I reached for the clothing, eyeing the jacket. "That's new," I said as I shimmied into the jeans.
"It's fitting," the fox-spirit assured me. She put it on my bed and went in search for better shoes. "A badass jacket for a badass woman."
"Have I ever told you I appreciate your belief in me?" I asked as I ran my hands over the supple leather. It was soft as butter and as red as the mythological depictions of the phoenix.
"You might have," Hei-Sook said with a shrug. She offered me low sturdy boots. "But you can keep telling me."
We both huffed out a laugh and I shoved my feet into the boots and picked up the jacket.
"Ready for this?" she asked me, studying me hard. "I remember the first night I met you. I warned you that your star may rise quickly associating with those three. But that a fall is always inevitable."
"Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" I asked, slowly pulling on the jacket. It filled me with confidence and the scent of clean, quality leather washed around me. I touched my mask and hesitated before deciding to leave it on. Tonight I would be the phoenix Jupiter loathes.
"I do," Hei-Sook said, her voice adamant. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be coming with you."
"Then let’s make sure the only star that falls tonight is Jupiter."
A knock sounded a moment before Merlin stepped into the room. He stopped in the doorway, giving me a heat-filled look as he whistled lowly. "You know, if we weren't about to go crack some skulls, I'd be fucking tempted to start some shit with you."
I smirked and offered a slow turn. "You like the jacket?"
Merlin had also changed from his tux into clothing much more his style. Dark jeans hugged his waist and thighs, tucked into his scuffed ass-kicker boots. He wore a light gray Henley, the front unbuttoned enough that I was teased with the soft curls of chest hair. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms decorated with tattoos. Honestly, I wanted to run my lips over his arms and let him start shit with me. Having sex with Merlin was always a thrilling challenge. He was rarely gentle and sweet—it was as if we needed to devour each other the moment we touched.
"I really fucking do, sweetheart," he spoke as he stepped up to me, running his knuckles over the front—avoiding the golden spikes over the shoulder. "And one day, I'm going to fuck you when you're wearing this, and only this."
"And that's my cue to leave." Hei-Sook shook her head as she stepped around us. Before she left the room, she looked back at me and winked. "Don't take too long."
I rolled my eyes, but squeaked as Merlin's hands gripped my hips and tugged me up against him. I turned my gaze to him and ran my hands over his broad chest, wishing that we had the time to make good on his promise.
"We probably shouldn't," I whispered, tilting my head back.
He dragged on hand up my side and pushed back my mask, my hair tumbling from where it had been pinned up, and revealing my face. No longer did I ever fear their reactions, and my heart nearly exploded with joy at the love I felt for him.
"I know," he spoke quietly and cupped my face. "But it'd be a damn shame if I didn't kiss you right now."
I raised up on my toes as he brought his lips down to mine. The kiss never started chaste—it was a filthy, sinful, decadent kiss as my mouth opened under his demands. I balled my fists in his shirt as he pulled me against him, his hard body sending me into a spiral of lust. I hated Jupiter at that moment, because all I wanted to do was let this man kiss me like he was—but everywhere on my body.
A polite cough had us slowly pull apart and we both looked to the door where Brom stood, looking at us with eyes dark with desire.
"Can you blame me?" Merlin asked the vampire, his lips swollen from our kiss and his voice rough.
Brom's eyes trailed over me and it felt like a caress filled with promise. He looked into my eyes as he answered Merlin. "Not at all." He paused a moment. "Romulus has the cars ready. We'll need to take two."
"Okay," I took a breath and reached up to pull my mask over my face once more. "Let's do this."
I walked out of the room, Merlin and Brom half a step behind me, like my personal guards. And if I walked with a sexy swing of my hips, well, at least I knew they'd be appreciating the view.
Once again, I found myself sitting next to Romulus in his large black Range Rover. The lycan gave me a wolfish grin as he slid into the driver's seat before leaning over and stealing a kiss. I found myself leaning towards him as he pulled back, wanting more and he grasped my chin.
"I can smell Merlin on you," he rumbled, but it wasn't with jealousy. "We're going to have to finish what he started with you when we're done here."
A snort from the back seat had us both looking back to where Beatrice sat. She raised her hands. "Don't mind me, I'm just along for the ride apparently." She gave me a grin. "But I'd appreciate it if I didn't have to watch anything. Not that I'm sure it wouldn't be hot as fuck. Voyeurism just isn't my thing."
"You should give it a try," I teased, thinking of Brom and Merlin.
Her face turned as red as my jacket and we both jumped as Merlin slapped the hood of the car.
"Ready?" He asked, opening the back seat door on the twin Range Rover. Brom was at the wheel and Hei-Sook sat in the front seat.
"When you are," Romulus said, and turned the ignition. The warlock climbed into the car and the large garage door began to open.
As we pulled into the normal night time traffic, I watched the city lights fly by, people still flowing over the sidewalk. I wondered if any of them felt the tension in the air, like the static and the smell of ozone just before a lightening strike. How many of them would realize that there would be an entire shift of the world after tonight? It wouldn't affect them in ways they notice, but still. It would be profound.
Romulus reached over and laced his fingers with mine, his eyes never leaving the road.
I should have felt trepidation, but instead I felt relief. It was time to fulfill my destiny.
Chapter 21
Eleanora
Brom lead us from the city, the blood connection made through Beatrice gave him the sense of where to drive. We were headed upstate and soon we were out of the city completely, with the famed Upstate New York scenery passing us by.
"Looks like she's expecting a fight," Romulus broke the tense silence that had permeated the SUV.
"How do you mean?" Beatrice asked and I saw him glance at the rear view mirror.
"Less people up here," he explained, his Irish accent thickening with his ire. "She had to have planned for Ella to break out of that trap, even if she'd hoped not. So when her trap was sprung, I'd bet you a bottle of whiskey she high tailed it out of the city. If she didn't leave the city the moment she left the estate."
"That doesn't seem subtle enough for my mother," Beatrice said, her voice full of doubt.
"The time for subtly is over," I said quietly. I ran my hands over my thighs to wipe the sweat from them. I knew she couldn't have made it too far ahead of us, but every mile we drove further, the world dark around us, the more doubt slowly trickled its cold drops over my heart. I looked up out of the passenger window, taking comfort in the starlight I could see winking through the inky blackness of the sky. It was a new moon tonight, which meant the sky was alive full of distant stars. It also meant that it'd be hard to see the battlefield if it came to an outright attack.
I looked at the side mirror, the headlights of the other vehicles following us. Those were the volunteers who craved bloodshed. I still wanted to avoid a war if I could, but I knew deep down that it would be impossible. Jupiter had set the board, made her moves, and now the only way to topple her would be to fight my way through her pawns.
Brom pulled off the road and Romulus followed, the road turning to gravel beneath our tires. We all looked forward to try to see what was ahead, but a copse of trees forced us to park.
"There's magic here," Romulus said, scenting the air as we left the SUV.
Merlin squinted, as if peerin
g through the world, and I did the same.
"Illusion, most likely," the warlock determined. "Maybe disguising their vehicles. Can't tell."
"Ambush?" Brom asked, and I looked over my shoulder as I saw both lycans and vampires growling behind me.
Romulus shook his head. "No," he said as he pulled his jacket off and tossed it back into the car. "I can smell them. They're through the woods."
"What's the plan?" Beatrice asked, her voice nervous.
"Are you certain you want to be here?" I asked my step-sister again. I wouldn't have blamed her for backing out. But she lifted her chin and I could see the determination on her face even in the dark.
"Yes," she insisted.
I nodded, accepting her word and I turned back towards my men. "Should we send the lycans to scout?"
Romulus nodded and whistled. The lycans approached, many of them discarding their clothing as they walked.
"I hope you're ready to fight," he spoke softly but his voice carried through the still night. "Jupiter's rotten, and there'll be lycans you know on her side. You can't let that stop you. The threat she is ends tonight. Offer them no mercy, because she will offer you none. And don't engage until Ella says."
They nodded, all of them quiet, and when they were at last naked—their bodies only covered by the shadows of the night, they transformed.
I had watched Romulus transform multiple times now, but seeing many lycans shift at once made chills run down my arms. Their figures either hunched forward or bent backwards, their limbs elongating, bones and muscles rippling as they moved under the skin, their jaws cracking as snarling snouts grew from their faces. With howls, they ran into the darkness, disappearing into the trees, searching out our prey.
Romulus made no move to join them; instead he took my hand and brought it to his lips. "My place is by your side, to protect my loved one from evil, just as my ancestor protected her loved ones."
"Thank you," I spoke as I cupped his face. I wouldn't disrespect his pledge by insisting I could protect myself. He loved me, and he showed that by his protection. And I would only be stronger with him at my side. I turned to Brom to ask, "Your vampires?"
"They will fan out along us, ensuring we are not taken by surprised if Jupiter flanks us."
"Good," I breathed out, nodding. Merlin made to conjure a ball of light, but an idea formed and I placed my hand on his arm to pause him. "Just until we met them. Then I have an idea."
"Right," he nodded, his hands moving in twisted motions until beads of light formed over our heads. They weren't so bright that we squinted, and we'd still have to be careful walking through the woods, but it would suit.
"If you don't mind, Ella," Hei-Sook spoke up as we began to walk, "I've got an idea on how best to help you. I'll regroup when I need to."
"Be careful, fox," Brom warned, his voice warm with friendly affection. "Don't get your tails trapped."
She gave him a two finger salute, and trotted away from us, the bead of light above her dying out the farther she went. I could just make out the glow of her nine tails before she disappeared like a ghost in the trees.
"Let's do this," I said with more bravado than I truly felt.
We walked through the woods in as smooth a line as nature allowed. None of us spoke, even as the tension rose around us. We could hear the yips and howls of lycans in front of us and we could only hope they hadn't engaged yet. As we got closer, Romulus began to shed his clothing until he was walking beside me completely naked. The man wore nudity as confidently as he wore an Armani suit, and frankly, there was no reason for him to be insecure.
The ground began to climb and when we reached the far treeline, we'd also reach the top of the hill. The ground leveled off, and I realized this must be an old farm land given back to nature. Romulus's lycans paced back and forth along the tree line, growling and yipping, their jaws snapping in the air.
"They're here," Romulus said, pitching his voice low. "On the far end of the field."
"So this is where we make our stand," Merlin reached back and withdrew a handgun from his waistband. I wanted to make a comment about proper gun safety, but I found my throat dry as I peered through the darkness hoping to catch a glimpse of Jupiter.
"Merlin, the lights," I whispered and his hand cut through the air, the lights above us blinking out.
It was disconcerting, being surrounded in the dark by creatures lusting for blood, knowing that others were watching, waiting to pounce. It was like being a child once more and fearing the monsters in the dark. But now the monsters were real, and they wanted me dead.
No more.
"Jupiter is mine," I pronounced, looking to my left and right. "Thank you for your support this night. I promise you, this will not be forgotten."
I stepped forward, the lycans parting for me to pass. I raised my hands and blocked out the feeling of everyone's eyes on me. Once more, I opened myself to the stars above me and then touched the phoenix's flames inside.
Light once more fell from the sky as if in a terrifying meteor shower, and the phoenix flowed through my veins. The field was no longer covered in darkness and howls came from both sides as enemies saw one another. I could see Jupiter, Titania beside her, and they were no more than a hundred feet from us. Their eyes were on mine, even as the lycans restraint broke and both sides charged at each other.
As my lycans raced around me, sprinting towards them, I burst with light—magnificent phoenix wings of feather and flame surrounding me, smaller birds of fire taking flight to weave around the falling starlight. I grinned, knowing the touch of Hei-Sook's illusions.
I watched as the lycans slammed together, snarling and tearing at flesh. Sprays of red accompanied bellows of pain and rage. I heard Brom barking orders to the vampires as Romulus and Merlin came to my side.
My power coursed through me, my skin humming with the intensity, the whispers of the phoenix's life tickling my mind. Phoenixes always died in their fire and instinct told me that I would soon be ash if I continued to burn with the power of the stars.
I just needed to hold on long enough to end Jupiter.
The vampires joined the fray, and even I could feel the blood magic soaking the battlefield. Brom stepped in front of me, his eyes entirely black, his fangs elongated, as he stared at me. I tilted my neck, and he didn't hesitate to sink his teeth into my soft flesh, drinking my blood and filling himself with the power of the phoenix.
Pleasure thrummed through me as we connected; we were both at the height of our powers and it was an intoxicating addiction that would never be sated. He pulled back, and I wanted to guide his mouth back to my neck, but instead he kissed me, the metallic taste of my own blood staining my lips.
And then... Brom waded into the battle with an unholy strength.
"Merlin," Romulus warned, and I saw what he noticed. Titania was entering the field, ever her mother's champion.
"We can take her," Beatrice spoke up from behind me. Merlin looked at me and I nodded.
"Go, and come back to me," I told him. He didn't hesitate, nor did Beatrice, as they began casting violet blades of magic through the air at Titania.
I dropped my hands, the light slowly fading above us, but it didn't matter now. Those who fought before me sought their opponent by scent and blood. I could feel Jupiter's gaze on me, before she turned suddenly and disappeared into the dark.
"She's leaving," I muttered and Romulus looked out over the field. I put my hand on his arm. "I need you to get me to her."
He looked at me, but didn't try to persuade me otherwise. With a deep breath, he changed, growing so tall he towered over me, his arm shaking and moving under my hand as his arms lengthened and his hands became claws. Romulus stretched upright, scenting the air before letting out a chilling howl which cut through the sounds of the fight before us.
With one more look at me, he led me along the treeline. If Jupiter and I were playing a game of chess, we were in the final moves before one of our crowns would fall.
Chapter 22
Eleanora
We slipped through the darkness as easily as shadows, unnoticed by those fighting on the field. I spared a glance to the churning mass, my heart in my throat as I watched Merlin and Brom fighting back to back against a drove of warlocks and vampires. Beatrice and Titania were locked in a fierce magical battle, both of them had twin expressions of angry determination.
Hei-Sook's illusion of the phoenix still burned in the night, looking over the fight, and casting ominous light over the bodies.
Romulus led me down the slope and back into the trees, certain in Jupiter's scent. Up ahead, I could faintly see the soft glow of a bespelled light. It seemed to stop moving, and it wasn't long before we found ourselves in a small open area in the grove. Jupiter was standing in the middle, dressed as she was from the party that evening.
"I see you've brought your dog," she said, crossing her arms.
Romulus didn't respond to the insult, and I dismissed it. No longer would her barbed jibes find their hold in me.
"You could have prevented this," I said, waving back behind us. "But now, your daughters fight fiercely. Lycans and vampires fight their own. The ground is thick with blood because of you."
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "As if this is the first time I've caused bloodshed." She appraised me again and I realized she'd sent the orb of light above us, the clearing glowing as if from moonlight. "Besides, Eleanora, did I not say this evening that I give you what you want? You wanted this fight, do not deny it."
"Want?" I shook my head. "No. Expected, however—that's another thing. It almost makes me sad."
"I doubt that." Jupiter snorted. She snapped out her hand, and I staggered. But the magical attack wasn't meant for me.
A pained yelp was wrenched from Romulus's throat as he was slammed into a tree—held there by a magical snare. His claws slashed at the tree behind him, bark and wood falling from his attack, but Jupiter's magic was strong.
Beautiful Secrets: The Complete Trilogy Page 39
