Chapter thirteen
Awakening
Vincentstoodinthedoorway looking like the devil incarnate with the way his midnight-black wings stretched out on either side of him, painting me in their shadow. He was huge and imposing in his monster form, covered in feathers and battle-honed muscles.
The atmosphere of the room turned lava-hot, sweat breaking out over my bare body in little pebbles, and my heart pounding so hard I had to fight to stay grounded in Eros’ dreams. If I didn’t focus, I’d wake up. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Deathwish yet, especially when there was the very real possibility that it could be the last time I ever saw him.
My gaze locked with Vincent’s, his huge form blurring as my eyes burned with tears of fury. Hatred and Vincent Feral were like peanut butter and jelly. They just belonged together in one crappy sandwich you couldn’t help craving from time to time.
I hated him for letting his primal side take control.
And I hated myself more for allowing mine to egg that part of him out.
Meanwhile, my monster was still thirsty for her virile fae. It was annoying. This was my darker side, the royal vampire blood pumping through my veins. The queen within me was supposed to be all in on saving my kingdom, not making a baby.
First one, then the other.
Only a second or two of silence passed, but it felt like a bloody eternity. The tension wrapped around me like a too-tight collar. I expected the monster inside Vincent to attack Eros or make a grab for me. But he just stood there, as quiet as a corpse, staring at me with those Hell-dark eyes.
I missed Vincent’s bright green eyes when he was himself. When his monster was buried deep within him where it belonged.
His gaze raked over me, as palpable as a caress.
“Time to wake up now, Little Monster.”
I tried to swallow the fist-sized lump in my throat with no dice. “Fuck that. Go away. I don’t want you here.”
“By the scent of you, there’s a part of you that wants me very much, Mate,” he rumbled. “It’s so strong I can detect it, even from another man’s dreams.”
With the gravely timbre of his voice, my heartbeat now thrummed between my legs.
Vincent took a step toward me but stopped when Eros pulled me off the counter and tucked me tight against him. The chain was still attached to the band, tying my wrists together, and he held it up in his clenched fists for his rival to see.
Then, with the hand clutching the leash, he extended a finger to point to my chest.
The bloody lettering was healing, but it was still readable.
“Mine. In case you forgot how to read, you feralfuck.”Deathwish was usually calm, even when he was angry. But not now. He was tense, and his voice had an edge sharper than any tool in his arsenal. “Since you seem to be forgetting everything about your old self the longer you hold that goddamn plague of a form you’re cursed with. But maybe there’s still a trace of your old self in there. If there wasn’t, you would have just shaken her awake.”
Vincent’s small neck feathers bristled as his shoulders stiffened. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Admit it. You miss me.”
“Tch. If I gave two shits about you, I wouldn’t be leaving you for dead.”
“That’s it then?” Eros’ fists balled. “You’re just gonna run off with our mate and let the rest of us take on Master without our two best warriors?”
“Vampire affairs are no matter to me, Slayer. Not anymore. I’m dark fae. I forgive you for killing my father. If you hadn’t, I would have never left Fairie in the first place in search of him. I would have never met my queen.”
Eros ran his hand over his face, snarling into his palm and glaring daggers at the fae through his fingers. “Are you really going to pretend you feel nothing but hate for me?”
Silence. The tension was so thick you could swallow it.
“We’ll die without you two,” Eros continued. “Then what? You’re just gonna live in that monster-infested jungle forever? Let’s forget about breaking Ruby’s heart for a second. Can you look me in the goddamn eyes and tell me you won’t feel anything when Sterling meets the true death? He’s been like a father to you since the day yours died.”
Vincent’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
“What about Corry? He’s a brother to you. And me—”
