With a wide smile, I nodded. "Sounds like a plan," I replied.
"Meow!" Pix added, wanting to be a part of the decision making.
"Hmm. I feel like he'll be the favorite son-in-law," Father mumbled. I blushed and Pix blinked and moved to hide under the pillow, causing Dad to chuckle.
"Dad," I grumbled. "We're taking it slow."
"Sure, sure. That makes 3 mates, correct?"
"Uh, yes?" I wasn't going to add Alexander anytime soon. Not until I got a chance to see him again.
Father placed his hand on my shoulder. "Give yourself and Alexander a break. I'm sure he knows what you want, and you know a bit about his circumstances. Let's see what stance he takes. If it takes too long, you move on."
"Okay...I mean, it's not like there’s a limit on lovers," I noted.
"Oh," Father replied. "You can only have four lovers."
I blinked. "Why?"
"Because four is a good number."
"Isn't three a good number?"
"It is," he replied.
"Then?"
"Seeing as you already have three, I'm making an exception for Alexander. If he loses it, there won't be a fourth spot for anyone else to take."
"So overprotective," I mumbled. "You realize I'm a succubus, remember?"
"Yes."
"But you want me to have a limit on lovers?" I asked.
"Unless they woo me away and claim to not let my daughter fall into crazy 'near death' circumstances."
I giggled. "Good luck with that. Trouble just seems to find me while I'm living my life," I added.
"Tell trouble to go away. You're taken." Father huffed, his face returning to its annoyed, funny-looking one.
"I feel like holiday dinners are going to be super fun to attend now." I beamed.
"I feel like you’re making fun of me," he mumbled, but grinned.
"Meow!" Pix came out from his hiding place and hopped on the table that had our now-cold cups of tea.
"Guess I'll get us more tea." Father stood up, and I watched him pick up the two teacups. I stared at him as he turned around, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of him leaving.
As if sensing my worry, he looked over my shoulder with a confident smile. "I promise I'll be back, Sia. Permanently this time," he vowed.
For the first time in what seems like forever, I’m hopeful he won't leave my life anytime soon.
3
Wine And Relaxation
"Holy shit," I muttered under my breath, my eyes roaming the huge property that was owned by Dad. And named after me.
The resort island's location was only accessible by magic and was the reason why we'd arrived here with a few incantations and Latin words.
From the clear blue waters, the peaceful sand that looked untouched, and the amazing two-story cabin that looked as though a celebrity lived in it, everything glowed beautifully under the sunlight that shone down on us.
The weather was perfect, from the warm temperature to the cool breeze that would pass by every so often to keep you in a wonderful state of calm.
Dad explained that this was one of the seven private and secret locations that were guarded by magic barriers around the entire property. It was essentially disaster-proof and could withstand tsunamis, tornadoes, and hurricanes, and couldn't be flooded or burned to a crisp.
Dad explained that the magic was implanted into the ground before the entire place was built, reviving the property and giving it life.
To understand magic, you had to have an open mind regarding the concepts of power and its limitations, ones that were far out of reach versus the common psychics of the human body's capabilities.
A hand slipped into my left one, giving me a light squeeze as if to pull me out of what must have been a dream. This place was far too perfect to be real.
It took me a few seconds to tug my eyes away from the masterpiece before me, only to smile in awe at the next masterpiece I was looking up at: Pixel Knight.
It must have been the way the sun shone down on us—or that was what I told myself—because Pixel looked beyond handsome with his long, silver hair and twinkling blue eyes.
He wore a simple white shirt, turquoise shorts, and grey sandals, making it appear as though we aimed to dress similarly with my white tank top, blue shorts, and white sandals.
The smile that formed on his lips made me envision the hymns of angels singing while his hair floated to one side thanks to the passing wind.
How is my cat so hot? Well, he's a cat shifter wizard, but damn. Not to mention his hair. Shampoo commercial-worthy.
"Why do I feel like you're imagining me in some shampoo commercial?" Pix noted. I grinned mischievously and he sighed.
"At least tell me I have clothes on in your vision."
"You do. For now." I winked and gave his hand a squeeze before we began moving toward the entrance of the luxurious cabin.
Brian and Liam would be joining us tomorrow since Brian was still sick and Liam was currently his snuggling victim. Dad was planning to do some errands with Roxanne and Alaric. Now that we knew Dad had magic in his genes, the plans to have Eve conduct an exam on me were changed.
I'd yet to meet her, but I wasn't too concerned since the others said she was super nice and wouldn't need to spend too much time with me.
She'd still come by, but from the way Dad tried to explain it, she'd come to do a checkup after our training sessions.
For now, our focus for the next few days was to relax and enjoy our time to recover.
I think after my near-death experiences with the change to my triggering moment, everyone was kind of worked up and this was the perfect chance to let loose.
The thought of Alexander still lingered in the back of my mind, but I decided to follow my Dad's advice and give us both a break.
Maybe that's what we both needed.
It didn't take us long to settle into the cabin, and I was now in a bright turquoise bikini with white piping, reminding me of that brand Triangle Wear.
Pix was wearing blue swimming trunks with white car silhouettes all over them. I was admiring his amazing back muscles as he poured us both a glass of rosé wine.
Sure, it was only one in the afternoon, but you never could go wrong with some wine before a dip in the clear ocean waters. I was glad he had his hair up in a ponytail, allowing me to admire his half-naked body while I could.
Pix turned around with two glasses of wine in his hand, but my eyes were more focused on his lovely six-pack that would make any succubi question whether to enjoy his lustful body now or savor him for later.
"You look beyond smitten with me," Pix noted. I smirked, lifting my gaze to meet his blue eyes. "I'm merely appreciating the view. It's not every day I get to see my new boyfriend in swimming trunks," I teased.
He gave me a playful smirk, passing my glass of wine to me. With a vocal thanks, I accepted it, taking a long sip of the alcoholic beverage while Pix sat down and took a tiny sip of his.
"Do you get drunk easily?" I asked.
"Not really. I need a few glasses of wine to get me tipsy," Pix replied.
"Boo." I pouted my lips, knowing I'd lose in a drinking contest with him. I was curious how he acted when he was tipsy. Or really drunk.
"You want to see me drunk?" he asked.
"Kind of. I'm sure it would be intriguing." I smiled. "I'm happy we get today to ourselves. It’s like our own little date."
Pix nodded with a smile, looking extra peaceful today. He always had this calm sense to him, but since we’d arrived at the island, he looked as though he was really letting go of any tension he was holding onto.
"I agree. We all really needed it. I feel war is brewing and we don't have very long before the enemy makes their next move."
I absentmindedly swirled my wine glass, the light pink liquid swaying around. I was taking in Pix's words, wondering what would be our enemies next move.
"So far, they've tried to use me for bait to get to Liam and Brian. Do you th
ink they'll try again?" I asked, not out of fear, but curiosity.
Both incidents I had gotten attacked, first in Brian's office and second during my drive to my meeting, where I was crashed into and left for dead.
Pix was quiet, his eyes looking far away as he sipped more of his wine. "I'm not sure." He paused and placed his glass down to stare into my eyes.
"I don't think anyone knows you're a hybrid yet. Even if they do find out, they'll assume you're a wolf succubus."
"Wouldn't that alarm people?" I asked. "Well, the shifter race I mean."
"Hmm. Yes and no. I'm sure people will find out that you're dating Liam and Brian. It isn't something looked down upon between shifters, so people would assume Brian would have changed you. Your vampire side is pretty tamed and your skills like swiftness can be interchangeable with your wolf speed. The chances of people finding out you're a triple hybrid are slim."
"From your eyes, I still feel like it'll get messy," I noted.
"Your dad," Pix commented.
"What about him?" I asked.
"This may be overstepping, but I can see why he couldn't take you away from your mom." He picked up his glass again, taking a generous sip. I took that moment to have some more of mine, feeling like I'd need it for this conversation.
I didn't like talking about my past, especially in such a short period of time, but I figured this was a conversation that needed to be discussed sooner or later.
"What makes you think that?" I calmly asked as I lowered my nearly empty glass onto the black marble island.
"Your Dad is a vampire, correct?"
"Yes."
"A pretty strong one and is the leader of his coven, right?"
"Mhm."
"You noticed the ring on his finger? The magic one," he inquired.
"The one he offered to give you, in favor of dumping me," I replied, unable to hide my amusement. Pix returned my smirk with his own smile. "You know I wouldn't choose a ring over you."
"My gut told me you wouldn't, but I was still a bit nervous," I admitted.
"That ring specially enhances our alliance with the Magic Council."
"Magic Council?" I repeated. Why haven't I heard about a magic council before?
Pix nodded, resting his arms on the island as he took a deep breath. "The Magic Council is kind of like the old-school version of saying the human government. Powerful magic users are chosen to be a part of the council OR are in alliance with it," Pix explained.
"What does being in alliance with it mean? And why don't you have one?" I questioned. If Dad was offering the ring as bait, it had to be something super valuable.
"I refused to have one," Pix shrugged. "But having an alliance with them essentially means if shit goes down, the Magic Council will offer their full support in aiding you with whatever. Even if it involves a war with shifters. They'll give permission and the forces to give you the upper hand."
"Why did you refuse?" I asked. "Aren't you like, super strong? I'm sure this Magic Council would beg to have you."
"They do; every month they offer me a ring. I just haven't seen the need for it yet. Think of it as not only a boost in magic for the individual who accepts it but extra immunity to those they want to protect. For your Dad, he must have made the alliance to protect you, just in case he would have to take you away from your mother. The Magic Council is very protective of children who have magic potential, so it must have been a backup."
"But why didn't he use it then? And there has to be a catch. It's like a shiny toy in video games, but you have to pledge your allegiance or it's useless," I acknowledged.
Pix chuckled. "There is a catch, but it’s different for everyone. In your father's case, I'm assuming that if he used his option to protect you, he'd have to return the favor. Your dad is strong and at a high rank in power. Just like any government, whether magic-related or human, when they need an advantage in a situation that benefits them, they'll pull all potential strings to get what they want."
"My dad doesn't want to be a pawn in the council's plans." I nodded in understanding.
"Yes, because it could risk his Coven's safety as well. The Magic Council hasn't proved to be bad, from my years of witnessing the changes of leaders, but I wouldn't pledge my allegiance to them. It makes me feel like I'm losing my sense of freedom, but for mages, our rings are different."
"If you chose a ring, what would it do?" I asked.
"Our rings are..." He trailed off, needing a moment to gather his thoughts. I reached for my drink, finishing the rest, and not so secretly reaching for his glass.
I noticed his grin and the amusement in his blue eyes, but he let me take his glass. I began sipping the remainder while he continued.
"Rings from the Magic Council for power wizards and witches need to be a dual combination."
"Dual combination?"
"Many magic users at my level are either immortal, a familiar, or one with a Master or Mistress. Our magic is far too powerful to be contained in a ring and those pieces of jewelry are designed to give us a bigger boost in energy. The dual combination means the individual who accepts the ring needs a Master, Mistress, or simply a partner who will be wearing the other ring. It will help so the magic in the ring is split between the two of them and won't overpower the main magic user."
"Basically, if you were offered a ring and accepted it, you'd need a Mistress again. Or Master," I replied.
He nodded. "Yes. Essentially tying myself down to an individual. The ring has many benefits, and though the Council knows I'm not one who can be controlled solely by them, accepting their ring will leave me no choice but to choose another Master or Mistress."
"You're not ready?"
"I'm extremely picky," he countered, his eyes locking onto mine with seriousness. "I'm a powerful ally and most of the time, I remain neutral because I can tip the odds in whatever war is brewing under our noses. For example, if my Master was Brian, it would give the wolf shifters a huge advantage. If it were Liam, that would give the vampires an advantage, and if I chose a succubus, the same. Humans wouldn't be able to handle my level of magic, and another witch or wizard wouldn't be compatible with me."
"What about me?" I asked. His smirk went to a wide grin as his eyes darkened. "If we partnered up, Sia, the Council would be at a huge advantage."
"Why?" I asked. "Wouldn't everyone be because I'm a triple hybrid?"
"Yes, you are correct, but the ring will enhance your magic as well. You aren't a normal individual who has to teach themselves magically. It's in your genes. Us joining forces in a sense would unlock all your magic capabilities, and seeing as your father is pretty strong on the magic scale, I can imagine you would surpass him."
"Making me the ultimate weapon against any enemy," I noted. "Plus, my amazing cat shifter boyfriend who'd snipe anyone with thunder for pissing me off."
"That is true." He winked and got up, grabbing our glasses to fill them up with the remaining half of the bottle of wine.
"Would you want to?" I whispered. It could have been the alcohol beginning to settle in, but I was left wondering if he'd consider it.
He was quiet as the sound of the wine filling the glass echoed around us. It could still be a sore spot.
"It's not like you need to answer. I'm sure it's a tough decision. I was just curious." I ruffled my short black locks. Pix lowered the empty bottle of wine and picked up our glasses, walking back to the island but moving around it until he was behind me.
He placed the glass of wine next to my hand and I shivered at his hot breath that tickled my neck before he whispered.
"Maybe." He pressed his lips gently against my neck, igniting a wave of pleasure that ran up my body. He pulled back and gave me a sweet smile.
"Let's go enjoy some wine on the beach."
I knew that was his way of saying the conversation would be continued some other time, but I didn't mind. This was supposed to be a vacation, not us worrying about war and power struggles.
I'
m sure this magical ring was like an engagement of some sort between two beings who'd need to rely on each other. Even if I'd known Pix for some time, our relationship was still new, and I didn't want him thinking I was power hungry in any way, because I wasn't.
It logically made sense, and yet a tiny part of me was worried. Not because of his uncertainty, but wondering if Pix did choose someone, would he still be able to date me?
Pix offered his hand and I took it, using my free hand to scoop up my glass of wine. He met my gaze and we stared at each other for a long moment.
"I have something to tell you, but can it wait till later tonight?" he whispered.
"Sure," I replied, trying not to get lost in his sky-blue orbs that shone with power and admiration. It was as if he was seeing through me, and I wondered if he knew what I was thinking.
That a part of me is scared of losing him.
He smiled and squeezed my hand, lifting it up to press his lips against the back of it. "Let's go enjoy some sun and cool water," Pix encouraged.
I nodded in agreement, pushing my worries to the back of my mind.
Live in the moment, Sia. That's all you can do right now.
4
Pleasurable Desperation
A weapon. One that no one will be able to defeat.
That's what I want from you! People will bow down to your feet and no one will be able to look down on our race.
A shifter who will always rise from the ashes, one stronger than a mere phoenix. You will be my prodigy.
I will NOT accept failure.
You will always be one if you can't survive what is coming for you.
I flinched awake, my eyes darting open as I sat up. It took me a few blinks to clear my vision, with the smell of the ocean and the coolness of the atmosphere making me realize I was still outside.
Glancing around, I stared at the sunset that was almost gone from the sky, the dark navy blue to black shades of the night engulfing the last bits of golden orange and reds.
SEDUCE MY LOVE Page 4