Twin Shift Read online

  Gabe looked at Beth. “You going to bite me sistra?” His fake Jamaican accent was atrocious.

  Beth’s face was serious despite Gabe's attempt to lighten the mood. “You belong to Emily I would never hurt you.”

  Emily saw the resolve in Beth's face and knew Gideon did as well. She realized the men were communicating again and being left out was starting to piss her off.

  “We don't have time for this!” Donovan snapped.

  “You'll make time. Considering the atrocities they allowed Julius to get away with, they can make a concession while we chat with Beth,” Gideon growled.

  Donovan blanched. “The current council members were turned with Julius. It would have been like executing a member of your family. There have been some changes since the extent of his activities have come to light.”

  Gabe inclined his head to Donovan while looking at Beth. “Does he know about your powers. About what happened?”

  Beth looked at Donovan. “I didn't want him persecuted for something I did as a child. Once I started to feel different. I started to ask questions. He has no idea that saving me has sentenced him to death.”

  Donovan's eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  When Beth flinched, Gabe stepped forward. “How about you step into the bedroom with me so I can grab some clothes.” His demeanor was serious.

  Donovan nodded, following Gabriel.

  Beth ran a hand over her hair. “I'm sorry I brought this upon you.”

  Emily grabbed her arm. “You didn't bring this on. I did.”

  Gideon interrupted. “I brought Emily into the shifter world which exposed you to the vampires.”

  Beth huffed. “Neither shifters nor vampires are the problem right now.” She glanced at the door. Gabe and Donovan entered before turning back to Emily. “So is turning all furry and running on all fours as cool as we imagined?”

  Emily smiled, remembering their childhood days when they pretended to be different animals running wild in the forests of their imagination. “Even better. I'm not a very good hunter though. My wolf seems more interested in playing with her mates than tracking anything.”

  Beth smile was fleeting. “I miss those strays you would bring home. We never had enough money to keep them but I would give anything to have a pet again.”

  Emily frowned. “You’re not allowed to have pets?”

  “Animals won't come near us. Not willingly. I would never force an animal to override its natural instinct to run from a predator.”

  Emily flashed back to Beth nursing a malnourished pup back to health. She had planned to keep the dog despite their financial woes until an elderly neighbor fell in love with the dog, asking Beth if he could adopt it. Beth had cried that night but said it was the best thing for the puppy. Their neighbor was retired and could give the animal a better life than Beth could. “Oh, honey I'm sorry.”

  Beth shrugged, trying to minimize the slight. She smiled genuinely. “Maybe one day you can get your fur on and we can cuddle up and watch movies together.”

  Emily smiled. “Only if there are cheesy love scenes and chocolate mint ice-cream involved.”

  Beth laughed. “Lord girl. Ya hasn't changed a bit.”

  Emily's eyebrow arched.

  Beth rubbed her eyes. “Shit. I slipped.”

  “You don't have to be all American around me,” Emily said seriously.

  “No, but if I don't learn to ditch my heritage in my everyday speech I am going to get Donovan killed.”

  “I’m more concerned about you than Donovan. Are you sure Gregory isn't after you?”

  “Yes. He can't touch me now. He is after you,” Beth said.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because he told me.”

  Emily felt fear slither across her spine. Surely Beth wouldn't have contact with that kind of monster. “When did you see him?” she asked quietly.

  “I haven't seen him since the day I arranged his memories removed. I heard him in my head. He spoke to me before he started laughing,” Beth said.

  Emily sucked in a breath. I heard laughing too."

  Beth nodded. “His memories were removed as were mine. What about yours?”

  Her voice wavered. “I remember everything.”

  Gabe and Donovan re-entered the room. Gabe was wearing jeans and a serious expression. Donovan's eyes were full black, his face murderous.

  Beth held up a hand. “Donovan before you blame Gabriel for anything you have to know...”

  The irate vampire came to a stop in front of Beth. “Why would I blame Gabriel for your rape?” his voice rumbled with unearthly timbre.

  Beth looked genuinely shocked. “Ya mad about that?” her accent slipping through.

  “You not ya, and yes I am furious. Children are off limits until the age of fifteen.”

  Gabriel huffed. “Fifteen is still a baby for Christ’s sake.”

  Donovan cleared his throat. “The rules were made in a century when it was common for humans to marry in their mid-teens.”

  “I think your rules are a bit dated,” Emily said.

  Donovan glanced at her. “I will address it at the next council meeting. We have more pressing matters. Beth, how much power do you have? Can you control it until I track this monster down?”

  Beth looked alarmed. “You can't go after the Bokor. Every vampire in the city will track you down and kill you for breaking the accord. You will start a war.”

  “You don't understand what a ward is to a vampire. We cannot have children. We choose a couple of humans in a lifetime to care for. To nurture. I won't allow this to stand. He will die bleeding and in pain, begging for his miserable life. I will show him no mercy.”

  Gabe put his hand on Donovan's arm. “Hey man, we all feel the same here buddy but you can't go near him. Besides he isn't after Beth, he’s after Emily. Gideon and I will be removing his right to be alive. The begging and dying in pain, part. That stays the same.”

  Beth shook her head. “He's too powerful. He can curse you. Send zombies after you.”

  Gideon looked at Beth hard. “Zombies as in raise the dead?”

  “No. They're alive, but they have willingly given their minds to the Bokor. They follow blindly. You’ll know them when you see them. You’ll smell them too.”

  Emily touched Beth’s arm. “Tell me about him.”

  Beth sighed. “Gregory was a powerful Bokor in Haiti. I don't know the particulars, just that he had a falling out with his family. He moved here in his early thirties. We were placed in his care just after your eleventh birthday. He was nice at first. Then I started to notice the way he looked at you. It wasn't in a fatherly way. When I confronted him his true personality was revealed.”

  “What happened after my memory was erased? What did the hospital do?” Emily asked.

  “The spell was universal to everyone except me and Madeline. You woke up in the hospital. You were mostly healed. I told you we had been in a car accident. When the nurses couldn't find any record on you they called social service.”

  “Madeline?”

  “She was the priestess that I went to.”

  “Could she help us now?'”

  “Maybe. I haven't seen her since that day. We were living in Lassen at the time. She had a small bookstore but said she was moving soon, to be with her husband. He had a new job.”

  “Do you know where he was living?”

  “He was here at the time. Employed at a hotel, I believe. She mentioned him working his way to the top.”

  Gideon rubbed his chin. “It's been twelve years so he'd be in a management position by now. If you don't know his name it'll take time to find a hotel executive with a wife name Madeline.”

  Donovan’s phone pinged. He looked at Beth. “Times up. The man I have covering for me has just given me my two-minute warning.”

  Emily put her hands, on Beth's shoulders. “I want you to go.”

  “I need to protect you,” she said.

  Gabe slip
ped his arm around Emily. “We’ll be eternally in your debt for protecting her but I need you to trust us. Shifters are not part of the pact between the Haitians and the vampires. We will remove the threat to Emily and restore our bond.”

  Beth stepped back. “What bond?”

  Emily ran her hand over Gabe’s arm. “After I realized the things I did our telepathic bond was gone.”

  Beth ran her hand gently over Emily's face. “I don't feel anything. Are you sure he did something to you? The memories are from the original spell breaking down. They wouldn't cause this kind of backlash,” Beth's head snapped up. “Gabe, may I touch you?”

  "You don't have to ask to hug your furry brother,” Beth smiled, shaking her head as she ran a hand gently down Gabe's face.

  Her eyebrows pinched. “There’s something but it's weak. Like a connection to something more,” she looked at Gideon. “May I?”

  Emily held her breath. Gideon didn't like anyone touching him except Emily. He barely tolerated his brother’s occasional bouts of affection.

  “Yes, sistra,” he said, his tone serious.

  Beth smile was tiny as she ran soft fingers down his face. Her face changed instantly to horror. “Oh no.”

  “What is it?” Emily asked.

  “He placed a spell on Gideon. Gabe is showing remnants since their connection is so strong.”

  Emily sucked in a quick breath. “What kind of spell?”

  Red tears ran openly down her face. “A death curse.”

  Chapter 2

  Gideon felt the loss of Emily's connection. He knew Gabe did as well, their mental feelers continued to reach out, grasping at nothing. He struggled to maintain a calm exterior, his fury building. He’d never realized the stability she created. Now that it was gone his wolf was anxious and irritable. He had to find a way to get it back. He kept touching Emily. The action probably seemed random to her but the brief caresses reassured him she was still his.

  He wanted to lash out. To fight the bloodsuckers around him, knowing he needed to focus his anger on the one who deserved it. He knew if he made any aggressive moves toward Beth his mate would never forgive him and she would be right. Though his soul told him Beth had sacrificed everything for Emily, he fought to control his emotions. Was his past catching up with him or was this the curse? Emily clutched his arm, forcing him to look down at her.

  “We’ll stop it!” she said, desperation in her tone.

  He brushed a hand over her silky red hair. God, he loved her. Losing her would be worse than any torture he could imagine. “We’ll figure this out.” He looked at Donovan. “Why is there a truce between you and the Haitians?”

  “A powerful Bokor can control the dead. You can see how that puts vampires in a precarious position.” Donovan said.

  Gideon's eyes narrowed. “He could control you?”

  “It's possible, although our history says that the older the vampire, the less likely. He could easily control a fledgling.”

  “Like Beth,” Gideon said.

  “Normally I would say yes but her own power may protect her. It will take time before we see how Beth... develops.”

  Gideon ran his hand down Emily's back. “I'm surprised you didn't eradicate the threat on you.”

  Donovan's jaw ticked. “It was before my time but it was tried once. A Bokor took control of a fledgling. The young vampire killed his sire before the Bokor was found. After that, all Haitians considered a threat were murdered. Twenty years later the next generation of Bokors’ came into their power and were against us. There was a war. When they used one of us to kill our brethren we killed them, and if we couldn't get to them, their families. It was barbaric. Soon both sides realized there was no way to win. The power resurface in children if we killed off the adults and they killed too many vampires, we turned more. That's when the accord was struck and the current rules enforced. They don't use their power on us and we don't touch them.”

  Emily's hand fell away from Gideon's arm. He felt the loss of her skin on his, forcing his wolf to growl in his head. He struggled to keep himself outwardly calm.

  Emily’s head tilted to the side as she looked at Donovan. “You really wouldn't have saved her if you had known about her heritage?”

  Donovan didn't flinch. “No. Never.”

  Emily gave Donovan a dirty look. “I guess it's a good thing she gave up her power isn't it.”

  Donovan's head moved back, his displeasure evident. “If the council finds out about her. She and I are dead.”

  Emily's anger faded. She turned to Beth. “You can hide it right?”

  Beth held her gaze for a long time, escalating Emily's fear. “You know I will try but it's coming back so quickly. I thought this part of my life was over.”

  She grabbed Beth’s arm. “You have to.”

  Donovan cleared his throat. “We need to get Beth to a more remote location. I will be allowed to leave the mansion with her soon, providing none of the council members find out about this little excursion.” He grabbed his phone from his pocket when it rang. “Shit! Beth, we have to go.”

  Emily hugged Beth quickly. “Go. We will figure this out.” She felt a soft rush of wind as both vampires instantaneously disappeared. Gabe rubbed his neck. “I never get used to that.”

  Emily turned to her men. “What are we going to do first?”

  Gideon’s eyes were hard. “We find the priestess.”

  “I think they are called mambo's,” Gabe said.

  Gideon gave his brother a disgusted look. “I don't care what she is called. We find her and make her break the curse.”

  “If she can,” Gabe said.

  “Then we get her to locate Gregory so we can kill him ourselves,” Gideon ran a hand through his hair. “In the meantime, I will speed up negotiations on the property I’m attempting to acquire. Beth isn't the only one who needs a more remote location.”

  Emily was surprised. “You don't like the penthouse?”

  Gideon shook his head. “We have to drive to go running. The reason we moved here no longer exists.”

  Emily rubbed Gideon's arm. She felt the tight muscles relax. “Julius is gone but the people here are very nice.”

  “They are nice because we pay them,” Gideon snapped.

  Emily sucked in a calming breath as Gabe held up his hands.

  “Say what you will bro, but I for one will miss George the doorman.”

  Gideon huffed. “Only because he would slip up here and feed you. He still thinks I have a pet and asks if you are okay.”

  Emily laughed. “He didn't.”

  Gabe leaned in close, whispering in her ear. “He shared his wife’s cooking. He even had Kobe beef. What wolf could resist that? Besides, Gideon never kept real food in the apartment before you got here.”

  Emily cleared her throat as Gideon shot his twin a disgusted look.

  Gabe returned the look with mock surprise.

  The brevity was a welcome break from the fear creeping through Emily’s heart. She reached out to run her hands over Gideon's abdomen, needing the contact. The reassurance.

  She felt Gideon's reaction immediately. “Take off your robe, Emily.”

  Emily sighed. “We have more pressing matters to deal with.”

  Gideon grabbed the belt of her robe, pulling her to him forcibly. “Your wolf can't feel our bond. She seeks reassurance. There is never anything more pressing than taking care of your needs. Now take off that robe before I rip it off.”

  She felt Gabe's body pressed up behind her. His hands slipped around her to untie her kimono, slipping it from her shoulders.

  Gideon's hands cupped Emily’s full breasts. His thumbs circling her erect nipples. Her mind said she should stop them. Her body, however, had already surrendered. She watched him massage her supple flesh, feeling every movement as his grip became more urgent. She felt Gabe’s arms wrap around her hair, pulling her head back. Gideon's mouth descended on hers.

  When she didn't open her mouth Gideon nipped
her lip, forcing his tongue inside. She loved it when the twins were gentle with her. Her wolf craved moments like this.

  Gabe's teeth nibbled her earlobe before whispering. “I am going to use the sash from your robe to blindfold you. Then you’re going to ride my cock while sucking Gideon’s.”

  Her pussy tightened, yearning for the feeling his words described. “Hurry. I need it now.”

  “Our mate is impatient,” Gabe said, more to her than his brother.

  “Perhaps we should teach her a lesson,” Gideon rumbled.

  Gabe grabbed the sash from the floor and tied it around Emily’s head. He grabbed her hand and lay down on the throw rug, pulling her on top of him. With her knees on either side, she was poised above his hard erection. He held her there, sliding his cock between the sensitive lips between her legs. As she was about to seat herself, Gideon grabbed her hips, locking her in place. She had expected him to move in front of her but now realized he was positioned behind her.

  Gideon's cock slipped between her ass cheeks sliding between the globes, increasing the mounting pressure, refusing to quench it. Gabriel massaged her breasts. She felt the rush of fluid.

  “Hmm. I love it when your juices coat my cock. Love it, even more, when you are begging us to fuck you so hard you can't move,” Gabe's hand circled her neck, pulling her lips closer to his. “Tell us what you want.”

  She squirmed at the dual sensations that brought torment and no relief. “Please.”

  “Please what?” Gideon pressed.

  “Fuck me!” she snapped.

  Gideon slammed into her ass, impaling her on Gabriel in one motion.

  Gabe pushed her back, meeting his twin’s next forceful thrust. Her mouth opened in ecstasy only to have Gabe put two of his fingers inside. “Suck on them Emily, like you do when my cock is in your mouth. Her tongue curled around his fingers before sucking on them deeply.

  She was just getting used to the crowded feeling when Gideon grabbed the sash, pulling her head up out of Gabriel’s grasp. She was used to her men being dominant, even a little rough, but there was a desperation in their lovemaking that had never been there before.