Licorice Love

Chapter 1: Bexley's P.O.V.

~ The start of this book takes place right after Hot Fire Candy (Mo's book). It is also going to kind of jump around with different character POVs. There is going to be some time before they meet their mates, to build up the story, but not too long. ~

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"This is like the 28th mission we've been sent on in a row. With no break," Nix grumbled.

I turned my head to smirk at her.

"You love it," I said.

The corners of my bestie's mouth quirked up.

"You're right, I do," she replied. "But I wanted to spend some time with my family. Tia never sends us out this much."

"No, she doesn't, does she?" I mumbled.

Almost makes ya wonder if she knows something, huh? Millie, my wolf, commented.

She doesn't know, I replied. But she suspects.

"You think we should say something to Kee?" Nix asked me, her mind probably on the same track as mine.

"Kee already knows," I said, waving her off.

"Does she?" Nix replied. "She has been pretty busy with the council and... everything else."

"What the hell does she mean by 'everything else'?" one of the men in front of us asked, sneering.

Nix and I looked up at the six men who were currently holding us captive. They're a group of Made Vamps that have been around for a while now. At least, their leader, Remus, has been. The others vary. I know this because I do my search before letting myself be seen.

Like, hello! Obviously, you get all the information you can first. All their weaknesses, their strengths, their blood type, their mother's maiden name.

E v e r y t h i n g.

Obviously, Nix and I are powerful enough to take on six Made Vamps. Hell, Nix could take them all herself. If this weren't a mission for information, she probably would have killed them all already. I know Nix is probably pi.ssed that this ended up being a surprise double mission. She isn't the biggest fan of Vamps.

Understandably for her, considering what she's been through.

And by surprise double mission, I mean that Tia sent us here because these goons have been trafficking supernatural and Human kids. Tia found out that they were a small group who were handing over any kind of kid they could get their hands on to the Hunters. Hunters don't kill kids. Only the adult supernatural, unless they find them useful. The kids they just ship from lab, to lab, to see who can survive the most experiments.

Fu.cking disgusting bas.tards.

All that being said, we didn't need to be captured to learn how they operate, or find the kids they currently have. It's always the same. Once we find their hideout, it's game over. Obviously, the kids they still have are underground. This might be a warehouse in the middle of the woods, but we knew better.

We'd broken into enough of these places to detect where hidden rooms are. Not only that, but Nix's senses are uniquely strong. Even for a Hybrid. She can sniff out those kids like it's nothing. She could hear their heartbeats and scared breathing from miles away. She knew the moment we saw the warehouse where those kids were.

So, ideally, we could have just killed these six, taken the kids, and gone through all the information they have here.

Another thing I've noticed in all my years of missions... They ALWAYS keep a paper trail. Or, these days, sometimes an electronic one. They thought of it as a way of keeping themselves safe from their employers, or whatever other bad people they were working with. Id.iots have no idea how useful it is for us.

That's how we've been able to find so many more labs and warehouses. It, unfortunately, is a lot to go through, but we're making progress. Anytime we can save someone, it's a win in my book.

One day, I'll be able to save them all.

"You gonna answer us or what?" another one of the men said.

Oh, right! We got captured after we saw some interesting photos taped in their little office here. Photos of Kee, Tia, Max, their kids... Not of Callum though...

Interesting, Millie commented.

"What is Akeehla up to?" Remus asked, squatting down to look in my eyes.

I smirked at him, a small chuckle leaving my lips.

"Why are you so interested?" I countered. "Thought you guys just kidnapped and trafficked kids."

The first man who spoke scoffed at me as he crossed his arms.

"Trafficked is a strong word, don't you think?" he said.

I raised a brow at him.

"None of them are getting ra.ped," he stated.

I looked at him like he was the stupidest person on the planet, and I really feel like somebody should nominate him as such.

"Trafficking means dealing with or trading in something illegal," Nix told him. "Not just for se.x, you dumba.ss."

"Whatever," he grumbled. "How much damage can Humans really do?"

"My Goddess," I groaned as I leaned my head back on the chair. "You are a crew of total dipsh.its."

"You really think they aren't hurting these kids?" Nix asked incredulously.

"We don't care," one of them stated as he stood to his full height. "We get our money and move on."

"Yeah? Then why do you want info on Kee so badly?" I asked sweetly.

Remus' jaw ticked.

He's angry about something. Millie said. But what? You think it's personal?

No, I think someone hired them to get information. I replied. Someone who feels like it's personal. Someone who thought they would go undetected because why would we worry about a group of six Made Vamps?

Good point, but who? She asked.

No idea, but it could be anybody, I said. Other creatures are starting to feel the change.

Which is true. Other creatures can feel it now. It started off with just Demons and slowly moved on to other supernaturals. The ones that are more connected with themselves felt it first. Now Kee's brothers and sisters feel it too.

That's probably why Tia keeps sending me and Nix out. None of them know what's going on, but they feel it. It's making people antsy, but Tia thinks that if Kee doesn't have me and Nix for help, then whatever is going on can't be that bad. She has no idea that we've been playing double agent almost since the day we met Kee.

"You two don't get to ask questions," another one of them said.

"Why not?" I asked casually as I tipped back in my chair. Because I'm tied to it, the whole thing wobbled over, teetering before landing on all fours again. I remained unbothered as I waited for one of them to respond.

One of my favorite things about playing the airhead is how pi.ssed off men get when they can't intimidate me. Or women, for that matter, but I find it more enjoyable when it's a man's ego I'm bruising. I might be a little bit insane, but I just find it so fun.

"Because we captured you," he spat.

"Well, what's it matter if you tell us?" I asked innocently. "I doubt you'll let us live through this."

"You seem so calm about that," Remus commented.

"I've accepted my fate," I replied, trying to shrug, but struggling due to my restraints.

They don't know who we are? Nix mind-linked me.

Nah, I replied. They wouldn't have just captured us with wolfsbane-laced rope if they knew.

It was kind of surprising since Nix and I are pretty well-known. Accidentally, of course. We just rock at missions, and Nix is pretty memorable. With two different colored eyes and a long scar that runs down the left side of her face, she stands out. It gets us noticed during missions.

Apparently not noticed enough though!

"We've heard that Akeehla Morningstar is planning something big, something... universe changing," Remus said.

"Remus," one of his henchmen hissed, but Remus ignored him.

"We can feel it. Other creatures can feel it. People are whispering," he continued. "We want to know what's coming so we can prepare."

I snorted.

Prepare? How silly. They won't be able to prepare.

They're going to be dead!

"What's so funny?" The angry one snapped at me, clearly upset that Remus decided to confide in us. Or whatever that was.

"Just the fact that you guys think you can prepare," I said, smiling.

"Is this something that whole family is planning together?" Remus asked. "Is that why we can't prepare? Are the Morningstars going to take over the supernatural part of this world?"

I scoffed at him.

"What? No," I replied.

Can you believe this guy? I asked Nix.

I can't believe you're surprised, she replied.

"If that's not the case, then what?" Remus asked. "Why can't we prepare?"

"You can't prepare because you'll be dead," I said. "Like Nix and I are just going to let you walk out of here after what you've been doing."

The angry one laughed loudly, but Remus just held my eyes.

"What is she planning?" He asked again, slower this time.

"I guess we can tell you," I said.

"Yeah," Nix agreed. "After all, like Bex said, you aren't leaving here alive."

They said nothing.

"Kee," I said, letting her name hang in the air for dramatic effect. "Is going to become the new Devil."