They followed him. When he walked around a corner, Jolie gasped.
“Holy hell.”
It was huge.
It was cavernous.
The whole room was hollowed out of the mountain. There were hanging lights, bookshelves with ancient texts, and comfortable furniture.
“I love it,” she said, as he lowered her to her feet so she could explore.
Flynn enjoyed that he was able to share something with them. The last year, they’d given him so much, and thanks to the part of him that was now Rinnon, he could do the same.
Jolie crossed to the bookshelves.
On them, there were books that she’d remembered from her youth. They were in beautiful condition.
Then she turned around and saw him.
Over the fireplace, there was a painting of Rinnon.
She crossed to it.
“It’s exactly how you look.”
Jacques moved toward it. “It looks like Flynn.”
Jolie glanced over. “No, it looks like Rinnon. He’s got the wings, the armor, and the black eyes.”
Jacques touched her forehead to check for a fever. “It’s Flynn. He’s in a suit.”
Flynn laughed. “You’re both right. Since Jolie has seen the real me, she can see what’s beneath. You only know me as Flynn. You haven’t seen me.”
Jacques glanced over. “Will I ever?”
“I’m sure. When the time is right.”
Jolie crossed to him and went back into his arms. “I love your home, Rinnon.”
“Our home,” he offered. “When I kill the head of the Tueur, we’ll live here. We’ll raise our children here. We’re home.”
They liked that idea.
Flynn was about to suggest they keep moving, when he heard the laughter.
“Well, shit. Apparently, the ex has a key.”
Death appeared.
“Rinnon, you’d think you didn’t love me anymore.”
Flynn sighed.
“We should sit. I’m sure this will take a while. Death likes the dramatic.”
“Have some respect, Rinnon. I can make their lives a living hell.”
He didn’t like the threat.
Flynn moved so fast, he had Death by the hair. “You will not come into their home and threaten them. Am I clear? You will treat them with respect due to them as my chosen mates.”
She stared into his eyes.
“You know I like when you get rough.”
He shoved her from his body, setting her free.
Jacques and Jolie were standing together, not moving. Flynn knew they didn’t want Death focused on them. He stood in front of them, acting as a shield.
“I just popped in to see if you found everything as you liked.”
“Why is she being nice to us?” Jacques asked. “Why is she being so helpful?”
“I am always helpful.”
“Death.”
She sighed. “Fate can’t interfere here. This is Rinnon’s private space. It’s neither here nor there. It’s more a figment of his thoughts, dreams, and aspirations.”
“Okay,” said Jolie.
“Needless to say, I’m here to give you information. I had to wait for you to enter here. I can’t risk Fate finding out I helped. She’s worse than me.”
Flynn moved to stand between his mates, and there was a rustling of feathers as he dropped his arms over their shoulders.
“What?”
“I can give you the head of the Tueur. You’ll have a name to put with the enigma.”
That worked for them.
“You can start tracking him.”
“Great,” Jolie offered. It was better to be hunting than hunted. “Who is it?”
Death smiled at her.
Flynn didn’t like the look on her face. Death was enjoying it a little too much. Before he could stop her, she dropped the bomb.
“The head of the Tueur is named Gradius.”
No one reacted.
“Oh, maybe you know his brother.”
Flynn got that sick feeling.
“I don’t think I would…” Jolie began.
“He’s Goethe the Grim’s oldest brother.”
That was all Jolie had to hear.
She reacted exactly how death wanted.
She wept.
∞ Chapter Thirty-Four ∞
Ireland
She knew they were there for her. Kiera had cast enough protection spells in her lifetime to know that she was in danger. The Voodoo they wielded would trump her magic any day.
Still, she didn’t even try to fight. She let them come.
They were going to take her, and her last card reading told her why.
It was all connected.
Everything that had happened was for a reason. Jolie, the mysterious man’s voice, her future—they were all on the same path.
In order to save the man, she had to sacrifice herself and believe he’d not hurt her.
It was a leap of faith, but she needed to do it. In all her life, she’d never felt that attraction to anyone, especially with only a voice.
She had to save him.
It was very important.
As she lay there, Kiera felt a rustle of air brush her skin. She’d had a very vivid dream, and it ended the same way, the same place, and the same outcome.
This was how it played out.
She knew what was coming, and still she waited for it.
There would be pain, but it had to happen in order to move forward. She was the key to the lock. Once they took her, she’d start destiny’s plan.
As she lay perfectly still in her bed, there was a creak. Someone was walking up the stairs.
She knew it wouldn’t be long before they would be in her room. It was hard not to be afraid.
It was almost impossible.
The whole last day, she’d been so alone. That voice which she’d fallen for hadn’t spoken to her.
She knew he was alive, but he was in horrible shape.
Kiera needed to save him.
The only thing in her mind was the agony he was feeling. She hoped that when vampyre’s fed, it really wasn’t painful. She wanted it to be like when Jolie and Jacques fed from their mate.
Kiera had to hope.
There was a faint whisper, as whoever came for her spoke to their companion.
Then there was the volt of energy that scrambled all her thoughts.
The last thing she remembered was the sizzling sound and all the nerves in her body going dead.
Darkness came.
It took her.
Now she had to hope it would be right to him or she’d just done the stupidest thing of her life.
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
France
Rinnon’s Home
When she woke, after crying herself to death, she hated herself.
Hearing his name pushed her over the edge. All Jolie could hope was that they would all survive this. There was no doubt in her mind that Death enjoyed every second of her breakdown.
She loved hurting her, especially now that she held both Rinnon’s and Flynn’s heart.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
As she focused, she saw her mate beside her. Flynn was watching her, and there was both sympathy and compassion in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have had that meltdown. It caught me off guard.”
“Don’t be. That would have been hard for anyone to swallow. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Where’s Jacques?”
“He’s calling his father. He wanted to let him know that we’ve arrived.”
She relaxed.
“Baby,” he whispered, “I’m sorry. Had I known what she was going to do, I wouldn’t have let her.”
Jolie touched his cheek. “It’s okay. I was caught off guard. I never thought I’d hear that name. To find out that he has a brother, and their bloodline still lives…it was horrifying. I thought it was over.”
She stared at him. “What?”
“Don’t you see, Jolie? This is a path. Your parents were betrayed by Goethe for a reason. It set this whole thing off. It’s one thread in the timeline of fate. You were abused by him and escaped. Then you found Jacques, who protected you all those years.”
She listened.
“He brought you to the mate who was chosen for you the day you were created. Without any of that, there’d be no this. You were put on this path by his horrible treatment, and now you’re mine.”
He kissed her fingers.
“My path was the same. I lost my family, I became a cop, and then I joined the journey, dying and becoming who I am today. This all happened in preparation for what was to come. We’re meant to face it together. It’s not a coincidence that Gradius, Goethe’s older brother, is head of the Tueur. Goethe was practice for what’s coming. We have to end it.”
She touched his cheek.
“Together.”
She knew he was right. This was the correct path to be on. It locked them together even more.
“I love you, Flynn.”
“Baby, I adore you. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, and more importantly, you’re all fate ever wanted for me.”
He brought his mouth down to hers. The kiss was gentle, sweet, and perfect. When she broke away, her heart skipped in her chest.
Then she realized she was in a bedroom.
Sitting up, Jolie looked around. “It’s gorgeous in here too. This is the largest bed I’ve ever seen.”
“I guess when you have wings, you like to spread out.”
She grinned. “I guess you do.”
Flynn paused. “I found something, and I’d like to share it with you.”
“What?” she asked.
He held out his hand.
Before she took it, she had a question.
“First, I need to know something. Actually, two things.”
He waited.
“Did you know you’d find me, Rinnon?” she asked.
The metamorphosis was immediate. Flynn’s demeanor changed, his body shifted, and he became the demon.
“Is that why you never chose a mate to convert?”
“I knew you were out there, but I never knew who you were. Fate had a plan, and I was on that path.”
“You were killed.”
“I opted to go dormant until the woman who was meant to be mine appeared. When you did, I knew Death would plant me back into another form. I had faith.”
“She’s a bitch.”
He grinned. “Yes, she really is. You should know her better. You’d hate her even more.”
Jolie laughed.
“So, you knew it was me.”
“Yes, the second I woke in this form. Flynn found you for me, and together, we’ll have you as ours.”
“I’m losing him, aren’t I?”
He touched her cheek. “Yes and no. I won’t lie. The more of me that comes back, the less of him will remain. I’m sorry, Jolie. I wish I could tell you some pretty lie, but the human part will disappear. You won’t see it, but it’ll always be there. His smile, his heart, his love—it’ll always be there. I’ll just be visible more often than not.”
“Is he okay with that?” she asked, tears filling her eyes. “He died because of a mistake I made. Is he going to hate me because of it?”
Rinnon wiped them away with his fingertips. “Oh, Jolie, he’s never going to hate you. He’s part of me—my memories, his body, and our combined personalities. Flynn won’t die. He’s just going to change. For what’s coming, he needs to.”
She wiped her eyes. “Can I speak to him?”
The change was fast.
The bright brilliant blue was back, as were the worry lines around his eyes. “Baby, why the tears?”
“Flynn, I made you into this out of arrogance. I need to know that you don’t hate me. That when Rinnon takes over, and you become more him than you, that you won’t loathe me. It’ll kill me to lose you.”
He kissed her. “Baby, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Do you know what I’m saying when you’re in there?” she asked, touching his chest. “Are you cognizant?”
“Yes, I am. I can hear him talking, and I can stop him. When he’s in control, I’m there. It’s not really like he’s taking over. It’s more like I pick up skills and gifts I didn’t know I had. When he was killing the Tueur, I was doing it. I was just using his memories and abilities.”
“I fell in love with Flynn Brogan, and I married him. I want him to stay.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Eventually, you may think I’m not here, but I will be. You just have to ask to talk to me. The tattoo split us, but it didn’t kill me.”
She touched his face. “I love you so much it hurts.”
He pulled her into his lap. Their foreheads touched, and he held onto her. “I love you so much that it calms the demon in me.”
She sobbed.
Flynn held her in his arms. He knew this was the after effect of everything that was going on.
Pregnancy.
The Tueur.
Rinnon.
Now Gradius.
Jolie needed to let go.
“Promise me that you’ll always be here, Flynn Brogan. Promise me that when I need you, you’ll be the man who heals my heart.”
He kissed her softly on her lips. “I’ll always be here. I’m just modified.”
He kissed her. When he pulled away, she was breathless.
“Now let me kiss you again,” he offered.
His eyes changed, and his fangs appeared. His mouth sought hers, and the kiss was the exact same kiss.
“See?” he said, pulling away. “Did it feel any different?”
“No,” she admitted.
“That was Flynn and me,” Rinnon stated. “He’s here. He’s always going to be here. Maybe you should think of it like this,” he began.
Jolie listened.
“Reincarnation.”
She watched him. He tucked his hair behind his ears much like Flynn always did.
“What about it?”
“I was born so very long ago. I died, and I was reincarnated as Flynn. I was dormant until he unlocked that part of what was to come. Once he did, he stayed the same, only he found he was more than he ever knew.”
She listened. “I like that better. I like believing that you were always part of him.”
He smiled.
Then one eye went blue.
“Yeah, that’s weird. I don’t think I like that at all,” she said, laughing. Immediately, she knew what he was trying to do. It was her Flynn, and he was trying to amuse her.
“Flynn,” she called.
Both eyes were blue. They were the windows to his non-existent soul.
“Promise you’ll always come if I call you?” she asked.
He grinned. “Baby, coming with you is my favorite thing. You call, and I’ll most definitely cum.”
She laughed.
Her heart felt a little better.
“What did you want to show me?” she asked, taking his hand.
Flynn swept her up in his arms. When he was holding her, his eyes went back to the black, but the sexy creases at the corners were still there.
As was that boyish grin.
Maybe she had to start finding the things that reminded her of him instead of the things that made her forget.
‘Exactly,’ he whispered into her mind.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I forgot this place existed, and then when I was going to wake you up with a nice warm bath, I found it.”
“I like a bath.”
“Then you’re going to like this.”
He carried her through a doorway. Once inside, her mouth hung open.
It was a grotto.
In the middle of the freaking mountain, he had a grotto.
What the hell?
“Do you like i
t?” he asked, placing her on her feet.
Jolie looked around, trying to figure out how it was possible. Then she realized, like the whole demon thing, she’d never understand it.
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Want to take a swim?”
“I don’t have a bikini.”
There was masculine laughter.
It was Flynn’s.
“Really? That’s too damn bad,” he offered, right before tugging her shirt off. When she started giggling, he was wickedly grinning at her.
It felt right.
He felt perfect.
“As are you, Jolie. As are you.”
When he got her naked, she noticed he was stripping like Flynn would. Jolie knew he was giving her a gift. He was trying to reassure her that Flynn would forever remain if she wanted him there.
As he pulled off his shirt, she dove into the water. It was warm, it felt so amazing on her flesh, and she loved it.
As she swam to the cave-like part of the grotto, she heard the splash behind her. Flynn cut through the water, reaching her easily.
“You’re fast.”
“I was a lifeguard in high school.”
“It figures. You’ve always liked saving people.”
“I did it to check out the babes in bikinis. Don’t give me too much credit.”
That made her laugh.
As he pulled her close, they went under the water as one. Jolie was safe in his arms as his mouth made love to hers. They sank deeper in the blue water, her pressed to his body.
‘I will cherish this always,’ he whispered into her mind.
‘I will always cherish my Flynn and my Rinnon.’
They went lower, and when they both needed to breathe, Flynn pushed up, and they broke the surface. He treaded water with her clinging to his body.
“So, Rinnon, have you brought all the women here?” she asked, teasing him.
He stared at her with such intensity that it made her heart skip.
God, he made her crazy.
The combination of Flynn and the Demon was like some narcotic. It made her insane.
“Never. You’re the only woman I’ll ever bring here. I waited a long time for you and Jacques. I’ve found my other half.”
She loved that he included Jacques.
Dangerous Sacrifice (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 6) Page 40