by L. C. Son
With Damina by my side there is nothing we can’t overcome!
I know this because I did what a monster like me never dreamed of doing. Restraining myself from making love to her because it was the right thing to do, was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my five hundred years! It wasn’t because I didn’t want her. Nor was it because I feared taking her virginity for the whole mansion to hear. No. It was simply because there’s a part of her that still clings to Jackson.
Sure, I have no doubt that our moment of passion would erase any inkling of Jackson from her mind forever, but that’s not how her first time—our first time should be. She needs to be free. I don’t want her to feel as though she’s settling in the least bit when we come together.
Yes, it pains me to admit I know the truth of her continual love for Jackson, but I respect her too much to act as though he doesn’t exist. Besides, since we are Fated, it’s best for everyone if we don’t take that step unless we are absolutely certain. If not, the consequences could be dire.
Instead, I held her in my arms, delighting in just the beautifulness that is her until the sun arose.
That’s when I knew that I truly knew love!
For the first time in over four centuries, I felt the sun arise on my face and I did not burn. No smoldering lava-like rash erupted on my flesh, nor did smoke rise from my body as the brightness of the sun’s light covered both Damina and me.
Jumping from my bed, I dashed to the window, fully prepared to pull the drapes down on both the terrace doors and windows. As I stood there, I realized for the first time—I could stand in the sun.
While I never thought anything could rival the thump of my newly beating heart, being able to rest in the sunlight once more, swells me with both delight and the purest joy!
All of this is because for the first time, I know love and her name is Damina.
I’d like nothing more than to drown myself in the sweetness of her love, but with her cousin Dacari’s arrival this morning and my brother’s growing threats I’ll have to press pause. Just as Dacari was getting settled I received word of another breach at the Civility Center. That makes two this week! Thankfully, Damina has agreed to take her cousin shopping long enough for Titan and the others to visit and discuss the incident.
I’ve also asked Lux to come by and check our security here at the mansion. Jerrica’s used some outside contractor to install cameras, but I hardly think it’s sufficient. As much as I hate asking Damina to leave my side, it’s all I can do to keep her away from this mess! Luckily, our resident and upcoming young alpha, Mark agreed to tag along and keep her safety. Between him and Damina’s personal praesidium, Vonnie, at her side, I’m sure she’ll be fine. Not to mention her cousin, Dacari, is quite a spitfire. I doubt she’ll let anyone get close enough to hurt her big cousin.
Dacari is an interesting conundrum all her own. While I didn’t have the heart to confirm whether I believe Dacari is an Altrinion-wolf hybrid, there was something very different about her. Like both Bessie and Alana it’s clear she has a hybrid lineage, but I still detected something more. Something strangely familiar. Unfortunately, It’s likely she’s just as unaware of her supernatural state as Damina. With my brother stirring trouble and the unfinished business of the mansion looming about, I don’t have time to dig deeper into understanding Little Miss Peyroux, but I vow to soon help her and Damina discover her truth.
“We’ve got to get the Dunes in position now!” Titan barks, breaking my musing of all things Damina Nicaud.
Titan and Mikkel have been arguing since they’ve arrived. Fortunately, my blissfully good mood has muted much of their ruckus.
“The Dunes? Seriously! We don’t need those primitive mutts for anything!” Mikkel hisses back.
“Lord Marchand has a plan and we need to stick to it!” Titan growls.
“Yes, and where has that plan gotten you? Dranoel is locked up now because you trusted him!” Mikkel lashes once more.
“Both of you stop it! Look, Mikkel, we don’t know that Dranoel is responsible for the breaches at the CC or that he was ever involved at all!” I shout, coming between both men. These two have never gotten along. I’ve worked hard through the years at keeping them apart but leave it to my brother’s machinations to bring them together.
“All we know is Dranoel was the last one there. Now, Dalcour, I admit he does look guilty. But that could be a distraction.”
“Then why did you lock him up if you didn’t think he was indeed to blame?” Mikkel questions in his normal slithering tone.
“I locked him up to prove otherwise! If he’s in a cell, the next move Decaux or anyone makes will be their own,” Titan counters.
“Agreed, Titan. But it also leaves Trieu vulnerable.”
“She’s a tough old broad, my lord,” Lux says from behind us, leaning against the parlor doors. “If anyone can protect themselves, it’s the Great Lady Trieu. But, if you’re worried, I can take some of my company with me to watch over her.”
“That’s a great idea, Lux. Thank you. How about you send a delegation instead? I need you close. The mansion open house is tomorrow, and I can’t risk a scene. Titan, can you get word to Trieu that we’re sending aid her way? Mikkel, we can shut down the Hall for now. I’m sure we still need to recover from the Ball last night. Once we’ve secured everything with the mansion, we can finally get the Dunes in position. And with it, bring a finality to this battle for balance once and for all.” Despite a few groans and gripes shared between Titan and Mikkel, everyone nods as I give my orders and they take their leave.
As they leave, I send a quick text to Mark and Damina, letting them know it’s safe for them to return to the mansion. I can’t get Damina back here fast enough!
“Well, you’re certainly chipper today!” Jerrica says at the doorway of the parlor. Her smile is bright, but I can tell she’s still working hard to be happy for me. Seeing her in such disarray pains my heart. She’s still my friend and I want to see her just as happy as me.
“I suppose I have a lot to be chipper about,” I respond, snatching the final proposal documents Braelyn gave me from the desk, waving them in the air. “It looks like we’re headed for the big show!” I say cheerfully. I’d rather keep her attention on the mansion than my love life.
Her expression softens, and she smiles wide, “Well yes, I think everything will pull together just lovely!”
“Yes, and it’s all thanks to you, my friend.”
“Oh no, I can’t take all the credit,” Jerrica answers shaking her head in protest.
“Yes, you most certainly should! I know I haven’t had a chance to thank you for everything you’ve done. You almost singlehandedly put the Dunes in position to prosper while driving a continuous stream of income to their cause. And that, Ms. Jeffers, is no small feat!”
“Don’t you dare make a fuss! Please, I only did what anyone with an innovative spirit would do! We’re business owners, after all!”
“Yes, we are but you are more than that, Jerrica Jeffers,” I say taking a firm hold of her hand in mine. “You are not only a wonderful woman, but an amazing friend! Even when I thought I was unlovable and undeserving of love; you saw fit to bring the one person into my life proving just how wrong I was. Because of you, Jerrica, I am happy. I just want you to know that! It takes an amazing woman to want to see her best friend truly in love. I’m just glad to be your friend,” I say softly as I squeeze her palm in mine.
Jerrica smiles and stares up at the ceiling, hopeful to push back the tears from their release. Just as she parts her lips to respond, Braelyn and Mark rush into the parlor.
“Big D! We’ve got trouble!” Mark exclaims, as he rounds the chair trying to catch his breath. Braelyn is at his side in an instant and I see the remaining of the team coming into the foyer, but I don’t see Damina or Dacari.
“What happened?” Brian barks, push
ing his way through the team, looking for Dacari.
Darkness creeps over me and a feverish dread pulsates through me, gripping my heart so tight it’s hard to breathe. Dilano races behind Brian with Alana at his side.
“Vonnie stayed behind, she’s trailing them now,” Dilano says, looking up at me with fear in his eyes.
“Trailing who?” Jerrica questions. “Will someone tell us what is going on?”
In a millisecond, my hands are clutched at Dilano’s throat and everyone cries for his release. My ears are unyielding to their screams. I have no quarrel with him, but I do believe in killing the messenger should their message bring me grief.
“Where is she?” It’s the only question requiring an answer and the only answer capable of breaking my heart.
Chapter 23
Jackson
This should be the best feeling in the world! It’s the first time I’ve been alone with Damina in almost a week. I’ve waited so long to finally have my beloved back with me, but she’s not with me just yet.
I’ve probably spit out more than she could handle in the few moments we’ve been alone. There’s not much left hidden. She now knows that I’m a wolf, that I know she is an Altrinion, and that my wretched brother, Keiron, is the root and cause of all our pain.
As much as it pains me to know she’s likely given her heart to another, I will take ownership in my part. Had I been truthful, perhaps we would never be in such disarray. Because of my duplicity, I now must work hard to douse my irritation with her newfound demeanor. It’s clear she is not quite the same woman I once knew.
She has changed.
And so have I.
Still, with the nightmarish images of Kyra in my arms and over the phone last night, it’s still the biggest elephant in the room.
“Damina! What are you talking about? I don’t want to be with Kyra! You misunderstand me—I have only ever wanted to be with you! There’s no me without you!”
“But—I—I—thought—"
“You thought wrong! I don’t care if you’re Altrinion or anything. Baby, from the first day I lifted that paddle in the auction hall, I knew then what I know as I stand here before you now—I love you! I always have, and I always will,” I declare taking her face in my hands gazing deep into her beautifully flame-filled eyes. My eyes water knowing I’ve caused her so much pain. It hurts me that she could even fathom my heart belonging to another.
All that I am is hers!
Clutching her face in my hands sends tremors through my soul. I’ve waited so long just to touch her!
The heat from her skin is warm and inviting and her enchanting scent makes me weak in my knees. As she looks back at me, her trusting eyes return to their normal hazel view and she watches me and smiles, melting my heart. I want to surrender everything that I am to her and bow in her presence. I want to beg for her forgiveness and her mercy.
I want to do everything I can to make her mine again.
Slowly, she pulls away, likely hopeful I don’t see her tears. But I do. If only she would allow me to comfort her, I’d ease her suffering.
“So you’re telling me that you don’t love Kyra?” Damina answers with a confused glare.
“Precisely, baby. I never have. We were only together for a short time and I never shared with her what I have with you!” I respond. I need her to know I’ve never loved anyone the way I love her.
“I don’t understand. Then why did she come to our luncheon? She’s obviously carrying a torch for you!”
“No. Kyra is only carrying a torch for Kyra. She is a Dunes alpha and her pack is in trouble. The lavish living she and her mother have lived has finally caught up with her. Now, she’s looking to align herself with anyone who she thinks can save them from ruin. That’s where my brother comes in. He promised her if I got cursed, he would take her as his bride and protect her pack,” I explain.
“So you don’t love her?” Damina repeats. She grabs her chest, staring around the room as though she needed to catch her breath.
“Love Kyra? Of course not! I’ve never even uttered those words to her. That’s why she used a changeling to transform into you. But Keiron didn’t count on Kyra texting my phone. You came over as a result of her text. And your arrival is what broke the enchantment.”
“How is that possible?”
“Because a changeling cannot occupy the same space with the source from which they imprinted on. The minute you came into the room, I could see things for what they were. That’s when I knew what had happened,” I reveal. Reliving that fateful night is not on the top of my list, but I’ll answer any question, if only to regain her trust.
“That’s why when the hourglass broke you looked genuinely surprised to see me—” Damina mutters, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smile, nodding in agreement, hopeful I am getting through to her. But it is clear that she is not ready to give in so quickly.
“And now you want me to believe you? After all these lies? You want me to believe some enigmatic creature poofed into your house, tricked you into thinking it was me and that’s why you made out with Kyra? Why should I believe you? How do I know you’re not lying as we speak?”
“Oh, but you can believe that wolves and vampires exist? Makes sense!” Gregory mocks from across the room. A low snarl rumbles through me and I shake my head in disapproval.
Smiling once more, I take a few steps closer and block her view of Gregory. “Do you remember the honey-do list you gave me? The list of all the things you wanted me to do before you moved in after our wedding—”
“I do, but I don’t understand what that has to do with anything, Jackson!”
“What was the number one thing on your list?” I ask, with my hands resting on her shoulders.
She shakes from me, ambling across the floor. “Huh? What? I—I don’t remember. I can’t think of that right now!”
“Well, I can remember. As a matter of fact, I remember you wanted to get a new doorbell. That was scheduled to be fixed while we were away. You wanted all hardwood flooring for your allergies and in case we had to babysit Doodle. But the number one thing on your list was a security system. You were worried about some reported burglaries, so you asked me to get one of those video camera systems,” I recount with a broad smile.
“I don’t understand. Jackson, what does that have to do with anything?” Damina questions, trying to comprehend what is going on.
“I had the system installed weeks ago. And as a result, everything from that night was recorded. Here’s a card with our login information. You can see what’s happening at the house now and you can check all the saved recordings. You can see that night. There’s even audio with it. And if you watch closely, you’ll hear me say one thing repeatedly—Damina, I love you. I thought it was you, baby! I swear I would never, ever cheat on you!” Pleading with Damina, I try to give her the small card with the login information, but she turns away, refusing to take it, but Dacari snatches both Damina’s card and the one meant for me, stuffing it into her zipper pocket as the other falls to the ground.
I want to pick it up, but I keep my sights on Damina.
Damina stands frozen and I know her newly strengthened Altrinion mind can recall all the hidden things her mortal mind was too weak to comprehend. She gazes up at me, her face full of both awe and regret. Her breathing quickens and her eyes water.
She now knows the haunting truth of that night.
I want to reach out to her and shake her from the torment of the frightening flashbacks of the pain from that night, but my wolf's senses kick in like a spider and I know a dark danger is near.
In that moment, the sun drifts behind the cover of the clouds as darkness fills the afternoon sky. Gazing at her, I wonder if it’s Damina’s pulse on nature’s new course, but I know it’s not her. Damina’s eyes grow wide and I know she too feels the impendi
ng peril looming in the distance.
A wild flowery aroma that’s almost repugnant to me wafts pass my nose and my body instantly stiffens in alarm. Both Shawn and Gregory tighten their posture and even Tye wriggles to push his back against the wall.
I feel the threat growing closer and I rush across the room, hopeful to keep Damina from whatever harm seeks entry to the hostel, but I am too late.
He is here.
Dalcour
Summoning every ounce of the Altrinion force within me, I soar through a newly darkened sky as nature concedes to my will. Though I can surely stand in the sun, the last thing I need to do is tempt fate. With Braelyn on my six, I can’t risk her safety either. While I’m happy to see the sun and sky obeying my command, I can hardly take pleasure in it.
My only thoughts are of Damina.
I have no idea what the wretched mongrel has to say to her, but his words may be his last.
Breaking through the long glass window of the hostel, I crash into the unit using nothing but my speed and strength to aid my flight. Braelyn yanks on the dusty gray curtain as she rounds into the room behind me as both Brian and Mark speed up the stairs and bust through the front door.
“Are you okay, Beautiful?” I ask, resting a soft kiss on her forehead. Damina shyly nods in reply, but her eyes remain on Jackson. Jackson keeps his sights set on me as deep growls rumble through him as he watches her curled in my embrace.
“Take your hands off her, Marchand!” Jackson demands through a roaring growl. His chest swells and his eyes flash in a greenish-golden hue, letting out another deep grizzly sound and both his minions echo in kind. Both Brian and Mark try to maintain their posture, but I’m slightly annoyed how they almost shrink in Jackson’s presence.
But it’s clear that he is the Prime Alpha and they are caught in the middle.
“You know him, Jackson?” Dacari asks from across the room still shielded by his largest comrade. Brian is noticeably bothered by the wolf’s clutch on Dacari, but he only casts a wary glance in her direction but retains his stance at my side.
