Revealing the Monster (Playing with Monsters #4) by Amelia Hutchins

“Penny for your thoughts?” I asked, smiling when his silver gaze slid toward me.

“I don’t suppose this is a permitted field trip?” he returned, shifting his gaze between Erie and me. When neither of us said anything, he exhaled, shaking his head before sliding the bottle closer to us. “So what brings you beauties in tonight?” Vlad crossed his arms, giving us his full attention.

“Lena has Lucian problems, and I killed my guy, again,” Erie popped off as if she was explaining the weather.

Vlad’s brow lifted, and his gaze slid between us slowly. “Elaborate on both issues,” he snorted, gazing toward the back of the room where the last stragglers were moving to the lower level, which was a sanctuary for creatures. “Something is buzzing.”

I grimaced, shaking my head before groaning. Before I could explain, Erie chuckled, patting my shoulder.

“That would be Lena’s pussycat,” she beamed like it was something cool. “Lucian stuck a vibrating tracker into her vagina and hasn’t let her come in days. He’s more archaic than I believed him to be,” she blurted.

My cheeks heated as silver eyes locked with mine. “Days? That’s sadistic and just mean-spirited. Did you piss him off, or is he priming it for fireworks?” Vlad asked, scrunching his brow in question.

“It’s punishment for trying to leave him.” I briefly explained why I was upset with Lucian, and Vlad stared at me with a blank expression. “It’s Lucian, Vlad. If anyone could have stopped my family and coven from dying, it would have been him. They were everything to me.”

Vlad exhaled before unfolding his arms, placing his palms on the bar to give me a pitying look. He was speechless, which said a lot. He’d never been at a loss for words before. After a moment, he grabbed the towel and began wiping down the counter in front of us.

“Is something wrong, Vlad?” I asked, worried.

“You died, Lena. You slit your fucking throat in front of us. All of us. If Lucian did something to bring you back, I don’t blame him. If he sacrificed your family and your coven to make that happen, then he did so with their permission. They were mortal, and mortals die. That’s just how the fucking world works,” he growled, causing my stomach to tighten with unease.

“Just because mortals die, it doesn’t mean immortals get to choose when or how they die, Vlad. They deserve to live, too.” I swallowed the tears that threatened to escape. “To witches, their line is everything. My line ended with me, and those who lived shouldn’t have had to die for me. Nyx and Hades intervened for Lucian, but I don’t blame him either. I just want to know why he chose what he did. I just need to understand why they died. They’re my family.”

“You’re right, Magdalena. I know they were. It’s just been a fucked up night here. The guild was attacked, and there’s been no response from within it. I sent word to Synthia. But they’re dealing with shit unfolding in Faery right now. It seems that some of the fae have transformed, while others have gone missing altogether.”

“Alden was instructed to go into the catacombs, which were turned into a safe room. Lucian placed men outside of the guild, and I’ve not heard that it was attacked.” I drank from my cup while considering that Lucian probably wouldn’t have told me the news.

“From the outside, it looks like a bomb went off,” he admitted. “From what I could see of the inside, it appears untouched. I tried to gain access, but wards alerted me moments before doors began sealing around us. I have people stuck inside, unable to get out.”

“Vampires who cannot get to sustenance,” I finished for him.

His dark head nodded before he looked between Erie and me, where a dark-haired woman stood, glaring at him. They stared silently at one another until she spoke.

“I want to know why you did it,” she whispered while her vibrant green eyes held his.

She was ethereal, with oak-colored skin and midnight hair that wafted to her lush hips in gentle waves. Dainty fangs were visible behind ruby-red lips that tugged into a frown. Her camisole top snuggly held her ample breasts in place, revealing a hint of a lace bra beneath it. Leather pants hugged her thighs, hidden under the impressive mid-calf leather boots with three-inch heels. She wasn’t tall, yet her presence seemed to hold Vlad’s undivided attention.

“You have mistaken me for someone else, darling,” he said softly, his gaze slowly lowering to her mouth.

“No, I didn’t and you know that. I can feel you. You made me, and I want to know why you did it. Who the hell were you to fight Death and steal me from him?” she hissed.

“I didn’t. I have never even seen you before tonight. You can stay, but if you do, I suggest you get below before the doors lock for the night. We’re closing early.”

“I’m leaving, but you will answer for what you did. I want to know why you turned me and left the others to their fate. It sucks, doesn’t it? When the past comes back for you, and they’re not grateful for what you did?” She stepped back, smiling coldly, before tilting her head. “Careful, ladies. This one bites, and his bite is to die for, isn’t it, Vladimir?” she hissed with tears in her eyes. They fell, leaving a red trail in their wake before she turned, exiting the club without the other women.

“What was that about?” Erie drummed her fingertips on the bar with her gaze still on the door through which the woman had exited.