Ties That Bind: The Bellum Sisters 3 (paranormal erotic romance) (24 page)

They fell back against the seat trying to catch their breaths.

A slow chuckle left him and made sure to wipe the lazy smile off his face before she saw it. Amazing didn't cover it. Hot as fucking hell came only slightly close. Her soft laughter followed his.

A hard knock at the window had his head jerking to the side so hard his brain swished around. “Damn.”

Rosa looked and saw the cop outside, flashing a flashlight in on them and blushed darkly, then buried her face in his neck.

“Roll down the window, sir,” the cop said.

Kearnyn obliged. “Yeah?” Was that his lazy question? Damn right, he hadn't felt this relaxed in a long, long time.

“Sir, you know that prostitution is illegal.”

His good mood left him in an instant. His cold eyes leveled hard on the human cop. “She is not a prostitute. She is my woman.”

The cop narrowed his eyes back on them. “That's not what it looks like from here. Hey, you, let me see your face.”

Rosa shook her head against his neck. God damn, her muscles were so tense, the cop scared her. He had every intention of stepping out of the car and laying a good beating into him when Rosa drew in a deep breath and let the cop see her face.

“Show me your arms.”

Face pinching in confusion, she held out her arms. The cop studied her elbows and Kearnyn cursed. The damn cop was looking for signs of drug use.

“All right, I can't prove she's a prostitute, but I'm writing you a ticket for indecent exposure.”

“Whatever.” Kearnyn ground his jaw, the sweet ardor completely banished from his intrusion. Still, his semi-erection was inside her and each time she moved, he twitched as she stroked him.

Kearnyn took the ticket and waited until the cop left to help her into her dress.

“I'm sorry about that.”

She smiled at him and pulled her top up, then crawled off him and fixed her panties and dress. It was a damn nice sight to see.

“Not a problem. So why don't we go back to my place and do this again?”

His jaw fell and he clamped it shut. “Yes, ma'am,” he said like a smart man and drove away.

CHAPTER 29

Alrik entered the great hall but found it empty. Cursing, he made his way down the hallway towards the study. A servant started past him carrying a silver tray with new candles he'd be setting out.

Alrik stopped him. “Have you seen the Queen?”

Wide-eyed, the servant shook his head.

Alrik went through every place he could think of. The back gardens, the royal study, the royal dining room, even the kitchens though he doubted his mother had ever stepped foot in there before. Anger rising by the second he stormed up to her bedroom and flung opens the door. An empty dark room greeted him. He started to turn away but a soft sound caught him, like someone was having a whispered conversation.

Alrik lit a candelabrum at the door and entered his mother's room, trying to find the source of the voice or voices. He hadn't been in his mother's room since he was a small child. One night he'd had a particularly scary dream and had ran into her room for help. She'd scolded him and sent him back to his room without even walking him there. Even thinking about it now made him embarrassed more than mad. He should have gone to his nanny's room, not his mother's. She would have helped him.

A tall and impressive bookcase stood against the far wall. The bookcase caught his attention for a few reasons, one of which was that his mother hated to read. The voice, a single one he realized, got louder as he neared it. Some of the rooms for the king and queen have escape passages and such for emergencies, so Alrik started looking for a lever or something to pull because that soft voice came from behind the heavy shelf.

He didn’t find a switch so he examined the bookcase but realized if there was a room back there, there was no way his mother could move the book case back and forth each time she used it. There had to be a mechanism. He started reading the titles of the books when his eyes caught on one in particular.
The Fall of the Rift
. Written after the Great War by Yurina Chinal the historical book had been traded and sold in waves after its release, giving all the details on Telal's betrayal that led to the fall of his father.

Alrik pulled the book out and found a small black button made into the wood. He pressed it and the bookcase slid to the side of the wall to reveal a small passage and a room at the other end. Holding the candelabra high, Alrik made his way through the passages, the words becoming clearer.

He paused to listen then froze. He recognized the sound of his mother's voice, and he also recognized the chant of a black magic spell. When he heard his name used in the same sentence he ran inside.

He found his mother on her knees, rocking with her eyes closed, and gripping an idol. The idol looked like it was made out of a small stick with several items wrapped around it. His eyes narrowed on the reddish site of hair and realized...it was his old hair. There was black hair too and he barely refrained from touching his own because he already knew it was his.

“Mother.”

His voice cut through her spell like ice. Her eyes flung open in fear and she scuttled back away from him, clutching the idol to her chest.

“S-son, what are you doing here?”

“I believe I should be asking you that.” Sucking in a deep breath, he inhaled the essence of dark magic. By God, he didn't even need to breathe it in, he could feel it. The dark energy saturated the room like a heavy cloud of angst and fire.

“I was just casting a spell to ensure that Telal doesn't bother us again.” She gave him a wobbly smile and stood.

“That isn't his hair on that idol, mother. Tell me what you've done to me or I'll make you hurt until you do.”

Her eyes widened and she took a step back. “Now, son, you know I'd never do anything to you.”

“Do I?” he asked coldly.

She hesitated. “Of course. I'm your mother.”

“By name only and don't act as if you don't know it. Tell me what spell you were casting on me and maybe I'll be lenient.”

She looked as though she'd talk but then she straightened, holding her chin up high. “I did nothing wrong. I was casting a spell on Telal like I said.”

Alrik stalked to her and slapped her clean across the face, the sound of it like a crash in the small room. She panted, cupping her reddened cheek. He tore the idol from her hands, fingering the strands of the hair he used to have.

“Tell me everything now.”

She quivered under his stare but kept her lips sealed. Rage boiled through him. Alrik grabbed her hand and dragged her through downstairs to the main hall. He found the nearest servant.

“Call the royal house. We have a traitor on our hands.”

Soon the royalty came down from their room, whispering excitedly to each other at the news. Of course they'd be ecstatic. This was quite the gossip. Alrik dragged his mother to the throne dais and shoved her into the seat.

“Guards, watch her, and if she moves, kill her.” The guards obeyed without question, surrounding her with swords drawn.

Alrik waited until the hall swarmed with aristocrats. “Take your seats,” he said in a booming voice. “Today I've learned something that will interest you all, I think.”

He looked at his mother and only saw steely determination in her eyes. No love, not even fondness. He'd learned long ago those weren't feelings she was capable of. Turning to the crowd, he held up the wooden idol in his hands. Though only made of wood and hair, the object weighed heavily in his palm from magic.

“Tonight I caught my mother in the act of treason against me.” The crowd roared profanities at his mother, but their eyes were excited. “I found her in the midst of her treachery, casting black magic on me and using this,” he said, holding the idol out for all to see, “as the foundation of her evil. If you look closely you'll see the hair taken from my own head used as fuel for her evil.”

He turned to her, unfeeling to the fear in her eyes. “What say you?”

His mother spoke loud and clear. “I deny these charges. What Alrik has witnessed was a casting on his brother, Telal Demuzi, the real traitor.” The crowd booed and hissed at her words.

“I hold this idol as evidence, which you can all see has my hair from ages ago and from now. What say you to that,
mother
?”

She clamped her lips shut and looked away. The crowd stood, yelling for her head, as, in unison, they began banging their fists on the table, rattling the silverware and glasses set out.

Alrik watched as his mother paled and understanding seemed to dawn on her beautiful face. “Tell me what you've done to me and I will show you some leniency.” The crowd hushed in an instant to hear what she'd say.

“I-I did what was best for you. You were weak.”

“I've never been weak!” he roared. He reached her and knelt over her. “Tell me what you did to me. This is your last chance.”

Seeing the fear in her eyes felt good, made him feel stronger; it fueled the anger he'd carried for so long.

Her eyes narrowed on him and in a hissing whisper said, “If you get rid of me you'll regret it, Alrik.”

Alrik stood stiffly. “Get her out of here.” The guards grabbed her and she started fighting. When she couldn't yank herself away from them, her eyes glowed brightly and magic burst forth from her. The guards went flying away and when they got up to charge at her she quickly hissed out another spell. The men choked, grabbing their stomachs at the same time as they fell to their knees convulsing and vomiting all over the floor.

Alrik held out his hand and thrust his own magic at his mother. He closed off the air to her until color drained from her face and she slumped to the floor.

“She is banished from these walls forever. Get her out of here and let us hope we never have to see her face again.”

More guards stormed in and dragged his unconscious mother out of the front hall to all the gawking eyes of the aristos. Without a word, Alrik left the great hall and his mother behind.

Now he knew why he'd changed, but the question now was, could he be changed back?

CHAPTER 30

Two weeks later.

Lily nibbled on her lip as she checked the calendar. Only five days left. A feeling close to panic flared up inside her.

“I need a drink.”

On top of her dresser she had all the items out and ready to go. She started making her special juice and chugged it down in no time. She smiled, the panicked feeling already going away. Good stuff, she thought and went back to look at the calendar.

In five days, she'd hit her new moon and become fully succubus, requiring physical intimacy to live. Even with the drink loosening her up, her chest tightened. Her and Telal's relationship, if one would call it that, had become tumultuous at best.

One day he was ravaging her in a stairwell and the next he'd locked himself in his rec room for sometimes days on end. He'd even programmed it to lock from the inside so she or Kearnyn couldn't get in to see him. When he'd finally come out he'd have a grim, sad look on his face that made her want to cry. He'd shower and throw on fresh clothes after he was done...doing whatever it was he did. She didn't really know, he wouldn't tell her. She guessed he was allowing himself to wallow.

That couldn’t continue forever. Her mother was in that rift. She waited for the flood of emotions to hit her at the thought, but the juice didn't allow it. All she felt was a warm, cozy sensation in her mind and body.

“Better than yoga.” Laughing, she finished dressing and went to find him.

She'd given him as much time as she could before she broached the subject of the rift with him. Two weeks was a damned long time considering her mother was in the demon's prison. Even if his plans fell through and he couldn't open the rift, then she at least had to get her mother out. Aside from breaking her out, she really couldn't see any other course of action. That is, unless he can make a truce with Alrik Demuzi. The likelihood of that seemed to be going further and further away though.

His office and bedroom were vacant again. It looked the same as it had two weeks earlier. It was as if he was slowly shutting down and simply giving up. Sighing, Lily knew where to find him and headed for the rec room. She swore if the door was locked she'd find a way to break it down. She tried the handle and smiled when it turned.

She heard two male voices inside. Telal and Kearnyn's. She paused in the hallway just inside the door to listen in; they were in the midst of a heated discussion.

“Are you sure that's what you really want, Telal?”

“Yeah, I'm fucking sure. I didn't stutter did I?” Lily flinched at the anger in Telal's voice.

“But all of your years of hard work.” Kearnyn paused. “And you’re certain?”

“For the last and final time, Kearnyn. I'm done with it. Done. Finished. Fucking over it. Now get out of here.”

Footsteps came towards her and Lily had the urge to flatten herself against the wall to try to hide. Kearnyn strode towards her, a grim look on his face. He shook his head at her and left. Slowly, she made her way into the room. She heard a loud crash and flinched but she made herself continue into the room in case he was hurt.

Telal heard her steps and his gaze swung to hers. Lily almost backed up a step. He looked positively livid, feral. His hands were fisted, shoulders bunched hard, his eyes sharp and breathing hard. Her eyes left his to see a lamp crushed against the floor from where he'd thrown it.

“Are you okay, honey?” she asked softly. Even with the juice inside her, she felt nervous, her stomach doing somersaults and cautioning her.

He looked away from her and she watched him try to get control over himself. After a minute his breathing slowed and after another his hands and shoulders relaxed. He turned to her, the look in his eyes now dark with something else. He crooked a finger at her.

“Come here.”

Lily knew that look in his eyes. He wanted her. She swallowed over her suddenly parched throat. “We need to talk.” Still, she went to him. He pulled her against him and her body responded with a feminine sigh.

“The last thing I want to do is talk.” Strong hands ran up and down her back in soothing caresses.

His lips sought hers out but she pushed her head to the side. “Please, it's important.”

He sighed in disgust and stalked away from her. “Please, enlighten me Lily.” He poured himself a rather tall glass of alcohol from a pitcher and started drinking it as he leaned against the wall with a one hip, his eyes watching her.

“What do you plan to do about the rift?”

One eyebrow lift. “To do? What is there to do, Lily?” His angry words bit at her.

“Are you going to try to compromise with Alrik to get it open?” she asked with exceeding patience.

He smiled at her like she was a little child. “No, Lily. Alrik made his intentions quite clear. I believe you were present for part of it were you not? Maybe you just don't recall?”

She glared at him, her own ire rising. “Yeah, smart ass, I remember. So what? You're just giving up then? Giving up on helping your people who are suffering under a ruthless king?”

His grip tightened around the glass. “That's exactly what I'm going to do. It's none of my business anymore. I no longer have a brother.”

She blanched at the raw, painful look in his eyes. She was walking to him before she realized it and wrapping her arms around his waist.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice tight.

“Hugging you.”

He made a disgusted sound, but after a minute, one of his arms came around her shoulders. It was a loose hug, but it still counted in her book. Pulling away, she looked up at him.

“You can't stop your plans.”

“Why not?” He gave her another sarcastic grin.

“Because my mother's in there.”

His face flared with real surprise. “What on earth are you talking about now, Lily?”

“I saw my mother. The one that's been missing for most of my life. The one that disappeared without a trace. Papa searched for her until his dying day and never found her. Now I know why.” She cursed herself for not drinking more of that potion because tears filled her eyes and her heart squeezed painfully tight in her chest.

“I know about your mother,” he said distractedly, his gaze focused elsewhere as he thought.

“What do you know?” He moved away from her and she hated that he wanted to put space between them.

“Frank contacted me to help find her. I hired professionals and did everything I could, but no one found anything.”

“When was this?” she asked, her voice raw.

He didn't meet her gaze. “Almost twenty-nine years ago, I suppose. It was right after it happened. What do you mean you saw her? Tell me everything and do not miss a detail.”

Lily told him about being thrown in that awful dirty prison cell, then meeting the woman next to her. She told him how she was a succubus and how they were keeping her alive by...feeding her. She might have broken down at this point but the juice kept her from feeling the brunt of the pain.

“How certain are you?” he asked in a hesitant voice.

“Certain enough. She has Willow's eyes and said her name was Mary Bellum.”

“I see.”

Lily took a seat in a leather chair. “So what do you think?”

He shrugged. “It may be her, but it might not be.”

“Will you help me get her out of there?” She knew it was her mother, just
knew
.

He laughed this time. “And just how do you suppose we do that? March in there and request her freedom from my broth—from Alrik?”

She didn't like the snide tone in his voice. “I don't know what to do, but I have to do something. If anyone can think of something it's you.”

“Of course. Well, sorry to tell you, Lily, but I'm not going back there. It's done. Over. Gone. I'm leaving it alone. I'm going on with my life.”

Lily stood in a rush. “What? Why? You've spent years planning this. How can you abandon it now just because of one problem?”

He laughed a cruel sound. “Just one problem? My brother became a tainted demon possessed by darkness. You saw him. That is not natural. God only knows how powerful his magic is. Even if I wanted to take over the rift do you know what that would mean?”

She squirmed under his scrutiny. “Not really,” she admitted.

“If he doesn't agree to my proposal, which he won't, then that means I have to fight him—to the death—to get the throne.”

Her eyes flew wide. No wonder he didn't want to go through with it. She understood now. He'd have to kill his own brother...or be killed.

“I don't even know if I could beat him. The darkness around him is attributed to dark magic. You know, the kind that hurts people.”

Gritting her teeth at his tone, she barely refrained from flipping him the bird. “I know what dark magic is.”
Asshole
, she added silently.

“How would you feel if it was your mother trapped in there?” As soon as she said the words, she regretted it. Not because the words were cruel but because she'd seen his mother and his reaction to her. Trying to draw sympathy from him via his mother was about as likely as him saying he loved her.

Yup, his boisterous laughter proved her right.

“I’d feel relieved, excited. Justice would be served.” His eyes softened at her angry look and he scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry, I'm an ass.”

Her mouth fell open. “Well, yeah, you are. And it's okay.”

“Listen, give me some time to think about it. Maybe I can work something out.”

This time she went into his arms and pulled his head down for a kiss. He quickly took the kiss further, his tongue sliding deep, his hands crushing her to him.

A terrible sound started blaring through the room or maybe it was the entire building. It sounded like a rad alarm on a military base. Telal tensed instantly.

“Stay here,” he ordered and ran into the bedroom. She followed after him.

“What's going on? What the hell is that?”

He didn't meet her eyes as he grabbed a pair of guns from another secret panel in the wall along with several knives that he deftly attacked to his body with holsters.

“We're being attacked.”

Lily's mind struggled to process that information. “Who'd attack here? This place is like a fortress.”

“I don't know, but they must be good.”

Her stomach tightened. “Why do you say that?”

He quickly pulled on a pair of black military boots. “Because that alarm only goes off if a guard pushes it in need of help on the main floor. That means they've already breached through.” He stood. “Stay here. I'm locking the door. Do not leave. Do you understand me, Lily?” He grabbed her by the arms. Too stunned to say anything she simply nodded like a fool.

He took off, the sound of the door closing after him like a hollow thump.

* * *

Telal raced to the main floor, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. He felt like an ass for leaving Lily alone, but he had to. Maybe he should have lied about the alarm but he just wasn't the type to say something to make someone feel better.

He reached the bottom of the staircase and plastered himself against the door. A gargled sound in the hallway made his muscles tighten with adrenaline. He knew that sound and one of his men just died. Tapping into his powers, he turned himself invisible and palmed a blade made specifically for cutting. It didn't take a lot of pressure for it to break skin. Peering out the small window, comfortable knowing he stayed hidden, he saw a flash of movement.

Who the fuck was doing this?

He knew he'd lose some element of surprise opening the door, but it had to be done. He opened it and quickly stepped through. The blur that had passed was a man—not a man, he realized—a demon. He didn't stop to process why or how a demon got here, because the demon turned at the sound of the door.  Though he was invisible the demon’s vibrant blue gaze seemed to land right on him.

Telal kept his steps completely silent as he stalked up to the demon. The demon's gaze didn't follow him but his grip on his two swords tightened. Telal walked within three feet of him. All he'd have to do was shove that sword forward and it'd pierce his side. But the demon didn't hear him. Telal ducked past him and, in a quick move, sliced the demon's throat. The demon dropped to the ground, rolling on his back to look up at him. Telal watched the demon's eyes gloss over with death then moved on down the hall.

Bodies of his guards littered the floor like a war zone, the stench of death and blood rotting the air. Telal hurried past them, his magic couldn't keep him invisible forever. It sapped him of magic and eventually it'd sap his strength as well.

A commotion sounded in an office down the hall. Telal ran for it, darting inside. Fuck. He found Kearnyn in the throes of a deadly battle, sword to sword, grimace to grimace. He was barely keeping up with the demon. The demon suddenly backed up, disengaging their clashing steel, then spinning around sweeping his blade in an arc. Kearnyn jumped back but not enough and the blade cut a deep neat line across his stomach. Telal charged the demon, hitting him in the side and taking him down to the floor. The sword fell from his grasp and he planned his knife through the demon's neck with a wet, bone-crushing sound. The demon bucked under him then stilled.