I was no longer a virgin.
The terms of the bargain had changed.
When I walked down the stairs to the main floor, I heard voices coming from one of the front rooms.
“No way—there is no way we are doing this. You’re crazy?”
I recognized that voice. It was William, and he was shouting. I didn’t like the edge in his tone, so I walked closer.
The door to the room was ajar, and as I peeked inside, I noticed the lords had company. A woman dressed in red sat on the chaise. I quickly backed away, stunned that they were entertaining a woman. Jealousy boiled in my gut.
She was blond, like me, and had her hand on William’s arm. He acted like he didn’t even notice it. Who was this woman, and what was she doing here? I’d only just slept with the lords, and felt that this was my territory—my domain.
“Gentlemen, we all know how important breaking the curse is. All of you have been collecting these ingredients for so long. But, Celine is the key. Eva might have her blood, but it isn’t enough,” the woman said.
“She has her blood, and that’s everything as far as I’m concerned,” George said.
“No, it’s the act of taking away her virginity that will count. She will bleed, and that part of her will activate the spell,” the woman added, smiling.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My stomach dropped, and all of my joy from our tryst the night before evaporated.
I needed to figure out what ritual they wanted to perform.
My first time was supposed to be special—and it was—but to them, it was merely a transaction.
How could I be so daft?
I glanced down at my hands as they started to shimmer.
My head spun, and I pressed my back against the wall, heartbroken. They only wanted me to break whatever curse had been cast upon their families.
Anger rippled through me. I tried to take a deep breath but couldn’t. It seemed that none of them cared about me. It was all pretense.
“Just stick to the plan,” the woman said, lowering her voice. “If we play our cards right, all four families will be free of the curse.”
“All except Eva, of course,” William added. “If she hadn’t left the fold, she might have benefited from this bargain as well.”
“I know,” the woman said. “Eva is a lost soul. There is nothing the clan can do for her except stay out of her way.”
“It’s up to you to keep her out of our way, Gabriella,” George said.
So, her name was Gabriella, and it seemed she was in whatever clan of warlocks the lords were a part of.
Sickened by all that I’d heard, I stormed away and headed back upstairs.
I kicked off my shoes and opened the doors to the balcony. I sat outside, gazing at the overcast sky as anger rushed through my veins and sorrow filled my heart.
They’d used me.
And, I no longer had any cards to play.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Celine
Thomas came to my room and called for me. I pretended to be asleep; the blankets covering my head.
I didn’t want to talk to him, and so, he left. Our steamy evening outside of the castle plagued me now. I’d given up one last bargaining chip. Now, I just wanted what was left of my money, and to disappear with my mother. We’d leave, and venture somewhere far away, where none of the lords would ever find me. No one would know my name or face, and I’d truly be free.
I just had to forget how much I’d grown to care for Thomas and what little affection I’d felt for William and George.
The day passed by, and I kept to myself, refusing to see any of them.
A maid brought a platter of fresh fruit, salted pork, and cheese, and I ate on the balcony, seated upon a blanket as I looked out to the forest and countryside. At some point, I knew I’d have to leave my little place of solace, but I wasn’t ready.
Not yet. Not when I knew the truth of how they felt about me.
When night fell, I retreated to bed for a restless slumber.
Something woke me up—a faint creaking of the floorboards, and a gust of wind. I opened my eyes and tensed when I realised there was a stranger in my room. The moonlight reflected in the glass, and a draft chilled my bones. I was suddenly too afraid to move, certain that whomever entered my room was not one of the lords or the guard who kept watch outside my door.
Fear rippled through me, as panic rose in the pit of my stomach.
“Wake up, child. It’s time to fulfil your destiny,” said the voice, and a cold shiver crawled over my spine.
The stranger’s voice was deep and overwhelming. I rose into a sitting position, looking around the room. My heart raced as a pair of green eyes met mine.
It was an older man dressed in a black cloak. With dark, blond hair, sharp cheekbones, and a high forehead, he was strikingly handsome. There was something familiar about him, and as a smile came to his lips, I narrowed my eyes for a better look.
“Who are you?”
“Is it not obvious? You know enough now to have expected my return,” he said, and I tensed, as it dawned on me. “I am your father, Celine. Laurence. I have been watching you for a very long time, and I believe now is finally the time to reveal myself to you. Your power has been awakened. You are ready.”
“You’re lying,” was all I could manage to say.
“Why deny yourself your birthright, dear girl. You are the daughter of one of the greatest warlocks to walk this realm. The magic that you used to heal George is but one of many gifts running through your veins. Come, and I will show you more.”
I swallowed, overwhelmed by it all. “I don’t understand,” I said, softly. “Why did you leave us? We needed you—all of those years of living in poverty.”
“I left to protect you from my many enemies.”
I shook my head. “That’s not good enough. I don’t accept it.”
“Would you rather I stayed and let your mother be killed? Or you?”
“But the lords say you are a wealthy lord just like them. You could have done something to make sure we weren’t destitute. You could have written letters to let Mum know you still cared.”
He stepped closer, and I coiled away. Pausing, he sighed, looking out the window.
“I don’t know if you’ll ever truly understand. But, I had to vanish. It was a difficult time for me, but I managed to defeat them in the end,” he said, running his hand over his chin. “I have been watching you these past few months, and I knew you had potential. The lords are using you. They never cared about you. They only wanted you for the power you have to reverse the curse I placed on them and their horrid lines.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but the resemblance between us was uncanny. The lords said as much about the curse, and that made my father their enemy. But, he was my blood. I wondered if I could trust him—trust him more than the men who had used me.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, getting out of bed and wrapping myself in a robe.
I was surprised by how tall Laurence was, and how well he’d aged. But, where had he been all of those years?
“You are able to heal people with your gift. It’s very special and rare. The lords will rip it away from you, then they toss you away like the pile of rubbish,” he told me. “They will suck away your energy and magic, and leave you to rot, Celine. Do not be naïve. Listen to your father.”
Fury rose in my throat, along with a sob that I couldn’t hold back. I’d actually grown to love Thomas. How could he and the others use me so?
“This is my only chance,” I said. “I cannot break the bargain.”
“Celine, I’m here. We can leave right now, and you don’t have to worry about money. It’s time for me to teach you how to use and control your magic,” he said, touching my hand.
I bit my lip, staring down at his hand. I didn’t want to be here. The lords lied. There was no getting around that.
Besides, I was no longer a virgin. What point was there to s
tay anymore, anyway?
I was a desperate, broken-hearted woman. It was time to take matters into my own hands.
“How are we going to leave? There is a man guarding my door,” I explained. He approached the window, his cape billowing out with the wind.
“Do not worry, Celine,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “Dragons don’t need doors.”
I gasped as a massive, red dragon flew from the clouds, and waited for us just beyond the balcony. Large, golden eyes peered at me from the darkness, and my father gave me a grin.
“Are you ready?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Celine
I eyed the dragon, my heart thumping in my chest. When I took his hand, he had my answer, and we climbed over the balcony and landed on the dragon’s back. I didn’t know what I was doing, but it had to be better than being played by the three lords.
Before I could protest or change my mind, the dragon took off into the sky, and cold air filled my lungs and flew at my face.
The dragon flew toward the moon, flapping its magnificent, red wings.
I closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer that I’d survive this experience.
“Home, Scarlett,” he said to the dragon. “Take us home.”
I was still in my dressing gown and began to shudder at the cool wind and air. After mustering a bit of courage, I opened my eyes and beheld the most extraordinary view of the silver-capped mountains stretched out beneath us.
Mother was going to either be truly pleased, or livid. Her warning resounded in my head. She’d told me to get away, and I had. It just happened to be with the man who broke her heart.
I cringed, but my features relaxed as I took in the sights.
The world looked so small from above, but the navy sky was mesmerising, scattered with bright stars.
We passed the villages, and slowly a sense of calmness started to wash over me.
As we flew through the night, I couldn’t help but imagine Thomas’ disappointment when he discovered I’d fled.
I tried to shove those thoughts aside and enjoy the journey. After all, I was flying, something I never thought possible outside of my dreams.
We travelled for most of the night, and I noticed we’d left the Marble Province.
Scarlett landed, and my father and I leapt to the ground. There was a large field, and in the distance, I saw a castle atop a hill.
“I thought you were taking me home, to Mum.”
“I brought you home, Celine,” he said, motioning to the castle. “This is my castle; therefore, it is yours by birthright. This is home.”
I pursed my lips, searching his eyes.
For the first time since I’d awakened to find him in my room, warnings bubbled in my belly.
A wicked grin came to his lips, and a scream escaped mine as two men emerged from the shadows and took me by the elbows.
Cloaked in white, they never said a word or showed any emotion as my father took a book from his cloak.
“Take her away to the stand and release the blood. The ritual is just about to begin,” my father said, and finally looked at me.
Whatever chance I thought there was that he loved me, or that I could love him, dissipated in that moment.
He was evil, just like Thomas and the others had said.
Was there no one I could trust?
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice cracking as it set in just how big of a mistake I’d made.
“I told you,” he said. “You’re finally going to fulfil your destiny.”
He turned away then, and as I screamed for him, the men dragged me through the open field.
In the distance, a ring of fire emerged from the ground, with only a thin opening to enter.
Dread settled in my stomach, because the tiny voice in my head told me that this was all prepared for me. My father was never planning to take me back to my mother. He hadn’t rescued me as I’d began to convince myself.
“You bastard! How could you?” I shouted through tears as the men pulled me up a platform and tied me to a stake.
“Calm down,” Laurence said. “This will all be over very soon. By first light, I’ll have immortality.”
My mouth parted, and I shook my head. “Immortality?”
No one had ever mentioned such a thing to me before.
“I thought I was needed to break the werewolf curse you set upon the lords,” I said, confused.
He chuckled. “Yes, dear. That amongst so many other things. You truly are the key to all magic, Celine. You are special. And, you’re all mine,” he said, spreading his arms as wide as his excited grin.
I screamed, hoping someone from the nearby village would hear me, and my father only laughed.
“Come now. No daughter of mine would be so cowardly in the face of true greatness.”
“You’re right,” I said, and spat at him. “I am no daughter of yours.”
His grin faded into a sinister snarl.
I couldn’t move; my arms tied behind me and around the stake. I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been. I thought that I was escaping from the lords and fell right into the hands of the true enemy.
Laurence stood before me, the spell book open, and levitating before him.
“Let’s commence the ritual, shall we? Ruben, the knife,” he said.
I panicked as the sharp knife was presented on a velvet pillow. I jerked and bucked, hoping to free myself. Absolute terror filled my soul.
I was all alone and left with my regrets.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thomas
Something was wrong. Those damn fools were fast asleep and didn’t even notice that Celine was gone. I barged inside her room to find it empty.
The guards outside her door were utterly useless. As I surveyed the room, I deduced that she was taken from the balcony.
But who could have done such a thing?
Eva.
I raced to William’s private quarters and burst in.
“Wake up, you fool,” I shouted at him, and he sat up from his bed.
“What is it? How dare you?”
“Celine is gone,” I said, shutting him up.
That did the trick. He ripped the blankets off and left the comforts of his bed.
“What do you mean?”
I threw my hands in the air, heart racing. I couldn’t lose her. “I mean exactly what I said. Someone took her. And, she’s gone, William.”
He thought for a moment. Always the thinker. Always the smart one.
I grimaced and looked away.
“Shift and follow her scent,” he finally said. “She cannot be too far.”
“How do you figure? She could be anywhere by now.”
He grabbed a cloak from a chair and headed to the door. “Follow me to my study.”
I was losing my mind, but I followed him all the way to the ground floor.
Once we were inside, William searched the contents of several books on the long, rectangular table that lined the back wall of the study.
George joined us, wiping his eyes. “What’s the fuss this late?”
We both looked to him. “Celine,” we said, in unison.
I frowned at William, exhaling.
“She’s gone,” William added, and George’s face paled.
“What can I do to help?” George asked, fully awakened now.
“We need to try create a tracking spell. Bring me something of hers,” William said.
“The yellow dress she wore last night,” George said, and I sprang into action, racing through the castle to retrieve the gown she’d worn.
She’d been so beautiful, and the night we shared was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
Losing her would break me, and I feared there’d be no coming back from such heartbreak. Not again.
I returned with the dress as quickly as I could. I handed it to William.
With George and I standing back and watching, he tore the dress and then put it on top of the open b
ook in the center of the room.
“Go outside and shift. The spell will track her, and we will guide you right to her. Since you have the strongest bond with her, it has to be you to bring her back.”
With a few words and a tapping of his wand, William ignited the book into a blast of flames that raged high toward the vaulted ceiling. Every hair on the back of my neck rose as her scent filled my nostrils. My nostrils twitched, and my wolf side was awakened.
For the first time in all of my life, I was grateful for the curse of the werewolf.
The curse would help me find and save her.
I left the castle, and once I was outside, and in the forest, I stripped off my clothes and tossed them aside.
It was time to awaken the beast.
Once I filled my lungs with the fresh night air, I focused my energy on the shift, and drew power from the moon. I roared, and squeezed my eyes shut as my skin split, bones popped, and my entire body transformed. By the power of the moon and the curse, I tripled in size and black fur covered every inch of my wolf form.
Now, I thought to myself. Let’s save the woman you love.
A stream of red light shot from my eyes and across the forest.
Head north. Follow the light.
The magic rushed through me as I growled, and then took off running. Her scent propelled me forward, and I ran faster than ever.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on whoever was responsible for taking her from me.
If it was Eva, she was dead.
But, as the time went on, and I ran through the forest, it started to make less sense that Eva had done it. She was powerful, but she wasn’t strong enough to take Celine from her room at such a height.
It hit me then. What I smelled outside her room was none other than a dragon.
The Courtesans Bargain: The Courtesans Harem Book 1 Page 9