Pure: A Paranormal Romance

by D. L. McKinsey

  ***

  Lily

  Running outside to the darkening evening was not what I wanted to do. But I felt I had to do it; for Ana. Seb was so explosive. I knew exactly why, and I planned on telling him.

  “Hey! Wait up!” I called after him.

  Seb was walking along the dirt road, kicking every rock in sight. I really had to jog to catch up to him since he wouldn’t stop. Once I was beside him, I spun him around to face me.

  “Lily, you’re the last person I want to talk to right now.” He bit out angrily.

  It didn’t hurt my feelings at all.

  “Lucky for me then because I’m the last person that wants to deal with you.” Lily quipped back.

  Seb grunted.

  “Dude, you need to control the testosterone and get back inside so we all can work together to get Ana back.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He sneered.

  He bumped past me to continue his walk down the road to nowhere. But his words really pissed me off. I may not know what I talk about most of the time, but this wasn’t one of those times.

  “SELF-CENTERED JERK!” I screamed after him. It worked.

  Seb stopped and came marching back right to my face. I wasn’t afraid of Seb. He wasn’t the type of person to hurt anyone that didn’t deserve it. Unless you were Jace.

  “What did you call me?” He dared.

  I stood on my tippy toes so I could almost look him in the eye.

  “You. Are. A. Self. Centered. Jerk!” I said every word slowly so he knew he wasn’t the only one who was angry right now.

  “You know nothing about me or any of us for that matter.” Seb countered, folding his arms in that dominant way of his.

  I couldn’t help the dry laugh that erupted from my mouth. People always doubted me, but I was more than ready to lay it out for them, plain and simple.

  “Ha! I know nothing?! I’m on the outside looking in Seb! I see everything that you all refuse to acknowledge. Like the fact that Ana hasn’t accepted who she is. Jace is afraid of his own power. He only did that fire thing because you pushed him! And Simon is going through the motions that everything is okay, and he’s taking it all in, but really, he’s freaking out inside! The nerd is scared shitless! Oh, and your sister is so strong, but doesn’t know how to step out of your shadow and prove herself! Mainly because you won’t let her! Plus, she has thing for Simon who clearly feels the same way about her! But they are both too shy and scared to tell each other! Damn it!” My loud ranted had me breathing heavily. I had to place my hand on my knees to calm myself.

  “So you got the others all pegged, but not me,” Seb said with a smirk.

  I straightened up and concluded. “Oh, no, I saved the best for last. Your biggest problem is you’re in love, and you have no clue what to do about it. It’s so intense and unfamiliar that you wrongly channel it into anger.”

  “That’s not true.” He responded, but it sounded like it was himself he was trying to convince.

  “You’re in love, Seb; hot, raw, passionate, all-consuming love that people like me dream of!” I admitted “Tell me I’m wrong?”

  I tried to get him to at least acknowledge some of it, but from the look on his face, I knew he wouldn’t.

  His arms dropped, and he huffed a sigh.

  “It’s hard! And when I think of what she could be going through right now, I have to fight myself not to go into a rage and destroy everything in my path to find her!” Seb admitted with a slight glow to his eyes.

  For the first time since I met him, Seb looked afraid. But I knew it was for Ana and not for himself.

  “I know, but you can’t run off alone like this. We need you, and we have to stick together so we can come up with a plan.” I reasoned.

  Seb nodded in agreement, and I was so proud of myself for pulling him out of the anger cloud.

  “Want to hold hands and skip back?” I suggested with a smile.

  Seb raised a brow before giving me a little chuckle. It was nice to hear him laugh even though it only lasted a second.

  “No, but we can race instead.” He offered with a half-smile.

  I shrugged, feeling like taking what little fun I could get. But I hated losing, and I knew I was going to cheat in some way.

  “Okay, but I have something else I need to tell you.”

  “What?” Seb asked curiously, rolling his neck and loosening his shoulders.

  I copied him and also added a couple of fake lunges. I had to stop though because flexibility wasn’t my strong point.

  “Tell you after the race.” I answered.

  We lined up on the dirt road as we prepared for the race

  “On the count of three.” Lily started “One, two, I think you’re a werewolf, three!” I yelled, taking off towards the house.

  Seb didn’t run and she knew her bombshell announcement worked as the perfect distraction….

  ***

  Ana

  “Welcome to hell!” Talon announced. The only thing I could do was hiss at him. If only there was a way to break these bars so I could break his neck…

  “I’ve been in hell since the day I met you! By the way, how’s my sister?” I sneered. This animal had turned my sister into a vampire and brainwashed her to kill me. He better pray they kill me soon.

  “I don’t know. After the bitch ratted out your whereabouts, the elite imprisoned me.” Talon retorted.

  The wounded vampire carefully sat back down on the ground. For some reason, he wasn’t healing at the normal speed. Whatever he was stabbed with must have been deadly. I mulled over on what he said about my sister ‘ratting’ me out. It was a fact that he was a liar, but that lie didn’t seem farfetched considering the type of person Kim was.

  “You should prepare yourself for torture. They took Marcos a few hours ago. I’m sure now that you’re here, they’ll want you before me.” Talon suggested.

  So they had Marcos? Damn, the King didn’t waste time with threats. But whatever Marcos had planned didn’t involve me. For one, he never even told me he wanted to kill the King. And two, I was kidnaped! I had no free will until I escaped. Even after I escaped, I still felt trapped. Nothing only metaphoric about it since my current environment was a cell.

  “Torture? But this is all a misunderstanding. I’m not in league with you and Marcos.” I protested. Geez, someone needed to listen to the truth here!

  “Ha! Good luck proving it. My advice: don’t show weakness. It might keep you alive longer.”

  He lay on his back on the cold floor. It was clear he was done talking, probably to concentrate on healing.

  My feet carried my body in an angry pace across the small room. If he was telling the truth, I was in big trouble. Never had torture come to mind. Marcos was an ass who kept me locked up, but he didn’t outright torture me unless I tried to escape. I would get shot a couple times, but that was nothing compared to torture. My mind raced with all the possibilities.

  The moment of truth came when four guards appeared at my cell. I sized them up. I could most likely take them out, but then what? It was too risky trying to flee just yet.

  They entered the chamber and immediately began to shackle me again. Testing the strength of the cuffs, it was obvious platinum was used due to the slight burning I felt.

  “Die slow for me!”

  I so badly wanted to throw a bolt at him and end his miserable existence, but I refrained myself.

  Five minutes later, they shackled me in the center of a large white room; almost like the ones in mental hospitals. I wondered if that was supposed to add to the fear. Talon was right about not showing weakness. If I did, it would only make things more difficult for me considering vampires prided themselves on being strong and in showing no mercy for the weak. After my clothes were stripped, hell began.

  Strike after strike, two guards whipped me mercilessly. They never asked a single question. Every strike burned like acid. It was worse than any platinum I’d ever felt. My wo
unds were healing, but the more they struck me, the slower they healed. The whips were weakening me.

  I don’t know how long it went on before I heard the loud clicking of heels approach. I was getting close to the point of hyping out and destroying this place. My rage was peaking, and I knew, if they didn’t stop, they would soon all know exactly what I was capable of.

  “State your name!” A female commanded with a cold unfeeling voice.

  Was she serious? They brought me in here and beat me, and the first thing they want to know was my name! A dark laugh bubbled from my lips.

  “Kiss my ass.” I barked back. My patience was gone. Soon, I would kill everyone in this room.

  Suddenly, a chill crept over me; more like I felt someone’s presence. It was quickly forgotten when the scorching pain brought by the chains resonated in my skin. The howl of pain was proof that I was going mad. I turned my head, intent on focusing on my power when my eyes locked with a glowing red pair.

  The air buzzed around us and not from my kinetic talent. The eyes belonged to the most alluring, dangerously dark and sexiest vampire I’d ever seen. His stylish dark hair, red eyes, barely-there scuff and strong jaw lines made him mouthwatering. He was dressed in all black; covering what I knew to be a body of perfection. This vampire had a darkness about him, but he made it look good. My body ached for him. Another lashing had me screaming but not from pain. It was from the realization that I actually desired him like he was my ma…

  My thoughts were interrupted by the red hot rage that overtook him. I could actually feel his anger. I watched, stunned, as he snatched the nearest guard by the throat and then ripped his heart out! He dropped the lifeless body to the ground and turned his rage on the other one. The vampire dropped his whip and held his hands up in surrender, but it was too late. In a second, he shoved the other vamp’s black heart down his throat, picked up his whip, and strangled him with it until his head tore off. It was ruthless.

  After he was done with the men, he slowly walked towards me. All I could do was stare inshock and confusion. The dark vampire gently ran his bloody finger down my face and whispered one word.

  “Mate.”

  He spoke so softly, I barely heared it. But that one four-letter word changed everything. It sent all my senses crashing down. He was my third mate. No, it couldn’t be! Who was he?

  “Excuse me, Prince Cassius, but what the hell are you doing?!” The female vampire asked in an extremely hostile voice.

  “Gwyn, get someone to remove these chains from my mate. Now! Before I kill someone else.” He demanded with a deep authoritative voice.

  Wait! Did she call just him Prince?

  The female vampire, Gwyn, scoffed but did as was told. In a matter of seconds, guard members released me. My body collapsed, but before I could hit the cold tile, the dark sexy vampire scooped me into his arms.

  “Wh-who are you?” I asked, willing my eyes to stay open so I could stare at his red ones. He smiled down at me.

  “I am Prince Cassius, the next vampire King, but to you…I’m your mate, love.”

  Holy shit! The prince was my third mate! This couldn’t be happening! All of the chaos must have been too much on my weak body, because not a second later, I blacked out.

  ***

  Ana

  I don’t know how long I was out, but without opening my eyes, I knew I wasn’t in my cell. My body was on a plush mattress. It was so soft, it was like laying on a cloud.

  “Are you sure she is your mate?” The voice I already recognized as Gwyn’s asked with obvious disbelief and disgust.

  “I already told you, Gwyn. She is the one.” Cassius replied in an even tone.

  The bed dipped beside me, and soon, I felt his hand slowly caress my face and hair.

  “It’s just unbelievable that she should show up now! Not to mention, she is a traitor for plotting the death of your father.” Gwyn accused.

  It was clear that she didn’t like me one bit. Maybe I should let them know I was awake, but the curiosity of what they might say next held me still.

  “Any crime she may have committed beforehand will be forgiven because she is my mate. Now go arrange a meeting with my father so I can personally deliver the news.” Cassius spoke that left no room for argument.

  I could hear her huff as she stormed from the room. Something told me she was going to be trouble.

  “You can stop pretending to sleep, love,” he said, amused.

  My eyes shot open and instantly connected with his red ones. The same intensity I got when I looked at Seb and Jace happened. The mate sparks flew all around us, and it was hard not be consumed by it.

  “Your eyes are remarkable. How are they blue?”

  That simple question made me remember why this couldn’t happen. He was the Prince! I was supposed to kill him and his family. Not to mention, his crazy grandfather killed mine! Damn it! Fate has a funny way of fucking up my life. I hurriedly scooted from the bed, needing some distance.

  “Don’t be afraid. Nothing will harm you now. You’re my mate.” Cassius insisted, taking his shirt off.

  My jaw dropped at the sexy perfectly defined abs. He was gorgeous.

  “Wh-what are you doing?” I gulped, realizing for the first time I was in his black dress shirt and nothing else. Thank goodness he was tall and the shirt reached to my mid-thigh.

  “I wanted to wait but I must have you now! Get in the bed so we can make love.” He purred; his red eyes glowing. And, damn it, if I didn’t almost obeyed him. It was sheer will that kept me rooted to the far wall. I have to get out of here! Panic soared up my throat but not from fear. It was from the desire I had to sleep with him. Images of his hands all over my body had me growing wet between my thighs.

  What the hell?

  “You like what you see, love? Come here, and I can make it real.” Cassius tempted me as he lay on the bed like the prince he was.

  “Can you read my mind or something?” I asked. I sure hoped not because my thoughts were very naughty.

  “Or something.” He emphasized.

  I tilted my head, puzzled by his response.

  “I planted those images in your mind; one of my many talents. Now, come here, love. I don’t want to have to come over there. Or do I?” He teased sexily.

  Damn! It was so hard not to be turned on by him. But after knowing he had some sort of ability, I started to doubt if what I was feeling was caused by own desire or his doing.

  Without warning, he dashed from the bed and inched closer to me

  I took matching steps backwards until I hit the wall. There was nowhere to go.

  The prince smirked, and it looked so damn good on him; in a sexy bad boy way.

  He was closer now; so close his whisky breath fanned against my face.

  Cassius’ lips were moving. I knew he was saying something to me, but I couldn’t hear a word.

  All I could do was watch those plump pink lips and fantasize about them on places in my body I’d never explored.

  What’s happening to me?

  He slowly tilted my head to the side and exposed my neck. Cassius then dragged his tongue from the curve in my neck to my ear. My body shivered in response.

  I couldn’t take it any longer.

  I wanted him.

  Bad.

  And I was going to get him.

  NOW.

  Chapter 33

  The Princess

  Seb

  “On the count of three,” Lily started “One, two, I think you’re a werewolf, three!” She yelled, taking off towards the house.

  Her words, however, had me rooted to the ground. What did she just say? I watched her sloppy run for a moment before taking off after her. I easily caught up to her and cut her off before she reached the house.

  “Ahh!” She screamed, clutching her chest “Damn, you scared me!”

  “What did you call me?”

  Lily began to squirm a little under my gaze.

  “Oh, umm, I called you a werewolf.�
� She confessed.

  My face scrunched up in confusion. “Why?”

  “Well, I’ve been noticing things. The biggest clue was with the wolves in Nexus. Not to mention, you growl a lot. I’ve seen your eyes glow. You’re aggressive and very hairy, even for a guy.” She said the last part as if she was little disgusted.

  Seb stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. Lily was stunned by the sound I was making. She probably couldn’t believe I was capable of laughing so hard.

  “Wow, you’re funny! A werewolf? You know they don’t exist anymore right?” I talked to her like a child, and she folded her arms defensively.

  “Okay, maybe I was wrong. Let’s just forget it.” Lily retreated.

  The girl didn’t waste any time pushing past me and entering the small home. I soon followed, but I felt a little guilty. Because even though I didn’t believe I was a werewolf, I knew something was happening to me. Whatever it was, I prayed it wouldn’t complicate things more than they already are.

  Everyone was still in the living room, and Zara was sprinkling something on the broken coffee table. Slowly, all the pieces began to move and reconnect with each other until the table was back to its whole form.

  “You guys are just in time to hear my plan!” Jace declared with much enthusiasm.

  “Are you okay?” Marie asked, coming to my side.

  I reassured her with a smile and a ruffle of her hair.

  “That’s great! I have something to tell you about Ana’s mate…”

  “Not now. Marie. Let’s just hear Jace’s plan and focus on bringing her back.” I insisted.

  Whatever my sister wanted to say needed to wait. I had just calmed down, and hearing about Ana and Jace being mates would only rile me up. Cora and Zara left the room. Everyone else took a seat as Jace stood in the center of the room and began.

  “Alright. I’m going to communicate with Ana through astral projection!” He announced and waited for our reactions. The room was silent. No one said a single word and everyone looked pretty confused.

  Lily slowly raised her hand. “Just one question: what’s that mean?”