Chapter Nine
Calan panted through the lust and pain tightening his body. Tingles that had nothing to do with pleasure and everything to do with the out-of-body experience he’d just had burned every particle of his being. The only thing that made his suffering bearable was the memory of his soon-to-be mate lost to desire.
“Was it worth it?”
His brother Rhys’s agony-laced voiced echoed in Calan’s head. Guilt welled. In order to accomplish the feat he hadn’t been sure was possible, he’d drawn strength from his willing brother the same way Calan had over the lifetime they’d been together.
“Yes,” Calan rasped. He switched to the more intimate form of communication he shared with his siblings. “I never knew how good it’d be. I felt her pleasure, Rhys. It was different from what we feel, but no less satisfying. I can’t wait to join our bodies.”
“Don’t be a fool. The female is Dar’s child. Whether she’s fought the lure of her heritage or not matters little. The same chaotic force that twisted the king of the Seelies has worked its way through Harley from the moment she took her first breath, luring her, tempting her, corrupting her.”
“It does matter. She is strong. She—”
Rhys growled. “She is not pure. The next time she willingly acts on her hatred, she’ll be lost. One act of violence, and—”
“She will not intentionally hurt someone. I saw—”
An anguished roar resounded between Calan’s ears. He didn’t flinch but lowered his gaze at the sight of his brother’s lengthening jaw and reddened eyes as he slipped into their alternate Huntsman form, the hellish state where they were half beast and half man.
“You didn’t block me soon enough, brother. I saw the evidence stamped on her body, the same as you did, but you refuse to acknowledge it. She has caused pain at least once and enjoyed it. You know as well as I, the euphoria of hurting another is a drug to fairies. They’ll seek that high, over and over, until they can’t function without the screams of their victims.” Rhys groaned. “You’re letting your damn dick make your decisions for you. Think with your other head before it’s too late.”
Calan raised his gaze to meet Rhys’s wavering image. “Yes, she’s experienced pleasure from another’s pain, but she has not sought it out again. For me, Rhys. How can I not look upon her with respect?”
“Mating her is not a permanent fix. Now that she knows what being Unseelie can offer her, she will always be tempted.” Rhys turned pleading eyes upon him. “She might not mean to embrace her darker side, but what if people dear to her are hurt, and she strikes out at their attackers? Hurts them? Maybe kills them? Think of it, brother. The need to seek vengeance is powerful. We feel it, know how all-consuming it is, and fight the temptation to give in too.”
“I’ve watched friends and family suffer and die.” Harley’s words repeated in Calan’s head, echoing the scenario Rhys offered.
Calan cracked his jaw. “I will act as her buffer, shielding her from the lure of its false power.”
“I know you will try, but she can still choose to shun your protection. If you mate her, she’ll take you down.” Rhys’s weary sigh cut worse than his rage had. “I don’t want to ask our father to banish you from the Teulu so I can turn the Hunt upon you. Do not finish the mate bond. Use her to gain your release, then take back what you shared before it’s too late.”
Calan contemplated his brother’s words. Rhys, for all his faults, had always been the voice of reason, at least in everyone else’s lives if not his own. Rhys also knew what a leap Calan’s choice had been for him. For a god, or the child of one, to mate was not a decision to be made in the spur of the moment. Calan basically had, though.
From the moment he first saw Harley, he’d known she was special. Nine years ago, she’d been pure—she hadn’t experienced the high of her darker side. Had he bonded to her then, he could’ve saved her in truth, but she hadn’t returned to him. She’d broken her promise and betrayed his trust.
No, that wasn’t quite the truth. She’d returned to him. Only she’d come back damaged. He could no longer promise her she’d never turn into a monster like her father. He could only promise her hope that with his support she’d survive. He waited for regret to consume him or at least doubt. Neither emotion surged within him. All he experienced was the all-consuming lust that threatened to own him as completely as the Hunt could.
Right or wrong, he’d made his choice, exactly as he’d told Harley.
Calan was hers until the end of time.
“Once Harley completes the bond, it’ll be easier to ensure she remains honorable. I will fight for her. I won’t lose her, Rhys. She is my choice. Together, we will endure and thrive.”
“And if she doesn’t complete her half of the binding?”
Well…then he’d discover the true meaning of hell.
Chapter Ten
Harley rolled her eyes at the antics of the drunk and horny guys prowling around the bar. A few of Ian’s childhood friends knew her from when she’d been younger, but most had never met or even seen a picture of his elusive sister. She almost wished he would’ve passed one around before the party and told them she was off-limits. Ian hadn’t, because he wanted her to find a little happiness, even if it was in the form of a fuck buddy she could hook up with whenever she came around.
Ian meant well. He just never accepted the facts of her life. Having a regular go-to only put that unfortunate guy in harm’s way. She could get away with random encounters as long as she kept her liaisons to daylight hours with preselected guys and ran as soon as the orgasm faded. Most didn’t mind. Some fell in instant lust, however. Those encounters hurt the most. She didn’t enjoy breaking anyone’s heart.
She knew well what longing for the unattainable could do to a person, only she’d finally met her fantasy. Calan offered her forever too. She simply had to accept him.
A focused stare centered on her back drew her attention to the party. She surveyed the room. The stripper gyrating over her brother’s lap had most of the guys’ attention except for the one walking toward her. Trevor, Ian’s business partner and the only other person who knew the truth about her, leaned a hip against the table in front of her.
The heated perusal from his dark brown eyes held all the lust a good one-night stand could offer. It did nothing for her. Actually, none of the advances she’d had to rebuff all night had any effect. She wasn’t indifferent to sex. She loved it, but Calan had succeeded in killing her interest in any other man.
“Ian’s making a mistake.”
She met Trevor’s eyes, the topic not one she’d expected. “It’s not my place to say anything.”
Trevor glanced over his shoulder, shook his head, then faced her. “I saw Cynthia with another man last night.”
Harley almost laughed at the ridiculousness of what he implied. Instead, she raised a brow. “And?”
Trevor took another step. He towered over her. Not as muscular as Calan or even Ian, Trevor had a swimmer’s build—tall, sleek, and powerful. She craned her head to see his face. Anger tightened his features.
“The so-called ‘virginal girl’ who’s stopped Ian from doing more than kiss her had her hands all over this guy while his were under her skirt.”
She stifled a gasp. “Did you tell Ian?”
Trevor propped his hand next to her head and leaned close enough to kiss her. He didn’t. He held her in an intense, enraged gaze. “Yeah, I fucking told him. He told me to stop lying, that I was jealous.”
“Are you?”
Trevor flashed a lopsided smile that chilled his eyes instead of warming them. “I can get any woman I want.” He pressed the palm of his other hand on the opposite side of her face. “Including you, Harley. Why would I be jealous of a seemingly sweet-natured, kindergarten teacher?”
He had a point, at least about not having a reason to be jealous. As for his claim to be able to seduce her? He didn’t have a chance in hell, not anymore.
“Has she ever
done anything like this before?”
“No, and that’s the thing. Cynthia is a good girl.” Trevor pushed away, a frown on his face. “Or at least I never thought she’d cheat on him. I just…”
“What?”
“She was calling this guy Ian’s name.” He rubbed his stubble-covered chin. “I thought maybe he was a redcap, but he didn’t feel like one.”
Trevor and Ian had experienced their share of encounters with the fairies’ creatures. Harley hated that they insisted on hunting the monsters, but her words of caution had fallen on deaf ears. She’d given up and supplied them each with an obsidian blade to match hers. Luckily, they never had to fight any. Whenever they attempted to engage one, the redcap or sluagh ran. The question that had always bothered her was—why? She’d never come up with a reason but was grateful for it. Losing either Ian or Trevor would push her over the edge.
“Are you sure he wasn’t a redcap? Maybe he was using glamour to mask his nature.”
Annoyance tightened his features. “I’ve been on the receiving end of fairy magic enough times to recognize it. This guy wasn’t using any.”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Describe him. What did he look like?”
“He was a big guy, muscular like Ian.” Trevor cracked his jaw. “He did have a baseball cap, but I’m telling you, he wasn’t a redcap. I’d swear by it. They always make me dizzy, even when they’re not using glamour.”
She’d heard Ian say the same thing—the blade they carried acted as a mini warning system. She couldn’t verify their claim. Her internal system always kicked in first. Any forewarning the knife gave would’ve been overshadowed by the burn she experienced deep in her chest.
“You had your dagger?” she asked to make sure.
He gave her an incredulous look, then patted his boot. “Of course. I always carry it, except when I’m fucking or in the shower. Even then, it’s within arm’s reach.”
Harley nodded, pleased with his response, even if she didn’t need the intimate details. “What else was he wearing?”
His lips compressed. “He wasn’t a red—”
She stood on her tiptoes and fisted his shirt. “Just answer me. What else was he wearing?”
“Jeans, motorcycle boots, and a T-shirt with a screaming skull on it.”
No, please no. That was Raul’s signature outfit. Harley tightened her grip on Trevor’s shirt and tugged him closer. “Describe his hat.”
“I didn’t miss a redcap, Harley.”
She shook him. “His hat. Please, just tell me what it looked like.”
A guarded expression passed over his face. “It was black with red slashes on it.”
She released him and covered her mouth. “Oh God. Oh God.”
“Talk to me. What’s wrong? Did I fuck up?”
Harley ran across the room without answering, weaving between the guys and the few exotic dancers dressed in various costumes. She grabbed Ian’s hand. “I need to talk to you. Now.”
Ian glanced at her. The hungry look he’d held for the brown-haired stripper faded as concern widened his eyes. He lifted the woman from his lap and stood. “What happened?”
Harley led him across the room. The heavy weight of the other men’s gazes followed them. At the far corner, she covered his hand with her trembling one. “Have you talked to Cynthia today?”
“No, why?”
“You need to call her. Right now. Make sure she’s okay.”
Although that’d be a miracle. If it had been Raul who’d been with her, they’d be having her funeral instead of a wedding.
“She’s fine, Harley. I talked to her sister, Allie, less than an hour ago. Cynthia was giggling in the background as she opened presents.”
“You’re sure?”
Ian brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I’m sure. Why are you worried?”
“I talked to Trevor, and—”
“Don’t listen to him.” He shot Trevor an irritated look. “He’s lying.”
“But the guy wore the same baseball cap Raul does. Same clothes too.”
“If there even was a guy.” Ian shifted on his feet. “Look, Trevor has been trying to get me to change my mind about marrying Cynthia. He thinks I’m making a mistake. He swore he overheard her talking to some of her friends about me, saying crazy shit like she’s only marrying me for my money. That she never loved me and”—he lowered his voice—“she really thinks I’m gay.”
Harley stepped back. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. It’s all a bunch of lies. Cynthia loves me. She told me so.” Ian ran a hand through his hair. “Lots of times.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Trevor caught her gaze. He gave a small shake of his head and turned away. She faced Ian. “I don’t know. What if—”
“No, Sis. Listen to me. Raul wouldn’t know about the wedding. We’ve kept it quiet, and the cell phones we’ve used can’t be traced. I won’t take any chances with your life or Cynthia’s.”
Everything he said was one hundred percent accurate. Ian knew how to protect his loved ones, and she’d been running for a decade. It usually took months for Raul to catch up to her. The chances he had found her so quickly or guessed at her destination when she’d never returned home before were slim to none. So why was her gut churning?
Ian bent closer. “I’ll call her and talk to her. Okay?”
She nodded.
Ian squeezed her hand. “We’ve been living in the shadow of darkness for years. I told you I won’t live in a bubble. We can’t stop the evil in this world. All we can do is hope we don’t unintentionally invite it into our homes.”
She’d heard his speech too many times and still didn’t believe a word of it. “I’m not going to the wedding. I’m leaving tonight.” Right after she unlocked Calan from his prison.
“What?” He glared at her. “You promised. I need you there.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Ian narrowed his eyes. “You’re hiding something from me. What is it?”
Harley peered around his shoulders. Nobody hovered close by. Assured they had a modicum of privacy, she faced him. “My ghost man is real. He’s not a fairy but a rider of the Wild Hunt who’s been imprisoned for centuries.”
“What?” He tensed. “Tell me everything.”
She rushed through the rest of the facts she’d learned, then waited for what he’d say.
“You believe him.”
A statement, not a question.
“He healed me.” Harley laid a hand over her heart. “He left a piece of himself inside me and calmed the burn I’ve always felt.”
“How is it possible?” The hope in Ian’s voice stirred the same in her.
“I don’t know.” She took his hands and held on tightly, the emotions swirling inside causing a lump to form in her throat. “But, it’s real. The burn, the edginess, the temptation are gone. I feel almost pure.”
Ian wrapped her in his arms and laid his head over hers the way he had since they were little. “I’m happy for you.”
The tears choking his voice weren’t a sign of the strong leader he projected to the world, but he’d never hidden his true feelings from her. He had always been the only one on her side or at least the only one who’d ever showed her affection and attention.
Love rushed up. She buried her face in his shirt. “If Calan will let me, I’m going to help him hunt down Dar. When the bastard is dead, I’ll find a way to save my brothers and sisters.”
“Do you think there are many other kids like you?”
“Still alive?” Harley shook her head. “I doubt it, but I’m sure there are other women out there carrying Dar’s kids. Their babies are ticking time bombs.” She leaned back and let him see her determination. “I’m going to save them.”
She hoped the certainty she pushed into the vow gave it power. She didn’t want any other child to suffer the way she had or die at the hands of Dar’s monstrosities. Or Calan’s hands, for that matter.
/> Ian nodded as if it were a done deal. “I’ll help you.”
Harley pressed her palm to his cheek. “You know I can’t allow you to do that. The commitment you’re making to Cynthia overrides the one you feel for me. I’m no longer your problem.”
“You were never a problem.”
She gave him a small smile, both glad and saddened he hadn’t argued with her. “I’m getting out of here. I’ve had my fill of half-naked women for the night.”
He watched her intently for a long moment. “You’re going to release him?”
She nodded.
“You’re taking off then too?”
“Hopefully with Calan, but if not, I’m going to hunt for my siblings myself.”
“Not alone. If your ghost man doesn’t go with you, you shouldn’t do this. It’s too dangerous.”
“I have to. No one else will save them. They don’t matter to anyone else but me.”
“They do matter. I’ll ask Trevor if he’ll go with you.”
Like hell. She wouldn’t risk another innocent’s life.
“Sure, okay.” Harley forced a smile, hoping Ian would believe her.
He narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t buy her lame acting skills but gave her hand another small squeeze anyway. “You’ll call, right?”
She patted her back pocket and the cell phone there. “You know I will. Every day, just like I promised.”
“Good.” He nodded. “That’s good.”
They held each other’s gazes for another long moment. Good-byes, promises, and love passed between them. Finally, she turned away and left her only family member behind, or at least the only one she knew wouldn’t turn into a hungry beast someday.
Harley evaded another one of Ian’s friends who stepped in her path and slipped outside. She scanned the parking lot, a habit she’d developed. At nearly midnight, the lot was deserted.
After one more visual sweep, she strode toward where she’d left her car, one of the spare SUVs from Ian’s company. The hulking black vehicle was the biggest she’d ever driven. Inside the metal shell, she had a sensation of power, though she doubted it’d win any races.
Betrayed Page 8
