Tainted Blood . Amy Blankenship

recently,” Evey said with a short, clipped answer… then suddenly added, “Don’t you dare think you can take Trevor away from me.”

      Chad’s eyebrows went up into his hairline before he started laughing so hard his sides started to hurt.

      “Oh, don’t worry about that.” Envy said with an almost evil smirk at Trevor through the mirror. “I have no intention of taking him away from you. I think you two make the perfect couple.”

      Evey gasped excitedly and the car doors slammed shut. “Where do you and Chad live?” This time the voice was happy.

      “I’ll drive,” Trevor said, wishing the earth would just open up and get it over with. “You go ahead and get acquainted with Envy.”

      “Yes,” Envy said as Trevor started the car. “Please tell me all about you and the fun things you and Trevor have been up to.”

      Chad was nearly in the floorboard with laughter and didn’t stop until they were almost to his apartment. As soon as Evey was placed into park, Chad scrambled out of the car and rushed into the apartment knowing Envy would take a few minutes longer. Damn his cheeks hurt. What made it even funnier was the little fact that it wasn’t Trevor’s fault this time.

      “Evey,” Envy asked sweetly, “Would you mind if Trevor walked me to my door? I’ve seen way too many monsters tonight to feel safe all by myself… and it looks like my big brother has left me behind.”

      Trevor cringed knowing he was in for it and Evey wasn’t helping matters. This was definitely not his night.

      “That’s a good idea. Trevor, you make sure nothing harms my new friend. I’ll just finish updating your PIT report for you.” The dashboard lit up, turning into a computer screen as Evey set about her project while humming quietly to herself. She had decided since Envy was Chad’s sister and obviously fighting monsters that she deserved her own file added to the PIT data bank. She secretly snapped a picture of the girl with her hidden camera.

      Trevor sighed giving into a moment of self-pity and slowly got out of the car. Well, he’d wanted a moment alone with Envy and now it looked like he was going to get it. He was all up for trying to see the bright side of things but the bright side was starting to look very dim.

      They finally made it to the door and Trevor glanced back at Evey seeing that a huge tree in the front yard now stood between them. Envy chose that moment to turn on him and glared heatedly, having thought about this during the entire ride over. She poked her finger in his chest so hard Trevor thought for sure he’d have a hole there when they were done.

      “Was that supposed to be a joke, because if it was, it’s not very funny?” Envy hissed in a hushed voice not knowing how sensitive the damn car’s microphone was.

      “Oh, it’s a joke alright,” Trevor growled back. “But it was meant to torture me… not you. I had honestly forgotten all about it until we made it back to the car.” Trevor explained running his hand through his bangs. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

      Seeing the sincerity in his eyes and hearing it in his voice took the wind right out of Envy’s tantrum. He was telling the truth… she hoped. “Why would someone do that to you?”

      Trevor’s bluish-silver eyes darkened just a touch as he stared down at his soul mate. “Because everyone in the world knows I love you and you hate me. They think it’s funny. Why do you think Chad was laughing his ass off the whole ride here?”

      “Trevor,” Envy felt her chest constrict painfully with his words. “That’s not true,” she corrected softly. “I could never hate you.”

      “I know,” he gave her a small smile but it quickly faded into a frown. “I’m very aware that you’re in love with the both of us. Devon knows it too.”

      Envy’s eyes widened and she took a quick step back. Barely shaking her head she whispered, “Why would you think that?”

      “We are shifters Envy… we can smell it,” Trevor insisted, taking a step forward and closing the distance between them. “Don’t tell me you don’t want me when I know you do. You love me just as much as you do him because you have two soul mates.” He swallowed hard now that he’d said it out loud.

      Envy remained silent, looking up at him with doe eyes and feeling like she’d been caught in his headlights. She didn’t know how to respond to that because the truth was… Trevor could still turn her on a dime. She’d even been forcing herself to ignore her attraction to him because she had chosen Devon.

      “Tell me you don’t love me,” Trevor whispered, leaning closer until their lips were almost touching.

      Envy was the one who swallowed this time. She willed herself to deny what he was saying because buried feelings wouldn't allow it. She hated to be lied to… therefore she was almost incapable of doing it herself. She still loved him… but it was wrong to be in love with two men at the same time.

      “I love Devon,” she breathed against his lips all the while damning herself for hurting him again.

      “Smart move… avoiding,” Trevor said after a moment and leaned back just a little bit to let his gaze pierce hers. “Because if you lie to me… I’ll be able to smell it on you.”

      Envy took a step back while Trevor hovered above her, blocking out everything else even though he’d moved away. Reaching behind her, her hand fumbled around trying to find the doorknob. She didn’t want to think about this… it was only breaking her heart.

      Finally, her fingers brushed the knob and she turned it, opening the door. She slipped inside and started to close it when Trevor’s hand shot out and stopped the action.

      “You know I’m right,” Trevor whispered. “You feel it too.”

      Envy felt butterflies erupt in the pit of her stomach and quickly shut the door in Trevor’s face. Turning the lock, she spun around and pressed her back against the door waiting to hear Trevor start up his car and leave. For some reason, it felt like he was still standing behind her just waiting to reach through the door and wrap his arms around her.

      Trevor laid his palms against the doorframe feeling her presence lingering… leaning against the other side of the wood separating them. He could hear her heart racing through the thick wood and inhaled deep to calm his nerves. His instincts were screaming at him to burst through the door and take back what was his… but he’d be damned before giving her a reason to stop loving him.

      He frowned after a moment when he didn’t hear her move away from the door. Leaning closer to the barrier between them, he laid his forehead against the cold wood and sighed.

      “Envy,” he whispered. “I love you.”

      It was then that he heard her flee to her room.

      *****

      Jason sat down on a stone bench that had been placed in front of one of the larger crypts to take a breather. He hadn't run into anything or anyone for the last three minutes and that was a record for the night so far.

      Tapping the ring, he hoped the thing would somehow turn back on. His stomach was twisted in knots not knowing where Tiara was and if she was really okay. Lowering his head a little, he mentally berated himself for not being able to get her out of the mausoleum. Some protector he’d turned out to be. She’d even had to ask a demon for help.

      “You might want to look behind you,” a voice suddenly said from the surrounding silence.

      Jason’s eyes snapped up seeing a man with long dark hair standing only a short distance away. He blinked when what the man said finally sunk in.

      The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and Jason shot forward a few steps before doing a one-eighty to see what was behind him. Four skitters stared back at him from only a couple of feet away with their lipless mouths pulled back showing every one of their sharp teeth.

      “Oh come