Chapter 23

Chapter 23

ALASTAIR

A lastair was already in a shitty mood.

It started with the hunger. He needed to feed. Desperately. Raw hunger gnawed at his concentration, blanketing all his thoughts. It was keeping him awake during the day and making it difficult to get through his nights.

It was his own fault. He’d been putting it off longer and longer each time, finally pushing himself to this point. But since Fey, feeding had become… complicated. He’d been back to the family manse a few times since she’d moved in, trying to make it work, but…

He hated it. Hated every moment his mouth was on another woman. Hated it even when he insisted on feeding from their wrists, rather than their necks, wanting to keep as much distance from them as physically possible.

The thought of taking blood tonight while Fey dined with his family was enough to turn his stomach, but he had to do it. Had to fight through the nausea at being that close to another person and calm this insistent ache inside him.

And that was the other thing, adding to his shitty attitude today. Very few things spoiled Alastair’s mood as much as visiting his family.

Scratch that. As much as visiting his father .

The truth was, he was excited to see Callum. His younger brother hadn’t met Fey yet, and he’d been looking forward to tonight, looking forward to finally seeing the two of them together. Callum was going to love her.

But his father…

Alastair swore in frustration, his fingers fucking up the knot on his tie once again. He tugged it loose, unraveling the knot to start again. He’d tied this same fucking knot every night, for the Goddess only knew how many fucking years. Why was he having so much trouble with it tonight? Why were his hands suddenly fucking it all up?

A heavy knock on the open door was all the warning he got before Ferus entered his office. The giant Wolf came right up to Alastair, taking the loose ends of the tie and making quick work of the knot.

Just as Alastair opened his mouth to thank him, though, the fucker had the audacity to ask, “Nervous, boss?” in an annoyingly amused tone.

“Fuck you,” Alastair snapped. He straightened the knot in his tie, tightening it so it sat perfectly between his collarbones. When had Ferus learned that? “Why the fuck would I be nervous?”

“First time bringing a girl home to the family,” Ferus said in a matter-of-fact tone, ignoring Alastair’s glare entirely. Alastair scowled harder. “That could make any man nervous.”

“Speaking of,” Alastair said. “Have you seen her?”

She was here, in the building. He could feel that pull of her power. Could feel that she was close. A different sort of hunger rose inside him.

Ferus nodded, giving an affirmative grunt. “Saw her when she came in. I can grab her for you, if you want?” he offered, but Alastair shook his head.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll go find her. I figure I should warn her about my father before we leave.”

Ferus blinked. “You’ve already warned her, boss.”

“Yeah, well, you can’t be too warned when it comes to dear old Dad,” Alastair said. He shrugged his suit jacket on, giving the lapels a shake to straighten it, and flicked a bit of lint from the shoulder.

Why had he even agreed to this? He’d avoided seeing his father for the last couple of years, only stopping by the family estate to feed and visit his brother when he knew the deSanguine wouldn’t be in residence. The last message that his father had left with Callum, though, had been straight to the point. A date, and a time, with a note instructing Alastair to bring his betrothed.

His betrothed ? Who the fuck even talked like that anymore?

Alastair had been sorely tempted to send the note back cut into little pieces but eventually decided against it. For Fey, he’d make an effort. For his brother Callum, he’d make an effort.

And if the old man overstepped, Alastair could just kill him, right?

Right.

Better yet… he’d let Fey do it. Yeah. He liked that idea. She would make it hurt. She’d tear him to pieces with that new, deliciously deadly power of hers.

Alastair straightened his cuffs as he approached the unmanned bar, eyes flickering over the room, before they settled on an open door.

Ah, the stockroom.

The door was ajar, the light on, and he could hear Fey and Jasper’s voices coming from inside. Alastair slipped behind the bar, maneuvering his way toward them. The door made no sound when he pushed it further open, and Alastair smiled, excited to see her. Excited to spend the evening with her, even if it meant spending dinner with his asshole of a dad.

But as the door shifted open, Alastair wasn’t prepared for what he saw. He froze in the doorway, the smile slipping from his face, as the scene inside the stockroom unfolded before him.

Fey, perched on a stack of boxes, leaning back, her body deliciously arched as she stared up at the male above her.

And Jasper, leaning over her, hands on either side of her body, lips hovering above hers. Close enough to touch.

Close enough that he could have kissed her.

Alastair moved without a single thought. He closed the space between the doorway and them in a fraction of a second. Wrapping his arm around Jasper’s neck, he yanked him backward, pulling his body tight against him.

Jasper was a powerful Shifter in his own right, and the growl he made would have sent a lesser man scrabbling. Claws dug into Alastair’s arm, tearing at his suit jacket, as Jasper’s fingers shifted.

“Well, well, well.” Alastair ignored Jasper’s growl, ignored the confusion in Fey’s eyes, ignored the sting of those claws digging into his flesh. Something hot and angry burned in his chest, and it wanted violence. It wanted blood . “Doesn’t this look fucking cozy, hm?”

At the sound of Alastair’s voice, Jasper’s growl faded away, and he relaxed in Alastair’s grip, the claws disappearing.

“Hey boss,” Jasper said, angling his face slightly to look back at him, his voice a little breathless. “We were just talking about you.”

“What are you doing, Alastair?” Fey asked. He recognized the anger in her voice. Recognized the warning there. And he ignored it.

“Oh, I think the better question is, what are you doing, Witchling? I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Alastair asked, tightening his hold hard enough he could feel bones shift under his grip.

Jasper’s lips curled to a smile. “Maybe,” he said, holding his gaze without fear. “Care to join?”

“Let him go,” Fey demanded.

Rage boiled inside him. How dare she be angry at him? How dare she take Jasper’s side?

Goddess, he was so, so hungry. The world felt strangely distant, like he was in a dream.

“What’s wrong, Witchling? Scared I’ll hurt your little toy?” Alastair twisted his head to speak into Jasper’s ear, his breath tickling the Wolf’s skin. “She’s mine, puppy. Remember that.”

“I remember,” Jasper gasped. He wasn’t struggling, wasn’t fighting. But his body had tightened at Alastair’s words.

“I’m not anyone’s,” Fey snapped, her voice full of fury. The air around the room crackled with energy. She could kill him with one thought, could rip him to shreds without even coming to her feet.

Any control Alastair had disappeared. He dropped his hold on Jasper, shoving him away, and was on Fey in an instant.

She gasped as he took her jaw in his hands, twisting her face up towards his. His eyes flashed as he stared down at her, gaze boring into hers.

“Say it again, Witchling. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t belong to me. Look me in the eye and lie to me again.”

The power filling the room grew darker, more deadly, but Alastair ignored it. He ignored the voice in his head, telling him to run. She was his . His goddess, his Witch. She was…

She was his everything .

Wrapping his hand around the back of her head, he pulled Fey’s lips to his and kissed her.

Fey struggled against him, pushing away, but Alastair held her there, letting her struggle, letting her bite at his lips, letting her fight. He groaned when her teeth drew blood, opening his mouth to her, and slipping his tongue against hers.

Her struggling weakened, and the next time he slid his tongue over hers, she returned the gesture, blood on their lips as she kissed him back.

He knew she would. He knew what she liked and what she wanted. Knew her better than Jasper ever could. The hands that had been pushing against him tightened on his shirt, pulling him closer, arching against him. She wanted this. She wanted him .

By the time Alastair broke the kiss, she was gasping for air, eyes clouded with lust. Her tongue flicked out, licking a smear of blood from her bottom lip.

“Close the door,” Alastair hissed at Jasper, not looking up.

“Alastair,” Fey whimpered. There was a soft noise as the door to the stockroom shut, and Alastair glanced back to see Jasper was still there, leaning against the closed door. Staring at them.

“Alastair,” Fey moaned again, writhing under his touch.

She looked so beautiful there, his blood on her lips, eyes unfocused. Needy.

For him.

“That’s right, Witchling, say my name,” he urged. Nudging her legs open with his thighs, he pulled her tight against him, so he could whisper in her ear. “Show him who you belong to.”

Fey let out a hiss of pure fury that turned to a gasp when he licked her neck, his hand finding her nipple through the thin material of her dress and squeezing.

“Did he get you wet, Witchling?” Alastair asked, snaking his hand lower down her body. His fingers found the hem of her dress and tugged it up. Too much clothing, there was far too much clothing between them. He needed to touch her. Sliding his hands under her ass, he lifted her so he could tug her underwear off. He pulled them down her long legs and tossed them aside.

She was wet. Alastair brought his fingers to her slit, parting her easily and running the tips of his index finger over her perfect pussy. So wet already.

Fey groaned, her hips rising to meet his touch.

Alastair glanced over at Jasper, still standing by the door. He expected the Shifter to look angry, maybe even disgusted.

Lust was all he saw in Jasper’s face. The Wolf’s eyes were locked on where Alastair’s fingers slipped over Fey’s body.

“Oh, look at that—he got you all worked up, didn’t he?” Alastair asked. Fey’s eyes opened to look at him, her perfect mouth opening to speak, but he didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to hear anything she had to say, not now. With a groan, he pushed his finger inside her, and whatever words she was about to say disappeared with a gasp, her head tilting back.

Holding her legs open wide with one hand, Alastair pleasured her with the other, adding another finger and circling her clit with his thumb.

“Say my name, Witchling,” he demanded.

“I—” Fey gasped. Her hips rose and fell with his fingers, fucking herself on his hand.

Alastair’s fingers sped up. “Say it.”

Fuck, she was already so close, grinding against him. He could feel her pussy tightening around his fingers, her body fighting for release.

“Alastair,” Fey begged, hips rocking against his hand.

Faster. “Again,” he demanded.

“Ala—” Fey’s body arched, and she cried out as she came, shuddering against him and tightening around his fingers. He caught her mouth with his, swallowing her scream. Over the sounds of her climax, Alastair heard Jasper groan softly, and he waited until he had milked every second of pleasure from Fey before he broke the kiss and gently removed his fingers. Then he straightened and stalked toward the Shifter.

Jasper’s chest was rising and falling quickly, his eyes unfocused. He licked his lips as Alastair got closer, tongue running across his bottom lip in anticipation.

Reaching out, Alastair grabbed Jasper’s face in one hand, Fey’s arousal still glistening wet on his fingers. Jasper sucked in a greedy breath.

“Remember this the next time you try to touch her,” Alastair said. He pushed the Shifter back toward the wall next to the door. “Remember how prettily she comes for me. Remember how easily I can make her fall apart.”

“Yes boss,” Jasper answered. His nostrils flared, taking in her scent on Alastair’s hand. The tip of his tongue snuck out to glide along his bottom lip again.

“Do you really think you could do that to her?” Alastair asked in a mocking tone.

He wanted to shame the Wolf—wanted to force him to back down. To acknowledge Alastair’s claim on her.

To admit that she was his .

But Jasper only grinned, ignoring the pain of Alastair’s fingers digging into his face. “I’m willing to try,” he answered with a smirk.

Alastair bared his fangs, pressing his body harder against Jasper’s.

He wanted him to back down. To make him back down.

He wanted…

The door swung open and then slammed, jolting them both out of the moment.

Dropping Jasper, Alastair whirled around.

The stockroom was empty.

Fey was gone.