Entangled Darkness

by Brandy L Rivers

  When Tremaine entered through the open bedroom door, he pulled his shirt over his head and opened his pants to get rid of the rest of his clothes. In a matter of seconds, he strode into the bathroom where Liz stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and crossed the distance with a wicked grin.

  “Let me handle that, Doll.”

  Her eyes darkened with lust. “All right.”

  He caressed her body with the towel, teasing every erogenous zone, all of which he’d memorized. Her eyes closed and she tipped her head back with a sigh. He kissed down her throat as one hand slipped between her thighs to tease her pearl.

  “I need you, Tremaine.”

  “Need you too.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed.

  Robert watched as Tremaine laid Liz down and crawled between her legs, pushing them open.

  Tremaine licked his lips. “Lie back and shut off your brain.”

  “Gladly,” she promised, dropping her head to the pillow as he bent to lick through her slick heat.

  He’d never get enough of her sweet, savory taste, or the needy whimpers and moans as he worked her toward climax.

  Robert joined them on the bed, shifting behind Tremaine, firmly massaging his lower back. Tremaine groaned into Liz as Robert caressed and explored. He relaxed into his lover’s touch, eager to see where Robert led them.

  Warm lube dripped down his crack when he licked into Liz. Her back arched, and her hips shifted, encouraging him to thrust deeper. One finger entered Tremaine, following his rhythm. His nerves lit up, his cock getting harder.

  Trem sucked her clit, and Liz gripped his hair, holding him to her as she cried out, her desire coating his tongue. Robert pushed another finger inside, stretching him. Tremaine licked deeper into Liz as more lube was drizzled on him, giving him goosebumps.

  Robert took his hand away, leaving Tremaine craving more. “Make love to Liz,” Robert ordered.

  He didn’t need to be told twice. He shifted up the bed, covering Liz’s body with his before entering her with his full length as his mouth closed over hers.

  Her hands caressed up his sides as Robert’s blunt head slowly delved into him. Tremaine dropped his head to Liz’s shoulder as Robert filled him, forcing him further into Liz.

  “Fuck yes,” Tremaine grunted, pulling back as Robert sheathed himself fully.

  Liz tangled her hand in Tremaine’s hair. He turned his head, sucking on her pulse point as Robert set the pace. Her walls tightened around Tremaine’s cock as he drove into her while Robert retreated. The pleasure was so intense he could only fall into the rhythm. Panting, moans, grunts, and more, made a sensual song that connected them in a way that hummed to his core. “I’m close,” Robert panted, his fingers digging into Trem’s hip as he thrust harder.

  Liz started to come, pulling Tremaine with her. He cried out as Robert joined them. Robert pressed a kiss on Tremaine’s shoulder before pulling him to the side. Tremaine rolled to his back curling the other two around him.

  Tremaine turned his face to find Robert’s gaze locked on him. He smiled. “We can do that again.”

  Robert leaned in, placing a slow kiss on his lips. “Thank you for trusting me.”

  “Always have.”

  “No.” He laughed. “There were a few times you warned me about hurting Liz.”

  “More as a precaution than actual fear.”

  Liz trailed her fingers over his abdomen before twining hers with Robert’s. “He always pushed me toward you. Only ever cautioned me to make sure I was ready.”

  “Who’d have thought we’d wind up here, like this?”

  “Doesn’t matter. We’re here now. I wouldn’t change us for the world.”

  Chapter 22

  Eighty-two years ago, several days later…

  Anthony slid down the wall in the room he shared with Jules. His heart lay in burning embers. He thought he wanted Jules to find out about Tremaine. Believed Tremaine would kill Jules and come back for him.

  Oh, he killed Jules, all right, but disappeared. No one was able to track him. He couldn’t enter Tremaine’s dreams. All he knew was that Tremaine left the cave where he’d fought Jules.

  He missed them both. Wanted to beg Jules to forgive him. Wanted to lie down at Tremaine’s feet and let him decimate him too.

  What had started as a game for Anthony had become too real while Tremaine played him for a fool. And he had been. He fell hard for a man who’d been as hurt by the Council as he’d once been. But had he?

  Every time Jules tore him down, Tremaine picked him back up. He believed Tremaine was a friend and lover. But was it all lies?

  Days had passed, and there was no sign of Tremaine. Jules was dead and gone. He’d felt the moment Jules died as if it were his own heart bursting.

  Wind churned past Anthony. He pushed his palms over his eyes, wishing to die.

  A gasp pulled his attention. Anthony shot to his feet and found ashes rebuilding Jules. He fell beside the bed, taking his hand as it solidified.

  “You died,” Anthony chocked out.

  A cruel smile crossed Jules’ lips. “And now I’m alive.” He sat up, his chest heaving as he stared down at Anthony. “Tremaine didn’t come back, did he?”

  Anthony shook his head. “He’s gone. Maybe dead.”

  “Oh, he’s alive. He hates you.” Jules snorted. “He hates us both.”

  Anthony knew it was true but didn’t want to believe it. “Forgive me. I was a fool. Please, Jules, I was wrong. The moment I felt your death, I died too. I couldn’t go on living without you.”

  “You broke my heart when I found you marked by that mongrel.”

  “Tell me how to repent. I’ll do anything.”

  Jules raked his fingers through his hair. “I know you will.”

  * * * *

  Anthony was startled when the door slammed open. Jules stormed inside, his face set in a stony glare. “You promised results.”

  Drawing a slow breath, he shrugged. “I did not. I promised you we would find them, and we have. However, they’re on to us and are going to be harder to capture now. That was always a possibility. You may want an easy mission finished to completion, but we can’t always have what we want.”

  His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Can’t one of the seers find something?”

  Anthony shook his head. “No. Unfortunately, in a rift, we can’t accurately track them. Remember, their dimensional rifts take them elsewhere. Sometimes a different time, sometimes a realm. They are unpredictable.”

  “Then how do you think we’ll find them?”

  “They have allies in Edenton. I already have a crew watching several people close to Tremaine and the other Rift Bender.”

  Jules winced. “And what of Robert? Or do you doubt his abilities as a mystic.”

  “We’re tracking him as well. When did you form an interest in Robert McCallister?”

  His lips tilted in an evil grin. “Jealous?”

  “Turnabout is fair play. You taught me that long ago,” Anthony reminded. Their relationship had been good for eighty years until Anthony confirmed that Tremaine was indeed alive and within reach. Jules’ jealousy roared to life again

  Anthony wasn’t the only one who had committed adultery. However, when Jules tired of his lovers, he dispatched them rather permanently.

  Jules continuously pressed him to kill Tremaine, but the thought made him ill. No matter how badly losing Jules ripped him open, a part of his heart still belonged to Tremaine.

  Jules stepped directly in front of him, capturing his attention. “Do you think Robert inherited his father’s gifts?”

  “Oh, he inherited far more. Out of the three children, he had the most advanced and useful skills.” He half-laughed. “Though his sister is quite talented. Baylen sent the pictures of what she did to that wolf from Axel’s pack. Completely demolished him. I suggest we don’t attempt to take her. One touch and she would easily kill anyone threatening her or hers.”

  Jules
shook his head. “We can fix that.”

  “Not without risking her curse. No one can counter that, Jules. It’s better to take our prey and leave. We don’t want to draw too much attention. The people of Edenton are loyal to each other. You’ve already seen the lengths they’ll go to for people there, even ones not of their kind.”

  “Several of which are Silver Council mages.” Jules sneered. “I never imagined I would see the day the Silver Council embraced ones not their own.”

  “They’re starting to. Thanks to people like Draecyn, Tremaine, and Robert, who fully support non-mages.”

  “Are you thinking about crawling back to the very people who hunt us now?” Jules shook his head in disgust just thinking about it.

  “Of course not. You have my loyalty, as does the core of HARP.

  “That pleases me. I can’t wait to get my hands on Tremaine, so I can give him a taste of what I suffered at his hands.”

  Anthony managed not to react. His phone rang, and he stepped away while answering. “You best have a good reason to call.”

  Theo purred, “The boy is alone. We have our chance. There may be casualties.”

  “Take him. Let’s see what the rest of our targets do.”

  * * * *

  Christian paced the living room of his apartment. Nervous energy ran through him. He couldn’t go outside. As soon as he opened the door, the two men outside would grab him. Tremaine assured him he had magic, but he hadn’t figured out how to tap into it. So far, he could see the future and feel emotions, sometimes control them. That was it.

  He pulled his phone from his pocket and walked to the back of the apartment.

  Someone outside began to chant, the sound muffled. He closed himself in his room, glad Delilah had already left for work.

  Pressing speed dial, he waited for Robert to answer. Only one ring before he heard, “Everything okay?”

  “They’re coming.”

  A wave of force knocked him through the window, the glass shattering around him.

  He dropped the phone as he fell from the second story.

  Pain rocked through his body when he hit the ground. Stone, solid stone, not outside his apartment. What the hell?

  His lungs burned, but he couldn’t catch his breath. Darkness swept around him and cold air chilled his skin.

  * * * *

  Robert dropped the phone and turned to Tremaine. “Keep her safe. I’m getting Preston to investigate what happened.

  “No. You can’t tell me to sit here on my hands,” Liz snarled. “I took care of him his whole life. I can’t sit back and do nothing.”

  “Liz, they want you. I can’t let them take you.”

  “You vanish on me, and I’m hopping in my car and driving myself. You will not leave me behind,” she snapped. No doubt she meant business.

  Tremaine drew a heavy breath. “I’m with her. If they just took him, they aren’t waiting around to snatch anyone else. They’re hauling ass. We need to get Preston and figure out where to go from here.”

  “You shouldn’t be there either,” Robert pointed out.

  “Fuck that. You leave us behind and you know we’re only going by ourselves. With you, we all stand a better chance. Especially if they know what Christian is, then they have a good idea what you are. So you are in just as much trouble. Preston too, while we’re at it. So let’s go.”

  Anger rolled through Robert, chased by fear. He didn’t want any of them in danger, but arguing with them would only make the situation worse.

  “Fine.” He grabbed Liz and Tremaine and took them directly to Preston’s. They appeared in the living room.

  “Preston, where are you?”

  Seconds later, they heard a yawn, then some muttering and rustling before Preston came storming down the stairs in his boxer briefs. “What’s going on?” He yawned again, scrubbing a hand over his face.

  “Christian called. There was an explosion. They took him. We need your help tracking.”

  “Let me get my clothes,” he said, turning and rushing back up the stairs.

  Robert looked at Liz and Tremaine. “I don’t like this. You know it could just be a trap.”

  “Depends.” Tremaine shook his head. “They’ll be watching to see what we do. We have to go investigate, but I suggest we translocate in and don’t step outside the apartment. If we do, they could easily take us. doesn’t know how to shield yet, so he couldn’t fight whatever the fuck they used to get him out of the building.”

  “What are you talking about?” Robert asked.

  “Liz and I worked wards on his place. They wouldn’t have been able to enter. Which means the explosion was probably a blast of energy to push him out of the apartment. There’s going to be damage. Also police and firemen… by the time we get there. Whoever did this isn’t going to risk exposing themselves to a community like Edenton. It’s part of the reason they took Ava away from Washington to misdirect the Council. They don’t want too much attention because they want to achieve their goals.”

  “Okay.”

  Preston came charging down the stairs, fully dressed this time.

  Robert asked, “Did you hear the discussion?”

  “Yeah, left the door open to see if I could get a better idea what the hell is going on. Let’s go.”

  They all touched Robert, and he took them into the center of the apartment. Flames raged around them. Robert immediately translocated them back to the cabin.

  “Fuck!” Tremaine snarled. “They’re playing by a different set of rules. We may need Draecyn and Ms. Murdock. Fucking hell!”

  Robert took them to the room where they’d been before. Old Lady Murdock and Draecyn sat at the table watching the explosion through a spell.

  “We have questions,” Robert stated. “We’re all hoping you have answers.”

  Draecyn nodded. “We do. We’ll tell you what we can.”

  “Do you know where they went?”

  “No, but you can find them. You need to work together.”

  “Why did they take him?”

  “My guess, they sensed your wards at Christian’s place. They took him because they know you have a connection to him. They wanted to see what you would do. Seeing how you zapped in and out of there so fast, they know they’ve already made a mistake. They have two choices. Keep the boy, or stash him somewhere. I’m leaning toward stash him somewhere because they already figured out he’s mated to a werewolf, and that means they already know the Edenton pack will come for them.”

  “Will they care?” Robert spat. His nephew was out there somewhere, held by people who wanted to rip apart their society. And if he believed the Branches of Emrys, to rip apart the world as well.

  Ms. Murdock watched the playback. “These two will be ordered to dump him as soon as they realize you came and left quickly. They also probably realize what you are now, Robert, which puts you in as much danger as Elizandra and Tremaine. So calm down. Let’s work out a plan.”

  Liz approached the table and took control of the spell that showed the sequence of events that had happened. With her hands, she guided their view to the bedroom and watched as she let the event play out. A blast rocked through the apartment from the front door, carrying down the hall. Everything was pushed toward all exits. It knocked Christian off his feet and threw him through the window.

  She shifted the vision, so it followed Christian down. He fell toward the ground, but before he landed, a mage touched him and translocated him away.

  “I know him,” Tremaine stated, rubbing his jaw. “He’s Theo’s partner. That asshole definitely has it out for me.”

  Liz’s brow arched. “Why?”

  “His sister died when I opened a rift. She forced me to read the spell you found the other day. I didn’t even know what I was doing, nor could I control it. He blames me.”

  “What is he?” she asked.

  “Werelion. Great at tracking. His sister was a psion as well as werelion.”

  Preston cocked his head to the
side with a sigh. “How far can the mage translocate?”

  “Few miles. Less than most translocating mages I know.”

  “Okay, take us behind the building. We’ll track from there. Robert will just have to guide us.”

  “Wait,” Ms. Murdock said, “we can’t all go.”

  Tremaine stood by Liz’s side and caressed her cheeks. “You stay, Liz. You have the most to lose.”

  “You two go and yeah, I could lose everything.”

  “No, we’re coming back. But if HARP takes you, they will torture you for information.” He covered her stomach with his hand. “This right here is all the reason you should stay this time. Not every time, but we won’t lose him, Liz.”

  Robert stepped in beside her. “He’s right. We all know you’re capable, but you’re carrying our future.”

  Liz blinked and a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. “I can’t lose either of you.”

  Tremaine pressed a kiss to her lips as he brushed the tear away. “You won’t, but Robert can only take so many of us. That’s the only reason it makes sense for you to stay. He needs Preston to track. He needs me in case we require an escape they can’t follow, or to trap the assholes who took Christian. Right now, you only know the basics. I can do things we haven’t gotten to yet in your training.”

  “Come back to me.” She pulled him in for a kiss, then turned to Robert. “You too.”

  “We will,” they promised simultaneously.

  Robert stepped back, dragging Tremaine with him and grabbing Preston’s arm. He took them to the wreckage of the apartment building.

  Chapter 23

  “Fuck!” Liz cried out the second Robert disappeared with Tremaine and Preston. She stormed away, tears leaking down her face.