by Cate Farren
Ziibi said, “I honestly don’t know. It just sort of happened.”
“He’s telling the truth,” said Wynn. “Shapeshifters breeding with other races is very, very rare. They can breed with each other quite easily through a sort of...I’m not sure how to describe it.”
Toren was fascinated. She’d heard that shapeshifters could procreate with each other, but she just assumed they had sex. What fun would it be otherwise?
“I’m intrigued,” said Toren, raising her eyebrows suggestively. “Just how to shapeshifters procreate? And is it any fun?”
“They sort of...meld their bodies into one, connect on a cellular level. Their own will to procreate then produces a child out of the melding.”
“That sounds dull.”
Wynn shrugged. “It’s what it is. Depending on the parents the child could be simply a pile of goo they can form, or a fully formed baby, or sometimes even a full grown adult.”
Toren wondered why she didn’t know this already. She thought she knew everything about her enemy and yet this basic detail had eluded her. Why did it never occur to her to wonder how they bred? She just assumed Loki made more if he wanted. The fact that she never even considered this made her angry. She should have known. She should have investigated more.
There was a quiet knock at the door.
“Who knows we’re here?” Roberta demanding, panicking.
Toren sighed and went to answer it. It was her former handmaiden, Aileen.
“Queen Toren,” said Aileen, bowing. “I’ve missed you.”
The princess felt a little embarrassed being addressed as queen, though it was technically correct. She just hadn’t had time to process what her new role was should they get rid of the usurper.
“I’m glad you could come,” said Toren. She almost pulled her old friend into a hug but just couldn’t do it. “Were you followed?”
“You know I can be a shadow when I want to be,” said Aileen, grinning.
Aileen had a special ability granted to the handmaidens that allowed them to be unseen. She could blend into shadows, or just walk through a crowded room without anyone noticing her. In the past they’d been used as spies, though Toren had rarely used Aileen for those types of missions. Until now, anyway.
Toren introduced Aileen to the others. Anton was immediately smitten with the her. Aileen was very, very attractive. A result of the blessed powers bestowed upon handmaidens made it almost seem as if they shone. Her deep red hair cascaded down her shoulders and her eyes were ocean blue. She wore simple clothing, black jeans and a blue top, so she could blend in with the humans.
Aileen and Toren were also occasional lovers.
“How are things at the palace?” Toren asked.
Aileen settled down on the couch, seemingly unsure. “It’s fraught with tension. Nobody likes our new king, and he likes to throw his weight around. There have been several assassinations attempts made by people who are on your side.”
Toren nodded, flattered. “It humbles me that people still want me back.”
“Once they learned the truth about what your father did they didn’t condemn your murder of him. They rejoiced it.”
She’d heard rumors that the Fey were on her side, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it, thinking they were false reports put out by the usurper. Her people really believed in her. They wanted her to be queen.
Not yet. Not until Loki is dead.
“Have you seen Caleb?” Toren asked.
Her former bodyguard was still a prisoner of the king. She previously thought she didn’t have time to rescue him, but now she was here on other business Toren had decided to kill two birds with one stone. She would get Caleb back.
“He’s too heavily guarded,” Aileen revealed.
Toren nodded. It was to be expected. She was supposed to try and rescue Caleb and end up dead or captured. The usurper expected it of her. She wasn’t going to disappoint him this time. She was going to leave the usurper and his palace in flames
THE TINY, CRAMPED CELL was starting to feel homely, familiar. He knew every corner, every crevice of the rock the cell was molded from. He was even beginning to enjoy the smell, a kind of wet, earthy rock smell.
“I can cope,” he said to himself, pacing. The only thing to do was pace and perform yoga, to keep his body and mind in shape. “I can cope.”
A part of Caleb had expected Toren to rescue him by now, even though he knew she had more important matters.
I thought I was important to her.
He knew he shouldn’t feel ill of his queen, but he couldn’t help it. She wasn’t the one locked up like this.
“You’re talking to yourself again,” a voice whispered.
Caleb smiled. One of the things that kept him sane, and his mind ticking, was the conversations he had with Daniel. The vampire visited him once a day to talk about anything from his past to current affairs. Caleb relished his talks with Daniel.
“I’m the only sane one in this place,” said Caleb, continuing to pace. He felt a little restless today. “No offense.”
Daniel smiled. “You’re probably right.”
The vampire sat down on a chair outside the cell. The only thing stopping Caleb from escaping was a spell that would disintegrate him should he try to leave. Sometimes, when his thoughts turned dark, he thought about killing himself, but then he’d berate himself for being so selfish. Toren would need him one day, and he had to be there for her.
Quite why Daniel visited him Caleb had his own thoughts. The vampire himself had once been imprisoned for turning Jared and causing a massacre (later revealed to be the work of a shapeshifter). Maybe he felt solidarity for him? Caleb suspected it was because King Lachlan treated him like shit and he just needed a friend.
“You seem agitated this morning,” said Daniel.
Caleb glared. “So do you. Your hands are twitching.”
“The king had a rough night.”
Caleb walked towards where he thought the edge of the spell was so he could get a closer look at Daniel. There was a faint bruise around his left eye. The vampire’s enhanced healing was working its magic, but when a Fey punched you it left a mark.
“He hit you again,” said Caleb angrily.
Daniel shrugged. “He has a lot on his mind.”
“That usurper has a lot to answer for. If he hits you again you hit him back, harder.”
“He’s my king and he loves me. I love him. I can’t hit him back. Besides, he’s stressed. His allies have all bailed on him and are asking for Toren back, and he’s worried about Loki, and Dracula is ignoring his calls, and...”
“Stop making excuses! You’re better than this.”
Daniel turned away. Caleb didn’t understand his situation. You didn’t let someone you hated, never mind someone you loved, get away with such abuse. Perhaps vampires were different?
No. He’s found someone who loves him and he’s too scared to let them go.
Caleb could understand that. Loving someone made you do things you wouldn’t normally do. It made you brave, but stupid at the same time.
“Talk to me,” Caleb begged. “Tell me something.”
“I booked tickets to see Sharon Needles in Dublin,” said Daniel, smirking.
Caleb sighed. “Your obsession with Drag Race annoys me. No television show is that good.”
Daniel smirked and left. Two minutes later he brought in a laptop. He opened it.
“Season six, episode four,” said Daniel.
“I bet Bianca’s going to win,” said Caleb.
Caleb laughed and sat down to watch his new obsession. It may not be freedom, but it passed the time.
LACHLAN SWITCHED OFF the video feed. He didn’t mind Daniel talking with the prisoner. He just wished he didn’t spend so much time down there.
“I watch German soap operas when I’m bored,” someone behind him admitted.
The king sighed and looked up from his desk. It was Loki.
“What do you want?” the king snapped.
“I was just flitting around the world, seeing how things were progressing.” Loki sat on the edge of the desk and started playing with a stapler. His fingers were thin. “Your Dark Fey are doing their job, which is surprising. I thought they might have escaped by now.”
“Their addiction consumes them. They’d do anything to use blood magic.”
Lachlan felt nervous, feeling Loki so close by. He didn’t regret his deal with him. He was doing it to save his race. It was the only way to keep the Fey from becoming extinct like all the other supernaturals once Loki enacted his plan, whatever that was.
So why do I feel guilty?
He shouldn’t feel guilty. Dracula treated him like garbage. The other supernatural races were beneath him. They were ants compared to the Fey.
And yet...
“You haven’t told me why you needed the Dark Fey,” said Lachlan.
Loki stared into him. “You look tired.”
“I think I deserve to know.”
Loki ignored him, created a portal, and left. Lachlan screamed his rage and sheer impotence and smashed his hands into his desk. It broke in half.
“He doesn’t get to use me like this!” Lachlan raged. “He doesn’t get to treat me like this!”
He stood up, trying to calm himself down. Perhaps he didn’t need to know the specifics of Loki’s plan. His people were going to be safe after Loki’s war. That was all that mattered.
“Can we talk?” Daniel asked.
His vampire lover was standing in the doorway, hesitant to enter. There was a look in his eyes that said he was afraid. Lachlan felt like a monster.
“Not now,” Lachlan snapped. “I’m busy.”
Daniel didn’t even put up a fight as he left. Lachlan dismissed him, eager to get his desk replaced. He gave his lover one final thought as he resumed his task.
CALEB COULDN’T STOP thinking about Daniel. How could he allow the king to treat him like that? He was such a good person. He didn’t deserve this kind of cruelty.
“Daniel just wants to be loved.”
Caleb looked up. Loki was standing outside his cell.
“What are you doing here?” Caleb demanded.
“I’ve only just learned you were a prisoner here,” said Loki. “What a pity.”
“If you’re here to kill the king I wouldn’t bother. His people would welcome it.”
Loki smiled and stepped through the spell guarding the cell. It shook him only briefly, like a mild static shock. A lesser supernatural would now be a pile of dust on the floor.
“You’re here to kill me,” Caleb stated.
He didn’t back away. He stood his ground. Loki had never scared him. Nothing scared him.
Loki shook his head. “No. I’m not here to kill you. I’m here to set you free.”
The Lord of Chaos performed a spell, and the glow surrounding the cell faded. The magic had gone.
“Why are you doing this?” Caleb asked.
He knew this was his perfect time to kill Loki, but he just couldn’t do it. The man was setting him free! Besides, he knew Chorda would never forgive him. He would do anything for Chorda.
And I don’t have the strength or power to kill him anyway.
“I wanted to give you one moment of hope,” said Loki.
Loki thrust his fist forward, penetrating Caleb’s chest. The Fey gasped as his heart was ripped still beating from his body.
CALEB FELL TO THE FLOOR, his eyes wide, as he lay dead. Loki dropped the still beating heart onto the ground and stamped on it.
“My master will thank me for this,” he whispered.
He changed back into his current form, that of a Fey royal guard. He smiled and walked forward, straight into his master, Loki. He was looking down at the body in the cell with horror on his face.
“What have you done?” Loki demanded.
The shapeshifter bowed and said, “I thought you would approve.”
“He was not to be hurt!”
“But he loved your Chorda. I thought...”
Loki despised Caleb, but he didn’t want him dead. Chorda had known the Fey was in love with her, but she’d accepted it because she loved him dearly as a friend. Loki knew this. Chorda would hate to see her dear friend cut down like this.
“I’ve done you a disservice,” said the guard. “I apologize.”
“Never mind,” said Loki. “You’ve done well so far, keeping me informed of the king and his movements.”
“Thank you.”
The guard bowed again and walked away. Loki stared down at his dead lover’s most trusted friend and wept.
Chapter 7
"Some people would find this strange," said Lovisa.
Adrian grinned. "Some people should mind their own business."
He wiped the remaining soap from Lovisa's clean shaven face and kissed her on the nose. He placed the razor back inside its case and admired his handiwork.
"You don't have to do this," said Lovisa.
"I like doing it," Adrian confessed. "It's intimate."
They managed Lovisa's curse well. On days when she was forced to be male they kissed and held hands but nothing more than that. Adrian loved her but he still couldn't quite force himself to make love to a man. She understood, and it didn't come between them, though it did make him feel guilty. It made him feel homophobic and selfish.
Lovisa smiled as she started to dress. "Don't beat yourself up about it. You're as straight as this razor. I totally get that. It doesn't mean you're a bigot just because you won't be with me when I'm a man."
They'd been looking for the witch that cursed Lovisa for over a year now. They'd hired detectives and called in favors and still nothing. Adrian was beginning to think she would never be found and he could never enjoy a proper life with the woman he loved. While she was cursed she couldn't become pregnant or ever get on with her life. She managed, but even he could tell it was taking its toll on her, especially now the two of them were so close.
Adrian pulled on a pair of jeans, going commando for today. It was stifling hot outside and underwear always made him feel restricted. Werewolves normally liked to wear as little clothing as possible.
"How was your meeting with the were council?" Lovisa asked. She was staring at the mirror, applying peach lipstick. "Have you made any progress?"
"It's slow," Adrian confessed, pulling on a white t-shirt. It slipped on like a second skin, emphasizing how muscular his body was. "They don't like change."
"What they did was an abomination."
For all his life Adrian had been told that weres, or shifters, couldn't procreate with those not of their species. It turned out they were lying. Shifters could have children with other supernaturals and humans, though there was only a very small chance it could happen. When half-breeds were born they were taken in secret and sent to another dimension to die. Only they didn't die. They thrived. They created a whole new society, a society that Clover and Jared had lived in for a year until Loki sent a nuclear bomb to kill everyone. Yet there were still half-breeds living in that dimension, thinking they'd been abandoned. Adrian had gone to see the were council to confront them with what he knew. To their credit they did seem ashamed of their actions and had vowed to stop doing it. Adrian didn't give them any choice. He revealed what he knew on the dark web. Within a day every were and shifter on the planet knew the truth.
"They're sending a delegation to the hell dimension," Adrian explained, helping Lovisa with her blonde wig. "They're hoping to make amends."
"We've been there and I know for sure they won't put up with that," said Lovisa.
Adrian shrugged. "Who can blame them?"
After Adrian had learned the truth he and Lovisa had journeyed to the hell dimension themselves, taking a witch called Rianna with them. She'd been sent by the were council to put a spell on them to protect them from whatever radiation remained. They'd found a lot of angry, confused people who didn't want any apologies. They just wanted to be left alone.
The two of them stayed there for three months, listening to stories, meeting new people. Due to how time worked in the hell dimension only a few hours passed by on their Earth, so they didn't miss anything. Adrian sometimes wished he'd stayed. It was all so simple back there. There were no wars or politics, just people surviving and living life to the full.
A month ago
The vista before them vast, overlaid with fruit blooming trees of every variety. Anything grew here, from coconuts to mangos. There was something in the soil, some special ingredient, that allowed it. It made the landscape colorful.
As the moon started to glow Adrian felt the wolf within him stir. It was hard to control here, despite Rihanna’s spell. He knew what Gable Trent and Jared had been through. The magic in the air made them become feral and base.
“You okay?” Lovisa whispered.
They were sitting on a small bluff overlooking a long valley. The village they were staying in was just behind them, lit up like a neon city. They were having a festival to celebrate the death of the demon god. Little did they know Gable Trent was alive and well and living in another dimension.
“Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to cast off my restraints and run free,” he told her. “The wolf in me is very persuasive.”
“I know what you mean,” Lovisa admitted. “When I siphon off your sexual energy it feels more potent.”
“So that’s why our sex here is so spectacular.”
She laughed. “I have to admit I’ve never quite had it that good.”
Adrian nodded. The beast inside him, and the succubus part of Lovisa, combined made for very heavy lovemaking. Sometimes it got violent, but they ignored it because what their bodies made together made up for any pain. In a world where their inner supernatural was always at the edge their lovemaking was only made more potent, more passionate. It was like their sexual urges were in overdrive, pushing to the max. Some days they spent in bed in their small cottage, literally having none stop sex. It was exhausting but very, very satisfying.
“We should probably be heading back to the festival,” said Lovisa. “Rihanna will be wondering where we are.”