Covet Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: Her Monstrous Mates, #1)

by Kel Carpenter

“Just like Belle’s,” I whispered to myself. “Who is Belle?” Niall asked, coming up behind me and making me jump. “Geeez, you three need to wear a collar so I know when you’re coming.” Shuddering, I continued. “Just a woman who likes to read, but she ends up trapped in a castle with a beast.” I crossed my arms, turning to them in a defensive stance. “Or you know, in my case, three.” “If I recall, Belle ends up marrying the Beast,” Adrian said, joining the conversation. My eyebrows shot up before I had a chance to school my features. “I have a sister,” he offered as an explanation.

“What do you wanna talk about? What you two were doing on the pier the other night in Brooklyn?” I said haughtily, looking between Niall and Adrian. Shifting my gaze to Malachi, I added, “Or maybe what you’ve been doing in Queens for six years? Or maybe you would all like the opportunity to tell me what kind of guys you are, like we’re on some antiquated bad dating show. Show off your muscles and talents and embellish your accomplishments? Suitor number one, do you want to go first?”

“She's shooting for her own hand,” he muttered, attempting to suppress a smile. “I don’t know what that means.” Niall looked to Adrian for an explanation, but he just shrugged. “It’s from an old movie she loved to watch. A princess is told she has to marry one of three guys from different neighboring clans. She’s a badass in her own right. An archer, and damn good at it.” “What does that have to do with anything?” Niall asked, still just as confused as ever. “The princess throws herself into the competition against the guys so she doesn’t have to marry anyone. It’s why she took it upon herself to join the trials and run for chancellor,” he answered. I clenched my jaw, staring at my ex-best friend. My ex-rejected mate. I hate that he still knew me so well.

“Yes. I don't want to marry any of you.” I looked at Malachi, assessing him up and down. “Especially you. So I took matters into my own hands.”

“You never accepted the rejection, and I unrejected you,” Malachi countered. He kept his frustrations out of his voice but I could see it growing in the way he held himself. He did not like me renouncing his claim on me. Payback’s a bitch. “I'm still not sure that's a thing. It's on my To Do List to investigate how that works—and how to get rid of it.”

I stared at the bed, feeling anxiety at the prospect of being in bed with Adrian, while simultaneously itching for him to come so I wouldn’t be alone—which just confused me more because I was essentially wanting a stranger. The mate bond was a lot to process.

“Your mind and body will be put through significant pain, the likes of which many of you have never experienced before. Your job is to hold out as long as possible. We don't expect you to last forever. As I said, everyone has a breaking point. We expect to find yours today.

Draco, the vampire from Clan Tepes, wore a stony expression. His entire body was stiff. The witch from the Outcast Coven was similar. Ayla had her lips pressed together and white knuckled fingers where they clenched into fists in her lap. Ty’s nostrils flared as he breathed harshly. I hoped they’d accidentally burn him to death. Beside me, Adrian sat in his boxers. The scent of his skin burning turned my stomach more than the fire itself. His curly dark hair was tousled from sleep. I couldn't read the expression on his face, given the angle that it required me to hold my neck. His eyes were shuttered, but he didn’t move a muscle under the assault. Nikki and Niall surprised me the most. Out of all of the candidates, syndicates included, they both appeared almost . . . bored.

I clung to reality, focusing on the only person that could possibly make this worth it. My mate. Not the other candidates, certainly not Ty; just her. I didn’t care what happened to the rest of them, and they weren’t my lifeline.

I couldn’t believe that Nikki had lasted this long. That she was still in this room. She had no idea how proud I was, even if I hated that she put herself in this position. I didn't like the thought of her being in pain, but her strength to endure and withstand the same thing was the only reason I was still sitting here. I blinked through watery eyes to focus on her features. Her lips were pinched, and her forehead was damp with sweat. She was suffering, but she didn’t seem to be struggling the same way as the rest of us.

Adrian was now shaking uncontrollably. By contrast, Nikki’s eyes weren't watery from being choked. Her muscles weren’t stiff like every other person’s in this room. She was tense around her eyes, but unlike the rest of us, her body wasn't fighting it. She was relaxed. The earlier whisper of dread rose again. Why wasn't her body fighting it?

she wasn’t a gutter rat that rose to a leader, like me. She wasn’t an enforcer who had no doubt had his body put through hell on the regular, like Niall. She was closest to Adrian, who albeit, was disadvantaged the most thanks to the iron they’d used. Nikki wasn’t a fighter, though. Not physically. Her response to this made no sense when as far as I knew, she’d never been...

Nikki was next. She handled the other things beautifully, but this was different. It wasn’t the illusion of pain. It wasn’t a mind trick. This was real. Except Nikki didn't respond. At all. I thought it had ended somehow, sparing her, until Ayla’s ankle cracked. My eyes widened in shock. Nikki’s fingers and toes were all in place. Her wrist wasn't hanging at an odd angle like Niall’s. Her legs were straight. There was no blood. It was only by staring at her for several seconds that I noticed her breathing had become labored. Her injury was internal. They’d snapped something we couldn’t see, likely a rib if it was hurting to breathe. Yet she hadn't said anything. She didn’t utter a sound. She didn't cry or moan.

Nikki grunted when her head flew back. The skin split down the middle of her forehead. Horror filled me. They’d gone for the skull. Crimson bled into the whites of her eyes. A bloody tear leaked out. I couldn’t stand to see her subjected to this. The sooner we quit, the sooner it would end for her. The word left my lips before I could think of swallowing it back down. “Mercy.” Ty let out a shout when his back bent in half and his legs went slack. “Mercy!”

Adrian. Niall. Nikki. Ty was carried out, and I was pushed into a room with two-way glass. We could still see them, but they couldn’t see us. Adrian and Niall locked eyes. They didn’t have more than seconds to act if one or both of them didn’t want to end up incapacitated. Nikki’s determined, bloodstained face said everything. She wouldn’t back down if it killed her. She’d sooner bleed out than admit defeat. Stubborn. Stupid. Woman. “Mercy,” Niall and Adrian yelled in unison, coming to the same realization I had.

I’d felt pain before. I’d been taken and held against my will. I’d felt the grief of losing my twin as a result of it, so fuck Earth and Emerald for starting off with this shit sundae as the first trial. Not that they knew my past—no one did—but I could still be mad at them for it.

Malachi backed out on my behalf. Niall and Adrian did it simultaneously because they knew I wouldn’t give in. It touched some vulnerable part of me, even though I didn’t want it to. At least for two of the three.

“Congratulations,” she said. “Eat glass,” I mumbled, wheezing as soon as my broken rib sent sparks of pain into my chest. The bone was mending itself, but it wasn’t healed yet. She smiled, and I could only tell because I saw the white of her teeth. “Such vigor. You could have taken more, it would seem.” I glared at her with hate-filled eyes, though no words came out. “Relax, Nikki Ward. You’re our reigning champion. For now.”

“Drink this,” she offered, pulling a small bottle from her robes. Waving her hand over me, my bindings loosened, freeing me completely. Eyeing the bottle with unease, she gestured it forward. “What is it?” “You’ll need it to get out of here, as that is your next task. The others won’t be so lucky.”

“It’s a potion that will allow you to heal faster.” Staring blankly, I waited for her to tell me this was a joke. The advantage I was given for withstanding what felt like days of torment was . . . faster healing? The one thing my shifter magic provided me in spades beyond what any other supernatural possessed. My eyesight was average. My hearing was poor at best. My sense of smell and taste were truly abysmal. Worse than any shifter I’d ever met. But healing—that was my one real gift. And a good one considering my awkward sense of balance and some of the stunts I’d pulled on missions.

“Can I exchange this for vitabrew? I’m exhausted.” “A what?” “You know? Vitabrew. Stronger than coffee, less than cocaine. Keeps me awake. I’m tired after being ripped out of my bed and then used as a pin cushion. I’ll even take a coffee if that’s all you have. It’s not as potent, but it’ll do the trick.”

“Good luck, Nikki Ward.” She disappeared and I gave a half-hearted salute with minimal enthusiasm. “Thanks, lady who didn’t introduce herself.”

“I know caffeine is hard to come by, but lube isn’t,” I muttered, offering the bottle to Adrian. “Here. My skull is throbbing, but the bone is already knitting back together. You need this more than me.”

Nikki, we have to go.” “I can’t,” I whispered, trying to take a step back as the water reached my mid-thigh. “I can’t go in there.” “You have to. We don’t have much time.” “You don’t understand. I can’t. I can’t be confined again.” Adrian looked at Niall for help. He had a firm set to his lips, almost like he felt pity for me. Under normal circumstances, it would have bothered me. I didn't want their pity, but I also really didn't want to go in that vent.

Another surge of panic filled me. Drowning in this confined space wasn’t something I had considered before. New fear unlocked.

Every now and then we would stop, and Niall would sniff the air. Adrian did as well. They consistently agreed on which directions to take, which made me think scenting my way out would’ve been an option if I didn’t have a terrible sense of smell and an overwhelming dread weighing me down. I just wanted out.

Why was it when the mind tried to protect you, it locked away traumatic moments in your life but then chose to fuck you over at the worst possible time by allowing you to remember it. Trauma unlocked trauma. Ain't that some shit.

“This is it. Nice and easy. I’ll catch you.” I jumped out, not even caring if he was telling the truth. I’d rather eat a face-full of linoleum than be stuck in this place a second longer. My body dropped, not even free falling before strong arms caught me with one cradled under my knees, and the other holding me protectively at my back.

Whereas the visions that I’d had with Adrian appeared to be the future, this was different. It was stronger. I felt like I’d lived it already—and forgotten for a reason. Rather than a sense of calmness and peace, it was the polar opposite. This memory was filled with fear, loss, pain—but it wasn’t caused by Niall. It was almost like we shared it. Where I felt like I was drowning in grief and despair he exuded a sense of protection, longing and . . . sadness. It felt real. Fire still raged in the background, and plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky. He was holding me and running. “It’s over. I’ve got you,” he said. “I promise I won’t let go. You’re safe now; we both are. You saved us . . .”

The third time . . . well. It was like Bruno. We didn’t talk about the third time.

“Nikki,” Ty roared in the distance. “If he wants to bitch at me, he’s going to have to wait a minute,” I choked out, dropping to one knee in a forceful thud as I fought against gravity. “Yup.” My speech slowed. “It’s coming.” “Not again,” Sam said, her voice sounding far away. “You have the worst timing, you know that? Maybe worse than the time with the vampires.” “You mean what was left of them,” I slurred. “What’s happening?” Niall asked in a hard voice. “What’s she doing?” “Fainting. Duh,” I muttered, and my world turned black.

He still insisted that they could share his. That was a bit weird to think about, considering they were brother and sister. Ty’s need to protect her felt just a hair too close to possessiveness for my liking. I frowned. With each passing minute, she’d become more agitated. Her subtle resistance to his manipulations turned into a forceful confrontation.

Niall's hands clenched into fists as he hunched over the back of the sofa. A low, rumbling growl vibrated in his throat, and white, iridescent scales flashed over his uncovered arms. Thank fuck Malachi was still out with Tylea. It was hard enough suppressing my own instincts while trying to calm Niall. I didn’t need a third feral mate in the mix.

Ty’s alpha vibe coupled with Nikki's internal distress was making it incredibly difficult for both of us to stay put and not intervene. “He needs to be dealt with,” Niall said. “Permanently.” I sighed, not exactly disagreeing. The difference was I understood we couldn't get rid of her family. If he was some random guy that was obsessed with her, or a jealous ex, sure. I'd say he could have an accident at one of the next trials, but he wasn't some nobody. He was Ty Ward Jr., her brother, and Phaon’s heir. There was no way in hell that her father would forgive us and hand over his daughter when the trials were over if he found out we’d killed his son.

Not when she'd already suffered a grief so terrible and twisting it rendered her unable to recognize Niall as her mate. We weren't positive that was why, but he and I agreed it seemed like the most logical explanation. She wasn't ignoring the mate bond with me, and while she was pissed at Malachi, I also saw the way she looked at him. Even in her hurt and anger she didn’t reject him. Nikki had no reason to pretend Niall wasn’t her mate. If she truly remembered and found him repulsive, she would have said so. I didn't doubt that. Not after being around her. Nikki was one to speak her mind.

“Look. I’ve had a long day. My skull was smashed open and then I got to climb through the buildings air vents while they flooded the whole damn place, trying to drown me. There's no vitabrew. The food here sucks. I’m exhausted, so can you just give me a break? I know it goes against your nature and all your alpha bullshit, but I need you to back off and let me go to sleep. If you're really that insistent on berating me, come back tomorrow.”

Ty emitted a growl that had the hairs along the back of my neck rising. Niall started toward the door, eyes shifting to a reptilian slit. Dragon. Fuck.

“If he hurts her,” Niall began. “Let me deal with this. He won't lay a hand on her. Now go. The last thing she needs after the day she's had is an angry dragon flipping the fuck out and mutilating her brother.”

You won the first challenge, Nikki. They’re not just going to let that slide. You’re a target now, and you know damn well that there are some things worse than dying. Those three can't protect you like I can. Hell, even your phoenix couldn’t protect you.”

“Way to keep a fucking family secret, Ty! Now everyone in the house knows what I am!” I walked toward them quietly, but not at all silent. Everyone knew not to sneak up on an alpha predator. While I wasn't sure if her phoenix was an alpha, she had the spirit of one. Today had proved that.

“That’s where you're wrong. It involves her, and anything that is Nikki's business is now my business too.” His upper lip curled back in a snarl. “What? You think that because you’re sharing a house she's going to be another notch in your belt?” He laughed coldly. “You don't know my sister. She's worth a hundred of you. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air, and I don't give a fuck what deal you made with my father, but I can tell you this, Rose: Dead men don’t get married.”

Everyone thought that I was careless. A playboy. Shallow. Very few realized that it was just the mask I chose to wear. I felt just as deeply as Niall, but I refused to show it. I refused to give any piece of myself to someone that was insignificant. Having a mate—even unbonded—that intensity to feel shot up to a whole new level. I smirked, outwardly pretending to be unbothered even though inside I was burning. What's more, the dark-haired vixen at my side burned even hotter with me.

“Take your pick,” I told him. “Next time you think to threaten me, remember the only reason you’re still breathing is because of my mate.” Ty's eyes widened. The black in them seemed to bleed out as the ring around the iris shifted to a deep, hazy red. “Mate?” he repeated coolly. “She never said.” I cut him off by lifting my hands. “Why would she say anything if this is how you act in general?” He shot Nikki a sharp glare, incredibly displeased that she'd failed to mention this to him. I would have found that amusing under different circumstances.

“Stop it!” At a breakneck speed I didn’t expect, she shoved Ty in the chest, hard. He stumbled back with lips parted, and a stunned expression on his face. “I told you I couldn't do this right now. Then you try to use Marissa to guilt me. I’m so sick of you and dad gaslighting me; saying that I'm too emotional or incapable of anything because of what happened to Marissa. You think I don't know what happened? I was the one that lived through it,” she shouted, pointing at herself. “I was the one that had to watch her die, and I was the one that left there, covered in her ashes. You're only here posturing because you care about me as a thing, therefore you think you own me in some way. You don't actually give a shit, Ty. If you did, you wouldn't do things like this. You would respect my boundaries when I tell you that I'm too fucking tired to deal with it right now. So if you'll excuse me, I need to get some sleep before I deal with another one of your massive bitch fests that I'm sure will still be waiting for me tomorrow.”

There was nothing sweet about her scent, and I loved it. I didn't want sweet. I'd spent my entire life having women throw themselves at me using false charm in an attempt to lure me in, and it never appealed to me. There was a kick to Nikki; a spiciness. And I liked it. A lot.

“You should sleep with me,” I blurted out, and Nikki froze. “Nope, that wasn’t it. I’ll admit that didn’t exactly come out right.” I spoke quickly, trying to cover the blunder. “You should sleep next to me tonight. Not on the couch. It’s a king-sized bed. You need proper rest. It'll be harder for people to sneak up on you if you're in bed with me.” She slowly looked over her shoulder, cocking an eyebrow. “Sleep?” she repeated. “That’s it. Just sleep.”

“Just sleep, Nikki. I’m not going to try anything. I promise.” I might smell her hair if she got close enough, but that wasn’t the funny business she was talking about.

“Good.” She smiled, and this time, it reached her eyes. “You know what happens if you break a pinky promise, right?” “I, uh, can’t say that I do.” “If you break the promise, I break your finger,” she said, pausing while waiting for me to react. We’d just had numerous bones broken. Not that I planned on breaching her trust, but a single finger was nothing in comparison. “Off,” she added. “Come again?” “I break it off. And I’ll keep it too.” Nikki turned for the hallway, giving me her back as she walked toward our room. Gesturing to her neck and her ears, she said, “Maybe make jewelry out of the bones or something. Who knows.” I just stared, completely fascinated with my mate—as twisted and wonderfully weird as she was.

Lest I break the pinky promise and give my mate a new pair of earrings.

“What the fuck?” I said, scrambling to the other side of the bed. “You said you wouldn’t try anything. You promised!” He sat up, flinging his legs over the bed. “The agreement was that I wouldn’t try anything—and I didn’t—but we didn’t say anything about me stopping you from trying something.” I tore at the sheets, looking for a shirt. “What? You’re saying I tried something?” “You stripped that off at some point.” He tossed my shirt to me with a mischievous grin. “I’m guessing you sleep hot?” “When I’m healing, I do,”