Trap

by Mary E. Twomey

  I knew very well that marching headfirst into the lion’s den meant I might not come out alive. In fact, if I was being honest with myself, I was gambling on the rules of a world I didn’t always understand. No one else had a plan, though, and I knew I couldn’t live in fear anymore.

  Fear didn’t suit me; it never had.

  Von swore when he came out of the shower in pajama pants, his eyes getting a good glimpse of me in all my virginal glory. In reality, other than the fact that the nightgown had spaghetti straps, it wasn’t all that racy. It was a tribute to how modestly I usually dressed that Von gave me the glad eye over what was basically a white lacy mid-thigh sundress. But you know, call it a nightgown, and things get PG-13 real quick. Von rubbed his hand over his bare stomach. “You look... You look like you wouldn’t be wearing that little scrap for long if it was just the two of us in this mansion. Pack it for the honeymoon?”

  “Sure.”

  He pulled a cinnamon stick from the case on the nightstand and chewed on it, so I knew he was itching for more blood. My cheek had been disinfected and cleaned up from Mariang’s assault, but the skin was still broken in two striped diagonal lines down my left cheek. Von took in a ragged breath. “You look amazing and smell delicious. It’s quite the effect you have going there.”

  I frowned. “Oh, you want me to sleep downstairs?”

  “Not dressed like that. I want you in my bed post-haste.”

  I quirked my eyebrow at the man I adored. “Post-haste, eh? You’ve got to stop using those sexy words around me. But seriously, I don’t want you to lose it. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  “No, no. I’m fine. Glutted myself on blood earlier.” His smile was forced, and I could tell he was tipping on the edge of self-loathing. He’d wanted so very much to not have to drink blood at all anymore. “How’s that for sexy talk?”

  “The very sexiest. Mason already asleep in one of the other rooms?”

  “No, he’s downstairs talking to Ezra. He’ll be up soon, probably in one of the guest bedrooms down the hall.” Von made his way to me and kissed my lips, making me swoon for him in ways that made me sure I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t live in fear of Philip. He had to go down. I wouldn’t be able to have a life with Von if Philip was still trying to get at me. And I had a kind of far out there idea for how to wake Allie, but was afraid Philip would only try and torment her if I did. No, Philip had to die if Allie and I were to live.

  Von and I wasted no more time with words. After a few kisses that kept building into our usual hurricane of passion, we were tumbling around on the floor of the bedroom as we shed our clothes in our minds in the imagined park that was precious to us both. The gold and blue swirled and sparkled around us, knocking purple and green leaves off the trees as nature danced to cheer us on. “When we get married, I’ll take you away from here,” Von promised, though we both knew it was wishful thinking.

  “Where? Where will you take me?”

  “Anywhere and everywhere,” he murmured between breathless kisses. “I love you.”

  I slowed our kiss so I could have a quiet moment with him on the colorful grass. “You know I’d do anything for you, right? I’d give anything to keep you safe.”

  “I know, baby. Me too.” Von tasted my lips with a low moan that made my whole body fall in love with him.

  “I don’t like that Philip got to you, taking your hair and controlling you like that. I don’t like that he found a way to tear us apart.”

  Von stopped the kiss, our magical world fading around us and bringing us back to the light beige carpet of our bedroom in the mansion. “His name is Sama, not Philip. Philip is fake. Sama is very much real. Call him by his proper name.”

  It was rare Von bossed me. Instead of responding verbally, I tilted my head to the side, my legs still wrapped around him.

  Von deflated in my arms. “Sorry. That was harsher than I meant it to come out, yeah? I just don’t want you to confuse him with the monster he truly is.”

  “Trust me, I know he’s a monster.”

  Mason knocked on the door, giving us a courtesy heads-up so we could untangle ourselves before he opened it. “I’m sorry, guys. Ezra’s requested I stay in here with you both tonight. Eventful day, plus she’s got an open cut still.” He held onto the doorjamb in his brown plaid pajama pants and white undershirt, almost as if he was nervous to let himself inside.

  “That’s more than fine. We were just about to turn in.” I smiled up at Mason, though I knew Von was cringing that our time alone was being infiltrated.

  “Come on, mate. All wolves are welcome in here.” Von pulled back the covers and flopped onto his side of the king-sized bed.

  I crawled into the middle, not realizing until Mason slid in on my other side that he hadn’t planned on turning into a wolf that night. I was nervous, and very aware that I was engaged and sleeping in a bed with two men the same day I’d kissed another. I was pretty sure Mrs. Brady never had these problems. I was aware of every movement, and immediately wished I was wearing sweatpants and a frumpy shirt.

  Von took the lead, feeling my nerves. “Night, darling.” He kissed my lips just once, and then rolled me on my side so he could spoon me. He palmed my stomach, his thumb moving up and down over my navel in a slow tease that made it hard for me to relax. “Did you want a snog as well, Mase old boy? My lips are puckered and ready for you.”

  “Pass.” Being spooned by Von put me face to face with Mason, who brought the covers up over all three of us. He reached out and held my hand, bringing my other arm to loop under his neck so I couldn’t scratch myself in my sleep without hugging him awake. Then he snuck his knee between mine, so I could use his leg like a body pillow. “Goodnight, hani.” Then Mason nuzzled his nose to mine and pecked my lips three times before closing his eyes, content now that we were together.

  They loved me, which made it impossible for me to escape.

  Sixteen.

  Drunk Guys are Funny Like That

  The house was still in the night until around two in the morning, when I heard a mumble of voices coming up from the main floor. I tried to extract myself from Von’s lax grip without waking him, but clumsily managed to rouse both of them in the process. “Where are you off to, love?” Von’s eyes were still closed, his lips puffy. He was pretty much the cutest vampire I’d ever seen.

  “Can’t sleep. I’m going to go get a snack. Be back in a few.”

  My whisper woke Mason, who sat up. “I’ll go with you.”

  I placed my hand on Mason’s chest, gently pushing him back down onto the mattress. For good measure, I stroked the hair that peppered his toned belly, smiling when he made precious noises of utter contentment. “No, no. Go back to sleep. You want me to bring you anything?”

  Mason was only half awake, so he didn’t catch my dubious glare when he mumbled, “Always offer to bring me food dressed only in a nightgown. Fantasy come to life.”

  I paused a moment to kiss Von’s lips, and then Mason’s, stealing just a moment where we were together, and life gave us a few breaths that weren’t so harrowing. Von was already asleep again, so I climbed over Mason, whose hand grazed the back of my naked thigh, giving me goosebumps as I righted myself. I quietly opened the dresser drawer and pulled on my jeans, and then zipped up one of Von’s hoodies over my nightgown, shoving a pair of socks in the pocket.

  Mason was sitting up now, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “Where are you really going?”

  “To the kitchen. I heard Ezra moving around down there, and don’t want to walk around in my nightgown in front of my dad.”

  Mason paused, craning his neck to confirm with his keen hearing that Ezra was in fact downstairs. “Okay. You’ll be safe. It’s only Ezra and Carter.”

  “Like I said. Lie back down, sweetie.” I waited until Mason complied, and then tugged the comforter up over his chest, kissing his forehead. When his eyes finally shut, I made my way down the stairs, hoping for a brilliant diversion to come to me so I
could get on with my master plan.

  Ezra and Carter both ceased their conversation and stood from their stools at the counter when I came into the kitchen. Only the light over the sink was on, and I could tell they had been trying to drown their sorrows in the bottle of rum that was sitting between their crystal tumblers. “Good evening, October Grace. What are you doing up at this hour? Trouble sleeping?”

  “Yeah. I would ask what you two are up to, but I’m guessing nothing good, judging by your breath. What’s bothering you?”

  Ezra sank back down onto his stool. “Only the things you already know. Danny’s simply gone. He’s resurrected a portion of my daughter’s spirit, and he’s taken it with him. Sama’s set on getting into your head. Sakuna’s on the brink of a major hierarchy change yet again. I’m actually surprised it’s taken me this long to open a bottle.”

  I gawked at the half empty bottle, and then narrowed my eyes at Carter. “You let him drink that much? You know he doesn’t have the stomach for it. Dad!” I put the cap on the bottle and glared at Carter’s glazed, impish grin. I pulled a slice of bread from the box on the counter and slapped some peanut butter on it. “Take this to bed. We’ll talk about Mariang and what to do about it all in the morning. You’re not going to solve anything at this hour, young man.” I was worried about Ezra, but it came out as pissed. “Go on to bed. I was hoping to have a word with Carter anyway.”

  “I’m sorry!” Ezra moaned, his mouth sticky with peanut butter. “I let her down, and now I’m letting you down. I’m utterly worthless!”

  My shoulders drooped, and I knew Ezra wasn’t with it enough to make rational decisions. “It’s alright, Dad. But it’s time to go to bed now.”

  “‘Young man’,” he echoed as he stood from the stool, leaning heavily on the granite counter. “I haven’t been young in so long.”

  Despite the time-sensitive nature of my master plan, I wrapped my arms around Ezra’s waist and buried my face in his chest. “It’s okay. We’ll find Danny and reason with him. What he brought back? It’s not the Mariang he loved. He’ll realize it soon enough, if he hasn’t already.” I glared at Carter. “Help me get him to bed.”

  “Me? You seem to be mothering him well enough on your own.” Even though he argued with me, Carter stood and took Ezra’s arm around his shoulder. He wore a black tunic and the same kind of I’m-ready-for-anything military black pants that Finn and Mason wore.

  “Yeah? Well, you break it, you bought it.” We carefully maneuvered Ezra to his room, laying him on his grand bed that had so clearly been designed for two, but only held his lonely form. I smoothed his blond hair back from his brow and kissed his forehead, tucking him in with his heavy teal and brown comforter that had gold trim on the edges. There wasn’t much I didn’t love about Ezra. He’d taken me in when I’d had no one, and claimed me when neither of my parents would or could. I loved him, and because of that, I knew I couldn’t let Sama cause him another night of restless sleep. I scribbled a note on a pad of paper on his nightstand and folded it, tucking it into his breast pocket for him to find when he was sober. I swallowed thickly and placed my engagement ring in his pocket, and then fastened the button so it didn’t slide out. The note explained things well enough, so hopefully Von didn’t think I was leaving him. I couldn’t very well go off with Philip for a week wearing Von’s engagement ring.

  I leaned over Ezra’s body and kissed his prickly cheek, knowing that of all the people I loved, Ezra was near the top of the list. “Goodnight, Dad.”

  Ezra mumbled a farewell, but he was already snoring when I tiptoed out with Carter.

  Carter chuckled next to me as we made our way back to the kitchen. “I haven’t had a drink with Ezra in ages. Probably not since my coronation.”

  I whirled on Carter, my finger in his face. Even though he was much bigger and taller than me, my anger was nothing to be trifled with. “Next time the two of you go thinking you’re pirates and can drink as much rum as you want, remember that you’re old men, and cut yourselves off after two drinks.”

  “I’m not an old man!” Carter frowned at me, affronted. “I’m twenty-nine years old.”

  “Oh, so not sixteen? Then you should know better, old man. Get my dad drunk again, and you’ll see a side of me you don’t want to.”

  Carter had the nerve to let his eyes travel down to my backside appreciatively. “I can’t imagine there’s a side of you I wouldn’t want to see all rolled up in my sheets.”

  I popped his chest bone with the flat of my hand to move him back a step. “You’re drunk. Stop being a flipped-up jackwagon. You know I’m engaged, and you know I used to date your brother.”

  His gaze drifted where it most certainly wasn’t welcome. “Oh, Mason always does the noble thing. I’ll bet that even with all the sleeping together you three do, he’s still never seen your softer sides.”

  I glowered up at him. “Stop talking to my breasts. Keep this up, and I’ll knock you clean out and leave you right here for Lynna to step over in the morning when she starts up breakfast. I don’t think anyone’d have trouble believing you got your face kicked in just because someone didn’t like the look of it.”

  “You’ve got quite the mouth on you.” He reached for the bottle of rum, but I grabbed it from his hand. “I was needing that. Terraway spirits don’t have the same sweet flavor. Topsider drinks are far more enjoyable than ours.”

  I sized up his rosy cheeks, his easy smile and the slate eyes that kept losing focus. “You’re the perfect amount of drunk for what I need right now.” I gripped the neck of the bottle tight in my fist. “How about we take the rest of this to Terraway? Finish it up just the two of us.”

  Carter eyed me curiously, leaning away with his hands on the back of his hips. “You’re trying to get me liquored up.”

  “I’m trying to get you to take me to Dagat.” I decided this was the best opportunity I was going to get. “I need to talk to Finn, but I can’t get there without someone to port me down.”

  “What about Mason? I’m thinking your keeper wouldn’t want you running off with me.” He leaned in and stage-whispered, “I’m the bad one. He’s the responsible son.” Carter stank like he’d bathed in rum.

  “Take me to Dagat, and I’ll hand over the rest of the bottle. Just a quick trip. Oh, thank you!” I pretended like Carter had already agreed to it and scampered off to the living room, snatching up my backpack and slinging it over my shoulder. I slid on my socks and tennis shoes, ready to go.

  “Wait, why are we doing this?” Carter’s eyebrows pushed together as he frowned, following me into the living room.

  I whirled on him, my hand on my hip as I huffed dramatically. “We already discussed this. Ezra asked you to take me down to Dagat. He needs me to deliver this backpack to Finn. Kinda time-sensitive, so if you don’t mind...”

  Carter scratched his head in true caveman fashion. “Ezra didn’t... I don’t remember that.”

  I forced out a light chuckle, looking up at him with affection. “Dude, how drunk are you right now? Better trust the memory retrieval to me.” I chucked his shoulder like he’d never hit on me, like we were old friends, and like I pretty much knew he’d do whatever I asked of him.

  Drunk guys are funny like that.

  He harrumphed as he tried once again to sort out the events of the evening, but put up no further protest. “Okay, little Omen. Hold tight to your big, strong king. I haven’t ported drunk in years. Might not be the most graceful landing you’ve ever been dealt.”

  “Make it quick, then.” I moved into Carter’s body space and clung tight to him, holding my breath until his arm wrapped around my back to keep me in place.

  He was counting down from five, which made me more than a little nervous. None of the others who’d ported me needed to psych themselves up before the plunge.

  I closed my eyes and knew as Carter reached “one” that there was no turning back.

  Seventeen.

  From Fierce and Glorious to Sla
ve

  When I opened my eyes again, I made an instant vow never to ask a guy I didn’t really know who’d had too much to drink to port me anywhere. We landed in a pile of limbs in the dead of night. After a solid “oof!” Carter passed out on top of me, his mouth lolling open in a loud snore.

  It took more than a little effort, but I eventually managed to slide out from under him, dusting myself off. My brain quickly snapped to filter out a list of priorities, starting with job one: locating some baga root so I could breathe.

  Broken-off memories of Finn bringing me here when I was on the brink of death with my back skin peeling off flooded me. My chin turned to the right and left, trying to locate something familiar so I dug for life in the right spot.

  The marsh stood out in my memory, so I bolted to it, dropping to my knees when I found a three-pronged stick jutting out from the squishy grass. A blue vine hung in my face, tapping the top of my head over and over while I moved as quickly as I could. I nearly cried out with relief when I unearthed the gnarly root, choking it down in plenty of time (or with two seconds to spare. You never know with Terraway). I searched around in the moonlight for another root, just in case, and shoved it in my backpack.

  Carter was a king, so I knew he’d be okay at the porting spot until he woke. I didn’t remember much of the journey to the Dagat palace. The last time I was here, Finn had run with me in his arms the entire way, and I’d been barely alive. For the time being, there seemed to be only one clear path forward, so I started down it at a light jog, keeping my head down in hopes that only the stars would take notice of me.

  About two renditions of All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons from Evil Dead the Musical passed in my head before I heard a faint chittering that made my pace pick up to a run. In my periphery, I saw the same three-tailed monkeys swinging from branches that I’d noticed my first trip to Dagat. They hadn’t bothered us then, but it seemed that now I was here without Finn, I was persona non-grata. They began to throw nuts from the trees at me, some of them hitting my arms and my head as I made quick work of the journey.