“Dean arrived.” I pointed him out to the others. “What can he do?”
He waited a safe distance from the action, but he didn’t look like he did anything but concentrate. On what? Movement drew my attention back to the building, and I cringed. Six monstrous entities approached the lightning, unaffected by the currents striking them. As the wave of creatures passed other fallen on the field, they too stood up and joined the battle.
“He controls zombies?” I squeaked.
Lukas chuckled. “He doesn’t care for it much, himself.”
“They don’t move like zombies. But bits and pieces are definitely falling off the older ones. Ugh.”
The zombies marched right through the electric zone and pulled Cedric and Darian apart. My lover struggled for a few minutes, lost in the fight. When he comprehended the zombies moved through unharmed, he ducked down and let them shield him through the most dangerous area.
Cedric fought the animated corpses, but they overwhelmed him. Electricity flared as he shouted. Though the undead monsters did little actual damage to the bastard, they kept him away from us. He became so distracted he couldn’t even aim.
The rotting bodies didn’t hold up as well as the fresher creatures. The roiling stench of charred and decomposed meat sent us scurrying upwind of the grim confrontation. Dean still concentrated, and none of the others stepped in, so I watched.
I realized he’d soon defeat the crumbling horde.
Thane gestured everyone near, and a rush of magic washed over us.
“What’s he doing?” I whispered to Lukas.
“He amplifies our abilities and directs them. Watch.”
A shushing rustling sound drowned Cedric’s curses, and I looked toward the noise. A swarm of dead wildlife joined the fray. Half eaten mice and decayed raccoons leaped upon him, and his shouts turned into screams.
To be honest, I couldn’t blame him. The wave of carrion wasn’t limited to animals. Hordes of insect corpses followed Cedric as he backed away.
This time I squealed a little. Hey, I’m a brave girl. I step on my own spiders and everything. But when I kill pests, I expect them to stay dead.
“It’s not real.” Lukas took my hand and most of the throng dissipated into shadow. Zombies still attacked Cedric, but nothing like the thick carpet I’d seen. “Thane projected my Nightmare ability. It’s less dangerous than what I’d planned earlier. Almost like an Illusion. He twists our talents in ways we can’t.”
Cedric cursed, seeing none of his allies standing, and launched an array of lightning toward all of us. He ran for his car and took off. The undead mass trailed after him like a Biblical plague.
“You’re gonna let him go?” I asked, though I didn’t care at this point. I wanted to get back home and shower. Twice.
“Did you see the amulet on his chest?” Thane asked.
“No, I was concerned for Darian.”
“He brought one of the old weapons from Intara with him.” Lukas added. “The last thing we needed was press him into using it. Cities disappear when our unstable weaponry goes awry. With all the tampering they’ve done, who knows what would happen if he tried to activate it. We’re close enough to the ice cap; he could’ve triggered another Great Flood.”
“Damn.” I sighed.
Sirens blared in the distance as Dean and his zombies deposited our lover at my feet. I bent down to him, but there didn’t seem to be an inch of him free of bruises, blood or scorched flesh. With a sob, my hands hovered over his skin.
I feared harming him, but I needed to touch him, too.
He pulled me into his arms as Ian returned, this time driving one of the SUVs. Darian ignored my protests as he stood, leaning on me as we hobbled to the vehicle. Lukas and I helped him get into the back.
Dean slid into the front passenger seat. His zombies walked off, moving much faster than I’d ever thought an animated body should. Some of them carried bits of themselves as they limped along. Were they returning to wherever Dean found them?
I didn’t ask, and I didn’t want to know.
As we sped away, I looked over the ruined ground and burning building, half awed by the terrible destruction we’d left behind. Ian drove down the road, pulling over when the fire trucks passed us. We continued on at a sedate pace until I no longer heard the wailing of the sirens.
“What do you think they’ll make of the mess back there?” I asked.
“Tornado.” Lukas said with a smirk.
“That’s it?” I laughed. “They’ll chalk it up to a random, freak tornado? One that appeared without a storm, and not a cloud in the sky? Just ‘oh, must’ve been a rogue tornado’?”
Lukas hugged me to his chest. “Well, Thane’ll have it taken care of before anyone questions it. Before we arrived he had teams in position, ready for cover up. You’ll see. Tonight’s news will feature tons of witnesses, talking all about the dark clouds, crazy winds, and monstrous twister.”
“You’ve done this before.”
“You might be surprised how often we need to.” He replied.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Stephan
“I trust you’ll have the new location operational soon?” Cedric demanded.
“We’ve scheduled set up this week. With the increased security measures and additional staff, I know my newest experiments will produce the desired results.”
He sounded unconcerned, but I understood enough about my father to sense the terse undercurrent in his words. He remained furious with Kevin’s irresponsible actions. Unauthorized use of the few functional artifacts we possessed proved an act of treason in his eyes.
If Kevin hadn’t died during the battle, he’d be my father’s plaything in the private dungeons below his home. Torture rooms and filthy cells he still didn’t think I knew about. I resisted the urge to cringe when his overlarge hand landed on my shoulder.
“The Elders seemed impressed with the evidence so far, but they’ll expect significant progress at your next evaluation.”
“Without another Stone…”
The grip on my shoulder increased and held. He stood much taller than my six foot five. I’d taken after my mother in height, though I appeared identical to Cedric in every other way. The rumors circulating in Europe claimed a Manipulator modified his current form.
When I didn’t react, he released his hold. I learned long ago not to challenge his power plays, no matter how minor. Those lessons had been swift and painful, and nothing I ever wished to repeat.
“It is unfortunate you lost the artifact.” He drawled. “You must continue your research without our Stones. We won’t risk another, regardless of fault.”
I’d escaped death for my small part in losing the device by a marginal vote. The Elders proved merciless in their pursuit of truth. Had I the slightest suspicion of Kevin’s activities prior to the attack, I’d be dead, or worse.
They possessed ways of using my talents without needing my cooperation. Seeing someone used like a living puppet gave me nightmares; I didn’t want it to be my fate. My tenuous status as Cedric’s son and heir wouldn’t protect me from the Elders’ wrath, or his.
“I located another Stone by satellite, but it’ll take manpower beyond the staff at the lab to extract it.” I waited, but he didn’t respond. “If I undertake the acquisition myself, I’d also need additional time to organize the new mission. Shall I request an audience?”
We walked through his mansion as he weighed all the possible political benefits of my proposal. He’d purchased the compound months ago and he’d already made multiple changes, including the basement conversion. Significant resources went into security.
From the outside, the building boasted an elegant testament to gross wealth. Hidden beneath the facade, however, he incorporated enough technology and weaponry to rival a military base. The large hallway wound through his gallery, though this collection paled compared to his European homes.
A small fraction of my family’s private treasury filled th
e displays.
A full skeleton of a dragon dominated the center of the room. Unlike the wild creatures of myth and fantasy, the domesticated reptiles came from Intara. Our warrior ancestors brought them through the Portal as mounts.
With bodies longer than a horse, and quadruple the wingspan, they would’ve been impressive in battle. Since females weren’t used in combat, none crossed over to maintain the population on Earth. Each of the founding families passed down the bone structure.
“I’ll handle the Elders.” He answered. “Submit your plan of attack by tomorrow morning. We’ll discuss your needs, and an extension, before your next review.”
My father guided me past his study toward the rear exit leading to the guest lodging I occupied as my temporary lab. Brine flavored the breeze as I exited the pretentious building. The salt laden gusts played in my hair and I sighed in relief.
The landscaped path overflowed with thick foliage and wound in a lazy serpentine curve away from Cedric’s seat of power toward the cliff-side cottages. With every step, the tension dissipated and my steps lightened, until I almost hummed in anticipation. I restrained myself, though, since Cedric maintained security nearby and the cameras always watched.
Knowing I remained under observation got under my skin most of the time, but I didn’t let it bother me today.
I’d had a breakthrough, and I felt confident I’d stumbled upon the key to the Portal Stones’ operation. The door snapped closed behind me, cutting off the wind and sunshine. I gave in to my good mood and whistled.
“Someone’s bloody happy this morning.” Tobias’ clipped New York accent made him sound annoyed.
Keeping my back to his cell, I shrugged.
“I’ll soon possess everything I need to operate the Stones. With the newest adjustments to my satellite program, I’ll obtain another in a few short weeks. It should satisfy the Elders after this last mess.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome for that, by the way.”
Again, I ignored his attitude as I examined the specs for the lab under construction halfway across the state. He was right. Without his suggestions and tinkering, I couldn’t have located the missing artifacts.
I’d told my father about one, but I’d found both. Newer technologies proved tedious to bypass, and it took illegal methods to find them. If anyone discovered Tobias played a greater role than test subject, we’d suffer Cedric’s wrath.
But the risks seemed worthwhile. I felt lonely working long hours. Besides, I enjoyed having an intelligent sounding board for my ideas, even if he disapproved.
With my fingers, I traced the architectural plans for the new facility. The smaller building wouldn’t pose as a legitimate business front for the public so we kept things clinical. It housed thirteen cells; twelve in an underground containment grid, and another in the office. We furnished each cell with two beds, though I planned to fill the rooms with mated couples.
I’d built the compound with stronger defenses than the previous location. With a smile, I looked over the section which wasn’t part of the blueprint. It never hurt to secure a private route of escape.
“We also located a few Intaran-Human Bond pairs with sufficient strength to prove my hypothesis. I’m sure Bonded mates provide more power than other linked parties when combined. I designed multiple tests, and now there’s a direction to study.”
I’d spoken to myself, but Tobias heard. He sputtered several choice expletives. His Puerto Rican accent bore such a thick New York dialect, I couldn’t understand the words. I sighed as his unintelligible lecture continued.
He paced as I took notes for the unpleasant meeting tomorrow morning. I studied the satellite image for the military base housing the last two Stones. After half an hour, he calmed down enough to glare at me from the cell bars.
“Why must you kidnap people, Stephan? I agreed to submit to your testing. You said with my cooperation you made better progress than months spent with the others.”
For a moment, I debated telling him anything, since he disagreed with my decision. But behind his jovial personality, he possessed a mind bordering on genius. Already, his observations changed the course of my research. Over the weeks, he’d helped me far more than any lab assistant ever could, and he didn’t even claim a college education. I’d never admit it, but I valued his insight.
“Unfortunately, I need Bonded and mated pairs to conduct the next round of experiments.” I met his eyes with a smile. “Let’s make a deal. If I promise to leave Ryleigh and her lovers alone, will you continue to cooperate? I need to explore my hypothesis. I’ve never seen someone’s power increase so dramatically before. It might solve the puzzle with the Portal Stones.”
He sighed, but I knew I’d engaged his curiosity. Once I explained the reason for these tests and the importance of the Portal to our people, he’d become involved in the process. I wasn’t foolish enough to give him access to a computer, but his input became invaluable in my tests. He also assisted with my side projects, merging technology with magic.
“What observations?” He groused.
I turned my back to hide my grin.
“When Lukas pinned me, I felt his strength double the second his mate touched him. I observed her for a few minutes in the tunnel, and her base capacity tripled since I met her. We know she Bonded two mates, but I’m not convinced I need a triad for my experiments to succeed. With your help, I will discover if Bonded mates increase the energy to power the Stones.”
“It’s wrong, Stephan. These people have lives. I have a life. I know it’s important to your race, but the end doesn’t always justify the means. My opinion isn’t worth a damn. The good lord knows I’ve done my share of illegal shit over the years, but I disagree with what you’re doing here. Let’s be clear on that right now.”
He liked to complain, but he’d cooperate, as I’d known he would; curiosity was a cruel mistress.
Chapter Forty
Ryleigh
Thousands of twinkling lights spread through the gardens, lighting a trail from the inn to the hidden gazebo. Our guests melted into the shadows, and their black suits and formal dresses blended with the starry night. A light breeze whispered through the foliage, sprinkling spent blooms over the path to tickle my bare feet. Their perfume rose with each step, making me dizzy with anticipation.
Darian led me through the rows of gardenia and jasmine, and around the lavender and roses. Without him tugging me along, I’d stop to admire every nook. Mimi outdid herself preparing my favorite place for our Ceremony. Everything bloomed regardless of nature’s schedule.
She’d transformed the garden into an enchanted maze.
Darian took my hand off his arm and kissed both wrists before he stepped back. I walked under the trellis where the overgrown ivy parted over the entrance to the pavilion. The hungry gaze Lukas fixed on me as I climbed the stairs made me shiver, and I clutched the thorny stem of the single white rose between my fingertips.
Our guests filled the empty spaces around the gazebo in a sea of black. I stood out in the wispy ivory dress, and it made me feel vulnerable. When I’d agreed to become Lukas’ submissive, I hadn’t expected so much pomp and circumstance, but the commitment went deeper than marriage.
Once he claimed me, I’d belong to him in ways mainstream society could never understand.
“Kneel before your Master.” Lukas’ silken voice silenced the crowd.
As I flowed to my knees, the delicate alabaster panels fluttered into place around me. My eyes sank to his polished shoes in perfect submission as I awaited his instruction. He caressed my unadorned neck, trailing his fingers through the curls escaping the elaborate braid wrapped around my head.
Other than the gown, I wore nothing except the tiny white tea roses woven through the strands. The breeze teased my naked flesh under the layers of fabric. I prayed the wind wouldn’t expose the dampness of my thighs to the witnesses.
“Today, we’ve gathered with our closest friends to publicly affirm our pledge to
one another.” He lifted my chin, and I looked up at him in adoration. “Will you allow me to care for you and keep you safe?”
Tears blurred my vision as I gazed at him. The stars shone above us as if the universe added its blessing. It’d been a long time since someone wanted to look after me. My voice wavered as I blinked away the moisture. “Yes, Sir.”
Darian handed him a slender black jewelry box, and Lukas presented it for all to see. I couldn’t help the tremulous smile on my face. I’d expected an actual collar. Though I’d dreaded permanently wearing one on my neck, I’d embraced the idea out of love.
I would’ve cherished anything he’d chosen, but this suited me in a way the collar never would. The bracelet looked delicate, but when he placed it on my wrist, the heavy links felt sturdy. As the clasp locked, the sections fused into a seamless piece.
Through our Bond, I sensed the magic reinforcing the metal, and it appeared unbreakable.
“Lia, you are bound to me as I am to you.” He slid his finger over the bangle. “This symbolizes my ongoing commitment to your wellbeing for the rest of our long lives. I’ll always put your needs above my own, and I will dedicate my life to making you happy. As we explore our fantasies, we’ll reach new heights together. This is but a symbol of what we already know. You are mine, and I am yours. None shall come between us.”
Darian bent to kiss my cheek and whispered, “no one but me, once in a while.”
Lukas rolled his eyes as he stepped away. “Do you, Ryleigh Morgan, accept me as your Master?”
A tear slipped to my chin as I met his gaze, and he wiped it with his thumb. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before replying. My voice wavered when I answered, and my throat felt tight.
“Of my own free will, I give myself to you. I trust you to keep me safe and broaden my horizons. My desires are yours to mold. I’ll follow your guidance with all the love in my heart and strive to meet your needs as I trust you to meet mine. I accept your gift as the outward sign that I am yours. Now and forever.”
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 146
