Dead End: Midnight Hollow by Penn Cassidy (free novel 24 TXT) 📗

“Take him,” I’d said to them. Not kill him. No, I didn’t want this vile, worthless warlock dead just yet… I had plans for him.

I felt taller than tall, over the moon and on top of the world. I rode the beast on its back through a bonafide battle and lived to tell the tale. My strings were cut loose from my master, and I was a free marionette.

No more cold, lonely nights on the job being told what to do. I was my own fella, destined to set the rules, until I needed a new master. But who would treat this detective with the respect I deserved?

I rubbed my smooth, porcelain jaw and moved my head around three hundred and sixty degrees, gazing at the broads and guys in the room. I stopped on the tall, raven haired gal and felt a keen respect for her. She looked sad and yet tough enough to survive on the streets. But we could only roam alone for so long before it gets tiring.

I wondered… Maybe she wouldn’t mind a dummy for a companion? She and I could keep this town safe, keep the riff-raff out.

‘Detective Roger and his assistant, Miss Mads on the case’ had a nice ring to it.

I showered the second we got back to the manor after I forced myself to take the two huge mugs of Auntie Fe’s healing tonic. I was stalling, really. My wounds would stitch themselves back together. I hadn’t been badly wounded, but when that coffin shattered, it scratched me up pretty good.

I found myself standing under the hot spray, letting it rain down over me with my eyes closed, because I didn’t want to stare at the dirt and blood trailing down the drain. Hearing the sound of a door opening and closing, I didn’t even bother to move. Even as the sound of the shower doors sliding open registered, I kept my eyes shut, content to bask in the heat scorching my healed skin.

Hands slid over my shoulders, gently massaging the aching muscles. I let my head fall back, resting against a hard chest. Lips caressed the front of my throat, and I felt another presence in front of me. I smiled, knowing exactly who had joined me.

“We’ve got him locked up until you’re ready,” Michael whispered, smoothing his palms down my arms, kneading gently the whole way. “Just say the word, and we’ll take care of him.”

I knew they would. I knew Freddy was ready to rip Ichabod’s throat out with a hooked claw, but he was refraining for my sake. Yes, I wanted the warlock to die a miserable death after what he’d done to me, what he’d done to my parents, and to all of us, but more than that, I wanted him to suffer.

“Patience is a virtue, warlock,” I purred, running my slicked palms up his bare torso that rippled under my touch. He stared down into my eyes through the spray, his silvery hair dripping with water, and the little droplets highlighted the tan color of his skin where it was dotted with small freckles.

“None of us are feeling very patient right now, luv,” Jason’s voice whispered in my ear. I knew that accent, and if I turned around, I knew I’d be staring straight into bright yellow eyes.

Damon seemed to come out to play a lot more often now, especially when clothing was optional. I’d asked Jason how he felt about that the other night, and he assured me he and Damon were one and the same, like two sides to the same coin. I found out Jason could feel everything that Damon did, and they spoke to each other in their minds. I didn’t understand it in the slightest, but fuck, that forked tongue just did things to my insides…quite literally.

“You know…I’m still a little sore,” I murmured, tilting my head to the side, allowing Michael to place small kisses along my collar bone. “Any idea how I can relieve the aches?”

Jason sucked in a hissed breath near my ear, and his hands slid around the curve of my hip. “I think we can help with that,” he chuckled darkly.

Michael dipped lower and took my puckered nipple between his lips, prompting a low moan from me. At the same time, Jason’s deft fingers swirled around my clit. My knees felt like buckling, but the two of them made sure I stood steadily. I was thankful my shower was big enough, because being in this cube made me acutely aware of how large they really were.

“Are you sure? What do you need? Ask and it’s yours,” Michael said, pulling back, his sky blue eyes searching mine in earnest. My heart swelled at the concern on his face.

Reaching up, I skimmed my palm along his neck, coming to a stop when I reached his cheek. “I need both of you. Just make me forget for a little while,” I replied, meaning every word, because I ached inside too.

His eyes were molten, and they dipped to my lips seconds before he took them with his own in a kiss that could set the world on fire. Jason’s fingers were moving over me faster now, the rhythm close to driving me insane with need. I kissed Michael fiercely and felt that tingle of power as it zipped over his skin like an electric current. I knew if I looked down, creeping black veins would be writhing under his skin. His connection to dark magic was growing stronger by the day, and I liked this darker side of him because it made him who he was.

“Lift her,” Jason said over my shoulder, his lips curving into a sinister grin that made me shiver, but it was the heated look in his eyes that had me whimpering.

I just needed to feel, feel their touch to know it was okay to have grief, hatred, happiness, and love all at the same time,