Burned In Shadows

by Eden, Tigris

  He watched as Dietrich took off his glasses, his pupils fully dilated and open for all to see.

  “I fucked up.”

  “Get to you point.” Ronin said.

  Another hand gesture. This time D gave them both the bird, before returning to his, macho stance.

  “Let him talk.”

  Not being able to hear the other man’s thoughts sucked balls. Big heavy one with wiry crotch hair. He and his brother had been able to before, but now he’d developed some sort of block, just like Gabe did on their first meeting.

  “I think our super twin powers are fading.”

  Ronin glared while D waited. It wasn’t his fault he had a stellar personality and a charming disposition. He was so going to tell them to suck it when it was all over. Figuratively, not literally. Royce saw the hint of a smile on his brother’s face. Even though the situation was dire, he could still make him pop a grin.

  “I’m trying to be real with you chumps and your conversing via head chat?

  “Go on walker say your peace.”

  “Belinda needs to wake the fuck up. I have shit to do. Dravaggio’s ordered the evac of Adam and Jesminda.”

  “Like you care.”

  “I don’t, but it’s my job, and my jobs pays the bills.”

  “Be serious, Royce.”

  “I am.”

  This was as serious as he could get. If he let the real situation slide through, funny charismatic Royce would be gone, and dark Royce would rear more than its ugly head.

  “I left her at the altar. I’m not the man for her. You two aren’t either, but she needs to be woken up. Ryan said you triggered her nesting, how?”

  Both brothers looked at each other. It was none of D’s fucking business.

  “Why do you need to know?” Ronin asked.

  “It will waken her, to repeat the-,”

  Ronin cut him off.

  “You will not touch her!”

  “I’ve got trained walkers on the mountain waiting to bust a cap.”

  “What time period are you from? Gangsta rap is dead.” Royce said.

  Walkers were posted with guns on the mountain sides when he looked up. The sneaky bastards were just standing around holding onto guns like it was the thing to do.

  “Time is running out. If she doesn’t wake up. She won’t wake up, get me?”

  All eyes turned to the vision lying on the altar. They’d changed her garments, and he hadn’t taken notice earlier. He noticed now. She was wearing a vermillion chiffon gown with silk ties at one shoulder. Her feet were bare, and he could see her toes were also painted the same color of her dress. Her cinnamon skin was rich, and the dress brought out her reddish undertone. Feathers spun from gold silk was braided into her hair. Her radiant features shined with such clarity it almost hurt to look at her. To not wake her would be unacceptable. She may have been theirs, and though he and his brother welcomed the idea of a mate, maybe she truly wasn’t theirs. He could see her swelling with his and his brother’s offspring, could see her standing in the kitchen, the three of them cooking together. Deciding things together. The possibility of not seeing her smiling face or sassy wit was not an option. He knew he would do anything to have her open her eyes again.

  “I love her brother, I love her enough to give her up.”

  Ronin didn’t respond to his internal plea. He simply stood there looking down on her.

  “Do what needs to be done, Dietrich,” Ronin murmured. At least they agreed in this.

  “I can’t do shit unless you tell me what you did to trigger her nesting.”

  “We made love to her.” Trust Ronin to get down to the grit of it. He grabbed the back of his neck to stop the pain that was starting to sit heavy on his shoulders. Damn, his chest fucking ached with the knowledge that once again, a woman could have died because of his stupidity. Granted, they weren’t being sentenced to death this time, but it felt like he was dying inside.

  “Both of you? At the same time?” D’s voice kept escalating as he asked the question and had the nerve to sound shocked.

  “So, how do you wake her up?” Royce was starting to lose his composure.

  “I’m thinking that maybe if I brought in another.”

  “You will do no such thing.” Ronin said. Venom laced his words. His brother had already dropped fang. He wasn’t fucking around. He on the other hand was calculating the best chance he had at stealing her body and taking her away from this fucked up place.

  “What do you suggest? You two attempt to wake?”

  “That’s the most logical, we caused her nesting. We can wake her up.”

  The shit eating grin on Dietrich’s face made him weary.

  “Good. I’ll talk to the Matria to make preparations. In the meantime enjoy the village. Don’t attack anyone and dinner in town starts at six.”

  They watched him walk in the general direction of where they’d entered. He did point over his shoulder at the gunmen on the mountain as he disappeared behind a corner shop. Ronin let out a long sigh of relief, Royce felt it to. They weren’t in the clear yet.

  A little girl with auburn hair popped out from behind the altar and smiled.

  “Hello there,” Royce said.

  “You’re tall.”

  “Yes and you’re small.”

  “Am not,” she said with authority and spread her fiery wings to show them just how tall she was. She lifted herself to eye level with them. She was a beautiful little girl, with rosy cheeks and a strong personality.

  “No, you’re not small at all,” Ronin agreed.

  “You really going to wake her?”

  “That’s the plan. What is your name?” He might as well get better acquainted, he had no intention of letting Bells go.

  “Ari, my name is Ariana Ignis.” She landed on her feet and bowed, her fiery mane falling over her shoulders.

  “You’re Belinda’s sister?” Ronin asked.

  “Yes.”

  The two of them were night and day. Ari was pale compared to her sister with sun filled eyes, and Bells had black hair and violet eyes.

  “I won’t be able to view her awakening, none of the children are allowed,” she complained.

  “Why not?”

  The little girl began flitting around the altar until she found what he guessed was a suitable spot for her to perch on.

  “The ceremony is too carnal. My mother says these things are not learned by a girl of my age.”

  “Carnal?” Both men said at the same time.

  “Yes, you will need to love my sister in view of the entire Enclave.”

  With those last words, she flew up into the mountains leaving them both with their thoughts. No, they were not in the clear.

  Chapter 28

  She couldn’t see a fucking thing! But she knew he was there lurking in the corners. The wolf wasn’t confused. He knew exactly who she was and didn’t hesitate to greet her. Hot breath fanned her face, and she wondered if he was assessing her injuries. He didn’t like to see her hurt, she knew it would upset him. The wolf whined and licked her hand. Hands that were tied to a chair.

  “It’s okay baby. You didn’t do this,” she tried to soothe.

  He didn’t believe her, he snarled, and she knew he was telling her not to cut him any slack. Draven’s wolf head butted the chair a couple of times before he nipped the ties that were holding her arms. She winced as the blood rushed past her wrist into her hand. She brought them close to her chest and bent forward trying to control her breathing.

  “Alright, now that’s done.” She began to untie her legs and took a moment to do a systems check. Headache, check. Ribs broken, check, check. Eyes swollen shut, check. Getting your ass whooped by your mates bed buddy? Check with a side of fucking priceless.

  “You happen to know how we can kick rocks?”

  Her wolf walked up to her, and she ran her fingers through his thick fur. Her eyes began to burn as tears spille
d onto her cheeks. She knew she shouldn’t be crying, but she couldn’t help it. It was the first time in what felt like forever that she’d been able to touch him. She was exhausted. Going around pretending to be someone she wasn’t had taken its toll on her. Watching him day in and day out with the wrong people, being on the wrong team had emotionally and mentally drained her.

  Jes felt the butt of his moist nose nudge her side, and she winced. She was hurt and hurt bad.

  “Does this mean we're not getting out of here, big guy?”

  The wolf didn’t respond but let out a long sigh. She still couldn’t see anything, and had no knowledge or sense of time. If her eight hours were up, it would mean she was on her own. Her legs were weak, and she knew if she tried to stand she was going to fall flat on her ass. She didn’t want to sit in the chair anymore and slid to the floor. Her joints protested, and she gave herself over to the pain. The wolf laid next to her, and she burrowed into his thick fur for heat. They both sighed this time.

  “Your daughter needs her father.” Jes said into the darkness. “I need you. Your team needs you Stone.” He didn’t respond, but she hadn’t expected him to.

  Were man and beast having an internal struggle? She hoped so, and hopefully the beast would win and bring the man to his senses.

  “You know, when we get through this road block, I promise not to hold it against you. It’s gotta be killing you inside, knowing the man and the wolf are not on the same page. You and me baby against the bad guys. That’s how it should always be.”

  She wondered who was watching the interaction between her and the wolf. Where was Royce when you needed him?

  “Can you at least change back? We can argue, I could give you a clue about who you are, what we are to each other. What do you say?”

  She playfully rocked into his side to nudge his shoulder, but he didn’t move just stayed put. If she knew Draven he was wide awake inside debating the best possible outcome in this fucked up situation, at least for now the wolf was still in control.

  Chapter 29

  The entire Enclave was gathered around the dais, except for the children as Aria had explained. They’d walked around the village, talking to people. Okay, he wasn’t socializing, but his brother had. Royce never shut the fuck up. Like clockwork the females flocked to his brothers charms.

  It seemed there was an influx of women. They giggled and chatted amongst themselves and preened around like a bunch of peacocks. His brother ate up the attention, even though he told them all he was taken. Ronin was able to discern a lot just from walking around the village. There was a caste system. Royals, healers, warriors, and priestesses. The society was purely matriarchal.

  Ronin stood next to his brother and Dietrich as they faced off with the council and the entire adult population.

  “Matria, I humbly ask that you acknowledge the brothers as her stimulators.” Dietrich’s voice sounded almost reverent as he spoke to Surelle.

  “I can’t allow it.” Solon interjected. His stance becoming defensive. Ronin glared at the male. He should have wasted his ass when he had the chance. Even Belinda hadn’t cared for her half-blood bastard brother.

  “Shut the fuck up.” D looked at Solon and dared him to speak again. He did.

  “You command nothing here walker.”

  “I didn’t like you the first time I saw you chump, and I don’t like you now.”

  Dietrich’s assholitis was actually coming in handy.

  “You would side with them? Choose traitors?

  “Dude, fuck what you’re talking about.” Royce chimed in. “I don’t have the time nor do I have the energy to work jaws with you. So do us all a favor, close it down.”

  His brother was walking on the darker edge of the scales, becoming quickly unbalanced. His shoulders were shaking, and Ronin knew if Solon tried to get into it with his brother, shit was going down real quick. The real Royce would surface, real Royce was destructive. He took everyone out in his path, targets and innocent bystanders.

  “I’ve heard enough.” Surelle’s voice echoed through the valley, bouncing off the mountains. She approached Dietrich and placed a motherly hand on his shoulders. He didn’t move and that in itself was extremely un-D like. Touching him was off limits.

  “There can only be one consort. There cannot be two. This is your duty. “

  “Matria, I am not the one for her.” He looked over to Royce and Ronin. “Neither are they, but she’s entering a phase in her nesting where it can become dangerous if she is not woken. They can do it.”

  He wasn’t going to interrupt D’s spiel.

  “You can’t be sure.” Her hands flew up in a gesturing motion as she pointed between them and then back to Belinda. “I can’t stand here and watch my daughter’s body be mutilated.” She huffed out a breath throwing her hands in the air again in a show of aggravation.

  “They will only touch her, I would not want to see the act either Matria, the dual stimulation will work.”

  “I can’t allow this.” Solon erupted. The crowd began mumbling to one another. Some were nodding their heads others were glaring daggers and him and his brother. Dietrich trained his eyes on Solon and removed his shades. Scary shit those eyes. Milky white with just the pin point of a pupil. Colorless.

  “I already told you to shut the fuck up douche bag. Your opinion doesn’t count.”

  “It does.” Solon stepped forward removing the gloves on his hands. His hands were deadly to all who came in contact with them. One touch and he could kill his opponent. On the flip side it would be painful for him as well, but the person on the receiving end of those hands would be dead.

  Royce started to intercept, but D shook his head.

  “You know, I’ve killed greater men than you,” Solon said as he stepped forward. Surelle moved aside at D’s gesture.

  “Anyone ever tell you that you’re a chump? Hmm? Little lost boy thinking he’s a big man now.” The grin on Dietrich’s face was monstrous as he got closer.

  “The difference between you and me is simple.” Solon said sizing up Dietrich.

  “What? You talk shit, I make shit happen”

  Solon was nose to nose with him. Almost. Ronin’s nerves were on edge. He didn’t like the other man, but didn’t want to see a fellow team member go down either. Solon’s ungloved hand reached out and touched D. There were gasps all around as D’s knees shook, but only for a moment. Solon looked confused, and Ronin noticed it before anyone else did when D’s fists tightened. The distribution of his weight changed as he took as small step back. The chin check came so fast, it was hardly traceable

  “Night, night, motherfucker,” D said as he stepped over Solon and cut through the crowd.

  “Can I say it,” Royce asked.

  “As if I could stop you.” His brother said ever was on his mind. There was no filter.

  Royce knelt next to Solon making sure he was far enough out of reach and said with glee.

  “You, got knocked the fuck out!”

  “Take him to the infirmary.” Surelle said, but no one moved. They were all scared to touch him. Ronin wondered how D could take the other man’s touch and not die. The man obviously wasn’t telling his team members the real deal.

  # # #

  “Go to her,” Surelle commanded. Didn’t matter she was the mother of the woman he loved. If she didn’t stop with the commanding tone, Royce was gonna beat a woman down. That darker part of him was rising fast with impatience. He grabbed the bridge of his nose and took a series of deep breaths. Bitch ass motherfuckers were trying to steal his girl. What the fuck! Did they think it was okay? That he would allow even the smallest disturbance pass? He was two seconds from becoming their judge, jury, and executioner.

  “Brother.”

  Was someone talking? Who the fuck was running their gums now?

  “Royce!”

  “What!”

  “Focus,” Ronin said standing entirely too close for his ow
n comfort.

  “It’s all good in the hood, and I mean that literally.” Did he sound believable? He was far from good, barely hanging on by an almost non-existent thread.

  They both moved closer to the altar. The village was quiet, the night perfumed with the scent of jasmine, mixed with the stronger fragrance that was uniquely hers. Royce looked down at his temptress, the firecracker he would spend eternity and a day with. Even the extra day wouldn’t be enough. Royce Zarides of House Romulus was in love. His chest felt lighter. If she so desired it, he would take on the world, move mountains, drain oceans and tilt the world on its axis. Belinda Raine Ignis was it for him. She put him back together into something stronger, better. The feelings he had for her were real. No one would come between them. Not her Enclave, or her mother. He never needed permission before, and he didn’t need it now. He shoved the darkness deep down inside, and made it his bitch. He wasn’t going to ruin this. Royce opened his heart, allowed it to breathe and recognize the kindred soul she was to him and his brother. He had plenty of room in his heart for this relationship. He was going to crawl inside of her soul, set up permanent shop and never leave.

  Chapter 30

  This was her ancestor’s birthplace. The walls bathed in a golden glow danced in the arms of the wind. Stories of kings and queens were etched into the stone. She could trace her lineage to the days of Ptolemy I and Cleopatra VII. She’d heard rumors of the in-between. When you died you were taken to the land of your people and given food and shelter. At some point, everyone would end up at the lighthouse, except, the next reigning Matria. She would be taken to the palace, and enveloped by the sacred water until her suitor awakened her.

  The room was spacious with a deep bathing pool. A bed set raised on a platform, flowing with purple and gold netting. The colors distinctly hinting at being a royal bed chamber.

  “Your heart is heavy.”

  Bells turned quickly to meet the voice and couldn’t breathe. The Goddess never talked to anyone when others journeyed to the palace. Matria’s of the past were lucky if they even caught a glimpse.