Beautiful Secrets: The Complete Trilogy

by Marie Robinson

  “I’ll have the coffee ready for you,” the vampire said, turning on his heel. He slowed, looking over his shoulder “You’ve still got a change of clothes here. They’re in the usual spot.”

  “Cheers,” I said, giving a lackluster wave. I closed my eyes, centering myself mentally, grounding my power around me. I had used a lot of my magic, and I could feel the strain it had put on my magical channels. They were like a separate nervous system, channeling magic through the body for use. Beyond being physically sore, it felt like I had a hangover. It wasn’t the worst I’d ever had, but it wasn’t a fucking morning in paradise. Once I felt grounded enough to stand with confidence, I did. Brom wouldn’t be happy if I went a bit sparky and blew the circuits in the penthouse. He wouldn’t say anything, he was much too polite for that shit, but the look he’d give me would do all the speaking necessary.

  I made use of his shower, nearly as familiar with it as my own, letting the hot water soothe my aches before I found my clothes where he’d said I would. When I padded barefoot out into the living room, I was greeted by the vampire holding out a large mug of coffee. He was kind enough, or maybe just experienced enough, to wait until I’d guzzled half of the hot bitter liquid. It went nearly as far to soothe my frayed magical nerves as the hot water had my body, even if it was psychosomatic.

  “So.”

  A single word contained multitudes in Brom’s voice. There was so much to unpack, the Syndicate’s world essentially changing over the course of twenty-four hours. If they weren’t careful, the elders would be the ones destroying their world instead of Eleanora. Fuck, that would make things so much easier if the pisspots offed themselves for us.

  “So,” I replied, and hooked one of the stools with my foot, dragging it out so I could park my ass on it and sit at the counter. I took another sip of coffee before speaking. “Ella and Romulus?”

  “Safely landed in Ireland. Breakfast?” Brom didn’t wait for my answer before he turned on the gas oven. The quiet click-click-click-woosh of the gas ignition was so much louder in the silence, a reminder of our own source of fire who wasn’t at our side. I rubbed the center of my chest, trying to relieve an ache, but I knew it wouldn’t disappear until she was home. Or I was in Ireland. Or fuck all, we could go off to Timbuktu. It didn’t matter, so long as we were all together.

  “Do you ever think about saying fuck everything and everyone?” I asked, staring into the black liquid in my mug. I could hear Brom cooking: the sizzling of butter, eggs breaking, efficient whisking. The man was excellent in all things he chose to do. If he wasn’t so generous, it’d be right frustrating.

  “Frequently,” he answered succinctly. “But it is not advisable.” He held the saucepan up off of the flame, jerking it sharply and expertly flipping the omelette. I was lucky not to burn scrambled eggs and here he was like the top chef of the vampires. My stomach rumbled in appreciation and Brom, damn his hearing, heard it and shot me a knowing smirk. I slid off the stool and stepped into the kitchen, intent on refilling the coffee. If my hips brushed against his ass, the skillet scraping against the burner. . . well, I couldn’t claim it was an accident. I returned to my seat with a smug expression and the glass carafe of coffee.

  “To say fuck everything,” Brom began again as he focused on sliding the omelette out onto the plate, before sprinkling shredded cheese over it, “would mean that there is no guarantee of safety. They would likely come after her, and as such, after us.”

  He handed me the plate and grabbed a fork for me from the drawer beneath the counter. He sat back, leaning against the black marble that seemed to cover every working surface in his penthouse, and watched me eat as he kept speaking.

  “While we could likely defeat whomever was sent, it would only take one time, one small mistake, for them to take us out or to take her out.” You would think by his tone he’d be speaking about the weather or a new book he’d read. “It would be much more reliable and effective to take complete control.”

  My fork screeched against the plate. I looked up at him, an eyebrow raised in question and he simply rolled his eyes as he pushed off the counter.

  “Don’t try to tell me you didn’t know where this was going.” Brom pulled out his phone, swiping the screen to open. “Since we met her, this has been brewing. Hell, this has been in play since before she was born. You need to take your place, just as Romulus will take his. And when we are in control at last, only then will she be safe.” His phone buzzed again.

  He frowned at what he read on his phone and I ignored what he said for the moment. “What is it?” A sense of trepidation warred with the hope inside of me.

  “Romulus and Ella are meeting with his contact,” Brom said, lightly. When he looked up at me, his eyebrows were furrowed, his dark eyes blazed with anger. “And, more concerning, my contact within your syndicate has confirmed that your father has absconded his position as leader.”

  “Well,” I pointed my fork at him. “That was easily done. Now I’ll handle the Warlocks.”

  “No,” Broom shook his head sharply, “he handed his power to Madam Jupiter. She controls the entire Warlock Syndicate now.”

  Chapter 4

  Eleanora

  The sea crashed around us, our world rippling as the horse took us deeper into the sapphire waters. We were surrounded by it. There was no protective bubble, no tunnel that kept the water off of us. It flowed around us, it snaked between Romulus and me, just as it would if we were splashing about in the ocean ourselves.

  The difference was, while we felt the cool temperatures of the Atlantic, we weren’t drowning. We were separated from its waters. We flowed through it, a part of it yet set aside. This was the immutable power of the fae. I took a deep breath and air flowed into my lungs as if I were back on the beach, the faint taste of salt filled my lungs rather than the sea. Romulus’s arm was tight around my waist, his other hand gripping my thigh, even as he hunched over me. I wished I could turn to look at him, but the angle was all wrong.

  Instead, I lifted my hand, fluttering my fingers through the water, feeling the cool silky texture between my hands.

  This was a world I never expected to experience, and it honestly made me feel slightly giddy. I had dreamed of a world where I didn’t live as the obedient servant to my stepmother. That was grand enough of dreams for me. A kind man was what I had hoped for. But I found this instead: a destiny which allowed me to rid myself of Madam Jupiter on my own, and three men who worshiped my body and nurtured my soul. The men who led me to places I had only ever heard of.

  The fae horse galloped through the water as if it were a stallion in a meadow on dry land, until at last, we rose out of the water and onto a radiant shoreline.

  Ireland’s shore had been rugged, like its people, its sandy beaches promising a life if one was strong enough to withstand it. This shore was nearly its twin, but everything seemed slightly elevated. Where the beach we had left was a wet gold, the one before us burnished as if it were gold fresh from the forge. The wild greenery decorating the coastline was a cascade of illustrious greens instead of the green of mortal Ireland—tenacious and dark.

  “Tír na nÓg,” Romulus spoke, and the horse shook its mane out. “The Land of Eternal Youth. Home of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the fae of Ireland.”

  :Among others.:

  The voice startled me and I realized the horse had spoken—his voice echoing across my mind. It turned its head, winking at me. :Welcome child of Suanach Aoife. The king and queen have been awaiting your arrival, Eleanora.:

  I was struck silent . . . the king and queen? Awaited? I had just wanted help, and perhaps to meet my mother if she still lived, I thought of Romulus’s story about Dóite, and how the kings and queens of the fae must be without fault. What would such perfect creatures think of me?

  Romulus nudged me and I swallowed down my apprehension. “Thank you,” I got out after a moment. “Do you—err—what is your name?”

  :Kaden is what mortals often call me,: the horse
answered. A telepathic horse was the least strange thing in that moment. He didn’t stop on the beach like he had on the other side. Instead, he slipped between two dunes, a path revealing itself deeper into the land. We entered, not exactly a forest, but a grove of trees which lined the dunes. They were short and squat, the opposite of the evergreens I was used to seeing at home.

  We were not in them long before they ended, and the sight which lay before me took my breath away.

  We were on an overlook of a cliffside, and stretched beneath us, as far as the horizon, were vast planes, a kaleidoscope of colors giving me the sense of a masterfully done watercolor painting. Even the sky was filled with colors, ones I’d never seen before and doubted I could describe if pressed.

  It was no wonder why mortals who traveled here didn’t wish to return. The mortal world was drab in comparison.

  :Your chaperone approaches,: Kaden interrupted my thoughts, and I felt Romulus slide off from behind me before offering me assistance.

  Standing next to Romulus, his arm around my shoulders, I looked up and saw the same awe shining from his face. There was no hint of his former worry or concern. Thinking of his concern, though, it hit me hard. How much time had already passed in the mortal realm? Days? Weeks?

  I closed my eyes against the beauty of the world around us and buried my face into the lycan’s chest as sadness overwhelmed me. What of Brom and Merlin? Were they all right? Did they know we entered this land? Did they still hold to their hope that we would return within their lifetime?

  I wanted to turn back, to throw myself back into the boundary which separated us from them. I would swim and claw my way back to them, my regret and heartache fueling me.

  “There’s no need to be so dramatic, child.” I felt Romulus stiffen at the new voice and looked to see who’d spoken. “Time works differently here for each mortal. The king and queen will see to it that you return in an appropriate time.”

  “Master Puck.” Romulus’s voice was humble and respectful as he bowed to the fae creature who’d appeared beside us. Puck? Like the one from Shakespeare? I looked at the creature curiously.

  He was short, coming up only to my shoulder, and while he walked on two legs, his lower body resembled that of a deer’s. The rest of him was human, though he did sport elegant antlers on his head. He wore an elaborately embroidered vest, so colorful it reminded me of the travelers who were known for their extravagant wagons and caravans as they traveled across Europe.

  He bowed, sweeping his hands out to the side, and looked at me with a cheeky grin. “The one and only. I have been tasked with escorting you through this land. Never fear, I shall not mistakenly take you to the Summerland. That’s only happened once, though I still maintain the buggers deserved it.”

  I frowned. “Summerland?”

  “It is our version of the afterlife,” he said, and looked towards Kaden. “Do you mind continuing on this journey? I must admit that while I’d not mind letting the lass ride me, the wolf is not to my taste.” Kaden whickered, which I knew most certainly was a laugh. Master Puck gestured once more to the horse. “If you would, my weary travelers? We must make haste. Unless, my dear lass, you’d care for a ride with me?”

  My face burned bright and I felt Romulus shift beside me.

  “No, thank you,” I stammered out as the fae looked to Romulus with knowing.

  “So it’s like that then,” he observed more than asked.

  “Aye, it is,” Romulus answered anyways, his voice low and nearly a growl. Worry flared up as I looked at the lycan. What would happen if Romulus fought Master Puck? I knew very little of the fae creature, except what I’d heard from plays, but I knew he was powerful.

  Master Puck shrugged, a grin still on his face. “You can’t fault me for trying.”

  Unsure of how to respond to a fae creature propositioning me, I turned back to Kaden, and with a slight assist from Romulus, I was able to mount once more. When Romulus didn’t follow, I looked down in question.

  “Need to stretch my legs,” he explained, and I wanted to roll my eyes. Clearly Master Puck had rankled him. But if it made him happy to walk between us, then he could do so.

  “Come on, now,” the fae called, already disappearing down a trail on the left. Kaden followed and we began our descent into the planes.

  “It’s been some time since a mortal came into our realms,” he chattered on as he walked beside us. He filled in the silence between us easily enough. Well, perhaps that wasn’t right—he did not so much as fill the silence as talk so much we couldn’t respond. But it afforded me the opportunity to look around without feeling rude as he prattled on about some juicy gossip that, if we lived here, I’m certain we’d find highly entertaining.

  We arrived at the base of the cliff and the meadow’s sweet smell washed around me. As I closed my eyes in pleasure, memories began fluttering through my mind like a butterfly. My mother.

  “Master Puck,” I said, interrupting the fae. He didn’t seem to care as he turned on one hoof and cocked his head. “Do you—” I hesitated. “Is my mother here?”

  “Oh yes,” he said, nodding and turning to continue on. “It’s where we’re going now.”

  “But you said it’d been some time since a mortal came here,” Romulus pointed out. Puck turned and walked backwards, shrugging.

  “What is time?” It was a fair question, if not utterly frustrating. “Time is not linear like it is in the mortal world—or I should say not as it is perceived in the mortal realm. It’s quite chaotic, time is. With the right skills and enough power, time is meaningless. Sort of how gravity stops working at a small enough scale—except the other way around. On a large enough scale, time is nonexistent. And Tír na nÓg is very large indeed.”

  He spun back around and began skipping through the grass, strange winged creatures flying up and away like startled birds. Romulus and I shared a look. This place would be enough to drive anyone mad, it seemed.

  But more importantly? My mother was alive and I was about to see her for the first time since I was a child.

  Chapter 5

  Eleanora

  It was as if my heart beat in time with Kaden’s steps. It pounded in my throat, nearly drowning out Master Puck’s continuous monologue. From what I could absorb, it was just a rambling discourse of observations and opinions on the mortal realm. Romulus seemed to slowly relax, huffing a laugh at the occasional crass quip from the fae.

  But all I could think about was that each step took me closer to my mother. I didn’t want to meet her; I wanted to beg the horse to turn back and take me to the other side. Kaden must have sensed my nerves as he shot a look over his shoulder at me.

  :Child of Suanach Aoife, what distresses you?:

  I whipped my head around, looking for the voice, before I rolled my eyes. Kaden, of course. Master Puck looked over Romulus’s head as if he knew Kaden had spoken, but carried on merrily, ignoring us.

  :Simply think your response and I shall hear: Kaden shook his head, his mane sparkling in the sunlight.

  :You’re very beautiful: I thought before blushing, realizing he’d hear me, but it was true.

  I could feel him add a bit of a prance to his step. He gave me another moment to gather my thoughts. :I am afraid of meeting my mother. I have not seen her for a very long time. What if she didn’t want me?:

  No one wanted to learn their mother didn’t want them.

  :I know some about the forces which drove your mother to our lands,: he started. :When so many pieces are in play, sometimes it is better to seek refuge at great personal cost. Perhaps she believed it best to protect you this way?:

  I chewed on my lower lip in thought. It was so selfish of me to want to demand answers, but I didn’t really care. I deserved to know why she would leave me behind, knowing what I was—what I had inherited from her. All my memories of her were happy ones. I believed she loved me, so why would she have just . . . left me?

  It was terrible, is what it was.

&nbs
p; The sun reflected off of Romulus’s hair, the copper waves elevated into a more opulent red. It was as if everything in this world was elevated, bolder, more intense. I let my eyes rest on the familiar presence in the strange world, my anchor. Even if I learned my mother never loved me, I would have him. And Brom, and Merlin.

  I knew it would never fully replace the hole that would reappear, but it would soothe the ache at least.

  The lycan must have felt my gaze as he turned his face upwards to look at me, an easy grin on his face. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and hide from the world—both worlds—just for a minute. I wanted a break from the chaos and danger and fear. I almost longed for the mundane suffering I had as a servant to my stepmother.

  He was about to say something when Master Puck had announced we were arriving. We both looked ahead of us to see where the narrow path led.

  There was a gathering of brightly painted caravans at the end of the trail. The trail expanded into an enormous circle of short grass; taller grass sprouted up at the edge of the circle like a natural fence line. The caravans lined the circumference of the circle, with a blazing fire in the center. It was set up in such a way that I imagined from above, it looked like a beautiful, magical eye.

  I squared my shoulders, determined to meet my mother with courage. Romulus placed a hand on my thigh, and I shot him a grateful look. Just because I mustered up the required courage didn’t mean I wasn’t grateful for the lycan at my side.