The door opened a crack, and a young woman peered through the opening. The thick frames of her glasses hid light blue eyes. She swept her dark red hair away from her forehead, squinting in the sunlight. “Haley?”
A smile broke over Haley’s lips. “Emily.”
“Oh, my gosh, this is a surprise.” She glanced toward Damian and darted her gaze away. “Uh, well come in.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to drop in like this. I didn’t have your number.”
“No problem.” Emily straightened the sleeves on her dress as they walked in. “It’s been so many years.”
“Is someone here?” Another young woman walked into the foyer, adjusting her white bikini. She teased long blond hair with her fingers and caught sight of Damian. “Oh, hello.” Her green eyes sparkled as she stretched her hand toward him. “I’m Cassie.”
He kept his hands in his pockets, and Emily spoke up.
“This is, ah.” She gestured toward him, keeping her gaze downward. “I’m not sure exactly. He’s with our cousin, Haley.”
Cassie looked toward Haley. “Oh my gosh. I didn’t even see you there.” She hurried forward and pulled her into a close hug. “Your man is huge. He fills up this entire room.”
Emily fidgeted with her hands and tilted her head toward a large sitting room. “Come in. Have a seat.”
Cassie followed her. “Yeah, are you thirsty? We’ve got beer, iced—”
“We’re looking for Collette.” Damian took hold of Haley’s hand, burying the uneasy feeling.
“Oh.” Cassie pulled in the corner of her mouth.
Haley let him draw her closer and slid her arm around his middle. “Sorry to be so abrupt. We do need to see Aunt Collette as soon as possible.”
“Well, you’ve found me.” A blonde woman swept into the room wearing white shorts and a black tank top. She looked as if she could be Cassie’s slightly older sister rather than her mother.
“Haley, my love.” Collette stretched her arms toward her, and Haley slipped away from Damian to embrace her aunt.
“Why did she seat you in here?” Collette shot Emily a look. “This room is awful, let’s go to the sun-room. Follow me upstairs.”
Damian weaved his fingers through Haley’s and squeezed her palm as they walked after Collette. Emily and Cassie followed, climbing the stairs behind them. Blocking the exit. There didn’t seem to be malicious intentions in the witches’ heads, but they were all able to read each other’s minds, working to keep their own thoughts hidden.
“This is my favorite room in the house.” Collette led them toward a bright doorway at the end of a dim hallway. She sighed and draped herself over the arm of a thick couch. Sunlight beamed through glass windows covering the far wall and half of the ceiling.
Damian turned as Cassie and Emily entered the room. Haley wasn’t there. His heart slammed in his chest as he searched the space.
“Where is Haley?”
“She went to find something.” Cassie dropped into a wicker chair.
“It’s all right, Master.” Collette winked. “She’s just exploring, searching for the solution to your problem. You’re meant to stay here while she finds the answers you came for.” She patted the cushion beside her. “Sit down with me.”
The hallway was empty. Haley had vanished.
“She really is OK.” Emily shifted the collar of her dress. “She’ll come back.”
Damian gritted his teeth. The timid one seemed to be the most honest of the three. It was better to wait for Haley to return than go look for her, the entire place could be a maze of illusions.
Collette eyed Emily with a burst of laughter. “Damian can read your mind, honey. Best to hide those dirty fantasies for later, when you’re alone.”
Adjusting her heavy glasses, Emily sank deeper into her chair, a deep blush running into her cheeks. Aside from being extremely nervous in his presence, the girl’s thoughts had been clear of anything sexual.
“Although, Emily…” Collette tapped a finger along her lips, glancing back and forth between Emily and Damian. “You do look an awful lot like your cousin.” She smiled widely. “Same coloring, complexion…and those breasts.” She turned her attention to Damian. “Don’t let that sack of a dress she’s wearing fool you; she’s hiding quite a little figure under there. Curves in just the right places. Unlike her sister.” She rolled her eyes toward her other daughter. “Cassie likes to show it off, but she doesn’t have nearly as much to fill out those tiny bikinis.”
Cassie stared at her. “You’re making him uncomfortable.”
“You’re doing a fine job of that yourself with your lack of clothing, dear. I can sense his arousal from here. Why don’t you just spread your legs so he can get the full picture?”
“I was headed to the pool when they got here.”
“Oh, that’s all you do anymore. Sunbathing all day long. At least Emily studies the craft.” Collette leaned forward, centering her focus on Damian. “Emily seems harmless, but she’s very good with spells. Don’t be surprised if she puts a love hex on you.” She shifted her position on the couch with a girlish giggle. “As you might have guessed, my shy little daughter does not have many lovers. Although, I did catch her once with one of the ritual snakes between her legs.”
Emily’s head snapped up. “That’s not true.”
“Oh yes, she was just ‘playing’ with the snake, just wanted to give it a nice warm home.”
Emily covered her mouth with a shake of her head.
“I’m teasing. My goodness, lighten up a bit.” Collette breathed in a laugh, gazing at Damian. “It’s all right, Emily. I’m sure you’ve roused the Master’s lust as well. Perhaps he’s imagining you and your sister together.”
Damian cleared his throat, sliding his hands into his front pockets.
“Or are your fantasies of a more violent nature? Now that you’re no longer powerless to our kind.” She took a long drink of iced tea. “Maybe he’d like to force you girls to hurt each other.”
Her continuous rambling got under his skin. Damian folded his arms and kept his gaze on the empty doorway.
* * *
“Damian?” Haley spoke his name under her breath. She was alone in the hallway.
The sun-drenched hall ahead had seemed to fade away as the walls twisted around her. Brushing her hair aside with a shaking hand, she turned to go back to the stairs, but the hallway consisted of only closed doors now. Steadying her breath, she quieted her thoughts. A door opened behind her, and her head spun toward it.
“Sorry. Did I scare you?” A young man stepped into the hall. He licked his lips as a lock of brown hair fell over his forehead. Shirtless, he played with the drawstring on his shorts. “I’m Trent.”
Haley glanced up from his firm body. “Do you know where Collette is?”
He paused with a smile and caught his bottom lip between his teeth, languidly gazing at her with deep green eyes. “Who are you, again?”
“I’m her niece.” Haley forced her breath to calm. She gave her surroundings another once-over. “Where am I? I was with her a minute ago, and—”
“Easy. Just take it easy.” He rested his palms on her shoulders with a gentle touch. “I’ll show you the way.”
His voice went a little low and Haley instinctively drew back from his soft hold. “Thank you.” She spoke clearly, working to eliminate the strange tension.
“This way.” He started walking.
Haley followed, studying the long hallway.
“I gotta admit something.” Trent touched her arm with the slightest graze of his fingers. “I kind of already knew who you were.”
Silent, Haley kept her steady stride beside his leisured pace.
“The queen witch.” His words came out in a grainy whisper.
He adjusted the waistband of his low-hanging shorts, his eyes gleaming with desire, and she avoided his gaze.
Lucifer had also called her the queen. The witch with royal powers, but she’d never heard of a
ny monarchy among witches.
Trent swiftly moved in front of her, and her palms flattened against his abs. She jolted, pulling her hands back.
He breathed a chuckle. “We’re going this way.” He headed down a shadowy hall beside her. “You know.” He cleared his throat and dropped his voice. “You can touch me.”
She took a deep breath. This boy set her nerves on edge. The dark hallway appeared endless.
Trent flashed a smile when she didn’t respond. “I just meant that I’m not gonna break.”
Haley nodded. His thoughts were oddly blank, but his energy simmered with lust.
“Do you like to swim? I’m sure Cassie’s got a bikini you can wear.”
“No, I’m not here to swim. I need to see my aunt.”
He slowed his walk a bit, and she glanced back at him. He seemed to notice her frustration and picked up his pace.
A little color spread across his chiseled cheekbones. “Sorry, Your Majesty.”
Her eyes widened.
Trent’s thoughts flickered through her head. He readjusted his shorts, itching to reach for his cock. His genitals had been fitted with a thin, steel cage along his length, a chastity device of some kind.
She tried not to cringe and relaxed her pace, holding her arms at her waist. “You don’t need to call me that, really.”
In the room beside him, a red-headed woman sat on the edge of a bed and turned her face away. Haley halted and double-checked the room, but there was nobody there. She squinted.
“Did you see her?” Trent moved close to her side. “Your mother?”
The confirmation stunned her for a moment. Past wounds came back to life as the familiar sense of loss spread through her. “She’s… Was it her?”
“Yeah.” He rested his hands low on his hips, gazing downward. “She visits here sometimes, it’s where she grew up with Collette.” He looked into her eyes. “You want to summon her?”
Silent, she held his gaze. “You know where she is?”
“Of course.” Trent folded his arms over his smooth chest muscles. “The after-place.” He grinned. “It’s fuckin’ awesome.”
Haley gaped at him as she took in the information. This boy could only barely be over the drinking age. Did he know where her mother spent her afterlife?
“You can talk to her. Here.” Trent opened a solid iron door a few feet away.
Haley followed him into a low-lit room. There was no furniture, just a wooden floor painted with hundreds of black symbols. He brought her to the far wall and opened a wood-paneled door, revealing a tiny closet.
“Come on.” He slid his fingers along her palm with a feather-light touch and twined them with hers.
She tugged her hand away from his grasp. “Actually, I’d rather just see Collette.”
“Oh.” Trent gave a little nod. “Yeah, sure. Sorry.”
He led her back out into the hall, walking his odd stride as he brushed his fingers over the trail of hair along his lower abdomen. Farther ahead, a large group of women moved toward them. Some looked to be Haley’s age and some much older, all of them wore simple black dresses.
She leaned toward Trent as the women approached. “Is this the coven?”
“Yes.”
The witches kept their blank gazes trained on Haley as they passed, and a chill rushed over her skin. She walked faster when they’d made it behind her. Odd for such a large group to be so utterly silent.
Moments later, the sound of her aunt’s laughter carried from around the corner and Haley’s heartbeat calmed. She hurried toward the sunny room with Trent close behind.
“Haley! What a surprise.” Collette chuckled lightly. “And you’ve met Trent, I see.”
“Yes. And she is…” Trent swept his hand along Haley’s forearm. “Just amazing.”
Damian studied Trent with a dark gaze, and Haley swiftly moved closer to where Damian stood. He reached for her arm and clasped it firmly, then drew her to him. His fingers trailed along her neck and into her hair as he knelt his head and connected his lips with hers. His tongue slid between her lips, and he pulled her closer.
“What a rude thing to do. Honestly.”
Collette’s voice rang in the back of Haley’s mind as Damian slowly wandered her mouth with his tongue. She let the smallest moan escape her throat, and he drew back from the tender kiss.
She held his deep stare for a moment, shutting out everyone else in the room. He seemed beaten somehow, seeking her affection.
“Uh, well yes. There was some sexual tension between Haley and me. She came off a little bit…shy around me. Especially when she saw the cage under my shorts.”
Haley darted her gaze to Trent, who stood behind Collette, grazing his fingers along her shoulders.
Collette scrunched her nose with a smile. “Did he show you his chastity cage, Haley?”
“Mother, stop it.” Cassie gave her a serious look.
“What? So I keep a little cage on my boy-toy.” Collette giggled. “Not so little, actually…”
“You saw his cock?” Damian’s voice was a low grumble.
Haley quickly shook her head. “No. Well, just in his thoughts, I guess.” The shadow inside Damian surfaced as his eyes darkened. She held onto his arm. “There wasn’t any fucking sexual tension, he’s out of his damn mind.”
The current of darkness flowing under his skin began to slow.
“So, um.” Emily’s voice squeaked a little, and she paused, studying her nails in her lap. “Did you end up finding what you needed, Haley?”
“What a ridiculous question, Emily.” Collette lazily traced her fingertips across Trent’s abs. “Rest easy, Haley. I’ve got the whole coven looking for a way out of your little contract with Lucifer. For now, you’re staying for lunch.”
Haley held her palm to her chest. “Thank you, Aunt Collette. Do you really think it’s possible?”
“Without a doubt.” Collette puckered her lips and shook her head. “Now, let’s get ready for lunch, hmm? Shall we take a dip in the pool while Emily prepares the meal?”
“Oh, no, I can help in the kitchen.” Haley looked at Emily. “You like to cook?”
“Nonsense, you’re our guest!” Collette waved her hand. She shoved her elbow into Trent’s side. “You, however, can go sit in the kitchen for being such a bad boy.” She narrowed her eyes with a little smile. “Showing your dirty parts to my lovely niece.”
Damian growled low in his throat, and Emily glanced up at him with wide eyes.
“No, that never happened.” Haley squeezed Damian’s bicep, but he kept his glare on Trent. She looked toward Emily, whose face had gone pale. “He’s harmless.”
Collette snickered. “Our Emily isn’t used to so much testosterone. You’ll have to forgive her, she hasn’t been with a man since she was a teenager, for goodness sake.” She ran her red fingernails along Trent’s waistband. “But one look at this perfect boy, and I had to keep him for myself.”
“Mother.” Cassie crossed her arms. “Leave her alone.”
Emily squirmed in her chair. “No, it’s fine.”
“You see!” Collette gestured toward Emily. “She doesn’t mind! Trent was always supposed to be mine, it was destiny.” She jerked his shorts, and he bit his lip with a little moan. Collette winked at Haley. “He always wanted me. Even when he took Emily’s virginity, he dreamed that it was me.”
For a few beats of silence, Haley let her gaze wander. “Um… Well.”
The sunlight dimmed as a black shadow crawled from the edges of the bright room.
Collette squealed and clasped her hands together. “The guest of honor is finally here!”
Damian sighed. “The bitch summoned Lucifer.” He gave Haley a defeated look. “We have to leave.”
“What?” Haley snapped her gaze to her aunt. A chill swept through the air and her limbs went numb. Adrenaline pumped through her as a swarm of darkness flowed into the room.
Collette glared at Damian. “We will not serve a dark lo
rd as powerless as you. Your father is our true Master. He will teach you to be a proper leader.”
“No.” Haley’s whisper was barely audible through the hum of the static-filled black clouds.
Damian cloaked her in his own darkness, but they remained in the shadowy room. “Shit, he’s holding me here.” He stared down at her. “Go.”
A sob crept up her throat, and she took a gasping breath. She couldn’t leave him.
“Go!” He pushed her toward the open doorway.
“The witch is mine, Damian.” Lucifer’s voice boomed all around her.
A shock of white light spread, piercing through the blackness. It swirled around Haley until it enveloped the room.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The powerful white light vanished a moment later, and Damian stood in a vast hall, lit by sparkling crystal chandeliers overhead. The dark power didn’t course through his muscles any longer.
Haley studied her pale green silk gown, running her fingertips over the front. She glanced up at him with a pleading look.
Damian loosened his tie. This was the moment she had been dragged to his uncle’s chambers, but this time, there were no giant evil demons attacking her in the hall, just the faint sound of the fashion auction nearby.
His father could be orchestrating some ultimate torture for him, making him relive her death for eternity. Fuck, he couldn’t go through it again.
“But I remember…dying. In this dress.” She clutched the flowing skirt in her palms. “And then…I wasn’t dead. And you became the dark lord, and Lucifer…” She covered her face with her hands. “He’s behind this, isn’t he?”
He pulled her into a tight hold. “No, I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, baby.”
His thoughts seemed clearer now that he was free from the throne’s power. That white light had been so comforting. It had somehow overpowered his father’s shadow.
She drew back from his embrace, a tear sliding down her cheek. “What should we do?”
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