Sacrifice: Laid Bare: Volume 4

by Grey, S. R.

  “You will still be doomed,” Lucienna warned. “There’s always a cost.”

  I leaned back in my chair, confident. “Yes, there is, isn’t there?”

  What I had to do now was clear as a bell. I’d been provided with an answer, an answer that had been there all along. It had been kept from Lucien. And Selene, as well. But I showed the solution to her now.

  “You fucking assholes,” Selene screamed at the Chambers. “You made me believe I would die. And it’s all been a lie.”

  For all Selene had done to me, a tiny bit of loyalty to her remained. It made no sense, but I just didn’t want her to end up harmed.

  Lucien parents, and Selene’s mom and dad, on the other hand…

  Well, they’d made the pact. It was merely a case of switching the burden to them—thus taking it away from Lucien and Selene—when the agreement remained unfulfilled.

  Accomplishing this task required a massive amount of power, but I had it in me. I dug deep, calling on Lucien’s power, Dunne’s power, and my own that was growing every minute.

  “I’ll help you, too,” Selene whispered, leaning into me.

  “Thank you. We’re going to need all power at our disposal for this to succeed.”

  Frank and Lucienna tried to flee, but I held them firmly at the table with just my mind. And then, with the help of Selene, we moved the burden of an unfulfilled pact from her and Lucien to Franklin and Lucienna, as well as to Selene’s parents.

  There was no fanfare for such a huge change. I was so powerful that I was able to just will it so. Of course, it was with the power of three beings—four, if you included Selene—that the transfer of the burden was accomplished so effortlessly.

  When it was done, Selene placed her head on the table. “I am finally free,” she whispered.

  And she was, as was Lucien.

  Dunne, though not part of the pact that had bound Lucien and Selene, would be free soon, too. I’d ensured that before I’d left the cabin.

  He just didn’t know in what way yet.

  Lucien

  I awoke the exact second my sentence was lifted.

  I was free!

  There’d be no epic battle, no loss of life. My obligation to the pact my family had made was no more. Dahlia had transferred all responsibility of the agreement to my parents and Selene’s parents, as it should have been from the start.

  In doing so, she’d saved me. She’d even given my cousin a reprieve.

  I could live with that. There was a decent woman lurking deep inside Selene. With this burden lifted, she could finally live the life she desired, a life free of obligation. She could find love, like I had.

  Dahlia had really done it. And, for that, I loved her more than ever.

  Even with my power and Dunne’s coursing through her, making her stronger and more formidable than any of us were on our own, Dahlia had managed to retain her own good and true heart. She was still my Dahlia, the woman I’d fallen for months ago. Only now, she’d be strong, like me.

  My love for Dahlia Vaughn swelled to new bounds before I fell back asleep.

  Dahlia

  When I returned to the cabin in Canada, I merged my spirit self with my true form.

  Upstairs, in the loft bedroom, the physical version of me awoke with a start. I was now a single entity, but when I stood, I dressed in the same gown I’d worn in spirit form. I hadn’t brought along a gown like this, but somehow it was here. It seemed magic was everywhere with Lucien, Dunne, and me in the house.

  Speaking of magic, I descended the stairs to complete what I’d started on Dunne.

  I found him lying by the fire, unconscious, same as Lucien. Dunne’s face remained encased in the thick layer of ice I’d placed there earlier.

  Standing at the base of the stairs, I closed my eyes and called upon my power to see if the process I’d begun was complete.

  It seemed it was.

  Opening my eyes, I went over to where Dunne lay next to Lucien.

  First, I awoke my love.

  “Lucien.” I kneeled on the floor and caressed his stubbled cheek. “Lucien, darling, it’s time to wake up.”

  He began to come to.

  Blinking up at me with eyes the rich shade of brown I loved so much, he said, “Dahlia, what happened?”

  “I had to make you sleep, Lucien. I knew if I let you remain awake, you’d try to stop me from going to London.”

  “You visited my parents.” It was a statement, not a question. “You lifted my burden to the pact.”

  Lucien knew what I’d done; we were that deeply connected.

  “Yes,” I still felt compelled to confirm. “Are you angry with me?”

  “Why would I ever be angry with you?” He chuckled lightly. “You saved me, Dahlia.”

  “I did, but your parents, and Selene’s parents… They will now have to answer when the pact is not fulfilled.”

  Lucien grew somber. “That’s a choice they made long ago.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Lucien sat up next to me, pausing to glance over at Dunne’s iced-over visage. The thick coating of ice now extended down over his torso, as well, just as I’d intended.

  “You needn’t have done that to him,” Lucien said, worry creasing his brow. “He wouldn’t have tried to stop you any more than I would have.”

  “Oh.” I bit my lip and stared down at Dunne. What this must look like to Lucien. “I never meant him any harm,” I whispered.

  Lucien reached over and tapped Dunne’s icy forehead. “So, what’s with all the ice, then?”

  I smiled and scooted over to Dunne. Turning back to Lucien, I said, “Here. Let me show you.”

  Lucien

  Dahlia reached down and placed her hand on Dunne’s iced-over face. Slowly, cracks began to form.

  I wondered what she was hoping to accomplish, but it all became clear when the ice began to melt away.

  “Christ, Dahlia.” I peered on in wonderment. “What have you done?”

  With arctic-cold water pooling around Dunne’s head, he awoke with a start. “What the…?”

  He shot up, his hands going to his face. It seemed he sensed something was different. And, wow, was it ever.

  Dahlia had restored Dunne to his former self.

  Rushing over to an old, cracked mirror that hung on the wall by the door, he felt his chin, cheeks, and his nose. Slowly, he lifted his T-shirt. Even the scars on his torso were gone.

  When he turned to us, there were tears in his eyes. “Dahlia…” His voice cracked and he looked away. “How did you…? Why did you…?”

  He could say no more.

  Dahlia went over to Dunne and placed her hand on his once-again handsome face. I felt no jealousy; it was merely an act of kindness on her part.

  “You deserved to have back what you once had,” Dahlia said softly.

  “But…but, do you know how hard I’ve tried to fix myself in the past? I called on all my power and was never been able to…” Dunne trailed off and turned to stare at his reflection in the mirror. Dahlia’s hand fell to her side. “I just don’t know how you did it,” he muttered.

  “It took all of our powers combined,” Dahlia said. “Only while holding all three of our collective power was it possible.”

  Dunne touched his smooth cheek. “I just can’t believe it.”

  “Are you mad I did it without asking?” Dahlia asked, concerned.

  Dunne turned back to her. “No, no.” He laughed. “Are you kidding? This is wonderful.”

  “You know what this means, Dunne?” I chimed in.

  “What?” he asked, his eyes meeting mine.

  “It means you can return to civilization.” I motioned to his humble surroundings. “You no longer need to live like this. You can come back with us to Chicago, even. If you want to, that is.”

  Dunne’s hazel eyes filled with an emotion we were not known for conveying—fear.

  “I don’t know about that,” he said quietly. “I appreciate your kind off
er, I do. But I think I’ll stay put for a while.” He sighed. “I’m afraid it’s going to take some time for me to get used to the idea of being around people.”

  Dunne had been a recluse for so long I supposed the concept of this new kind of freedom seemed daunting.

  I didn’t want to push, so I left my offer open-ended. “No need to decide now,” I told him. “Just know that you always have a place to stay if you ever care to venture down to the lower forty-eight.”

  “Thank you,” Dunne said, smiling. “Perhaps someday I’ll take you up on your offer.”

  I could see Dahlia was pondering something quite intently while Dunne and I spoke.

  “What are you thinking, Dahlia?” I asked softly.

  “Oh.” She looked up at me, surprised. “Um…”

  She smiled over at Dunne and addressed him. “I was just thinking Lucien and I may know someone you might hit it off with.”

  “No humans,” Dunne replied, bristling. “I don’t need that kind of trouble.”

  He was right, to an extent. Dealing with humans posed all sorts of perils. Look what I’d just gone through with Dahlia.

  “The woman I’m referring to is like us,” Dahlia said.

  And that was when I realized what she was up to.

  My brows shot up. “What? You want to set Dunne up with Selene?” I then mumbled, “Poor guy,” and Dahlia shot me her best dressing-down look.

  “Selene’s not all bad, Lucien. And”—she gestured to Dunne—“if anyone can handle that woman, it’s Dunne.”

  I had to admit, he appeared intrigued. And, true, Selene was not all bad. She’d loved someone once, and I recalled her at that time as being at her best. Plus, now that she was free, she would probably be a nicer person. Hell, even if Selene acted up, Dahlia was right. Dunne could handle her.

  I nodded thoughtfully, and Dunne asked skeptically, “Who is this Selene?”

  “My cousin,” I replied.

  “She’s very beautiful,” Dahlia chimed in. “She looks a lot like Lucien, dark hair, dark eyes.”

  “Hmm…”

  Dunne thought it over and agreed, but only as a way-in-the-future kind of thing. That worked for me. When Dunne someday ventured down to Chicago, we’d set up a meeting with Selene.

  “Well, with that decided,” Dunne began, “I think we should have some dinner. I’m sure you and Dahlia will be returning to the states soon, yes?”

  I nodded. “Yes. We’ll be leaving in the morning.”

  Dinner turned out to be delicious, steaks and potatoes. Dunne sure knew how to cook. He also brought out several bottles of wine. “To celebrate,” he explained.

  After dinner, the wine flowed even more freely. The three of us laughed and talked for hours. But there was still an issue we’d not addressed—Dahlia needed to return some of her power back to me and Dunne. And there was only one way to do that. Shit.

  I downed another full glass of wine and poured another. Dahlia was giddy and already halfway drunk. I was looking to reach that same carefree state. I needed to be open in order to fully share Dahlia with Dunne.

  As I imbibed more alcohol, I became guided by impulse. I couldn’t keep my eyes off Dahlia. She looked delicious in her white gown of silk. And now that she was one of us, she exuded sex.

  The top part of her dress was low-cut, allowing her full breasts to swell over the top. I’d watched throughout the evening as the tops of her pink nipples played peek-a-boo over the silky material barely covering them.

  She was laughing about something Dunne had just said when I reached over and tore the bothersome material away.

  As Dahlia’s breasts spilled out, she gasped. “Lucien!”

  I stood and undid my belt. “It’s time, darling.”

  In order to take back our power, Dunne and I needed to take from Dahlia. We would be required to devour her aggressively, in every sexual way.

  Dahlia’s eyes met mine, and in an instant, she knew how she should behave.

  Leaning back in her chair, she whispered, “Take me.”

  Dunne and I descended on her like rabid wolves. Her dress was soon tatters of silk. With Dunne kneeling on her right, and me on her left, we suckled and nipped at Dahlia’s breasts while tearing away at the remaining scraps of silk covering her skin.

  Once Dahlia was nude, Dunne and I took her hands and led her to a pile of quilts before the roaring fireplace.

  She knelt before us, and we undressed for her. Reaching up, she grabbed at our hard cocks, greedy and wanting.

  Seconds later, Dahlia was jerking off Dunne while I was thrusting in and out of her mouth. We were three of the same, creatures designed for sex, and soon the tension and energy in the room reached white-hot levels as all inhibitions were lost.

  I pulled out of Dahlia’s mouth so Dunne could enjoy her sweet lips and tongue for himself. He didn’t hesitate. Meanwhile, I dropped down to the blankets and slid my head between her open knees.

  When I began to lick and lap at her slick folds, I heard her cry out around Dunne’s cock.

  With Dahlia’s first orgasm, Dunne and I grabbed back some of our power.

  We were far from done, though. This was just the beginning.

  Dahlia

  Had I still been human I would have passed out from pleasure-overload, like I had the first time I’d experienced these two men. But now that I was one of them, I could handle everything they gave me.

  And damn, they gave me a lot.

  We became not three, not two, but one.

  Lucien fucked me first, and he fucked me last, to maintain his claim on me. I was fine with that. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t able to enjoy the in-between times when it was Dunne’s cock I felt deep in my pussy. He was gentler with me as he took back his power balance, but Lucien took me hard when reclaiming his.

  I reveled in the contrast, coming hard for both men.

  When it was all over, despite my now being a succubus and pretty much built for nonstop sex, I lay open and spent on the covers. The fireplace warmed my back as I curled up next to a sleeping Lucien and Dunne.

  I breathed in deeply. I smelled of sex and these men, and my body bore the bruises and tears from having been taken by such powerful beings time and time again.

  Even when the balance was corrected, we hadn’t been able to stop. It seemed I was as bad as Lucien and Dunne, crawling over to and sliding down on one, or the other, every time we stopped. And if it wasn’t me starting things back up, it was Lucien spreading me for Dunne, or Dunne lifting me up and impaling me on Lucien’s cock.

  Reaching over, I brushed a strand of dark hair from Lucien’s forehead. His eyes flittered opened.

  So as not to disturb Dunne, we spoke in each other’s minds.

  Are you okay? Lucien asked.

  I feel great, I replied.

  Not too great, I hope.

  He was joking, and I laughed.

  But then our eyes met and we both knew this would never happen again. Though not in our nature, Lucien and I would remain true to one another.

  I won’t share you again, he said.

  Good, I don’t want to be shared. I only want you, Lucien.

  He caressed my cheek. I love you so much, Dahlia.

  I love you, too, Lucien. And now we’re free.

  We are, he agreed. Free to live and love for all eternity.

  Well, maybe not eternity, I reminded him. I shortened your mortality when I was human.

  He laughed and told me, We’ve lost only a very tiny amount of time, Dahlia. We’ll still have decades and decades together, centuries even.

  And still…it will never be enough.

  Lucien

  Time, what did it matter? Dahlia wished for an endless eternity, but a century, or two, would have to be enough.

  In any case, I was only concerned with the year ahead of us.

  After our time at Dunne’s, we left Canada and returned home to Chicago. Dahlia moved in full-time at what she termed my “lovely Tudor mansion.” Thin
gs returned to normal. I got back to the business of running all my companies, and Dahlia took on several lucrative jobs photographing Chicago’s business elite.

  Time passed, and we fell more in love every day.

  And then I turned thirty, only a few short months following our time in Canada with Dunne. Despite my obligation to the pact my parents had made having been lifted, I felt tense and uneasy in the days and weeks after my birthday.

  I sensed Dahlia was worried, as well.

  Still, we remained fine. Nothing happened when the fateful day arrived, nor in the days and weeks after…at least not to me or Dahlia. Selene remained fine, as well. In fact, it was she who contacted me one wintry morning to let me know my parents—and hers—had lost all their money in an unexpected market turn. Somehow, all their holdings had been transferred to one company that had lost their entire fortune. They swore they hadn’t moved any money, but someone sure had. Or, more likely, something had moved the money, a force stronger than any of us. Worse yet—for them, but not for me or Dahlia—our families were stripped of all powers. No spells or incantations worked in any capacity. Our parents were now ordinary…and destitute.

  I knew immediately this was the price they’d been made to pay for making a deal with the devil, pretty much literally.

  Despite everything, I still felt a little bad for them. Selene and I set up all the necessary arrangements so they could at least survive, albeit in a very humble manner. Once those things were done, Selene made a point to keep in touch with me more frequently.

  Over time, I learned she’d been under one of mother’s spells when she’d done all those terrible things to Dahlia.

  She cried when she told me. “I am so, so sorry, Lucien. I wanted to tell you a long time ago, but I was afraid of what our parents might do to me for breaking their trust.”

  “Well, they’re no longer a worry,” I reminded her.

  Knowing Selene had not been acting all on her own made forgiving her much easier, and we began speaking more frequently.

  On one of those calls, she asked, “Are you okay, Lucien? You seem rather quiet this afternoon. Is everything all right?”