Embrace The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy Book 3)

by Jenn D. Young

  Did Adrianna seem to forget that Lorelei knocked her on her ass the last time they met? My mate was a hundred times the woman that Adrianna was and just as powerful. Even more so than the last time they met. Her ‘little lightning bolts’ as Adrianna called them were going to do a hell of a lot more than tickle.

  They were going to bring her to her knees. Then they were going to pierce her heart and bring about her final end.

  And I couldn’t fucking wait.

  Lorelei took in Adrianna’s words and taunts, not showing any outward signs of reaction. Her face was a stoic mask, her posture straight, and those icy blue eyes glowed in the dim light of the club. My mate was waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

  “Little Lorelei, you really do think you’re going to kill me tonight.” Adrianna lifted the hem of her skirt and pulled a knife from a thigh sheath. She pointed the tip at Lorelei, then drawing an X in the air. “But I know something you don’t, little Nephilim. This war doesn’t end with me. There are bigger forces at play and they have been unleashed. You’ll never know what hit you.”

  What the fuck was this crazy bitch talking about?

  Fuck. My teeth ground together and my hands clenched so tightly into fists that blood welled up from where my nails penetrated my flesh. “You’re boring me Adrianna,” I taunted, lowering my voice and injecting a compulsion deep into my words. “Why don’t we skip to the end of the evil villain speech where you get stabbed through the heart and disintegrate into dust?”

  “You have no clue, Flane,” she spat out my name. Her blue eyes blazing with dark fury. “The dark god will teach you all. He will be your doom and our salvation. Bring about a new world order where demons rule this earth. You’ll—”

  Electricity gathered around Lorelei, sparks gathering from her fingers as her hair flew wildly around her face. A bolt of lightning gathered in her hand and she flung it at Adrianna, cutting off her words and sending her sprawling to the ground.

  “Do you ever shut the fuck up?” Lorelei pushed her hair out of her face and sauntered toward Adrianna’s prone form. “Or do you just like hearing yourself talk?”

  I moved, faster than even I thought possible, and stood by Lorelei’s side as she stared down at Adrianna. “You’re just trying to feed us a line and scare us. All this talk of the dark god returning is a bunch of bullshit. Kristoff told me himself that I was part of the sacrifice to wake him.”

  Adrianna swiped a trickle of blood from her lips with a thumb. She drew the digit into her mouth, withdrawing it with a pop. A dark smile spread across her face and she leaned back on her elbows. “The sacrifice didn’t have to end in your death.” With a jerk and movement faster than I could track, she rose to her feet and darted to the other end of the room.

  “The process has begun. Xandrios will be among us soon. You’ll get to meet your dear, lovely grandfather shortly, little princess Nephilim. And there’s nothing you or your bastard father can do about it.” She whirled around in a circle behind the bar, shattering bottles of alcohol and glasses with her outstretched hands. “You’ll beg him for mercy as you burn, but I will be by his side.” She lifted her chin with defiance. “As his queen.”

  “No. You won’t.” Kaniul appeared behind her and wrapped his arms around her to immobilize her. His skin glowed with a strange light, and it instantly sapped Adrianna’s powers and kept her still. “Layla now!” he shouted.

  Layla sprang into action and crossed the room in a flash. She laid her palms on her mother’s face, her bright eyes glowing with power. “You won’t be a queen to anyone. Never again will you torture or hurt anyone. No more!”

  Power gathered in the room. A glow emanated from Layla’s hands where she had them pressed against Adrianna’s skin. Fuck. She was siphoning off her powers. Making her weak and vulnerable.

  Somehow Kaniul was holding her still, so Layla could extract all the powers that Adrianna had stolen from countless immortals over the years. The power that flowed into Layla was exponential. Intense. Layla groaned under the weight of it all, her small body burdened with the force of the unfamiliar powers.

  “Layla, no!” Lorelei shouted. She sprang across the room and laid her hand over top of Layla’s. Her body jerked as their skin made contact. A pulse sounded throughout the room, sucking all the air out of the large space and pulling it toward Lorelei.

  Layla and Lorelei were thrown back, jerked away from Adrianna by an unseen force. Nicolae was close enough to stop Layla from slamming into the wall. My body moved before my mind fully comprehended what was happening. My feet crossed the room and I threw myself before Lorelei. My arms wrapped around her and stopped her momentum just before she would have collided with the raised stage platform.

  My body went sprawling back, unable to stop the movement fully. My back and neck connected with the edge of the stage, the audible sound of my vertebrae fracturing hit me a second before the pain did. Fuck. Spinal injuries were the worst. Of course, the angle of the impact was perfect and my neck hit the corner of the stage with enough force that I severed my spinal cord.

  Great, now I couldn’t feel my legs. Or my arms.

  Double fuck.

  Lorelei gasped, crying out for me as I fell to the ground. Splinters of glass were scattered about the floor around me, cutting my flesh. Blood seeped from the shallow cuts but I couldn’t feel a thing. Wouldn’t feel anything for several minutes until my body healed itself.

  “Vincent,” she cried. Her hands roamed over my body, searching for injuries. Her eyes were frantic, the battle and Adrianna forgotten as she tended to me.

  “Stop, Theera,” I rasped, wishing that I could lift my arms and cup her cheek in my palm. “You have to finish this. I’m fine. Just a little broken neck and back.” I tried to joke and lighten the mood, but she didn’t find an ounce of humor in it.

  “Why did you do that?” she growled at me.

  “Lorelei stop wasting time. You need to go shove a lightning bolt deep into Adrianna’s heart while she is still vulnerable.” It was our only chance to take her down. Adrianna would never be this weakened again. Layla had drawn every ounce of power out of her body, and almost killed herself in the process. If Lorelei hadn’t stepped in and absorbed the excess energy…

  I don’t know what would have happened.

  “Fucking go,” I urged her again when she didn’t move. Her blue eyes never wavered from mine, all her love and strength pouring into me through our bond. She bent down and pressed a kiss to my lips.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too; now go kill the bitch.”

  Lorelei smiled as she drew back and rose gracefully to her feet, fierce determination etched in her beautiful face. “Let’s finish this.”

  31

  Lorelei

  I didn’t want to leave Vincent, despite him urging me to take care of Adrianna and finish this. No. I wanted to crawl into his arms and help him heal. I wanted to run away from all the fighting. But I couldn’t run. I had to finish this. Everything we had worked for led to this night. There would be no better opportunity to defeat her.

  I felt her energy inside of me. Crawling inside of my bones and making me feel her evil invading my bloodstream. It was like a sludge, oozing its way out of my pores. I needed to purge it, get her out of my system.

  “Push the negative energy from your body using your Astrapi,” my father’s voice echoed through my mind, giving me the final clue I needed. A smile tilted my lips. I could kill Adrianna and eliminate her evil from my system at the same time.

  Nicolae held Layla close in his arms, whispering softly to her. Comforting his mate as she lay dazed from the energy transfer. Nicolae’s body had returned to his normal human state. The Nightmare vanished in order to take care of Layla.

  I had taken all the energy within my own body, knowing that my system could handle it whereas Layla’s could not. I was the immediate descendant of two Archangels. The daughter of Akakaios. My blood was the closest thing to pure
that one could encounter on Earth.

  Adrianna lay in a stupor, moaning and writhing in agony. Her incoherent cries of pain and misery did little to sway my decision to kill her. She was a foul and evil woman. She deserved to be tortured just as she had done to thousands of people over the centuries. A quick death was too good for her.

  Kaniul stood above her, guarding her. Making sure that she didn’t get up or make a move. “You knew this was going to happen?” I asked him with an arched brow.

  He shrugged and a smile spread across his handsome face. “It was as it was meant to be.”

  A typical prophet answer. One that was vague, kind of answered the question, but didn’t leave you fully satisfied.

  “She has to die,” I said with a finality ringing in my voice. “I just wish I could torture her. Make her cry out in pain and make her experience just a fraction of the agony she inflicted upon others over all of her centuries of living.”

  Kaniul laid a hand on my shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. “Justice is being served tonight. You’re maintaining the peace and will bring back hope to many who had thought it lost. Finish it, Lorelei.”

  I drew in a sharp breath and nodded. My eyes fell closed. I blocked out the sounds of the world around me and focused on my inner strength to draw my Astrapi close to me. It crackled to life, causing my lips to tilt up in a wide grin.

  This was my legacy. My power and destiny.

  The lightning gathered around me, arcing across my skin and making my hair stand on end. I felt whole as the small bolts danced around my fingers. I exhaled, lifting my hand to focus my breathing and energy as my father had taught me. This bolt needed to be powerful enough to pierce her heart.

  All thoughts melted away as the bolt formed in my hand and I let it go.

  Screams of agony pierced my eardrums, then faded and fell silent as Adrianna’s body disintegrated into dust.

  32

  Lorelei

  Days flew by in a flurry of activity. Adrianna was dead. Natasha and Yuri were captured by Leo, Naomi, and Nathan. They were currently awaiting questioning by Vincent, secured in the deepest parts of the council dungeons. Personally, I hoped they would rot for all eternity for their crimes. Maybe some torture thrown on top.

  Shadow was another enigma that the council was going to try and crack. Vincent desperately wanted to get him to come to our side. I sensed once again that there was some sort of connection between my mate and the man being held with a specially designed collar around his throat.

  Vincent recovered within minutes of my bolt piercing Adrianna’s heart. He gathered me into his arms and whispered soft reassurances into my ear. We were finally safe. There was no way The Syndicate could ever return after the death and capture of all their top people.

  Yet, something about Adrianna’s final speech fluttered at the edge of my mind. Her statements that Xandrios had been awakened… what did she mean by that? There was no way. She was just lying to try and throw us off our game.

  Layla had understandably been withdrawn since that night. The power exchange had been difficult for her. She experienced the moments where she stole the powers of countless immortals all over again. It was agony for her. Nicolae was doing his best to comfort her, try to get her to open up, but it was going to be a slow process.

  Vincent and I helped Ivan and Angelo with restoring Vamps. The entire club had been pretty much destroyed, the only thing left intact had been the primary structure. Ivan took the whole thing in stride, taking it as his opportunity to remodel the place.

  Angelo just laughed. “We’ve been open for less than a year. We didn’t need to remodel. Could have just build it exactly the way it was before,” he grumbled. We all knew he would cave. Angelo loved his husband and mate with a ferocity that was rarely seen among vampire couples.

  “Look at it this way too, Angelo,” I said as I finished connecting the final wires to the new soundboard that I was installing. “I was able to talk Vincent and Nic into doing a special performance for your grand re-opening.”

  I couldn’t wait for tomorrow. To be back on stage with Vincent as we made beautiful music together. That night that seemed like it was an eternity ago still played in my mind. Our first night together. Entwined in passion. Our music blending our souls together.

  “Our souls were blended together before that night, Theera. But I can’t wait for you to join me on stage again. Now get that beautiful ass home.” Vincent sent a shiver of need racing down my spine. Our mental connection lingered, his phantom hand cupping the back of my neck possessively.

  Fuck, that was hot. My body tingled as waves of arousal swept through me.

  “I know that look.” Angelo rolled his eyes and waved his clipboard at me. All the club’s renovations were close to being completed. It was surprising the speed in which things could be done when you had the money and authority behind your name like Vincent and Damius did. “Get out of here, little fox. Go to your mate. You’re finished with that any way. See you tomorrow.” He chuckled.

  I bounced to my feet and crossed the room at a sprint to give him a quick hug and kiss. “Night. See you tomorrow.”

  “Are you ready for me, Theera?” Vincent murmured huskily in my mind, making the familiar tingle run down my spine and moisture gather between my legs.

  “I’m always ready for you, Vincent,” I murmured in response.

  “Mmm. That’s what I love to hear.” His warm breath fanned across my neck as he appeared behind me. Strong arms slid around my waist and pulled me against his solid chest. “Is everything ready for tomorrow?”

  His words, said in his low and rough voice close to my ear, caused another wave of desire to wash through my body. I was on fire from a simple sound and a few words. Since the night of Adrianna’s death, I hadn’t been able to get enough of Vincent. Practically tackling him every chance that I got.

  Raw lust short circuited my brain as I ignored his question. My hands reached up and tangled in his hair. I pressed myself back against him, rubbing the curve of my ass into his hardening cock. “Vincent,” I breathed. Words failed me. Just being in his presence made my body light up and all rational thoughts leave my mind. I wanted him. Needed him with a yearning that made me ache deep inside.

  Sharp fangs grazed along the smooth skin of my throat, a low rumble of approval sounding in the back of his throat. “I don’t know what’s made you so insatiable, but I approve.”

  I didn’t care that we were still in the back room of Vamps, where anyone could walk in on us. I needed him inside of me right now. My hands untangled from his hair and I whirled around in his arms to face him. “Now.” Only one word, but my meaning was clear as I tugged at the button of his slacks and shoved his pants down his hips, just enough to free his cock.

  Vincent chuckled, the red in his eyes swallowing the black as his lust intensified. “So impatient.” With hands on my hips, he turned me and backed me against the door. Quick fingers flipped the lock, securing us inside. His rough hands roamed down my skirt and I threw my head back against the solid surface of the door. Today I was grateful that I had the thought to wear a skirt rather than pants.

  “I approve of that decision as well,” he rumbled against my lips as he pushed the fabric up to bunch at my waist. “Now I’m going to fuck you hard against this wall. Everyone out there is going to hear you scream my name and know that I’m in here, fucking your perfect little body.” Strong hands ripped the fragile silk panties from my body, and I moaned.

  “They will all know that it is my cock that makes you cry out in pleasure.” He jerked one leg and pulled it up to wrap around his hip. My other leg parted, and he took my weight and pressed me tighter against the wall. I was completely and totally open to him. I felt the head of his cock as his hips shifted. I wanted it inside of me. Wanted him to fill me and take me with rough and fast thrusts.

  “Yes.” It was the only word that I could form. My fingers curled into claws and dug into his shoulders.

  “My nam
e will be the one that you shout. The only name that you will shriek in pleasure for all eternity.” With his large palm wrapped around my hip, he shifted and slid his cock inside me with one fierce thrust.

  “Fuck,” I exclaimed and slammed the back of my head against the wood of the door.

  “That’s it, baby. Scream for me.” His voice went low and vibrated with demonic energy. The color of his skin wavered, his demon so close to the surface as he savagely thrust into my body.

  “Vincent,” I mewed. The metallic tang of blood invaded my nostrils. Our hands gripping each other so hard that our nails had drawn blood. It sent both of us into a frenzy. Vincent’s thrusts grew harder, shorter, and more forceful. My back scraped against the wall, my skin burning with each movement.

  “Need you.” My fangs fully extended, I screamed out as my climax approached. I needed his blood, his essence to fully sate me.

  “You have me, Theera.” Vincent arched his neck and fisted his fingers through my hair. He directed my lips to his pulse, and I didn’t hesitate before my teeth sank deeply into his sweat soaked skin.

  “Fuck,” he hissed.

  My release exploded over me, spots dancing across my vision as my body fractured into a million pieces. Wave after wave washed over me, pulling me under into a sea of infinite pleasure. My throat constricted as I swallowed mouthfuls of his blood, but I couldn’t contain my voice. I pulled my fangs from Vincent’s neck and screamed out his name, repeating it over and over as he continued to drive his cock harder inside of my body.

  “Mine, Theera, always mine,” he rasped, then groans as his body stiffened and I felt him release hot and deep inside of my body. His muscles shuddered as I danced my fingertips over his back before tunneling them through his hair. I rested my forehead against his as our breaths mingled together. Explosive. It was always so explosive.