by CY Jones
“Get back here,” Cody yells, doing his teleporting thing until he’s right in front of him, and the boy blinks, teleporting himself over to me, and attaches himself to my leg like a little monkey.
“Save me mum,” he says in the sweetest little voice, and I stare down at him adoringly.
Bending down, I pick up the little boy, and kiss him on his cheek. "What did you take, my little jelly bean?”
“It's just a feather,” he whines unclutching his fist, and showing me the raven feather.
“It must be important if your dads are chasing you for it,” I chastise.
“There you are, you little shit,” Maddie says to the boy, and I hit him on the back of his head, making him wince, and the little boy chuckle.
“Language,” I bark.
Taking the boy from me, Maddie tickles his belly, driving him into a fit of giggles. Cody joins us breathing hard, no doubt he’s been chasing the little trouble maker for a while now. “He steals from us, and you beat on us,” Cody says, grinning.
“Hatter knows the rules, he needs to watch his language around the kids,” Hunter says, walking up to us with a small infant wrapped in a yellow blanket. “He wants his mom,” Hunter says placing the baby gently in my arms, and takes over pushing the twins.
Cooing at the baby, I gaze down lovingly at his golden eyes, and the soft tuffs of light blonde hair on top of his head.
“Mom," I hear shouted from the distance, before a teenage girl with chestnut brown hair and orange-red eyes comes into my vision, clutching another girl by the neck of her shirt with long dirty blonde hair and grey blue eyes.
“Evie set my bed on fire, again,” she squeals, and the little girl bites her, forcing her sister to drop her. Using her wind power she pushes her away, and runs away to hide behind Cody.
“I got it,” Cody says, picking the girl up, and placing her on top of his shoulders. “Evie, what did we say about using your powers unsupervised?” Cody asks the girl, and I barely hear her answer as they walk away.
“Come on, little one, lets go lay with your dad on the blanket, and get out of the hot sun,” I coo at the baby as I walk over to Silas whose fast asleep on a throw, shaded by the trees.
Another little boy who appears to be the same age as the fire starter is sitting on the blanket next to Silas playing with a set of blocks. He also has dirty blonde hair and blue grey eyes and I’m guessing he’s Evie twin.
“Mum,” he says, smiling wide showing off the gap from his missing tooth, and the overwhelming feeling of completeness fills my heart. The love and happiness that we all have for one another, even with a baseball team worth of kids is nothing like I ever felt before. My dreamself watches a man walks up to us with lust in his eyes. He’s beyond gorgeous with long golden blonde hair and golden eyes in an expensive tailored suit hugging his trim frame. He kisses me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, making the little boy next to us say, “ick,” as he covers his eyes.
Laughing, Atlas, my fifth mate, releases me, and reaches over to ruffle the little boy’s hair.
This is my future. Something I never thought I'd want or ever live to see. I never imagined someone as fucked up as I could have such a thing. A family filled with nothing but love and joy. I wake to a lone tear sliding down my face, and Silas wipes it away gently with his thumb.
“Did you have a bad dream?” he asks.
“No,” I croak through my sleep filled voice. "It was a good one. When did you get here?” I ask, changing the subject. I do not want to tell him about a future I wasn’t even sure will come true. A future I want so very badly.
“Not to long ago. Mum was understandably upset, and I needed to help my sister calm her down.”
“You should have stayed with her. She seems fragile,” I tell him delicately. I don’t want him upset with me if he knew how weak I thought his mother was.
“She wasn’t always like that. She used to be so strong. My father said she would give him a run for his money when he was courting her, but ever since she’s been living under O’Donnell’s roof she’s forgotten herself, and it seems to be getting worse as the days go by.”
“Do you think O’Donnell’s doing something to her?” I ask gently.
“I don’t know. Ever since I started working for him, he’s had me away on assignments. Nat says she hasn’t seen him around mum, but I can’t explain how she gotten so bad,” he explains.
“I don’t know either, but O’Donnell is a sneaky bastard, so I’m sure he has something to do with it.”
“Even after dad died, she wasn't like this. I think she fell out of love with his power hungry ways a long time ago, and only stayed with him because of us. I wish you could have met her the way she was back then.”
“Me too,” I murmur, moving close to him.
Without saying anything else, he pushes my dress up, and pulls on my lace knickers, ripping them straight off my body with a growl. Pulling his own boxers down, he enters me in one hard thrust, and I muffle my cry of ecstasy in the pillow. For the rest of the night, he thrusts into me long and hard as he works his emotions out on my body, and I let him, revealing in the pain he’s trying so hard to hide, and the pleasure he gives me.
Fifteen
Surprise Kiss
Remy
For the next couple of days, I play my part. I don’t cause any trouble, and I work out all my anger in the gym. A couple of times, Hangman ends up there, and I spar with him, beating him each and every time. I haven’t seen Silas since that horrible dinner. O'Donnell has sent him off somewhere on assignment. Doing his part, he does as he’s told, as well as putting up the pretenses that he’s looking for a solution to my bracelet.
“Want to spar?” Hangman asks coming into the gym as I’m running on the treadmill.”
“Want to get your arse kicked again?” I question, raising my brow. “I’m starting to think you’re a glutton for punishment.”
“You’re not going to beat me this time,” he growls.
“I believe you said the same thing last time, and still ended up on your arse.”
“Do you want to spar or not?”
“Fine,” I huff. “I guess I can waste five minutes mopping the floor with you,” I tell him, stopping the treadmill, and stepping off.
Glaring at me, he pulls that stupid rope of his out of thin air once we step into the training room.
“That again. I’m starting to think you’re a one trick pony,” I tease. I’m trying to make him angry.
Angry fighters makes mistakes, and it’s far too easy and fun to get under Hangman’s skin, and he doesn’t disappoint. Just like I expected, he acts just the way I want, and he tries to rush me. Running away, I flip off the wall, and right over his head, and once both of my feet hit the ground, I sweep his from right up under him, and send him crashing to the ground. Kicking out at him, I rise to my feet, but before I can get upright his rope latches on my arm, and he yanks on it hard, sending me crashing on top of him. Straddling him, I punch with my right, but he blocks it, grabbing a hold of my arm, and flips us so that now he's on top of me. Grabbing my other hand, he holds both my arms above my head, and lowers his face to mine.
“Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t going to lose this fight, Shadow?”
His eyes dilate, and before I can answer he lowers his lips to mine. I try to push him off, but he’s too strong, and in this position, I have the disadvantage. He nips at my lips, and I open allowing him entrance, hoping he’ll drop his guard. I kiss him back with just as much passion as he gives me, and he moans into my mouth, lowering his guard. His hard body grinds into mine, and I slowly move my knee so that I’ve position it right between his groin. I can feel his hard cock pressed against me, and as soon as he’s completely lost in his lust, I knee him hard as fuck in his balls. When he cries out in pain, I push out his hold, and punch him with all my strength, breaking his nose.
“What the hell, Shadow?” He cries out with blood dripping from his face.
&nb
sp; “I should be saying that to you. Why in the hell did you kiss me?” I growl with blazing eyes, wiping my mouth with my sleeve.
I didn’t think he was going to answer. He kept staring back at me in shock, like he can’t believe he did that either before he whispers so softly that I barely hear, “you look so much like him.”
With that statement, he leaves me standing there in shock. I look so much like… Oh shit I figure it out. My brother. He’s in love with my brother. Doesn’t he know Row will never have anything to do with him, because of the man he so willingly serves? At least his odd behavior makes sense now. I just wish I didn’t have to be violated for it to be made.
I stomp off to my room after another thirty minutes of working out. I can’t get that kiss out my head. Not because I want Hangman, but because of Row. Did he know? Is this something else he’s been keeping from me? It’s not like he told me about Oreo. My brother certainly is a puzzle, and he seems to be holding the only key to solving it. I miss Row, and I want to kill him all at the same time.
Sixteen
Villian of my Past
Remy
When I enter my room there's a dress lying in wait for me on the bed. This one is a deep burgundy color. It’s all lace, but at least this time the lace covers more of my body than the last lacy outfit I had to wear. The top is tight in a midriff cut. The bottom an indecently short mini skirt, with a long flowing train in the back. I find that I actually liked it, despite how much skin I would still show, or that it’s a present from O’Donnell. This dress only means one thing. It’s Saturday night, so my presence is being demanded by O’Donnell at the club. I thought by staying out of his way he would forget all about me being his little song bird, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Resigning myself to my fate, I go off to my bathroom to get ready.
I’m staring at myself in the mirror when Nat walks in.
“That dress is beautiful,” she gushes as she circles my body, taking everything in.
“Do I meet your approval?” I laugh.
“Take a seat, smartass, so I can do your hair and makeup,” she orders in her bossy voice, pushing me towards the vanity.
An hour later when she’s done, I don’t recognize the girl in the mirror. This girl is beyond beautiful. My meticulously applied make up is done flawlessly, giving me an air of mystery. Half my hair is pulled up and braided into a crown around my head, and the half that’s left down is straightened to perfection like flowing silk.
“Wow, Nat. You've really outdone yourself this time,” I tell her, still eyeing the girl in the mirror in awe. Not once since finding out about my heritage have I ever thought I was a supernatural like the others with their unnatural beauty, so magnificent that it makes you want to weep, until now.
“My pleasure," she replies smiling.
“Is your brother back yet?” I ask hopefully.
“Sadly no. I have no clue what O’Donnell has him off doing. I’ve been doing my best to look after mum while he’s gone, but O’Donnell has me busy as well.”
I’ve been lost in my own situation, I never thought to ask Nat about hers. Besides looking after me I have no clue what she does here. Shame overcomes me, and I feel my cheeks warm.
“O’Donnell doesn’t have you doing anything unseemly?” I ask delicately.
“No, but he does have me shadow Mistress Miressa all day.”
“Who is that?” I question frowning.
“She the one who trains his Black Widows to do what they do. She’s also responsible for recruiting them,” she answers.
"So, let me get this straight. This bitch goes out looking for girls to teach them to fuck and kill men.”
“Pretty much,” Nat replies shrugging.
“And what do you do for her?” I question.
“Mostly, I have to watch. I’ve never had to participate before which I’m grateful for. I’m still a virgin, and I don’t want to lose my virginity that way. I think O’Donnell wants me trained just in case my brother fucks up.”
I hate that. I hate that my very involvement with her brother can make that very nightmare come true. In moments like this, I wish I was the old unfeeling Shadow. The one who didn’t give two shites about anyone, but Maddie and my brother.
“Don’t worry about me, Remy. I can handle it," she says squeezing my hand, comforting me when I should be the one comforting her.
A knock at the door breaks us from our moment, and Hangman enters the room.
“Are you ready to go?” he asks coldly.
“Yes,” I answer rising.
He barely spares me a glance before turning for the door, and I follow him out. Whatever had gotten into him before, is gone and done for after that kiss. Good. My fist still hurts from breaking his nose earlier.
Thank goodness for small mercies. O’Donnell is not in the town car when I arrive. Only Maddie who’s looking hot in a dark old fashioned pinstripe suit, reminding me of some old time gangster, especially with the top hat he’s wearing on top of his head with a burgundy feather sticking out. The same color as my dress.
“Don’t you look very Carmen SanDiego,” I tell him after kissing him softly on the lips.
“”You look beautiful,” he answers, staring deep into my eyes.
“You two make me gag,” Hangman grumbles from his seat across from us.
“No one asked for your opinion,” I tell the arse.
He snarls in reply, but looks away, choosing to focus his attention out the window, and on the passing road. The whole ride I keep my hand in Maddie’s, tightly gripping it. At the club we’ll be forced to separate, and I want to remain close to him as long as we have. It feels like it’s too soon when we pull up to the club, and the driver holds the door open for us.
Exiting the car, Maddie and I both follow Hangman inside where he takes us straight to O’Donnell’s private booth.
“Don’t ye look lovely,” O’Donnell says, looking me over from head to toe, trying to find fault anywhere on my body.
As usual, Alice isn’t far from his side, looking more like a pin-up doll than an actually guard. It makes me wonder why O’Donnell trust her wholeheartedly to guard his six. I believe I’ve judged her incorrectly. That she is more deadly than I first gave her credit for. The outer layer is nothing but a pretty package serving to hide the monster within. It’s bloody brilliant, and disturbing all at the same time.
“Father,” I reply dryly.
“Ye will sing two songs tonight. No funny business,” he adds, making me recall what happened last time. Giving us a shooing motion he dismisses us all, and we quickly disperse through the crowd.
“Do you want to dance, little bird, and pretend we're somewhere else?” Maddie suggests.
“Sure, why not,” I answer, allowing him to lead me to the dance floor.
This is nice. I get lost into Maddie’s arms as he holds me tightly to his body. I inhale his fresh tea scent, and it’s just like last time when we danced at the club where he first found me back when I didn’t know I was a supernatural. I thrive on his touch, his closeness, and the love emitting from his body into mine. It’s like a drug that I never want to recover from. Fuck rehab. I would die a happy woman as long as he died alongside me.
As we dance something inside me rises from the darkness, and my wolf barrels into the forefront of my mind, like she was catapulted from whatever dark hole she was being kept. The marble bracelet on my arm starts to heat, and it glows an eerie blue.
“Maddie,” I say in a quivering voice. “Something is happening.”
Pulling back a little he peers down at the bracelet, and a small smile graces his lips.
“No need to worry, little bird,” he replies.
“Why not,” I hiss. “My arm looks like a freakin glow stick at a rave.”
“That bracelet is finally fulfilling its purpose. Freeing you. Soon you’ll have all the power to light this world on fire, and rise like a phoenix from the ashes, and extract vengeance anyway you see fit,” he answers, p
ulling me closer.
“What if someone sees?”
“No one is paying us any attention. They're too busy in their own wickedness to see what’s in front of their faces. Trust me, little bird.”
“Fine,” I mumble against his neck, hiding my glowing arm in his suit jacket just in case. Soon the heat fades, and when I pull my arm free the glow is gone, but something is different, and when a furry paw brushes my mind, I know that my wolf is fully with me. Not like last time when she came out in spurts of anger, now she’s completely free from whatever was caging her in the dark.
“It’s time for you to perform,” Hangman says, breaking me out of my trance.
“You know, you’re starting to become rather annoying,” I tell him as I pull away from Maddie.
Giving me a I don’t give a fuck look, he tries to grab my arm, but I dodge him easily. Even in heels I’m not one to be fucked with.
“I can find the stage without an escort,” I growl at the wanker, and stalk off in the direction of the stage.
When I get there I spot the same DJ from before behind the curtain mixing music. When he sees me he smiles as he eyes my body appreciatively.
“If you weren’t so unavailable, I would totally ask you out,” he says in greeting.
“What horrors am I singing tonight?” I ask, ignoring his comment.
“O’Donnell left the choice up to you. He told me to tell you to choose wisely,” he answers smirking. Probably remembering my behavior from last time.
“So what will it be, princess?”
“Gasoline by Halsey,” I answer, smiling wickedly.
“And the other?” he questions.
I don’t know why, but his question makes me remember my dreams. The family that I could have, and the consequences behind not choosing my fifth mate.
“Trampoline by SHAED,” I answer, and he gives me a funny look.
