“Drop it, Bash!” Quin yelled.Bash seethed while holding an ancient vase, about to smash it to pieces. Quin had seen such behavior before, not in Bash, but in other vampires not yet sealed to their mate. Sebastian was out of control, and Quin had to make him see reason. Quin felt it was a pity that Bash wasn’t his real progeny because if he were, Quin could simply command Bash to stop. Sebastian wouldn’t be able to resist Quin’s order, because it would cause great physical pain.But because Quin was only playing as

 Gaia shivered with anticipation as Bash crept closer. He slid his thumbs under the straps of Gaia’s bra and moved them off of her shoulders. He leaned in and ran his tongue across her collarbone before capturing Gaia’s mouth in a kiss.

 Bash surveyed Gaia as she patiently kneeled at his door, the riding crop in her open palms. He took it from her, and Gaia lowered her arms and crossed them behind her back. Bash admired the splendid sight in front of him.The sheer black lace caressed each curve and line of Gaia’s frame. Sebastian reached out with the crop and tilted her chin up to look at him. Her aqua eyes peeked back at him from behind the delicate mask that covered the top half of Gaia’s face. Bash died to kiss her pouty pink lips, but his nymph had gone through a lot of trouble to present as a g

 Gaia unlocked the deadbolt on her door and cracked it. “Hi,” she said.“Can I come in?” Oliver asked.“Yeah. Come in.” Gaia let Ollie past her. She shut the door behind him and silently watched as he scanned her apartment. 

 Gaia woke to a bucket of cold water being splashed on her face. She gasped and coughed as she breathed in the freezing liquid. Her entire body ached from being kicked. When they’d arrived at an abandoned warehouse, Oliver had continued to beat her. Gaia had tried to reason with him. A part of her still held on to the good she felt existed in Oliver, but she was no longer privileged to it. When he’d punched her and sent Gaia barreling to the ground, it wasn’t enough. Ollie kicked her until she lost consciousness once more.