by Nina Bangs
A human woman had chosen to love the unseelie animal. She deserved punishment, but they had to keep her alive to ensure the creature’s obedience. It had allowed itself to be bound by their magic in return for her safety. But he did not trust that magic or iron chains would hold the creature if it decided to exert its power.
“I like not the look in her eyes. Do you see madness there?”
He wished the male would stop talking so that he could enjoy what was happening at the front of the line. But he did take a moment to glance at the woman.
She stood between two of their guards, as she’d stood every night since the beginning. It was necessary that she watch each night. The creature needed to see that she still lived. Fury, despair, and love shone from her eyes. But he thought he saw something else in her gaze tonight, something he couldn’t identify. It made him uneasy.
Both guards held spears aimed at her heart. One wrong move by her fae lover and she’d die. Not even a creature with its immense power could reach her in time to stop her death. It knew, and the knowing kept it biddable.
“The guards grow lax.”
He shrugged. She’d grown weaker. And not once had she attempted to escape. So if one of her guards occasionally left her side for a moment, he could see no harm. He frowned. They needed to feed her better or something. She could not be allowed to die.
Ah, he was next in line. He licked his lips in anticipation as he watched the male who’d spoken to him take his turn. Cuts, bruises, and blood covered the fae creature’s bared body, but still it kept its unearthly beauty. The beauty helped him forget that he was reduced to taking his sexual pleasure from one such as this.
He grew even harder as he watched his fellow male flip the dark fairy onto its stomach, free his cock, and drive into its body. The male yanked its head up by all that tangled hair and sank his fangs into its throat. He took the creature in the most savage way he could. Males of his clan enjoyed inflicting pain. Watching another’s agony made their climaxes more intense.
But just as the other male finished, making room for him, shouts broke out. He turned to see what was happening. Whatever it was, he would not let it interfere with his pleasure. He’d waited in a long line for this.
It was the woman. The guard had grown too careless. He’d been so busy watching what the other males were doing that he’d taken his attention from the creature’s mate.
The woman had thrown herself on the guard’s spear. Even with all the blood, he could see it had pierced her heart. Her dimming gaze was fixed on her mate. Her dying words were weak, but he had no problem hearing her.
“You are free now, Kione. Know that I love you.”
And that quickly she was dead.
He slowly turned back to the . . . Gone. All that was left were its chains. Foreboding touched him, but he pushed it aside in favor of anger that he had missed his turn.
He rubbed at his eyes. What was the matter? He felt as though he were racing backward, the scene growing ever more distant. And then . . .
Utah shook his head and blinked. His mind finally caught up with reality. He was back in the rose garden. Damn. He never wanted to go along on one of Kione’s memory trips again. Whatever sympathy he might have felt for the five vampires had disappeared.
Lia. Had she experienced the same thing? God, he hoped not. He looked for her.
She was crying. Lia didn’t cry. Ever. It went along with the never-being-afraid thing. Why was she on her knees? She stood, keeping her head down, trying to control the pain she felt for Kione, the hate for his abusers, the sorrow for the woman who’d died to save him.
And when she felt a hand on her shoulder, Lia knew who it was. Utah. She kept her head down, didn’t look at him.
“He escaped them, Lia. He’s here, he survived. And no matter what was done to him, what he lost, he lived. We need to celebrate that, because it’s always about keeping on.” He massaged her shoulder as he murmured his comfort.
“Maybe he didn’t survive, I mean, the part of him that counts. He’s never gotten over it.” She tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. “God, who could?” Had anyone grieved for Kione, for the unknown woman?
He didn’t make cheerful sounds, he didn’t demand she look at him, he just gave her his silence. And that was enough.
Lia’s instinct was to keep her face hidden until the tears were gone, her traitorous emotions under control. After all, she had a kickass rep to defend. But maybe she didn’t want to defend it tonight.
Maybe tonight, with this man, she’d allow herself to be human once more, with a human’s unapologetic expression of horror and grief for what Kione had endured. Sort of ironic that she should turn to her human side when she was no longer human. Dad would applaud.
Lia raised her head and met Utah’s gaze. She blinked at the tears blurring her vision. She didn’t apologize.
He didn’t smile or try to make her feel better. He didn’t rush into words meant to take her mind off what she’d seen. He simply wrapped his arms around her and held her. And that was enough.
Slowly, though, something else intruded. Something unwanted, uncontrollable. Hunger. A need so powerful she couldn’t contain it. Not normal even for a newly made vampire. God knew, after a lifetime spent around them, she recognized what was normal for vampires.
Her gaze fixed on his throat, the pulse beating there. She could hear the rush of his blood, almost smell the coppery scent. Her fangs lengthened even as a killing frenzy gripped her. She opened her mouth and struck.
Utah must’ve been on his guard because he jerked away from her at the same time he gripped her arms, holding her in place. “What the hell’s the matter with you? And don’t give me that crap about being newly risen and needing blood. You’re stronger than this.”
Lia almost tripped in her frantic effort to put distance between them. Utah let her go.
“I don’t know what that was about. This feeling just came over me. I knew I had to kill you.” She pushed her hair from her face as she tried to calm herself, to think. “Until further notice, I think you need to stay away from me.”
Hurt flashed in his eyes just before he wiped all expression from his face. “Sure. No problem.” He looked away.
She couldn’t deal with this now. Lia forced her attention back to what was happening in the center of the field.
Kione finally spoke. “As you saw, it was tough being the only date in town.”
His words might sound light, but Lia heard the layers of hate, bitterness, and heartbreak in his voice.
“I was weak, but when I felt her die, strength came from somewhere. I broke their spell and their bindings. I returned to the unseelie court, where I gathered a force. Then I returned. We destroyed them. But I could not find her mortal remains.” He paused, and Lia could feel his despair at not being able to lay her to rest. “I did not love again.”
And in that stark statement, Lia heard the depth of what the woman had meant to him.
Kione’s attention was totally on his five enemies. “I will free you enough so that you can speak. I wouldn’t deny any man his last words.”
The vampire who’d been the first to step forward must’ve been their leader because he was the only one who spoke. “How do we know you tell the truth? You have the power to paint any pictures you want in our minds.”
“I didn’t expect you to believe me. All these centuries, you thought I’d destroyed all of your clan. I didn’t.”
Lia could almost feel the collective shock of everyone there.
“There were no survivors.” The vampire was adamant in his denial. “We would’ve known.”
“How? We didn’t leave enough to identify.” Kione shrugged. “I had a lot of hate to vent. Sorry about leaving all those pieces behind.”
The vampire didn’t answer. Lia supposed he was busy trying to deal with that hole in his chest.
There seemed to be a ripple in the air near Kione, and suddenly, a man appeared. No, make that a vampire. He looked a
lot like the five on the ground, except he didn’t have their darkness clinging to him or a hole in his chest.
Kione motioned to the new vampire. “For those in the audience, this is Kazan. He was the only one who took no part in what happened during that time. I allowed him to live just in case I ever needed someone to give witness to the truth of what was done to me and mine.”
No one made a sound. No one moved.
Kazan spoke. He didn’t look at the vampires on the ground. “Kione told the truth. I was there. I did not have the courage to speak out against it. For that, I apologize. I agreed to leave the clan’s home and never return. I made no effort to contact any who were not there when the fae attacked. I had no wish to revisit the destruction of my clan or what led up to it. For that I do not apologize.”
Time seemed to stretch on forever. Then the spokesman for the five vampires spoke again. “I have discussed this with my clansmen. We agree that you were wronged, Kione. We will remove the curse.” He sounded as though giving up his vendetta was as painful as the gaping wound in his chest.
Giving up vendettas. For just a moment, she thought of Utah. How long would he carry his hate for all vampires? She hadn’t helped the process along by trying to rip out his throat.
“Aren’t you a little too late with your magnanimous offer? All I have to do is kill you to end the curse.” Kione sounded anxious for the killing.
The vampire nodded. “I do not deny that you have a right to your anger with all of us.”
“Damn right I do.” Kione spoke through clenched teeth. “And it was never about what was done to me. It was always about her.” All his agony at losing the unnamed woman lived in Kione’s voice. Time had not dimmed the memory.
And here Lia had always thought of Kione as emotionless. Maybe he was in other things, but not when it came to the woman he’d loved. Still loved.
“Kazan will remain as your clan’s only survivor.”
The five vampires did not beg for their lives.
“To destroy us is your right.” There was acceptance in the vampire’s voice. The other four said nothing.
No. Lia couldn’t let this happen. “Wait.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
“You can’t kill them, Kione. This is bigger than your revenge.”
Kione didn’t comment, so she forged ahead. “I’ve read about this clan. After the fae attack, everyone thought only these five were left. They were the clan’s most powerful hunters. The entire vampire world feared them. If not for Jude, the other clans would’ve banded together to destroy them. You know this.”
Kione remained silent.
“But Jude felt it was unfair to destroy them simply out of fear. He gave them his protection, acknowledged them as his.” She took a deep breath before she realized it was no longer necessary. “If you destroy them, he’ll be obligated to challenge you. This is one of our rules. And if he fights you, he’ll be lost not only to his people but also to the Eleven.”
“So you’re saying that the survival of the human race is more important than my puny complaint.”
She glared at him. “Stop putting words in my mouth. No one thinks your complaint is puny. But they’ve agreed to remove the curse. They weren’t even there when everything happened.” Okay, so she was copping out by using a neutral word like “everything.” She straightened her back, lifted her chin, and for just a second met Kione’s gaze. “When they raped you and caused the death of the woman you loved.”
He looked away first.
Lia had no idea what he would’ve said next, because just then Jude stepped out of the shadows.
“I’m sorry I missed the beginning of the ball. Adam had me doing chores. You know, the usual—sweeping the hearth, waiting on my evil stepsisters, searching for my missing slipper. But now I’m here, and I’m taking my men home.” Jude’s eyes blazed with the threat of violence.
Kione didn’t acknowledge him, just turned his gaze to Utah. “You called me partner. You said you would stand with me. Will you honor that promise?”
Uh-oh. Caught between a rock and a hard case of fae vengeance. Lia looked at Utah, tried to tell him with her eyes that she supported him. But she was afraid that all her eyes telegraphed was: I want to kill you. She glanced away.
Utah didn’t hesitate. “I’ll stand between you and anyone who tries to hurt you, but I can’t kill any of these people. All of them have fought beside me.” He nodded toward the five prone vampires. “Even them. Remember what I said about loyalty? It still stands.”
Lia could count the seconds in years as Kione made his decision.
Finally, he stepped back. “Free me from your curse and then go.” Kione didn’t sound too happy about the way things had played out.
Kione might’ve wanted to put a period to his personal nightmare with a good old-fashioned slaughter, but Lia felt limp with relief.
She watched as the vampires stumbled to their feet, hands clutching at chests that still oozed blood. Kazan joined them and helped to support the leader as he gasped out a promise.
“Once we have fed and regained enough strength, we will remove the curse.” He hesitated. “We are sorry for . . . her.”
From a man who probably had no emotions left for anyone or anything, feeling sorry was about equal to a normal person pounding his chest, tearing his clothes, and shrieking like a banshee.
Kione said nothing. He simply disappeared. Lia glanced around the field. Jude was walking toward his men while Ty and Spin headed toward the SUV. Where was Utah?
Her heart pounded with fear before she took hold of her emotions. He was fine. She was fine. She didn’t need to know where he was. Probably as far away from her and her shiny new fangs as he could get. She didn’t blame him.
Lia took a moment to close her eyes and just try to clear her mind. Unfortunately, images of Kione’s torture played over and over behind her closed lids. They wouldn’t be going away anytime soon.
“Do you need help?”
Fin’s voice startled Lia. She opened her eyes. “Now you show up.” And if she sounded a little ticked, she had a right to.
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry. “I had to keep a lot of humans tucked tight in their beds. And there were a few nonhumans who wanted to join the party. I had to make them understand that this was an invitation-only event.”
“Fine. So you couldn’t stick around.” She scanned the field. Where was Utah?
“I think you should go with Jude and his men.”
Surprised at Fin’s suggestion, she stopped searching for Utah and stared at him. “Why?” Suddenly, she realized something. She felt no compulsion to attack him.
“You’re handling your new-vampire status well, but eventually, your hunger will catch up with you. Jude will have what you need.” Fin the diplomat. “And afterward, come back to my condo. We can keep you safe until you adjust.”
Safe in his containment room, probably. “Actually, I don’t want any blood right now.” Of course, if Utah wandered up, she’d probably attach herself to his throat. She needed to find out what was happening there. “I fed from Zero right before we came here.” Lia hadn’t meant to say that. Fine, so maybe she had. On some level, she’d wanted to upset Fin. Did that make her a mean person?
“Congratulations. I’m sure you’re the first. Tell me if you feel yourself changing into a megalomaniac.” Fin turned and walked away.
Well, that had gone well. Lia continued her search for Utah. Finally, she found him. He was standing beside a tree at the edge of the field. If she didn’t have her new enhanced vision, she would’ve missed him. He stepped out of the shadows when he realized she’d spotted him. But he didn’t come nearer.
Lia walked as close as she could, but stopped as soon as she felt the bloodlust rise. “Utah, this isn’t about you.” She waved her hand in front of her to signal that he should ignore that statement. “No, it is about you. Only you. I’m not feeling a need to drink from anyone else.”
“Should I feel honored?”
Okay, so he had a right to be sarcastic. “I’ll figure this out. I’m driving back with Jude, and I’ll ask him if he knows what’s going on.”
Utah looked cold and remote standing in the darkness. Was this the warm and sensual man she’d made love with? Not that she could feel.
“Look me up when you think you can stand being around me.” Then he followed Fin away from the field.
Her steps dragged as she followed Jude and his men in the opposite direction. She’d wanted this all her life, so where was the exhilaration? Maybe if Katherine was still around, she . . . She what? Would love you because you were now worthy? Would respect you as much as she respected her favorite vampires? Lia pushed the thoughts away. Probably a little too close to the truth. Anyway, she had other things to think about.
She caught up with Jude. “Fin says I should ride with you. Guess he doesn’t trust me not to tear out a few throats and make myself a mixed drink. I should’ve told him I don’t drink before breakfast.”
Jude laughed as he unlocked a van he’d gotten somewhere. “Hop in. Lucky for you, Reed loaned me his vehicle.” He cast her a sideways glance as he went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. “Since someone still has my car.”
She slid into the passenger seat. The five vampires crawled into the back. They didn’t seem to be in a talking mood. Kazan had taken off as soon as he’d helped them into the van.
“I’m sorry. With everything happening, I forgot to ask Shen for a loaner.”
“Not your fault. You’re driving my car because Adam wants to show me he’s the boss.” His voice vibrated with anger. “Where do you want to go?”
“I need to buy enough blood to get me through a few nights, and then you can drop me off at Fin’s. Oh, and I need to borrow a gun. Zero kept mine.”
“Sure thing.” He stayed quiet for a short time as he drove the dark and deserted Portland streets. “Anything else bothering you?”
She sighed. Jude was too perceptive. “Maybe I wasn’t just kidding about tearing out throats.”
