"Ah! So the dead will be brought back to watch h.e.l.l unfold." He walked closer to Almonzo and looked at the rea.s.sembled bindings.

He strutted across the room and signaled his guards to leave them. Just a simple hand gesture, and he was left to his own vices feeling all too confident that he could handle himself.

"I've learned a lot about you Spensers." He watched Almonzo closely before he walked to the center of the room and took a seat on the settee found there. "You might say I've studied you for quite some time."

Almonzo realized it would be crucial to catch Darian off his game so pretending to be weak proved very important. Darian made it easy.

He looked over at Tabitha still securely fastened to the bed, only now forced up on all fours because of the way Darian secured her body when he first left her there. "She's lovely, isn't she?" His eyes blinked sarcastically as he allowed Almonzo to note how much he enjoyed savoring the woman he thought would soon become his own.

"What do you want, Darian?" Almonzo forced himself to remain calm, to react according to the way he should act with a sedative strong enough to leave any vampire with side effects, especially one without a recent feeding.

Darian stood and walked slowly to the bed. He sat down on the edge of it and slowly tugged off his boots. He bit down on his lower lip and chuckled when he saw Almonzo flinch. "I want what you might have had in this one." He reached behind him and smacked Tabitha's a.s.s hard. Taut skin didn't give much and Tabitha's firm rear never provided a visual or significant move.

He smacked her again and turned back to see the colorful pupils of anger in Almonzo's eyes. Almonzo always felt his eyes change and many vampires watched for and gauged another opponent's rage based on color. It was why Darian studied him closer now. He was evaluating the compet.i.tion.

Laughter rang through the room. Darian stood up and began to slowly unb.u.t.ton his shirt. Almonzo shot Tabitha a warning glance. He hoped she understood that they only had a small window of opportunity and with it came only one chance to do things right. Their success guaranteed they escaped unharmed.

Darian walked over to Almonzo and stood in front of him. "I took you for a smart man. A Spenser suited to carry on the family name with a woman smart enough to help you. One of the few chosen girls perfect for mating royal blood-one lost in some of the finest casinos this city has ever known." He snarled before turning away. "You f.u.c.ked up like the honorable a.s.s you've become!" His wicked voice trailed off and his shirt fell to his feet.

Almonzo watched him strut around the room. He walked over to the dressing screen in the corner and peered behind it before continued. "Let me guess. She wanted to keep herself for another?" He laughed. "She didn't want you, did she, Spenser?" He shook his head and added the annoying "tsk, tsk" before he sat down beside Tabitha again.

"She only had eyes for me." Darian stroked her face and Tabitha seemed to respond to the touch, almost setting off an all-out war in Almonzo's soul. The little vixen is mad.

"Lover, why not tell our guest here how we first met."

"Go f.u.c.k yourself, Darian." She snapped.

"Only with you there to watch, darling." He turned back to Almonzo. "We've enjoyed the occasional moment, you know."

Almonzo refused to listen to him boast about time with Tabitha until she had time to explain her relationship with him. He realized now, one most definitely existed in her past.

Darian touched her cheek again and she bit him as his hand came across her lips. Profanity flew across the room and it brought Almonzo's nerve endings to an upright stance.

"You f.u.c.king wh.o.r.e!" Darian raised his hand and quickly smacked Tabitha's backside. "You'll pay for that, b.i.t.c.h!"

"I've already paid a thousand times more than you can ever imagine just knowing you walk this earth!" She spat true venom in Darian's direction. Almonzo cringed when he realized why. Almonzo didn't know a lot about women but he understood enough to know that often when a woman hates strongly, it is because she first loved with just as much pa.s.sion. He ached with the thought.

Darian moved across the room again and sat down once more to face off with Almonzo. "I believe in letting a man go to his grave well fed and well bred." He sighed.

Almonzo's eyes widened. "Oh holy..."

Darian's lips twisted and his chin gave a bit. "So, now you see what's happening here, don't you?" He walked over to one of the magnificent bookshelves and pulled down a box. From where Almonzo sat, it looked like a hard-bound novel. The book opened up to reveal a compartment. A large syringe with a very long needle nestled against a cloth holding what Almonzo a.s.sumed was Darian's poison along with another empty vial and syringe.

"And here you thought I wouldn't let you f.u.c.k her." Darian laughed. "h.e.l.l, I'm even willing to let you break her in for me." He took the syringe out and gave it a quick flip or two. "See, you are my test subject. The first one of our kind." He seemed too proud about his revelation.

Almonzo suddenly realized their fate. "You are one sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d." He wanted to kill him and take pleasure in using one of the poisonous daggers the Sabbats developed by piercing the place where a true pumping heart never existed.

"I'm the sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d who will raise your son or daughter." He clapped his hands with his own satisfaction. "Men!" He turned toward the door and they entered.

Several of the guards brought Almonzo to his feet and quickly realized he wasn't really bound at all. "He's been freed," one of his men quickly informed Darian of the discovery. Immediately, several other vampire guards rushed into the room.

Darian closed his eyes in an attempt to process the new information, no doubt. He quickly went to the woman positioned on all fours. Almonzo realized what he'd find and knew he'd determine her a spent mate. After all, Almonzo took her hard and fast and without much consideration for cleaning her afterwards. There wasn't time to undo Tabitha's restraints and now it might cost her because Darian would understand why he never freed her.

Darian ran his hands over Tabitha's body like he wanted to feel every inch of skin before he found the true mark. He rubbed his palm over her a.s.s. Nice and slow, he didn't rush a complete a.s.sessment. The whole time he touched her, Darian's anger visibly grew through his shaded eyes. Almonzo's fury found a new incentive too. His hatred for Darian Sabbat ran deeper and deeper the longer he caressed her.

He questioned Almonzo. "Did you mark her?"

"d.a.m.n straight I did."

The hissing sound followed and it warned of a pending battle.

Darian patted her thigh. Tabitha flinched as he caressed her and Almonzo saw it. He realized his hands would go to an area that would cost them both if he touched her. She would pay the price because Almonzo didn't want to wait and leave things to chance. He wanted to watch how she responded to him. Darian would also face consequences because Almonzo wasn't a male who forgave another for touching what belonged to him. He was smart enough to recognize a vampire's mark as ownership on every intimate level.

Sabbat looked over his shoulder. "Is she still damp from you?" His upper lip turned inside out.

Tabitha's mouth fell open and she tossed her head back. The s.e.xy-smart vixen c.o.c.ked her neck so she granted him a full exposure. "You don't have to check, Darian. You only have to look." She forced a smile and it provoked Darian. Once he found the deep bruising of fang imprints on her neck, h.e.l.l's flames danced.

Almonzo read her mind with ease. He convinced himself he knew what she thought before she contemplated it. His feisty little h.e.l.lcat showed off the imprint of their spent pa.s.sion, and he was certainly proud. She did it with a gleam in her eye and pride swelling her precious little cheeks. Oh yes, he reminded himself, according to her it was a forced seduction she never would've considered under any other circ.u.mstances but who the h.e.l.l cared right then. Darian earned what he deserved.

Arching her neck all the more, she flashed Darian a grin. "Set teeth, thick c.o.c.k. I have to say, I really enjoyed my first time." She deliberately moved her tongue slowly across her upper lip. "I bet he can still taste me." Her raspy voice was criminally seductive. Her eyes darkened and set against the blow she most likely expected. Almonzo winced for her.

Darian didn't give her one. Instead, he looked at Almonzo. "Bring him to his feet!" His anger shook the room and his men began the truest of beatings. Fists were connected and shoes were removed so the heels of boots were used as weapons. The colors of the wallpaper began to spin and blend.

"Stop this! Stop, Darian! Stop and I'll do anything you ask!" Tabitha seemed to agonize over every hit she'd brought on Almonzo, crying out each time a fist came down against his skin or another kick was delivered to the gut.

And there were many.

He bounced back from each blow, resilient to what he was given by angry men. Ready to accept one more strike against him, if Darian struck him, then he found placement for his anger. His fists, or palms, were not touching Tabitha. Willing to take anything he needed to give, each time urging him on all the more, Almonzo enjoyed the anger he fueled in Darian. After all, their kind didn't suffer from a hit. It was more of an annoyance than anything else.

"d.a.m.n, Sabbat. Now I see why you tote these men around with you. Is that all you have?" Prodding him, Almonzo wanted to accept each punch his rival dealt because just like Orlando and Almonzo, Darian needed the blood of a mate to stay strong and now he wasn't able to feast on Tabitha's blood. Since he couldn't, he would be weak and in need of a feed.

"She was mine, d.a.m.n you!" Darian's fist met flesh several more times before he finally exhausted all measures. Despite the sting, Almonzo never felt better. "Chain him!" Darian moved to the side of the bed and finished stripping.

"Almonzo!" Tabitha screamed in agony as Darian joined her on the bed.

"Care to share?" Darian moved closer to the woman chained for his pleasure.

"Actually, he's always been a little selfish."

The new voice shocked them all for a moment. Out of nowhere, Orlando and Tate rushed into the room, wielding syringes full of fluids to sedate the bodyguards before they knew what hit them. A scuffle broke out as men fought to avoid the needle.

"Took you long enough," Almonzo called out to his brother as he worked to free his bonds, all the while keeping a keen eye on the b.a.s.t.a.r.d still moving closer to his woman.

Darian seemed unaffected by the commotion. He moved in behind Tabitha. Partially hidden behind the dressing screen, only Almonzo watched them now.

Almonzo worked as quickly as possible to free himself and immediately saw Sabbat's problem. Most men found a fast f.u.c.k with a soft c.o.c.k impossible. He would've been amused if the woman Darian wanted to f.u.c.k wasn't his woman.

"d.a.m.n it! Open your legs!" Darian's open hand came down on her a.s.s.

The guards continued to fight with Orlando and Tate. Almonzo worked only harder against metal and rope. His eyes never left Tabitha for a second. He wanted to be sure his gaze never deserted her. Harder and harder, he fought to break free. "I will see you in h.e.l.l, Darian!"

"Open, now, sweet honey." Darian hissed. He glanced over at Almonzo one final time. "Well I'll be d.a.m.ned. He doesn't know everything there is to know about us, does he?" He snickered before he brought down another slap against her a.s.s.

Tabitha squeezed her legs tightly together, refusing Darian's demands, and Almonzo saw her brow wrinkle as she seemed to focus on her kneecaps. If she could only force her knees to stay together. That's it, baby, press tight. Hold on. We're almost home free. Almonzo didn't want Sabbat inside of her. If she opened up to him and accepted him inside her body, if he penetrated her on the first day of the mating cycle, then he would become another life source for her. Another feeder-a secondary mate. His brother was right, he didn't share.

A true understanding of selfishness washed over him. Still, he held onto her with his thoughts. They were locked in mutual gape focusing on one another. The tears came and ran rampantly over her cheeks.

Understanding slammed into Almonzo's gut. "Tabitha! Look at me!" Desperation was now mutually observed.

The mattress seemed to give a bit and her eyes shut tightly. She must have thought he was going to take her. She must have only a.s.sumed he was successful. No, there wasn't any...

Her whimpers confirmed it. "Darian, not now. We can't...Oh G.o.d, Almonzo! Oh G.o.d!"

Her eyes remained closed. She thought he was going to enter her, feared it even. She must have been certain he would possess her in an intimate dance only meant for one couple, one romance, and one life.

Almonzo swallowed against the pain. No, d.a.m.n it, he refused to watch. He didn't want to see another man take his vampire bride, his one true love.

Only a temporary moment of defeat encased them. His head snapped up and he glared back at her. "Tabitha! You look at me!"

Orlando and Tate rushed the other men and fought their way through one more group of stout rogues, vampires and those with clauses. It was unfathomable. Darian must have had a private army.

Darian yanked her neck up and back, holding her by a fistful of golden hair. It was wrapped and knotted, twisted through his fingers and around his wrist. "Yes, lover, tell him now! Explain why I can handle being your second provider now!" His voice was pure evil. "Why not? On so many other occasions, I was her very first!"

"Orlando! Fight harder! Get over there, now!" Almonzo yelled b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l for his brother.

The men continued to fight off Darian's guards but they kept coming in droves.

Tabitha's eyes widened and Almonzo witnessed the reason. Darian's fangs dropped.

Wiggling against the confinement, Almonzo was almost free, but he realized when the pointed teeth dropped below Darian's lips, the vampire was already positioned and ready. Yes, once they extended well enough for show, Tabitha felt the new evidence of Darian's visibly hard c.o.c.k against her b.u.t.tocks and Almonzo's endless denial didn't change her fate.

She tried to fight him off but she didn't have the means to do it and Almonzo now realized he left Tabitha in a position of vulnerability. He left her at a great disadvantage.

"Almonzo, please! He's inside of me! Please! Oh Darian...Almonzo... me...again." The act was in progress. There was no refuting it now-the shattered cries, the disruptive speech and the movement from the bed. Yeah, he was where Almonzo feared most and in the act, securely locked a position as Tabitha's secondary mate.

"h.e.l.l will fall on you, Darian!" Almonzo broke free and everything in the room went from confusion to utter chaos. Death then danced and in the midst of the commotion, Tabitha's confession did not go unnoticed, nor did her facial expressions while Darian occupied her body. Almonzo realized his first fears materialized. Before Tabitha hated Darian Sabbat, she first loved him.

Chapter 8

She woke up in a hotel room. Tabitha looked around at her surroundings and decided Spenser men truly rattled her nerves. The first time she found herself in a Las Vegas suite was only a few months before, and she had no recollection of how she arrived there. She thought back to the precise moment. She remembered being scared and totally disoriented. Of course, what woman wants a vampire to remove her from her bed in the middle of the night and move her not only to another mattress but another state altogether?

Ever since her sister became involved with the Spenser family, her life thrashed out of control. Never mind what it would be like now. She belonged, truly belonged, to Almonzo Spenser. She felt him in her soul and her heart just ached to see him.

No, she wouldn't become a girly-woman. She was still quite angry with him, she reminded herself.

She realized she was still in Las Vegas because the promo playing on the television let her know where she laid her head. She was at the Monte Carlo. The same infomercial ran again and again showcasing the casino, the hotel, the dining options and the recreational activities. It sounded like heaven. Maybe some people found Las Vegas enjoyable. So far, every time she came to the city, she'd walked through a little bit of h.e.l.l. d.a.m.n shame too. She thought she would love it here if she ever had the chance to make it to a casino floor.

Her back hurt and her arms felt like they'd been bound together for days. She moved the bedspread back and looked at her knees. Sure enough, they were raw. She fought so hard to keep Darian from s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g the life out of her that her knees would likely have permanent scars. They looked black, not blue.

"Oh G.o.d. Oh G.o.d." She looked around the room and began to panic. What if Darian brought her there? What if it wasn't Almonzo? She sat up in bed and tried to move her legs over to the side.

A crashing sound came from behind the door of her bedroom and she heard voices. "Almonzo! Almonzo!" She screamed out. No one came. The horrifying realization hit her squarely in the face. Almonzo would've taken her home. He would've gotten her out of the city.

She looked around the room. One door led to another room. The lavish suite likely had a living room. She tiptoed to the door and put her ear up against it. She strained against the sound of a nearby heat pump and she couldn't make out a distinct voice on the other side, only low muttering. She looked around again and fears over her hopeless situation began to consume her.

Tabitha felt like she'd died and landed in an inferno below h.e.l.l. The vile nature of Darian Sabbat terrorized her mind. His demeanor would drive a woman to suicide even if she wanted to live. She knew from experience. She would truly rather die than be possessed by him even though at one time, she thought she would perish if he never touched her. That was a long, long time ago, she quickly reminded herself.

Her head began to swim and she sat back down on the bed and watched the door in front of her. He'd be through it any second. She knew how he thought. Darian never left her alone for more than a couple of hours. Her heart began to pound and she decided she would not go down without a fight. If Darian Sabbat stood on the other side, he'd be well served to stay there.

Almonzo never saw the chair that fell on his shoulders. "Holy s.h.i.t, woman! What in h.e.l.l's fury are you doing?" He shielded his body from her with two palms turned up in her direction.

The impact of the large chair falling on her intruder took all of her strength and her hair fell over her face with the force of the crashing blow she delivered. She looked up at Almonzo with amus.e.m.e.nt after she saw the surprise on his face.

Her hand quickly covered her mouth already forming a wide smile. "I'm so sorry! I thought...I thought..."

Almonzo moved to her quickly and slammed against her mouth with a bruising kiss. He pushed her back toward the bed. "I knew you would be mad if I wasn't beside you when you regained consciousness." He kissed the words right into her teeth and tongue, grinning all the more.

Palms meant to purposefully halt a man quickly flew to his chest. "Oh no you don't. You don't get to come in here and work me over like a piece of fresh meat. Not now. You brought me here and left me here." Her lips pursed and she shook a scolding finger in rhythm with every syllable spoken. "I've been sitting here for the last hour wondering where you were and wondering if you were safe and hoping..." her voice trailed off and she interrupted her own thoughts with more expression, "Oh, Almonzo, I just knew Darian waited on the other side of this door. I could've sworn I felt him here."

A peculiar silence filled the room * * * *

Almonzo flinched when he heard her confession. If Tabitha was mindful of Sabbat's presence, their relationship had once been rather significant just as he suspected. Jealousy fueled curiosity. His heart pounded out different beats and with each new one, the agony of what he saw made him hurt all the more.

"You're right. He was here." The admittance came as he allowed his eyes to linger over every inch of her body.

"What?"

"We brought him here. Orlando just left with him."

"What? Why?"

"You might say Orlando had a score to settle with the elders and he wanted to do it publicly. He felt like there may have been more than what met the eye here." He paused and studied her. His brother's worries seemed warranted. Almonzo knew Tabitha well enough to know a squawking revelation would not fall from her lips.

"I don't understand."