Hard Bitten

Maybe in one of the meats?”

I shook my head. “The wine,” I answered. “I think it was in the wine. It had an odd taste.

Really, really bitter.”

“Who else drank the wine?”

I thought back. I’d had wine, as had Ethan.

And the only other person who’d had wine was Jonah. But I was saved the trouble of telling Ethan.

We both looked up as Jonah burst through the foliage in front of us. His eyes, already silver, became fierce as he stared Ethan down.

“It isn’t nice not to share.”

Ethan growled, low in his throat, a warning to Jonah. “I don’t share.”

Jonah clucked his tongue. “You should. Life is so much more interesting, don’t you think, when all of us get a taste?” I’d heard of girls being thrilled to be fought over before, but I didn’t like feeling like a piece of property.

“I’m no one’s to offer up,” I said.

“But you could do so much better,” was Jonah’s retort.

It’s just V, I silently reminded Ethan. He had the wine, too.

“Regardless the cause, he’d best behave himself,” Ethan gritted out. He stared Jonah down, fangs bared. They were nearly the same height, close to the same build. Ethan was fairer than Jonah, but they’d have made equally matched opponents, if not for Ethan’s position, which surely would have reaped Jonah more trouble than the fight would have been worth.

“Jonah,” I warned, standing up, as well. “Back off.”

But instead of backing off, he bared his fangs at Ethan, hissing in warning that he’d found a prize and didn’t plan to give it up.

I wasn’t sure where the sudden interest had come from, but seriously doubted it had anything to do with me. More likely, Jonah had been drawn in by the magic that Ethan and I had spilled into the room. And in classic V fashion, he’d become unreasonably angry.

“Jonah, come on,” I urged. “You need to back off. You don’t want to fight a Master, especially not when Darius is here.”

My voice was pleading, and he threw me a glance. His brows were drawn together, as if he was trying to puzzle out exactly why he was standing in the atrium, ready to fight for a girl he’d only recently come to respect, much less actually like.

But Ethan apparently hadn’t noticed the self-reflection, and took a menacing step forward. “She is mine.”

Jonah shook off rationality and faced him down. “That decision is hers to make, and it doesn’t look like she’s made it yet.”

“She sure as fuck won’t be choosing you,” Ethan growled out.

Jonah lifted his arm. My own instincts kicked in, protecting Ethan at the top of my list.

“Step back, Jonah,” I warned him, but he still hadn’t managed to push through the V. He cocked back to swing. I reached forward to pull him off, but he swung blindly out. As if time had slowed down, I watched his fist move toward me, a swat to push me away. He made contact.

The lights went out.

CHAPTER TWENTY

 THE HANGOVER

 I blinked and waited for the room to stop spinning. I was looking up at an industrial ceiling, the fronds of plants and ferns at the edges of my vision. Still Grey House, I guessed.

Green eyes appeared in my frame of vision.

“How’s your head?”

“Throbbing.”

I began to sit up, but Ethan put a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been out for a few minutes.

Take it slow.”

“What happened?”

“You tried to keep Jonah from punching me, and he inadvertently nailed you.”

Now I remembered. I’d gotten in the way of Jonah and Ethan’s battle, and I’d ended up the worse for it.

Ethan held out a hand. “Give me your hand,” he said, then slid his other one behind my back. I sat up, closing my eyes until the vertigo passed.

When I finally opened them again, Ethan tipped back my chin, gazing into my eyes. “Look to the left,” he said, and when I did, added, “And the right.” I did that, too.

“He rang my bell,” I said, touching a finger gingerly to the knot on the back of my head.

Given the speed of vampire healing, it wouldn’t last much longer, but for now, it smarted.

“Yes, he did,” Ethan agreed.

“Where is he?”

“Jonah? Scott’s got him locked down until he’s satisfied the drug’s worn off. It was the wine,” Ethan added. “According to the Grey House vamps, they obtained the V from Benson’s, where they collegially shared it with a group of Rogues.”

“Undoubtedly in the name of inter-House cooperation,” I said dryly.

“I’m sure. The Grey House vamps also passed along that Darius would be dining here tonight.

They then managed to rile each other up about the injustices of the GP.”

“Probably an easy argument for Rogue vamps to make,” I observed. “Especially if they’re all on V.”

Ethan nodded. “They came back to the House intent on giving Darius a piece of their minds.

They also snuck into the kitchen with an extra dose and hit up the wine. They wanted him to experience the effects of being a true vampire.”

“Ironic that Darius didn’t drink any.”

“Very. Although he is now keenly aware of V’s effects.”

A long shadow appeared over me, and then an English voice spoke. “How is she?”

I glanced up. Darius stood at my side.

“She’ll make it,” Ethan concluded, “although I think bed rest would be a good way for her to spend the rest of the evening.”

“I think that’s a capital idea,” Darius agreed.

“A few pints of blood might also speed the healing.”

Ethan nodded. “And our investigation of V?”

“I’ve made the GP’s position clear.”

“Sire—,” Ethan began, but Darius silenced him with a hand.

“There is more to consider, Ethan, than the game you are playing with your mayor. You take care of your House; allow Mr. Grey and Mr.

Greer to take care of theirs. The rest is none of your concern, and that includes any current GP members. Is that clear?”

Ethan’s jaw twitched, but he managed a nod.

“Of course, Sire.”

Darius nodded officially, then offered a weak smile for me. “Heal quickly, Merit,” he said, and then he was off again, Charlie stepping into line behind him.

“I’d like to go home,” I quietly said.

“The sentiment is definitely mutual,” Ethan said, his gaze still following his political master as he disappeared into the man-made jungle. “Let’s go home.”

Ethan insisted on carrying me to the car, which felt equal parts ridiculous and romantic. As a self-assured