Chapter 24 ∣  The Rogues She Leads

-Maverick

My blood runs cold at Veronica's question. Her eyes sparking with amusement, her knowing stare filled with so much knowledge.

Is she an assassin?

There's no other possible way she could know that Tamsin is here. Tamsin told me herself that no one else can see her unless they possess the inherited ability as well. Well...I guess I'm a special case for being able to learn it.

Maybe she did as well?

"I'm not going to kill you," she stated, "seriously, do come out of hiding little girl...or I really will think you're a threat."

In the next two seconds, Tamsin appears beside me, shyly looking away from Veronica.

"A rogue pureblood, huh?" Colton asks, walking up next to Veronica and eyeing us suspiciously.

"That's a first," She shrugs her shoulders and turns her attention on Tamsin, "I'm more interested in why he has an assassin with him."

I slowly let the air that I had been holding in my lungs out, "I'm Maverick."

Veronica lifts her brows and whispers quietly, "Interesting," she pauses, glancing at Colton before returning to me, "you must be Lucca's son. You're the one all those coven leaders are talking about. The rogue that fled his execution. Word travels very fast and even after these few years...they're still talking about it."

"No," I shake my head, "I'm Evicka's son. Lucca doesn't have a son anymore." I spit the words out with venom. I haven't referred to him as my 'father' since he exiled me. I didn't know he was planning my death as well. That boils my blood, anger flaring within me. Tamsin reaches out her hand, touching my upper arm and I instantly let go. I don't want to get us into danger, and so far, these rogues are regarding us without an intent to kill them.

Veronica chuckles and then grins, "That 'a boy. Lucca really is just a nasty piece of work. I have my own reservations about him. Evicka, on the other hand, well, she doesn't get involved with these types of issues, so I really don't mind her."

"Who are you?" I ask, then I motion around me, "Why are there rogues here?"

"As I mentioned before, we take refuge here now that the hunters have long since left," Veronica nods her head, Colton walking away from her and sitting down on the couch she had previously been occupying. She tosses her red hair over her shoulder and replies simply, "As for who I am, I'm Veronica and I'm the leader of the rogues that decide to stay within this sanctuary."

Tamsin is about to speak, but Veronica cuts her off, "And yes, I'm an assassin just like you."

"What are you going to do to us?" Tamsin asks with fright in her voice.

"Nothing," she states, her eyes resting on me, "however, I would like to properly let this vampire feed. Tell me, do you just feed on her?" She points at Tamsin.

"Yes," I reply hastily, not wanting to even mention Kenzie or Killian, or that I have anyone else constantly with me.

Veronica's eyes spark once again, "How about new blood then?" She snaps her fingers, a young female vampire making her way to her side. She appears to just be a few years older than me, her hair matching the same color as Veronica's, those eyes, reflecting the same citrine.

"This is my daughter, Gwyn," Veronica motions to the vampire before me, "since I don't need you killing off any humans that so graciously decide to come to us willingly, you may feed on her."

Wait, humans willingly give themselves here?

Right on cue, Tamsin asks, "Why would they willingly do that?"

"They're curious and if they scratch our backs, we scratch theirs. We give them a place to stay, food, clothes, and protection, they range from street kids, orphans, to the homeless. They are kind of like us, pushed aside by their society as to not hurt the rest of the world from their useless presence," Veronica's words hit home and I can completely understand why these humans do the things they did in order to survive.

"Come on," Gwyn motions for me to follow her, but I just look toward Tamsin. She has this uneasy and uncomfortable look on her face. She feels out of place, for once in her life feeling like she is the one that doesn't belong.

Tamsin catches me looking at her and she does something else for the first time. She fakes a smile, "Don't worry about me...I understand," she whispers, her eyes darting away to stare around the room.

Nodding, I follow Gwyn as she makes her way to the opposite side of the room, feeling guilty that Tamsin is left behind. At this point, there is no such thing as trust, but that doesn't mean the rogues will turn on her. But she is still just a child and if they want either her or me dead, Veronica could have easily killed us before we set foot in this room.

Checking over my shoulder, I catch Veronica whispering something to Tamsin, her brows furrowing at whatever it was she said.

"Maverick?" Gwyn's voice draws my attention back to her, both of us stopping at an unoccupied dark couch near the bar. The vampire behind it arches a brow, cleaning a glass with his cloth, but continuing to go back to what he was doing...serving whoever decides to step forward.

Sitting down on the couch, Gwyn asks, "How are you dealing...being on your own?"

Trick question.

Technically...I'm not really on my own...yet.

"At least having Tamsin makes it less difficult," I reply, choosing my words carefully as to not slip up. While I sit down next to her, Colton stops next to the bar, leaning against the counter and motioning for the vampire behind it to come closer to him. He leans in and Colton says something under his breath, and I catch onto the word, "Never."

Oddly enough, the vampire prepares three drinks in short glasses, handing them to Colton as he walks away. I trace his pathway back to the couch where the human girl now sits next to the male. Veronica and Tamsin are seated, her head low as Veronica speaks to her.

What is she saying?

"This must be quite new to you then," Gwyn states, "have you met any other rogue vampires yet?"

Turning to her, I reply, "No, not yet. This really has been the first rather large gathering I've seen. Everyone seems...relaxed here. Aren't you worried about hunters?"

Gwyn giggles and smirks, "Not a bit. If one decides to come down here...which they have...they're never heard from again. It's a nice rare meal, having their blood. If you ever get the chance to kill a hunter, don't waste the opportunity."

So there have been hunters that come back here every now and then. From the looks of it, obviously not large enough numbers to get out of this den alive. My muscles tense for a moment when Gwyn shifts on the couch next to me, swinging her left leg across my thighs and straddling both, her knees resting on the dark couch. She is wearing a tight black skirt and a light orange tank top; the low heels are metallic.

Her red hair almost creates a curtain when she brings her lips down against mine. In taking my breath quickly, her hands cup my face, her touch is soft as she slowly moves them down my neck. Over my shoulders, and down my upper arms, she grips my muscles with her hands, her fangs nipping my bottom lip. Letting out the air from my lungs, I slowly open my mouth, her tongue swiftly darting in and exploring it.

Gwyn's right-hand glides back up my arm, wrapping around the back of my neck and entwining her fingers into my hair. When she firmly tugs on it, I groan followed by a growl emitting from the back of my throat. She smirks against my lips as she too must feel me harden against her, the thin fabric of her underwear rubbing against me.

When her lips pull away from mine, she whispers, "How old are you?"

"Fourteen," I breathe out, her fingers playing with my hair.

"So, you're mentally like what, seventeen or eighteen?" Gwyn's lips trail down my jawline, my hands reaching out and grabbing her hips, "Everyone knows vampires don't age like normal human children," I feel her breath on my ear before her tongue draws my earlobe into her mouth, sucking and nipping at it.

Gasping, her free hand wanders down, touching my inner thigh before her hand skims over my growing arousal. Releasing her teeth from my lobe, she asks, "Have you ever had sex, Maverick?"

She continues to palm me through my ever-tightening pants, growling in frustration I state, "No."

But damn...do I ever want to right now.

Releasing me, she takes my right hand into hers, guiding it between her thighs. Up and under her dark skirt, she brings my hand against the fabric of her underwear and I find it is drenched. She starts moaning softly when she lets go of my hand and I run my fingers along the wetness of the fabric.

"I want to feel your fingers in me," Gwyn's breathing is heavy and uneven, tickling my ear when her nipping grows a little more aggressive.

I am throbbing with excitement and anticipation. I've never done anything like this or gotten this close to anyone before. The fact she wants me is a feeling I haven't ever grown accustomed to, as everyone has always pushed me away...hating me.

Sliding her underwear to the side, I run my middle finger along her wetness and when I touch something, she moans out much louder than before, drawing a few pairs of eyes. They don't stare long, going back to what they are doing. Rubbing my thumb against the spot that brings complete pleasure to her, I move my middle finger down until I know exactly what she wants. Moving my finger in and out of her, she bites her lower lip, breathing becoming erratic as her grip on my shoulders intensifies.

A new hunger rises within me, as I quickly flip her down onto the couch, her back flat against it. I continue to please her, my lips trailing down her neck, down to her collarbone and then back up to rest on the top of her shoulder. One of her hands cups the back of my neck when the tips of my fangs press against her skin, her other arm wrapping around my back. I feel the shift in my eyes, my body brimming with desire, not a feeling ever having come close to this when I had fed before.

It is new.

Dark.

Powerful.

I want it to consume me and last forever.

Gwyn cries out when I sink my fangs into her shoulder, adding another finger to pleasure her and causing her moans to almost come on par with the music playing around us. We finally draw attention, but I hadn't noticed from who.

Her blood pools in my mouth, savoring the new taste. It is much different than what I had grown accustomed to with Kenzie or Killian. I wonder if everyone's blood is different and how many I will get to experience.

"Well, I said you could feed on my daughter," Veronica chuckles, "I guess this works also," she slyly winks at her daughter.

"M-M-Mav-Maverick?" Tamsin's voice is filled with shock. I instantly pull my hand away from Gwyn, removing my fangs and sitting back.

Gwyn also sits up, the look on her face holds satisfaction as she whispers, "Come back anytime."

My eyes meet Tamsin's and she just holds this look on her face I've never seen before.

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The Rogue Pureblood Vampire by K. A. Young.

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