Shifters of Shadow Falls Collection (Books 1-3) (23 page)

Chapter 4: Vince

I've never been afraid of vampires, never in my whole fucking life have I even bothered with the thought of fearing those blood suckers. But holy fuck, walking into the den of the coven, surrounded by them, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't on the verge of freaking the fuck out. Shit, Veronica is the first vampire I've met. I've seen them before, from the Authority, whenever Devin invited them into our estate, onto our territory. I've never had to question what would happen if they attacked. We would have demolished them. But I'm alone, well not quite alone. I wrap my arm casually around Veronica's waist. I may be scared as fuck, but I'm sure as shit not going to let them know. I see them watching me from the corner of my eye.  

Why the fuck do they live underground? They're wealthy as shit. They've had hundreds of years to acquire wealth and I know for a fact that they're stacked with cash. Yet, they live in a fucking cave. I lick my lips and taste the salty air from the damp walls. It's a refreshing smell, if I closed my eyes I could almost picture myself on a beach, but it's too fucking cold. Again, I'm not a bitch, but why live underground in the dark, in the cold when you could live anywhere? Fucking stupid if you ask me. Of course if they're going for intimidating they hit that nail on the fucking head. With only torches lining the dark, rock walls every few feet, it's dark. I smirk as I realize I can see better than any of these blood suckers.  

A relatively large form passes in front of us down another dreary, fire-lit hall; he's a few inches shorter than me and only wearing a pair of white, linen pants. His bare feet and chest reflect the light off his pale skin. I catch his scent and the sight of him clearly. Human. My forehead pinches in confusion for only a moment before I see the small scars on his neck. They form an interesting pattern, like scales of a dragon. It must've taken hundreds of bites over a long period of time to make that kind of rough scar on the thin skin of his neck. Only in a small patch on the right side of his neck. I loose sight of him as he walks further through the passage and we continue straight ahead.

The tunnel appears to end in front of us, as no light can be seen. No fire on the walls to light the path. It only takes a moment to see the dark, thick red curtains draped closed. Veronica reaches forward parting one curtain. I take the other heavy fabric and pull it back much father than she can and lead her in front of me. I see her small smile that she immediately represses.

My chest constricts. I don't know whether we're okay or not. She's barely spoken to me since I let her off the bed. She's been more than cold to me. She hasn't tried to boss me around or even called me pup. Nothing. She's given me very little of her attention. She shies away from my touch. At least she's accepting that now that we're in her territory. I don't know how I'll react if she continues to ignore me while we're here. Where I have no one but her. I brush off the unwanted feelings and remember that she's been more receptive since we left. She's not giving me her attention, but she's not ignoring me either.

I'm not sure if she'll ever trust me. What little trust she had in me seems to have been diminished by me chaining her to the bed. It was meant to help; to show her she didn't have any reason to fear me or my touch. That I would always be hers even if she had no physical control of me. It didn't fucking work. I fucking failed her. Again. My chest tightens and my heart constricts. I shake it off. I
will
heal her. I will help my mate learn to trust me. It will just take time. I exhale a long breath which causes Veronica to take a peek at me. I smile down at her. I want to kiss her, but I hold myself back. I won't be able to contain myself if she rejects me. And we're in her territory not mine. I repress the low growl from my wolf. He wants her. I haven't had her since the claiming and that didn't go well. I need to feel her body against mine. I need to give her pleasure and hear her moans of approval. I tighten my arm around her waist, bringing her closer to me. She stiffens slightly at first, which puts my wolf on high alert, but then she relaxes against me. He's still not happy. He paces inside me, knowing something's wrong, just not knowing what.

My focus leaves me as I feel a fan of warmth in front of me. Again the tunnel seems to end, but as I expect, thick curtains cut off the passage. I pull at the dark fabric and reveal a brightly lit room. Veronica doesn't hesitate to walk into the luxurious room and I follow her lead. She leaves my embrace, but I'm quick to pull her ass back to me. She's mine. And all these fuckers are going to see that.

The vast room is more of what I expected to see from her queen and ancient coven. The walls and ceiling have been painted with intricate designs. I take in the scent of minerals. Gold. It's painted in gold. I take a closer look at the rough, rock walls. The tone on tone gold paint must've taken years to create the intricate designs. The entire back wall is lit with flames. It nearly pains my eyes to stare straight ahead into the bright light. I have to squint to make out the hundreds of small fires on the wall. They blend together to make a literal wall of fire. The furniture in the room is all ancient, carved pieces with blood red velvet fabric lining the decadent seats. It's at odds with the Lucite, modern table in the very center of the room.  

The head of the table is taken by a tall, pale woman with smooth skin and black silky hair down to her small waist. Her sharp, red nail pierces into her lip as her dark eyes find us. She rises in a blur but then takes a small, slow step forward, making the black jewels of her dress clink together as she walks. She reeks of wealth and power. Her nearly black eyes shine with youth although I know better. The other vampires in the room hardly take notice of our entry. The humans, all wearing the same white, linen pants or halter dresses of the same material, take an obvious interest in our presence. All but a woman lying still on a plush, white hide off to the right side of the room, look to us.  For a moment, I tense, thinking the human is dead.  But the air is fresh, with no scent of decay.  I watch her small frame gently rise and fall.  Fresh, open wounds on her neck indicate someone drank from her recently, but she’s alone on the floor.  My gut twists with the thought that the humans are here against their will, only to satisfy the thirst of the vamps. The delight in the eyes following our movement begs to differ with my assumption. I would quietly ask Veronica, but vampires are known for their ability to hear at great distances. My curiosity will have to wait.

"Veronica," the seductive voice of the black-eyed queen echoes gently off of the walls, "my darling. You've brought a guest?"  

A devious smiles brightens Veronica's pale lips. The light of the fire makes her skin illuminate. She's breath taking in this light. My gorgeous mate is in her element and she thrives here. I can feel her strength; I practically see her transform into the fierce warrior I met in the alley. Before I claimed her. Before I broke her. I shake off the thought. No, I'm healing her. She's hurting. Her ability to hide her pain is exquisite. My eyes travel along her pale face, alight with mischief and seduction.

"A guest or a snack," a pale man with the same dark eyes, blurs across the room to stand in front of me. His short blonde hair is styled and his clothes nearly make him look human. But his eyes give away his preference for blood.

"Braeden, you know I don't share." Veronica's voice is playful as she turns her back to them to pat the center of my chest. Her head tilts up at me and I don't waste a second to bend down and give her a small kiss on the lips. I close my eyes longer than necessary, a clear sign to them that I don't fear their presence. They're no threat to me. At least that's what my actions suggest.

Veronica turns to face them, causing her leather skirt to spin. "I've found a mate, Adreana. I'll be staying with him for a while." My jaw ticks and my eyes harden on her back.
A while?
My stomach sinks as I realize the full weight of her words. My life span will be a blip in her existence.

"Of course darling. Of course." The queen's eyes travel down my body with appreciation. I don't care for it. "So he's yours alone?"

Veronica nods her head slightly before walking past the table to long chaise in the corner of the room, extremely close to wall of fire. "Funny fate should give me a mate, don't you think so my Queen?"

"It's odd. It's not completely unheard of, although I thought it was just a rumor before."

Braeden appears by Veronica's side, but sits on the ground and stares into the fire with his knees pulled into his chest. He's so still he looks made of stone. Veronica shifts her long legs onto the sofa, in a very seductive move and pats the seat between her legs. I move deliberately with a casual pace and take my seat. Her right calf rests on my thigh as her queen stalks towards us.  

"What are the rumors, Adreana? I've no memory of a pairing like ours." My thumb rubs small circles on the inside of my mates' knee. She's relaxed and at peace, although it seems false. My eyes linger on her face, her expression one of disinterest; however, she's obviously curious. Her queen sits to my left and I lean back to give the two women an easy view of each other. I feel very much out of place in the quiet room, but I continue to take Veronica's lead. I'd much rather get her queen's approval to go to Still Waters and stake out the blood bank, but Veronica doesn’t appear to be in any rush.  

"I couldn't tell you my dear. There was word that a vampire had mated a wolf, and that was all to be said. I'm not sure he ever returned." Adreana's eyes focus on my fingers stroking the inside of Veronica's knee before traveling to her neck. "And you let him claim you, I see. Rather barbaric, wouldn't you agree." I don't let her words affect me in the least as I hold the queen's gaze. I hear Veronica's small laugh.  

"It was quite primitive, but it suited my taste."

"If you say so. And what of the Alpha, is he willing to negotiate? I'm hoping this mating benefitted us." Her voice rises in curiosity.

"It did, Devin is willing to give us the bank and allow our control without any interference."

The queen laughs in obvious amusement, "You toy with me darling?"

Veronica's eyes spark with delight at her queen's approval.

"I'd never. He of course desires a plan and would like my mate to get information from a successful territory. He chose Still Waters. We're planning on taking leave this evening, I believe."

"I see." The queen sighs and leans deep into the chaise, beckoning an on looking human to come to her. The man smiles and rises slowly, kneeling in front of her, waiting for her next command. She gently runs her fingers through his hair.

We sit in silence for a moment.  Braeden seems to grow bored and stands easily before walking to the young woman laying on the plush rug.  He squats in font of her and runs his fingers down her chin.  “Come, pet.”

“I’m too tired.  You drank too much.”  She barely breathes the words as she leans into his touch.  He chuckles deep and low. 

“You need to sleep; would you prefer the floor to my bed?” his voice is full of humor.

“Your bed, please.”

He lifts her in his arms as though she weighs nothing and walks easily out of the room. 

"And what does Devin and his pack think of the law? Are you expected to only drink from your mate?"  The queen’s alluring voice brings my eyes to hers, although she’s not looking in our direction whatsoever.  Her focus is on the man waiting patiently on his knees in front of her.

Veronica smiles, "he holds the same opinion." Her small hand finds mine and she brings my fingers to her mouth to suck. My dick instantly hardens. I suppress my groan and the need to let my head fall back. The room's sweet smell and heat of the fire add to the seductive quality of the gorgeous vampires. "My mate enjoys my touch and I'll continue to drink from him."

"Do you think of me as a hypocritical bitch? Or a coward for bowing to Natalia's demand?"

Veronica sits up quickly, her speed shocking me for a moment. She bows her head slightly with her lips grazing my knee. "Neither my queen," her softly spoken words tickle my knee.

"Up." Adreana rests her hand on Veronica's shoulder, my mate's dark eyes find her queens. "I'm itching for a war darling."

"We would stand at your side, if you so desired." My shoulders stiffen at the turn of the conversation. This will all be taken care of shortly. The coven would only interfere. I keep my lips pressed tight and rest my hand lightly on Veronica's back, rubbing soothing circles. Her eyes partly close at my touch, making my wolf pant with longing.

"For now we’ll build the bank, her presence here will not be tolerated. Not after what she did to Stephan."

For the first time, I turn and look the queen in the eyes, "my Alpha was not pleased to hear what Natalia has done. He sends his sincere condolences."

Her dark eyes search mine for a long moment before she finally speaks, "well thank you, my dearest wolf. Please send him my regards." Her hand stops in the human's hair and the lack of her touch causes his eyes to drift to her gaze. "Would you like me to drink from you Jaret?"

"Please, my Queen." Hi green eyes beg her.

"Come." In a blur and gently breeze, she stands at the entrance and looks over her shoulder as the human quickly walks behind her.

"I need to pack, pup." The use of her pet name for me stirs my dick. My lips turn up as she leans in for a kiss.

"Yes, Mistress." I feel her smile against my lips. Something deep inside me twists, knowing I'm playing into her hand. I'll give her this for now. A give and take of sorts. "When we get home I want you chained again." My words turn the quiet room silent and I feel several pairs of dark eyes boring into me. My mate stiffens, but only for a moment. She leans back and stands.