by A. K. Koonce
Gently, I push out of his arms. They fall to his sides and a look of confusion passes across his handsome face.
I try to clear my messy thoughts.
“He keeps sedating me.”
At the sound of my words, his dark brows lower over his eyes. The color changes so quickly. One second, they’re a beautiful blue, and the next they’re completely black. It’s like a Demon and a Valkyrie had an affair and Nollix Forester was the outcome. His jaw tics as he waits for me to say more.
“Twice now, he’s injected me with something he says will strengthen my powers as well as calm my mind.”
He looks at me through inky, narrowed eyes and waves of anger roll off of his tense body. He’s a dangerous sight to see.
“Then what happens?”
My lips part with silence.
My mind races for traces of memories of today. But there are none.
“I don’t know. It seems to fade out my consciousness.”
His long fingers fist into his palms. The small movement seems to cord every muscle in him.
“I’m going to stay. I’m going to stay here and fucking rip him apart tomorrow morning.” His clipped words make a hesitant smile press to my lips.
“Are you fucking laughing at me?” His irrational anger points to me now and it does cause a quiet laugh to slip from my mouth. “What the fuck is so funny?”
If he says one more fierce f-word, I’m going to burst.
With effort, I smooth the smile from my features. But it’s no use. It pushes right back into place.
“What?” His hands raise from his sides with impatience.
“It’s just funny. I don’t know. I guess I never thought my imaginary friend would be such an aggressive asshole.” Another small giggle shakes through me. When he finally smiles, a tingling feeling passes all through me.
He’s beautiful when he smiles. Even with a hint of Demon in his eyes, he’s beautiful. The curve of his lips seems to hold all of my attention. Slow, stalking steps bring him closer to me.
“Just because you think I’m imaginary doesn’t mean I won’t fucking kill him for using you.”
A regretful feeling sinks through my stomach. My fingers push slowly up his smooth arm.
“I wish you’d been this sweet to me before.” It’s a quiet confession that barely leaves my lips.
His fingers lock with mine as his smile slips away. His emotions seem to mirror mine for once. He pulls me against him and holds me to his chest. The sound of his strong, beating heart fills my ears.
“I do too.”
Chapter Six
Revolt
Violence
His every methodical move is watched as I wait for the syringe I know he’s preparing for me. Jeriko’s hulking frame lingers against Amandria’s just across the room. The way her fingers trail across the inky magic that scars half of his face almost deters my attention but not quite.
The couple’s disturbing affection can’t distract my determination.
My father’s thin fingers pull the mysterious liquid into the syringe. Slowly, it fills completely. My heart starts to pound as he studies his work. His eyes flicker excitedly to mine.
I have no idea what the concoction does when my consciousness leaves me.
But I’m about to find out.
Slow steps bring him across the room. The dim lighting shines against the gleam in his eyes while I stand in silence with nothing but false obedience.
Does he really think he’s broken me? I don’t know how many months would have to pass for me to become the submissive little girl he’s trying to create.
It’s more than just one though.
His steady hand rises, the silver needle tilts my way, and for just an instant, he’s distracted by his own alluring power. It’s as if by accident a heartfelt moment has somehow snuck into my father’s life.
“I know you don’t understand all of this, but when this infusion hits your bloodstream, you’re just like me, Violence. I’ve never been as proud of you as I have been for the last few days.” There’s a humming sort of approval in his tone.
I want to lash out at him. I want my magic to return in full effect so I can show him just how similar he and I really are.
Instead, I pass him a pleasant smile that’s held in place with great force. My lips hurt from how tightly my teeth are pressed against them.
“I think I am starting to understand, Father.”
The heartwarming moment is cut short as I grip the infusion from his hand. The smooth, blunt end of his other arm pushes me back but he’s not physically prepared for my actions.
In an instant, I’ve jammed the needle into the side of his neck. Strands of graying beard tangle through my fingers as I rush to push every ounce of the liquid in.
His height towers over me and his fingertips begin to tremble. He’s sedated, right now is my moment to use the information the book of Severed Souls has given me. If I’m able to use the resources in this lab to create the dark magic the book describes, his frail physical form will not be able to contain it no matter how powerful he is. It could destroy him from the inside out.
The humid air starts to turn with an unnatural current. It lifts the ends of my hair just lightly and the moment Jeriko feels it, his attention darts to my father. Amandria’s wide gaze collides with mine.
“What did you do?” Her voice is an unsteady shriek.
The floor itself starts to tremble beneath my feet. It feels like the building is seconds away from imploding. The vacant eyes of my father drift to me. His pupils are dilated so wide his eyes are just black orbs staring down on me.
He’s a terrifying and demonic sight to be seen.
Jeriko’s storming steps bring him to the table. He opens the top drawer and begins clattering through it. He sorts through it quickly, and I barely have time to realize there are dozens of little vials of my father’s creations in that drawer near the wall.
I’ve never seen those. But Jeriko has…
Quickly, he races toward me as the oxygen itself starts to burn. It stings down my throat with every breath I take and I have to force my magic to the surface. I force it out, and I feel the moment it tangles around my father’s oppressing magic. I halt the air just where it is. For several seconds, I push against the air, pushing the noxious oxygen away from us.
Jeriko is almost gentle as he pushes the syringe into my father’s forearm. The liquid disperses beneath my father’s skin.
The room becomes still around us. The stinging feel of that deadly magic fades away. The glasses on the tables stop clattering and silence settles in. Slowly, I release my tiring hold on my magic. Jeriko removes the needle. The vacancy in my father’s gaze remains in place; he stares out at the wall into complete nothingness.
Anger fumes through me.
My body collides with my father’s thin frame and I shove him to the floor. My fist slams into his boney features, hurting my knuckles with every blow I land. But I can’t seem to stop.
Big hands grip around my arms and I’m thrown to the floor. It’s warm against my back as I slide into the wall with a hard thud. Jeriko’s blazing gaze burns into mine and he gets right down into my face. He straddles my legs as he breathes hot fanning breaths across my skin. The strength of his body covers mine completely and it admittedly makes my heart pound with a trickling feel of fear.
“You’re a fucking reckless bitch. Linkin isn’t here to keep you in line, and I’m not about to let you get us all killed.”
My jaw clenches just as my knee comes up hard. It connects with his crotch and I barely have enough time to appreciate the agony in his face before a needle pushes cold, tingling fluid into my veins.
Amandria’s beautifully haunting smile beams down on me as she pulls the syringe away. Her every move is total grace. That serene persona she always has is right there on display.
“Daddy won’t be happy with you, Sister.”
Her taunting words circle my mind only once before the sedation overtakes m
y thoughts.
Chapter Seven
Prove It
Nollix
The way she’s looking at me says a thousand words even if she won’t say a single one of them. Something happened today. Lines of frustration crease her brow as her lips pull down in thought.
“Why didn’t you come earlier when I tried to call you here?”
“I couldn’t get the offering to take.” It’s becoming more and more reluctant to take effect. I have to be damn near asleep for the smoke to overtake my mind and bring me to her.
Her arms cross over the thin white shirt she’s been wearing to bed. She seems to have more clothes here. She looks more casual. I’ve never seen her wear anything like that when we were in the Hunt. She was always nicely covered up. And now she’s not.
Warm sun-kissed skin draws my attention down the length of her frame, over the soft curve of her thighs. I tear my gaze away from the smooth span of her long legs.
“My imaginary friend is so full of excuses.”
What?
My lips part with outrage and I have to calm myself to even begin to speak rationally.
“You still don’t believe I’m real?” My hand pushes roughly through my hair.
This is bullshit. I’ve poured my heart out to her for days and still I get no credit for it. I’ve been nicer to her than I’ve ever been to anyone in my entire life. It didn’t even take any effort. I genuinely just wanted to comfort her. If she just understood that I was really here for her …
“You’re just this awful part of my mind trying to cope with this more awful reality.”
I’m an awful part of her mind? What the fuck?
“What do I have to do to prove I’m the real deal?”
Her pale brows crease slightly before her small shoulders pull up in a shrug.
My gaze trails over her thin shirt, racking my brain for something to convince her. I have to give her something she doesn’t believe, something she’d never tell herself.
“You were the most beautiful woman I ever met. You are—you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. You were quiet but your emotions were always right there on the surface. Especially when you were angry. Always when you were angry.”
The column of her throat works as she swallows hard. Her arms fold across her chest, amplifying her breasts into a sexy sight.
“I knew Link loved you, and I was too much of an asshole to let his feelings for you get in the way of how attracted I was to you.”
“None of that stuff proves anything. It proves nothing. It’s just words. Words I could be thinking to try to make myself feel better.”
My brows rise. Is she fucking serious right now?
I get zero credit. None.
Fuck it. Actions speak louder than words, is that what we’re saying?
Roughly, I pull at the back of my shirt until it slides up my abdomen. I toss it to the dark floor with my gaze trained on her pretty features.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m your hallucination. You tell me, Vi.”
“I’ve stared at you shirtless more times than I’d like to confess. I could easily entertain myself with the memory of your hard abs, Nollix.”
My hard abs?
Fuck. I wish she’d speak her mind like this all the time.
“So you’re saying you have my body ingrained into your memory?”
Her gaze rakes down the lines of my stomach.
“Every inch.” She nods appreciatively and my dick hardens just from the heated look in her eyes.
“Every inch?” The smooth button of my jeans meets my fingertips and she shifts where she’s standing.
“I’ve seen a cock before. I can just make all of this up as I go.” Her words make me halt in my tracks.
She’s seen a cock before?
“Who’s fucking cock have you seen?” My hands linger against my zipper while irrational jealousy slams through me.
“I think we’re getting a little off topic here. Either reveal the dick or don’t. I’ve got another sleepless night I need to get to.” She bites the inside of her lip as she stares hard and expectantly at the bulge in my jeans.
Was it Link? Did she and Link have more of a relationship than I knew?
No, if they had more than what meets the eye he would have confessed his undying love for her years ago.
“So…” Her gaze darts from my eyes to my dick and then back again.
“You’re kind of just starting to treat me like a piece of meat now … It’s a little insulting.”
It’s not insulting. It’s hot as fuck.
“Well you’re my hallucination. If I want to see dick, I think I will.” Once more her eyes do a dance between my gaze and my cock.
Deep down, I wish she’d always say the sexy stuff that’s right on the tip of her tongue like this.
“If I show you my junk you’re just going to compare it to whoever’s dick you’ve already seen. Even though you and I both know it will be much, much bigger than you ‘remember’.” My gaze travels down the long length of her bare legs. The small triangle of white fabric she’s calling underwear holds all of my attention.
“Did he touch you?”
I take two stalking steps until only a few inches of space separate us. I miss being near her. Really being near her. Holding her while I’m in this weird in between form is the most I’ve ever touched her and it only makes me want to feel that full skin on skin contact even more. I want every inch of her pressed against me. I’m a shit person for wanting that when I know she could have Link. Link would be good to her. And yet, I can’t bring myself to stop coming closer to her.
I just can’t help it.
Her thighs shift as she stares up at me. On slow steps she retreats from me as I come closer and closer until her back hits the wall.
“Kind of.” Her voice is quiet; sexy and unsure.
My dick twitches just from the sound of her rasping tone.
“Kind of? He either did or he didn’t.” My fingers skim against her soft, smooth skin until my fingertips are pushing against her abdomen.
“We had sex.”
She fucked someone? Someone fucked her?
A strange and possessive feeling rips through my chest.
“But he didn’t make you come first?” The soft fabric of her panties skims against my index finger as I trail the span of space between her hips. I tease her skin along the top of her underwear. Her abdomen tenses beneath my touch.
The sound of her throat clearing is her only reply for several seconds.
Is she not going to answer me?
My palm pushes down the cotton of her panties, my fingers pushing hard over her center. Her hips rock against my hand just slightly as her lashes flutter to stay open.
What she says next makes everything in me crack open, halting my actions entirely.
“You’re the only person who’s ever made me come. And you didn’t even touch me really.”
The hard beating of my heart fills my ears as I stare down at this beautiful woman. Her breaths come in crashing waves, her chest pushing against mine as we both wait for me to find some form of fucking words to speak.
“What’d it feel like?” It’s a rasping question that barely makes it from my throat.
There’s an ache within me that physically needs to hear her describe in specific detail how I made her come.
“It felt good. Uncontrollable and just… really good.”
My hips skim against her soft curves, my cock grinding against her stomach as her words replay on repeat in my head.
Really good.
We can do better than good.
Her palms push up my biceps, gripping tightly as if she’s hanging on to my soul itself. It’s like she’s preparing for what’s to come.
Sometimes I think she hates me. And sometimes I think she lies to herself enough to believe that she hates me.
Either way, she hates me.
But I don’t care.
My palm slips beneath her panties, dipping low until her slickness meets my fingers. A gasp parts her full lips. I want to kiss her so bad I can taste it.
But I don’t.
I don’t push her. I don’t test the unsteady balancing act we’re both playing.
Instead, I stroke her slowly. Harder I push against her sex, circling her clit before slipping down and coming right back up again. Her head tips back against the dark wall and my fingers circle over her swollen clit again. I’m dying to sink into her. Dying to know what she feels like. Dying to imagine what she’d feel like wrapped around my cock.
I force myself to take my time. I want to draw out every shaking breath from her lungs. I want her to want me.
I guess that’s it. I want her to want me at least for the moment.
When her body starts to tremble beneath my touch I slam two fingers into her hard. Her long hair falls across my shoulder as her head settles there. A moan falls from her lips and she silences the sound as her teeth sink into my skin. Her moan skims across the flesh just below my collar bone.
I groan, my dick pulsing from the erotic feel of it.
Harder, I stroke her tight pussy. She soaks my fingers, and I want nothing more than to feel her come on my hand. My palm arches, touching her right where I know she needs it most.
In this diluted physical form I’m in, I can’t feel her reckless magic. But I can see every beautiful fucking emotion on her face.
Ragged breaths fill the quiet silence. I can’t take my gaze off of the sexy way she’s trying to hold on to her control. It’s consuming her pretty features, pulling her eyes tightly closed and making her lips part just right.
“Nollix.” The gasping way she says my name makes me work even harder.
I rock my palm against her clit before sliding in hard once more. I stroke every delicious part of her. She grinds her pussy against my hand and it takes all my control not to shove my jeans down and fuck her against the wall.
When her trembling moan skims across my chest, her orgasm soaks my palm. I growl against the feel of it. The tight and demanding feel of her release wrapping around my fingers has me throbbing to be in her.
I’m breathing hard. My jaw’s clenched so firmly it hurts.