“Then it is impossible.”
“No. Nothing is impossible. They put the body inside. If they got in, so can we.”
Tessa glanced around the surroundings. With cautious steps, she moved even with the door, putting a good few feet between them. “Steady yourself. I have a feeling we’re about to get hit with one hell of a shockwave.”
“You think it’s protected by a shield?”
Worry came to Tessa’s features. “Yes. My concern is, whose?”
“Don’t. Not yet. We’ll save that for last. What about our gift? Can we turn to smoke and try to slip through the crack in the door? Or materialize ourselves inside?”
“Not the materialization. We’ve never been in there. You can only materialize yourself into a place you’re familiar with. Our fog …we could try, but if there’s a shield, we’ll be blocked.”
“Dammit.” A small sound left me. “Let’s try to slip in, then.”
Smoke began to pour from underneath Tessa’s dress and I tried to focus, but my gift still didn’t come easily. A good minute went by while Tessa appeared as a dark smoke around me. Finally, my hands began to fade. Once it began, I was gone within seconds.
We both pushed toward the door, our essence merging as we filled the entire surface of the barrier. I could feel a tug against my energy and I let it lead to the very top. The pressure we hit was all the conformation that was needed. There was a shield, but amazingly Tessa’s strength was able to push into it. The force stuck to us tightly, swallow us whole as we penetrated through. The snap that popped against my energy was like being hit with bullet. The pain took my breath away and I went to pull back on instinct, but Tessa wouldn’t let me. She surged forward and I was suddenly falling, hitting the marble floor with a hard thud.
Darkness poured around me and Tessa was standing over me, pulling me up.
“Hurry, we won’t have much time,” she rushed out.
Panicked for her safety, I scanned the dim surroundings. It was dark, but a glow toward the center of the room gave me enough light to see that the room was almost completely empty. There was two things present—a marble rectangle the size of a body, and a weird machine that had a red flashing light.
“Aetas?” I was already running forward, as was she. We arrived at what had to be the casket at the same time. Our hands settled on the lid and we looked at each other. Tessa’s face was full of fear and I knew I had to have been displaying the same emotion. My mind was screaming that this was wrong, but I had to put my mate at ease.
“I have to see,” she whispered
We both pushed at the same time, easing the heavy marble up. Tessa’s breath hitched and my own got caught in my throat. A cry filled the space and she gripped to my arm.
“Oh, God. Help us. Help us all.”
Chapter 22
Marko
Tessa’s voice stirred me from a deep sleep, lifting me from the darkness, into such a place of light that I could have cried. And she was crying. Looking at me as she sobbed. Just as she began to come into focus, the lid was slammed shut and I was back in the dark. It all happened so fast that I wasn’t sure if I was still dreaming.
“Tessa? Tessa!” My voice roared as I thrashed harder than I ever had. “Tessa!”
I knew she wouldn’t hear me. I’d screamed at the top of my lungs when I’d heard her on her visits, and never once had she gave me the impression she’d heard my desperate calls. There was something about this place I was in. I could hear, but not be heard. It was Aetas’ doing, I knew that. But if Tessa had been there, she’d seen me. She’d come back for me. Or … did I still look like Aetas?
The thought set me into a panic. What if I looked like him and she hadn’t seen my eyes open before the lid was shut? What if …?
“What do you think you’re doing in here?”
My voice roaring through the room had me quieting.
“I had to see Aetas.” Tessa voice was shaky but stern as she answered back. “He calls to me. I can’t help myself.” She paused. “May I open it again? I didn’t get a chance to see him before you closed the lid.”
“Are you crazy?” My voice was moving, which told me Aetas was. “You want to see the dead body of our leader? Did you not see him that night? He was dead on the floor before all of us. What is there left to see?”
“I don’t know,” Tessa said, her voice breaking. “Marko, please help me. I do not know what is wrong with me.” She sniffled and fast clicking from heels echoed around.
“Shh. Don’t cry, ma minette. I know his passing has been hard on you, but this grief will pass. You just have to focus on other things and stop coming here. This place will not ease the pain you feel inside.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I don’t know why I do this to myself. It just hurts so much.” Clicking grew closer to me and my heart raced even faster. “I have to admit something to you, Marko. I’m afraid you might be upset, though, if I do.”
“What? Is it Hunter? Has he done something to you?”
“Me?” Hunter’s voice boomed through the room. “Why do you always rush to blame me?”
“Leave.” The demand had footsteps pounding against the floor in their departure.
“It is not, Hunter,” Tessa said, calmly. “It’s about Aetas.”
“Oh … What about him?”
Tessa’s presence was so thick around me that I knew she had to be right at the casket. I lifted my head, touching the hard surface above, trying any way I could to get closer to her.
“I think somewhere along the way I fell in love with him. It’s the only explanation for the heartbreak I feel. I long for him, Marko. My heart is breaking when I’m not here.”
“But … what about me?”
“You know I love you,” she rushed out, angrily. “All I am saying is that I think I love him as well. He was cruel at times and he did things he shouldn’t have, but he was a great leader. And he believed in me. He wanted me to be the best I could be. That meant something to me.”
“I was giving you lessons earlier,” he said, defensively. “And I love you. I love you more than he could have ever loved you. Besides,” he said, dropping his anger. “Aetas is dead. Perhaps wherever he is, he’s hearing you and you’re making him happy by saying such things.”
Silence filled the room for only a few seconds before Tessa responded.
“You make fun of me.”
“I do no such thing. Maybe he does hear you, who am I to say? I don’t know what happens when one dies.” Footsteps. “Tessa, come here.”
Fabric sounded and I knew he had her in his arms. A growl tore from me as I once again tried to twist my body. “You’re clearly upset,” he continued. “Let me take you back to the room. Let us pick up where we left off before I had to leave for my meeting.”
“No! Tessa!”
“You want to cheer me up?”
He laughed. “I’m going to do more than that. I’m going to have you screaming my name again, begging me for more of what only I can give you.” He moaned, letting out a deep breath. “Fuck the room,” he said, huskily. “I don’t want to wait.”
“Not here. Not in Aetas’ memorial. Have respect.”
“Have respect for a man who didn’t respect me? I care not for his feelings or his memory—Fuck, you’re so wet.”
Tessa soft voice let out a deep tone and I could tell she was beginning to struggle. “Marko, I said not here.”
“Look at me. Look into my eyes and tell me you don’t want me.”
“I don’t want you.” She grunted. “Not here.”
A small chuckle had the hair on my arms rising. It wasn’t nice. If anything, it was full of sadistic intentions. I knew the sound all too well.
“Still not strong enough to escape my stare. You should have known better, but your temper makes you susceptible. That’s alright. You’ll learn in time. Now, we’re going to start this conversation over with. Hunter has left. Your anger is gone and you’re happy to see me. I’m holdi
ng and touching you, and you want me.” He got quiet and Tessa’s breathing got heavier. “Spread your legs wider …yes … good girl.”
A loud crack sounded and I blinked through the rage that sickened me.
“Next time you want to try to twist my mind, make sure you’re not sloppy about it. My core may be damaged, but my mind is far from weak.”
Clicking faded and the yell that followed left my forehead slamming against the marble. It hadn’t been good. Aetas had been enraged, and he was going after her. What that meant, I wasn’t sure, but I knew if Tessa kept this up, it was only going to be a matter of time before he hurt her too.
Chapter 23
Aetas
“Stop right now!”
My voice carried through the City of the Dead as I yelled for Tessa. My heart was racing. Not just from her almost seeing Marko lying in the place I was supposed to, but because she’d withstood my powers and busted me. Fuck, she was getting stronger. It appeared my blood was a better match for her than Marko’s. Paired with more of her own from Hunter, she was healing and growing at a much faster pace than I had prepared for. Even during her practice, she was stronger than she knew. First breaking through my mind, then through the shield I had around the memorial … If I didn’t put a stop to this fast, she was going to discover what was really going on.
“Don’t you walk away from me,” I snapped, catching up to her. When I spun her to face me, she penned me with a look I’d seen before—directed at me. The real me. Hate. Yes, she was starting to suspect. I’d have to try harder.
“Give me a chance to explain.” The anger was gone now, replaced with sadness. “I keep messing this up. My behavior is appalling. I don’t know what I was thinking. When I’m around you … I can’t think of anything but wanting you. I want you. Nothing I do fills the cravings. I’m desperate for your love.”
“I would have given myself to you had you taken me back to our room. I tell you a part of me love’s Aetas and because of your hate of him, you decide to make yourself feel better by fucking me in a place where people show their respect? That’s sick,” she said, turning back to walk the path. I kept even, trying to force the anger away.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Forgive me.”
Her eyes cut to me and she crossed her arms over her chest, losing some of the repulsion she harbored. “Don’t do something like that again. If I say no, I mean it.”
“Of course.”
Hunter was further ahead, leaning against a monument for one of the enforcers. My lips couldn’t help but peel back, angrily. Tessa stopped, again, and I could have cursed myself when I took in the expression she had aimed at me.
“I’m jealous. He has something I don’t think I will for a very long time.” I was quick to admit my mistake before she had a chance to say anything. I reached, gently pulling her into my arms. “All I want is to bond with you. For us to be one and lead together. Nothing is turning out like I had hoped. And this blood. Tessa, I’m afraid of what it’s doing to me. I know I’m not the same. I see the way you look at me. I can’t stand it. I just want you to love me again. Like before. I miss us.”
Her forehead came to rest on my chest while I held to the back of her neck. Hunter watched, but I couldn’t look at him for long. The more I did, the angrier I was becoming. Marko’s blood was fucking with me. His jealousy and short temper was mine now. It was ruining my plan. I was losing her and I wasn’t sure what I could do to stop it from happening. I tried to get into her mind, but I failed every time. If I could just force her to believe. If I could make her love me …
“You’re getting cool. You need to feed. Let’s go to our room. We’ll hold each other. Nothing more. You have my word.”
She nodded against me, only lifting her head when I went to turn her so we could start walking. When we got even with Hunter, Tessa glanced in his direction. He only had eyes for her. I had a feeling they were speaking, but I couldn’t get into either of their heads. Not Hunter’s, and sure as hell not Tessa’s since she was wearing my crown. My strength was my curse. With my blood in both, it guarded them, just like I protected myself.
Her eyes. I had to find a way in. Without the crown.
“Maybe we should go somewhere. I could take you out for a dinner or maybe you’d like to take a trip to the South Wing? I could give you a tour. Show you the museum there.”
The elevator doors shut and Tessa looked over at me. Tears clouded her eyes and the realization had me pausing from pressing the button. She reached over, doing it for me as I tried to think of a way of fixing my slip. Would she know I hadn’t explored the area since my return? That only Aetas would have known about that part of headquarters?
“What is it? You’re upset.”
“No, you’re right, I’m just tired. I have a lot on my mind.”
I stepped in closer, glancing toward the city below on instinct. Tessa’s hand quickly cupped my face, turning me back to her.
“You’d take me somewhere after how mean and distant I’ve been toward you?”
“Of course.” My voice softened as I pulled her in closer. “It’s not just you, it’s both of us. We’re under a lot of stress. But I can make it better. I can fix us. Do you want to go out? To … be with me.”
“What about the humans? The attacks?”
I laughed, lowering to brush my lips over hers. “I think I can take care of you.”
“You’ve said that before. I almost died.”
Flashes of Hunter shooting her with the dagger and Sayer saving her life hit me.
“I wasn’t on guard that night like I should have been. I was too swept away by the love I was beginning to feel for you. I give you my word, if we leave, nothing will escape my notice. I will protect you with my life.”
Tessa leaned in, pulling my head down to meet hers. It didn’t take long for our kiss to get heated. And just like every time I got a taste of her passion, I couldn’t control the urges to have her. What had I done by betraying my vow of celibacy? I was becoming a monster. If I wasn’t fucking her, I was thinking about it.
The door opened and Tessa’s broke away, pulling my hand as she led me down the hall. I planted my feet, tugging her into me. Before I could stop myself, I was shoving us both into the wall. My hands were on her ass and I had her straddling my hips.
Seeing her dressed like this for me. Tasting her and smelling her scent, I was swept away.
“Room,” she whispered against my lips. “I don’t want anyone to see us like this.”
Before she could finish, we were falling to the bed. I ground my hard cock into her, ripping into the lace covering her chest. The black material tore in my grasp and her breasts swayed at the force. A deep inhale left her as I messaged the flesh, pinching at her nipple.
“Do you see how much I want you? God, I can’t get enough.” I lowered and sucked the hard nub into my mouth as she removed her crown. Tessa held to it as she arched, moaning. My teeth grazed over her sensitive skin and I moved to her inner breast, letting my fang pierce the skin. The shot of venom had her screaming out and she let go of the crown and reached for me, rocking her hips.
“Aetas.” She moaned and my head shot up in shock. Tessa’s lashes fluttered and then her lips parted as she gasped.
“I’m sorry,” she rushed out. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
My heart exploded as confliction kept me frozen. She didn’t know it was me, but she wanted it to be. She wanted me? I thought she had been going to the temple because of her pull to Marko, but could she have really been mourning my loss? Everything she’d said pointed that way, but I hadn’t been able to make myself believe it was true.
I lifted, still not sure what to do. If I exposed myself, it could ruin everything. It wasn’t the time.
“Marko, please. Don’t be mad at me.”
Mad? I was dying to confess. To tear my clothes off and show her just how much her mistake had meant to me.
“We’re going to pretend that didn’t happen.�
�� I shrugged my jacket off, tearing into my shirt. I tried to pretend to be upset, but I wasn’t sure how well I was doing. When I lowered my weight back to her, Tessa stared up into my eyes. She was searching for something.
“Forgive me?”
I tapped into Marko’s blood, trying to feel what he would do if he were in my position. For the life of me, I couldn’t focus enough to know. My fingers buried into her hair and I tugged back, painfully. Tears rolled down the sides of her face and I dove for her neck. It was time to make her forget this. To have her focused on only one thing—what I could give her.
Chapter 24
Tessa
Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me.
The mantra stayed looping through my mind as I tried not to be sick. Even the poison in my veins couldn’t erase what I knew. This wasn’t my Marko. My Marko was trapped in Aetas’ memorial, looking close to death, himself. Jesus. Shit. Jesus. I was going to be sick.
“Too much,” I managed through convulsive swallowing.
Marko’s face rose, but I knew who was looking back at me. Aetas. How had I missed it? So many times he had tried this same thing, and I had always known it was him. I hadn’t this time. It had to be because he and Marko now shared the same blood.
“What?”
The top half of my body shot up and I flew out from under him as I ran to the restroom. Dark hair fell loose from the pins as I leaned over the toilet, heaving. I jumped as a hand settled on the middle of my back.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
The touch had me gagging again, but nothing was coming.
I took a deep breath, feeling the tears spill down my cheeks as I stood and walked over, clutching to the counter. Mascara was streaking down my face. I looked up meeting Aetas’ gaze through Marko’s eyes.
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