by J. Kearston
It’s just as absolutely ridiculous as the woman wearing it.
“Is that a sea monster?”
She gasps in shock. “It’s chibi Cthulhu, you monster. Were you raised in a barn?”
The background is solid black with a little green Cthulhu on her stomach and tentacles wrapping all over the swimsuit.
“Tentacle porn. It looks like you’re advocating tentacle porn here.”
We start walking through the halls towards the pool. The place isn’t strict by any means and doesn’t have restricted hours of use since there’s never a lifeguard on duty anyway. It’s part of the paperwork when signing for a room, that you can’t sue them if you drown. Like you aren’t already dead and it’s a moot point, but whatever.
“Of course I am,” she agrees without missing a beat. “Don’t knock it ‘till you try it. It’s a pretty good motto to live by, Atlas, you should give it a whirl. You might not think you’re into something until giving it a go and even if you aren’t, someone else might be and that’s okay.”
Dorian walks backwards so he can be involved in the conversation. “Woah, woah, woah. Until you try it? Do you have secret monster boyfriends you’re stepping out on us with, beautiful?” he teases.
Cambria grins and shrugs. “The heart wants what the heart wants. Who am I to resist the little suckers? I am but a humble fae, innocent to the nefarious schemes of men and monsters.”
Lucien actually snorts. In public. I’m not the only one stunned, the three of us stopping in our tracks to stare at the back of the man in question like he was replaced with a pod person. He looks over his shoulder and rolls his eyes before continuing on and opening the glass door to the pool.
“I’m not crazy, right? That just happened?” I whisper before we open the door to follow him in.
Dorian is full on grinning. “Better pretend it didn’t if you ever hope to hear it again. Damn, Cambria, you’re a dirty little miracle worker.”
She preens under his attention, opening the door with a flourish. “I shall promptly add it to my resume along with my many other useless titles.”
Scooping her up, I throw her over my shoulder as she yelps. “It’s no waterfall, but this will do.” I toss her in first then jump in after.
She emerges sputtering and laughing before flipping me off. Dorian follows our lead and after a brief pause, Luce climbs in as well. We spend hours just horsing around and having a good time, the place to ourselves in the middle of the night.
I think it’s the most free any of us have been, even Lucien joining in. The walls are solid, the only way to see in or out of the room being the glass door to the hall. It’d be obvious enough to see if anyone was spying, so we’re able to breathe easier than we could out on the crowded streets.
“I don’t want to go back tomorrow,” Cambria sighs, leaning back into Lucien’s arms.
“Maybe if we find new ways for you to suck the adoration out of people over here, we can find a way to extend your three day limit. Honestly, you look like you’re holding up pretty well for it being your normal last day.”
Cambria purses her lips as she thinks about it. “You know, you might be onto something. I don’t feel nearly as run down as I usually do.”
Lucien’s eyes light up at the prospect and I imagine he won’t be getting any sleep tonight. It’s our first real break since any of this started, something we can explore to start removing her from her toxic life. If we can find a way to permanently remove her need to return there, we can just keep her safe over here with us.
He shares a look with Dorian and I know I’m right, the two of them seemingly able to read each other’s minds after so many years together. It should make me feel like the odd man out, but it doesn’t. I’m just happy that Lucien killed my pitiful excuse of a father and saved me from that life. If there’s anyone that can figure out a way to save Cambria from hers, it’d be him. I’m just happy to be free, to be a part of things, and I want that for Cambria too.
Dorian climbs out first, toweling off his face and passing one to Cambria as she follows suit. “Still, you should probably get some sleep. No point in pushing things until we’re sure.”
We head upstairs to our room, Cambria climbing into the king sized bed first after shedding her wet clothes and me right behind. Luce and Dorian make up some pitiful excuse like I figured they would, but that just means I get to sleep and not end up with a knee in my back.
Sleeping in puppy piles may sound good on paper, but in actuality, it’s a lot of limbs jabbing every which way as people roll over in their sleep. It’s why when we stay here we have our own rooms, though Cambria usually ends up climbing in with one of us. Our house fae side is smaller, but they make beds bigger to accommodate the lifestyle, so at least that’s one point in their favor.
“Hey, Atlas?” Cambria mumbles, already half asleep.
I stroke a hand over her hair, loving the feel of her lying on my chest despite how much room we have. “Yeah?”
“Thanks. You know, for being you, too. You guys talk about me a lot, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you.” She yawns.
“And who am I, little fae?” I run my hands over the top of her head, her hair still slightly damp.
She nuzzles into my chest, mumbling. “Mine.”
Chapter 21
Cambria
“Oh my goodness, it’s a work of art,” I praise Lucien, looking up at him in admiration.
“I had a feeling you’d enjoy it,” he rumbles.
He’s seated behind his desk in his study and I promptly climb onto his lap, looking at the folder with a wide grin. “You were right, I love you for this.”
He’s quiet, merely humming his approval and wrapping an arm around my waist, his thumb brushing across the skin beneath the hem of my shirt. Well, it’s Atlas’, but I figure he should learn to share better and absconded with it.
I clear my throat and read one of the forged reports. “Dierdre Alexis Davis, age twenty, is hereby enrolled in the witness protection program. After witnessing her parents’ brutal murder at the accused hands of members of the Ivanov crime syndicate, she will receive a new identity and protection until enough evidence can be gathered to present a case against the Ivanov family. Henceforth, she shall assume the identity of Cambria Alina Lark, aged twenty-three.”
Lucien reaches around me to grab a request submitted from a police officer. “Under the recommendation of Detective Harper, Dierdre Davis, henceforth known as Cambria Lark, will be placed into the custody of Lucien Avrell. In the absence of an officer’s presence, Lucien Avrell, Dorian Grey, and Atlas Donovan will be responsible for her protection until law enforcement can arrive,” he reads.
“It’s beautifully dramatic and a perfect explanation,” I praise. “If it ever came under scrutiny as to why I was kissing you in public, you could spin it as preserving my cover. Just say you thought you saw an Ivanov, had to act quickly, and no one will look deeper.”
He grins and damn, I’ve loved how much easier the smiles have come to him at home. It’s still rare when we’re out and about, but here? He can be himself and I’m grateful to be given the chance to witness it.
Rubbing against him like a needy kitten, I revel in all of the hard planes of his body as I get more comfortable. Or at least, that’s my lie and I’m sticking to it. By the boner pressing into my ass right now, I doubt Lucien would be so rude as to call me out on it. He’s a gentleman, like that.
“I didn’t think it would make you that happy to hear your parents were brutally murdered by the Russian mob,” he teases.
Okay, so he is that bold, but whatever. I can overlook his flaws if he’ll overlook mine.
“Of course it does, who are you kidding? You come here with reports of manipulating the police into giving me a new identity and expect me not to get horny? It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
Pulling my fake ID from the pile, I stroke it reverently. We don’t have any need for things like this back home, and a silly
part makes me feel like it’s the first step in solidifying that I’m where I truly belong.
I wonder briefly where he got the picture of me for it, but all that disappears when I see what he guessed my weight as. It’s listed as twenty pounds less than what I really weigh.
Swoon.
He chuckles warmly. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”
I swear, since the officer dropped this off at the house for him, he’s been foaming at the mouth waiting for Victor to do something so he can slap it in his face, publicly shaming him. Maybe that tent in his pants isn’t from my squirming after all, and is actually from the thought of beating his nemesis at his own game.
Not that I’d blame him. It gives me a lady boner too.
***
A week. A solid week and nothing. Lucien is practically pouting, he’s so disappointed. We’re walking down the street, dodging yet another fae that’s roaming around the city.
I should expect it with the proximity to the fairy ring, and it might just be my imagination, but I feel like I’m running into more than usual. Even weirder, when we have crossed paths, they ignore me. No sneering, no insults. They just walk right on by as if they never saw me in the first place.
That actually scares me more than anything. I’m used to the cruelty, but I’m not used to being invisible. Without having any attention thrown my way, even if it’s negative, I could literally starve to death if I can’t siphon enough from the guys. I have a sinking feeling that something else is going on, something that’s going to end up being ten times worse than anything I’ve faced yet, but I don’t know how to prepare for it.
So mentally, I’m a wreck. I’ve been distracting myself with Atlas, Dorian, and Lucien, but apparently dicks will only take you so far in life.
I know, I was shocked too.
“Maybe you developed cloaking abilities,” Dorian offers, trying to ease my mind. “That’d be pretty badass. Imagine all of the things you could steal if you found a way to turn invisible.”
Lucien scolds Dorian, slipping a bit back into the man I first met while his nerves are running high. “Don’t encourage her. She doesn’t need to steal things to get our attention.”
We’re passing a storefront just as the news switches stories and I back pedal, the three of them continuing on sniping at each other for a little longer before realizing that I’m not with them anymore.
Atlas’ hand falls on my shoulder, his concern bleeding through his touch, but I just point to the television, smiling. “Look, it’s Luce’s birthday.”
“What are you talking about?” he asks before cutting himself off.
Unlike me, who’s getting a huge kick out of it, the three of them have tense jaws and eyes promising murder. Victor finally made his move, and he went all out. There’s a bold headline captioning the bottom of the screen accusing Lucien of abusing his position of power to coerce me into being a trophy wife slash brainwash me into being a sex doll for him and his friends.
It doesn’t bother me because not only do I know it’s not true, but I look fantastic in the pictures trying to damn Lucien; especially in the clip of the sex tape of Dorian and me.
I’m no lawyer, but I would bet my left tit that that would be Lucien’s calling him right now, salivating at how easy Victor made it to go after him for multiple charges. Lucien’s voice is clipped as he answers, leaving Atlas, Dorian, and I to watch the rest of the news story.
There are photos of me kissing Atlas and a close up of Lucien’s hand on my lower back. That one has a red arrow to show just how little space separates his fingers from the top of my ass like something out of a cheap gossip column that has my eyes rolling.
I turn to Dorian first. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have made that video, but at least he made it really obvious he hacked into our personal files at home. Luce will probably get half a million in damages for both of us on that clip alone,” I offer to try and remove some of the hardness from his eyes.
“Don’t be sorry, you didn’t do anything wrong, beautiful. And you look amazing in it, so I’ll probably get high fived on the street,” he jokes easily and I lean into his side, soaking up the compliments and the energy it offers me. “I just worry if he was able to hack into our network that easily what else he could have his hands on. Lucien has many dealings, and I’d hate for him to get hurt in this vendetta. I also wonder how he got it.”
Atlas growls his agreement. “If he had someone hack remotely or if he broke into our fucking house somehow and we missed it. If so, who knows if he planted hidden cameras or bugs? What if he heard us talking about the fae?”
I blanch, but speak with conviction. “If he did, we’re going to have to kill him.”
***
“Does it feel as good as you thought it would?”
Lucien’s eyes are hard as we watch Victor make the walk of shame out of his building in handcuffs, thrown in the back of a police car with murder in his eyes, but a smirk plastered on his face.
“No. He got his hands on something, I know it. He wouldn’t be sitting there grinning like that unless he has an ace up his sleeve,” he replies, voice hard with determination. “I have people coming to the house this afternoon to do a full sweep and hopefully then we’ll know more about what we’re looking at.”
We drive over to his office, Belinda apologizing to Lucien profusely for her assumptions and he waves her off, the two of us heading to his office. Atlas is helping Dorian make repairs, but Lucien insisted I stick close to his side today. He’s been on edge since this happened, more so than usual.
“I feel bad leaving Atlas and Dorian doing the heavy lifting while I just lounge around your office watching you work.”
His eyes soften as he looks up from his computer. “You’ve been working so hard I barely get any time with you lately. Maybe I was getting jealous.”
I waggle my eyebrows at him. “That mean you’re going to remove the sex ban, oh chastity master?”
Since the news report came out, Lucien went on a rampage. We are staying in a hotel for now, and though it’s only been a day, it feels like a week already. As soon as someone says you can’t do something, that’s all you can fucking think about.
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Not until we know where’s safe and where isn’t. I don’t want that sick bastard seeing you naked.”
“What if we stay fully dressed and you just push my panties aside? My skirt will cover anything. Seriously, you have a perfectly good desk going to waste right here,” I gesture emphatically and he growls.
“It’s been a day, I’m sure you can live. I’ve held out for years before you came along. Trust me, dying from blue balls is not a thing.” He speaks with conviction, not even cracking a smile.
“No wonder you’re so high strung,” I mutter under my breath, but he obviously hears me.
“Anyway,” he draws out, effectively changing the conversation. “I pulled all of our files off of the computers at home and switched them to a flash drive locked in the safe.”
“We have a safe?” I’m lounging in my chair, legs thrown over the arm, but Luce doesn’t even bat an eye.
“Of course,” he replies easily enough. “But I’m treating this office the same way I am home for now, so no point asking me where it’s at or what’s in it.”
Well if that doesn’t just make my little fae heart light up with curiosity and excitement. It’s like Christmas- murder mystery edition.
“That, and you still have your petty theft problem. I’m not an idiot,” he finishes and I sulk, much to his amusement.
We carry on most of the day with me reading or playing on my phone while Lucien works. As the hours drag by at a snail’s pace, I’m about ready to bang my head against the wall.
“Can I at least go help Belinda with some of the front desk work? I’m so bored I could scream. A bored f-“ I reword at his pointed look, “ffffemale employee is bound to get into trouble. It’s in our genetics.”
Lucien rubs his templ
e. “It would be best if you weren’t subjected to the interrogation she would no doubt give you about the whole ordeal. How about I print off a few reports and you can assist me in searching for discrepancies?” I suppress my groan, because that doesn’t sound any better. Worse actually, but I take him up on it since it’s better than nothing.
As he’s printing way more papers than I anticipated and I start mentally preparing excuses, I finally ask, “What is it you actually do?”
He gives me an incredulous look. “You worked here for how many days now at the front desk? How do you not know?”
I shrug. “That was mostly scheduling appointments and referencing people’s calendars. I didn’t actually answer the phone or talk to anyone besides Belinda. I just cross matched available time slots and plugged people into them or color coded things without rhyme or reason.”
He passes me a short novel’s worth of documents and sits back on his side of the desk. “Putting it simply, it’s an investment firm. We handle large companies as well as individual investment portfolios, but we have our hands in a little bit of everything; banking, tax preparation, insurance. It also means I have plenty of people that owe me favors in just about every industry due to some dealing or another with their company.”
“Wow, that sounds,” I try to find a suitable word, but finally settle on the truth. “Really boring, but also incredibly impressive.”
The corner of his mouth twitches behind his computer and my heart lurches. “A fair assessment.”
Before I dive into the paperwork that makes me consider gouging out my eyes with a rusty spoon, I ask one last question. Whether it’s because I’m honestly curious or just procrastinating, we may never know.
“So what’s Victor’s deal?”
Lucien raps his fingers across his desk while considering how to answer. “He had the only other investment firm in the area before I started this company. As I garnered success rather rapidly for my clients, people started to switch their funds from his company to mine. The more clients he lost, the riskier he started to gamble in the stock market.
