“That can easily wait for another time,” Molly interrupted. Her next question she directed at Faye. “Have you spoken with Benjamin?”

  “Not today.”

  “Please find the time. I think he needs to talk to his best friend.”

  “Right. I’ll do that.” Faye moved her hand from Malek’s and leaned over the desk to focus in on Molly. Perhaps jealously would also add to his interest, though that hadn’t swayed anything in the past few months since he’d been there. “I thought I would head into the city this weekend.”

  “Why?”

  “Joel and I had fun last weekend, and I realized while I was with him that I haven’t spent quite enough time with my friends from before I moved here. While I do like it here, Molly, I do have friends besides you.”

  Molly blanched. “I’m aware of that.”

  “Right, but last weekend reminded me how much I’ve neglected them, so I want to spend some time with them.”

  Narrowing her gaze, Faye knew Molly was about to tell her no, but she raised an eyebrow in a challenge. They both knew if Faye wanted to go then she was going to go. Nothing was going to stop her. Faye only hoped it wouldn’t become an all out argument. They’d been so good at avoiding a lot of that lately.

  “All right, but I want some information if you’re going out.”

  “I’ll get it. Don’t worry.”

  Molly’s lips thinned. Faye straightened her back and turned on Malek then, wanting him to know she hadn’t completely forgotten about him. She had to get him out of the office somehow, first so Molly would stop being annoyed with him, but secondly so she could have time with him without mother hen watching over.

  “Want to take a walk? I have some questions Molly here refuses to answer.”

  “I…what?”

  Faye refused to look at Molly, focusing everything she had on Malek. Once again, she touched a hand to his forearm.

  “What kind of questions?” he asked, risking a glance to Molly.

  “Oh, you know, Molly hasn’t told me much of anything of our shared history, and all I know is what you and the others in the fold shared. I’d quite like to know more. She keeps everything too close.” Faye gave him a brilliant yet sly smile.

  Malek regarded her carefully before he eventually nodded and held out his arm for Faye to take. She clicked her tongue against her front teeth.

  “Such a gentleman.”

  As they were walking away, Faye sent a look over her shoulder at Molly and winked. It surprised her to see the flare of jealously light Molly’s eyes before she buried her face in whatever paperwork she had going on before Malek had interrupted her.

  As soon as they were outside Molly’s office, Faye spun on him and pressed him into the wall, her mouth against his hot and hungry. Malek grunted his surprise, but she pressed on as he started to give as much as he was getting. Faye finally pulled away with a smile on her lips.

  “What was that for?” Malek questioned.

  Faye shrugged. “I’m deeply curious, Malek, to find out what you taste like.”

  Trailing one sharp and elongated black nail down his neck from just under his chin to the collar of his polo shirt, Faye focused on the scent of his blood. While she wasn’t a huge fan of feeding, she wanted to try it with him. Molly had told her once—as had Malek—that the older the witch, the stronger the blood. Faye wanted to know how strong he was, not to mention, what his personal flavor was. She found the witches she had tasted after meeting Molly, those who had more pure blood, each had their own unique and intoxicating flavor.

  He smirked at her. “You can try, if you want, but I’m not sure you do.”

  “And why would you say that?”

  “You and Molly…”

  “Are not exclusive by any means.”

  “You have been since I’ve returned.”

  Faye grinned broadly. “I hadn’t seen her in quite some time, and as much as I like to taste around, Molly’s blood—” Faye drew in a deep breath as she remembered the salty-sweet flavor of her regular lover “—it’s addicting. I imagine, however, yours might be just as enticing.”

  “It might.” His voice was pulled tight, like he had to work hard to be able to speak at all. His hands were on Faye’s hips, having not moved from when she’d pushed him against the wall.

  Faye knew Molly could likely hear everything they said as they were only inches from the door, but she hoped Malek was unaware of that fact, or that he didn’t care. “So?”

  “We’ll see.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t tried yet. You’re the one who taught me of our interconnected paths, yet here you are, resisting the only vampire left in the world.”

  “Not the only,” Malek muttered.

  “What?”

  “You’re the only, you’re right,” he corrected. “It has been a long time since I have been with a vampire, especially one with as true a form as yours.”

  “See?” Faye grinned broadly. “You want it just as much as I do.”

  “Perhaps,” he answered. “Right now I want to know what questions you had.”

  “Oh…well, not a whole lot of specific questions. But do tell me more about my history. I know I get as much energy as Molly does when we do things the right way. I know how my race was exterminated. But tell me, what is this matched thing Tess spoke about. I’m not sure I understand it.”

  “Molly hasn’t told you?”

  “She doesn’t tell me anything.” Faye sent a glare to the office door and then looped her arm into Malek’s again. She wanted to walk with him and talk with him away from Molly’s penetrating presence. It would be the only way she’d ever be able to seduce him outright.

  Malek hummed as they took the first steps down the stairway and toward the second floor where the bedrooms for all of Molly’s staff were. When they got to the main floor, Faye steered them outside and into the sunlight since it was such a beautiful day. She also knew they were less likely to be disturbed by anyone down there.

  “So tell me, Malek, what does it mean to be matched?”

  “It means everything.” His lips thinned. “It means we are mated for life, like Reina and Corbin. It means we will have children.”

  “Kids? Really? Molly does not want kids.”

  “I’m aware.” His tone turned from teaching and educationally minded to harsh with bottled up pain. Faye would have to watch that, especially since she’d used the excuse of trying to learn more about this one specific topic.

  “Why did she leave the fold?”

  “You’d have to ask her.”

  “I plan on it.” Faye squeezed his hand and listened to him for the next hour as he told her more and more about the Tainted history she was so ill informed on. Perhaps her own father would have taught her about it some day if he knew she’d existed for her first seventy-two years of life. Instead, she’d grown up as an odd-ball in a human world, just trying to survive with an abusive and insane aunt and a cousin she thought of as a brother.

  “Faye.” Malek turned to her, cupping her cheek.

  “Yes?” she inquired.

  “Why do you want to taste me?”

  “Curiosity. I’m always curious, and I’m always taking risks I probably shouldn’t.”

  “Why would I be a risk?” He stared down into her eyes, and Faye shuddered.

  “You’re more than one risk, Malek. But I don’t often listen to reason.”

  He stayed there without moving for at least a full minute before he bent his neck and brushed their lips together again. Faye listed her body into his, wanting him to know how much he effected her, even if he didn’t. She could play the role she’d set herself up for. When he pulled away, he shook his head at her. “You’re also a risk.”

  “I’m always a risk.” Faye snorted. “I don’t think anyone has ever told me I’m a safe bet.”

  “I’m thinking Molly believes differently.”

  Faye’s lips quirked, and she shook her head. “Doubtful. I just stay here as long as I’m comfortable and have what I need. It’s a place to stay with food and shelter and a really gorgeous regular fuck.”

  Malek’s tongue dashed against his lips. “Well then, perhaps we can entertain you a bit more.”

  “I would love that.”

  Chapter Six

  She couldn’t wait any longer. Faye’s heart had been racing and her body jittery for the entire week. She’d tried to hold off on it as long as she could, but after a full week of waiting around and trying to get rid of the feeling, Faye knew the only wait to truly push it to the side. She needed more of whatever that drug was.

  She’d been through this before, the withdrawal. She used to take heroin all the time, but this drug was different. Whatever it was, she didn’t have to take much of it for it to take her, which was beyond amazing. The heroin she’d had to take so much any normal person would have overdosed a dozen times over.

  She waited until just after dinner, not wanting to make it seem like it was a huge deal. Faye picked up the van in the garage and told Molly she was going to do the supply run that night. There were no questions asked, which was exactly how she wanted it. Once she was in the driver’s seat, her heart had already calmed knowing what she was about to do.

  The drive to the train station didn’t take long. She picked up the supplies she had promised she would so there would be even less questions asked in the morning. Then she drove around downtown, making circles back and forth until she stopped upon her good friend. There were a few stragglers here and there as the sun set, but Faye wasn’t going to give up that easily.

  Parking a few blocks away, she walked the rest of it to see her troll, climbing up onto his shoulder and her preferred place to sit. She leaned in slightly and kissed his cheek, knowing that he would be aware of her presence even if he wouldn’t transform just yet. Faye waited patiently until the cover of night when the crowds lessened. It took another hour for her troll to move, and even then, he didn’t full transform or come alive.

  “You are early,” he whispered.

  “Couldn’t resist seeing you again. I realized last week just how long it had been.”

  He made a snort and disbelieving noise in the back of his throat. “Thank you for the taste.”

  “You’re welcome. I also need to do that more often. I don’t know how often you get those, but I know how much it helps.”

  “It does.”

  Faye sighed and put her head against the side of his face, breathing in his stoney scent. She was still jittery, and while the sewers club was around the clock, she still wasn’t sure she could get more of that drug or even what it was.

  She rubbed her hands together, the chill in the air from the fall seeping into her bones. Molly would expect her back before midnight, and she’d have to manage that otherwise it would raise suspicions.

  A person walked under the bridge below them but her troll friend didn’t transform back into stone as she thought he might. Instead, he held completely still and waited as the man continued to walk with his shoulders hunched and his face to the ground as he didn’t pay any attention.

  As soon as he was out of sight, Faye turned to her troll. “Have you heard about a new drug on the streets?”

  “What kind of drug?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  Faye licked her lips. This was her chance. She could either hide under the guise of it being questions for the house or she could admit to him what she’d been thinking all week—she needed a damn fix. Faye put her hand to his cheek and closed her eyes, sighing.

  “I took some the last time I was here. It was…exhilarating to say the least. Far different than any drug I’ve taken before. I would like some more.”

  Once again her troll friend clucked his tongue. “I’ve heard rumors.”

  “What kind?”

  “Of a new drug, but no one I know has taken it.”

  He spoke so slowly sometimes and in a roundabout way that it frustrated Faye. She had to remember to be patient. She got the drug in the sewers from the bartender, so there would be no doubt she could try and get it there again, but she didn’t want to become a regular either.

  “What have you heard about it?” she finally asked.

  The troll finally transformed the rest of his body that he could, which meant only down to the edge of his neck and his top of his shoulders. Faye had watched as he’d been able to transform more and more over the years. It was inch by tiny inch, but at least it was more. Perhaps he would get out of his prison eventually on his own.

  “I have heard there is a new drug.” He stopped talking. Faye kept waiting for him to go on, but he didn’t.

  “That’s it?”

  “Yes.” He dragged out the last syllable of the word. “You find some and bring it to me.”

  Faye drew in a deep breath. Based on how Molly had said she’d reacted to it, she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to give him any, he might truly break free from his prison then. Perhaps that was what he wanted. She patted his cheek. “I’ll think about it. I got the first for free, no saying how much the second will cost.”

  “Your life.”

  “What?”

  “Go, Faye. I will see you again.”

  Confused and curious, Faye jumped down from his shoulder. Waving goodbye to him from the sidewalk below, she hunched her shoulders and walked back to her van. She didn’t want him to know where she was going to get it, and if she walked, he would no doubt know. Her troll friend was brilliantly smart as much as everyone thought he wasn’t. He may be imprisoned for life or until Molly decided to release him, but that didn’t mean he was stupid or unobservant.

  Faye slid into the driver’s seat of the van and drove the long way around her troll friend to get to the entrance to the sewers. As soon as she got to the sewer grate that she knew would take her directly to where she wanted to go, she slipped inside. The snake twins, Harsith and Gideon, were right there to greet her.

  Many times Faye had allowed them to take her on the stairs down into the club, but tonight, she didn’t want to. Between Molly and Malek she wanted to make sure she kept her focus. They came up to her, transforming from their snake forms into the more human-life forms, though they still both looked quite a bit like snakes with their gold eyes.

  “Faye,” Harsith whispered, nearly on a hiss.

  “Harsith.” She smiled at him. “I’m only here for a moment. I think I forgot something here last week.”

  He smiled at her like he knew, but surely he couldn’t. Before Molly, Faye had come here to find a witch—a watered down one, but a witch nonetheless—to try and get some energy before she jumped recklessly off a building to try and find some answers about her father. Every lead she’d had for him stopped at Molly.

  “Shall we let her pass, brother?” Harsith turned to Gideon, whom Faye had learned was the lesser forward of the two, though they both still had some balls on them.

  “Yes, brother. She will pay her toll next time.”

  “Thank you!” Faye smiled at them and slipped between them on the thin stone stairwell. She didn’t bother to look back as she walked into the club. The floor was covered in a fine moss, so her footsteps were softened as was the blaring music that would hurt her ears if she didn’t force herself to ignore it and if she’d been in her vampiric form.

  Faye didn’t waste time. She went straight for the bar. Luckily, it was the same bartender that night as it had been the other night. Licking her lips, Faye leaned on the edge of the wood, knowing she might have to sweet talk her way into more of whatever she’d been given.

  “What’ll you have, love?”

  Faye grinned. “Whatever that sweet stuff was you gave me last week.”

  The faerie, Aliya, looked a bit surprised but then she smiled. “I see you liked it.”

  “Loved it. Do you have more?”

  “I may.”

  “Mind telling me what it’s called?”

  Aliya grinned as she reached into her bra and pulled out another small baggie with only two pills in it. Faye had been hoping for more, but two would have to do. Aliya leaned over the top of the counter, a smile on her lips and mystery in her eyes.

  “Inanis. Kind of a boring name if you ask me.”

  Faye grunted. All these dealers coming up with new names for their drugs really needed to get more creative. Though this one might be accurate from everything Molly had told her. Faye didn’t take the small bag from her immediately. Instead, she pressed her lips into a thin line.

  “Did you like it?” Aliya asked.

  “I did.” Faye pressed her palm flat onto the top of the bar. “I don’t suppose you’re the one making it.”

  “I’m not. In fact, I’ve only gifted it twice. I know you’re taste for the wild.”

  Faye chuckled. “You could say that. Shall I pay you this time?”

  Aliya shook her head in the slightest. “No, seeing you is enough.”

  Not quite sure where to go with that, Faye looked Aliya up and down. She would have done her at some point in her life, but she had a certain affinity for Molly now that she didn’t before. She much preferred their regular fucking and understanding than she did trying to find random people—that and she didn’t need sex to hid her energy feed any longer.

  “I’ll make sure to come here more often then.”

  “Molly keeps you busy.”

  “Yes.” Faye’s stomach churned at Aliya’s fake pout. “But not too busy. I promise, especially if you have more of this.”

  “Be careful taking it, Faye.”

  “I’m always careful.” Faye slipped the small bag into the palm of her hand and reveled at the feel of it against her skin.

  Aliya laughed. “You’re never careful.”

  “Well, can’t fool you.” Leaning in, Faye kissed Aliya’s cheek. She wandered around the club for another ten minutes before slipping back up the stairs and out into the cold night air. She didn’t have the time to waste taking it then and there as much as she wanted to. Molly would be expecting her home with the shipment of supplies any time soon, and she really needed to get them put away so she could disappear in the house where no one would find her before she could really take anything.