Rise of the Fae (29 page)

“Caught under a piece of the ceiling in the arena, to be exact.”

His brows furrowed. “How did you get out?”

“Neeman.”

Sherman smirked and nodded.

They walked toward the ceremony, and she hung a step behind to keep up the appearance of being his slave. All eyes were on her and Sherman. For the first time, she didn’t like being the object of people’s attention.

Sherman moved to the front of the crowd and Selene waited in the rear. These weren’t her people.

Danika stood before the gathered crowd, speaking of the bravery of the Tracking Squad. After several minutes, she turned the lectern over to Neeman.

Selene sucked in a breath at the sight of him. She’d not seen him in anything but his tracker outfit, but tonight he wore a dark three-piece suit that hugged his chest and arms and tailored nicely to his waist. He flipped through several notecards, looked up, and scanned the crowd. His gaze landed on her and his shoulders relaxed. She smiled. She couldn’t concentrate on any of his words as their eyes stayed locked on each other.

“He’s doing well.” Lorcan’s voice sent a chill down her limbs.

She refused to turn, continuing to stare at Neeman. “It’s a solemn ceremony, I’m not sure ‘doing well’ is the way to describe what he is doing.”

“True. He isn’t the reason I came anyway. Well, not entirely. The opportunity I spoke of is tonight. There will be a meeting. Maelstrom will be distracted. When he is, grab Danika and bring her to your old apartment, I’ll take it from there.”

“Are you going to hurt her?”

“Not that it is any of your concern, but no. And we won’t hurt Maelstrom either, once you tell him where she’s been taken. Then you and I will bring them back triumphantly and you will sit at my side as my wife.”

Anger bloomed in her stomach and she clenched her fists. “I’m never going back with you.”

“Let me have him,”
said her inner demon.

“That’s too bad. I’m sorry to hear that. I really had hoped that we could let bygones be bygones.” He stroked her hair from her neck.

She shrugged his hand off and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from unleashing her disgust on him. “Not bloody likely.”

“Well that is disappointing. Then, think of it this way,” said Lorcan. “You and Neeman will be free.”

“Free to what? Defend against the demons alone?”

“When Mason’s gone, the demons will return to their own plane.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He patted her shoulder. “I can’t. And frankly, I don’t care either way. If they destroy this plane it means nothing to me. I can find more planes to visit. The only thing I care about is keeping my home safe and with Mason under control it will be. You can’t open a rift from this side, you aren’t strong enough.”

An idea shot through her mind like a bullet.

“So, I bring her to the apartment and you’ll go home and shut the rift for good?”

“Yes.”

She turned to face him. His piercing eyes bore into her, but she refused to lose her nerve.

“Do I have your word as High Elder of the fae? If I bring Danika to the apartment, you will leave the Earth realm and ensure no harm will come to us either now, or in the future?”

His eyes narrowed and he tensed. “You think I would give you my word so easily?”

“Fine. Don’t. I’ll tell Mason what you plan to do and he’ll rip a hole in the universe so big that every demon my father has will flood into your precious sanctuary and tear it apart.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Wouldn’t I? You beat me and tortured me. I’ve lost just about everything I am because of you. I have nothing left. So you can either promise me now, or suffer the wrath of my brother and father.”

It was a thin line she walked. If he wanted he could grab her and pull her through a rift before anyone knew what had happened to her. And that was a fate worse than anything. She couldn’t spend another hour tied to that stone altar.

“How dare you threaten me.”

She clasped her hands behind her back in an effort to keep him from seeing her shake. “What will it be?”

As High Elder, his word was law. “Let it be recorded. You have my word.” A wisp of light flew from his mouth and snaked into the sky. A whisper echoed on the wind, carrying his word into the record books.

She nodded and faced forward again, hugging herself. She had to hold it together.

“Do your job well, Selene.” Lorcan’s fingers brushed her cheek. “Your family is counting on you.”

“Not my family.”

He inhaled and then his lips grazed her neck. “Gods above, how I’ve missed you in my bed,” he whispered. He ran his palm down her arm.

Selene swallowed hard and stared straight ahead. “I suggest you remove that hand before I break it,” she said through clenched teeth.

Lorcan chuckled. “Willful as always. I miss that most about having you tied to the altar. Our session always left me so…pent up.”

Selene whipped around, but he was gone. She clamped her lips together refusing to cry. Her blood pumped hard, making her head throb.

“You’re weak. You should have let me kill him.”

“Right, because what we really need is to be hunted by fae and demons.”

She scanned the area, but Lorcan had vanished. Her sights stopped on two identical men standing with a dark-haired, vulture-like man, wearing a long dark coat, behind a cluster of trees, apart from the group.

The Russians she’d overheard at Coven House days before. They’d said they were going to Las Vegas, but they obviously hadn’t. A chill ran through her. She glanced at Neeman. She didn’t want to cause a scene, but her gut told her something wasn’t right.

The three men walked away toward the street.

“Follow them,”
said her inner demon.

Neeman stopped speaking and stepped down. She was torn. She should tell Neeman about the men, but this wasn’t the place.

He walked to the first coffin with Danika. Together, they threw dirt on top and the first coffin lowered into the earth. A woman followed them, clutching tightly onto a man.

Selene watched the men get farther away. She didn’t want to leave Neeman and she’d accompanied Sherman. She couldn’t just leave.

The men disappeared around the corner of the crumbling compound.

The families gathered in a group to cry, hug, and lend support to each other. Selene turned from the scene and walked toward the compound where the men were getting into their car. She hurried as fast as her heels and tight dress allowed, but she was unable to catch up. The sedan disappeared out of sight.

“I could follow them. I’m fast enough.”

“Shut up.” Her hand rested on the wall of the compound. Memories of being trapped under the falling stone caused her gut to clench. “This is what you did the last time I let you out.”

“I saved your life.”

“You almost got us killed.”

She stared at the spot where the car had been. She might still be able to catch up if she ran now, but doing so would cause even more problems. Lorcan had told her that tonight was the night. She needed to stick close to Danika, not follow the Russians. Whatever they were up to wasn’t her problem.

She ran her fingers over the compound, following the wall around the side to a hole in the cinder blocks.

“Hey!” A strong hand wrapped around her arm. “What are you doing?” Neeman’s icy gaze met hers.

Her body tingled being near him.

“Keep him safe.”

“I wanted to see what was left,” she said.

“The rest of that place could crumble at any minute.” His eyes held concern.

“True.” She hadn’t thought about that. “Your speech was nice.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Nice?”

“Okay. It was… I don’t know. What you do want me to say? It was nice. You did great. You look amazing in that suit. You really seemed to help those families.”

The corner of his mouth curved up. “I look amazing?”

She blinked.

“Typical male,”
said her demon.

“Well… you always look good, but in a suit you look…”

“Amazing?” He stepped closer and she backed into the cold stone.

She swallowed.

He lifted a finger and ran it under the edge of her necklace. His expression hardened. “Nice.”

“Thank you.” Why couldn’t her voice and her head work together? She needed to tell him something, but she suddenly couldn’t remember what.

“Sherman must have spent a pretty penny on it. Earrings too.” His stare bore into her.

“Probably.”

“What did you give him in return?”

She clutched her purse. “Are you accusing me of something?”

“I’m simply asking.”

“Would you be upset if I did give him something in return?”

Neeman stepped so that he was almost touching her. His eyes were bright under the street lamps.

“You know I would.”

Words failed her. The nearness of his body made her inner demon purr with delight.

“Neeman...”

“What?”

“I told you—”

“That you have no feelings for me? Yes, I remember. But I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s not good.” He was smart. If he’d figured out what she planned to do…

“Let me out. I can take care of loverboy. You’re too weak. You’ll tell him. But I won’t. I’ll keep him safe from Lorcan.”

“I think you’re scared. I think someone here is manipulating you and you aren’t planning on staying in this plane. You’re going to have to go back with the fae. Maybe they threatened you. Maybe they have your mom. I don’t know. What I know is I won’t let anything happen to you. I won’t let them hurt you. I’ll protect you.”

Selene bit her lip as her knees shook. He couldn’t protect her. She was the one who had to protect him.

“Not you. Me. I can protect him.”

He reached out, wrapped his large hand around her neck, and squeezed, massaging it with his fingers. He pressed into her and his musky scent enveloped her. She’d never had someone so willing to help her. She’d been fending for herself for so long just hearing him say those words made her want to say yes. Fear and excitement swirled in her veins.

“Kiss me,” he demanded.

“No.”

Her desires collided with Seraphine’s. For the first time, Seraphine was the level-headed one and she was the one being ruled by her emotions. “We can’t be together,” she said, more for herself than for him. She couldn’t give in.

“Why?” His eyes probed her for the truth as his hand caressed her neck, reminding her of the pleasure he’d brought her previously.

“I don’t care about you.” The lies clung to her mouth.

“You’re lying.”

“Let me out.”

“What do you want from me?” she cried. A headache clustered and stormed her mind.

He leaned in closer, his lips an inch from hers. His tight body swathed in the designer suit rubbed up against her, making the chiffon of her dress brush against her nipples.

“I want you.” He looked her dead in the eye and her resolve almost broke.

“I can’t.” A tear leaked from her eye.

“Why? Tell me the truth.”

The headache doubled as Seraphine clawed her way toward the surface. Selene fought to keep control of herself, to the point that her limbs shook.

“Why can’t you tell me? Why are you here? Who is your contact?”

The pain multiplied till she couldn’t concentrate. “He’s watching me. He’ll hurt you.”

“Who?”

“Don’t tell him.”

“Lorcan,” she blurted. Tears streamed down her cheeks, itching her skin. “He’s here. He’s everywhere. He saw me with you and he figured it out. He told me if I don’t do what he sent me here to do, he’ll take you and torture you the way he did me.”

Neeman blinked several times. “This Lorcan is the one who hurt you?”

She nodded and let out a shuddered breath. Seraphine was right; she was weak.

“I have to do what he wants. You’re strong, but no one should have to endure what I endured. You should go, Neeman. Leave me to my fate. I’m nothing but trouble, just like you’ve said before.”

“I don’t care what he said. Let him come for me.” He swooped in and kissed her hard. His arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her close.

Her mind fuzzed over and she kissed him, giving him all that she had. She couldn’t stand it if anything happened to him. Despite what she said, she loved him. He’d seen her at her worst and she’d done her worst to him, and he still stayed. Her demon roared to life within her. She broke the kiss and pushed away, clutching her chest.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

She bent at the waist and sucked in large breaths. “It’s Seraphine. She wants out.”

Selene stared at her pumps, trying to keep from blacking out. Now was not the time. This couldn’t be happening.

“You’ve ruined it all by telling him. Lorcan will see. I am the only one who can save us all now.”

“What can I do?” Neeman pleaded.

“I need Mason,” she gasped. “Get him!”

She tried to concentrate on the sound of Neeman’s shoes hitting the pavement.

“Not now. Not your turn,” she said.

Her nails lengthened and her fangs filled her mouth.

“No. No. No.” She turned and dug her nails into the cement wall.

“Selene!”

She turned her head. Mason walked quickly toward her, with Neeman in tow. “You need to stop her.”

A wave of pain rippled through her. “I can’t. I don’t have my amulet. You do it. You can command her not to rise. I know you can.”

“You’re strong enough,” said Mason.

The skin on her forehead split at her hairline. It wasn’t possible. Seraphine wasn’t allowed to manifest fully without her permission.

Seraphine cackled. “
Move on over
.”

“Mason. Do something,” she cried.

Mason locked eyes on Neeman and then looked back at her. “No. You are the daughter of a god. You need to do this yourself.”

“What?” She shuddered and small horns pressed out of her skull through the split skin.

“Do it,”
he commanded in the ancient tongue.
“Control her. Contain her.”

“I can’t!” she screamed.

Neeman stepped up to her and grabbed her wrists, twisting her so she faced him. His eyes met hers.

A wave of desire coursed through her so strong she almost climaxed. What the hell?