Dominic rolled over, wrapping his arms around me. “What time is it?”
I squinted at the red numbers on our clock. “Seven o’clock.” I yawned, stretching against him. “Nap time’s over.” We were meeting Elly and his friends at Hell’s Gate for dancing tonight.
He groaned, nuzzling against my neck. “I don’t want to get out of bed.”
I didn’t want to, either. It was a rare occasion since school had started two months ago that we had time to merely lounge. We were always busy with classes, studying, or political crap. It was Saturday and we had spent our free day being bums and couch potatoes. It had been wonderful. And now we had to get up, since we had promised our friends dancing and our presence.
I swatted his drifting hand, using my tiny bit of Vampire speed to roll out of bed before he tried pulling me back.
“Not fair,” he grumbled, burrowing his dark head against his pillow. He opened one eye. Glared. “Let’s skip tonight.”
I laughed outright. The last time we had done that, we’d had at least eight angry Shifters pounding on our locked bedroom door in the middle of the night. His friends tended to get a bit testy if he didn’t follow through on what he said. “Not happening. Get up!” I yanked the covers off him and then squealed when he lunged at me. I twisted, diving into the bathroom, rolling and jumping to my feet. I had become more adept at not getting pummeled in the last two months, learning evasive moves to keep from completely dying on the mat every weekday.
I heard a wolf’s growl, and I growled right back.
He was still growling when we left for Hell’s Gate.
Once we arrived at the club we were both fine with being there, especially when we hit the dance floor. We hadn’t been there since the first night we officially met, and we hadn’t danced since, so both of us sober and dancing together was a new experience. A delectable one to be certain.
I stared into his eyes, the blue lights swirling above our heads, and I warmed inside as he pulled me closer. An excited shiver trickled outward from my spine as he ran his hands down my sides to my hips, where he gripped me firmly and trapped me against him. His eyes were slightly glowing and his breath was sweet on my lips as he bent toward me, nipping my lower lip, tugging.
Kissing him, I lost myself in the caress. He was mine. My mate. All M-I-N-E.
His mouth curved against my lips and I realized that some of those thoughts had slipped through as he whispered, “And you’re mine.”
I grinned right along with him and we really started dancing.
Drinking from a bottle of water, I tried to cool down from our (at least) hour-long groove session. Dominic was still out there, dancing with the Shifters, but I needed a break. They tended to close in all at once; for the last half-hour I had been slammed between Dominic and a variety of Shifters, all of us uncannily moving as one unit. The closeness didn’t bother me, but being able to take a decent breath was essential, so here I was, taking a break.
Rolling my shoulders, I saw Pearl and Gideon dancing not too far away. I smiled to myself, seeing them gazing deep into each other’s eyes. They really were an adorable couple. To top it off, Pearl was a pretty cool woman to hang with. She may appear the perfect, golden doll, but every so often I thought I glimpsed her playful side. That was still to be determined.
Guzzling the rest of my water, I set the empty on the bar and headed toward the restroom, not feeling any guilt at leaving Elly on the dance floor, where she was being friendly with another lion Shifter. A slow grin etched my features as I passed the door of the room where Dominic and I had first come together. In many ways.
Hmm.
I paused, then stepped backward, opening the door, and slipped inside. I wanted a quick look for memory’s sake while I was sober. Swiftly shutting the door, I turned around. I gasped. “Sorry!” You are supposed to lock the freaking door if you are in here!
Ezra’s eyes slammed up to mine. He lay over a Vampire woman, both naked by the look of it. Luckily, there was a sheet covering their lower sections so I saw only their upper halves. Ezra’s pink tongue darted out, dabbing at the drop of blood on his bottom lip, even as the woman under him still groaned — and withered — from the lingering effects of his bite and whatever else he had been doing. Steadily and easily, he stated, “Get out.”
I jumped, nodding rapidly. “Right.” In a swift jerk, I grabbed the door handle, pointing at it with my other hand. “I’ll just lock this for you. You’re supposed to lock it so—”
“Lily, get out.” A bit of bite had entered his tone.
“Shit. Okay. Sorry,” I mumbled quickly, my gaze nowhere near them while I fumbled with the door handle until the lock clicked over. “There you go.” Sliding outside, I quickly slammed the door behind me.
Well…that hadn’t been awkward or anything.
Squaring my shoulders, I inhaled deeply and finished making my way to the restroom.
At least I had gotten to see the room. It was smaller than I remembered, but still pretty much the same except for the different couple occupying it. I suppressed a shiver knowing that I would have my ass handed to me on Monday. Mr. Bertrand thought it was hilarious keeping Ezra and I together as partners, though neither one of us shared his opinion. I always got my butt kicked, and Ezra never really got to spar, only teach. One month had turned into two, and two had turned into no end in sight until his graduation.
Done using the facilities, I wound my way back through the crowded, hot masses and eyed Jack standing next to the bar. He drank a mixed concoction of red and blue liquid with his head ducked down. I glanced toward the last location I had glimpsed Dominic and saw him, still content and dancing with the Shifters, so I veered toward the bar, tapping Jack’s shoulder. “Who you hiding from?” It had to be a woman. They had been all over him, just like they had Ezra, since the Prodigies had entered King Hall.
He grinned. Guilty. His blue hair dangling rakishly over one eye, Jack gestured to the right with his drink, not saying a word.
I squinted through the darkness.
Ah. Two Elementals. I wasn’t really surprised by this fact, but what did startle me was that one was a woman and the other a man. It was attention-grabbing and an interesting twist to the water Prodigy Elemental, but not entirely in my comfort zone of topics as I was definitely a more straight-laced woman. Some might call my delicate sensibilities prudish. They would probably be right.
I cleared my throat, peering away from the Elementals scouring the crowd. “You wanna dance? Get lost in the masses?” The easiest place to hide.
He downed his drink. “As long as Dominic doesn’t get mad.”
I snorted, taking his hand and yanking him onto the dance floor, maneuvering us through the crush. “Dominic trusts me just like I do him.” I pointed with my free hand to where Dominic was dancing with two Shifter women who were plastered all over him. “It’s a Shifter thing.”
He chuckled, watching. “Must be nice.”
“It’s not like that and you know it,” I retorted, turning to face him. The Shifters needed their alpha; touch was essential to the distraught. Jack still just stood there. “We gonna dance? Or watch everyone else have fun?”
Wary eyes flicked to Dominic. “You’re mated.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dance and save your butt at the same time.” I made him dance with me. For half a song he moved stiffly, but finally got with it and loosened up when Dominic nodded to us. Trust. We had it.
At first, I thought Jack’s dancing style was…odd. That was putting it nicely. I blamed it on our cultural differences, a bopping skill I wasn’t accustomed to, but I quickly realized he kept ducking because the two Elementals hadn’t given up their chase. I laughed, breathless, four songs down, as I watched him duck for, like, the thirtieth time. “You’re a love ‘em, and leave ‘em, kind of guy, huh?”
He shrugged, moving his hips with mine. “I don’t want anything serious right now. I’m enjoying myself without attachments.” He ducked again, rolling his eyes. “Everyone I get involved with knows it, but some take it better than others.” He glanced over my head, tilting his chin up in greeting. “Hey, Ezra. Enjoy your time with Lana?” He grinned. “I’ve heard she has her talents.”
I felt heat against my back, and smelled a hint of what was possibly cigarette smoke, right before I was sandwiched between Jack and Ezra. I stiffened at first, but within a few moments’ time, the three of us were moving together to the hypnotic beat. Jack’s hands were still on my hips, and Ezra slid his around my waist to my stomach, holding me casually as he said, “Lana’s cool.” He paused. “Too talkative, though.”
I chuckled quietly. “Don’t say bad things about the woman you just screwed.” I tilted my head to the side, looking up at him. “It’s not polite.” I paused. “You should wait at least a few weeks, and never to anyone who would blab. Too many ears around here.”
His lips curved. “And here I thought it would be impolite to list her talents around you.”
I shook my head and looked back down. He was different.
The three of us grooved on the dance floor for another two songs, and soon we were surrounded by Elementals and Vampires, their heated bodies pressed against ours, vying to dance with the Prodigy hotties. I stayed in the masses, not feeling at all nervous or uncomfortable, but actually enjoying myself. It was probably my hybrid nature, but I didn’t get freaked when other Mystical factions were around me in large numbers.
You alright over there? Dominic asked.
I’m having a blast, I replied, meaning it. But I am getting a little tired. How about you?
Seriously enjoying myself, he answered. Not tired at all.
Jack lifted me straight into the air, twirling and tossing me a foot away to Ezra, who caught me around the waist, lowering me in a fluid dip before I was quickly sandwiched again.
After this song, I think I’m gonna head home, I added. I was a little breathless from all the twirling, jumping, and such. Plus, the rivaling Mystical women were totally throwing off body heat. Can someone give you a ride if you don’t want to head out?
I’m sure someone can. He paused. You sure you don’t mind?
No. I really didn’t. I’m good, but don’t take too long.
He growled. I may wake you when I get there.
Sounds good, my big, bad wolf. Wiping sweat off my forehead, I continued dancing, glued between Ezra and Jack, but began to glance to the left and right.
Jack asked, “Looking for a way out?”
I laughed, caught, but seeing no breaks in the dancers around us. “Yeah, I’m getting tired,” another swipe of my forehead, “and hot. It’s time to call it a night.”
Jack’s expression turned woeful.
I guessed, “You came with those two, didn’t you?”
Sluggishly, he nodded. “Can you give me a ride?”
“And me?” Ezra asked instantly, bending to speak against my ear. “The jackass brought me here in their car.”
“I heard that,” Jack muttered absently.
I sighed. “As long as you two don’t mind riding in a truck, not a limo.” They didn’t actually ride in limos to school, but the implication was clear. My truck wasn’t a luxury vehicle.
Both quickly agreed, and then were making their own tunneling hole through the crowd, with me still stuck in the middle, swiftly and safely exiting into the outer area of the pulsating, crowded dance floor.
I breathed in fresh air as I lifted my hair off my neck, trying to get a breeze.
As we walked, Jack grinned. “Want me to wet you down?”
I glanced at my skin-tight red top. “I don’t think so, but thanks for nothing.”
Ezra held the door open as we exited the building.
I waved to Pearl and Gideon, seeing Pearl sliding onto the driver’s seat of her car, and Gideon, apparently staying behind, squatting next to the open door. Although, a few beats later, I wasn’t entirely sure when Pearl would actually be leaving since Gideon had his tongue down her throat.
I hopped into my truck, unlocked the passenger door, and hurriedly put my seatbelt on. It was my very own heavy-duty getaway car. Lifelong learning of self-preservation wouldn’t have me own anything else. Ezra and Jack both squeezed onto the bench seat, and because neither man was exactly small, it left me squashed between Ezra and my driver’s side door. “You two should cut down on the ’roids.” I wiggled a bit, but decided it wasn’t going to get any better. “Put your seatbelts on.”
Ezra chuckled as both of them maneuvered to do as told, then he put his arms on the back of the seat, giving Jack and me a smidge more space. “So says the mini-Mys.” He paused, and I turned the ignition on, rolling my eyes at him. “You know, you talk like a Com. Steroids don’t do anything for us and most Mysticals don’t even know what they are.”
I kept my mouth shut and turned out of the parking lot, shrugging.
What was I supposed to say? That I had broken the Law by doctoring my school papers, and had actually spent the majority of my life with Coms? Not really an option with the Prodigies.
“You guys live with the Kings?” I asked into the silence, rolling my window down for fresh air; with their magic trickling inside the cab, the air was stifling.
“Yep,” Jack answered, leaning over Ezra to turn on the radio. He pressed buttons. Again and again. A station-surfer. Every fifteen seconds, he pressed a different button, switching the station.
After two minutes of it, I swatted his hand. “Stop that. You’re giving me a headache.”
Jack gazed up from the radio. “Mysticals don’t get headaches. Not unless you have a germ?” Blue eyebrows rose.
I sighed. “It’s a figure of speech. What I really meant is it’s annoying me.”
“More Com talk,” Ezra murmured softly, even as he knocked Jack’s hand aside when he tried changing the station again. “She’s right. That’s annoying.”
More trees and blacktop drifted by under the midnight blue sky as I drove to King Venclaire’s house first, keeping my mouth firmly shut against the Vampire’s awareness.
Jack asked into the quiet, sounding curious, “Lily, can I ask you a personal question?”
“Depends on how personal.” Truth.
“About being mated?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
He turned as much as he could on the seat, gazing around Ezra, and stared at my profile. “Is it true you aren’t sexually interested in anyone else?” He shuddered, his blue eyebrows together. “I can’t imagine how that would feel. One person. Forever.”
My chuckle was soft. “Yeah. It’s true. No one does it for me but Dominic.”
His gaze was perplexed. “No one even looks good?”
I laughed outright. “I’m not blind. I know when men are hot.” A simple shrug. “But, there’s just no real interest in,” I pointed at my head, and then my chest, “here.”
“They say being mated you can’t even get turned on by someone else.” Jack blinked extremely slowly, his tone morbidly serious. “Honestly, that freaks me out.”
For a man, I imagined it would. A woman’s bodily reaction wasn’t so obvious. “I can honestly say I’ve never been turned on by anyone else since Dominic and I mated.”
“Huh.” He stared.
“What?”
His lips twitched. “Mind if I test that theory?”
Silence.
This time I was left blinking and, eventually, I sputtered, “What?” I ignored the fact it came out a little high pitched. “Jack, when I offered you a ride, I didn’t mean a ride.”
He shrugged. “I won’t have to touch-you, touch you. Ezra and I both have the power to seduce with a single touch. All higher powers do.”
I stared out the windshield.
Jack clarified, “Call it a scientific experiment if you wish. I just can’t believe what everyone else says. It’s too much.”
“It’s the mate magic,” I explained slowly. “It won’t let me be turned on by anyone else.”
“It won’t hurt then,” Jack coaxed, wiggling restlessly on the seat. “I wouldn’t be so freaked if it proved the Elders, and the Kings, had been lying,” a jerking hand wave, “about not being able to get it up with someone else.”
I choked, trying not to laugh, my cheeks puffing with it. He was a “to be” King, but he was still just a man. I bit my lip, eventually shrugging. “It won’t work.” I glanced at him, my eyes narrowing. “You won’t do anything adulterous, will you?”
He shook his head, held up his index finger. “Just touch your hand with my finger.”
I stared at his seemingly innocent finger before sliding my attention back to the dark road. “Whatever, but you won’t like the results. It’ll probably give you an even larger complex than you already have.”
“Or, it’ll cure me,” he muttered quietly. In the dimness of my truck’s cab, his eyes glowed softly and his power flared just as gently. “Here’s to hoping.” Reaching across Ezra, Jack touched the back of my hand with the tip of his index finger.
An immediate wave of warm, sensual, dizzying water stroked over me leisurely, eliciting a gasp from my parted lips; the truck jerked to the right before I righted it back onto the blacktop. The surge continued, caressing me from head to toe. Everywhere between. It was stunning.
Astonishing.
Unbelievable.
Spectacular.
But, no, it didn’t turn me on, the sensation diminishing as he withdrew his finger.
I cleared my throat hard, glancing to him. “That’s cool, but no go.”
Blue eyebrows slammed together, his brown eyes swinging to Ezra.
Ezra sighed. “I’ve known people who were mated before, and I agree with her.”
“Humor me.” Jack was glaring, but his fingers were tapping on his leg.
Ezra chuckled, and his nostrils flared. Inhaling deeply, he held the breath in, testing the air, scenting for emotions. He shook his head, exhaling. “Surprised, yes, but not stimulated.”
Jack cursed, turning on the bench seat to face the front. “God, I pray my mate’s not a spirit.” The mysterious, white-haired spirit Elementals were the rarest breed of Elementals, to the point that I hadn’t even seen one in my life.
Flexing my fingers on the steering wheel, I sucked in an immense breath of the night air rushing in through the open window as the remnants of Jack’s magic dissipated from the cab. As I watched the trees go by, I wondered if Dominic had been as troubled as Jack before mating me. He didn’t act it now — not at all — but in the few short months we had been together I had never asked him that question, never even pondered the thought before now.
Unexpectedly, an impression interrupted my musings.
My eyebrows furrowed as I felt…extreme worry.
Not my own emotion, either.
Jack murmured, “Ezra, maybe you…” He was still chatting, but I didn’t listen.
Dominic? I asked privately, speculating that the little experiment had gone through to him. He probably wouldn’t be thrilled about it, but he wouldn’t be too upset, either, his emotion not entirely reasonable. Plus, he had never done that whole finger-touch-thing to me before and I was planning to ask him to. I would have to tell him how I knew in the first place. But, right now, I had to figure out what was wrong with him. What’s going on?
He didn’t respond, and I started slowing the truck. “Dominic?” I asked both mentally and physically, and Jack glanced in my direction while Ezra stiffened next to me. “Dominic?” I could feel even more worry rushing from him. I shouted mentally and physically, “ANSWER ME!”
I jerked on the brakes when his reply came.
Under attack, he responded quickly. Call the Kings.
Sucking in a harsh breath, I asked both aloud and privately, “Who’s attacking?”
Both men in my cab froze.
No reply.
I screamed as slicing agony hammered through my skull.
Love you, Dominic whispered into the pain.
Deafening silence.
Hands on my head, I sucked air as the pressure inside my skull died suddenly, but a new one began in my chest. My eyes burned, wetting instantly, my hands grabbing my shirt, my chest. “Dominic!” I screamed aloud and privately, true panic, fear, and pain consuming me, my entire body trembling. “Dominic!”
Jack and Ezra were already on their cell phones talking to the Kings, understanding the gist of my one-way conversation, even as I sucked in another breath before yelling in dread. Pure emptiness poured into my soul. I was on the brink of passing out from it but, just as suddenly as the emptiness had filled me, I bowed against the seatbelt, screaming as a rush of magic hit me.
Ezra grabbed me with his massive arm, dropping his cell to jerk the truck into park.
I could barely feel his hands while I was seared.
Cooked alive from an influx of power.
I convulsed.
Shrieked.