by Liz Schulte
Cheney’s gold eyes churned as he looked at Kalan.
“Either you and Selene need to come completely clean with the fae about everything, as well as recommit to our people and send the witches away, or I will have no choice but to raise these issues publicly.”
“No,” Cheney said. “What makes you think they will believe anything you say?”
Kalan smiled. “I have a witness. Someone with inside information that would ruin you.”
Cheney stood up. “There is a third choice. I will not let you threaten me or my family. I will find and deal with the witnesses myself and leave you with nothing.”
“And what will you do with the witnesses?” Anger edged Kalan’s voice.
“Silence them,” Cheney said.
“I will not allow you to abuse your power for any reason. They speak what I believe to be the truth. I will protect them with my life.” Kalan stood, anger hardening the angles and hollows of his face.
“Stop,” I said, rubbing a dull pain on my chest just below my collarbone. “Sit down both of you. Cheney doesn’t mean he’s going to kill anyone, do you?” Cheney didn’t look at me so I kicked him. “Tell him.”
“No,” he said. “I hadn’t intended on assassinating anyone. But I am curious as to why your mind leaped in that direction. What does that say of you, Kalan?”
The baby kicked and squirmed and possibly used my bladder as a trampoline considering how suddenly and urgently I needed to use the bathroom. All of which made me irritable and left me with zero patience for male posturing. “Enough. Seriously. Okay, look, I don’t know what we are going to do, but if you have questions, Kalan, then ask them. We have nothing to hide.” I squirmed. “Just as soon as I get back from the restroom.”
I pushed myself up and waddled my way to the restroom. As much as I wanted to get this baby out of me, the idea still terrified me. Talking to Corbin made me feel a little better, but I still wasn’t convinced that she would come out normal. There was another sharp pain while I was washing my hands. I lifted my shirt up and looked at the spot, but there was nothing.
I made it a few feet down the hallway before there was another pain in the exact spot, but this time it was so intense I sank to my knees. Within seconds two guards were to me, helping me stand again even as I dug my fingernails into my palms. I took a few deep breaths and the pain was gone.
“Thanks, but I can walk. The baby is just very active today. Must have hit a nerve.” I pulled out of their grasps. They followed me closely, ready to catch me if I fell again. It’d be sweet if it wasn’t so annoying.
Cheney’s half-sister Lily had joined Kalan and Cheney by the time I got back to his office.
“Whoa,” Lily said looking at me. “You look uncomfortable.”
I smiled. At least she didn’t tell me I was glowing. “I am. When did you get here?”
“Just a moment ago.”
I took my seat on the couch and looked at Kalan with resignation. “Okay, what’s on your mind?”
“Did you really go to the Underworld? How and why?”
I nodded. “I did and Frost, the necromancer, was my ride. She touched me, but then held onto my spirit enough that she could pull me back out when my task was complete. I went because, well, it’s complicated—but it was life or death. It wasn’t an experience I would choose to repeat.”
His mouth fell open. “You’ve actually been to the underworld?”
“It’s not as friendly as it sounds. Any other questions?”
He nodded. “So many. What about plotting to kill the Erlking and Prince Cheney?”
Something very near a growl sounded in Cheney’s throat.
“It’s not quite as simple as that. No, I didn’t plot to kill them, but yes when I was young and naive I was misled by another half-elf to believe that we could bring about change through revolution. Part of the plan was getting close to Cheney, but then I fell in love with him and that changed everything. I was able to see where I had been wrong.”
“Something my father could never do,” Cheney added. “But none of what has happened really involved anyone other than the two of us. It has not taken away from our ability to rule.”
Kalan nodded. “I only have one more question. How many people have died because you brought the Pole of Charon here?”
His words hit me like a slap across the face. My hand actually rose to my cheek. “Too many.” It was the best answer I could give. I honestly didn’t know. We were still dealing with the ramifications of the pole being here. Its presence opened a gate for a demon to enter, it killed people in every race, and it probably did a lot more that I hadn’t seen, besides. Was the cost worth it to save my life? No, probably not. But would I do it again? As much as I would have liked the answer to be no, that wouldn’t be true. The truth was I would do it again. In a heartbeat. I was a survivor.
Kalan looked down at his hands, then stood and gave us a meaningful look. “I think the right path is clear. I will expect your resignation.”
Cheney laughed and Kalan’s frown deepened. “Why would we step down?”
“Because if you don’t, I will make my next move.”
“What’s that?” I asked. He probably wouldn’t tell me, but it couldn’t hurt to ask.
“I’ll petition to have the two of you put on trial for your crimes against the fae. By your own admission, people died because of you.” He gave me a sympathetic smile. “I don’t want to hurt you. You seem like an incredible woman who I would like to know better, I think.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it before leaving.
Cheney shook his head. “You admitted to treason, a trip to purgatory, and being an indirect cause of countless deaths and you’re the one he wants to know better.”
“It’s a gift,” I mumbled. “What are we going to do?” I couldn’t allow Cheney to be put on trial for my crimes.
“We’ll talk about it later.”
Lily crossed her legs beneath her. “So I take it the election is no longer going smoothly?”
“A bump in the road. We’ll recover,” Cheney told her with false confidence. “What brings you here?”
“Rumors. I wanted to tell you what I heard in the club last night, but I take it you already know.”
We looked at each other. Cheney was much better at politics than I was. I was good in person and one on one, but political maneuvers were second nature to him. “I think we need a prepared statement of some sort to slow Kalan down—one that preferably comes on the heels of capturing Jessica and that’s worded in such a way that we are protected, so none of this can be used against us. If we can do that, then I don’t think anyone will listen to Kalan or whoever his witness is.”
“So you need a miracle,” Lily said. “While I can’t do miracles, I could give you a bit of luck.”
“No,” I said quickly—possibly too quickly, actually. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the offer, but it wasn’t as easy as that. Lily could give temporary luck only by taking whatever luck you already possessed away for a time. Her ability made her casino the perfect business for her, but we couldn’t chance any negative energy right now. Not with the baby arriving any day.
Cheney seemed to read my thoughts. “Wouldn’t want to risk it with the baby. Thanks though.”
“Probably a good choice. I’ll keep my ears open though. Call if you need me.” She waved over her shoulder as she left.
I went to the window and stared out at the setting sun. Corbin was coming. I could feel him getting closer as easily as I could feel Cheney standing in the room. The marriage bond was supposed to break the bond with the vampire but it hadn’t. It was possible nothing ever would. Had Corbin looked for a solution or was he happy with the arrangement? Tied into my life—and, by proxy, Cheney’s—would only secure his own. He would be nearly impossible to defeat and vampires liked power. Then again though, he told me he loved me. I couldn’t imagine being attached forever to someone I loved who would never love me back. It was a wound that would
never heal.
“What are you thinking?” Cheney asked, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my cheek. “You look so sad.”
“Just wondering how Sebastian and Sy are doing.”
“Mmmmm. I don’t think you’re being honest.” His cheek rested against my hair.
“Corbin is on his way.”
Cheney’s body went rigid behind me. “How do you know that?”
“We’re still bound together,” I whispered, hating the shame I felt in speaking the words.
He was quiet for too long. My chest burned, tears coming to my eyes.
“You didn’t tell me.” His voice was soft and not at all accusatory—only making me feel worse.
“I thought if he stayed away, it would get better, but I think it has made it worse and now Corbin is mad and he won’t help us.”
“So it isn’t better?”
I shook my head. “I seem to be getting more and more aware of him.”
Cheney sighed. “That’s how you recovered from your battle with Jessica so fast. What does any of this mean? How does it change things?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want it to change anything, but I also can’t keep denying it. We all have to figure out a way to live with this. Our lives are connected—possibly forever.”
“Let me know when he gets here. Meanwhile, I’m going to call Sebastian.” Cheney pulled out his phone and pressed it to his ear. “No answer.” Worry thinned his lips.
“Do you think Jess has already attacked?”
“Surely not. Try Sy.”
I grabbed my phone and called Sy. No answer from him either. “We have to go now,” I told him after I hung up.
Cheney put a hand on my shoulder. “We don’t know what’s happening. It could be nothing.”
“And they could be in trouble.”
Cheney nodded. “If something is happening, which we don’t know for certain, Sebastian and Sy are both good fighters. They’ll be fine. They will protect Katrina and Leslie.”
“And what if they are outnumbered. We have no idea.”
“And what if we go and ruin Sebastian’s plan.”
I sighed. “I’ll call Frost. She can check in on the girls without raising suspicion.”
“That’s a better plan.” Despite his words I could see the worry etched across his face. Sebastian wouldn’t not answer his call unless something was happening.
Another pain, even worse than before, stabbed my side. I dropped to floor, clutching my belly. Cheney knelt beside me and pressed his hand over mine.
“What is it? What’s happening?” Fear flashed in his eyes as I gasped for breath but couldn’t see to draw air. “Get a doctor,” he shouted to the guards in the hallway.
A doctor wouldn’t help. My vision was already going dark.
A brunette and a redhead stood in front of me, all soft curves and barely there clothing. As apologies went, I had received worse ones. I stared at the two vampire groupies. Were they a test? Paolo was still suspicious. Had he seen Selene outside the bar?
The women came with a handwritten note from him: “Sorry I doubted you. Enjoy.” Simple and straightforward enough, and that was exactly the problem.
In the hundreds of years I had known and worked with Paolo, he doubted me plenty, but never once sent an apology or even said he was sorry for anything. Vampires don’t follow you because you are polite. Despite his outward appearance he was ruthless and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. For the last decade or so his one desire had been the head of a vampire named Thomas who had attracted attention to our kind by trafficking rare races to the highest bidder. It wasn’t so much the crime that got under Paolo’s skin, or even the attention it drew to us. It was the fact that Thomas didn’t ask permission.
However, Thomas managed to stay one step ahead of me, which pissed me off and put my partnership with Paolo on rocky terms. Why couldn’t I catch him? he’d ask. Why was I allowing so many distractions to keep me from my one job? The sole purpose of my being was to kill anyone who crossed Paolo. If I couldn’t do that, what use was I to him?
The groupies were definitely a test, but a test of what I had no idea. I refolded the note and slipped it into my back pocket before opening my arms to both of them. Their warm bodies slipped against either side of me as we wordlessly went back to the bedroom. I kissed the redhead, drawing deeply from her, then the brunette. The redhead unbuttoned my shirt and bit my chest hard. I grabbed her face and kissed her again, deeper, tasting my own blood on her lips before tossing her onto the bed. The brunette stripped my shirt away completely and molded herself against my back as we moved toward the mattress. The redhead rose to her knees and slipped out of her top. Behind me, my brunette friend nipped my shoulder and slipped her hands round my front, dipping beneath the waistline of my pants.
I closed my eyes, picturing the hands I really wanted on me, as she stroked the length of me. A second set of lips started on my stomach and slowly worked their way down. I continued drawing energy from them, but not enough to permanently damage the women. Paolo would expect his groupies back.
The button around my waist came undone and the zipper pulled down, when the bloody fucking pain hit. My muscles jerked and my hand closed around the neck of the redhead, taking waves of life force from her. Pure survival instinct clouded my thoughts as I fought against a pain that felt like I was dying. I struggled to breathe. Then just like that it passed. I slowly came back to reality—the reality where I was killing the redhead as the brunette tried and failed to help her friend, unable to pry my fingers away.
I released the woman at once and took multiple steps away from them. A long gray streak spread through the redhead’s hair and her face visibly aged as I watched, hoping it would stop. It did, finally. She looked about fifteen years older, but at least she was still alive.
This had to end. I had to see Selene. The pain hit me again, harder. I dropped to my knees. “Get out,” I managed to say before I lost control again.
The soft tender emotions were easier to ignore, like when she was happy or amused or even sad. I didn’t need to know why or what was happening to Selene. I didn’t have to care. The pain, however, demanded attention. It hit on a primal level that demanded I kill my unseen attacker. Only it wasn’t my attacker, it was hers. Even though I knew it was the phantom stabs she had been experiencing, I couldn’t let it go. What if something was killing her? I had to see her. I hastily dressed and headed back to the castle, generally pissed off.
I didn’t bother waiting in the garden. I was done with that bullshit. If she was going to ruin my life, I was going to return the favor. I stalked to the front door and knocked the guard out of the way. Three other guards came charging at me, but then stopped when the one I’d pushed past spoke. “He is expected. Take him to the Erlking.”
I was beckoned forward and accompanied through the long hallways. “I didn’t come here to see the Erlking,” I said.
The guard continued up a flight of stairs as if I hadn’t spoken. At the top he stopped at the third door on the right and knocked.
“It’s about time,” Cheney said, opening the door almost immediately. “Oh, it’s you.” He scowled at me then back at the guard. “Find out where the doctor is and drag him here if you have to.”
My anger flat lined. It hadn’t been a phantom pain. Selene lay huddled on the couch, trembling beneath several thick blankets. I took her hand and lowered myself to the floor at her side.
Her pale lips stretched into a feeble smile. “I knew you were coming.”
“You know, pet, there are easier ways to get my attention.”
She laughed, but it turned into a cough. “What’s happening to me?” she asked, closing her eyes and pulling the covers tighter. “I’m so tired and cold.”
Cheney paced the room watching us, but not coming closer. “Can you help her?” he finally asked through clenched teeth. “There’s nothing I can do. I tried to heal her, but there is nothing to heal.”
&nbs
p; The bond already allowed her to siphon life from me. I wasn’t sure there was much more I could do for her. “Maybe a more direct connection. I don’t know though.”
He stopped and stared at my hand holding hers. “Whatever you have to do,” he said quietly.
I put my hand behind Selene’s neck. Her eyes fluttered open. Gently, I scraped my lips against hers. I couldn’t give her what she needed. That wasn’t how this worked. She had to take it like she did in purgatory. It was the only way. Her lips stiffened against mine and she tried to push me away, but I held her close.
“Shhh.” I brushed the back of my hand down her cheek. “Save yourself, pet.” I pressed my lips to hers again and waited through her indecision and guilt. Finally she responded. First there was a gentle tug in the center of my chest, then a tear followed by a flood of energy pouring into her. Her fingers curled into the back my hair as she fed.
I pulled back and sat on my heels, with a wave of dizziness. Selene pushed the covers to the side and sat up, the back of her hand pressed against her lips. She looked stronger. Her gaze found Cheney’s and her hand dropped. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
He shook his head, came to her and pressed his forehead against hers. “Don’t be. Whatever it takes to keep you with me.”
Both of her hands rested on his cheeks. “I love you,” she whispered.
He loved her. He legitimately loved her and I hated him for it. I had to get out of there and away from them. I stood too fast and had to grab onto the fireplace mantle to steady myself.
“I took too much,” Selene said, standing up and reaching toward me.
I dodged her outstretched hand. “It’s fine,” I said, not taking my eyes off of her hand, knowing exactly what her touch would be: a threat to my sanity.
There was a sharp knock on the door before it opened. Another guard stuck his head in. “The doctor has arrived and so has a bounty hunter, your majesty.”
Selene looked at Cheney. “Frost,” she said. “Send the doctor away. Does the bounty hunter have anyone with her?”
He nodded once. “She has the witch.”
