by Dahlia Lu
He didn’t even think it was possible, because, after all, immortals rarely ever conceived. Just as intended by the laws of order and chaos. He’d bedded enough women to know there was some truth in that.
He didn’t expect it, and that was probably why it hit him so hard. He’d spent the afternoon on the top of a snowy mountain, trying to gather his thoughts. Unfortunately, he hadn’t made any progress. Stunned and confused, he just stood there for hours.
His brain was slow to catch up, but it eventually did. When each word began to sink in, he was enraged. She didn’t want it. She was planning on getting rid of it.
“Your child is already dead. You should learn to let go.”
He nearly choked the life out of her, but something inside of him, something greater than himself, held him back. He didn’t want to hurt her.
Noctis shrugged off his dirty jacket and set it by the sink. He leaned over and stared at his image reflected from the bathroom mirror. He despised what he saw staring back at him.
Instability. Obscurity. Uncertainty.
Noctis was well aware that he was no longer the man he used to be, but it was the first time he’d taken a good look at himself. The man in the mirror had no hope, no dream… nothing to look forward to but the sweet taste of vengeance.
Is this what the mortal sees when she looks at me?
The mirror shattered into thousands of pieces.
He turned away from his broken reflection and walked into the glass shower.
“All of these are yours?” Lizzie rummaged through the walk-in closet bigger than their nine hundred square foot apartment. “Gucci! Luis Vuitton! Prada! There are still tags on them!”
“Take any you like,” Amara offered.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I went overboard on that shopping trip, and I don’t know what to do with all of these. Wear a different purse for everyday of the year? I just need one.”
“He must adore you!”
Amara laughed wryly. “He hates me.”
“Then why did he buy you all of these?”
“I annoyed him into it. I’m very good at annoying him, apparently.”
“You’re just bragging.”
“About what? There’s nothing to brag about. I’m just a prisoner.”
Lizzie frowned. “Is he abusive?” she asked, her voice concerned.
“Define abusive.”
“You know, like beating you?”
Did he ever strike her? If he had, she probably wouldn’t have survived it. “No. I’m the one who did the hitting,” she admitted ruefully. She winced when each slap reoccurred in her head. “But he’s really mean. He threatened to kill me all the time.”
“Did he rape you?”
“No… but he’s rough. There isn’t a gentle bone in his body, although there was that one time….”
“Oh!” Lizzie gasped. A smile crept up her face. “Tell me more!”
“No!” Amara rebuffed. “Not when you sound so intrigued!”
“Don’t be jealous, Amara. I would never steal your lover.”
Amara rolled her eyes. “You just don’t realize how unpleasant he really is!”
“He’s a dreamboat.”
“That’s because you only see the surface.”
“The only layer that matters. He’s loaded. He’s devastatingly handsome. He’s good in bed. What more do you want from a man?”
“Oh, I don’t know… maybe kindness, compassion, and understanding?”
“You haven’t dated much, have you?”
“You know the answer to that one.”
“Camden is all of those things, but are you sexually attracted to him?”
Amara bit into her lower lip.
“Be honest!”
She shook her head. “But he’s so husband material! Camden is the kind of man I can actually imagine being married to.”
“Yeah, look for Camden when you want to get married. You’re only twenty. Have some fun with the non-husband materials.”
She thought about it. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Of course it does!”
“How do you feel about Noctis or whatever his name is?”
“How do I feel about him?” Amara felt a tight knot in her stomach. “Are you sure you want to know?”
Lizzie nodded.
“I’m afraid of him for a number of reasons… mainly because of his ruthlessness and unpredictability. He has absolutely no regard for human lives. I’m surprised I’m still alive and talking to you. ”
“What?”
“But I’m also strongly attracted to him for reasons you obviously saw. I’m hopeless.”
“Hmm…”
“I have no choice either way. I’m stuck with Noctis until the day I die.”
“You act like men don’t grow bored.”
“Whichever comes first. Point is, I don’t have a choice.”
“With a man like that, who needs to choose?”
“Whatever the case may be, you’ll keep this a secret right?”
“Or risk people carrying me off to a mental institution. Your secret is safe with me, sweetie. You know I love you.”
“I know.”
“Can I also try on the shoes?”
“Take your pick.”
By some instinct, Amara eyed the door before Noctis even came into view. She’d predicted he’ll be at the door and there he was. He reached her in a few long strides, smelling fresh from the shower, and pulled her up to her feet.
She wasn’t even sure she wanted to see him. Like always, his very presence made her heart race. She wondered what he could possibly be mad about this time. He was always moody about something.
A large hand cupped the back of her head and guided her to meet his lips. He caught her surprise gasp with his mouth. He was taking, consuming, devouring, as if he couldn’t have enough. His arms drew her closer, venturing deeper. Her body responded on its own, returning what he gave.
Then she remembered. Lizzie was watching. She pulled away, but he caught her lips again.
“No,” she protested, shoving his face back with her hands. “We have guest!”
Lizzie was fanning herself. “Oh no, don’t mind me.”
The scenery around them changed to a bedroom she didn’t recognize. He’d teleported her to a different location… but where? There were red rose petals forming a heart shape on the white king size bed. There was champagne with two glasses on the table. The left wall of the room was a massive dark glass panel opening to the city by night.
A hotel room? It looked like a honeymoon suite.
She didn’t have time to enjoy the scenery. He claimed her lips fully, continuing where they left off. Her back hit the soft linens. The rose petals bounced into the air.
“Are you sure you have the right key card?” She heard a female voice ask from the other side of the door.
“I’m sure,” a male voice answered. “I just don’t know why it’s not working.”
“You know what. We’ll go down to the concierge and ask for another key,” said the female.
Amara grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled Noctis away from her. “This is another couple’s honeymoon’s suite!”
He had an ‘I don’t care’ expression on his face. She tried to keep him at bay, but it was like trying to push a lion back from its meal.
“But what if we get caught?”
She caught her breath the instant his lips collided with hers again. They were like opposite charges, igniting upon contact. Her body was aching with lust, trembling beneath him. She couldn’t understand how she could hate everything about him and still want him at the same time.
The voices were talking outside of the door again.
“I’m sorry for your inconvenience,” the voice of a different man said. The door shook forcefully. “I have no idea why the room key and the master key couldn’t open this door. It must be malfunctioning.”
Amara’s heart was working overtim
e. She thought it was going to explode.
“They can’t come in,” Noctis assured her in his naturally husky voice.
“Did you hear that?” The female outside the door asked. “I think somebody is in there!”
“It can’t be,” the male replied. “The lock malfunctioned. It must be from the room next door.”
“We’ll arrange another honeymoon suite for you right away,” another male quickly intervened.
Amara attentively listened to the footsteps moving away from the door. Sure that they were gone, she exhaled.
The male next to her propped up on his arm. His blue eyes were studying her body.
“You are very small.” He observed.
“I’m only an inch short of average height,” she replied. “But of course I’m small by comparison. You’re freakishly huge.”
“It will prove problematic.”
Dumbfounded, she asked, “Why?”
“The men from my line were built to dominate the battlefield.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” She drawled.
“Not yet, but it will.”
He had her scratching the back of her head. “You are acting really strange today. Have you gone off the deep end yet? Give me a warning.”
“I won’t allow myself to go anywhere, mortal. The deep end, as you put it, will have to wait.”
He dipped his head for another kiss, but she avoided him by turning her head to the side. “I have a favor to ask you…” she murmured quietly.
A large hand wrapped around her waist. “What?”
“I need to be at the hospital first thing in the morning.”
“Why?”
“I need to check up on Raya.”
“That girl…” his voice trailed off.
It was her turn to ask, “What about her?”
“She’s not the right sort of companion for you.”
“Excuse me?” She gasped, clearly offended. “Did you just say what I thought you said? What do you mean ‘not the right sort of companion’?”
“Her eyes are far too sharp for one her age.”
“That’s it? Because her eyes are… sharp?”
“I’ve lived a very long time, mortal. I’ve seen enough people to recognize a dangerous person when I see one.”
“So you’re saying you’re an excellent judge of character.”
“When you live to be my age, you’ll know.”
“But I won’t. I’m a mortal,” she reminded him. “What about me? What can you tell me about my character?”
“You?”
She nodded.
He didn’t say. An amused expression laced his face as he picked the rose petals from her hair.
Annoyed by his taunting, she shoved him back. She flopped on the pillow and turned away from him. “I don’t care. I’m going to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning, even if I have to crawl my way there.”
Chapter Eleven
She’d won another bet.
Nala looked down at the bloodied bandage on her torso and smiled to herself. If death couldn’t claim her, then nothing could stop her now. Her plan had been set in motion, and it was beginning to pick up momentum. Last night, while over-narcotized and barely conscious, she saw her other-self standing over her hospital bed. His blue eyes has lost their usual look of indifference, and was filled with, she daresay, worries. Thunder and lightning would not cease to terrorize the night.
She was delighted by his reaction.
A nurse came into the room; she released another dose of morphine into Nala’s system through the IV. The woman asked if she needed more of the drug, and when Nala declined, she went to attend another patient in the next room.
Amara showed up early at the beginning of visiting hour. Nala was hoping that the girl would stay away, but it was too much to hope for. She’d predicted Amara would come, and with her, the dark god. Since he believed the girl to be carrying his child, his protective instincts must have kicked in.
Nala couldn’t help but smiled from amusement.
“I was so worried,” Amara said, her blue-grey eyes expressed concerns. “I had no idea you went into surgery. Did you happen to see who it was that stabbed you?”
“No,” Nala lied. “I didn’t see the bastard.”
“Do you know why anyone would want you dead?”
“It must have been an ill-conceived robbery went wrong.” Her eyes went to the overgrown man standing behind the girl. She noted the grimace on his face. So he understood her message.
“I sure hope they catch him soon.”
“Sooner is better than later.”
The dark god caught Amara by the arm and pulled her girl toward him. “We need to go.”
“But we just got here,” Amara protested. “I haven’t asked if Raya wanted anything.”
“Coffee, if you please.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Amara said worriedly. “Do you think they’ll let you have coffee right after surgery.”
“They allow decaf,” Nala lied again. “A little bit is fine.”
Amara went into the hallway, in search for coffee.
The dark god was viewing her with obvious curiosity. “Coffee right after you’ve been gutted?”
“Amara is simple minded. She’d believe anything you tell her.”
He shot a glare at her. “If you take advantage of her weakness, I guarantee you won’t even have a grave to your name.”
“Her looks are average. Her personality is too airy. Her intelligence is only so-so. And she has absolutely no aptitude for anything.”
He was looking at her with palpable contempt. Nala relished seeing the dark god getting offended by her evaluation of his female.
“But there is one quality that makes her stand out. She genuinely cares about the people around her. It’s more of a hindrance to you and me, but it works well with Amara. She makes friends easily because people can sense that. People are attracted to that.”
“No good can come of it,” the dark god muttered. He didn’t see it as a compliment.
“You may not know it yet, but deep down she also cares about you.”
Nala could tell he didn’t believe her. She didn’t need him to.
“What are you aiming at?” He sliced through the conversation. “No, the correct question should be – who are you?”
She laughed to hide the surprise reaction to his question. She overexerted her mortal body and disrupted the newly stapled wound. She leaned to the side to spit out a mouthful of blood.
“Oh god!” Amara dropped the cup of coffee on her way in. She ran out the hallway. “Nurse! Nurse! Somebody!”
The nurses come running into the room and shooed him out. They drew the white curtain around the bed.
Amara worried her lower lip in front of the door. A male doctor shoved her out of the way as he was rushing into the room. A strong pair of hands stopped her from falling.
Dark clouds were gathering outside.
Amara looked around and spotted her foster brother standing in front of the elevator. The tension in the atmosphere was instant. Amara predicted that Noctis would make a move in the next few seconds, so she whirled around immediately and planted her hands on his chest to stop him.
She met his eyes. “No, don’t!”
“He knows where the burial site is,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Not here. Not now.”
“When?”
“Trent would never tell you. You can beat him. You can torture him. He would never betray his father. If you get him pissed off enough, he’ll slay you!”
“He doesn’t have that kind of power.”
“He does!” She countered. “The only reason he hasn’t utilized it is because…” once he unleashes it he can’t control it. She shook her head. “Just don’t go head to head with him.”
He was still not yielding.
“Please!” she begged.
Unexpectedly, his body stilled.
Amara slowl
y removed her hands from his chest and turned around.
Trent was eyeing Noctis while he spoke to her. “Hello, Amara.”
“Raya will be fine.” Amara lightly stroked Trent’s elbow to comfort him.
She drew back when she heard a low warning growl from behind. A hand snaked around her waist and pulled her back.
“What about you?” Trent asked. “Are you fine?”
In other words, are you sure you don’t need my help? Amara nodded.
Trent didn’t question her further. With just a simple acknowledging nod, he turned to peer into Raya’s room. More nurses rushed into the room.
“We’re going,” Noctis declared.
Probably for the best, Amara thought. “Call me and let me know how she’s doing.”
They rematerialized into the dining hall. Lizzie bolted off from the chair. Her bowl of cereal flipped over, spilling milk onto the table.
“Oh, geez!” Lizzie yelled. “You guys scared the hell out of me!”
Noctis hauled her over to the dining table. “Sit,” he commanded aggressively.
Amara needed to sit anyway. She pulled out a chair and sank down. He changed the angle of the chair with startling ease. Hands on the chair’s armrest, he leaned toward her. “Don’t you ever put yourself between me and my target,” he grimly warned her. It came as a surprise to her that she was all too used to his harsh tone.
“What’s going on?” Lizzie asked as she changed to another seat.
He was looking at her as if she was the only person in the room. “Am I understood, mortal?”
“I can’t promise you that…” she replied quietly. “There will be situations in the future… when I will need to stop you…”
He grasped her chin. “I destroy all obstacles in my way. Do not be an obstacle.”
“Then let’s hope you are not going after something I value more than myself.”
He savagely growled at her.
I won’t back down, Noctis, her eyes told him.
Suddenly, he released her and turned the chair toward the table. “Have your breakfast,” he snarled.
“I want to go to bed.”
“Eat first,” he insisted. An order.
“I feel sleepy.”
It was so hard to miss the hard lines on his face. “Don’t make me use force, mortal. Neither of us will like it.”