Tarnley
Night air heavy around us, we stand just outside the succubus den. Four huge columns hoist up the massive front porch of the red-brick building. Ivy climbs up the front and sides, and that combined with the dead trees in the front yard makes for a Hollywood haunted mansion vibe.
Death clings to this place. I can sense it just as easily as most humans can pick up on freshly baked goods hours after the oven has been turned off. It churns my stomach.
“How are we going to handle this?”
“You and I should go in first,” Delaney answers Rainey’s question.
“No fucking way,” Cole argues. “You’re just as susceptible to their magic as we are if they lock lips with you.”
“They’re less likely to come after us.”
“I agree with Cole,” Elijah comments. “We all go in together, or not at all.”
Rainey sighs. “Fine.”
“Really? You’re not going to argue?”
“I’m not always argumentative,” Rainey snaps back. “Besides, we don’t know how many are in there. Bella hasn’t exactly told us everything, so for all we know, we could be walking into dozens of succubae. And, let’s not forget that according to Bella, they feed—constantly. Which means they’re all at full strength.”
“Fair enough. Keep your lips to yourselves,” Delaney says.
I sense the fae before he emerges from the shadows.
“Did I miss the party?”
“Nope,” Elijah tells him.
“You’re right on time,” Delaney adds.
“Perfect.” Fearghas rubs his hands together. “Let’s do this then, shall we?”
“We shall.” Rainey draws her short sword as does Elijah. Cole jogs toward the trees, disappearing into the tree line as Delaney shakes her arms. Green magic flares to life along her skin, shimmering power that saturates the air around us.
A sandy-haired wolf bounds out of the trees and comes to a stop beside her. “Cole, Fearghas, and I will take the back,” Delaney offers.
“And the rest of us have the front.”
I roll my shoulders, my blood pumping with the heavy beat of my heart. Fangs descended, I prepare for a fight as we head toward the front of the house. I can hear them now, inside, the steady beat of music, soft gasps of the victims and their abusers.
It fuels my rage to know what we’re about to walk in on.
Rainey reaches the door first, and Elijah moves around her to grip the handle. After offering both of us a nod, he shoves the door open. I blur past them both and head straight for the succubus currently sexually engaged with a human man bound by chains hung from the ceiling.
Wasting no time, I snap her neck and toss her to the side. Screams rip through the house as Delaney, Cole, and Fearghas blast into our room. Magic blazing, Delaney sends energy into two succubae in the far corner.
“Which one of you bitches is the mother to a girl named Bellamy?”
Silence.
Rainey reaches behind and pulls out her firearm, leveling it on a redhead standing at the base of the stairs. The succubus snarls, baring sharp teeth. “I’m not going to ask again.”
“I believe you’re looking for me.” A woman gracefully descends the stairs, wearing nothing. Completely naked, she moves as though she has all the time in the world. Lust pummels into me out of nowhere.
“What the—” Elijah bends at the waist, his own desire potent enough I can sense it over my own. He drops to his knees, both hands pressed to his ears as blood trickles from his nose. Cole whimpers and collapses as my vision wavers. I reach out to steady myself, and Fearghas rushes over, hand on my elbow.
“Foolish women to come here with your mates.” The woman comes to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, but I can barely make out more than her silhouette through the pounding in my head. “Such an easy thing for me to do, manipulate their attraction for you.” She raises a hand—or at least what I think is her hand—and both Elijah and Cole groan. For me, the pain stays the same, steady throbbing.