Taboo Kisses (26 page)

Sameya cringed, tears burning her sinuses.

So much power at his disposal and
while he could find sustenance elsewhere, he’d chosen to
dominate the less fortunate because he could and because he enjoyed inflicting harm.

Appalling behavior that spanned centuries. This was not the mind of a decent man
, but a psychopath who would never stop leaving a trail of dead bodies
.

Gryphon twisted in his cage, pleading with her to stop. Yet, he’d gotten off when
others begged him for mercy. She showed him the same generosity he gave to
them
and burrowed deeper into his revolting mind.

His shrieks became her balm, a minimal type of justice.

But no matter how hard she worked to ferret out his cohort in Atlantis, the image
and name grayed in her mind. A powerful mystic to
dim
her ability.

Hugging her waist, she wept and sent out a slew of magical daggers to ravage his mind.
Unfortunately they wouldn’t leave him permanently damaged, but he’d suffer until her
Empress arrived.

Maximus was suddenly there in front of her on his knees, crushing her against his
chest. The warmth of Gabriel hit her spine and the Sameya-sandwich comforted her in
ways nothing
else c
ould’ve.

Pulling out of Gryphon’s mind, she felt dirty, but she clung to Maximus, allowing
the tears to fall. Someone should cry for the nameless that’d fallen to Gryphon’s
depravity.

“Naleah, I could feel your anguish across the house. Talk to us.”
Maximus pressed kisses to the top of her head, while Gabriel pressed his face in the
curve of her neck and shoulder
, h
is warm breath relaxing her
marginally
.

“He’s so depraved,” she whispered against his chest.

“Were you in his head?” Gabriel rubbed a hand up and down her spine.

“Yes.” She pulled back a little from Maximus. He maintained his grip on her hips,
but allowed her the space to
peer
at him and glance over her shoulder at Gabriel. “I needed information on
those who intend to overthrow Empress E’Neskha
. He didn’t offer it freely, so I
carved
it
from him
.”

“You’re scary, baby, and sexier because of it.” Her tiger kissed her cheek.

Sameya offered a faint smile.
“You’re pretty talented yourself, Gabriel.” Had a killer tongue and a fantastic thrust.

“You shaved at least a century’s worth of years off my life.” Maximus’
s grip tightening
on her hips
relayed
his anxiety
.

Poking him
in the gut
, she teased,
“Drama king.”

He
r vampyr
kissed her forehead. “Lean on us
,
and trust us to aid you. That’s what we’re here for, naleah.”

Sameya skimmed her fingertips along his jaw. “I’m fifty-two thousand
,
one-hundred thirteen years old. I’ve never leaned on anyone in my life.” Not even
her parents because they’d died shortly after her one-hundredth year. And sirens weren’t
the cajoling
sort
, especially not with someone as powerful a
s she
.

The
gu
y
s
allowed her to stand and extricate herself from their sandwich.
Her brain kept skipping over what Maximus had said…that he’d felt her anguish. How?
She shouldn’t be an open book to anyone.

They both remained on their knees, their bodies facing one another but
gazing
up at her. Sameya trailed a finger across Maximus’
s
jaw. “You’re feeling better?”

“Yes, Gabriel took care of me.”

In more ways than one, even though she doubted that’s what Maximus meant. First with
his blood and by finishing him off when Maximus had shunned her passion. Those moments
should’ve been hers, but were stolen from her. Not filched by Gabriel, but because
she refused to make a pact to join their
lives.

“Good,” she said through a throat thick with emotion.
She had no desire to leave these men, but she
couldn’t
walk
away
from her duties to her
Empress. It was better if she began to distance herself from them now, because she’d
been playing a very dangerous game with them.

Maximus’
s
gaze flicked over her shoulder. He nabbed Gabriel by the arm and the men rose together.
Sameya turned and discovered her Empress had entered the room. It was as if her thoughts
had brought the royal woman to her.

Going to her knees, she bowed her head and placed her arm abo
ve
her head, exposing her forearm. “Empress E’Neskha, my service to thee alone.”

Chapter
Twenty

Stunned by Sameya’s deference to the Empress, Ma
ximus assessed the other woman, curious if she deserved his beloved’s devotion.
The ruler of Atlantis was
so tiny
he suspected
a breeze would blow her away.
Thick aqua streaks highlighted the woman’s
white-blonde hair
and framed her oval face with hard ringlet
s
.
Light orange
eyes
f
ocused solely on Sameya
. T
he woman’s expression was one of fondness and respect.
For such a
countenance
to be turned upon
his mate
made him proud.

“
You know I don’t like it
when you do that.” E’Neskha
touched Sameya’s shoulder and her
soft voice
carried further than he’d anticipated.
“Rise, Sameya.”
As
his woman
elevated to her feet, the Empress
gave them a direct stare.
“
You two are?
”

“Maximus.”
He clapped Gabriel on the shoulder. “
M
y mate
.”

“Gabriel.” The tiger
executed
a small wave with two fingers.

“Friends of yours?” The Empress
angled her head to keep her
focus in
Sameya
’s direction
, but
Maximus knew she’d be able to see any movement from either of them out of the corner
of her eye
.

The
ir
siren
sent them a precautionary
glance. “Um…yes, you could say that.”

So, she wouldn’t claim them. Not that Maximus was surprised
, b
ut he’d hoped.

E’Neskha approached them
and offered her hand
. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Gabriel
kissed her knuckles
like they remained in the Victorian era
. “The pleasure is mine.”

Maximus
had no idea what was considered appropriate in this situation, but there was no way
he would prostrate before her as Sameya had. He settled on a slight head
bow. “An honor.”

She
perused
them both, as if trying to
determine something of significance.

“Empress, where are your guards?”
Sameya touched E’Neskha’s shoulder. “You’re in grave danger.”

“My sentinels were attacked his morning.
” The Empress might’ve responded to Sameya, but she was busy
contemplating
him and Gabriel. “I didn’t receive your message until seconds before I arrived here.
We were busy defending the palace.
”

“Damnit!” Their siren began to pace a furious path
, her steps a rapid patpatpat, h
er hands moving in agitation as she talked. “I knew I shouldn’t
have allowed you to talk me into
departing Atlantis
.
Less than a week and everything’s gone to shit and fast.
”

Fuck, she was adorable
when flustered
.
But… “A week? Gabriel and I have been hunting you for six months.”

“Not hunting me.” Still pacing, his woman made a face at him
as if he was off his rocker
.

“Wild goose chase.” Maximus directed the comment at Gabriel, but pondered Sameya,
his hands fisting at his sides. What had been Gryphon’s purpose in sending them after
her when she’d been inaccessible until seven days ago? The man had endangered his
mates and nearly killed him and all for what reason?

The
Atlantian
ruler
ignored his comment and glowered
at Sameya. “
Your mission here was important.
We needed to ferret out the infidel.
You’re
the best at what you do
, not to mention
you’re the only one I trust implicitly.
”

That snapped her out of her pacing.
“I’m responsible for your welfare. If something happened to you, Empress, I would
never forgive myself.”
Maximus didn’t want anything happening to his siren, he could live with the Empress’
harm. E
yebrows drawn together,
Sameya faced them, not making them wait long
to hear
what was on her mind. “You said six months, Maximus?”

He nodded
, but Gabriel was the one to respond. “Every lead turned up a dead end until you showed
up in Dirty Liquor the night we met.”

“
I was there for the elf. The one I
reaped
.”

“I remember.”
The tiger crossed his arms over his chest. “I also remember you showed zero recognition
when I mentioned Tyron Gryphon’s name. I’ve had my suspicions since.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” A little forewarning would’ve been nice
,
and
Maximus
had no idea why his lover hadn’t spoken up sooner.

Gabriel shrugged.
“Distractions got in the way.
Starting with you venomeing Sameya and everything that occurred after.”

“I’m not following.” The elfin like leader peered between the three of them.

“We’d been led to believe the elf had vital information on the rebellion.” Sameya
rubbed her forehead. “He knew nothing more than our griffin over
t
here.” She motioned to Tyron Gryphon. “Which leads me to believe the
griffin
i
s as big a pawn in this
takeover
as the elf. Both were used to draw me out
, to render you vulnerable, Empress, and to distract me with the two of
them
.
”

Disliking the way the events had spiraled out of control so far,
Maximus massaged his nape. “Could this individual be taking over Atlantis now that
you’re both out of it?”

E’Neskha shook her head. “No. When I departed, I’d serenaded the entire population.
Everyone is asleep.
”

“Is that possible?” Gabriel said exactly what
Maximus
was thinking.

“
She’s the best.
It’s very doable
,
”
Sameya confirmed.

“Okay.” Maximus put his fingers through his hair. “Let’s start with who gave you the
false Intel that instigated your departure?”

“Lucius.” His feisty little mate sent her Empress a pointed stare.

The other woman paled. “He…
.
” She shook her two-toned blonde and aqua head. “He couldn’t be involved. Lucius was
injured in the attack and might not survive. Crushed rose petals in aerosol form were
sprayed in his face to neutralize him. He was then electrocuted and shot in the chest.”

“The rose petals are what Gryphon sprayed in my face, as well.”

And no one but a siren knew of their weaknesses, he and Gabriel hadn’t even known
of the rose petals until now. “If Gryp
h
on was working for him, that would explain how he knew your weakness, Sameya.”

“E’Neskha, the only siren with the ability to identify another siren’s mate—aside
from the parties involved—is Lucius. He knew the mating compulsion would weaken me.
They attacked at my weakest moment.”

The Empress clasped her hands between her breasts
,
and tears welled in her eerie colored yes. “You’re wrong. I cannot believe he would
do this.
And you’re not mated!
”