Dark Lies (Magic Side: Wolf Bound 3)

43

Savannah

The stairs led to a dimly lit room decorated with floral tapestries and abstract artwork on the walls. Long-stemmed candles burned from the antique chandelier that hung from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows across the space. It was all very tasteful except for the weapons and chains interspersed among the paintings.

I sucked in a slow breath, hoping it would help calm my nerves.

The soft click of a door opening and closing whispered from an adjoining space.

A blur whipped into the room, and suddenly, Alejandro was there before me, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. His signature of wine and earth tingled across my skin, and his kiss sent a shiver up my arm.

I blinked twice.

Holy shit,he was fast.

“Ms. Caine,” the vampire whispered in a sultry voice, “so nice to meet you. I must confess, I was not aware of your work an hour ago, but it seems I have been terribly ignorant.”

For a second, Alejandro sniffed, and his eyes dilated, but they quickly returned to normal.

“Rivera,” Jaxson said, his expression blazing with barely restrained fury. “We’ve been looking forward to speaking with you.”

The vampire released my hand and regarded Jaxson with disdain. He turned back to me. “Who is he? A model? I should be rather amused to see you paint him in the nude. Your work is filled with so much anger, I imagine you could capture his bestial nature quite well.”

Jaxson started to move, but I braced him in place with my arm, and he clamped his jaws shut.

My mind raced faster than it ever had before.

By now, Alejandro had to know exactly who we were but not why we were here. He was baiting Jaxson deliberately. Clearly, this was a game, and I didn’t know the rules, but I did know that if Jaxson wolfed out, we wouldn’t get what we wanted.

I didn’t have a presence like Jaxson, but I tried to push calming energy to him and lightly traced my fingers over his skin. “This is my muse, Jaxson Laurent, the Dockside alpha. He’s inspired the most incredible transformation in my work.”

Recognition dawned on the vampire’s face as he poured three glasses of amber liquor. “Laurent,” he purred. “From France?”

Jaxson freed his arm from mine. “Originally, yes.”

“Fascinating.” In a blur, he moved to a crystal decanter set on a mahogany cabinet along the back wall.

Alejandro returned and handed Jaxson and me each a glass, his fingers brushing mine. In another blur of movement, he disappeared and reappeared holding his raised glass. “Cheers to meeting new friends.”

I sniffed my glass, noting the sweet, spicy aroma of the tequila. Not wanting to offend our host, I glanced at Jaxson and took a sip.

Alejandro gestured to the painting tucked under Jaxson’s other arm. “May I?”

Jaxson handed it over, and Alejandro raised the canvas to the light. “So much darkness. So much hatred. So much power. Two men, twisted in pain. One mortal and dying, the other dead and seeking new life.”

Alejandro strolled over to the coffee table arranged between a set of antique couches and high-back chairs and placed the painting against the wall. “I love it. And it’s strange, but I almost recognize this man. I feel like I know him.”

“You do,” I replied. “Victor Dragan.”

The vampire’s eyes dilated. “Indeed, I did. And what inspired this choice of subject?”

The terrible memories of that vile cave assaulted my mind. My hands began trembling, and I had to set my glass down. Fuck, I needed therapy.

Jaxson’s hand slipped to my back, his touch sending warmth and calm through me.

Alejandro watched me intently as I swallowed. “Because I was there. I shoved the knife into the first man and cut Dragan’s soul out of him.”

The vampire gave me a ruthless smile. “I admire your dedication to your art. And tell me, what inspired you to paint this piece in the midst of my fucking auction?”

Instantly, the temperature of the room dropped.

Trepidation fluttered in my stomach, but I pushed on. “You have his finger, and we want to borrow it.”

Alejandro tilted his head back and laughed deeply. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled. “Even if I did have such a thing, what makes you think I would give it to you?”

“We’ll make it worth your time,” Jaxson snarled.