Dark Dream’s Temptation (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 26)

by I. T. Lucas

  Unless she felt like it, Ella wasn’t in the habit of obeying her little brother’s commands.

  Something wasn’t right about this scenario.

  54

  Julian

  Halfway to the village square, Julian bumped into Jackson and Tessa who were heading the same way.

  “Hi, Julian,” Tessa said. “Where is Ella? Isn’t she going to the exhibition?”

  “She’s going with her family.”

  Jackson shook his head. “It’s a missed opportunity, my man. You should’ve asked to accompany her.”

  Smiling, Tessa patted Julian’s arm. “It’s not too late yet. Go get her.”

  Raking his fingers through his hair, he hesitated for about a second. “Yeah, you’re right. I should.” He turned around. “Thanks for the advice.”

  “Any time,” Jackson called after him.

  This dating thing was turning out to be much more complicated than it seemed at first glance. It wasn’t the same as prowling for hookups and making booty calls. There were rules to follow of when and how and where, and the embarrassing truth was that Ella, an eighteen-year-old high school graduate, probably knew more about it than he did.

  As Julian knocked on her front door, he hoped the last moment change of plans wasn’t going to get him in trouble with her. He hadn’t even texted her to let her know that he was coming.

  Parker opened the door and grinned. “Hi, Julian. Are you going with us to see Dalhu’s paintings?”

  “If you don’t mind me tagging along.” He wanted to take Ella and go, but that would be rude.

  “Of course, we don’t. We would love for you to join us,” Vivian said from behind Parker. “Don’t just stand there. Come inside.”

  “Thank you.”

  Talk about awkward.

  Standing by the entry door, he didn’t know whether he should come in and shake hands, or just wait for everyone to be ready to leave.

  “Ella!” Parker yelled. “Come out already. Julian is here!”

  That solved the dilemma.

  “She can’t hear you, Parker,” Vivian said. “I’ll tell her.”

  Julian heard her bedroom door open, and then the clicking of heels as she walked down the short corridor. And yet, when she entered the living room, he hadn’t been prepared for the punch to the gut impact her appearance delivered.

  His jaw going slack, Julian gaped.

  Even the Goth getup and pink hair hadn’t been as startling.

  When he’d first seen Ella in the ambulance, she’d worn a shell-shocked expression and an elegant cream-colored pantsuit, looking confused and just a little disheveled. Later, when she’d put on his clothes, she’d looked young and fragile.

  Since then, he’d seen her mostly in jeans and T-shirts, looking like a typical teenager, and that included yesterday’s disguise.

  “You look amazing,” he finally managed to say.

  Her pink hair was slicked back and held away from her gorgeous face with a pin. Long earrings dangled from her ears, nearly reaching her bare shoulders, and the short black dress she had on was lovingly hugging every curve of her delectable body.

  Then there were the shoes. They made her shapely legs seem to go on forever.

  Damn, he might develop a shoe fetish because all he could think about was her wearing nothing but those damn heels as she wrapped her long legs around his waist.

  “Thank you.” She turned in a circle, letting him see her from all angles. “Do you like the dress?”

  His Ella wasn’t a shy girl, that was for sure. And she wasn’t even trying to hide the satisfied smirk on her lush lips. The girl had seduction on her mind, and if he needed proof, the sweet scent of her nascent arousal confirmed it.

  “I love it. But you should wear something over it.” Like a long coat and a scarf. “It’s getting cold outside.”

  “I’ve got just the thing,” Vivian said. “I’ll get it for you.”

  Ella smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”

  Julian could only imagine the looks she was going to get from all the single guys, which was nearly every male in the village. He had a feeling the bro code was not going to cut it tonight. The men were going to go after her like a pack of hungry hyenas and try to take her away from him.

  He hadn’t claimed Ella as his yet, and she hadn’t claimed him either, which in their eyes would mean that she was up for grabs.

  Except, luck seemed to be on his side.

  If he hadn’t bumped into Jackson and Tessa, Ella would have arrived at Dalhu’s art exhibition with her family, and the situation would’ve been difficult to salvage.

  Now everyone was going to see them arriving together, and Julian was going to do his damnedest to demonstrate that Ella belonged to him.

  He should remember to thank Jackson and Tessa again for their excellent advice.

  55

  Ella

  “This is the goddess?” Ella arched a brow as she and Julian entered a room with only one large portrait hanging on the wall.

  The girl in the painting looked younger than Ella, but as she looked closer, she realized how wrong her first impression had been.

  The eyes staring at her from the picture were smiling as if the goddess was hiding a secret or planning some mischief, but they were also ancient and full of wisdom.

  It was astounding how Dalhu had managed to capture both in one painting. Even without knowing much about art, it was apparent to Ella that the guy was extremely talented.

  “Larger than life, and I mean it literally.” Julian chuckled. “This canvas is probably taller than her. Annani is tiny. She’s shorter than you.” He glanced at Ella’s high heels. “Even without the shoes.”

  “A big wonder in a small package.” Ella giggled. “I guess you have two wonders. A small one and a big one.”

  “Funny that you should say that. Wonder is Annani’s best friend. They’ve known each other since they were both young girls.”

  “No way. Wonder looks my age. Well, so does Annani, even younger, but Annani has smart old eyes. Wonder doesn’t.”

  “It’s a long story. But Wonder was buried in the ground, surviving in stasis for thousands of years. She was awakened only recently. So, you are right about her being young. She hasn’t really lived for all those years.”

  “What do you mean by stasis?”

  “When deprived of air and nutrients, immortals go into stasis. They can survive like that for thousands of years. Maybe even more. Although Wonder’s is the longest anyone has heard of.”

  “Fascinating.” Ella took a few steps back and looked at the portrait again. “I can’t wait to meet the goddess in person. Is there a chance she might visit anytime soon?”

  “I don’t know. Annani is impulsive. She doesn't plan ahead.” He furrowed his brows. “Actually, that’s not true. She has charted a course for the clan thousands of years in the making. I guess she acts impulsively only on a personal level.”

  “I totally believe it. Her eyes are ancient and smart but also full of humor and life.”

  Julian wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Ready to move to the next room?”

  “Sure. What’s in there?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s find out.”

  They stepped out into the corridor and entered a room across from the one they’d just left.

  Ella glanced at the printed sign propped on a tripod. “Early works in charcoal.”

  Julian walked over to the wall. “I wonder who those dudes are. I don’t recognize any of them.”

  “Maybe he drew pictures of his old buddies.” Ella joined him in front of the portrait he was looking at and threaded her arm through his. “Handsome, but foreboding. He doesn't look like a nice guy.”

  “That’s because he isn’t,” Amanda said as she entered the room. “This is one of Navuh’s sons.” She pointed at a larger portrait of a stunning man with a severe expression and hair that was so dark it looked pure black. “And that’s Navuh. The bane of our clan’s existence.�
�

  “Funny, he doesn’t look evil,” Ella said. “And his son doesn't look much like him either.”

  “You think?” Amanda put a hand on her hip and looked at one portrait and then the other. “I think there is a familial resemblance.”

  “They are both dark and wear twin severe expressions, but they don’t look much alike. The son probably looks more like his mother.”

  “Perhaps.” Amanda moved to the next charcoal drawing that was hanging on the opposite wall. “What about this one?”

  Since the tripod with the sign on it was in the way, obscuring both Amanda and the portrait she was pointing to, Ella couldn't offer her opinion without getting around it.

  But as she cleared the contraption and the portrait came into view, her throat clogged up and her heart started racing.

  Logan’s eyes were mocking her from the picture, just as dark and intense as she’d remembered them. His lips were curled on one side in a smirk.

  Pointing, she tried to say his name, but nothing came out.

  “What’s the matter?” Julian asked.

  She kept pointing like an idiot and then wagging her finger at the picture, but she was still unable to speak his name.

  “What are you pointing at, darling? Is there a scary spider on the wall?”

  Ella shook her head. “No spider.” Encouraged by finally being able to speak, she tried to say Logan’s name again, but her throat contracted once more, and a splitting headache assailed her out of nowhere. It was so bad that she whimpered and her hands flew to squeeze her temples.

  “Let’s get you out of here.” Julian wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her around. “Maybe fresh air will help.”

  Outside, the headache eased enough for her to be able to draw in a breath.

  “Better?” Julian asked.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “What happened in there?” Amanda asked.

  Ella opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Afraid of the pain coming back, she shook her head.

  Amanda regarded her with worried eyes. “Okay, let’s try something else. When I ask you a question either nod for yes or shake your head for no. Can you do that?”

  Ella nodded.

  “Did something in that room scare you?”

  She nodded.

  “Was it the picture?”

  She nodded again.

  “Was it because the guy looked scary?”

  Ella shook her head.

  Amanda’s frown deepened. “Was it because you recognized him?”

  Ella nodded.

  “Did you see his picture somewhere?”

  Ella shook her head.

  Her expression incredulous, Amanda asked her next question. “Did you meet him in person?”

  Ella nodded.

  “Damn.” Julian’s arm tightened around her middle. “Was it in the auction house?”

  She shook her head.

  “After?”

  She nodded.

  “With Gorchenco?”

  She nodded again.

  “We should go talk to Dalhu,” Amanda said. “And Kian.”

  56

  Kian

  Kian watched Amanda enter the room and saunter toward him and Syssi while smiling at the people admiring her mate’s work. But he knew his sister well, and there was worry in her eyes.

  When she reached him, she put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Something is wrong with Ella. You should come with me.”

  Syssi leaned closer to Amanda. “Is she sick? Should I go find Bridget?”

  Despite her worry, Amanda chuckled. “Julian is glued to her side. I think one doctor will do. I don’t want to talk here. I took them to your office.”

  Kian didn’t like having people there while he was away, but with most of the offices converted to an art gallery for one day, Amanda didn’t have much choice.

  “Did you call her parents? I mean Vivian and Magnus.”

  It hadn’t been done officially yet, but everyone in the village already thought of Magnus as Ella’s and Parker’s father.

  “Parker is with them. I don’t think he should see Ella like that.”

  Now Kian got really worried. “Let’s go.” He took the stairs two at a time, rushing into his office ahead of his wife and sister.

  As he saw Ella sitting at the conference table, he let out a relieved breath. She looked pale and scared, but other than that she seemed fine.

  Julian looked worse.

  Amanda and Syssi entered right behind him, and a moment later Dalhu came in holding one of his charcoals.

  “That’s what started it.” Amanda waved her hand at the portrait. “Ella pointed at it and tried to tell us something, but couldn’t. It was like a blockage of some sort was preventing her from speaking. I asked her several yes and no questions, and basically, we ascertained that during her time with Gorchenco, she met one of Navuh’s sons.”

  “His name is Lokan,” Dalhu said. “And Ella is most likely under compulsion not to talk about him. He has the ability to compel humans. One of the other brothers can compel immortals as well.”

  Kian looked at Ella. “Is that so? Did this man compel you not to talk about him?”

  She lifted her hands in the air as if to say that she didn’t know.

  “Is this the guy you told me about? The one who talked with Gorchenco about the island?

  She nodded, but then grimaced and pressed the heels of her palms to her temples.

  Dalhu put the portrait on the floor, bracing it against the wall. “She’ll get a headache every time she tries to override the compulsion. You should keep your questions to the bare minimum.”

  “Understood.”

  As Dalhu pulled out a chair for Amanda, Kian pulled one out for Syssi and another for himself.

  “Okay. So, what we know so far is this,” he said as he sat down. “Gorchenco has dealings with the Doomers, supplying them with weapons. Ella also told me that he visits the island. He took her with him when he met with Lokan, and during that meeting, Lokan must have put her under compulsion not to talk about him. The question is why?”

  “While we ponder that, I’ll get us drinks.” Amanda got up and walked over to the buffet.

  “Who wants what?” She opened the fridge. “We have coke, sprite, water, and beer.”

  “I’ll take a beer,” Julian said.

  Ella cleared her throat. “Water for me.”

  It seemed she could talk as long as it wasn’t about Lokan.

  “I’ll take water too,” Syssi said. “Is there any Perrier?”

  Pulling out the bottles and cans, Amanda brought them to the table and handed them out.

  “I assumed you’d like a beer.” She handed Kian a Snake’s Venom.

  “Is there a way to break compulsion?” Syssi asked.

  Kian shook his head. “Not that I know of. Only the one who put it on can remove it.”

  “Crap,” Ella said. “So, I’m trapped.”

  Syssi crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe Annani can do that. She compelled my parents to keep us a secret. Perhaps if she can compel people, she might be able to also remove a compulsion even though she wasn’t the one to do it.”

  “Perhaps.” Kian nodded. “But I doubt she’ll hop over to help us out unless it’s an emergency.”

  “It might be,” Ella murmured and then grimaced.

  “Don’t force it,” Julian said. “It might be dangerous to you. If you get a terrible headache every time you try to talk about him, you might suffer neurological damage.”

  Ella nodded and lifted the water bottle to her lips, drinking half of it in one go.

  “That’s good. Drink up.” Julian massaged her shoulders.

  “What about Merlin?” Syssi asked. “He has a potion for everything. Maybe he has one for that too?”

  “I doubt it, but it won’t hurt to ask.” Kian pulled out his phone.

  57

  Ella

  “I can cook up something, a kind of a tongue
relaxer,” Merlin said. “But I’ve never tried to use that to release someone from compulsion.”

  At this point, Ella was willing to try anything. It was so incredibly frustrating not being able to speak up and say what she wanted. Not that there was much more she could add to what everyone in Kian’s office already knew.

  Except maybe for the unimportant detail of Lokan using Logan as his fake name, which was very unimaginative on his part.

  She was sure to tell him that the next time he invaded her dreams, along with a few other choice words.

  Except, she couldn’t do that because it would give her away. Logan aka Lokan didn’t know where she was and with whom. Otherwise, he would’ve said something to that effect, or asked her questions about the people she was with.

  And it wasn’t because he was so cautious.

  In his wildest dreams, Logan couldn’t have anticipated her finding out who he was, so there was no reason for him to be overly careful about what he asked her or what he told her.

  She was pretty sure that he was only interested in her because of her telepathic ability and her pretty face.

  Still, it seemed that Dalhu didn’t know about Lokan’s dream-walking ability, and perhaps that was information that could be potentially helpful.

  “How long is it going to take you to prepare the potion?” Kian asked.

  “I need to get the ingredients first. I can have it ready by late morning tomorrow.” He gave her a pitying look. “Come to my house at around ten.”

  “Okay,” Ella said in a small voice.

  Merlin was cool, and she liked him, but the idea of drinking some concoction he made was a bit scary. Sometimes, she wasn’t sure how sane the guy was.

  “I’ll come with you,” Julian said.

  That was a relief. At least she would have a real doctor with her in case something went wrong. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “Well.” Kian tapped his fingers on the table. “There isn’t much more we can do today. I suggest you go home and get some rest, Ella. Try not to think too much about this and give your brain time to recuperate.”