Epilogue

Ineed a damn drink. A proper one. And yet, I’m here at Noir because I promised Ambrose I would keep an eye on the place while he and Eloise are off on some romantic vacation.

Hell, now that Cassandra is back, I’m the last single male of the inner circle. Shame twists my guts. The last one if I don’t take Rhys and Ezra into account. Which seeing as Rhys fucked off with a wild Ezra without so much of a heads-up, I don’t.

The fast music, heavy with base, from the dance floor spills into the quieter front bar of the place. Even as I walk through the bar, packed with a surprisingly large crowd on a weekday evening, it’s like everywhere I look are couples. Everyone seems to have someone else to be with and it just pisses me off even more after the day I had.

This restaurant has become such a headache, I’m beginning to wonder if it was a bad idea. I’ve grown bored, though. With the modern world, Ambrose doesn’t need me and my skills as his general as much. Helping Cassandra and Ashe take on Aeternaphiel was the closest thing to a real battle we’ve had in decades. Ever since Ambrose brokered a peace deal with the demons, the Barrows have been settled. Sure, there’ve been some scuffles between various packs or a few upstarts need to be reminded of the proper hierarchy.

After years of strife, of leading men and women into battles, countless injuries and losing friends, I’d never expect to feel this way. I remember longing for a peace like this, longing to just be able to rest and not think about when the next attack might be.

I’m such a fucking asshole for being bored when everyone around me is settling down and getting to enjoy some peace.

Two males yank me out of my brooding as they face off at the bar, squaring up on one another. Finally. Something to actually do, other than walk around and look intimidating. One of the males, a tall, lanky pretty boy facing off with one just as pretty, goes to throw a punch. Except then one of the vampire security guards I’ve assigned to Noir is already there, getting between them.

The fight stops before it even begins. I’m left with an all too familiar restlessness. I won’t do anyone any favors sticking around. The guard who’s broken up the fight starts herding them to the entrance, his golden eyes meeting mine. I nod in approval, and the man returns it. It’s not fair for me to be pissed at a man doing the job I gave him.

My men have Noir well in hand. There’s really no reason for me to be here.

I head towards the door that leads up to Ambrose’s office, ignoring the interested smiles women throw my way. It used to be I’d happily take a woman up on the silent offer and spend a night of mutually beneficial debauchery. Except along with peace, sex isn’t... it just isn’t doing it for me. Not that I’d dare let any of my brothers know. If they knew I haven’t actually fucked a woman in the last three months, they’d make Cassandra search me for curses.

I push open the heavy door, slipping into the stairwell and leaving the club behind. I bypass Ambrose’s empty office and the hall that’ll take me out of the building. Instead, I head up the rarely used roof access.

As I walk onto the roof, the cool air is heavy with the promise of rain. The sun set hours ago and clouds have blocked out the moon. Tension slips from my shoulders and spine as I tilt my head back, letting the city around me wrap me in its embrace. Discordant sounds blend together in a nightmare symphony. Cars driving and honking at one another. People hurrying along Blood Street, humans and paranormal alike. Street vendors and performers are slowly returning to the sidewalks as winter turns to summer in the city. It’ll only be a matter of weeks until the sounds are twice as overwhelming, twice as demanding.

It doesn’t matter that the sky is dark, the Barrows glows with its own lights. An aurora of reds, greens, yellows, all shifting and waving as the city thrums with the life that only comes out at night.

In the distance, across the river, is Topside—Newgate. Top of the river. The city where humans tried to establish their own settlement without us lesser beings. A city where they can ignore our existence, until they can’t fight the temptations of the pleasure we offer. We make sure they pay handsomely for the experience.

Topside. Where I’m opening my restaurant and burlesque theater at the top of one of the tallest buildings. We’ve always had our people Topside, sending their secrets and plans to Ambrose through the shadows. With this restaurant though, the Nightshades will have an official foothold in the city that once refused to grant us access.

I argued for this opportunity. I did my research, found potential locations, vendors, and anything else I could imagine might sway Ambrose to my side. When he agreed, he only had one condition. To not fuck this up and tarnish the Nightshades’ reputation.

And here I am, seeking refuge on the roof of Noir, because it’s only been one problem after another, with no fighting or fucking to take the edge off.

I haven’t even come up with a goddamn name for the place yet, and we’re supposed to have the soft opening in three months.

“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter to myself. Then I shake the wallowing thoughts from my head. I’ve been alive for five hundred years. I’m too damn old to be pulling this bullshit.

I stride to the side of the building, stepping up onto the ledge. The wind is stronger here, catching my unbuttoned suit jacket and making it whip and jerk out behind me. It’s the warning of a worse storm, one promising to deluge the city within the hour. Below me, people walk closer together but don’t yet seek out shelter.

One figure, a woman, walks alone though. I watch her, like one would watch an insect as it makes its way along a tree branch. She’s not dressed for the weather, in a dress meant more for sunny days with its fluttering skirt and cheerful yellow flowers.

Intrigued, and with frankly nothing better to do, I walk parallel to her, easily leaping across the narrow allies. She’s holding her purse tight to her stomach, staring at something on her phone, occasionally looking up as if searching for someone.

It seems I’m not the only one who’s found interest in the human woman, as I realize the three males twenty feet or so behind her are following her. Stalking her, more like, considering I can scent their wolf forms from her. Looking ahead of the woman, the busy part of Blood Street ends at a crossroad, the rest of the street growing dark with closed businesses.

She pauses at the end of the sidewalk, not venturing across the crosswalk just yet. The road is clear, so maybe she does have some sense of self-preservation.

I move to the corner edge of the building’s roof I’m on, propping one foot up on the ledge. I consider intervening as the wolf trio finally catches up to her. I tilt my head and listen. My enhanced hearing makes it easy to follow their exchange despite the growing storm.

“Are you lost, pup?” the tallest one asks, a smile on his face. He must be the leader. The other two males smirk and rib each other, maneuvering around to her other side without her noticing at first. It’s clear the moment she does, as her shoulders tighten.

“No,” she answers, glaring at the leader. “I’m waiting for someone, actually. They should be here soon.”

“Oh, yeah?” One of the others asks and makes a show of looking around. This close to the end of Blood Street doesn’t get much foot traffic; most clients of the surrounding establishments don’t want to be caught lingering in front of them. “Pretty shitty to leave a pretty girl like you alone.”

She hesitates, her body shifting. She wants to move, but she’s boxed in. Any way she turns, she’ll give her back to one of them.

The leader tells the other one to back off, giving her an easy smile. I huff out a silent snort. He’s playing the chivalric hero to their villains. “Really, though,” he says, stepping closer. She can’t back up unless she wants to get closer to the others. She holds her ground and, strangely, I feel a bit of pride in my chest. “It can be dangerous for a human out here alone. Why don’t you let us take you somewhere safer and you can meet your friend there.”

She gives him a hard smile. “No, thanks.” She waves her phone a bit. “My boyfriend will be here any minute to pick me up.”

I sigh, disappointment making me shake my head. I can hear the lie from here, hear her quickening heartbeat. As close as they are, the wolf shifters won’t miss any scent of fear.

“What if we weren’t asking?” one of the villain-playing wolves says, adding a growl under his words.

The tension I’d lost earlier returns, and my fangs itch to elongate, priming to fight. I should pull my phone out and send a couple of the foot soldiers walking the street to deal with this. One text, and they’d be here in a minute, two at the most.

“Then I’d say you’re pretty rude,” she answers with a sniff before tucking her phone into her small purse. “I’d also have to let you know I took martial arts for years, if you’re expecting an easy mark.”

The wolves are quiet for a long moment. It’s as if the world is holding its breath as I wait for their reaction. I still don’t reach into my pocket for my phone.

The leader laughs, breaking the silence, and the other two join in. He cocks his head at her, raising a hand as if to touch her face. “We like a bitch with fight in her, don’t we, boys?”

Her eyes widen enough for it to be clear even all the way up here. Then her brows furrow and before the wolf shifter’s hand can touch her, she knocks it out of her way with one arm and then lands a solid punch to the male’s nose. His head snaps back and he staggers a step, before turning hate-filled eyes onto her.

Her heartbeat stutters, pure fear claiming her.

Thunder breaks across the sky, or maybe it’s just the blood rushing in my ears. My feet are slamming into the pavement before I’d even decided to intervene. In another instant, I crossed the distance between us, slamming my shoulder into one of the lackeys. He goes flying with a yelp, slamming onto his back and skidding further up the road. I sweep out my leg, catching the other at the knees and sending him flailing. I help him to the ground by gripping his face and shoving downwards, satisfied from the crunch of bones fracturing.

Turning from him, I grab the woman by the arm and move her behind me as I step up into the glaring shifter’s face, baring my fangs with a snarl. He tries to take a step back, confusion dampening the rage. I snap my hand out, gripping him by the throat, squeezing in threat.

“Give me one good reason, mutt, why I shouldn’t rip out your throat for touching my girlfriend.” My blood is racing, every instinct screaming for me to do it, to sink my fangs into his throat and destroy the male. To do what I do best, kill and feed.

The male on his back staggers upwards, hurrying behind his leader with his nonexistent tail between his legs.

“We didn’t do nothing,” the male gasps out, ignoring the blood running from his nose. “We were just trying to get her somewhere safer, honest. Didn’t know she was a Nightshade’s girl.”

I snarl again, dragging him closer, ready to end the wolf right then.

A gentle hand against my back stops me.

Grunting in disgust, I release the male with a shove backwards, sending him into his friend. “Get the fuck out of my sight.”

The males retreat, giving us a wide berth as they head towards the last male still struggling to get to his feet.

I close my eyes, breathing deep and forcing the disappointed blood rage down.

“Thank you,” comes from behind me, the two words shaky. I turn and take her in, but she’s shaking out her fist. Without thinking I catch it, making her gasp. I bring it up, angling it so it’s in the soft yellow light coming from the corner lamp post. The skin is torn on her first and second knuckle, the metallic copper of her blood sweet to my nose. I run my fingers over her hand, before meeting her eyes.

“Nothing seems to be broken,” I say, keeping my voice calm and low. “But you’ll want to get ice on that tonight and it’ll probably hurt like a bitch tomorrow. It was a good punch, though. Solid.”

She tugs her hand away and I release it, startled at how soft her skin is as it brushes mine. She gives me a strained smile. “I know. It’s not the first time I’ve punched someone.”

We look at each other for a long moment, then I clear my throat. “So, not to sound like those jackasses, this end of Blood Street really isn’t the best place for a human woman on her own.”

She lets out an annoyed sigh and retrieves her phone, grimacing at the screen. She unlocks it and pulls up her messages. I look away, shoving my hands in my front pockets. But my gaze is drawn back to her like a compass pointing north.

In the waning lights of the street lamps and red glows of neon signs hung in the windows above us, I take the moment to study her. I should walk away, her being safe now, but my feet refuse to move. She’s got pink hair, the color deepened by the neon signage, but if I were to guess, her hair is rose pink in the daylight. It’s cut in a sharp bob just below her jawline, and when it falls into her face as she glares at her phone screen, her small hand tucks it behind a delicate ear that has three earrings in her lobe.

She’s goddamn adorable, I realize.

When she swears and looks up, she startles as if she’d completely forgotten my presence.

“Oh. You’re still here.”

I arch a brow, then incline my head towards her dark phone screen. “I take it you haven’t gotten the response you’re waiting for?”

She blows out between her lips and then nods. “My baby brother is proving again just how unreliable he is.” She looks up and down the street, searching for something. Whatever it is, she doesn’t see it if the scrunch of her lips is anything. She looks back up at me. “Could you point me to the closest bus stop? I’d rather not walk home if I can avoid it.”

“Bus doesn’t run this late, especially if you’re headed across the bridge to Topside.” I hate the way her shoulders slump. After seeing her stand up to those shifters, it makes a weird feeling scratch my gut.

“I don’t live in Topside.” Another sigh before she visibly rallies and gives me a firm smile. “Well, then. I should be off. I’ve got a couple miles to walk. Thanks for the help.”

She grips the strap of her purse and steps around me, heading back towards the busier part of Blood Street. I watch her go, telling myself she’ll clearly be fine.

I hold back a groan and let my head fall back. Then a fat raindrop smacks me in the middle of the forehead. With resignation, I jog to catch up with her, a bit impressed at how far she’s already made it.

“Look, it’s about to be pissing buckets,” I tell her as I reach her side.

She doesn’t slow down, glancing quickly up at the sky before staring resolutely ahead. “I can handle a bit of rain.”

I don’t miss the goosebumps that cover her arms as a gust of wind winds between us. I pull my wallet out from the inside pocket of my jacket, pulling out both my ID and an official Nightshade business card. With my other hand, I catch her arm making sure to be gentle but insistent. She looks down at the cards when I hold them out to her.

“My name is Malachi,” I tell her. “My car is one block over. You’ve had a shitty night, no need to suffer more. Let me drive you home. Take a picture of my ID and card, and send it to a friend or someone, so you know I’m not going to try anything.”

She studies me, her sharp eyes a bright blue even in the dim lighting. It strikes me again at how damn cute this woman is, with her button nose and round cheeks. She looks way too innocent to be hanging out on Blood Street. I’ve half a mind to ask her what she’s doing here, but I’ve already involved myself in her business too much. I’m not trying to be her friend, I remind myself. Just trying to keep the Barrows safe for visitors like the Nightshades are supposed to.

In the end, I think I’m pretty sure it’s the sudden rain that gets her to agree. She whips out her phone with impressive speed and takes a picture of each card with the flash on. Then, to my surprise, she grabs the cards from my hand and shoves them in her bra.

“There, I sent it to three different people and my boss. And I’ll hold onto these until I’m at my place, safe.”

I can’t help but grin at her cleverness. I pull off my jacket and wrap it around her. “Here, use this so you aren’t soaked,” I say before gesturing to her to cross the street with me. She hurries along but grabs my hand when we reach the opposite side, making me stop.

She holds up my suit jacket above her head like an umbrella. “We can share it. No point in you getting wet either.”

I find myself taking her up on the offer, hunching down until I’m crowding her. I didn’t realize how short she was until now, with her barely coming up to my chest.

Once she’s satisfied both of us are protected by a jacket that probably costs way more than she realizes, she raises her voice to be heard over the worsening storm. “Okay, let’s go!”

Together, we hurry along the sidewalk along with everyone else trying to get inside somewhere and out of the storm. When we’re close to Noir, I nudge her towards an alley, gesturing with my chin towards a floodlight that lights up the middle of the alley. “I’m parked in there.”

She doesn’t say anything because the wind whips at the jacket, the rain spraying us. She shrieks before laughing, grinning up at me. I find myself smiling back, feeling ridiculous and light. I tug her closer to my side, telling myself it’s to keep her drier. We rush down the alley, trying to dodge the growing puddles and failing terribly. She’s not complaining, though. If I weren’t a vampire, I probably wouldn’t hear her soft giggle over the rain.

I press my thumb to the biometric lock and yank open the metal door the moment the light turns green. We rush inside and I pull the jacket carefully away from her, shaking off the water. In the light of the parking garage, her cheeks are rosy, strands of hair (lilac, it turns out , a part of me notes) cling to her face, and her lips are parted as she breathes with exertion.

I wonder what else I could do to make her look like this. My cock twitches to life, interested in a woman for the first time in months. I swallow hard and make myself think about anything else. And definitely don’t let myself notice how her dress is plastered to her, showing off her toned thighs and firm ass.

“Here, this is me,” I make myself say and grab the keys from the box beside the door. I use the fob to remote start it, wondering if I had the heater on last. I cross the short distance to the first space, where my hunter green custom Range Rover has purred to life. I open the passenger door for her. “Hop in.”

“Fancy,” she says, her eyes no longer as bright as the moment before. She gets in though, easily scooting in while avoiding brushing against me.

I jog around the front and get in, pressing the ignition before hitting the button for her seat’s warmer. “If it gets too hot, just press this.”

She’s stiff after she’s buckled herself in, her hands on her knees. As I pull out of the space, the garage door sensor recognizes me and opens.

“So, where to?” I ask, hoping my light tone will help break down whatever wall she’s suddenly shored up between us.

She hesitates, then gives me cross streets that are on the south side of the Barrows. There’s a bear shifter pack in that area, but they typically keep to themselves. Still, it’s far enough away I’m glad she’s not walking, especially in this storm.

I try to think of something to talk about to break the silence, but everything sounds too stupid. At least she’s seemed to relax into the warmth of the car, her fingers idly playing with the hem of her skirt. I swallow hard, reminding myself and my cock to look straight ahead. We’re just giving her a ride. I don’t even know her name.

So we pass the short drive in silence, only the sounds of the windshield wipers and rain battering the roof of the car between us. It’s harder to keep my thoughts clear the more her scent fills the space. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s something sweet and flowery. Maybe honeysuckle? Gardenia?

After I turn onto one of the cross streets she gave, she points me towards an old boarder house that’s seen better days. “That’s me,” she says, and I pull up to the curb, glad that at least there’s a bright porch light and a cheery spring wreath hung on the front door.

She turns towards me as she unbuckles, giving me a grateful smile. “Thanks again for the ride. And earlier.”

“No problem,” I breathe out, unable to look away from her eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her what her name is when she surprises me yet again when she leans over the console and presses a kiss to my cheek.

Her lips are cool from the rain but soft as down. She pulls back, her cheeks flaming red, and looks away as if she can’t believe she kissed me either. I’m struck stupid still when she looks at me again, our eyes catching.

I don’t know if she moved or I did, but we’re suddenly kissing. She’s leaning towards me and I bury myself in her hair, tilting her head back as I deepen the kiss. Her lips part on a quiet moan as my tongue chases the sound. One of her hands comes up to my neck, the other on my shoulder as our kiss turns hungry. I shift towards her, needing more, craving more. I need to touch her.

I’m forced to a stop when my seatbelt locks me in place.

The moment is broken as she pulls back with another soft laugh.

“Bye,” she says as she slips out, her voice husky. My cock screams at me to chase her but she’s already shutting the car door and hurrying up the short steps to her door.

I’ve only got the presence of mind to roll down the window and shout, “What’s your name?”

She’s already unlocked the house door and it’s halfway open when she looks back. Instead of answering, she gives me a cheeky smile and waves, disappearing into her house. The porch light turns off, leaving me to slump back in my seat with a laugh.

It’s only when I make it back to the clan house and pull my wallet out of the jacket that’s almost certainly ruined do I realize she still has my ID and business card. With a smirk, I toss my clothes into a pile and climb into bed naked and alone. But the mystery woman’s smile is all I can think about as I fall asleep.

Grab Malachi and his mysterious yet adorable woman’s story here:

Vampire Soldier

Or turn the page to read the bonus Epilogue for Cassandra and Ashe!