She pulled a glass dildo out of a drawer and ran her fingers up and down the length of it. Then she lifted it to her lips and licked the tip. Max bit back a groan.
“I realized I should start out the way I mean to go on,” she said, looking at him from beneath spiked lashes. “Relationships go both ways, Max.”
“I’ve given you everything I’ve got.” He reached out with his magic and slammed into the wall of power radiating off her. She was siphoning from him by the moment, an irrefutable sign that she’d been tainted by black magic. “And I’ll keep giving it until I draw my last breath.”
“Everything except your submission.”
“I’m not a switch, kitten.”
Her foot tapped a rapid staccato against the cement. “Maybe I am. Does that mean we’re incompatible?”
“You didn’t think so an hour ago.”
She narrowed her gaze at him, then disappeared, winking away before his eyes.
“Victoria!” he shouted, his fists clenching.
It was diabolically clever what Barnes had done, taking away Max’s anchor while she was still breathing. Death would’ve been more merciful than losing her to black magic. And he couldn’t take her to the Council as he had Jezebel, not just because he was weakened to a dangerously low state, but because he feared they would vanquish her to mitigate any threat he might be perceived to be.
He racked his mind for options, trying to narrow down what spells Barnes might have used to turn Jezebel and Victoria.
“Blood magic,” he muttered, knowing how powerful it could be.
But only as long as Barnes was alive.
Is Westin really the right man for you? Or is there someone out there who would suit you better?
Victoria hit the clubs. Restless and driven by urges she couldn’t fight, she prowled the city searching for something she couldn’t put her finger on. It irritated her that she felt the need to return to Max. A driving, spurring need. She’d never felt so torn before, as if she was warring with herself.
“Looks like you’re in the mood to play, gorgeous.”
She turned her head toward the man speaking to her. He was tall and fit, sandy-haired and mischievous-eyed. Her gaze raked him from head to toe, as did her magic. He was human.
Her mouth curved, her thoughts turning to how much fun it would be to dominate such a strapping male. It had been far too long since she’d been allowed to take the reins.
“Are you in the mood to play?” she purred.
“Always. Can I buy you a drink?”
She shook her head, debating where to take him. Max’s place would be ideal, but she ruled it out. Her apartment was an option, especially since Max had seen fit to take his ex-mistress there. But an unwelcome and unwarranted stab of guilt held her back.
Damn it.
“Let’s go somewhere,” she said, deciding it was best to leave the decision to him. Maybe he had his own toys.
He grinned and thrust out his hand. “Steve. Feeling seriously lucky to have met you tonight.”
“Victoria.” Her fingers brushed over his palm, but his touch lacked the heat and magical connection she’d come to feel with Max. A sense of hollowness grew in her belly. The club’s music pounded out of the speakers, spurring customers to hook up. Couples and triples writhed against one another on the dance floor, flooding the air with the scent of arousal and pheromones, but she felt oddly disconnected.
“Come on, Vicky.” He caught her hand before it fell to her side and linked their fingers together. “I’ve got a room around the corner.”
Westin’s got you under his spell, Victoria. Whitacre never controlled you like that.
She frowned as she allowed Steve to lead her through the crush to the exit. Listening to her conscience had never been more difficult. And Steve’s use of the nickname “Vicky” only made things worse. Only Darius had ever called her that.
Max’s voice echoed in her mind. This isn’t you talking.
Her hand tightened on Steve’s. The warlock had twisted her mind . . . made her confused. She’d never been more conflicted.
“Do you live in the city?” Steve asked when they stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Yes.” She’d moved in after Darius died, closer to the central hub of magic in the country, so that she would have greater opportunities to provoke the Council.
“I like it here,” he went on, filling the void left by her short answer. “First-time trip for me. I’ll have to thank my boss for suggesting this conference.”
Forcing herself to focus on the man she was with, she said, “Maybe I’ll have to thank him, too.”
His eyes sparkled in the light of the streetlamps. “Do I have to ask if you’ll be gentle with me?”
“Is that what you want?”
“No.”
She smiled genuinely. “Good. I’m not sure I can be gentle tonight.”
A ripple of desire moved through his big body. His skin heated to her touch. “Having one of those nights, sweetheart?”
Her nostrils flared, filling her senses with the scent of his lust and excitement. “Yeah . . . you could say that.”
Ten
Max hit the streets. Barnes would be sticking close by, knowing Max was vulnerable now in a way he’d never been before. This hunt had turned into a game for Barnes, one he was willing to risk capture for. Vanquishing Max wasn’t going to stop the Council from coming after him; other Hunters would follow. It wouldn’t even buy the warlock time, because Max was fairly certain the Council had already widened the hunt. They probably didn’t trust him now, and Jezebel’s susceptibility would raise further alarm.
Coming after Max was sport for Barnes, a chance to get a little piece of his own back after the years of incarceration he’d suffered.
Victoria, where are you?
He ruthlessly suppressed the urge to find her. It would be pointless while she was under the fog of blood magic. Whatever programming Barnes had given her would be impossible to break through while the warlock was living.
But he couldn’t fight the fear for her. For them, as a couple, because there had been an opening for Barnes to exploit. All this time Max had believed it was simply a matter of acclimation that caused the resistance Victoria displayed occasionally. He’d assumed that at heart she was like all Familiars. But perhaps she was unique beyond the magic Darius had given her. Perhaps she truly needed to share control rather than give it up completely.
Could he be the man she needed if that were the case?