Mystic Realms: A Limited Edition Collection
Page 138
Riley wanted to break their mating bonds? He didn’t want her? No, she refused to believe that. He cared about her.
“Is that what you really believe?” Wrath asked.
He was reading her mind again.
“You forget one fundamental truth of demon males. But I guess you need to see.” He captured her mind and drew her in again. Only this time, it wasn’t a blood-drenched street, but a dimly lit bar, one she was far too familiar with.
Women surrounded Riley where he was seated near the counter. Another stroked his hair. He rose to his feet, glanced at a pale-skinned blonde with that hooded stare Saia knew so well. The woman followed, and they disappeared into a darkened room. The door closed. Bodies moved. The woman unbuttoned his jeans. He pushed her against the wall, exactly like he had Saia earlier—
No! She reared back. Pulled out of the vision, unable to stop the flood of pain ripping through her.
“It is what a dark soul constantly demands.” Wrath’s cool voice sliced her heart open with lethal precision. “A need satiated only through the carnal act, which is why he would break the bonding for some sense of fairness. Seems you mortals have instilled that in him.”
Right then, she hated Wrath. Hated him for pulling her out of her short-lived haze of happiness. More, she hated Riley because she couldn’t be enough for him. Unable to swallow past the welling of unshed tears, she raised her chin and met Wrath’s direct stare. And nodded.
A knock sounded, the door opened. Ikaria entered. Relief raced across her face when she saw Saia, then she addressed Wrath. “My lord, you have need of me?”
“Go with her.” He set a small, flat, iridescent black stone on the desk. “Use this when it is time to return.”
Ikaria took a deep breath and nodded. “Aye, my lord.”
“I don’t need a guide,” Saia bit out, struggling to keep her voice even and not break down. “I can find my own way home.”
A wave of his hand and a shimmering light appeared in front of Saia as a portal opened. “There it is, your way back.”
Her mouth compressed into a firm line. Her eyes burning with unshed tears, she stepped into the swirling mist.
Like a ride on a carousel, this one took her high up and through the portal and into the cold, windy world of New Orleans.
Chapter Eighteen
Saia stared through the window of her aunt’s apartment to the courtyard below. Some happy soul had decorated the trees with tinsel and streamers, adding an unwanted Christmas cheer.
With Liz still at the mansion, the place was far too quiet. Lonely. She refused to think of Riley, but with his apartment right next door, it was too damn hard.
She had to get out of here.
Saia spun around and met Ikaria’s sympathetic gaze. Despite Saia’s refusal, Ikaria had still followed her from Stygia. But then one could hardly refuse a Sin.
Concern darkened Ikaria’s pale aqua eyes. “Are you all right?”
Saia shook her head and bit her lip. How could she ever be all right? It felt as if someone had plied open her chest and yanked out her heart.
Why couldn’t she be enough for him?
The image of Riley with those women remained far too vivid in her mind—hurt too much.
“Lord Réomer will come for you.” Ikaria rose from the couch and crossed to her. “Once bonded, it’s difficult, painful in fact, to be separated from one’s mate for a long period of time.”
Painful? Yes, because she was an idiot to have fallen for him.
But how could she not love him? Yes, he was possessive as hell, but he was protective, too, and he’d put his life on the line more than once and fought for her. Tears filled her eyes. No man did that. Usually, when the guys she dated faced her mother, they ran.
However, she knew, too, despite Riley wanting her, it wouldn’t work. He’d always need different women because of his dark soul. And she wasn’t wired that way, couldn’t share the man she loved. She brushed the wetness trailing her cheek.
Silently, Ikaria reached out laid a comforting hand on her arm. Saia tried to smile, but her face felt too tight, and her mouth refused to cooperate, said instead, “Let’s go.”
Saia brought her Corvette to a purring halt in front of the tall portico of her home. The engine idling, she sat there, surveying the grounds, in no hurry to go inside and face what waited. She blinked. Everything here was too bright, too green.
“Saia?” Ikaria said quietly, pulling her attention back. She brushed at her plum-colored hair. “You are safe and at your home. I would take my leave.”
Leave? Panic sent her emotions skittering all over the place.
“No, please stay for a few days.” She grasped Ikaria’s hand, unable to let her only friend go. The only one who understood the truth about everything that had happened. “My thanks to you for being so kind to me in your world. I’ll show you around—”
“I cannot. I have a job to get back to.”
Saia frowned. “A job? What job?”
“I work for Wrath.”
“You’re a soldier?” Surprised, Saia ran her gaze over Ikaria’s slender build.
“No, not exactly,” she said. “But, yes, I can fight. However, I’m in the intel sector because of my abilities. Before you came, I’d finally been approved to leave the training center, but my assignment was put on hold. I was tasked to protect you.” A smile touched Ikaria’s mouth. “The frail human Lord Réomer selected as his mate.”
Hearing his name and the mistaken assumption that she was still his mate pushed her pain back to the surface. She stared at the solid walls of her home and tried to build up the ones in her heart again. “Frail? Right. That is why all those demonesses wanted to take me on.”
“Much to all our misjudgment.”
She met Ikaria’s rueful expression. The girl was nothing if not brutally blunt.
“But it is just an illusion. You are not that. You survived the place of the damned, then faced Wrath.” Admiration warmed Ikaria’s tone. “No demon would dare do what you have and live. I can pick up echoes of a conversation long after it’s happened. I know what you said to Wrath just before we left—”
“You heard what Wrath said?” Saia cut in. If Ikaria knew the full truth, why she’d left—God, she couldn’t bear that.
“No. No one can with a Sin. I just heard your part. Réomer has chosen well in his mate. You are strong.”
Relieved, Saia placed her cold fingers on the car heater. “With a mother like mine, I have to be, or I might as well just lie down and let her walk all over me.”
“I do not understand.”
“You’ll see soon enough. Please stay?”
Ikaria glanced around her. Weak sunlight pushed through the gaps between the heavy gray clouds but offered little warmth with the chill of winter surrounding them. “Your realm is beautiful, unlike anything I ever imagined.”
“Why didn’t you visit before?”
“Demons cannot traverse the realms. And few can open portals as you’ve seen. We must procure the portal summoning stone, and it only works once. Those are very hard to come by. Besides, I never had reason to want to leave before,” she said, staring at the trimmed lawn then glancing back at Saia. Smiled. “All right, I will stay awhile.”
“Wonderful.” Saia opened the car door and got out. Ikaria came around to her side. “Once I let my parents know I’m home,”—and settle ruffled feathers—“I’ll show you around and take you shopping. You’ll need more clothes.”
Ikaria fingered the top she wore. “This feels nice.”
Though they were of similar build, Ikaria was taller. The sweater dress Saia had given her skimmed just past her hips and looked more like a long jersey, but with the leggings she wore beneath, it worked beautifully. She’d given Ikaria one of her warmer coats, too. Coming from a hot world, this place must feel like an icebox.
Ikaria looked up and shaded her eyes. Despite the faint sunlight, she squinted. The light must hurt her sensitive eyes.
“What time did she say, Edward?” her mother asked, an edge to her tone.
“She should be here soon.”
Don’t worry, Mother, the prodigal daughter has returned.
“How could she just take off like that for so long? Does she not care how this affects us?”
Saia’s cheeks burned in mortification. Why did she bother to call and tell them she was on her way?
Ikaria laid a hand on her arm, lowered her voice. “She worries.”
Not about me. If she did, it would be the first. “Ikaria, I think it’s best I see them first, no use embarrassing us both.”
“It’s okay. I understand what families are like. I have many half-siblings. It is not easy at times.”
Smiling at Ikaria’s rueful tone, Saia showed her to the formal lounge and headed back to the living room. She inhaled deeply then stepped through the double doors.
Her mother looked up and ran her gaze over Saia. What she searched for, Saia had no idea. Her father set his paper aside and rose from his seat, relief easing the worried lines on his handsome face. “Saia.”
Guilt seeped through her for the anxiety she caused him. “Daddy, I’m so sorry I went off without a word. Oh, and I brought a friend—”
“How could you, Saia Rae?” Her mother pushed to her feet, her mouth pinched.
Faced with her mother’s ire instead of relief that she was back, Saia’s chest tightened in pain. When would she learn not to hope for a miracle? Living here, doing as her mother wanted, and waiting for crumbs of affection.
“You ask me that after what happened?” she asked in a voice devoid of emotion. “I needed to get away, so I did.”
“With the bartender?”
Her teeth clenched at the derisive tone, the mere mention of Riley causing the ache inside her to expand. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t be faithful to her. And it didn’t stop her from defending him either. “His name is Riley. He was there for me when I needed someone.”
Her mother’s expression turned to stone. “Is it over?”
Over? She’d never be over him. She just had to deal and move on.
“Jem,” Edward said in a quiet voice. “Let it go.” His gaze softened. He drew Saia into his arms and pressed his lips to her brow. “I’m glad you’re home.”
No questions. No condemnation.
Her father was the only reason she put up with her mother’s smothering rules. She hugged him tightly, breathed in the Turkish-cherry scent of his cigars. A smell that always brought her comfort. She had to fight the urge not to bawl in his arms.
“Nearly a month and not a word, you could have called us,” her mother said.
Right, call from another realm.
Saia stepped away from her father. It still shocked her that almost a month had passed here. She’d only been in Stygia a week.
“Where’s your friend?” her father asked.
“In the formal lounge. I’ll bring her.”
Saia left her parents and headed back to Ikaria, wishing she could just go to her room.
Ikaria still stood in the foyer, studying an arrangement of deep red Poinsettias on a podium near a colorful Chagall hanging on the wall. “These flowers are lovely.”
Her friend’s delight in simple pleasures briefly lessened Saia’s despair. “Come, meet my parents.”
As the days crawled by, no matter how busy Saia kept herself, it did little to dull the ache inside her. In the deepest part of her heart, she’d hoped Riley would come after her when he’d found her gone. He hadn’t. That rammed the bitter truth home.
He never promised her anything, beyond keeping her safe. Guess he must be relieved he didn’t have to worry about her any longer.
Saia stepped out of the shower, swiped a warm towel from the heated rail, and wrapped her wet hair. Snagging another, she rubbed herself dry then stopped and twisted her body to look at her lower back in the full-length mirror. The swirly scrawl was still there, darker now. She wiped away the droplets of water on the tattoo.
How could she forget him when she’d always wear his mark? She felt so hollow, empty inside, like her very heart had separated from her without him.
She fastened the warm towel around her body and blew out a rough breath when she thought about the approaching evening.
Since she’d come back, her mother had reverted back to her usual self, pretended all was well. Christmas had been and passed, but the endless invitations to various functions continued to arrive. Needing to get some semblance of her life back, she’d accompanied her parents to some of the parties. With Piers attending several of them, she’d been unable to avoid him.
And now this dinner.
She’d tried getting out of it, but her mother had refused point-blank.
Christ, she’d walked into that trap.
It had to have been her mother’s master plan all along, a private dinner with the Haimons. And Piers. Already, she could feel the start of a headache as tension tightened the muscles in her shoulders.
Saia left the steamy bathroom and entered her dressing room, but a sound drew her to the bedroom. Ikaria stared out the window with an awed expression. Dressed in a navy sweater and blue jeans, her hair bound in a ponytail, she looked beautiful.
Saia was glad the twins hadn’t met her when they’d pit-stopped to check on Saia after her return, or they’d never have left Ikaria alone.
Lightning flashed and brightened the room. What the girl could see in this downpour, Saia had no idea.
Girl? A wry smile curved Saia’s mouth. Ikaria had told her she was almost five hundred years old while in Stygia, yet she appeared to be Saia’s age. Her excitement in visiting the clothing stores, her sheer joy at the vast selection of color and styles made Saia smile. She’d enjoyed every minute she’d spent with Ikaria.
She turned from the window, her eyes sparkling. “The power of lightning is amazing. It’s like being hit by a strong dose of magic.
“Are you high?” Saia teased.
“You mean do I want to go out and annihilate the monsters from the dredges of Hell that ravage our citadel and harm others? I do. Single-handedly.” Ikaria’s gaze skimmed over Saia, her smile morphed into one of distress. “Saia, you shouldn’t be going out with that male. It wouldn’t bode well for the human should Réomer find out. He would be furious. Our males are terribly possessive.”
“It’s no big deal, just family obligations,” she said lightly, refusing to show her desolation. She entered her dressing room again, dropped her towel, and pulled on underwear. A light knock, then soft voices drifted from her bedroom.
A moment later, Liz appeared in the doorway and leaned against the jamb. They hadn’t spoken much since she’d gotten back because Saia had spent most of the week showing Ikaria around, and her nights fulfilling her promise to attend socials.
“Are you and Riley okay?” she asked her tone edged with worry. “You haven’t been yourself since you got back.”
“We’re fine.” She avoided Liz’s searching look and combed through her closet for something to wear.
“I ask because you seem to be accepting Piers’s interest in you.”
Yes, thanks to her mother mentioning that Piers had been with them at whatever party they’d attended.
“He’s a friend, Liz. Nothing more.”
Liz’s gaze skated over Saia’s nearly nude body. Before her aunt saw Riley’s name on her back, Saia pulled on her blue terry robe and tied the belt around her waist.
Someone rapped on the bedroom door. “Saia?” Noah called out.
“Dressing room.”
Her brother stopped at the door and studied her just as Liz had moments ago. He’d come home the moment he heard she’d returned. Saia understood it was because of
the Caligo, Trevor, tracking her. But like Liz, he hadn’t asked her much about being away.
“You’ve come to tell me what a fool I’ve been, too?” she asked before he could say anything. “And that Mother is right, appearances have to be maintained? Or that Piers is a good choice?”
He looked her over, and his austere expression softened. “You’re upset.”
“You think?” In frustration, she tugged the towel from her head. Damp hair tumbled down her back. She turned back to her closet. Roughly, she hauled out several dresses, tossing them on an armchair there. A dark green one caught her eye and she pulled it off the hanger—no! No more green for her. She threw it aside and pulled out something in deep red. The color of blood and gore, yes, perfect for her mood.
“Mother only wants what’s best for you.”
Saia pivoted. Noah had taken the other armchair in her dressing room. Liz stood just inside the room. “Yes. Apparently, that’s Piers. Did you not see how the sun shines from him?”
Noah leaned back in his chair. His steepled fingers pressed to his lips, hiding his smile, but his dark blue eyes gleamed.
Looking at him like that was a punch in the stomach. Her face crumpled, and a sob broke free.
“Saia, what is it?” Noah was at her side.
She shook her head. How could she tell her brother that Riley had looked at her the same way at their last meal together? Except, while her brother was amused, Riley had made love to her with his eyes. Later, he’d done just that in that dark alcove.
And all she’d thought she’d seen in his smiling green eyes had been just a dream.
Liz draped an arm around her heaving shoulders, steered her back to the bed, and sat down beside her. Noah stopped in front of her, looking helplessly at her tears.
“What’s wrong, hun?” Liz asked. “What happened when you went off with Riley?”
Surely, Liz didn’t expect her to bare her heart in front of Noah?
Liz sighed, and with an apologetic look, she said, “Honey, we know what happened. Gaelin told us.”
Gaelin? Then Liz knew—did they both know everything? She glanced at her aunt and saw the truth in her understanding expression.