Princess of Darkness (The Dark Prince #3)

by Autumn Winchester

  So, dressed in one of the pairs of pj's with a black fleece robe wrapped around her loosely, Summer stepped more into the room, waiting for one of the men to answer her question.

  “You,” Gabriel answered, turning his attention back to his brother. “Sebastian doesn’t agree with what I offered.”

  “It isn’t your choice!” Sebastian seethed again, raising his hands in the air.

  “I would like to think that I’m capable of deciding anything on my own by now,” Summer said, placing her hands on her hips. Her voice wasn’t nearly as calm now, knowing for certain they had been talking about her. There was a demanding tone to it nonetheless.

  “No!” Sebastian repeated, shooting a smoldering glare at his brother. He couldn’t let him go along with this. Nor let Summer either!

  “I’m still here,” Summer said, tapping her foot in impatience. Her eyes bounced between the two men, waiting. She’d stand here for the rest of the night to get an answer if need be.

  “I thought of a way to draw out John,” Gabriel said, turning his body so he could face the Princess. “He’s not coming up for air like we all hoped.”

  “What kind of way?” Summer said through clenched teeth. If Sebastian was reacting so badly towards this plan, did she really want know?

  “I proposed that you would show yourself, but not like this,” he went on, waving a hand up and down Summer’s body. “You’d pretend to be frightened when you present yourself.” He wouldn’t mind if she was whoever she wanted to be. John would want her either way, so it wouldn’t matter in the end.

  “What he means to say,” Sebastian said grumpily. “Is that we – he – would have a place set up, making it look like you were here as a slave, and not on your own free will.” His eyes flashed to his brother hotly before landing back on Summer.

  “Pretend to be a slave,” Summer said with a nod of her head, thinking. “And you think this would actually work? I’m sure if John knew where I was, he’d be here banging on the door already.” And he’d be a pile of ash, no doubt.

  “Yes,” Gabriel said. “It would work, and he wouldn’t see this coming. He knows that Sebastian has you hidden away, but not where. John has no idea that I know where you are.”

  “My dearest brother,” Sebastian said, his voice amused. “You playing with fire, again?”

  “Well . . .” Gabriel answered, unashamed. “I always did like fire.” His eyes lit up, knowing exactly what he was doing.

  “So, when would this happen?” Summer asked, getting the conversation back on track.

  “When you agree,” Gabriel said with a shrug.

  “Gabriel!” Sebastian shouted again, causing Summer to slightly jump at the raised voice. “No!” His emotions were going to give her whiplash.

  “She’ll agree, you know that. And with hardly any questions,” Gabriel went on.

  “What if you say you know where I am, and set him up,” Summer asked out, trying to find a compromise that would work for both of them.

  Summer wasn’t sure this would be the best plan. There had to be another way around it. There was no way in Hell she wanted to face that man ever again. She would if there was nothing else. She wanted this to end. Wanted to be with her husband.

  “He’ll send a scout,” Gabriel went on. “So just saying you are there won’t work. The place I have in mind would work perfectly to our advantage. All you would have to do it sit there until John shows up. I have more than enough men that would be inside, and outside of the building. No one would know they were there that shouldn’t.

  “Once John shows up, I’d have my men take out his, then whatever you would like to happen to John, would happen. You wouldn’t have to lift one finger, and no harm would come to you. That I can promise,” he ended.

  Sebastian gave out a huff, irritated. He knew, there was now no chance of talking the Princess out of it.

  “Would Chase be there?” Summer asked. Her heart gave out a pang for her husband.

  “That is up to you, Princess,” Gabriel said. “He would love nothing more than to be there during the entire show down. Or I can call him after we capture John. I know he’s out for his blood as much as any of us here.”

  “Have you told him this plan?” Summer asked next.

  “Mostly,” Gabriel said with a grimace. “I told him that I’d find a double to place in the building, and make it look like you were there.”

  “So you left out that I would be the pawn,” Summer said, her voice strangely calm. Inside, she felt outraged.

  “Yeah?” Gabriel said, squinting. “I guess when you put it that way . . .” he trailed off for a moment. He took a sip of his water. “But he was for it. He thinks it would work too.”

  “You left out the major part!” Summer said, seeing red. She was extremely tempted to punch either man, so instead, she turned around from them, stalking to the kitchen.

  “Grace?” Sebastian asked, worried. She had never acted like this.

  “He kept this from Chase!” she shouted, throwing the closest thing she could reach, which was a plate, at Sebastian. He was able to move out of the way just in time. The white plate hit the wall, crashing and scattering in pieces.

  He couldn’t help but admire her strength, and her aim.

  “I would tell him,” Gabriel said, wisely not moving to stand, although he did move so he could see her.

  A look of fury covered her face, her hands shaking with her controlled rage. She was . . . . . she found her fight.

  “At least minute, but I would tell him, Princess. There is no other way to bring John down. He caused all of this from the beginning. Now, it is time to end it. Time to end it and move on. I don’t want to see you living in fear any longer. Nor that child. That is no way to live a life,” Gabriel said, his voice calm and collected.

  “He’ll kill you!” Summer said, tears streaming down her face. Luckily, she wasn’t able to find anything else to throw their way, or she certainly would have. “I’ll kill you!”

  “I’m sure he will want to,” Gabriel said, ducking his head for a moment. “But he won’t. Neither will you, sweetheart.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Summer seethed through her teeth.

  “Yes, positive,” Gabriel said, finally standing up slowly. Yes, she could shoot him, but Summer wouldn't kill him, she would never hurt anyone that she cared for and called family. Gabriel knew her well enough.

  He took slow measured steps towards the girl, his hands down at his sides.

  “I just want this war to be done with. I don’t want to play games anymore. I want to be on your side. I’ve always been since Sebastian kinda dragged me in years ago. He told me about you, and he asked for my help,” he said quietly while Sebastian stood back, afraid to move.

  “You were just a child, sick with a fever,” he went on, remembering.

  ~oOo~

  “Why couldn’t you just take her to a normal doctor?” Gabriel asked, looking at the small sweat soaked child that laid upon his brother’s bed. He was afraid to ask why he had a child in his house, let alone on his bed. Her once vibrant hair was caked with sweat.

  “I can’t,” Sebastian said, running a hand through his hair. “Can you help her or not?”

  “I can,” Gabriel said, setting his bag on the night table before taking a seat on the bed.

  He reached out, running his hand over the girl’s forehead, feeling her burning up. Poor girl.

  “I need an answer,” he said, meeting his brother’s eyes. Not much made this killer shake in his boots like he was right now.

  “Fine,” Sebastian said, spitting the word out.

  “Who is she?” Gabriel asked as he began to set the IV up. She was dehydrated.

  “A girl,” the younger one answered. “Summer.”

  “And why is she here?” Gabriel prompted.

  “She’ll be the key to bringing down the Meads clan once and for all,” was all Sebastian said before stomping out of the room.

  She was the key
to everything.

  ~oOo~

  “Such a little thing,” Gabriel said. “You had an infection, and I kept you alive. I didn’t stay around long enough for you to recover, only long enough to make sure you would recover.”

  He swallowed, taking another step towards her, as Summer stayed in place, wide-eyed.

  “Sebastian knew you would be the key to bringing down everyone. It’s in your blood. Your father was born a leader, and he sucked the life out everyone. But you. You, Summer Grace Marcel, were born to lead, to change the world with your husband.”

  “I’m the key?” Summer whispered, not understanding. It went in one ear and out the other.

  “Yes,” Sebastian said. He was now in reach of her, but he didn’t dare touch her, fearing what she’d do to him if he did.

  “You are the strong Princess you were always meant to be. No one will think you can do this, but you can. You can bring that bastard down with one bullet. Or more if you want. I know you have perfect aim.

  “You see everything around you, and you learn from it all,” Gabriel went on. “I know Sebastian would have kept you if he could have, but he couldn’t risk his life on top of yours at that time. You were a child. What he taught you then, and what he has taught you here, is for you to use. To use to bring John down once and for all.”

  “I can’t, Gabriel,” Summer said, ignoring the tears that fell. “I can’t risk anyone else’s life.”

  Summer refused to let anyone else die because of her. Yet she couldn’t go kill John herself either. Not with her child inside of her. Not without Chase beside her.

  But most of all, she couldn’t want to do that. She didn’t want to risk the baby’s life to bring one man down.

  “No one will touch you, I guarantee it,” Gabriel said, laying his hands on her shoulders as she looked up at him in fear and resignation. “I can see the fight in you. You can do this.”

  “John has something planned if I don’t, doesn’t he?” Summer whispered out, feeling the truth of her words in her gut.

  “Yes,” Gabriel said with a nod. “He will kill everyone in the Marcel family to bring you out. He won’t care who it is. He’ll kill any and all children on his warpath. He knows that Sebastian would hate to see more death on his hands for one simple girl.”

  “I’m not simple,” Summer said with a blink. “I’m . . . .”

  “A Princess,” Sebastian said, slowly making his way in, shoulders slumped.

  “A Princess,” Gabriel repeated.

  In another breath, Summer leaned against Gabriel, feeling his arms wrap around her in a tight hold. Summer’s hand fisted in his shirt as she let her tears of fear and worry go.

  She’d do it. She had to.

  She’d stand there, strong, and bring that monster down.

  Even if it killed her.

  Chapter 27

  It was now early April, and Summer couldn’t believe how fast the time had gone. So much had happened in such a short amount of time. It seemed to all have happened in a blink of an eye, too.

  Today was nice and warm. The sun was out, melting the last bit of snow that was on the ground. It felt like spring was in the air as birds chirped, flying above. People were out and about, enjoying the rare warmth, too. No one ever knew how long it would last with it being a Colorado winter.

  Fayth and Summer were walking along the sidewalk, enjoying the rare nice day. The second doctor’s appointment had gone well, even though it was moved up a week. Gabriel was concerned over nothing. Summer had felt under the weather most of the week, but by the time Saturday came, she was over whatever illness she had.

  Marie thought it was mostly likely a viral cold, and didn’t foresee anything that required any more treatment than resting. Although, the doctor was more than pleased that Summer had gained a couple of pounds in the short amount of time.

  Although Summer was still measuring small for how far along she was, everything seemed to be on the right track. Marie would possibly do another ultrasound in another few weeks, just to keep an eye on everything.

  So now, to waste some time as Sebastian was having a skype meeting somewhere in his car, the two girls were walking along the sidewalk, mostly window shopping. Fayth was talking more than shopping.

  “Ah, look at that!” Fayth said, pulling Summer to a stop in front of the only baby boutique store along the main street. Since they had been walking down the main sidewalk, Fayth had not once let go of Summer’s hand.

  In one window was a bassinet set up, but it wasn’t a normal one that big chain stores carried. This one in the window had a cream colored fabric over it, touching the floor in a wave-like way.

  Summer stood there silently, looking at it. She loved the colors, as it would work for either a boy or girl. She could see herself using such furniture. She wasn’t sure if she’d be here, still, or back at home with Chase.

  “Let’s go in and look!” Fayth said with a bounce, dragging the silent girl into the store by the hand.

  The bell over the door jingled as Fayth pushed her way in, not a care in the world.

  The store was filled with baby and toddler clothing, nursery furniture, and baby gear. Many of these things Summer knew she would need, but yet she had no idea where to start. She could survive without anything for now, at least until she knew what would happen. She had no idea what would happen tomorrow, nor the next day. Let along in an hour.

  Fayth took control, knowing that Summer wouldn’t dare buy anything on her own. It didn’t matter to the red haired girl where the Princess would be in a day or even in a year. She’d spoil the little kiddo, no matter what. She’d always have Sebastian mail the stuff if need be.

  Grabbing a basket that the nameless employee had handed her, she began to fill it with a number of things. A few nature gender blankets, sleep and play clothing with zippers, and socks. Fayth even tossed in a few stuffed animals and books.

  “You know, I may not be here in a week, right?” Summer said, eyeing everything her friend was grabbing. She kept her hands in her pockets, mostly to keep from picking up a few of the things that had caught her eye that Fayth had bypassed.

  “Yes,” Fayth said with a roll of her eyes. “If you move, then I’ll just mail them. Or heck, maybe I’ll just move with you and bring them along.” She would move. She had nothing keeping her here, not really. “Actually, I will go wherever you go.”

  Summer shook her head, just about to protest that line of thought.

  “Don’t argue,” Fayth said, laying her empty hand on Summer’s arm and looking her in the eye. “I like you, which you know. I’m not letting my only friend leave me behind. I won’t leave you behind. You’re stuck with me. I have nothing here. Half these people here think I killed my own father, so I won’t miss much.”

  “But you didn’t,” Summer said, confused. So far, no one hardly looked Fayth’s way when they had been out. Not that they were out together often.

  “No, but small towns talk, Grace,” Fayth said, not upset. “Moving with you would be nice. I want to be an aunt if you’ll let me.”

  “Of course,” Summer said, blinking back tears. “Stupid hormones,” she laughed, brushing them away.

  “Perfect!” Fayth said, back to her old self, picking up a few more items. “I’ll have to talk to Gabriel or Bash to come pick up a few things from here in a day or two. I just love that bassinet in the window, and I know you like it too.”

  Summer had yet to master how to keep her wants hidden, knowing that Fayth, and even Sebastian, were always quick to pick up on them.

  “Yes, I do,” Summer said with a smile. “It’ll still be here in a few days.”

  “How can you really go along with that plan?” Fayth asked out, worried as she continued to browse.

  “I have to. He’ll go after everyone I care about if I don’t,” Summer said, looking at the floor before raising her eyes back up. “I can’t wait to see what he’ll look like when he sees how much I’ve changed.” No matter how nervous she wa
s, she really couldn’t wait to frighten the shit out of that man.

  “Will Chase be here?” Fayth asked. She’d love to meet this man in person. And even have a few choice words with him. That thought made her smirk to herself.

  “I’m not sure,” Summer said with a shrug.

  “Well, I’d be happy to stand with you tomorrow,” Fayth said off-handedly.

  “No!” Summer hissed out, not daring to risk another life.