by Eve Newton
Two happy faces look back at me.
“I am going to suggest that we all move to the Underworld. It is the perfect place to go about our business as we are, no need for Shifting or name changes or isolated mountain cabins. Plus, I get to exert my authority and rule from a place of power.” Oh, and by 'suggest' I mean agree or suffer my wrath, I add silently.
“Agreed,” CK says immediately. “It is perfect.”
I smile my thanks at his support and turn to Cole who is looking a bit less than impressed.
“You want to go and live closer to Xane?” he asks me.
That thought had apparently missed CK’s usually impeccable catch rate, and I sense now his disapproval.
“That is not what this is about,” I say, trying not to lose my temper. Over the last three months, Cole’s jealousy of Xane has been growing steadily more and more intense. I have given him no reason to be jealous or even suspicious of me and our secret on-and-off whatever it is we have, but he has a bee in his bonnet about it and he won’t let it buzz off.
“I have explained my reasons, quite clearly, and the fact that Xane happens to live in the Underworld anyway had nothing whatsoever to do with my decision.”
My change from the word “suggest” to “decision” doesn’t go unnoticed by either of them and they know the score.
“Fine,” they both say in unison with matching sulky faces.
I take it as a done deal and beam at them both happily. “Great!” I exclaim and neither one can be cross with me anymore. Until I open my mouth again, of course.
“I said on the jet that I needed you two to stop with the competition,” I say. “I cannot have you fighting over me, and CK, you can’t always go first.”
Cole snorts into his hand, spluttering coffee everywhere in the process. I am unsure whether he is appalled or amused by my words.
CK is quite clear about his feelings on the matter though and says, “I don’t play second fiddle, you know that.”
“Well, you are going to have to learn,” I say. “I really don’t understand this thing with you men, it’s silly.” I refer to the territorial thing, which makes me always have to go via the shower. I can be territorial as much as the next girl, as are all Vampires both male and female, but not when it comes to this.
Cole is looking at me in amazement. “You don’t know?” he asks me. “You don’t feel it?”
I frown at him. “Feel what? Jealousy?” I ask.
Cole shakes his head at me and CK gets in on that. “My sweet, it is so much more than that for us men,” he says. “Male Vampires have a strong urge to protect what is theirs and even the whiff of another male being around sets off a very primal response in us.” He says this quite seriously or I would have burst out laughing. What a load of crap, I think. He is just trying to justify his actions.
Cole can see I don’t believe, and he takes my hand. “Liv, it’s true,” he says to my surprise. “The feeling is…overwhelming. The urge to kill to keep others away.”
“What?” I squeak. “How is that possible? I have been around male Vampires for a thousand years! I haven’t seen that reaction in any of them, except…” I indicate CK and then I look back at Cole and remember that I saw it in him too the first time the three of us were together. That look of pure instinct in his eyes. Is it because we are especially bound to one another? “But, with Devon?” I say at a loss. “You never…”
He sighs and says, “Because I have a special, uh, something with Devon. Not a bond really, but after the whole Power of One thing, we are connected in a way that I can’t really explain to you.”
“But why did you never mention it before?” I ask, slightly upset that he thought he couldn’t share that with me.
“Because it is between me and Devon,” he replies. “I don’t ask you to try to explain what you have with him to me, do I?”
Oh, no I guess not. I look back at CK who is just sitting there listening with interest. He finds us “lesser” Vampires an odd bunch. He doesn’t have the ties that we have to one another, except maybe in a way with Sebastian and me, and he is intrigued with Cole’s explanation. Not enough to ask more about it though, of course. That won’t do to show an interest in someone other than himself.
“Then it is simple,” I say after a beat. “You two have to bond somehow.”
I have stopped a lot of conversations in my years on this planet, but never in quite the same way as I have right now. I smirk at their complete and utter shock and horror at my suggestion.
“Bond?” CK croaks out like I had asked him to kill himself. Cole looks like he wants to die right now, but I nod my head.
“Yes, bond. It can’t be too hard. If what you say is true, then this is the only solution. We cannot keep going on the way we are. It won’t work,” I say determinedly.
“I suppose,” CK ventures with a quick look at Cole who avoids his gaze. “How?” he asks. “As I understand it, your bonds are formed at the time of turning. How are we just supposed to make one?”
“In much the same way Cole just described his bond to Devon. Through me,” I state, having figured out a great idea.
“You?” Cole asks, rejoining the conversation.
“Yes, me. We will do a ritual where we all share blood and the Power of me should,” I bring my palms together tightly, “bond you!” I finish up, elated with my plan. Not only will this be an interesting experiment to see if it works, and if it does, bond CK and Cole together, but it will be a pretty amazing experience for me as well.
“Yes, well. We’ll see,” CK says and shifts uncomfortably, still staring at my joined hands.
“No, we’ll do,” I say firmly. “Tonight, in the clearing.”
Cole nods reluctantly, knowing that there is no getting away from it. He is going to become inextricably tied to my sire and he is not happy about it. Neither is CK, but it is just tough shit. My decision has been made.
I feel an intense rush of power behind me and look over my shoulder with a big smile. I know exactly who just popped into my library and I couldn’t be more excited to see him. Them. I get to my feet and rush inside, followed closely by Cole and CK, and run straight into the waiting arms of my father.
“Daddy!” I say to him, hugging him fiercely. “I am so glad to see you again, finally.”
“My Princess,” Drake says, hugging me back just as tightly. “I know, I apologize. It has been a busy time.”
I nod in understanding. There has been a civil war going on in the Fae Kingdoms between Dark and Light since Aelfric assaulted me and Drake killed him over it. “I wanted to come and see you, but I thought under the circumstances…” I say and shrug as he lets me go.
“We don’t blame you,” he says crossly. “It was Aelfric who caused this. He deserved what he got for daring to hurt you.”
I lower my eyes and feel guilty anyway that a nation is fighting over something that I, however inadvertently, caused.
I turn my attention then to Sebastian, who is fiercely hugging Constantine. I look away as they are sharing something quite intimate. CK said that he hasn’t seen him in months and they clearly missed each other. CK lets him go and I step forward to hug him. I have missed him too, only I can’t tell anyone that, as I am not supposed to be involved with him. That doesn’t mean that we haven’t been together since I was last in the Fae Kingdoms with him several months ago, it just means it is still a secret. A big one. For all the secrets that came flooding out, this one is just ours to keep. I am still worried about the Faerie baby that is supposed to be conceived between us, so we have a strict policy of going anywhere but there. He grumbles, but it’s that or nothing. We embrace and he ruffles my hair in a familiar gesture, which has me batting his hand away.
“Nice to see you, little one,” he says with a grin. “You look good.”
“So do you,” I say and then get pulled away from him and into CK’s arms possessively. I can tell he is eager to share our recent news and he is about to do so when another ru
sh of power floods the room and we all turn to the source.
“Mother,” I say with a smile. “What an unexpected surprise.” We don’t go in for hugging or touching at all. She is a very aloof creature.
“Aefre,” She says, inclining Her head. Her eyes flick behind me and I gulp, remembering that my father is also in this very room. I have no idea if they have seen each other since they ended their doomed relationship, and I get my Power ready to do damage control, should the need arise. As it turns out, there is no need as Drake smiles at Her and She at him.
“Tia,” he says.
Tia? I blink at him in surprise. It’s pretty, but I would never have assumed anyone would shorten Her name. Much like Constantine, but there is me calling him CK. I guess everyone has a special someone.
“Drake,” She says and inclines Her head regally. As expected, there is no big reunion hug. They stay on opposite sides of the room, but it is better than a fight, I suppose. She turns to Cole and beams at him. She has never officially met him, despite his role in all of this. “Cole,” She says. “How lovely to finally meet you.”
He inches towards my side and I can tell he is nervous. Not only does he have the Empress in the same room with him, but also my father. The dreaded Dark Fae King. It hits me then that this is the first time I have had both my mother and father with me together. Quite the momentous occasion.
“Tiamat,” he says. “Yes, it is quite the honor.”
Drake clears his throat loudly and we turn back to him. He looks pointedly at me and then at Cole.
“Daddy,” I say. “This is my husband, Cole.”
He sneers at me, as I knew he would. “Husband,” he scoffs and completely ignores Cole.
CK, having had quite enough of holding on to his announcement, states loudly, “Aefre and I would like you all to know that as of yesterday, we are now also man and wife.”
Silence follows that and there isn’t one out of the three of them that is happy about that news. Sebastian looks so hurt I want to go to him and offer him comfort, Tiamat looks like She could quite possibly commit murder, and Drake’s sneer increases, and he says derisively, “Pah! You Vampires are far too free and easy with your love. It is a disgrace.”
“Daddy,” I warn him quietly with a look that he shrugs off.
“It makes no difference anyway,” he says grandly, “You can call them both your husbands, but the only one I will accept and acknowledge is Kalen.”
“Never,” Tiamat hisses at him and I have the presence of mind to move us out of the line of fire. And I do mean that literally. “My daughter will never unite in a Fae marriage.”
“Oh, she will,” Drake responds. “My daughter will be wed to Kalen by the end of the month. We have waited about long enough. That is why we are here. To bring her back with us.”
I look to Sebastian to confirm that and he shrugs slightly, still reeling from CK’s announcement.
“Over my dead body!” She shrieks at him, advancing forward, talons already extended. “She is not your daughter! She is mine!”
Oh, crap, this is bad. I had thought the whole ‘playing nice’ was just an act. This is far more in line with how I thought it would go.
The crackle of magick goes across Drake as he pulls on his power. Hopefully this is just them posturing and they won’t actually assault each other.
“Mother,” I say to Her, but She ignores me, still yelling to Drake that he will never get his hands on me, blah, blah, blah. They look like they are about to attack so I pull on CK and Cole and nod my head to Sebastian and we all leave them to it. I scamper across the terrace wanting to be as far away from them as possible, in case one of them decides to grab me and run. I really hate this whole piggy-in-the-middle thing.
“Well, that was a disaster,” CK says, when we are safely out of reach. “It is any wonder you were conceived, Aefre, with all that hostility between them.”
I snicker despite myself, as I must agree. It is hard to see them being in love after what we just witnessed. I turn to Sebastian and ask, “Why now? Are things getting better?”
He shakes his head. “No, not really. Neither side will give in, but I am done, Livvie. I am going through with my plan as soon as I can, but I need you protected first.”
“Plan?” CK asks. “What plan?”
“I never wanted this,” Sebastian says. “You know this has never been what I wanted. I did this for Liv, to keep her safe. But it isn’t enough. We need to be wed before I abdicate.”
“Abdicate? You are coming home?” CK sounds delighted with this news, as am I, but I am still wondering what he means about keeping me safe.
“Yes,” Sebastian sighs. “I am going to let Thrace take over, but if we aren’t married by then,” he looks to me, “you will belong to him. Drake will have no choice but to give you to him and Thrace will take you and do his duty. Over and over again until he gets the outcome he wants.”
Chapter 4
Buckinghamshire, England, June 2013 - Liv
“What is exactly is that supposed to mean?” Cole asks in dread as CK goes all fierce.
“It means, that she will be used to produce this so-called blessed baby,” CK growls at him.
“Oh,” Cole gulps and then gets angry. “That is not going to happen. Liv, you promised me there would be no Faerie baby!”
So, he’s less annoyed about me being used and more about me doing what I promised I wouldn’t. Gee thanks.
“Calm yourself,” I snap at him, irate. “There isn’t going to be a baby. Seb, what exactly do you mean if we get married, I will be safe from him?”
“Even if I abdicate, you will be mine,” he says, to much growling and hissing from my husbands. “The Faerie are quite traditional in their views on marriage and as long as I live, even if I am no longer King, you will be mine and not be given to anyone else. Even in this instance, the responsibility will fall on me.”
I put my hands on my hips, extremely pissed off all of a sudden. These creatures just cannot go around thinking that I am some sort of prize to be won and then passed along as and when they feel like it.
“You know what I mean.” Sebastian tries to placate me as he sees my rise in temper.
“Hm,” I say to him. “Are you absolutely sure? Even under these circumstances? I just want all of this over with.”
“I know you do, but it will never be over with. They are all going to expect a baby, Livvie. You are going to have to face that,” Sebastian says, quite boldly, I think.
CK has had enough of this and does something he has probably wanted to do since the day he threw me out of the tower at Ponte. He draws his fist back and punches Sebastian squarely in the face. He held back, of course, a lot! But man, that had to hurt. Sebastian’s nose is flattened, blood spurting out everywhere, both of his eyes have gone black, and he is furious with his sire. I grab Cole a second before Sebastian retaliates, moving him away from the fight that is about to go down. I stand there gaping at them, wrestling like two idiots, as Cole is trying his hardest not to laugh. I don’t blame him. I have no doubt he would have loved to be the one to hit Sebastian, not to mention having CK bent over double with a fist to the stomach. I have to wonder if Sebastian will pull out his magick, but then think probably not. He would rather kill himself than really hurt our sire. Not that CK would go down without a fight. I remember his own power and I have no doubt that Fae King or not, as his Vampire charge, Sebastian would be affected by it. I huff at both of them, now grappling in the grass, exchanging blows that would punch holes through a weaker Vampire.
“Enough!” I shout at them. I have enough to worry about with my parents still arguing in the library. I march over as they ignore me and grab each of them by the collars, hauling them to their feet. “Enough,” I say again. “Look at you two, you are both nearly three thousand years old and you are acting like this is a schoolyard.”
They both glare at each other but make no move as I have them held tightly in my grip. I feel them both lose t
heir Vampire tension and I let them go. I take in their appearance with a look which does not hide my feelings over their adolescent behavior. They are both crushed and bloody and their clothes are torn, and grass stained. They are a mess.
“There is no need for this,” I admonish them.
“Yes, there is!” CK shouts at Sebastian. “He is using this whole prophecy business to get you into his bed and pregnant with his child. I will not, NOT allow that to happen, Aefre. Do you hear me?” He turns his bellowing on to me and I just roll my eyes at him.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoff. “Sebastian doesn’t want this baby either.” I am fully confident in this declaration because he has told me that he doesn’t. I look to Sebastian for confirmation, but he is looking away almost guiltily and I prod him. “Seb?” I snap at him. “Tell our sire that you don’t want this baby.” I say it almost as a warning, because if he has changed his mind about it, I will smack him around a bit myself. I wait as he remains silent, and I am just about to blast him with a punch of my own when he sighs.
“It’s not so much that I want it, but that they aren’t going to give up until we have it,” he says quietly.
“They can’t make you have it,” Cole says, stepping to my side. “They can’t force you two to have sex.” He looks at me then and adds, “Can they?” in fear.
“No, Cole,” I say, “they cannot.” I leave out the fact that Sebastian and I are already engaging in that act all on our own. No force necessary. Fortunately, so does Sebastian and I am grateful he took the high road. I am even more grateful when Tiamat and Drake join us on the lawn.
“Get your issues sorted?” I ask, more than a little sarcastically.
I see them both take in the destruction that is CK and Sebastian along with my lawn filled with fist-sized potholes, and mutter, “Don’t ask,” and neither of them do.
Tiamat smoothes down Her hair and adjusts Her gown and I see the flush on Her cheeks and Drake’s smug, self-satisfied look.