A Kiss That Bites

Alexis felt a gentle hand push a few strands of hair out of her face. The hand felt rough and slightly masculine. She moaned audibly at the fact her head felt like it was stuffed with lead. Her veins were on fire and she could feel slight twitches in her muscles. Slowly she registered that something was preventing her from jerking all over the place.

What the fuck?

She slowly came to and saw a gorgeous blond smiling down at her. He had a roguish smile that showed his perfect, straight, white teeth marvelously. Alexis also saw how his dark blue eyes sparkled with a great deal of mirth. However, those very same eyes seemed a little sad to her. As if he had known a great pain and kept it locked deep inside.

Taking a deep breath, she took in his scent and felt her stomach clinch with desire. He smelled like fresh bed sheets and vanilla. A heady mix to be sure.

“Is she fully awake Cedric? Or are you going to drool all over her?” Alex said sharply.

Alexis slowly swung her attention to the man who just spoke and frowned. She could barely see him through her blurred vision, but she recognized that aura of power. It was that Pure Lycki from earlier and she did her best not to panic. Instead she slowly brought herself into her assassin mode. Then brought her heartbeat down to a slow, steady rhythm.

Alexander heard the woman’s heart beat pick up when she looked over at him. Now it was barely audible. Even to his acute Lycki hearing. The hair raised on the back of his neck and knew this woman was different than most hunters. In fact, he would bet his last dime that she was from the elite assassin group within the League. A group of hunters rumored to have no mercy or remorse when killing Lycki.

This was bad news indeed. If Cedric and himself was not careful, this woman could sorely kick their asses before they could even blink. Not many League hunters could keep up with a purus or a ancient turned. However, the hunter’s Special Ops Assassins could and that is what terrified him the most. Alexander decided to be cautious around this one and hoped Cedric had it in him to alter her memories. If not, they were all fucked.

“Tell me Lycki. Do you want to die?” Alexis said on soft, menacing voice.

“Heh. Woman we mean you no harm. In fact, all I want is a little information and then you are free to go.” Alexander said in a very bored tone. Hoping that wouldn’t cause the woman to get all confrontational and cause them to use more force than needed.

“Oh really?” Alexis narrowed her eyes before she continued. “Then why am I all tied up?”

“It is for your own safety as well as ours.” Cedric said as nicely as he could to the woman who went from normal to bitch in all but a few seconds.

Alexis turned her attention back to the blond she was drooling over a few seconds ago and gave him a cold stare. She would not show any emotions toward him or the other Lycki in the room. Her training would not allow her to show such a weakness. To do so would invite attack and she refused to let her guard down again.

“I would strongly advise you both to untie me. I would hate to stain my hands tonight.” Alexis paused and vaguely remembered bringing Angie to this club with Eva. She tried to keep herself calm and then narrowed her gaze at the blond. “By the way, you better not have harmed any of my friends. So help me, if you have… the both of you will receive no mercy from me.”

Alex heard the word friends and quickly glanced over at Cedric. Then put two and two together. So, this was one of the friends Angerona spoke of. He frowned at the thought. The woman he met earlier tonight did not smell like a hunter or even a rogue. He would have known instantly if she was. No hunter could hide from him. No matter what they used to cover their scent.

That put him in a bad situation regarding these hunters and Angerona. He had a few options to consider, but he was leaning towards keeping the two hunters here a bit longer. Alex doubted Cedric had the ability to make them forget a friend like Angerona. Hell, he couldn’t forget her and he only met her tonight.

“I assure you woman, we have not harmed either of your friends,” Alexander sighed softly before he continued. “However, I am curious as to why you are in Colorado and why you brought a human all the way out here.”

“I find neither to be any of your business Lycki. Now let me go or there will be hell to pay!” Alexis stated frostily.

Alexander scowled at the woman, “I do believe it is my business hunter. For I seem to have recently hired one of your friends and I want to make sure she is well protected. Now if you please…”

“Forget it Lycki! You will not get the information you seek from me. I refuse to answer any of your questions.” Alexis glowered in return at the handsome Lycki in front of her.

She could finally see clearly and knew it was the one Angerona was drooling over earlier. Which didn’t help matters any and when she got loose, she was going to have a long talk with Angie.

Wait a minute. Did he just say ‘recently hired’? Oh fuck no!

Alexander watched as the woman grow angry and then watched as she finally let what he said sink in. Ah, so she finally realized he was talking about Angerona. At least that was what he hoped any way. He couldn’t read the woman very well and from the looks Cedric was giving her, he was in the same boat. Maybe now he would get some answers from her.

“You better not be talking about Angerona or so help me gods I will tear you limb from limb. I will enjoy bathing in your entrails and enjoy watching your blood as it stains the stone floor red!” Alexis all but shrieked at the two Lycki before her.

She could not believe what her ears just heard and she prayed to all the gods in heaven it was not so. If either of these Lycki laid one hand her friend, she was going to remove them. Angerona hated crowds and hated being touched even worse. To put her in that kind of situation where she had to be around large groups of people for long periods of time was pure torture. Alexis would not let them put her friend in that situation. The sheer thought of it all finally broke her placid mask and she let her anger finally show.

Alex and Cedric both had to keep from flinching as her shrieking voice hurt their sensitive ears. How any woman could scream that high was beyond him. He had to really concentrate not to loose his temper with her. The woman was getting on his last nerve and he had just about enough of her.

“Cedric you may have to take over. I don’t think I have much more patience left for her,” Alex said to his friend before he looked back over at the hunter. “Yes, I do mean Angerona. I offered her work here at my club because of some Rogues tonight and I want to make sure she is well protected. Obviously you know nothing of how dangerous Rogues can be.”

“Bullshit! We have always protected Angie just fine and we need no help from you. Now. Let. Us. Go.” Alexis said coolly.

Alexander felt his Lycki inside him growl and he decided to take his sunglasses off. He slowly reached up and removed them. Revealing his two toned eye color. One eye was a green and the other was blue. Alex wanted the woman to see his emotions clearly before he began speaking again.

“Angerona is no longer under your care hunter. I would advise getting use to that.” He said on a soft, deadly whisper.

Alexis sat up straight when she saw the color of his eyes and gasped. This Lycki was no ordinary Pure and a cold shiver ran down her spine. The man standing there was from an old royal lineage that all League hunters thought had died out during the fall of Rome. His eyes and hair color were a dead give away. She should have known the moment he walked into the club who and what he was. Alexis felt her stomach churn at the knowledge and barely heard what the one named Cedric said.

“Alex, I think you are starting to sound like a mated Lycki.” Cedric said disapprovingly.

Cedric was a little shocked that Alex said what he did. He also didn’t want his friend to lose his cool and end up hurting the sexy goddess sitting in the chair next to him. The thought of something happening to her caused an odd ache his chest and his stomach to clench.

Alexander kept his gaze trained on the woman in front of him and barely acknowledged what his friend said. At that moment he didn’t care. His Lycki did not like the idea of anyone else but him protecting his Angie. His Angie?

He paused for a second at that last thought. Where did that come from? Alex shook his head lightly and tried to calm his beast. He didn’t need the distraction right now. There was a bitchy female hunter to deal with first. Later when he went home, he would deal with that thought. However, for now, it was time to push that thought far into the back of his mind and concentrate on the situation at hand.

“I can’t believe there is some of the royal lineage left.” Alexis said in a soft, reverent voice.

Cedric looked over at the hunter with a perplexed look and then looked back at Alexander. Who had a weird, shocked look on his face.

Alexander quickly masked his emotions and gave the hunter a very cold stare.

“And how do you know that I am a royal hunter?” He asked in deadly whisper.

Alexis could only stare in awe at the Lycki before her. She never thought in all her life she would actually have the chance to meet a royal. Much less this particular lineage! She was both thrilled and horrified at the same time.

She just insulted a very proud Lycki bloodline and that part horrified her. Yet, the idea of actually seeing one of the most powerful Pure Lycki bloodlines was completely thrilling!

“I will not ask you again woman.” Alexander narrowed his gaze at the woman in disgruntlement.

“Sorry! It is just… your eye color and hair color just gave it away!” Alexis slightly stuttered as the shock finally wore off.

“Explain hunter.” Was all Alex could manage at the moment. He sorely pissed off at the fact the woman knew his lineage and possibly how.

“Well, we keep records of all Pures. Because they are so rare and back before the fall of Rome there was a family of royal Pures. They had one child. A boy.” Alexis paused a moment to catch her breath before continuing. “That boy was said to have two toned eyes. One blue and one green. Pures never have two toned eyes. That is how.”

Cedric heard the low growl emitted from Alex and immediately became worried his friend was about to turn. He was about to rush over to Alex when he saw his friend turn sharply away from the female hunter. He saw that Alex was now taking several deep breaths before letting the tension slowly seep out of his body. Cedric breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.

He didn’t want to fight one of his best friends to protect this little hunter. Because he knew who would come out on top. That being himself and not Alex. He was extremely protective of the little buggar and he knew why. Cedric wasn’t as dense as Alex. However, that didn’t mean he was going to follow his instincts. He would just get her killed and he would not have that. No. He would just make sure she was protected and nothing more.

“Hunter. In all the centuries that have past, no one, except my two closest friends, knows who I was. I would like to keep it that way.” He said as calm as he could.

“I understand. Your secret is safe with me. So long as you let me and my friends go.” Alexis replied back as nicely as she was able.

“You don’t understand hunter. No one can know but Drystan and Cedric. If any hunter knew who I was…” Alex left at that and looked over at Cedric.

“Oh no. Don’t make me do that Alex. I can’t.” Cedric made a face before adverting his gaze.

“Don’t be such a drama queen Ric. Just alter her memories. I have done decided they will get well acquainted with their cells for a while.”

“Thank the gods.” Cedric mumbled.

Alexander narrowed his gaze at his friend before he started heading out of the holding area. He could hear the hunter screaming at him to come back and then heard her cussing at his retreating form. He just shook his head and made his way back into the club area. He had a lot to think about and a sexy, vixen of a woman kept entering his thoughts.

“Damn, I need a drink.” Alex grumbled as he pulled out some gin and tonic from under the bar to mix himself a drink when he heard a woman scream loudly from the back office area.

***

Rupert finally got Agatha to his family’s home safely and settled into one of the big, comfy leather chairs in the den area of the home. His father, Charles, was on the phone with Lorahlei right now and he could hear his father’s hushed tones as he spoke with the powerful witch. Lorahlei was the only witch he knew of who could find out what is wrong with Agatha and hopefully cure her.

He had called Angerona earlier and let her know her MeMaw was fine. That she was well taken care of and now under his care. He knew the young woman didn’t like the idea to much or his tone, but he didn’t care at that moment. All he cared about was getting Agatha to his home safely and to see what was wrong with her.

“Good news Rue. Lorie said she was going to come over tonight and have a look at Agatha. She said she would be here within the next thirty minutes or so.” Charles told his son gently.

The poor boy was smitten with the elderly female and he just shook his head. If Rue only knew who and what Agatha was, he might not be as interested. However, Charles had the sneaking suspicion that Agatha was his son’s fated mate. Which would explain his son’s excited entrance into their home a few moments ago. Not to mention Rupert’s animated speech about what had happened over at the Savalides house earlier this evening.

“That’s good.” Rue looked over at his father and saw small streaks of silver in his jet black hair.

His father was showing signs of aging and that was unheard of amongst the Lycki. Even those who become crazed didn’t really age. Losing his mother was really taking its’ toll on his father. However, his father didn’t seem to be showing signs of a crazed Lycki.

Those who lose their mates go insane from loss. Their kind bonded with their mates in such a way where they practically shared the same soul. So, when a Lycki lost his or her mate, it was like losing a part of your soul. Which caused the classic madness in the Lycki and spun all the stories known today about werewolves.

Rupert just shook his head and checked on Agatha one more time. Satisfied she wasn’t going any where any time soon, he went over to the couch and sat down. His father followed suit and sat next to him. Both men were silent and watched as the minutes slowly ticked by.

After what seemed like ages, the door bell finally rang. Announcing the arrival of Ms. Hampton. Charles arose from the couch and went to the front door.

“Ah, Lorie. Good to see again. Agatha is in the living room asleep.” Rupert heard his father say.

Rupert sat up straight and squared his shoulders. He didn’t care for the witch much, but she was the only one who could help his fated mate. That was the only reason he would put up with her for any length of time. His mate came first.

“Hey there Rue,” She said in a friendly tone before casting her gaze over to Agatha. “So, this is the woman you wanted me to have a look at?”

Lorahlei sat her dark brown leather bag down and came around to the front of the large chair. To get a better look at Agatha. She softly clucked her tongue in a chiding manner before going over to her bag. Slowly she began removing an assortment of candles, incense, and various dried herbs.

“How is that suppose to cure her?” Rupert growled softly at the witch.

“Ye who have no faith… shut your trap. I can’t cure her if I don’t know what is wrong with her,” She said as she glanced over at the annoying Lycki.

Rupert narrowed his gaze at the witch and snorted. He didn’t understand how candles, herbs, and incense would help her figure that out.

“These items will help pin point the spell or curse that was cast on her. That is how.” Lorie said while choosing a black and a red candle from her stash.

“How did you know…”

“What you were thinking? Simple. I am a witch and a damn good one. How else?” She chuckled at Rue’s perplexed look.

Rupert just crossed his arms and watched as she went about lighting the candles. Then he watched as she choose some different colored incense and lighting those as well.

Slowly the smoke arose from them and began swirling around Agatha. Finally one of the streams of smoke turned jet black. He heard Lorahlei gasp and shake her head.

“What is it?” He asked worriedly.

“This is bad. This is very bad,” She murmured to herself.

“Gods woman tell me what is wrong with her!” Rupert practically growled.

“Easy Lycki. I was just about to tell you. Learn some patience,” She said as she looked over at the animated Lycki before she continued. “She has been cursed by a mind deteriorative spell. It is a very rare and very dark art type.”

She made more tongue clucking noises before pulling out a few dried herbs. Looking each one over she placed them down in front of her before grabbing out a silver bowl from her bag. Satisfied with her selections she stood up and got both of the Lycki’s attention.

“I have some good news and I have got some bad news. What do you want first?” Lorie asked them both while staring down at Agatha.

“I guess the bad news.” Charles said gently as he watched his son clench and unclench his fist. Unable to respond at the moment.

His Lycki said was seething and he could barely control himself. The thought of someone or something harming his mate put him into a fit of rage. If he didn’t calm down soon, he was liable to hurt his father and the witch. Even though he didn’t care for the witch, he didn’t harm women. No matter the type.

Lorahlei sighed softly before speaking, “The bad news is I can’t reverse it by myself. I am going to need the coven’s help. However, the good news is that the spell is reversible. Who ever cast this particular spell didn’t factor in the fact she is a Jackal and therefore has a high resistance to spells.”

“Wait… what? She is a Jackal?” Rue looked up at the witch with a great deal of shock on his face.

“What, you didn’t know?” She asked confused and then looked over at Charles. “You didn’t tell him did you Charles?”

Charles rubbed the back of his neck when he saw his son’s icy stare. How could he tell his son that she was the last living Jackal? The Turned were natural enemies of Jackals and could not get along with them to save their lives. He knew this would hurt his son and tried to keep quiet about it the moment Agatha walked into their lives. It took many years for him to trust Agatha and get past the natural prejudice that was engrained into their DNA.

“Father…?” He pleaded softly while trying to control the rage he felt running through his veins so hotly.

“Look Rue… I didn’t want to tell you because of the natural hate we feel towards the Jackals. You know the stories. When I knew you two were fated… I just didn’t have the heart.” Charles said as he began to feel the countless centuries of life weighing down on his shoulders at that moment.

Rupert averted his gaze before he could speak again, “I know the stories father. However, I don’t feel hatred towards her.”

“Well, while you two are discussing this… I am going to call the coven. We need to get this curse removed pronto.” She said as she sauntered out of the living room and headed towards the kitchen. She needed space to put a call out and didn’t need the distraction of a couple of testosterone filled Lyckis.

Charles looked over at the witch and watched her retreating form. Paying special attention to her sexy ass as she went into the kitchen.

“Oh dear gods… father! You can’t be serious!” Rupert said with a disgusted look on his face.

“I could say the same son.” He narrowed his gaze at his son while crossing his arms.

“You don’t intimidate me any more father. So drop the “I’m a badass” act.”

“Are you asking for ass whooping boy?” Charles began growling low in his throat at his son’s insolent tone.

Rupert crossed the room in ground eating strides and came abreast to his father. Growling low in his throat his eyes began to glow a bright green. His stance was aggressive and he didn’t care how his father reacted. The thought of his father being interested in Lorahlei was almost more than he could stomach.

“Whoa boys! I can smell the testosterone from all the way in the kitchen and I don’t have a sensitive nose like y’all do!” Lorie said while rushing into the living room where both men were staring each other down.

“Back off boy. You don’t want a piece of this.” Charles said quietly to his rebellious pup.

Rupert snarled at his father, but finally backed down. He then shoved past his father and Lorahlei to head outside for a breather. He had about enough of his father and his attitude. Once outside he took in a deep breath of the chilly night air and then another. He narrowed eyes at the faint scent he picked up.

Can it be?

There was a faint stench in the air Rue knew well and he could not believe what his nose was telling him. No way in hell could this be right. The only way they could have been found was by another Lycki.

A howl split the night air and Rupert got into a low crouch. Ready to do battle with ever monster was lurking in the woods. His night just got better with each passing moment.

“Fuck me.” He growled softly letting his Lycki free. He be damned if he let these fuckers get a hold of his Agatha.