I walk into a tavern and head straight for the bar. I’d been in here before, and it was a great place to get information. It is also three buildings away from The Guild, so I have to be careful what questions I ask, and to whom. I’d once unwittingly told a Hunter I was looking for his prey, he wasn’t very happy we were after the same girl, and that I wanted to help her, not take her in.
I sit at the bar and order some weird fruit juice concoction that seems to be rather popular with the women in the bar. I swivel on the stool and scan the early crowd. It is hard to spot a criminal among the Fae as, in my eyes, they all are manipulative bastards. They all have that air of deviousness about them, like they are all plotting. There is a couple sat near the window chatting, the woman looks bored and the man overeager. I scan to the left to see an odd-looking chap hovering near a group of women. To the right a small group of men whispering around a tiny table, only one of the men had a drink which was suspicious.
These guys are screaming criminal activity. I’ll sit here for a while then get their attention somehow. I turn back to the bar and sip the drink. I look up and glance over my shoulder at the group of men and see that one of the men, who’d had his back to me, has now turned around. I didn’t instantly recognize him, but then I very rarely saw him with his top on and was usually distracted by the amazing planes of his muscled torso.
Oh hell! It’s Adam. Which means I haven’t broken all ties to friends and family, so I am potentially going to break the oath again.
I quickly withdraw a piece of gold and leave it on the counter top. I hurry past the group hoping that Adam has not seen me yet. I’m screwed if he has. I reach the door and glance behind me, no one has moved. As soon as my feet hit the cobbled street I run to the nearest alley. I press my back to the wall and look out onto the street to make sure no one has followed me. Luckily no one is there. I whip my head back around causing my hair to fly into my eyes.
Once I smooth it back down I notice I’m no longer alone, standing leaning against the opposite wall is Adam.
“Tell me, Scarlet, why did you just run when you noticed me in the bar?”
Not a friend, not a friend. I repeat over and over trying to convince myself.
“Because I don’t want you to let The Guild know I’m here.” He knows why I no longer work for them, hopefully the simplest of answers will be the easiest lie.
He slowly pushes off the wall and moves to stand in front of me. He is wearing a dark top, leather trousers, and his feet are covered in calf-high boots. The style of clothing here is more akin to that of a renaissance fair back home. He wears it well though. As he gets closer to me I can feel his magic is a lot stronger here. I usually feel stifled, and my body always instantly reacts when he is about, but, in my head, I know it is just his charm. Many other women fall for it, though, or so I’d heard.
A dull ache begins in my head.
Not a friend.
“Is that because Jared no longer knows who you are?”
“Shit!” I exclaim.
Chapter Nine
Adam leads me back to the tavern, and, after a small word with the barman, he drags me around the bar and through the back entrance. He takes us to a room in the back that looks like it was used purely for hooking up. As he shuts the door I arch a brow at him and eye him warily because my head begins to throb, the pain building.
“You need to explain what’s happening.” He motions for me to sit on the bed while he grabs a chair and positions it in front of me.
I sit, reluctantly.
“I can’t,” I say quietly. I really hope he doesn’t force this, my head is killing already.
“Why?” he asks, leaning forward so he is almost touching my knees.
“I can’t,” I grind out. Then wince as the pain builds in my head.
“So, you can’t tell me, which means I can’t help you?”
I nod.
“I wonder why you would be so stupid as to agree to a blood oath.” He stares at me expectantly.
I just stare back unable to confirm or deny, the pain still throbbing a warning in my head.
“I see you haven’t yet mated with the Lycan. I assume he also doesn’t know you’re here?”
I don’t respond, Adam leans back in the chair with a look of cold calculation in his eyes. Adam might not be able to help me out of the situation I’m in, but it dawns on me he can actually help me get into the archives, after all, he has access to the ones back home. I can only hope he doesn’t make it worse for me by involving those I’d left behind.
Adam’s no longer a friend he’s a contact.
Instantly the pain eases, recognizing Adam can potentially help me reach my goal.
“Interesting. I’m guessing by your instant relief just now, you’ve found a way around this oath of yours,” Adam states, knowing I won’t confirm.
“I know you have access to the archives in the Human realm, can you help me get into the ones here?” I ask.
“I may be able to get you in. On one condition, you retrieve something for me in return.”
“What exactly do you want retrieving, and from where?” I lean forward, no doubt his response will be cryptic.
“I want my file,” he states simply, his eyes become flat and even colder.
“I thought you had access?”
“No, I only have access to the ones in your realm because there is a passage in my forge that no one thought to ward, its child’s play getting in and out. I can get you in, but, if you do this, you could potentially be signing your death warrant. It isn’t like the other times when you were just looking for information on your family, you no longer work for The Guild”
“I’m dead if I don’t do this,” I exclaim.
He won’t talk me out of this because I can get him what he wants. From what I know of his situation, he’s done something to anger someone powerful enough that he is forced to work and live in the Human realm.
He sighs then stands up. “You’ll need to procure two items for this to work.” He pins me with his hazel eyes. “You need to find a black-market dealer called Ylaine. She usually works in the catacombs under The Black Hall. You need two vials, Essence of Tourmaline and Night Dust. Get them and meet me back here tomorrow morning, the barman will let you through.”
I get the pen and paper out of my bag and jot down the details he’s just given me.
“Thank you,” I say just as he grabs my arm and hoists me up.
“Don’t thank me yet, Scarlet. The Black Hall is the new den for Rogue Lycans and you smell like you need sex.” He releases me. “If you weren’t partially mated you’d be able to sneak past them, but if one of them gets a whiff of your scent it’ll be game over.”
Fantastic. As always, things are never easy. “How far into The Black Hall is the entrance to the catacombs?”
“You will need to go through the main entrance, up the stairs to the third bedroom on the left. Inside, there is a concealed door which will take you into the tunnels under the Hall. Be careful, Scarlet, I have grown to like you over the years.”
I actually really like him too, even after the stunt he’d pulled when I wanted to get my own file. I won’t tell him that though because he is Fae, and I’m pretty sure at some point he’ll use it against me.
I smile at him and grab my bag, putting away the pen and paper and moving over to the door. Adam stops me with a hand on my arm.
“I won’t tell anyone what you’re doing here, but I would strongly suggest finding Bastian and finishing what you started before going into that hall.”
“That’s no longer an option,” I say, pretty sure Adam could see the sadness in my eyes. I would tell Bastian if I could. I’ve grown so accustomed to him having my back that, now, without him and Aylesbury, I feel so alone.
I head back to Rozen’s to get something to eat. I’ve been living off protein bars and really need something substantial. When I walk into the kitchen Roan is sitting at the table tucking in to a piece of juicy rare
steak. It looks amazing, so I walk up to him and snag the remaining bit off his plate. I quickly pop it in my mouth and moan at the taste as it practically melts in my mouth.
“Never seen you eat meat before,” Roan says when I’ve finished swallowing. He’s looking at me like I’ve sprouted two heads.
“That’s because I’ve never had any before in my whole life,” I say, not understanding.
“Then why did you just eat a piece of barely cooked meat like it was the most orgasmic thing you’ve ever tasted?” He looks at me, waiting for an answer.
I look puzzled at first then realize what I’ve just done. The vegetarian in me is disgusted that I’ve consumed flesh. I am a Nymph, yes, I am mixed race as well, but it is unnatural for a nymph to consume flesh, it is a part of my DNA. Then it occurs to me what has happened. Even the Witches at the orphanage had never forced it on me as a child because they understood that it’s unnatural for my race.
“That rat bastard!” I shout at the top of my voice.
“What? Who?” Roan asks, utterly perplexed at my outburst.
“Of all the traits I could pick up from that hulking bastard due to our mating, it had to be that he is a being that predominantly eats meat. The one thing I’ve never consumed in my whole life because its taboo. I may actually kill him this time. If I ever see him again.”
“Is it really so bad what you’ve just done. I honestly can’t see the problem,” he says, spearing a potato and shoveling it in his open mouth.
“It’s unnatural!”
“Still not getting it, you kill things on a regular basis. Why not kill food and eat it? It’s the circle of life,” he points out.
“I may kill things. Things have to die for there to be balance, but when they die they should be offered back to the earth, not consumed. You’re all freaking heathens!” I throw my hands up in the air because he’s now grinning at me. I turn around and walk straight into Rozen, I bounce off his chest and fall flat on my ass.
He casts a glance at me and walks to the stove and picks up a steak from the warming plate. He then begins to eat it while I pick myself back up. As I stand, I watch the blood ooze from the steak and drip down his chin. I really want to be disgusted, instead my stomach growls. Nope, this isn’t happening.
I grab a chunk of bread from the table and slather it in butter, scowling at both Rozen and Roan as I tear into it like a savage.
“It’s time for a report, dearie,” Rozen says to me, his voice sends shivers down my spine when he calls me that. It is the same name he’d used in the caves while he sliced into my skin repeatedly.
“Did anyone ever tell you that Demons should not use terms of endearments, it’s creepy. They are meant for people you feel affection for,” I state.
“Well, now I know it bothers you, my precious, I’ll do it all the more. Now report, before the pain makes you inactive for disobeying.” He licks the juice off each of his fingers as I scowl at him.
“Fine. I need to get into the Fae archives, luckily, I’ve found someone who can get me in. However, I need some specialist items to accomplish this.”
“What do you need?”
“Essence of Tourmaline and Night Dust.”
“Never heard of them,” he states.
“I thought you were going to say that. That means I’m now heading to The Black Hall.”
Roan pushes away from the table so quickly his chair falls backwards and bangs on the floor. “You can’t go there.”
“I can and will. If I don’t I can’t help my lovely master here,” I say sardonically.
“You can’t let her,” Roan shouts at Rozen.
Rozen slowly moves from where he is leant against the counter, when he reaches Roan, his hand shoots out and he grabs him by the throat. Roan’s feet dangle in the air as he struggles for breath.
“She will go where I tell her, and you will not tell me what to do,” he threatens, then releases his grip so Roan lands with a thud on the floor, gasping for breath. “Now, tell me, my lovely, why does he not want you to go to this Black Hall?”
“Because it’s full of Rogue Lycans, and I’m only half mated.”
“So, mate with Roan,” he tells me.
I look at Roan who has gone perfectly still on the floor, I could practically feel the hope radiating from him.
“Nope! That won’t be happening. I’d rather be mated to you than that traitor,” I say to Rozen, turning my attention away from Roan.
“There’s a part of me that would love to force you to do this with him, but then if I break you too much this early, I fear you’ll end your life.” He smiles at me then turns his head to Roan who is now standing back up. “Roan, you wanted this band of Rogues to fulfil your plan to take out the Beast Master, now’s your chance. With them at your back, you can command them not to touch Scarlet, so she can go about her business. Failing that, you’re the distraction,” Rozen orders.
Great, so I now had to take Roan with me. I head back to my room and put on clean clothes that hopefully isn’t drenched in my scent. I put on a back sheath and situate Neria, so her hilt is over my left shoulder. I grab a dagger out of the backpack and fill my pockets with gold coins, then tuck the bag under the bed. I open the window and call for Jinx. I watch her jump from ledge to ledge as she makes her way to the window. I put her a slab of cut-up steak in the bottom of the window and stroke her fur as she begins to eat. Once she is done I tell her to go, thankfully she blindly obeys my command. Once I shut the window I head back downstairs to Roan.
Chapter Ten
“How do you propose we do this?” I ask Roan as we stand behind a wall just outside The Black Hall.
The Black Hall is a magnificent building built from carved Obsidian. Part of it is black as night, the other part looks like it is lit from within as the sun shines against its carved edges. It is around four floors and said to contain fifty bedrooms. It was once the consulate for the Unseelie until it became apparent no amount of civility was going to help the rift between the two Fae factions.
“I’m going to walk up the steps and walk in. While I’m distracting them, you can slip in behind me and make your way upstairs.” He squares his shoulders. “Follow me in one minute.”
I nod my head and watch him walk through the wrought iron gates. As he walks through, I notice a tall man with floppy brown hair out of the corner of my eye walking in the opposite direction. My heart rate speeds up as I think I’ve just seen Aylesbury, but when I turn my attention to the spot where I saw him, he’s gone.
Great, I’m now seeing ghosts.
Roan has left the main door open for me, so I edge through the gates and up to the door. I peek through the gap at the door’s hinge. I can see Roan has a crowd gathered around him and he’s speaking to them.
“If you join me, we can take out that asshole that calls himself Beast Master.”
“I suppose you’ll want to be crowned Lycan king after that,” someone shouts from the crowd of men and women.
“I was his second; once I challenge him I’ll automatically become king. I will be needing someone to become Alpha of this group. Would that be you?” Roan tries to sooth as the crowd surges forward towards him.
I take that moment to edge into the room. The whole entrance room is made of ebony wood, including the grand staircase that sweeps up from behind the crowd to the left. It should make it a dark building, but it’s actually quite light. I inch closer to the stairs, making sure all backs are turned towards Roan.
“We already have an Alpha and king, we have no use for you,” someone shouts as the crowd surges forward again.
I make it to the foot of the stairs, and, just as I start inching up the first step, someone in a hooded sweatshirt turns around and sniffs the air. I take that as a sign to run. As I start to run up the stairs a fight breaks out below, but I can no longer make out what’s being shouted, I can only focus on the footfalls of the steps behind me.
I make it to the top of the staircase and chance a glanc
e behind me. I’m being followed by the hooded male, no, not followed, stalked. He’s moving toward me with a slow stride. His hood is pulled forward over his eyes and I can’t see his face at all, just darkness. All I can see is his huge size and his long, white hair poking out from the sides of the hood.
I start to run down the corridor branching off from the stairs. The doors are not close together, and the room I need is at least halfway down the long corridor judging by the nearest door to me. I get past the first door when I’m slammed into the wooden cladded walls by the mountain of a man behind me.
My body is trapped between his front and the wall, I can feel how hard his muscles are as he presses in to me further. I’m completely unable to move. I try to press back in to him in hopes of dislodging him, but he just anchors me to him more securely. I feel him sweep my hair to the side then his nose is buried in my neck, he inhales deep.
His body releases mine and he spins me around, pinning me again between his gigantic body and the wall. I still can’t see his face, the corridor is too dark, and his hood too low. All I can see is the edge of his white hair brushing the tops of his shoulders. I wasn’t sure it was even possible, but I swear this guy is even broader in the chest and shoulders than Bastian.
He leans his head in to my neck again, and I feel his mouth muzzle against my skin. Part of me is terrified and another part is actually getting aroused. I manage to get my hand up to his chest and I push, but he doesn’t move until he hears a noise behind him. He starts growling, the sound vibrating along my skin.
“Mine.” The threatening words come out deep and rumbling due to the growl. He brings his hand up to run a finger along my lips.
Shit! Another mating bond tragedy about to happen. If I don’t get away soon, this guy will easily claim me as his. I push against his chest again and the mountain moves. I can see Roan on the stairs, fighting against the Lycans that hold him. The mountain must be the Alpha.
Sacrifice (Scarlet Dawson Book 2) Page 6