by Erin R Flynn
“None of us knew that,” the other sibling admitted.
“I figured. That always gets left off of the headlines. Speak with Helen. They had a fucked time trying to heal me. I was in a bad spot and for a while as the fires of Hades burned me to do it. I still have an ache now and again like it seared my bone and no amount of magic, healing, or chi can fix it.”
He nodded. “I will make sure people are made aware of that, but you are protected now that Brax stated his intent officially. They will not break our oaths, but also they hope having you in the family will garner the same result but with a nicer path. Either way, you, your coven, and any Warlocs are safe.”
“Any… Blood fuck,” I groaned, knowing what I’d forgotten. “Yes, fine, I heard you, but just so we’re clear, I don’t plan to ever mate, and even if he did and knocked me up with whatever babies, I won’t ever go demon hunting. It’s not my fight, and if whatever power in heaven didn’t let you do it, I’m certainly not fucking with that balance.”
“Where are we going?” Hunt asked when I stood and reached for his hand.
“To see the family,” I grumbled, popping us over to the Warloc estate. I almost burst out laughing when I found Victor and several of his nest blocking my uncle and a few dozen people I didn’t know from entering the main house.
He gave me a relieved look. “I realized you might not know how many other Warlocs there are, and we found them here trying to nick everything of magic all the way to the silver.”
“And I told you, leech, that I’m the oldest surviving Warloc male and it’s all mine since Nicholas didn’t have a son,” my uncle sneered.
“One, that’s not the laws of today, idiot,” I snapped. “Two, I’m the fucking elder, so there’s no way you just get everything. So piss off, you git.”
“Okay, I never found British accents hot, but seriously, when you get all Brit, I totally get hard,” Hunt muttered under his breath so only I would hear.
Except he hadn’t been around ancients enough, and they burst out laughing since they’d heard too.
“Thanks, I needed that laugh,” I admitted before focusing on the “family.” “Uncle, you’re lucky I’m not killing you outright after you spent every moment suggesting to Father that he hurt me worse or kill me for what I did to Mother. Yes, you loved her too. We both knew it, but you did nothing to save your niece from her abuse and egged him to do more. You’re a monster and…” My eyes went wide as Victor tore out Uncle’s throat.
He shrugged. “I’m not letting anyone else of this family hurt you. You’ve been through enough pain being born to them, and while you might show mercy, I won’t.” He narrowed his eyes at me when I opened my mouth. “You forget we heard your screams from your nightmares when you were a child and came to us for sanctuary, Soraya. The monsters who hurt you and terrorized you will never hurt you again.”
I bobbed my head as the others backed away from us. I studied them for a moment. “Uncle was the last. Father had a cousin who would enjoy slapping me and jeering he would buy me when I was older, but I don’t see him here. I know none of these people.”
“We’re all of his bloodline,” one woman said, gesturing to Uncle. “He was the only one who had any children. He took the mate Uncle Nicholas told him to, and she gave him a few children before she ran from his cruelty. He found her a century later and brought her back for the family to watch as he whipped her to death, making it clear that was the punishment for any who tried to escape him.”
“So he was just as fucked up as your dad, got it,” Hunt muttered, shaking his head. “Wow.” He gave me a worried look. “You didn’t want any more info dumps today. Can you put like a shield around the place and deal with it later?”
“Yes, yes I can,” I sighed, thinking it was the best idea I’d ever heard ever. I did as he said, pushing everyone back several feet as I enclosed the whole house and other buildings. I glanced at them. “Bury your dead. We will speak later.”
Several snorted, and I wondered if I might actually like my cousins.
“I could turn him to ash like I did my father,” I offered, doing it when they all nodded.
“Some of us lived here and were servants for your father,” one of the girls muttered, nodding to the house. “We were saying we lived here.”
Victor shrugged. “They were all yelling and a lot.”
Fair enough. I made some money appear and told them to go stay at whatever hotel or inn they wanted to after I let them get their papers and phones and whatnot. They could take a holiday and adjust to the changes since I wasn’t ready to deal with it all.
They seemed very happy with that plan.
After they left, I looked at Victor and those of his nest that had come to help me once again. “Tomorrow we’re blowing off some steam and heading to the deserted island we use for such fun. No cell phones or electronics will work, and we already bought everything for the drinks.” I gave Hunt a look when he cleared his throat. “I gave you one of the corporate cards to handle it.”
He gave me a nervous look. “I got some tequila, but I didn’t want to spend your money. I mean, I knew we’d need like limes or—”
“Oh, you are so fun sometimes,” I admitted, shaking my head. I made a corporate card appear and handed it to Victor. “If you would please go buy out a liquor store or two and we can bring it with when we come get you. I can have my people get all the fruit and whatever we’ll need.”
“What about dinner tonight?” he asked, taking the card. “I heard it’s a ton of authentic tempura and Brazilian style for dinner.”
“Yes, along with some insane salad bar with anything and everything we could think of,” I told him, giving a slow nod. “As long as you behave. We have a human performer, and don’t start shit with the elders I’ll have to deal with. And I plan on misbehaving, and probably a lot this whole weekend. Leave it alone.”
“Understood. We’ll go make those purchases and change.”
I wanted to smack myself for probably being stupid, but sometimes that was how the best things came about as well. Going near Hunt after his betrayal was seriously stupid, but he’d also been a big help.
Well, as long as I didn’t have him in charge of getting the alcohol for the party. Goof.
10
A little while later I met my date and pet in the lobby of The Resort. They were wearing the same tux with a few different changes or flare, as they couldn’t wear the same thing every day. Both looked amazing, and I was seconds from saying we should fuck the party and just fuck all night.
I, on the other hand, was wearing the ridiculously gorgeous dress that was basically a long sleeve crop top and a super low hanging skirt that draped over the floor. It had one strip attaching the pieces on front and back, and I’d added the beading and accents to match the guys’. The designer had added in cuts that went high and made the skirt into strips basically. It was very flattering and ultra revealing, but the black strappy heels fit the look perfectly.
“Wow,” Hunt breathed, seeing me first. He stared at me and licked his lips. He reached out and touched the satiny material of my sleeve that was stretchy. He focused on my breasts and gave me a curious look.
I smirked at him and took his hand, moving it to brush my pert nipple to answer his unasked question that no, I wasn’t wearing a bra under the thin, elastic-type material. “Satisfied?”
“Hard,” he answered, smiling when I laughed.
“Are we okay?” Brax asked as he took my arm. “I explained what happened, but you still don’t seem happy with me.”
“Cautious,” I corrected. “You did explain, but you also said a few times that you were low on the food chain, Brax. Oh, and your siblings hope they can get me to still do what they want if we mate. So how would that raise your standing?”
“A lot,” he admitted after a moment. “That isn’t what this is. I didn’t do it for that or even to pee around you so no one else could try and nab you and the title of being your mate. I thought only
to protect you.”
“I want to believe you. I truly do, but only time will tell.”
“I can wait.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I’ve waited thousands of years to find a woman I would even consider mating. I can take all the time needed to make sure it’s right.”
Which made me feel loads better. People rushed when they were up to no good. Well, that wasn’t the only reason they did, but it was a tell of something going on for sure.
Hunt grabbed us wine seconds after we entered the ballroom. He handed it to me and didn’t step away and let Brax be my date while he acted security.
Interesting.
I didn’t put it together at first, simply enjoying that they both seemed to have the single goal of spoiling me. Hunt caught a server with shrimp and crab tempura. Brax countered with some sweet potato and mushroom tempura. When I asked him to grab more mushrooms because they were really good, Hunt frowned.
Then he went and found me an array of octopus legs and calamari rings and scallops and more shrimp and shrimp cakes, which were with onions and just awesome. Brax frowned when I was happy and went for fried quail eggs and pork cutlets.
And back and forth they went, always touching me or taking any chance to ask what I wanted. They kept my wine glass full and spoiled me rotten.
“So are you guys like competing or just trying to spoil me because I’ll be in a tiny bikini tomorrow? I’ll go to the island naked if I get this sort of service all weekend.”
“I think it’s nervous energy,” Brax muttered, looking around the room. “Everyone’s incredibly nervous about what happened, what they learned, and I think those who had guessed are worried about your reaction.”
“Numb. Relieved. Processing,” I answered, guessing others could hear as well. “That’s where I’m at, and I could use some spring break mentality.” I turned to Hunt and realized he didn’t want to answer with Brax there even if the angel would hear it in his head. “Love, I could use some more wine and mushrooms.”
“I’ll find you some,” Brax said, taking my empty glass and kissing my cheek.
I leaned into Hunt, remembering how young he was and it was at the core of this. Sure, he was about thirty I’d guess, and for a human that was an adult, and he was, but for a wolf or supe that was really young.
“You’ve never said that to a woman before,” I guessed, kissing his cheek when he nodded.
“I’ve never felt it before,” he murmured, taking the chance to hold me close, his hands wandering over my naked skin. “It just came out. I feel it, but I just blurted it out, and it wasn’t the right time. I’m—I messed it up.”
I forgot for a second he still couldn’t say he was sorry or apologize, but then sighed. “I’m sorry it’s wasted on me. I’m not sure I believe that’s what you really feel, but I saw in your aura that you believe it, and I’m sorry you’re wasting your first real love on someone broken who won’t ever return it.”
“You are not broken, Soraya,” he whispered, hugging me tighter. “You’re not. I get you had your puppy love with Andrew and it went bad and then with the lion and it went maybe worse, but you are so, so loving. I don’t think you know it’s what you feel for people, as you’re afraid to feel it. We feel your love though.” He chuckled when I leaned back and gave him a look that he was dense. “I know you’re not in love with me.
“But you are loving towards me.” He shook his head when I tried to object. “Soraya, you’re comforting me right now. That’s you being loving. Your heart is so good you can’t help it. I feel loved. Even if you’re never in love with me, I feel loved. It’s not wasted on you. I’m glad it’s you even if you never love me back.”
I winced. I’d had people love me before, and I never returned it. He wouldn’t feel that way for long. He would come to hate me. I started to pull away, but he tightened his arms around me and kissed me deeply.
“Don’t pull away. My feelings are mine. You’ve been very clear what this is and what I am to you. I know others get jealous and it can change. I can see it from Theo even that he loved you and you’ve not even noted he’s here again. I won’t feel that. I won’t ever be like that. If you move on, I’ll deal, but you know I’m more open and like how you are.”
“You are,” I agreed. Most men wanted to own me, pee on me and make me theirs. Hunt wasn’t like that. Then what else he said sank in, and I glanced around. “I didn’t realize Theo was here.”
“You’ve had a lot today,” Hunt said gently. “He’s upset and in the middle and Alpha, so it’s normally about him. He’ll be fine.”
“I agree with the dog,” Victor muttered as he joined us. “Your pining kitty will recover just fine and move on.”
I opened my mouth but then closed it, reminding myself I wanted to play nicely. I sighed when he waved me on. “I don’t think you’re really the poster boy to give advice on people moving on.”
“I deserve that,” he accepted, much to the shock of his party.
I pulled away from Hunt and accepted my wine from Brax, not ready to introduce them just yet. Not until I tossed back the wine.
“Holy fuck, Soraya, what are you wearing?” Andrew asked, his eyes eating up every inch of me.
I shrugged as I tossed back my wine and handed my glass to Brax as I took the plate. “Not much.” I smiled when several people snorted. I ate my mushrooms, but then Hunt added some salmon and squash tempura that distracted me. “This is bloody fabulous. If I let you grope me in front of Andrew with whatever staring contest you two have, will you make sure someone from my coven spoils me with this now and again?”
“How about I just hug you and make sure to work that in?” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around me as I kept eating.
“Victor, this is Brax, my date even if my pet is helping keep the vultures away.” I snorted when they both flinched. “I miss little guys. I know you’ve been grabbing waiters but also giving death looks to any who come near me with that look in their eyes. I’ll thank you both later.”
“You don’t have to thank us for doing what we should,” Hunt mumbled as he kissed my hair.
“It’s good to meet you, Victor,” Brax said, extending his hand.
I watched them shake, knowing men well enough to expect what they would do. Sure enough, their knuckles turned white and I heard what sounded like bones breaking. “Play nice, children.”
“He started it,” Victor defended, rolling his eyes when I burst out laughing. “Yes, that did make me sound like a child more.”
“How come Colin is sitting out at a special table like he’s the guest of honor?” Hunt asked, guiding the conversation to a new topic.
“It’s his last meal,” I told him gently. “He’ll get all he wants to eat, and the vampires will drain him later. The last tribunal was for a woman, an elf, and she had a request for sex before she died. We ended up enjoying a lovely gang bang where anyone who wanted her got a chance with her. She figured if she was disgracing her people by dying by vamp bite, she might as well enjoy the full everything.”
“That explains what I caught earlier,” Brax muttered. “Colin asked for the same. I didn’t understand why so many women were debating sex with him like they were missing the chance, but apparently not.”
“No, but we have a human performer tonight, so it will be the show with dessert.”
“Interesting party, Soraya,” Victor chuckled, shaking his head.
I shrugged. “You should have seen some of the side games others played yesterday.” I nodded to the two lounges off the ballroom. “Elders are a dirty bunch who don’t get as much fun as the amount of stress we get should dictate.” I tilted my head up and accepted a kiss from Hunt. “Do you want to play again, pet? Sangria’s interested in the young wolf who I let be my pet. I love playing with her.”
He mashed his mouth to mine as his hands mapped my body. Oh boy, he really hadn’t known I’d played with women now and again. Yes, I was over a thousand years old. Why not try everything I could?
“So that’s a yes,” I panted. “Shit, you are so fun when you’re behaving. Good dog.”
“I’m twenty seconds from humping your fucking leg,” he growled in my ear. Everyone laughed then, which I was pretty sure was his goal.
“Um, can we really ‘partake’ of the refreshments?” one of the ancients asked, staring at a female shifter that was working as a server.
“Yes,” I answered. “My date has to change his appearance to be around humans, so this is a no humans allowed event. He handles it with the performances, but being around humans all the time would be a pain, as the angel aura was part of the fun of him being my date.”
“At first, right?” he checked. “I’ve been a good date, and we’ve had fun.”
“We’ve had fun,” I agreed, not willing to go much past that.
We ate a ton and enjoyed the variety of wine along with some funny stories. All polite and everyone behaving well, as they didn’t want to be the one uninvited next time. I checked in with Helen, Jerome, and Keegan at different times.
“I’ll be close and watching your back,” Hunt promised as it was time to start dinner. He gave me a sweet kiss before letting Brax and I head to the massive salad bar. Hey, it might have seemed cheesy for such a fancy party, but it had everything and was a good contrast after all that fried food and before we started on the meat feast.
I loaded up a huge plate, much to Brax’s amusement, and headed to our table. I was glad Helen made sure to seat me with friends, as they politely ignored the earlier events and instead we talked about the farms or Colin’s calm acceptance of what was coming.
The performer was wonderful, and I enjoyed the young man’s voice immensely. After I finished my salad, he went into a song about a woman mistreating him, and I started to feel a bit guilty. Yes, Hunt had betrayed us, but clearly he had been tricked.
Right, which was why I didn’t kill him, but was I being too cruel to him?
Undecided, I excused myself and nodded for Hunt to follow me. He came into the lounge with me, and instantly his lips were on mine. I used my power to move him to the chair near me, smirking as he realized I wasn’t there anymore. I moved closer, holding my finger to his lips to still him.