7. Adelaide

7

ADELAIDE

"Make it stop!" I scream as Orby whizzes around the room, smashing into anything and everything, including us.

"We have no power over it!" Ignatius shouts, ducking as Orby goes flying over his head at a rate of knots.

"Oof," Zaiah exclaims as Orby bounces off his chest, only to zoom across the room to smash into the mirror, cracking it.

"Seven years of bad luck!" I shriek. "Orby! Stop!"

The bedroom door opens, and Corvus steps in, his eyes widening at the chaos before him. Without missing a beat, he reaches out and snatches Orby mid-flight, his vampire reflexes on full display. "What the fuck is going on here?" he demands, holding the vibrating Orby in his grip.

Nice moves. Why didn't I think of that?

I collapse onto the bed, breathing heavily. "Orby just went nuts. Started flying around and smashing into everything."

Corvus frowns, examining the orb in his hand. "And it's never done that before?"

"No," I say as Zaiah rubs his chest where Orby hit him. "He was completely out of control."

Ignatius runs a hand through his flaming hair, extinguishing a few sparks that had ignited in the chaos. "It started right after Zephyr left. One minute, it wasn't even here, and the next, it was utter mayhem."

"He," I mutter.

"Huh?"

"He. Orby is a he."

"Is he?" Corvus asks, looking at the ball in his hand as he holds out the flask. "Here. Don't drink it all at once."

"Human?" I ask, almost panting at the thought.

"Yeah. Unofficially, we can get more once the Blood Bar restocks, but for now, it's that and then synthetic."

"And yours," I murmur, staring at his neck.

He smiles slowly. "Anytime you want. So, Orby. What the fuck?"

It buzzes in his hand.

"Give it here," Zaiah says.

"Do you think you can connect to it with your djinn mojo?" I ask as Corvus happily hands Orby over.

Zaiah's eyes narrow in concentration as he holds Orby. The orb vibrates in his palms, but less violently now. "I can try," he murmurs, his form shimmering slightly as he taps into his magick.

We all watch in tense silence as Zaiah closes his eyes, his brow furrowing. The air around him seems to ripple. Orby's vibrations slow, then stop altogether.

"Well?" Ignatius prompts after a moment.

Zaiah's eyes snap open with annoyance. "Hang on a sec. It… he is trying to communicate."

"Communicate what?" I ask, leaning forward.

"Danger," Zaiah says grimly. "It's sensing some kind of threat. Something big is coming."

"Like bigger than what already came?" I ask with more than a little sass.

Zaiah snickers but sobers quickly. "Yeah. I can't get specifics. It's more like feelings. Impressions. Whatever's coming, it's got Orby seriously spooked."

"Great," Corvus mutters. "As if we didn't have enough to worry about."

I reach for the flask of human blood, my hands shaking slightly. The events of the day are catching up with me, and the hunger is gnawing at my insides.

I moan slightly as I bring the flask to my lips. The scent of human blood hits me hard, and I have to fight to keep from gulping it all down at once. I take a small sip, and the taste... oh God, the taste. Rich, complex, intoxicating. I feel it spreading through me, filling me with warmth and strength.

"Easy," Corvus murmurs, his hand on my arm. "Not too fast."

I nod, forcing myself to lower the flask. It takes every ounce of willpower I possess.

"You okay?" Ignatius asks, watching me with fascination and concern.

I take a moment to assess. The hunger has receded, but not disappeared entirely. My senses feel sharper, more alive. The weakness that was hovering under the surface has dissipated.

"Stronger," I say finally. "More in control, I think."

"Good," Corvus nods. "That's a start. But we need to work on your control. The bloodlust can be dangerous for you."

I wince at the memory of my frenzied attack on Zephyr. "Not just for me."

"It's not your fault," Zaiah says gently. "You're dealing with powers and instincts you've never experienced before. It's going to take time to adjust."

"But we don't have time," I argue, frustration bubbling up. "Not if there's some big threat coming. I need to get a handle on this now."

"And you will," Corvus assures me. "We'll help you. All of us."

The bond I feel with each of them seems to pulse stronger, but there's an ache, an emptiness where Zephyr should be.

"I wish Zephyr was here," I murmur, voicing the thought before I can stop myself.

"He'll be back soon," Ignatius says, "Hopefully with some answers."

I nod, taking another small sip of blood. "So, what do we do in the meantime?"

"Zaiah needs to keep working with the orb," Corvus says. "See if you can get any more specific information about this threat."

Zaiah nods, his white eyes focused intently on Orby.

"Meanwhile," Corvus continues, "Ignatius, I need you to do some recon around campus. See which members of staff are still here. Blackthorn said all of the senior staff left before the Strix attack… so we are down a few teachers."

"Left?" I ask in horror. "Or died?"

"I asked the same thing. He said left. Including Ellis."

"Fuck," Ignatius says. "That explains why the Order never arrived. They didn't get the alert."

"Fuck."

"Yeah, fuck about sums this situation up," he says grimly.

I frown as I sense something more. "What is it?"

"What is what?"

"What is causing you to be all…" I wave my hand around. "Aggro."

"Aggro?" he murmurs with a smile. "My father will be here soon, and then you will see why I'm aggro."

"Your dad? I'm guessing he's some big-wig vampire?"

"You could say that," Ignatius snorts with amusement, which pisses Corvus off.

"Just go," he growls.

Ignatius gives him the finger and me a grin and then vanishes in a flaming pillar.

"This is not fun," I complain, flopping back on the bed and staring longingly at the flask.

"No," Corvus says, whisking it away from my line of sight. "Small doses. You are already volatile. This will make you worse."

"Can I have some synthetic, then?"

He pauses and then nods. "I'll go and get you some."

"Thanks," I murmur, but then growl at him when he takes the flask with him. "Arsehole."

I can hear his laugh all the way down the stairs, and I return my attention to Zaiah. He is looking at me with hooded eyes, and it sends a bolt of lust straight to my pussy.

"Now?" he asks with a smirk, stashing Orby under the pillow.

"Yes, now. I feel like last time wasn't really real."

"Oh, it was real, babes. But this time, I want you to know ."

He moves in, climbing on the bed and shedding his clothes quickly.

Zaiah's lips crash into mine as he pushes me back. His skin shimmers with an ethereal glow, his white eyes blazing with desire. I moan into his mouth, my hands roaming over his muscular back.

"Fuck, I need you," I gasp as he trails kisses down my neck.

"Then take me," he growls, his voice husky with want.

I flip us over, straddling his hips. My strength surprises me as I easily pin his arms above his head. Zaiah grins up at me, his form shimmering slightly.

"Someone's feeling powerful," he teases.

"You have no idea," I purr, grinding against him.

I lean down to capture his lips again, savouring the taste of him. My fangs drop, pricking his bottom lip. The scent of his warm blood sends a jolt of hunger through me.

"Careful," Zaiah murmurs, but there's no fear in his eyes, only trust and desire.

I lick the droplet of blood from his lip, groaning at the taste. It's different from the other blood I've tasted. Spicy, electric, intoxicating.

"More," I demand, my voice rough with need.

Zaiah tilts his head, offering his neck. "Take what you need, Adelaide."

I don't hesitate. My fangs sink into his flesh, and I drink deeply, moaning at the explosion of flavour. Zaiah's blood is like liquid fire, filling me with an intense, almost overwhelming pleasure. He groans, his body writhing beneath me as I drink.

His hips buck, and I feel his hard cock pressing into me. I release his arms, and he wraps them around me, pulling me closer as I continue to drink from him. My hand finds its way between us, and I grip his cock tightly. He growls, his hips jerking in response as I tug on him.

I pull away, my fangs retracting as I lick the remaining blood from my lips. Zaiah's eyes are half-lidded, his breathing ragged. I can see the desire burning in his gaze, and it sends a thrill through me.

"Fuck me, Adelaide," he moans.

With a swift motion, I discard my clothing, never once breaking eye contact with Zaiah. His gaze devours me, hungry and eager as I climb back on top of him. The air around us sizzles with electricity, our bodies intertwined in a firework display of desire. Every inch of skin tingles with anticipation as we melt into each other.

I grip him again, feeling his cock jerk wildly at my touch. I guide him inside my wet pussy, and we both groan at the sensation. He feels amazing, filling me completely. I move my hips, rocking back and forth as I ride him. Zaiah's hands grip my waist, his fingers digging into my skin as he thrusts deeply.

"That's it, Mistress. Make me come for you."

"Fuck," I gasp as his words sends rockets of pure pleasure shooting through me.

I grab his wrists, pinning them above his head again. "Who's in control here?" I growl. The power surging through me is heady.

"You are, Mistress," Zaiah gasps, his voice filled with lust and submission. "You're in control. I'm yours."

I lean down, capturing his lips in a searing kiss as I ride him faster. Zaiah's blood still lingers on my tongue, a potent reminder of the connection between us. My power grows, fuelled by the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

As I release his wrists, Zaiah's hands immediately find my breasts, teasing my sensitive nipples. I moan into his mouth, my movements becoming more erratic as I chase the mounting pleasure.

With a loud cry, I climax hard around his cock, my pussy clenching him tightly, fiercely, claiming him.

Before I've come down from my high, Zaiah flips us over, taking control with an animalistic growl. He drives into me with furious intensity, each thrust sending shockwaves of pleasure through my entire being, stoking the fire back to life. I claw at his back and wrap my legs around him, desperate to hold on as he pushes me closer and closer to the edge again.

"Fuck, Adelaide, you feel so good," Zaiah groans, his pace relentless.

My nails dig deeper into his skin, drawing blood, but he doesn't seem to notice or care. He just keeps thrusting, driving me wild with desire. The scent of his blood mingling with our sweat and lust is out of this world, pushing me over the edge of the cliff.

As I come apart beneath him, Zaiah buries his face in my neck, his teeth grazing my skin. I feel him stiffen, his hips slamming against mine as he follows me into oblivion. We lay there, panting and sweaty, our bodies entangled and hearts racing.

After a few moments, Zaiah rolls off me, his breathing finally starting to return to normal. He pulls me close, holding me tightly as we both come down from our shared high. "Well, that was certainly real."

I laugh breathlessly, feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment. "Fuck, yeah, it was."

"How rude," Ignatius mutters from the corner of the room, where, at some point, he must've flamed back in and sat down to watch us.

I gasp and look over at him, but he is anything but annoyed. He is rabidly turned on. "You like to watch?" I murmur as I see his cock in his hand.

"I prefer to act," he says.

With the ball firmly in my court, as he just sits there, I crawl away from Zaiah and across the bed. Climbing off, I get back on my knees and crawl to him. He watches me with those hawk-like eyes of his, deep lust building with each second I get closer. When I reach him, I nestle between his legs and take his cock in my mouth.

"Fuck," he groans, sliding his hand into my hair. "Fuck, that feels good."

Ignatius' fingers thread through my hair, guiding me as I take him deeper into my mouth. His cock is hot and thick, and I can taste the salty precum on my tongue. I moan, the vibrations making his cock jerk.

I work my mouth up and down his shaft, relishing the feeling of his cock hitting the back of my throat. He groans, bucking his hips slightly as I find a rhythm that drives him wild.

My movements become more erratic. His cock twitches in my mouth, and he groans, his release imminent. I want him to come in my mouth. I want to taste him. Swallow every last drop he has to give me.

His cock swells in my mouth. I moan, the vibrations sending him over the edge. With a final, guttural groan, he orgasms, filling my mouth with his hot cum. I swallow it greedily, savouring the taste as I continue to suck him until he's completely drained.

Breathing heavily, Ignatius pulls me away from his cock and crushes his lips to mine in a searing kiss, tasting himself on my tongue. He pulls away, his gaze intense and filled with desire.

"That was quicker than I expected," he murmurs, gazing into my eyes.

"You're mine," I reply, brushing my thumb lightly over his bottom lip. "And I'm yours. All of yours."

I know it's true. There is no doubt in my mind this is fate that has tangled us all up together in a relationship that goes far past anything physical or emotional. We're all bound together by something deeper, something ancient and powerful and real.