12. Torin

12

TORIN

"What the fuck was that about?" I ask, watching the feisty blonde hurry away. There was something extremely appealing about her, but I'm not sure what it is. Usually, I don't go in for having creatures talk back to me, but that was something else.

Bram scowls. "The little bitch kneed me in the balls earlier when I almost ran her over. She needs to learn some respect."

I snort. "Sounds like you deserved it."

"Fuck off," Bram growls.

"How have we never come across her before now?"

Tate shrugs, his eyes still following the direction the blonde disappeared in. "She said she's been here three years. Maybe we just never noticed her before."

I raise an eyebrow. "How the fuck did we miss a spitfire like that for three years? "

"Who knows," Bram grumbles. "But now that she's on my radar, I'm going to make her life hell."

"Leave her alone," Tate says sharply.

I eye him suspiciously. "What's your deal? You've been acting weird ever since she showed up."

Tate's jaw clenches. "Nothing. I just think we've got more important shit to worry about than harassing some random student."

"She's not random anymore," Bram says with a wicked grin. "She's made herself a target now."

I shake my head. "As entertaining as it would be to watch you try to take on that little firecracker, Tate's right. We've got bigger fish to fry. Like finding my arsehole dad."

"Still nothing?" Bram asks, and I shake my head.

"No, so I've gotta go to this stupid Brasch Coven meeting now before my mother tears me a new one. And before either of you decide to chuckle about that, need I remind you of what she did to that little punk who thought he could sell drugs on our strip last year?"

I see them both reconsider their taunts and pale slightly. As gory as I like it, there was literally nothing left of that guy to sweep up.

"So, fuck you both, I'm out of here."

"Catch you later," Tate mutters as I head off in the direction of my car parked near the curb. Ditching the rest of this day was a mild annoyance at best. Now, after this showdown with the mysterious blonde, I'm pissed off. I want to find out more about her. Why has she suddenly sprung up out of practically nowhere? Who is she, and what does she want? Opening the car, I slide into the driver's seat of my sleek black Audi, slamming the door harder than necessary. As I start the engine and peel away from the curb, my mind keeps drifting back to Poison. Maybe Bram is right. Maybe we don't let her go next time we come across her. She is a hard bitch to track down. It was only luck and a bartender on my payroll that got us in her vicinity last night. He texted with news of a pink-haired vixen in the hotel across the road from his pub. We knew it would be her, so we waited for her, and we got lucky.

"Fuck," I groan as my cock goes hard thinking about last night. She plays the game we want her to. She pretends she doesn't want it when, in reality, she can't wait to come all over our dicks. She is playing us as much as we are playing her, if not more. It's why we are so invested. Well, me, anyway. Those other two have their own shit. But I'm all about trying to figure out what she is up to with us. Why does she let us do her that way, and why did she save me from biting her last night?

Shaking my head, I try to push it aside for now. This Brasch Coven meeting is going to be a pain in my arse, but it's necessary. As much as I hate playing nice with these conceited idiots, I don't have a choice right now. I need more time, more power. Last night's digging around came up as a waste of time, but it won't deter me. I know Bram will have my back, it's his plan to stay here and not return to the Fae Kingdom, and Tate is practically my brother. Orphaned early on, he lived on the streets until he tried to rob me one day eight years ago, and I decided he was worth keeping around. He's tough. Broken but loyal. He will stand against the Ainsley Coven with me when the time is right.

As I speed down the winding country roads towards the meeting location my mother texted me, I smile. If they only knew what I was really up to, they'd shit themselves. This isn't me going gentle into the good night. Nah. This is me going blazing into the darkness and taking as many of those boring fucks out while I do it.

Pulling up to the sprawling manor house that serves as the Ainsley Coven's headquarters, I take a deep breath. Time to put on the dutiful son act.

As I enter the grand foyer, my mother materialises before me, looking as cold and regal as ever in her sleek black dress.

"You're close to being late," she says, her voice dripping with disapproval.

I plaster on a charming smile. "But I'm not late, so shut up."

She narrows her eyes, clearly wanting to push me, but she knows she needs me here. "Go in there and work out this deal with the Brasch Coven. It should take less than half an hour if you can focus for that long, but it's important, so don't fuck it up."

I grimace at my mother's condescending tone. " Relax, I've got this. Just a simple trade agreement, right?"

She nods curtly. "Yes, but it's crucial we maintain good relations with the Brasch Coven. They control key territory we need access to."

"I know, I know," I say dismissively. "I'll play nice with the pompous arseholes. Don't worry about it."

My mother's eyes flash dangerously, but she holds her tongue. She knows better than to start a fight with me right before an important meeting. Instead, she turns on her heel and leads me to the ornate double doors of the main conference room.

As we enter, I survey the room. A long mahogany table dominates the space, with high-backed chairs lining each side. At the far end is Elias Brasch, the coven's leader, flanked by his top advisors. Their eyes lock onto me as I saunter in, exuding casual confidence.

"Ah, Torin," Elias says, his voice dripping with fake warmth. "So good of you to join us."

I flash him my most charming smile as I take my seat. "Always a pleasure, Elias."

The negotiations begin, and I force myself to focus. As mind-numbingly boring as this shit is, I know it's important to play my part. I listen attentively, nodding at the right moments and offering smooth replies when needed. All the while, my mind is racing, thinking of ways I can use this deal to my advantage later.

After about twenty-five minutes, we reach an agreement. Elias looks pleased, which means I can fuck off and not have my mother bitching at me for the rest of the day. As we all stand to shake hands, I catch my mother's approving nod from across the room.

"Excellent work, Torin," Elias says, clasping my hand. "You're proving to be quite the asset to your coven. Your father must be proud. It's a shame he couldn't join us today."

"Hmm." I don't give any more than that. He clearly doesn't know Dad is missing, so whatever my mum told them, they can believe for all I care.

As we file out of the room, my mother pulls me aside. "Well done," she says quietly. "Now we need to find your fucking father before word gets out."

"I'll keep looking," I murmur, and then, with a tight smile, I leave her and get back into my car, eager to get back to Thornfield and planning my coup, as well as getting back to my thoughts about Poison.

The drive back is dull, but over with quickly. When I pull into the driveway of our townhouse, I see Bram's car already there. Great. I'm sure he's still pissy about earlier.

I stride into the house, heading straight for the kitchen. I need a drink after dealing with those Brasch Coven pricks. As I round the corner, I nearly collide with Tate.

"Watch it," he grunts, stepping back.

"Where's the fire?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at his agitated state .

He runs a hand through his hair. "Just thinking."

"About Poison?" I smirk.

His eyes narrow. "What? No. I've got more important shit to worry about."

"Sure you do," I say, unconvinced. "Where's Bram?"

"Upstairs. Probably jerking off while thinking about her again."

I snort. "Probably."

"His obsession is becoming a problem."

I snort at Tate's comment about Bram. "His obsession is becoming a problem? Pot, meet kettle. You're just as fixated on her as he is."

Tate glares at me. "I am not. I am concerned about what her working for The Syndicate means for us messing with her."

"Right," I drawl, not buying it for a second. "And I'm sure that's why you've been acting so weird lately. Nothing to do with wanting to get your dick wet."

His jaw clenches. "Fuck off, Torin. Not everything is about sex."

"With Poison, it kind of is," I shoot back with a smirk. "Or are you going to pretend you don't want another taste of that tight little cunt?"

Tate growls, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Drop it."

I hold up my hands in mock surrender.

He storms off without another word, leaving me chuckling in his wake. Tate can deny it all he wants, but I know he's just as obsessed with Poison as the rest of us.

Grabbing a bottle of blood from the fridge, I pour myself a generous glass before I head to the living room to stew over everything calmly and hopefully without interruption.