Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (67 page)

Cael appeared in the room and Aristides looked up. “You have something for me?”

“I tracked my brother down to figure out what he did during his days.”

“And what did you find out?” He pushed himself off the throne and walked over to his mate. She was lovely, with her long blond hair and piercing green eyes. It was a shame they hated each other most of the time. She never forgave him for not coming after her when the king held her prisoner.

She snorted. “There’s a girl involved. One you’ll never guess. He used a demon portal so I followed only what little traces I could get on him, but he was guarding her. That much I could tell.” Cael gave him a coy smile. “You really want the kicker?”

“Enough with playing around, just tell me who this woman is.” He growled. “I don’t have time for games, Markus is breathing down my neck. I’m tempted to just send my demons out there to drag Kaden back, but they defeated the blood demon almost too easily when the fae queen sent that abomination into Lucius’ territory.”

Ceal shrugged. “Lucius and his people are stronger than anyone knows, but there is one weakness for Lucius and Kaden. I believe she already spent time on your table. Tegan.”

“The one Markus kidnapped.” Well, wasn’t that interesting. Kaden was attached to Lucius’ human. He could use this to his advantage, he just needed to figure out how. Playing his cards carefully would earn him points with the Father and Markus, but if Aristides played them wrong he’d end up dead. “You are sure of this?”

“I am. She seems weak for Lucius’ human, but that could be because of your torture. I’ve seen your work before.”

“I had help this time. Markus stepped into the room a few times to work with her.” He chuckled. “She’s something special that one, can’t die. Best specimen I’ve had on my table in a long time.”

Cael rolled her eyes. “Your love for bloodshed goes beyond that of even the king’s. I shall take my leave, I want to check on the troops and make sure no problems were brewing while you had me play detective.”

She had given him the information that he needed, all he had to figure out was how to use it. “Of course, go.” She could keep herself occupied with the troops and stay out of his way. He had no plans to keep Kaden alive. No, the demon needed to die. 

As Lucius woke for the night, sitting up in bed, his first thought was something was wrong. He couldn’t sense panic from Tegan, none of the confusion that he’d grown used to since she’d returned from the demons. No, instead he could feel joy from her. Curiosity got the best of him. He dressed and took himself to her location.

He found her out in the front of the property with Kaden. The demon was working with her on defensive stances for fighting and there was a genuine smile on Tegan’ face. Lucius kept to the shadows, watching as Kaden corrected small things in her stance, the angle of Tegan’s wrist and the width of her feet.

“This is coming natural to you, so I think your body remembers some of this.” Kaden praised. “Whoever taught you had to have known what they were doing.”

He was right. Lucius had noticed that many of her mannerisms, actions, and most of her speech were similar to her modern self.

Tegan snorted. “Lucius would never let someone teach me how to fight. I’m too fragile for that.”

The words hit him hard. She still remembered the way he had treated her before Markus took her. The moment he had realized she had been taken because he wasn’t there to protect her, he decided someone would teach her how to defend herself.  He’d chosen Coran because her hatred fueled her want to learn.

He stepped out from the shadows and made his presence known. Tegan’s eyes widened, but then she clenched her fists at her side. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“I know.” Lucius held his hands up. “I was admiring Kaden’s skill. Coran was your original teacher.” He felt her anger instantly and sighed. “Tegan, Coran begged for forgiveness, and it took you time to give it to him, but you two eventually became friends.” Even if he didn’t really like the wolf or trust him a hundred percent.

Tegan raised a brow and for a moment Lucius got a glimpse of Tegan how she’d been before her torture. “It must have taken me many years.” She frowned and her shoulders slumped a little. “I begged him to free me and he helped them.”

He nodded. “I know. I want you to continue to work with Kaden,” he couldn’t believe the next words out of his mouth. “He’s good for you.”

The light in her eyes was worth the words and he smiled.

Kaden cleared his throat. “When it comes to combat that is.”

Lucius nodded. “Yes, when it comes to combat. How did things go at the bar?”

“Well, I saw the butterfly collection and remembered a little bit about the bar, but other than that...” Her eyes slid to Kaden’s then back to Lucius. “Everything was uneventful.”

His human was lying to him, but now was not the time to address why. “Good. Tegan, I want you with me tonight. We have a visitor tonight and I want to—“

“Show me off.” She finished and crossed her arms.

He tried not to growl. “It is a show of power. I’m glad to see that your attitude is returning and I know you hate this part, but it’s needed.”

“I’ll go get ready then.” She shoved by him and headed into the house.

Kaden whistled. “Oh she is so not happy with you.”

“I’ve noticed, now what happened at her apartment?” Lucius turned to the demon.

Kaden shrugged. “She had a panic attack. I think it was a matter of too much going on at once.”

“She had a panic attack at the cemetery as well. I wonder if it’s from trying to gain her memories back or not.” Lucius shook his head then looked at Kaden. “I’d like you to stay around,” he locked his jaw and prepared for the next sentence. “You seem to calm Tegan and I will need that tonight. The person coming tonight is bearing a message from Markus.” The only reason Tegan would have to go was because her presence was expected. She was back and they could not show that her...situation weakened them.

“You know why, Lucius, if you’d just let us be together, then Tegan would always have that sense of calm. It’s something that is needed during a time like this, to help her.”

“The answer is no.” Lucius snapped and turned away. Tegan could not be mated, not to a demon. Not during a war like this.

Tegan took a deep breath when Lucius walked into her room. She could feel the way that he guarded himself, which meant he was hiding something. Something she wasn’t going to like. “What aren’t you telling me about this meeting?”

He went to the closet and pulled a box from the top shelf. Her body stiffened in a knee jerk reaction that she didn’t understand, not until he took the lid off and revealed the black fabric. Memories flashed in her mind and she pedaled backwards, nearly tripping over her own feet. The panic washed through her when Lucius held it up. “But in this time...the glasses...” Oh God, things hadn’t changed. She fell against the bed and Lucius sighed.

“It’s only for show. As soon as the meeting is over, it will come off. Yes, I use it as punishment when you disobey me, but it is not permanent. It’s not like when we were in the Circle’s territory.”

She tried to believe his words. “It’s a reminder.”

“And that is all. Tegan, you have to trust me.” He took a step towards her and she cringed.

He’d been saying that an awful lot since she’d returned. “I’m trying...but everything is so different.” She stood up and straightened the dress he’d chosen for her tonight. The red fabric would be a stark contrast with the black cloth.

“I know.” He wrapped the cloth around her head and her vision went dark.

Lucius took her hand and some of her panic fled. The Father never would take her hand, she would be blind and dependent on feeling her way around. Never worthy to look at him, never being granted any sight. Again the overwhelming feeling of being pinned to the floor consumed her and she pulled away from Lucius and backed up, tripping over her feet.

Lucius caught her before she hit the floor, but her chest tightened to the point of restricting her breathing.

“It’s okay.” His voice soothed her, almost as if it could physically slide through her and heal the hurt. “I am not him, Tegan. I am your master, your rock, your strength. You are mine to calm, to cherish, to protect.” His power touched her, a warm comforting touch and the panic edged away.

She took a deep breath. “I’m okay, I’m sorry I’ve been having those a lot.” Three in one day, she tried to not dwell on it.

“It’s a common reaction when it comes to the blindfold for you. Sometimes you receive it fine, other times it throws you into a panic.” He sat her on her feet and took her hand. “Come. Our guest is here.”

Guest, as if they were having dinner. He led her out of her room and into the hall. She tried to pay attention to the turns, but gave up because it made her head hurt. The air seemed to change when they entered the foyer. Lucius tensed beside her and let go of her hand. Her grounding. She tried not to reach out for him, as she found her usual place on the floor. Her upper body draped on his lap, something that should have been demeaning, but the touch gave her the grounding she needed when blinded.

“They sent an underling to deliver a message.” Lucius sounded less than pleased, Tegan could almost hear a snarl in his voice. Who was he talking about? She thought this was a formal meeting, not a message delivery.

“They didn’t want to send anyone stronger, in case you saw it as a threat. Not to mention, I’m disposable, they are worried you will kill the messenger.” It was a male voice, a bit husky, but not one familiar to her. He had a hint of an accent, but nothing to tell her his place of origin.

Lucius shifted beside her. “Hand it over then leave. If they believe that then you do not want to be here for my reaction.”

Yes, leave, so she could take the blindfold off. She curled her toes trying to feel the floor beneath her, something, anything to make it feel like she wasn’t floating in the middle of nowhere. She heard the man go through the door without another word. Lucius took her blindfold off and she relaxed.

“Who sent it?” She tried to keep the demand out of her voice, but she had a feeling she already knew.

Lucius held up a round, shiny thing and she remembered the movies she’d watched in the media center. Lucius started down the hall towards the said room. “The Circle.”

She tried to keep her anger under control. “Why are they sending you a message?”

“More specifically, Markus.”

The name made her ill, but she continued to follow him. “You made me dress up for an informal meeting, you blinded me—“

“Because we have to keep up the charade Tegan, it’s what keeps you safe.” Lucius pushed through the door and went straight to the player.

She resisted the urge to smack him. “Obviously not. Look what happened to me.” She growled. “I’m missing so many memories, how do we know—“ her words died in her throat as the screen lit up.

An image of her laying on a cold gray floor flickered to life. A sheen of perspiration covered her body as she visibly shook. The sound of her trying to vomit came through the speakers. She frowned, trying to remember when this took place. She was acting as if she’d been...

“Poisoned,” Lucius whispered, his voice careful. “That’s the only thing you react to that way.”

Her body started shaking and she sat down. Nothing could make her take her gaze from the screen. Markus walked into the cell and kicked her on to her stomach. He stepped on her back. Tegan’s face turned to the camera, giving them a clear view of her face. Her eyes had been sewn shut. Instinctively she raised her hand to her eyelids, the bumps that had been there were long gone now.

“That monster,” Lucius snarled and she could feel his anger leaking.

She took his hand. “Turn it off.”

“There’s a reason he sent this.” Lucius patted her hand. “Leave the room if you can’t handle it.”

That wasn’t an option, because he would need her to calm him down, but the panic started to consume her. She was going to be sick as Markus spoke.

"You know what I want Tegan, you can stop this torture with two simple words."

She watched as she tried to call for Lucius, physically calling out master. Lucius started to shake.

“Please, sir, turn it off.” Her voice cracked and she knew tears were in the corner of her eyes. How could she sit here and watch this? How could she forget this?

"He can't save you Tegan, he doesn't even know where you are. As we speak he is losing his sanity because he cannot contact you. He knows that he tried to protect you, but failed. Lucius has abandoned you." Markus laughed.

He’d been lying of course...

"Never...he would never..." Tegan cringed as more pressure came down on her back.

Markus’ laugh came through the speakers and he knelt next to her. "You've been gone for more than two months, Tegan. Have you felt him? At all?"

"No."

"Then he has left you." Markus snapped. "Two words, Tegan, that is it. Just tell me what you are to the Father. Your connection and the torture from these demons will end."

Tegan closed her eyes, knowing what was coming next. Her greatest fear...

“Blood whore.” She sobbed.

“True words, Tegan.”

Her whole body jerked in pain, but the words were clear. “Blood Human to the Father.”

She’d betrayed him. She’d betrayed Lucius. Her panic took over and she dropped to her knees in front of Lucius. “Master, I didn’t mean to, please....I...the torture...” Yet, she felt like she was making excuses, a child in trouble trying to talk her way out. She’d gone through torture twice, yet the second time she’d cracked and not remembered it.

Lucius bent down and wrapped his arms around her. Calm, instantly calm and the lack of anger scared her. He should have been furious, punished her, done anything but comfort her.

“You went through so much, you make me proud, my human.” He whispered, but his comfort didn’t ease her guilt.

She pushed away from him and hung her head. “I betrayed you, the one secret I had to keep no matter what, and Markus got it.”

“After two months of torture, ten times worse than what you went through before. You fought him Tegan. Now the only question is, what did he do with the information?” Lucius didn’t move away from her, but didn’t attempt to pull her back into his arms.