by Brenda Trim
“We went to Marshall’s house and found Cele there, too. Suvi and her sisters fought with the High Priestess and stopped her from escaping with Marshall and Claire,” Caine replied, keeping his response short and sweet.
“Cele was in the middle of writing Dark runes in blood around her daughter when we got there,” Pema added. “And, Marshall was completely under her thrall. He stood there like a zombie until she gave him an order. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“What was she doing?” Elsie asked, joining the conversation.
Pema sat back and folded her arms across her chest. “I believe she was attempting to preserve Claire’s body. She mentioned having been given great power and was convinced she could bring Claire back.”
“Did she admit her culpability?” Zander asked, getting right to the point.
“Not exactly. She said that I was going to die and it would force my mate and her sisters into relinquishing their power in exchange for bringing me back to life.”
“How the hell does she plan on doing that? Last time I checked, it was impossible to raise the dead,” Zander demanded, glancing at Suvi and her sisters. “Is this all part of the dark magic she has sold her soul to? Och, the thought is ludicrous.”
“You have no idea. She has plans to raise Claire and she is little more than rotting flesh,” Isis added. “Can you imagine her walking around with bugs and missing flesh?”
“I don’t care about Cele or Claire. We can discuss all that later. What I want right now is for you to exonerate Caine,” Suvi snapped, anxious to have her mate safe.
“Suvi,” Pema reprimanded.
“No, Pema. Don’t Suvi me. I need to know he is safe. I can hardly breathe,” she panted as her heart raced in her chest.
“Suvi,” Zander captured her attention. “I willna pass judgment one way or another just yet, but I will tell you that the death sentence that was to be executed tomorrow has been stayed until my investigation is complete. I have to question Marshall and that canna happen in his current condition.”
Caine wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her chair close to him. She wanted to crawl into his lap and burrow into his chest. She calmed at the contact, not realizing how much she needed him. She was beyond ready for this nightmare to end.
“How long will it take for him to come around?” Suvi asked.
“I have no idea. The problem is that we doona know who she is working with and what power she used,” Zander answered as he ran his hands through his shoulder-length black hair. Of course, Suvi cursed their luck. It seemed they made one step forward but took two back every step of the way. Rather than feeling closer to the finish line, they were back at the start.
Caine took off the leather jacket he had been wearing and laid it across the back of the chair. He jumped when a lone maggot fell off his bare arm. Suvi’s laugh escaped her as a giggle and she smiled at his scowl. “I need a shower. Those damn things are everywhere.” He shook his head and addressed his king. “Cele didn’t say who she was working with, but vaguely referred to a forbidden power and its master.”
Elsie looked up at Zander and they shared a private look. “She willna succeed in either of her goals. We need to know who she is working with. There is a new archdemon and he is far more lethal and cunning than those that came before him. ‘Tis possible he has a hand in this. Although, what he hoped to gain from it is a mystery.” Zander got up and crossed to an intercom.
“Kyran. Has the vampire been given blood?”
“Aye, he has.”
“Has he come around yet?”
“Nay, he hasna said a word yet.”
“Bring him to me,” Zander ordered and released the button before turning back to the room.
“You said there was a block in his mind. What kind of a block? We may be able to help with that,” Suvi interjected. They may not have attended Cele’s academy and received the formal education about witchcraft, but there was no power greater than the power of three.
“I canna say for certain what it was and I’m no’ certain that it can be dismantled with a spell. You’re the experts in this area. Do you think you can break it withoot causing brain damage?” Zander asked, leaning against the wall.
Pema and Isis tilted their heads and met her gaze, more than likely thinking the same thing Suvi was. It was a huge risk. White or light magic’s purpose when encountering dark magic was to obliterate it. That didn’t bode well for keeping the mind intact. “I can’t safely say that we wouldn’t cause permanent damage. I won’t risk Suvi’s mate for expediency, especially, when we have been granted a stay of execution. The stakes are too high,” Pema answered, glancing at her and Suvi felt the tears brim in her eyes.
She loved her sisters, and they had a connection almost as strong as the one she was developing with Caine. They understood if Caine didn’t live, neither would she. You can’t live without your other half. “We are going to have to trust that you will be able to get the information you need from him.”
Isis leaned forward in her chair restlessly. “And, you won’t be doing anything without a promise that if you fuck up, Caine lives.” Suvi heard the determination in her sister’s voice.
Zander smiled at the three of them. “You three are a formidable bunch. I wouldna dream of failing.” Kyran walked in at that moment guiding Marshall. Behind them, a human female followed closely. Suvi briefly wondered who the beautiful female was. She had an arm full of tattoos and short, spiky black hair and was wearing a t-shirt that said ‘I Love My Bloodsucker.’ Suvi raised an eyebrow and shared a look with her sisters. Her unspoken question was answered a minute later when she went to stand next to Kyran, who smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her waist. This must be the Prince’s Fated Mate.
The room had fallen silent at their entry and Zander pulled out a chair at the table in front of him. “Put him in this chair, brathair,” Zander ordered. The vampire allowed himself to be guided freely, giving no fight in the matter. He didn’t even look around the room. She prayed to the Goddess that Zander was able to get the answers they needed.
Zander stopped behind the male. “Marshall, ‘tis your king. Can you hear me?”
The male turned his head stiffly and met the king’s Sapphire blue eyes. There was no recognition in them, but something snapped to attention. “Am I at Zeum?” the vampire asked in a monotonous tone.
Kyran and Zander shared a look before Zander responded. “Aye, lad. You are. Can you tell me what Cele has instructed you to do?”
Marshall’s head remained tilted at an odd angle that seemed like it would be uncomfortable, and his voice held no inflection. “I must get the Triskele Amulet,” he muttered.
“What the fuck?” Kyran snapped, pivoting to block the doorway. Suvi saw that Kyran’s mate pulled a knife from the back of her pants and was standing at the ready next to him. Marshall ignored the outburst and kept repeating that he must find the amulet. At one point, he tried to stand up and walk away, but the king and his brother held him in his seat.
“Let’s go in together, brathair,” Zander instructed Kyran. Both males closed their eyes while they held the vampire to his chair. For several long, excruciating minutes Marshall kept up his monologue while they scanned his mind.
Suvi cried out when Marshall began convulsing violently. She reached out for her sisters’ hands, trying to think of a spell they could cast while Caine and Ronan jumped up to help hold the vampire. Zander and Kyran never once opened their eyes and their concentration didn’t waver. After several excruciating minutes, the king and his brother opened their eyes. At the same moment, Marshall slumped in his chair. His head fell to the side and a trickle of blood leaked out of one ear and slowly made its way down his neck.
Suvi’s hands flew to her mouth. “Is he dead? No. No, no, no…he can’t be! He has to admit what he did and clear Caine!” she screamed out her denial.
“He is dead, lass. Doona worry though, we were able to retrieve the information we needed,” Za
nder replied, quickly releasing the dead vampire’s shoulder. “‘Tis unfortunate that this male was used and killed by such evil. Cele targeted him because she needed a vampire and he was easily controlled. He was under her compulsion from the beginning. I saw her order him to kill the human and set up your mate, Suvi. I also witnessed the scene you described earlier. Caine, you are officially cleared of all charges. There will be no execution. However, you all face far more danger than you can fathom. Cele is working with the archdemon, Kadir, as well as another dark being. She mentioned another partner, but didn’t give a name.”
Suvi was overwhelmed with relief and little of what Zander said after that registered. Nothing else mattered once she heard that Caine was going to live. For the first time since she had met her mate, she fully relaxed. They weren’t out of danger yet, but that didn’t stop the unadulterated joy that exploded through her as she realized they were going to be mated. But, first things first. Their birthday party, and for her, a new pair of shoes, the higher the better.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Where do you want this?” Suvi turned at the sound of a familiar voice. The blonde witch had her hands full with a platter of finger sandwiches.
“Courtney, thank the Goddess you’re here. Give me a minute and I’ll get the food table in place,” Suvi replied. She’d been running around like crazy and was glad to see it all coming together. She glanced at the sky and saw that the sun hadn’t quite set. She had never been more anxious for nighttime to arrive. She hadn’t given the bright orb a second thought until she met her vampire mate who could die by that light.
“No problem. Do you need help with that?”
“Nah, I’ve got it,” she replied, pointing her wand at a stack of folding tables next to the deck. “A bhogadh.” The moment the spell left her lips, two of the tables lifted into the air and sailed overhead to her side. She waved her hand and they landed at her feet.
“That is so cool, Aunt Suvi. I love watching you do magic. Dad was right. All magic isn’t evil,” Donovan muttered as he walked over and stood next to her.
The young male had been playing with one of the sprites nearby and came closer when she cast the spell. They had been careful not to perform magic around him since his ordeal. Everyone had been concerned that seeing it would cause him trauma. She masked the rage that always surfaced when she thought about the horrendous torture he had been through at the hands of Cele.
She turned to him and ruffled his brown curls. “In our world, magic is life and light and it’s a very good thing. Now, run and grab me those silver tablecloths from the kitchen.”
“Okay,” he called out as he took off running.
She looked over and noticed that Isis had been watching them. Her sister gave her a smile and continued decorating. Suvi unfolded the tables and set them up while she contemplated how much the addition of a stripling had changed the way they celebrated. Before, their parties revolved around general debauchery, and she had no doubt that there would be plenty of that tonight, but that would occur behind closed doors. There was a different focus for her and her sisters now.
“You can put the food down here,” she instructed Courtney.
“He’s an adorable stripling and clearly loves his Auntie,” Courtney observed after she had placed her burden down.
“Yes he is and don’t tell Pema, but I’m his favorite. It was all those hours playing XBox with him,” she laughed.
“That’ll do it. I’ll be back with the rest.” Courtney turned and headed back to her van for the rest of the food and Suvi continued with her task.
She was setting up chairs when Donovan came running. “Here you go,” he said handing her the silver fabric. “Can you inflate these now? I want to show them to Fen. She’s never seen one,” he explained, bouncing up and down with excitement, thrusting a bag of balloons into her hand. Donovan’s intrusion caused several chairs to crash to the cement and fall into the pool.
“Oops,” he laughed. His laugh was carefree and infectious and Suvi was helpless but to laugh with him.
Still laughing, Suvi looked over at the sprite who was wearing pale-pink marshmallow flowers strung together to make an exquisite dress that offset her fiery-orange butterfly wings for the party. Fen had been one of the first sprites to join their garden. When she had crashed into their lavender bush, she had immediately lit a fire in Suvi’s heart. The poor female had been attacked by an Unseelie creature she had called a soul-sucker. Suvi and her sisters had offered her sanctuary and she’d been there ever since. She and Donovan had gone through similar experiences and it wasn’t surprising that they had become fast friends.
Fen used to live in reed marshes and lonely fenland and had re-created that in a hidden corner of their property that she’d claimed as her own. Fen could only be seen when the first leaves fell from the trees unless she decided to reveal herself. It was a testament to her affection for them that she was showing herself this night when the confirmed guest list had topped one hundred a few hours ago.
“I will blow them up after you help me put these tablecloths on the tables so that Courtney can do her thing with the food,” Suvi offered.
“Awesome, c’mon.” He grabbed Suvi’s hand and dragged her back to the tables.
“Take this end,” she told Donovan as she handed him two corners of the silver fabric and they quickly covered both tables.
“Okay, now blow them up. C’mon Fen, come closer,” Donovan called out to his tiny friend. The excitement danced in his blue eyes as she opened the bag and pulled out a red latex balloon. The sprite landed on his shoulder and watched her with equal enthusiasm.
“Seid,” she chanted and the red balloon inflated and floated next to her head. Donovan was jumping up and down and snatched the balloon, waving it at the sprite. “Careful or you’ll pop it. If that happens so close to Fen it’d be really loud for her sensitive ears. Suvi inflated several more balloons and muttered an impervious spell so they could play with them freely. Laughing at their antics, she continued to fill each and every balloon until she was completely surrounded by the colorful decorations.
All of the balloons were inflated within minutes and were seemingly everywhere. This wasn’t going to work. They’d never had so many at previous parties so she had to stand back and scope the area. An idea came to her and she cast a barrier five feet above the tree-line and sent the balloons to hover just beneath it. Satisfied, she turned back to find Caine standing behind her.
“Oh, when did you get out here?”
“A few minutes ago. You are stunning when you do magic. And, I can see that you thrive on celebrations,” he replied, pulling her into his arms.
He lowered his head to hers and kissed her tenderly. She melted against his body and wrapped her arms around his neck. Just as things were about to get interesting, a throat clearing nearby broke them apart. She looked over her shoulder at Isis.
“Caine can help finish setting up the tables, but you need to get ready now or you will miss the party. People will be arriving in less than an hour. Besides, I have to show you what Braeden gave me,” Isis said, pulling her along behind her.
Caine shrugged his shoulders, smiling at her retreating form. “See you soon, love.”
She blew him kisses before she disappeared through their back door. Once inside the house, Isis let go of her hand and they walked side by side. “What did he get that has you so eager to show me?” Suvi asked, caught up in her sister’s giddiness. Love really did make people act differently. Isis wasn’t normally so happy-go-lucky and it made Suvi’s heart sing. She still wouldn’t want to piss Isis off, her temper was still below the surface…the surface just looked different.
“He made me this,” Isis said, doing her best Vanna White imitation, show-casing what was hanging on the wall above her bed. Suvi gasped as she quickly entered the room and crossed to the metal sculpture. It was two, large, silver, intertwining hearts. They weren’t perfect hearts by any means, but more abstract in nature and beautif
ul because of it.
“That is gorgeous. I love it. Your mate is extremely talented. I should ask him to make a mushroom sculpture for the sprites in the backyard, one big enough for Donovan to play on too.”
“He is the best,” Isis preened. “You can talk to him about it later. Go get ready.” She pushed her in the direction of her room and turned back down the stairs.
“You aren’t actually wearing those shoes tonight are you?” she called over her shoulder. They were three-inch, red heels that had no sparkle or design. Shoes, in Suvi’s opinion, should be at least six inches high and include at least two different fabrics or leathers, straps and bling.
“Sure am,” Isis retorted before closing her bedroom door.
Suvi shook her head and entered her bedroom, crossing to her closet, glad that she had planned her outfit ahead of time. She couldn’t show up downstairs without the perfect shoes. The plastic bin sat on her top shelf, waiting to be opened. She picked it up and lifted the lid. What was it about a new pair of shoes? Her sisters thought her crazy, but for Suvi they were exhilarating.
The right shoes could make you look like a million bucks while the wrong ones could have the Fashion Police showcasing you on TRex, the social media network for the Tehrex Realm. She shuddered at the thought and hoped that Isis didn’t end up on the cover next week.
She held one eight-inch stiletto to the light. The snake skin and black patent leather straps had drawn her to the shoes, but it was the hot-pink platform at the ball of the foot that really set them apart. She grabbed her black mini dress and went back into her room. She quickly stripped down and slipped on the sexy, little number. It was simple in the front with spaghetti straps and a deep V at the bust. The crisscrossing straps that made up the back of the dress showed off her pale skin.