My heart stuttered in my chest. I almost wheezed as I tried to suck in my next breath.

“What?” I stepped back toward the males in the living room, blinking a few times in rapid succession, trying to clear my thoughts. “You mean the twins who were breaking all of those marked out of the prisons? The twins who are trying to bring about the rise of the dragon king? The ancient twins who are probably manipulating Mischa without her even realizing it?”

Holy fucking fuck. This was why I needed to stay here at all times, supes went stupid without me. I rubbed my temples, exhaustion pressing down on me. A weight only sleep could ease.

I sighed. “Right now I’m useless. I need some rest. But we have to deal with this Mischa thing, she’s not used to our ways. If the twins were looking for a way to infiltrate our pack, she’s the weak link.”

Braxton and I locked eyes, and I could read the same worry in his that I’m sure were reflected in mine.

I got a sudden whiff of my own disgustingness, the scent tingling my senses and not in a good way. Definitely time for a shower.

“I’m going to clean up,” I said, “and then before I hit the bed we need a game plan.”

I turned back to enter my room, but paused as I heard a noise. I’d thought everyone was out, but someone was moving in the room Braxton and Maximus shared. I caught a familiar vamp scent.

I dashed down the hall. I couldn’t wait to see my vampire. I’d missed him so much, and I knew he’d have been completely pissed and worried when both of us disappeared. It would be cruel to not let him know straight away that we were back.

“Jess!” I heard Jacob yell for me, but I was already at the door.

I flung it open and stepped into the dimly lit room. Only one bed was occupied, a sea of blankets piled up high. I had just a moment to wonder why the hell Maximus was in bed in the middle of the day before more scents hit me hard. I gasped as two heads popped up from the covers.

My eyes had adjusted to the lack of light, so I recognized the tousled dirty blond hair of my best friend, and the tiny beauty queen vampire who’d taken Maximus away right before I’d disappeared. Cardia. They were intertwined, lingering traces of sex in the air. Sex and blood.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I just stood there in the bedroom doorway, my hands hanging limply at my sides as I tried to process my emotions.