Enchanted Addictions: A Reverse Harem Fairy Romance (The Twilight Court Book 11)

by Amy Sumida

  “Get up!” Verisande growled. “And come here, Seren!”

  I got to my feet and walked back to her as slow as possible. We were right beside the helicopter now. The blast from the propellers slashed my hair around my face and made the torn edges of my dress flap. Verisande reached out and slapped me.

  “I've been wanting to do that for awhile,” she declared. “Oh, what fun I'm going to have with you, Your Majesty. I'm going to cut you all over your body, again and again, and watch you bleed. I'll take off your lips and feed them to you, then slice away your eyelids so you have to watch as I—”

  Drostan grabbed Verisande by the shoulders with a look of pure rage. Light flared from beneath his palms as his magic surged straight into her. Verisande's eyes widened and she turned her head to look at Drostan over her shoulder. Her hair—the wig and the real stuff beneath—burned away as her skin went black. I jerked back as her clothing caught fire. The helicopter rose into the sky, the blast from its propellers sending ashes swirling as Verisande crumpled to her knees. Drostan went down with her and caught her when she fell forward. He shifted her blackened body into his lap and laid a gentle hand on her charred cheek.

  She stared up at him with empty eye sockets and whispered, “Why?”

  “You left me no choice,” Drostan said brokenly and set her body aflame.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Drostan hung his head and wept.

  “Ambassador, what's happened? Are you all right?” Sloane whispered in my ear.

  “Yes, Drostan and I are fine. Verisande is dead,” I answered, then went to my knees beside Drostan. “Drostan, I'm so sorry.” I laid my hand on his shoulders.

  Drostan lifted his gaze to mine. “I couldn't let her... I saw no other way.”

  “I know. You did what you had to do and you saved us. Thank you.”

  My husbands, guards, Nightblade, Williams, several hunters, and even more extinguishers rushed out onto the roof moments later. They looked at the charred corpse, still in Drostan's arms, then at Drostan, and, finally, at me.

  I shook my head at them. “Give us a minute.”

  “Fuck that,” Raza snarled as he rushed over to me and yanked me to my feet. He pulled me into a tight embrace, breathing me in deeply. “Mo shíorghrá,” he whispered.

  “I'm okay,” I said as I reached a hand out to Killian.

  Kill took my hand and kissed it, then looked over at Drostan. He grimaced.

  “Bro, she's okay. Let her help him,” Killian said to Raza.

  Raza snarled at Killian but also released me. I kissed his cheek but before I could leave, he shrugged out of his jacket and helped me into it.

  “Thank you,” I murmured. I had completely forgotten about the state of my dress.

  Raza's gaze went to the blood on my neck. He reached up and swiped it away, then let out a sigh of relief. “Healed,” he whispered.

  “It was only a little scratch.” I squeezed his hand. “I'll be right back, okay?”

  Raza swallowed visibly and nodded.

  On my way over to Drostan, I noted the holes in his pants—ragged things outlined in ash. Oddly enough, it was the only damage done to his clothing. His sleeves, down to his white cuffs, had survived. I blinked and nearly stumbled as I realized that Drostan had helped me keep my promise. I had watched Verisande burn, just not in the way I'd expected.

  “Verisande would have been hunted and extinguished,” I said gently as I knelt beside him. “At least this way, it was done by someone she loved.”

  “Is that better or worse?” Drostan stared hollowly at me.

  “Better,” I said firmly. “Far better.”

  “This is not how I wanted things to end between us.”

  “I know.” I took his hand—it was still warm. “You did the right thing. She was...” I shook my head.

  “Insane,” he finished for me.

  “I believe so.”

  “I always knew Veri was colder than other women but this?” Drostan shook his head. “I had no idea that she was a monster.”

  “Power does funny things to people. Sometimes it can bring out the good in them and sometimes the bad. Sometimes it just makes them fucking crazy.”

  Drostan gave a shocked little laugh. Then he looked down at Verisande's body and his laughter turned into a sob.

  “Give her to me, Drostan.” I held out my arms.

  “No.”

  “I'll make sure that she's handled respectfully,” I promised.

  “Just a moment longer, Seren,” he begged.

  I nodded. “Okay. I'm going to be over there.” I waved back at my husbands.

  Drostan nodded.

  I got to my feet and gestured to everyone that we should move away from Drostan and Verisande's corpse. We went to stand near the door and huddled up.

  “What about her mercenaries?” I asked Sloane.

  “They left as soon as they heard the chopper go,” Extinguisher Lance Sloane said. “I don't think they know that she's dead.”

  “I sent hunters after them,” Nightblade added. “I think some of the vexes went as well.”

  I took both of my husbands' hands. That simple connection was enough to calm me completely. “Good. We'll need to track down that helicopter too.”

  “Already on it,” Williams said. He turned to Extinguisher Bridget Kavanaugh. “Get a body bag, Kavanaugh.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She ran off.

  “How did Verisande get the drugs into the champagne?” I wondered as I slid a glance over at Drostan—he was staring at Verisande's body as if he didn't know what it was.

  “She must have intercepted the delivery,” Williams speculated. “But how she knew to do so—that we'd be here tonight to drink the stuff—is beyond me.”

  “She was a smart woman,” I said. “She knew we were looking for her and the gala was an opportunity for us to find her. She may have simply figured it out. Either that or she bugged Drostan's house.” I grimaced. “Probably the latter. We were a bit arrogant to assume that we were the only ones using surveillance equipment.”

  “We'll notify his security team and scan Drostan's house tonight,” Williams said. “Not that it matters now. I think we can safely say that this case is closed.”

  “Not until we find the rest of Verisande's drugs,” I protested. “I'm not leaving St. Louis until I know for certain that newt is gone for good.”

  “And we need to find the Alp Luachras,” Raza growled. “I'm not leaving until I find my missing subjects.”

  I winced. “I'm sorry, Raza. I forgot about them.”

  “It's okay, mo shíorghrá.” Raza lifted my hand and kissed it. “I remembered for us both.”

  “From the moment I saw you with the kuperies, I knew you'd make an amazing king,” I whispered to him.

  Raza beamed at me.

  “Verisande's mercs will be able to tell us where the Alp Luachras are,” Killian noted. “In fact, that's probably where they're headed.”

  “I'll contact the hunters and tell them to hold back until Verisande's men reach their destination.” Nightblade broke off from our group to make the call.

  Something moved out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see Drostan twist Verisande's head off with a sharp motion. Ash lifted into the air and floated down around him. We gaped at Drostan as he lifted the head and roared in agony.

  “Drostan!” I shouted and ran over to him.

  Drostan's roaring settled into a keening as he lowered Verisande's head and slumped over it. I took it from him just as Kavanaugh returned with the body bag. She approached us hesitantly, and I nodded to her. Kavanaugh unfolded the bag and unzipped it for me. I set Verisande's head in the bag, then Kavanaugh helped me place the body within it as well. She zipped it up and carried it away. It wasn't that heavy.

  I turned to Drostan and he fell into my arms. His body trembled violently and his tears soaked into my skin. I stroked his hair gently and cooed to him as I did with my children when they got hurt.

  �
�I got you,” I said softly. “It's okay. I've got you.”

  “Please, don't let go,” Drostan whispered.

  Chapter Fifty

  I didn't let go of Drostan until we were walking through his front door. Conri drove the Lamborghini back while Drostan and I went in an SUV with our extinguisher team. My husbands didn't even complain when I said I was going with him, just nodded in understanding. By the time we arrived, Verisande's thugs had been trailed to a home just outside of St. Louis and were apprehended. The drugs and the Alp Luachras were found on the premises—the fairies chained up in the basement.

  “You can stay here,” Raza said to me after we'd received the news. “But I need to see them home. I made a promise.”

  I looked at Drostan. “I'm so sorry but I have to go.”

  “I know. Your people need you.” He smiled softly. “Your other people. I'm okay now, Your Majesty. Thank you for your... kindness.”

  I hugged him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  Drostan stiffened and stepped back. I could have smacked myself. Regardless of what he felt for me, my words had been an awful epiphany for him. I was the reason he had killed his lover. He had traded her life for mine. It didn't matter that Verisande may have killed thousands of humans or exposed the Fey to all of humanity, I had lived while she had died and it had been his choice. I could see it in his eyes—I had just ceased to be someone he wanted to be around. I was no longer a comfort; I was a reminder.

  Maybe that was for the best.

  “I'll stay with him,” Killian offered.

  “Thank you,” I whispered to Kill as Raza and I left.

  We went with, Sloane, Williams, and my guards in one of the SUVs. Nightblade was on his way to the house as well; he'd been the one to call us. Speaking of calls, Williams let Sloane drive so he could call Head Councilman Teagan and let him know that it was over. He glanced at me as he spoke to Teagan, verifying that it really was over, and I nodded. Yes, with the drugs and the Alp Luachras found, our mission was complete. We could leave St. Louis.

  My thoughts drifted back to Drostan as we drove. I hated the idea of leaving him alone in that huge house to mourn Verisande. But he didn't want me there and I knew that even if he had and I stayed, it would give him the wrong impression. Saving my life had won him my esteem and gratitude but it hadn't won my heart. I still didn't feel the Call. Drostan was a good man but he wasn't my man. My man sat beside me, anxiously waiting to restore his people to their home, even though their home was far away from the land he ruled.

  I smiled softly as I took Raza's hand. My dragon had a huge heart and yet, he had vowed to burn the world for me. Knowing how much he cared about people made that vow all the more precious. I know, that sounds a little selfish and perhaps a little crazy, but it was the kind of crazy that made me blissfully happy. Verisande killed for pleasure, but Raza killed to protect who and what he loved. One is insane and the other insanely wonderful.

  Raza looked over at me and saw the love in my eyes. His tension left him and he smiled.

  “I love you, Dragon,” I whispered earnestly. “I would burn the world for you too.”

  Raza grinned wider. “You liked that, did you?”

  “It was very romantic.”

  “In a psychotic way,” Conri muttered.

  “If you continue to ruin this moment between my wife and me, I will skin you alive, Bargest,” Raza declared casually.

  Conri stopped ruining the moment.

  I snuggled in against my romantic, psychotic husband and sighed. He still looked like a slim blond man. While the rest of us had used a glamour, Raza had actually changed his body so he couldn't switch back without destroying the clothes he was wearing. But it didn't matter. He was still Raza, no matter what shape he took, and the scent that rose from his skin confirmed it. I inhaled deeply and laid my hand over his heart—that was the same as well. Nothing could change Raza's heart, not even himself.

  An hour later, we parked in the driveway of the house Verisande had been using as a hideout. It was a ranch style—one story and simple, with dying flowers in the beds beneath the windows. Someone hadn't been watering. The driveway was long but also full of cars so we had to park at the end. We climbed out and headed for the house.

  The night was cool but still humid, reminding me a little of my time in Hawaii. Of course, it never got this cold in Hawaii. The Alp Luachras must really have thick skin to live in water at these temperatures. And this was only early Fall, Winter might even bring some snow. But it snowed in parts of Unseelie too so they were probably used to weather like this.

  Nightblade met us halfway down the drive. “The humans have been executed by order of the High Council. We interrogated them first and are satisfied that we have all of the drugs they created. They were waiting until after she secured immunity tonight before they distributed the new version of newt. Verisande had plans to take over the United States of America.”

  “Fuck me,” Sloane whispered.

  “What about backers?” Williams asked. “Did her men tell you anything about other humans or fairies working with her?”

  Nightshade shook his head. “They said she was the boss.”

  “Good. I'd hate to have to call back Councilman Teagan and tell him we had more fairies to chase,” Williams muttered.

  “What about notebooks?” I asked. “She must have kept some record of how she made newt.”

  Nightblade grimaced. “I thought the same but we found nothing. I'm assuming—and hoping—that she kept it all in her head but my team and some vexes are currently searching the house. If we find anything, we'll let you know.”

  “Did you destroy the drugs?” Sloane asked.

  “No, we were waiting for you to arrive. I assumed that you would like to witness their destruction.”

  “Thank you,” Williams said. “We would at that. I'll need to record it for evidence.”

  “What about my people?” Raza asked, obviously at the end of his patience.

  “They are in the house, awaiting their king. If you would follow me, Your Majesty, I'll take you to them.” Nightblade motioned toward the house and then led us into it.

  Inside, there was a flurry of activity—hunters and vexes searching every inch of the place. There wasn't a lot of furniture from what I could see. A rickety dining set sat near the kitchen on our right and a few worn chairs and a couch slouched in the living room to our left. Six Alp Luachras huddled on the couch while a hunter inspected the fireplace.

  “Give us the room,” Nightblade said to the hunter.

  The man, straightened, nodded to us respectfully, and left the living room. As he did, the Alp Luachras noticed us and jumped to their feet. One of them stepped forward.

  “Queen Seren, it's an honor to be in your presence,” he said reverently.

  All of the Alp Luachras bowed.

  Raza grimaced and I chuckled.

  “King Raza had to hide his identity tonight to catch the woman who was holding you captive,” I explained as I gestured toward Raza. “This is your king.”

  The Alp Luachras yelped in shock and bowed again, murmuring, “Your Majesty.”

  Raza nodded as if that had been the appropriate reaction.

  “Your Majesties, we were told that you were coming to take us home,” one of the Alp Luachra males said. “Does that mean we must return to Fairy?”

  “No,” Raza said gently. “I came only to assure myself of your safety and see you back to your lake. I made a promise to your friends that I would do so. Unless, of course, you wish to return to Fairy?”

  The Alp Luachras looked at each other consideringly.

  The female stepped forward. “You came for us? Just to see that we were safe?”

  “Of course. I am your king. Your welfare is important to me.”

  “It never mattered to King Uisdean,” she said softly as if Uisdean might hear her.

  “He wasn't your true king.” Raza lifted his chin.

  Th
e Alp Luachras looked at each other again.

  The female said, “I would like to go home—my real home.” Her eyes welled with tears. “I haven't seen Unseelie in over two hundred years.”

  “I would be honored to escort you there,” Raza gallantly.

  “I wanna go too,” another one said.