As little did they know that what I said to Gryph had been my goodbye. So, I listened to whenever they talked about things like how far the castle was from here. It was information that I certainly needed for what I intended to do. Which was why I was happy to find out that the forest was only on the outskirts of where the castle was and we were only about an hour away.
A city surrounded it, which was what I really needed, as surely there was someone there that would be willing to get a message to where I needed it to go? But then, even just starting a rumour would do it in this place, as how long had it been before word had gotten out that I was even here?
So, all I had to do now was wait for the two to fall asleep and then I could sneak out. I had thought about telling them, asking them to get word to him, but then I couldn’t trust that Trice wouldn’t just use that information as a bargaining chip for the wrong thing. Or even just taking me to the King and telling him everything, as they would then know what it would mean. For whom would I have to be for me to have that kind of relation down in Hell?
My Grandfather.
Of course, they would wake and once they found me missing then they would no doubt believe I ran to save myself and that thought hurt. But then no doubt Gryph wouldn’t blame me, he wasn’t the type, even after my promise. But Trice would. He would tell his brother ‘I told you so’. Well, if he did have even a shred of guilt to feel, then my actions would alleviate him of that burden pretty quickly.
Although, I hadn’t counted on him coming over to me as I pretended to be asleep and place the piece of his tartan over me so I had extra warmth… for who knew that it could be cold in Hell.
“Get some sleep, Lass, fur we leave at first light,” he whispered down at me, making sure to tuck it close to my body and I held myself perfectly still, hating that his kindness was making tears form. Gods, why had his words affected me so much?
Was I making a mistake by leaving?
I asked myself this question even up until I heard Gryph snoring and I braved a look at them to find them both asleep. I purposely made a noise to test if they woke and when they didn’t even stir, I braved moving. I sat up as slowly as I could, trying not to make a sound. The crackling of the fire helped and was a long time from going out just yet. I looked to the forest wishing there was a moon or something lighting the way.
But then I looked around and found some of the unused branches Trice had gathered and after tearing a strip off the bottom of the poncho, I wrapped it around the end, making sure it was tight enough not to slip.
Then I got up and held on to the tartan for a while longer. Looking down at Trice’s handsome face that for once looked peaceful in his sleep…well, it made my heart ache just knowing this was goodbye. Then I brought the tartan to my face, taking in the scent of the man I admittedly felt something for. Whether it be just as a friend or shamefully a little bit more, I didn’t really know yet. I just knew that I had a mission to do and it started with saving an entire race of Vampires. It included saving my mother and the man I loved. And now, I had no choice but to add three more lives on to that list.
I just wanted to do the right thing.
Sacrifice. That was what my life had become.
And that was okay…It was okay.
I just had to be brave. So, with this in mind, I lowered the material and folded it up, laying a kiss on top, in the place of one I couldn’t do to Trice, before placing it down next to him. I stepped away and lit my makeshift torch and set off into the forest. One that I thankfully hadn’t heard a single sound of life from, beyond us.
I just needed to make it to the city, try and bribe someone to get word of who I was to my grandfather and then enter the castle to try and bargain with whoever this evil tyrant of a King was. Oh yeah, sounds like a piece of cake, Fae, I thought rolling my eyes at myself.
As I had to admit, that the further I travelled, the more I started to see the flaws in my own plan, picking it to pieces. Maybe I should go back and tell Trice and Gryph who I was and that way then they could bargain on my behalf. Surely when Trice listened to reason he would try and save me, even if just by getting word to my grandfather.
“Fuck!” I hissed to myself.
Gods in Hell! I was doing it all over again! Making rash decisions was what had got me in this mess in the first place! But then, could I really trust them to do right by me?
“Fuck, fuck!” I hissed again, stopping now and turning back to face the way I had come. I hadn’t gone too far, at least I didn’t think so. Oh yeah, that was all I needed, to finally come to my senses only to find myself lost in yet another demonic forest! Well, that would be just my luck wouldn’t it?
“Gods Fae, you are so stupid! Why did you even think you could do this alone?” I muttered to myself before deciding to turn back and tell them everything, taking my chances the safer way. Because the last thing I needed was to end up regretting yet another stupid decision, even if at the time it had seemed like the right one to make. And well, at least this way hopefully one good thing would come out of me being delivered to the King, that three brothers would be reunited back together, along with that of their souls.
I turned around and started walking back towards Gryph and yes, even I had to admit, back to Trice. A man that I was really trying not to delve too deep into how I felt about him, it was too confusing. I tried to tell myself as I started walking back that it was just because I was feeling vulnerable being without Lucius. Someone who only recently had come back into my life. I had just learned all about his history and the truth of it that surrounded me.
It was just too much.
All of it.
I felt the emotional overload until the point where I felt I was close to screaming in frustration. But then soon, I was screaming.
Only this time…
It was for a very different reason.
Chapter 28
Kisses and Forgiveness
My scream was carried through the trees destroying the stillness of the night. This was because I was suddenly knocked down to the ground and before I could continue screaming a hand was held over my mouth with a furious male on top of me, growling down at my face. The unusual blue and red eyes glared at me, glowing in a powerful way, whilst my makeshift torch had been knocked out of my hand as I fell and was currently setting alight to the dry undergrowth that surrounded it. This managed to light the angry features of none other than,
Trice.
Gods but he looked utterly formidable!
The scar on his face glowed intensely with the stern, hard set of his jaw, one that looked as if he was ready to bite through rocks, he was that tensed up. His blazing gaze burned into mine and there we both were, staring at each other and waiting for the spell to be broken. Of course, the fire spreading would do that, and my panicked eyes looked towards it.
But just as it started to circle around us getting closer, he finally broke away from the sight of me beneath him, so he could look at the cause of my worry. Then he opened his mouth and hissed at it, causing a stream of frost to come from between his lips, which effectively managed to put out the flames. Of course, it also plunged us both into darkness and all I could feel was his body on mine making me feel like I was small and breakable, and not that I was kickass and could usually take care of shit like this. Because now I was questioning why was it that every single move I had learned went flying out of my head. Why was my mind losing focus on anything but those glowing eyes that seemed as if they wanted to consume me.
I needed to stop this. I needed space!
Thankfully, this began by him taking his hand from my mouth but then it ended not the way I wanted, when I started to say,
“I wasn’t running.” This was when he snapped,
“Shut the Fck up!”
And then he kissed me.
This time it wasn’t just the brief and gentle touch of his lips to mine, but an all mind consuming kiss, that he wanted me to remember. That he wanted burned to my soul, branded there
, in a way he hoped would stay. And it would…just not for the reasons he wanted.
Trice was kissing me and all I thought was… oh no, I was cheating on the man I loved!
I felt the swipe of his tongue enter in between my unprepared lips and his groan was easy to hear. So was the feel of his hands gripping me to him, as he took control, whereas I felt too stunned to do anything other than let him. However, a few seconds later and finally my mind kicked in, but the second I started to squirm under him, he tore his mouth from mine, and suddenly his weight was gone.
Thank the Gods.
But then, before I could question where he went, seeing as I couldn’t see anything in the dark, I felt myself being hauled upright. I was lifted off the ground as easily as if I had been a sack of feathers. After which I soon found myself in his arms and being carried back to what I gathered was where I had run from. So, after some time of getting my senses back I muttered,
“I was on my way back.”
“Aye, so ye say.” I frowned at this in the dark and protested further,
“I was.”
“Then why wur ye walking in th' wrong direction?” he stated in that stern tone of his.
“Oh,” I muttered shamefully making him grind out a gritted,
“Aye.”
After this we were silent and I thought it best, as I doubted in this mood he was going to listen to anything I had to say. Of course, I couldn’t see where we were going so I couldn’t help but ask,
“How can you see in this darkness?”
“I can see,” was his abrupt answer, so I tried to ask for more,
“Because you’re a Cockatrice?” I felt him move his gaze to mine and the second I saw his eyes glow a little brighter, I knew he was showing me exactly how he saw in the dark. This was before giving me his usual broody reply of,
“Aye.” Something that signified the end of our conversation.
After this I didn’t say another word, I just let him walk me back to the camp and once there he plonked me on the floor in not exactly what I would call a gentle manner. I started to walk back to where I had been asleep when he suddenly grabbed me from behind to stop me. Then he growled down at me,
“Stay.”
“What am I, a damn dog?!” I snapped making him raise his brow at me and say,
“Nay, they usually do as they are told.” I frowned back up at him which didn’t seem to affect him in the slightest. So, I ended up just watching him as he unfolded the tartan material I had placed by him, and if he had any thoughts about finding it there, then he didn’t say. No instead he just lay it down and once that was done, he ordered,
“Now, lie down.” I didn’t, but instead folded my arms across my chest and said,
“Why?”
“It may have been a while since I was human, Lass, but I am guessing sleeping is still the same,” he replied sarcastically. I heard Gryph chuckling where he lay, obvious not asleep like I had assumed.
“Yeah, well I am not exactly tired, but hey, you go right ahead.”
“Tough shit, now lie down before I put ye down,” he said making me release a frustrated sigh before saying his name,
“Trice.”
“Now!” he snapped making me just give in and lie down. Then I watched as he walked over to the pile of branches and threw some of the bigger ones on the fire before kicking some back into place. Then he came back over to me and I frowned as I saw him get down next to me, making me snap,
“What do you think you are doing?”
“Again, sleeping is the same for a shifter, Lass, we usually prefer to do this lying down,” he said wryly, still keeping up with the sarcasm. Again, his brother chuckled making me snap,
“And you’re not helping.” At this he grunted a laugh and muttered something about this being damn entertaining.
“Now what are you doing!” I asked in a panicked tone the second he wrapped an arm around me and started spooning me from behind.
“I am tired ‘n’ some Lass just pissed me off by makin’ me chase after her in th’ damn forest, when all I wanna do is fcking sleep, so consider this me not doing that again.” I frowned in the dark before telling him,
“I am not going to run.”
“Aye, you’re right…you’re not. Now go tae sleep,” he said keeping his meaty arm in place draped over me, squeezing me for a moment as if to emphasize the fact that I wasn’t going anywhere. I released a deep sigh and after a few minutes of silence, asked the dark,
“Trice?”
“Um,” he muttered behind me.
“Are you asleep?” I stupidly asked.
“No, but tis not fur lack of trying,” he replied dryly, something I ignored, even though he could be funny when he wanted to be. I released a sigh and told him,
“I’m sorry.” At this I felt him tense next to me before he gave me another squeeze as his answer, but I carried on,
“I was upset, angry and confused. I thought if I went to the castle that maybe I could bargain with…”
“There is no bargaining with th’ King, he gets what he wants ‘n’ that’s that,” he said cutting me off and me making me sigh again.
“I realised my plan was stupid and really was on my way back…or at least I thought I was,” I told him.
“I know, Lass,” he admitted surprising me.
“You do?”
“Aye,” was his typical Trice reply.
“Okay. So, you’re not mad?” I asked making him scoff,
“I am fcking fuming, but I suspect a good sleep will solve that problem,” he admitted making me tense and snap,
“Yeah, well you made me pretty mad too.”
“Aye, I can see that,” he said sounding slightly amused.
“And you upset me,” I admitted, this time losing steam in my voice and I felt him tense next to me again, before he pulled me tighter to his frame and whispered in a gentle way,
“Aye, I know that too.” After this I didn’t know what to say and it was only after it became obvious that I wasn’t sleeping that he gave me a squeeze and said,
“Relax, Lass.” So, I released a deep sigh and did as he suggested seeing as I knew that I had big day tomorrow, and would no doubt need my strength to get through it. But then, just as I was starting to fall under, giving way to sleep I felt him whisper against my neck,
“Amelia?” I mumbled and mimicked him by saying,
“Aye?” I felt him silently chuckle before he told me softly,
“A’m sorry I hurt ye.” And at this I patted his hand that was rested by my belly and said a soft,
“I know.”
But what he didn’t know was that when I said this, I did so with tears in my eyes. However, what I didn’t know was when I finally gave way to sleep and closed my eyes, relaxing back into the wrong arms, it wouldn’t be the last time I heard my name being spoken.
As the next time, when it was said in the dark, it didn’t come from Trice’s lips,
But instead it came from…
Lucius’.
Chapter 29
Castles and the Tyrants Found There
The second I shifted sides, turning to face the other way I felt a pair of arms tighten around me, making me release a contented sigh. I felt safe and treasured, missing the feeling and whispering,
“Handsome.” That was when I heard my name being whispered into my ear from behind, where there should have been no one.
“Amelia, where are you, Sweetheart?” It was Lucius’ voice and I opened my mouth and cried out silently. Gods, how I had missed that voice! I reached out and gripped onto whatever my hands could find, too afraid that I might slip away from whatever was happening now. Slip away from Lucius’ voice as it finally found me.
“I’m here,” I whispered, barely hearing it as more than a mumble of sound.
“My Khuba… You. Are. Not.” His voice sounded hard, stern as if these words caused him both pain and anger in equal amounts.
“Please…I am…I am waiting for y
ou...” I forced my mind to say, then I felt a looming presence in my mind as if he was now stood over me and I turned my head to look up, finally opening my eyes to find that I was right… he was there!
Lucius’ masterful figure was standing over me, looking down at where I lay. He had his arms crossed and he looked so angry I could see he was almost shaking from it. But then something snapped in him and he lost his anger the second I reached out a hand towards his own. He released a deep sigh before lowering down to one knee. Then he reached out and stroked my face, making me close my eyes against the emotions it invoked.
Gods, how I had missed him!
I opened my mouth and was just about to whisper his name when suddenly he leaned down closer and said,
“You wait for me in another man’s arms?” At this I froze and the horror of what was happening really started to infiltrate my senses. I then looked to what I had been grabbing on to only to find that he was right, I was in Trice’s arms facing him in an intimate embrace.
Gods but what had I done?
This was when I started thrashing and I woke with a start the second I heard my name,
“Amelia!”
“NO!” I shouted and started shaking before I felt those arms around me hold me tight and the wrong voice tried to soothe me,
“Hey, Ssshh now. Tis okay, yer safe…I’ve git ye, Lass…I’ve got you.” The last three whispered words came out like a vow, one being said with no accent to be heard behind it. I started to calm enough to stop my body thrashing, but my mind was far from it. Because what he didn’t realise was that as sweet as the vow was, it felt like it had come from…
The wrong man.
“Is she alright?” I heard Gryph ask and Trice’s hands started to rub up my back as if to help calm me, as he answered his brother,
“Aye, just a nightmare.”
And he was right, it had been a nightmare and of the worst kind. As I had a feeling that I hadn’t just been dreaming at all. No, the dread in the pit of my stomach now was from knowing that Lucius had been in my Void. He had been looking for me and where he found me, was unbearably,
Kingdoms Of Hell: Vampire Paranormal Romance (Transfusion Book 7) Page 23