Going invisible just as the witch turned in the other direction, allowed Sameya to go unnoticed. As she approached the enchantress undetected, she attempted to dig into her thoughts…but was blocked. Stronger than I realized. She drew abreast of the other woman and felt anxiety radiate from her tall, lithe figure.
“Who are you?” The witch’s gaze darted about the room.
Sameya smiled. Throwing her power about the room to confuse a fellow supernatural was one of many siren skills. They’d been useful creatures once, killing the human pestilence that existed among mankind, even killing their own when they’d gone insane or wanted too much control. They’d earned their reaper nickname. Feared by all of the loredom, their friends were few, but they kept the peace at all cost. Many of her kind currently neglected their talents and had grown indolent in life. Pampered in Atlantis they collected friends rather than the scum.
Since entering earth, she’d discovered mankind was plagued with evil; it even festered among their youth. Their justice system lacked conviction, but Sameya wasn’t bound by the human law’s sense of fair play. While here on her mission, she’d taken out several amoral individuals.
Empress E’Neskha trusted Sameya to locate the would-be assassin, and she would complete her mission. A couple of so-called mates wouldn’t distract her or stand in her way.
“Where are you?” The witch’s voice trembled.
Smart girl to fear me.
“Here.” Her voice projected across the room and the other woman turned toward the sound. “But I’m really here.” Sameya laid her palm on the witch’s bare shoulder and overpowered her with siren magic. “Mine.”
The enchantress’ lips parted in a gasp as she spun about, while Sameya fizzled into view allowing her invisibility to drop.
Sameya trailed a finger along the girl’s jaw. “Sit.”
Her new pet slumped onto the sofa, gawking at Sameya.
“What’s your name?”
“Kat.”
“How old are you?”
“Four hundred twenty-three.”
She could see the frustration and questions burning in the girl’s teal eyes. “Speak freely.”
Kat gulped. “Why would you serenade me?”
“You helped enslave me.” She indicated the choker about her neck. “But that’ll cease soon.”
“The magic’s good for a month. It won’t drop before then.”
“It is nil when Maximus is dead.”
“You killed him?” Kat paled at the idea.
“No.” Sameya shook her head. “He will be dead soon, though. I serenaded the tiger and set him on the vampyr.”
“They’re your mates!”
“Not going to happen.” Kat’s stricken expression articulated her confusion without the need for words. “Mate is a polite word for master. When a siren mates, the female is serenaded, and loses her freedom. I will not allow that to happen to me.”
Why’d she confess that, when she normally hoarded siren secrets? She had no idea, but she did know she would never give her spouse complete control over her. No way would she forfeit her liberty simply for the elusive orgasm. Nothing could possibly be that good.
“They aren’t like that. Maximus and Gabriel won’t want to control you.”
Anger spiraled up her spine. Sameya ground her back teeth to resist retaliating against Kat. “Maximus. Already. Does. Control. Me.” She jerked hard on the choker. “Thanks to you.”
“On your knees, bitch.”
Sameya bristled at the sound of the British voice behind her, but went to her knees. “How’d you survive?” The tiger should’ve bested the vampyr. They were superior fighters. Goddamn! What was she to do now?
“Release Kat from your serenade.” Oh, he sounded angry, very angry. Good! She was pissed that he subjugated her!
How she despised him for his control over her. Unable to disobey, she connected with the mental constraints she’d bound to the witch and cut through them. Kat sagged as if actual ties had been severed.
“Be careful, Maximus. You have no idea how powerful her magic is.” The witch rubbed her temples.
“Proceed with caution, Kat.” Sameya glared at the woman. “When this is over—”
“Enough!” Maximus stepped in front of her. Capturing her gaze with his glowing green vampyr eyes, he hooked two fingers beneath the necklace and jerked her a little straighter, the jewelry pinched the back of her neck. A cut on his brow healed as she watched. The evidence of clawed material indicated he’d survived an attack. “Come, my little reaper. You have a tiger to release and an orgasm to experience.”