Aveoth Read online

  “I heard that.” Aveoth’s deep voice came from the darkness. “Hang on—and don’t move.”

  “You told me that. Big fall and screaming involved. Got it.”

  Lights flickered on, literally. They were dim, then blacked out, but came on again.

  She stared into a room. It looked like some kind of library, with couches, a fireplace with a mantel, and tons of wooden bookshelves loaded with books.

  “Yeah. This is so realistic,” she muttered.

  Aveoth stepped into sight and frowned. “What?”

  “It looks like a room from an old mansion but in the middle of a cave. Nope. I’m not drugged. This is just so believable.”

  He walked to her and offered his hand. “I note your wariness. Come inside. I’ll close the door.”

  “Over a cave entrance? I can’t wait to see this.” She let him lead her forward, stepping onto the hardwood flooring inside, over a metal rail at the entrance running from one side of the wide cave opening to the other.

  He released her and waved a hand in the direction they’d just come from. “Watch.” He moved to the wall and grabbed the thickest rope she’d ever seen before, a loop that ran from ceiling to floor. He started to pull the front rope downward. A slight squeaking sound, then the wall to the right moved, closing off the opening.

  “This consists of four inches of solid metal and rock. The exterior matches the cliff, so our enemies can’t spot our homes from the outside when we close these. I don’t recommend you attempt to open them yourself. They’re on rollers, but it’s still a few thousand pounds to shift.”

  “Right.” Jill was reeling inside, trying to take it all in.

  The door appeared to be covered in drywall on the inside, like the remaining walls, and painted to match the rest of the library. A painting of the sea even hung there. The seams were noticeable, since there were long strips of dark wood paneling that ran from floor to ceiling on either side of the portion that had moved.

  “We do enjoy elegance and comfortable homes.”

  She turned her head, gawking at him. He seemed so calm and matter of fact, as if he wasn’t blowing her mind.

  “Are you hungry? Perhaps you’d like a drink?”

  She glanced around the room. “I have fallen into the rabbit hole, big time.”

  He made a soft grumbling noise. “Enough.” He walked right over to her and grabbed her arms, giving her a hard shake. The cape he’d lent her fell to the floor. “You’re not on drugs and this is real. I’m growing tired of your mind trying to find a way to manage the stress of what you’ve learned. You aren’t high, or going crazy, or dreaming. I’m real, and so is all of this. Stop being as conceited as a typical human can be by believing they are the only ones who share your world.”

  His grip on her was firm but not hurtful. The tinges of panic started to rise inside her. “I think I’ll have that drink. Do you have booze? Something strong?”

  “Yes.” He backed up and released her. “That might help you deal with the shock. I’m sorry you learned of our existence this way. Your father should have told you what he was and introduced you to the truth.”

  “The sperm donor is a Gargoyle?”

  “He’s a VampLycan, and you’re half one. You don’t carry the scent of a Lycan, so I can only assume you have more Vampire traits. Do you require blood often?”

  “I don’t drink blood.” A horrifying thought struck. “Do you?”

  He walked over to a bar in the corner, stepping behind it. His muscles flexed as he lifted a large glass bottle filled with dark liquid and twisted off the lid. He placed two glasses on the counter, pouring a generous amount of booze into each. He set the bottle down and approached her with the glasses. He held one out to her.

  She took it and didn’t even bother trying to figure out what it was. She just raised the glass and took a gulp.

  It was a mistake. Tears filled her eyes, blinding her. It felt as if she’d just swallowed fire that burned from her throat all the way down to her belly. She hissed, almost losing her grasp on the glass.

  Aveoth curved his fingers over hers to help her keep hold of it. “Breathe.”

  “Shit.” She rapidly blinked, trying to clear her vision and remember how to fill her lungs. She breathed, all right. It felt as though flames should shoot out of her parted lips as she exhaled.

  “What is that? Gasoline in a glass?”

  He dipped his head, watching her. “Aged Scotch. It’s probably a bit strong for you. I could get you wine.”

  Her insides still burned but it dulled a little. She studied his face. He was really too good looking to be real, but she was starting to believe. She lowered her chin, staring at his tan, long fingers wrapped around hers over the glass. They looked so normal…but he wasn’t really a man. Not like any she’d ever met before.

  “Remain calm.” He had a soothing voice when it came out that low. “You’re safe. I wouldn’t hurt you, Jill. Your father likely avoided being part of your life because your mother was human. Decker Filmore hates that race. His son was probably ashamed of having a daughter with one. Decker wouldn’t have approved of him taking a human as a lover, much less breeding a child. It’s still no excuse for you never having learned the truth of what your father is.”

  She tried to pull out of his hold and he opened his fingers, letting go. She lifted the glass and took a smaller sip, expecting the backlash that time as she swallowed. It still burned but it didn’t make her eyes water.

  Panic and fear fought for dominance inside her. She couldn’t look at Aveoth’s face. He had freakin’ wings and claws. It wasn’t some drug-induced fantasy—it had really happened. Reality was sinking in fast. She backed up and bumped into a couch. She twisted her head, staring at the leather monstrosity. It was a big, heavy piece. Did he fly that here? Up a cliff? Oh shit!

  “I can smell your fear, Jill. There’s no need for that. Talk to me. What are you thinking?”

  She finally found the nerve to meet his gaze. Those amazing eyes, blue with silver in them. No one should have eyes like those, though. They’re too beautiful. “You’re telling me the sperm donor is some kind of half Vampire, half Werewolf?”

  “Yes. We call them Lycans, though.”

  “My mother just said he was a selfish asshole.” She took another drink.

  “He wouldn’t have revealed the truth of what he was to her unless they were bonded for life. It’s forbidden.”

  “Right.” She wanted out of there. She glanced around and spotted an open doorway. “So you’re telling me Scarface was growling because he’s really a dog?”

  “He smelled strongly of his Lycan heritage. He’s also part Vampire.”

  “And the lawyer really is a bloodsucker then?” She took another sip. It helped.

  “He smelled mostly Lycan too. It’s rare for them to actually crave human blood.”

  “I’m not in Kansas anymore.” She bit her lip, the reality of her situation bitch-slapping her hard. She downed the rest of the drink. “Fuck me.”

  She hurled the glass at Aveoth’s broad chest and spun, rushing toward the only exit, an open doorway.

  She had to get out of there.

  It was pitch-black once she left the room. But she needed to escape. She bumped into a wall and put out both hands, blindly trying to feel her way around for another light switch.

  Aveoth cursed loudly from nearby. He was coming after her.

  She shoved away from the wall and just ran blind. Her foot caught on something and she pitched forward. Pain exploded into her ribs where she impacted with a solid and unforgiving object. It moved, and she cried out as it seemed to collapse under her, then her head struck something, hard.

  Aveoth’s strong, warm hands gripped her. “Damn it. You’re bleeding.”

  She couldn’t see a thing. Her fingers touched what seemed like hard wood, whatever she’d landed on. He adjusted her, rolling her gently. She ended up lying on the floor, on her back.

  “I’m going to c