Running with the Wicked

By Wendi Zwaduk

Find what you need at the Refuge. A place to stay, a warm body...love?

What's a human refugee to do when the last place to hide is gone? For Rachel, the choice is clear—run to Jon. She's crushed on him from afar. He plays hard, seemingly without regrets. He can save her, but does he return her affections?

Jon Schiff has a past he isn't ready to talk about and he prefers to live the life of a bachelor instead of taking his rightful place as a Fae prince. When Rachel shows up on his doorstep, battered and scared, he can't turn her away. The sweet-natured human intrigues him and makes him want to confront his messy past.

But when ghosts from their collective pasts threaten their present, will she accept him as her mate or decide there can be no future with him?

If they're both willing to run with the wicked, they just might find their hearts' true desire.

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence and death, references to forced sex and feeding from humans, as well as a reference to suicide.

Publisher's Note: This book is best read in conjunction with Taken In.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Jul 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781786864932

Wendi Zwaduk

Wendi Zwaduk is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to BDSM and LGBTQ themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com and the former AllRomance Ebooks. She also writes under the name of Megan Slayer. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Totally Bound Publishing books by Wendi Zwaduk

Single Books

Learning How to Bend

Must Be Doing Something Right

My Immortal

You’ll Think of Me

Tangled Up

Careless Whisper

Please Remember Me

What Might Have Been

Ever Fallen In Love

Someone Like You

Love Remembers

When You’re With Me

Sunshine of Your Love

Firelit Magic

Her Man

My Favorite Mistake

Silk and Decadence

Bound by Desire

Love Lessons

Drawn Together

Written Together

Together Again

Dancing Together

Clandestine Classics

The Phantom of the Opera

Anthologies

Treble: Savin’ Me

Switch: Still the One

Bound to the Billionaire: Play to Him

Whip It Up: Honey and Decadence

Lasso Lovin’: Tying One On

Wild After Dark: Taken In

Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats: Between Us

Three’s a Charm: A Sinful Tune

Sensory Limits: Just You and Me

Seasonal Collections

Heart Attack: Over My Head

Haunted By You: Miss Me Baby

Wanton Witches: Candlelit Magic

Jolly Rogered: Ruined by the Pirate

The Refuge

RUNNING WITH THE WICKED

WENDI ZWADUK

Running with the Wicked

ISBN # 978-1-78686-493-2

©Copyright Wendi Zwaduk 2019

Cover Art by Cherith Vaughan ©Copyright July 2019

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2019 by Totally Bound Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Totally Bound Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Book one in the Refuge series

Find what you need at the Refuge. A place to stay, a warm body…love?

What’s a human refugee to do when the last place to hide is gone? For Rachel, the choice is clear—run to Jon. She’s crushed on him from afar. He plays hard, seemingly without regrets. He can save her, but does he return her affections?

Jon Schiff has a past he isn’t ready to talk about and he prefers to live the life of a bachelor instead of taking his rightful place as a Fae prince. When Rachel shows up on his doorstep, battered and scared, he can’t turn her away. The sweet-natured human intrigues him and makes him want to confront his messy past.

But when ghosts from their collective pasts threaten their present, will she accept him as her mate or decide there can be no future with him?

If they’re both willing to run with the wicked, they just might find their hearts’ true desire.

Dedication

For the Lucky Ducks.

For Teresa.

For Tot.

For JPZ.

Chapter One

Another day of darkness, another lousy situation. Rachel Brown finger-combed her hair then turned to her friend, General Krum. I hate darkness.

It’s not my favorite thing, General replied. I want the sun to return.

Too bad it won’t. Rachel stared out the window of the apartment. Street lights glittered below. She longed to leave the confines of the apartment for somewhere—anywhere—else, but humans hadn’t been permitted to roam alone in five years. You never told me why you were named General. Tell me the story to take my mind off my next date to feed the vampires.

Not much to tell, he said. My parents weren’t creative. They named me General, my sister Saint and my brother Sergeant. I don’t know why. Maybe they liked the military?

Saint’s a pretty name, she murmured. Her mind wandered. Will Jon Schiff be at the Refuge today? She hadn’t seen him in a while.

Have you heard from Jon? General stood beside her and folded his arms. Is he coming back?

Are you reading my mind? She shrugged. Hearing the name of her crush both annoyed and enticed her. She longed for the hours when Jon visited the Refuge. He’d come along after the Refuge had changed names and reasons for existence. Her friends Kitty, Vic and Gale had turned the Store Front, a place for humans to service supernaturals, into the Refuge—a place anyone could come to and find sanctuary. But now that Kitty, Gale and Vic had stepped aside, the Refuge wasn’t as safe as it had been before.

Come on. I know you sneak up to the fifth floor. General elbowed her. You’ve been watching him when he visits Maddox.

So? She fought the urge to shrug again. I like to watch, but he hasn’t been visiting Maddox. He’s seeing Dana. She wasn’t a voyeur of everyone. No, she liked to watch Jon. She’d memorized the location of each of his tattoos, that he’d pierced his left nipple and his tendency to go without underwear. She knew who he was and longed to hear him call her name, but he had no idea she existed. She imagined he’d gaze at her with those dark eyes and whisper her name during sex. A girl can dream, right?

Why don’t you tell him you like him? He might be interested. General shook his head. I need to get down to the cafeteria. I’m supposed to work the dinner line. Want to come along?

Sure. She followed her friend to the ground floor. He won’t be here today.

How do you know? General gestured to the lobby. Isn’t that him?

Where? She ducked behind one of the pillars. Jon was there. Holy shit. She waved to General. See you?

Eventually. He chuckled and left her in her hiding spot.

Rachel peeked around the concrete pillar and spied Jon. She shouldn’t be watching him, but she couldn’t help herself.

You don’t understand, Jon said. After running his fingers through his blond hair, he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. I can’t be here any longer.

Why? Dana flipped her long black hair over her shoulder. She stuck out her bottom lip. On anyone else, the gesture would be childish, but she managed to make the pout attractive. She laced her fingers together and pushed her arms into her breasts, making her chest appear bigger. Her creamy white flesh showed no evidence of bites from the vampires.

Rachel rubbed her arm. She couldn’t remember if Dana was one of the vamps, but she thought she might be. Vampires were always so beautiful and blemish-free. Rachel would never have perfect skin—not when the vampires used her for feeding. She hungered for the days when she’d been carefree and innocent. When guys had looked at her with longing, not as a meal. Before the darkness, she’d been happy. She might have been able to attract Jon. Not now.

I just can’t, Jon said. It’s…complicated.

So you’d just walk out on me. Like that? Dana folded her arms and cocked her hip. I’m not good enough?

I never said that. He leveled his gaze at her and a muscle in his jaw tightened. I’ve spent enough time here. I should move on.

No, no, no. Rachel bit back a whimper. She liked seeing him there. How could he leave? She hadn’t even plucked up the courage to tell him she liked him. If he never came back, she’d never have her chance.

Who is she? Dana snapped. There has to be someone else. I’m the prettiest girl here.

Don’t do this, Jon said. He held up both hands. We had something good. Don’t fuck it up by getting mad. You don’t want me. You have a thing for Thaddeus.

He’s not you, she said. I want you and your special skills.

Rachel shivered. She’d seen those skills. She longed to have him kiss her, to feel his tongue on her body and for him to make love to her. The craving within her increased. He couldn’t go.

He