Delaney did not like mystery, but Vadimas was right and he wasn’t going to budge. “Okay. Fine.”
“I need a drink,” Vadimas muttered, then strode back into the house.
Grigori rose from his chair and laid a soft kiss on Delaney’s mouth. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m going to have to apologize to him. He’s right. If they hadn’t given me up, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. Who knows where my life would’ve gone? I can let them go,” Delaney told him and snaked his arms around Grigori.
Grigori rubbed his back in long strokes as they stood there thinking about the short conversation he just had with Vadimas. From the moment he was born, his differences were obvious. If being a freak meant being a D’Vaire, he would take that any day of the week, which he murmured to Grigori.
“Don’t forget to add a certain absentminded vampire scientist to your list of good things and the entire Volkov family.”
Delaney grinned when their eyes met. “You’ve done pretty well at remembering things since you got here.”
“Yeah, you bang on my lab door really hard.”
“As far as your family goes, I consider them D’Vaires anyway.”
“I can’t think of a better compliment. My mom’s going to love that.”
“You know what I love?” Delaney asked.
“Your butt plug?”
“Well, yeah. What else?”
“You did yell really loud last night when I bit your dick, so I’m going to add that to your list of loves.”
Delaney had lost his mind when Grigori sank his fangs into his hard cock. The orgasm wasn’t immediate—but was it ever intense. It was an experience they would repeat if he did not think too much about the actual bite itself. “I’m going to have to do that to you.”
“I was hoping you’d want to.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Grigori kissed his cheek. “About what you love?”
“Yeah, that one.”
“Greggory?”
“Where is he anyway?”
His vampire dropped another peck on his nose. “Noir’s feeding him cookies.”
“When I first summoned him, I was afraid that one day he would eat so many of them he’d explode. One time he ate an entire package of cookies, and I stared at him for an hour, sure he was going to pop at any moment.”
“You have quite the overactive imagination. I hope you’ll use it to come up with more fun things to do in the bedroom.”
Delaney’s heart thudded strangely in his chest. “Are you getting bored?”
“You’re very smart and observant. You don’t need me to answer that. I yelled just as loud as you did last night.”
“I jerked you so good.”
“So ask me that stupid question again about my supposed boredom.”
With a roll of his eyes and a kiss for his vampire, Delaney shook his head. “Nope, not going to do it.”
“I didn’t even know what good sex was until I met you.”
“You don’t have to keep complimenting me. I had a moment of crazy. I’m fine now. We’re good and since you didn’t answer my question, it’s you. I love you.”
“I’m not mad—I know that even though you’re going to be okay with not knowing who your parents are, it still hurts to know they were probably scared of you.”
“Yeah, that coupled with being betrayed by someone who I thought was a friend—at least in the beginning—and you could say I’m a little churned up inside,” Delaney responded.
“Well, I love you too, and I’m going to be right by your side. I’d like to offer my handsome and loving vampire self for whatever you need.”
“Do you know what I really need?”
“Lay it on me. Grigori to the rescue.”
“Okay, the third person thing is weird.”
“Everything about me is weird.”
“Good-weird though, and that was bad-weird.”
“Okay. Moving on. What can I do for you?”
Delaney pressed their mouths together and slid his tongue through Grigori’s lips. They made out for several seconds as the pleasure sang in his veins. Then he pulled away to see the same swimming in Grigori’s beautiful eyes. “I need to see your face with that vibrating plug buried in your ass.”
Grigori’s reaction was swift. He released Delaney and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go. Neither one of us should be wearing pants in this kind of crisis.”
Letting out a laugh, Delaney followed Grigori and took a moment to thank Fate for not only him but everything in his life. If being born to two people who feared him was his price to pay, he was okay with that.
Chapter 41
Lichpriestess Saura D’Vaire walked down a long hallway with T’Eirick at her side. They were invited to the Order of the Fallen Knights Headquarters at the request of their leaders. She guessed it had something to do with Carvallius and Latarian but was not sure why Drystan and Conley needed them in Las Vegas. The pair were just ahead, and they led Saura and T’Eirick into a small room.
“Sorry about all the intrigue, but we’re kind of playing outside the rules today,” Drystan said. “I’ve never done that before—rules are necessary, but I understand there are times and places where they need to be set aside.”
Not sure what to think, Saura replied, “Okay.”
Conley chuckled. “Clear as mud, right? Here’s the deal. Carvallius and Latarian are both scheduled for execution. We took the stone off Carvallius’s chest, and it turned him fully corporeal. He’s awake now. Drys and I thought you might like a few minutes with him before he dies.”
T’Eirick’s stunned gaze locked on Saura’s; she was equally surprised. “Thank you. We certainly are not going to pass up the opportunity to have a little chat with him.”
“Great, let’s go. He’s in a holding cell right next door to where we are now,” Drystan explained as he led them back out into the hall. They strode a few feet down and Drystan slid a card into a reader. The click of the lock was audible; then the thick steel opened.
The Reverent Knights waved the darkfallen in, and Saura’s heart soared at the fear in Carvallius’s green gaze.
“Saura? T’Eirick? How is this possible?” he blurted out.
“Sorry, he hasn’t been able to keep up with current events,” Conley said. “Carvallius, allow me to introduce you to Lichpriestess and Lichpriest D’Vaire.”
“Those damn sons of yours found a way to give you life with power and both refused to help me,” Carvallius bit out.
“And you, Carvallius? What have you done?” Saura asked.
“Besides teaming up with some horrible necromancers? Nothing at all.”
“You’re really going to piss me off if you pretend you can’t remember the shit you did when you were still a warlock,” Conley drawled as he leaned against the wall.
“Surely you don’t blame me for the Cwylld? They’re the ones that slaughtered the coven. Your sons, they live with the chieftain. How’s that for being a traitor?”
“You left behind your journals—not that we needed them to know you were involved. It’s rather difficult to feign innocence when it’s your own words that have damned you,” T’Eirick growled. “You kidnapped Dra’Kaedan and covered his back in dark magic to bind him to your hateful granddaughter. Then you started a war which destroyed my son’s people before you hunted down Dre’Kariston and lost your life at his hands.”
“Your son murdered me,” Carvallius sneered. The chains around his wrists clanged as he clenched his fists and shook with what Saura guessed was rage. His eyes were so full of evil, it was impossible for her to see beyond it.
“Oh, I know. He was always so gifted when it came to magic. I wish he’d been a little older though, so his magic would’ve been stronger. Then your death wouldn’t have cost him so much,” Saura remarked.
“You see this, Reverent Knights? A woman bragging about having a son for a murderer,” Carvallius spat out.
“Wh
at’s next, Carvallius? Dra’Kaedan asked to be tied to Latarian for over six centuries and robbed of his identity?” Drystan commented.
“You don’t need to make it like he had such a bad life. He and Latarian were shielded from the Cwylld. They were able to spend hundreds of years unspoiled by the world around them.”
“Did you hear that, T’Eirick? Our son was given a gift by being forced to do her bidding while she whipped him routinely, and I suppose the fact that he nearly died because of your spells was a necessary price?” Saura asked. She’d always known Carvallius had a twisted mind, but she could hardly believe the false reality he continued to hide behind.
“It was his matebond that caused that. I can’t help that Fate gave him his other half.”
“I’m sure Brogan’s going to be thrilled to hear it’s his fault Dra’Kaedan almost fully crossed the veil. Without the magic his parents gave him, he could’ve joined them in death,” Drystan said.
“You know, Carvallius did bring up a key point. My family does now include the Cwylld chieftain as well as his younger brother. Do you remember what you did to them? Robbed Talfryn of his identity and tore him away from his mate for a thousand years,” T’Eirick interjected.
“He’s mated to demon scum. The Acwellan are evil.”
“No, they’re not. Trust me, Lorcan’s a wonderful man and one of only two Acwellan because thanks to your actions, the Cwylld destroyed his people too. And Cadlyr? You carved a spell on his back, so he was unable to refuse any order his parents gave him,” Saura stated.
“Dark warlocks have often helped others and been misunderstood by the masses. T’Eirick would know if he’d possessed the guts to accept his true path,” Carvallius accused.
“I made mistakes. I should’ve gone dark. If I had, the dark warlocks wouldn’t be associated with your evil. You would’ve stood out as the exception, not the norm.”
“You know, T’Eirick and I did have the opportunity to make the acquaintance of Carvil. You remember your familiar, don’t you?” Saura asked.
“Worthless waste of space,” Carvallius muttered.
“He’s waiting for you now. Carvil’s got a gift he’d like to give you when you pass back onto the side of the veil where you belong,” T’Eirick said.
“I’m not afraid of dying. Dark magic will always reign supreme, and another necromancer will come along who’ll welcome the idea of working with me. My name is too well-known.”
Saura let out a humorless laugh. “I’m afraid not, dear. You see, T’Eirick and I crossed the veil with slivers of Cwylld stones pinned to our souls. Carvil has one for you and one for your granddaughter. We’re going to make sure you never breathe again.”
“That’s impossible.”
“We don’t use words like that at D’Vaire,” Saura told him.
“The entire Coven of Warlocks and the Coven of Familiars are waiting for you to cross,” T’Eirick added. “This is the end of the road for you. You’ll spend eternity with the agony of having that sliver buried in your soul. There will be no resurrection, and no one will mourn you.”
“But the good news is that Latarian will be at your side,” Saura said sweetly.
“Get them out of here,” Carvallius demanded. “If you think I regret the decisions I made in life, you’re sorely mistaken. The only thing I should’ve done was destroy both of your precious sons.”
Saura was granted many gifts and had enjoyed enormous success but other than T’Eirick, the greatest of those were her twins. She was murdered by this man along with her mate, even if it wasn’t his spear driven through them both. It was her turn to decide how this battle with Carvallius would end. Without giving herself a chance to rethink her actions, she wrapped her fingers around the short sword strapped to her right thigh.
Allowing her instincts to take over, Saura slid her weapon from its holster. Using the skill she’d practiced many times with Gavrael and the rest of the D’Vaire sentinels, she let the small sword fly. Her aim was true and landed square in the heart of her most hated enemy.
Carvallius made a choked sound of surprise, and blood gurgled out of his mouth. When his body hit the floor, his eyes were still opened in an expression of shock.
“You know, we kind of frown on killing people around here,” Drystan said.
“Well then, you should’ve stopped me. We both know you could have,” Saura retorted with a grin. She turned to walk out. “Let’s go speak with Latarian…and gentlemen? Would one of you be kind enough to get my weapon back?”
When the foursome was reunited in the hall, Conley was wiping the blood from her sword as he chuckled. He returned it to her, hilt first, and she sheathed it.
“I can’t wait to see what you do for an encore, Lichpriestess,” the Reverent Knight offered.
“Behave yourselves,” Drystan barked as he led them to the next door in the hallway.
“You kept them close,” T’Eirick observed.
“They were the only two scheduled for execution today,” Drystan explained as he swiped his card and allowed them entry. Unlike her grandfather, Latarian’s gaze was filled with indignation. She got to her feet and squared her shoulders.
“Is this supposed to be a shocking surprise? Saura and T’Eirick risen from the grave?” she asked and Saura tried to imagine her lively son tied to this horrid creature for most of his lifetime. Her thoughts did not give Saura any sympathy for the evil woman.
“Not at all, Latarian,” Saura replied. “The Reverent Knights were just kind enough to give us a few minutes to speak with you before your death.”
“I must speak with my grandfather. I demand to speak with Carvallius.”
“His execution has already been carried out,” Drystan informed her.
“You lie,” Latarian screeched.
“Not only is he dead, but he’s going to be pinned to the afterlife by a Cwylld stone. News flash—so are you,” Conley responded.
“Impossible,” she sneered.
Saura turned to T’Eirick. “We really aren’t going to stand here and repeat everything we just spoke with Carvallius about, are we?”
“No way, she’ll figure the truth out for herself when she joins him.”
“Do stop talking about me as if I am not in the room. I do not have to tolerate this. I am Latarian of Mallent, granddaughter of Carvallius. Someday we shall rule over all people, and you will be sorry for the things you’ve said and done. And you will be the ones locked in chains,” Latarian yelled as she shook the ones imprisoning her.
“In some part of my mind, I feel sorry for you. I think your entire life, Carvallius manipulated you and filled your head with his own reality. But you hurt too many people for me to be able to ever forget how evil your own soul is. You took a young, hurting teenage boy and manipulated him. Idris is probably the sweetest man I’ve ever met, and you used him. He still harbors guilt for his actions while you dwell in fantasy,” Saura explained.
“Idris is nothing but a stupid boy given too much power by Fate that his horrid grandfather refused to teach him how to use. He’s the one you should blame for hurting Idris, not me. I gave him purpose and a plan.”
“Wrong, Latarian. You gave him scars. They may not be visible ones, but they are there all the same,” T’Eirick corrected.
Saura took two steps so only inches separated her from Latarian, and none of the men in the room made any move to stop her. “And what of Dra’Kaedan? How do you justify the things you did to him?”
“Get away,” Latarian screamed as she tried to create space between herself and Saura but found a wall at her back.
“We saved his life the first time you nearly killed him. T’Eirick and I pushed him onto the side of life because we feared he wouldn’t wake up before Brogan died of heartsickness. Did you know that?”
“I am not a dolt. Of course, he still breathes, does he not?” Latarian snarled. “Get away from me.”
“And the second time, do you remember? After you kidnapped Renny and Gedeon
?” Saura asked.
“That sentinel jumped into my teleportation circle. I did nothing to him,” Latarian yelled. “He was unharmed.”
“Without Idris’s quick thinking, Renny would’ve died. He had the dust of a Cwylld stone buried in his arm,” Saura pointed out.
Latarian’s eyes widened and sweat trickled down one temple. “It was Idris who stabbed him in the first place.”
“At your command. Let’s talk about what else you did with that knife,” Saura countered, taking a step closer to Latarian as her right hand curled around her blade.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Latarian squawked.
“You stuck it in my child’s heart,” Saura said through her teeth as she reared up with the sword in her hand and shoved it into the middle of Latarian’s chest. Her son’s former captor slid down the wall as the life leeched from her body. Saura yanked her weapon free and turned around, ignoring the mess at her feet. Latarian and Carvallius would no longer take anything from her, not even a moment to mourn them.
Striding across the room, she took T’Eirick’s outstretched hand and turned to the Reverent Knights. “Thank you.”
Conley’s golden eyes were misty. “We were murdered ourselves. I would’ve given anything to avenge Drystan’s death. Your entire former race was brought to its knees by that fuck in the other room, and your son spent six centuries dealing with that bitch on the floor. If that weren’t enough, you both helped give us back our dragons. No thanks are necessary.”
Drystan tugged Conley into his arms and held him tight. “I would’ve avenged you too if I could.”
Saura gazed at T’Eirick, and there was a mixture of emotions in his eyes. “Are you all right?”
“You didn’t even give me a chance to take one of them down.”
Laughing, Saura kissed the man who owned her heart. “I suggest, Lichpriest, you move faster next time if you wish to get in on the action.”
“I’m just glad it’s over. It’s finally done, and we can move on,” T’Eirick responded. Saura agreed; the future belonged to them. They’d make sure no one forgot the crimes the Mallents committed, but they were no longer able to hurt anyone. It was a relief to every D’Vaire—those that called the mansion home and the others like the Reverent Knights who shared their bond. Saura was incredibly grateful to be among her family, and she would protect them with every ounce of her undead being. She sheathed her sword a second time, then stepped out into the hall, leaving Carvallius and Latarian buried in the past.
Becoming D'Vaire (D'Vaire, Book 11) Page 33
