Broken Butterflies (24 page)

Ilisha’s pants slid down her legs and she heard him remove his own.
Is this really going to happen? I need to stop this.
But, she couldn’t; she was completely lost in him. A wave of love and deep admiration filled her.

“Look at me.” Damon’s face rested against her stomach.

When he had her attention his face dipped lower. She drew in a breath and fought to keep her eyes open. After shocks were coming when he found her mouth again. She could taste herself and kissed him long and hard.

He entered her and she ran her hands along his back. Sparks of energy converged on the tips as she brushed his skin.

Without missing a beat he picked her up and walked up the stairs. He spun her around and she hit the bed face first as he took her again. Ilisha white knuckled the bedspread. When she screamed she heard him let out a breathy chuckle, then a long moan.

He lay on top of her back, and kissed her shoulder. She could feel that he was ready for more.
Holy crap it’s been like a minute.

“Yes it has,” he replied.

She moved out from under him. “You’ve got to stop doing that.”

“I told you.”

“I know, it’s me.”

He rolled onto his back and Ilisha took him in and gulped.
I’m not going to be able to walk tomorrow.
Damon smiled and started to say something.

“Don’t.” She put her finger across his lips.

He got up and walked to the bathroom.

Ilisha lay there, puzzled.

She heard the water turn on and immediately jumped up.

“What are you doing?” She put her hand on her hip and stared him up and down admiring the view.

“I’m waiting for you so I can have you again.”

She walked in and he put her in the shower. As he lifted her she wrapped her legs around him and this time he finished first.

They lay in the bed naked and wet, not caring to dry off after the shower. Damon placed his head on her stomach and she stroked his hair.

“I need to know who Bram’s mentor is?” he said taking her free hand in his.

“What?”

“Bram’s mentor, you know, the priest that helps him?”

“His name is John. He lives in some run down church just outside of town, why?”

“I need to speak with him.”

As Damon spoke, she thought of Bram. She hoped he was okay, but it didn’t go farther than that.

Ilisha showed Damon where John lived. They walked to the back of the church and knocked on the door. Damon leaned against the wall waiting for an answer. John answered wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and reading glasses.

“Hi Ilisha, this is a surprise. Where’s Bram?”

“Not here. But, we need to talk to you.”

“We?”

Damon came into view and John’s mouth fell open.

“A word,” Damon said coolly.

John swallowed hard. “Of course, come in.”

Damon ducked to get through the door and John closed it behind him and stood there for a second.

“Nice place,” Damon said sliding a linoleum-covered chair out for Ilisha. He sat in the one next to her, but flipped it around so that the back was at his chest.

“Can I get you anything?” John asked nervously.

Ilisha’s eyes flashed between the two men feeling the tension in the air.

“Yeah, you can tell me where Bram is.”

John’s forehead crinkled. “He’s not with you?” he directed at Ilisha as he sat down.

“No, he was taken by some angels in black suits.”

John rocked back in his chair. “What?”

“A few days ago,” Ilisha added.

“How long did you know he was screwing my wife?” Damon spit out.

Ilisha’s eyes bulged. “Stop.” She put her hand on Damon’s arm as he continued to stare at John.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Fear filled John’s eyes.

Damon leaned back and took his coat off and laid it on the chair back. “I know you know who I am. You were once a active member of my kingdom. So, you can tell me the truth or we can make this difficult.” He leaned forward on the straddled chair.

John’s hands were gripping a coffee mug and it began to tremble against the table. “He said you dismissed her.”

Damon cracked his knuckles. “And you believed him?”

“I didn’t think he would lie about such a thing.”

“Give me your hand.” Damon said stretching his across the table.

John gave him a trembling hand and Damon yanked it toward him and slid John’s sleeve back. Damon pressed his index finger into John’s wrist.

“Did you believe I dismissed my wife?” Damon asked again.

“Yes.” John’s bottom lip began quivering.

Damon closed his eyes and Ilisha noticed his fingers were resting on John’s veins, feeling for a pulse.

He opened his eyes and let go. “Good. Now tell me who would have taken him and why?”

John visibly relaxed. She wondered what Damon would have done if John had lied, and shivers ran down her spine.

“The angels you speak of run a blood running racket. If he’s there he’ll die.”

Damon rested his elbow on the table and put his index finger across his lips. “He’s not there,” he said after a second of silence.

“I don’t understand,” John replied.

“I checked last night. What other things are these angels into?”

“Anything illegal you can imagine. Ransom, blackmail, human drug dealing, you name it.”

Damon got up and began pacing the small kitchen. “None of this makes any sense. Nobody has contacted Ilisha for ransom money, and the only demon that has seen me is Azriel. If they don’t want to drain him what’s going on?” he said mostly to himself.

As Damon paced, Ilisha gulped. She thought back to entering Bram’s mind in the car after he was taken. He sat as though he was bound or tied up, but she saw nothing binding him. There was also no fear in his eyes.
He went with them willingly.

Her hand went to her mouth and Damon caught the movement. “What are you thinking?”

She bit her lip and shook her head. Her legs began to bob under the table.

Damon straddled the chair again and slid it over toward her. “Tell me.”

“I think he knew you may kill him and he left with them willingly.”

Damon’s tongue went around the inside of his mouth and it made a sucking sound over his teeth. “Interesting.”

John shifted uncomfortably. Damon’s eyes shot from Ilisha across the table. “And what do you know?

John cleared his throat and twisted his hands. “He asked me about the goings on up the mountain a few days ago. He didn’t say why or that you were here.” He paused and added, “Majesty.”

“I need names. Can you get them for me?”

“I can try.” John replied.

“No, you will.” Damon gave him a stern look before standing and grabbing his coat.

Ilisha jumped up and followed Damon to the door. When he was outside she turned to John and mouthed, “Sorry.”

When they got back to the car she climbed in and turned on him. “You can’t treat people like that.”

He sighed. “Ilisha, this is the way things are done. Bram is not who I thought he was.”

“You could have just asked John to help you instead of making threats.”

“I didn’t threaten him. I’m his prince and he knows it.”

“Yeah, well he looked like he was about to crap his pants when you walked in.”

“Angels that are under me have to follow me. There is an order to things.”

“John said he left your kingdom.”

“Yes, he physically left, but that doesn’t mean that he escaped my rule. He may have wanted out when my father ruled, but he still needs to obey orders.”

“Just like the order you followed when you killed your dad?” Her voice was full of accusation.

His head bent down and he rubbed the top, causing his hair to dishevel. Ilisha started the car and turned onto the main road.

“My father was corrupt and he was going to kill you.”

“John has been nothing but nice to me and you don’t need to talk to him like that.”

“Ilisha no matter what I do angels will fear me. I’m their prince and they follow me. They can always desert like Bram, not that it will work out too well.” He looked across the car at her. “Look at me for a second, please.”

She steered the car to the side of the road and turned to face him.

“You think I’m an asshole don’t you?”

“Back there you were.”

“I don’t know how to explain this. The angel world isn’t the United Sates Government. We are beings with a ton of power. Leaders are to be respected and followed. I’m sorry if you think I’m an ass, but this is the way it is. If I walk around being nice to everyone who may have done wrong they will have no consequences. As it stands those that follow me know if they cross me I will take them out.”

“I kind of get it, but don’t think you’re going to talk to me like that.” She pointed her finger in warning.

He smiled. “Ilisha, I love you, you’re not one of my subjects.”

She nodded once in agreement.

“Take me to the barn Bram stayed at.”

“Please,” Ilisha cautioned.

“Pretty please,” he leaned over and breathed in her ear.

“Sure, no problem.”

Before Ilisha even got out of the car she knew no sign of Bram would be here.

They walked up the stairs and turned on the lights. Damon began searching around, lifting couch cushions and opening drawers. Everything was empty, no clothes, and no personal belongings were left.

Damon walked to the closet and pulled the string to turn on the light. With his height he didn’t need to struggle to get to some shelves. His arm fished around the very top and he brought a small box down. He blew the dust off. Placing it on the coffee table, Damon flipped the lid off. Ilisha sat beside him and leaned over to see what was inside. It was filled with pictures of her.

She took the pile and shuffled through them. From the time she was a child to the day on the train was chronicled in photographs. Some were black and white others were taken from long distances.

She threw the pictures on the table and walked out.

Ilisha leaned against the hood of the car, her arms clutching her chest. Damon tossed the box in the back seat and came to her. He rubbed her back and she began to cry.

She stood up straight and wiped her eyes.

Damon wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks. “Talk to me.”

“What do you want me to say? I’m an idiot okay. I feel so…so, disrespected. He left and didn’t even say goodbye. Everything about him seems to be a lie.”

Damon came in front of her and wrapped her in his arms. She buried her face in his chest.

“I’ll find him and he will pay.”

“Just leave it alone. He’s not worth my time.” Ilisha went to the car door.

Damon put his hand on hers and stopped her from opening it. “Get in the other side.” He kissed her cheek.

As they drove away she could see that Damon was fuming. His hands gripped the wheel tight and his jaw was clinched. She knew if Bram ever did reappear, he would die.

“How do you know how to drive?” she asked for a distraction.

“This isn’t my first time in this world.”

“Do you have money?”

“Of course.” He looked over. “What’s your point?”

“Sorry, that came out wrong. It’s just, Bram didn’t seem to know anything about living in this world and he was dirt poor.”

“That’s because he made a rash and stupid decision.” His hands twisted around the steering wheel as he spoke.