Hearts Eclipsed: A Beautiful Nightmare Companion Novel

by L. C. Son

  “Damina, I don’t want to rush you. I know this is all sudden. But you must know the thought of him and his lingering presence in your life is discomforting at best. What can I do to help you break from your past?” Leaning my body against her, I rest my forehead on hers and enjoy the same sweetness of our first non-kiss.

  “There’s nothing more you need to do, Dalcour. I think the past is breaking away all its own. And well, with the ever-changing landscape of my life as it is, I think you and I have more that connects us than anything or anyone in my past.”

  “That’s good to hear, Damina. Like I said, I don’t want to rush you. But I have no plans of sharing you either.”

  “Good. I’m not too keen on being shared,” Damina adds while gazing up at me with her big bright eyes. Still, it’s the glistening sheen of her parted lips as she stares at me that is my undoing.

  This time the non-kiss doesn’t suffice.

  I need more.

  In fact, I need all of her.

  Pressing myself against her, our mouths are locked together as one and the sweetness of her nectar-like kiss entices my tongue and the aromatic scent of her vanilla and eucalyptus fragrance permeates my being. Strumming my fingers along her neckline, I test my resolve and plant sinfully satisfying kisses around her neck.

  Vibrant electricity flows between us and our bodies draw together like magnets. The only thing separating us is the thin fibers of cotton our clothes are made from. Damina sighs in my ear and she inhales my scent, igniting a frenzy within her as she places a tight hold at my back, pulling me closer to her. Lifting my face slightly to meet her eyes, I detect no objection from her, and I know she is ready.

  The power of my manhood concurs, and her name escapes my lips as she tugs me tighter, forcing an alliance between her preciousness and the strength of my masculinity.

  Does she know what she is doing to me?

  How can she even fathom what she is asking?

  Once more our lips are locked as one and our tongues swirl with delight. Strangely, I don’t feel the beast making his presence known and I inwardly wonder if this moment can actually happen apart from him.

  Perhaps it is possible to know her in the most intimate way without the savagery of the beast lurking within? Maybe the love I feel for her is capable of taming the wild wickedness of my dark soul?

  Passion overrides my intellect and my indecisiveness fades in the aching desire burning in my loins to be one with her. Again her thoughts invade my mind and I am confident she wants this—she wants me! Damina pushes her body up against me, tugging my back so that every part of me is touching every part of her. Her tongue lashes through my mouth, taming every inch of my being, whipping me into the willful submission of her lure.

  While I can’t help wondering whether I’d be her first—I almost don’t care. Though I’d never consider myself prideful, I’m more than confident that what I want to do to her will make it as though she were a virgin all over again—and with that thought I take great delight!

  The fervency of our passion fills the atmosphere and shimmering embers of light hover around us and I know our Altrinion nature is fully in sync and all my instincts are heightened with a needful craving like a starved man. I want to partake of everything that is Damina Nicaud and I plan to share all of me.

  Yet, despite my need to give in to my desire, our moment is cut short when Braelyn barges into the room unannounced. As I shout her name over my shoulder, she gasps and exits quickly, leaving a flurry of profane curses while slamming the door shut.

  Damina chuckles, nestling her head in my shoulders and it’s the best feeling in the world. While my longing for her remains sure, both Braelyn and Jackson’s interruptions are reminders there’s still unfinished business. I’ve never been one to leave loose ends open, and with Damina now in my life I will ensure every loophole is closed.

  Chapter 20

  Jackson

  Having the den council committed to strengthening our stance as Primes in the supernatural community is good, but how can I be happy with the distance between Damina and I growing with every passing moment. My patience has certainly reached the end of its rope and I no longer have a desire to tie another knot only to cling to the notion that she just needs space.

  Something has changed.

  She has changed.

  With an unprecedented amount of supernatural activity occurring since her departure, my mind grows weary hopeful she isn’t the epicenter of it all. Worry grips my being at the thought of any harm coming to her while she remains uncovered by the cloaking of her aunt and me. Now she’s out in the world all alone and vulnerable.

  Worst of all, our conversation didn’t go as I had expected last night. I know she’s still upset with me, and rightfully so—but she seemed distant. Cold. In our years together, I’ve experienced what it’s like for her to be mad at me. Heck, I even know what her silent treatment feels like—but this is nothing like that.

  What’s more confusing is when I ran into her boss, Stephen, he told me he received a letter of resignation from her via email. Supposedly, her email cited she’s taken a position with another company. Although I didn’t go into details when I spoke with Damina, she denied quitting her job and I believe her.

  Despite everything that has happened to us, Damina has never been a liar—especially to me. Besides, it isn’t her style—at all. I know her well enough to know she’d never quit a job via email. Even if she didn’t want to return home, she would at least call Stephen. They had a great working relationship, and she has never been one to burn bridges. Considering she also introduced Stephen to his wife, and her college roommate, Courtney, I can’t imagine her treating him so coolly.

  So it’s no wonder everything inside me is confident that Allyson is behind this somehow.

  We’ve had no luck finding her since that night. While I know she’s had to go to her condo from time to time, she’s evaded our efforts at every turn. Ever since that day she stood full of self-righteous indignation outside of Damina’s condo, taunting me of our impending doom, I’ve known Allyson is also somehow involved in the demise of my relationship with Damina.

  Yet, there was no evidence to Allyson’s presence when I spoke with Damina last night, but I still felt as if there was someone standing between us.

  My mind rages with wonder as images of Damina in the arms of another plague not only my thoughts, but my entire being.

  Not that I think Damina left me for someone else, but I’d be a fool to think any man wouldn’t jump at the chance to offer himself a willing vessel for her to pour her love. That man is supposed to be me!

  The only glimmer of hope is her promise to call me today. Though I have no idea when she plans to call or how our conversation will go, I can be sure of one thing: I will do everything I can to win her back to me. Even if it means crawling on my knees and begging for her forgiveness.

  Thankfully, I’ve had the power restored to her condo which has made my stay here bearable. A few of my guys have kept watch at my place just in case she pops up. Mostly, I like being at her place because it helps me feel close to her.

  At least a little.

  Still, despite the pain I’ve caused her, there’s a small part of me that believes an equally small part of her was happy to talk with me—or at least hear my voice. There was a softness in her tone as our conversation ended compared to the coldness I felt from her in the beginning of our call. And I can only hope I haven’t lost her completely.

  As I pass the time waiting for her call, I watch one of her favorite shows, Vampire Diaries, and I find myself extremely annoyed she enjoyed watching this love triangle unfold. I can’t help wondering whether she was merely entertained or saw something more.

  Crap!

  What’s happening to me? I’ve never been jealous—ever. Quite frankly, Damina never gave me a reason to doubt the veracity of
her love toward me. I’m no fool. Throughout our relationship I’ve witnessed the jaw-dropping and drooling manner in which she affects anyone who encounters her. It’s for that reason I’ve always counted myself fortunate just to be in her presence, but there’s now a gnawing in my gut making me wary—and watching this show isn’t helping matters.

  I’ve never seen how it all ends, but I wonder whether I’m Stefan or Damon. Hopefully, I’m the one who gets the girl.

  All I want is a happily ever-after and I want it with Damina!

  “Jack-O!” Gregory says now standing at my side. Strange. I didn’t hear him come in. Although I want to answer him, my gaze is bleak. I can’t shake feeling like I’m losing her and waiting for her to call is driving me insane. “Jackson!” Gregory barks once more, tugging on my shoulder.

  “Yes, Gregory, what is it?” I answer, shrugging him off me as I stand and pace around the room.

  “Brandon’s pulling the car around now. He’s got Kyra with him.”

  “What for? And why are you bringing her here of all places? The last thing I need is for Damina to come home and find Kyra here!”

  “Well, I doubt Damina is coming home anytime soon, Jackson.” Gregory’s matter-of-fact tone is annoying, but I’m more intrigued in what Kyra has to say. It must be important for him to bring her here.

  At least it had better be.

  “Look, Jackson, I—I um, didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure she’ll be back home where she belongs soon,” Gregory continues mildly as he watches over me with a sincere look of concern.

  “Thank you, my friend. Now tell me, what did she find out?”

  “Well, it’s about your friend, Allyson. Apparently, the guy who drove the getaway car that night is a Dunes Wolf named Perry.”

  “A Dunes? In this area? Does he live here?”

  “I’m not sure, but Kyra’s people have good reason to think he’s been here for a while.”

  “Does anyone know where he’s from?”

  “Now, that’s the part I know you won’t like. He’s from New Orleans.”

  “What!”

  “Look, I know what you must be thinking, Jack-O and I’ve thought the same thing: this can’t be a coincidence.”

  Dread and panic fill my being as my mind swarms with all manner of possibilities and none of them are good. Knowing that Damina needed to get away from me is one thing, but for her to be in New Orleans with Dunes wolves, the Marchand brothers, or otherwise stirs my soul with a vehement malice I never thought possible.

  Here I am, trying to give her some space and repair what’s broken among the wolves, meanwhile that wretched Allyson has done everything possible to foil my good fortune with my beloved! For all I know she’s aligned herself with Keiron for no other reason than to see to my downfall!

  Once again, my complacency has brought me to ruin!

  “There’s more Jack!” Gregory gruffly announces, rounding the corner to regain my attention.

  “What more could there be?”

  “Oh, there’s much more, Jackson. Much more,” Kyra reveals from the doorway with Brandon just behind her.

  My heart falters seeing Kyra at Damina’s entrance and I suddenly feel as though I’m betraying her by just Kyra’s presence. Yet, despite every ounce of ambivalence I feel for Kyra, the moderate but genuine look of concern etched on her face tells me I need to hear what Kyra has to say.

  Before I have a moment to answer her or Gregory in reply, my phone rings and I yank it out of my pocket. The number on the screen isn’t the one Damina has been calling from, but once again the gnawing within heightens my alarm, and I answer the caller quickly, rushing to the threshold of Damina’s bedroom.

  My first hello goes unanswered and I pull the phone away from me with every intention of ending the call until a slight sniffling whimper in the background catches my ear and I know this is the call I’ve waited for.

  A jolting flutter rampages my heart and I finally exhale, unaware I’ve been holding my breath and answer, “Baby is that you?”

  Dalcour

  Tonight is the night I announce to the world that Damina Nicaud is mine! Joy fills the merry beating of my heart as I relish in the fact that for the first time in my life I am in love. I am totally enraptured by the presence and awe of this woman more than I ever thought possible.

  If this is the love Decaux challenged me to find, I take great delight in obliging his request. Perhaps my doing so will finally end his bloodthirsty quest. Although, now that I have Damina I can only imagine how he felt the day they took his beloved Calida from him. I suppose that’s why he made my ability to find such a love a challenge—and it has taken me all this time to finally find her.

  It’s taken a lot to get her to me too.

  While it pains me to think of her broken heart at the hands of Jackson, his loss is more than my gain—it is my love. Not only that, she’s had to learn in a matter of days what it means to be in my world. She’s discovered the truth of her Altrinion lineage, the Order of Altrinion, some history on Dunes wolves and she’s even had to fight and be fought for.

  I’ve learned a lot too. She isn’t as frail or weak as those in her family must think. Damina has fought Scourge vampires all on her own and won; demonstrating she is more than capable at defending herself. All I need to do now is show her the complete Altrinion arsenal at her disposal.

  Taking her to the Civility Center last night was bold of me, but I knew after everything she could handle it. Though I’m sure knowing I was by her side gave her assurance, she stood strong in the presence of Titan in all his allure and even challenged Trieu with a diffidence that gave pause to the Great Storm Rider herself.

  Over the last few days, we’ve learned openness, trust, and shared unrivaled heights of intimacy.

  Still, the one thing I never considered when she revived my heart is how sadness affects it. As she recounted the day of her parent’s death and it being the reason for her disdain of the color red, my heart collapsed to the pit of my being. With her thoughts ravaging my mind, I saw her parent’s deaths as though I was there and the horror of it still clings to me.

  It’s for that reason I do what I do now.

  Holding the red gown in my hands I can only imagine how lovely she will look when she finally wears it. But it is not this day. She’s not ready.

  I hear her singing in the shower and I hang the gown back in the closet and replace it with the more ethereal teal colored gown. While I hope it’s not too presumptuous of me, the last thing I want to do is rush her.

  Especially not tonight.

  Tonight, I intend to show her to all the world and make my declarations clear. Not only for her sake, but for even the likes of Colin DeVeaux who propositioned me just moments ago, while Damina slept, to wed his daughter. Hopefully, I made it clear to him that I have no intention of aiding his dismal desires to be part of the supernatural community. He and his daughter will just have to live out their lives the old-fashioned way or find another suitor. In any case, it’s not my concern.

  Damina is my only concern.

  “Now, isn’t this an infraction of employee—employer relations?” Jerrica teases from behind me in the hall outside Damina’s suite. She stares at the teal gown in my hand and strains to smile.

  “Hey! When did you get here?” I answer surprised. As much as I want to hug my friend, I don’t.

  “A little while now, but I didn’t want to interrupt anything. Is Damina okay?”

  “Yes, she’s fine,” I answer quickly closing Damina’s closet door and exiting her room. “She’s just showering before the ball.”

  “Ah, I so I gather you two are going together?” Jerrica’s tight smile does little to hide her clipped tone.

  “That’s the plan.” Jerrica watches my face hard and I try not to outwardly display my glee.

  “How splendid for
you both!” Jerrica’s forced happiness stabs my heart, but it’s the sincerity of her smile, that bridles my unease. I can’t imagine how she must feel. The good thing is I know she means no harm.

  “Hey D!” Braelyn says from the end of the hallway. Wrapped in an oversized terrycloth robe, her wet feet slap against the hall floor and I chuckle as Jerrica’s turns her attention away from me as her obvious frustration with Braelyn grows. “Titan called. He’s got some news from the breakout at the CC last night. I think he wants you to come by before you head to the ball.”

  “Completely out of the question. No way! Tonight is about me and Damina. It’s our night—my chance to introduce her to all the supernatural world.”

  “Oh stop being dramatic, D! It’s not all the world—just all of Louisiana!” Braelyn quips.

  Before I can rebuke Braelyn, Jerrica grabs my arm, redirecting my attention. “It’s quite all right, Dalcour. Why don’t you tend to your business? I’ll ride with Damina and I’ll make sure she arrives safely.”

  “Are you sure?” I question, searching Jerrica’s face. Sensing Brian’s presence nearby, he’s cloaking her truth from me so I can’t finger through her mind.

  Jerrica offers a wide smile that meets her eyes, and sighs, somewhat disappointed in my apparent mistrust. “Yes, I’m sure. Besides, I look forward to catching up with Damina.”

  “So you see, boss, no need to worry. And you can still show her off to all the world, as you say. Because of course a woman in love wants nothing more than to be paraded like a circus animal.” Braelyn adds shaking her wet hair loose from its towel. As much as she’d like me to believe there’s truth behind her cynicism, I know better.

  “Then should I suppose that’s why you’re smelling like cotton candy—so you can parade yourself in front of Abraham’s boy?” I tease.

  “You know what? I’m not even going to dignify that with a response!”

  “Braelyn, darling, I think you just did,” Jerrica mutters with her hand over her mouth.