He gestured to the breathtaking sight in front of them. “I did not bring you here because it was foreseen. I’ve wanted to show you where I grew up since before you met me.” His smile was tinged with sadness.
Harlow blew out a long breath and nodded. A bead of sweat trickled down her back, between her shoulder blades. “It’s beautiful here.” And hot.
Arian nodded. “The ocean is red because of the algae and other plant life. During our summer, the heat causes them to produce more of their natural coloring. In winter it changes to more of a muddy brown, but you can’t see it under all the ice.” His nose wrinkled and Harlow giggled.
“I bet it’d still be pretty.”
He turned to look at her fully, an appreciative gleam in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it.”
Before Harlow could say any more, the sound of tiny stones crushing underfoot drew her attention away.
Olivia stalked toward them, carrying two cups. She’d changed into a loose-fitting, pale pink tank top, as well as a pair of denim shorts that showed off her long, lean legs.
She pushed a mug into Harlow’s hands. Ice clinked the edges, the cup cool to the touch. A sweet caramel scent reached her nostrils and Harlow smiled as she sipped it. The taste was divine and refreshing under the hot sun.
“Come get breakfast before you both become burnt snacks for whatever scary creature finds you first.” Then Olivia turned and began walking back the way she came.
Arian shook his head and chuckled, but Harlow suddenly eyed the forest before them with apprehension.
“Don’t worry, I’m by far the scariest thing around here.”
She gave a nervous laugh as she followed him up the sloping hillside. She chugged more of the sweet coffee drink, downing it all in only a few swallows.
The black stones gave way to patches of lush green grass, topped with even bigger rocks. The jagged surface of them shone as though they were actually polished obsidian or onyx.
At the entrance of the forest, Arian spun and reached for Harlow. She jumped back, startled.
He paused, flashing her a crooked smile. “Jumpy, Ms. Marks? I told you, you have nothing to fear. But I mean to carry you through. Just in case.”
“How very reassuring,” she said dryly, allowing him to scoop her up in his arms. She hugged the cup to her chest with one hand and the other wrapped around his neck, the heat of him adding to the ambient temperature and making her skin damp.
“Well I am by far the largest creature in the forest, but perhaps not the deadliest in the traditional sense. There’s a few insects that might be worrisome if you linger too long.”
Harlow shuddered as she envisioned massive spiders watching her with their huge, creepy eyes and mosquitos the size of birds swarming them.
“I’ve got you, Kuzukah,” Arian murmured into her hair before sprinting full speed into the trees.
Arian
He tried not to relish the feel of Harlow’s face pressed to his neck or the way she fit his arms so perfectly. Racing through the forest at top speed, he maneuvered through the thick, low-hanging branches without thought. He’d spent so much time in these woods growing up, he knew it like his own heartbeat. There was truth to the beasts that could harm Harlow, but they were rarely seen. By him, at least.
Even as everything whipped past him he could scent the curious creatures that followed, trying to catch a glimpse of the mortal that dared enter. He held her tighter when light broke through the thick trunks and mossy branches, signaling the end of the forest.
When they emerged from beneath the canopy of shade, the sweltering heat greeted them. Arian set Harlow on her feet as she looked up at the manor with wide eyes.
“Is that your house?” she asked incredulously.
He took a deep breath. “Yes. My family often came here in the summer.” Though it no longer resembled the vacation home his parents once owned, as he’d expanded on the original structure and modernized it to suit his tastes. It was easily twice the size of the house he owned in New York, with two stories and all white, save for the half constructed entirely of glass. It had a more modern feel inside and out as most of Scondelade did.
“Why don’t you go in and Olivia can make you something for breakfast. I’ll give you a tour when I get back.”
She whirled around. “Wait, you’re leaving?”
He kept his expression neutral. “I just have some things to check on; I’ll be back before you even notice my absence.”
Her depthless sapphire blue eyes assessed him. “Why do you call me that?”
“What?” he asked with faux innocence.
“That word you said before you turned into the Flash.”
His lips pulled to the side on their own accord. “Kuzukah. In my language it means ‘fire-one.’ Fire is wild; you can’t tell it how to burn. It just does. I see that in you too. You have a fire in your soul that can’t be tamed.”
Her cheeks flushed, and Arian’s heart kicked against his ribs in response. He turned away before she enticed him to stay. She hesitated, her scent close. Then the sound of her light footfalls receding up the stone path freed his feet from the ground, and he sprinted away. The pull of his connection to her snapped taut, but he forced himself to keep moving.
He ran along the coastline in a blur, avoiding all the major ports and cities as best he could. Hurtling over rocks and green rivers, he slowed only when a strange scent or sound forced him to. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, so he ran, eager to be done with his plan. He finally altered his course, cutting inland.
To Eqoraline.
The sprawling city that once glittered and hummed with vibrant life was now muted—a monotonous drone. The people that lived within did not thrive as they had millenniums ago. Arian hoped he’d see the capital—which was named after his great-grandmother—returned to its former glory.
He slowed his approach, but not enough to be visibly seen by any of the guards of the city. The technology that scanned the border for unauthorized entrants had one flaw: it was manned by mortals. The Empress might be their ruler, but she was not their friend, and many still maintained loyalty to the Kalvar bloodline, or at least to him. Which made it easy to ensure that his point of entry would be unmanned at the precise moment he leapt over the invisible trip lines.
The edge of the city was quiet, with many of its occupants just beginning to wake. Buildings towered high up in the air, some of them factories and warehouses, others apartment complexes. Transportation pods hummed by on the narrow streets, their windows black to keep out the heat. The small mineral-run vehicles all drove autonomously, allowing their passengers to sleep on the ride to their jobs.
Arian crept down the street, keeping to the shadows. The Empress had enacted a curfew that prohibited pedestrians during certain hours, and Arian was the only one around. To his relief, not a single patrol car went by.
He turned onto the side street that led directly to the warehouse he sought and let out a long breath. At the orange-colored metallic door, Arian rapped his knuckles against the cool surface twice. Paused. Once. Another pause. Then twice more.
Silence followed for several moments, and Arian anxiously peered toward the mouth of the alley.
Finally the door slid open a crack. A man with yellow eyes and a headful of auburn curls poked his head out. His lips split in a relieved smile.
“Quick then, get in,” he said in his lilting Irish accent.
The door pushed open further to accommodate Arian’s broad shoulders as he angled himself through. A clang echoed from inside the building, along with a whispered, “Shhh!”
“Hello, Fredrik,” Arian greeted.
“Took ya long enuff,” Fredrik grumbled.
As soon as the door shut, the light flickered on, illuminating the large, empty warehouse. Furniture was spread throughout with dividers and a makeshift kitchen sat in one corner. An old electric burner sat atop the counter, with pots and pans that were clea
rly from Earth. For the working class in Scondelade, meals were prepared from dried packets that only required heating in a tunstyn, which was similar to a microwave though it used a different energy source.
However, getting food packets legally would be impossible for non-Scondeladian citizens. Arian wasn’t sure how Fredrik was getting them any food at all, but that was one of the many things he’d travelled so far to find out after Kaimon helped them enter Scondelade. He’d found them a safe place to hide, but it felt entirely too close to the demon-woman for Arian’s comfort.
Three small faces peered around a divider, followed by a woman with long, strawberry blond hair and dark blue eyes. Her resemblance in facial features to Harlow was almost uncanny, though Maribelle’s body shape was wider in the hips and thighs.
When she saw Arian, her face screwed up in anger. “About time!” she snapped. “Have I got a bone to pick with you!”
“Mary,” her husband hissed, trying to grab for her as she stormed toward Arian, finger pointed accusingly at his chest.
“This is all your fault! Do you have any idea what your little family feud has done to my family? Tennison can’t sleep without having nightmares! Our whole life was uprooted!” She jabbed him in the chest with her finger, and he let her.
Arian held up a hand. “I apologize for the inconvenience, Maribelle. I’m certain you and your family will be allowed to return to England soon.”
Maribelle harrumphed as she placed her hands on her hips. “You and your promises. Where is Harlow? Is she here? I demand to see her.”
Arian flashed her his signature smile that made women fall over themselves. Yet Maribelle remained unaffected, glowering and tapping a foot like he was a naughty child. He sighed. “Harlow is safe. I will try to arrange a meeting for the two of you. She asks for you often.”
She rolled her eyes. “I seriously doubt that. Harlow thinks I’ve forgotten about her since you told me to call her only on holidays and if there is an emergency.” Maribelle’s sons all slowly made their way toward Arian, as well as her husband, Robert, all of them wearing matching wary expressions.
Arian hummed. “And until a few weeks ago she was perfectly safe.”
Maribelle’s hands slid to her sides. “How did your brother find out about her? About any of us?”
He adjusted his cufflinks as he said, “She returned to New York.”
Maribelle winced. “What will you do?” she asked.
Her youngest son who was about four years old and had sandy-blond hair, lifted his small hand and tugged on his mother’s shirt to get her attention. She wrapped her arm around him, pulling him tight against her leg.
“The same thing I’ve done since she was a child,” he answered. “I’ll protect her.”
With that, he turned to Fredrik and jerked his head toward the door. Fredrik nodded, following Arian back into the alley.
Out on the main street, people milled about in their burgundy empire-issued uniform. Curfew was over.
Their outfits were all straight lines, hiding each person’s unique body shape. The lapels were angled toward their shoulders like miniature wings, the stitching and embroidered crest a metallic silver thread. The summer variant was sleeveless, the bottoms a light, loose material to keep the workers cool.
Arian ran a hand through his hair. “You shouldn’t have come here. You’re guaranteed to get caught. Perhaps not right away, but this is likely the least safe place to hide them.”
“I had nowhere else,” Fredrik said in his thick accent. “Kaimon figured the best place to hide was in plain sight. Oricus’s men were at each location before we even arrived.”
Arian sighed. “You’re a fool if you think he won’t follow you here.”
“T’at’s the thing,” he said, brows drawn together. “There hasn’t been a sign of ’em in a week. Not one. Tis like they’ve moved on ta somethin’ else.”
Arian nodded. “I’ve been moving Harlow around, making it look as though she’s been on the run from me to draw his guys away from you. Funny thing is, none of us have seen any of Oricus’s men either.”
Fredrik’s frown deepened. “Perhaps he gave up the chase?” His voice was hopeful, but they both knew Oricus would never give up.
Arian shook his head as he eyed his friend’s lean, muscular frame. Fredrik looked thinner, the circles beneath his eyes a plum purple. “I’ll send someone to relieve you. I appreciate everything you’ve done.” His attention slid to the mouth of the alley where an imperial patrol pod crawled past. He angled his face from direct view, eyes flicking back to Fredrik. “How are you feeding them?”
He sighed. “I raided your pantries after we ran out of the supply packs I brought with me. Even that’s getting low.”
Arian nodded. “I’ll see to it more food is delivered. Now I have to get back. Expect Kaimon or Josirus this evening.” He clapped his friend on the shoulder, leaving him with a nod that Fredrik returned.
His thoughts were only on his mate as he hurried back toward the edge of the city. He rushed between buildings, doing his best not to draw attention to himself. Already, he was the only pedestrian not in official empire-issued uniform. Curious glances followed him, along with hushed whispers that grew.
“Who is that?”
“—a Kalvar?”
“A prince—”
“Seen him before—”
Arian swallowed hard as he tried to separate himself from the growing crowd, but it was too late. A siren wailed that caused every person on the street to freeze. A whoosh sounded from behind him, and he turned in time to see the large, topaz-blue carriage floating down to the ground. Arian swore as every single person fell to their knees, pressing their faces to the ground.
The door flew open as he lowered himself on one knee, teeth clenched. He didn’t dare look up. Fuck, fuck, fuck. This was the worst possible scenario.
The air grew chilled just before a voice like the sharpening of a blade cut through the awaiting silence. “Rise, Dominicus Kalvar.”
Arian was on his feet in one swift movement. Though he despised to look upon the creature that stole his parents and his kingdom, he forced himself to do so. To meet her glacial gaze.
Tall and willowy, she leaned out the carriage door, a wide Cheshire Cat smile split across her bony, eerie face. Like a skeleton wrapped tightly in jade cloth. She crooked a finger for him to join her. “Come to me, Prince.”
Bile scorched his throat as his feet moved toward the wicked witch. She leaned back into her seat, gliding to one side so Arian could sit beside her.
Everything inside him roared not to do it. But to fight her could put Harlow at risk. Not to mention Maribelle and her family, if the Empress knew of their existence. She saw everything that went on within her city. It seemed unlikely that she didn’t know when aliens from Earth were hiding within it.
The moment the door closed, Arian was resigned. Whatever he could offer for negotiation, he would. No matter how vile the cost.
Inside the carriage, frost crystallized on the covered windows. The side of his body that was closest to her felt the bite of the Empress’s frigid skin. Her home was a hoarfrost planet, therefore in the warm seasons, she used her magic to keep herself cool.
As the vehicle rose into the sky with barely a low hum, Arian felt his chances of this being a quick conversation dwindling.
“My, my,” she drawled, trailing a long, cold finger down his arm. “I have not seen you in Eqoraline for many months. What brings you so close to my home?” Her voice went breathless as she tried to force her sexual powers into her words. They dripped inside his ears like honey, sweet and thick.
Arian’s lip curled. “Dispense with your tricks, Onoliza. You know they do not affect me.”
“A pity,” she cooed as she gripped his jaw to force him to look at her. He met her gaze, feeling the ice of her stare nipping at him. Her two thin, dark purple tongues flicked out and ran up his cheek.
He
shivered. Before he could jerk out of her grasp, Onoliza hiked up the skirt of her long, flowing dress and stroked the opening between her legs. She grabbed his hand and brought it to her inhuman anatomy. The hole was slick with cool moisture. The Empress moaned loudly, the straps of her dress sliding down her shoulders, baring her impossibly small breasts. The raised flesh at their center was a deep blue, but unlike any nipples he’d ever seen, they were merely elongated buds. No areola.
The sight was revolting, but Onoliza didn’t notice his expression. Her eyes were closed as she rubbed herself. Arian snatched back his hand, pressing himself away from the woman who heedlessly masturbated before him.
She writhed and moaned his name, baring her sex to him. It wasn’t the first time she’d committed sexual acts in front of him. He knew to simply wait until it was over, but still his jaw clenched so tight he hoped it would break.
Anything to get away from the deranged woman.
At last she cried out, squirting her stream of sparkling blue eggs to the carriage floor. Arian fought back the urge to gag as Onoliza’s eyes fluttered open. They flared with bright blue light.
In an instant, she spun onto his lap, straddling him. She pushed his shoulders back and crushed her lips to his. With a moan she ground down on his lifeless cock.
“Won’t you fuck me right here in this carriage?” she pleaded. Her lithe, spidery fingers began loosening his tie and unfastening his shirt buttons.
Disgust whipped through him, as cold and lethal as her touch. He gripped her curveless hips and stilled her attempts to awaken his dick, which he was pretty sure was retreating back inside his pelvis.
He hissed, “What do you want from me?”
Her thin, blue bottom lip stuck out in a strange imitation of a pout. Leaning so close her nose brushed the hollow of his throat, she said, “You know what I want, Dominicus.” She sat back, still perched on his lap, smiling a crooked smile. “You, naked and chained to my bed with all your brothers. My appetite only grows for a man as virile as you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I gave you that immortal stamina, if you recall.” She giggled as though her curse was anything but. “If you agreed to join me, you’d never turn into a beast again.”
Marked for Darkness Page 20