A Curse Unbroken (12 page)

Aric didn’t seem to fully believe me, but my answer satisfied him enough that he relaxed. “We’ll have your back,” he promised.

I smiled. “I know.”

Martin scratched the center of his chest and addressed me. “Celia, forgive me for my request. But if you can’t gain access to Singh’s phone, you may have to return with him to the compound and attempt to secure it there, or locate his laptop. The rest of us—the vampires included—will shadow you there. The problem is, so far the compound has been impenetrable to anything supernatural. If you get in trouble, I fear we may be delayed in reaching you.”

“We’ll find a way,” Aric assured me.

I averted my gaze when I remembered the last
weres
who’d tried to gain access were all found dead.

“Don’t fret none, sugar,” Delilah said. “That’s where we come in. We can’t stop Shah’s power. It’s too strong. But we could probably stun it enough to get the reinforcements in, and you out.” She winked. “You don’t mess with a witch, don’t you know.”

Genevieve nodded, her stunning sapphire blue eyes radiant, as well as all that ebony hair spilling to her elbows. It wasn’t fair to be that beautiful. “We’ll make sure you escape if necessary,” she assured me.

“Yay, team,” Taran muttered.

The comment only made Genevieve smile. She didn’t fear Taran. But maybe she should have.

We wrapped up the last of the details then ended the conference call. I spoke briefly with Misha before he was pulled away by a soft, sweet voice. “Forgive me, my darling,” he said. “I must leave you.”

I knitted my brows. “Did you find a bride?” He didn’t answer. “Misha!”

He considered me. “Not so much a bride, but an arrangement.”

I laughed. “You’re not going to give me any dirt, are you?”

He scanned the nosy group around us. “Not now, but in time.” His humor faded. “Stay strong, and stay safe,” he told me.

“Don’t knock anyone up” was my advice to him.

Misha laughed before the screen faded and the call disconnected. Taran stood abruptly and disappeared to the back where two small suites made up the remainder of the jet. Emme clasped my hand, whispering low. “Something happened between her and Gemini, but she won’t talk to us about it.”

Shayna nodded. “It’s bad, Ceel. Whatever’s between them. Gemini left the house right before you called. He was carrying a suitcase. I don’t know if he’s coming back.”

“He moved out?”

Emme nodded. “That’s what it looked like.”

I straightened and carefully rose, not wanting to believe it. “I’ll go talk to her.”

I found Taran in the suite furthest away. She lay on the queen-sized bed, wrapped in a small white throw. Although her back was to me, I knew she was crying. The smell of her salty tears hit my nose before I could reach the bed.

Taran and I were tight, real tight. I knew when to push her and when to give her space. I lay next to her and waited for her to speak.

“How are things with you and Aric?” she asked.

I stared at the ceiling, ready to tell her we were fine. But that would’ve been a lie. “We’re okay.”

My comment gave her pause. “Just okay?”

“Things aren’t the same lately, Taran,” I admitted. “Aric’s temper has been short since the shape-shifters attacked. He’s irritable and exhausted all the time. I’m worried. He claims to be having trouble controlling his human half.”

“Not his wolf?”

I knew what she meant. It should have been the other way around. “No. It’s his human side that’s giving him problems.”

“You can’t be serious? What the hell’s his human’s problem?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Don’t be mad. I think he’s stressed about returning to his duties. The thing is, now I’m doing it, too. I wigged out—lost it completely and totally embarrassed him. I don’t get that way with Aric, ever. I was so crazy at the time. But he was more upset because I was upset. He stayed reasonable when I couldn’t think straight. I know we’ll be okay, so long as only one of us gets loony at a time.”

“I guess,” she said. “It’s obvious he adores you. Hell, any time you’re in the same room together he can’t tear his eyes off you.”

Her words made me want to smile, but I held back. “The nightmares are getting worse,” she said in the quiet that seemed to shroud the suite.

I almost didn’t want to know. “How?”

“I can see into the eyes that haunt my dreams. As dark as they are, I can see what they see. Ceel…I watch Mom and Dad being murdered in their reflection every time those eyes visit my dreams.”

“Taran…
Jesus
.”

Her voice croaked. “Yeah. I know.” There was more that she wanted to say, and she did, quickly abandoning the subject of our parents and how brutally they’d lost their lives. I couldn’t blame her. That was one of those topics we avoided at all costs, except what she said next didn’t offer me any sense of comfort. “Gemini asked me to marry him.”

I sat up slowly. Like her nightmares, I could tell by her tone this wasn’t good news. The scent of her misery surrounded us, clinging to the air and erasing all other aromas. “When?”

“Earlier today. He took me to the clearing that overlooks the lake. I thought he wanted to talk about some of the shit we’ve been going through. Instead he opened this little velvet box and asked me to be his wife.”

Tears dripped from her eyes and landed on top of the comforter. “You said no, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did. What choice did I have?” It was then Taran finally broke down. “Things have been broken between us since Anara ravaged my body. I know Gemini feels bad, I know he feels guilt. But that doesn’t make it okay for him to treat me like a freak.”

Taran sat up and rubbed the area between her breasts before the motion caught her attention and she stared at her gloved hand. “When we would make love, he wouldn’t touch it. I’d keep it covered, but he’d cringe away.”

I stroked Taran’s dark hair away from her face. She often exaggerated; it was part of her spirited personality. But this time, I didn’t believe she was distorting the truth. Gemini had been distant around her. He persistently maintained his gaze fixed on her face or anywhere else besides her deformed arm, and while he remained affectionate, his efforts seemed forced.

And I’d never seen him touch her affected limb.

“Does Aric avoid touching you where you were injured?” she asked quietly.

I didn’t want to admit that Aric frequently caressed the thick ugly scars marring my lower belly or how he’d often kiss the area when we made love. It was his way of recognizing the pain Anara inflicted and the invariable reminder of our loss. “No,” I answered simply.

“Which is why you’re marrying him, and why I told Gemini to walk.”

I sighed. “Taran, there has to be more to this than what you’re seeing. I think you need to talk things through. You love him. I know you do. Just like I know that he loves you.”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t love me. Not anymore. He loved the perfect girl, with the perfect smile, and the perfect body.” When she spoke again she was sobbing. “He doesn’t want the one who’s deformed, who can’t control her magic, who’s seconds from breaking down every time he recoils from her touch.”

I pulled her to me, embracing her gently as my heart broke along with hers. “Taran, if he asked you to marry him, it’s because he wants to promise you forever.”

Taran quieted then. “Forever is a long time with someone who finds you repulsive.”

I didn’t have a response for that. When it came down to it, I couldn’t excuse his behavior, just like I couldn’t blame her for refusing him. I gathered her closer, hoping that with time, my sister would be all right. Something was really wrong with Taran. And Gemini was only a part of the problem.

—

We hit the ground running when we arrived in Langkawi. That is, if hitting the ground includes dressing up like whores. When a she-vamp held up my so-called attire for the evening, I thought she was handing me a red silk infinity scarf. I peered around her, expecting more. “Where’s the rest?” I asked like a moron.

The vamp straightening my hair paused, as did the one applying my makeup. “What do you mean, where’s the rest? That’s what you’re wearing,” Agnes said, like it was obvious. “Show her the back.”

All there was to the back was a sheer mesh skirt. “Don’t worry. You’ll have a matching red thong and cute gold earrings,” Agnes added to sweeten the deal.

Somehow I thought the “cute” gold earrings would do little to draw attention away from my bare backside bouncing along. For the love of all holy, I didn’t want to wear the dress. In fact, I thought whoever designed it should have been arrested and possibly flogged. But I needed to grab Dilip’s attention and keep it. And I couldn’t deny that dress had the power to do it.

“Crap,” I muttered. “Where did you get this hideous excuse for clothing?”

Agnes frowned. “Edith Anne’s closet.”

Great. Edith was the naughtiest of Misha’s Catholic schoolgirls. I’d probably need penicillin after wearing it.

“Celia, don’t let your damn morals come between you and your mission,” Agnes snapped.

“Oh, no, God forbid,” I hissed, yanking the hanger from the she-vamp’s grasp.

The minute I put the dress on and stepped in front of the mirror, I knew Aric would lose his damn mind—and not in a good way. The plunging neckline cascaded down to my navel, just above my scars. It took an absurd amount of two-sided tape to keep my breasts covered, seeing how the dress had no back. The skirt alone—mercifully made of solid satin in the front—passed my girl parts by mere inches.

“How the hell am I going to sit down?” I demanded.

Once more, the vamps regarded me like I was the crazy one. “It’s not a dress meant to sit in, it’s meant for straddling,” Agnes answered, sounding all pissy.

Clearly, she wasn’t referring to horses.

Emme marched into my suite in platform sandals that added five inches to her petite frame, followed by the vampires who’d helped her get ready. And, damn, what had they done to my sweet little sister!

She was slathered with makeup that took her from angelic to yeah, kind of ho-ish. And her blond wavy hair was so teased, I didn’t understand how she fit through the door. As provocative as her teal booty shorts, matching bra (that actually made her look like she had boobs!) and her fishnet half shirt were, she still had on more fabric than I did.

“I can’t wear this,” she said. “It’s positively indecent.” She stopped short and practically screamed when she saw me.

“I’ll trade you,” I offered.

Her wide eyes took me in from head to slutty platform-sandaled toes. “Um. Never mind,” she said. “I’m good.”

Agnes smirked. “You make excellent whores,” she said.

“Gee, thanks, Agnes.”

My phone rang. I knew it was Aric and hurried out onto the balcony for privacy before answering. “Hi, wolf.”

“Are you all right?”

I tried to the adjust the fabric covering my right breast, but the neckline was so wide, I ended up exposing a nipple and hurried to stick it into the right spot. “I’m fine.” I cleared my throat. “A little nervous. Going undercover with anyone but you isn’t really my thing.”

I smiled when I heard him laugh. “I’ve done it too many times to count. But I agree, I’d rather be with you.” He released a breath. “You don’t have to do this, you know? I can have you out of the country within the hour. Just say the word.”

“Aric, with the magic my sisters and I possess, we’re the Alliance’s best shot at finding Shah.”

“I’d rather reach him another way.” He swore. “I seriously can’t handle this. Martin talked me down before, but the closer we get to game time, the more I’m not okay with you putting yourself in danger.”

“I’m scared, too,” I admitted. “But I’m more afraid of the wishes Shah has left and who he’s going to grant them to.”

He didn’t have a response, and I could sense his mounting worry. I tried to redirect him. “Look, you’re the undercover expert. Any advice?”

He thought about it. “Remember that you’re playing a role. Stay in character, and you’ll be fine.”

The thing was, he didn’t know my character spent most of her time on her knees. “Um. Okay.”

He waited again before speaking. “I have to leave now. Celia…I have to play a role tonight, too. I may…engage a female, especially if she’s close to Dilip Singh. Just know it’s not real, okay? I don’t want you upset.”

I thought about Agnes’s tips to get Dilip’s attention and hoped he could take his own advice. “No problem. I trust you.”

“Yeah?”

“Totally. Do what you have to do.”

I didn’t have to see Aric to know he was frowning. “I just thought after what happened at the Den…” he said slowly.

“Oh, that. Yeah. It’s fine. Fine.”

“Aric,” Koda said in the background. “It’s time.”

“I have to go, sweetness,” Aric said. “Don’t worry about anything. I’ll be with you.”

“I know. Bye, Aric.”

I hurried back into the bedroom area as Tim crashed into the suite. “We have to move—Dilip’s at the club and—holy
shit
!” he said when he saw me.

I would have taken it as a compliment, if he hadn’t salivated and his incisors hadn’t lengthened. “You’re not taking a bite,” I growled. His attention swerved to my sister. “That goes for Emme, too.”

His fangs withdrew. “You make a shitty whore,” he said.

I smiled and marched out. “That’s not what Agnes said. Let’s go.”

—

When we arrived at the club, the line of people waiting to get in ran the length of the stone-paved street and across the bridge. Bright colored lights sparkled against the ocean’s surface, and I could hear the music pumping from three blocks away.

The club seemed to float, the way it extended out into the water. I focused on the gentle waves as I adjusted the earpiece I’d been given, willing myself to relax. I wasn’t deceitful, and I didn’t like to lie. This wasn’t the best mission for me, but one I seemed the most qualified for. Although I’d planned to play a role like Aric suggested, prostitution wasn’t exactly the role I was born to play. I needed help. And who better to help me than someone who spent most of her time dressed like a naughty Catholic schoolgirl?