Everlasting (Descendants of Ra: Book 2)

by Tmonique Stephens

  Now, he could barely control the urge to hack into his twin, quarter him the way Alamut’s body lay in pieces below. From the glint in his brother’s gaze, Roman craved the same.

  “Stop this!” Stella cried and rushed between them. The train of her gown snagged on her heel and she fell into Reign’s body. Instantly, his sword vanished. He steadied her and set her back on her feet. Roman snatched her from Reign’s arms and examined her. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She looked over her shoulder, tentatively testing his name. “Thank you, Reign.”

  He bowed his head. “You are welcome.” His gaze shifted to Roman. “Your bride is beautiful, brother, and has manners.”

  “All it takes to get your attention is to trip into your arms?” Alexis stood beside him, mouth grim and eyes full of annoyance.

  Was she jealous? Reign pushed the thought away. Now wasn’t the time. He returned his attention to the situation at hand.

  Fear. From Roman’s slackened mouth to his concerned eyes, fear leached out of him and buffeted Reign. Once again, they were connected. Did his own erratic emotions buffet Roman?

  Too painful to see Roman’s worried expression. Reign turned away and ran into a wall of hostile stares. None of the men had lowered their weapons. Mutual hate simmered, threatening to boil. This time Reign won the battle to control it.

  “Bring your pets to heel, Brother. I answer to none.” There were growls and muttered curses around the room.

  “You will answer to me," Roman warned. The hard determination in his tone replaced any previous trepidation.

  Answer to him? Born ten minutes after his brother, he never answered to Roman. Now, his twin thought to order him?

  “Follow me,” Roman commanded Reign. En masse, his men prepared to follow their leader, but Roman shook his head once.

  “Roman, I don’t think it’s wise—”

  “No, Thane—” he cut the blond off. “Everyone stays here.”

  Reign waited as Roman met each man’s gaze and received an answering nod. Older, Roman had abdicated his senior role, preferring Reign to lead and shoulder the responsibility and conscience for both of them. Irresponsible and impulsive, Roman fought, drank, and whored his way across each battlefield until the sword in his hand and the lance in his pants competed in notoriety. Now somber and sober, he led this group of men.

  Resentment made Reign grit his teeth. A modicum of responsibility and maybe they would never have suffered the wrath of the merchant who hired them. Failure to protect his family began this cursed journey, but damn it this wasn’t the end, at least not for him.

  “Reign.”

  Pulled from bitter memories, his gaze returned to his brother. Roman waited by the door. Reign took a few steps to join him then paused at the blond. Thane, his brother named him. Several inches shorter, Reign looked down at the man from his six-foot eight-inch height. Thane didn’t flinch or look away. Yet, Thane was afraid. Reign hadn’t survived decades of battle without learning to spot weakness in an adversary. Something caused this man’s insides to tremble, but he didn’t think he was the cause.

  Temptation rode Reign hard to test out his temporary powers. He wondered how much of the goddess’s energy had transferred when her illusion kissed him. He glanced at Alexis. Her eyes had narrowed into slits and her fists were balled.

  “No,” Reign said to Roman. He returned to Alexis’s side and the Vanquished quieted.

  With another nod, Roman’s men filed out of the room, but his wife stayed.

  “You’ve trained your pets well, Roman,” Reign smirked.

  “They are not my pets.” Roman’s voice vibrated with restrained anger. “They are my family, my brothers.”

  “I’m your brother.” Somehow, he contained the rage roiling inside.

  “How are you here?” Roman asked.

  A bitter laugh escaped Reign. “This is your greeting?”

  “Where the fuck have you been and how the fuck did you get here?” Roman stepped closer.

  “Sweetheart.” Roman’s wife touched his arm, but he refused to break Reign’s stare and tried to move her behind him. She slipped from his hold and moved to Alexis.

  “Thank you for taking me in and I apologize for leaving in the middle of night.” Stella hugged Alexis.

  Reign watched a tepid smile cross Alexis’s face and she patted Stella’s back.

  “I appreciate the apology and understand why you left,” Alexis said when they parted. Then she looked at Roman. “You bastard! How dare you interfere with my life. Do you know what you’ve done?”

  “Save you from being fired?” Roman answered.

  “Instead of being fired, they stuck me in Vice. I’ll be on the hoe stroll for the next five years if I'm lucky!”

  “Detective Lever, I’m so sorry.” Stella went to Roman’s side. “We thought we were helping you. When I left your grandparents home that night, we had no idea you were hurt or the repercussion with your job. I would never have left if I knew.”

  Alexis blew out a harsh breath and braced her hands on her hips. Reign reached for her and then stopped when he took in her dark scowl. Stella stepped forward, but Roman halted her. When she protested, he shook his head and silenced the budding argument.

  Reign looked at the graceful woman who had wedded his brother and wondered how Roman’s fortunes had changed. The house, the men, the wife—this was not the brother he remembered.

  “Our guests are probably wondering if we’ve started the honeymoon,” Roman whispered to Stella.

  She nodded and glanced between Roman and Reign before departing.

  Reign watched as Roman looked at Alexis with an unspoken plea for privacy.

  “Fine,” Alexis grumbled before stalking out and slamming the door behind her.

  “Still the manipulator, brother?” Reign moved to the other side of the room.

  “I do what I must to keep those I love safe. How do you know Detective Lever?” Roman asked.

  “Why do you care?” He tensed.

  “I know her.”

  Jealousy stabbed deep, threatening his control. His brother had known many women. Was Alexis included in the count? “She is under your protection?”

  “No—”

  “Then she is my concern, not yours.” He refused to address the sudden rush of relief flooding his system.

  “Detective Lever is a guest in my house and therefore under my protection. My brother would understand.”

  “You protect her now? After you left her alone in her home with a beast? Odd way to show your concern for a woman.”

  Roman’s eyes narrowed while his nostrils flared. Reign knew his brother's memories had returned to that night. The night he retrieved his woman and left Alexis to die.

  “How do you know—”

  “I was there, Roman. I saw your concern for your woman and the lack of for Alexis,” he spat.

  “Daniel wasn’t after her. He hunted Stella. I made a choice. I chose to save my wife.”

  “And left an innocent to die? The brother I remember would never have done something so heinous.”

  “She’s not an innocent. She’s a cop. I thought she could take care of herself. In any war, there are hard choices. I would do the same again,” Roman said.

  Two thousand years later, Roman had finally grown enough to make the hard choice he often left to him and others to do. Reign closed the distance between them, stopping inches from his twin. “Who killed Alamut?” he growled.

  Surprise crossed Roman’s face. “How do you know his name?” Suspicion laced his tone.

  “Answer the question, brother.” Reign demanded and waited.

  “I did.” Roman’s brows lowered.

  “You fought that man?”

  “Yes, Stella and I stopped, quartered and contained him,” Roman sneered. “A sword is the only thing that stopped him, not kill him.”

  Nephythys’s assessment of Roman’s skill was wrong. His prowess hadn’t diminished over the years. Or
the goddess lied. Manipulating him once again to do her bidding. No matter. The thing still lived. As long as Alamut was alive, Reign would remain free. Something unfurled in his chest and he released a low sigh. “He wasn’t yours to end.”

  Roman tilted his head. His eyes narrow. “What do you mean?”

  “Alamut was mine to destroy.” He pointed to his chest. “And remains so.”

  A knock sounded and Stella entered. “Sorry to disturb, but I need you, sweetheart.” She apologized to both of them before her gaze settled on Roman.

  Reign approached her slowly. She turned to him. Her gray eyes held questions but never left his face. No fear showed on her face. Good, because he would never hurt her. He dropped to one knee and kissed her left hand.

  “Sister, with my life I will protect you.”

  “Uhm, thanks. Please get up now.” Her cheeks blushed a rosy pink.

  Reign stood and looked at his brother. Roman smiled and took his bride’s hand.

  “Thank you, Reign,” he said. “The obligation of a bride and groom haven’t changed much in all these centuries. Stay, I’ll return in a moment.”

  ***

  Roman left the bedroom more confused than when he entered. After everything, Reign’s last act of dropping to his knee and welcoming Stella into the family? Unexpected.

  “That’s your brother, right? Even with the beard and the long hair, it’s him?” Stella pressed when they left the room.

  Roman ushered her into a secluded alcove. “I don’t know. He feels like Reign, but after everything that happened with Daniel I refuse to take anything at face value.”

  “What do you mean he ‘feels’ like Reign?”

  “We’re twins. We have a connection. We’ve always been able to sense each other, know when the other is in trouble. For two thousand years, I couldn’t feel him and now, suddenly, I do. But something’s wrong, off. Like the pool is tainted.”

  How could he explain how his insides twisted when he saw Reign and Daniel’s head talking to one another like long lost friends and the dark current flowing through him. When he looked at both, he could feel each of them, twined together, inseparable inside him. Bile churned in his gut.

  Stella’s soft hand stroked his cheek. “What do you want to do?”

  That was the million-dollar question and he had no answer. Laughter filtered through the bedroom windows. Wedding guests still roamed the house. He swallowed a groan and looked at her. “This isn’t how I wanted your day to end.”

  “Our day, and no, I wouldn’t have planned this ending either. We also didn’t plan on you reuniting with Reign, so the day isn’t entirely ruined.”

  “Yeah? The night’s still young,” he muttered. Stella laughed and he hugged her. The scent of her filled him, grounded him, and gave him a reason for living.

  “Shall I order the house cleared?” He couldn’t care less about their guests.

  “We only have the cake left. You deal with your brother. I can entertain our guests for a while.” She stuck her hand out.

  “Deal.” Roman pulled her into a simmering kiss. By the time they pulled apart, Hector was waiting a discreet distance away.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Bianca wanted to stay away. Should’ve been easy. What scorned woman wanted to attend their ex’s wedding?

  A vengeful woman.

  They couldn’t have picked a more perfect day, she noted with a large dose of bitterness. The afternoon sun burned softly, filtered through an occasional cloud. A cool breeze ruffled her hair. The leaves on the trees and the hedges of the garden maze had started to turn yellow, crimson, and auburn, painted the ideal backdrop for a fall wedding. If only she’d brought along a blowtorch.

  She’d arrived moments before the ‘I do’. On the back lawn, next to a well-appointed tent, she clenched a glass of champagne as she watched Roman say his vows and tie himself to a woman other than her.

  Afterward, Bianca grabbed another drink from the circulating servers and mingled. She didn’t expect to stay long. As an uninvited guest, soon someone would spot her, then she and the exit would meet. But as a former resident of RockGate, she knew all the secrets to avoid detection.

  Her back against the edge of the patio, Bianca listened to the brothers give their speeches and was sufficiently nauseated to turn away and return to the house. Soon after, Roman darted past her and raced into the second ballroom set up for the guests. Tempted, she started to follow and nearly collided with Thane. Only a quick spin and merge with a group of guests stopped her prompt ejection from the festivities. Like a freight train, Avery, EJ, Brayden, and Quin, swept through the crowd, following Roman. She trailed them at a safe distance until the last disappeared into the wine cellar.

  Bianca loitered, leaning against a nearby column a few yards away, she kept peering at the door. Within minutes, Roman rushed from the basement, followed by his men.

  Should she follow them and risk discovery? No. She had made it this far. Trying to eavesdrop on the scene of whatever crisis they were attending would only lead to an unceremonious and embarrassing removal.

  With the crowd focused on the commotion, she slipped unnoticed through the open basement door. Quietly, she closed the door behind her and paused to let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Cool and damp, the subterranean space smelled earthy. A shiver ran through her. Anything associated with dirt or the outdoors was anathema to her, but that didn’t stop her burgundy suede and python Pradas from click-clacking their way down the wooden staircase.

  Never in all her times at the mansion had she ventured into the wine cellar. Now she understood why. Rows of dusty wine bottles filled the middle of the room, while barrels stacked the wall.

  Bianca strolled the center aisle, noting the sparse lighting and shadowed areas. It didn’t take her long to feel foolish. She came to the mansion searching for revenge. Dumped by Roman less than three weeks ago, only a few months away from their wedding, she wanted nothing more than to see him and his new wife suffer in any way possible. She reached the rear of the cellar and realized nothing in here would help her achieve her goal.

  Still, Roman had left his wedding and rushed to this room. She took another trip around, examining the shadowed areas.

  Nothing. Frustrated, she turned to leave and stopped. A memory surfaced. The vault was down here. She’d seen it a few times as a teen. Could that be why they ran down here? She studied the wine barrels lining the back wall. She remembered Hector pushing one of them to gain access. But which one? And what would happen if she pushed the wrong barrel?

  She started pushing the barrels in the middle and worked her way. Risking embarrassment and eviction was worth achieving her goal. A moment later, she heard a click. An entire panel shifted, rolled back, and slid into a hidden recess on the right. A spotlight flicked on and landed on a steel door with a QWERTY keypad. She sucked in an excited breath and stretched her hand out. Centimeters from brushing the letters and numbers with her fingers, she paused.

  Fingerprints, stupid! No one could know she was here. Leaving a print would dispute that. Her hand curled into a fist and dropped to her side. She stepped closer.

  The password could be anything from the obvious to something completely random. Roman’s name—her fingers twitched—or one of the men—her hand raised—maybe a combination of all. She could try. Type in a few names. She stopped herself again. This keypad probably kept a log of all entries. A few wrong passwords and the cavalry would come running.

  Damn! She wanted in. Something in there would help her achieve her goal.

  There is.

  Bianca spun. Her gaze darted to every dark recess. “Who’s there?”

  No one is there, Bianca.

  She swallowed hard. The voice hadn’t come from somewhere in the cellar. It came from her. She’d finally gone over the cliff and landed in crazy.

  You want your revenge? Unlock the vault and free me.

  The voice had a familiar tone. But it couldn’t be… “Daniel?” she whi
spered.

  Free me.

  She turned to the vault and backed away into a wine rack. The bottles danced but didn’t clatter to the ground.

  “You're dead. Stella shoved you out of a window. I saw it on the news.”

  And you believe everything you see on TV?

  Not today.

  She touched the still tender spot on the back of her head. “How-how are you inside my head?

  I learned a trick…or two. I can show you how to do it.

  None of this was real. Couldn’t be. “The last time I trusted you, I ended up with a concussion.” She still couldn’t remember all the details of that night.

  The price paid for deception. Aren’t you curious, Bianca? Or are you resigned to being the ex-girlfriend, ex-employee, ex-daughter? Free me and know real power.

  Only one word registered with her. “What kind of power?” She moved closer to the vault.

  The kind which makes you a god.

  She ignored his melodramatic speech and focused on the possibility he could be telling the truth. “Why would you share with me?”

  Because you and I have the same goals. Make Roman pay.

  Jealousy wasn’t only a female trait. She could use him. Repay Roman for his betrayal. Hurt him. A delicious shiver raced up her spine at all the possibilities.

  No. The offer sounded too good. “I don’t believe you.”

  But you're interested. I can hear it in your voice. Feel it in your body. You want to free me but you're afraid. I promise I won’t hurt you.

  He was right. She wanted to release him. The compulsion was almost too much to resist. Finally, she stepped back. She must have crossed a motion sensor because the spotlight went dark and the panel slid back into place. Once more, the vault was hidden behind the wine barrels. A pent-up breath rushed from her before she returned to the exit.

  I can give you everything you want, Bianca.