Blaze of Secrets (Asylums for Magical Threats)

by Donovan, Jessie

  If no one intervened, they were going to whip her.

  When the two guards took her upper arms in steel-like grips, she started to panic and tried her hardest to squirm free. But no matter how much she twisted or bucked, she was no match for the heavily muscled guards. They pulled her along as if she weighed no more than a feather, and as the seconds ticked by and Ty remained absent, tears started to stream down her cheeks. Why would he do this? Was there someone else? Had he just been using her all this time?

  Didn’t the head warden know about her role in developing Ty’s precious formula?

  The guards finally hauled her into an adjacent room and she let out a sob when she saw the instruments hanging on the wall. She pulled back with all of her weight, but they lifted her with barely a second of hesitation before they yanked her the final few feet to the metal table in the middle of the room. She was no match for the guards’ strength as they tossed her face down on the table and forced her hands into metal bands on either end. Even after the bands clicked closed, she wiggled and tried to pull her hands free until her wrists were slick with blood.

  She stilled when she heard one of the guards take something from the wall and slap it against his palm. Reality set in as she realized that Ty wasn’t coming to save her. There was no way out.

  They were truly going to whip her.

  With her heart pounding in her chest, Kiarra closed her eyes, turned her head, and laid her cheek on the cool surface of the metal table. Maybe this would be it. Maybe the guards would kill her and end the pain in her heart.

  First her parents, and now Ty. Everyone tossed her away when it was convenient. No one ever fought to protect her.

  She was unwanted.

  The guards ripped the back of her hospital gown and made taunting remarks, but she didn’t hear them over the frantic beat of her heart. She just hoped that they’d end it quickly. She’d already suffered more in five years than most people did in a lifetime.

  The first lash hit her back and Kiarra screamed at the burning pain. The guard hit her again, and again, never lashing at a predictable beat, which made the torture worse than anything she’d ever imagined.

  Her body finally numbed, but she couldn’t stop her tears. And as blood trickled down her sides to the table, pooling around her just like her tears, Kiarra wanted nothing more than to die.

  Kiarra bolted upright in bed, choking back the remnants of a scream. She looked around the unfamiliar room, but when she saw Jaxton leaning over her, Kiarra closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  It’d only been a dream.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d dreamed of her first whipping.

  “Bloody hell, Kiarra, what were you screaming about?”

  She looked up and saw Jaxton’s scowl. If not for the concern in his eyes, she would’ve thought he’d forgotten about last night.

  Last night. No doubt her memories of the head warden had triggered the dreams again.

  She mentally cursed the head warden, and by extension, Ty Adams. The two of them had robbed her of a wonderful night spent in Jaxton’s arms. His warm body had made her feel safe, and while part of her wanted to curl up against his chest, she wouldn’t allow her past to taint and possibly destroy whatever kind of chance she had with Jaxton. The last thing she wanted from him was pity; she would sort out her mind first, and seek comfort later.

  “Kiarra?”

  Jaxton brushed her bangs to the side and his touch intensified her urge to jump into his arms, but she steeled her resolve. “It was just a dream. Nothing you need to worry about.”

  “Bollocks. You were tossing and turning before you screamed loud enough to wake the dead.” He put a finger under her chin. “You can tell me anything, pet, because if you can’t learn to trust somebody, you’ll never be a full-fledged member of DEFEND.”

  She shook her head and dislodged Jaxton’s finger from her skin. Each time he was kind to her, it weakened her resolve. “You don’t understand.”

  Jaxton sat down on the bed, next to Kiarra’s hip, and put a hand on her cheek. “Talking about your demons helps to chuck them out for good. You need to tell somebody, so tell me.” The indecision in Kiarra’s eyes tore at his heart. “I won’t judge you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Why should I trust you when you don’t trust me?”

  Kiarra almost sounded like herself again. “Well, that’s where you’re wrong. I was planning on taking you out to scout information with me this morning. But if I think you’re mentally unfit to go out into the field, then I’ll have Millie stay with you while I go out alone.”

  Millie hadn’t come back to the flat yet, but Kiarra didn’t need to know that.

  Kiarra’s eyes widened. “You’ll take me out and let me help you?”

  Jaxton raised an eyebrow. “Why would I say so otherwise?”

  She searched his eyes and when she finally spoke, her tone was solemn. “I’ve never told anyone about what happened.”

  “I’m not just anyone, you know.”

  His deliberately arrogant tone worked, making Kiarra smile for a brief second before she took a deep breath and averted her gaze. “I sometimes dream about the day the AMT head warden found me guilty of seduction, and his resulting sentence.”

  He held back his anger and kept his tone gentle. “Tell me about it, pet.”

  There was a brief silence, but Jaxton’s patience was rewarded. “They restrained me to a table and whipped me.” She closed her eyes and Jaxton traced her jaw until she opened her eyes again. “All I remember was being scared, the overwhelming pain, and then the darkness.”

  “Unconsciousness?”

  Kiarra leaned forward and tucked her head against his chest before she shook her head. “For a time, but even when I woke, it was dark. I spent three months in solitary confinement.”

  When she shivered, he sensed there was something more that she wasn’t telling him. Jaxton drew her closer against him and waited until she had settled before he said, “What happened during those three months?”

  Kiarra started and pulled away so that she could look Jaxton in the face. “W-why would you think something happened?”

  “Let’s just say that I’m fairly good at judging whether someone is hiding something from me or not.”

  She scowled, and Jaxton knew she was once again becoming his version of Kiarra. “Is there anything you can’t do?” she asked.

  He grinned. “I can’t give birth to babies.” She swatted his chest and Jaxton captured her hand and squeezed it. “Now, tell me. What happened?”

  She stared at their hands as she spoke. “The head warden often came to my cell for inspections, to make sure my injuries were healing.”

  “Because they whipped you more than once.”

  She looked up at that and nodded. “Yes.” She looked back to their hands on his chest and he squeezed her fingers gently. “But the head warden had his own kind of inspection.” She closed her eyes, her voice a whisper. “He would strip me and force me to stand while he looked at me.”

  Fucking bastard. Kiarra flinched and Jaxton loosened his grip on her hand. “Sorry, pet. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but just the thought of what he did to you makes me furious.” He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “Did he ever…hurt you?”

  “Thankfully no.” She traced designs on his chest with her free hand. “The head warden died within a few months of my confinement, before he ever had the chance. They said it was a heart attack.” Jaxton harrumphed and Kiarra looked at his face. “What was that supposed to mean?”

  Sulking wasn’t his usual way, but Jaxton didn’t care. “I wanted to kill him for you.”

  She smiled. “In an odd way, that’s sweet.” She searched his eyes. “But you really believe me, just like that?”

  The note of skepticism in her voice irritated him. “If given the choice between believing a clever, spirited, beautiful, if somewhat naïve young woman, or believing a man who worked for a system
that imprisons and tortures children, which would you choose?”

  Kiarra blinked at his praise. She was unused to it, which meant Jaxton needed to do it more often. Kiarra didn’t know how much she had to offer the world. Certainly more than her lack of elemental abilities or her body. Hell, she could call him out on his shit for one thing, which was a task in and of itself.

  Kiarra shook her head to herself and he wanted to know what she was thinking. There would come a day when she wouldn’t hide anything from him, especially since he wasn’t letting her go anywhere for the foreseeable future.

  But right now, she still didn’t feel comfortable enough to confide in him without reserve. He was about to ask what was on her mind, but she beat him to it with her own question. “That’s oversimplifying things. What if I’m working for them?”

  Neena would never let a traitor into their inner fold, but Kiarra didn’t know that. He lowered his face close to hers. “Are you?”

  Kiarra raised her chin. “No.”

  “Then don’t bring it up.” He tucked her short hair behind one ear. “I was trying to compliment you earlier, you know.”

  “Was that before or after you started growling and scowling at me?”

  Jaxton smiled. Kiarra might have some undesirables in her past, but she was stronger than the memories. Any woman who stood up to him was not weak in character.

  He lowered his head, stopping an inch from her lips. “Well if growling and scowling is what it takes, I think I can handle that.”

  Short breaths puffed against his lips. “To do what?”

  He trailed the back of his fingers down her throat and up again. Her breath hitched, and Jaxton smiled wider. “To make new memories strong enough to overshadow the old.”

  Kiarra raised an eyebrow. “You seem pretty confident about being able to do that.”

  He moved to her ear and whispered, “It’s been working so far, but I might need to change tactics.” He bit her earlobe and waited to see how she would react. If she froze, he’d back off and merely hold her, but he had a feeling she was stronger than that. When she moved her hand up behind his neck and groaned, he gave a gentle nip and licked her ear. “Well, what do you think, pet? Shall we try a little harder?”

  The fingers on his neck hesitated, but after he kissed the soft spot just behind her ear, she kneaded his skin and titled her head to the side. Jaxton took that as an invitation and kissed down her neck to where her neck met her shoulder and bit gently. He blew against her wet skin and Kiarra shivered, but this time in a good way.

  Jaxton lifted his head and cupped Kiarra’s cheek. “I think it’s working.”

  She tightened her grip on his neck and pulled his face down to hers. “Stop gloating and kiss me.”

  Her mouth swallowed his laugh and opened to invite his tongue. As he darted and tangled inside her mouth, he drew Kiarra’s body closer, wanting her to know it was him and not a shadow of the past. When the sharp buds of her nipples rubbed against his chest, he groaned and rubbed his cock against her stomach, letting her know he wanted her too.

  But it wasn’t enough. He grabbed her arse and lifted her onto his lap. Kiarra wrapped her legs around his waist, her core now against his cock, and despite the layers of clothing between them, he thrust. Kiarra groaned and moved her hips, the friction making him want to toss her on the bed and rip off her clothes. But he concentrated, determined to make this good for her, and started trailing kisses down her neck until he reached the neckline of the red dress she still wore from last night. He nuzzled the swells of her breasts and said, “I want your hard little nipples in my mouth.” He nipped the top of her left breast. “Lift your dress for me, pet.”

  He could feel Kiarra’s breath on his face, but he watched as she lifted her skirt up over her bra, her actions unsure, lacking confidence. Jaxton could help with that. “So beautiful,” he whispered.

  She flushed down to her neck and he found it adorable. He leaned down and licked her nipple through the lace of her bra before latching on with his mouth and sucking it through his teeth. Kiarra’s fingers threaded through his hair and she pushed her chest out in invitation. Jaxton nipped the tight bud and released it, wanting to free her breast and nibble on the soft underside before tracing her taut peak with his tongue. But just as he gripped the top of her bra to pull it down, his mobile phone rang.

  He wanted to ignore it, but it was his emergency mobile. The only people who would call him were the people from his team or family, and only if they were in danger. Jaxton cursed and cupped Kiarra’s cheek. “I’m sorry, pet, someone might be in trouble and I need to take it.”

  She nodded and he reluctantly moved her back to the bed, pride welling in his chest when Kiarra struggled to remain upright. Just wait until later, pet.

  He picked up the phone from the side table and saw it was an unlisted number, but that didn’t mean anything. He tapped the receive button. “Hello?”

  “Jaxton?”

  “Millie?” She’d better have a bloody good reason for calling him. “What’s wrong?”

  “I…well…the truth is…” A scuffle came over the phone before Jaxton heard a male voice speak into the line. “Jaxton Ward, if you want your sister to stay alive, I need to talk with Kiarra Melini.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Kiarra leaned against Jaxton, afraid that if she severed physical contact, what had just happened between them would fade into oblivion. She’d been disappointed when he’d gone to answer the phone, but after hearing it was Millie, Kiarra tugged down her dress and strained to hear what was being said. Kiarra didn’t care if she’d only known her for a few short hours, she thought of Millie as her friend.

  Jaxton’s pinched brow eased and was replaced by a look of surprise. She wondered what had happened. Jaxton never would have left Millie alone at the pub last night if he hadn’t been confident in his sister’s abilities.

  She couldn’t hear the other person on the line, only Jaxton’s side of the conversation. Unable to take the suspense, she put a hand on his arm. “Jaxton, what’s happening?”

  He shook his head, signaling her to be quiet.

  A bad feeling started to gather in the pit of her stomach.

  After a brief pause, Jaxton said, “She’s not here.” His grip tightened on the phone, and Kiarra squeezed his bicep. She mouthed, What? He lowered the phone, his hand covering the bottom speaker, and said, “They have Millie. If I don’t let them talk to you, they’re going to hurt her. I won’t force you, but are you up to it? I need you to learn as much as possible about the man on the phone.”

  She barely digested that information before taking the phone and putting it to her ear. Of course she would help. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Kiki.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. Only one person had ever used that nickname. “Giovanni?”

  “Yes.”

  Kiarra’s heart pounded. Stay calm and focused until you know how Millie is involved. “What do you want?”

  “Do you even need to ask? You, of course.”

  Kiarra turned away from Jaxton, hoping to keep her remarks semi-private. No matter who Gio had become, he was still her younger brother and her best bet was to treat him as such. “Giovanni Charles Melini, stop with these games and dramatics and just tell me what you want.”

  Her whispered scolding must’ve had some effect, because Gio said nothing for a few moments. However, when someone finally spoke, it wasn’t Gio, but Millie.

  “Kiarra, don’t listen to him. I can take care of myself. I—”

  A scream echoed on the line and Kiarra couldn’t help but yell into the phone, “Stop!”

  Jaxton came to her side, and she shared a glance with him. It now made sense—Millie’s screams earlier must’ve caused him to grip the phone. Kiarra was afraid for her newfound friend, but it must be infinitely worse for Jaxton. She leaned against him and reestablished her nerve at the contact. “Gio? Millie? Anybody there?”

  Gio’s voice came back on the li
ne. “Do I have your attention now? Unless you want to hear more screaming, here’s what you’re going to do…”

  Kiarra listened closely, hoping later she could figure a way to free Millie without hurting anyone else, even if it meant turning herself over. The AMT would at least keep her alive, and there was a higher chance someone could rescue her later. Millie didn’t have the same guarantee.

  Gio hung up and Kiarra lowered the phone, staring at it in disbelief. He’d proven that he wasn’t an imposter, but something was wrong. The most prevalent memory she had of her brother was him nursing every sick or injured animal that crossed his path, to the point where their parents had constructed a crude shed to house his animals. That version of Giovanni, the one from her childhood, would never threaten, let alone harm, a defenseless person.

  What has happened to him? Maybe Gio was more indoctrinated than Cam had thought and was past the point of saving.

  Jaxton touched her elbow, interrupting her thoughts, and said, “Well? What’s the bugger want?”

  Kiarra braced herself for his reaction. “A trade—me for Millie.” She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “If we don’t follow his instructions, then he’ll kill her and send her body back to us in pieces.”

  Gio stayed long enough for the doctor to administer a sleeping drug to Millie Ward before he left the room, and then walked as quickly as he could to his new office. After locking the door, he closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.

  His father’s assignment was turning out to be a lot more challenging than he’d imagined. He’d found a way around torture this time, using a recorded scream to scare Kiarra and Jaxton, but what about the next time? He wasn’t sure that he could harm someone without a reason, simply for his own personal gain. He couldn’t even eat animals, for fuck’s sake. Killing living things wasn’t his forte.

  Kiarra was a first-born, and in the best interests of everyone, should be inside an AMT compound. He had no problem with retrieving her and locking her away again, to keep her from prying human eyes. But Gio didn’t like inflicting pain on innocents, especially on those weaker than him.