Locked

K.L. Steele
Copyright Locked © 2023 by K.L. Steele

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical
means, including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from
the author except for the use of brief quotations for the purpose of a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of
the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living
or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Edited by: ProofsbyPolly

Cover design by: © Dez Purington @ Pretty in Ink Creations

Artwork by: Priska (@Priska_art)

Proof Edit by: SpooksProofs

This one is for everyone who pushed me to follow my dream rather
than hide from it, and to those who supported me every step of the
way. I made it here because of you.
 Content Warning

If you know me personally, now is your chance to put the book

down. Please and thank you.
Locked is on the darker side of romance, with a number of
scenes/situations that may be uncomfortable for some readers. It is
a plot-light introduction to the Blackstone Gates world, with a hefty
dose of blood and hand necklaces. The characters in this book are
all over the age of 18 years. Please be aware that this novella
contains:
Blood play
Knife play
Self-harm
Somnophilia
Dubcon/noncon
Explicit sex scenes
Biting
Marking
Shared releases
Multiple partners/group scene
Breath play/choking
Sexual acts in monster form
 Prologue

LUKA

T he adrenaline of the chase courses through my veins as I

watch Bale hunt the hellhound below me on foot. Both of us
are born hunters, and if it wasn't for the fact that we were here on a
mission from our father, we would likely enjoy ripping these assholes
to shreds a little more. The low-lying mist that surrounds Blackstone
Academy, paired with the dark pink hue of the dusk sky, makes it
slightly more difficult to see the pair, even with my heightened
senses.
I track them from just above the trees, watching closely as Bale
swipes his hand out, missing the beast by a whisper. He weaves his
way through the dense woods, the obsidian-black hound just out of
his grasp. His kind are extremely agile, with reflexes well beyond
most other supernatural beings.
This is the fourth hellhound hunt we’ve had in the last six months,
and both of us are getting fucking tired of it. Students that enter the
woods surrounding the academy are torn to pieces and left behind
as unrecognizable corpses for us to clean up.
 I had tried to beg our father to let me in on the meetings with the
families. The raw emotion in the room would have been heaven to
siphon, but Headmaster Pierce is the only one allowed to dole out
the bad news. It's bullshit if you ask me, but what do I know?
Coursing through the mist, I pull my black wings tight against my
back and drop down in front of the beast, halting him in his tracks.
My body jolts on impact as I land, tensing immediately when faced
with the sheer size of the hound. I suck in a deep breath, preparing
for the carnage that is sure to happen. A single look at my twin and
his manic smile behind the hound tells me all I need to know about
how this is going to go.
While I’m confident that we can take him down easily, hellhounds
are unpredictable and irrational. My hands fly up, palms facing the
beast, in an attempt to show we are not here to attack straight off
the bat. As much as Bale would love that, we need information from
him first.
Where I am fairly rational, well as much as a demon can be
anyway, Bale thrives in the chaos. His bloodlust overtakes any
rational thought half of the time.
He approaches the beast from the tree line, his menacing, amber
eyes looking over him in detail and taking in anything that we can
report back to identify the asshole.
Smoke pours from the hound’s black coat as he looks around,
assessing his escape plan. He’s covered in scars, the thick slashes
marring his face while his coat has lightened, white patches. Most of
them look older, the hair having grown back a lighter shade in some
areas, but there are a number of marks on his face that look
extremely fresh. This thing is bigger than the last few have been, his
coal-like eyes level with my own.
“Who’s fucking sending you here?” I growl, stepping closer and
watching him snap his teeth toward me in response. We’ve fought
demons much more terrifying than him, so his efforts to strike fear
fall flat. A gravelly howl tears through him as Bale rips his claws
across the hound's heels, forcing him to collapse on the cold, damp
ground before he can retaliate.
The two of us circle him while he tracks us with his glowing,
ember-filled eyes, unable to rise because of his wounds. Someone is
sending these beasts up through the gates for something, and we
need to figure out who it is, fast.
“They have us coming through the gates of hell, and they send
two kids to kill us off? Cute.” He laughs, his breathing steadying as
his fresh wounds start to heal. Hellhounds have healing abilities, so
Bale’s slashes will heal, given that they were a fresh cut with no
supernatural power used. The cuts on the arrogant mutt’s face, on
the other hand, look to have been done by a demon, one with
enough power to stall the healing process.
“Who.” Slice.
“Fucking.” Slice.
“Sent.” Slice.
“YOU?” Bale roars, tearing his long, sharp claws into the beast's
back with every word. He growls in response, gnashing his teeth in
Bale’s direction but missing him completely, frustration marring his
scarred face.
 He starts to shift toward me, his lips pulled into a snarl as he
drags himself off the ground slowly. Bale’s cuts are obviously not
deep enough to slow him down for long.
“You boys don't stand a chance in hell itself to win this. Run back
to daddy where you belong and off this plane before we tear it to
the ground to find her.”
My eyes meet Bale's; a silent nod between us is all we need to
finish off this asshole and send him to purgatory. As twins who have
been hunting together since we could walk, we have this dance
down to a fine art.
Bale locks his claws into the hellhound's shoulder blades and
lengthens his fangs as he pulls its head to the side with his other
hand. Blood covers his face as he sinks his teeth into its neck,
tearing out a piece of smoking flesh and dropping it onto the forest
floor.
“Fuck, these assholes taste like shit,” he laughs before ripping its
head to the other side and piercing his fangs into the hound's throat,
holding him in place for me.
My form comes out to play, towering over the beast while it
thrashes in Bale's grasp. Piercing my tail forward, I slice the razor-
sharp edge across his throat, forcing a gurgling sound from his
mouth. His eyes widen, embers from the burning coal escaping
rapidly into the cool air. Bale rips his teeth away with force, taking a
piece of flesh with him as smoke billows out of the large wound. He
tears into its chest with his clawed hand and removes its warm,
beating heart with a wide grin on his face.
 A sudden feeling rushes over my body, unlike anything I’ve ever
felt before. By the look on Bale's face, having dropped from a
sinister grin to a scowl, he must feel it too. The wind carries a scent,
sweetness and sin all wrapped into one. It has to be her. My chest is
heaving, needing to take a few deep breaths before I do something
stupid like run to her covered in hellhound blood.
“It fucking can't be. Father is full of shit. She doesn't exist,” he
growls out before turning to walk back to the academy.
“Brother, I can scent her. She's here.”
 CHAPTER ONE

WYNN

I t turns out that burning down the entire school after years of
being bullied relentlessly isn't the correct way to handle things.
They were forced to close the doors for months, with the repairs
alone costing them millions. My parents had filtered enough money
into the place to keep me enrolled up until now, despite my behavior
being frowned upon by the board for the last few years.
My personal favorite was the time when I released a plague of
locusts into the cafeteria, screaming at the top of my lungs that they
were flesh-eating bugs. Little did the entire school know that the
innocent little things don’t typically eat humans, but it was worth the
chaos to watch the school scramble. A grin spreads across my face
at the memory, their looks of horror etched into my mind
permanently.
I was the outcast, the last one picked in groups. The one that
students would sneer at and bullies targeted from day one. The
teachers turned a blind eye for years, not wanting to get involved for
fear of potentially getting on the bad side of the founding families.
The same families that brought their children up to frown upon
those who are different.
My parents started paying off the board early on, increasing their
contributions each time something went wrong or I fought back.
Now here I am, on my way to a new school, Blackstone Academy, to
finish off my final year. The place where they send misfits, and kids
that aren’t wanted anywhere else.
This should be fun.
The sleek, black Escalade rolls to a stop outside of a set of tall,
wrought-iron gates as two men exit the building off to the side.
Tactical gear clings to their overly muscular frames, with holsters
carrying what look to be firearms clipped to their belts. The small
building to the side of the gates has security along the side,
indicating that we’ve hit a checkpoint of sorts. My old school
certainly didn’t have anything like this, you could drive right through
their gates uninterrupted.
Walking in line with their determined strides are two abnormally
large, long-coated shepherds, their gaze pinned to our car. I have
never seen dogs like them before, with the height of a Great Dane
but the appearance of a German Shepherd. They move in perfect
sync with their handlers, baring their teeth as they get closer to us.
They’re magnificent. The pair lift their noses to the window,
causing a small area of fog to appear, their sharp canines on full
display. It takes all I have to not jump out of the car and pet them,
despite their “all work, no play” demeanor.
The driver lowers his window before handing over the letter my
parents had sent with him about my enrollment. Money does
incredible things when used correctly, like accepting an arsonist
whose only notable skill is preparing a human body for its last
viewing. One of the men reads over the letter silently while the other
walks around the car with the dog at his heels. His eyes are pinned
to the rear seat where I’m sitting, unable to see through the
blacked-out windows but knowing I’m there. His hard stare sends a
shiver down my spine, a feeling that's not unwelcome.
The man holding the letter gives us a silent nod as the iron gates
swing open, revealing a long, winding road that disappears into a
mass of towering, scattered oak trees. The woodland is dark and
dense, filled with fallen trees and an eerie silence that makes my
dark little heart sing. Low-lying fog has settled amongst the bottoms
of the trees, adding to the overall allure of this place. Glancing out of
the rear window, I see the men and their furry friends standing at
attention, watching us disappear into the woods. The whole
unexpected situation has me sitting on the edge of the soft leather
seat, excited for what will come next.
After ten minutes of sweeping bends and staring at the same dark
woods, a clearing finally comes into view, with the centerpiece being
one of the most stunning pieces of Gothic architecture that I have
ever seen. It looks like a castle had been plucked from medieval
Europe with its high-peaked towers and large pointed arches. The
entire building is made of light gray stone with intricate details that
are hard to see from a distance.
Gargoyles are perched above each side of the entrance, their
pointed wing tips looking almost like horns. The stone mouths are
open, with pointed fangs and a long, forked tongue snaking out of
the small gap. They remind me of some of the books I read, only
those gargoyles are usually alive and fucking the female main
character. One can only dream.
As the Escalade rolls to a stop, the driver parks and gets out to
silently unpack all of my things from the trunk. He drops them at the
bottom of the steps and hops back into the car without a word. I
collect my things from beside me quickly, opening the door and
nearly jumping out to see the building up close.
The sudden chill of the air sends a wave of goosebumps across
my legs, my torn tights doing nothing to keep the cold out. The wind
howls through the trees and into the clearing, causing my black,
pleated skirt to rise above my ass and dance with the breeze. Any
attempts to flatten it are futile, with the wind picking it right back up
as soon as I move my hands. Luckily, the grounds seem barren, with
the only people around being the guards at the front and the driver,
who is already in the car with the engine running.
Movement in the entryway catches my eye as a tall, muscular man
with disheveled, platinum hair steps out, leaning against the
doorway with his arms crossed. His uniform looks scruffy, the black
and white tie hanging low on his crumpled, white button-up shirt.
One side is roughly tucked into his black slacks, showcasing a silver
belt buckle with some form of crest on it. Even though he looks like
he just rolled out of bed, this man is hands down one of the most
attractive people I have ever set my eyes on.
I attempt to avert my eyes, turning slightly to grasp the handle of
one of my suitcases. Usually, I’m able to mask my emotions well,
something that was drilled into me at quite a young age. But
somehow, this man, without even opening his mouth, has me
fighting back a smile as my cheeks start to heat.
“Let me guess, Wynn? The funeral home girl?” He laughs deeply,
his lips kicking up into a smirk. Not the most original nickname
someone has given me, that's for sure. Is that blood in his hair?
I can feel myself leaning forward slightly to get a better look; the
deep crimson is a stark difference to his otherwise almost-white hair.
Questions sit on the tip of my tongue, my mind torn between
wanting to know more about him and wanting to get as far away
from him as possible. The unfamiliar butterflies in my stomach don’t
seem too put off by the blood nor the danger that flows from the
man in front of me.
Glancing around, I still don't see another person in sight other
than the Escalade winding its way back down the dark path.
“There looks to be so many of us out here, I don't know how you
were able to guess it so easily,” I deadpan, dragging my heavy
suitcases up the stone steps, the loud clunk echoing through the
silence. His chest rises and falls, chuckling as he walks through the
timber doors just in time for them to swing back into my face.
Mature.
Yanking open the heavy doors, I find him standing close to the
doorway, facing me with a smug look on his face. It makes me want
to slap the look right off him, almost as much as it draws me in.
People are walking through the space behind him, but all of my
attention is consumed by the man looking at me with a mischievous
glint in his eyes.
 I tentatively step forward, feeling the air grow heavier the closer I
get to him, like a hand squeezing my lungs and making it hard for
me to breathe. His deep, almost red-hued eyes roam down my body,
halting at the slashes in my tights before a cruel grin spreads across
his face. I have never seen eyes like his before. The color is a
beautiful, dark crimson, almost like the color of blood. His eyes meet
mine with an intensity that’s unfamiliar, charged with emotions that I
can’t, for the life of me, pinpoint.
His hand reaches into his blazer pocket, pulling out a folded piece
of paper and a small black pouch. The moment I take them out of
his hands, he steps back, shaking his head. “Here’s your key and
map, admin circled your room. Classes start tomorrow, the rest you
can figure out yourself, I'm sure. Welcome to hell, new girl.”
His back is turned before he finishes his sentence, jogging up the
large, double staircase and out of sight without a backward glance.
For the first time in the last ten minutes, I feel like I can breathe. His
presence is unnerving, though that feeling is something I could get
used to. It’s strange that they sent a student to give me my things,
but it’s certainly not something I’m going to complain about after
that encounter.
Opening up the basic map, I find the mark on the third story in
what looks to be a corner room that's separated from the rest.
Hauling the suitcases up the stairs, I watch every student pass me in
silence, staring in my direction with blank looks on their faces. No
smiles, no hellos. Nothing but silence, broken only by my heavy
footsteps down the hall and the clicking of my suitcase wheels
spinning on the floor. Turning to face them, a smirk tips the corner
of my lips. I expect nothing less from a new school, especially one
that takes on the caliber of people that this one does. The jokes on
them though, I thrive in silence.
Growing up in a funeral home and mortuary, you find comfort in
things that others would find uneasy. For me, solace is silence and
solitude. Being able to indulge my morbid curiosity without the social
pressure. Where other kids would spend their spare time playing
sports with their parents, I was taught how to prepare a body for its
final viewing. Our family holidays were spent traveling to the other
branches of our company, teaching the next generation of mortuary
assistants the arts. The scent of embalming fluid still lingers in my
nose, strangely bringing a homely feeling to something so clinical.
It’s always there, acting as a reminder of the place that makes me
feel most at ease.
After twenty minutes of navigating the complex inner walls of the
academy and being outwardly avoided by every single person I pass,
I find my home for the next six months tucked away at the end of a
long, quiet hall. The door creaks loudly when I open it, the motion
causing a plume of dust to kick up from the floor, making the already
dimly lit room look hazy.
Dark timber furniture is spread throughout the space, interlinked
with intricate webs that almost sparkle with the small amount of
light in the room. I trail a finger along the dusty dresser that’s
against the wall, leaving a clean line and a thin scratch from my
sharp, black stiletto nails behind. My teeth rake along my bottom lip,
fighting back the smile that's threatening to crack through. This will
be perfect.
 The large window draws me in, the ornate design mottling the
small amount of light in the room. It looks like a flower at the top,
with two peaked panels separated by stone underneath. Thin, black
drapes hang from a rail, pooling on the floor. They don’t look like
they will hold out much light, but it adds to the feel of the room. I
drag a chair from the desk setup over to the window and use my
sleeve to clean some of the dust from the glass.
My eyes take in the stunning view where the tree line meets the
slightly more manicured academy grounds. The low-lying fog settles
along the base of the trees like a blanket of mist, making the woods
look even more mysterious. I have this feeling in the pit of my
stomach that something is watching me, but all I can see is mist,
trees, and the looming darkness settling in the sky. Shutting my
eyes, I inhale a deep breath before getting to work cleaning up the
space.
 CHAPTER TWO

WYNN

T he old, dusty sheets on the bed are swapped out for my

favorite, a deep red silk bed set, the softness dancing across
my fingertips as I smooth out the creases. I set out a few of my
candles from home, lighting an ambrette wood wick and placing it
on the dresser opposite the bed. The crackle from the wood echoes
throughout the quiet room, that familiar sound pulling a deep breath
from my chest. After a quick clean and adding in some little personal
touches and trinkets, the room is much more comfortable than when
I first walked in. It's dark, it's secluded, and it's mine.
Padding over to the ensuite, I take in the equally dark space with
its mosaic-tiled floor and stone walls. A large shower takes up the
corner of the room, with a rain showerhead coming down from the
ceiling. Now, this I could get used to.
Switching the faucet to hot, I strip out of my clothes and step into
the massive shower, allowing the searing water to cascade down my
body, making my skin flush. The sting from the water goes straight
to my core, lighting a fire as pain usually does.
 My pale skin marks easily, something I have grown to love.
There’s something about watching the body’s reaction to impact and
pain that I find fascinating. A fascination that has become something
a little…more. The way skin breaks out in chills to both cold weather
and featherlight touches, as much as it does when you are aroused,
or the way a knife can leave a red mark on the skin until the
pressure increases ever so slightly, then it draws blood.
My brain wanders until the water runs cold, which is enough time
for the dusk sky to morph into darkness. Slipping into my oversized
black tee and panties, I curl into my soft sheets, falling asleep to the
soothing sound of rain hitting the window.
My ragged breaths create plumes of white mist in the darkened
sky as I search for a safe space to hide. The beast's footsteps fall
heavily behind me, its paws breaking the twigs on the forest floor
and cutting through the silence. My heart threatens to beat through
my chest as it snaps its teeth close to my ear and tears out a few
strands of my hair. A yelp escapes me at the sting, causing a growl
from the beast.
My senses are overloaded with the cool night air painfully kissing
my skin, the sticks and rocks shredding the skin on my bare feet,
and the overwhelming smoke that fills my lungs with every inhale.
“Give up, girl,” he growls, now beside me as I continue to run, his
bright, ember-filled eyes staring straight into mine. I push as hard as
I can, the sticks and rocks on the ground tearing into my bare feet
and forcing a scream to rip from my throat. My attempt is futile, with
the beast simply matching my pace. One swipe of his heavy foot is
all it takes to send me tumbling to the ground. I try to break the fall,
my hands shooting out in front of my body and catching the brunt of
the impact. My hands and knees feel like they have been ripped to
shreds from the fall.
He flips my body over, hovering his black, hellish, wolf-like
presence above me with a snarl. Smoke pours from his fur as he
moves his nose along my collarbone, inhaling deeply. Sticks rip into
my skin as I try to shuffle from below him, a futile attempt to
escape.
“Don't fucking move, Wynn, this is the only warning that you’ll
get,” he rumbles from above me, his sharp, white teeth glistening in
the moonlight. I know I heard him speak, but his lips never moved
from the snarl. He looks like something otherworldly, but his being
able to speak was not something I was expecting; it was almost like
he spoke into my mind somehow. Without warning, his long, black
tongue traces along my neck and up to my ear before he nips at my
skin, forcing a whimper to escape my lips.
I should be terrified, but instead, I’m drawn to him in a way that I
certainly shouldn't be given the situation I find myself in. Heat licks
at my core to the point where I can feel wetness drenching my
panties. His ember eyes glow brighter on his next inhale as he zones
in on the hem of my oversized tee. Surely he can't tell...
“Well, this is a surprise. You’re fucking turned on.” He chuckles, his
entire body shifting into a completely naked man right before my
eyes.
My eyes widen as I attempt to take in what in the world just
happened. “What the fuck was that?” I breathe out softly, my eyes
raking over one of the most dangerous-looking men I have ever laid
my eyes on. He’s stacked with muscle upon muscle, black and red
tattoos covering his body as far as my eyes can see. His black,
shaggy hair falls around his face, but it's his eyes that shock me the
most. They look like a lit flame is dancing behind his pupils as they
bore into mine.
“You need to wake up, little Wynn. Your life just got a whole lot
more interesting.”
My heart is racing at a speed that feels like it's seconds from
bursting through my chest cavity. Taking deep breaths, I rub my
thighs together, causing the slightest amount of friction and
confirming what I already know. The wetness slowly drips from my
core as I stretch my body out, the ache building to an unbearable
point. I take a deep breath in, the faint, smokey scent filling my
lungs and fueling the burn between my thighs. The memory of the
smokey wolf, or man, whatever he was-pinning me to the ground in
the woods, forces the need running through my body to intensify.
I delicately run my hand down my curved stomach and into my
panties, shimmying them down my thighs for easier access. Closing
my eyes, I dip two fingers into my core and slide them back up,
drawing circles around my already sensitive clit. The pressure starts
to build quickly, as it always does after my nightmares, but
something is missing.
Reaching over to the drawer in my nightstand with my other hand,
I grasp the sharpened black blade, running the tip along my inner
thighs. The pressure is just enough to break the skin as my body sits
right on the edge, waiting. Digging the blade in harder, I graze my
pointed stiletto nail over my hypersensitive clit, instantly falling
apart. My body shakes as my orgasm tears through me violently,
releasing the pressure of both the blade and my nail immediately
while my body tremors through the aftershocks.
I lay there for a moment, my breath still ragged from the
nightmare and the morning self-care session. The rivulets of blood
cascade down my thigh, pooling at my discarded panties, which
luckily captured most of it. The blade is cleaned with the hem of my
tee, and I place it next to my boots so that it’s not forgotten for the
day.
I pad over to the bathroom, discarding my tee and panties into
the small black hamper before stepping into the shower. The
scorching hot water runs over my body, washing the blood from my
thighs as I watch the trail of pink flowing down the drain. Quickly
washing my body, I hop out to patch up the fresh cut. It’s not deep,
not enough for stitches, but it will definitely add to the existing
artwork gracing my body.
For the last few months, my nightmares have taken a turn. I’ve
always had them, even as a child, but lately they’ve developed into
something I don't quite understand. When I wake up, my body is
already extremely heightened, and that intense fear lingers, heating
my body in a way that nothing and no one else has ever been able
to. The figure in my nightmares more recently is dark, towering over
my small frame, and threatening my life in one way or another. The
situations vary, but all have the same end result. Waking me with a
need that only a little pain or fear can fix.
My makeup is done the same as every other day, with a heavy
hand on the blush to warm up my pale complexion and a sharp,
black-winged liner that could cut a bitch with ease. Unpacking the
uniform my parents had purchased before the move, I lay it out
across the bed and giggle to myself at just how perfect it is for me
with its monochrome tones. The uniform for Blackstone is fitting
with its crisp, white shirt; black, plaid skirt that hits slightly above
the knee; and my tailored black blazer, which pulls in at my waist,
showcasing the dramatic curve of my hips.
Slipping on a pair of torn, black tights and my platform Doc
Martens, I straighten my hair until it’s a sleek, ink-black curtain
hanging down my back and then head out the door. I’m instantly hit
in the chest by something covered in blood, and my feet stumble
back at the impact as I watch the dead raccoon swaying back and
forth on a rope attached to the doorway.
Welcome to Blackstone Academy, Wynn.
 CHAPTER THREE

WYNN

M y once-white shirt is now covered in the red splatters of blood

from my nice little welcome gift this morning. The same blood
that is now trickling onto the hallway floor as I make my way to my
first class. Having to take the time to cut down my furry friend and
actually find my way to the room means that I’m a little bit late.
The halls are barren and silent as I walk to class with the raccoon
firmly in my grasp. This part of the building is beautiful, its stone
walls lit by hanging pendants and lined with large, arched windows.
I smile sweetly, strolling into the classroom and leaving a trail of
crimson in my path. An older lady, who I’m assuming is our teacher,
pales at the sight of me. Her warm, brown eyes widen as she takes
in my appearance, her angular brows shooting up in shock.
“Hi, Miss, I'm Wynn, but I’m sure you knew that. I was wondering,
do you have a lost property bin here? Someone seems to have
misplaced their pet roadkill in my doorway this morning,” I say
confidently, biting back a grin at the look of horror on her face.
 I hold up the raccoon, the blood still freely flowing from the tips of
its toes into a small pool on the floor. My lip kicks up as I scan the
room, seeing most of the students with grossed-out expressions or
looking away. A few roll their eyes, sniggering in my direction; one
even runs out of the room with her hands over her mouth, and
that’s when I see them.
Two guys are sitting at the back of the class, looking at me with a
burning intensity. One of them is the same one that gave me the
map and my warm welcome yesterday. He looks more put together
with his platinum-blond hair styled back and the blood now gone.
The other is almost a spitting image of the blond, but with black,
shaggy hair that falls messily around his face. He seethes, staring
straight into my eyes as his incredibly sharp teeth toy with his black
lip ring. They both make the desks they are sitting behind look
small; their tall, muscular frames are much bigger than the rest of
the class.
“Oh look, funeral girl, you made a new friend after all. How nice.”
The blond twin snorts, his amused gaze never leaving mine. I can
hear the low laughs and hushed conversations spreading throughout
the room.
Look at the state of her.
Why wouldn't she change first?
Bale is staring at her; he never looks up for that long, unlike his
brother.
He looks like he wants to tear her apart.
She won’t last long.
 From the whispers in the room, I assume that the dark-haired
twin’s name is Bale, considering that the blond twin had absolutely
no qualms about staring me up and down when he welcomed me to
the Academy. He’s currently staring at me with a kicked-up smirk, in
no way looking like he may want to kill me. His brother, on the other
hand, his darkness pulls me in. He looks at me with venom in his
stare, sparking an ache in my core that I know I can't fix anytime
soon.
“I’m assuming that fluffy here belongs to you two?” I laugh, taking
confident steps toward the back of the room, stopping between the
desks of assholes one and two. Leaning down to their eye level and
holding the roadkill with one hand, I reach into my boot and pull the
blade out with a wicked smile.
A giggle escapes me as I hear some of the students gasp at the
sight of a weapon in the room. You would think they’ve never seen
one before with that sort of reaction. It's not like I’m threatening
anyone. Although, if the blond asshole doesn’t wipe the smirk off his
face, I may need to start.
“I can cut him in half so you don't have to share if you prefer. I
have heard twins can get a little jealous if the other has something
they don’t. For the record, I’m not scared of a dead raccoon, person,
or dead anything. Don't waste your time on me, boys. There are
plenty of other innocent souls to torture around here that will stroke
your fragile ego a little more.”
My body is thrumming with a mix of excitement and heat as I
stand in wait for some form of reaction from the pair. I bend to tuck
the blade back into the side of my boot, only to be caught
speechless when I stand back up.
Dark veins start forming below Bale’s amber eyes, his obsidian
pupils turning into slits right before me. My breathing slows,
watching the veins pulse under his skin. I’m standing in a space that
blocks him from the view of everyone but his brother, not that he’s
trying to hide whatever is happening.
“I would step back if I were you, little Wynn. We don't want you
murdered on your first day now, do we?” The blond twin's voice
rumbles low, stoking the fire already smoldering in my core.
My eyes flick between the two when he speaks, settling back on
Bale, who is still staring through my entire fucking soul with an
intensity that feels like it will tear me to pieces. It’s a dangerous
look, one I can see myself getting addicted to quickly.
“Run, little rabbit, as far away from me as you can,” Bale growls,
his fingers obsessively tapping the desk as the dark veins continue
to spread under his skin.
“Wynn, that’s enough, please sit down somewhere! Jack, get rid of
whatever that thing is and return as soon as possible,” the teacher
shakily yells from the front of the room. Seconds later, a chair
scrapes along the ground, forcing me to turn and look at the boy
walking toward me, his eyes zoned in on the creature still dangling
in my grip. The poor thing looks like he might throw up the closer he
gets, so I make a show of swinging it a little from side to side.
Quickly, he takes the roadkill from my outstretched hand and
scurries out of the room, leaving a trail of blood in his path.
 “Well, that was fun.” I laugh, taking the only empty seat in the
class, which happens to be directly in front of Bale. A shiver rolls
over my entire body as I feel the heat of their stare, forcing my
thighs to clench together. Their presence is so dark it's intoxicating,
kicking my curiosity into overdrive with a need to know more.

LUKA
My control is slowly slipping, which is not something that Bale and
I are used to. I take a deep breath and force my eyes to close as I
inhale the scent of the little bitch in front of us. Most people who
come too close to us have the scent of fear bleeding from their
pores, some curiosity, but mostly fear. Wynn, on the other hand, all I
can smell is the sweet scent of her arousal. The excitement and the
rush. She isn’t scared of us as other humans are, and that's
unsettling in itself. Bale and I, as well as the principal, are the only
supernatural beings at the academy. The rest of the students and
faculty are unaware, or if they aren’t, then they’re too terrified to
say anything, which suits us fine.
Typically, we do not make a show of our other forms or anything
else that would give us away, but somehow, this tiny little thing is
forcing it out of us like we haven’t dealt with this our whole lives. I
open my eyes and glance over at Bale, only to find his eyes firmly
shut as his fingers tap along his desk in a perfect rhythm. He's
sensing her heartbeat, her peaceful, collected heartbeat, and
tapping it on the desk to calm himself. I know she saw his eyes
change, his form starting to break through. She may not completely
understand what it means, but she saw enough to know that Bale
isn't completely human.
I turn just in time to see her thighs press together from the side, a
quiet gasp escaping her lips that only we would be able to hear. Not
that she would know that. She’s an absolute vision, and I hate it. It’s
almost like she was created with us in mind. I would put her at
around five feet tall at the most, with curves that make me want to
bite into her and mark her all over.
The academy’s uniform has never looked like this in the years we
have been here; the splattering of blood and her cocky smirk only
adding to her beauty. It fits her like a glove, showcasing every dip
and curve on her body.
I’m aware of Ms. Archibald attempting to rein in the class and
teach us the best she can, but none of her words are making it
through to me. My focus is solely on her and the reaction the two of
us are having to her presence.
It takes every fiber in my body to not shift right here in the middle
of class and take a bite from her thick, tight-clad thighs. My kind are
not usually biters, that's more Bale’s thing than mine, but I would
sell my fucking soul for just a taste.
This is one of those times where I’m glad most of the student
population is terrified of us because I have been staring at this girl
with zero shame since her ass sat in that seat and those thighs
forced themselves together.
 Bale still hasn't opened his eyes, his fingers still tapping out her
heart rate silently. I watch as his jaw flares while he tenses, the
black veins creeping back out from his closed eyes. I kick the side of
his desk, jutting my chin toward the door and standing abruptly, the
screeching chair causing the whole class to turn and face us.
He looks up at me with glowing, amber eyes before he stands
with me, cracking his neck and rolling out his shoulders. His control
is slipping quickly, and if I don't get him out of this room right now,
they will have to add another fifteen bodies to the school's death
count.
Without a word, the pair of us silently stalk out of the room,
slamming the door so hard that it snaps from its hinges. Bale walks
until he is out of eyeline from the door before kicking up his speed,
needing to get out of the halls before anyone sees him.
The two of us are not like others of our kind. Our genetics are
unique, having one parent who is a Prince of Hell and the other from
the first bloodline of vampires. Where most demons and vampires
are created, we were born.
Having grown up dealing with our true forms escaping at
inopportune times, we have adapted well. Keeping it under control
comes almost naturally to the pair of us, so today has been
unexpected, to say the least.
My shoulder blades burn my already heated skin, the black wings
fighting with my will to escape. I try to stretch my neck, rolling my
shoulders back in an attempt to ease the pain that I know is coming,
but it's useless.
 The tips slice through my skin as I pick up my pace, running
toward her room, knowing that's exactly where he will be. He would
have felt the same pull that I did being up close to her and would be
craving more of it, only this time without her taunting us.
She doesn't know how thin our control seems to be around her
and how dangerous it could be for all of us if that control happens to
fucking snap.
 CHAPTER FOUR

BALE

B lack, lengthened claws splinter the timber of her desk, the

pressure snapping it in two as her laptop and candles tumble
onto the floor with a loud thud. Her scent is so strong in here, and
yet she has only been here for a day. Imagine the carnage for us
both if she stays... My entire body feels like it’s on high alert, picking
up on every single sound and smell, something I have managed to
keep fucking contained for years. I have only just met the girl, and I
don't know whether I want to tear her to pieces or bury myself
inside her wet cunt while I feast on her pretty little neck.
My combat boots fall heavy on the floor as I storm over to her
dresser, ripping the drawers from the rollers one by one to find the
source of the pull I’m feeling. There’s something here thats drawing
me in and feeding the monster that I’m trying my best to contain.
The scent of her blood burns my nose as I get to the last drawer,
finding her panties. They’re folded perfectly, a range of lace and
cotton in shades of red and black. I curl my hand around them,
bringing a handful up to my nose and inhaling deeply, a low growl
escaping my throat at the scent. They smell of washing powder and
blood, mixed with the sweet scent of her. The panties are completely
clean, but my senses are always heightened being what I am. Even
more so when my body is on alert like this, which isn't often
anymore.
I collect all her panties from the drawer, filling my blazer pockets
to the brim, partially to teach the little bitch a lesson but also
because it means I can take the scent of her with me. Just as the
last pair hits my pocket, Luka appears in the doorway, his eyes wide
and red.
“What the fuck did you do, Bale?” he yells, storming into the
space and taking in the carnage. His blazer is torn along his back,
with two large, pointed wing tips ripping through the material. She’s
affecting him just as much as she is affecting me.
“He was right, wasn't he? About her?” I growl, my claw fidgeting
with a bit of lace in my pocket carefully. It's not like I don't have
enough money to replace them if I tear them to shreds, but I don't
want to rip them all. Not just yet anyway.
Luka paces the length of her room, balling his hands into fists
before releasing his grip and going again. His heart rate begins to
slow back to a normal rate within minutes before he turns to me and
nods.
“Let's get out and call Dad. He would know, and if he doesn't, one
of the princes surely would,” Luka says calmly, turning on his heel
and leaving the room as quickly as he can with his wings tucked
tightly behind him.
 We need to make her leave Blackstone as soon as possible. Luka
and I are here for a purpose, a protection order from our father to
the school. The last thing we need is to not have any control over
ourselves.
If his prediction is correct and this puny little human is our mate,
we will break her, and that has the potential to ruin both of us.
There is lore about angels being able to be with humans safely, but
not for our kinds. If she stays, she risks not only the very reason we
were put here but us in general, and I’m not letting her fuck our
lives up like that.
Our father built the Academy over four hundred years ago to sit
right over Hell's gates. At the time, it was a ruse, a cover for the
gates, and a place to stay if he was needed here on this plane. Over
the years, suspicion rose about the property in the middle of the
woods after hunters and hikers found it on their travels.
He, along with the other princes, decided that it would become
Blackstone Academy. A school for the criminals, the outcasts, and
the pretty little bitches who burn their entire school to the ground
apparently. The space is large enough to be overseen by humans
easily, and at least one demon would be able to integrate into the
school to keep watch. It had been quiet for years, until now.
“Dad is coming to visit anyway, to check on how we’re doing,”
Luka growls from ahead, sounding pissed. “As for our little Wynn
issue, he started rambling about all that fate bullshit again, so he is
absolutely no help. I say we run her out, scare her off a little. She
wouldn't survive the bond between the three of us anyway, being
human. We can't have her here if our control is going to slip like this,
or we will end up back down in the rings with Dad.”
I nod in agreement, ideas flooding through my mind of the fun we
could have with this, with her, before we run her out for good.

The two of us storm down the hall, ignoring the stares from the
students parting to let us walk through. We need to get back to our
wing and plan some of this out before our father gets here, or we
are in a world of shit that I would rather not be in. I thrive in chaos,
but the Ring of Wrath that we call home is not the place for a
vampire. At least, not for me.
If it wasn't for the bond I have with Luka, I would have escaped
Hell or died trying well before now. Fucked off just like my mom
had, as far away from Hell as I could get. I have tried to run, to flee
from the shit. I always ended up going back because, as much as he
pisses me off, Luka is a part of me with the whole twin bond thing.
Being separated for periods of time physically hurts the both of us,
so after a few failed attempts, I stayed and put up with the torment
of being the ‘bad twin’ in Hell with our tyrant of a father. Being one
of two born sons of Satan came with big expectations, none of
which I could live up to based purely on the fact that I was born a
vampire and not a demon.
A large figure stops me in my tracks, tearing me from my thoughts
as I slam into him mid-stride. “Boys, I think we need to have a chat.
Now!” Headmaster Pierce orders, nodding down the hall toward his
office. I don't move, crossing my arms over my chest and raising a
brow at Pierce.
Luka laughs off to the side, jumping up to sit on a display table
along the wall with his legs swinging gleefully. “Grab your popcorn,
boys and girls, the show is about to begin.” He grins, settling into his
spot with a smirk plastered across his face. Asshole.
Students start flowing into the hall, some taking out their cameras
and facing them my way while the others whisper in hushed tones.
What does Pierce think he's doing? Bale’s a psycho.
Did you see how he stormed out earlier?
He looks so fucking hot when he's mad.
I try to hold back a chuckle, my sharp teeth raking over my
bottom lip and drawing the smallest amount of blood. Part of me
says to stop them, snap their phones into pieces, and leave. Father
would likely get pissed at me for letting this scene play out and take
it out on me. The other part of me doesn't give a flying fuck. My
eyes turn back to the waste of space in front of me, his feigned
authority starting to dwindle right before my eyes.
His already pale skin lightens, showing me the pulsing blue veins
cording up his neck as he takes a step back from me, trying to put
some distance between us. It’s cute that he thinks that will do
anything to change what’s happening. He started this, not us.
“You are just like your father. Luka, stop messing around and get
down. You are making a scene,” Pierce calls out, his nostrils flaring
in anger and his shoulders starting to tremble. “I don't want to make
a scene, there are students. Come on, let's just go to the office
where we can have a chat.”
“Get the stick out of your ass, Pierce. What do you fucking need?”
I seethe, my patience for the man they have taking care of this
place starting to wear thin. With us attending, they didn't see the
use in having a demon running the academy like usual, and this
jackass managed to weasel his way in. He’s a banished angel,
stripped of any and all power and ability. At this point, he may as
well be a human, just without the use of being a food source for our
kind.
Angels, especially fallen angels, are nasty little fucks. They are
bitter creatures that have no purpose and no true home to go to.
Add this to the fact that we are literally the spawn of Satan, and you
have yourself an angry little angel. One whose shit I’m not willing to
put up with.
Still standing in front of Pierce, I push forward, backing him into
the wall opposite Luka and caging him in place between my arms.
His dull, brown eyes widen as he trips on his own feet while
stumbling back, bracing himself on my arms to hold him up.
“Y–you need to stop making these scenes in front of the students,”
he stutters, his eyes blinking rapidly as he stares into mine. With my
back to the students, I let a little of my vampire side slip through,
the black veins spreading under my now-glowing, amber eyes. “Ri–
ripping doors off hinges and hanging dead animals up in the hall is
too much. The bad press is already too much, and we can't draw
attention like that,” he all but whispers, his heartbeat racing a million
miles an hour by the end of his little speech.
 My body can sense her before I see her, the dark figure stepping
into the corners of my vision. The overwhelming ambrette scent
mixes with a faint hint of her blood, forcing my eyes away from
Pierce’s to zone in on her.
She stands at the front of the crowd, watching the exchange
curiously, her eyes flitting between me and Luka, whose glee has
already shifted to something much more intense. His shoulders roll
back, which I’m assuming is to try and stop his wings from slicing
through his skin as they had earlier. They tend to get a little trigger-
happy when his emotions are heightened, one of the few things that
he finds harder to control.
Her eyes travel slowly down my body, halting at my arms that are
still caging in Pierce. Her tongue slides along her lower lip before her
teeth bite down on the soft, pink flesh. She catches me staring at
her intensely, a cocky grin spreading across her lips while she turns
and walks toward the crowd. She strolls away with a sway in her
hips through the students, whose eyes are flitting between the two
of us.
Her attitude makes me want to tear her throat out as much as it
makes me want to pin her down and fuck it right out of her. She
should be scared of us, even just a little, but instead, the girl gets
fucking wet.
“Bale, back to Pierce, focus,” Luka whispers. His words are low
enough that only I’m able to hear him with my heightened hearing,
and other students would be none the wiser. I look over at him
briefly, seeing the way he is gripping the table beneath him so hard
that it's starting to splinter.
 One of my hands dives into the pocket of my blazer, grabbing hold
of a piece of lace and running it through my fingers, while the other
remains beside Pierce’s head. The darkness slowly recedes with the
feeling of the soft material against my rough fingertips.
“I dare you to fucking try. You’re forgetting your place here,
Pierce,” I snarl, turning back to face the now-shivering headmaster,
who is nodding frantically as he watches the darkness start to
spread throughout my veins.
He slips under my arm, running off to his office while muttering
words he knows only we will hear. “I hope your father puts you little
assholes ba–back in your box when he gets here.”
I can smell the smoke before I turn and see Pyro standing there in
the flesh. He’s crazy for walking inside the academy grounds,
knowing that we’re hunting his kind. Fire mutts typically wouldn't be
stupid enough to walk into a space like this unless they were
prepared to tear the place to shreds with everyone in it. This
asshole, on the other hand, walks into the space in his more human
form, if you could call it that.
Luka jumps down from the display table, walking to stand beside
me with his arms crossed across his chest, blocking him from the
students who are scurrying around us. The hall quickly starts to
empty, the students bustling to get out of the space as quickly as
they can. They’re used to the altercations with Peirce, but Pyro? I
can understand the mass exodus. He looks out of place in these
halls, standing at almost seven feet and covered head to toe in
tattoos.
 He elicits fear in humans by his presence alone, which is one of
the things that hellhounds are known for. They can then siphon the
fear and feed themselves just by walking into a space with people.
“You’re testing limits by stepping foot inside this place, Pyro.
Especially after the shit your puppy pals have been causing,” I
rumble, preparing myself to launch at him if needed. I would have
thought he would be in his demon form if he were here to fight us,
but you never know with these sly assholes. My muscles begin to
tense as I let my vamp out to play, itching to be able to tear off a
slice of him after the day I've had.
He walks toward us from the entryway, smoke lingering around
him with each confident step he takes until he’s within arm’s reach.
A cruel smirk spreads across his face as the fire in his eyes burns a
little brighter. “Aw, not happy to see me, boys?” He grins, his
lengthened canines on full display.
“Just get to the fucking point, fluffy, I'm starving.” Luka laughs
and rolls his eyes at the maniac standing in front of us.
“Your little...mate. You need to…oh, I don't know, actually keep
her safe. There will be more of us coming, and they want her,
fucking dead or alive,” he snaps, the laugh having fallen from Pyro’s
face as soon as he spoke about her. His eyes harden, his focus
moving from one of us to the other with an intensity that I wasn't
expecting. “Fail this, and I will tear your throats out myself and feed
your meat suits to the bottom feeders.” Without another word, he
turns and strides out of the hallway, slamming the door on his way
out.
 The hellhounds sent before him were grunts, lowly demons who
wanted to get in the good graces with one of the princes. Pyro is
different from the usual grunts and is known throughout Hell as one
of the best enforcers. Our father has even used him from time to
time, and he avoids the use of other demons as much as possible.
Considering he is one himself, he doesn't trust many of them. Why
would an enforcer want to keep the girl safe?
Part of me wishes he had stayed to cause a bit more of a scene; I
could have used the outlet to get rid of some of this pent-up rage
that's itching to escape. Luka claps once loudly beside me, his ability
to shift from one emotion to the next is something I certainly do not
possess. He could be covered head to toe in blood with a dead angel
at his feet one moment and unbothered while laughing at his own
joke the next. Me, on the other hand, I’m the opposite.
“Well, that was weird. Okay, here’s the plan; cafeteria first
because I need to siphon something that isn't dead inside like your
grumpy ass. Then, back to the wing to figure this shit out because
things just got a lot more complicated with Pyro somehow being
involved.” Luka laughs, walking toward the cafeteria.
 CHAPTER FIVE

WYNN

I walk into the cafeteria, although it feels wrong to describe this

room as something so mundane. The hall is large, with high,
domed ceilings and light, stone-covered walls. All of the tables in the
space look like light-colored marble with the sun hitting them
beautifully through the tall, arched windows.
The lunchtime rush seems to be in full swing, with people
attempting to bustle past me, only to see my bloodstained clothes
and turn in the opposite direction with a look of disgust plastered
across their faces. You would think an academy with the caliber of
students that Blackstone has, that they wouldn't shy away from a
little blood. But everyone seems to be avoiding me like the plague.
An audible chuckle escapes me as one poor girl's face pales to the
lightest pink hue I have ever seen. Her eyes are as wide as saucers
while she holds her breath, taking in the sight of me.
“It's okay. He didn't suffer. I don't think he did anyway. Actually,
maybe ask the twins,” I say with a laugh, looking down at my blood-
covered white shirt, before leaving her frozen in her place to join the
rapidly building food line.
Quickly getting a sandwich and a black coffee, I find one of the
only vacant tables, but as soon as my ass hits the seat, a loud
whistle sounds from a few tables over. My eyes zone in on the two of
them sitting at a table by themselves, both polar opposites and yet
so similar at the same time.
Smiling sweetly, I stare straight into the blond brother's eyes and
flip my middle finger up before taking a bite of my lunch. His gaze
drops to my mouth, watching intently as I take each bite. His eyes
feel like they are devouring my soul; a heavy pull from the pit of my
stomach increasing every time I risk a glance at him.
I chance a look at Bale, who is staring at something in his lap with
a scowl while one of his large, tattooed hands taps the tabletop in a
steady rhythm that seems to gain momentum the longer my eyes
linger. He’s intense, and without even looking my way, I can feel his
darkness rolling over me, forcing goosebumps to form across my
skin.
Shifting my focus, I look down at my half-eaten sandwich and
open my mouth to take a bite just as a shiver spreads across my
body and the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Do you need a lesson on personal space?” I deadpan, dropping
my food onto the plate in front of me. A low rumble sounds from
behind me, but there’s no response other than the cackle coming
from the direction of the twin’s table and the general bustle of
students surrounding us. “Not much of a talker? It's Bale, right?” I
laugh, picking up my sandwich and taking another bite without
turning to face him. He chuckles before bringing himself down to my
level, his face now parallel with mine. I drop my food once more
when I feel his cool breath on my skin with each laugh, forcing a
shiver to run up my spine.
“Don't bother learning names, funeral girl, you’ll be gone before
the end of the day,” he all but growls, the deep, gravelly tone
stoking the heat already building in my core from his presence
alone. His face dips lower, lips ghosting along my neck, and halting
at my pulse point where he nips at the skin lightly. My body betrays
me as I lean in closer to chase that little sting before I have a
chance to stop myself.
I look around, remembering that we are in a space filled with
people, only to find the room completely empty. Well, almost empty.
Still sitting back in his chair with a cocky grin plastered on his
painfully handsome face is Bale's twin. He’s kicking back, enjoying
the show with his muscular arms crossed over his chest and his feet
up on the table.
“The raccoon was a good one, I’ll give you that, but come on.
Surely you’ve figured out I’m not rattled by your shit after this
morning. You don't look stupid, at least not much anyway,” I say
with a grin, rising from my chair and spinning around to face him as
he straightens back up, once again towering over me.
Anger rolls off of him in waves as I watch his eyes start to spin
black veins like they did this morning. His jaw flares, staring into my
eyes while I watch the veins spread, tracing beautiful, lightning-like
patterns under his skin.
 I had considered in class that this may have been a trick of the
light, my eyes not adjusting correctly or something. But here, for the
second time today, I can see them clear as day. Bale isn’t human, at
least not entirely, and I need to know more.
Without thinking, I reach up and delicately trace one of the veins
from his undereye to his cheek. His skin is cool to the touch, almost
like he had been in the mortuary chamber, but he’s alive and
breathing, and looking at me with a pained expression. He closes his
eyes and leans slightly into my touch, his hand reaching up to cover
mine as I run my fingers along his cheek. I wonder if it hurts when
the veins spread like this?
I’m suddenly ripped from Bale and spun around, ending up face-
to-face with his twin. My hands fly out and grip his arms tight to
avoid falling, his biceps instantly tensing under my fingers while his
hold on my shoulders remains firm. The blond twin's eyes are
menacing-a deep red hue surrounding the darkest, jet-black pupils I
have ever seen. Unless he is wearing contacts, he can’t be human
either with eyes like this.
“Could you please, for the love of all that is holy, steer clear of
him?” He snarls, nodding toward the hulkingly huge figure slamming
the doors to the cafeteria on his way out, snapping them off the
hinges just like he had earlier in class.
My hand snakes down his arm, eyes staring into his to try and
keep his focus, while I dig my stiletto nails into his hand as hard as I
can, a failed attempt to loosen his grip on my shoulders.
“Keep him on a tighter leash, and we won't have any issues, blond
twin. Last I checked, the asshole walked up to me, not the other
way around.” I bite back sweetly, the blood from my nails digging
into his skin now dripping down my wrist, a cascading trail staining
my skin crimson in its path. His eyes remain locked on mine with no
signs of pain or discomfort, the intensity of his stare shifting from
anger to amusement within seconds.
The heat flowing through my core is almost painful at this point,
aching for a little hint of pressure. My thighs instinctively rub
together in an attempt to relieve some of the pain before a growl
rips me from my lust-filled thoughts.
His raised brow and cocky smirk are enough to tell me he not only
saw my thighs rubbing together, but he understood why I did it.
“Ahh, so our little mate does get turned on by our presence.”
“What the fuck do you mean by mate? We’re far from friends. I
have only just gotten here, and you’ve been a prick since I stepped
foot on Blackstone Academy grounds,” I snap, digging my nails into
his skin harder, but he doesn’t flinch.
His eyes flit over to my wrist, intently watching as his blood
disappears under the cuff of my blazer. He breathes in deeply,
closing his eyes momentarily before leaning in closer, his face now
inches from mine. We’re both silent for a moment, his nearness
searing my skin to an almost unbearable point, unlike his twin.
Where Bale’s skin feels cold to the touch, Luka’s is almost like
warming your hand near an open flame. Both extremities are
painful, but in a way that draws me in and leaves me wanting more.
His grip on my shoulder releases as he closes the small amount of
distance that is between us, looking down at me like he wants to
devour me whole. I should run. Take this moment to get away from
him and get back to my room, but I don't. Instead, I stand there,
drawn to him, curious to know more.
“Firstly, my name is Luka, so cut the blond twin bullshit. Secondly,
tell me, Wynn, what is it about me and my brother that makes your
cunt so fucking wet? Have you thought about the reaction you have
to us and why you have it, or did you just think it was because we
are hot as fuck?” He asks, raking his perfectly white teeth over his
lip as though he is biting back a laugh.
“You two couldn't make anyone wet if your lives depended on it.” I
smile, jumping as Luka’s bloodied hand wraps around the column of
my throat, squeezing the sides slightly. My grin drops as I feel my
arousal coating my inner thighs while I squirm in his hold.
“Is that so? Because I can fucking smell you, Wynn. We’re going
to have so much fun together, just you wait.”

PYRO
I should have killed her. I should have killed her or taken her just
like I was tasked to. Instead, instinct made me enter her dream and
chase her like the perfect piece of prey she is. The image of her
running with those thick, bare thighs on full display is seared into my
mind, and I can't for the life of me get it out. The way her body felt
under mine in my hellhound form, so fragile and breakable... Fuck.
 The asshole twins are the two watching over the Academy at the
moment, alongside the waste of space fallen angel, who may as well
not be here, so this girl is nowhere near safe. As much as I need to
go back home and figure out why I can’t seem to kill her, the pull to
protect the girl I’m supposed to be killing is much stronger.
My kind are fairly solitary, unlike the fleabag shifters that people
mistake us for. We were made for one purpose and one purpose
only, which I just so happen to excel at. To kill. Angels, demons,
gods even. Whatever we’re ordered to kill, we do. My kind can
collect souls, something I’ve been tasked with before, and can shift
between our demon form and human-like form at will.
I lean against the wall in the hallway, waiting until I see her storm
around the corner with a scowl plastered across her hauntingly
beautiful face. She looks fucking stunning; the blood splatter all over
her shirt somehow makes her even more delectable. She halts
suddenly, her eyes widening at the sight of me while her full, pink
lips purse together.
“Little Wynn.” I give her a nod, my voice gravelly from the smoke
coursing through me.
My words seem to knock her out of her shock because her arms
cross against her ample chest as her eyes roam over my body from
head to toe. She’s confident, not attempting to hide her perusal of
me in any way. I don’t move a muscle, soaking in the attention like a
man starved.
“Hmm, so you are real, dog boy?” She smirks, her heart rate
gaining speed while she watches the fire in my eyes flicker. She must
remember me from her nightmare last night. Interesting.
 “My name is Pyro,” I respond, biting back a laugh at how cute
defiance looks on her. She drops her arms from her chest and walks
closer, her eyes staring into mine in a way that feels like she's
looking directly into my soul, or lack thereof.
“Well, Pyro, what’re you doing outside my room? I have dealt with
enough assholes today, and my patience is low.”
I grab her shoulders and spin her so her back is to the wall before
pushing her into it with force. My arms cage her in, bracing the wall
on either side of her face while I watch her attempt to regain her
composure. Her eyes close for a moment while she pulls in deep
breaths, centering herself before looking up at me with those ice-
blue eyes. The pull I have toward this girl is so strong, as if it's
physical, like my body craves to be close to hers.
In all my years, this has never happened, a pull like this toward
another being. The strong need to protect her. To fuck her. To breed
her. I didn’t think it was possible, but coming face-to-face with her in
the flesh like this and having her body so goddamn close to mine…
There is no doubt in my mind, she is fated not only to those little
pricks but to me too.
I lean in, inhaling her sweet scent, the mix of Wynn herself and
the lust pouring from her, forcing my cock to thicken in my jeans.
The barbells rub painfully against the zipper with each movement,
and the fire burning through my veins gets warmer by the second.
“You need to stay out of the woods, and preferably inside the
walls of the Academy. You’re a defiant little thing, I can see that
clear as day, but for fuck’s sake, please just listen,” I growl out, my
control over my hellhound form slowly slipping.
 “I have somehow managed to see you in a dream. Once. Why the
fuck would I listen to someone I have never actually met? Now,
Pyro, leave before I slice my blade across that pretty fire tattoo you
have on your throat and watch you bleed to death.” She laughs
before ducking under my arms and into her room, slamming her
door once she’s inside.
Attempting to take deep breaths, I storm down the hall, my
combat boots falling heavy on the timber floors. The need to get
back into the woods and shift is burning through me like a fire
licking at the surface of my skin, threatening to rip right through it.
As soon as my feet hit the dirt, my hellhound form takes over,
lighting my entire body on fire and morphing into my more primal
state. I take off across the clearing and into the woods, finding my
prime position to watch over her through her window.
 CHAPTER SIX

WYNN

I lock the door quickly and fall back against it before taking in the
carnage in front of me. Clothes are strewn across every surface
with claw marks marring the timber furniture, and my desk has been
completely broken in two, with my laptop in pieces on the floor
below it covered in glass and wax from my favorite candle.
My hand skates along the claw marks on my dresser, sinking into
the deep gauge and sending a shiver down my spine. It looks like an
animal has torn through my room, but my gut feeling is telling me
something different. It's almost like I can still feel their presence
here, regardless of the fact that I’m completely alone, and that
thought excites the hell out of me.
Making a start on cleaning the space for the second day in a row,
I slowly pick up each article of clothing off the floor, finding slashes
in some of the things I have worn most recently. Within half an hour,
the dresser is put back together, and all the clothes that do not need
to be fixed or cleaned are neatly packed away.
All except my panties.
 Every single pair that I own is missing, nowhere to be found,
solidifying that this wasn't an animal ripping through my room. Well,
at least, I don't think they are animals of any kind. My mind has
been buzzing thinking of what they could be. Based on the books
and movies, both of them are something supernatural, but what
exactly, I don't know.
I want to be mad, I want to hope I can rip whoever took them to
pieces, and I want to think they should be begging for the mercy of
my blade slicing along their corded throats, but I don't. As I look
around at the utter destruction of my room, my body feels more
alive than it has in years.
Walking over to the window, I take in the beautiful view. The sky
is a dusky orange and grows darker by the second as the last of the
light disappears. The dense woodland has already started to spread
a fine mist along the forest floor, creeping out into the clearing
between the school and the trees. Out of the corner of my eye, I see
a faint blue glow in the darkness.
It takes all of me to not put on a coat and walk down there to see
what it is, but after the day I’ve had, it’s probably best to try and
rest rather than put my life on the line traipsing through a dark
forest where God knows what's lurking in the shadows.
Luka, Bale, and Pyro have very distinctly colored eyes, with none
of them being blue or cool-toned in the slightest. I want to know
more about the three of them, to push their buttons a little to see if
they snap, they draw me in. Their darkness pulls at the dark little
parts of my soul, but even I have some self-preservation, and going
down there after a warning like I just had seems like a death wish.
 PYRO
I stalk along the tree line in my hellhound form, my heavy feet
snapping the branches with every step and echoing throughout the
quiet woods. After tearing through the clearing earlier, I had almost
expected a visit from the twins. I’m glad when I don’t see them
because I don’t have time for their bullshit tonight when I can sense
there is another of my kind out here.
It’s hard to be agile when you’re the size of a grizzly bear and lit
on fire from the inside out. Smoke pours from my fur with every
step, hitting the cool mist that covers the forest floor and mixing
together, creating white, swirled patterns in the night air.
I pad closer to the edge of the clearing once I see her shadow
moving behind the thin, black curtain of her window. I watch as her
curvy little body leans down to blow out her candle before she hops
into bed.
The memory of her sweet ambrette scent sends a shiver down my
spine; the need to be closer to her winning out against attempting to
talk to the assholes yet again.
Before I’m able to enter her dream, a twig snaps from behind me.
My body whips around to face whoever it is–another hellhound out
to hunt the trio. “Lucian,” I snarl, baring my teeth.
 He’s smaller than me and has a ragged, dull charcoal coat that's
blurred by his blackened smoke. I roll my shoulders back,
preempting the fight that will likely be thrown my way. Lucian is a
lowly hellhound, but he’s scrappy, and I don’t have the time to be
out here injured and trying to heal while she’s at risk.
“He knew you couldn't do it, Pyro. This was all a fucking test, and
you failed,” he snaps, his blue eyes getting brighter and releasing
glowing embers into the mist. “He’s calling you off the job. Report
back now or you will be another name on the hit list.”
Lev had been acting strange when he gave me this mission. He’s
the keeper of Hell’s gate, the Prince of Envy, and he lives up to his
sin in every way possible. I’m one of his best hunters, guarding the
gate for the last 200 years. Collecting souls, severing heads,
whatever was needed, I did it regardless of whether I agreed. Well,
until now.
My ear twitches when the sound of a cry comes from her room,
assaulting my senses one by one. The fear coming from her is
intoxicating, even at a distance. Now is not the fucking time, Wynn.
“Mmmmmm, she smells...delectable, Pyro. It’s a shame they
would never share her with you, isn't it? You won’t always be around
to protect her, and devil knows those idiots don’t seem to
understand what she is to them.” He laughs before running deeper
into the woods and out of sight in seconds.
I’m torn between chasing after him or getting to her to help her
through the nightmare, but the terrified scream coming from her
room makes my decision for me. He had come to send me back, but
I’m not leaving her in the twin’s incapable hands.
 Shifting into my human form, I race to the entrance at the side of
the building just as a loud howl in the distance hurries my
movement, the need to get to her building by the second.
Forcing my shadows out to unlock the side door, I tiptoe through
the halls, hearing her cries getting louder with each step I take. My
shadows flow into the lock, clicking the mechanism, and swinging
the door open with a thud. As soon as I step through the doorway,
the door is quietly shut behind me and locked. Not that it would
really keep anyone out. She doesn't move an inch, her body exposed
on her bed against the moonlight pouring into the room.
The entire space has been torn to shreds, claw marks slashing
across almost every timber surface. Her body starts to writhe, a light
cry escaping her lips as her body curls into itself against the sheets.
I stalk over, unable to enter her nightmare once it has already
started. While I can't join her, I can keep her in a lucid state so she
doesn't wake with a fright. Benefits of being a hellhound.
Her thighs rub against each other with force while her hips buck
off the mattress, her pained expression tempting the hound clawing
inside me to escape once more. My hands glide from her ankles to
her thighs, surprising me when she instinctively parts her thighs at
my touch. The scent of her arousal assaults my senses, my
breathing becoming labored at the display right in front of me.
She isn't wearing any fucking panties.
I lean in close, her scent drawing me in. I should resist, but I am a
demon, after all, and there’s only so much I can take before I
selfishly snap. Lifting her tee up to expose her just a little more, I
see the scars lining her thighs, one so fresh that a rivulet of blood
cascades down her pale thigh and disappears into the red sheets.
My tongue flattens against the stream, licking until I reach the
wound.
Her hips buck, seeking the warmth from my tongue as I lick a trail
along her scarred thighs. I sensed what she did that first morning
after her nightmare with me, the way she cut her thighs to find her
release. I could heal her if I was in my hellhound form, but the blood
looks too fucking delectable against her skin.
Footsteps sound from outside her door, pacing up and down the
hall. The sound of claws digging into the timber door pulls me from
her, her hips raising to chase the heat.
“I can hear you in there, mutt,” Bale growls from behind the door,
his voice deep and laced with pure rage. “Get the fuck away from
her before I tear in there and rip your spine out of your ass and
drain you fucking dry.”
He’s known for his manic temper, the anger always simmering
under the surface, seconds from erupting. He’s similar to me, not
that I would ever admit it to that growly asshole.
“You come in here in that state, and you’ll kill her Bale. She has
nightmares, and she won't live through the night if you step a
fucking foot in here,” I snarl, causing her to jump in her sleep.
“Why would you give a single, flying fuck about what happens to
the girl?” He yells, slamming something into the other side of the
wall. Luckily, her room is in one of the older wings of the place, with
barely any other students down this far.
“If I wanted her dead, Bale, she would already be in pieces and
not laying here needing a release to calm the fuck down.” My body is
braced on the bed between her legs, waiting to see how this plays
out. He could rip through the door at any moment, but for some
reason, he hasn't, not yet anyway.
He doesn't move from outside the door, a loud thud echoing
throughout the room as he more than likely drops to the floor. His
fingers tap at the door in perfect sync with her rapid heart rate while
I settle back between her thighs.
A loud moan rips from her throat as I glide my tongue up to her
clit, flicking the sensitive little thing while my fingers ease into her
pussy. My canines start to descend, sitting on either side of her clit
as my fingers curl inside of her, causing her to tighten around me.
A growl escapes my throat at the thought of fucking her and how
tight she would feel around my cock. How my knot would push her
perfect cunt to its limits and hold my cum inside her. The need to fill
her, to breed her, is overwhelming. My cock is as hard as stone as I
grind it against the soft bedsheets, while my tongue devours her
whole. I can feel her body start to tremble, her walls clamping down
around my fingers with a vice-like grip.
Wrapping my free hand around my length, I glide my grip along
the row of barbells tightly, sending the sweet sting of pain straight
through my body as I run over each piercing. Her screams fill the
room as her release covers my face, dripping onto the sheets below
us. Holy fucking shit!
My cock hardens unbearably, chasing its own release while my
tongue continues to flick against her core, because fuck knows if I’ll
ever get the chance to taste her again. My knot starts to swell
painfully in my hand, thickening with each movement I make until
my tongue ghosts over her clit once more. She whimpers, her body
continuing to shake under my hold. The sound is what finally sends
me over the edge as I cum on the sheets beneath me.
The need to mark her is strong as I swipe through my release,
coating my hands before touching her. Reaching up, I run my fingers
along her sensitive pussy, gliding two of my fingers inside her core,
marking her with my scent.
“Was that really fucking necessary, Pyro?” Bale seethes through
the door before storming off down the hall, pushing things over on
his way past. I can only imagine the destruction students are going
to wake up to tomorrow after his tantrum.
Her body turns over, goosebumps scattering along her pale thighs
from the cool air. She seems relaxed, her breathing evening back
out, and her heart rate going back to a normal rhythm. I cover her
with the comforter, wrapping it tightly around her shoulders, before
shifting back to my hellhound form to warm up the space with my
presence. The heat in the room picks up quickly with me curled up
in the corner, watching over her.
 CHAPTER SEVEN

BALE

P ushing through the door to our wing, I storm inside, slamming

the door behind me.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. It’s Mr. I-am-
going-to-treat-her-like-I-hate-her-but-then-check-on-her-while-she-
sleeps,” Luka taunts from the lounge as he tosses his gaming
controller onto the plush, black sofa beside him. All of the lights in
the space are dimmed, casting most of the room in darkness, just as
I had left it.
“Now isn't the time, asshole,” I snarl, stalking toward my room to
avoid this conversation, or at least try to.
“Not so fast, come on. Did you break in and watch her sleep? Sit
in the dark like a creep while our pretty little thing slept soundly
without a care in the world?” He calls out, switching off the
television and following behind me.
“No. She came all over Pyro, from what I could hear. He kept her
lucid and made her come during a nightmare. Her fucking whimpers,
Luka...” I trail off, flinging my bedroom door open and walking
toward the black wingback chair in the corner.
Luka rushes forward, pushing me against the closest wall with his
hand around my throat and his eyes hazy, the dark swirls taking over
the red in his pupils.
“What the fuck? Can you repeat that because I can't have heard
that right?” He orders, giving me a death glare like he’s about to rip
right through me. To be honest, I wouldn't mind the fight with him
tonight. After the day we had, we could both let off some steam.
“As I said, she was having a nightmare, and Pyro was in her room.
He made her come, then marked her cunt with his scent. Need more
details?” I snap back, pulling his arm from my throat and pushing
past him, throwing my shoulder into his with force. Walking over to
the chair, I let my body fall into it, leaning my head back into the
backrest.
“After spending the day with her today, feeling her skin, seeing
how she reacts to us, I don’t think I can let her go like we planned,
Bale,” he huffs, dropping into the chair opposite mine.
“It’s too dangerous, Luka. You know that as well as I do. Show
some restraint and stop thinking with your cock,” I respond, not
bothering to look at him, my head still tipped back. “We need to
stick to the plan, no matter how tempting it is to give in. Stick to the
fucking plan.”
“That could’ve been us, you know. We could have been tasting
her. Sharing her,” Luka snarls, extending his wings dramatically
before tucking them behind him, giving the illusion of two horns on
each side of his head. “A fire mutt has tasted what is rightfully ours
before we even got close.”
He storms out of the room, slamming the door shut on his way
out. Knowing my brother, he will be fine in the morning, but he will
want to pay the girl a visit to check on her.
For me, being close to her is a fucking danger. The pull I feel is so
strong that it causes me pain to be away from her, but whenever
we’re close, it takes all I have to control myself. If I were to lose that
control, I don’t know whether that would result in her being torn to
pieces or not having a choice with a mating bond.
What makes it worse is that she seems to thrive on my struggle.
She likes to push me to see how far she can take it. The girl sees my
anger, my true form escaping, and she gets so wet that it starts to
drip down her thighs. She tempts my beast, and he’s more than
happy to give her what she craves.

WYNN
As usual, I wake with a jolt just as the sun starts to rise and fills
the room with a muted orange light. I stretch out my body, the
muscles light and relaxed, and the usual ache after a night of
nightmares missing. My hands trace the soft, damp sheets below me
at the realization.
 He was here. I thought I had felt him, but my body wasn't quite
asleep nor awake. All I know is that I felt something. Something I
couldn't easily explain.
My fingers ghost across my core, spreading myself apart to feel
where the twinge of pain is coming from. I can feel two cuts on
either side of my clit, and when I pull them up, I find my fingers
coated in fresh blood. Well fuck, that’s hot as all freaking sin.
My eyes adjust to the morning light as a thick layer of smoke
lingers along the ceiling, filling my lungs with every breath. It smells
like a campfire has been lit in the room, the burning embers tickling
my nose. My mind goes back to the nightmare where I first met
Pryo, the smokey, wolf-like creature smelt almost exactly the same
as my room. He must have been here but not as a person, and I
slept through the whole damn thing.
I shower quickly, dressing in a short, black denim skirt with
fishnets and black, lace-topped socks. I rustle through the tops in
my drawer, finding a grey and black striped sweater before buckling
on a black leather under-bust harness. It’s the weekend, so I may as
well look a little more like myself.
I brush a dusting of amber across my lids with a sharp winged
liner and a red-tinted gloss for my lips. A smirk spreads across my
face as I walk out of the door, the air hitting between my thighs with
each step.
Waiting just outside my door are the twins, both casually leaning
against the wall with their hands in their pockets. Standing next to
each other, they are a force.
 Bale looks good enough to fucking eat, with his black, ripped
jeans and combat boots; his black t-shirt with 'mayhem' written
across the chest; showcasing the tattoos sprawling up his arms and
neck. Even just being in their presence wakes up my body, which
already feels like it has been on high alert since I stepped foot onto
Blackstone turf.
Luka’s a little more subdued, dressed in light denim jeans and a
white t-shirt. They are two polar opposites standing side by side. My
mind goes back to yesterday, remembering the feeling of Bale's
teeth on my neck and his twin’s hands around my throat. I giggle as
I feel my core tighten at the memory, remembering exactly how it
felt after that run-in.
“Oh look, it’s my mates.” I smile at the twins, using air quotes at
the word mates. “What a pleasant surprise on a Saturday morning.”
Bale's nostrils flare, his heated eyes raking over my body from
head to toe and back up again. His stare pins me in place, and I’m
unable to move even if I wanted to.
Luka breaks the silence, striding confidently toward me, his hand
ghosting along my cheeks while his red eyes search mine. “You let
him in, little Wynn. Why would you let him in?” My brows pull
together, confusion spreading across my face while I try to figure out
what he’s going on about.
“What you mean to say is she fucked him, brother,” Bale sneers
from the wall, his fingers toying with a black piece of lace that looks
exactly like a pair of my missing panties.
“I’m struggling to see why anything I do affects either of you,” I
deadpan, my eyes on the material in his hands. He brings it closer to
his face, inhaling deeply while the black veins spread from his eyes.
The movement should creep me out if they are, in fact, a pair of my
missing panties. Yet here I am, so turned on that my upper thighs
are becoming slick.
“I love a bit of commando as much as the next girl, but under the
skirts? One gust of wind, and everyone is going to see my kitty.
Luckily, I shaved.” I laugh, watching as Bale struggles to keep his
composure, dropping his fisted hand to his side and then into his
pocket. His jaw flares as he tenses, his eyes now fixated on the apex
of my thighs.
“Don't push him,” Luka whispers against my ear, his breath
heating my skin. “Stay inside today, this is the only warning you will
get.”
 CHAPTER EIGHT

LUKA

H is heavy footsteps echo throughout the silent woodland, every

animal having made themselves scarce with the presence of
Satan traipsing through their home.
“Come now, tell me what you boys have actually found out while
playing school. I can sense her, the lust pouring from her soul.” He
grins, his white-fanged teeth on full display. His features mirror mine
almost exactly, with his platinum blonde hair and bloodred eyes. He
is, in most ways, an older version of me.
“From yours too.” He nods at each of us with a smirk. “There have
been whispers that another prince has been sending the hounds
after the two of you for quite some time, but the murders only
started happening weeks ago, correct?”
I nod, confirming what he already knows. “They started
happening when we got the news that she had enrolled here. Her
parents came to discuss her spot, handed over a donation, and left.
The first body showed up the following morning,” Bale states, his
eyes not leaving the lace in his hands. He’s lucky she’s a little weird
and seemed to think his new fidget toy was a turn-on.
Our father has always been a little harder on Bale, their
relationship strained, even on a positive day. Where I was born with
our father’s demon qualities, Bale took after our mother. His black
hair and amber eyes are identical to hers, and our father despises it.
Bale looking so much like her only adds fuel to the already burning
fire between the two of them. Her kind are typically more solitary, so
as soon as we were born, she left, leaving our father to raise us
alone.
We were raised in the Ring of Wrath by our father, one of the
Seven Princes of the Underworld. The seven steer clear of each
other in the depths unless they are required for meetings or
ceremonies. Putting that number of high-level demons in one place,
each with their own innate sin, is a bad idea, but letting them all up
here together would bring total and utter destruction, which is not
something that we can afford.
The chaos of hell is intoxicating for our kind, but in order to keep
it from imploding, they live by strict laws. One of which is not
bringing disputes to this plane, but here we are. Our father just
needs to know more about who it is so that they can sort their shit
out where they are supposed to, and the best way to do that is to
question the grunts.
“So, they’re trying to kill her or take her? Do we know yet?” He
questions, his eyes flitting between us.
“None that we have captured have been willing to say much, other
than the fact that we’re fighting a losing battle and to let them have
her,” I reply, holding eye contact while Bale stares at the ground with
a scowl.
Father continues to walk, heading deeper into the woods, with the
two of us walking side by side behind him.
“There are two hunters this time. They’re increasing in numbers
and if we don't fix this shit soon, I will have to send more demons
above ground, which I really do not wish to do. I may not like it
here, but they will destroy it like everything else they touch. We
need the souls from here for us to stay functioning down there. Do
you understand how serious this could be if it gets out of hand?”
“Of course we fucking get it, Father. Give us some credit. We
know. We’re the ones here living through this shit to make sure the
gate is safe,” Bale snarls, walking over to a tree far from our father
and leaning against it, once again fiddling with her black lace as if it
grounds him.
Ignoring him, our father stops mid-step, inhaling deeply with a
wide, sinister grin spreading across his already menacing face.
“We think one may be fated to her, could it be possible?” I ask
cautiously. It’s unheard of and doesn't make a lick of sense, but
there’s no other reason why he wouldn't have killed her on sight.
Suddenly, Bale is off running back toward the academy, a loud
squeal suddenly echoing back to us through the trees.
“Get the fuck off me!” She yells. A loud growl ripping from Bale's
throat her only answer.
“For fuck’s sake,” I huff out, jogging in their direction with Father
in tow.
 Bale has her up against a tree, her feet dangling below her while
she thrashes her body against him in a futile attempt to fight him
off. His eyes are pools of molten lava, surrounded by thin, black
veins, as he stares at the tears rolling down her reddened cheeks.
“Bale, drop her! You’re about to kill the girl!” Father roars,
grabbing him by his collar and throwing him to the ground, forcing
Wynn to drop into a heap at the base of the tree. “I don't care if you
haven't decided or come to terms with the fates, but if what Luka
says is true and the hound is fated as well, this is why they’re being
sent. It’s unheard of for a human to be fated with this many
different supernatural beings, so there must be something about her
that makes her different. Someone wants her to see if they can take
it, whatever it is.”
I walk over to her slumped form, my hand tracing down her back
to siphon some emotion to see where she’s at and if she needs some
help to calm down. I expected some fear, a little bit of panic with a
sprinkling of dread. After all, she is alone in the woods with a
demon, a vampire, and Satan himself, but instead, the girl is excited.
Her tears were forced from her eyes by Bale's firm grip on her
throat, not fear.
She lets out a laugh, her wide eyes taking in the three of us with a
hint of humor. “This is a cute little family picnic.” She smiles, her
brow raising at the laughter erupting from our father.
Standing up, she strolls over to him, a little unsteady on her feet,
extending her small, perfectly manicured hand toward him. She's
ballsy, I’ll give her that. This five-foot-nothing girl just strolled up to
fucking Satan to shake his hand.
 “Let me guess...You look a hell of a lot like this asshole, so I’m
assuming you’re daddy dearest? By the looks of it, you already
somehow know who I am, but hi, I'm Wynn.”
His gravelly laughter fills the air once more, and he takes her hand
in a firm handshake, bending down to meet her eyes; the height
difference between them is almost comical.
“Hello, little Wynn. You're right. I’m these little assholes' father,
but you can call me Satan,” he quips, a smirk spreading across his
face. She is at eye level with his fangs, but still, excitement is all that
I can sense from her. “Now, Wynn, how much of this do you know
about, hmm?”
“I know that your lovely twins here have been causing me grief
and that I’m being followed by something that isn't them. An asshole
named Pyro keeps popping up and warning me to stay inside, and
there are creatures with embers for eyes watching my window. Now,
Satan, my next question. How do we fix it?” She asks, using air
quotes when speaking his name, as if she doesn't believe who she’s
speaking to.
“We tie the bitch up to lure the two that are here. Torture them,
sort this shit out once and for all, and then send her the fuck away
from here,” Bale snaps, pacing behind us.
“Well then, get to work, boys. I can't be here for this, as you
know, but report back in the morning. I hope you live through this,
Wynn, but if not, you’re welcome down in the depths. You’ll fit in
well down there. I can see why the fates picked you for these two,
or should I say three? You have a fire in you that most humans
simply can't possess.”
 Bale stays at a distance, glaring at her with a scowl. He’s fighting
this, fighting her better than I’m able to.
“So what’s the plan? Testing out a little rope play?” She laughs,
her eyes lighting up like we’ve given her a gift.
“No. We string you up and lure them both out. You can watch us
torture them, tear their hearts from their chests, and then we’ll send
you on your merry way,” Bale growls before prowling off through the
trees with a sinister grin.
“What he means to say is, yes, Wynn. We’re going to play with
some rope, and you, pretty girl, will be the bait.” I walk over to her,
jutting my chin in the direction of the Academy. “Now let's go get
you cleaned up and changed.”

BALE
The fire mutt is leaning against the hall beside our door, his fire-
filled gaze pinned on mine as I approach. I don't have the time for
this bullshit, especially without Luka here as a buffer.
“Sorry, Fluffy, no pets allowed. Now get the fuck out.”
“As much as I would love to tear your arrogant ass to shreds,
Bale, I’m here to help. I know Lucian is here, hunting her. I also
know that there are likely more being sent in because I went against
command and didn't bring her back for him or kill her.” His jaw is
clenched, anger clinging to every word he speaks. “I can't explain
the pull I have to her, but we don't have the time to fuck around and
figure it out. What's the plan?”
We don't have the time to linger on how much of a mess things
have become, not now with Wynn being prettied up like a sacrifice
as we speak.
Unlocking the door, I walk into the large, dark space we call home.
It’s more of a wing than a room, thanks to Father and his ties to the
place, with a lounge connecting the two bedrooms. Every surface is
black, down to the stained timber furniture.
“Come in, but touch anything in here and I will rip your beating
heart from your chest. I don't want a flea infestation or some shit.”
His laugh is gravelly, echoing throughout the room, with small
wisps of smoke leaving his body with each movement. “You ARE
aware that we’re not wolves or dogs, right? Not even close.”
“Looks like a dog. Smells like a dog. Acts like a dog.” I nod,
emphasizing each phrase. “Sounds like a dog to me.”
He leans his back against the door casually, keeping a safe
distance despite our current conversation.
“Wynn will be tied in the woods for wolf boy 2.0 to sniff out. Then
we question him, have some fun, and send him to purgatory with
the others. Now that you’re here though, you would have some of
the answers we need anyway,” I state, walking toward my bedroom
to grab two lengths of rope from the duffle under my bed that we
usually take hunting. “Why don't you tell me why hellhounds have
been tearing students to shreds and hunting Wynn?” I call out,
wrapping the lengths of rope around my hand tightly while I walk
back into the lounge.
 “Look, Bale, I know limited information. Hounds don't get let loose
here often, until lately, because Lev knew she was coming, and most
are unhinged. They would have been ripping people apart for the
fun of it. As for Wynn, I was sent as a test. One I failed. I was to
take her back to Lev or kill her on sight because of the fates. That's
all I know,” he admits, the flames in his eyes burning brighter as he
talks about her.
“Alright. I don't like you, not even a little, but it could be of some
use to have you there. Don't approach Wynn, but circle at a distance
just in case he sends more. Once we deal with the rejected wonder
pup, we can regroup and try to figure out what the fuck is going on.”
I scowl, crossing my arms across my chest with the rope dangling
from my hand. My jaw clenches, fangs painfully piercing through my
inner lip and spreading the metallic taste of blood through my
mouth.
“Just keep her safe. I know you act like you hate her, but keep her
safe. I’ll be there in the shadows, but do not fuck this up and put
her at risk,” he growls, stalking out of the room.
“I will protect her with my life,” I whisper under my breath and
make my way to her room.
 CHAPTER NINE

WYNN

M y arms are pulled above my head, yanking the hem of the

already short dress Luka had picked to skate along my upper
thigh. The slight wind is cool against my exposed core, my panties
still firmly in Bale’s possession.
“Remember the plan. Nothing we say in front of it is true, okay? If
he suspects we have any interest in you, even a little, we risk him
killing you straight away,” he says, expertly tying off the rope.
“Aw, cute. Acting like you care, how sweet. If I didn’t chase the
high that fear brings, I wouldn't be tied up to this tree, Luka. This
shit is exciting.” I laugh, the movement causing the tree to scrape
painfully along my back . I can feel droplets of blood cascading
down my spine, gathering in the fabric that hugs my hips tightly.
Luka pauses, his eyes tracking down my thighs intensely while he
ties my ankles to the tree tightly. I find myself staring at him while
he’s on his knees and gripping my ankles with his searingly hot
touch.
 I feel a pull toward both of the twins, like my body craves to be
closer to theirs the more I’m around them. It could be the danger of
them drawing me in, the thrill setting my body alight. Maybe it’s the
darkness that consumes me when I’m near them. Whatever it is, I’m
quickly becoming addicted to the feeling.
Luka’s grip on my ankles tightens, pulling me from my train of
thought and back to the man staring at my bare core, which would
be on full display from his position. A familiar heat begins to build
under his intense gaze before two sharp, black points tear through
his t-shirt along his shoulder blades.
Holy shit. Why is that so fucking hot?
“Little Wynn, I’m going to need you to do something for me,
okay? I need you to think of something mundane. Something you
dislike, like unicorns or some shit, knowing you, but definitely
something not pleasant. At all.” His eyes are locked on mine, with
not a hint of humor crossing them.
“Unicorns? Are you on crack, Luka? Your dad is literally Satan.
Surely he can afford rehab. Wait, do they have drugs in he—”
Suddenly, he rises from the ground, his lips ghosting across mine.
My body attempts to move forward, to close the distance between
us, only to be restricted by the rope holding me in place. Just out of
reach.
“Because it’s taking all I have to not rip this dress off your body
and fuck the soul right out of you.”
He presses one hand to the tree beside my head while his other
hand trails up my side, wrapping around my throat with force before
his lips crash against mine. The kiss is consuming, my entire body
feeling the heat radiating off of him. Tears prick at the corners of my
eyes on contact, the overflow of emotion becoming too much to hold
in.
“Fuck, Wynn,” he curses, pushing off me and stalking away. My
brain short-circuits for a moment, I'm too stunned to speak or call
after him even though I want to. I wanted to feel his hands on my
skin and around my throat. I wanted to be consumed by him, all
from a single taste.
Bale emerges from the treeline, his painfully gorgeous face set in
a permanent scowl as usual. “We’ll be around, waiting for the
moment to intervene. Don't be an idiot, and you should live to see
another day.”

I’ve been here for hours, my shoulders aching from the restraints
and a burning pulse shooting through my muscles.
There has been no movement since Bale stormed off in a huff, the
bustle of the leaves being the only noise in the otherwise silent
woods. My skin feels like ice, the dress doing nothing to combat the
cool night air howling through the trees.
Finally, I faintly hear sticks snapping as an extremely large, dark
gray, wolf-like beast steps into the clearing with a snarl. He moves
closer to me, smoke pouring from his body with each step. This
beast looks like the one from my nightmares, only different. Where
mine had orange, coal-like eyes, this one has electric blue eyes,
shooting glowing embers into the dark mist as he walks.
A loud rumble sounds from his throat as a long, black tongue licks
at his already dripping jowls. “Well, well, well. They kill my brothers
but leave my feast tied up in a pretty bow. How sweet,” he growls,
his voice low.
“Didn't anyone ever teach you not to play with your food?” I spit
back, keeping my breathing deep and my heart rate as steady as
possible, not from fear but from the excitement thrumming through
my veins. The beast laughs manically, his mangy fur shifting with the
movement. The one in my dreams looked powerful and sleek, with
jet-black fur. He was terrifying but beautiful. This one is not like that
in any way, shape, or form.
“You’re one of the most delectable gifts. Mmm, yes, I’ll be having
fun with you before I tear you to shreds. I’ve heard my brother,
Pyro. The way he tastes you. My fucked up little gift.”
His face comes closer, his long, white teeth snapping the strap
around my dress and tearing it clean from my body, leaving me stark
naked thanks to my panty thief. The hound's wet nose runs down
my bare stomach, stopping at the apex of my thighs and breathing
deeply. I try to shift away, but my body is tied up tight, so all it does
is force the tree to dig further into my back.
The fear starts to creep in, and not the kind that makes my core
flood. Tremors start to roll over my body as my heart rate gains
momentum, almost feeling like it will burst through my chest. They
said they would be here, so where the fuck are they now?
 The pure heat rolling off of his body burns my skin as his teeth
slice along my stomach, his tongue swiping along my core with
brutal force.
A loud sound cracks above us, and then Luka’s large, black wings
dominate the space in front of me and behind the beast. He’s taller
and broader than usual, his body looking like it was cut from pale
stone. The leather-like wings tuck neatly behind him, with the
pointed tips looking like large, sharp horns from the front.
The hound turns to look behind him, completely unphased by
Luka’s presence. “Where’s baby brother, Luka?” He chuckles, licking
his tongue along his jowl. “He's missing the show.”
I watch as Luka crosses his arms along his broad chest before
speaking. “Oh, he's coming. He won't want to miss this bitch being
eaten alive. Although, we didn't think you would be eating her twice.
It's not like your kind to play with your chow.”
The beast’s body shifts, shaking excess smoke into the air as he
turns back to face me. His long, black tongue trails from my ear
down to my nipple, nipping at the sensitive flesh before he sinks his
sharp teeth through my skin. My body jolts as the pain from the bite
spreads throughout my chest, the movement only making him bite
down harder.
A tear escapes the corner of my eye and runs down my cheek,
partially from the pain, but also a little embarrassment of knowing
Luka can sense what pain does to me despite where it comes from. I
can feel the dull throb forming in my core, the familiar ache building
in a situation where it really shouldn’t be.
 Luka’s hazy, red eyes rake over my bloodied body, his face
impassive while he assesses the damage until his eyes land on the
deep cuts through my stomach. I scream out in pain, my body
thrashing in the tight bonds and causing them to tear into my skin.
It hurts, but it’s nothing compared to the ache radiating through my
chest.
The hound chuckles, looking up at me with a wide, manic grin
plastered across his face. My blood has stained his white teeth pink,
marring his face with dark red patches.
“They dragged you out here against your will, tied you up with
rope, and left you here to die, knowing that I would find you. Do you
really think they will save you now, you pain-hungry little slut?” He
laughs, the smoke burning the back of my throat and making me
cough when I take a deep breath.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bale moving out of the
darkness. His body is huge, stacked with muscle in his black, fitted t-
shirt and ripped black jeans. The black veins around his eyes now
pulse, framing his glowing, amber eyes terrifyingly as he takes in the
sight of me.
My heart races, beating so hard that it feels like it’ll burst out of
my chest any moment as he approaches, stopping right next to the
blood-soaked beast.
“I see you found our offering, mongrel. Now, who the fuck is
sending you assholes here, and why do they want her?”
The beast turns to face them, with Luka now standing next to his
twin and completely at ease. They turn to face each other, a grin
spreading across each of their faces in unison. Suddenly, Bale’s
black, lengthened claws slice across the hellhound's throat, spraying
tar-like blood across my bare stomach. It sears my open wounds,
forcing more tears to flood my already tearstained cheeks.
“Don't make me ask again, Mutt!” Bale roars in the hellhound's
face, holding its jowls in his large hand, before forcing him to face
his brother. Luka whips a long, black tail across its face, slicing from
its coal eyes down to its snout in one swoop, as though it were
tipped with a razor blade.
“You’ll die either way. You can choose whether we draw it out nice
and long, torturing every single piece of you until you break, or you
can tell us what the fuck is happening and we’ll kill you quickly,”
Luka snarls into his face, his voice dripping with venom.
“You little fucking pricks,” the hound snaps, causing Bale’s clawed
hand to tense around his already bleeding face. “FINE! The
Leviathan caught wind that your fated was on its way.” He coughs
loudly as smoke pours from his wounds. “The demons have been
talking. It spreads quickly down there.”
Bale's grip tightens, bringing the beast closer to his face. Two
rows of lengthened, sharp fangs snap at the beast as an inhuman
growl rips from his throat.
“Keep fucking talking.” Bale is utterly terrifying in this moment,
with his fangs lengthened and his anger targeted. I wonder what
they would feel like raking along my skin.
The beast's blue eyes shoot toward me, raking over my bloodied
body with a smile tipping his lips. The word fated stands out,
instantly halting my thoughts. Fated. Fate is not something I have
previously believed in, my parents made sure of that. They are
analytical, science-based people with a penchant for the dark and
morbid side of the scientific world.
Then again, I’m currently tied to a tree in the middle of the woods
with a hellhound at my feet and the twins looking like something out
of a horror movie. Yet here I am, wanting to be closer to them,
craving the darkness that comes over me whenever they are near.
“Focus, pretty girl, you’re going to want to hear what this asshole
has to say,” Luka calls out, pulling me back to the situation in front
of me.
“They say that she will be able to carry young from both of you,
creating a hybrid unlike anything Hell has ever seen before. A single
being who is a born vampire, demon, an unknown, and human.
They will hold more power than any being that currently exists. Do
you understand what that means for us? It threatens the entire
existence of the fucking hierarchy.” The beast coughs once more, the
smoke pouring from him turning black.
“We’re sent to take or kill her, or one of you, whichever presents
itself first, but this little bitch is a lot easier than the two of you. If
she lives and you have her, Hell itself will crumble. Lev has a demon
versed in the fates imprisoned, and she said the girl needs to die,
but you know Lev. He probably wants to fuck her tight little cunt to
see if he can breed the bitch too.” He laughs, then turns back to the
twins.
“Come on now, boys, you may as well—”
Before he can finish the sentence, the beast drops to the forest
floor, bursting into flames at my feet. In Bale's hand is a black, still-
beating heart, dripping down into a pool of blood on the ground. His
chest is heaving as he steps closer to me, dropping the beating
heart at my feet.
 CHAPTER TEN

WYNN

“O ur perfect little Wynn, you did so well for us,” Luka praises,
walking to stand by his twin in front of me. Their towering
forms gaze down, taking in all of the cuts and marks scattered over
my naked body. My arms and legs have become stiff, unable to
move even slightly within the binds. Luka’s hand rests on his
brother's shoulder, shifting him to stand directly in front of me.
“Do you really think you can resist her now, brother? Because I
sure as fuck can’t any longer. I need to feel you, Wynn. I need to
taste you. It hurts to not be close to you,” Luka forces out, stepping
closer to me before running his finger along my wet cheek. He
opens his mouth, licking his forked tongue along his finger, and
tastes my tears. My body is frozen in place as I stare into the eyes of
a demon who looks at me like he wants to devour me whole.
Bale stands beside him, his body tense and unmoving other than
his chest rising and falling with each breath he takes. The veins
under his eyes are as black as the night sky, pulsing under the
surface while his gaze is pinned to mine.
 “Tell us. Tell us that you need us just as much. That you feel it like
we do. That you love the fucking danger of being around us, Wynn.
That every fiber of your being is pulling you toward us,” Bale rasps,
breaking his silence.
Immediately, I nod, knowing everything he said is true. As soon as
I met the two of them, I felt it. The pull, the connection. The need
to be closer and know more about them. My body very quickly
became addicted to their brand of fear, unflinching when I saw what
they truly are.
“There’s a chance that this could get a little wild. We’re mates,
and when mates fuck for the first time, it becomes uncontrollable.
With two mates, we’re fucking our way into uncharted territory,”
Luka urges, like that would change my mind.
“Do I need to beg for someone to fucking touch me? I’m the one
naked and tied to a tree with cuts all over my body, but you’re the
ones who seem sc—”
I’m cut off when Luka’s hands grip my throat tightly, his face
inches from mine.
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you, pretty girl. Now let me taste what’s
mine.”
He drops to his knees, his tail swiping at the binds on my legs as
his large, clawed hands grip my thighs tightly. Raising one to his
shoulder, his eyes glance back up at mine, and he winks before
settling into place between my legs. Long claws dig into my thighs,
keeping me locked in place as rivulets of blood trail down from the
impact points. The sharp sting goes straight to my now dripping
core, open and exposed in the middle of the woods.
 “Relax, little Wynn. Let me thank you. Let me devour you. I had to
watch that thing taste what was mine before I was even able to
touch you fully,” he growls, his long, forked tongue flicking out of his
mouth and wetting his lips.
“Look how fucking perfect her cunt is, brother.” Bale's body
shudders, his eyes fixated on the apex of my thighs as he rakes his
sharp teeth across his lower lip, looking like he’s ready to pounce at
any moment.
Luka moves in closer, the heat radiating from him heating my
thighs almost unbearably. His forked tongue traces from my ass to
my core, flicking over my sensitive clit with intense pressure. A low
rumble vibrates through his mouth as he tastes me, his sharp teeth
nipping at my core before he pushes his tongue inside me as deep
as he can. Sharp pain shoots through my body as he tears through
the last bit of resistance, the orgasm that has been building now
threatening to rip me apart.
My whole body tenses while I try and hold it back, not wanting
this to end so quickly, and warm tears begin streaming down my
face. His glowing, red eyes are now a dark, smokey haze, thick with
lust. His claws grip me tighter, the pain pushing me over the edge as
a wave of pleasure rolls through my body.
“FUCK!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
My whole body convulses around his tongue, covering him in my
release. He moans deeply as he stands, stepping toward Bale, who
was yet to move from beside me. Luka raises his brow at his twin,
who searches his face before opening his mouth with a grin. Bale
grabs Luka’s jaw with his tattooed hand, staring at his lips intensely,
waiting.
I watch as Luka leans in, spitting my release into his mouth. Bale
swallows immediately, closing his eyes and swiping his tongue along
his lips hungrily. My jaw drops open, looking between the twins in
awe. He just spat my cum and blood into his twin’s mouth,
something downright filthy to watch, and I have never been more
turned on. My core clenches at the thought, craving more.
“Our girl never told us she was a virgin, brother. You couldn't miss
out on tasting how fucking sweet she is,” Luka groans, wiping his
hand across his bloodied chin, and licking the remnants of my
release from his fingers.
Bale closes the distance between us, his hand circling the column
of my throat as a wicked smile spreads across his face.
“You had the first taste, Luka. It's only fair.” He chuckles, moving
in and nipping at the skin on my collarbone. His tongue glides across
the hellhound bites, smearing the dried blood across my chest and
trailing down the cuts on my stomach. He takes a moment, tearing
off the tight, black T-shirt he’s wearing and tossing it to the side of
us.
My mouth goes dry, all rational thoughts that may have been left
disappearing in that moment. He’s covered in black tattoos, rippling
over his defined muscles that tense under my gaze.
“Little Wynn, you do taste fucking divine,” he growls, sinking to his
knees to lick the slice across my thigh that had been torn back open
during the scuffle. “If he wasn't already a smoldering pile of ash, I
would tear him to shreds for marking you.” He stands then, towering
over me once more as he picks me up, forcing me to wrap my legs
around his waist. With his free hand, I can hear him pulling his
zipper down, his cock teasing at my entrance seconds later.
“Luka, rope.” He nods to my wrists, which are raw and bloodied
from the ordeal tonight. Luka steps closer, swiping his tail along the
bindings, allowing my arms to drop to my sides.
My shoulders are numb and sore from being pinned above me for
so long, but in this moment, I couldn’t care less. I force them up,
wrapping them around Bale’s neck as he holds me up by my ass. He
eases us both to the ground, with him stretching out beneath me
and my knees on either side of his hips being sliced by debris and
twigs.
“Bale, I...” I start before he cuts me off.
“Lift your ass, Wynn,” he breathes out, pulling me up as he
sweeps the head of his cock between my thighs, lining himself up
with my entrance before slamming inside of me with one hard
thrust. I cry out in pain and pleasure, bracing my hands on his chest
and breathing deeply while my body attempts to get used to the
feeling of him inside me. “That’s it, breathe through it. Focus on me.
Focus on how your perfect cunt is taking every inch of me,” Bale
groans, moving my hips slightly up, then back down, hitting the very
end of me.
My core feels like it’s on fire, ripping apart at the seams, and I
can’t get enough of it. The pain drives me forward, my body gaining
rhythm and grinding down on Bale’s cock with my nails digging into
his chest. I can feel Luka’s presence behind me right before he
wraps my hair around his hand and pulls so that my eyes are looking
straight ahead.
There, in the tree line, is the hellhound from my nightmares,
staring straight at us. His body looks like it is alight, with small
flames flickering from parts of his fur.
“Focus on the fact that you’re being fucked by a vampire in the
middle of the woods, covered in blood, and being watched by your
fire mutt,” Luka whispers into my ear as redness spreads across my
cheeks. “He’ll keep us safe out here. Now let the fuck go. Give in to
it, Wynn.”
Luka pulls my ass cheeks apart with a firm grip before spitting and
swiping his fingers through it, halting at the tight muscle. I grind
back against his finger, chasing what he’s wanting to give. He slowly
eases his finger in and out, spitting again before adding a second.
“This will hurt, little Wynn. Are you sure?” He rasps into my ear,
nipping at my earlobe playfully. I nod, staring at Pryo, who is now
sitting in front of us, a low rumble sounding from him. His tongue
darts out, licking along his lips while he looks down at where Bale is
fucking me. I can feel myself tightening around Bale’s cock, my body
tensing in their hold as an orgasm tears through me.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” Bale moans, his fingers digging into
my hips as he slows, looking over my shoulder and nodding. Luka’s
fingers slide out, replaced by the head of his cock pushing into my
ass. “Push back into him at your pace. Use my cock to ease the
pain,” Bale demands as he grips my throat, bringing me down into
an all-consuming kiss. It’s savage, with fangs tearing at my lips and
filling my mouth with blood, fueling my need for them. He breaks
the kiss only to pull my head to the side, exposing my neck, and
nipping at my pulse point with his sharpened fangs.
Luka tenses his grip on my hip while he pushes through the last of
my resistance, sliding in and out of my ass at the same pace as Bale
fucks me.
“I want to taste you. I want to take you to the brink of fucking
death only to bring you back to life again,” Bale whispers before
digging his fangs into my neck, hard. It feels euphoric, like I’m out
of my own body, floating. The pain is excruciating, at war with the
pleasure rolling through me at the same time. Bale lets a guttural
groan free, stilling inside of me as a rush of warmth floods my core.
“Luka, why, why are you getting bigger?” I cry out, feeling him
stretch at the base, locking himself into my ass.
“FUCK!” He yells, pushing himself as deep as he can, his release
pulsing through me.
A feeling like fire and ice colliding spreads through my veins,
burning and freezing me from the inside out, forcing me to scream
in pain. Tears stream down my face as the world starts to tip on its
axis, swaying back and forth blurrily, before my mind goes
completely black.
 CHAPTER ELEVEN

BALE

I planned to make her run, to scare her. I wanted her running

from us, overcome by fear, but the more I pushed, the more she
pulled me right back in. Now there’s no chance of me getting back
out, not now that I’ve had a taste of her.
Mates or mating bonds are not something spoken about often
back home, at least not with me. Luka is the one who needs a
queen, someone to sit alongside him and rule should that time
come. Yet here we are, mated to a girl who is fated to bring chaos
and destruction. I still want to hurt her, to make her bleed for me,
it’s in my nature being a vampire. Only now, I want to be deep
inside her perfect cunt as I do it.
Her body is curled against mine as I walk back to the Academy,
Luka and the mutt close behind us, walking in silence. Pyro kept to
his promise, something that shocked the living daylights out of me.
He kept a safe perimeter around her, watching us a little more
closely than I had expected. I could hear him and Luka talking body
counts, having had another four hellhounds sent tonight to get to
her.
“If you two idiots have hurt her, I swear to Lucifer you’ll be paying
for it for the rest of your miserable existence,” Pyro growls, still in his
hellhound form so he’s ready if we come across another.
“Relax, she just passed out. She lost a lot of blood and mated with
both of us. Nothing some rest won't fix,” Luka responds casually,
laughing at the snarl he receives in response.
“If I could break up your powwow with Wonder Dog for a moment
please, Luka!” I call out, unable to open the external door to our
wing with her in my arms.
“Everyone needs to take a chill pill. Wynn will be fine.” Luka
laughs, pushing past me to throw the door open.
I storm straight up to my bedroom, kicking the door open into the
wide-open space. The walls are black, lit only by the orange glow
from the wall lamps sparsely spread throughout the space. The
black, gothic-style bed head reaches the tall ceiling, with our family
crest carved into the middle. I lay her down on the black silk sheets,
watching as her chest rises and falls evenly despite what she had
gone through tonight.
Luka and Pyro walk in soon after, taking in the sight of her
sprawled out and dead to the world. She has cuts marring her
porcelain skin, red and angry-looking with blood cascading down
either side of her stomach and chest. “Let me heal her,” Pyro urges,
looking pained at what he’s seeing.
“What, let you run your tongue all over her? Nice try, asshole.
There are other ways to heal her. I’ll give her my blood myself if I
have to.” I snarl, my hand possessively tracing the bite I left on her
collarbone. My mark looks perfect on her delicate skin, the rough
edges already starting to darken with dried blood.
“Bale, if you do it, then you risk turning her, which neither of you
are ready for. Luka, you can help her emotions and pain, but the
injuries will still be there. I’ll go through you both if I have to, but
you two know as well as I do that all three of us are fated to this
little firecracker, and I’ll do everything I can to fucking save her,” he
responds, pinning me with his hard, coal eyes. The energy in the
room shifts up a gear, and it takes every ounce of control that I have
to not snap.
“Bale, let him help her.” Luka nods, walking to stand beside me,
his hand touching her skin as soon as he reaches the bed. “Our girl
is passed out after having the life fucked out of her and snapping a
bond into place with both of us at the same time, yet still, all that I
can siphon is excitement. She has zero fear. She is meant for us. All
of us.”
“Make it fucking quick, Pyro. No lingering where you shouldn't be
either. We need to talk this shit out before we end up tearing each
other to shreds. Luka, you stay here and keep an eye on this
asshole. If I stay, I will end up tearing his spine out, tail first,” I
order, nodding at Luka before storming out.
I start to strum my fingers against my thigh to the beat of her
heartbeat as I pace, needing to move and keep busy to avoid
running back into the room and shredding Pyro for touching what is
mine.
 I can hear his footsteps drawing closer to my bed, falling heavily
on the old timber floor. He’s still in his hellhound form, his power at
its strongest when he’s in his natural state. “Fuck me, why is that so
fucking hot?” Luka suddenly moans from the room, forcing me to
stop dead in my tracks.

LUKA
Pyro looks up from his place between Wynn’s thighs with a snarl,
baring his teeth at my comment. I shrug my shoulders at his little
display, biting back a laugh.
“What? I didn’t think I would find a fire mutt licking the blood off
my mate’s skin hot either, but here we are. Get back to work before
Bale gets mad and rips you to shreds.”
At that exact moment, the door flies open as Bale charges into the
space, his eyes pinned on the scene. Pyro’s head shakes before he
leans over her once more, running his tongue along the bite on her
nipple. Her body reacts to his touch, raising up ever so slightly and
chasing the warmth. She isn't quite awake, but she’s not out cold
anymore either.
He slowly moves down to her stomach, following the trail left by
the hound’s teeth. A small whimper escapes her as he dips between
her thighs, breaking the otherwise dead silence in the room, while
her body lightly writhes in the sheets from his touch alone.
 He hesitates when he gets to her core, the mix of our releases
and her blood likely still dripping out of her right before his eyes. My
cock strains against my jeans painfully, watching intently as he
internally battles whether to heal her pretty little cunt or not.
“Fuck it,” he growls, gliding his tongue through her core before
pushing it as deep as his form will allow. A moan rips from her
throat at the intrusion, her hands gripping the black silk so hard that
small tears form from her nails.
My brother moves to stand beside the bed, his body rigid and alert
as he traces his fingers along the bite mark he made on her neck,
the only mark Pyro left there.
A rumble suddenly sounds from Pyro, his eyes burning brighter
than they were before. It looks as if the embers are alight with fire
dancing behind the now reddened coals. Wynn’s entire body starts
to tremor as an almost pained expression crosses her stunning
features. Her breathing becomes labored quickly, her chest heaving
with each deep breath she takes.
Bale’s eyes are pinned to Pyro’s teeth, which are now scraping
harder along her stomach as he edges his tongue deeper inside of
her. Small droplets of blood start forming on the impact points,
drawing all of his attention. Her back arches off the mattress more,
pressing herself into his teeth a little harder before she falls apart,
covering Pyro’s face and chest in her release.
He finally eases out of her, gliding his tongue across the fresh cuts
along her stomach left behind by his teeth, before moving from the
bed and shifting into his more human form.
 She must have come to at some stage, and he had kept her lucid
to finish healing her before she woke up properly.
Bale walks over to the large chest that sits against the wall, pulling
out a black fur blanket and draping it over her, his eyes constantly
flicking to his mark on her skin. He’s a possessive fuck, so he would
be getting off on seeing her like this.
A deep breath escapes her parted lips as she hugs her body into
the fur, settling into a comfortable position and drifting into a deeper
sleep if her little snores are anything to go by.
“Well, that was hotter than I expected,” I groan, shocked at what
had just transpired. “Looks like we need to have a little chat.”
 CHAPTER TWELVE

WYNN

I wake suddenly, surrounded by complete darkness, the familiar

smell of lingering smoke becoming somewhat of a comfort. My
body is covered by a lush comforter that feels like silk as I run my
hands around the space in an attempt to get my bearings.
It’s clearly not my room, with no visible windows or any light
making its way into the space. I can hear voices coming from
another room, yelling from multiple people. It's muffled, but it
sounds like the twins are getting extremely heated from the odd
word I am able to hear.
“Welcome back to the life of the living, Wynn,” an unfamiliar voice
purrs from beside the bed.
I scramble to grab the blanket, pulling it up to my chest as I sit
up. My body feels tired from the movement, but not sore. My neck,
on the other hand, stings with my movement as I look around to try
and catch any hint of who it may be.
“Don't worry, they can't hear us. I have made sure we have some
time to chat.”
 “Who are you, and what the fuck are you doing here?”
A click echoes throughout the room, followed by a green flame
sparking next to the bed, lighting up a man in a wingback chair. He
looks aristocratic with sharp, angular features and dressed in a black
tailored suit. The man raises one of his black, manicured brows,
toying with the green flame burning from his flattened palm.
“Well, well, well. Aren’t you a pretty little freak?” He smirks,
showcasing his bright, white fangs. “Now, let's cut to the chase, shall
we, as we have limited time. My name is Leviathan. I’m sure you’ve
heard many things about me, and none of them good.”
He stands, closing the distance between himself and the bed with
one confident stride. His free hand lowers to the fur blanket, running
his fingers across the soft material with a cocky smile.
“These boys growing up with a fucking spoon in their mouth. Silk
sheets and furs? Really?” He laughs, ripping the blanket from me
and tossing it onto the floor. His cold, green eyes linger on my bite
mark, the only mark that appears to be left on my skin.
I jump off the bed, attempting to cover myself as quickly as I can,
but within seconds, the blanket is burning in my hands with the
same bright green flame that was in his. The skin of my palms
burns, bringing tears to the corners of my eyes. I love pain, but
burns are something else entirely.
“Spit it out, what do you want?” I yell, attempting to back away
from the man but he grabs my wrist with his free hand and yanks
me back. His touch is searingly hot, similar to Luka’s, only this touch
leaves welts on my skin, not just warmth. I yelp, trying my best to
hold it together through the intense pain.
 He drags me toward the middle of the room, where a mist forms,
creating what looks like a portal of some kind. It has a green hue,
reflecting the flame that's still very much alight.
“Walk, Wynn. Walk through it, or I send them all into this space
now. I have ten hounds waiting to hear their command any second.
Those idiots are no match when they are heavily outnumbered. Walk
through it, and rather than kill your mates now, I’ll let them die
trying to fucking save you.” He grins, tugging me closer to the mist.
“If you refuse, however, I will not only ensure their death is long and
painful, but you will wish yours was too. There are a lot of demons
in Hell that would pay good money to destroy the cunt of the
woman who could destroy our world one day.”
My heart feels like it’s about to burst through my chest, the ability
to breathe slowly slipping away with each word he says. I’m usually
hard to rattle and able to stand up for myself, but this man gives me
the gut feeling that he would make good on his promises. His
presence is cold and dark, not the type that sucks you in and gives
you a high, like the twins and Pyro, but the type that threatens to
pull you under permanently.
I stand in front of the mist, able to see the door on the other wall
swing open and the three of them pouring into the room. In a split-
second decision, I leap forward, my entire body feeling like it’s being
pushed and pulled in every direction before being slammed into the
ground with brute force.
“Welcome to Hell, Wynn. You’re going to love it down here.”
The end…for now.
 Acknowledgments

Firstly, thank YOU for taking the chance and reading my first book. I
know how big those TBR's are, because mine is that big I would
need to live 10x over to get through it as it stands. So the fact that
you took the risk, and opened up Locked means the absolute world
to me. I really hope you enjoyed their story as much as I did!
To my ride or dies. The ones who listened to me cry, who let me
vent and supported me each and every step of the way. The ones
who picked me up on days when I felt like I wasn't enough. Lauren,
Rach, Mel and A.K. Without your support, I likely wouldn't have been
able to publish this book. So from the bottom of my heart, thank
you.
To my alpha readers. You girls were put through the ringer for this
little novella and still stuck around. From dealing with my ass all the
time, to hour long conversations about the correct use of the word
cum, you were always there. A HUGE thank you to Zoe, Gabby,
Amanda, Courtnee, Kim, Ashley and Ori for staying with me until the
very end.
 About the Author

K.L. Steele is a dark romance author from Victoria, Australia. She

loves reading dark, twisted love stories and collecting book
boyfriends who are a step beyond morally Gray.
She is a bit of a genre hopper when she reads, swapping between
monster, bully, paranormal and dark romance.
 Stalk Me

I love it!

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