11. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

T he house was too damn quiet for Aya's liking. It'd been hours since Elaine left with Sabra. Even Tobias left, albeit just upstairs to sleep, and Alexios, who remained with her to work through the mountain of books, was silent. She eventually gave up trying to read, her mind too distracted to focus, and began to pace.

Anxiety crawled through her limbs, sinking talons deep into her bones. Aches rippled outwards and dark thoughts churned through her mind, twisting into knots. After Sabra told her Elaine went into the temple willingly—something she'd told herself to expect—her fears were at an all-time high. The whispers became a roar, drowning her mind in a cacophony of noise.

She was about to start another lap when Alexios slammed his book shut. She flinched at the sound, stopping dead. Dark eyes found hers, and the normally stony mask softened. If she'd ever been interested in men, she imagined he might've been her type.

"Elaine will be okay," he murmured.

Her lips parted, then shut.

Alexios tilted his head. "I think the case with the witches is probably a little simpler than we expect. If they aren't involved anymore with Honoria's schemes, my guess is their silence and isolation is fear based. For the council and for, well, you. I don't think they're in any position to start a war with you by hurting a hair on Elaine's head."

But it wasn't just Elaine being hurt that had her worried. She knew full well how the demons of the past could haunt a person. Temples weren't exactly a source of comfort for Elaine, so how would she do inside of one again?

"I won't do a damn thing against them if they don't hurt her," she muttered. "I know folks think I'd kill for my own amusement, but I don't."

Alexios pushed back the book he'd been reading and straightened up a little. "I know that. It's why I liked you from the first moment we met."

"You did?"

"Calix didn't pick it up at first, but I did. I may have even whispered a few words into his ear to hire you that first time. You might've been an angry, vicious little creature back then, but I knew it was mostly an act. One simply had to look at how you handled the incident with Sabra and Honoria's sister to know."

She crossed her arms across her chest, frowning. "You're far too perceptive. I don't like it."

"Tobias does, particularly when I'm on my kn—"

"Finish that sentence and I will gut you." Aya shuddered. "There are some things I do not need to know about someone I consider my brother."

His mouth tipped up. "So violent."

"Seriously, how did you meet? Was it when he was Alpha of his pack or after all that went to shit?"

"Oh, a few months before. Do you remember there were rumors about rogue vampires around the same time?"

"Calix played them off as lies, said they were just jealous folks—" Aya cut herself and stilled. " Oh. So, he what, helped you fix that?"

"One of them attacked his pack. That's what had him finding me at a particularly delicious party in the Dusk Quarter one evening and throwing me up against a wall. Guess you could say it was love at first sight."

"Because he had you pinned against a wall?"

Nostalgia bloomed like a dawning sun in Alexios's eyes, his face softening to a nauseating smile. "It was incredibly hot and once I had explained the situation to him, he was a little more interested in helping me. Though it might not have been the words but when I rode—"

Aya shot him a warning look and he shut up, still grinning like he'd won anyway.

She wasn't a prude by any means and enjoyed making her lovers scream and lose themselves to the bliss of a good fucking. However, that didn't mean she wanted to hear any salacious details about Tobias . There was not enough wine in the world to purge that from her mind.

She picked a safer thread of conversation and sat down. "When did you realize you two were mates?"

"Tobias, the bastard, later told me he knew within the first few minutes of us meeting. He said he had little interest of acting on it but, as I said, I can be quite irresistible." Alexios winked at her before he continued. "I suspected it a few weeks later when I was hurt, and he ripped a guy's throat out. It was later confirmed when he attended a party at Calix's mansion and, like a good little vampire, I danced with several handsome guests. He didn't like that."

Laughter burst from her lips, an infectious smile splitting her cheeks. Wolves were very territorial, especially around mates. She'd been around Tobias long enough to know he wasn't any exception. More laughter bubbled up her chest when a snort sounded from the stairs.

"You were flirting with them when you knew I was in the room," Tobias grumbled. "And I saw the look you gave me when you were dancing with that human bastard. You knew. "

"Yes, well, you were being awfully stubborn about the whole mate situation," Alexios argued, then quickly added with a small, conspiratorial smile: "How else was I to get your attention? You were so determined that night to stand with the rest of the wolves and council members. I quite distinctly recall making it up to you afterwards. Were it not for my healing, I rather suspected I wouldn't have walked straight for a week."

The whole time, Aya watched as Tobias prowled closer until he touched Alexios's face, drawing him into a kiss. It deepened for a few seconds before Tobias pulled away and dropped into the seat beside him. Alexios was still smiling, smug as ever, and glowing like a damn fire was lit within him. Was that how she looked when she was with Elaine?

Tobias's cheeks flushed bright red. He cleared his throat and grabbed a book. "Aya doesn't want to hear about that."

"But watching the pair of you squirm is so much fun," he replied silkily.

Aya went to point out her issue lay with more with Tobias being a kind of brother when a sudden pressure tugged at her chest. Her gaze shot to the door the second it swung open. Sabra was through first and then Elaine, achingly beautiful in the afternoon sun. The fear unclenched inside of her for only a second when those jewel green depths found hers.

And her stomach sank.

She was up in a flash. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing bad—sort of. Good news or bad news first?" Aya stared at her, and Elaine sighed. "Fine, good news, we can have free access to Honoria's office—including everyone in this room. We're allowed to enter temple grounds. The bad news, well, the kind I suspect you're not going to be thrilled on."

"Is what?"

Elaine tugged back the collar of her dress to reveal a small cross cut into her skin over her heart. "I swore a blood oath that we would do no harm to any witch from the temple, nor harm the grounds." Aya's jaw dropped, and Elaine quickly added, " but she swore the same."

Aya knew all about blood debts. Witches weren't the only ones who used them. Syrens used them, even a few foolish human acolytes who followed a god or goddess. Most never truly understood how dangerous they could be. Break them and it could incur the wrath of whatever deity you swore upon.

She trusted Elaine was probably one of the few who would know the full risks with such oaths. Meaning it wasn't made lightly. But that didn't ease the thread pulling so tight in her chest, making every breath hurt, her head pounding.

She forced several deep breaths in and out, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Bedroom, now. "

Elaine's eyes widened but she offered no argument, doing as she was told. Aya followed, aware of the others watching them as they vanished upstairs. The steps creaked underfoot but the house remained eerily still, as if not daring to incur on the already tense moment.

The second they were in the room, Aya locked the bedroom door. She paused there for a moment, staring at the grains in the wood, trying to slow the thundering pulse of her heart. She turned slowly, meeting those wary eyes—not afraid but cautious all the same.

"Can you ward the room, make it so no sound escapes?"

Elaine's chin bobbed.

"Do it."

Aya watched with bated breath as Elaine raised her hands. Her eyes fluttered shut, and light spilled from her hands. A gentle hush claimed the room, the world outside forgotten. Little more than a distant thought as Aya stalked across to Elaine. Slowly, each step careful, eyes locked in a dance. The air thickened as the distance shrank, delirium curling around her bones as Aya stood before her. Breaths entangled.

"Pick a word. You say it and we stop."

Elaine's peered at her beneath reddish lashes. "Death."

"Good, now strip."

She needed to see her laid bare, no thread between them. Elaine wordlessly tugged at her shirt, agonizingly slowly, her gaze never wavering. Fabric tumbled to the ground. Aya's breath hitched, drinking every inch of that glorious skin unveiled. Heat flared through her blood, leaving her wanting— aching —to touch and taste and tease every sound from that wicked mouth.

Elaine kicked off her boots then set to work at her pants, tugging at the laces until they were loose and pooled at her feet. Aya's heart pounded viciously against her ribs, all air gone from her chest as she beheld Elaine—beautiful, naked, and utterly hers.

Aya stepped in close, her lips brushing the shell of Elaine's ear as she spoke in a low, ragged voice. "You drive me to madness."

"But isn't it wonderful?" Elaine whispered hoarsely. "You—"

Aya crushed their mouths together.

Elaine whimpered under the assault but didn't pull away or say the word. Even as Aya spun her around and bent her over the bed. She trailed fiery kisses along the side of her face, Elaine twisting to meet her, when she pulled away. Continued her path across the gentle slope of her shoulder and along her spine. She stopped at the small of her back and stepped back.

"How would you feel if I was inside you?"

"Don't tease," Elaine groaned. "Unless you're telling me that you have said device in your drawer and that it is a recent purchase. Because if I find out that you have had it this entire time…"

A smile pulled at her mouth as Aya returned a minute later, naked, and strapped, the end slick with an oil. Elaine peered over her shoulder, still obediently bent over, when her breath hitched. Eyes widened and locked on Aya, on the carved cock jutting out proud.

"Remember your word, Elaine." Aya stepped up behind her. "Now, tell me why you swore such a dangerous oath?"

"Because I had to—"

Aya smacked her ass. Elaine cried out, startled, then moaned low and pleading. Red bloomed across her ass, the print of her hand welling.

"This a punishment. You're not meant to enjoy this," Aya growled and slapped her again.

Elaine whimpered, melting into the bed. Desire dripped down her legs.

"And you're fucking wet? Do you like being smacked, Elaine?" Aya struck again, earning a low, keening cry.

She'd be lying if she said she didn't like the sight of Elaine wet and wanting, begging for release, begging for her.

Elaine writhed against the bed, clutching at the beds, as if she were fighting the urge to touch herself. To ease the ache burning her from within. Aya devoured the sounds as her hand came down again and again, watching in devilish delight as Elaine cried her name.

"You knew how unhappy I would be if you swore such an oath," Aya growled. "So, why? Why do it?"

"To keep you safe!" Elaine cried out. "I would—I would do anything to protect you all."

Aya leaned over Elaine's back, the hard cock nudging at Elaine's heat. She brushed her lips against the shell of her ear, feeling the shiver rippling through Elaine and the way she curled to the side, seeking Aya's mouth.

"Foolish witch," Aya groaned and grabbed her hips.

Elaine released a whimpering cry. "Do it! Fuck me!"

"So demanding." Aya chuckled and stood behind her. "What if I wanted a taste first? Or perhaps I should make you ride my face first?"

In a flash, Elaine was up, eyes blazing. Fire crackled along her skin. A breath caught in her throat as Elaine suddenly pushed her back. The power shifted in a blink and Elaine was crawling over her, crushing their mouths together. They drank each other in, clinging on for the life they'd built and the one they dreamed of. All the desperation and love and pain burned in a raging storm as frantic hands grasped at skin, drawing hips in. Seeking release.

Elaine wrenched her mouth away with a wicked grin. "Someone said something about riding?"

A breathless smile split Elaine's cheeks as she drew herself up and over Aya's face. Thick thighs straddled either side, warm as she grasped them firmly. Then Elaine was on her, bearing her cunt down onto Aya's lips. Heaven exploded through her as Aya tasted, licked, and sucked, savoring every drop of her. Sweat, heavenly, an elixir she would crave until her final breath.

Relishing the little sounds and pleas erupting from Elaine as she grabbed hold of the headboard, writhing against Aya's tongue.

Aya groaned into Elaine, the heady rush swelling within her. Pushing her toward the edge. She swirled her tongue around Elaine's clit, latching on as she worked her witch into a screaming frenzy. The stench of sweat and sex thickened in the air. Aya couldn't breathe much but she didn't give a damn, ready to drown herself in Elaine.

Elaine suddenly doubled over with a ragged scream, breathing hard, before she rolled to the side. The weight off her, Aya looked over, grinning. Rivulets of sweat glimmered along Elaine and Aya had the sudden urge to lick them away. She drank in the sight of her witch, delirious and grinning. All flushed from pleasure, Aya rolled onto her. Her hand dropped to Elaine's thigh, eliciting a low groan as she drew it up.

"You can't be ready for more?" Elaine whimpered.

"Say the word, my love, and I'll stop."

"You stop and I'll burn this house down."

A chuckle burst from her lips. "Well, I can't have that, can I? The others would be rather mad at me."

Aya lifted Elaine's hips, holding the strapped cock at her core. Trust burned in those emerald pools. It ripped the air from her lungs, stole her very sanity away as she bore down and plunged inside. Elaine threw her head back into the pillow, a scream threatening. Aya bent down, swallowing her cries with a kiss as she worked her way inside. Slowly, pressing one hand down onto her clit, ensuring that Elaine felt only pleasure, only knew the delirium Aya was giving her.

She rolled her hips, and she was fully seated. Elaine groaned, nails digging into Aya's upper arms. Biting hard enough to draw blood but Aya didn't care. She pulled away with a breathless grin.

"Like that, do you?"

"If you don't fucking move, I will—"

Aya pulled out and slammed in—hard.

Elaine screamed.

Words died as Aya set to work, plunging inside of Elaine repeatedly. Shifting the angle, one hand still swirling her clit, working her into a sobbing mess. Tears glistened in her eyes as curses spilled from her lips. Enough to make any temple witch blush. Aya grinned, rolling her hips, quickening her pace. Racing to the end. To the oblivion that demanded both of them.

Her own breathless cries answered back, echoing off the walls and windows, until it was all that could be heard. The hard slap of skin against skin, of breathless pleas and broken curses. It was heaven and hell all at once.

And Aya flung herself over the edge, driving in deep as Elaine released a guttural scream.

They slumped against each other. Aya cradled the side of Elaine's face, tenderly stroking it before she drew out of her. Elaine whimpered.

Aya rolled onto her side and unfastened the straps, setting the toy aside on the side table. She started to turn back over when pain exploded inside of her chest. A scream tore from her lips as she doubled over, clutching at her throat.

Darkness nudged her vision as the feeling of cold death slammed into her.

A feeling she knew well.

Death—hundreds of them, all at once, and she could feel it all. The screams and grief, the desperation to stay. Aya stumbled off the bed, dropping to her knees as another wave crashed through her.

And she began to scream.