As if unhooking my bra had opened the gates of Hell, a terrible howl rent the night. It wasn't the neighborhood dogs. In fact, you know how when one dog howls, all the others start up? This howling did no such prompting. It silenced every other living thing within hearing. Including Ace and me.
I knew what it was. Or who it was. And still, my blood went cold at the sound. It was terrifying. Absolutely chilling. A voice from hell. But it was also mournful. There was a promise of blood in the howl and yet it was heartbreaking. This was the sound Frankenstein's monster would have made while holding the broken, dead body of his bride. A sound to send chills down your spine and raise the flesh on your arms. It was a monster's lament. One that promised retribution.
My body reacted instinctively, pulling away from Ace. Crawling backward to press against the headboard, I crossed my arms over my chest to hold my bra in place as my wide stare shifted to the balcony. Would they come inside? Tear Ace apart? Oh, fuck. Why hadn't I considered what they might do to Ace? And where was my gun?
“It's just some dogs.” Ace reached for me.
I rolled off the bed. When I hit the ground, I went tumbling, and then crawled until I could gain my feet and press my back against the wall.
“Salina, it's all right. It's just some dogs.” But his voice said something different. Ace was trying to be brave for me, but the howling was terrifying him as much as it was me.
Normally, it would be a bad idea to send someone you care about out of a secure location and toward the scary thing. But I knew that was the only way to save Ace. I had to get him away from me. From my half-naked self. Then maybe my heart would stop racing . . . and aching. I could deal with those howling hellhounds then.
“Ace, you have to go,” I whispered.
He lifted his brows. “Darling, it's just some neighborhood dogs.”
I cleared my throat and lifted my chin. “Whatever it is, it's ruined the mood. I can't do this now.”
Ace grimaced, something strange flashing through his stare as he slashed it toward the balcony, but then he nodded. “I understand. Could we have lunch tomorrow? I have a meeting in the morning, but I'd like to see you after.”
I nodded. “Sure. That sounds lovely.”Go!I screeched in my head.Go before the Hounds of Hades tear you apart!
As if he could hear me, Ace cupped my cheek and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “It's going to be all right, Salina. We'll take it slow.”
And then he was gone.
I heard Ace go out the front door. As soon as that door closed, the howling stopped. It took a bit longer for my body to get the memo. At last, it calmed down. And then the anger came.
“Those motherfuckers!” I stormed to the balcony still in my underwear and threw the French doors open. As I fastened my bra, I called out, “Where are you? Get up here, right now!”
Three men landed on my balcony seconds later. Teeth bared, eyes glowing, and hands curled into claws, they looked exactly like the sounds they'd made. Creatures straight out of hell. Or Hades, rather. Seeing them should have sent more chills down my spine. But they only enraged me further.
“Oh, you're mad?” I pointed at them. “You fucking cock-blocking mongrels! You got to fuck around for centuries and you're begrudging me a few months with a good man?”
“Months?” Lex snarled.
Cyrus had a bit more to say. “We already told you. We wouldn't have minded if you'd done this before we met. Now, it's too late. We can't stay away.”
Jake simply growled.
“Well, you'd better figure it out.” I stomped over to them. “This is your last warning. If you fuck with this relationship one more time, if I see you watching us, or if you stop me from enjoying myself with Ace in any way, this is over. You can fucking wither and die for all I care. At least then I'll be free to fuck whoever I want!”
They jerked back, expressions full of horror.
In my mind, I heard the lament in their howls again and part of me cringed along with them. But I refused to let magic get in the way of what I wanted. And I wanted Ace. So, I bucked up and pushed away those wussy feelings.
“Not what you expected in a mate?” I snorted. “What? You thought you'd get a sweet woman who catered to your every need? Maybe suck your dicks whenever you had a bad day? That kind of woman wouldn't make you happy. The magic knows it asmuch as I. She'd bore men like you. It would be great at first, but one day, you'd look down at her sucking you off, and wonder why you couldn't come. Because even in a body like this—” I stroked my hands over my curves, “a woman like that gets boring for men like you. You need someone who's going to challenge you. Someone who won't put up with your alphahole bullshit. I could have chosen the most hideous body and still twisted you three around my little finger. Because it's me you need. Me!” I pointed at my chest. “My soul. The one who has brought kings to their knees and created myths that rocked the entire world. I'm your mate and you know it. So, here's a tip, boys—don't fuck this up!”
With that, I turned and went back inside, making sure to shake my Salma-ass. I shut the doors, locked them, and went back to bed. This time, to sleep. And I slept like a baby.
Chapter Nineteen
The next week was blissful. The only dogs I saw were of the normal variety (mostly Bruno), there was no sign of Silas's minions, and Ace was quickly becoming my favorite person. I couldn't understand why it was so easy with him. Being with Ace was like being with someone I had known for years. He was as familiar to me as that man in the bar. Mr. Average. But with Ace, there was no revulsion. I couldn't understand it.
And then came the dream. A dream that was also a memory, untainted or twisted. It was a full, real account of my past. I felt that instantly.
I was walking through a palace—I told you Louis wasn't my first king—and someone pulled me into a garden. Ace. Except he wasn't Ace. His name . . . I couldn't remember it. But it had been strange even for that time. The women of the palace adored Ace. Everyone did.
