Bound to Kill

Alexa

Leslie moves to sit beside me. “Tell me what you know.”

“A few days before Theo contracted me for Darius, he sent me to Bulgaria to take out a rogue vamp. The one who killed a member of the Supernatural Council.”

“The mage rep, Anthony Black?”

“Yes. Anthony’s wife found him dead a fortnight prior. The coroner reported not a trace of blood remained in his body.” I turn toward Leslie, resting my knee on the sofa, and tell him everything I recall...

I tracked my mark to a motel just off the A3, stole a maid uniform, then knocked on his door."

“Housekeeping,” I lied.

He opened the door and invited me in. I positioned the cart to block the exit, then grabbed the stake hidden beneath fresh sheets. I aimed for his heart but the vamp was faster. He darted behind me and sank his fangs into my throat.

Hissing, I jabbed the stake backwards, stabbing his upper thigh.

“You bitch!” he roared.

Swirling to face him, I aimed for his heart again. He grabbed my wrist, squeezed my pressure point, and crushed my bones until I released the stake.

“Ow! That’s going to leave a bruise, asshole!” I slammed my head into his face, then tackled him to the floor.

We fell within reach of my stake. I grabbed it and made a third attempt, but the vamp struck my chest—the force launched me across the room. My phone slipped out of my pocket as I slid down the wall into a heap, wheezing, my rib cracked and piercing my lung.

The vamp looked around the trashed room and then arched a brow. “Isn’t the maid supposed to clean the room?”

I snarled. “Aren’t the d-dead supposed to stay buried?”

He smiled and kneeled in front of me. “Sometimes the Fates have a greater plan.”

Every inhale felt like a thousand needles stabbed my chest. The vamp snatched my phone from the floor and pointed it at my face. I cursed when I heard it unlock.

He scrolled through my messages.

“Interesting. So, the SEB sent you? Let me guess, for Anthony Black?”

I sneered. “What d-did you expect? To kill a member of the council without anyone batting an eye?”

He looked pleased with himself. “Answer me this. Did the SEB mention I killed him on their orders?”

What the fuck? He’s lying.

“I can see by the look on your face they kept that little nugget to themselves.“ His satisfied smirk made me sick.

“Let me tell you a little story about the monsters you work for.” He strolled back and forth. “The high mage sat in his seat of power for over a decade and was said to be the most ruthless councillor. He had a human wife. We never met, but I hear her beauty is unparalleled. Dear old hubby was prone to jealousy, always accusing her of cheating. He beat her often.” I studied him, searching for deceit. “Someone eventually did catch her eye. Someone you know well. Say, about this high.” He raised his hand six feet. “Wears a suit. Bit of a frowner. Not big on the warm fuzzies.”

My handler.

“Anyways, he fell in love with her. Ordered the hit to protect her from darling hubby.”

My mind spun, trying to come to terms with his story.

“I even have the fancy SEB folder as proof. So you see, you naive little girl, this is a set-up.”

Truth. “Say I believe you, this is on my handler, not the SEB.”

He laughed out loud. “Wrong again. He needed authorisation from a higher-up. So you see what a tangled web we weave. The SEB is sending you to do their dirty work, tying up loose ends.”

Bile climbed my throat. I took shallow breaths, grimacing with pain. “Show me the proof!”

The vamp tilted his head. “I could. But I haven’t eaten properly in days.”

My eyes bulged as his features changed into a monstrosity. Evil incarnate. I knew shifting was a risk with my collapsed lung, but it was my only option.

As he sped toward me, my wolf sprung free. We clashed. I slashed his middle, opened my muzzle and ripped off his head. Then I lost consciousness.

“Did you ever find the proof?” Leslie asks.

“No. I searched the motel room and everywhere mentioned in the SEB file. He stashed the proof somewhere they weren’t aware of. I had to halt my search when Theo gave me a new mark.” Leslie looks lost in thought. “With your experience with the Druid, the hit on Darius and his dad, and the mage, we have means to bring the SEB down.”

“All we have to do is find the vamp’s hidey hole,” the Fae says with a wicked glint in his eye.

Darius

It’s after hours, so the Louvre is closed. Perez waves his hand, encasing our group in magic, concealing us from CCTV. Although I can see my team, we’re invisible to anyone nearby. Once past security, Perez leads us to the Mona Lisa.

“Link hands,” he orders. “Those closest to me, place your hands on my shoulders. Don’t break contact, or you’ll be left behind.”

My right hand grips Julia’s while my left rests on Perez as instructed. I watch in fascination as his hand slinks through the glass protecting the painting. The glass ripples like water.

Perez touches the painting with his index finger, and we get sucked into a vacuum. The world spins in a blur of colours. All sound vanishes. After a moment, we get ejected on the other side. Motion sickness lingers.

Everyone but Perez is knocked off-kilter. Closing my eyes, I bend to find my balance. It takes a minute for my head to stop spinning.

When the nausea fades, I open my eyes, stunned by what I see. To my left is a winter wonderland—nothing but white for miles. To my right, I see beautiful green landscapes and waterfalls. Clear skies where birds fly and chirp happily. Mermaids and seals swim in the clear blue sea. Nymphs dance and fuck like bunnies on the grass.

“This is paradise. Can we stay here forever?” Adrian jokes.

“Don’t let the serenity fool you. Those nymphs emit tranquillity but will fuck the life out of you,” Perez says. “The mermaids are sirens whose song will bewitch you. Once finished using you for their sordid pleasure, you’re fish food.”

Adrian sighs. “Dude. You’re a total buzz kill.”

I’m not one to easily shock, but I imagine my expression mirrors the looks of horror displayed by the other wolves.

“What about the seals?” a Lakeside wolf asks.

Perez shakes his head, looking toward the sea. “Not seals, selkies. Vicious bastards, especially to outsiders.” He shudders. “Many years ago, a group of changelings swapped places with human children. The selkies forced the humans to serve them. Once grown, the humans enslaved a group of selkies by stealing their skins—commanded they return to the mortal realm, where the selkies had to remain, never able to find their stolen skins.”

I smile, proud of the humans for getting payback.

Perez continues. “Of course, the humans had to eat whilst in Faerie. Upon returning to the mortal realm—human food was inadequate, never sating their hunger. They ate themselves to death.”

My smile drops. Not sure why I expected that story to have a happy ending, this realm is fucked.

“Which way are we headed?” Perez enquires.

The bond pulls me to the left. After that story, I’m relieved Lexi isn’t in Summer Court. I point toward the snow. “This way. Let’s go.”

Perez magics winter attire for all, and we begin our trek through the frozen forest.

The scents here are different but not unpleasant—floral and fresh snow.

After hours without encountering Fae, the tension in my shoulders relaxes. Not a minute later, our luck runs out.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” A grotesque goblin rubs his hands and licks his lips.

“Looks like dessert to me,” his friend replies.

They’re small, only reaching my kneecaps. Their faces are scrunched, like when someone smooshes your cheeks. Both are stark naked, their skin a sickly grey hue, and massive dongs dangle between their legs.

I better use my sword. I don’t want junk anywhere near me.

As I prepare to unsheathe my weapon, a hoard of goblins emerges from the trees. A glance behind me confirms they have us surrounded.

“This is not good,” Perez says.

“No shit, Sherlock.” Stan voices what we’re all thinking.

“They’re more spryly than they look,” Perez states, ignoring Stan. “And very fast.”

Their numbers grow by the second, hundreds blocking our way forward or backwards.

I link my wolves, hoping Julia is doing the same with Lakeside. “Cover each other. Attack!”

As one, we release our weapons from their scabbards and sheaths. The goblins practically bounce in delight.

With our backs pressed together, we let our swords fly. In one swing, I remove the heads of three goblins. Green splatters of blood as thick as tar disturbs the once-white forest as my team cuts through the hoard of goblins.

Some goblins get close enough to injure my team, ravaging flesh with piranha-like teeth. Grunts of pain mix with the sound of battle: war cries, screams, and swords slashing replace the quiet journey I was accustomed to.

Adrian cries out when a goblin breaks through our ranks. “Ah! He bit my leg. Die, you cannibal little fucker!” A head rolls as Adrian tastes revenge.

My team works tirelessly, leaving goblin body parts littering the forest path. Eventually, their number dwindle. We never slow until the last goblin dies.

I smile, ready to praise everyone. But feel that soul-crushing sensation when one of my wolves dies.

No!

I scan my team until I find him. Stan. His head lays a few feet from his body—a puddle of blood lies between the severed parts.

“What the fuck happened?” I growl, scanning the others with suspicion.

Everyone looks as confused and horrified as I feel. Despair brings me to my knees.

A barrel of questions assaults me. Did I bring the traitor here? Is it Adrian? Did he know Stan was keeping tabs on him? How can I focus on finding Lexi when I can’t trust my goddamn team?