A Shade of Innocence (The Illuminati Book 1)

by Jane West

  “So the lilies and bones are make-believe too?”

  “Yes, it came from his heart. That's why it reeked. Sam's heart was foul. The Family had no founded evidence until recently, but we discovered that Sam is a serial rapist and a murderer.” Bane paused. “I'd suspected his criminal behavior for some time, and that's why I didn't want you around him.”

  I rose to my elbows. “With a father like Van Dunn, I understand why Sam was so damaged.”

  Bane's face tensed with sorrow. “Not everyone turns evil from a bad parent. Take you for example.”

  I laughed. “I'm not perfect. I lie sometimes.” I bit my bottom lip.

  “Yes, I am well aware, and let's not leave out that annoying, stubborn streak of yours.” He smiled.

  “Was it different for Sam?”

  “In Sam's case it was more nature than nurturing. His fey nature overrode his human side. He was void, no conscious. Fey are unpredictable, none are good.” Bane sighed, “Sam really couldn't help himself, though his death was righteous.” He looked away, breaking our eye contact. His jaw worked for a brief moment as he cut his eyes back to me. “I need to get you out of here.”

  “Okay.” I forced a faint smile. I could see that Bane wasn't happy about taking Sam's life. It weighed heavily on him. “Aidan, you did the right thing, taking Sam's life.”

  His jaw twitched. “Sometimes doing the right thing isn't the easiest.”

  “I know.” Quiet settled between us for a few seconds. “Which brings me to something that's been weighing heavily on my mind.”

  “Which is?” A glimmer deepened his blues.

  “Don't get mad.” I sighed. “I watched the secret meeting in the dungeon. I saw that blood beast step from the fire.” I caught his gaze and held it to mine. “I heard everything.”

  Bane's blues darkened, his face unreadable, “Go on.”

  I licked my lips. “If we infuse our powers together, your uncle's attempt on my life would be futile. You'd be appeasing the beast and the councilmen and we'd both be safe.”

  For a long minute, Bane stared at me blankly. I reckoned he was mulling the idea around in his head, and then he blurted it out. “Do you know what the spell entails?”

  I swallowed hard, fighting off my uneasiness. “Not entirely, but I do know it involves losing my virginity.” I shrugged, heat from my cheeks deepened.

  “That's only a mere part of it, Princess.” He searched into my eyes “If we do this spell, it will bind us together, forever. One cannot live without the other. No man or creature can separate us. Neither you nor I have the power to sever our ties.” He held his gaze to me. “Are you ready to take that plunge? There's no going back.”

  “Will it protect us, both?” My breath stalled.

  Bane hesitated as he studied my face. “Yes. However are you a willing participant?”

  “Are you,” I answered with a question. No argument, I wanted to be with Bane, I just wasn't sure he wanted the same with me. Then I thought of the other woman. “I mean, I know you have an interest in someone else. I saw you with her tonight. I don't expect you to hang around afterward.”

  “What are you talking about, Stevie?” His brows arched.

  “I saw you dancing with a pretty blonde. Well, actually, the girl was beautiful.”

  Bane threw his head back and burst into laughter.

  I sat there as steam rolled off my shoulders. I didn't see the humor.”

  “Silly, of course, I love her with all my heart!” His blues danced.

  A sudden stab to the heart hurt worse than anything Sam or the MIB had done to me. “Oh, I see,” I spoke, looking away.

  Bane took my chin into his fingers and forced me to look at him. “The blonde is my sister, Helen.” He smiled.

  My brows shot up. “She's your sister?”

  “Yes,” he stared into my eyes. “I'm with you. Only you.” His whisper was soft as silk.

  “Then I'm in if you are.” I bit my bottom lip as our gaze locked.

  He drew in a sharp breath, fingers raking his coal black curls. “We have to do it tonight at the stroke of midnight for the spell to work.” He grasped my shoulders, forcing me to look directly into his face. “We won't be using protection. It has to be completely uninhibited for the spell to work.”

  His blues were so piercing that my breath caught. This was one of the biggest decisions I'd ever make in my life. It was larger than life itself, and grander than Bane and I ever imagined. Even still, I wanted to do this for so many reasons. “I understand the consequences, and I don't care. I want to do this.” I held my gaze even to his.

  A faintly eager glint flashed in his eyes. “Okay, we have work to do so we need to go.”

  All at once, Bane cuffed hand over his mouth to stifle a grin. “Hmm, as much as I love the view, Princess, I think you might want to cover yourself.” He smiled down at me.

  My gaze rolled down the length of my body, and my cheeks flushed. “Oh, geez, I forgot.” I hid my eyes under my lashes.

  “I certainly didn't.” He flashed his sardonic smile.

  Without another word, very gentlemanly, he shrugged off his white shirt and draped it over my naked body. Gathering me into his arms, he lifted with me to his feet, and we faded into the bliss of another dimension.

  We twirled fiercely for only a minute, spinning and spinning, feeling sucked through a vacuum and coming to an abrupt halt. Our feet landed on solid ground, steadied inside an unfamiliar house.

  “Are you all right?” Bane held me on my feet, his face taunted with concern.

  I grasped my forehead. We'd stilled, but my head continued spinning. “How do you get use to that? It's like motion sickness on warp speed.”

  Laughter burst from Bane, a rich, smooth laugh that I loved hearing. “My love, I forget you are new to my world.” He bent his head to mine. “There's a shower in the back. Go clean up and I'll be right back with food.”

  “Wait! You're leaving me?” Fear needled my neck.

  “I have to get you something to eat.” Bane kissed my forehead.

  “Can't you conjure it up with Druid magick?” I felt a panic attack brewing.

  “What we ate and drank at the fireflies' nest wasn't real substance. That's why the alcohol didn't have an effect on you.” He kissed my left cheek. “You need actual food in your stomach. I wouldn't want you to go in shock.” He gathered me into his arms and hugged me tight against his bare chest. The feel against his shirtless chest and my bare breast sent a delightful wave down to my core.

  “Where are we?” I tilted my head back catching his gaze.

  “We are in a very special place, a place that only I know of. We are miles away from any creature, man or beast.” He smiled.

  I shook my head and smiled back. “Aidan Bane Du Pont, you are full of mystery.”

  “That I am.”

  “Hmm, while you're out, will you check on Ms. Noel and Jen? I won't relax until I know they're safe.”

  “Consider it done.” He smiled. “Now go get a shower,” he demanded as he playfully slapped my rump.

  Magick's in the Air

  Magick sizzled in the air.

  I stood in the mirror trying to brush out the tangles. After several futile attempts, I gave up and settled for tangled hair. There were more important things than my wild hair.

  A wave of apprehension swept through me. I knew that after tonight, Bane's life and mine would never be the same. So much was in the balance, our lives, our future. If Bane and I didn't follow through with the right timing and the right spell, we'd still be vulnerable to Van. Our lives were at stake.

  On the plus side, if we infused our powers together, Van couldn't touch us. That was the theory anyway. I knew it sounded farfetched, but how could I deny it as well? I didn't see any other way out. If I go through with this, Bane and I would be safe.

  Another big question, did I want to lose my virginity to this man? It was more than just losing my virtue. Chills covered my body. To be honest, setti
ng aside the peril we were facing, I'd still give myself to him. I loved Aidan. For the first time in my life, I was utterly in love. I sighed staring at myself in the mirror, draped in a towel.

  I needed to get my butt out there. I had no idea of the hour, and time was everything, literally. With three deep inhales for bravery, I stepped out into the main room, shivering.

  In the corner of the cottage, the fireplace caught my eye. I watched as the flames licked in and out through the wood, crackling. Then my eyes landed on the bed, white linen and the cover turned down. Oh, my! My breath caught.

  My eyes shifted to Bane and chills rushed over me. His body rippled with muscles. Not huge like a body builder, but like a baseball player's, lean and taut. My eyes slowly trailed down his abs, eyeing a thin line of hair that passed the band of his pants, spiking my curiosity.

  Unaware, I was startled by a throat clearing, “Pardon me.” He smiled. “Come eat,” he nodded to a tray on the bed. “Oh, your friends are well and safe in their homes.”

  I smiled back. “Thank you.” I turned toward the bed, eyeing the tray. Food was the last thing on my mind as my cheeks blazed.

  “Make sure you drink the wine. It's loaded with sugar and it will ease your nerves.” There was a hint behind his words as he tossed a towel over his shoulder, heading for the bathroom.

  “Okay.” I sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at the tray. The only thing that interested me was the dark liquid, eating didn't appeal to me. My stomach churned with uneasiness.

  I managed to down the full glass of wine but as for the food, I mostly pushed it around on my plate. I never cared for eggs.

  I glanced over by the fireplace and noticed on the floor a white circle against the dark wood. Inside the circle, a five-point star, also white. Two points erected at the top and one at the bottom. White candles burned at each point. I slid off the bed and padded over to investigate.

  “What the hell?” I walked around the perimeter of the circle, careful not to smear it.

  At that instant, I flinched. Bane had come up behind me and goosed me. I turned to face him as our eyes collided, a smile played upon my face as I drank in the delicious view.

  His compelling blue eyes, the firm contour of his lean muscles, and the confident set in his shoulders sent shivers to my core. Still wet from his shower, his disheveled black curls fell loosely over his face. I bit my lip as my eyes drifted south, spying beads of water sliding slowly over his well-defined abs, ending at the towel wrapped low at his waist. He looked like he'd been sunbathing for days, sun-kissed to a golden brown.

  Bane cleared his throat, jarring my ogling. My defiant gaze snapped back to his face. There were touches of humor encircling his mouth and spreading to his blues.

  With cheeks set ablaze, I broke the uncomfortable quiet. “Where do you want me?” Oh, geez! That did not come out the way I meant. I hid my gaze under my lashes, cheeks burning shamefully.

  “You may enter through the opening in the pentagram, but you have to leave your towel here.” his brow arched.

  “Huh, right now, in front of you?” Nervously, I swallowed.

  Humor toyed with his expression. “Princess, it's not like I haven't seen you naked.” His eyes swept over me as he drew back with a lopsided grin.

  “Okay,” I exhaled. This was one time I wished for the dark. “Hmm, can you turn around, please?” I rolled my eyes as I clung to the towel, my security blanket.

  Bane smiled, his blues bouncing with amusement. Not uttering a word, he turned his back to me. Though he didn't make a peep, his shoulders shook. I knew he was laughing.

  Whatever, dude!

  With reluctance, I dropped the towel, gathering my arms tightly to my chest. I didn't know why my bareness bothered me now when only minutes ago I was completely full Monty. Good grief! I was about to hand over my virginity, and all I could think about was if he thought I was fat. This was not how I'd imagined my first time. “Okay, all naked.” I held my arms tight across my breast.

  Bane slowly turned to face me and my eyes locked with his as he dropped his white towel too.

  I reckoned, he was trying to make me feel more at ease, but standing close to him, completely exposed, made me even edgier.

  “Shall we enter,” he asked as he extended his hand to the opening.

  “I guess.” At this point, my heart was hammering so loud, I couldn't hear myself think.

  I followed his lead and passed through the opening to the inside of the star. Bane entered after me, closing the opening with a short piece of white chalk. I focused on the fireplace as I listened to the chalk scraped across the wooden floor.

  I waited, standing in the center for further instructions.

  After Bane had finished closing the circle, he turned to me. I tried not to let my eyes wander south, but they had a mind of their own. He was stunning, standing there in the candle light before me. Every line of his hard body sent waves of ecstasy to a place deep within me. Not having a lot of comparisons, I reckoned I wouldn't have any complaints, judging by the size of his erection. Obviously, he was ready for me, and the thought made me tremble. “Hmm, where do you want me,” I asked again and my voice quivered.

  Bane's brows drew together. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  I nodded, “Just nervous!” I forced a smile.

  He stepped up to me, his warm breath caressing my cheeks. A vaguely sensuous light passed between us. “We can take it slow,” he whispered, “We have time.” His finger tenderly traced the line of my cheekbone. Silence lingered as his gaze was as soft as his caress. I tried to harness the dizzyingly current racing through me. “You're so beautiful.” His velvet voice was low and purposely seductive.

  “Thank you,” I said stiffly.

  Still holding my arms tight against my breast, Bane gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Let me see you.” A faintly eager look flashed in his eyes.

  I nodded, unable to speak or peel my eyes from his. As soon as his reaching fingers touched the warmth of my hands, I felt safe.

  “Ah,” he murmured, “Much better.” His blues brightened with pleasure. I stood there frozen with a mixture of unchartered feelings swirling in my head. I held my breath in silence as he slowly and seductively slid his gaze over my body with approval. When his blues returned to my face, my cheeks were burning. “You're breathtaking, Love.”

  It was easy to get lost in those pools of blues. I tilted my chin unknowingly, lips parted, and before I realized it, Bane had claimed my lips, crushing me to him. Oh, geez! His tongue sent shivers of desire charging through me. One hand slid down my stomach to the swells of my hips. His touch was light and painfully teasing.

  I pulled away, feeling a wave of apprehension. “Uh, are we going to do this on the floor?” It suddenly dawned on me the bareness of the floor, no pillow, no blanket, just the bare, hard floor.

  “Yes, the spell is very specific.” Bane's eyes smothered me with tenderness.

  I couldn't possibly understand the full meaning of this act. I hardly knew anything about my inheritance. I only knew what I was told, a lab experience with angel DNA.

  One thing I knew was that I wanted to be with Bane as long as he'd have me. Nothing else mattered.

  “Hmm, do we need to get in position?” I shrugged.

  “Yes, it's getting close.” Bane touched his forehead to mine, his hands resting on my hips. “Princess, are you sure this is what you want?”

  I nodded, reassuring him that I did.

  “All right, then,” he sighed, “Let's take our places.” He stepped up to the one point of the star. “Here,” he drew my hand. “Lie here, arms straight out, even with the side points of the star. Your legs will be spread out even with the two points at the end.”

  I gawked at him in disbelief, “Really?” This was nothing like I'd envisioned.

  “Baby, no one but me will see you. Besides, how else will I enter you?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It just seems to be more for s
how than…—” I covered my breast with one arm and the other spot with my hand. “I'll do it.”

  Just as he asked, I laid down on my back flat against the cool floor in the position he instructed. I shut my eyes tight and spread my legs wide apart.

  Bane joined me as he sat with his legs tucked under him, weight placed on his heels and knees at the crest of my core.

  My eyes flew opened as I caught a flicker of silver and instantly gasped. “What are you doing with a knife?”

  “We have to bind our blood. I slice my palm and then you slice yours. Then we grasp each other's hand together, binding our blood as one.” Bane paused, his face pinched, “That's when I enter you. It's going to hurt, but the pain will only last for a second.”

  A tingling bristled against my neck, “How much pain?”

  Bane's face twisted, “Because it's quick and harsh, it will hurt.” He gave pause. “I'm not going to soften the works of the spell. You need to understand the full ramification of what we are doing.” His explanation though with good intent didn't help with my anxiety.

  “How many virgins have you taken?”

  “Not as many as you think.” The corner of his mouth tipped upward suggesting a smile.

  My heart sunk, thinking about what the uncertain future held for us. “So what are we?”

  “What do you mean?” He gave me a sideways glance, brows knitted.

  “I mean… where will we go from here, from this night?”

  “Oh, our future. We get married and live in bliss.”

  The shock of his announcement hit me full force. My mouth hung open like I'd been catching flies.

  Bane smiled like a cat that had eaten the Carney. Apparently, he was taking pleasure in my reaction. Suddenly, the humor dropped from his face. It was time. “Let's proceed.”

  All of a sudden, my breath stalled.

  Bane opened his right palm, and with no hesitation, he grasped the hilt of the blade and sliced a cut in his palm. Cupping his bleeding palm, he gave the knife to me.

  I followed Bane's lead by running the sharp blade across my right palm. My hands trembled so much it was hard to steady the knife. Somehow, I managed as I flashed Bane a weak smile.