Thaddeus’s shoulders sank, and he turned to me. The confident, asshole facade was gone, and the guy in front of me seemed worried, which chilled me to the bone.
“Remember the psychopath ancient vampire we told you about?” he asked.
“The one who eats new vampires,” I replied with a dry tone. “How could I forget?”
“His name’s Viktor, and he’s on the most wanted list for so many disgusting reasons. The higher-ups want him obliterated.”
“He upsets the balance,” Blaise told me.
I leaned back against the counter and nodded. Their eyes burned into me as I realized their stupid Order wanted to use me as fucking bait.
“How’s Lilith supposed to be bait?” Kai’s brows were drawn together as he scowled.
“They want her to go on hunts with us and be seen with us,” Blaise said. “It’ll get the other supernaturals talking. We were hoping for her not to go hunting until she had the gift of obliteration, but Viktor has been spotted in Emeraldsville, so the Order is insisting we bring you along until we can secure his attention.”
“No.” Kai shook his head. “Not happening.”
“Thank you!” Blaise stared at Thaddeus. “I fancy Poppy, and I’d like to keep her around too.”
My heart swelled with acceptance.
“We can’t go against the Order, and you all know it,” Thaddeus said in a defeated voice that was so unlike him. “They’d smite us where we stand.”
Smite?
“Who exactly is the Order of the Void?” I asked. “I know they’re your bosses, but what are they?”
I prepared for my mind to be blown like it had since the accident.
“They’re made up of each primary supernatural creature.”
“Which are?”
Thaddeus raked a hand through his long locks as he sighed. “I was going to teach you the history of the supernaturals in our lesson, but I suppose you should know now.”
Pressing my palms against the counter, I pushed myself up to sit on the glossy surface to get comfortable. “I’m ready to learn all the things.”
Blaise and Kai chuckled as Thaddeus stalked toward me, planting a hand on either side of my thighs. Desire sparked through me, and I let out a small gasp.
Traitorous body.
“The Order of the Void is appointed by both the Heavens and Hell,” he drawled, speaking as if the skin-to-skin contact didn’t bother him.
I could sense his attraction to me somewhere deep in my lower stomach, like a sixth sense. Something I’d felt around all three of them at some point.
Clearing my throat, my gaze dropped to his lips. “What are they?”
I couldn’t help but watch Thadeus’s mouth when he spoke. Something was mesmerizing about it. Maybe it had to do with his affinity or special power. Hecouldcompel people after all.
“The primary supernaturals are the ones with the most power. Vampires, Shifters, Demons, Angels, and Fae.”
Angels?A buzzing rang in my ears as my head throbbed.
Thaddeus’s hands squeezed my upper thighs, and calmness mixed with a pure hormonal drive coursed through me. “Love?”
“She can handle vampires,” Blaise started.
“Even being turned into one,” Kai added.
