Luxure_The Cardinal Brotherhood Book One

by Sienna Parks

  I need to see with my own eyes that he’s alive. If he’s not, it’s only a matter of time before the Vollstrecker kill me anyway. I take a deep breath and press the button, my entire body shaking with fear as the doors open, and I step back into the elevator. I can barely steady my hand enough to press for the basement. I don’t stand a chance against the barrage of warriors I’m about to face, but I need to be where Lux is.

  Adrenaline pumps hard in my veins, the sound around me drowned out by my heartbeat thundering in my ears. When the doors open, the sight before me is one of carnage—headless corpses, roars, and shouts of battle. I can’t see Lux as I scan the room, but I can feel his life force—strong, fighting with everything he has. I draw strength from him from his will to survive and to protect.

  Cole and Kade fight together side by side, and for the first time, their bond is evident. They are brothers not only in name but to their very core. They move with practiced ease working together to take down those who would harm one of their own—Luxure. Beneath the bravado, innuendo, and good looks, these men are warriors. It’s the very essence of who they are. Surrounded by four of the Vollstrecker, they eliminate each of them in turn with effortless brutality. If it weren’t so horrifying, there would be something beautiful in the way they move.

  Selma fights one on one with a demon so frightening it seems impossible that a being as stunning and elegant as her can coexist in the same space as one so vile, so evil. She is breathtaking to watch—feminine and fierce in her defense of those she loves. When a second Vollstrecker comes up behind her, Kade breaks away from Cole leaving him to fight off three angry demons. He puts himself between Selma and the Vollstrecker blade that was about to pierce her skin. They join forces, and together they defeat them.

  When I finally set eyes on Luxure, my heart stops. He is fighting a fierce demon, the most imposing of them all. Covered in what I assume is blood—black blood—his eyes are wild, and his thirst for vengeance is tangible. All of my fears slip away as I stand in awe of my mighty warrior. He is majestic in battle. The blood pumping in my veins turns to molten lava. I don’t know what’s coming over me, as his thirst becomes my own. I feel like my humanity is burning away, my dark side bubbling to the surface, but it doesn’t scare me—it exhilarates me. I want to slay any demon who threatens Lux. I step out of the elevator before stopping dead in my tracks. I sense the moment Lux feels my presence. With my eyes fixed on him, he finds me in seconds. His voice echoes through the parking lot, “Sirena! Get out of here, now!”

  All eyes turn to me—enemies and allies alike—including my dad. He’s almost unrecognizable. I’ve always seen him as a gentle man, protective but tender. Seeing him like this just shows how little I knew, and the way he looks at me, he can see the changes. I’m not the sweet, human daughter he raised. He sees my demonic side, and he can’t hide the disappointment on his face. His attention turns from his aggressor focusing solely on me. “Run, Sirena!”

  As the words fall from his lips, he is overpowered by two demons. One pushing him to his knees as the demon who was fighting Lux only moments ago pulls a blade from his pocket. I throw my hands out screaming for Lux to help him. Suddenly, it’s as if I can channel his power. A surge of pure energy I can’t control runs from my breaking heart up my shoulders and down the length of my arms shooting from my palms. I don’t know what’s happening. The water pipes running in a complex network across the garage ceiling spontaneously burst one by one. Water sprays everywhere obscuring my vision. Lux is a blur as he runs to where I last saw my father. I can’t drop my hands. It’s as if they’re being held up by an invisible force—a power much greater than me. The others continue to fight taking down the demons who surround us. I watch in sheer disbelief as the water raining down throughout the garage begins to pool in strange and unnatural ways, building into a tidal wave that changes direction at an impossible speed, swallowing every Vollstrecker in its path leaving Selma and the brothers untouched. It grows in height kissing the ceiling before crashing down on the man holding my dad at knifepoint. As the water envelops them, I catch a glimpse of my father, his throat being slit, the glint of the blade shining light to his eyes, fear and failure staring back at me before his gaze goes blank. Blood cascades from his neck and out into the water transforming it into a river of red.

  “Daddy! No!”

  All of the power I felt leaves me in an instant. Dropping to my knees, the cold water soaks through my jeans. But that’s not what chills me to the core. When I feel the harsh concrete on my palms, the water begins to twist and turn making its way toward me. My hands seem to somehow absorb it leaving behind the carnage it was shielding me from. The garage floor is littered with the bodies of the Vollstrecker. Kade and Cole tear them limb from limb to ensure they are dead. Selma catches her breath leaning against an old Chevy Camaro. And Lux… Lux cradles the limp body of my father, both of them covered in blood. He walks toward me, my dad lifeless in his arms. “I’m so sorry, Sirena.”

  “He’s going to be okay, right? He’s an angel. Angels can’t die, can they? They’re supernatural for God’s sake. He’s one of the good guys. He can’t be dead.” I’m rambling, but I can’t stand the silence surrounding me. No one speaks, no one breathes. They stare at me with pity in their eyes, but I don’t want to hear anything they have to say.

  “Your dad was a Fallen. He chose to live his life with you and your mom.”

  “He was still immortal though. He is.”

  “Not when he was killed with a Vollstrecker blade. If he were still an Arch, he would recover, but as a Fallen, the blade is lethal. I’m so sorry.”

  “No. You’re lying.” Every step he takes toward me with Gabriel in his arms forces me backward until I’m standing in the elevator.

  “I would never lie to you, Sirena. You know that. I’ve always been truthful with you.” I can’t look at him. I can’t take my eyes off of my dad. The man who raised me, who kissed me when I cried, who took care of me when I was ill. His beautiful blue eyes stare at me, but the sparkle that used to brighten my day is gone. All that’s left… is pain. I can’t take this. What will I tell my mom? The doors begin to close shutting out the horror. My grief is reflected in Luxure’s eyes. “Please, angel, let me help you.”

  “You can’t.”

  His voice cries out my name as the doors close, and the elevator begins to move. Our connection weakening as the distance between us builds. I slowly sink to the floor, all of my energy gone. My hands are shaking, a tingling sensation lingering in my arms from the power I wielded only moments ago. Tears flow freely as my heart breaks. I never had the chance to make things right, to tell my dad I loved him despite the lies, and to thank him for giving up everything to care for me.

  When I reach the living quarters, I crawl out into the hallway unable to stand or walk. I can’t breathe. I feel like my lungs are being squeezed from the inside—a weight so heavy I cannot carry it.

  He’s dead.

  Because of me.

  I need to leave here before anyone else dies.

  Moments later, I hear the familiar ping in the background, as if I’m stranded at the bottom of a well, the sound echoing from far above. In seconds, Lux is beside me lifting me into his arms. “I’ve got you, angel.”

  He’s covered in blood—my father’s blood.

  I can’t even fight my way out of his arms. All I can do is rest my head against his warm, wet chest. There is no comforting heartbeat… only silence… and darkness. I know the others are following close behind, battle weary and concerned about what comes next. They head to the living room while Lux continues to our bedroom laying me down on the bed, stripping me of my wet clothes, every move so gentle, with a tenderness I’ve never known. He grabs one on his t-shirts and dresses me before pulling the covers around me. He begins to undress, his blood-soaked clothes falling to the floor, but as he crawls onto the bed pulling me into his arms, I can’t stand it. “I need some time alone.”

  “I’m not l
eaving you.”

  In the darkness, I can feel his pain. His guilt.

  “Where’s my dad’s body?” My voice is void of emotion.

  He hesitates. “He’s in the garage. Once I’m sure you’re okay, I’ll take him and give him a proper burial.”

  “Why would you do that? Aren’t angels your enemy?”

  “Gabriel wasn’t my enemy, Sirena. We both wanted the same thing… to keep you safe.”

  “Yeah, and he died because of it.”

  “You can’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I won’t watch the same thing happen to you.”

  He pulls me close, his lips brushing against my neck. “I’m not going anywhere. I am immortal, Sirena. You needn’t worry. I will protect you.”

  “I need you to bury my dad. I can’t stand the thought of him down there alone. He deserves some dignity in death. He was an Archangel… once.”

  “You can’t be alone tonight. We don’t know if there are more demons on the way. I’ll send Selma to watch over you while I’m gone.”

  “I don’t want…”

  “It’s not up for discussion. You can’t be alone. We don’t know what you’re capable of. Your supernatural side is growing more dominant, but it’s unpredictable. She won’t disturb you.”

  “She hates me.”

  “No, she doesn’t. She’s just…”

  “In love with you.” He doesn’t respond. He knows I’m right, and I don’t know how to feel about that. His closest friend of a thousand years is in love with him, and he has nothing to say about it. Instead, he simply kisses my forehead and leaves to do what I asked of him—bury my father.

  I don’t even notice if Selma comes to watch over me. I’m too lost in my own despair—scared of what the future will hold for me and what I might become without my angel watching over me.

  It’s been seven days since Luxure buried my dad. He took me to visit the grave before we had to pack up and leave our underground haven that turned out to be my Hell on Earth. Cole and Kade haven’t left our side, each of the brothers taking turns to watch over me twenty-four hours a day. Selma has kept her distance. I think she’s been trying to respect my grief, even if she doesn’t particularly like me. Whatever her reasons, I appreciate the space.

  The constant tension is wearing on us all. Lux and his brothers are on high alert in every public place we stop along the way. I don’t know where we’re going. I don’t think any of us do, but we stay in motels that are off the beaten track—crummy and probably infested with all kinds of bugs. Lux never takes his eyes off of me. Conversation is sparse, but we feel everything together.

  I’ve taken more showers in the past week than I can count. I can’t wrap my head around the shimmering of my legs as the water cascades down my body. I’m mesmerized by the tattoos that now snake around my breasts studying the intricate patterns that somehow resemble the ones covering Luxure’s body. Every time I stand under the continuous flow of hot water, I hold my hands out waiting for the surge I felt in the garage trying to manipulate the water to move, twist, and turn the way I want it to, but it doesn’t happen. I don’t understand why it happened before and why I can’t do it now.

  For a few hours every night I get to escape my despair. I lose myself in Luxure—in our intense connection. There is no need for words. Every time we come together as one, we grow closer, we understand each other better, and I find myself almost unable to relate to my old life—my human life. The more time I spend with him, the more my Siren side fights its way to the surface. Rationally, I know it is the darker side of me, but in so many ways it feels like I’ve finally found the light. I never understood the way I related to the world before. My sexual appetite and lack of commitment were never an issue. I always saw it as the natural way to approach the opposite sex. It all makes sense now that I know who I am, and ironically, my attitude has completely changed. The moment I set eyes on Luxure, sex became something more, something meaningful.

  I’ve lost track of what day it is or what state we’re traveling through as the days begin to run into each other. Cole has shown himself to be the man Lux knew he was. He hasn’t been the jackass I encountered in that motel room which seems like a lifetime ago. He is doing everything he can to find a safe place for us. We’ve had a few conversations—all of them about Lux. I think he understands how strongly I feel for his brother, and that I would lay down my life to save his. He’s also acutely aware of the danger I pose to every one of them—especially Lux—who has a target on his back because of me. And, if they all continue to help me, they, too, will have a price on their heads. I can see it on Selma’s face every time she looks at me.

  Kade is an enigma to me. He obviously loves his brother dearly, but his core driving force is something he seems unable to control at times. He can be the sweetest of the three and then turn on a dime. I see why Luxure wanted to keep my true nature a secret from him, but after what happened in the garage, we couldn’t possibly do that. Everyone knows what I am, and for Kade, it seems to have changed his attitude toward me. The look in his eyes—like he’s drinking me in—makes me uncomfortable at times. Then I see him having hushed conversations with Selma, and I see a gentle kindness that he’s unable to hide. There is an undeniable goodness inside of him no matter how hard he tries to suppress it.

  Today I need to convince Selma to help me. Last week I told Lux I wanted to visit my mom, to tell her about my dad face to face. He shot me down instantly convinced the Vollstrecker will be lying in wait for me. He doesn’t understand I can’t truly leave my human life behind without telling her what happened. Now that I know what love is, I can’t stand the thought of her left wondering and waiting for my dad to return—the love of her life who she accepted as he was and for what he was. I’m not stupid enough to think I can go alone to speak with her, but if Selma refuses to help me, I will.

  I find her in the store across from our motel, Kade watching from a distance.

  “Selma?”

  She turns to me with a look of disdain clear on her face. “What do you want? Where are your lapdogs?”

  “Kade is watching from across the street. He thinks I don’t know he’s there, but he’s not that good at blending into the background. None of them are.”

  “To you. To everyone else, they’re just average looking guys, nothing special.”

  “Oh right. I always forget about that. What about you? Do people see you differently?”

  “No. I am what I am, no changing it.”

  “So you stick out like a sore thumb then. Tall, stunningly beautiful, and majestic.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Why are you being nice to me? What do you want?”

  “Selma, I realize you don’t like me, but I don’t hate you. I’d like us to be friends. I understand how hard it must be for you to see Lux with me…”

  She cuts me off dipping her head to my ear. “You don’t understand anything, little girl. If you did, you wouldn’t be here.”

  A chill runs down my spine. “That’s why I’m here. Can we go somewhere private and talk?”

  “And how do you propose we do that?”

  “Luxure trusts you. Tell him we’re going to deal with my pathetic human female needs and we can talk… alone.”

  “Fine.” She shoves past me and out of the store.

  I feel so guilty lying to Lux. He’s so apologetic for not considering my needs—for not remembering that I’m still human, even if it feels like such a small part of me now. I know he senses my guilt, but luckily for me, he doesn’t hone in on why I’m so conflicted. He kisses me softly wrapping his arms around me before I leave, whispering in my ear, “I love you, Sirena. Never apologize for being human. You’re everything to me.” My heart hammers against my chest, the feel of his lips on mine a perfect slice of heaven. I give myself over to him completely pouring everything I have into this one kiss. I need him to know just how much I’ve come to love him. With a peck on the nose and a slap of my ass, he sends
me off to enjoy an afternoon with Selma. He’s hoping we can find a way to be friends, but later when he hears what I’ve done, he’s going to regret his desire for us to bond.

  We take the SUV and head to the local ghost town. We don’t exchange so much as a glance until we reach our destination. There’s one main street, and half of the store fronts are dilapidated. There’s a diner and a corner store that seem to be open, and there isn’t a single car on the road. It’s eerie, and something inside of me is screaming to be cautious, but I shrug it off. I’ve been on edge since the attack, and I’m sure Selma is more aware of the supernatural dangers that could be heading our way than I am.

  We find a bench halfway down the street, and I finally find the words to ask for help.

  “I need your help, Selma.”

  She takes a seat, her demeanor serious. “What can I do for you that Luxure can’t?”

  I take a deep breath. This could go one of two ways—she could agree to do as I ask, or she could go straight to Lux and tell him everything. “I need to go back to San Francisco, and I need you to take me there.”

  “Are you insane? Luxure would kill me. You must have a death wish, and your ridiculous ideas are going to get my friend killed, too.”

  “I need to tell my mom that my dad is dead. I need to make sure she’s safe.”

  Selma’s posture softens, and there’s a tenderness in her eyes that she’s never shown me before, not even the night my dad died. “I get it, but you need to understand that San Francisco will be crawling with demons. It’s a death sentence.”

  “I know. That’s why you can’t tell Lux where you took me.”

  “He will not let that happen, Sirena. Surely, you know that by now?”

  “I know he would give up his life to save mine, but I don’t want that for him. I want him to find his way back to his brothers. To find his way back to the mighty warrior he once was—the one I saw fighting in Phoenix.”

  “He’ll come after you.”

  “Not if you don’t tell him where I am.”