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ChapterTwelve
Angelina
The bond was so potent between us now, and getting more powerful every day. It was incredibly difficult to be apart from them for long, even if their constant telepathic link drove me nuts at times. We’d yet to complete the mating ritual. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted this to happen, but I was still freaked out by how it had to take place. After reading about it, I was scared.
Our discussion from the day before helped to alleviate my anxiety a little. To think of us making love together did turn me on. It was still the twenty-four hours afterward which I was more concerned about. Sure, I realised how strong our connection was. Even then, I could sense the power of our emotions.
They would never hurt me and had been patient with me, never pushing me to complete our ritual. And yet, I could feel their need to achieve this as soon as possible. We shared our telepathic link with growing frequency. But sometimes when they were communicating with one another, they forgot, resulting in their focus slipping, and I was privy to their discussions. Until I allowed them to mate with me, we were all in danger from Viktor and other demons who were converging on our territory.
With Cassie and Jake almost ready to move out of my old apartment, I was pleased I’d decided to make my permanent move with the boys. Soon, I’d be ready to fully commit to the two men who meant absolutely everything to me. I was excited about our future together and ready to take on the role of ousting demons from our territory. Viktor would be my priority. He would suffer for destroying all my work.
I smiled at the painting I’d wrapped in gift paper. I couldn’t wait to show Cassie the housewarming gift I’d got for her and Jake. They both had a love of art, like me, and I’d painted the beach where they’d first met. The photograph of the location had hung in our hallway since we’d first moved in, so it had been easy for me to copy it. The frame was pale blue, to match the décor of their main living area.
Sure, I could have waited and given it to them as a wedding present, but they both had a special place in my heart, and I wanted them to have this now. Because their apartment had become vacant earlier than they’d initially been advised, they’d be moving in over the next week, and it was fitting they had it in their home from the start. Luca and Salvatore told me to wait until Cassie and Jake came over for dinner again. I said no because this was something I wanted to share with the couple on my own.
Luca and Salvatore had followed me in the air to the picture framers. I was actually quite relieved I couldn’t see them. My imagination about their bare chests didn’t require more fantasies driving me insane. Sex was becoming more intense with each touch and every kiss. Plus, my panties were wet. Constantly. I guessed this would always be the way until we fully mated. They were so sweet and patient with me, but I could see in their expressions and from the bulges in their trousers that it was causing them pain. I had an idea that this permanent ritual was going to be incredibly intense.
“Dirty girl, we can hear your wicked thoughts. We will require payment from you later for making us so hard.”
I giggled at Luca’s words. “I promise we will have a great time in bed.”
Cassie had called me the other day to say invites were being done, and that Luca and Salvatore would be my plus twos at the wedding. I was certain there’d be some curious glances at us, but I no longer cared what others thought of our relationship. I really needed to let her know that Gino was in fact Salvatore before she had them made up.
“Please do. I can’t stand her calling me Gino much longer.”
I laughed at Salvatore’s declaration, and Luca joined in. “Man up. Stop being such a big baby. I’ll tell her when I give her the painting.”
After parking up outside, I grabbed the picture off the back seat of my car and headed up the steps. The hairs on the back of my neck pricked up. Not the usual sensation I got from knowing Luca and Salvatore were present, either. This was almost hostile in its essence. I glanced upwards to the roof of the building. Usually, they would wave to me. Not this time, though. I began to panic. What if they were hurt? Had Viktor come back to wreak havoc? Cassie, oh God… I rushed up the steps, my anxiety covering me.
“Wait, bella. Don’t come up. Please, stay where you are,” Salvatore cautioned, but I couldn’t wait. I needed to get in there fast.
* * *
Salvatore
Luca and I reached the roof of Angelina’s building minutes before she parked her car. Something didn’t feel right. A sense of dread and death filled the air. Demons.
“We need to get to her apartment now. I don’t like the atmosphere.” I growled the words out.
We entered the building from a door which had access to the roof. As soon as we stood outside her apartment, we could smell it. Death. Carnage. Blood. Viktor had definitely been there. His signature scent hung heavy in the air. We opened the door with caution, shutting it quickly behind us. For centuries we’d fought demons and witnessed their bloody handiwork. But nothing, nothing, prepared us for the sight in the lounge and Cassie’s bedroom.
What was left of Cassie’s fiancé was spread across the floor of the lounge. There was blood spatter coating the entire room and ceiling. Pieces of flesh and bone littered the floor. Luca gagged, and I placed my hand over my nose and mouth. The smell was overpowering. We’d lived through plague, famine, and wars. This though, was horrific. I knew what we were about to discover in the bedroom would be much worse… and it was. Cassie’s body was tied to the bed in a spread-eagled position.
The smell of sex hung in the air. The fucking bastard had raped her. Savagely. That wasn’t the worst of it, though. He’d skinned her… alive. Cassie’s bed was saturated with her blood. We could sense the residue of victims’ deaths, their last minutes on this Earth. The sound of Cassie’s and Jake’s pleas and screams reverberated in the air around us.
“I’ll call Dad immediately. He’ll have to send a team to eradicate this carnage. We can’t allow Angelina to see this. We must keep our thoughts closed off from her.”
The horror in Luca’s voice was unmistakable. Our parents would make it appear to be a home invasion gone wrong. Unfortunately, this had to be done with more frequency in recent years. Using the angel powers given to Hybrids, we could recreate the images of the bodies to look as though they were still in one piece.
I’d warned Angelina not to go in, but I could sense her presence. She was already in the apartment. Fuck. In our horror of this discovery, we’d forgotten to keep her away. A loud wail came from her.
“Cassie. Jake… Oh, God! What… what’s happened here?” She began running for Cassie’s room.
“Luca, get to her and put her to sleep. She can’t be allowed to see this.”
Too late, my brother headed for the hall. Angelina pushed the door wide. Her eyes bulged in her head when she took in the sight of Cassie’s prone form on the bed. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. Luca grabbed her to him and put her to sleep.
“Jesus Christ. How will she get over this, Sal?”
I knew we could wipe her mind temporarily. The mind wipe would wear off as soon as we completed the mating ceremony. No, neither of us would be able to live with the guilt of lying to our mate.
“We’ll work it out. Mum will have some ideas. For now, take her home and get Diane to make her comfortable in our bed. Grab some more of her clothes and things. The clean-up guys can fetch the rest. Stay by her side until I get home.”
Luca nodded once, took Angelina in his arms, and moved to her bedroom. I’d been so caught up with the scenes of utter violence that I hadn’t seen the writing, in blood, on the bedroom wall. A parting shot from Viktor…
“I’m coming for you next, Angelina.”
That fucker was going to pay for this. I thanked God for small mercies that she hadn’t seen his caustic message. Using the telepathic path to my father, I apprised him of the situation.
“I’ll be over with Karl and Antoine within the half hour. I’ll send your mother direct to your home. She’ll need to be there when your mate wakes up.” Then he ended the call.
Our father had never been one to use more words than necessary in a conversation. Karl and Antoine had been our friends for many centuries; they were good choices to deal with this quickly and with minimum fuss. While I waited for their arrival, I headed for the relative peace of Angelina’s bedroom. At least in there I could inhale her sweet scent instead of the metallic stench of blood and Viktor’s sulphuric essence.
* * *
