I honestly tried not to think about her in recent weeks. I tried not to interact with her. I minimized any contacts. But as soon as the image of her and my brother appeared in my consciousness, I was ready to become violent.
No, this is no longer an obsession, but a real mental disorder.
“First of all, my entertainment is none of your business, and second, Lenny and I are just fucking.” He smirked and then rolled his eyes. “Is now the moment when you remind me about how much you hate fairies?”
I wanted to murder him. Just like anyone else who dared to look at Elenia. I hated that my plan was working and Xanor was actually becoming reasonable.
On one hand, I’d like to keep him here for as long as possible, so that at least today he wouldn’t meet up with Elenia, but, on the other, I’d rather get out of my office while I was still able to restrain myself and not bite his head off.
I didn’t have time to tell my brother to get out. He jumped up abruptly, his frenzied eyes burning through the phone screen, and he hissed furiously.
“What the fuck?!”
“What happened now?”
More provocative photos? With Elenia? If they were caught kissing or something like that, I’d fucking tear them up. Both. To shreds.
Fortunately, the press wasn’t the problem.
But Elenia was.
“I sent Lenny a present — something that she was supposed to wear tomorrow night. And the nanny told the delivery guy that Elenia had just flown away with me. How’s that even possible?!” He ran his fingers through his hair nervously.
It was immediately obvious that he was nervous. Worried.
As for me... Something dark settled in my chest, some kind of wormhole that grew rapidly, threatening to devour me from the inside.
“Camila, come in,” I called the secretary, and she immediately came into the office.
“I’m gonna go find her!” Xanor rushed to the door, nearly knocking her down.
“Where to?”
He stumbled, frowned, and squeezed his phone with such force that it turned into crumbs in his hand.
“We’ll find out where she is,” I promised him.
“How?!”
Instead of answering, I turned to Camila.
“Can you track down Sonorina Lei’s whereabouts?”
“Only if her phone isn’t turned off.”
“If it is, contact Orion Plaza security. Ask them to give us the security footage from the parking lot of the last couple of hours. Tell them that I asked, no, that I ordered so.”
Nodding, Camila silently disappeared.
“Do we own a place in the same building?” Xanor was surprised.
“We own half of the city, and you’d know about it if you showed up for work more often.”
“When did you manage to buy it?”
When I moved Elenia there.
I didn’t say this out loud, because I understood how it’d sound. Fortunately, Xanor stopped asking stupid questions. He nervously paced up and down the office.
Five minutes later, Camila returned with the news. Elenia’s phone was off, but the cameras filmed her getting into an aerocar.
“Do you recognize it?” I turned the screen to Xanor. “Let me zoom in on the license plates...”
“No need,” he hissed dully, and then added furiously. “That bastard!”
“Any ideas as to where she might be?”
“I think I do,” he said through his teeth and disappeared, dissolving into the air in a cloud of darkness.
I followed him into the parking lot. Security guards were already waiting for us. We sat down in the aerocar, and I demanded he give me the address.
“What have you gotten her into?”
At first, I thought someone from Elenia’s past was behind this. Cruz dug deeper than Camila could, and found out that a year and a half ago, no Sonorina Lei existed. The daughter of a housekeeper was a made-up story.
But despite all of Cruz’s efforts, all his sneakiness and meticulousness, we couldn’t find out who she really was.
She had professionally covered her tracks. Or, more likely, she had had professional help.
Maybe her name wasn’t Elenia at all, although names are sacred to fairies. They still believed that a name left an imprint not only on the character but also on the fate of its bearer. And if one changed it, they could lose themselves and not fulfill their earthly destiny.
“Xanor, I asked you a question. Who took her and why?”
“It’s that bastard’s aerocar.”
“Could you be more specific? There are many bastards in Kadris.”
“Vin Medina. Lenny met him at a party.” He clenched his fists tightly. “I introduced them to each other.”
I was so mad that I could crush them both.
“Why would he need her?”
Xanor swore.
“I don’t fucking know!”
“If anything happens to her...”
“Since when do you care about fairies?”
Ever since I became obsessed with this fairy impostor.
“Elenia works for me, and I take care of my employees.”
“You care about your reputation and you’re afraid of scandals,” Xanor snapped.
I was in no hurry to change his mind. I was too busy thinking about Elenia... And about how I wouldn’t be able to restrain myself when I got my hands on the bastard that dared to take her.
I wonder how Grassor will react to its potential ruler being a murderer?
Despite the rush hour, we managed to avoid traffic jams. But even those fifteen to twenty minutes that it took to get to an elite high-rise building seemed like an eternity to me.
“Apartment number?”
“I don’t remember.” Xanor spat furiously, and then added, grimacing. “But I remember the floor. One hundred and twentieth.”
We rushed down.
She was here. I could smell her, but I just couldn’t figure out behind which door she was hidden.
“Well?” I almost growled.
“There!” Xanor rushed forward along the corridor.
I followed him, taking in the scent of her skin.
Xanor rushed in first, I hesitated for a moment — fear filled my soul. I was afraid of what I might see there. If his friend had hurt Elenia...
The loft in which the freak lived looked more like a photo studio. Actually, it was a studio and he was using Elenia as a nude model. She sat there huddled up, her face wet with tears. Her wings were the only thing covering her. And this animal, Medina, was photographing her as if nothing wrong was going on.
Bastard!
“Come on, baby, give me at least one smile. Relax and show me what’s hiding under those wings.”
He didn’t notice us right away. The music was too loud. Only when Xanor grabbed him by the shoulder did he shudder and drop the camera on the floor. He had no time to say anything. Xanor’s fist smashed into his face in an instant.
“Now you’ll show me what’s hidden in that skull! I’m unlikely to find brains, but it’ll still be interesting to see!” The darkness, breaking out of his fingers, flowed down to the floor and enveloped the photographer.
“Xan, I’m sorry! Nothing happened! This is just a joke. I swear! I wouldn’t touch her! Narsi asked me to do this. Just a couple of pictures... Nothing more... Xan!!!”
I rushed to Elenia, pulling off my jacket as I walked. I wrapped her in it, gently took her in my arms, and let her head fell on my shoulder.
“Nothing happened, you say? Let’s proceed in the same manner... Nothing will happen here either.”
“Valar… don’t… please…” Elenia whispered as if delirious. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she was trembling. “Let me go... I’m begging you...”
“Lenny, it’s me, Garanor. You’re safe now.” I promised, pressing my lips to her temple for a moment.
Gods, she was so cold! Frightened... and drugged.
“I’ll probably stay here,” Xano
r said. Darkness crept from his hands, surrounding Medina. “You take her home. And call the doctor. We don’t know what he gave her.”
“Should we take him to the police?” A bodyguard pointed to Medina, huddled in the corner.
“Oh, no, no police.” Xanor squatted in front of the photographer. “Just me and my old friend.”
I knew what Xanor was capable of and that calling the police would be the reasonable thing to do, but...
“We’re leaving,” I said.
“But Sonor Horos...” my people stuttered, looking anxiously at Xanor.
“I said: we’re leaving,” I repeated. Already on my way out of the loft, I gave Xanor a piece of advice. “Stuff his mouth with something.”
“Will do,” he said maliciously and sharply moved to Medina. “Well, Vin, let’s have some fun...”
Once we were at the aerocar, I carefully put Elenia in the back seat. I sat down next to her and contacted the family doctor. She was still trembling. I hugged her, trying to warm her up and calm her down, but she didn’t seem to be aware of what was happening to her.
Her eyes were closed, and muffled sobs escaped from her lips.
“Valar... don’t... Valar, leave us alone!”
Valar... I should inform Cruz about this.
I called Lita’s nanny and asked her to stay for the night.
“Elenia is fine. You’ll see her tomorrow.”
Once we got home, I left her in the care of the doctor and the maids. But I couldn’t stay away for long, I had to check up on her.
“Everything will be fine,” Sonor Kirino reassured me. “I gave her an injection. Tomorrow, she’ll be as good as new. Now let her sleep and recover. She needs peace and rest.”
The doctor left. I tried to do the same but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
I sat down in an armchair, turned off the night light, took her hand, and brought her warm fingers to my lips, praising the Gods.
I understood that I had to put a stop to this. Her relationship with Xanor had to end.
Chapter 21
Elenia
All I wanted to do was to sleep. And not remember anything... I didn’t have time to think about what I should or shouldn’t remember, since the door slid aside.
But in my bedroom, the door opened in the old fashioned way, and...
“LITA?!” I jumped up in fright and realized that I wasn’t at home. I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that my daughter wasn’t here.
But Garanor was...
“How are you feeling?”
Realizing that the blanket had slipped off me, and that I had absolutely no clothes on me, I swore quietly and jerked the blanket up to my chin.
“What’s going on here?!”
“Do you remember anything?”
Garanor stood near my bed with his hands in his pockets. He wasn’t wearing a tie...
I should be thinking about what I was doing here. Completely naked. Not about his tie...
“What should I remember?” I asked carefully.
“You were kidnapped.”
“You?!”
“What about me?” he asked.
“Did... Did you kidnap me?”
“I saved you. Together with my brother.”
“Is Xanor here, too?” I looked around.
Two dark brothers and one naked me — that was an overkill.
“He returned in the morning and he’s now resting in his room.”
“Where was he all night?”
“Punishing your kidnapper.”
“Huh?”
That was the only thing I managed to utter. It was simply impossible to come up with something more intelligible and articulated.
I was kidnapped?! Why the fuck am I lying here naked?!
“The doctor said that your memory will come back. If not in the next few hours, then in a couple of days for sure,” Garanor reassured me.
It’s hot in here...
“You don’t remember anything because of the drug that Medina gave you.”
“He kidnapped me? And took my clothes off?”
Goosebumps were creeping down my spine, and a picture flashed before my eyes. The smoky interior of an aerocar, from which I didn’t have time to get out because a man violently jumped me.
Yes, it was definitely Vin.
That bastard!
“He stripped you and took some photos. This is the only thing that he managed to do before we showed up.”
I exhaled with relief. But my cheeks seemed to be red from embarrassment. The two saw me naked. Both of them did...
Oh, Gods!
“Why would he do that? Kidnap me? He still wouldn’t have been able to display photographs taken against my will. Also, he risked a lot and...”
“He wasn’t himself.” Garanor took a step toward me, but noticing how I tensed, he froze again. “He was high. He told us that some model made him do this. My people are looking into it now. Of course, no one has seen your photos and never will. Everything’s destroyed. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I need to call Dina.”
I reached for my phone, but Garanor stopped me with another reassurance.
“I called her in the evening, and gave her a heads up that you’d spend the night with me.”
With him…
“Why did you bring me here?”
“You needed rest, and Lita wouldn’t let you recover at home. Here are your things. The nanny has packed them for you.”
“Dina.”
“What?”
“Her name’s Dina.”
“That’s what I said,” Garanor replied absentmindedly, continuing to look at me with a stare that made the temperature in the room go up.
“The bathroom is over there. Don’t rush with getting ready, I’ll bring you breakfast.”
“Your maid, you mean,” I corrected him for some reason.
He turned around and smiled faintly.
“I’m perfectly able to hold a tray in my hands.”
I glanced at my phone.
Wow, it’s already noon.
“But shouldn’t you be at work, or giving interviews or something?”
“Today is Saturday, and I have a day off, part of which I want to spend with you, Elenia.”
“Huh?”
He wanted to spend time with me. And I needed to go home. To my daughter and Dina, who was probably worried sick.
“I’ll be ready soon,” I promised, and, picking up my clothes, I rushed to the bathroom to get ready.
I locked the door just in case.
But he had already seen my wings from all possible angles. And not only my wings... At this thought, my jaw clenched, and I almost broke my teeth on a disposable toothbrush I found in a cabinet near the sink. I started brushing even harder and thought about how this day started in a very strange way.
I just hoped the rest of it would be better.
***
We returned to the bedroom at the same time.
“Where’s Felicia?” The question escaped my lips before I had time to think about it and keep it to myself.
Garanor put a tray with a silver lid on the table near the window and pulled back a chair.
“I suppose she’s at home, getting ready for tonight’s reception.”
“I thought she’d be here...”
“We don’t live together.”
“That’s not what I meant to ask.”
He looked at me, and I wanted to run away. I wasn’t afraid of him anymore, but I was always so tense.
“I need to go home,” I broke the silence.
“Have breakfast first.” Garanor lifted the lid, and the aromas of freshly-baked waffles, strong coffee, and freshly squeezed juice filled the room.
“Dina is worried, and I...”
I can’t stay with you, Sonor Horos.
“I insist.” I frowned and planned to politely but firmly refuse, however, his voice softened a little. “Sorry. It’s just... I don’t know how to b
ehave around you. Have breakfast with me, please. We need to talk.”
I nodded and sunk into a chair. He arranged the plates, poured the coffee into cups, and I took one in my hands to warm them on it. The room was warm, very warm, but for some reason, my hands were icy.
“Do you like waffles?”
I nodded.
“Especially with agro sauce, I love it.”
An adorable bowl of sauce was immediately brought up to me and a waffle appeared on my plate. He took a piece of toast and sat on the chair across from mine. I kept staring through the window, not daring to turn my eyes to him.
“It seems to me that you’re dissatisfied with something, and if it concerns a catering company, then, on Monday, I’ll continue to search and...”
“It’s not about the catering company, Elenia. But yes, I’m not happy.” He winced slightly as if every word was difficult for him to pronounce. “With your relationship with Xanor.”
“But everything’s fine with us.”
“That’s what I don’t like. That you’re together. Therefore, I decided to terminate our agreement.”
It was good that I hadn’t had time to swallow the bite, otherwise, I would’ve choked on the waffle.
“I don’t understand...”
Garanor leaned back in his chair and stared at me like he was trying to read my thoughts.
“He doesn’t deserve you. And...” A pause. “I have feelings for you that I just can’t ignore. I tried, but it didn’t work. I know that you feel something for me, too. Your pulse goes up when you see me, your cheeks turn pink, you start biting your lips, like you’re doing right now...”
“Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of you,” I said, and, without realizing it, bit my lip.
The breakfast was over.
Garanor followed me. I tried to move away, but I didn’t have time. He took my hand and gently turned me to him. His gaze focused on my face, and I felt like I was on fire.
“You have no idea what influence you have over me.”
He was too close.
“When I see you, when I hear your voice, when I inhale the scent of your skin, I lose my mind. You’re like a drug, Elenia. And I no longer want to stay away from this addiction. I don’t want to see you with Xanor or any other man. Only with me.”
A Deal with the Dark Fae: Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone (Cruel Intentions Book 1) Page 18