Skye Delano Coronado eased the Harley to a stop in front of the wrought iron gates of Brann's most heavily protected estate. Cameras were mounted on the walls, a recent addition though she wasn't sure exactly what purpose they served since Brann's wards would keep humans and supernaturals alike from entering without permission.
She leaned forward to press the intercom switch but her sister had already noted her arrival. The gates to the estate-to Syndelle's luxurious prison-swung open.
Skye drove in and parked the bike in front of the house. Syndelle greeted her at the door with a hug before ushering her down a hallway and past rooms full of priceless art and antiques.
They finally entered an entertainment room deep inside the house and designed for comfort. Syndelle's mate Rafael half sat, half lay in an oversized chair. As usual, he was completely focused on a game being played out on a large screen in front of him. His fingers and thumbs moved in a frenzy of activity on the game controllers.
Skye shook her head. "How can you stand it?" she asked, not for the first time.
Syndelle laughed. "By it, I assume you mean the game and not my very handsome mate."
Skye grinned and let her gaze roam over Rafe in mock assessment. She was deliriously happy with Gian and Rico but as she'd told them often enough, just because she took mates didn't mean she'd gone blind.
Rafe, with his muscle shirts and long blond hair, was serious eye candy. Of course the effect was sometimes ruined when he opened his mouth.
An opinion you share with Brann, Syndelle said along their family pathway, her amusement fading into sadness as she added, I wish you hadn't been lost to us. Our brothers have been known to spend days positioned in front of the screen and battling each other.
Skye gave Syndelle a quick hug. Don't feel sorry for me. Otherwise I'll have to share my own sadness about you not having the same freedom as I do. Out loud Skye said, "I'm glad Gian amuses himself by running Fangs and Rico sees enough as a cop. I might get violent if they played video games at home."
Rafe paused the game and tossed the controllers to a nearby beanbag chair then turned his attention to Skye. "As if you don't already have a reputation for violence. Are you here for a social visit or are you here to get Syndelle in trouble again?" He opened his arms to encompass the room. "As you can see, Brann isn't at home and hovering. So do your worst. Syndelle and I are both fully recovered from Brann's last little punishment."
"Rafael," Syndelle chided, her blush making Skye curious and then slightly embarrassed as brief images flickered into her thoughts before she firmly shored up the barrier between Syndelle and herself.
Skye hadn't known anything about her Angelini heritage or her family until recently. She hadn't even believed in the existence of supernatural beings though she'd known she wasn't like everyone else. Now she often relied on Syndelle to fill in the gaps in her knowledge. As a result, when they were together Syndelle tended to hold her mind open so Skye could search for answers. But the question of Brann's punishment was not one she needed to explore.
"Sorry," Skye mumbled.
Rafe laughed and rose from the chair. "And you accuse Syndelle of being sheltered." His eyes danced with mischief as he moved to stand next to Syndelle. "Maybe we should sneak out and explore some of the places where vampire companions are sent for training. Some of them have to be taught how to enjoy pain with their sex. And some vampires prefer to have it done by professionals."
"I hope he's kidding," Skye said. She couldn't always tell with Rafael. He'd spent years in the sex trade.
Syndelle slipped her arm around Rafael's waist and pulled him to her for a kiss. When it ended she said, "There are clubs favored by vampires and companions who like the BDSM lifestyle, but they aren't restricted to only our kind."
Rafael sighed and rubbed his nose against Syndelle's. "Fun spoiler."
"Troublemaker."
"Kids," Skye said, shaking her head but smiling at the same time. It made her happy to see Syndelle relaxed and almost childish. So much of the time her sister was left serious and somber by the weight of being the vampire Masada.
It was the desire to see Syndelle carefree that led to the trouble Rafael alluded to. She and Syndelle had managed to escape the compound while Rafe was there and then lose him as he tried to follow the Harley.
Skye hadn't been foolish enough to take Syndelle into a casino or a club. They'd toured the city on bike and raced through the desert. Then when Syndelle said she wanted to learn how to handle the Harley, they'd found an abandoned parking lot and hung out there until Syndelle got the hang of the hog. They'd capped their evening of freedom with triple scoops of ice cream and girl talk in a quiet park.
It had been an extremely tame evening, even compared to a night spent at Fangs where Gian and his vampire partners kept things in order. Unfortunately Brann didn't see it that way.
Skye snickered. Then again, based on the images she'd seen before shoring up the barrier, Syndelle savored the memory of that evening-both during their freedom run and afterward, when she faced the ancient vampire who would never allow her to leave his estate if he had a choice.
"If you're not afraid of getting into trouble..." Skye said and laughed at the expressions on both Syndelle and Rafe's faces. "I see you're not."
She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and flicked it open. Within seconds the driver's license she'd photographed before Christian Augustino's arrival was displayed on the screen. As Syndelle and Rafe studied Todd Moore's picture and information, Skye shared the sequence of events mentally-from Mystic's arrival to the detective's and finally to Roman's appearance at Fangs.
Rafael made a show of limbering his fingers. "So despite the part where your mates-who don't always see eye to eye-agreed this was a matter for Augustino to investigate, am I right in thinking you are here to suggest we join the hunt?"
"Brann's bragged numerous times that you have your uses," Skye said. "I thought maybe you'd prefer a real challenge over a video game."
Rafael smirked. "Come with me to my office, little girls," he said in his best parody of a horror film voice.
The rain Christian had worried about fell in a heavy, violent downpour then tapered off and ended almost as quickly as it had begun. It was more a squall than a storm and to the tourists on The Strip it was a laughing excuse to run for the nearest casino. For them it was merely another experience, one adding a different texture to their Las Vegas trip. For the three black wolves that experienced the storm before it moved on to hit the town, it was reason to howl in frustration. The scent of those they were hunting was lost.
They waited until they got back to Hawk's car before shifting form. None of them spoke until after they'd dressed and were heading to Vegas. It was Gabe who broke the silence. "If they stick together it might not be too difficult to find them in their human form. We can look for a pack of seven with five males, two females."
"That's assuming they're based in Vegas," Gabby said. "They may have just gone there to play, with hunting a vampire being their idea of fun. It still bothers me they left the body."
"Maybe this was their first hunt or the only time they haven't succeeded in killing their prey," Hawk said. "They might have assumed the vampire would turn into ash. Some of the truly ancient ones do."
Gabe nodded. "That's what Christian thought." He sighed in frustration. "If Gabby and I hadn't needed to eat and rest before shifting and running again maybe we could have found their human scents before it rained."
Hawk took a hand off the steering wheel and settled it on Gabe's shoulder. "You're both young and you're away from your Alpha and the strength that comes from being among pack. You did better than most would have done." His fingers curled and dug in to Gabe's muscles. "I believe things have worked the way the Angelini magic meant them to but if you ever help Mystic run from me again, I will challenge you in wolf form and tear you apart." He released his grip and returned his hand to the steering wheel.
Now that he'd issued his warning, Hawk could enjoy Gabe and Gabby's company and contemplate the future. He'd known who they were but until Mystic's stay at the Zevanti compound he'd had little interest in the two young wolves.
His cock filled just remembering that first glimpse of Mystic. She'd come into the house laughing at something one of the twins said and he'd known immediately he wanted her for his mate.
One of the elder Zevantis had noticed his interest and said, "She's a Renaldi Angelini. Her grandparents sent her to us in the hopes she'd find her mates among the wolves. Her fathers are both vampires."
"Does she shift?" Jagger asked.
"No," the elder Zevanti said. "But her sons would be wolves and a bond with her ensures an alliance with any number of packs that have ties to the Renaldi. They have always favored the wolves when it comes to mating."
Hawk growled as he remembered the next words out of Jagger's mouth. I'd mount her even without the promise of a bond. She's gorgeous. He should have known in that instant his friend wasn't destined to be Mystic's mate. Looking back on it, it had been a waste of time to involve Jagger. It would have been better to get to know Gabe and Gabby beyond simply observing and asking about them. Then again, maybe including Jagger had served a purpose.
Right from the start he'd accepted he'd share Mystic with another male. He'd imagined what it would be like when he and Jagger took her, both together and separately. As a result, he now found he could handle the thought of sharing her with Roman and Christian-not that he intended to do it when they got back to Vegas.
Christian was at work and Roman had been alone with Mystic for hours. Now it was his turn to have sole possession of their mate.
Hawk tried to find a comfortable position as his erection grew in anticipation. The image of Jagger humping away on the gray female with his tongue hanging out in ecstasy flashed through Hawk's mind and he could easily imagine the same expression on his own wolven face.
It was deeply satisfying to make love to Mystic as a man. And even though they'd only been mated for a short time, he knew each coupling, each shared thought or intimacy would strengthen their bond until eventually he would be able to wake the wolf sleeping inside her. She would become a true mate in every sense of the word. She would be his as both wolf and Angelini.
Mystic stirred in Roman's arms. Without conscious thought she reached for Christian and Hawk with her mind and assured herself they were okay.
Warmth pooled in her cunt and heart as she felt Christian's mood swing from frustration with work to delight at her wifely show of concern. You're still at the house? he asked.
Yes. Roman is here and Hawk is only a short distance away. Because of her vampire heritage she didn't need to open her eyes in order to know the sun was close to setting. Did Hawk call you? Did they find any human scent?
The rain washed it away. But Hawk also thought the wolves smelled "off" somehow. Christian's attention was jerked back to an interrogation taking place at the police station. The link snapped and Mystic allowed it to slide from her consciousness. Her eyebrows drew together. She didn't remember it raining. She opened her eyes and looked up into Roman's face.
It was only a quick squall. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. You needed to sleep.
Mystic wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose against his as her memories caught up with her. She should probably be mad he'd taken it upon himself to knock her out completely instead of simply weaving protections into her mind. But it was hard to be angry when she felt so relaxed. She'd appreciate the sleep even more once they started hunting through the clubs for the seven Weres.
I don't think you'll be doing any hunting tonight. It would hardly be fair to Hawk if you denied him a chance to be alone with you the way both Christian and I have been.
Mystic's mind found Hawk's. She delved into his thoughts and her nipples tightened in response to the lust and anticipation she found crouched inside him.
She shivered at the intensity of him. Hawk did nothing to mute or hide his intention to fuck her repeatedly when he got to her.
He was a strong alpha and even though she had no wolf, she responded to him on every level. She knew it would be nearly impossible to resist his will when it was focused solely on her-just as she knew she was no match for a vampire as ancient and powerful as Roman.
On the contrary, Roman whispered into her thoughts as he kissed down to the pulse thundering in her neck. You are the perfect match for me.
He sucked her pulse into his mouth and desire burned through her. His hand covered her breast possessively and she felt his intention to pierce her with both his fangs and his cock.
A thought flickered between them-of Hawk walking in with Gabe and Gabby. Mystic wasn't sure whether it was Roman's thought or hers but she stiffened in response. Though sex was a public and often indulged in activity among the wolves when they gathered for a Howl, it wasn't something either she or her friends had participated in.
Roman released her neck and kissed her before rising to his feet. "Hawk will be here in a matter of minutes. A quick shower might be in order before I'm kicked out on the street with nothing but the clothes on my back."
Mystic laughed. "As if anyone could really throw you out."
She cocked her head as a question suddenly occurred to her. "Could you hypnotize him if you wanted to?"
"That's a dangerous question."
"So if you answer it, you'll have to wipe my mind?"
Roman chuckled but he sat down next to Mystic and traced her lips with his forefinger. "I think you will find I have not tampered with any of your memories. I only placed protections around some of them."
He leaned down so his face was only inches above hers. His hand moved to stroke her cheek. "Yes, I am powerful enough to hypnotize Christian and Hawk, though your Angelini bond with them and the fact they are both alphas would make it more difficult and more dangerous-for all of us. They would fight, physically and mentally, and it would most likely take a great deal of blood loss before they would weaken to the point where my will would prevail. But I would prevail in the end." It's not something I would contemplate doing unless your life was at stake, Mystic. And even then, I would do so accepting my own life would be forfeit should something go wrong and you end up dead.
I believe you.
You humble me with your absolute trust. It is not something I have experienced very often.
You're my mate, Mystic said. It was as simple and as complex for her as that.
She might have fought against gaining mates in the first place, and she suspected she would soon agree wholeheartedly with Skye Coronado and conclude mates tended to cramp a girl's style, but she wouldn't engage in phantom battles over the issue of trust. To doubt the trustworthiness of her chosen mates was to doubt the very magic that created the Angelini.
Roman kissed her then stood and offered his hand. "Shower with me. I promise to behave."
"And what if I don't want you to behave?"
He chuckled. "If it's within my power, I'll give my mate anything she desires."
Mystic put her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the bathroom. Much, much later they emerged to the smell of pizza and to find Gabe, Gabby and Hawk in the kitchen. One box of pizza had already been polished off and they were well into a second one.
"There's plenty here," Gabby said, waving a slice in the air.
Mystic joined the others at the table. Roman sat down next to her so she was positioned between him and Hawk.
Gabe said, "As soon as we finish here, Gabby and I are going to start hitting the clubs our kind favors. Christian called while you were in the shower. The dead vampire grew up in Vegas."
Mystic frowned and turned to look at Roman. "That's not right. He was a fledgling. He shouldn't be in a place where people who knew him when he was alive and human would recognize him."
Roman nodded. "I plan to visit Brann's estate and Fangs when I leave here. I'll take the matter up with Brann as well as Gian and his partners. A short while ago a witch was using dark magic to create vampire children. I was under the impression all of them had been found and dealt with. Perhaps not."
Gabby pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it before handing it to Roman. Mystic recognized it as the printout of places they'd intended to check out during their Vegas escape.
"I've been thinking," Gabby said. "The wolves wouldn't have gone to a place like Fangs to find their prey. And I doubt they got lucky and just happened to find a lone vampire in a dark alley somewhere. I've never met a fledgling as young as Todd Moore, or as young as we think he might be, but I'm guessing he'd still be strong and fast and not easy to take down, especially with a single knife to the heart. None of his arm bones had cut marks on them. That probably means he didn't think he needed to defend himself. The only reason I can think of a vampire letting someone, especially a Were someone, close to his heart is if he's feeding-which means maybe the vampire went hunting for, or was lured by Were blood."
Gabrielle glanced at Mystic then back to Roman, and finally to Hawk. "Except under certain circumstances, the Zevanti pack forbids its members from being a vampire's food source. Most packs are the same, aren't they?"
Hawk nodded but Roman laughed and flashed his fangs. "This is Sin City, small wolf. What happens here is supposed to stay here if you believe the advertisements. It's a place for thrill seekers and rule breakers and gamblers alike. Still, your points are well thought out and excellent."
Roman looked down at the list of clubs and removed an elegant pen from his shirt pocket. "None of these are places a vampire would wander into alone." He wrote Wolfsbane along with a street name. "You'll find a more mixed crowd here. But I would suggest waiting until Christian is off duty or I've finished my tasks before going to his club. Three is safer than two." Roman's gaze flickered over Gabby. "Especially when the small wolf might be a temptation. Depending on the mix of customers, Wolfsbane can range from civilized to dangerous, all within the span of a single night."
He handed the list back to Gabby before leaning over and kissing Mystic's forehead. "I'll be back before sunrise or I'll call to let you know where I am."
Mystic's hand settled over Roman's heart for a moment as she studied him, memorized his features. Everything about him was urbane and polished-except for the mating mark she'd left on his neck. She grinned and didn't bother to suppress the satisfaction she felt at seeing her off-limits sign posted on him.
She could easily picture him gliding across a ballroom in old England or attending a salon where wealthy nobles pretended an interest in poetry so they could arrange sexual liaisons with each other's spouses. He was a chameleon, like most vampires. But where dancing was still a possibility for him, adultery wasn't-not for an Angelini or their mates.
"Don't let anything happen to you," she said, leaning forward to kiss him one last time before he left.
Gabby and Gabe finished their pizza and cleared the table of what dishes and debris they could. When they were finished they stood with their attention on Hawk as if they needed permission to leave.
It surprised Mystic, until she thought about it. Hawk was a strong alpha. Even in the Zevanti compound Gabe and Gabby would have deferred to him in any direct interaction that didn't conflict with their pack loyalty.
But when Gabe asked, "Do you want us to check in with you?" a flash of excitement shot through Mystic at the possibility this could lead to something more in the future. This could be the start of the pack she knew Hawk wanted.
It was inevitable that young Weres moved around. It was necessary if for no other reason than to keep from inbreeding.
Every supernatural body had its elders who governed though they generally concerned themselves with the framework of a society instead of the details. New packs had to be sanctioned and territories determined. Leaders needed to be true alphas with a web of alliances and the will to control pack members, ruthlessly if necessary.
Pride filled Mystic as she looked at Hawk. Warmth rubbed through her like a wolf's affection. He was a man she would trust with the future of her friends.
As if sensing her thoughts, Hawk reached over and stroked the back of her neck though his attention remained on Gabe and Gabby. "Call Mystic's cell phone and leave voice mail each time you hit a new location. Don't take any chances. If you get into trouble start trying to get a live person. Me. Christian. Roman. It doesn't matter. Tonight is for reconnaissance. It's about gathering information, not being noticed."
Gabby nodded in agreement. Gabe grinned and saluted. Mystic tensed but Hawk didn't react other than to slide his chair back from the table and say, "When you've had enough fun and decide to quit, crash in your hotel room." His teeth flashed. "We'll call you when it's safe to come over."
Both Gabe and Gabby laughed. Mystic's face heated up, which embarrassed her even further. "You'd think nothing would make me blush after living with Estelle, Falcone and Yorick plus visiting the wolves," she mumbled, completely disgruntled.
Hawk pulled her onto his lap as Gabe and Gabby left. "I like your blushes," he murmured against the mating mark on her neck. "And your modesty is refreshing." He bit down, remarking her neck. His aggression sent a sharp spike a need through her. Mystic's heart began racing when he eased her off his lap and onto her feet. "But now that we're alone, I want you naked. Strip."