Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (44 page)

"What are you thinking? I can pull out other methods, but some of them will risk death."

"She can't die."

The demon nodded. "I figured you'd want to keep her alive as long as we can manage."

"No, I mean it is impossible for her to die, unless you burn her or cut off her head, she won't die. So do your worst." If his theory was true about Tegan being a Blood Human, so were his words. He stepped towards the door. "I want in to see her."

The demon bowed his head. "Of course." With a wave of his hand the door opened. "This is a great opportunity for us to prove who our loyalties lie with. Those of us who are old enough remember when the Father walked the Earth. He is frightening, and with the fear comes respect. We certainly don't want to stand against him."

"So your general said, but your king hadn't been so sure."

"Well, someone killed him a while ago. Chopped his head clean off." The demon snickered and motioned to the door. "She awaits you."

Markus walked in and saw her hunched on the ground, her body shaking as blood poured down her back and mixed with her white hair. She looked towards him when he approached her and he had to admire the stitching that held her eyes closed. "I see the demons are also cautious of the rumors."

She froze at his voice. "Back again?" Her voice was harsh from screaming. She coughed and spat blood; even blind she almost managed to hit his boot.

"I'm coming to check on you, Tegan. You know you can end this by admitting to what I already know."

Her breathing was labored and she spat more blood. He could only assume her lungs were wounded. She let out a frustrated noise. "So you can drag me to the Father? To raise him? I don't think so. I will not unleash that monster on this world. I will not betray Lucius like that."

"Your master.” Markus spat. "You've grown disrespectful and bold over the years." He grabbed a fistful of hair and dragged her to her feet.

Even naked and blood covered, she still tried to fight him, but her body had been riddled with wounds. "The demons can do so much worse than this. I can make your life a living hell too; replace any of those good memories with ones like this. Would you like that? Reliving old and new nightmares over and over as I rip out any warm memories you have?"

"Go to hell."

He dropped her and a whimper escaped her mouth. "I'll be back Tegan, and regardless of if you admit that you are a Blood Human or not, you will be feeding the Father." Consequences be damned, they needed her blood. The Circle members kept their hands clean by letting Markus do what he wanted, but if they knew that he was having a bonded human tortured in the demon realm, they would make sure he was punished for his crimes.

He could admit that it was going a little far, but it allowed him to get back at Lucius for the past deeds, for getting to Tegan first. Stopping the demon guard, Markus caught his gaze. "How long does demon poison take to kill a human?"

"Depends on how much they are given, but you said that she couldn't be killed."

"I did, but it doesn't mean she won't feel the effects of it. Give her enough that it would kill a human over three days and keep an eye on her. You have an antidote if it goes too long? I need her blood clean for when I take her to the grave."

The demon nodded. "You are giving up on her giving us the information?"

"No, but I don't want to risk her blood being contaminated when she finally gives us the information." He would give it a little longer. He could play with her memories and make her think she already betrayed Lucius, but that would take the joy out of breaking her. No, he'd give it some more time before he took her to the Father either way. They were still waiting on the blood test from the other human to come back; that was the first step. To get the tomb opened.

"Understood. I'll have the men get on that."

Markus nodded and went to find the general to take him back to the human realm; he had other things to attend to. Like a party for the Circle, where they all knew he'd serve up Tegan as the main course as soon as she gave him the information. A welcome-back to her old life.

Lucius woke with a splitting headache. Pressing a hand to his skull, he tried to figure out what was causing it. He'd fed from Coran the night before, so it couldn't be blood lust. Part of him hoped it was Tegan, anything from her, emotions, pain, cries. He would kill for anything to let him know that she was still able to feel him. Orion had been right, he needed to focus on what was going on in the territory, but his heart and soul ached to have his bonded human back in his arms and safe. And when she returned she was never leaving his sight again.

Cursing, he sat up. He needed to figure out another strategy to find her and he knew who he needed to contact. The thought made him sick, but he had no other choice. He finally pulled himself out of bed and went to get ready for the night.

When he finished, he walked into the foyer to find Jaxon standing there. "I need you to find someone for me-Kaden, the demon you met with originally to get into my territory. Take Kass with you, he'll know her and know exactly what it means to refuse my request."

The man raised a brow. "And what request is that?"

"That he meets with me tonight. You are to escort him here." Lucius crossed his arms. "After that I need you and Kass to inspect the territory. There is something out there killing humans, and it's not my panther."

Jaxon nodded. "Of course, we'll be back with a full report." He walked out, nearly bumping into Orion.

Lucius was aware that he'd been running Jaxon and Kassity ragged, but he had found out that Coran and Derrik had been going behind his back and trying to undo all his hard work with Kass. Lucius had put too much time and effort into taking her control away to make a killer. The damn female should have known better and now he was trying to keep them apart. If it became an issue, it would mean threatening the alliance that Lucius had with the wolves.

Orion gave a small, almost sarcastic bow when he approached Lucius. Lucius moved to his throne. "I wasn't expecting a meeting tonight."

"I know, but I have information on what is going on around the territory." Orion crossed his arms.

Lucius rubbed his head, trying to rid it of the pain. It grew by the minute, but he needed to focus. "How are you getting all this information?"

"It doesn't matter, the thing doing the killing is a blood demon."

His head snapped up. "Are you sure?"

"I saw the victims myself. I wouldn't mistake the bite and I plan on trying to spend my nights trying to hunt it down."

Lucius growled. "No, your focus is on Tegan. I will have Coran and Jaxon work on hunting the demon down and figuring out who set one loose in my territory."

"Does it really matter who?"

"Yes, because it could be an act of war." The pounding moved to behind his eyes and his vision wavered. What the hell was wrong with him? The blood demon wasn’t going to help the current situation of the territory. It would be best if Orion could take care of it, since he’d helped before. "I have another meeting tonight and I will try to move duties around so that you can help with the demon."

Orion stiffened. "That means whoever you are meeting tonight will take over my spot of searching for Tegan."

"Possibly, it's a lead I have to follow up on." There was no need for Lucius to give Orion the details.

"If she's in bad shape she's not going to let a stranger near her."

"She won't let anyone near her in just plain self-defense. Let's remember that the only reason you got close to her was because she was chained to a table and that was before she knew how to fight." The memories of Tegan’s past tortures pushed the pain to an unbearable level. "Now get out of here. I will make sure everyone knows their duties and assignments, you'll be contacted when I know the results of my next meeting."

Orion nodded, "Of course." He spun and left. Lucius leaned his head back as the pounding finally started to fade. Orion was going to end up being a loose cannon if he wasn't careful. It seemed everyone in the territory was pushing against him as of late. It was like they sensed his weakness with Tegan’s absence; maybe they were starting to realize that Tegan was the only one who kept him from insanity.

Chapter Three

Lucius walked into the foyer and smirked. Kaden stood there with Kass in panther form next to him. "Did my cat have to threaten you?"

"I don't appreciate you summoning me like a dog, Lucius. I don't even want to be here. If you think I had something to do with Tegan's disappearance, fuck you." The demon's blond hair had been pulled back at his neck, keeping his sharp jaw free and his blue eyes unshaded, allowing Lucius to see the hate there.

Lucius snorted. "If you had something to do with it, you'd be dead by now. No, I have another problem in the territory, and though I would like your help with Tegan I have a feeling you'll be more helpful with this one."

Kaden rubbed his eyes and growled. "I would rather help find Tegan, I'm sure that—"

"She was taken by demons, there's really nothing you can do right now." Lucius didn't like the idea of Kaden even being in the territory in case Tegan came back. The two of them had too much history and it could screw up any chance she had of recovery, but an extra pair of eyes around the city wouldn't hurt. As long as Kaden kept his hands to himself. "Again, that is not why I have called you. Someone set a blood demon loose in my territory."

Kaden whistled. "Wow, that's a big punch in the gut. How many people has it killed so far?"

"I don't know, Orion just brought it to my attention. Apparently he has some informant that I don't know about. Stupid Fae is not worth the problems he brings."

"Right. So unknown amount of victims, do we know who summoned him here?" Kaden paced the room.

Lucius thought Kaden was being diplomatic about the situation and relaxed a bit. "We don't, I was hoping it was someone after you." He held up his hand before Kaden could snap at him. "Simply because it meant it wasn't an attack on me. Seeing as it hasn't targeted you, I don't know what to think."

"Do you think it has to do with Tegan's disappearance?"

Lucius paused and closed his eyes. "I don't think so, my instinct says it's something else." He looked at Kass and patted his leg. The panther came to him and laid at his feet. "Look into it. I need to find out who sent it and why."

"Understood. Now, about—"

"No, not about her, nothing about her. Get out and do what I've asked."

Kaden took a deep breath and bowed his head. "If you need my help, please let me know.” He hesitated and met Lucius’ gaze, something akin to pain passing through his eyes. “You know I would do anything for her."

And that's why Lucius entertained the idea of sending Kaden after her; the man would walk into a death trap for his human. But Kaden would be stronger going after the blood demon and would be more help alive. "I know. You are dismissed."

The demon left without another word and Lucius leaned back in his chair. "Kassity, I fear the worst is yet to come. Things are going to get crazy and we may be forced to put our plans on hold."

She huffed as if agreeing and he laughed.

The music of LMAFO’s
Sexy and I Know It
beat against Orion as he thrust his hips on stage. The girls in the crowd screamed, but he never missed a beat, even as some of them tried to climb up on the stage. He gyrated his hips to the music and ripped off his pants; with his chest already bare the women all swooned in the audience. With playful winks and smirks he added to the illusion that they could enjoy and know him, but when the song ended he would disappear off stage and remain a mystery. Always just an illusion, but he felt the sexual energy running off of them, feeding his powers.

The energy always put him in a mood, playful and horny. Normally he’d take one of the nameless women in the crowd home. He’d have his way with her, the screams of pleasure and the writhing orgasms would take the edge of the magic off. They’d be gone in the morning, giggling and with a story to tell their friends. But since Tegan was gone he didn't feel like it. He needed to be focused on finding her. If he was mated, he could go home to his mate and take care of his urges.

The music came to an abrupt end and he tore off his black G-string and covered himself with his hands, head held down, and eyes shadowed by his hair. The women cheered and whistled as the curtains closed. He walked off stage and grabbed a robe that was in the wings. Wrapping it around himself, he sighed. Buzzing with energy, he wanted to go out and pick up one of his lucky fans, but something was eating at him. The urge to go to The Disappearing Act ran through him and he couldn't put his finger on why.

After showering and dressing in the dressing room he stepped out into the chilly air. He'd flashed himself here, so going to the bar wouldn't be an issue. He found a quiet corner and flashed himself to the alley of The Disappearing Act.

The brick wall was dark, blocked from most streetlights. A chill went down his spine and he almost expected something to be waiting in the shadows, but it didn’t matter, no one would be stupid enough to attack here. The shifting of trashcans brought his gaze to Kassity crouched by them, her panther eyes meeting his. "I'm just here checking in, what the hell are you doing in the city like that, cat?"

She huffed and put her head on her paws as if she was a common house cat and he shook his head, going inside. Mae looked up from the bar, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders, her tight black clothes clinging to her. Currently her eyes were brown, but he knew the instant someone pissed her off they bled to black. She was Lucius' newest fledgling and current manager of the bar since Tegan's disappearance. "What are you doing here, Orion?"

The simple question caught him off guard and no matter what he said it’d be bullshit. “I wanted to stop by and make sure the bar was going okay. I can pick up the last shift if you need me to."

She shook her head. "No, everything is fine here, tonight at least."

"Why is Kass in the alleyway?"

"She's guarding the back door from something. Apparently Lucius thinks there is something big and bad in the alley."