Sleeping with the Beast: an Adult Paranormal Shifter Romance (The Conduit Series Book 2)

by Conner Kressley

  “It’s protected,” Satina said, looking it over.

  “I sort of gathered that.” I grunted, clambering back to my feet before marching back toward the stupid thing. “Let’s see how much juice it’s got.”

  “You’re even crazier than I thought,” Satina said, grabbing my arm. “Do you not value your own life near as much as I do? Absorbing the shock of any more energy from that door would cook you like pig on a spit fire.”

  “What?” I asked, pulling my hand away.

  “Are there more efficient ways to do that now?” she asked, then shook her head. “Never mind that. There’s an anti-magic barrier surrounding that door. More magic would just feed it. You’d power the stupid thing until it was potent enough to kill us both.”

  “Or I’d overpower it,” I answered. “I’m stronger than you think.”

  “You’re certainly more cocksure than I think, especially for a maiden. But it won’t save your life. We need to find another way in.”

  “The barrier protecting this door will be protecting all of them,” I said. “You know that as well as I do. The only other way in is the way Briar is going. And if Ameena finds out that we’re not actually with her before we can get Abram out, then he’s as good as dead. And I won’t have that. We go through this—”

  A bright object whizzed past my face, cutting off my sentence (and very nearly my nose). It spun until it struck the door, shattering the barrier into thousands of pieces. Looking down where the object now lay, I saw it was an ax.

  Huntsman’s ax.

  “Or another?” he asked, stepping into view.

  “I knew I heard footsteps,” I hissed. “Satina! You said no one else could see this place.”

  “Oops,” she said with a sly smile and a shrug.

  “You did this on purpose,” I said, remembering how she’d wanted him here. Ugh! I could kill her! I spun toward our uninvited company. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Helping you,” he said. “And not receiving a thank you, I might add.”

  He was even more handsome up close, the lines of his face symmetrical and perfect. But I needed to get to Abram with as little difficulty as possible, and Huntsman was nothing if not a ripped and rippling hunk of steaming hot trouble.

  “Am I going to have to deal with you?” I asked. My nostrils flared. Power surged through me, and my light pulsated brighter.

  “I suppose that depends on how smart you are,” he said with an easy grin. “From where I see it, we have a common goal. We both want to save someone we love. Your lover and my—”

  “Brother,” I finished, ignoring the implied ‘ew’ factor I always got when anyone described Abram as my ‘lover.’

  “You got in that wench’s head,” Huntsman answered. “That bodes well for your chances.” He stepped forward. “I bode well for your chances, too.”

  He lifted his left hand, and his glowing ax flew back toward him. He snatched it out of the air and fastened it behind his back. “Or you could value stubbornness and conviction over the life of your loved one. Either way, the door is open now, and I’m stepping through it.”

  He brushed past me, knocking my shoulder with his own and stepping into the castle.

  “We could take him out of the equation,” Satina said, watching him from behind. “I could teach you a spell that would paralyze him for at least half a day.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “Whatever else he is, he’s obviously powerful. He couldn’t hurt our chances.”

  “Better hope you’re right,” she said as we followed him into the castle.

  Huntsman held out his ax before him like a lantern. Its brightness dwarfed my own.

  The room we now stood in was expansive, filled with file cabinet after file cabinet.

  “What is this place?” I asked, stepping into a fresh puddle.

  “A storage room,” Huntsman answered. “Filled with what is most likely records of every heinous thing this monster of a woman has been responsible for in her far too long life.”

  “You’re one to talk,” Satina leveled a stare at him. “You’re every bit as old as her.”

  “I made a promise,” he said gruffly. “My life and the state of it is nothing more than a way to keep that promise.”

  “To your brother?” I asked.

  Huntsman blinked hard. “I wish it was that simple. Luca is only a piece of my puzzle. Though I assume your lover could be described as the majority of yours. So, unless you’d like to stand here and get to know each other a bit more, I suggest we move.”

  He scoffed, turned from Satina and me, and headed for a door at the far end of the room.

  Not exactly Mr. Congeniality.

  As I headed toward the door, one of the file cabinets I was passing flew open. A file sat just a touch higher than the others.

  Satina shot me a look. She knew magic, and I knew her. This was meant for me.

  I hesitated, though, looking after Huntsman instead. “Why does she keep these records?” I asked. “That’s just so…weird.”

  Huntsman paused but didn’t turn around. “Trophies, perhaps. Or contracts she needs to protect.” Finally, he spun toward us. “Really, what does it matter? Look at what she does,” he said, waving his arm around. “Why does she do any of it?”

  He had a point, but it still all seemed a little too…convenient. What if she wanted me to see this file? What if it was a trick of some sort?

  Then again, what if fate, or something like it, was telling me I needed to see this file, that it was important I understand the contents?

  As much as I knew I had to save Abram, I also knew we couldn’t risk ignoring this. It was going to be a setback or a clue, but either could give us more knowledge about the situation that might help.

  I snatched up the file. The cabinet slammed shut, and I opened the manila folder. Huntsman continued onward, and I walked a short distance behind, Satina at my side.

  It was another letter, one from the same damn company.

  Dear Value Customer,

  It has come to our attention that you are displeased with the current nature of your physical shell. While we understand and certainly sympathize with your plight, we regret to inform you that the contract you signed is both binding and completely transparent.

  You were made aware that sacrifices would have to be made if you wanted to transcend to the level at which you now enjoy. To claim ignorance on your part would be both dishonest and insulting to those who have worked tirelessly to help you achieve your goals i.e., us!

  We, of course, are aware you have no desire to insult us or to attempt to backtrack on the deal you made with us. A fruitless attempt that would be, we are sure you realize.

  We hope you will find it within yourself to come to terms with your new body, and cease and desist these foolish attempts to wriggle out of the promises you made.

  Might we suggest horn sanders?

  The Company

  “That confirms it. They’re definitely helping her.” I shook my head. “Why are they pitting them against each other? Who is the Company?”

  “Those are not questions for today,” Satina said, grabbing my arm and ushering me to quicken my step. “Today is for saving…if we can.”

  The file slipped from my hands, but Satina didn’t loosen her grip or slow down to let me retrieve it. Ahead of us, Huntsman slowly opened the door. After sticking his head out into the well-lit hall and stealing a glance in both directions, he stepped out with us following close behind.

  All the walls were black and free of both mirrors and pictures. This woman really did hate the way she looked now, and who could blame her? Had she really turned herself into a bull-monster just to have the power to keep the man she loved?

  Would I be capable of something like that?

  Huntsman took his ax again. Pressing it to his forehead, he whispered, “Show me where.”

  Fluidly, he threw the ax into the air. It spun and stuck blade first into the floor, standing straig
ht up.

  “Why—”

  “Watch,” he said, pointing to the ax.

  The hilt spun around although the blade remained still, the ax moving like the needle of a compass. It turned far to the left, settling in front of a long hallway.

  “There,” Huntsman said. “Your lover is that way.”

  “That’s cool,” I muttered. “I mean, it’s sort of weird that you keep calling him my ‘lover,’ but it’s still cool.” Why couldn’t I have a magical ax?

  He plucked the ax from the ground and fastened it across his back again.

  “Your lover is strong,” he said. “If it makes you feel better, he put up a valiant fight before he was finally overtaken; he took a chunk out of Luca that he won’t soon forget.” After a pause, he added, “Don’t worry, I do not hold it against him. My brother, at present, is dangerous. I would have done the same if I had to.”

  “Wait, you were there? You watched Abram get kidnapped, and you didn’t do anything to stop it?”

  “I needed to get into this place, and to do that, I needed to find it,” he said. “You were my best chance. I apologize if you disagree with my methods, but I do not regret them. This is a dark world we live in, Charisse Bellamy. No one leaves it the way they came in.”

  Great. He knew my name? What else did he know?

  “Just get me to Abram,” I said, scowling. “Before we get found out.”

  We walked through the barren hallways, turning right and then left. Each time, the ax on Huntsman’s back twitched, indicating the direction we needed to go.

  “There are no guards here,” he said. “Luca and his witch are alone. So long as your trickery keeps them otherwise engaged, we’ll have no problem getting your lover out of here. And then, when you’ve made your exit, I’ll do what I came for.”

  “And what’s that?” Satina asked.

  “I’m going to split that witch in half and free my brother,” Huntsman said, settling in front of another room. “The ax has settled. He’s inside.”

  I grabbed the door handle, and to my surprise, it opened.

  I gasped as my gaze settled on a form I didn’t want to accept was his. Abram was beaten and broken. Blood caked his hair and skin, and he was chained up, hanging from a rafter in the ceiling, his toes barely grazing the ground beneath him. His eyes were swollen shut and long gashes cut deep into his bare chest. I didn’t think things could get any worse than that day back in New Haven, but this—this proved me wrong. Gut-wrenchingly wrong.

  “My God,” I shrieked, shaking away the terror and bolting toward him.

  “No, wait!” Huntsman said, but it was too late.

  I felt it as I moved through it; a magical barrier, an alarm system no doubt meant to alert of our presence.

  The lights went out instantly, and a low, deafening groan sounded through the whole of the castle.

  “Now she knows,” Satina said in a broken voice. “The Conduit’s coming.”

  Chapter 30

  I rushed over to Abram, still glowing enough to light a path through the now darkened room. The siren of the unholy alarm hung in the air, signaling Ameena’s impending arrival.

  But screw that. I had been through too much, faced too many demons, and come too far to back down now.

  I might still die today, but Abram wouldn’t. Not if I could help it.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, wrapping his body in a hug.

  I should have went right for the chains. We didn’t have much time, after all. But I couldn’t wait even one more second to touch him. I needed him in my arms—needed to know he was okay.

  He answered me with an inaudible groan. Oh God, how hurt was he?

  “Just stay with me, okay,” I said, wiping a bit of stray blood from his cheek. “I’ll heal you as soon as I can, the way I did back in the cave. But we have to move now, okay? There’s not much time.”

  Hesitantly, I pulled my hands off of him. I wanted nothing more than to be in constant contact with him for every moment of what was left of my very likely to be much-shortened life. But there were more important matters to deal with at the moment. And all of my attention needed to be on freeing the man I love.

  I didn’t need to let my emotions overtake me this time. They were already going haywire. So I looked down at the chains, splayed my fingers wide, and let go.

  A bright blue spark shot from my fingertips. But when it reached the chains, it bounced back at me, searing my skin and knocking me backward as it landed.

  Satina rushed to my side and assisted me back to my feet. “The chains have been shielded.”

  “Then help me unshield them,” I said, blinking away spots of light and readying myself to try again.

  “I could, if we had hours to practice.” Satina dusted dirt from my shoulders, as though preparing me to go back out onto some battlefield runway. “As it is, I’m afraid we’re going to have to leave him.”

  I pushed her hands off of me. “Do what you want, Satina, but I’m not going anywhere without Abram.”

  “We can come back when—”

  “Not an option!” I said, walking back over to him and reassessing the chains. “Ameena already knows we’re here. She got what she wanted out of Abram—I’m here. She has no incentive to keep him alive anymore. We’re going to have to think of a different way.” I spun to Huntsman, the only other asset we had at the moment. “You’ve got a big ax.”

  “Kind of you to notice,” he said, his eyes trained on me. “But I’m afraid it won’t prove very useful to you at this given moment. It works as a current. It will shatter the chains, but it will also destroy anything touching them, namely your love—”

  “I get it.” I sighed and walked back over to Abram, studying his face for a short moment as though I might find the answers there. But I didn’t. “There’s only one thing left to do,” I whispered, turning to Satina and Huntsman. “Leave.”

  “What?” Satina’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m dead serious,” I said. “Ameena will be here any second. I’m the one she wants. You two can still make it out. I doubt she’d even follow you.”

  “You know that’s not what this is about,” Satina growled. “I’m doing all of this for you.”

  “And I’m doing all of it for him!” I said, tears welling in my eyes. “There is nothing in heaven or hell that will get me to leave this place without him. And you don’t have the power to make me. So unless you’re a glutton for punishment, I suggest you get out while you can.”

  “I lived my life already,” Satina said, straightening. “This was bonus time…bonus time, and a chance to do something that mattered.” She cracked her knuckles. “I got nothing to lose, and I’m going for broke.”

  To think, we were here now because Ameena was afraid I could break the curse. She wanted me dead sooner than later, thought I was a risk to her and her plans. And yet, none of us could think of a way to stop her.

  I tipped my chin toward Huntsman. “What about you?”

  He stared at me, an incredulous look narrowing his eyes. “A man does not run, Charisse Bellamy. Especially not when he has those willing to stand beside him.” He pulled the ax from its place on his back. “I’ve courted this moment for longer than you’ve been alive. What sort of man would leave without at least showing what they were capable of?” He spun the ax in his hand. It whistled as it cut through the air. “She could not come soon enough for me.”

  Abram squeezed at my hand. Again, he mumbled something inaudible.

  “What, babe?” I asked, leaning closer.

  “The Baltics,” he said.

  “What?” I asked, confused.

  “In ’67 I ran across a Conduit.” The words came out warbled and around short bursts of coughing. “A special one.” He coughed again, and this time blood splattered on his dry, cracked lips. “She could pull the magic from anything.” He licked his lips and swallowed. “Just pull it…out.”

  “Well, I wish she was here,” I mumbled
, an ache tearing through my chest at the sheer state of him. As he glared at me with swollen eyes, I realized what he was getting at. “I can do that?” I asked. As confidence built inside of me, I nodded. “I can do that!”

  I grabbed the chains, braving the way they burned and crackled against my palms. The siren’s groan grew louder, which probably meant the Conduit was getting closer. Or angrier. Or something not good for us. But I could feel the power surging into me. It was happening so quickly, as though I was hooked up to a car battery with the engine revving.

  I began to glow brighter, and the chains followed suit. Soon, I started to take them over. I could feel the integrity of them begin to weaken. I was doing it. What Satina assured me would take hours, I was doing in seconds. But would it be fast enough?

  As the magic poured into me, every cell in my body burned. I tried to bite back the pain, but it became too great. Tears sprung to my eyes, and my whole being begged me to let go. A scream ripped from my lips, but I held on, my whole body trembling from the pain. My glow become blinding—a beacon in the dark—and the chains shattered.

  And Abram did not shatter with them.

  I stumbled back, gasping for breath. Abram was free, though a bloody and battered mess crumbled on the stone floor. Time to get the hell out of this place.

  “Help me get him up,” I said, turning to Huntsman. “Maybe we can get out of here before that bitch finds us.”

  I went to step closer to Abram, but my legs gave out beneath me. I could feel an inordinate amount of power surging through my body, and yet every limb felt so fatigued I could barely move. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I choked out a sob.

  All I could do was slump hopelessly on the floor, reeling at Abram’s injuries. He’d been taken hours ago, but he looked as though his torture had gone on for weeks. Magic was to blame—as always. Even now that he wasn’t chained anymore, his beastly healing abilities still hadn’t kicked in, telling me all I needed to know. Something wasn’t right here.

  This place, this castle—it was stopping him from getting better. If we didn’t get him out of here quickly, he would die. And love him as much as I did, I didn’t want his company for that.