by Renea Mason
Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Acclaim for Renea Mason
Look for these titles from Zoey Thames
Title Page
Copyright Warning
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
About the Author
Also by Renea Mason
More Romance from Etopia Press
~ Acclaim for Renea Mason ~
“Sexy, fun and so creative it makes my head spin! I'd read the damn phone book if Renea Mason wrote it.”
—Bestselling author Robyn Peterman
“A supporting cast of hunky and hilarious friends, as well as enemies keeps this story from being simply a love story, and into more of mystery. A Symphony of Light and Winter is a great read! I definitely recommend it.”
—Inner Goddess (5 Stars)
“Symphony of Light and Winter had suspense, action, romance, an abundance of steam (adults only!), and lots of attitude. It will grab your attention right away and keep it until the end. There will be no setting this one aside. Not a chance!”
—Crazy for Books
“Very well written with intense character interaction, attitude and the growing heat of romance, Ms. Mason has proven she can write with a magnetic pull that will grip your imagination and hold you prisoner until that very last page!”
—Tome Tender (5 Stars)
“Holy Sexy Whirlwind! From the beginning I was sucked in and didn’t come up once for air! Honestly, there are some many amazing things about this book I can’t even find a good place to start.”
—Taking it One Book at a Time (5 Stars)
“Renea Mason’s book has everything you could want- a unique world, a panty dropping alpha male, a gripping plot and seamless writing that would never let on this was her first novel. I’ll admit, I had her confused with another author and jumped to read the book. It wasn’t until I was done and realized how much better this book was that I realized I had the wrong author! Woohoo for accidents!”
—Book Bliss (5 Stars)
“If you love Alexandra Ivy, Lara Adrian, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lynsay Sands, Laura Wright, and all those other amazing paranormal authors that I absolutely love with all my heart…then you will LOVE Renea Mason and her brand new Symphony of Light Series.”
—Book Reads and Reviews
“There are a lot of secrets, romance, violence and mystery. Linden and Cyril are wonderful characters you can’t help but love. This is not your typical paranormal book. There are times as you get to know Cyril more, you come close to tears... I recommend this book and hope that the next in the series comes out soon.”
—Paranormal Romance Guild (5 Stars)
Look for these titles from Renea Mason
Now Available
Now Available
The Symphony of Light Series
Symphony of Light and Winter (Book One)
Nocturnal Seductions—Rhys (Book Four)
Trinity of Light (Book Five)
Trinity of Light
Symphony of Light Book Five
Renea Mason
Etopia Press
Copyright Warning
EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Published By
Etopia Press
1643 Warwick Ave., #124
Warwick, RI 02889
http://www.etopiapress.com
Trinity of Light
Copyright © 2017 by Renea Mason
ISBN: 978-1-947135-23-9
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Etopia Press electronic publication: July 2017
DEDICATION
Dedicated to the three most important people in my life—my boys.
Special thanks to: Nicole Ulery, Haven Cage, Elizabeth Robbins, Tammy Becraft, Dina Alexander, Dawn Stewart, Sky Tillery, Amy Habel, Crissy Sutcliffe, Lisa T. Lord, Katrina Soto, Hazel Lewis, Kat Reynolds, Crystal Simms, Julie Ayling, Lisa Errion, Antoinette Hord, Laurel Tracey, Tiffany Dover, Sharie Robinson, Michelle Hughes, Rissa Blakeley, and Crystal Holloway.
CHAPTER ONE
Human
“Cyril, thank you for the wonderful meal, but what are we doing here?” Soft jazz music played through the overhead speakers in the modern chic restaurant. A waiter dressed in a tuxedo refilled my wineglass while I folded a napkin in my lap.
Cyril extended his arms and adjusted the cuffs of his crisp white shirt peeking out from under the sleeve of his black suit jacket. He brushed a dark strand of hair out of his face and stared at me with those brilliant sapphire eyes as though I were daft.
Wrinkling my brow, I countered his gaze. “What? Don’t give me that look. It’s a perfectly valid question.”
He glanced at the ceiling in annoyance and leaned my direction. “Well…since it’s just the two of us, and we’re dining at a nice restaurant, I thought the moment would speak for itself.” He blinked and released a heavy sigh. “We’re on a date, Linden.”
“A date?” I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Cyril and I had never been on a date. He was practically a demigod, for Christ’s sake—the most powerful being on Earth. Hell, there was a good chance I was the second most powerful. Dating? “That’s crazy.”
“Yes, Light, a date. That human custom where one lavishes attention and expense on another and engages in mindless drivel in hopes the night will end in bed.”
His use of Light, the pet name he gave me on the day we first met, always softened the condescending explanation that followed. I combed my long red locks into a loose ponytail with my fingers, stretched my arms above my head, and then released the strands until they once again framed my face. “When have you ever had to wine and dine me to get laid?”
He cleared his throat. “I haven’t.” His voice was soft yet precise. “But just because you’ve never required it of me, doesn’t mean you’re not deserving.”
I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come, so I fixed my gaze on the glass of red wine. If he continued to say things like that, I’d end up tossing back my drink. Tender Cyril made me uncomfortable. I could deal with brutish Cyril, arrogant Cyril, even indignant Cyril, but endearing Cyril was
always hard to reconcile. Being alive for damn near ever can give a man an edge, and his powerful nature had provided no incentive to hone his diplomacy skills.
“Linden…” He reached across the table and surrounded my hands with his, squeezing them tight. “You will always be two people in one body—who you once were and who you are now. You’ve become someone new, faced a new reality, new laws, and new struggles. But that other side will always be there—the piece of you thirsting for humanity.”
“Perhaps if our relationship had continued after we first met in the cemetery. Back when you were patient with me, when you were kind, when you were…” The word caught in my throat.
He stroked his thumb over the soft skin on the back of my hand. “Don’t be afraid. You can say it. When I was human with you.”
I swallowed hard, not understanding why giving voice to the idea was so difficult. “Yes, human. But then Michael screwed everything up. He took you from me and killed you for years on end, making you suffer the sting of death each time you came back to life. But not before exploiting my loneliness and desperation by marrying me. I had nothing left—not you, Aunt Eva, or my sanity. Everything died in a very human way, or so I thought. Neither one of us can go back to the way things were.”
He continued to caress the skin just below my wrist. It accented how large his hands were compared to mine. There was nothing small about Cyril. Not his hands, his feet, his height, his… I cut off the thought before it formed. It took little to work me into a frenzy where he was concerned. Even a stray thought about what he could do with such sizable parts of his body would need to wait. “Plus, won’t pretending just make it harder? I mean, isn’t it better my humanity be stripped like the proverbial Band-Aid it always was?”
“If it goes unsatisfied, yes. But I, for one, don’t think we’re in an all-or-nothing situation. Overton satiated desires in you I can’t. Until you reconcile with him, the burden falls to me.”
“Burden? Geesh, I didn’t realize that I was such a hardship. So, thanks, but no thanks.” I pulled my hands out of his and rested them on my lap, trying to hide my scowl.
“Light. That’s not how I meant it. I’ve told you a thousand times, I can’t live without you. But I can’t deny the relief I had when I first realized you had finally fallen in love with Overton.”
The person I never meant to have feelings for, Stanton Overton, Cyril’s first in command, still made my heart ache. It hadn’t been long since he left me that cold, impersonal note, wishing me well in my life with Cyril.
Leaning forward, curling my fingers around the edge of the table, I glared at him. “Relief? You can’t be serious.”
He spread a napkin on his lap as the waiter approached. “Yes, relief. He can give you things I can’t, like normalcy. He appeals to the human side in you. Playing human is hard for me. I can tell by the look on your face, I’m already failing magnificently.”
The tall man clasped his hands in front of his apron. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
My harsh tone was not intended for the young waiter. “Yes, can you please bring the check?”
Cyril arched an eyebrow. “Don’t you want dessert? Perhaps another glass of wine to take the edge off?”
“The edge?” I grumbled.
The waiter cleared his throat. His eyes darted from Cyril to me and back again. “I’ll just… I mean… I’ll be right back.”
As soon as the man turned his back, I stabbed my finger in the air at Cyril. “What kind of man celebrates his woman falling in love with someone else?”
He concentrated on my expression, determination lacing his features. Cocking an eyebrow, he said, “One who cares for her needs more than his own.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Why did he have to make so much sense when I was so confused? More importantly, why was I so irritated? Why did the idea of Cyril giving me a pass with Overton piss me off so much? Did I want Cyril to be everything to me but knew he couldn’t be? Did I feel guilty for loving Overton and secretly desired the punishment? It was easier to be angry at Cyril’s imperfections than examine all the turmoil lingering behind my eyes.
As I sat there processing the insanity of who I’d become, he interrupted. “Light, you can send me all your anger. I can take it. However, you’re going to have to come to terms with the fact that you betrayed Stanton.” He smoothed his hand over the tablecloth, straightening the wrinkles.
I huffed and shifted in my seat. “Betrayed? I tried to save him. Having your family bound to me compromises their free will. Neither Overton nor any of the others can ever love anyone else because the bond won’t allow it. It was mercy I tried to deliver.”
His eyes narrowed. “He didn’t want you to break what formed between you two when I bound you to me. In fact, he asked you not to.” A long exhalation of air betrayed his composure, announcing his irritation.
“Cyril, I understand why you created the bond. You were worried when you died that you’d forget I existed, since you often lose memories each time you die. I don’t begrudge you that fear, but it’s not just about us. Sinclair, Dominic, Rhys, Thoresen, and Overton, none of them can have normal lives.”
“Linden, they gave up their normal lives the day I ripped the souls from three separate men and merged them into the body of one. Overton has been alive for well over six-hundred years. You think human women will make things better? They die. They can’t know about our world. You are long-lived. You are one of us now. Why can’t you see the bond is the lesser of two evils for them?”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Weren’t you the one who argued the importance of free will?”
“Yes, and I’m certain you’ll find their will and yours differ. The person you’re trying to save isn’t them, it’s you.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Sure, it does. You can’t see past the conventional. You don’t see other options. When I said you didn’t have to stop loving Overton after I returned, the idea hadn’t even occurred to you. Your mind is closed, but every day, as your assumptions are tested, that part of you dies a little more. That’s what you’re trying to save, not them.”
I stared at the table while drawing circles on the cloth with my finger. “Why does everything have to be so fucking complicated?”
He let out a deep sigh of relief. “Well, lucky for you, you didn’t succeed in breaking the bond. Things could have been much worse. But it doesn’t change the fact Overton’s hurt and rightfully so.”
I hated when he was right. I had been trying to save myself. At least what little there was of who I used to be.
He sat straight in his seat and adjusted the napkin in his lap. “Now, I suggest you put on one of those little white nightgowns Overton’s so fond of and let me drive you to the compound. You look exceptionally beautiful tonight, and if you get down on your knees and grovel, I doubt he’ll be able to stay angry for long.” He sat back and relaxed his shoulders, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“What?” I nearly squealed the word. “Overton left me. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain.”
Cyril straightened in his chair again, leaned across the table, our noses almost touching, and whispered, “If the roles were reversed, would you be so understanding? I think not.”
“You know, most dates don’t entail one’s companion forcing them into the arms of another man.”
“I’m not forcing you. Just trying to speed up the inevitable.” His eyes lowered for a moment, and then he took a deep, strained breath. “I will do everything in my power to be the man you need, but fear I may not be enough. I haven’t a clue about how to see to your emotional needs. Since you see Overton as a softer, more human, extension of me, you could have the best of both worlds. I could then trust that your heart, body, and soul were content. Knowing you’re happy is worth more to me than keeping you all to myself.” He stared up at me from under a furrowed brow. “I’m suggesting that accepting us both may be the simpler solution, but you’
re too damn stubborn to see it.”
My eyes widened. I sat up straight, removed the napkin from my lap, and threw it onto my plate just before the waiter approached with our check in hand. “If you were anyone else, and I didn’t know how socially inept you were, I would have already left you sitting here alone. This”—I motioned in the air between us—“this inability to carry on a normal conversation and your condescending attitude are why us ‘dating’ is ridiculous.”
“Well, then that’s going to make the next thing I had planned more challenging.”
The waiter ran one hand through his thick, sandy-brown hair and held out the folder containing the check. “I can take that when you’re ready.”
Cyril didn’t reach for the check but instead searched the inside of his jacket, pulled out his billfold, and then handed the man cash. “Keep the change.”
The waiter glanced at the bills. “Oh, wow… thanks.”
Cyril stood and offered me his hand, and his tense posture relaxed.
I took my place beside him, but ignored his gesture and instead mumbled, “Thanks for the meal,” before heading for the door.
He expelled an exasperated sigh but walked silently beside me.
Once outside, I took two steps toward the car when he wrapped his fingers around my wrist. “I know tonight hasn’t turned out as either of us planned, but will you at least walk with me down by the river? It’s a beautiful night.” He stared into my eyes, pleading.
I couldn’t say no. “OK.”
“Thank you.” His fingers slid down to link with mine.
So normal. So weird. Truth was, I didn’t want normal with Cyril. He was what I craved when my life was out of control. I didn’t want him to be anything other than who he was.
The night was quiet, except for the sound of chirping crickets and river water sloshing against the shore, making it easy for my thoughts to wander. We walked in silence while I contemplated my childish reaction to his assertions.
