Elle looked around. “It’s warded,” Elle explained. “And it’s kept us safe so far.” She followed Ryder up the stairs, as he carried Victor up to a room. He put Victor on a bed. “He should wake up soon. His wounds are already healing.”
Tabitha was checking the room like she expected something to jump out from the closest or from under the bed.
Elle stood to the side, all she really wanted was to climb into the bed and sleep. “Okay want to tell me who you are now?”
Tabitha looked from Elle back to Victor. “You want to have this conversation in front of a Reaper?”
Elle laughed. “Not sure he is going to have anything to say about it.”
“You trust him?” she asked surprised.
Elle didn’t even hesitate. “With my life.”
“Considering the situation, you have no other choice,” Tabitha said crossing her arms over her chest.
“Who are you?” Elle asked shaking her head.
“I am a Daughter of Eve. I am a Warrior class and in this case judge and jury. We were informed that a Son of Adam was attempting to mate with a demi-god. We didn’t know who it was or why, I was sent out to find out what was going on. And if necessary protect the demi-god fromn the Son of Adam. And where possible reap justice on the wayward Son of Adam. My spies led me to the Freaks and you, and then to Aldon. What he is trying to do is against our laws. He has broken the Compact, and his life is now forfeit.” Elle sighed, looked around and found a chair, and then sat down heavily as Tabitha finished. “You have become a pawn and it is paramount Aldon does not succeed in mating with you. I have sent a message to the Daughters of Eve as well as the Sons of Adam on the Judgment.”
“So neither fraction knows what he is doing?
Elle had a hard time believing that. “Who is funding his little science project then?”
Tabitha shrugged, “Aldon is breaking many of our first laws. I have a hard time believing he is in good standing with the Sons of Adam.” She admitted. “Like I said, I was sent out to find out if the rumors were true. And if they were I was to take care of the issue. The Sons and Daughters have long been thought gone, and we are not part of the Tribunal. We do not fall beneath there rules. Unless otherwise stated from my council Aldon is a dead man walking. And I will protect you from him till my dying breath.”
Elle rubbed at her temples, “Sorry but none of this makes sense to me.”
Tabitha nodded, “You’re exhausted, and you need to get some rest. And will be no good to anyone if you collapse from exhaustion. Get some rest. I will stand guard.” Tabatha motioned to the bed.
Elle agreed completely and climbed into the bed next to Victor, Tabitha turned the light out. Elle watched as she moved to stand by the window. The sun was just rising, Elle placed her hand over Victor’s heart.
The night had been so busy and fraught with so much excitement and fights and information she couldn’t begin to wrap her brain around it all.
She should stop and think it all through but she was just too damn tired. Tomorrow would be soon enough.
****
“Who the fuck are you?” Victor growled. Bringing Elle fully awake, she rolled to her feet and looked around the room.
Victor had Tabitha by the throat; Tabitha had a gun to Victor’s temple. “Release me,” Tabitha growled back.
“Let her go.” Elle stumbled toward them.
“What?” Victor snarled. “What the hell is she? And why is she in our bedroom?”
“I’m here to protect her, you imbecile?” Tabitha said. With a calm Elle wouldn’t have believed possible, with a Reaper holding you by the throat. “Now let me go, or you’ll be recovering from a bullet wound instead of an ass kicking.”
Victor snarled and released her, then turned to Elle. “We have to talk,” he grabbed Elle and walked to the door. He made it to the door but was stopped when Tabitha grabbed Elle by the other arm.
Elle groaned because she just knew this wasn’t going to go well. “She doesn’t go anywhere without me, Reaper.”
Victor turned slowly, and Elle rubbed at her forehead. “Excuse me?”
“Sorry Tabitha, we just need a minute.” Elle reached around Victor and opened the door. She motioned for Tabitha. Tabitha glared but nodded and went through the door.
“I’ll be right outside.” Tabitha said, pointedly. Elle nodded and then closed the door.
“How long was I out?” Victor asked pushing his hand through his hair. “And who the hell is that?”
“You were only out the day. And she is Tabitha, a Daughter of Eve,” she explained where Tabitha had come from.
Victor growled and started to pace. “How many more players are going to join this game?”
Elle shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Victor what the hell is going on? How has everything gotten so out of control? And what the hell is the Blood Rite Dagger? And why does the sound of it scare the hell out of me?”
Victor kneeled down in front of her, and took her hands. “We are going to get through this, Elle.”
Elle pulled her hands away from him. “You keep saying that, and then we go out and come back with our asses handed to us.” She stood and pushed past him. “I’m kinda starting to care about you and these horrible Trackers and I don’t want to see anyone of you hurt. And every time we go out there we get hurt.”
“Don’t worry about the Trackers.” Victor swore. “We have more to worry about.”
Elle turned on him. “How can I not worry about them? We brought them into this fight!” She all but shouted.
“I didn’t mean not to worry about them, just that they can take care of themselves.” Victor sighed heavily. "You are all fighting because of me. Fighting to keep me safe. To keep me from being a brood mare for Aldon! How am I supposed to not worry?"
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Victor demanded.
“I should never have called for you. This isn’t your fight, Victor. This isn’t the Trackers’ fight.” Elle pushed past him again and threw the door open. Tabitha came in with a smile on her face. Elle just knew the woman had been listening at the door. “This is a fight for me and Tabitha.”
“The fuck it is,” Victor said pushing Tabitha out of the room.
Tabitha pushed him back, Elle tried to get between them.
“Don’t push me Reaper,” Tabitha snapped.
“Don’t get between me and Elle, bitch.” Victor got right in Tabitha’s face.
“She is not your problem. I am here to kill Aldon and stop him from his attempts.” Tabitha grabbed at Elle and pulled her behind her. Elle shook her head and tried to step out of the way, she wasn’t about to get in between these two.
Victor growled. “Don’t get between us.”
Tabitha laughed at him. Making Elle flinch. “And just who is going to stop me, Reaper?”
“Uh, Tabitha…” Elle started.
But Victor moved fast, pulling Elle close he spun around so Elle was now behind him. “Are we truly going to go through this shit?” he snapped.
Elle felt like she was still asleep and just wanted everything to go away. “Victor I don’t want everyone’s life to be put in jeopardy.”
“Have you thought, maybe just for one second that I have started to care for you? These people are willing to fight with you, have started to care for you?” He looked like he was ready to strangle her.
Elle shook her head. “No, because they don’t know who I am. They just met me. You don’t know me.”
Victor grabbed her and she was sure he was going to shake her. But Tabitha grabbed him breaking his hold on her.
“Don’t touch her.” Elle was shocked into immobility when Tabitha back handed him. “It sounds like she wants you to leave.”
Victor shook off the blow and glared at Tabitha. “Touch me again woman and I will retaliate.”
Elle felt her mouth drop open, Tabitha stepped forward. Her nose almost touching Victor’s. “If you think I am afraid of you, Re
aper, you would be mistaken.”
Elle couldn’t help the snort of laughter that escaped. She was just stunned. “You’re insane woman.”
Tabitha and Victor both turned to Elle. “Am I supposed to cow to him because he is a Reaper or because he is male?”
“Both,” Victor snarled.
“Well…” Elle drew the word out at the same time.
Victor glared at Tabitha. Elle gave him a weak smile. “Whose side are you on?” Elle snapped.
Victor leaned close making Elle catch her breath. “Elle, I am always on your side,” he inhaled her scent. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and draw him close. And the look in his dark eyes said he knew it.
“I’m not leaving you, Elle,” Victor told her.
“I can’t stand the thought of you or the Trackers being hurt,” she whispered.
“Nobody needs to be hurt,” Tabitha said from behind Victor. But Elle ignored her now.
Victor tipped her head up so she was looking at him. “I can’t promise what is going to happen Elle, all I can tell you is I will stand and fight for you.” She wanted to bury herself into him.
“We can do this without him,” Tabitha said again.
Elle smiled at Victor who couldn’t keep the irritation from his eyes. “Why do you care?”
“I’m a sucker for golden eyes.” He trailed a finger down her cheek.
Elle heard Tabitha snarl something and then the door slam behind her. “I didn’t think she was ever going to leave.” And then he was kissing her. Burying his tongue in her mouth, he pulled her close to him. Tunneling his fingers in her hair, he held her close. Elle knew this was the last thing she should be doing but she was losing her footing on reality, and when Victor touched her like this she couldn’t think.
“This is a bad idea.” Elle moaned when Victor released her mouth. She felt him smile as he tipped her head to the side his fingers delving into her hair. She tried to push him away so she could think straight again but he wouldn’t allow much distance between them. And the more his taste flooded her the more she lost hold of reality and fell into the grasp of the sexual reality he wove around her.
“This feels to damn good, to be bad.” He whispered, as he placed kisses against her mouth. Deepening his kiss until she couldn’t think, couldn’t feel anything but his lips, his tongue exploring her mouth. She was lost to him, and she didn’t care.
Victor wouldn’t allow her to push him away. Her damn siblings had convinced her it was her place to be a martyr. But Victor wasn’t going to allow it to happen any longer. Not now, not ever again
Caring for her had been the last thing he had wanted but now he had her in his arms he knew he wasn’t about to push her away. He had never met anyone who needed him as much as Elle did. And he enjoyed the feeling of being needed. And the greatest part was she desperately didn’t want him hurt.
How many times had he been used, for who and what he was? Elle would walk into the belly of the beast, if it meant others would not be hurt? Even others she had never met before. Victor had never met anyone so selfless before. He felt awed to just be in her presences, how could anyone want to hurt her?
Even the thought of Aldon possessing her made him want to drag the bastard straight to hell.
Victor picked Elle up cradling her until she straddled him. He pressed her against the wall she moaned low making him a little crazy with need. Victor finally carried her to the bed. She had tried to get rid of him this morning and he was going to prove to her he wasn’t going anywhere. She was his, he was going to fight for her, and she needed him as much as he needed her.
He laid her down on the bed. He stared down at her golden eyes. Eyes that stared up at him. “You can’t ever get rid of me, Elle.”
He dragged his fingers through her hair combing the thick strands across the sheets. “I’m not going anywhere, Elle.” She shook her head, and he knew she wanted to argue..
“You’re not alone anymore,” he whispered against her throat as he pressed his tongue along and down her chest. He needed her naked like he needed his next breath. He pulled on the helm of the t-shirt and she allowed him to pull it over her head. His breath caught at the site of her full breasts, incased in her lace bra.
“Gods Elle, you’re so fucking beautiful.” He felt his brain scatter as he focused on the woman. He couldn’t remember wanting anyone the way he wanted her. He shook with his need, his hands settled beneath her breasts and felt her shudder beneath him.
“Victor.” She moaned his name. Making his cock kick and strain against his jeans, begging for release “Please.”
He smiled, as she arched into his kiss. “Tell me what you want, Elle.”
“Gods Victor, I don’t know.” She squirmed and simultaneously pulled and pushed him away. “But don’t stop.”
Victor had no plans of stopping any time soon. His hands circling her, and flipping the clasps to her bra. He peeled the lace away baring her beautiful breasts to him. He smiled and held her eyes as he lowered his mouth to one hard peak. He chuckled softly when her eyes practically crossed as he tugged the peak into his mouth flicking the nipple with his tongue.
“Gods, Victor, don’t ever stop,” Elle cried out again, making Victor feel like a god.
He was about to move to the other breast when Dante called, sending a sharp stab straight through the base of his skull. He growled low, burying his face in Elle’s throat. He tried to ignore it but within seconds the call came again. Dante wasn’t going to be ignored and Victor shook his head trying to dislodge the sudden and searing pain that warred with sexual frustration coursing through his veins. “I need you so bad, Elle.” The words groaned out between his teeth.
“I’m right here.” She spiked her fingers through his hair. Holding him close and making his body ache to the point of pain.
Dante’s call came again and Victor stumbled away from the bed clutching at his head. He felt something trickle from his nose and he wiped it with the back of his hand; it came away bloody.
“Dante is demanding an audience,” he snarled through his teeth. “Elle…” he took a step toward the bed. He needed to explain.
But when he looked at her the passion shinning in her eyes made him falter. “Ah sweetheart don’t look at me like that.” He was gasping for air and she looked so freaking hot and ready to be fucked. Her lips were puffy and kiss swollen, breasts full and nipples hard. His body was at war with itself. His head was pounding, nose bleeding, demanding he answer Dante. But gods damn, the rest of him demanded he satisfy his woman.
She bit her bottom lip, confusion written all over her face. And when he stumbled back as Dante called again, she gave him a look like he was betraying her.
“I can’t ignore Dante.” He took a step away from her before he fell on her; he felt something snap in his head and damn him he stumbled and was that him crying out in pain? Fuck he had turned into a pussy. He was fighting the call and it was showing. “I have to go, Elle. I’m so sorry babe.”
She looked alarmed and recognition showed and she nodded, just as another call came and whether he liked it or not he was going.
Victor felt himself being ripped apart as he was pulled through time and space. It felt like he was being stabbed by a million burning needles. Another agonizing scream of pain was ripped from deep in his belly as his body was pulled apart atom by atom and then jammed back together just as roughly and then he was on his hands and knees gasping for air covered in his own blood. He was naked, and bleeding from several places but was in too much pain to find out exactly where. Taking inventor would have to wait. He felt Dante standing over him. Victor concentrated on breathing and waiting for Dante to speak.
“You try to deny me?” Dante asked softly.
“No, Father,” Victor answered just as softly. It hurt to speak. It felt like he had gargled with glass. Probably from all the screaming he had just done.
“The method by which you appeared would speak otherwise,” Dante said.
“I apologize, father,” Victor whispered.
“You have grown too close to this demi-god.” Dante’s voice was growing angry and Victor was in too much pain to even rise to meet his anger. “And now the Blood Rite Dagger almost claimed one of my sons.”
“I was able to save Garrett,” Victor reminded him.
“Do not contradict me.” Dante swore, making Victor flinch.
“Why did we not know the Sons of Adam had the Blood Rite Dagger?” Dante roared. Making the marble floor beneath Victor tremble.
Victor could not continue to stay in this subjugated position, and he forced himself to stand. He wobbled on shaky legs, but was able to meet his father’s eyes. All his brothers stood around them, including Celeste and Marcus. And they all looked just as upset as Victor felt. So this was a dressing down for them all, not just Victor. Somehow it didn’t make him feel any better.
“It was a surprise,” Victor admitted.
Dante’s eyes were furious. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” He roared.
“Of course not.” Victor nodded.
“Have you figured out how the Tribunal is involved?” Dante demanded. “Or have you spent your time bedding the demi-god whore?”
“Not yet,” Victor admitted grinding his teeth and swallowing past the insult he had leveled over Elle’s character.
Dante slammed his hand against the arm rest of his throne causing it to crumble beneath his attack.
“Because of the female,” he spat.
Victor kept his mouth closed. “What exactly is she to you?” he demanded. Victor continued to keep his mouth closed. “Obviously a distraction. Do I need to have her killed?”
“She can’t be killed,” Christian offered.
“You are banned from the mortal plane,” Dante dictated.
Victor blanched. “No.” He stepped forward, making a stand. For the first time, he held his father’s gaze.
Dante glared at him. A collective gasp rose from his siblings.
“I will not walk away from her.” Victor spoke the words, unsure what he was doing or how Dante would react to outright mutiny. Dante could destroy Victor if he wanted. Send him to Hell, or place him in a Pandora’s Box for all of eternity. But Victor wouldn’t walk away from Elle. He would fight for her. Do whatever it took to keep her. Even stand up to Dante.
Reaper Mine: A Reaper Novel Page 17