Dark Lies (Magic Side: Wolf Bound Book 3)

Savannah

The stairs led to a dimly lit room decorated with floral tapestries and abstract artwork on the walls. Long-stemmed candles burned from the antique chandelier that hung from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows across the space. It was all very tasteful except for the weapons and chains interspersed among the paintings.

I sucked in a slow breath, hoping it would help calm my nerves.

The soft click of a door opening and closing whispered from an adjoining space.

A blur whipped into the room, and suddenly, Alejandro was there before me, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. His signature of wine and earth tingled across my skin, and his kiss sent a shiver up my arm.

I blinked twice.

Holy shit, he was fast.

“Ms. Caine,” the vampire whispered in a sultry voice, “so nice to meet you. I must confess, I was not aware of your work an hour ago, but it seems I have been terribly ignorant.”

For a second, Alejandro sniffed, and his eyes dilated, but they quickly returned to normal.

“Rivera,” Jaxson said, his expression blazing with barely restrained fury. “We’ve been looking forward to speaking with you.”

The vampire released my hand and regarded Jaxson with disdain. He turned back to me. “Who is he? A model? I should be rather amused to see you paint him in the nude. Your work is filled with so much anger, I imagine you could capture his bestial nature quite well.”

Jaxson started to move, but I braced him in place with my arm, and he clamped his jaws shut.

My mind raced faster than it ever had before.

By now, Alejandro had to know exactly who we were but not why we were here. He was baiting Jaxson deliberately. Clearly, this was a game, and I didn’t know the rules, but I did know that if Jaxson wolfed out, we wouldn’t get what we wanted.

I didn’t have a presence like Jaxson, but I tried to push calming energy to him and lightly traced my fingers over his skin. “This is my muse, Jaxson Laurent, the Dockside alpha. He’s inspired the most incredible transformation in my work.”

Recognition dawned on the vampire’s face as he poured three glasses of amber liquor. “Laurent,” he purred. “From France?”

Jaxson freed his arm from mine. “Originally, yes.”

“Fascinating.” In a blur, he moved to a crystal decanter set on a mahogany cabinet along the back wall.

Alejandro returned and handed Jaxson and me each a glass, his fingers brushing mine. In another blur of movement, he disappeared and reappeared holding his raised glass. “Cheers to meeting new friends.”

I sniffed my glass, noting the sweet, spicy aroma of the tequila. Not wanting to offend our host, I glanced at Jaxson and took a sip.

Alejandro gestured to the painting tucked under Jaxson’s other arm. “May I?”

Jaxson handed it over, and Alejandro raised the canvas to the light. “So much darkness. So much hatred. So much power. Two men, twisted in pain. One mortal and dying, the other dead and seeking new life.”

Alejandro strolled over to the coffee table arranged between a set of antique couches and high-back chairs and placed the painting against the wall. “I love it. And it’s strange, but I almost recognize this man. I feel like I know him.”

“You do,” I replied. “Victor Dragan.”

The vampire’s eyes dilated. “Indeed, I did. And what inspired this choice of subject?”

The terrible memories of that vile cave assaulted my mind. My hands began trembling, and I had to set my glass down. Fuck, I needed therapy.

Jaxson’s hand slipped to my back, his touch sending warmth and calm through me.

Alejandro watched me intently as I swallowed. “Because I was there. I shoved the knife into the first man and cut Dragan’s soul out of him.”

The vampire gave me a ruthless smile. “I admire your dedication to your art. And tell me, what inspired you to paint this piece in the midst of my fucking auction?”

Instantly, the temperature of the room dropped.

Trepidation fluttered in my stomach, but I pushed on. “You have his finger, and we want to borrow it.”

Alejandro tilted his head back and laughed deeply. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled. “Even if I did have such a thing, what makes you think I would give it to you?”

“We’ll make it worth your time,” Jaxson snarled.

The vampire sipped his drink, looking bored. “Hmm. I doubt it. I only trade in things that are priceless.”

“Dragan is on a warpath and wants vengeance on all who’ve wronged him,” I blurted. “We need his finger to cast a spell that will stop him from possessing others and keep him in the underworld. You can think of it as insurance.”

“Insurance?” The vampire’s eyes rounded with surprise, and he snorted. “Against what?”

“You cut off his finger. Once he’s extracted vengeance on those who killed him, I imagine you’ll be next.”

Alejandro tapped his ring against his glass. “Perhaps, perhaps not.”

My gaze flicked to Jaxson. “There must be something we can offer?”

The vampire’s eyes dilated again, and he flashed me a lewd grin. “I’d say a drink of your blood might settle it.”

My heart stilled. Of course.

Instinctively, I glanced down at my chest. A dark stain had seeped into the halter of the dress.

Goddamn it.

Jaxson stepped forward protectively. “Not a chance.”

“Well, then”—Alejandro shrugged and pressed a button on his desk—“no deal. Please see yourselves out.”

A door opened, and three thugs in suits stepped in.

Great. Negotiations were over.

“Let’s go.” Jaxson took my hand and all but dragged me toward the door before I could process what was happening.

“Good luck on your quest to stop Dragan,” Alejandro remarked. “I do hope you succeed. He truly was a foul creature.”

I slammed my platform heels down and tore free of Jaxson’s grip. “There must be something else.”

Alejandro shook his head pityingly. “That finger is a warning to anyone who tries to fuck with me—which raises the question, why are you trying my patience? Get out!”

Jaxson pulled me, but I resisted with all my strength, and shouted, “A drop!”

Alejandro froze, eyes locked in like laser sights, and I broke out of Jaxson’s arms before he could drag me away.

Jaxson reached for me, but the vampire raised his hand, and the thugs pulled out their sidearms. “Silver bullets, Mr. Laurent. I would let the woman speak, lest they make you both bleed. Then there will be no holding me back.”

Jaxson snarled.

I looked at him and gestured for him to calm down.

On the day I’d met her, my aunt had said, “First lesson you need to learn: never give your blood to anyone. On any account. Ever.”

But this wasn’t for sorcery or potions. This was a drink.

I turned back to the vampire. “I’ll give you a drop from my finger. I’ll make the cut myself and drip it in your glass.”

He laughed. “That’s nothing.”

“Please. Five drops. Ten drops. I’ll fill your damn cocktail glass. Help us defeat this bastard.”

Alejandro leaned over and pressed his hands against the desk. “Let me make this clear: this is not a negotiation. I drink from the source. It’s all or nothing.”

“It’s nothing,” Jaxson growled, his eyes narrowing on me. “Don’t do this, Savannah.”

I stepped out of his reach, trying to keep our options alive. “Why do you even want my blood?” I asked Alejandro. “You have plenty of people dying for you to drain them.”

The vampire inhaled deeply and sighed. “Because your blood is so wonderfully different than that of the others of your kind. I can smell the power flowing in your veins, Ms. Caine, like two dragons fighting for control. To tell you the truth, even with my age and strength, it is all I can do to hold myself back. If I were a younger man with less restraint, I would have just taken what I wanted.”

“Touch her, and I’ll rip your heart out,” Jaxson growled deep and low, causing my skin to prickle. The scent of his rage and hatred billowed through the room, practically choking me.

“Now don’t do anything stupid, Laurent, or I will have my men put a silver bullet in your heart and hers.”

“We’re leaving.” Jaxson strode forward and grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the door.

Alejandro laughed as we headed into the stairwell. “Hilarious. After all that, you must not wish to stop Dragan at all.”

But I did. We both did, desperately. If we didn’t get those bones, if Dragan succeeded in summoning the Dark Wolf God, he would leave Magic Side in ruins and steal the souls of our pack.

In comparison to that, what did a drink of my blood matter in the end? Hell, Casey had been with a vampire, and it looked like she’d taken a sizable bite out of him.

I ripped out of Jaxson’s grip and stepped back into the room. “I’ll do it. A two-second sip in exchange for Dragan’s bones. Final offer.”