“Hildy… there you are, sweet girl. We’ve missed you; you should now. I see you’ve developed some more skills since we last spoke. Good for you. I came to find you and bring you back to your family, where you belong. You don’t have to try to figure out how to live out here amongst the world on your own any longer. I’ve made it where you’ll have everything you need, be waited on hand and foot and have not a care in the world. Come down from there, and we’ll get you back safe and sound.”
Hildy said nothing, cocking her head to the side as if investigating the strange, utter foolishness coming out of Mr. Scott’s mouth. Quinn marveled at how graceful Hildy was, holding the perfect suspension as her wings glided through the air at a controlled speed. Hildy had skill!
The woman looked like an exotic black angel of the night. Then she did a slow vertical descent, never breaking line of sight with Mr. Scott as she held her head to the side. The effect was impressive, intimidating and cool as hell. Quinn would give it to her, Hildy had some major skills. But, she was a trained assassin, Siren and now mate of a Dragon. This was like seeing a female superhero up close and in real life. Hildy’s new position was within striking distance of both, Mr. Scott and the tall woman.
Clever, Hildy, clever.
Ajax’s voice filled the air behind them, as Hildy came to hover a few feet off the ground. “Julia, let Wren go. We can talk about this. Wren’s done nothing to warrant being caught up in the middle of any issues you have with me.”
The tall woman hollered over her shoulder to Ajax, “Yes, we can work this out. Do you have the money and the Dragon’s Eye? Give us that, and we’ll call it even.”
“The hell we will!” the young woman said.
“Julia now isn’t the time for your irrational visions for what you want to happen. Look at him. He’s mated to the Siren and taken with her. He’d never be truly yours… not even by force.” The tall woman looked over at the younger one throwing imaginary daggers at Hildy. “Daughter listen to me. There will be others to come along. You’re young yet. I know you think he’s the only one, but you’re wrong. There will be plenty of other suitors more worthy than this pitiful Dragonling to mate with. Let’s get the money and go.”
“Shut up and stay out of this, Oriana. I’ve had it with you shitting on my plans. I want to talk with Jax. I know that if we talk, he’ll understand. Isn’t that right, Jax?” Julia said, directing her attention over to where he stood.
For a split second, Quinn felt bad for the girl. Unlike when she was cussing her mother like a pirate, Julia’s voice held so much hope when she spoke to Ajax. She was still immature in the ways of love and yet so powerful and forceful with what she wanted.
“Yes, we can talk, but that’s all. Julia, I told you before, I’m not interested in having a relationship with you. You’re barely what, sixteen, seventeen at the most? I’m not attracted to girls and have my woman right over there,” he said, motioning to Hildy. Listen to your mother. She speaks the truth. You’ll find a guy who is well-suited for you. That guy isn’t me. I’m already committed to my mate, Hildy.”
“First, that bitch, Oriana, is my foster mother—you should have remembered that. But, I guess it slipped your mind when you had me sent away to that tired excuse for teen prison.”
“I didn’t send you away. It was your actions and what you did to those girls that got you sent to that facility. It’s a hospital and not a jail. Don’t dramatize what happened more than necessary. It was already a traumatic event in and of itself. Julia, listen to me. You need help. You need to learn how to live socially. Life isn’t about power and ruling over others.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ll be eighteen this year. If you mate with me, I can expose you to so much power and hidden knowledge that we could rule galaxies.” She looked at Hildy, who had finally landed and was standing a few feet to the side of Ajax, “What can you offer him besides being a one-trick wonder, crow?”
“Julia, if you’re trying to persuade me to consider anything you say, you’ll show some respect for my mate. She’s done nothing to you—yet. Your behavior is way out of line.”
Ignoring what he said, Julia continued, “Boohoo. Ajax, you’re a stupid fuck for wanting to be with that black bird bitch over me. I guess intelligence can’t always be assumed to be on board, now can it?” She looked at Wren who’d grown still in her grasp. Julia ran her eyes up and down Wren as if sizing her up as she would an object. “All I know is that if you insist on choosing her over me, I’ll make both your lives miserable starting with your weak friends.”
Julia pushed Wren toward Ajax releasing a demented cackle that would rival the best horror movie. Mr. Scott yelped and rushed to get out of the way as a look of fear engraved itself on his features when he looked at Wren.
Oriana saw Wren’s face at the same time and screamed. “Julia, you’ve gone off the deep end. What have you done to her? Fix it. You can’t continue to hurt humans like this. Their authorities will get involved. Fix her now!”
Julia didn’t waste a second on Oriana as she continued to stare at Ajax. She dared him to stop her from doing more to everyone around them.
Quinn raced toward Wren. When she embraced her, Wren collapsed to the ground trembling. Quinn followed her down, determined to get her out of here. Sitting on the ground and cradling Wren, Quinn got an overwhelming scent of something acrid, like a sickness. Pulling back from Wren, Quinn screamed. Wren’s face was streaked with blood coming from her eyes, nose, mouth and ears.
33
Quinn…
“Oh my God! What did you do to her, Julia?” Quinn asked. “She’s hurt and bleeding, but I can’t tell from where.”
Hildy rushed in to pick Wren up. “We have to get her back now. This is magically induced. No hospital can help her.”
“Your fake mate is almost correct, Ajax. Wren is dying, but the only person who can help her is you.”
That look that Ajax had in his eyes when he’d come back to the Lair earlier was back with a huge helping of rage.
“Julia, don’t play around with me or Wren’s life. I’m not agreeing to your demands. How could you want to be with a man who clearly doesn’t want you? It’s sad really.”
“No, it’s not. I don’t want you either. I need something that only you can give me.” The mischief of a secret plan danced in the girl’s eyes.
Julia might be young, but she was a brilliant evil spawn. She was way smarter than these other fools had given her credit for being. Quinn saw the strategist uncloak before her. This was a skill Quinn had honed for years in business having to out maneuver men and larger firms to get the best paying clients. Yes, on this one count game recognized game.
Everything within Quinn wanted to say something to Ajax about not making any deals with her. Julia stood resolute, as if she’d won the battle and was bout to stick her flag in the ground for victory. Yes, she hadn’t dropped the last bomb yet. This was about to get especially interesting and not in a good way.
Quinn heard her friend’s whimpers of pain die down as Hildy whispered into her ear, lulling her into some place of enchanted peace.
All eyes were on Ajax now, but it was Hildy who spoke up. “Ajax, accept her offer. Wren will die if you don’t. I can’t do much but help with the pain. I think she may have internal bleeding.”
“Bravo, the bird bitch is correct. Polly want a cracker?” Julia asked Hildy, deadpan and trite. The little witch continued to look at Ajax, ignoring all the activity going on around them. She spoke up to be heard over the hustle and bustle around Wren. “Lastly, if you don’t rethink your answer, you won’t be able to find the location of Oriana’s latest batch of sweet little teens, ready to enter the sex trade. At last count, she’d managed to get a crop of over twenty all between thirteen and seventeen. How the pervs like them—nice, young and tender.”
Ajax’s eyes grew wide at her last words. “Julia, don’t lie about something like that.”
“Why would I lie? Oriana has been the
real power behind the sex trade in this town—hell in the Southeast for too many years to count! She would have sold me too a long time ago if she hadn’t realized what I was when she did. That’s the only reason she kept me around.”
“Shut up Julia.” Oriana said. “Ajax, you can’t believe anything she says. Don’t you see how delusional she is? You’re right. She needs to go back to that facility. I should have sent her back when she showed back up at my doorstep.”
“Trying to bargain with the weak-assed Dragonling, as you like to call him, Oriana? I see more clearly,” Julia said, rounding on her foster mother. “Not only are you a greedy, lying elf-leprechaun whore, you’re a two-faced sellout as well. Your only redeemable quality is that you’re consistent with it, showing your true nature all the time. I knew you’d try to switch sides at the slightest shift in the winds of power, so I have a little something of yours.”
Julia took a necklace out of her back pocket and swung it from side to side before Oriana.
“What are you doing with my rose gold antique necklace? I told you never to touch it again,” Oriana almost roared, she was so agitated.
“You see, I knew this necklace held a lot of emotional power over you. I also remember how you spanked me when I put it on as a little girl. You see this here?” Julia asked, holding the beautiful piece up to glint off the large halogen lights of the parking deck. “It’s where a few of your hairs have been caught by the clasp of the necklace over the years.”
“Get to the point Julia, we need to get the money and go. You’ve already killed their friend. I don’t want to be anywhere near here when the cops come and investigate. Enough with your ego show. We need to wrap this up. That kid, Ajax, ain’t worth it.”
“And that’s why you’re next, Oriana. I told you I have plans for him. I couldn’t care less if he continues to see the bitch bird. I need a formal mating before he comes into his full Dragon. You know, for you to be so old, you’re one short-sighted stupid bitch.” Julia thrust the necklace up again. “With one simple incantation thought from me, you could join Wren. With this necklace, I control your ass. Now march, bitch. Get the money—my money—and go sit in the car. I’ll be along with Ajax shortly.”
A gush of air was the only indication of Ajax’s plan. He ran at inhuman speed, closing the tens of feet between him and Julia. Reaching her, before she could refocus on him, Ajax tackled the little girl-woman to the ground and rooted around her body.
Hildy screamed after him, “What are you doing? Be careful Ajax.”
He said nothing, easily overpowering Julia. He forced her hands over her head and said, “Give it to me.”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, having the nerve to coo at him. “Ooh, your touch burns like the fire we’ll have when we mate.”
“See, you can’t even endure my touch. How could we ever be mated, Julia? Think about that and while you’re realizing how wrong you are about us, give me the talisman you used for Wren. But if you insist, give it to me and I’ll consider your offer. As long as Hildy, Wren and Quinn are safe and you don’t require that I—you know—have to sleep with you. I’ll consider your offer.”
“No deal. That’s the whole point. You’d have to sleep with me in full consummation for me to become your mate. And to answer your question, I didn’t use a talisman on Wren. She’s so psychically open, anyone with half a gift at casting spells could cast a strong spell on her. If I had liked her and wanted to keep her alive, I would have told her that being a Seer could be very dangerous without protections. It’s a shame really. She had a powerful gift, one to be envied. Wren was able to see through my wards to discern who I was. It was impressive. Yes, I could have possibly been friends with her, if she wasn’t such a damn goodie two-shoes. How old is she anyway? Never mind, she’s too old to still be a virgin. And now she dies.”
“Wait, she’s a virgin?” Oriana asked, interrupting the tense negotiations between these two.
“Save it. You can’t have her to put on the flesh market. That ship has sailed. You’ll have to find a new hideous business to run.” Not bothering to look over at the woman who looked more and more like a bottom feeder of humanity, Julia said, “Don’t interrupt me again!”
Ajax seized the brief opening to jump back in. “Julia, stop this madness. Wren doesn’t have to die. I’ll agree. You win. I’ll accept your demands, allow me to get Hildy, Wren and Quinn back to the Lair.”
“Fine. As your rightful mate, I’ll come with you to the Lair—as soon as you release me, that is.”
Quinn took this in, pushing down the bile that rose in the back of her throat. If she felt this way, how would Hildy be feeling? She stole a quick glance over to Hildy to see her calm and taking in the exchange like it was a normal conversation.
“I thought you’d like my touch, as my mate that is,” Ajax said. He yanked her hands down to her sides, separating and keeping them at a good distance from her body. “Hildy?” he yelled back at his true mate as Julia tried to squirm out of his grasp.
Hildy gave Quinn a quick look and said, “I release you from the next words of power I speak. You are innocent and have no debt of justice to pay.” Quinn nodded, dumbstruck about what she was talking about. “Come here and hold onto Wren. I’ve got a bit more work to do.”
Quinn did as she asked, watching in suspense as Hildy rose and walked over to Ajax, as he continued to straddle the now thrashing and kicking Julia. Quinn’s mouth fell open again as Hildy’s wings grew larger and her features softened to exquisite beauty. Kneeling to face her mate, Hildy touched his skin, running a long talon along his jawline.
Quinn could not only see the sexual fire but feel it from where she sat as the air around them teamed with unbridled love and passion. Julia looked up at how they touched and for the first time, Quinn saw real fear in the girl’s eyes. Hildy leaned in, kissed Ajax and Julia stopped struggling, in awe of the spectacle of true love so close to her.
When they separated, both said in unison, “I love you,” as they continued to look into each other’s eyes.
Julia screamed, “No! Stop, it hurts, stop—let go of me.”
Hildy and Ajax moved as one unit and looked down at the young woman. Hildy placed her hands on Julia close enough to touch Ajax’s. Julia froze, bright blue eyes flashing with fear.
“Failure to repent and renounced the ways of malice will make a quick path to your demise and complete destruction. Lest you turn from your wicked ways, every judgment you have carried out unjustly comes back to you. Every trespass, hateful action, spiteful turn, evil retaliation and other transgression you refuse to repent and undo returns to you now. Where hateful spells prevail, love erases its stain from your victims.” Hildy paused and looked over to Wren, expectation heavy in her glance. Wren remained still and unchanged, in a deep Hildy-induced sleep. Acknowledging this, Hildy returned to her Siren’s call over Julia. “Your path will only prosper as you begin to sow love and light. For every act of pain in any form you knowingly execute, you will receive full return. May goodness, acceptance of love and the blessing of the capacity to be at peace within flood your soul. Be at peace young one and turn your gift into the gift it was meant to be.”
Hildy looked back up into Ajax’s eyes. As if they’d come to some mutual understanding, both rose. Ajax lifted Julia up with him. The discomfort of his prolong touch etched in the redness of her skin. He released her and waited.
Julia looked at them and then over to Wren. Her voice was barely audible as she said, “I’m sorry.”
Wren gasped for air with such force her chest came up off the ground. When she started to cough, Hildy made a move to rush back over to her.
Quinn tried to warn her in time, but Oriana jumped onto Hildy screaming, “You broke her. All these years of training and preparing her, for what? You broke her and now I’ll become poor without her gift. You had no right!”
The flash of metal was too fast for Quinn to say anything. Oriana pulled out a smal
l dagger from her bosom. She brought it up to strike. Fast as lightning, Hildy grabbed her hand with the blade in it as Ajax made it to them.
“Stay out of this Ajax, my battle, my win,” Hildy warned.
Ajax stepped back, hands up as if in surrender.
“You won’t win against me. Julia’s gift is the last thing you’ll take from me. I’m descended from the royal lines of both elves and leprechauns and you’re a dirty little Siren. You dupe people with your words. You’re a hypocrite. Think you’re so high and mighty. You do worse than Julia ever would have, assassin. I don’t care if I die, I won’t leave this deck without a fight,” Oriana took another knife she’d been hiding in her waist and slashed the outside of Hildy’s upper arm.
Hildy yelped in pain but gave Ajax a warning look as he advanced.
“Oriana, this is your last grace from me tonight. Back down and live.”
“Never!” Oriana attempted to slash Hildy with both knives as Hildy held her hands as far away from them as possible.
Wren felt weak and tiny in Quinn’s lap. Trying to keep her friend with her, Quinn tried to make light of the situation. “Wren, we at a knife fight with no knives.” Her laughter was forced, but it seemed to help.
Wren’s voice was tiny and soft, as she said, “Says you. Check my purse.”
Quinn laughed, rocking her friend, praying and rooting for Hildy to put that stuck up bitch, Oriana down.
Then as smooth as a well executed wrestling move, Hildy put the woman into a submission joint lock. Quinn winced when Hildy extended Oriana’s hands at a precarious angle.
“Tap out or say you’ll stand down and I’ll let you go,” Hildy said through clenched teeth. “Don’t push me. It’s been a long night and I’m starting to get pissed. Give it up, Oriana.”
Lucien: Dragofin Mated: Book 2 (Dragonfin Clan Mated) Page 27
