by Leia King
“Yeah. His attempt at a peace offering.”
“I see. Well, I’m still sorry.”
He tightened his hold around her. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t care about any of it, Cora. I just care about you, Orion, and this little one,” he said, rubbing her belly gently. “I have something for you. Something you asked me for a long time ago. With everything that happened, I never got to give it to you.”
He leaned over her and opened the drawer of his bedside table. He withdrew something in his closed palm and returned to her. He smiled excitedly and opened his hand. She gasped as she saw the two rings there. They were a bright, glowing gold with little flecks of brown running through the metal.
“Shaye picked these up for me. Wedding bands. They’re made from the earth itself. They’re eternal. Once we put them on they can’t be removed. Only in death.”
“They’re gorgeous.”
He took the lead and slid his onto his wedding finger, demonstrating his commitment to her. Before she could reach for hers, he took her left hand gently in his. “Let me,” he said. He slid it slowly onto her finger, wanting to savor the poignant moment between them. “You are mine,” he said. “I love you. Always, Cora.”
She smiled and relaxed into him. “I love you. Always.”
22
As they sat at their dining room table, eating dinner together, Marella frowned at the sight of Nathanial pushing his food around his plate with his fork absently, as he stared off into space.
It wasn’t because he was a vampire and didn’t eat. He did eat every now and then, especially with her. They always had dinner together. They always made dinner together. Something was wrong. He’d been distracted all night. Normally, he told her what was on his mind, but, tonight, he hadn’t offered up anything. It meant that whatever was bothering him was extremely serious, perhaps even volatile.
She couldn’t take it anymore and so she finally asked, “Nathanial, what is it?”
He looked up, startled by her sudden question cutting through the long silence between them. “I am trying to determine my best course of action regarding a sensitive issue.”
“Would you care to elaborate on that guarded response?” she pressed with amusement.
He stared at her for several moments, clearly trying to decide if he should let her in on it. “Well, you are my wife. So, I suppose I should.”
She grinned. “Yes, you should.”
He set his fork down and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “Cora is going to kill Oriana.”
Marella almost shot out of her seat. “What? When?”
“Tonight.”
“How do you know this?”
“She revealed it to me today after the Royal Court meeting when I confronted her about her recent activities.”
Marella pondered the situation. “I can sense your desire to act. But you should do nothing, Nathanial. Let Cora do this.”
He shook his head. “I cannot.”
She leaned across the table and took his hands in hers. “You need to let it go.”
“Marella—”
“Nathanial, I know you have always envisioned that you would be there to witness her demise. But Oriana is your past. Everything she did, all of that. This…” she said, gesturing between them, “…is your future. This is what matters.” She eyed her pregnant belly. “And our daughter.”
“Angel, you misunderstand. I have let it go. I do not have any emotion towards her. No anger, no need for vengeance.”
“Then what is this about?”
“I am concerned about Ryan.”
“Ryan? I don’t follow.”
He gazed at her intensely as he revealed, “Cora is with child.”
Marella gasped in surprise. “You are sure? She didn’t look as though—”
“She is concealing the pregnancy.”
“Does Ryan know?”
“I do not know. I am certain, however, that he is not aware of her plan to take on his mother tonight.”
“She is strong, Nathanial.”
“Yes, but the child is wolf, just like Orion. She is already expending a tremendous amount of power just to sustain it.”
Marella nodded her understanding. “She won’t be at full power when she confronts Oriana. Oh my God, Nathanial.”
He rose from the table and ran his fingers through his hair anxiously. “I know. It is why I must go to her. But she is currently blocking me. I cannot reach her. I have no idea where she is.”
“Who did she meet with about Oriana?”
“Kristoff, Michael, and Davidas.”
“Davidas?” she muttered with distaste.
“I believe he gave her something of faerie magic to assist her with Oriana. She must have used Kristoff and Michael’s black magic to locate her.”
“They’re both in the castle. Let’s ask them.”
Nathanial shook his head. “They will not tell us anything. And I do not have enough time to force it from them through torture.”
Marella cringed at his mention of such torture.
“I am sorry, angel. I know you disapprove of such methods. Sometimes it is necessary, but as I said, it will be of no use in this case. Both Kristoff and Michael are too experienced for me to be able to break them in time. It would take days. They will protect Cora’s secret, because they both want Oriana dead, especially Kristoff. Oriana murdered his wife, after all. As Cora is blocking my dark magic, there is only one person who can track her right now. Ryan. I am hesitant, however.”
“Because of his temper,” Marella realized.
“Which is at its most uncontrollable when Cora is in any sort of danger.”
“You wish to go along with him?”
“Yes. Cora will need my assistance if she is not at full power. But not just me. Kristoff. There is no one more powerful with regards to black magic.”
A knock at the door startled them both.
“Enter!” Nathanial called out.
A moment later, Kristoff walked in.
“You heard us?” Nathanial asked.
“Yes,” Kristoff said, closing the door behind him and walking into the room. “Marella,” he greeted politely, before turning his attention to Nathanial. “Oriana is at the one place where she believed Cora would never dare to go back to. Marlowe Grove.”
Marella could see that the place rang a bell for Nathanial. His brow furrowed, though, as though he were surprised that Oriana was apparently holed up there. “The village that Vazra leveled with his burning fire of white light in a fit of rage a few years ago?”
“Yes, but it has more significance than that. I didn’t think he’d told you.”
“Told me what?”
“That village was collateral damage. Cora’s mother lived there. The home that she resided in is the only thing left standing, actually. Cora was visiting her that afternoon. Her mother left the house when she sensed Vazra’s power. She didn’t fight him. She sacrificed herself, allowing him to cut her down with his magic in a bid to protect her daughter inside the house.”
“You’re saying that Vazra killed his wife? Cora’s mother?” Marella asked, shocked.
“Yes.”
“How do you know this when the rest of us are clueless?” Nathanial demanded.
“Because none of you were sleeping with her.”
“For goodness sake, Kristoff!” Nathanial exclaimed. “Cora’s mother?”
Kristoff held up his hands. “Look, she came to me. It was a brief affair. That is all. She was lonely. I was… between women. Anyway, that day, she contacted me when she sensed Vazra’s magic. She wanted my help. But Vazra attacked in the afternoon, and being vampire, I couldn’t go to her until the sun went down. By the time I got there, all I found were scorch marks on the ground.”
“And Cora?” Marella asked.
“Gone.”
“She is not aware that Vazra was responsible for her mother’s death,” Nathanial said.
“She probably assumed it
was a revenge attack brought on by her mother’s job as a Seeker at the time,” Kristoff said.
“Let’s leave it that way. She doesn’t need to know. She’s already been through too much,” Marella suggested.
“Indeed,” Nathanial agreed.
“Oriana will tell her anyway. She knew all of Vazra’s secrets and I am sure that this is no exception,” Kristoff pointed out.
Marella watched with irritation as Nathanial and Kristoff proceeded to argue for the next several minutes, each of them clinging firmly to their own point of view.
Suddenly, a sharp pain ripped through Marella’s belly, making her cry out.
Instantly, Nathanial was by her side. “What is it, angel?”
Her eyes were wide as she placed her hand on her belly. “Our child,” she rasped through gritted teeth as another painful contraction assaulted her.
Nathanial gathered her in his arms and carried her in a burst of vampire speed to their bed at the back of the room. He laid her down gently and pressed his hand to her belly.
“Yes, the baby is coming.”
She grabbed his arm tightly. “Don’t leave me, Nathanial.”
“Of course not, angel,” he said, smiling down at her. “I will not move from your side.”
“Nathanial,” Kristoff called. “There isn’t time. I must go now. Are you coming or not?”
Marella watched Nathanial glare at him. She knew he was worried. With Cora not at full strength because of her pregnancy, she would need powerful dark magic on her side, not just Kristoff’s black magic.
“Nathanial?” she said, worried he was going to have to leave her.
He shook his head at her. “I am not leaving you when you are about to give birth to our child, angel. I will remain by your side to help you through it. You are my priority above all else.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
“Of course. You are my wife.” He stepped back from her and called out, “Luca!”
A moment later, Luca teleported into the room.
His shirt was open and his pants were undone. He look flustered and out of sorts. His eyes landed on Nathanial and he grumbled, “Father, I expected you to be alone.” He hastily hurried to zip up his fly and button his shirt.
Marella noticed Kristoff’s less-than-pleased expression. It was obvious that Luca had been in the middle of romancing his daughter.
“I apologize,” Nathanial told him. “This is urgent.”
Marella saw Luca’s eyes stray to her lying on the bed and writhing in pain. “Uh… I’m not exactly qualified to help with this,” he said nervously.
“Relax. That is not why I called you here. I need you to go with Kristoff in my place. I cannot leave my wife. She is about to give birth.”
“Sure. Where am I going?”
“To help Cora defeat Oriana. Outside of me, you are the only being that possesses enough dark power.”
Luca blinked hard, evidently, more than a little shocked by what his father was telling him. “What? Cora is going to kill Oriana?”
“Yes.”
“Well, let her.”
“It is not that simple,” Nathanial said.
“She has more power than all of us combined. It seems pretty simple to me. Oriana can’t hurt her.”
“She will not be at full power, Luca. She is with child.”
“What? Again? She just gave birth to Orion not long ago. Does Ryan not understand the concept of protection?”
“It is not our business,” Nathanial said. “Perhaps they wanted another child.”
Luca rolled his eyes. “Unbelievable.”
“You should worry more about your business in that area,” Kristoff cut in.
Luca spun around and snarled, “I told you already that Aerona will not be bearing my child any time soon. Drop it!”
Nathanial growled in disapproval. “Excuse me? There will be no child?”
“Not yet, father. In time, I promise there will be,” Luca quickly amended.
“Nathanial!” Marella called. “Can we concentrate on our child right now?”
He took her hand and kissed her palm gently. “I am sorry, angel. Of course.” He looked at Luca and Kristoff. “Discussion over. Go to Cora. Leave us now, unless you wish to witness what is about to happen here.”
Marella watched Luca look between them uneasily. “No, I’m fine never having to see anything of the sort.”
Kristoff grabbed his hand. A moment later the two of them teleported away.
Immediately, Nathanial’s full attention was on her and he set about making her comfortable and preparing for the imminent birth of his daughter, like the amazing husband that he truly was to her.
23
“Come closer, my love,” Ryan murmured sleepily as the fact that Cora was no longer nestled against him roused him awake.
He reached for her, but he only made contact with her pillow. He opened his eyes and looked over at her. But she wasn’t there. A rush of adrenaline shot through him and he sat up, suddenly wide awake.
“Cora!”
There was no answer.
He drew on his wolf senses to locate her. He could feel her, but it was very faint. It meant she wasn’t in their apartment. Hell, she wasn’t anywhere near. “Fuck,” he breathed anxiously. Not again. He hated it when she disappeared without telling him. Did she really think he wouldn’t notice? He was a wolf, for fuck’s sake.
He heard Orion’s disgruntled cries coming from the next room. Clearly, he could feel his father’s anxiety. As he leapt out of bed to go to him, he knocked something off the comforter. He snatched it up, finding it was a note, his name scrawled across it in Cora’s handwriting. He flipped it open and read quickly.
Baby,
There’s something I had to do. Nothing to worry about.
Be back before morning.
Don’t follow me, Ryan.
Love, Cora.
“Like fuck, I’m not gonna follow you, woman.”
He tossed the note back on the bed and snatched up his cell before hurrying out of the bedroom to Orion’s room. He crossed to his crib and lifted him out. Holding him in the crook of his left arm, he murmured softly, “It’s okay, Orion. Sorry I woke you. Everything is fine. Go back to sleep, my boy.”
As he rocked him back and forth, he dialed with his free hand.
“Ry?” Josh’s voice came. “It’s 2 a.m.,” he complained.
“Cora’s gone.”
“What? Where?”
“I don’t know. On some sort of mission. She left a note but it didn’t tell me much.”
He heard Josh’s hesitation down the line and Shaye’s hushed voice in the background. He thought he heard a familiar name.
“Josh, tell me.”
“You sound too calm,” Josh worried.
“My son is upset. I’m calm for him.”
“Right, well, try to maintain that after what I’m about to tell you.”
There was a pause and Ryan realized he was waiting for his response. “Yes. Just say it. Fuck, J.”
“We think Cora has gone after Oriana.”
“What?”
“The other night at the party she was talking about her, how she hadn’t forgiven her for what she did to your marriage and taking Orion and everything. It was pretty clear she wanted vengeance. I guess she managed to find her somehow.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Because you were already torn up about what happened. I didn’t want to bring it up again. Plus, Shaye and I never thought Cora would be able to find her. She must’ve enlisted some help.”
“I need you to come here now and watch Orion.”
“Ry, I think you should stay out of this. She’s so powerful now that she can kill Oriana with a flick of her wrist.”
“A lot of her power is being redirected elsewhere right now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She’s pregnant.”
“What? Really?”
“Wow!”
“Josh, focus! Get over here. I need to go after her. She’s in danger, as is my daughter now.”
“All right. I’m on my way. You’re sure you can track her? What if she’s blocking you?”
“She can only block magical trackers like Nathanial. She can’t block my wolf sense. I can find her anywhere. Now, hurry.”
Ryan hung up and gazed at Orion. “Your mother is trying my patience again, son. Let’s hope that your sister doesn’t inherit her stubborn streak.” He blew out a heavy sigh. “Boys are much easier than girls, huh?”
Orion growled in response.
“Yeah, you know it too.”
He couldn’t believe Cora had pulled this. Not again.
Didn’t she get that he couldn’t take this shit anymore? He couldn’t bear the idea of losing her! Again! Fucking woman!
24
Cora stood before the farmhouse, eyeing it apprehensively.
It’d been years since she’d set foot anywhere near it. It was the place where she’d watched her mother die. Standing here now brought it all back to her and she had to fight to keep her emotions at bay.
She knew why Oriana had chosen the location. It was the absolute last place that she expected Cora to search for her. Because, to Cora, it was a place of great pain.
Adjusting her biker jacket and pants, she winced at the pressure they were putting on her baby bump. It was growing too quickly. She needed to wear looser clothing. But her leathers were good for battle, tough and resistant. And, normally, they were incredibly comfortable. She glanced down at her white tank and her eyes widened when she saw the size of her breasts now. They were straining against the thin fabric. Every day she got a little bigger everywhere. But to the outside world she appeared the same as she had been.
She pulled out the pendant hanging from the golden chain around her neck that possessed Davidas’s faerie magic, which was designed to prevent Oriana from teleporting away. And then she scanned the immediate area, searching for the hell bitch.
She eyed the barn a few feet to the left of the house. It was dilapidated now, the wood rotting away. Was Oriana in there? Her gaze shifted back to the brick building of the farmhouse. And that was when she noticed the doorknob was shimmering with silver magic. A magical lock! It was a dead giveaway that Oriana was inside the house somewhere.