Paid in Full: Kelly Kennedy Series (Book One)

by Jamie L Biggs

  I sit up against the back seat. “Let me tell you what you should do. First, turn this tin can around and take me back to the Contessa. Second, consider your escape route. Third...”

  “Escape route? Really?” He drawls.

  “Well, yeah. When Grant figures out what you’ve done, he will be hell bent on getting me back.” I shake my head and cluck my tongue. “It’s a shame, really. You can never outrun him. He is much stronger than you, as far as I can tell. He’ll have your head cut off before you can say Bob’s your Uncle.”

  “You do not understand what you are dealing with little one.” His eyes become red. Not bloodshot, but blood red. “Grant is an idiot. So is his Sire, Alex. Some king he is! He can’t fight his way out of a paper bag, that one.” Finn’s skin color flushes.

  “Well, you have your opinion. I have mine.” I shrug.

  “Listen to me! Your grandfather promised me a debt if I retrieve you and I will have his favor! He will owe me, and I plan to take advantage of it!”

  My grandfather? I inhale sharply. “My grandparents are both dead. What are you talking about?”

  Finn grins. “Not your father’s parents, you stupid girl. Your mother’s.”

  “What do you mean? My mother? How do you know who my mother is?”

  “You will find out soon enough. I suggest you prepare yourself because you will meet him soon.”

  We approach an enormous two-story estate. Finn motions the driver. “Take us to the back entrance. We will deposit our guest in her room.”

  The driver pushes out of his seat and walks around the front of the SUV to open Finn’s door.

  Finn steps out of the SUV and straightens his jacket. He is two steps away from the group when he hesitates. Thinking twice, he walks back toward the back-passenger door.

  The bodyguard to my right hops out and reaches in and pulls me out of the back seat.

  “I trust you two to make sure she gets to her room. We can’t have any mishaps, now can we?”

  I try to shrug out of the hold of the bodyguard and loosen his grip, but then find myself toe to toe with Finn himself. “Don’t push my patience, Kelly. I may have promised your grandfather to deliver you unharmed, but it would be a shame if you had a minor accident, hmm?”

  His eyes narrow on me and wait.

  “Yes, it would be. So, I guess you better be careful with me then.”

  He takes me by the arm and drags me across the back-porch steps to the back entrance of the house. A door opens from within and a small woman with dark hair stands at the entrance.

  “Good evening, Master.” The tiny pixie like woman bows her head as Finn drags me into the house.

  “Is her room ready, Mona?” He continues down a dark, barely lit hallway.

  “Yes, it is.” Mona follows behind the group of men. She steps in front of Finn and unlocks the door at the end of the hall with a key.

  “As you requested, Master.” She continues to look at the ground without making eye contact with Finn.

  Finn pushes me, causing me to stumble into the room. I stop myself from falling by grabbing on to the side chair near the door. “That was unnecessary.” I grumble.

  “My apologies, Kelly.” Finn’s upper lip twitches. “I hope you will find your accommodations suitable.” He waves his hand across the room as I turn around to inspect the interior.

  “And if I don’t like it?”

  “Then you’ll just have to get over it. This is where you will stay until your grandfather arrives.” Finn snaps a finger and Mona moves front and center.

  “Make sure she eats and given anything she needs.” Without waiting for a response from his servant, he turns and leaves the room.

  Mona moves her eyes to look at me. “So, you are the princess?” Mona asks tilting her head to the side.

  “Princess? I don’t think so. You must all have mistaken me for someone else. This is a huge mistake.” I hope to convince the pixie like woman to let me go.

  Mona quirks a brow. “You really don’t know, do you? They said that you were living in the human world without knowing who you are, but I didn’t believe them.”

  “Know what? What are you talking about?” I sit down on the edge of the bed. “I’m not who Finn thinks I am.”

  Mona crosses her arms, turns to look behind her at the guard.

  “I will be back soon with your dinner.” She nods at me and steps through the door.

  “Wait! Don’t leave me…” I stand and approach the door to stop Mona, but Liam the guard steps in front of me.

  “I’m sorry, Princess. You need to stay here.” His voice is soothing.

  I study his face and send my radar feelers out to examine Liam’s true intentions. Closing my eyes, I know this man or vampire has no intention of hurting me. He is there to protect me. Can I use this to my advantage?

  “Please. There has been some mistake. I don’t understand what they want with me. Can you please let me go?”

  Standing straighter, Liam shakes his head. “Again, I am sorry Princess. I am here to watch over you until your grandfather arrives.” He turns me around to face the interior of the room.

  “Make yourself comfortable. You won’t have long to wait.”

  “What’s your name again, Liam is it?” Peering over my shoulder at the tall, and lanky man.

  “That’s right, Princess.”

  “Please stop calling me that. It’s rude!”

  “But you are the princess. Your grandfather will be here to explain everything to you. I have to go. Please just relax.” Liam closes the door behind him and turns the lock.

  Chapter 22

  Kelly

  “Oh!” I stomp around the room like a three-year-old and let out a growl.

  “This is insane!” I throw myself into a chair. The leather is buttery soft, and I melt into the cushions.

  I don’t have a grandfather. As far as I know all of my relatives had passed away when I was very young. I barely remember Joe’s parents. When this man who is claiming to be my grandfather realizes I am not who he is expecting, maybe he would help me escape from Finn.

  Mona opens the door and lets herself into the room. She brings a silver tray with a plate covered with a silver dome, and a carafe of liquid.

  “I’m not hungry.” I cross my arms and stand.

  Mona stares at me for a long moment and goes back to setting the table.

  “Seriously, do you think I will trust anything Finn gives me? He’ll poison me.”

  Mona, still silent, rolls her eyes and lifts the silver dome lid. There are assorted small sandwiches and cheeses. Mona picks up one of the cheese slices and pops it in her mouth. Her eyebrow raises to challenge me to do the same.

  “So, I’m supposed to trust that this is safe because you ate something?” My stomach took that moment to growl with an intensity that would embarrass anyone. “Fine. Yes, I’m hungry.” I sigh.

  I watch as the petite woman moves around the table.

  “Why aren’t you saying anything? I know you can speak. I heard you talk to Finn.”

  She shakes her head. No words. No explanation.

  I reach out with my radar and sense Mona is a prisoner as much as I am.

  “You don’t want to be here anymore than I do. Do you?”

  Mona looks away and turns to leave the room.

  “Please don’t go. Can you please tell me what is happening?”

  Mona wrings her hands. She looks at the door for a moment. She whispers. “We have very good hearing. He has forbidden me to speak to you.”

  “Are you a vampire, too?”

  Mona closes her eyes and nods. “I can’t help you. I’m sorry. If there was something I could do, I would. But you need to understand, the master is a very dangerous man. He will kill me. I’ve said too much.”

  Mona cups my shoulder with her small hand. “Please, just do what the master tells you to do. He won’t harm you. You’re far too valuable.” Mona moves away and knocks twice and waits for the door t
o open and then disappears.

  What did Mona mean? I’m too valuable?

  I plop on the bed and fall back on it with my feet hanging over the edge. Stomach grumbling, I am not convinced I should take the chance on the food, but Mona had eaten it. Fighting hunger was a losing battle.

  Pushing myself back up on my elbows, I eye the plate of finger sandwiches. Then without another thought I force myself up and cross the room. Taking a knife in hand, I wipe a dollop of brown mustard across the inside of a sandwich and take a bite.

  I first taste the turkey and then crunch through thin slices of cucumber. Not a combination I would have made for myself, but find it refreshing. At this point if they poison me, I couldn’t do anything about it. I sip some water from a glass and return it to the table.

  Finishing the sandwich bite, I decide to have one more. I pick up the knife again to swipe the mustard onto the bread when the light caught the silver reflection of the knife. I stop and realize; I have a knife! I need to find a place to hide it.

  I don’t have boots on, just a pair of runners. Where can I put it and not have it be visible? I slide it down the side of my jeans. The cold metal pinches against my skin. I try to reposition it so it won’t feel so awkward. It’s not every day you try to hide a butter knife down your pants.

  I take two steps back and forth to see if I can keep the knife from falling through my pant leg. It shifts a little, but not enough to move. I don’t think of myself as a violent person, but I am in a predicament where I may need to defend myself. At the very least I can pry open a locked door by shoving the knife in the lock to break it.

  The lock on my door clicks, and the door opens. Liam’s stoic face stares down at me. “Please come with me.” He invites me out into the hallway.

  “Where are we going?” I rub my hands up and down my pant legs trying to reposition the knife, making sure it would not slide out of place.

  “Your grandfather has arrived. Please…” He waves to the door once again.

  “He’s not my grandfather. There has been some mistake.”

  “I am sorry, Princess.” Liam’s eyes hold compassion, however, not enough to let me escape.

  “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” Arms crossed again, I walk past Liam and into the hallway.

  “Which way?”

  Liam takes my hand and wraps it around his arm. “This way, please.” He heads toward the right and into a brightly lit room.

  Candles are lit on every available surface space. Chandeliers of lit candles and candelabras fill the room. I glance across the room; my eyes lock with the most beautiful being I have ever seen.

  His white blonde hair hangs low against his back. The man’s blue eyes penetrate with an intensity that catches my breath.

  “Kellia.” He takes a step toward me.

  “It’s Kelly.” I whisper.

  “No. You are Princess Kellia of the Seelie Court. And I am your grandfather, King of the Seelie.”

  I am frozen in place. “Princess?”

  “Yes, Kellia. You are a princess.” He shifts on his feet to takes a step closer to me, but I step back.

  King Jareia holds his hands up to stop me from moving. “Please, I won’t harm you.” He moves toward the chairs in the room. “Can we talk? I will explain everything to you.”

  I power up my intuitive nature and search for any threat from this man. The king feels my power burst and smiles. “You are very strong, Kellia.” The King nods his approval.

  “Right.” I don’t feel threatened, but I am still unsure of what he wants. Lowering my chin, I move across the room and take the chair next to the window.

  “Thank you.” King Jareia clears his throat and narrows his eyes at Finn. “May we have a moment of privacy?”

  “I prefer to stay and make sure Kelly doesn’t escape, if you don’t mind?”

  King Jareia stands at his full height of six foot seven inches and lifts his left hand. It glows, and he points his finger at Finn. “I do mind. Are you suggesting I am incapable of keeping my granddaughter safe?”

  Finn backs down. “All right. I will be just outside the door, King Jareia. We will chat after you have spoken to the princess.” He bows his head and steps out of the room, closing the door.

  “There now. That’s better.” He leans toward me and shakes his head. “He is such a pain in the butt.”

  I have years of practice erasing emotions from my face. I bundle up my feelings and hide them deep down in the recesses of my mind. Not knowing what to expect from this blonde-haired giant, I settle in the chair and wait.

  “You look so much like your mother.” The King’s eyes twinkle. “She was a handful though. I imagine you are too.”

  “Listen, I don’t know what this is all about. But I imagine Finn has sold you some garbage and I don’t want you to be taken advantage of. I am no princess. My mother was a normal human being, just like me. She died when I was two. I remember nothing about her except her name, really.” I wrench my hands. “I need to get out of here and back to my life. No, that’s not true. I don’t want to go back to my old life. What I want is to leave here and go back to Grant.”

  His majesty frowns. “The vampire?”

  “Yes. He is a vampire. Do you know he saved me from Finn? But Finn wouldn’t give up.”

  “Kellia. I am the one who tasked Finn to find you and bring you to me.” He moves toward the edge of his chair.

  “It is I who have been looking for you since you were a child.” He narrows his eyes.

  “Your mother is my youngest child. She and I… well, we didn’t always see eye to eye.”

  I knew my mother’s name. If he is my grandfather, he should at least know that much. “What was her name?”

  “We named her Asrae, Princess to the Seelie Court.” He sighs. “I promised her to the prince of the Unseelie Court. The marriage between your mother and Prince Wills to ensure the war would end between our two courts.”

  “She ran away.” The wheels turn, and I put the puzzle pieces into place.

  “Yes. She left the court and hid in the human world.”

  I feel the spark of energy in the room and watch the King’s nostrils flare. The color changes in his complexion. Something has upset him.

  “Why? What made her leave? I’m not convinced your daughter is my mother, but I would like to know.”

  The King stands and walks across the room to the window. The night sky is clear, and the moon shone through the window throwing shadows on the floor. “I committed her to marry the Unseelie Prince. She decided not to follow through with it.”

  He turns and pounds his fist into his hand. “She made a mockery of the commitment to the Unseelie court.”

  Jareia takes a breath and huffs. “We agreed to her marriage with the Unseelie prince to secure peace amongst the fae.” He bent his head. “I have tried for eons to bring peace between the two courts.”

  I frown. “What is Seelie and Unseelie? Is it like two countries trying to find peace?”

  Jareia lifts an eyebrow and gives a pleased smile. “That is a very good comparison, Kellia. Seelie and Unseelie are two countries if you will. The difference is in the magic. We consider the Seelie light or white magic. The Unseelie is, well dark magic. More powerful. I am concerned their dark magic is becoming stronger and will take over the Seelie.”

  “Is that want you want? To take over the both countries?”

  He twitches his lip. “Well, I won’t say no to that. If the opportunity leads itself to overpowering the Unseelie court, then yes, I would take advantage of it. But do not think for a moment the Unseelie’s would not do the same thing.”

  I sit in the chair and watch this man claiming to be my grandfather pace the room.

  “If we can stabilize the politics of the courts by a marriage between the royals, it will suppress any need to take over. At least for now.”

  “So, you have a sacrificial lamb to offer the Unseelie court? Is it one of your other children?”

&nbs
p; “No, Kellia it is not.” He contemplates. “All of my children are gone.”

  “Why? Did they all run away?” I snark.

  “No, they killed my two boys in the war and your mother, well you know what has become of her.”

  “Well then, who…” Then the lightbulb goes off. “No. I won’t do it. This is not my war and not my problem.”

  I jump out of the chair and head toward the door.

  Before I can make it through the door, Jareia stops me with a flick of his wrist. “You aren’t going anywhere, Kellia.” I am being pulled back toward the king. I have lost control of my body as it floats across the room and gently placed in front of Jareia.

  “You will marry Prince Wills, Princess. There is no other way.” He places his hands on my shoulders. “You will save the Seelie court and seal the courts fate by bringing us new fae blood between the courts.”

  I feel unshed tears well in my eyes. I blink, and they fell down my cheeks.

  “Don’t cry my child.”

  I am tired of being told what to do. Joe had done this, even Grant. Although, Grant was surprisingly loving with his arrogant alpha behavior. “I won’t do this.” My voice is only a whisper at this point.

  “Come now, Kellia don’t be so dramatic. Your mother was the same way.” He shakes his head and turns me toward the door. I lost control of my movements, but I haven’t lost my ability to bring on static energy.

  I close my eyes and imagine myself in the gym with Nick again. I feel the energy gather low in my belly, anger fueling the fire. “Please, let me go.”

  Jareia felt the power ramping up. “Now, now don’t get in a huff. It doesn’t become you throwing a tantrum because you are not getting your way. You are so much like your mother.”

  We reach the door. “Let us move to the portal. It’s time for us to take you back home, Kellia.”

  That was the last straw. I have been trying to reason with this old man. But nothing I say will budge him. He has decided my fate. I will be damned if that happens again. “I’m not going anywhere!” I throw out the power surge and push Jareia away from me, breaking his magic binding.