by G. Bailey
"Good to see you," I say, going to him, and he bows his head low.
"I am glad you are alive. Shall we go inside? We have many things to discuss for this war."
"Welcome to my new home, Keeper Grey," I say, waving a hand at the door.
"Seth isn't getting this place back, for sure," Hali whispers to Nix, but I hear them.
"Not without finding one of my daggers in his foot, nope."
They all laugh as I walk past them and open the door, wondering exactly what I'm going to tell Keeper Grey to do. Hell, I don't have a clue how to save myself, let alone everyone else, and right now, that is a big problem.
Chapter 7
Walking through the door, I almost stop and smile at the gorgeous room we have walked into. There is a large lounge at the front of the massive open plan room, and a kitchen with lots of cabinets on the other side. The cabinets are a light blue with dark granite worktops, and a black fridge sits in the middle of them. I take in a modern black cooker, a microwave and blender next to the cooker on a counter. There is also a metal holder filled with spatulas and other kitchen items. The lounge has a large fireplace with a pile of logs at the side, a flat screen TV in the corner by the window, and three big white couches with light blue pillows.
"It's like Seth made this place for me. I will have to thank him later," I happily say, jumping on the sofa, noticing how comfy it is. I hear the other guys and Hali come in, talking about how amazing this place is as I pull my sleeve up and press my finger onto my black mark. I mentally call Star, feeling her excitement, and I smile with the knowledge that she is on the way. I go to move my finger away when I sense something else—no, someone else. I scream as it feels like claws stab into my mind, trying to find where I am. My hand is pulled away, and hands are on my face, lifting it a second later.
"Evie!" Trex shouts at me as he comes into focus, his dark black hair, the slight beard he has, and his grumpy expression is replaced with nothing but pure panic.
"Your mark should not be touched. Did he find out where you are?" Keeper Grey asks, standing near the fireplace. Trex lets my face go as I look at Keeper Grey, but he stays close, placing his hand on my shoulder as he sits on the arm. "I'm taking it as a no as he hasn't turned up here to kill you."
"I went to call Star," I explain, hearing how hoarse my voice is. All this screaming is no good for me. "But it's like he could get into my brain somehow and cause me pain."
"He is your knight. Knights are given to queens to be able to always find them. Reapers have them for protection of their own queen as well, and so did the demon queen many years ago," he explains to me. “No more using that mark until Cex is dead. That means no more knights or taking a mate. It’s too much of a risk.”
"Do witches have them?" Hali asks as there is silence around the room.
"No, your race was not original and created by dark magic like the magic Evie currently has in her body," he explains. "Witches are basically humans cursed to have magic. Protectors, reapers, demons and even angels were originally born naturally into existence. They almost share the same pool of magic, even with their differences."
"My father once told me angels were created, not born," I reply, just throwing out that random piece of information.
"Well, perhaps not angels in that count. I do not know much of their race," Keeper Grey waves it off.
"But you know about black magic, right? And how to get it out of me, for example?" I ask. “I need to find a way to save myself.”
"It cannot be held by a Protector, that is all I know. The keepers that are alive are all living here, and we are doing every bit of research we can into a way to save you. I do not know if we will find the cure, but we will not stop until we do find something," he explains to me. “We will not see our queen die without a hell of a fight.”
"I will speak with my brother and the demons to send the word out for knowledge," Azi says, and Keeper Grey nods in agreement. "I will be back soon, and I have not forgotten the chat we need to have, Vi," Azi explains, his eyes on mine before he walks out of the door.
"Perhaps the reapers might know something? I could find a way to call my mother and father to help," Connor offers.
"Reapers are said to have more knowledge of ancient times than anyone on Earth. Your father might be able to help us if you call out for him," Keeper Grey suggests, and Connor nods in agreement.
"Queen Evelina, you should call your father. He might have useful knowledge," he suggests to me. I’m not sure if I’m ready for another father daughter chat just yet.
"My father knew little of the power when we last spoke, but sure, I can ask," I reply, looking around at my new home and admiring the space on the wall between the kitchen and fireplace. "My sword would look lovely in a holder on that wall. Don't you think?"
"I have your sword in our place here," Keeper Grey states. I grin up at him.
"I think you are now my new favourite person," I inform him.
"Hey, I got you a tiger. That space is reserved for me, thank you very much," Nix interjects from where he is leaning against the wall, watching us. I go to reply to his comment when the door is slammed open by a giant tiger, who runs and jumps on me. I squeal as the sofa goes flying backwards from Star's weight, and Trex falls with us. Star doesn't care as she licks her massive tongue up my face, and I try to push her away.
"I get it, you missed me. Damn girl, you need to get off," I say, coughing from the pure weight of her.
"Star, you are hurting Evie. Get off," Trex demands as I hear Nix and Connor laughing. Star huffs, throwing evil looks at Trex as she climbs off me. Trex offers me a hand, pulling me up and against his chest, both of us freezing as we gaze at each other. He lifts his hand and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear before resting his hand on my shoulder.
"I will leave you all be and check back in a few days when, hopefully, I have something to tell you. We will be close though, for your protection, our queen," Keeper Grey says.
"I'm the queen of a city I let be destroyed and people that are on the run. I don't think I need protection, I'm clearly bad at this," I mutter.
"You tried to save us, but nothing could have. The fact you are here, still fighting, is enough, and it is what your mother would have done. Fought to the very bitter end for her people. The city may be destroyed, but Protectors have a lot of money. You have a lot of money, enough to rebuild the city five times over, but Protectors find their home with their queen," he explains to me. "Most of your people are alive, waiting for your direction. You can do this. The test would have never given you the crown otherwise."
"Is Erica dead?" I ask, wondering.
"I assume so, we have not seen her either way. I believe Cex killed her," Keeper Grey explains and bows once more before walking out of the house. I know I shouldn't feel any kind of emotion for that sister who was never much of a sister to me, but I do in a way I cannot explain. She was my sister, my last relative from my mother’s side. A deep part of me wanted to find a way to make her better, to make her human at least in her actions. A deeper part of me knows she was lost when she killed my other sisters I never got to meet. Maybe death was just what Erica needed, and death at the hands of someone she loved is pretty poetic, even for her.
"Come on, Hali, let's check out the bedrooms," I say, holding a hand out for Hali. She smiles at me, in a sad way, like she can understand the silence in the room. Hali slides her hand into mine, and I know in this moment Hali is the family I've always aimlessly searched for. Hali is like a daughter, sister and everything wrapped into one. I have family, true love and friends...but why does it feel like the rug is going to be pulled from under my feet at any moment?
Chapter 8
Someone knocks on the door as I sit on the bed in the big room that Hali and I found upstairs, along with folded bedsheets ready for us to make the bed up. The house is three levels, and the second level is just one giant room with three queen size beds pushed together to make one. It has a big bathroom with
a hot tub, and the closet has some very cool hidden weapons and snacks in it. There is another large bedroom on the level above, with its own bathroom that Hali has taken, whereas the guys and I can share this one. I look up, opening another one of the chocolate snacks I found, as Trex comes into the room, closing the door behind him as I pop the chocolate in my mouth.
"Connor has taken Star out to get new meat for her food, plus some food for us. Nix has taken Hali clothes shopping for us all since we don't have anything," Trex explains as he eyes the room and the giant bed. "Do I want to know what Seth was doing with this giant bed?"
"Making it perfect for me and you guys? Look, he even has a secret snack and weapon storage," I say, pointing at the box near my feet at the end of the bed. "There is a cool axe in there that I think suits you." Trex purses his lips as he comes over to the box, picking up the axe which has a glowing green line over the silver metal.
"What do you think the green lines do?" he asks as I stare at them. They remind me of my new necklace and my purple sword I got in Hell. I wonder if there is some kind of link between them all. When I was a slave in Hell, I saw shops selling these weapons but never understood what they were and how they were different.
"Not sure. My purple sword is super light for a sword and has similar lines. I've seen weapons like these in Hell, and demons make them. I'm not sure what they do though," I explain. "I'm assuming the purple makes the sword lighter somehow, perhaps."
"As you've stolen the house, I don't feel too guilty about stealing this axe," Trex states, admiring it and putting the box on the floor. I chuckle, gaining his attention.
"Seems like I've rubbed off on you," I say. "The almighty Trex stealing from demons. Whatever would the old you say if he could see you now?"
"That I shouldn't be in love with a crazy, overly sarcastic woman who drives me insane? Luckily, I can't help but love her," he suggests to me, and I grin at him.
"They say the best people are crazy," I reply.
"I'm sure it's the crazy ones—like you—that originally came up with that statement," he says, putting the axe down and walking to me. He lifts my chin as he steps right in front of me, leaning down so he is close, but not close enough to kiss, and a serious expression flashes across his face. "I thought I lost you again."
"I didn't know it would do that. I only thought of stopping Cex, not the aftereffects," I tell him, knowing it isn’t a good excuse, because for all I knew, it could have killed me.
"When I thought you might die...it was a million times worse than the first time we lost you. I felt like my world imploded in those few moments where you were lying in Azi's arms, covered in dust and not moving. When you breathed, it was like I wanted to exist again," Trex roughly tells me, almost like he doesn’t want to admit it.
"I never knew you were this romantic, wanting to die for me and all," I say, trying to avoid his serious comments and how guilty they make me feel. How much I know I would feel the same if it were the other way around. Love is the master at making you feel guilty but somehow rewards you all the same.
"It's not romantic, it’s almost fucking tragic that I've fallen for a woman who regularly gets herself in life and death situations that test every part of my protective nature," he angrily growls, and he really does have a point. I'm not the type to happily sit inside knitting or whatever normal women do. I'm more the type to polish my sword but then accidentally get into trouble somehow even doing that.
"Would you trade me for someone else though?" I ask, reaching up and pressing my lips to his, sucking his bottom lip into my mouth as I run my hands down his flat stomach, admiring the ripples of muscle until I find his belt.
"No," he bites out as I undo his belt before pulling his jeans down and freeing his hard erection. I take his length into my hand before guiding it into my mouth. Trex lets out a sexy groan as he guides me into a rhythm he clearly likes, his hands holding my hair tightly. Trex suddenly pulls out of my mouth before pushing me back onto the bed and looking down at me.
"Take off your clothes," Trex demands, his words deep and husky as he watches me. I smirk, liking this side to Trex and how demanding he is. I've always loved how demanding he can be when he wants, and I'm pretty sure it was one of the things that made me want to fuck or kill him when we first met. I don't answer his demand, but I very slowly pull my top up and off. I unclip my bra, loving how his eyes widen as he gazes at my breasts. I grin, slowly hooking my thumbs into my leather trousers and pushing them down. Only issue? Pushing skin-tight leather pants off is not sexy. No, I'm pretty sure I look like a deranged lunatic as I wiggle out of them before getting them stuck on my shoes. Trex laughs, clearly far more amused than I am as I sit up and finally manage to get them off before falling back on the bed, covering my face with my hands. Dammit, I seriously suck at being sexy.
"I will take these off for you," Trex states, still laughing a little bit as he kneels on the bed before slowly pulling my lacy panties down.
"You have to stop laughing. I can't take you seriously right now," I mutter as he pulls the panties off and moves to kneel at the end of the bed. I gasp as he pulls me right to the edge of the bed, parting my legs as he does.
"Maybe this will make you take it a little more seriously," Trex suggests, uncharacteristically winking at me before placing his head between my legs, his tongue torturing my clit seconds later. I arch my back as a deep moan escapes my lips, intense pleasure shooting through my body. Trex tortures me right to the edge of an orgasm before stopping, letting me calm down and then teasing me all over again until I can't take anymore. I push his head up, pushing him to sit on the floor as I climb onto his lap. I sink down onto his length, gasping at the pleasure as I hold onto his shoulders and move my lips to his neck, feeling his pulse under them. An orgasm slams into me as Trex holds my hips, guiding them back and forth as I ride out the orgasm shaking through me. Trex flips us over onto the carpet, kissing me as he slams in and out of me, riding out my pleasure.
"Mate with me, make me your mate and knight," Trex asks, his lips close to mine.
"Now?" I ask, moaning from the pleasure, and he chuckles.
"Not this moment exactly," he says, running his hands over my nipples. "But I want an answer for our future. Something to look forward to when this war is over."
"Yes," I whisper back, completely focused on how close I am to another orgasm but knowing I would say yes to this at any point. "You have me completely. I don't tell anyone I love them unless they are everything to me."
"Good, because you are everything to me, too," he says, before kissing me deeply and making the world fade away as he thrusts in and out of me. After a second orgasm rides through me, Trex finishes, his eyes lovingly locked on mine the whole time.
"I love you," I say, just because I know there is nothing more I want to say than that. Sometimes the easiest words are simply enough.
Chapter 9
"Finally! We've all been waiting to go out for dinner for ages," Hali states, standing at the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips as I come down. I would feel embarrassed, but after my afternoon with Trex in bed…I can’t feel anything but happy and sated.
"You could have gone without me," I suggest to her. “I never said you had to wait for me.”
"It's a street barbeque, and they will have bacon...so no, I couldn't go without you thinking I'd betrayed you somehow," she replies in annoyance. Ah, she knows me so well. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, and she pushes me away, wrinkling her nose. "I'm old enough to know what you were doing upstairs for hours, so don't touch me please." I can't help but laugh as she storms to the door as Trex comes down the stairs. Connor grins at me as he walks across the room to our side, and Trex stops at the bottom of the stairs next to me.
There are piles of clothes on the sofa and weapons near the front door, but nothing else has changed except Azi and Nix aren’t back yet. Connor has a big sword on his back, held by a chest holder like the one Trex found in Seth’s weapon box
and is now wearing with his new axe.
"We all heard," Connor informs us, “but let’s go as we are all hungry.” I'm sure my cheeks are burning red as he takes my hand, walking us outside after Hali, and Trex closes the door behind us.
"Sorry, well, not sorry. Are Azi or Nix back yet?" I ask Connor. “I thought they would be.”
"Azi came back for a bit and asked for Nix's help. They both will be back tonight apparently," Connor explains to me. “I wouldn’t worry, they said nothing is wrong.”
"Maybe they found something about black magic," I suggest, very hopeful that they have. This afternoon with Trex has made me more desperate than ever to figure out a way to live. In some ways, I’m happy Azi is busy though, because I don’t know how I’m going to keep lying to his face when he asks more questions about Lamia.
"It's what we are all hoping," Connor replies, leading me out of my new house and into the street where Hali is waiting with Star at her side. Star is big enough now that Hali can lean against her side, looking very comfy as Star almost seems like she is grinning at us. Trex catches up to Hali, talking quietly with her as they walk down the quiet street towards the main part of the underground.
"What really happened with Lamia? Azi explained she is a powerful demon he once helped, and she used to owe him a debt. We are just worried, Blue," Connor gently asks me, catching my gaze before I can look away.
"The necklace helps control the black magic, and she gave it to me. Lamia is powerful and unique," I say, knowing nothing I said is a lie. Avoiding the truth might be the best way to handle the situation for now.
"Like someone else I know," Connor says, eyeing me carefully, almost like he can see my avoidance.
