by JL Madore
I raised my chin and steadied my footing. “I shall ask you this only once, sir, step back and let me pass. Whatever you are playing at it is unwelcome. I have had enough.”
“Have you now?” His tight smile erased all traces of the handsome male I thought him to be. He dropped his gaze and stared boldly at the heave of my chest. A rush of male lust filled the air, the scent familiar and unwanted. “But, I haven’t had enough. Not nearly enough.”
When his gaze rose and his dark eyes met mine, magic tingled in my nose and the illusion dissolved. The pale complexion of a twenty-something boy morphed into a muscled, olive-skinned male. And there, his face inches from mine, stood Abaddon.
I swung my arm but he knocked the scepter to the forest floor as if it were nothing more than a twig. I pressed my hands against his chest. “Release me this instant or I shall scream and draw half of Talon’s army here to aid me.”
Abaddon tilted his head and laughed. The eerie sound sent a sickening wave twisting through my belly. “Scream away, we are veiled from prying ears.” He leaned closer and my head pressed hard against the tree. His mouth brushed my cheek and his breath warmed my ear. “One moment is all I need to tell you what’s about to happen. Then we’ll go meet with the Fates hand in hand.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “I shall never go anywhere with you peaceably.”
“I fucked you fair and square. You and I both know that makes you mine. Sooner or later, you’ll come to heel. I’m looking forward to you putting up a fight.”
Heat expanded in my chest and burned through my veins. “You are delusional.”
“Am I? You think you can stand up to the big, bad wolf, little girl? I assure you, you’ll lose if you try.”
“Yet even if you win, you lose. My body is warded against possession or anyone displacing my soul, I claimed my duty as Queen, and Castian, the Talon, and the true Order of Aina Ohtar support me. If you thought me an easy path to reinstate Rheagan, think again.”
Abaddon’s lip twitched as he stared at the crescent moon tattoo on my heaving flesh.
“Yes, Castian ensured no one will ever use my body to take control of the realm. It is within his right to protect me from his Pantheon and the evils of his sister. I shall never be the vessel for Rheagan’s resurrection.”
He squeezed my breast and thrust hard against my pelvic bone. “Well, would you look at that, my little mate found her mettle. And where did this fleeting vein of strength come from, I wonder?”
A deafening crack exploded above us. A thousand sparks of blue magic rained over an invisible shield. Abaddon smirked as another flash of blue lightning struck.
“You underestimate him, you know? Samuel is more of a male, warrior and wizard than you could ever be.”
Abaddon’s gaze narrowed and the rising violence in his glare froze in my chest. “Impossible. The Celt couldn’t have fucked you. Highborne laws are absolute.”
I smiled and locked gazes with the monster in him. “A fact that shall set me free.”
His nostril’s flared as he inhaled. “A bluff and not a very convincing one at that.”
With everything in me, I committed to my words. “You know the law but there is a spirit of the law you missed. Mating a Highborne is the claiming and pleasuring of a female after her age of eligibility. To be drugged and violated to the most intimate depths held no pleasure. Add to that, you took my body months before I was an adult and your claim is moot. I reject what was done to me by force and the Fates will find it as vile as everyone else.”
Outside the bubble of my prison, Samuel mouthed a string of crazed oaths, his diamond eyes glowing with feral fury. The air inside our bubble began to change. Nash and the Asian Enforcer joined the magical assault on whatever field Abaddon erected.
It felt as if the invisible shield was weakening.
“If you wish to argue Highborne law, I welcome it. I admit that I have been mated most thoroughly—just not by you.”
Abaddon whirled and exploded in a surge of dark sorcery.
The containment field erupted and the three wizards flew backward through the air. The blast of tainted air knocked me off my feet and tossed me to the scrub. My head cracked against the ground. The forest spun.
I let my head hang as the wolves closed ranks. Faolan nuzzled my neck and forced me to lift my gaze. Roars, snarls and screams erupted.
I gripped my staff and staggered to my feet.
Abaddon threw Samuel against a tree and the two fought in a strangled battle. A dagger flashed silver in the starlight. A strange heat burned across my skin.
A warning that something was about to . . .
The explosion shook the entire ruin site.
As I steadied my footing, Hell vomited Scourge in every direction. Gunfire and magic bolts careened through the air. Savage and Cowboy all but dragged the Fates and the other females into the dense forest cover.
“Haven’s under attack!” someone yelled.
Another explosion knocked me to my knees.
Rough hands jerked me from the ground. A Scourge Raider dragged me to my feet and threw me into the flow of the other attackers.
I swung my staff with all my might and caught him in the ear with a blunt blow. He listed to the side, a chunk of his putrid face dropping to the forest floor. I stumbled away and the wolves enveloped him.
“I’ve got ye, lass.” The words lifted my spirits but when I turned, it wasn’t Samuel who flanked me.
“Deaglan, help your brother.”
The Celt shook his head as a half-dozen kilted males surrounded me. “After yer safe. Let’s go.”
Another explosion rocked the night. It threw up flames and destruction all around us. Hitting the ground, I smothered my cry as a sharp, fire raked across my hip. My exposed flesh fell victim to shards of debris.
Samuel cried out and doubled over. Abaddon’s dagger sprayed an arc of blood as he withdrew and struck again.
“Samuel!” I screamed.
Rising to my feet, I harpooned my scepter through the air. I willed its flight to be true. Energy crackled around me as I envisioned Abaddon falling. The staff soared as if guided by the gods. A dull thud. Abaddon faltered, my wooden staff impaling his back.
I broke from my protectors and raced to close the distance. The same feral fury I saw in Samuel only moments ago now raged in me. My words put him in danger. My comments set this madman after him. I would kill this evil spawn for hurting him—even if it meant my own life.
Before I reached them, Abaddon Flashed and my scepter fell to the forest floor. I dropped to my knees next to Samuel’s motionless body. Blood covered the ground.
He bled from his chest. His arms. His groin.
Tears spilled as my breathing hitched. His lean form sprawled and contorted on the forest floor broke my heart. For once, I reacted to the injuries without the malaise I suffered so many times in the clinic.
“Samuel,” I said, fighting dizziness as I tore his shirt and pressed on his wounds. “Samuel, I am here. Stay with me. Aid is on the way. Please, stay with me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Open yer eyes, lass.”
Whatever the dream I dreamt, I wished it would last an eternity. Samuel’s voice rang with all the love and serenity it always held when he whispered to me in private. If I woke, he may be dead. And if not dead, I would have to face losing him because of Abaddon.
“That’s it, Luv. Come back to me.”
Warm fingers traced a tender circle on my cheek. My eyes flickered open and there he was, his ebony hair flopping in front of his swirling opal eyes.
“You need a haircut, Professor Murray.”
He laughed and kissed my nose. “Maybe so. I’ve been a wee bit busy lately.”
My lips quivered. “I thought I lost you. There was so much blood. Abaddon . . . he . . . you were so still—” The pale green walls of Jade’s clinic blurred. “I thought Abaddon killed you. It was my fault you were hurt . . . are hurt.”
He pulled me closer, the two of us tucked into of one of the recovery beds. “Hush now. Here I am, living, breathing and loving ye as much as ever. The rest will sort itself out.”
I shifted to my side and both of us winced.
“Careful, duck, yer stitched up. Ye took quite a blow yerself and lost a fair bit of blood. With Jade’s powers bound, there’s no magical healing this time around, I’m afraid. We’ll have to mend the old-fashioned way.”
If mending meant days of lounging in bed until he was well again, I welcomed old-fashioned. Where I remained clothed with gauze covering my throbbing hip, his body was bare, wrapped with intersecting bandages across his chest, around his arms and . . .
I lifted the sheet and his dressings blurred behind my tears. “I told him we were lovers—boasted about it—of course he struck out at you. What did he . . . are you . . . what has he done to you?”
“I’ll survive,” Samuel said, tugging the sheet from my hand to cover himself. “My machismo might be damaged but Jade thinks the surgery went as well as can be expected.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, the lads will make me the butt of their jokes for a good long while but things will function normally once my injuries heal. The only thing Jade’s unsure of is if I’ll be able to father weens. It’s a wait-and-see-how-I-heal kinda thing now. Nothing I have nae been through before.”
My breathing hitched on a sob, my words caught in my throat. This was my fault. Punishment for taking a lover after being bound to another.
“No, it’s not,” Zophia said, shuffling into our room. The Fate projected the same ethereal beauty as always but the opalescence of her skin was off. “This was Abaddon’s doing and the blame sits squarely on his shoulders.”
“You are hurt too.”
She smiled. “A bit crushed beneath a well-meaning Talon Enforcer. Not to worry. I will heal the moment I return Behind the Veil but wanted to let you know the outcome of the hearing.”
I looked from her to Samuel and back. “How long was I asleep?”
Zophia chuckled but stopped, bracing a hand against her ribs. “In truth, there was no hearing. My sisters are fickle, selfish and often manipulative, but they weren’t in much of a mood to play games today. Officially, they cited the fact that Castian had given a formal warning to Abaddon that if he acted against you before the completion of the hearing, the claim would be nullified.”
“And unofficially?”
She shrugged. “I pointed out your secret lover is Jade’s ex and the man your brother despises most in the two realms. Add to that, he is a renowned wizard when your people and his both strictly forbid magic. And his family despise Highbornes and aren’t fond of Samuel either. I convinced them the drama of watching it all play out would be far more entertaining than overseeing a hearing.”
“So,” Samuel chuckled. “Our messed-up lives are more amusing to them than giving Abaddon a foothold in his quest for Rheagan.”
Before I could respond, Galan strode into the room carrying a platter of Elora’s cupcakes. Each threw off magical fireworks, filling the air with the scent of bergamot and spelling out, Congratulations. My brother took a knee beside the recovery bed and the rest of our Highborne and Haven family filed in behind him.
“There she is,” Cowboy said, winking as he sauntered inside the door. “We signed you up for javelin throw at the next Academy Games. Nice arm, Queenie.”
“It was quite a throw,” Reign said. “Seasoned warriors lose their nerve when facing such evil. It took true courage, Lia.”
I laughed. “I peed a little.”
Samuel chuckled. “In the face of being terrified, ye found yer strength. A true fox if ever there was one, right Galan?”
Galan nodded. “And Bree and Julian now have blood and tissue samples to work with. The Talon may have new insight into Abaddon and how to defeat him, sweeting.”
“And something else to celebrate,” Kobi said, grabbing a cupcake and licking off the icing. “After years of trying, Merlin finally got Jade to fondle his junk.”
The room burst out in laughter and I stared at them. How could they think Samuel’s injuries funny?
“Oh my god,” Cowboy said, “he actually gave his left nut to save Lia.”
“Hey, be nice,” Jade said, shaking her head. “He’s only got one ball and you’re busting it”
“Stop,” Bruin added, wiping his eyes. “Can’t you see he’s getting testis?”
“Yeah, yeah, yuck it up, arseholes.” Samuel rolled his eyes and handed me one of the cupcakes, leaning close. “Ignore them, Luv. They’ll run out of steam at some point. So, back to the topic of yer choice being returned to ye. Any thoughts about that ye’d like to share?”
I took a bite of lemon-elderberry ambrosia and nodded. “Samuel and I mated,” I announced. “He is the male I chose and is a lover more virile and generous than any female could dream to have as her own.”
Samuel’s cheeks flushed pink. “I . . . uh, meant share with me but that’s that I suppose.”
The room fell silent as all eyes fell on Galan.
Samuel cleared his throat and met my brother’s glare. “I suppose ye have something ye’d like to say to me, aye?”
Galan straightened to his full height and Jade took his hand. “Verily, I do. Mayhap in a few days when you have recovered enough to stand before me. There is no honor in beating on a male when he is stitched and suffering.”
“Okaaaay,” Jade said, turning toward the door. “Enough excitement for one day, am I right? “Let’s give these two a little alone time to rest and recover, shall we?”
I woke sometime later with the feeling of being watched.
“How fare thee, little one?” Cameron asked. He sat in a plastic chair in the corner of our recovery room.
“Exhausted. Anxious. Relieved to be finished with the proceedings. Terrified about what has yet to come.”
Samuel mumbled in his sleep beside me and I waited until the slow rise and fall of his chest resumed.
“Apologies, Cameron,” I said, quieter this time. “I have no right to complain to you of all people. Are you well?”
Aust’s sire laughed, a deep rich tenor I loved. “Aside from being dead and watching my son and my mate suffer for it, I suppose I am well enough.”
I sat up and folded the coverlet against my lap. “Would you like me to tell them something? A message from you might ease them?”
He shook his head. “No. Let them think me gone so they can begin anew. Elora is a beautiful female with a heart so large and gentle, if she knew I watched over her, she would never allow herself to love again.”
“She mourns you to the depths of her soul.”
“Because of that, I ask a favor of you—as a male and a mate.”
“Of course. If I am able, consider them granted.”
He swept a hand across his waist and bowed. “The patriarch of the mountain here. He is a male of worth, yes?”
“Reign,” I said, thinking of the huge warrior. Whether in a suit of silk or leather, the male stood an intimidating force. “He is a great male, warrior, leader and father, yes.”
“He is attracted to my Elora. I follow him through his day and he dotes on her and creates opportunities to meet her by chance in the halls of Jade’s manse.”
“Elora is a treasure of a female. There are likely a great many males who adore her.”
“He is the one,” Cameron said. “I have loved Elora for near two centuries and though she holds polite affection for him, her loyalty to me restricts her from considering him as a suitor.”
“And what are you asking of me?”
Cameron shrugged. “If the opportunity presents itself, nudge her forward. Let her know I would want her to love again, to have a male care for her, love her and protect her from life’s evils. If Aust is troubled, reassure him as well. As I am, I can no longer be that for them.”
I blinked back the sting of my eyes and tried to swallow past the lump in my
throat. “You are a true male of worth, Cameron. I, of course, shall do as you wish. I have a favor to ask of you as well.”
His head canted, a wistful smile sparkling in his eyes. “Oh? And what may I do for you, sweeting?”
“I would like you to hold position in my court. A great many disgruntled souls roam the realm. Soldiers. Farmers. Males of worth from many races who have been cut down by the evil of the Scourge. I wish to unite them. If Abaddon and Rheagan plan to use the undead as a weapon, I say we rally an army to meet them head on.”
The idea seemed to take him by surprise.
“If spirits are held here by vengeance or a need to watch over their families,” I continued, “why not allow those brave souls to join the fight.
“Agreed, thy will be done.”
Staring at the ceiling of the recovery room the next morning, I thought about the past weeks and months while the gray of a new day burned off the night. It tangled my mind how life twisted in agonizing ways and then blessed one to soar anew to great heights. Was it a balance? Was it fate versus free will? Was there any true control or must we always wait to see what unfolds?
Gemma, Tham and Cameron . . . all good people building productive lives killed before their time. Abaddon, Rheagan and the Scourge Raiders cared nothing about who they killed or what damage they caused. The killing must stop. Lost lives honored somehow.
“Why the long face, Luv?”
I brightened and eased to my side, careful not to jostle our injuries. “Just thinking about life and death in a realm so twisted by conflict.”
“Ah right, good, nothing too heavy for first thing in the morning,”
I giggled and kissed him. “I’m going to ask Gemma to come live with us at the Silver Citadel if that is all right with you. She cannot communicate with the world here at Haven. She has been locked in silence too long.”
“And she has the hots for a certain Highborne ghost who will be with us. Are ye sure yer not matchmaking?”
I shrugged. “Mayhap a little. I think everyone deserves to find happiness in the end.”
He eased me closer to his side and stroked a strong hand over my belly and across my breast. “And speaking of happy endings . . .”