Four-Rhayden

Lounging back on the chair in the library, I swung mindlessly, thinking about the pretty brunette in the room down the hall. My tongue still tingled from the single smear of Marley’s blood.

My instinct was to run back to her room, smash down the door and take her on the cold floor. Screw the consequences, it would be totally worth it and if someone saw us? Bonus. I didn't mind a little voyeurism every now and then. 

Holy hell, I had never tasted anything so sweet in my life.

Now I knew what had Absinthe so hot over the human woman.

Not only was it her fight and spunk, but it was her blood.

Absinthe had been the only one to feed from her and since then, he had been a walking talking pain in the ass with his smug looks and flushed skin.

Asshole.

But Marley was right. There was no way I would fight him.

Even over her.

Absinthe was almost one-hundred years older than me. He was stronger and faster.

There was no way I would entertain that ass kicking. Even if it meant I got the girl. 

The consequences from that would not only affect the coven we were in, but the larger Vampire Nation in itself. Some already didn't like the fact Absinthe left the hunting of rogues in our territory to a human. If the Nation knew a pair of its pureblood brothers, had fought over her... well, the coven would be taken away from Absinthe and I would be hunted... just like Marley had said.

Things, while completely fucked up and wrong... were better as they were. Even if it meant my heart got trampled every time I saw Marley and Absinthe in the same room, or smelt my brother's scent on her skin.

“Is she okay?”

My gaze snapped to the man at the door of the library. My brother would have just seen off the elders. Waving to them as they drove out fo the mansion's ground and back to the covens. I was glad I hadn't been invited to the meeting. One- I didn't knoto keep my mouth shut and two- Elders were rank. 

When I had walked into the library, to wait for my brother, the stench of rotten blood and dusty corpses still lingered.

I shrugged, quickly sucking my tongue over my teeth to rid any scent of Marley’s blood from my breath. “Meh. She’s Marlene.”

Absinthe chuckled and close the door behind him.

“And of the pair she found?” Abe walked the length of the table and stood behind his chair, resting his arms on it. “Does she realize what’s happening?”

Again, I shrugged. I didn't know what to tell him. 

And this was definitely not my favorite room. All work and no play; the thought of stripping Marley down and ahving my way with her on the table in front of me, invaded my thoughts... until my brother spoke again.

“Rhayden.”

My eyes rolled and I looked at my brother. “She knows enough to be concerned.”

He paused for a moment, before nodding, as if satisfied with what he'd heard. “Good. I have a job for her.”

“I’m sure you do.” I muttered and his eyebrow rose. “I have to go and get the armory sorted.”

I lifted myself from the chair I had been comfortable in and turned on my heel. Striding to the door, I flung them open and stormed out.

I admit, I was a broody fucker. Especially when Mars was in the mansion, knowing she would be touched by my brother and not me.

The armory was in the basement, behind the cars and by the time I had got there, my mood had not lightened. Looking around the room, I sank to one of the benches and wallowed deeper in my dark mood.