Mistress of Souls, page 26
“You were eye-fucking the shit out of him. He is here to be punished, not lavished by your attention.” I snap my eyes back to my sub.
Tiffany rolls her eyes and huffs, mumbling under her breath as she lays out her tools on the temporary workspace. “Fucking cock block, pussy block… hells, orgasm block. Some best friend.”
I slink over, my tail sliding up to push her hair past her ear. “I heard that, and that is why I fucking love you.”
She turns around and swats my tail away, grinning. “I fucking love you too.”
I glide over to Aiden, tail shifting into a sharp pinned wheel and running it over his right and then left nipple, watching them as they begin to harden into buds. I continue my slow balance of pleasure and pain while I chat with Tiffany.
“Do you think it’s even possible to maintain a long-term relationship with two alpha-holes?”
“Three, including you,” she corrects me.
I scoff, but ignore her jab. “Seriously, what would that even look like?”
“First of all, have you even come to terms with the fact that Ian is in your life again? I know you see him almost every day, but that doesn’t mean you’ve accepted that he’s really back. Have you spoken with him about Inferuna?” she asks in a rare display of gentleness.
“Um, no. Why would I? I don’t need to hear any more of his lies,” I seethe.
Blood wells from the tiny puncture wounds on Aiden’s nipple when I pressed too hard in my agitation. Fuck. Focus Mariax.
I abandon titillating my sub and sit on the corner of the table. I wrap a lock of hair around one of my horns before letting it fall and repeating the motion. When my anxiety shows its despicable face, I fidget unconsciously.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now, okay? I need booze before I even consider unpacking that heap of bullshit,” I explain, none too patiently.
“Fair enough. What now?” Tiffany asks as she turns her gloved hands palms up in question.
“Now, I get his consent and you get to work,” I say, smiling evilly.
“You’re creepy. I like it,” Tiffany declares, waggling her manicured eyebrows.
I walk over and grab the tail end of the chain, yanking hard. His muscles strain further and his breathing is labored.
“Now, as you can see, Aiden is a very bad boy and is punished often, so he requires a new form of punishment to keep things fresh. I thought to myself, ‘What better way to punish a vampire than to brand him with a tattoo’?”
The vampire smirks. I can already tell what he’s thinking, that any tattoo etched onto him will just heal the second Tiffany moves on to a fresh piece of flesh.
“You remembered the silver laced ink, right Tiff?” I ask Tiffany, referring to the special order ink.
“Yeppers,” she states with a pop of her lips.
Moans reverberate off the walls along with the tzz…tzzzzz of the tattoo machine as Tiffany and I continue our conversation.
“Although, if you do decide to become a throuple, think of all the sexy possibilities that come with having two cocks at your beck and call whenever you want,” she says as she squeezes more black ink into a tiny disposable cup.
I’ll be in danger of arousal sliding down my thighs if I think about it too long.
As if on cue, Aiden speaks, making out the words between pants, “Mistress, I can smell your need. It’s driving me to lunacy. You want these males you’re discussing. Fuck the what ifs and go for it.”
I respect his bravery for speaking about my personal life so brazenly, but that won’t save him.
“Thanks for your unsolicited advice, sub. How many lashings do you deserve for speaking without permission, do you think?”
He doesn’t answer me as lust overtakes him. I continue questioning him, regardless.
“Describe to Tiffany how it feels as her needle pierces your flesh faster than your vampire speed allows you to run, forcing the silver laced ink into your skin.”
The only response I get from Aiden is a strangled moan as he rocks his hips and tilts his head back, searing his neck on the silver chains.
Tiffany glances up at me from her kneeling position between his legs. Her eyes are level with the sub’s glorious cock. She had been tattooing the inner thigh of Aiden.
“Uhhh, Mar? I don’t think the vamp finds this method of ‘torture’ quite as painful as you had hoped.”
His cock throbs, pre-cum glistening on the tip. Tiffany licks her lips.
“For fucks sake, that is very clear from the endless streams of moans and praise you are getting in…old Swedish?” I arch a brow in wonder.
Tiffany abruptly stands.
“Why don’t we call it a loss, and go to Get Fucked instead? We can get drunk and discuss your love life without this one,” she jabs a gloved thumb over her shoulder, “offering his input.”
“You know, that sounds amazing. Plus, I haven’t seen Teddy in a while. I wonder what drinks he’ll make us,” I say with a grin.
“Only one way to find out,” she says.
I hold out my arm and she laces her elbow with mine as we head towards the door.
Tiffany stops and looks at Aiden over her shoulder, smiling seductively.
“I’ll be back for you later,” she purrs and winks.
Chapter 33
Mariax
I’m on the ground level of my building in the Snuggle Palace, attempting to create space between myself, Hunter, and Ian. I can’t think when they are in close proximity.
I can’t stop stewing in my never-ending thoughts.
Part of me wants to jump in headfirst, throw myself willingly into a relationship with them, and not look back.
However, my trust in Ian is not infallible. It hasn’t been the same since Inferuna. He also disclosed that he’s been stalking me for who knows how long. I admit the darker side of myself loves his possessiveness and obsession with me to the point he needs to stalk me.
I would have no issues dating Hunter, but after seeing him with Ian, some of my building desire for him has shifted. It’s not that I don’t want Hunter; I do. But what if entering a relationship with only one causes me to lose the other?
An emotion I have only felt a handful of times causes me to curl my fists up at my sides. Jealousy. I’m jealous of their relationship.
For fuck’s sake, really, Mariax?
They have been together for months without me, exploring each other sexually and emotionally. Plus, Hunter saw Ian before I did when he returned to the human realm. My feelings are irrational and idiotic, but I’m having a difficult time stopping the thought loops from reoccurring.
The employee entrance at the back of the club opens, the door smashing against the wall. The upper part of the door separates from the hinges, and it hangs by just the hinge left at the bottom. I don’t startle from the noise, but it does immediately piss me off that something is broken in my club.
“Who the—?” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Lauren is skidding into the doorway.
I’ve never seen her look like this before. She’s pale, anger and worry mar her features. This is the angriest I’ve ever seen her. Her small frame shakes slightly with a continuous tremble in her limbs.
“Mistress!” she shouts. “You need to come upstairs now. There is a situation in one of the pleasure rooms,” she explains.
“What kind of situation?” I reply curtly.
“You need to see it for yourself,” she states.
With that ominous note, she turns on her heel and stalks back up the stairs.
Again, another unusual behavior for Lauren. She’s always very respectful, but I’ll let it slide because of how shaken she looks. I follow her up the stairs, quickly catching up to her but keeping enough distance between us.
We come out of the stairwell onto the apartment level and then swiftly make our way to the room in question on the level above.
I clutch the sides of my head and stare into the room with wide eyes while I look through the door Lauren holds open. Rage so potent it distorts my vision sweeps over me, and I scream to release some of the pressure digging its claws into my brain.
Hunter and Ian come out of nowhere, and now they’re standing too close to me. Neither of them say anything. They just try to comfort me with their presence. Ian’s power lashes out when he bears witness to the destruction, and I know he is just as livid as I am.
Hunter steps closer to both of us, ever the protector. He is unsure about what further reactions Ian and I will have and is more concerned about us than the actual scene in front of us.
It looks like something from the human show Dexter.
All I see is red, and it covers every inch of the room. There is enough blood that it could have easily come from twelve or more bodies. There’s no way to tell right away if it’s human or supernatural.
I don’t have a clue how this could happen so close to me. Hell, so close to Ian. He was more likely to feel a disturbance between the two of us.
Ian is the first to speak, his voice cold and detached. “How did someone get past your wards without either of us feeling it?”
He aims the question at me, but he stands with arms folded over his chest in the doorway facing the room in question. His face is blank of any expression, and he tips his head to the side as if deep in thought.
“Exactly, Ian. How the fuck did someone get into my building?” I question firmly.
I run through my mental list of clients, employees, and maintenance personnel. Everyone who I employ is thoroughly vetted and none of them have the power or knowledge to infiltrate my defenses.
“There must be something bigger at play here. Someone with power, or someone with a powerful witch who practices dark magic in their pocket, is the most likely possibility,” I explain my theory, my brows pinching in frustration.
My witch Ellie is strong, and I’ve never had a problem with the wards until now. Maybe Ian is right after all. Damn, I might need his help if I am to survive.
I look up at the ceiling in the massacred room, watching as thick drops of blood rain down.
“Why would someone do this? And who or what does all this blood belong to?” I ask no one in particular.
Aside from the constant drip, the only sound to be heard is our breathing.
Is this meant to hurt me personally or my business?
I feel attacked and violated. I’m getting way too old for all of this bullshit that keeps happening. It needs to end. Now. Clearly, things are escalating if The Snuggle Pit is no longer my safe haven.
Hunter and Ian both go to speak at the same time, their words tripping over each other. Ian grips my shoulders and turns me to walk a few paces away.
Now that the destruction is out of sight, I can think more clearly.
Ian places his thumb and index finger around my chin, tipping my face up to his. He’s bent slightly at the waist to be at my eye level.
“Right now, Mariax, you are not safe. I cannot see you in danger. I need to protect you.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “Yeah, you did a really good job protecting me in Inferuna, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. The Potentate’s plans for you would make even your skin crawl,” he states seriously. “I never questioned what I must do to keep you protected. I let those violent acts play out against Tiffany so you, my angel, wouldn’t suffer a fate worse than death.”
All the breath leaves my lungs at his declaration. Little by little, Ian is showing me his true self.
Hunter comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist to support me. He’s so big his tattooed forearms overlap above my pelvis. I lean my head back against his shoulder, sagging into him. Hunter shuffles us further down the hall, seeking more privacy.
We don’t know who can be trusted.
Lauren takes over to deal with the room and calls the cleanup crew. Luckily, the room is mostly made of concrete or stainless steel, so there shouldn’t be that much lasting damage, but there is a concern for the blood leaving permanent stains.
I don’t care at this point. I’ll board up the door, and it’ll be that weird room no one talks about.
Hunter leans his back against the wall. I turn in his arms to press my face into his chest. He tightens his hold, pulling me tighter against him. I snuggle into him, wrapping my arms around his back. Ian stands off to the side, facing the direction we came from so that he can watch both Hunter and me and keep an eye on the room behind us.
Shadows run down my hair from my crown, softly petting me. Ian is soothing me in his own way.
“We can’t stay here until this issue is resolved, Angel. I don’t know where we will go, but I will figure out something.”
Hunter’s chest rumbles against my cheek as he speaks.
“Why don’t we go to my cabin? It’s smaller and easier to defend than here. Plus, it’s out of the city. I’ll have my wolves set up a perimeter and—”
Hunter tilts his head down to listen when I place my hand on his forearm and squeeze gently. He cups my face in his warm palm, running his thumb over my lower lip. My tongue can’t help but slip out to play with my piercing in an unconscious motion.
“Hunter, please don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s a good plan, but I can’t just leave without making some arrangements,” I say, kissing the pad of his thumb gently. “And right now, I can’t wrap my head around that.”
I can’t dwell on the fact that Ian, Hunter, and I are having a calm conversation. There are no arguments or snide remarks.
The combination of their scents settles my anxiety as Ian walks over to us and wraps an arm around mine and Hunter’s ribs, pulling us firmly against his embrace.
For the moment, I get a taste of what my life would look like as their partner, and an undeniable craving for them emerges.
Chapter 34
Hunter
A fire lit under my arse after The Snuggle Pit was infiltrated. So, I checked in on the progress my wolves are making.
Charlie and I walk a couple of blocks to get to the next location. We have already checked several, and this is the second to last on the list. It’s a gigantic warehouse that takes up at least two city blocks or more. It’s rundown, falling apart, and abandoned.
There are several abandoned warehouses around here, and a lot of crime and drugs are constant.
It’s on the human police force’s radar, if you name it, it happens here, but there’s not much they can do. Abandoned buildings are just left vacant. Sure, they can hold raids and clean out each one, but the scum keeps coming back like cockroaches.
My pack is not above crime. In fact, we have several side gigs that are less than legal. But our main business, which is legit, is in construction. Not many members of the pack know about our side businesses. Not everyone can be trusted, and I’m glad I followed my gut on that.
Charlie places a hand on my shoulder and shakes me roughly. I glare at him as he laughs deeply and hands me a Starbucks coffee.
Oh, sweet caffeine, how I missed ye.
I take a mouthful of the lifesaving liquid and hold the warm cup between my hands. My breath fogs in the air as it’s early February and deep into the winter months.
I wish I were in the mountains smelling of fresh pine and the crisp scent of snow instead of this mishmash of rotting garbage, piss, sweat, and other putrid smells.
Making sure not to draw any eyes to us as more than necessary, Charlie and I try to blend into the scenery, but it’s a challenge when our lycan genes make us taller and overall larger than the average human.
We sip our coffee and chat about nothing.
By human standards, we dress the part.
I wear jeans with a rip in one knee, a plain black hoodie, and work boots. Charlie’s wearing an outfit similar to mine. Once our coffees are finished, I grab both cups, smash them together, and shove them into my pants pocket, not about to add more litter to this shit fest.
I sighed deeply, gripping the back of my neck with both hands, arching my spine to stretch. My hoodie rides up, and I feel the cool air dance on the hairs of my happy trail.
“Come on, Hunter. Let’s get this shit over with so we can go the fuck home,” Charlie says.
“Aye, I know. Ye have better things to do than scout around the city in the oorlich weather with yer best friend,” I reply with mock dejection.
He rolls his eyes and scoffs like he loves nothing better, but I know he wants to get home to his mate.
Not surprisingly, the building is not locked or secured in any way, and we walk through the door on the side of the building without any complications.
The building is so rundown I’m wary a piece of the metal roof will crash down on our heads at any moment. Old machinery is strewn haphazardly, like a tornado swirled everything about in its tunnel and they were never moved from where they landed.
The warehouse reeks of mildew and rat carcasses. Trash is sprinkled throughout every nook and cranny.
In the center of the space there is a perfect circular patch with nothing in it. Murky light peeks through a crack in the roof high above to shine in a thin beam of light. The dust disturbed by our search glitter and twirl in the beam, casting beauty to this otherwise dreadful place.
It’s quiet, dark, and foreboding, likely holding nothing of promise. It’s eerie that the only sound to be heard is the creaking from chains attached to some kind of pulley or hoist system attached to the metal grates on the second story and the metal beams that support the structure.
Charlie and I stay together as we search the building for any evidence of why this particular location is on the list.
Once the ground level is searched, we hike up the rusty stairs, our boots rattling the metal grates under us. There is even less up here, and it only takes a minute to check out the whole area.
However, the higher the climb, the more the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I cannae pinpoint what is causing this reaction from my body. My wolf fights for control to perceive the threat before it attacks us, making my skin feel tight.
