by J. D. Brown
“It’s so nice to have you join us at the table again. Would you care for something?” She lifted a hand to motion at her servant, Rudo. The African vampire’s ash-gray skin and completely back eyeballs gave me the creeps, but Rudo was a polite man and I liked him well enough. I didn’t care for his stereotypical job being the house butler, but what could I do? As far as I could tell, they treated him all right.
“No, thank you,” I said, thinking of the last time I tried to eat in their company. Talk about disaster. “I’m just here for the latest news.”
Cecelia shrugged then flitted her hand at Rudo in a dismissive manner. He went back to standing near the kitchen door.
The same door swung open and Maria walked into the room. Her brow pinched tight over a downcast gaze and she tapped the tip of her index finger against her chin. She ambled slowly toward the table, as if on autopilot. Since Jesu and I were the only ones facing the kitchen, we noticed her first.
“Something wrong?” Jesu asked. Everyone paused and glanced over their shoulders.
Maria lifted her gaze and glanced around the room. Then she scanned each face individually. Her mouth puckered in uncertainty before she settled on Jesu and Nikolas. “I just got off the phone with Naamah. He’s on his way to Helsinki with Jalmari. He’s going to stay—”
“Why would he do that?” I exclaimed. Seriously, I just got Naamah and Maria back. “For how long?”
Maria shook her head. “For as long as Jalmari wishes, I suppose. The prince decided to take a sabbatical to grieve Leena’s death. Naamah will take his place at the Head of the Clan until Jalmari returns.”
I crossed my arms. ‘Sabbatical’ my ass. “He blames me for her murder. I don’t think he’s mourning. I think he’s vengeful.”
Jesu glanced at his lap and pulled his lower lip between his teeth. Under the table, I took his hand in mine and squeezed it. I knew Jesu worried about Jalmari. Not just because Jalmari tried to kill me on multiple occasions, but because they were brothers. I had no doubt that Jesu wished for Jalmari to move on and be happy.
“I agree with Ema,” said Tancred. That came as a welcome surprise, since Tancred usually bickered with everything I suggested. “Prince Jalmari was missing before all this. He appears out of nowhere to attack Ema and then, when he fails, he goes off the map again. If that isn’t suspicious, I don’t know what is.”
“The prince can do what he wants,” said Nikolas. “We have more than our share of enemies to fight already. I will not go on a wild goose chase after both father and son. If Jalmari returns, he’ll pay the consequences. For now, let us focus on more pressing issues.” He leaned forward so that he could look around his wife’s curves, at his son. “Brinnon, have you finalized the contract?”
Nikolas’ slightly smaller carbon copy nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Jesu leaned close and whispered. “What contract?”
My gaze widened in dread. I totally forgot to tell Jesu.
“Good,” said Nikolas. “Have your brothers and sisters signed it?”
Brinnon winced. “Most of them insist on meeting Ema first. Especially Auda. You know how she is.”
I peeked at Maria from the corner of my vision. She met my gaze and offered a single nod of apprehension.
“What contract?” Jesu repeated through his teeth.
I meant to tell him, honestly, but I couldn’t do it here, in front of everyone. The conversation required finesse, because Jesu was going to hit the roof once he knew. “Don’t worry,” I whispered. “Maria and I are handling it.”
“It would be nice to see the kids again,” Cecelia said to no one in particular. “Oh, Nik, let’s invite them over.”
Nikolas closed his eyes and messaged his temples. “Very well, give them a call.” Opening his eyes, he sighed and then set his wide palms on the table. “In the meantime, the six of us can sign it.”
My stomach flip-flopped. I looked to Maria for help, which was dumb. I was the one who asked her to make the contract happen in the first place. She mistook my worry and turned a stern eye on the king.
“Just remember, Your Highness, the contract is void unless every member of the royal Aplan family signs it.”
“Yes, yes.” Nikolas waved a hand. “However, time is of the essence. There’s no reason to prolong our deal when Apollyon is out there plotting.”
Anger rolled off my lover in waves. “Am I included in your plans at all?”
I bit my lip. “I was going to tell you. I just needed—”
“Let me guess; time?” Jesu shook his head. “When will you trust me, Ema?”
“Can we please talk about this later?”
“We still need to discuss the incubus,” Brinnon added. Everyone looked at him. He blushed and shrank back. “What? Ema’s idea to use him is a sound one.”
“All the more reason to get this contract underfoot,” said Nikolas, because he wouldn’t help out of the goodness of his of his heart, or because of the simple fact we shared a common enemy. Nope. Nikolas was a businessman. He wanted payment in return for aiding my quest. That payment meant my freedom. “If you are all finished eating, we can move this conversation to my office. Brinnon, fetch the contract.”
Brinnon excused himself and then left the dining room.
Good thing I refrained from eating. My stomach twisted into a web of tight knots. Jesu, who glared proverbial daggers at me, was not helping.
“Looks like there will not be a later,” he pointed out.
I sighed. Where’s the seatbelt for this disaster?
Nikolas wiped his hands on a cloth napkin and then rose from the table. I gave Jesu my most apologetic look, and then followed Nikolas out of the room, into the hall. Maria, Tancred, Cecelia, and Sara joined us.
We filed into Nikolas’ office one at a time. The giant king took his place behind his desk and then motioned to the two chairs across from him. Maria and I lowered into the leather seats. The others gathered around us. Tancred began to close the door when Jesu squeezed inside at the last minute. I lifted a hand to my heart and waited for him to catch my eye so that I could mouth a silent thank you, but Jesu didn’t look my way. He stood against the wall next to the door, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze averted.
“About the incubus,” Nikolas began, drawing my attention. “Incubi do not go around saving damsels in distress, and they certainly do not take an interest in vampyre politics, so I have to assume Valafar’s interest in you is personal.”
He was wrong. The Crone had some mysterious interest in me ever since I met her in hell and gave her an apple. Valafar was just her lackey. But, Valafar possessed some sort of magical purple light that could cripple vampyres with the blink of an eye—literally. I saw it in action when he and the Crone saved me from Apollyon and his zombie thugs. It was my idea to try and convince Valafar to team up with us—an idea that no one, except Brinnon, seemed very fond of. In the end, Nikolas couldn’t deny the tremendous advantage Valafar would give us. If I could just figure out how to contact him, and if I could get him to agree to fight on our side. I wasn’t entirely sure the Crone would be willing to share, but Nikolas didn’t need to know that.
“I guess so,” I answered.
“Can you shed any light on what that interest is?”
I hung my head in defeat. “No idea.”
“Then this is a big risk for all of us. We are ill prepared and practically defenseless against incubi.”
I lifted my gaze, confused. “You said before that you hunted them.”
Nikolas shook his head. “I didn’t mean me personally. Restraining and killing them is certainly possible, but it requires a large group of specially trained hunters, and I do not have any under my employment. For the sake of my family and clan, I cannot extend a formal invitation allowing such a creature into my midst, much less into my home. If you wish to follow through with contacting the incubi, it must be at your own discretion.”
“I understand, but I’ll need leverage to convince him. What
can I offer?”
“Ema,” Jesu grunted. “This is by far the worst idea you have ever had. That guy could be using you.”
Jesu was right, of course. The Crone was using me for something. Still… they kept me alive. They rescued me and brought me back to the castle. They didn’t have to. They could have locked me in a cage, and no one would have been the wiser—but they didn’t. Plus, the Crone knew about the bun in my oven before Jesu did, and she seemed to want it to grow up safely with its mother.
“Trust me,” I said to Jesu. “Valafar wants me alive.”
“Ema, you cannot know that.” He took a step in my direction and let his hands fall to his sides. “Incubi are very powerful and very cunning. He could have…” Jesu paused and winced. He pulled his lips between his teeth and scanned my face. His gaze filled with a heavy sadness and then, just as quickly, filled with rage. He swallowed hard and then released a trembling breath. “Maria said you did not remember how the incubus brought you back from Egypt. There is no telling what he might have done to you.”
I scoffed. “Valafar didn’t touch me. The crappy condition they found me in was due to your father.”
Jesu took another step forward and lowered his voice. “Incubi are charmers. He could con you into believing anything. Make you forget anything.”
“It’s true,” Maria added. “Though not quite as absolute as Jesu suggests. Their power wears off after a little while.”
“Forget about the incubi,” Jesu pleaded. “We will find another way to stop my father.”
I narrowed my gaze and shook my head. “I’m doing this. I’m getting Valafar on our side.”
Jesu groaned as he tossed his hands into the air and then faced Maria. “Why do you encourage her?”
“Because I have faith.” Maria smiled.
I faced Nikolas. “What’s my leverage?”
“Money,” said the Alpan king. He leaned back in his tall leather chair and placed both hands on the armrests. “I am prepared to pay him ten-million euros for Apollyon’s disposal.”
I almost fell out of my seat. “Ten-million?”
“Start by offering him one-million,” Nikolas said while Maria helped me up. “That way you have more to negotiate with.”
“Ten-million…”
“Keep a cool head about this, Ema. Think before you speak. I can send my men to keep an eye out, but they’ll be useless if things go awry.”
“No.” I shook my head. “No men. They’ll only get in the way. I have to do this on my own. At my own discretion, remember?”
Jesu grumbled to himself.
Nikolas grinned. “I’m glad we understand one another.”
The office door swung open and Brinnon entered, carrying a small stack of papers. He set the papers on his father’s desk.
I leaned back in my chair and let the air rush out of my lungs. The contract. This is it. Goodbye freedom, hello Elite.
Maria flipped the contract around and began reading it.
“Will someone at least give me the cliff-notes?” Jesu muttered. Maria raised a hand to silence him. He frowned and then backed against a wall and crossed his arms over his chest. My stomach churned. Everyone, even Sara, stood on edge while Maria slowly flipped through the pages. I thought of excusing myself so I could run to the bathroom and vomit. I thought of jumping out of my seat and declaring that I’d changed my mind. I thought of running head-on into the nearest wall to knock myself unconscious. Anything seemed like a better idea than signing that document.
I have to do this. I need to do this. For them. For my unborn child.
Maria finished reading the last page and then looked at me. “It is exactly as we negotiated. Do you want to read it?”
I shook my head, unable to find my voice.
She handed the contract to Nikolas. He opened a drawer, took out a pen, and then notarized the last page. I gulped. There it was. A big, black, inky mark making our agreement official.
Cecelia came around the large desk and added her signature. Then Brinnon added his and, finally, Sara added hers. When she finished, Nikolas turned the contract around so that it faced me. My breath slowed and my pulse pounded in my ears.
“Go on,” Maria coaxed. “I will sign it after you as your witness.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. On exhale, I opened my eyes and reached for the pen. My hand shook. My fingers could hardly find the strength to grip the pen and it slipped, clattering against the desktop. I wet my lips and then tried again. My cheeks burned as everyone hovered over me, watching my struggle. I swallowed the lump in my throat and then brought the ballpoint tip of the pen to the clean thin line where I was to add my signature and sell away my very soul. This went against all of my values. Everything I grew up believing. Everything I taught myself in order to survive. All my life, I’d been alone, taken care of myself, needing no one else. Now I was about to pledge an eternal allegiance to a vampyre king and his very large family, in addition to every single descendant after them. For what?
For the safety of the ones I love.
Because I’m not alone anymore.
Because I can no longer only think about myself.
I pressed the point against the paper, drawing fresh ink. My every muscle tensed as I prepared to move my wrist across the page—
A pale blue hand clasped my fist. After a stunned moment, I tried to yank free, but Jesu’s stern grip refused to let me continue. I lifted my gaze, trailing the length of his shirtsleeve, to the contours of his shoulder and neck, rising still—only to land with a small gasp on the emerald flames burning in his eyes.
Jesu yanked me to my feet and twisted my arm around to the small of my back. My breath hitched in surprise as my hand opened and the pen fell to the floor. He pulled me against him. I lifted my other palm to his chest and pushed back.
“Jesu, what are you doing?”
His heated glare narrowed to slits and his jaw clenched as each word punched through his fangs. “This. Ends. Now.”
Chapter 5
Jesu dragged me out of the office, kicking and screaming. His long, swift stride and solid grip forced us across the hall, into the ballroom. If I was honest with myself, I’d admit I was relieved that he man-handled me out of the contract with Nikolas. I could’ve stopped the theatrics and gone willingly once we reached the foyer, but for some insane reason, I continued to fight. I dug in my heels and tried to pry his hand from my wrist. Jesu didn’t even flinch.
“What are you doing?” I gasped. “Let go.”
“Stop struggling.”
“You don’t understand. I have to sign that contract.”
“No, you do not.”
In a blur of motion, Jesu lowered to one knee, grabbed my legs, and swung me over his shoulder fireman-style. He rose to his full height and then marched up the winding staircase, into the guest wing. We paused outside my bedroom door just long enough for him to wrench open the ingress and wedge us through the threshold, not giving a damn how many times my elbows hit the door frame. It didn’t hurt—I was a vampyre after all—but I complained extra loud anyway.
“Ouch! Watch it, you big ox.”
Jesu kicked the door shut and then dumped me on the bed. My breath hitched as I bounced against the mattress.
“What is the matter with you?” I yelled while pushing myself upright.
Jesu towered over me and narrowed his gaze. His furrowed brow cast a deep shadow over his eyes, making the iridescent green appear brighter. “Do not treat me like a fool, Ema. You could have phased at any time.”
My mouth snapped shut. He was right. Jesu didn’t have the ability to phase, which meant he didn’t have the ability to keep me un-phased either. He could only touch me if I wanted to be touched.
“Everyone in the room could tell that you did not want to sign that contract.”
I glared at him. “Sometimes we have to do things even if we don’t want to. It’s called being an adult.”
He twisted to the side and forced al
l ten fingers through his hair as though he wanted to rip it out by the roots. He took a deep breath and then looked at me from the corner of his eyes. “What is in the contract, Ema?”
I glanced away and bit my lip.
“What price,” he growled, “did you promise to pay Nikolas that has you squirming like a worm on a hook?”
Heat rose to my cheeks. “If you knew what I was getting in return—”
“Tell me, then! What is in it for you, huh?”
“It’s not for me,” I said, facing him. “It’s for you. It’s for Maria and Naamah. It’s for my child.” I slid a hand over my stomach and lowered my gaze. “It’s for anyone else I might love in the future.”
“Protection? That is what you are after?” He made a fist and thumped it against his chest. “I am your protector, Ema.”
“Jesu, you could die protecting me, and then what? If Apollyon kills us both, where would that leave my child? I have to think about its future.”
His brow lifted. “It has not been a full twenty-four hours since I told you about the baby. You and Maria have been planning this for much longer. Did you already know?”
I winced and then shrugged. “I had a hunch. Your premonition confirmed it.”
Jesu turned his back to me and hung his head. He was silent for several moments. Then, in a neutral tone, he added, “You know, as a vampire, I am used to being omitted from political decisions. No vote. No voice. No effect. It never bothered me before. I knew my place. My role in life will always be different from my brother’s. Jalmari is the true prince. The heir. The politic. I was just happy to be his little brother, tagging along. But with you…” His fists clenched and he looked over his shoulder. “With you, it bothers the hell out of me. All the secrets. Being kept in the dark. I cannot help you if you refuse to let me, Ema.”
“I was going to tell you, Jesu, I swear.” I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath before opening them. Vampyres couldn’t cry tears, but that didn’t stop my chest from aching, or the lump in my throat from swelling.
“When?”
