19. CATALINA

NINETEEN

catalina

“Be cautious,” Asher said near my ear as he squeezed my hip. Well thanks, if I didn’t already have my heart in my throat, that would have done it. One of my heels sank between the crevice of the sidewalk and I grimaced. I was thankful that Asher was quick to right my wobble or the beauties could have ended up irreparably damaged. Come on, Catalina, you were much better in heels than this . I couldn’t let my anxiety get the best of me while in these, they were too precious.

Asher guided me thorough the entrance of a lonely looking building. Other than a few stragglers, there was no one loitering outside. We’d traveled miles until we reached an area downtown, further into the middle where all the bars and nightlife were located. It was much further than any area I’d driven to around my new city. Once inside, the pristine, granite floors led down the hall to a man standing before an oversized black door with fancy red trim. I gawked fascinatedly at the various paintings lining the walls. Different scenes of women in compromising positions, draped in silk or sheer material.

“Crimson.” The man standing at the door said as we stepped up to him, attention on Asher who paused, a charming smile spreading on his lips. “Haven’t seen you around in a while.”

“Binet,” Asher responded jovially. “Always a pleasure.”

My toes curled as I shuffled from heel to heel. Asher patted the guy’s arm and waved me ahead of him. There was no obvious indication the guy was a vampire other than how his gaze dropped to my neck. Skirts fluttering around my legs, I moved past him with distance between us. On the plus side, my heart only slightly jumped. I could do this.

“Welcome to Saphire Lounge.” Binet’s tone skittered up my spine.

My heels sounded especially loud in the secondary hall. The noise bounced off the cement ground and there was nothing to look at in the long dark hallway.

“Is Crimson your last name?”

Asher hummed. “It’s what our coven is known as, but my given last nameis Magnusson.” His magical tongue wet his lower lip and he peered at me from the corner of his eyes. “I’m known in these circles well.”

“So, you’re saying you’re a party boy.”

Asher frowned. “You lost me, Pet.”

I scoffed, smirking. I wasn’t sure if he was purposefully acting like he didn’t know what I was talking about, or if he truly didn’t understand the terminology.

We reached the end, but instead of pulling the silver latch, Asher turned and crowded me. I licked my lips as I stared up at him, eyes wide.

His palm pressed flat next to my head and I blinked up at him as his breath caressed my lips.

“I do not have say in this region, so don’t get tangled up in something you shouldn’t.”

I nodded tightly, breathing hard. The arousal simmering since the manor rushed forward in a wave. Asher leaned forward and nipped the tip of my nose. Oxygen squeezed out of my lungs at the soft look in his eyes.

There was no way he’d be interested in anyone else while he looked at me like this. At least for now, I wanted him to be mine.

“You’re going to mess up my foundation,” I breathed. He’d provided me with the makeup on the drive over and I’d done the best I could with the jolted steering. Asher was a distracted driver.

“I know you don’t believe in monogamy, but—” I started, high pitched, but then the door creaked open, interrupting me. I pressed my lips together. I was relieved because it meant I could put off potentially being rejected.

Asher frowned down at me, but said nothing as he wove his arm behind my back and tugged me through the door. Two men strode past, and Asher guided me through the threshold.

Soft music pumped from the speakers, low enough for conversation to flow.

The low leather couches sporadically placed were filled with people. At first glance it was difficult to tell which were vampires and which were human, until you looked closer, the vampires seemed to let their fang freak flag fly.

That couple in the corner weren’t making out, it was a vampire feeding and the guy being fed on really enjoyed it by the tent in his pants.

A human manned the bar, and he served blood red mixed drinks, complete with the salt topping the rims.

“Asher,” a voice called out. I dragged my attention to the two women approaching. Asher’s grip tightened around my waist.

“Make sure you head to the bar, he’s the one with the pullover collared shirt. I’ll keep my attention on you the entire time.” I stifled the shiver prodding my skin at his whisper grazing my ear.

The women stood in front of us, but I could have been making a whole spectacle of myself and I wouldn’t have existed since their full attention was on Asher. He stepped away from me, leaving me bereft and cold. I attempted to hide the strain tightening my face when the two girls pressed into his sides, hands at his chest as they stared up at him.

My lips flattened and my stomach ached. It was a good thing I hadn’t gotten the words out earlier; I would have made a fool of myself.

Asher’s hands hung over their shoulders.

“Sweets,” he purred. “Long time no see.”

The girls grinned.

Sure, his attention would remain on me. I scoffed and fluffed my hair to nip the crawling sensation skirting up my neck.

Even though he’d warned me, I’d foolishly hoped that he would at least not be with another, or bite another so soon after we’d been together. He was my first fucking experience after all, but that was obviously a tall order. Asher leaned to say something into one of their ears, his nose near her neck. I swiftly turned my back before I did something embarrassing.

The urge to smack him tingled my palm and I fisted my hand. I was not a violent person, so the desire threw me for a loop. Looked like one major difference in creating the fictional vampire world in my novels was that the ones I created were faithful.

My heels clicked as I navigated to the bar, and fortunately, no one tried to get bite-y with me.

I set my elbows on the counter next to the preppy-looking vampire and squeezed my eyelids tightly. I needed a moment, but with closed eyes, I couldn’t help but see the image of Asher leaning over that woman. It soured my stomach.

I fully understood it wasn’t my business who he bit or slept with, but it stung. Caring was the epitome of stupid—surrounding myself with vampires must have incited some sort of psychological breakdown.

I puffed out my cheeks.

“Just take a little more,” a feminine voice said from my other side. She squished herself against the male vampire leaning back with his elbows on the bar top. Her neck was riddled with scars, bite marks from vampires feeding on her.

He stared over the woman’s head, eyeing the dance floor.

“Please,” she whined. The tone grated on my ears and the vampire didn’t seem happy about it either.

“I said no, blood-whore,” he hissed. This was a blood-whore? I wasn’t begging for it like this. She reminded me of an addict, the shifting gaze, the tapping fingers . . . I didn’t behave that way.

She pawed at his chest, and he shoved her so hard her elbow slammed into me, sending me teetering to the side.

She didn’t turn to acknowledge me. Her attention was fully on groping the vampire. She seemed out of her mind with desperation.

“Inconsiderate, eh?”

I whipped my head toward the preppy vampire. He was conventionally attractive in a stereotypical college-bro kind of way. And he stared at me with deep-set eyes. My skin crawled. This vampire held no humanity in his expression, no emotion.

“Mhm.” I forced a smile and straightened from my slouch. His gaze caressed my face and dropped to my body. His body leaned slightly closer, and his nose flared. His pupils dilated and a chill skittered up my spine.

“You seem out of place.” I barely held back from wrinkling my nose at the interest in his tone. Swiveling the barstool toward him, I worked on relaxing my shoulders while the urge to run traveled through my veins. I released the excess energy by bouncing my foot.

“Am I that obvious?” I tried for a coy tone. The vampire’s lips quirked. He was attractive, there wasn’t a doubt about it, but after being exposed to the vampire’s next door, his beauty paled in comparison.

“Tell me, how did a succulent morsel like yourself make it in here without a vampire on your arm.” His tone lowered like it had when Jax tried to compel me. I slightly lowered my head, not breaking eye contact. Asher coached me on this potentially happening.

“A tall Viking looking guy brought me. Shoulder length blond hair, blue eyes, slight accent.”

“Point him out to me.” He leaned closer and the overwhelming scent of blood wafted to my nose. I scanned the crowd and lifted a finger in Asher’s direction where he had his back to me, head lowered to listen to whatever the woman said. I dug my fingernails into the wood of the stool.

“Did that Crimson slut set a trap in you? Poison your blood? Anything to target me?” His eyelids narrowed.

“No,” I answered succinctly and deadpan. His palm snaked around the back of my neck. I didn’t like the smile that curved his lips.

“Has he fucked you?”

“Yes.” The truth slipped out, but it sounded like he knew Asher well if he was calling him a slut, so it seemed like shooting myself in the foot if I said no.

He swirled the still-full glass clinging from his fingertips. The dark red liquid sloshed against the sides, the blood’s residue creating a film on the sides.

“Come with me.” It wasn’t a request. These damn vampires seemed to have an aversion to consent. The bland smile didn’t reach his eyes. I nodded because if I spoke, it’d come out as a croak. He carefully set the full glass on the bar and stood in an eerily smooth motion.

He guided me to the door to the side of the space, palm flat at my spine. The door creaked and I licked my lips, wringing my hands in front of me at the dark staircase leading down. It was like one of those staircases leading to a basement where a serial killer kept you for a few days before they slaughtered you. I dug my fingernails into my palm. This whole being around actual vampires, not the fictional ones I wrote, was messing with my psyche. I doubted I could ever return to my blissful fascination.

I grabbed hold of my skirts as I descended, to keep me from falling on my face. I stepped onto the platform, and he hooked his arm around my waist, guiding me to the left instead of to the strobing lights down the hall. When he opened the door, soft yellow lighting flooded my eyes.

The only person in here was an elegantly dressed woman with beautiful skin a few shades darker than mine. Her bow lips tipped up at the corners as she stared me down from the elaborate throne she sat on. Curving gold plated legs wound upward in an elaborate design toward the base where her ass rested.

The door creaked shut at my back and his grip suddenly slid over my belly, feeling me up. I yelped, a tremble starting at my hands. What was he doing?

“Don’t move,” he ordered.

His hands slid up my side and he felt under my breasts. I gritted my teeth, remaining stiff while he fondled my ass, and then slid his hands down my outer thighs.

“Doesn’t feel like she has anything on her. Shall I strip her?” He was already lifting my skirts and I held my breath, waiting for him to see the button Jax strapped to my leg.

The woman crossed her legs and waved her hand.

“No need, Matt,” she said with a tilt to her words. “She’s human, we’d incapacitate her before she tried anything.”

My chest pumped erratically but my shoulders loosened. Still, Matt’s hands remained on my waist.

“Do they think I’m this stupid? That I don’t know they’d try their little tricks?” The female vampire mused, crossing her long leg over the other.

I kept my mouth shut.

“What, did they tell you to spy for information?” A smirk lifted her lips and I blinked, stunned.

Who was this woman? Seemed like her and the guys knew each other well, but there was also a certain disdainful curl to her lips when she spoke of them.

I cleared my throat.

“What are you talking about.” My words warbled as they came out, shattering the illusion of strength I was trying to convey.

The woman snickered and she swayed over, the bottom of her dress dragging on the ground. She was all sharp edges and angles, deadly and beautiful. Her pointer finger lifted my chin. “Tell me, do you know where they’ve relocated?”

I met her eyes, the intensity intimidating. I licked my lips.

“No,” I croaked, forcing my gaze to remain on hers.

“Disappointing.” She pursed her lips. “But at least I can dismember you and litter you around the slut’s car.”

My stomach dropped to the depths of hell.

She grabbed my upper arm and lifted.

I screamed, tears springing to my eyes. I couldn’t even reach for the button. Was this how it ended? In a creepy attic and because of some feuding vampire?

“Silence,” she drawled. “I quite hate when you humans get too noisy.” Then, she twisted my arm again. Shards of agony splintered from the point she held me up to my shoulder and neck. Like she was shoving my bone into the other.

I valiantly tried to contain my whimpers, but I just couldn’t, it hurt too much. Her head cocked and she stopped applying pressure to my wrist, she used it as an anchor to force me still. She blurred from the tears leaking down my cheeks.

“Shut up, no noise. Zilch.” She shoved up quick and fast. Something popped and I screamed. My head swam and nausea roiled through my gut.

“In all my days I have tortured and ordered humans not to speak, they never have . . .” Her words buzzed in conjunction with my ringing ears. A sob erupted from my throat, and I backed up, cringing into the other vampire standing at my back.

“I can’t compel you.” Her brows lifted high. She lowered her tall body, peering closely into my eyes.

“Ram your body into the wall until you can’t anymore.” Christ, that was sadistic.

“Fuck off,” I said between pants. All I wanted to do was run and hide, but at least I’d die with a bit of dignity.

I cradled my limp arm with the other, tears streaming down my cheeks. I couldn’t move even my fingers.

She suddenly tipped her head back and laughed.

“They’ve really outdone themselves looking for Ren.” She chuckled. “He’ll be quite livid when I mock him about this.” She knew where he was. She clicked her tongue in disappointment. “Poor girl, you’ve really embroiled yourself with the most traitorous, violent, sadistic group of creatures you will ever encounter.” I didn’t know what that meant but it hurt... and scared me.

I blinked. What did that mean? Nerves tightened my chest, but she released my face and stepped back.

The door crashed open, rupturing as Asher slammed into the room. Thank God. His gaze swept the area, hair blown back as he slitted his eyes. Matt’s grip on my waist tightened.

“Don’t touch her,” Asher hissed.

I wanted to crumple in relief at the sight of him. I sprinted right toward him.

He cupped my cheek, and although I could tell he was looking down at me, I couldn’t make out his expression because of my falling tears. His palms dragged down my neck and to my shoulder.

I gasped, flinching from pain. Asher hissed.

“I’ve never seen you so... passionate about one of your whores, Asher.” A mocking tilt coated the woman’s words.

“You bitch,” Asher snapped, eyes briefly flashing red. In that moment he reminded me of his brother.

The woman scoffed. I could no longer hold my head up, so I set it against his chest, using him as a perch. I garnered as much strength as I could. He needed to know about Ren.

“She has Ren,” I interjected.

Asher stiffened, his palm settling on my waist.

“Release him, Calliope.”

“Nope, he’s paying for his sins.”

“You, righteous, bitch,” Asher hissed. “It’s been decades. You’re just pissed that he fucked your female. It’s not his fault you can’t keep a reign on your bitch.”

“Shut up,” Calliope snapped, eyes flashing. “He tricked her for that bitch of yours.”

“How did you get an upper hand on him?” Asher’s chest vibrated with his question.

“No. No. No. Trade secret. Kind of like your little human here. Quite a special one.” I peeked over at her and found her smirking.

“If you don’t?—”

“No threats,” she shouted. I jolted, startled. “Yes, your coven is stronger than mine. I fucking know.” She sounded bitter. “But you must still respect our customs, or I’ll let everyone know you’ve broken the sanctity of territory laws. We would all move against you. You’ve all collected quite the long list of enemies in making your way to the top.”

“ You’re holding him.”

“He trespassed on my property, breaking vampire decorum. You know this. He cannot leave unless he plays a little game with me.” She smirked. “You know how we like our games.” She twirled the end of her short hair. “Fortunately for you, I just want to make him suffer a little.”

Asher smirked.

“Or, more likely, he’ll seek retribution by using the sweet cunt of your female. After all, he’s already fooled her once.”

Calliope came flying at us. Asher let me go, sweeping me behind him in a rush of movement to block the attack. He met her in the middle with a swipe of his fist.

Matt wrapped his palm over my mouth and dragged me into the hall.

I scrambled to reach my thigh to press the button, but his corralling thigh didn’t allow me the movement as he slammed me against the wall. I grunted from the force, yelping from the jolt to my shoulder.

“Wait,” I heaved, having a difficult time breathing.

“Asher fucked my Beloved, so I will steal his little human whore.” Matt sneered down at me.

“W-what does that have to do with me?” I wheezed and his nose touched mine. My chest moved hard against his as he pressed his dick into me. God, the grip he had on my shoulder hurt. His nose grazed the side of my neck as he sank his teeth in.

I was so tense it hurt. I sucked in a breath, trying to get oxygen through my panic. He sucked and the drag lessened some of the hurt, but not enough. A panic-inducing curtain of pure black undulated at the peripheral of my vision, beginning to steal my sight. Memories clawed to the surface, dragging me back.

“Let me go, please?—”

“Your taste . . .” He squeezed my shoulder, and I cried out. Okay, then. I didn’t want to tempt him into doing more so I stilled, letting him drink from me. A flame lit in my core and I hated it more than ever as he swallowed my life’s blood. His lip curled down at me and he tore my dress from the front. The rip jerked my torso as I was exposed to my navel. I cried out from shock. My heartbeat felt like hummingbird wings. I needed my inhaler.

“I see why he’s so protective of you.” He hoisted me up easily and spread my legs, hooking them around his shoulders like I was nothing and causing the bottom of my dress to bunch at my hips. I grabbed his head for purchase and an ache shot up to my shoulder. I scrambled to close my legs?—

Fangs sliced into my thigh, invasive and painful. My hand shook as I reached for the button, but my lungs couldn’t take it. My breathing became erratic and the spots took over my sight.

“Asher,” I cried, coughing.

I slumped against the wall as he slid his fangs into another spot by my knee. A low heat dragged from my clit, and it throbbed with each of his sucks. I didn’t want to be turned on, but I couldn’t help it. A groan wrenched from my mouth and his hands gripped my ass.

The vampire’s legs were taken out from under him and I was caught in a tight grip. My body ached on impact, and I groaned, blinking up at furious blue eyes. Light flooded into the hall from the room we’d been in. Now that it was open, I could see.

“I’m here, Pet,” Asher rasped and pressed his lips to my forehead. His jaw twitched as he took in my state. His eyes flashed red, and he dropped me as gently as he could.

Asher slammed Matt into the wall and a fissure opened on impact.

“You dare feed from her,” he hissed into the guy’s face.

I scrambled back at the violence, having a hard time dragging breaths into my strained lungs. Hearing him call me his clenched every muscle in my body.

I tipped to the side, my knees weakening. A hard chest pressed into my back. Stiffening sent a stab through my shoulder and I bit my lip to keep my cry in. Whoever I’d leaned against swept me up into their arms.

I whimpered, curling into myself. Jax’s lips tightened and he lifted me, tucking me tight to his chest. He adjusted me so my legs hung over one arm and his other propped my back while my head laid on his chest.

“Catalina.” Tobias’s gaze swept over me, his eyes narrowing in on the torn bodice where my breasts were exposed. I curled my good arm in front of me and angled my chest toward Jax, flattening against him to hide everything. Tobias’s lip curled. That was the last I saw of him before he disappeared and rammed into Matt, pounding his fist into the other vampire.

“Jax,” I whispered. The corner of his eyes were pinched as he looked down at me.

“What is it, Cat?” That was the softest tone he’d ever used with me.

“Inhaler. Asher.”

I coughed hard, my body jerking against him. His eyes widened and he set me down. My hand shook as I kept my arm across my breasts. He disappeared and I squeezed my eyes shut while the sounds of fighting continued. A gentle touch ghosted against my neck, calling for my attention.

Jax lifted my medicine and tugged me toward him. My cheek smushed to his chest, and I couldn’t stop my heart’s erratic thumping nor the pressure in my chest. It was a physical urge—fight or flight.

His hand wrapped at the back of my head to brace me and he pressed the lip of the inhaler into my mouth.

I wilted against him with my head lolled. Calliope observed from a few steps away, eyebrows arched. She winked and bled into the darkness, seeming to disappear into the walls.

I lifted my fingers over his and pressed to spray it. I sucked in a breath and the tension loosened at my chest. Thank goodness. His hand moved to my shoulder and I groaned from the agony.

“What is it?” he murmured.

“My shoulder,” I gasped.

“She still likes to dislocate the bones, then.” He sighed and rested his palm against the top of my shoulder and his other went to my arm, in the same place Calliope had gripped me.

I gripped his wrist, eyes widening on his.

“I know what I’m doing.”

I nodded, not really having an option but to let him do his thing.

“Inhale on three. One—” He yanked up and a loud pop echoed.

“You said three,” I wheezed. His lips twitched.

I gingerly moved it in a circle, and other than some soreness, it no longer hurt.

“Oh, wow,” I breathed. “Thank you.” A weird expression crossed his face, but as with other interactions with him that weren’t anger, I didn’t know how to read him. He only grunted in response.

Asher shouldered Jax, jostling me as he snatched me to his chest, the blood splattered all over him smearing on me.

“Tobias, release him,” Jax shouted, and I lifted my gaze to find Tobias squeezing the limp vampire’s neck. The vampire’s face was a bloody mess, but the cuts on his cheek were healing, problem was he was passed out. “Fuck. Killing one of Calliope’s children on her territory is a fight we don’t need.”

Asher didn’t respond to Jax’s concern and continued petting my hair as he pressed me to his chest. As much as I hated admitting it, I trusted Asher—a vampire.

I exhaled shakily as Jax moved to grab Tobias, but he whirled on him, flashing his fangs.

“Now you choose to lose all sense? For a human?” Jax’s mocking words washed over me.

Tobias’s eyes narrowed and red flashed in their depths.

“Catalina, call him over to you,” Asher whispered in my ear.

“Tobias?” I croaked hesitantly.

His head snapped in my direction and he shook his head with his eyes squeezed shut. Straightening, he stiffly walked over to me.

“I’ll take her home.” His words rasped out crisply.

“Jax and I have to find Calliope to see what she wants. She admitted to having Ren.” Asher flexed his grip before finally releasing me.

Tobias just swept me into his arms. He shook his head, sending the waves of his mussed brown hair out of his eyes.

“Relax, Catalina.” Tobias’s voice was low and he hugged me to his chest. I tried doing as he said, but it was difficult. They finally had confirmation about Ren, and that was the entire point of me being there. Now that they knew, I was no longer necessary.

I licked my lips and squeezed my eyes shut as I swayed in his arms.