Unseen (The Heights, Vol. 1)

by Lauren Stewart

  He would have her live by his side.

  He wiped away her tears with his thumbs, demanding that she stop crying because he couldn’t remedy the problem until he could understand what she was saying. “Can you speak now?”

  “Yes.” But instead of telling him what caused her grief, she told him about the task he’d set for her, putting him before herself. Could Rhyse do the same? Obviously he’d never tried nor even thought of it, but the list of things he respected and didn’t understand about her grew with each exchange.

  “No one took your place,” she said. “Some vamp named Graham spoke for you. He said you were hurt but would be better soon. Why would he say that if he tried to kill you? If he was there, wouldn’t he assume you’re dead and not tell everyone you were recovering?”

  Rhyse enjoyed a brief moment of satisfaction. It hadn’t been a mistake to trust his marshal. If Graham was at fault, he would have immediately taken control to stop the leader of another race from vying to be the Prime.

  Unfortunately, this also meant Rhyse was no closer to discovering who’d attempted to kill him or why. If no other vampire had come forward…“It was not a vampire. It was someone from another race.”

  “Which one?”

  “We will never know the answer to that question if we remain out here. Shall we go and see what we can find out? The contest will begin soon.”

  She sniffled and ducked her head back into his chest, but at least the tears didn’t return.

  “Tell me who did this to you. Now, Addison. Tell me who made you feel this way.”

  Her explanation came with a large amount of crying.

  “You made friends with an angel?” he asked once she could no longer speak clearly.

  “Kind of.”

  “And your friend is the seer champion?”

  She nodded.

  “It is not within my power to stop the contest.”

  “I know.”

  “But it may be within yours.”

  “What?”

  “I will explain on the way, but no more crying. It makes conversation almost impossible.”

  “Rhyse? After this I go home and you go back to your throne room,” she said, her steps slowing. Was that what this was about? She would miss him. It was an odd thing to be missed, not one he remembered or wanted or even cared about, but it made him content. It was hugely misplaced, of course—she wasn’t going anywhere without him again. Reason and logic were both moot now. She was his, and he would protect her from everything, including his own better judgment.

  “We will discuss that after we discuss the other matter.”

  “You mean the dat—”

  He covered her mouth. “Do not ever speak the name. No one must know, or I will not be able to keep you safe.”

  “How can you keep me safe?” she mumbled through his hand.

  “I did not become the Prime because of the way I dress, Addison.” When her steps slowed, Rhyse took her hand and pulled her along. She tugged against his grip as if she could actually get away. “Once you are identified as mine, no one will come near you. And thus, no one will bother you.”

  “I’m not yours.”

  He laughed. “You have been mine since the moment I opened my eyes and saw you.”

  “I hope that wasn’t supposed to be romantic. Because it wasn’t even close. You need to look someone in the eye when you say shit like that, not throw it over your shoulder while you’re dragging her back into a deathtrap.”

  He spun around, letting her bounce into him, then catching her and holding her still. “I am inexperienced with romance. It has never been necessary.”

  She looked panicked, but didn’t pull away. “Well, then—”

  “You are mine because I will never accept otherwise, and I will remind you of it until you realize its truth.” He kept his voice low, intimate, as he would speak to her in bed. “Because—although I have not touched you in the way I desire—to even imagine you with another is to shove another stake in my chest. But this time it would land true, or you would not be there to save me.”

  They pulled from the same inch of air. With only a tiny movement, he could take her mouth. But he wouldn’t take—he would force himself to wait until she did. And then he would give her everything.

  “I owe you my life, Addison, and I would give you my life in the only way I know how. By protecting you from anything that threatens you, anything that upsets you, anything you find unpleasant or dull or ugly. By giving you pleasure until you are so sated you beg me to stop. By making your life easier, better, more peaceful or exciting or, yes, even romantic. I will learn your needs just as I will learn your body.”

  He saw her gaze dance between his eyes and lips, felt her body shudder, sensed the increased speed of her heart and her breath. “You are mine, Addison. Whether you know it yet or not.”

  “Well, okay then…” She swallowed. “That was a lot better.”

  He enjoyed her for another moment before refocusing on the task ahead. It would not be without danger, especially if she were to wander outside of his reach. “It is very important that you act as my diversion, do you understand?” He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Which means anything I say or tell you to do is only to keep you safe.”

  “Yeah, sure. Don’t want to miss a chance to talk dirty, right? Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

  “When I talk dirty to you, I will tell you exactly what I want. While I am inside you. And you will beg for more.”

  Thirty-five

  Addison followed Rhyse into the darkness, so he could explain the plan to her. Because evidently, she had to do all the work.

  Since demons couldn’t escape a pentagram, the only way they could pass through was if someone else broke the line. So Rhyse’s clumsy toy—right, ‘diversion’—would ‘accidentally’ pour wine over the line and wash away the salt. When he angrily—and rudely, but she shouldn’t take it personally—ordered her to retrieve it, she would spill more at a different point. It didn’t matter how far apart the breaks were, the magic would be lost and the demon would sense it immediately.

  “The demon will be competing for his master, not himself,” he said. “Though all demons are ruthless and cheating loners, their master is the worst. Therefore, the demon he sends to the contest will not be the strongest. He will be the most violent and volatile, from one of the lower levels of hell. When the line is broken and freedom is in his grasp, he will be unable to resist.”

  “And then all we have is an escaped demon. How does that help?”

  “Because he will try to kill us.”

  She paused, searching for a reason why Rhyse would think having a demon try to kill them was a good thing. Nope, she couldn’t think of a single thing. ”Maybe we should think of a plan B.” And C.

  “Before the demon kills us, the champions and others will come to our aid. The contest becomes invalid as soon as three competitors step out of the pentagram.”

  “And if they don’t move fast enough?”

  “Do you have such little faith in me, Addison? I can defeat one measly demon.”

  She’d just make sure to be cowering behind him. “What happens to the competitors and the trophy?”

  “The champions are freed from obligation. I am not certain what happens to the magic. The contest has never been stopped before.”

  “Great.”

  “It is a way to save your…friends. However, if you choose not to accept my help, it means nothing to me.”

  Liar. He wouldn’t be doing this if it meant nothing to him. If she meant nothing to him. Oh powers, that was terrifying.

  Addison expected a bit of shock when Rhyse walked through the door, but this was just weird. Like a fire burning through a field of wet grass by its dry roots without ever igniting, Rhyse’s name spread in whispers until those in the pentagram heard it. Except it wasn’t actually his name—it was a whole bunch of different kiss-assy names Rhyse probably loved.

  Rhyse stood in the doorway a
nd waited for the crowd to part. Addison stayed back and to the side, as a proper little toy would. Parker’s mouth hung open until Addison caught her eye. She couldn’t read Micah’s expression. It wasn’t surprise or wonder or happiness, but it was all three jumbled together somehow. Then she saw Logan. He didn’t see her, though, because his head was still lowered, already defeated. The vamps all bowed their heads too, with Graham’s bow the deepest.

  Rhyse walked slowly, sparing a glance for no one. The only thing he said was, “Come along.” She assumed he meant her and while she wanted to tell him to go to hell, now was not the time or the place. How would she stop the contest if she was busy being filleted alive? So despite the fact that he was enjoying this a bit too much, she followed dutifully.

  As soon as he snapped his fingers and pointed to his side, she tasted blood. When she caught up, he laughed quietly. “So obedient now. I find it quite erotic and would like to see it again. But I am not walking a dog, Addison. You may stand at my side like the other seers are doing with their patrons.”

  Patrons. How was a disposal tech supposed to know proper toy etiquette? She took a few quick, nervous steps for every one of his long, confident ones, stopping in front of the pentagram when he did.

  “My lord,” Graham said. “I will meet the sun with regret in my heart. Regret for my failure when—”

  “Enough, Graham. There will be no sun in your near future. There will, however, be a great deal of discourse.”

  “Anything, sire.” Graham remained bent at the waist, looking at the floor. No wonder Rhyse wasn’t happy at Addison’s place—she hadn’t even groveled once.

  Rhyse didn’t enter the pentagram. Instead, he led her towards a small, raised podium with only one chair. Hopefully he didn’t expect her to sit on the ground, because she’d never, ever be able to get back up with this dress on.

  When they came to a female vampire, Rhyse stopped and leaned towards her. “Tempest, she is mine”—he motioned to Addison—“her body and her mind. Under no circumstances will you attempt to read her. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, my lord,” she said, glancing at Addison with more than a little suspicion. So Addison tried to look happily docile and non-threatening while concentrating even harder on keeping her shield intact.

  Rhyse went to the ‘I’m so important’ chair and pointed to the ‘I’m completely unimportant’ spot he wanted her to stand on, right next to the chair. “Move faster.” The look on his face could’ve been real or just part of the act, or both. When she got to her place, he turned to all the other beings and said, “I intend to enjoy every second of this.” And if Addison hadn’t known better, she would’ve thought he was talking about the contest.

  “This seer is mine,” he called out, sitting down. “You may look at her, admire her beauty, envy her position at my side. But if any of you touch her or in any way make her unable to perform her duties, no being on Earth, under it, or above it, could save you.”

  “Jes—”

  He grabbed her by the waist, yanked her in, and shut her up with his lips. She tried to be thankful because what she’d almost said would have been suicide. Unfortunately, that’s not why she was thankful. Even though she’d never made out in front of a crowd, Rhyse seemed quite comfortable with it because holy hell did he kiss her.

  This time, he wasn’t gentle or slow or patient. Lightning would’ve affected her less. She handed herself over to him, the kiss, her hormones, all the things she couldn’t control. There was no other choice—the world was forgotten, who she was seemed meaningless. All that was real were his lips, his tongue, his hands.

  The moment his fang scratched her, he pulled back. “Do not make me do that again,” he whispered. “I want to take my time with you, Addison. Additionally, if I were to draw blood next time, that would be unpleasant for both of us, no?”

  “Uh huh,” she said dazedly, almost understanding what he’d said. After blinking her way out of it, she realized where she was—straddling his lap with her dress shoved up to her thighs.

  “You and I will need time to enjoy each other properly.” He brushed his lips on hers softly, speaking quietly. “For that to occur, we must be careful now. If you were to say something that would get you killed, I would be greatly saddened. Do you understand what I am telling you?”

  She nodded, incredibly happy to hear conversation behind her back because it meant there was a chance everyone wasn’t staring at her. “Rhyse?”

  “Your grace,” he corrected.

  “Your grace, I can’t feel my legs.”

  “You flatter me.”

  “Take it how you want, but I can’t move them.”

  He stared at her mouth as he leaned towards her, making it even more difficult to remember where they were. “Do your arms work yet?” She nodded. “Then adjust your dress.” As soon as her hands were on her skirts, he stood, holding her by the waist. Her legs dangled uselessly until he swung her to the side and sat back down, setting her facing forward on his lap. Her legs might not have been able to move, but she could still feel, especially how hard his erection was pressing against her.

  He groaned. “It is a good thing you cannot move or everyone would be in for quite a pre-show.” Then he groaned again. “Addison, I thought you could not move.”

  She looked at him over her shoulder, knowing her desire must have been written all over her face and hating him for putting it there.

  “I would gladly have you now, pet. But we came here for another sport, did we not?”

  She swallowed. “Yeah.”

  “Once it is done, I would like to show you my home. It has twenty-six rooms.”

  That made her smile. “Are you seriously trying to impress me with your house right now?”

  “And I intend to take you in each of them.”

  Her breath caught, and it stayed caught until she coughed to get things started back up.

  “So, while your home is…what it is, there are only three rooms.” He shook his head. “Not nearly enough for what I have in mind.” Then he turned to the angel doing most of the speaking. “Carry on.”

  And he did, as if nothing had happened. All of them did, as if the Prime hadn’t risen from the almost-dead and brought a toy back with him.

  “Don’t let them start the contest until I can move,” she whispered.

  “There is quite a bit of pomp before anything actually begins.” A seer brought them a goblet of wine. Rhyse handed it to her to hold while he reset her on his lap. She smelled it to make sure it actually was wine and not the liquid Rhyse enjoyed more.

  A moment later he grumbled, tipping over the now-empty goblet she handed back to him. “You were not supposed to drink it. If you remember, we need it for something else.”

  “Get two next time.”

  He signaled the guy with the wine. She stopped herself from asking for one, not knowing if toys were allowed to drink with their patrons, but knowing full well that if she pounded back another glass, she would do something stupid. Like, either screwing up their plan or screwing Rhyse. Both hugely stupid.

  Thirty-six

  When the leaders left the pentagram, leaving only the champions inside, all sound stopped. Each warrior walked to a different point—seer, vampire, witch, mage, werewolf. The demon and the angel stood in the middle, back to back.

  Logan was at the point farthest to Addison’s right, Lamere two points over, the were between them. On Logan’s other side was the witch, and closest to Addison and Rhyse was the mage.

  While the angel and a were spoke about the terrible days before the Treaty was signed, Rhyse quietly explained that a number of the lower races, as well as the fae, weren’t required to participate.

  “Inside the pentagram, no one can use magic,” Rhyse whispered. “The mage and witch cannot use their power, the werewolf is forbidden to shift, angels and vampires cannot phase or fly, and the demon cannot spit or throw fire. Otherwise, the contest would be unfair.”

  Addison was prett
y damn sure it was unfair anyway. He hadn’t mentioned anything about supernaturally enhanced speed or strength. She avoided looking at Logan because she’d probably start crying again. But eventually it happened. He saw her, glanced at Rhyse, and then mouthed, ‘Are you okay?’ He was about to fight for his life, and he was more worried about her. If she didn’t already consider him her best friend, that would’ve made it happen.

  So she silently told him, only moving her lips. ‘I love you, Loge.’ When the idiot feigned embarrassment, Addison bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

  If Rhyse’s plan didn’t work, this would be the last time she’d see Logan alive, so she held his gaze and tried to convey confidence and care and anything else she could muster. When a bell rang, his attention immediately went back to the other beings, his competitors. He jerked, his hand going halfway to his head before he stopped it and looked wide-eyed at Micah. They stared at each other for a moment and then Logan nodded.

  If he and the angel had struck some kind of deal, they might take down a few of the competitors, but there was only one victor.

  Addison was Logan’s only chance. Don’t screw it up.

  A second bell rang and the entire pentagram lowered into the floor. No one seemed at all shocked. Just as Addison turned around to ask Rhyse what was happening, she felt their pedestal drop as well.

  The floor right in front of all the supers who weren’t involved in the contest folded, forming levels of tall stairs. As the ballroom morphed into an amphitheater, Addison was reminded of all the different reasons she didn’t want to be here.

  “I’ll have to get the name of your contractor,” she muttered. “I was thinking of getting something like this put in my apartment.”

  “Are you afraid of a little magic?” he asked, amused at her expense. Of course she was afraid of magic. Because seers so rarely benefitted from it. And in her case, ‘rarely’ meant ‘never.’

  She peered over the edge to see what the pedestal was lowering onto. A huge sandpit. “Did you know you have a sandpit under your house, Rhyse?” When they and the pentagram landed, small clouds of sand puffed out from underneath. She looked up and watched the floor finish molding itself into seats for the spectators. Damn, that was impressive. Although, she shouldn’t have been surprised. With enough money and magic, anything was possible.