Three Days of Night (17 page)

I would have offered some of my blood to help heal him. But after Ash, I didn’t have enough to give. Besides, something told me Morgan didn’t need it. He handed me a bottle of antiseptic and rested back against the counter with a sigh.

“Remember me saying that I got this scar when I faced my greatest fear?”

I nodded.

“Years ago, when there were more of my kind, my grandfather was cursed by a witch.”

“Why did she curse him?”

He shrugged. “They used to date.”

Even though the subject was serious, I couldn’t help but smile at his comment.

“He was an asshole, a womanizer. He deserved to be punished. Only
he
wasn’t the one to really bear the curse. She said that the first descendant who took after him, the first complete scoundrel, would be cursed with eternal life.”

I stopped cleaning his wound and stared at him open-mouthed.

“It would become a curse because someone like him would never truly be loved, and could only find misery in having to live with himself forever.” He paused. “The day I woke up from this injury, I knew I had inherited the curse. To be alone forever was my greatest fear.” He brushed his hand across my face and I leaned into his touch. “But then I met you, and dared to have a little hope.”

Who would have thought that “Mr. Popular” was really lonely? I wasn’t sure how to react, but I was happy to hear Morgan wouldn’t be leaving me any time soon.

“I’m two hundred and fifty-three years old,” he said and I nearly choked. “I was killed at thirty-five. That’s when the curse took hold, and why I never age beyond that point.”

After a moment my shock wore off and I found I was overjoyed. I hugged Morgan, forgetting all about his injury. He winced and kissed me on the forehead as he pulled back. “Easy there sweetheart, I do still feel pain.”

“Sorry.” I stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly. “Does this hurt?”

He laughed. “More than you know. Bob will have a fit if I don’t stay in the tank tonight.”

I pretended to pout, but I thought it was a good idea for him to recuperate too. The tank was our regenerative facility. It would help his injuries to heal quicker. Just because I knew he wasn’t going to die didn’t mean I was all right with him suffering.

“I’ll check on you later,” I said, kissing him again. “I’m going to see how Ash is handling everything.”

“You mean after that amazing kiss you gave him?” There was laughter in his eyes and teasing in his tone. But underneath that, I was surprised to see that Morgan was still jealous. Just a little bit.

“Really? You’re going to act like this now?”

Morgan sighed. “No. I know how much he means to you. Go see how he’s doing.”

Chapter Sixteen

Through my connection with Hud, I knew exactly where to find them. He and Ash were sitting at the bar in our recreation room and Bob was mixing them drinks. Hud’s cloak was thrown over a chair behind him and he’d unzipped the front of his shirt. Something told me the djinn was more comfortable in his own skin than any clothing. He turned on the stool to face me and tipped his glass in my direction as I walked in.

“You’ve been a bad girl,” Bob teased. Obviously, he’d been listening to the story too.

“Are you okay?” I asked, putting my hand on Ash’s back.

He took a shot of some dark liquor first. “I think I will be. You have to admit, this isn’t exactly an ordinary story he’s been telling me. If I hadn’t seen Hud with my own eyes, I’d never have believed that djinn existed.”

Hud shrugged. “You believe in vampires. Is it really so difficult to accept me?”

Damn he was gorgeous. When he questioned Ash he raised one eyebrow and it only added to his wicked sex appeal. The presence of my friend was the only thing that kept me from jumping him on the spot.

Ashton laughed. “After tonight, I guess not.”

“I’m going to check on Morgan,” Hud said.

The way he brushed his hand across my shoulder as he left was definitely an invitation. But I had to talk to Ashton first.

“Could you give us a minute, Bob?” he asked. “And leave me that bottle?”

“Sure.”

The android winked at me before leaving. If I hadn’t been low on blood I would have blushed.

“Sereva has already sent a communication saying she plans to put up a monument in my honor.” Ash laughed and downed another shot. “Were you really having a three-way with a djinn and a wizard while the world was on pause for three days?”

“Four-way,” I corrected. Ash looked confused and I realized then how much he’d had to drink. “There were four of us.”

“Right.” He paused before reaching over and taking my hand. “I don’t know what to think or feel about any of this. We’d already decided a long time ago that things wouldn’t work between us.” Ash seemed to be having a really hard time finding the right words. “The djinn loves you. It’s obvious when he talks about you. Are you happy? Is this what you want? D, I can understand, but
Morgan
too?”

I patted his hand and moved closer. “There’s more to Morgan than you know. I think this will work.”

Ash ran a hand through his hair and I noticed he was still wearing his body armor and cape. For a moment I wanted to laugh. He really did look like a superhero.

“If he hurts you I’ll kill him,” he said.

Now was definitely not the time to tell him Morgan was immortal.

“Everything will be all right.”

He nodded and stared down at his empty shot glass. “Thank you for saving me.”

“I’d like to talk to you about that,” I said, moving from my stool and turning him to face me. I stood between Ashton’s legs and put my arms against his shoulders. “Now that you’ve stared death in the face, I do hope you’ll reconsider my offer.” He went to speak and I put my finger over his lips. “I know we discussed this before, and I remember what you said. But you’re a hero now. A glorious death is no longer necessary to have your life mean something. Ashton,” I said softly, leaning into his embrace, “you mean something to me.”

He kissed the top of my head and to my surprise said, “I’ll give it some thought.”

“You will?”

“Yes,” he said, hugging me again. “Now let me finish this bottle.”

His smile was reassuring and I felt warmed by it as I left the room.

I wasn’t at all surprised to see Hud stretched out across my bed. He’d enlarged it to accommodate his size, but otherwise left my room unchanged. His shirt had fallen open, and he’d kicked off his boots beside the door. Nothing I’d ever experienced could compare to the way looking at him made me feel. Was there a better greeting anywhere than that smile?

“D is spending the night in the theatre reliving his reaction to the Velkans. He wants to gain more control over his emotions. Apparently, the thought of someone hurting you made him overreact a bit.”

“You mean killing half of Nix’s army?”

He shrugged. “They had it coming. Anyway, looks like you’ll have to make do with me tonight.”

“That won’t be a problem. So, you checked on Morgan then too?”

“Yes. How’s Ash?”

“Better than I expected. I think he might reconsider becoming a vampire.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I don’t want to lose him.” While I spoke I undressed slowly, enjoying the way Hud watched me. “Ash means a lot to me. Whether or not we are involved romantically, I love him. I’d like to keep him around.” Before the djinn could offer to grant my wish I added, “But I want it to be his choice.”

“Very well.” He lifted up and removed his shirt. When he stretched back across the pillows he beckoned me with a flick of his wrist. It felt like an eternity since I’d been in his arms and I crawled across the bed toward him, eager for his touch.

“Let me heal you,” he said. “Your head
does
still hurt, doesn’t it?”

“It’s a little sore.” I looked down at my wrists and noticed the burn marks from the silver weren’t completely gone either. Then as if still in shock over the fact I blurted out, “Morgan is immortal.”

The djinn smiled as he offered me his wrist. “I know.”

At first I just kissed his wrist, grazing him lightly with my fangs. But then he moaned and I could no longer resist the urge to sink my teeth in.

I sucked hard and felt the tension already beginning to build.

“Make me come with your bite,” he said softly, “and I’ll make it worth your while.”

In an instant I was fully recovered. My head no longer hurt and I could tell by the smoothness of my skin that my wrists were healed. I let everything I wanted to do to Ahihud flood my thoughts. I slid one hand between my legs, working my clit while I let my every erotic desire flow into him. The harder I focused on these thoughts, the more he moaned. I wanted to ride him. I wanted to grab his cock and—”

“Come on,” he said, pulling his wrist away.

“But you said that—”

“I know what I said, but your thoughts are driving me wild.” Watching him snatch off his pants was both sexy and hilarious.

I pressed him back against the bed, took his cock in my hand and guided him inside me. Just that contact was enough to take me there. I moved slowly as my muscles contracted tight around him.

“Make me come,” he whispered.

I rode him while I continued to come, his blood strengthening the sensations within me until I cried.

“Ahihud.”

He sat up, wrapping me in his arms and holding me tight while he came.

I collapsed against him and for the longest time he held me while he stroked my hair. Finally he said, “I knew what was happening tonight. Why didn’t you call to me?”

“I didn’t want to take a chance on someone imprisoning you again.” I rose up to look at him. “I never would have given him your name.”

“I know.”

He kissed me and I rested back against his chest.

“Why did you come anyway?”

“Because I could feel your heart breaking. I couldn’t stay away.”

“I don’t believe I ever thanked you properly for delivering the clarity you promised. I love you, but I can’t always live in a dream. I want D and Morgan and Harsh Reality. But I do love to dream once in a while.”

“Does that mean you want me to visit you here more than you visit me on Tarnak?”

I laughed. “Yes.”

“Fine. Everyone will know that when they have three days of night, my Vivian is in town.”

THE END

Thank you for taking time to read Three Days of Night. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and is greatly appreciated.

If you’ve enjoyed Three Days of Night, you might enjoy some other books by Tracey H. Kitts and T.K. Hardin.

Here is an excerpt from the Lilith Mercury Series by Tracey H. Kitts

This excerpt is from Object of My Affection, Book II in the Lilith Mercury: Werewolf Hunter Series.

“What if I help you?” he asked.

I stopped and turned to face him through the rain.

“Why would you do that?”

“Well, once we hear from the council, it might not be your job to kill me anymore. Might as well be nice,” he said with a shrug.

Bade smiled, but his angelic features didn’t fool me.

“Look, I’m out of time for this. And whatever the council decides is irrelevant. I’ll most likely have to kill you one of these days anyway.”

I tried to walk away and he pulled me back.

“Then why didn’t you kill me back there? Why not kill me now?”

“Because you aren’t trying to hurt me or anyone else at the moment, and I don’t have time to fool with you.”

When I turned to leave again, I heard him take a step to follow me and I rounded on him.

“Bade, come to the point or I swear, I will hurt you in a way that you would not enjoy.”

He threw back his head and laughed. The pale gold of his hair clung to his face and neck. The small place where my sliver blade had nicked him had already begun to heal. With my eyes I traced the water that cascaded over his lovely features and tried to fight what I was feeling. I wanted Bade too, physically at least. Who could blame me?

Bade wasn’t handsome in the classical sense of the word. He looked like an angel. Not the fat little cherubs, but the warriors. The tall magnificently crafted cherubim of legend. He was the essence of sin, captured in the embodiment of heaven. What could be more appealing than the devil trapped in an angel’s body? He knew all the wrong things to do, and had all the right equipment to do it with.

“Once things have settled down, I have something I’d like to discuss with you,” he said.

Shit. I’d heard that line before. I didn’t like where the conversation was leading.

“You and I have nothing to discuss,” I replied softly.

“Perhaps, but things change. Marco might not always be in charge.”

My heart beat faster at the implied threat which was exactly what I needed to shut off my libido.

“Do not threaten Marco in my presence.” My voice was calm, which meant I was really pissed.

He ran a hand through his wet golden hair. “Easy love, don’t take it personally. Besides, you haven’t accepted his offer ... have you? I mean, that wouldn’t exactly go over well, would it? The daughter of the commander of The Hunters,
cavorting
with the head of the local werewolf pack.”

“I take any threat against Marco personally. The rest is none of your business.”

The instant I uttered the words I knew they were true, but it still shocked me to hear it out loud. I had just admitted that I would defend the safety of a man who only months ago, I’d been sworn to kill. Technically, I was still sworn to kill Marco. But like Bade had said, that could all change very soon. Even if it didn’t change, I knew in that instant I would never hurt Marco. I wasn’t capable of it.

Bade was a different story.

The first three books in this series are available in a boxed set at Amazon.

Click here for information on Lilith Mercury books 1-3