by Chloe Adler
“It doesn’t matter, you need to get out of here. It’s not safe structurally.”
“First. I’m not leaving you. Second. I’m not leaving my father.”
“Your father is gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean ‘gone’?”
“He went back to the Scrim’s world with him.”
I sank down on my heels and the tears I’d never allowed myself to cry for my father came tumbling out. I didn’t have time for this. I pushed myself up and leaned over my boyfriend. My tears spilled onto his ropes, sizzling.
“Sadie, your tears, they’re melting the ropes.”
He was right—the ropes themselves were disintegrating under my grief. I broke them when they were thin enough. Ryder sat up and put his arm around me as I helped him stand up.
“I’m going to look for my father with or without you,” I stated.
“The hell you are.” Ryder picked me up and slung me over his massive shoulder, caveman style.
I beat on his back with my fists as he ran with me toward the tunnel and through the passageway that led out of the cave.
“Ryder, stop, I need—“ My words were lost in the dust and rocks.
In less than a minute, we were outside but Ryder kept running with me firmly planted on his back.
The explosion that followed less than a minute later knocked us to the ground. Ryder threw himself on top of me just as a massive ball of fire jettisoned out of the doorway and through the top of the mountain. Then the entire mountain collapsed inward.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ryder’s houseboat felt different with his family there. We all sat outside on the floating dock under the stars. I had agreed to this meeting but was far from happy. We all occupied chairs set in a circle, facing one another. Ryder had tried to cozy up to me but I didn’t know who he was. Not really. And I’d pushed him away.
“Thank you for rescuing him.” Katharine held my eye.
“I don’t know why I did,” I mumbled. “He was obviously involved with that thing.”
“When he kidnapped us,” Octavia said, “he took all of us.”
Ryder nodded. “He branded me with the tattoo. His symbol. It’s how he controls people. I didn’t have a choice, I was forced.”
“Convenient,” I said, looking over at Katharine, who shook her head at me while chewing on her plump bottom lip.
“Let him finish,” Octavia added sternly.
“Fine. Finish.” I crossed my arms over my chest, holding onto my elbows with my hands.
“When he let me go, I refused to leave them.” He gestured to his family. “He told me if I didn’t do what he said, he’d kill them, slowly. And then he proceeded to tell me how. First, he would skin them alive but only parts of their flesh, starting with the extremities. After the flaying, he said he’d pour hot wax on the skinned parts.” He looked away, his eyes filling with tears. “That was just the beginning. You can imagine the rest.”
My heart rate increased, my breathing rapid as my hands grew damp with the fear and pain he’d had to endure. “I didn’t know.” It was all I could think to say.
“So when he told me to spy on you, to bring you to him—“
“What?” I stood up.
“Please.” Katharine’s voice sounded small. “Let him finish.”
“I didn’t know you then, Sadie. I felt like a cornered animal with no choices. Saving my family was my first priority. But . . .”
“Please sit down.” Octavia stood up and put her hand on my arm. “Hear him out and then if you want to leave, you can.”
Plopping down heavily onto the edge of the chair, I kept my arms crossed protectively over my chest.
Ryder looked at me, waiting for eye contact, and then continued. “After I met you, well, after I started falling for you, I tried to fight him. That’s why he took me, when we were in the cave together.”
“You led me right to him.”
“That wasn’t my intention. It was your idea to go there and I wanted to save both of our families. That was my motivation, not delivering you up to him. I kept thinking that if you got your powers back, maybe we could defeat him, all of us, together.”
“Well that didn’t happen.”
“We saved our families, that’s what matters the most.”
“Not my father.” I looked away, out over the water. The moonlight danced and sparkled off the surface. How could something so beautiful and calm exist in a world full of so much suffering?
“I’m so sorry about your father,” Ryder said.
“We all are, dear,” added Katharine.
When I looked back, all eyes were on me. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from yelling at them.
“Taylor was a good man but he made the decision to sacrifice himself for the greater good,” Katharine said.
“To save our world. To save you,” Octavia answered.
“I don’t accept that.”
“It doesn’t matter whether you accept it or not.” Katharine’s tone was kinder, softer. “He lived with the Scrim for twelve years in his realm; he knew what needed to be done to send him back there.”
“Brae,” I said softly, trying the word on.
“Brae?” Katharine repeated.
Nodding, I reached into my purse and pulled out the metal symbol from the top of the Scrim’s staff. There was a collective intake of breath. “It’s the name of his world. Where he took my father.”
“Where did you get that?” Katharine asked, standing up and wiping her hands on her jeans.
“It broke off when he took my dad.” I held it out to her. “I don’t want it. Unless it can get my father back.”
Katharine took it from me. “I’ll keep it safe. Maybe we can find a way, figure something out, but I’m not the one to do it. Opening portals is a different kind of magic and I don’t think anyone here in the Edge knows how.”
“I miss my father.” I rubbed my arms. “I only just got him back.”
Katharine moved next to me. “He sacrificed himself for our world. There is nothing braver.” I let her physically comfort me. “Parents sacrifice themselves for their children without thinking twice. But your father was even more special. He understood the importance of preserving”—she gestured around the dock—“everything.”
I let the tears roll down my face. Not bothering to hide or wipe them away.
Ryder stood up and walked over to me, hesitantly, looking at his mom and then at me. “Do you want me to leave?” His voice was deep, choked with emotion. Soggy. Quiet.
“No.” I shook my head furiously and threw myself into his waiting arms. He held me tightly, pushing his entire body against me, enveloping me in warmth and safety. Acceptance too?
Standing outside of Aurelia’s house, Ryder and I held onto each other tightly.
“Ouch,” he cried out.
“Sorry, I forgot.” I released my tight grasp on his back and spun my finger in a circle, motioning with my finger for him to turn around. I peeked under the back of his shirt to examine the gauze firmly secured over the area where the Scrim’s tattoo had been. “No blood,” I reported, placing a small kiss next to the area.
“Thanks for going with me to get it removed.”
“And as soon as it’s healed?”
“We’ll get matching ones,” he laughed and kissed the top of my head. “It means the world to me that you understand why I did what I did.”
“I know. You can make it up to me later tonight.”
“I thought I was making it up to you now by agreeing to come here.” He gestured toward the door. Neither of us had bothered to knock or ring the bell. It was obvious that I didn’t want to face her.
“Ready?” he asked me.
“Never,” I said and rang the bell, listening to the rattle of the complex gong.
“Sadie?” Iphi cracked the door and peered out at us. “And Ryder, welcome.”
“That human is not allowed in my home,” Aurelia’s angry voice rang out
.
“Fine, Mama, then I’m not coming in either. You’ll have to come out instead,” I called to her.
“You really want to upset me, girl?” Aurelia called back.
“I have my full powers, there’s nothing you can do to me now.”
Iphi’s eyes widened and one hand flew up to cover her mouth. The swish of Aurelia’s skirts moving toward the doorway was louder than our breathing. She pulled it halfway open, hands on her hips, her two differently colored eyes narrowed. First she looked Ryder up and down, then she opened the door fully, sweeping her arm inside. A grand gesture. I entered first, Ryder and Iphi following me into the living room. It was a room I didn’t remember spending any time in, growing up. Chrys always referred to it as “the grown-up room” and now, we were the grown-ups.
Aurelia motioned to the big brown leather couch that had belonged to my grandfather. “You two. There.”
Chrys emerged from the kitchen, holding a tray adorned with teacups, and proceeded to offer them around. My sisters and mother took seats in the matching brown leather chairs as Chrys placed the tray on the glass coffee table.
“Why are you here?” Aurelia’s voice cut through any formality.
“I wanted everyone to know what happened to our father.”
“Know what?” Aurelia’s tone was as sharp as the Scrim’s teeth.
“That he sacrificed himself for us. For all of us. From the beginning.”
There was doubt in her eyes, a flicker, and then it was gone. “Your father left because he couldn’t stand to look at you, Sadie. That’s why.”
“That’s not what he told me.”
“He lied. He’s a liar.”
I shifted in my seat on the couch, feeling the cool leather bite the backs of my thighs. Ryder moved a hand to console me but I held mine up to him. “I’ve got this,” I said and he moved his hand away. I stood up. This would be more effective if I was standing. “You’re the liar, Mom, and always have been. Maybe if he’d known you cheated on him he would have left on his own, but that’s not what happened.”
“What?” Iphi’s voice came out strangled. “You cheated on Dad?”
Aurelia said nothing, which was almost scarier than if she had yelled.
“Sadie has a different father,” said Chrys, and Aurelia spun her head around to glare at her. “It’s already out, Mom.” Chrys shrugged.
“And everyone knows but me?” Iphi shook her head as her curls covered her face, which was turning pinker by the second.
“I didn’t know, Iphi, I only just found out,” I said, trying to console her.
“Sit down, Sadie,” commanded Aurelia.
I did so but only out of respect for Iphi.
“The man who is Sadie’s father,” she began, looking at each of us in turn, “was an old love of mine, someone I’ve never been able to let go of. I don’t expect any of you to understand. There’s a lot about me that you don’t know.”
I nodded at her, letting my face soften, and leaned back into the couch.
“He came back into my life when you were three.” She looked at Chrys. “It was a weak moment. Your father was out of town. This man, Sadie’s father—I let myself believe he was going to make good on all of his broken promises.” She looked away. Was that moisture in her eyes? Couldn’t be. “We slept together once and after he got what he wanted, he disappeared without a word.” She looked at me. “He doesn’t even know he has a daughter.”
I actually felt sorry for Aurelia. I’d never allowed myself to think about her past and what she must have endured over the last 186 years. That was a long time to be on this earth. “I’m sorry, Mom,” I said and I meant it.
“I don’t want your pity,” she snapped. “I made my choices. Some of them I made for you girls and others I made for myself.”
“Is that why you’ve always treated Sadie differently?” Iphi’s voice sounded like that of a child.
“I could never stand to look at her. She has his flaming red hair. His nose. His eyes. His infuriating demeanor.”
“He was a sesso witch,” I said, looking at Iphi.
“Ohh.” Iphi let the word die out slowly between her lips.
It didn’t seem like anything more could be said on this subject so I told them all as quickly as I could about Taylor and his sacrifices for us. When I finished, they were all silent, including Aurelia. No one would meet my eye.
“I’m no longer ashamed of who I am,” I said, standing up. “I spent my entire life apologizing for my sexual appetite when that was always my true nature.” I motioned for Ryder to rise and he did.
“Ryder is my chosen mate, and he accepts me for who I am, as do my friends and lovers, Burgundy and Jared.”
Chrys made an annoyed sound at the base of her throat and Aurelia shook her head.
“I don’t need any of you to understand. I don’t even need any of you to accept me. Unless . . .”
“Unless?” Iphi leaned forward in her chair.
“Unless you want to be a part of my life. If you do,” I looked from Iphi to Chrys to Aurelia, making sure each of them looked at me, “you won’t judge me. You won’t belittle me. You won’t try and make me feel bad for who I am.”
I turned toward the door and paused. Ryder put his hand in mine and together we strolled out, my head held high.
My inner circle lay in a cuddle puddle with me on the floor of our living room. Jared spread out the Oriental rugs and Burgundy took all the throw pillows off the couch. I gathered the candles and lit them around the room. Burgundy brought out her hanging tin and colored glass candleholders as well. The musky scent of vanilla and spice hung in the air. The lights danced and flickered through purple, red and green glass, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the wall. A variety of shapes wavered, filtering through the cut tins. The effect was reminiscent of a nineteenth-century brothel.
“Maybe we should get a huge futon mattress for the floor in here,” Burgundy said, her words thick and slow, drunk on Ryder’s blood.
I watched as Jared’s hand snaked out to rub Ryder’s shoulder. He made no motion to push Jared away. Who knew? Maybe Ryder would discover he was bi too. Or was he just letting my friend make moves to placate me? I made eye contact with him. He sucked his upper lip into his mouth, raising one eyebrow at me. I smiled and mouthed, “Go for it.”
My boyfriend turned and kissed Jared full on the lips. I literally had to fan myself, then I bounced. Actually bounced. My heart squeezed. Was this really happening? My men were going at it. Should I pinch myself? Maybe it was a dream. I pinched. Ouch. Not a dream. Wow. I bounced some more, feeling the tension drain. My hands were clammy and I rubbed them together, trying to focus on both the scene in front of me and my breath. Ryder wasn’t jealous of Jared after all, or he’d worked through it. Or he was trying it for me. Whatever the reason, it was freaking hot.
Acceptance. My needs were being validated. Finally.
The grin spreading over my face was full and genuine, reaching my hairline. Could I break my face with a smile? Had I ever smiled this much?
Their hands tugged and wrapped around each other. Jared took the lead, moving a hand up to cup the back of Ryder’s head as my man leaned into it, his body softening. There was my switch. Jared pulled his tongue out of Ryder’s mouth and bit his lip playfully before pulling back his head and sucking on his neck. Ryder moaned and I instantly got a female boner. Their tongues intertwined as Jared went back to sucking Ryder’s face again. Lick. Suck. Nibble. Smile.
I glanced at Burgundy. We beamed at each other. Then she ran her tongue slowly over her lips and I found myself touching my own breasts in response.
When their kissing stopped, Ryder’s eyelids drooped, watching me through slits. A smile bloomed on his face when I tried to lean in to kiss him. But he was a little too far away.
“It’s even now, bonita,” Burgundy said, drawing out her words. “Four lovers, instead of three.” Her hand moved in a lazy circle as she pointed to each of us in turn.
Ryder propped himself up on an elbow. “Mmm,” he said as he scooched his way toward me and placed a kiss on my lips. I let my eyes close as I felt his tongue slip inside. My legs were being pushed open, my skirt hiked up, and I didn’t have time to think about how that was happening before Ryder’s arms were around me and his body pressed against mine.
A tongue licked slowly up my inner thigh, causing shivers to overtake me. As Ryder slithered off me, the tongue on my thighs gave way to teeth, pointed teeth. Burgundy. She bit the tender, sensitive parts of my skin. Ryder kept kissing me, and a cloth was draped loosely over my eyes.
“My turn,” Jared said, followed by a deep kiss that tasted of peppermint.
There was the pressure of teeth on my nipples through my light silk shirt. And Burgundy’s fingers opened me down below.
The sensations were difficult to distinguish. I felt loved and adored. My sanctuary. My family. Taking care of me.
I wanted to see them take care of each other as well but I could wait. There was no hurry.
A finger was inserted deep inside as Jared continued teasing my mouth with his. The finger pumped in and out as another rubbed my clit. Someone gently lifted up my bottom and slipped another finger, wet with saliva or lube, into my backside.
I bore down on those fingers, deepening the pleasure. Jared climbed off and I heard wet sucking sounds. I had to see what was going on so I shook my head slightly, the cloth falling away. Burgundy was buried between my legs.
Ryder was on his knees next to me, watching while Jared sucked his cock. Ryder’s hand snaked out, intertwining in my hair and he pulled hard, yet tenderly. His eyes held mine for a second before they rolled back in his head. I took the opportunity to watch Jared work his cock like magic. He was pumping along the shaft and sucking hard on the head. His other hand cradled Ryder’s sac. Jared was leaning down, his ass raised high in the air. I tapped Burgundy’s shoulder and when she looked up I pointed to Jared’s ass. She nodded, stopped focusing on me and ran to her room. Less than a minute later she reappeared, holding her strap-on and some lube. Squirting the lube onto her hand, I watched her massage it around Jared’s ass as he moaned around Ryder’s cock. Burgundy affixed the strap-on to her body in seconds, expertly connecting the buckles and snaps. She got on her knees behind Jared and guided the dildo gently into his ass. Jared arched back into her and Ryder almost fell forward.