely not me.”
He stepped right into my space, rubbing his nose into my hair as he took a deep breath. “Yes. It was me.” He pulled back slightly, cupping my face as his eyes burned with truth. “No one will touch you when I’m breathing. I will rain hell down on earth to anyone that tries to take you from me.”
What could you say to something like that? I relaxed in his hand and smiled. “Well, it’s nice to know you’re in my corner.”
His eyes twitched at that, his deep pools of darkness calling me to focus only on him as he got closer, putting our foreheads together as he whispered across my lips, “I am always going to be in your corner, Rayla. Remember that.”
I should’ve known something was up when he used my name instead of “my rose,” but I didn’t expect the pinprick in my neck. I slapped my hand to my neck, but it was too late as Lex put a syringe into his pocket.Did this fucker drug me?
My mouth opened and shut as I tried to talk, to cuss him out, but nothing came out. I swayed when my limbs went limp, and my eyelids fluttered shut. The last thing I saw was Lex’s dark orbs gazing down at me in apology as he scooped me up and whispered in my ear, “I’m yours, Rayla.”
1.Toxic by Ashnikko
Chapter 7
1The feel of her supple body in my arms, the sweet scent coming from her skin, her soft and silky hair against my cheek, all of it was almost too much to bear.I finally have her, my rose.
When I first saw them all gathered in front of her house, I thought something was going down, something important if they all split up for it. I’d made inquiries as I followed Rayla and her crew out of the city. The second my phone dinged, and I saw the text that they were searching for me, my mind blanked.
I knew it was a possibility after I saved Rayla that she would tell them about me. I knew my uncle would be pissed at me no longer being incognito, but I couldn’t let that fae harm her.
I thought that once she told her father and the other bosses, they would lead the charge, wanting to find me for themselves to see if they could get rid of me before I caused any more of a ruckus. Maybe send out their own personal people to find me in the dead of night and take care of me, bringing back my head or something for proof. I didn’t expect the bosses would stay home, holding down the fort while the heirs and a good portion of the Desmond crew went out searching for me.
They had to know I could take out a small group of five or six on my own, right? Which meant it was more of a peaceful search, and that meant only one thing—my rose fought for me. She must’ve told the bosses she wanted to bring me into the fold. While I didn’t give a fuck about the Syndicate, it filled my heart with flutters that she cared for me that much already. That she would stand up to them for me.
I cradled her into my arms, kissing her forehead before I swung my leg over my bike and started it up. Time was of the essence with this drug, and I needed to get to our home and settle her in before she woke up. I needed to get everything ready for her.
I carefully walked up the stairs, the creaking of every other step the only sound in the whole house. As I walked her up, I noticed the wallpaper on some edges was coming up and took a few breaths to calm down. I wanted this place to be perfect for her. When I got to the top step, I saw the thin layer of dust on the trim around the doors to the right side, the doors I never ventured in after I had everything placed. This won’t do. My rose needed to wake up to an impeccable house while still feeling homey. I wanted her to be as comfortable as she could be.
I turned to the left and went to the master bedroom at the end of the hallway. It was our bedroom, but I styled it as close as I could to the room in her house. I had studied it so much over the years that I got almost everything from the same stores. The only thing different was the rosewood dresser set which was hand-carved and custom-made. I did my best as I carved my own set, trying to replicate it as best as I could from what I saw.
I set her down on the white, plush, king-size bed—as comfortable as sleeping on a cloud—and covered her in a thick fluffy comforter. Her head lolled to the side, and her white hair kissed by the moonlight through the window. She let out a small sigh, and the strands of hair near her mouth moved from her steady breathing. My hesitant hand hovered over her face as I told myself I didn’t deserve to touch her porcelain perfection with my dirty, ink-smoked hands. I couldn’t help it, she was so close to me now, so I grazed my finger across her cheek and tucked in the stray hairs.
I hated that I had to drug her to get her here, but I knew she would fight me every step of the way, and I didn’t have that kind of time, especially so close to the compound. I didn’t want my uncle getting in my way. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a special brand of tranquilizer made for her. I knew she could burn through it quicker than most, and I took precautions because of it. I needed to get her here at any cost, then I was on my own at wooing her to stay here.
I might need to use it again if she tried to leave right away... I still needed time to talk to her, and if she got spooked, I wouldn’t get my chance.Yes. Just one more...My head shook at the dark and desperate thoughts.No.Rayla would not forgive twice. Once, she would let slip, but twice, she would think of me in a negative light and never open her heart up to me. That would be worse than dying.No. No. I couldn’t use it again.
