Lucan hovered in front of the castle and reached out with his senses. Empty. He slipped through the keyhole and shifted to human form on the other side. In the great hall, large wooden tables and chairs were busted into kindling-sized pieces. Broken ceramic littered the floor. Evidence of a battle was everywhere. He took a deep breath, and the coppery scent of blood coated the back of his throat.
Had they all been slain?
“Impossible.” Lucan made his way around the debris and headed up the stairs, knowing full well Chaval would never have let his people die. Or would he? Had the demon side of him gone completely insane and snapped?
He strode past several open doors, sticking his head through each to look inside. Most of them were guest quarters, and he remembered that the royal family held the entire upper floor, so he headed for the stairs on the other side and took two at a time.
When he reached the third level, he went directly to Chaval’s suite. The door stood wide open so he walked through. On first glance, everything looked in order. The sitting room was in pristine condition with not a speck of dust anywhere, and nothing appeared out of place. He opened his senses and was again met with emptiness, so he moved to the other rooms in the apartment. All were empty and looked as if nothing had been touched in ages. If memory served him, Chaval’s mother, sister, and aunt who was the fae queen had rooms on the same floor. He flashed back into the hall and went to the next apartment. This one belonged to Chaval’s sister, and after a quick sweep, he was no more informed than he’d been when he’d arrived. He decided to go straight for the queen’s chamber and flashed into the sitting room.
Blood stained the floor.
“Fuck. This isn’t good.” There was only one way to find out what the hell had happened here. He would have to summon the shadows and force them to divulge their secrets.
He closed his eyes and dove into the deep, dark recesses of his mind. The inky spot on his soul stirred in response as he called forth the shadows and took command of them. Whenever Lucan used his gift, Drayos’s curse grew stronger within him. Lucan had already realized he’d likely die at the hands of one of his brethren because he’d never find his mate in time to save him. Even if he were lucky enough to locate her, would she accept him? Doubtful. The darkness had fucked him up and made it impossible for him to have any sexual relations unless the woman was bound and totally at his mercy. His mate would have to be as messed up as he was. Meanwhile, he’d continue to do his job and fight off the curse for as long as he could. He’d avoid Marcus and his examinations. Lucan didn’t need anyone telling him his clock was ticking.
The shadows swirled around him, whispering, tempting him to join them. He fought the urge to succumb. “Show me what happened to the one who lived here,” he commanded.
In slow motion, they played out a bloody scene and revealed their secrets. Lucan stood motionless, unable to believe what he witnessed. “Son of a bitch!” Even he understood the consequences of what had happened. The mortal world was in deeper peril than any of them realized. If Lowan was able to reach the fae and overtake them, no one was safe.
Chapter Six
Baal stared at the woman across from him. Her pain filled the room and burrowed itself deep into his soul. She belonged to him, and he knew he could ease it, but at what cost to his heart? The erection he sported demanded he take advantage of her, and it caused him to shift in his seat.
He leaned forward. “Ranata, look at me.”
She brought her gaze to his.
“You don’t have to hurt like this. I can take away your pain.” It wasn’t a lie. He could, and he wanted to, but in the end, would he choose to be honorable and use his power to do it or would he seduce her? One side of him warred with the other, and seduction was on the fast track to becoming the victor. “Do you remember her name? Your mother?”
“Iris.”
He knew an Iris. She was a beautiful woman who had long black hair and blue eyes. Not possible. To his knowledge, she’d never had any daughters. “Do you remember anything else about your mother?”
Her pain filled the room again. Maybe, he should give her a break.
“Baal.” Mist drifted into the room and swirled into the form of Lucan.
Ranata gasped and pushed back into her chair.
“Don’t worry. Lucan is a rather gifted guardian. The only one among them who can shift.” Baal stood and silently thanked the warrior for interrupting and keeping Baal from making a grave mistake with Ranata. “What did you discover?”
Lucan eyed Ranata.
“Don’t worry. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of her.”
The dark warrior strode to the bar and poured whiskey into a glass then chugged it down. “We have big, fuckin’ problems. The place is deserted.” He poured another. “I had to summon the shadows to divulge their secrets.” He tipped back the glass and emptied it. “The queen is dead.”
Baal slid in next to Lucan. “Son of a bitch. Pour me one.”
Ranata jumped up and approached with caution. “The queen?”
He faced her. “Yes. Iris was the fae queen and—” Realization smacked him in the head. His mind did a quick review of the earlier conversation with Chaval, and now, everything started to make sense. He was willing to stake his life on Ranata being the daughter of the fae queen.
“Fuck it.” He grabbed the bottle and took a long swig then wiped his mouth. “Your mother was the fae queen.”
The sight of Lucan and Ranata staring at him with their mouths agape would have been hysterical had he been a simple observer. Except he was way more than that. Fate had handed him the daughter of a dead queen to protect. Wasn’t that the fucking cherry on the cream. He shoved his fingers through his hair.
“Fuck me running,” Baal growled.
Lucan arched a brow. “This story should be good and worthy of another bottle.” He reached into the cabinet where Baal kept the spares and pulled out a full bottle of Jack then headed to the couch where he pulled off the cap and tossed it into the fire. “Start talkin’, demon.”
Baal fisted his bottle and headed for a chair. “Ranata, this is a story that calls for drinking. Refill your glass, you’re gonna need it.” She hesitated for only a moment before pouring more wine and making herself comfortable on the other end of the couch from Lucan.
“Iris would have been Chaval’s aunt. She was a powerful fae queen who worked tirelessly to bring her people back into favor with the rest of immortal society. Her younger sister, Chaval’s mother, slept with a demon and caused a big rift between the two species. The fae are rather particular when it comes to tainting their bloodline and were not fond of a demon in their midst.”
He took a swig.
“Matter of fact, that door swings both ways. Most immortals aren’t fond of the fae since a few bad apples were caught stealing magic from others.” Lucan scowled. “We get a little pissy when that happens, and we get nervous every time a Sumari is born. They have demon strength and the dark fae’s ability to absorb any magic around them and use it at will.”
Baal nodded in agreement. “Sexual unions between a demon and fae always bear a male child, and always a Sumari. It’s a matter of which side the child takes after most and with which parent they are raised that determines how they turn out. In Chaval’s case, he spent most of his childhood with his father, raised as a demon. Later, he went to stay with his mother and refused to take any shit from the fae. They didn’t dare mess with him so he was accepted into their society. I’m pretty sure Iris hoped he would become sort of an ambassador between the two species.”
Ranata looked at Lucan then back to Baal, confusion clouding her features.
“The fae have little magic,” Baal said. “A few spells and such, but their best defense is that they can use any magic around them against their enemy. That’s what fuels their power and probably the only reason they allowed Chaval into their society. On rare occasions, a Sumari will have the ability to make their own magic. When that happ
ens, it’s like being on steroids. Their power can keep feeding upon itself, and if they lose control, it’s equivalent to a nuclear bomb.” Another long swig. “Devastating doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“I feel so lost here,” Ranata finally said.
“From what I could gather, Lowan was responsible for the queen’s death. Most of the people fled, but Chaval’s sister was taken.” Lucan leaned forward and pinned a dark gaze on Baal. “I don’t doubt that’s how Lowan gained control over Chaval. Otherwise, demigod or not, Lowan would have never gained the upper hand.”
“Did you see Lowan actually kill the queen?” Baal asked.
“No, the murderer was cloaked, but Lowan had a hand in it, whether directly or not,” Lucan replied.
“Wait, but how do I fit into this? What makes you think the queen was my mother?”
“Because you look like her, and it makes sense. Iris was a smart woman, and she must have known danger was forthcoming and hid you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left her daughters. Had she not been killed, she would have come back for you. What puzzles me is why. She had a mate who was fae, so what caused her to sleep with a human?”
Panic set in. Even if he’d considered it, there was no way he could mate with Ranata. She was fae, and he refused to bring more Sumari into the world. There hadn’t been many over the past several years, but the few who had been allowed to survive—Chaval being one of them—had control over their powers. The others had been sentenced to death at a young age because they were a danger to themselves and everyone around them. Baal couldn’t chance having to destroy his own son. It would devastate him.
She had to be going insane. Ranata had no explanation for all the craziness that seemed to surround her. Demons had taken over. Her sister was a mistress to a demigod, and her mother had been a fae queen? It was too unreal for words. She shook her head.
“No. It’s all a coincidence. My mother simply had the same name as this fae, and maybe, they looked similar, but that’s all.”
“Really? Then explain to me how earlier you levitated everything in this room and threw it at my head?” Baal inquired.
Lucan laughed. “What the fuck did you do to piss her off, demon?”
Baal jumped up and stormed to the fireplace. The flames grew taller and more violent. “You took my power, Ranata, and used it against me. Whether you realized it or not.” He spun to face them both. “The gods have finally lost it by choosing you as my mate.”
“What the hell?” Lucan whispered. “She belongs to you?”
“Funny, isn’t it? You know as well as I do that a fated mating between a demon and fae is rare. It’s more likely for the two species to have a one-night stand then be on their way.”
She grabbed her glass of wine and chugged it down. Was it possible she wasn’t human? “I’m thirty years old. Why didn’t I know I’m different before this? And wait… What do you mean by choosing me as your mate?” She stood, her anger flaring. “If you think I’m sleeping with you, you’re fucking nuts!”
The demon slipped in front of her before she had even realized it. Damn, he’s fast.
“Just so we’re clear, I have no intention of sleeping with you. Matter of fact…” The front door swung open. “You’re free to go. I have no desire to sleep with one eye open, and I certainly don’t want you using my power against me again. It’s obvious you’re unstable, and I can’t take any chances.” He shoved a wad of cash at her. “Take this. No strings. Just consider it payment for your inconvenience.”
She fisted her hands to keep from slugging him then took the money. “Fine. I never asked to come here in the first place, and you’ve done nothing but go back on your word at every turn.” Wasting no time, she shoved the cash into her jeans pocket and stormed out the door. Spotting an elevator at the end of the hall, she marched over and pushed the button. She refused to look behind her because if Baal was watching, she might figure out a way to torch his ass. Instead, she stepped into the elevator and faced the back wall until the doors closed. When she turned, the light indicated there were thirty-nine floors before she’d reach the lobby. There was time to kill. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the wad of cash and counted.
“Holy shit!”
She went through it again. There was two thousand dollars in one-hundred-dollar bills. She was half tempted to turn around and go back. This was way too much money, but she recognized she was in another state with the small amount of cash she’d grabbed from home. She’d left without her bag and had only the clothes on her back. She’d consider this a loan and figure out a way to pay him back. Someday.
When the elevator finally stopped and the doors opened, a man dressed in a black suit greeted her.
“Miss Aldrich, I’ve been instructed by Mr. Danger to take you wherever you request. The limo is at your disposal. Should you desire to fly back home, I can have the private jet ready by the time we reach the airport.”
“Mr. Danger, huh?” The name seemed fitting, but she had to wonder if he had chosen it for a reason. Two things were certain, Ranata hadn’t expected the cash, and she’d certainly hadn’t anticipated a limo or a jet. He must really want her out of town. She gathered her wits. “Yes. I need to go back to South Dakota.” She had no idea why she was going back home and wasn’t even sure it was safe. Baal had mentioned finding demons there, and now, she worried if they’d still be hanging around. However, she had nowhere else to go, and all her belongings were there. She needed somewhere familiar to think and plan a way to find her sister.
The man escorted her from the elevator and down a corridor. Outside, darkness had fallen, and she realized she had no idea what time of day it was. “Excuse me?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Can you tell me the time?”
“It’s one-thirty a.m.” He opened the limo door, and she scooted inside. “The driver has instructions to take you to the airport where the plane will be waiting. Is there anything else, Miss Aldrich?”
“No. Thank you for your kindness.”
He tipped his head. “Have a safe flight.” The door closed, and the limo pulled into traffic.
Ranata hardly noticed the bright lights of the strip through the tears that filled her eyes. Never had she felt more alone or confused in her life. Baal had promised to help find her sister. He’d even seemed concerned with her welfare, but something had changed. Could she really be responsible for the craziness that had happened earlier in his suite? Was it possible her real mother had been a fae queen? So many questions and no one to turn to for answers. Going it on her own had always been her lot in life, and this would prove no different. She’d suck it up like always and search for Raven. If she were capable of magic, she’d figure that out, too. She didn’t need help from anyone, and most certainly not that damn demon.
“I can’t believe you just let her go.” Lucan watched Baal wear a path in the carpet.
Baal stopped his pacing long enough to swig from his bottle and throw the guardian a death glare. “You know a powerful fae can destroy a demon.”
“That’s not the real reason. I don’t sense enough power in her to do you in,” Lucan stated.
He was right. It was fear. Bone-chilling fear sank its ugly claws into him. “Fuck. I can’t risk my son being one of the unlucky ones who must be destroyed. No way in hell can I face that.” He slammed his bottle on the table. Burning anger replaced his fear. “I need to go pick a fight with the god, Zarek. Can you sniff around and see about Chaval’s sister? Maybe find the ones involved in the queen’s murder. Something tells me it was an inside job.”
The guardian shook his head. “Zarek will zap your ass if you piss him off, and yeah, I’ll snoop.” He rubbed his hands together. “Something tells me the trail will lead me straight into Hell.”
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy the trip, and if I’m still alive later, you can regale me with the stories.” He didn’t wait for a reply but flashed from the room and straight to the Temple of the Gods. Unlike his
guardian friends, he didn’t need special permission to enter their realm.
He climbed the steps to Zarek’s temple two at a time. The king of gods had better be home, or Baal would simply have to entertain himself, and when he got bored things never turned out well. The front door opened on its own as soon as he approached, and the minute Baal crossed the threshold, Zarek stood on the other side. The god wore only jeans and a glare.
“I’ll warn you now, behave or feel my wrath,” Zarek stated.
“Fuck you, asshole.” Baal stepped right into the god’s space and pinned him with his own stare. Zarek stood only a few inches taller, so Baal casted his glance upward. “Why?”
Zarek crossed his arms and took a step backward. “You really do have a death wish.”
“I might as well. I mean…you’re the one who decided my mate should be a fae. A fucking fae! Are you nuts?” He felt the vein in his temple twitch. He’d be lucky if his head didn’t explode.
“First off, when you decide to storm into my home, you will fucking kneel,” Zarek growled and used his power to force Baal to his knees without so much as batting an eyelash. “Secondly, your mate was not my choice. Hades decided your fate. You should be thankful I was kind enough to allow him to grant you one at all.”
“Then I shall deal with Hades on this matter,” Baal snarled.
“With pleasure.” Zarek flicked his wrist, and Baal tumbled into a black hole. Moments later, he landed on his ass directly at the foot of Hades’ throne.
“Well, what took you so long, my demon?” the god laughed.
Chapter Seven
Had circumstances been different, Ranata would have enjoyed flying on a private jet. As it was, it only gave her time to think about her predicament. Saying she was screwed was an understatement, and after a taxi ride home, she’d planted herself in front of the TV to watch the world news. Things had gone from crazy to insane. Human fatalities were in the thousands, and officials weren’t even sure how accurate their numbers were. There was simply no way to tell.
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