Gabriel’s blood was slightly different from Ian’s. Where Ian’s tasted sweet, Gabriel’s was bitter. Bitter and disgusting as it was, it did its job. I felt the swelling around my eyes lessen. It didn’t take long for my eyes to open.
I couldn’t see Rufus anywhere, but one of the balcony doors hung from one hinge. Gabriel had tossed him out the window. I stood and began to walk to the door to look for Rufus’ body, but I heard a groan come from the bed and turned in that direction instead.
Gabriel had started his game with Ian. He’d already carved a line in Ian’s arm with one of my knives. The sight of Ian’s blood had the fire inside of me flaming to life, and I was literally seeing red.
My new ability helped to finish healing my wounds. I had to get Gabriel away from Ian or we would both die here tonight, and Gabriel would go free again. He’d be free to hurt whoever he wanted whenever he wanted. And after all these years, it would be this psychopath that would end Ian’s life? I could not let that happen.
My fire coursed through me. It felt amazing. I welcomed it, stoked it, and let it grow. I reveled in its embrace as I accepted it. It was mine.
My hands lit with fire as I moved closer to Gabriel.
Feeling the heat, Gabriel jerked and turned toward me.
“What the hell?” He backed toward the balcony.
“You die tonight.” My voice sounded foreign. It echoed throughout the room.
Moving faster than I ever have, I had Gabriel by the throat.
I threw him to the ground. The knife he held fell to the floor with a clatter. I grabbed it as I straddled him, pinning his arms under my legs. With only a thought, a circle of fire erupted around us. His eyes widened to bulging.
“Wha-what are you?”
I could smell his fear. It rolled off him in waves. I inhaled deeply. My head fell back. A moan of pleasure escaped me as I savored the tangy aroma.
I opened my eyes to meet his. His feared strengthened and my eyes fluttered when it hit me.
“Why, Gabriel, don’t you know? You’re so fond of angels, after all… I am your Angel of Death.”
Lifting the knife over my head I lowered it into his chest in one smooth motion. I stood to watch as he turned to dust.
I turned to Ian, he was awake and watching me from the bed. I walked toward him, moving through the fire as though it were not there. With a flick of my hand, I set Gabriel’s remains ablaze.
I climbed onto the bed and straddling Ian I lowered my lips to his. His arms came around me to pull me closer and we moaned at the contact.
Rufus cleared his throat interrupting us. We looked to Rufus, who was disheveled, but alive.
“I knew it. You are Fire Fairy.”
“No. I am Fire Banshee.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Well, whatever you are, that was fucking amazing,” Rufus said with a goofy smile.
“Yeah, well, it was also exhausting. I take it Lydia was not in the house?”
“No, she must have left while we were asleep,” Rufus replied.
“Yeah, I don’t think she went too far though,” I muttered under my breath, but both men heard me. I shook my head.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I will be. I should feed though.”
“Can you feed from me?”
“No, I need a mortal… or four.”
I gave Rufus a pleading look.
“I’ll be back.”
As Rufus left the room I turned back to Ian. “Are you sure you are okay? Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes. I am okay, and you can lie with me until Rufus returns.” Needing no further encouragement, I snuggled in close to him. “How did you know to come?”
“I don’t know. I dreamed that he stabbed you. I felt the knife enter my chest as it entered yours in the dream. When I came in here, he was a few seconds behind my dream. I think I startled him, which probably made him miss his mark.”
“I owe you my life. I will gladly live the rest of my days showing you how thankful I am.”
I welcomed the kiss. I gave myself over to the passion in it, just for a few moments, before I pulled away.
“I didn’t have time to think, only act.”
“You were magnificent,” he said, reminding me of the time not so long ago that I’d said the same to him. “You were radiant with your power. Fire suits you.”
“Uh-huh,” I muttered. It did suit me. I could be warm and comforting, but when I was angry, I could be uncontrollable and deadly. More so now. That’s what bothered me. “I could smell his fear. It was intoxicating, like a… turn-on. It creeps me out that I got so into it. I mean, I didn’t want to have sex with him. His fear captivated me. I lusted for his death, for killing him. I feel dirty.”
“Goldie, there is no reason to feel this way. You had a normal reaction to a stressful situation. You know banshees are not the only species to become excited by another’s fear. It is normal to get excited in an intense situation. Adrenaline is — in its own way — an aphrodisiac. Though, I will concede that a banshee’s level of excitement from another’s fear can be stronger than a mortal’s.”
“So, it’s official? I am banshee.”
He stiffened. “You are not entirely there yet, do not worry.”
“But I could become full banshee if I take more essence from you.”
He shifted, pulling away from me.
“Possibly, but do not worry, you do not need to take more essence.”
“You’re misunderstanding me.”
I lifted my face to his and kissed him deeply.
“Oh?”
“Mm-hmm,” I murmured against his lips.
He relaxed and slid his hands to cup my bottom, pressing me to him. I moaned when the evidence of his excitement rubbed against me.
“I leave you two alone for one minute and you’re all over each other. Sugar, he’s injured. Keep it in your pants, would you?” Rufus said.
I turned to reply, but stopped at the sight of two curvy, Mediterranean looking women. Both looked catatonic, proving they were under Rufus’ mind control.
He smirked and said, “Dinner is served. I believe it’s Italian.”
“Uh, Goldie, you probably want to take a shower, right?” Ian said, trying to get me out of the room so he could feed.
“Nope, I’m good. We can take a shower when you’ve healed.” I sat beside him as he prepared to feed.
Rufus left the room, presumably to get more women for Ian. I wasn’t thrilled that Rufus had brought women, but it was my understanding that attraction to the mortal from whom they fed made it more satisfying for the banshee.
Ian took control of the women, giving me sidelong glances as he had one of them move to the bed and slide in on the other side of him. What was happening wasn’t meant to be erotic. Still, there was something sensual about the process. His large, strong hand cupping her head. The fluttering of her eyes as his lips neared hers. The way his body shuddered as he took in the nourishment he needed to heal and survive. Sensual.
The warmth between my legs made me shift my position. Ian locked eyes with me. The look on his face turned that warmth to searing heat. It wasn’t watching Ian with another woman. It was picturing myself in her place. That he was touching me, feeding from me. That I was causing those reactions in him.