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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ENDER
The house we end up at is out in the middle of nowhere. It’s about a twenty-minute drive out of the city, but it’s nice and quite large with a tall fence around it that I have to assume is monitored to know if someone climbs over it.
Just as we’re pulling in, another car drives in behind us. I see Rylee plastered against the window like a dog thrilled to go to the park.
“She sure adores you,” Mads says.
“She does,” I agree as we get out.
“Ennnnnnnder!” Rylee yells as she runs at me like we’ve been apart months instead of a few hours. But before she reaches me, Mads nabs her.
“Is he really even that good? I mean… look at his evil face. Oh! I know how to fix it!” Mads says as he scoops her up and flips her upside down. “Now it looks like he’s smiling, eh?”
Rylee giggles. “Ooh! He is smiling from this angle!”
“This is how I used to get money out of people,” Mads says as he gives her a shake. “See if anything falls out.”
“I don’t have any money! En said that I’m ‘not skilled with money.’”
“You spent the last money I gave you for ‘emergencies’ on the ugliest stuffed dog,” I say as I walk up and poke her in the belly button.
“It was an emergency! He was so cute!” She thrashes and giggles before holding her hands out to me. “EN! EN! Save me!”
I grab her arms and look up at Mads, who has her feet. “I bet we could toss her right into that pond over there.”
“You ever seen Matilda?” Mads asks.
“NO! I can’t fly!” she protests. “FINN! Finn, save me! The evil vampires have me.”
“Yeah but… if they toss you into the pond, I could have your cat and he’s just so cute,” Finn says with an “I’m sorry” look.
“No! Not Señor Fluffybottom!”
“I’ll rename him too!”
“Don’t you dare. He loves his name! I asked if he liked his name and he was all purr purr purr, so obviously, he likes it.”
“Hopefully, we don’t both let go at the same time,” Mads says.
“You wouldn’t! En, why are all your friends evil?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“You’re the only one who isn’t evil!”
“Thank you,” I say, although I’m pretty sure she’s the only one who’d declare that.
“Ha! Is that right?” Mads asks as he drops her legs, and since I still have her hands, he rushes forward and tickles her. She laughs and squirms and jumps, but she can’t get away.
“Let’s go get settled. I’m so tired I could probably sleep for a year,” I say.
“I was so good while you were gone. You should give me a gold star and definitely read like three books to me before bed. Like full million-page books. I was super mature and did mature things. You’d have been so proud of me.”
“Oh yeah? Is that true? Was she ‘super mature’?” I ask, which makes Rylee look a bit nervous.
“Well… I’d say I’m pretty mature, and I’ve been known to wallow on the ground and cry a time or two,” Orin says.
“Orin, no! Shush! If you don’t shush, you can’t ever pet Señor Fluffybottom ever again!”
“Oh no… that’d be awful.”
“Sure would be,” she says, proud of her threat as I let her go. She checks that Orin is carrying her cat properly before leaping up into my arms.
“Why do you always want to be carried? You’re seven now. Are you a baby?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you declared that you were mature like thirty seconds ago.”
“Nah. Being mature is for losers.”
Then she latches on to me, and because I’m easily swayed, I carry her into the house. Fucking hell, I love this child.
I squeeze her tightly as the idea of Abel touching her sweeps through my mind. I will kill him. I will kill anyone who ever thinks about touching her.
Mads reaches out and I assume he’s reaching for her, but instead, he ruffles my hair. “We’ll keep her safe.”
I nod, feeling immense relief as I realize that I don’t have to do it alone.
“Might need a whole lot more Soup, but we’ll keep her safe.”
I can’t help but smile.
Rylee gasps. “ENDER MADE A FRIEND.”
“Rylee, you’re not as funny as you think you are.”
“I’m hilarious. Orin, tell Ender how hilarious I am. I’m like… so hilarious.”
“You’re the most hilarious person I’ve ever met,” Finn assures her.
“Thank you.”
She’s beaming, quite proud of herself as I carry her into the house. “Can I pick out my bedroom?”
“Sure,” Orin says. “Go pick your bedroom out.”
I set her down and she rushes off, surveying every bedroom as she goes. It doesn’t take her long before she returns. “I want this one,” she proclaims as she points to the gigantic master bedroom with a king-sized bed, attached bathroom, and walk-in closet.
I shake my head. “You don’t need the biggest bedroom. Let’s give that to Orin since it’s his house.”
“Boo.”
“Oh, it’s fine. You can have the biggest bedroom,” Orin says.
She’s delighted and drags me into the room before leaping and diving right onto the bed, looking like a starfish. “It’s so big. I want a bed this big, En.”
“Looks like you get one tonight because someone is spoiling you,” I tell her.
“I would never,” Orin says as he sets the cat down. “You got pretty lucky with this cat, you know that? Most cats would be terrified being hauled around, facing vampires, and being mauled, hugged, and sobbed on for hours.”
Rylee frowns. “Why were you sobbing on him, Orin? That’s not very mature.”
“Ah, right. That was me. I forgot,” he says. “Ender, take the room next door.”
“Thanks. Rylee, I’m going to get a shower.”
“Take a shower in my bathroom. Please? Please? Please? And then you’ll just stay forever in my room.”
“I’ll take a shower in there but I’m not sleeping in here. I want to actually sleep and not get repeatedly kicked all night long.”
“Don’t leave.”
“I’m not. It’s a simple shower.”
“Promise?”
“I promise,” I say.
Once I’ve fetched clothes that Orin has acquired for us, I head into the bathroom and shower. It feels amazing, so amazing that I’m not quite sure I have the energy to get out. I could probably stay here for the night if it meant I didn’t have to move. But before long, there are little hands pounding against the door.
“En! En, you’ve been in there for at least a year,” Rylee says. “Orin already got a litter box set up and food and toys for Fluffybottom. And Mads already took a shower and is back and read to me. ENDDEEERRR.”
“I’m coming,” I call out and shut the water off. I dress and walk back into her room where she’s all smiles when she sees me. Why she even needed me when it looks like Mads was in here entertaining her, I don’t know.
“It’s past your bedtime,” I say.
“Only because you took the longest shower of your life.”
“I know,” I respond as I drag Rylee to her bed. I tuck her in and climb in next to her before looking at Mads. “You headed to bed?”
“Yeah. Finn was letting me borrow his phone to read her a book. You want it?”
“Thanks,” I say as I take it from him.
“Good night, little one. Good night, Ender.”
“Night.”
I watch him go, and even after the door shuts behind him, I stare at the spot he’d been standing for far too long.
Rylee pokes me. “Are you going to read or stare at the door?”
“Probably just stare at the door.”
“It’s not that interesting.”
I look down at the book that’s open on Finn’s phone and start to read. She quiets down immediately, telling me that she really is tired. I can’t blame her; it sounds like she didn’t get the best sleep while I was gone if she was busy crying over my disappearance. I read longer than I usually do, and when I look up, I realize she’s fallen asleep at some point.
I set the phone down and reach out to pull her covers up, glad the room seems pretty soundproof so the noise of the others in the house won’t wake her, meaning maybe there’s a chance I’ll get a decent night’s sleep.
I don’t know why I took this child. I knew that her mother was taking horrible care of her. I knew Watson was watching her. I knew he wanted her. I knew so much, but I also knew so little about why I did it.
Was it because she reminded me so much of my niece who I couldn’t save?
Or was it because she made me feel like less of a monster?
“Good night,” I say softly. I reach out and trail my finger over the cat who immediately starts purring. He’s snuggled against her, loving every moment of affection he’s been given. Was he loved once before being thrown out into the world and now wants to appreciate every second of it?
Quietly, I push out of bed and slip out of the bedroom, glad she doesn’t wake up. I head back to the kitchen where Marcus is talking to Alexei with two dogs by his side. He must have left to get them and was just coming in since he’s setting the keys to the vehicle on the table.
“Here’s Finn’s phone. Tell him I said thank you,” I say as the large dog comes over to sniff me. I hold my hand out to him and he scrutinizes it while the little one jumps on my legs for attention.
“I will,” Marcus replies.
I hesitate. “And thank you for everything else. I don’t deserve the help you’ve given me. I’m very thankful that Finn has the ability to forgive like he does or I’m aware I wouldn’t have received any of this assistance.”
“He’s a pretty special person… but you did save his life. Even if it was for Rylee’s benefit, you saved him when I couldn’t,” Marcus says. “Finn is very precious to me.”
“Why haven’t you changed him?” I ask, a question that has been floating around in my head.
“The council has denied permission, but now that the council is in shambles, who knows what might happen. Although, we’re afraid of what will happen if we do. Would his new body work against the prostheses? Would the uniqueness of his blood affect his ability to be turned? There are so many what-ifs that make us both nervous.”
“Maybe Mads would have the answers to that. And if you’re afraid of going to prison, I would try to change him, but I don’t… exactly know if he’d turn out like me or like a normal vampire. I’m already going to spend most of my life running, so if we can prove that I can turn him into a normal vampire, I’d readily do it for you. The only reason the VRC isn’t hunting me down right now is because of the fuckup with the council. But after this is over…”
“We’ll see where we are after this is over,” Marcus says.
“Yeah.”
I head down the hallway to my room before hesitating with my hand on the door. I don’t know why my eyes trail down the hallway. I was so tired just minutes ago, but as my eyes betray me, I find that exhaustion leaving my body.
I wander off to the nearby bathroom, pulling drawers open to no avail when I hear Finn walking up to the open door.
“What are you looking for?” he asks with a coy smile as he leans against the doorframe.
“Just… seeing… what’s here.”
“Yeah?” he asks as I see him flick something between his fingers. “Something like this?”
I stare at Finn as his smile widens. He’s clearly having too much fun with this.
“I mean… I might be willing to give it to you… for a price,” he continues.
“And what price is that? Not that I was looking for such a thing.”
“I don’t know yet. I want one favor… and I’ll tell you when I want it.”
Eyeing the packet, I say, “Fine.”
Finn grins as he flicks it over at me. “You’re gonna do what I want and I can’t wait.”
I sigh as I slip it into my pocket, having absolutely no idea what I’ve just agreed to. And also a bit irritated that he knows my plans. I’m not even sure of my plans and he’s over here well aware of them.
As soon as he’s gone, I contemplate going right back to my room, but I can’t make it past Mads’s door. I hesitate a moment before I push it open and shut it behind me. I’d assumed he’d already be asleep, but instead, he’s writing something down at a desk in the corner.
“What have I done to deserve such company?” he asks.
I lean against the door, and seeing I’m not being overly chatty, he gets up and walks over to me.
“Has my company forgotten the fine art of speaking?” His eyes are traveling all over me as he gets closer.
“You speak enough for both of us.”
“I won’t deny that,” Mads says with a grin as he steps up to the door I’m leaning against. He presses me against it then leans in until his mouth is close to my ear.
“You know these rooms are quite soundproof. I could barely hear you enter.”
“What’s that mean?” I ask.
“You very much know what it means. We’re both well aware why you’re standing in my doorway,” he says as he kisses my neck.
“I just came to tell you that we were getting up early tomorrow.”
He freezes. “Seriously?”
“No.”
A laugh escapes him. “You like to toy with me, don’t you?”
“No idea what you’re talking about,” I say as I reach out and tug the edge of his shirt. “I think I need you to explain it to me.”
Mads slides one hand under my ass, lifting me up before he carries me over to the bed and lowers me onto it. “I can happily explain it,” he says, and since my legs are hanging off the edge, he slides between them, pressing himself in close so his cock is against my groin.
“Do you understand a bit better?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you think it’s the clothes prohibiting your understanding?” he asks as he pulls his shirt off and drops it to the ground before reaching for his sweats. He slides them down, taking his underwear with them and giving me a view of his naked body.
Mads chuckles. “I’m acting like you haven’t seen me in the nude before. Like… look at me. Be thrilled by my naked booty that you haven’t already lugged across a forest and had the pleasure of perusing with your eyes.”
“There wasn’t much perusing. There was a bit too much dying for that to happen,” I comment as I let my eyes roam. “You look slightly more alive this time.”
“Ah, what a compliment. It’s enough to make me blush,” he says. As I pull myself up farther onto the bed, he climbs on so he’s leaning over me.
I slip a hand around his neck and draw him down until his lips collide with mine. They part, and his tongue invites me to play as my wandering hands explore his naked body. I love the way he shivers when I trace my fingers softly over him; it’s like he’s attuned to my every action.
As I pull back, and my eyes travel to his throat, I find myself nipping it.
“Now I’m all yours. Enlighten me on what you want to do. I’m easy to please and pleased by any position, or if you just wanted to strip me before drinking from me, I’m not going to complain… okay, I’d complain a little. But I’ll pretend I wouldn’t.”
My hand slides down to his ass cheek, squeezing it as my fingers ache to explore. But right now… I want him to fuck me. I don’t want to be the one in control. I want him to take over—dominate me, fuck me, come inside of me. I just want to lose control. Just for a moment, I want to feel something other than this tension that never seems to leave my body.
“Fuck me,” I murmur as I pull out the lube and tap it against his shoulder. “I want you to fuck me.”
“I would love to,” Mads says as he slips my sweats down my thighs. I lift my hips, allowing him to maneuver them down, his fingers teasingly gliding down my skin. As he lifts my leg up, he kisses my thigh while tugging the pants off my legs and dropping them to the ground. Then he slides up between my knees as his fingers run up my sides, pulling my shirt up and off.
I wrap my legs around him, drawing him closer to me as my hands drift downward. My fingers slide over his thick cock while he opens the lube and squirts some onto his fingers. His lips find mine again as I feel his finger drift down between my ass cheeks, teasingly running over my entrance before pressing against it.
“It’s been an extremely long time since I liked someone enough to let them fuck me,” I say.
“Oh? You like me? Which kind of like?”
“The kind where I’d like your dick in my ass.”
Mads laughs. “So eloquent.”
“Thank you.”
His finger presses in deeper as his kisses travel over my throat. “You can bite me. You don’t have to ask. Whenever you want… I’m not going to lie, I kind of like it.”
“You like it or you think it’s a way to get me to like you?”
“Can it be both?” he asks as he adds a second finger, and the way it rubs just inside of me heightens my pleasure. I love the way he murmurs as my slick hand skims along his dick then slides over the head, thumb circling around it before traveling back down. I smooth more lube down his hard length as another finger joins the first two, opening me up and feeling so good.
But it’s not enough. I want to feel him fill me up. I want his hard cock driving into me. I pull my hand free and urge him forward.
Mads thankfully gets the hint as his fingers withdraw before he presses the head of his cock against my hole.
“I never thought I’d actually get you to like me. It only took multiple near-death experiences and some Soup.”
“Did your ingeniousness turn me on a little? Maybe. Now do something with that dick. My ass is getting cold. And you rubbing the tip against me is making me more impatient.”
“I’m just dragging it out like you’ve dragged out my love for you.”
“We’ve known each other days. If you don’t hurry up, I’m tossing you down and fucking your ass.”
“I wouldn’t complain.”
“I know you wouldn’t.”
He pushes against me, causing me to slowly open up. His hand shifts down my hip, lifting me up a little more as the head of his cock breaches my tight entrance while he slowly guides himself inside of me. A moan escapes my lips as he pushes deeper because it feels so fucking good.
Mads sinks into me, his hand wrapping around my cock. Desire wells up inside me as his thrusts turn from gentle to faster and deeper. When he drives into me until his body is flush against mine, overwhelming pleasure makes my back arch as I moan again.
“Fuck,” I hiss, careful to keep quiet, despite knowing the rooms are soundproofed for vampires to live in.
His hand tightens just right over my cock and it’s like I’ve lost control of myself. He’s taken over my body and my mind. My hand slides down his back, and I feel the way he shivers from the light touch. When I pull him down so he’s closer to me, he comes willingly. And when I kiss his neck, he groans like he’s anticipating the bite.
My fangs nick his skin as he thrusts into me and as he’s drawing back, I sink them into his throat. He moans while the sweet taste of his blood fills my mouth. It’s like euphoria is taking over me as everything becomes more sensitive. The way his cock drives into me, the way he holds me, the way his hand glides over me. Nothing has ever felt this fucking good. It’s as though I can just forget everything but this man moving inside me. I can forget all of the tension, all of the darkness—everything drops away but him. And I want it to stay like that. I don’t want to leave this peace I’ve found.
I hold Mads close, not wanting to let go of him just yet as I slowly pull blood from him, careful not to take too much. I can’t take much more of this pleasure and it’s clear he can’t either.
I break free of his throat, gently sucking on the skin as he heals. My fingers dig into his back as I come, tucking my head against his shoulder as his cock drives into me just right. I moan, overcome by it all. He follows right after, thrusting deep inside of me as he comes. Slowly, he pulls out of me, showering my neck with kisses as he does so.
“You can bite me,” I offer.
“I… don’t think vampire blood tastes overly good, but I can’t lie, I’m tempted,” he says as he nips me, but he doesn’t bite me.
I draw him in for a kiss, not yet prepared to let him go. When I finally pull back, I start to sit up but he pushes me back down.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“To bed.”
“You can sleep here,” Mads says as he wraps his arms and legs around me, like he’s going to hold me prisoner here, and I find it quite hard to fight against.
“You’re just going to pin me here?”
“Yes.”
“At least let me get up so I can clean up.”
“No because then you’ll run. I’ll get something to clean you up,” he says as he rushes to the bathroom connected to his bedroom. He’s back before I manage to get too far.
“Where are you going?” he asks, noticing that I’m sitting up.
“My room.”
“Why?”
I hesitate because now that the lust has worn off, my brain has returned. “Because… I’ve already gone over this.”
It’s no surprise that Mads doesn’t understand. “Abel is after me whether you’re with me or not,” he says as he picks me up. And even though I know I shouldn’t, I let him because there’s something so fucking good about feeling him hold on to me. He slowly lowers me back down on the bed before climbing onto it with me. He leans over me so that my legs spread around him. If I weren’t so fucking tired, I’d draw him in for another round. He reaches out and sinks his fingers into my hair. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“Should I give you everything you want?” I tease. “If I do, you’ll end up spoiled like Rylee.”
He grins. “Maybe.” He sinks down into my arms that I wrap around him, deciding I can spare him just a few minutes, and kisses me gently. “You don’t have to stay. But I very much would like it if you did.”
I let my betraying hand travel up his side. It wouldn’t take much for me to push him off, to roll him onto his back, and I think this time he’d let me go. But still, I keep my hand there for a long moment before using all of the effort left in my body to force myself to roll him off me.
“Fine, I’ll sleep here but only so I don’t have to listen to you cry about it,” I say… which might be a lie, but I’m sure not going to tell him that.
“Good,” he says, quite pleased. “I’m glad it’s for me.” I can hear the teasing note in his voice and try my hardest not to smile. I really don’t need him believing that he’s figured me out.
“Yeah…”
Mads is grinning even wider now as he grabs me and drags me in.
“I never said we were cuddling.”
“We aren’t cuddling. We’re merely pressing our naked bodies against each other.”
“We very much shouldn’t be naked either. I can almost guarantee Rylee will be in here before morning. And I feel like I’ve scarred the child enough without having her come in with the two of us naked.”
“Can I dress you, then?”
“Sure. That seems like a good job for you since it means I don’t have to get up,” I say as he draws off me. Now that he’s gone, I find myself strangely missing his touch.
“I got your undies!” he declares as he comes at me.
“You are not allowed to dress me with that tone.”
“This part goes over the first footsy.”
“My room is starting to sound better and better.”
Mads laughs as he pulls my underwear up before leaning forward to reward himself with a kiss. “Fine, fine. I’m just like… giddy, I’m so happy.”
“It was just sex.”
“Very nice sex. Amazing sex. One time, I had sex in my office at the university I worked at, and it still wasn’t as fun as that sex we just had. It was even with my boss.”
I snort. “I’m glad you were pleased.”
“Very much.”
Once we’re cleaned up and dressed, he slides back under the covers and turns to me. “Fine… we don’t have to cuddle,” he says, deflating before my eyes. “I will just lie here happy that you’ve decided to stay in bed with me.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll be over here on my side of the bed.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“I’m sorry, I could barely hear you from so far away. What was that?”
I push him so he’s facing away from me, and he sighs in defeat until I slide up behind him until my groin is against his ass.
“Oh my⁠—”
I clamp my hand over his mouth. “I chose this position so I could silence you,” I say, but Mads just kisses my hand, obviously not caring.
This is ridiculous. Like what do we even need to do this for? But he’s so damn happy that I can’t roll away. I’m not used to sleeping on my side, so it feels weird, and I have nowhere for my other arm to go, but he’s so thrilled about it that I can’t possibly pull away. I slide my left hand down his chest as I close my eyes, wanting sleep as much as I fear it. His hand slides over mine, cupping it as he remains quiet, likely aware he might scare me away. And in the stillness of the room, he drifts off to sleep almost immediately.
I could pull away now and he probably wouldn’t even notice, but I tuck my head close to his and find myself sinking into sleep.
Of course darkness finds my exhausted body quickly. I feel like I might suffocate as I’m trapped inside of it. There’s no way out of this situation, but the smell of death wafts through the box. Slowly, I open the lid, surprised to find that it’s not locked for once. But whenever he leaves it unlocked, it means he wants me to see what he’s left outside of it. My hand trembles as I push against it, the light from outside blinding me and momentarily making it impossible for me to see. But as I sit up, I notice a body lying just beyond it and realize that the person lying there is Mads.
Tentatively, I get out of the box as I make my way closer to him, terrified to touch him, but I need to know if he’s still alive. Kneeling down, I reach for him and roll him over as his dead eyes stare up at me and I know I’ve killed him. He’s dead because of me.
I jerk back, scrambling for that darkness that I can hide inside, but no matter where I look, his dead eyes are staring back at me.
“Ender, hey, it’s okay. I’m right here,” Mads whispers in the night.
The darkness is shattered as I feel a gentle hand running down my arm.
“You okay?”
I can’t find it in myself to reply, so I just feign sleep. Even so, for a long time, he runs his fingers down my arm, lulling me back into the darkness, but this time that box doesn’t wait for me.