Aveoth Read online

  He frowned. “What do you want as a present?”

  She hesitated. “You have to give me the object I desire most, and you have to swear above all other oaths that it’s mine, regardless of any you make hereafter.”

  “Why that condition?” Decker hissed at her.

  She glanced at him. “Do you think his wife will want me to have it? She’ll probably demand my death. That term will keep me breathing.”

  Decker nodded. “Smart.”

  It took effort to not roll her eyes but looking at Aveoth again helped. “That’s the condition.” She glanced at Decker. “Tell him you’ll kill me if he doesn’t agree to my terms.”

  Decker moved next to her, touching her shoulder as if they were pals or something. Jill struggled with the need to jerk away.

  “Make her the promise of a gift and the oath, Lord Aveoth. You want and need her blood. I’ll kill her if we can’t reach an agreement on this day. She’s the last of Marvilella’s line. There are no more granddaughters to offer you. If she dies, you’ll be forever bereft of the pleasure you seek.”

  “Do it, bat boy,” Jill urged. “Trust me. I’ll be so worth your while. I’ll rock your world, and I promise to never run away again.”

  Aveoth said nothing, watching her.

  “Come on,” Jill urged. “You heard him. I swear on my life to submit to you from now on. Everyone wins. Say yes.”

  Aveoth glanced at Kelzeb, both of them grim-faced. Kelzeb shrugged. Aveoth shifted his stance and dropped his arms to his side. “I agree.”

  “Now you must agree to my terms.” Decker stepped forward. “Your promise that I get to return to my clan—and you must end the lives of my enemies first.”

  Aveoth’s rage was clear as he snarled, his hand gripping his sword. “You want me to slaughter the other VampLycan clans for you?”

  “I deserve to lead them all!” Decker yelled.

  “Just say yes!” Jill urged him. “Naked. Blood. You and me, tonight. Doesn’t that sound fun, big guy?”

  Aveoth stared at Jill. She nodded slightly at him.

  “I agree…against my better judgment.”

  “I want Lorn first,” Decker demanded. “Bring me proof of his death.”

  “Um, excuse me, but there’s still a bomb strapped to my chest,” Jill reminded Decker. “We’ll all friends now, right? I get what I want and you get what you want. Take this thing off me.”

  Decker hesitated.

  “You either believe him or we stand here forever. He gave his word. It’s what you wanted. I’m still right here in blast radius if they attack. We’ll wait together while one of them goes after this Lorn person you want killed. Get me out of this getup!”

  Decker nodded to Boon. The jerk began to unfasten the straps at her back and cut the bonds off her wrists. She carefully removed the vest and handed it to the scarred thug. “Here, Fido.”

  He snarled as he took it.

  “Don’t antagonize him, Grandchild.”

  She wanted to tell Decker what he could do with his orders. The weight of the explosives being gone made her breathe easier. She held out her hand. “I want the detonator.”

  “No.”

  “Fine. Keep the damn thing, but if you push it, we all die. Remember that.” Jill looked back at the GarLycans. “I guess we’ll all stand around here while Aveoth has his number-one man go snatch the prey.” She met and held Kelzeb’s gaze. “You should do that right now, Stone Garden. Snatch the prey.”

  He hesitated but nodded. “I will.”

  “Lorn is to die first, then I want ever other clan leader dead,” Decker yelled.

  Kelzeb cut a sharp look to him. “I heard your demand.” He spread his wings and ran off the edge of the large boulder, going airborne. His strong wings flapped, taking him into the air, gained altitude as he soared over the VampLycans.

  Jill inched away from Decker and his men. They all turned to watch the GarLycan in the sky, making sure he was going in the right direction, not paying attention to her.

  She heard gasps, and knew what was coming—Kelzeb must have already circled around.

  Jill spun, sprinting for her life. This was going to probably hurt like a son of a bitch, but she raised her arms high. She prayed that they wouldn’t throw the vest at her.

  “What is she doing?” That baffled shout came from Shark. “Get her!”

  Flapping sounds drowned out her ragged breathing as she ran as fast as she could, and then fingers locked around her wrists. She was violently torn off her feet, pain wrenching up both shoulders. If it hadn’t been dislocated before, she was certain her shoulder was now. Tears blinded her and she blinked them back fast, watching the trees rush at them, but Kelzeb gained altitude as she dangled in his hold. He flew higher. The fall would kill her if he let go.

  “What the hell are you playing at, Jill?”

  “Just take me to Aveoth and get ready to dive if that stupid vest blows up. A moron probably put it together, so I wouldn’t be surprised if anything sets it off. Will an explosion kill one of you if you shell first?”

  “Doubtful. Decker wanted us high where he could see us but those boulders provide cover if we need it.”

  “Hopefully we won’t find out.”

  “Aveoth will want me to take you to the cliffs where you’ll be safe.”

  “I’m not leaving yet! Those bastards kidnapped me for a second time. I’ll stand behind one of you guys but I have to speak with Aveoth.”

  “I’m going to release you. Stiffen your body and I’ll catch you. I’m afraid I’ll break your feet if I land with you this way.”

  “Don’t you dare!”

  He let her go and Jill screamed, watching the ground rush up at her. Going rigid wasn’t difficult to do while falling like a stone in the sky. Kelzeb slammed into her from behind and wrapped his arms around her ribs and hips. Her stomach heaved at the way he braked their sudden fall by jerking her upward as he flew.

  “Not cool,” she hissed, as soon as she was certain she wouldn’t puke.

  He had the audacity to laugh. “Are you injured?”

  “Maybe a little, but most of it happened earlier. Good grab-and-fly, though.”

  He slowed, twisting them in the air, and lowered until they landed on the boulder a few feet away from Aveoth and the GarLycan twins. She stared down at Decker and his goons. They appeared pissed off and confused.

  “He gave me his word!” Decker bellowed. “You can’t kill me.”

  “Calm down.” Jill wiggled in Kelzeb’s arms, and he gently allowed her to slid down his body until her feet touched the boulder before letting her go. She didn’t look at Aveoth, afraid she’d lose it and just throw herself at him, she was so happy to be near him. She’d had serious doubts of surviving long enough to be able to do that again. “I just wanted to be far from that vest. I like my body in one piece.”

  “Jill,” Aveoth softly rasped.

  She finally met his gaze. “You promised me a present.” She made certain the jerks below could hear her. “You swore to give me what I want, regardless of any other promises you made. Remember?”

  “I do.”

  “Great. I want Decker Filmore’s head as a gift.”

  She glared down at Decker to witness his shocked reaction. His mouth had fallen open.

  “I figured you’d fall for pulling a fast one on someone else. You really are as dumb as I thought. Try telling Aveoth who to kill without a voice box.” She ran her finger across her throat and then flipped him off. Her gaze went to Aveoth next.

  “Do you really want me to bring you his head?” Aveoth arched one eyebrow.

  “No. I just want him dead.”

  He broke their gazes, glancing at his men.

  “They are fleeing,” Kelzeb warned. “Running for their lives. I’d like to take down the one called Boon. I didn’t like the way he touched our lady. I also didn’t miss that shove he gave her. He needs lessons on how to treat women.”

  “Be careful of the bomb. He’