by JF Holland
“Fuck, I’m going to kill him,” Balin mumbled running his hands up a shaking Lana’s back. “I’m sorry baby, I didn’t think,” he told her, kissing the top of her head, feeling like shit for putting her in this position. Then her heard her muffled laughter. “You’re not upset?” he asked pushing her head back.”
“A bit late to be worried,” she shrugged, plus, I’m still dressed.
“Yes, you are,” he grinned, rotating his hips beneath her, making her gasp.
“I take it the interruption didn’t dampen your ardour?” Lara sighed, moving again.
“Are you kidding, the house could fall down and it wouldn’t stop me,” added through gritted teeth. Then he groaned as she met his upward thrust, his back bowing as he pulled her tighter against him and again picked up the pace.
***
“What’s so funny?” Maya asked Jaden as he unbuttoned his shirt, eyes filled with amusement.
“Balin is feeling better.”
“He is, that’s great,” she smiled at him, rubbing her wet hair and heading to the set of drawers to remove clean underwear. “Did you tell him Luc and Sophia will be here if he needs anything?”
“I think he’s fine for now,” he told her dryly.
“What is wrong with you?” she asked frowning at his odd behaviour, turning with a clean pair of panties and a bra in her hand.
“I caught him and Lana getting busy,” he informed her with a grin.
“Oh,” she blinked. “That’s good, he must be on the mend. He’ll be up and about in no time,” she replied then smacked her own forehead at her turn of phrase as Jaden cracked up laughing.
“He’s already up, as for about, maybe a day or two,” Jaden winked, sobering as she blushed. “Sorry baby, I needed that after the last week or so,” he told her, his eyes dropping to her hand and what she was holding. “There’s something else I could do with too,” he told her eyes heating. “Drop the robe Maya, and come here,” he crooked a finger. She shook her head, eyes going wide.
“We don’t have time for this, Sam and Helena are waiting for us,” she told him, backing up.
“I promise I’ll be quick,” he growled, stalking her across the room.
He stood before her, stopping her flight as her back hit the wall. Undoing the belt of her robe, it parted and he purred in pleasure, a hand stroking between her breasts as he nuzzled into her neck.
“I don’t suppose a few more minutes will matter,” she sighed, her arms going around his neck as he lifted her against the wall.
“Not at all,” he grunted as he freed himself and slid into her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
S ophia sat at the desk in the office, several books spread out before her as she again searched for answers.
Luc came through the door, cups and a plate of biscuits on a tray. She moved a book out of his way as he put it down, when a sound registered from above. Looking up she frowned, trying to figure out what the banging was and Luc laughed.
“What so funny, and what is that noise?”
“I think it is classed as life affirming,” Luc told her dryly, taking a seat before the desk.
“What do you mean?” she asked, reaching for her tea and a digestive.
“Sex,” he informed her, watching her over his cup. Her hand stilled, her own cup halfway to her mouth and she blinked. Just then a loud moan could be heard and her eyes lifted to the ceiling, widening. “Oui, they are celebrating life, a normal reaction after a funeral,” Luc shrugged.
“Quite,” Sophia murmured, clearing her throat as her other hand came up to hold her cup steady. “Anyway,” she added, putting her cup back down before her shaking hands spilled it. “I can’t find anything useful in these books,” she sighed, rubbing at her eyes, trying to ignore the noise above them.
“Leave it alone for a while, give yourself a break,” Luc told her, putting his own cup down and taking a biscuit. She didn’t know how he could sit there so calmly when they could hear the racket above them, especially knowing what they were doing. Again, she brought her thoughts back to the matter at hand and not what she wanted to do, namely Luc.
“I know there is a simple solution to ending your curse,” she informed him, annoyance at her own wayward thoughts tinging her voice. She blushed at her own actions earlier as she’d stroked him at the table. Then, sighing, she took a bite of her own biscuit and chewed thoughtfully, just as another moan could be heard from above. “Sheesh, they could at least keep it down,” she scowled, picking up her cup again and taking another swallow.
“You were louder,” Luc informed her and had to lean over the desk and pat her back as she choked on her drink. “Okay?” he asked, sitting back, amusement evident in his eyes as she scowled at him and took a shuddering breath, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“A gentleman wouldn’t make that kind of observation,” she admonished.
“I was just stating fact,” he shrugged, eyes heating as he watched her, remembering how she’d looked beneath him. Another moan was heard, followed by a male shout, and Sophia rolled her eyes as Luc grinned.
“Ahem, anyway, I need to keep searching.” Sophia did not want to think about what her family were getting up to, and certainly not with Luc sat before her. Why had he had to remind her of their time together, she thought, shuffling around in her chair in discomfort. She internally shook her head, trying to dislodge the images in her head of how he had looked reaching his own pleasure. The sleek lines of his throat working, muscles straining as he’d groaned her name. Shivering, she was brought out of her thoughts as he spoke again.
“Why not take a break?”
He desperately wanted to drag her over the desk and do what he’d thought about the last time he’d found her sat behind there. She seemed on edge though, especially knowing the others were in the house. Soon they’d be gone though, and then it would just be Lana and Balin here besides them, and they were upstairs. Maybe once the others left he’d manage to get her to himself for a while, he mused his thoughts going into overdrive. Sophia spoke-up, bringing his pleasant thoughts to a halt.
“Because I’m also looking for a way to locate Maisie or her husband,” she sighed, rubbing a hand over her aching eyes.
“You are tired, you need to rest and take care of yourself,” Luc scowled. How could he be so selfish, thinking of ways to slake his lust, knowing how tired she was. Mentally berating himself, he tried to figure out what he could do to help her, not wear her out further.
“I will shortly, honestly. I just need to dig a little deeper, I know the answers are in here somewhere,” she told him on a sigh.
“Very well, is there anything I can do to help?”
“You could try looking through some of the books.”
“What am I looking for?” he asked, reaching over and snagging a large tome from the end of the desk.
“Look for anything regarding curses.”
Nodding, he opened the old leather tome, scanning the pages. The architect in him couldn’t help but admire the craftsmanship, the curling script, and the hand drawn intricate drawings. The book was old, the pages had obviously been thumbed through many times as they were worn in places, but it was well preserved.
“Yours?” he asked, closing it again, his hand stroking over the leather binding, with the gold leaf embellishment.
“It’s an old family heirloom, passed from generation to generation, then in my case, life to life.”
“Ah, yes, the curse of the witch, not much better than mine,” he told her grimly.
“I would not class having to keep returning and living my life over to be quite so extreme as yours,” she told him quietly. “I do not see as a curse as such, just waiting on a mate to kick in my immortality.” She sighed, then with a twist of her lips, she brushed her hair over her shoulder, distractedly.
Luc looked at her, his head to one side. “You have never found a mate?” he enquired. She just shook her head, not lifting her eyes as she turned a
page, muttering to herself about not looking old and haggard if she had as she read, before flicking to the next page. Luc sighed, not thinking of her age, she was beautiful to him as she was, but decided to keep that to himself. He also decided that talk of mates would be better left for another time, she obviously did not want to discuss such issues.
Maybe she’d be more approachable once they got rid of the threat of Maisie. Soon, he thought with satisfaction, relishing the thought of the bitch finally getting her due. Although the thought of something else was much more pleasurable. He was hoping that after she’d finished her research, she would allow him to once again lose himself in her body. Shifting in his seat at the thought; and to rearrange himself, he again opened the tome before him and began to read.
Chapter Twenty-Five
L uc placed a kiss upon Sophia’s head as she slept on, her head resting on his chest, arm slung around his waist. He’d not had the pleasure of her body as she’d fallen to sleep reading. He’d only left her alone for a moment to check in on Balin and see how he was doing. After locking up and checking the house was secure, he’d returned to the small room that Jaden had turned into an office to find her sleeping, face in a book. He’d switched off the lamp she’d been reading by and had carried her up the stairs and into the room she was using; finding it easily by her scent being so strong in the room. Lying her on the bed, he’d undressed her as she’d slept on, her hand reaching for him in her sleep as he’d moved away. Unable to resist, he’d quickly stripped himself, before slipping in beside her, and curling around her
He must have fallen to sleep himself, as he’d been woken by the others coming back in a short while ago, their voices as they’d climbed the stairs disturbing him. Lucky really, as the sky had begun to lighten. Regretfully, he kissed her once more, smiling as she’d sighed in her sleep and tried to curl further into him. Gently, he lifted her off his chest, untucking his wing from beneath her, another smile tugging at his mouth as she grumbled, searching for him in her sleep. Her hand had reached out, before snagging the pillow he’d slept on, then sighing she’d settled, her face buried into it. He’d edged out of the bed, dressing silently, before leaving the room and quickly heading downstairs. He could not afford to be in her bed or the house when his curse came into play. Once he turned, his weight would take out not only the bed but the flooring too, and Sophia and the others could be hurt in the process. He let himself out of the backdoor, locking it again behind him and moved to the corner of the patio, readying himself for a long day. This evening he would talk to her, no matter what, he was now convinced that she was his mate, he just had to convince her of it, and hope she accepted him.
Sophia woke, her face mashed into a pillow, and frowning as she tried to remember coming to bed. Taking a breath, Luc’s scent hit her nose and wrapped around her senses, soothing her and giving her the answer as to how she’d found herself here. Sitting up she stretched, blinking as she realised she was naked, then blushed, realising that he must have also undressed her. Then shrugging, as it wasn’t the first time, she got up, padding over to the door. Pulling her dressing gown off the hook on the back of the door, she shoved her arms in, fastening the tie. Her next stop was the bathroom for a quick shower before the household woke up. One bathroom and seven adults all in the same house didn’t work well. She’d originally been next door, but after Balin had been taken they’d all been moved into the same house; next door presently empty.
Washed and dressed, Sophia made her way downstairs. Nine in the morning and all was still quiet, maybe they’d gotten in late. She found a note on the work surface beside the kettle telling her they’d not arrived home until nearly five in the morning. She’d be on her own for a while yet, so didn’t bother setting up the coffee maker, instead, she flicked the kettle on and popped a couple of slices of bread into the toaster.
She’d just sat down to drink her coffee, covering a yawn with the back of her hand, when there was a knock at the door. Quickly, she got up to answer before the others were woken. Unlocking and opening the door, on the doorstep, she found the last person on earth she’d expected.
“Good morning. Please, do not be afraid, I mean you no harm. I am, Adlucinor, or Addie for short. I believe we have a common enemy,” he informed her. He then stood hunkered into himself, hat covering his head and pulled low over his face, the lapels of a long coat pulled up around his throat, so little of him was visible.
“Come in, I’ll call the others,” Sophia replied, stepping back.
“Thank you, but there isn’t much time,” he told her, cautiously moving into the hallway, his gait awkward.
“Can I get you a drink?”
“No, there really isn’t much time. If we don’t move now, it may be too late.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Maisie, my bitch of a wife. I know where she is, but I don’t know how long she will stay put,” her informed her.
“And we should trust your word?” growled Jaden from halfway down the stairs, pulling a T-shirt over his head and fastening his jeans.
“I wish you no harm, but my wife… let’s just say her I would harm, and I have my reasons,” he informed Jaden with a sigh. As he undid his coat, Jaden moved so fast he was down the last of the stairs with a leap, putting himself before Sophia. “I told you I would not harm anyone,” Adlucinor informed him, then sighing, shrugged out of his coat and removed his hat. He then dropped both on the floor at his feet, before slowly straightening and raising his head.
Sophia gasped, hand going to her mouth and he winced.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…” her hand moved up and down, taking him in from head to toe. His skin was a mottled black and purple, like a very fresh, angry bruise. His eyes, when he met their shocked stares were blood red, as was his hair. He had long fangs which dug into his bottom lip making his speech lisping, and as her eyes swept lower she realised why his gait was awkward and shuffling, his legs were bent at an odd angle. As he turned slightly, she spotted tiny, black wings, thin, veiny like cobwebs was the only covering over the structure, and they were ragged and torn.
“Yes, she was very inventive with her curse,” he replied, eyes dropping.
“Fuck,” Jaden murmured. “Come on through to the kitchen,” he informed him, nudging Sophia before him so he was at her back.
“Take a seat,” Jaden told him, moving to the coffee machine and setting it up with a filter, coffee, and water before flicking it on.
“Time is imperative,” Adlucinor told Jaden, “I don’t know how long she will be there.”
“I can’t function without coffee, I only got in a couple of hours ago, we all did. We’d been out all night searching for her. So, while we wait for the others to come down, tell me how you know where she is?”
Sighing, Adlucinor slowly and carefully lowered himself to a kitchen chair, wincing. Movement looked like torture and Sophia’s heart went out to him. “Do you know what I am?” he asked Jaden, and he nodded.
“You do?” he asked and Jaden looked towards Sophia, shrugging.
“Well I didn’t, but Sophia explained. She said you’re a dream demon.”
“Yes, although I look more demon than dream demon at present.”
“What’s the difference?” Jaden asked, sighing as the coffee began to pour into his cup.
“A dream demon normally looks like what everyone’s typical version of an angel is. Big, white feathery wings, lustrous hair, defined, features, the usual. A dream demon is actually an angle, fallen, although still an angel,” Sophia answered.
“You have to shitting me,” Jaden mumbled, taking a sip of his coffee, as his eyes once again moved over the being sat at the table, before sighing and putting it down. “No offense,” he told Adlucinor, who gave him a lopsided grin, as Jaden pushed a cup of coffee near him, putting cream, sugar and a spoon in the middle of the table. He also placed another three cups down as footsteps were heard on the stairs.
“Maya, Sam, Helena, this is
Adlucinor, Maisie’s estranged husband.” Jaden introduced as the others stumbled into the room, shocked eyes turning towards the newcomer. “Adlucinor, this is Maya my mate, Sam, Balin’s father, which I guess makes him mine, as Balin is my brother,” he shook his head and shrugged at that one, too tired to think about it. “This is Helena, Maya’s mother, and Sam’s mate.”
“Please called me Addie, I would have liked to have met you all under better circumstances.”
“Sophia was just explaining that Dream Demons normally look like our typical imaginings of an angel. Are fallen angels actually,” Jaden explained to the others as they doctored their coffee’s and took seats around the table. They all turned towards Addie with similar looks of incredulity.
“Maisie has a sense of humour; she took the theme of demon typically when she cursed me.”
“She seems to do that a lot,” Helena mumbled quietly, thinking of Luc.
“Why did she curse you?” Sam asked, suspiciously as he sat back, sipping his coffee.
“I found out too late exactly what she was like, and I’d already bound to her and tripped her immortality. For that I will be eternally sorry.”
“We don’t choose our mates.” Helena told him quietly.
“No, sadly, we don’t. Or, in my case at least. I found her torturing a young boy, no more than around twelve years old, black hair, green eyes,” Addie replied, shaking his head. Helena gasped and Sam took hold of her hand, gave it a squeeze to quieten her, so they could listen. “It seemed his older brother had just taken great pleasure in killing their parents. Maisie had helped going so far as to have sex with him while their bodies lay beside them. Obviously, the younger brother was inconsolable.” He took a sip of his coffee before continuing. “I watched, in absolute shock as she took a knife and went to gut the child. His brother intervened, saying he’d be of use to them, and as I watched, he himself, cut him, collected the blood and added it to an amulet. Maisie then placed it around his neck, and he quietened and went still.”
