Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (71 page)

He paused and looked at Kaden. “Leave us for a few minutes.”

Kaden looked at Tegan and she gave a slight nod. “I’ll be fine. He’s never hurt me.”

Kaden walked out the door, shutting it behind him. Lucius touched Tegan’s cheek. “Finish your sentence.”

She pulled away from him. “I wanted happy memories in case Markus took me tonight.”

The words hit him hard. “We won’t let him take you tonight, Tegan. You don’t need to fear. And...” How could he explain his issues with Kaden to her without giving away the truth? “I don’t like you sleeping with Kaden.” Of course, he didn’t like her sleeping with anyone. One of the reasons he discouraged her and killed her lovers was because it wasn’t fair for her to sleep with someone other than her mate. Even if she didn’t know.

“Explain to me why.”

A knock at the door saved Lucius from having to lie to her. “Come in.”

She glared at him and Zaaren walked into the room. Turning away from him, Tegan went to her closet to fetch her fabric.

“I smell intercourse.” Zaaren snapped.

“Get over it.” Tegan growled. “I already got my lecture.”

Lucius clenched his hand into a fist to keep from running his fingers through his hair. “We will deal with it later. There has been a change in tonight’s meeting. It will only be us. We want Markus to see that we are powerful with or without our alliances.”

“I will still be joining you.” Zaaren demanded and Lucius nodded.

“Of course. Tegan, you are to play this like any other meeting. We know Markus has already seen your eyes, but it is important—“

“To keep up the charade. I know.” She handed him the box and she paled a bit.

Lucius took the box from her and laid it on the bed. Pulling out the fabric he sighed. The black strip had been replaced many times, but the meaning remained the same. The hate and sadness in her eyes never changed as he covered them and tied the blindfold around her head. Pulling her braid through and over the fabric.

Her hand shook and he took it. “Just a meeting Tegan. I promise.”

Zaaren stepped to her and she flinched before he could touch her. “Sister of mine?”

“I’m fine. Just...adjusting.” She took a deep breath and her shaking stopped.

Zaaren muttered, “Had you not been so lenient in this, adjusting would not be needed.”

“Times are different.” Lucius said gently. “You haven’t been around for three hundred years. You don’t know what Tegan and I have been working on.”

Zaaren made an irritated noise and walked out of the room. Tegan squeezed Lucius’hand. “He’ll deal.”

And he’d have to because Lucius refused to condemn Tegan to another lifetime of being blind. When they walked out the door Tegan turned her head instinctively and Lucius knew who she sought. “Kaden is to your left. He does not look pleased about you being blindfolded.”

Kaden nodded. “I think it’s cruel, but I’m sure I’ll have enough to answer for later.”

“Perhaps.” Though Lucius wasn’t so sure, he sensed something in Tegan now. A calmness she didn’t have before and he had no doubt that becoming closer to Kaden gave that to her. “For now, please wait in her room.”

Kaden nodded and reluctantly slipped back into Tegan’s room. 

Tegan hated that she could not pinpoint her position in the manor as Lucius led her to the great room. Her brother was a constant power at her back and his comment about how Lucius had been lenient struck her hard. She could imagine what her life would have been like if he had not gone to sleep. Lucius probably wouldn’t have grown into the power he now was and she would still be the weak blood whore because Zaaren would treat her as nothing more, either that or a child.

The only redeeming moment of the last ten minutes was that Kaden was allowed to stay, giving her something to look forward to after this meeting. The door creaked when Lucius opened it and she knew that it was the one that led into the great room. The tile was cold against her bare feet and she tried not to flinch at the sensation.

Lucius kept hold of her hand and she felt him sit down. Swallowing, she knelt by his side and draped herself over his lap. The touch calmed her panic and kept her grounded. This was how it was supposed to be.

“Quite the show.” Zaaren’s voice held an approving tone. “She makes you look powerful and it shows you have control over her.”

Tegan laughed. “But what you don’t see is that this is my comfort.”

“Sister of mine, this is how one honors their master.”

She hissed at the word. “Even with my missing memories I know that is not how Lucius acts towards me.”

“Tegan, now is not the time.” Lucius reminded her. “Our guest is here.”

Her entire body tensed against his and he ran a hand over her head. The doors clattered open and an all too familiar rush of power flooded over her. Markus.

––––––––

L
ucius ran his hand over Tegan’s braid as Markus walked towards them. The other vampire had dressed in a traditional black cloak with the insignia of the Circle embroidered on it. “I was not aware this was official business.”

“I simply came to see if the rumors were true, that an Original has woken.” Markus’ eyes flashed to Zaaren. “I see they are.” He bowed his head. “So it is only right that I have come to pay tribute to the return of my maker.”

Lucius bowed his head. “It is only fair that I allow you that honor. Shall I leave you and Zaaren to chat?”

“Oh no, I’m also interested to see how your human—or should I say Blood Human is faring.”

Lucius clenched his hand, but then stood, taking Tegan’s hand and helping her up. “As you can see she is doing well.” He twirled her to show off how she was healing and she followed his lead making the movement graceful and curtsying for the vampire. Though Lucius could feel her anger and hate for the vampire in front of them, physically she showed nothing but respect.

“Healing well, she always seems to do such after torture.” Markus chuckled and Zaaren growled.

“If you have come to pay your respects, let us talk.”

Markus tutted. “I have one more thing, something I wish to tell Tegan about what I learned while she stayed with me.”

Everyone froze and Lucius dropped her hand. “Other than she’s a Blood Human, what could you possibly have learned?” But a sinking feeling claimed him. Markus knew something that would drive a wedge between him and Tegan.

Tegan stood next to Lucius and ground her teeth as Markus’ laughter echoed through the room. She had no way to guess what was coming.

“Your master and brother have been hiding things from you, Tegan.”

She could hear his footsteps against the tiled floor of the foyer. The urge to reach for Lucius overcame her, but she kept her fists clenched at her side. Lucius froze beside her, so still that she wished she could look at him just to make sure he didn’t disappear on her. “There are no secrets between us.”

“Cute that you believe that, but let me enlighten you. They stole memories from you Tegan, ones you deserve and ones that would have changed your life.” His voice was closer now, within arm’s length of her she would guess.

That couldn’t be, he was the one who took her memories. Markus and her brother were the only vampires who could steal memories, but Zaaren would never put her through the torment. She locked her jaw, refusing to rise to his bait.

“Enough, Markus.” Lucius’ voice startled her, but the pressure of his hand on her shoulder helped calm her.

Markus laughed. “She has the right to know what you are hiding from her. The demon who found you, he wasn’t lying when he said that he was your mate. Zaaren took those memories from you, I found them hidden in your mind while I took your memories. While you bled on my table, I found your secret.”

Her stomach dropped and she couldn’t catch her breath. He had to be lying, there would be no reason Zaaren and Lucius would keep that from her. None.

“Shall I tell you how it happened?” Markus continued, his footsteps suggesting he paced the floor.

Lucius growled next to her. “Don’t believe him, Tegan.”

“You ran from Lucius one night, just a few nights after he took you from the Father. You were wrapped in nothing but a robe, because neither of the vampires had purchased you clothes yet.”

The tone in his voice mocked Zaaren and Lucius, but she listened intently, recalling the night he spoke of. She’d passed out in the middle of the road and had been lucky that Lucius came to find her. There was no memory of Kaden being there.

“You found your way to the main road of the village, the cobblestone freezing under your bare feet, but there, in the middle of the road stood your savior. It wasn’t your fault, you thought he was a human. You approached him, then your body gave out, causing you to stumble. Your hand pressed against his bare chest and he caught you around the waist, his hand curling over your hip. The touches left a branding, a mark proving fate chose you. It only happens to demons and their mates.”

Her hand started to rise to her hip where the mark was, but she forced it to stay down. When he’d finished his description she could see the scene in her mind, but if Markus was messing with her it could have been false memories again. Him using the burn scar against her, but then again...she’d seen the mark on Kaden’s chest and she doubted Markus had.

Kaden said Lucius was in denial about them being mates, but Tegan had pushed it off. She couldn’t react. Not now. Right now she needed to hold herself together until Markus left. Lucius put a hand on her shoulder and she calmed despite the anger she held for him right now. She couldn’t speak to Markus without directly being asked a question and she was too shocked and panicked to do anything other than tilt her head down.

“Now that your news is given,” Zaaren’s voice cut through the silence. “Come, let us take a walk outside and become reacquainted.” Zaaren brushed past her and for once she was glad that he stepped up.

Markus made no move to follow. “I just need to know one thing. Will you be backing Lucius’ Territory in this war?”

Without hesitation Zaaren replied. “Yes.”

“Very well, I’m sure we will see each other again soon.”

The room went silent until the doors closed. Once she was certain Markus was gone Tegan ripped the blindfold off. “Is he telling the truth?” Is that why she felt all those things for Kaden? Why sleeping with him felt right, perfect even. She met Lucius’ eyes and knew the answer. She turned to her brother. “Tell me the truth.”

“Sister of mine—“

“Use my fucking name! In over five hundred years you have not used it once. I have a name.” She growled and threw the blindfold at him. “It may not be my original one, but it is my name.”

Lucius put his hands on her shoulders and she shrugged him off. “Don’t touch me right now.”

“Tegan,” Lucius’ voice was low, the tone he used to warn her if she pushed boundaries.

She spun to face him. “Both of you hid this from me. After everything I’ve gone through did you not think I deserved a mate? Why would you hide this from me?”

“You’d just been rescued from the Father,” Lucius started. Tegan could feel his remorse, which eased her anger a little. “Kaden...Kaden had taken you into his house when you collapsed and kept you there until night fall. He knew what the marks meant, as did we. Zaaren thought it was not the right time for you to mate...not after being with the Father so long.”

Tegan swallowed. “Why did you go along with his plan?”

“Because I thought I agreed at the time. As things heated up with the war, it became clear that it would not be safe for you to have a mate, until after the Circle tortured you. I considered letting Kaden mate you after you proved you could go through so much, but it would break my vow to Zaaren.”

She shook her head. “You two are unbelievable.” Turning back to her brother she snarled. “I want my memories back, all of them.”

“There are things I locked away you do not need to remember.” Zaaren folded up the fabric—a nervous habit from so long ago. “Sister of mine, I took some of your memories of the Father also.”

She tensed at his continued refusal to use her name. “I don’t care. Give them back to me, give me back what you stole, what Markus stole, the memories are mine.”

“Not while you are angry.” Zaaren shook his head. “Nothing good will come of it.”

Tegan resisted stomping her foot like a child; instead she took a deep breath. “I want them back tonight. Kaden can hold me as I weep through whatever it is.”

“I will have to feed from you.” Zaaren handed the blindfold to Lucius.

Of course he did, because that’s how Markus stole the memories. “Want to tear another hole in my collar bone?” She threw at him and he flinched. “Or shall I be chained to a table for your feast?”

“Tegan.” Lucius’ voice cut through her and she clenched her fist and held her head down. “You are stepping out of line.”

She ground her teeth. “Then punish me. Zaaren made it clear that you are to still act as a master and I’m sure you’ve punished me before.” She was lashing him and she knew it. She’d reached her limit, the pain pounded in her head adding to her anger. Lucius grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

“I know you are angry, but you must not lash out. You know how to control yourself, do so or I will punish you. I will blind you until you understand how you are to act as my human.”

She knew the threat in his voice and she looked up at him. “Would you rather I fall to your feet like a beaten dog?”

Several things passed through his eyes, hurt, anger, remorse then his face went blank. “Never a beaten dog. But you are my human. I saved you from the Father, I’ve taken care of you, nursed you back to health, sheltered you and protected you. Without me you would have been chained at the tomb of the Father. Or under the Circle.”

The words sliced through her and she knew he spoke the truth, she owed him everything and had stepped out of line. She knelt and held her head down, knowing what was coming.

Lucius bent down and kissed her head. “This punishment is a reminder of what life could have been for you.” He tied the fabric back around her eyes and she tried not to fight. “You must learn to control your temper and to respect those who saved you from that life.”