Unholy

t e n

iris e l e a n o r french

I stayed entirely too still as their hands roamed my body, over my sides, through my hair. They were surrounding me, suffocating my senses and sending my heart into overdrive.

"Where are they?" I choked out, my fuzzy brain trying to focus on the friends who had followed me out of the training camp who had now disappeared.

"Who, little one?" Elias' rich, mahogany voice spoke.

I didn't look at him, refusing to give either of the Vampire men my attention. "You know who I'm talking about," I spoke with a little more conviction, my fists clenching. "Where are Georgia and Brennan?"

"Safe. For now," Wilder mused, his voice dripping with amusement. "Why so concerned, Strawberry? Do you like them?"

My blood ran cold at the assumption that Georgia and Brennan wouldn't remain safe. They followed me because they cared about me, it was my fault if anything happened to them. My teeth ground together thinking about that, and my head whipped to the side to stare at Wilder.

And I saw him. He was really here, standing at my side after weeks of watching me in the shadows, weeks of knowing all I begrudgingly wanted was for him and Elias to show themselves.

"If they're harmed, I will make good on the promises I threatened."

I felt a hand tighten on my side, as well as one in my hair. My head was wrenched painfully to the other side, and Elias' beautiful, angry face came into vision.

"Keep threatening us, little one. Keep attempting to tell us you'll get away from us permanently, and I'll make sure you're monitored twenty-four seven in a dark room. You're ours, Iris. You will never escape us," Elias whispered darkly, his steel gray eyes hardening. "Your pathetic little friends will remain safe. Wilder and I aren't in the business of harming innocent humans, especially those who took such good care of our girl in our absence."

His nose traced my jawline, as if he couldn't stop touching me.

"Your absence? I felt you every fucking second of everyday. You were cowards who couldn't face me. You might be able to kill me in many different ways in very quick time, but you can't lie to me. I'm not stupid," my voice was unwavering, and I was proud it didn't tremble despite how close both men were to me.

With a jerk of my neck, which would absolutely be sore later, I faced Wilder again. His eyes were dark, cold looking, and it shocked me. What shocked me more was the feeling of his lips on mine before everything went dark.

/ / /

I sat up abruptly, opening my eyes to find my surroundings blurry. I blinked a few times to rid the blurred vision, eventually giving up and rubbing my eyes. My head was sore, as was my neck, as the memories flooded my head.

Wilder. Elias. Georgia. Brennan.

I opened my eyes again, and almost laughed at the grandeur of the room. It was large, with an open floor plan, bay windows, decorated in black with gold accents. Oh, and of course, a giant fucking stained glass piece.

Of course.

It was beautiful, and I was unbelievably perturbed that I only got to see this gorgeous space due to being human-napped by two annoying, beautiful Vampires. Why wouldn't they live in a castle? The son of the Vampire President, and his probably lifelong cohort wouldn't live in a regular apartment, that's just not practical for the villains in my story.