Cyrus leaned close to Jase as the man tipped his head back, eyeing the pulsing vein along his throat, almost wishing the hunt had been a little more challenging. Lydia might have considered Cyrus to be the dangerous one, but the second she condemned the man with those pristine morals of hers, she’d become downright lethal.

He’d have to watch her carefully to keep his promise. Being a man of his word had never mattered much to him before, but he was willing to change for her.

Slightly. On his own terms.

I’m sure she’ll be grateful. Integrity is so important to her.

Lips slick, Lydia took Jase’s dick deep into her throat, staring up at the man as he stroked her hair, losing himself to the pleasure of her mouth. She pulled off him, trailing her tongue along the length of his cock. Grazing the smooth flesh with her teeth.

As her fangs pierced a thick vein, Cyrus winced. He could almost feel sorry for Jase—even an immortal experienced considerable pain when that most vulnerable part was abused. And she hadn’t been gentle.

Shock parted Jase’s lips. He drew in a sharp breath as though ready to scream.

Placing his hand over the man’s mouth, Cyrus whispered in his ear. “The pain will pass. Be still and I’ll let you fuck her when she’s done.”

Eyes tearing, Jase stared at him. His whole body relaxed as agony shifted to a warped pleasure that would override all his senses, the ecstasy so intense he’d likely forget anything else when the night was over.

Cyrus moved his hand from Jase’s mouth and stroked his hair. “You really are exactly my type. She couldn’t have chosen more perfectly if she’d tried.”

He claimed Jase’s lips, slitting the bottom one with a fang and letting the blood fill his mouth as they kissed. Smoothing his hand down Jase’s chest, he deftly undid the buttons of his light blue shirt, licking the wound on Jase’s lip closed before bending down to trail his tongue along the exposed skin of his chest.

Jase’s skin was cooling, so Cyrus reached out, raking his fingers through Lydia’s hair. He tightened his grip when she resisted, and finally she lifted her head, glaring at him as blood dripped from her chin onto the wood floor.

“Messy girl.” Cyrus chuckled, wiping the blood away with his thumb. He stood, holding out his hand and pulling her to her feet. The mix of drugs and blood and alcohol had her sweetly compliant, which he didn’t always enjoy, but would do for tonight. He could make sure she truly enjoyed her gift. “There’s a nice comfy bed right up those stairs. Why don’t you go ahead and wait for us?”

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she looked at Jase as though she had something to say, but instead, simply turned and made her way upstairs.

Cyrus turned his attention to Jase as the man stood. His lips curved slightly as Jase hissed through his teeth, all the color leaving his face. By now the venom of the bites would be working its way through his system, burning through his veins as it attacked his blood cells, absorbing them, changing them as it had Cyrus and Lydia.

Only, there wasn’t enough to bring him across. He would die an agonizing death if Cyrus left him. Which, entertaining as it would be, wasn’t part of the plan.

He drew out the flask he kept in the inner pocket of his jacket and pressed it into Jase’s palm. “Drink this. Every last drop. It will help.”

“What is it?” Jase uncapped the flask and took a deep gulp.

“Absinthe.” Cyrus ran his tongue over his bottom lip, savoring the lingering flavor of Jase’s blood. He had Romani ancestors, which made him downright delicious and explained why Cyrus couldn’t read his thoughts. Which could be a problem, since he couldn’t be compelled to forget tonight, but Cyrus wasn’t overly concerned.

If Jase had any powers, he wouldn’t have let Lydia so close. Magi tended to sense immortals on instinct and Jase remained clueless. He wasn’t a threat, but gorging on his blood was tempting. Cyrus would have to keep an eye on Lydia. Besides wanting the man dead, Jase’s blood would make her stronger.

Having to physically restrain her might be entertaining, though not how he’d planned to end the evening. The alcohol would dull the lure of Jase’s blood as it thinned, while protecting him from the effects of their bites. And make Lydia a bit tipsy. Both the man and Cyrus’s pet would be manageable.

As for Jase’s memory, what did it matter? Who would believe him even if he understood enough to spread the story? Not a mark would be left on him.

Well, other than a few bruises. Cyrus didn’t do gentle.

The tight lines of pain eased from Jase’s expression after a few more gulps and he handed Cyrus the flask, catching Cyrus’s wrist before he could put it away.

“I don’t care what you are. This is…” Jase laughed and shook his head. “This has been crazy and you both… I want you. I want her. Nothing else matters right now.”

If I kept you, you’d wish you’d never said that. Cyrus chuckled, curving his hand around the back of Jase’s neck and drawing him close. He flicked his tongue over Jase’s bottom lip. “I rarely share her, so don’t make me regret this. Make her feel so good she misses you once we’re gone.”

Jase looked surprised, but he inclined his head. “Consider it done.”

Cyrus held out his hand for Jase to lead the way, following close behind. He remained at the top of the steps as Jase approached Lydia, curious to see how she’d react. He smirked as she relaxed onto the bed, feigned lust in her eyes, kissing Jase when he climbed over her, as though she’d been eager for him to join her.

She wanted him close enough to kill, and Cyrus was tempted to let her, just to see how beautiful she’d look, covered in Jase’s blood.

But he’d offered her a taste of freedom, not control. Jase would see another morning.

Of course, they could always come back.

This gift thing might not be so bad after all.

* * *

The rhythmic pulse in my skull lulled me into passiveness as Jase’s lips covered mine. He was a good kisser, and him touching me didn’t disgust me as much as it should have. The drugs probably had something to do with it. Every brush of his fingers against my throat, against the skin slowly revealed as he undid my shirt, was magnified until I couldn’t hold back a desperate moan.

I kinda wanted to tear him limb from limb. I also wanted him to take off my shirt and keep kissing me.

Decisions, decisions…

He finished undoing the buttons of my shirt and pulled me up, helping me slip the red silk off my arms and toss it aside before bringing his lips to my breasts.

My head fell back as the flick of his tongue on one nipple sent sparks shivering along my nerves and my core clenched. He eased me back onto the pillow, grazing his teeth over my ribs as he undid my pants, peeling them down my thighs, stopping when he realized my boots were in the way.

Biting hard on my bottom lip, I watched him unzip both, pulling them off before gently sliding my pants the rest of the way off. I knew the cruelest bastards could pretend to be sweet, but this didn’t seem to be an act. Why couldn’t he be rough and mean? Wanting him dead would be so much easier.

Tenderness had become an alien concept to me. I had no idea how to react, which scared me. The drugs and alcohol were fucking with my senses enough.

Daederich had spent months teaching me to enjoy sex that wasn’t rough and demeaning. He hadn’t done me any favors, because I wouldn’t have missed what I’d never known. Now I remembered the feeling of a lover taking his time, caring more about my pleasure than his own. He’d made me feel beautiful. Precious.

Jase was getting way to close to making me feel the same. And it fucking hurt.

I stiffened as he kissed along my thigh, pressing my head back into the pillow as he glanced up at me. “Don’t. Please don’t.”

Regret filled his eyes and he nodded, shedding his shirt and undoing his jeans. He pushed my thighs apart, lowering himself between them.

His lips brushed my cheek. “I’m sorry I drugged you. I thought it would help.”

Before I could ask what he meant, he filled me with one smooth thrust. The shock of pain and pleasure gave me an escape from the moment of weakness. My body didn’t give a fuck where that exquisite stimulation was coming from. Emotions didn’t matter. All that mattered was movement, the weight of him holding me down, and the slick glide of his length driving in deeper, harder, over and over again.

He tipped his head to one side, baring his throat, and I accepted the invite. His skin was slick with sweat, salty as I opened my mouth against his neck, tonguing that thick, pulsing vein. As my fangs pierced his flesh, he let out a low growl, bringing his hands to my hips, fucking me harder as though to distract himself from the slice of pain.

Cyrus climbed onto the bed behind Jase, pressing his hand to the base of his spine to hold him still. He slammed into Jase so hard my fangs tore loose from Jase’s throat and I had to quickly cover the wound with my mouth to keep him from bleeding out. I closed the wound with my tongue, raking my fingers into his hair and bringing his lips to mine.

He was forced into me at a brutal pace, but my body welcomed the violent pleasure. This I could take, but the way he tensed made it clear he’d never been used so roughly.

I shouldn’t give a damn if he suffered, but I’d been in his place, with no control over what happened to me. Not that I had any control now, but at least I wasn’t completely in the dark. He was. And, if he was lucky, he’d continue to be once we were done with him.

Tightening my body around him drew a soft moan from his lips. His forehead met mine and he shifted his hips to put some pressure on my clit every time he filled me. My lips parted as agony and ecstasy flowed together like molten lava, spilling over me in an orgasm that had me screaming, tears blinding me as I rode it out to the end, bucking against him until he joined me with a strangled shout.

Slamming into him one last time, Cyrus released a breathless laugh, dragging Jase up with one arm barred across his chest, pulling him off me as he kissed the other man. “I enjoyed you very much. Are you certain you don’t want to keep him, Lydia? Say the word and he’s yours. Pets should have their own toys, don’t you think?”

Careful to keep my expression neutral, I slid off the bed, grabbing my clothes. My legs were shaky, and every inch of me was sore, but I’d gotten in the habit of recovering quickly.

And, right now, Jase’s life depended on it.

“I already have a toy.” I lifted my shoulders, glancing over at Jase as Cyrus let him fall to the bed. “Do you really think Rosali will let me keep another?”

Lips thinning, Cyrus nodded slowly. “That’s a very good point. Besides, you’re not going anywhere, are you, my boy?”

I bite hard into my cheek to keep from wincing at the casual endearment. I might have bought Jase some time, but not much.

Jase pulled up his jeans, lowering his gaze, showing the first hint of fear. “No. I’ll be here.”

“Excellent.” Cyrus adjusted his own clothes, smoothing his hair back, then holding his hand out to me, smiling when I stepped up to his side and let him lace his fingers with mine. “A shame we have to leave so soon, but we’ll see you again soon, Jase.”

Swallowing hard, Jase looked up, forcing a smile. “I can’t wait.”

Good answer. I followed Cyrus, grabbing my jacket before stepping outside, shrugging it on as we headed down the street, only letting myself relax when we’d gotten a few blocks away from Jase’s apartment.

I hoped Jase would pack up all his shit in the morning and get the fuck out of dodge. For some reason, I couldn’t believe he’d ever done this before. He’d drugged me, and might have drugged others, but I doubted it. Somehow, he’d known I wasn’t here by choice. He’d done the only thing he could to help.

I might be fooling myself. Maybe I was tired of seeing monsters everywhere I looked. Either way, wanting him dead had quickly lost its appeal.

A shame, because for the first time in so long, I’d felt good. Like I had some power.

Nothing but another illusion. That power would never be mine unless I let myself become one of the monsters. That I hadn’t meant I wasn’t completely lost.

But I was getting there.