Cherish (The Guardian Series Book 3)

by K. B. Wheelock

  Rose cried out in pain as she squeezed her eyes shut. After that first scream, she stood stoically, not allowing herself to react to his touches. The more she didn’t react, the angrier he got, and the more violent his touch.

  “Eat what you can, as I’m not feeling very hospitable. Your next meal might be in a few hours or days.” He spat at her food and slammed the door shut.

  She crawled on her hands and knees, one hand against the wall as she searched for her tray of food. If it was like the food he’d brought her in the past, then it would barely be edible. But she needed the nutrition, especially if Enver followed through on his threat to not feed her for days. She carefully lifted the bowl to her mouth, slurping the liquid up afraid of spilling any of it. She gagged at the dishwater-tasting liquid, forcing it down as her stomach tried to reject it. Her second sip was no better as a grease-coated piece of meat, slithered down her throat. She couldn’t identify what the meat was or if it was even cooked. Just the sensation of slime in her mouth. Next a potato that was hard and raw. She continued to eat, choking down the soup until she’d licked the bowl clean.

  Her hands gently ran over the plate to see if there was anything else to eat. She found a stale piece of bread to save for later and a cup of sour-smelling beer. She’d rather drink the water in her puddle than the swill he’d given her.

  Rose forced herself to stand and walk the box, one step in front of the other. She’d never thought that it was possible to get dizzy when you couldn’t see where you were going, but by the third time around, she was having trouble standing.

  Sinking to the floor, Rose lay down. She thought of Gris and Niall, wondering if Niall was all right. At least she knew that he was alive. Not knowing how long she’d been gone, she figured the girls had gone to bed at least one night without her kissing them. Did they cry for her? What had Niall told them about Cullen?

  Niall must be beside himself knowing that he had killed Cullen, even if it had been an accident and during a fight. She couldn’t imagine how he would cope. Even though he portrayed to the outside world that he didn’t care about much, he was really a big softy. His heart must be hurting, and she wasn’t there to help him.

  Hot tears fell down her face, soaking the sleeve of her shirt. She swiped at them, trying to stem the tide. But she couldn’t stop herself. Memories of her time with Cullen ran through her like a movie playing. His laughing face as he chased Niall, him throwing the girls in the air and catching them, him smiling over her as he kissed her . . . . She couldn’t stop the images that played in her head or the sobs that wracked her body.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Rose

  Metal on metal woke her from a fitful sleep. As the cell door creaked open, she quickly stood, blinking from the bright light. Reaching out to the cell wall, she steadied herself. How long had it been since she had eaten?

  “He wants to see you,” Enver said, coming into the cell, a long gold cord in his hands. “Put your hands to your sides.”

  His voice was harsh, and she knew that if she didn’t comply he would physically make her. She wanted to be strong, to fight, but he was much stronger than her, and she was weak from the lack of food.

  Enver came and stood behind her. He wrapped his arms around her with the cord held between his hands. He then pulled his hands back behind her, the cord pinning her arms to her body. He repeated this action three times until there was no way she could move her arms. Her fingers even tingled a little.

  Panic started to fill her. The last time she had been tied up like this was when Esson had captured her and tortured her. She couldn’t go through that again. She tried to breathe, but the air wouldn’t go into her lungs. Black spots appeared in her vision, and she clasped and unclasped her hands. If this was how a fish felt when they were pulled out of the water, she would never eat fish again.

  Enver pushed his body against her back, his arms reaching around to fondle her breasts. She bit her tongue to not respond, but she could feel the hot prick of tears against her clenched eyelids.

  Dropping his hands, he walked around her. “Let’s go. It doesn’t do to make his highness wait.” Enver led her out of the cell.

  She wobbled a little as she walked, her balance off without the use of her arms. If she were in a better frame of mind she might have laughed at how she resembled a penguin waddling, but with her powers shut off and unable to even defend herself from attack, she was unable to think beyond just keeping her balance as they walked down the dark hall.

  Enver started up the stairs, but he didn’t even look to see if she followed. She lifted one foot and set in on the step. It felt like there was a twenty-pound weight attached to it. By the time she had gone four steps she was panting and trying not to fall backwards. She looked up at the remaining eight steps and wanted to cry. She didn’t know if she could do it but falling down the steps without the ability to catch herself scared her more.

  Enver stood at the top of the stairs, glaring at her. She knew that he would like to see her fall, so she pushed herself to slowly climb the steps. His hot gaze never wavered from her. She could feel it burning into her, making her skin crawl. Rose finally reached the top step where Enver waited.

  “He will make you pay for keeping him waiting,” Enver said, a grin splitting his face, “I will enjoy that. The longer it takes you to reach the top, the longer he waits, the worse your punishment.” He left her gasping for breath and continued up the next flight of stairs.

  Rose shook from the exertion of just one flight of stairs. How would she make it up two more? She steeled herself for what would come. She would get through this. She had to for her girls and her men.

  One step after another she wavered, struggling to keep her balance, her body shaking, but she finally reached the top of the stairs. Enver glared at her and opened the door into the hallway. He led her down a series of halls, the twists and turns confusing her. It almost felt as if the halls moved in a silent orchestration meant to confuse any intruder.

  She slowed her pace, leaning against the wall to catch her breath every few steps.

  On every pause, Enver glanced back at her. With her strength failing, she slid down to the floor, unable to take another step. He came over and lifted her off her feet, throwing her over his shoulder effortlessly. The air rushed out of her body as his shoulder slammed into her solar plexus like a fighter's first punch.

  Rose’s head spun from the sudden change, the world upside down. Each step jolted her and caused her to wince as his shoulder forcefully pushed the air out of her lungs. Just as she thought her abused stomach was about to revolt, Enver opened a door.

  “High Lord, here she is.” He plopped her down on the floor, not even letting her get her balance before removing his hands from her.

  She fell to the floor, shifting so that she would land on her side. Rose looked up at Esson in hatred.

  Chapter Thirty

  Rose

  “Untie her.”

  “Yes, sir!” Enver lifted her up effortlessly and set her down. His hands rested on her breasts, pushing into them. Slowly, he unwound the cord; each time his hands passed over her breasts, she cringed. When the last coil of the cord was removed, she moved her hands and arms. They tingled and burned as blood rushed through them.

  She looked around the room. The black Obsidian walls sucked the light in, but she could make out shelves on the walls, filled with books and . . . was that a skull? She peered into the dark, and yes, it was a skull. Next to it was a jar of liquid with something floating in it. She shivered. A quick glance around the room had her shaking. A desk sat on one side, with two armchairs next to it in front of a fireplace.

  But the other side of the room, was what scared her. A chair was set at an angle in the room. Clamps were placed on the arms and footrest. Behind it, the shelves held various implements and bottles. She couldn’t make out details, but maybe that was for the best.

  “Well, dear niece, did you like your accommodations? Did Enver treat you
well?” A smile played on his lips but never touched his ice-blue eyes.

  Rose looked at him, wishing that she had some power that she could use to kill him. What was the point in having demon blood if she couldn’t even use her powers here?

  Esson stalked over towards her and lifted her chin to look him in the eyes then leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I suggest that when I speak to you, you respond, and do as I say. Otherwise, I will have to let Enver have free rein with you.”

  Despite steeling herself against his words, she felt the involuntary shudder that went through her body. She felt his lips curve into a smile as his hot breath tickled her ear.

  “Now, how about we try again?” He stepped back from her and looked her in the eye. “Did Enver treat you well?”

  Her voice was hoarse from thirst. “As well as any captor who hates his captive would treat them. If that is what you mean by treating me well, then you could say I was in a palace.”

  Esson chuckled. “You still have some spunk. We will have to work on that. But now it is time for you to learn the true prophecy and what your role is.”

  He walked across the room and picked up the box that he had taken from Rose. The box was polished till it looked like a mahogany-colored piece of glass. As far as Rose knew, there was no way to open it. “This box holds the answer to everything, but without you it will not work. Now that you are mine, we can fulfill my every dream. The worlds will bow to me and mine!” His eyes shone with a fanatical light.

  Rose shivered at his words, a cold creeping through her.

  “You and your Guardians”—he spat the word ‘Guardians’—“spent so much time and energy protecting the brats. But they should have spent their time protecting you. For you are the prophecy.” He quoted from memory.

  “Born of a forbidden love,

  Raised in exile,

  Protected by blood.

  Captive by fear,

  Birthed through strife,

  By love, they will win

  Or by hate, the world will fall.”

  “You are the one who was born of a forbidden love, you were raised in exile from your true family, the demons. Your father protected you with blood. You don’t even know your true heritage because you are scared of what will happen when your demon blood is awakened.”

  She shook as she saw what he was saying. She couldn’t be the prophecy. If she was, she had handed herself to him.

  She watched as Esson brought the box to her. In one hand, he held a knife. “Blood is the answer to everything. Your blood will open this box, your blood will awaken and answer the prophecy.” He grabbed her hand and made a cut down the center of her palm.

  She winced at the sting of the knife.

  Grabbing her wrist he let the blood flow over the box, moving it until the one side was completely covered with the golden liquid. A small thumb shaped indentation appeared in a corner of the box. Esson took her thumb and set it in the indentation. With a hiss, the lid popped open.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Rose

  Rose stared into the box. A beautiful Bloodstone rested on black velvet. The green and black quartz had ribbons of blood red flowing through it, giving it its name. She shivered at the beauty and the implications. Even without growing up in the magical community, she knew of these stones. The few that made it out of the magical community all ended up with histories of death and destruction.

  The most famous was the massacre at the Federal District Court in Tacoma, Washington. A group of off the grid wackos had found a bloodstone. Between their own fear of the government conspiracies and the stone, they had gone completely off the deep end. No one knew how, but they had found a way to bring guns into the courthouse. By the time the leader was killed, one hundred people had been killed, including three judges. A bloodstone had been found fused to the leader’s head like a third eye.

  “I see you recognize the stone.” Esson picked up the stone, turning it so the light glinted off the red, making it appear almost to move as he turned his hand. “You can see the blood that has filled this stone, the blood it has bathed in.”

  “It’s nothing more than a stone. And you’re completely insane to believe those wives tales, and more insane if you think I would ever help you with whatever your plan is,” Rose said, eyeing the stone with disdain. She wouldn’t let him see her fear. She didn’t know if it was myth or fact that these stones would bring the bearer power, but they had a history that followed them. Some countries had gone so far as to destroy them when they were found. This, of course, made them extremely valuable in certain circles.

  “Well, you are right that it is just a stone, but with the proper ceremony and the embodiment of prophecy, it is so much more.” He gently placed the rock back into the box. “You are not ready yet for this. You still cling to the idea that you are a Guardian. But one day soon, you will realize what it means to live and breathe as a demon. On that day, you will be ready for your true destiny.”

  “You are crazy if you think that I will ever become what you and Enver are. I could never kill just to kill, hurt just to hurt someone. The very idea of the things you have done to me, and to the others under your control, is reprehensible to me. Do what you will, but you will never make me into what you say my birthright is. The birthright I accept and claim is that of the Guardians!” She turned her back to Esson and looked at Enver. “Please take me back to my cell. The company there is better than it is here.”

  She doubted that he would honor her request or that it would be the end of this interview. But a girl could hope and hope she did. Not just that she would be allowed to leave Esson, but that she would one day be back with her girls and mates.

  The sound of skin hitting skin echoed through the room, each clap like a shot through her system. Pain filled her head as it was pulled backwards, the skin pulling away from her skull as the strands of hair were yanked out.

  “Princess, I say when you can leave, not the other way around. And our conversation is not over.” He pulled her to him until they were flush. “No, Princess, we are not nearly done. It has been 3 long years since I have had the pleasure of your company.” He looked up at Enver. “Leave us.”

  She watched as Enver slid his feet together in one fluid motion and bent at his waist.

  “Yes, sir.” He turned and walked out of the room, the door shutting with a clang.

  She shivered at the realization that somehow Enver had felt like a security blanket from Esson. That had been ripped away leaving her feeling exposed.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Rose

  “Since you've been gone, I had to amuse myself with less worthy subjects. Now that I have you here, I will no longer need them,” he said as he brushed her hair away from her face, his breath hot in her ear.

  She trembled, remembering his touch, the care she had received when captured by the Reditus Coelus.

  “Once you are accepting of your demon heritage, I will be able to introduce you to the other cities as my heir.” His tongue slithered over her cheek, leaving a hot, wet trail.

  She longed to reach up and wipe it away, to wash her face until it was raw, and his touch was gone. But she held herself stiff, not daring to move.

  “Now, what will it take to break you, to make you realize your destiny as a demon?” He dragged her toward the couch and sat down, pulling her into his lap. “Maybe we should talk about the traitor and how he died?”

  A tear ran down her cheek. He had already told her that Cullen was dead, killed accidentally by Niall.

  “He was my best fighter, my closely held secret of success. Things have been difficult since you ensorcelled him. I don’t know how you did it, but once he left, I couldn’t see the future.” His talons dug into her arm as his voice grew.

  She tried to hold herself stiff, to not react. But it was so hard when he was this close. Memories surfaced—things she thought she had dealt with over the past few years.

  “I don’t know how many of my demons he k
illed, though he never took to his demon form when he fought them. Such sweet justice that he was killed by your mate, someone he considered family. I wonder if he felt pain or if he was just gone? It would have been sweet justice if he saw it coming, saw the end and feared it.”

  Tears slipped down her face as she tried to not hear Esson’s wonderings. But it was hard to ignore, and it felt as if he was ripping a barely formed scab off a wound. Cullen, her sweet jester of a mate was gone. A hole opened in her chest, and she felt herself falling into it, covering herself with a deep, dark depression.

  “Yes, his death was sweet justice, but so unneeded. You, essentially, are the reason he died, and you will be the reason the world falls,” Esson said.

  His voice pulled at her. She tried to find her anger of earlier, but the grip of depression was too strong. She lay listless in Esson’s lap, not even responding to his touch.

  Standing, he carried her to the door as tears ran down her cheeks. A light rap against the door, and she heard it opening. Her body was transferred from Esson’s arms to Enver’s. He threw her over his shoulder, the air whooshing from her lungs.

  “Take her to her cell. She is not ready yet,” Esson told him, his hand resting on Rose’s head. He leaned in, “Soon, my sweet one. Soon, you will be ready, and then we shall be one, and your true power will be revealed.”

  Enver didn’t speak the whole way down the many stairs to her cell, though his hand strayed repeatedly, roaming over her bottom and legs. But she was too deep into her pain to care or react. All she wanted was too curl into a ball and cry, or to let sleep take her to where she was home with her girls and all four mates. Laughing and playing in the sunny mountain field, all of them safe.