Cult of the Hexad (Afterlife saga Book 6) (49 page)

“I don’t know what happened…” I started to say as he came to stand before me. Then he got down on one knee and asked,

“Are you alright?”

“No! I could have killed everyone! The plane was about to crash and I woke up and nobody was awake and I panicked and…”

“Ssshh, it’s alright now.” Was he drunk?!

“Alright now! Are you crazy? Did you hear what I just said?”

“Yes and unless you shock me by telling me you knew what you were doing and this was some insane prank, then it is done now and there is little point torturing yourself over it, when what we should be doing is trying to understand it. Now tell me what happened.” I nodded, feeling better that he didn’t blame me at least.

“Well as you know we were just playing that stupid pig game and then Pip touched my arms and…” I looked down at my scars and Draven took hold of them as they started to shake. The memory of what really happened started to creep under my skin now the immediate panic was over.

“I was taken, wasn’t I?”  I looked up at Draven who still remained on one knee in front of me. He closed his eyes as if this was what he dreaded me finding out the most.

“Yes. Before we met you had…
history.”
The way he said this told me he didn’t know what else to call it.

“I saw myself back there. I was scared and in the dark. I felt like I had been in the dark for so long, locked away in the shadows that it changed me.” I took a minute and Draven used both his thumbs to take my tears away.

“I picked up a piece of the mirror and I saw what I did to myself…please tell me it was wrong…please tell me I didn’t try and kill myself, tell me he didn’t win that way…please.” I sobbed out my pleas to him, grasping on to his t shirt as if I let go time could tear me back there. I was never going back to that place!

Never…

“No. listen to me, you didn’t try and take your life, you did it to save yourself and most of all your family…you were a heroine…you’re always the heroine Keira, please believe that.” He told me and I cried even harder into his shoulder, not understanding what he meant but hearing that I didn’t give up that way was enough to comfort me.

“I will explain everything to you and you will see. But for now, I think that we hold off on long plane journeys until we have this new power figured out.” I had to laugh and knew this was his way of trying to help me through this.

“I think I’d better cancel the white water rafting then.” He chuckled and then said,

“Good plan and in turn I will cancel the track day and balloon ride.” I laughed louder this time and said,

“And I will cancel the…” He stopped me by pulling me to him for a body tingling kiss, the kind that left me near panting at the end of it.

“Sorry, it’s just the ‘cancel’ thing could have lasted a while.” Then he winked at me when my mouth dropped in shock. It wasn’t often Draven cracked jokes but when he did it was worth being teased for that grin alone.

“You’re lucky you’re so sexy and handsome, that’s all I can say.” I told him making him laugh.

“As long as you think so then that’s all that matters.” Again he winked and this time I hit him in the stomach making him laugh.

“So any ideas to what happened?” I asked when he retook his seat opposite me.

“I have a theory, yes.”

“Care to share with the class?”

“Not really but you will only nag me I suppose.” He teased again and I knew he was doing this to help keep me relaxed and my mind off feeling guilty.

“Ha ha, well I am a wife after all, isn’t that what men think we all do once we get a ring on our finger?” Draven gave me a small smile and then looked down at my hand in regret. I followed his gaze to see no ring was where it should have been.

“I wish I had never lost it when they took me.” Draven obviously not knowing what to say to that just shrugged and looked out the window. It was probably not something he wanted to think about right now or maybe he had something else planned and just needed the time to get me a new one. That thought certainly put a smile on my face.

“So, your theory?” I asked him again.

“I think that some of your difficult memories somehow get triggered and then try to break through. Only the block on your mind counteracts this and in turn the stress it causes comes through in a burst of uncontrollable power. Remember the mind is a powerful thing and when it has been messed with as yours has then there are going to be side effects.”

“I guess so. Just like when I would pass out in the beginning.”

“Exactly. Too much stress and your brain will cope anyway it needs to and this power you hold will react if it feels its host is threatened.” Okay so this made sense, in a strange way at least.

“So I just need more time to try and control it…more practice I mean.”

“Yes and I will be there to help you. You’re not alone as most of my kind experience the same thing when acquiring a new host as our powers develop and our new body has to grow accustomed to the changes.” I found all this fascinating and was going to ask more questions when Draven suddenly stopped me with a difficult question of his own.

“I don’t like asking this of you Keira, but I need to know.”

“What?”

“Were you alone in your vision?” My reaction probably told him his answer when I took a deep breath but I said it anyway,

“No, there was a man there.”

“Do you know his name?” I nodded and said,

“Yes, he told me…no wait, I just seemed to know it…it was Morgan.” At this Draven looked ready to spit fire at just hearing the name being spoken. But then if I thought this made him angry before then the next answer he received was one of pure hate,

“Did he say anything to you?”

“Yes he did. He called me Catherine and said we were meant to be together, Oh God…”

“What, what is it, what did he say?” I looked to him, bit my lips and then said,

“He told me to tell you…”

“What?”

“That he’s coming for me.”   

Chapter 46

Perfection

Once we were back within the walls of Afterlife I couldn’t help but feel better. I was as if all felt right with the world again, well almost. I knew that it would take some adjusting to this new way of life but at least now I could enjoy it without being worried about Ari and having the Hexad looming over my head.

All the remaining ‘Fathers’ were awaiting trial and from what I could gather Lucius had, for the moment, taken control of the situation. I asked Draven about this and he told me that the ‘Rogues’ as they were known, were indeed what I first thought…Vampires. And as it passed over to the responsibility of the Vampire King, it was up to Lucius to deal with their sentence.

It was obvious that Draven was less than happy about this, if the shouting and swearing was anything to go by I could hear from the next room. Okay, yes so I was shamefully listening to it all but it wasn’t like I had an empty glass up against the wall, just more like casually standing next to it looking at my feet.

Draven told Lucius that he wanted them to be interrogated and I shuddered when it was obvious through Draven’s reply of ‘Good’ that this had already begun. Also his response of ‘Make it like old times’ gave me a strong sense that Lucius himself was the one doing the torturous deed. I listened for more but Lucius must have been talking because it went quiet on Draven’s end.

“I can confirm they are still there.” I screamed and turned round to see Draven right there behind me…oh and he was grinning.

“You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“I’m sorry but I didn’t want to disturb your in depth study.”

“Uh?” He looked down at my bare feet and I realised what he meant.

“Oh, that.”

“Yes, that.” He smirked.

“The light was better over here.” I said slipping past him so he wouldn’t see my lie.

“Did you forget what they looked like or something?” He asked and I hid my smile with my back to him.

“No, I just thought I’d picked up a splinter, or something.” I said, with this last part repeating his words, mocking him. The next thing I knew I was being swooped up over his shoulder and I squealed out in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

“It could be fatal. I need to do a full examination. Now hold still.” He said as I wiggled to get free. He gave my bum a little tap and I huffed making him laugh.

“Put me down!” I shouted playfully.

“As you command, my Queen!” I quickly found myself being turned back upright and plonked down on the sofa. Then he sat down, picked up my feet and started tickling me.

“No! No, no stop, that tickles…please!” I begged in between snorting laughter.

“I’m sorry but it could be serious, I need to make sure infection hasn’t spread.” He teased again and using his arm to hold me down he tickled in between my toes and I was almost in tears at this.

“Oh no!”

“What? What is it?” I said sitting up quick at his serious tone.

“Keira, its more serious than I thought, this looks like it could be a rare disease called Sockitis. See here, it starts with the fluff in between the toes…” He said actually picking out a bit of fluff and showing me. I thought I would die of shame but then I quickly forgot about it when he carried on with,

“…then comes the next symptom called the ‘snorts’ and after that you pee yourself!” Then he started tickling me even more and he was right, if he carried on any longer I would have wet myself.

“It sounds like you are wrestling a pig in here!” Sophia said saving me by walking into Draven’s suite.

“Oi!” I said and she smiled before saying,

“Shouldn’t that be Oink?”

“Ha ha!” And actually it was pretty funny.

“Did I happen to mention a very pretty pig.” I tried to hide my smile and be serious when I crossed my arms and said,

“That’s better.”

“Anyway I can see that you’re busy so…” I snatched my legs off Draven’s lap and said,

“Oh no we’re not!” And this made Draven roar with laughter.

“I just wanted to inform you that we were back.”

“Good. Any problems?”

“None.”

“And were you successful?” I frowned at them both wondering what they were up to.

“I was.” Draven nodded looking relieved.

“I could just leave if you want as it would save all the cryptic stuff.”

“But where would the fun in that be.” She said winking at me before leaving the room.

“So are you going to tell me what that was about?” I asked following him when he got off the sofa. 

“Nope but I do have a surprise for you.” My eyes widened in anticipation and I quickly lost interest in what Draven and Sophia had been secretly talking about. Then I closed my eyes and held my hands out making him laugh. He took my hands in his, gave me a quick pull and then kissed my nose when I fell into him.

“It’s not here but come with me and I will show you.” He told me and I had to rein in my girly shriek of excitement.

“Let me just get my shoes on and…” once again I cried out as I was lifted into his arms, only this time it was Knight in shining armour style, which I had to say was a little bit more romantic than a fireman’s lift. Although, it had to be said that a fireman’s lift definitely had its sex appeal as it was more rough and ready!

“You know I do still have the use of my legs.” I told him grinning.

“Yes but then I wouldn’t be able to do this…” He suddenly threw me into the air making me scream and then promptly lifted me up to his lips so he could kiss me.

“Well you certainly give the saying ‘making a girl’s head spin’ a whole new meaning.” I told him making him chuckle.

“So where did you say we were going?” I asked after we came to yet another corridor.

“Nice try, sweetheart.” Well you couldn’t blame a girl for trying.

“Not much farther now.” He told me after I did one of those dramatic huffs.

“You’re so cute when you sulk like that, you make me just want to bite you.” His velvet, seductive voice painting that image had me suddenly wishing we were back in his room.

“You like that idea don’t you?” He said and I tried to hide my blush.

“I know you do because I just heard your heartbeat quicken. I wonder, does it make you ache for me to be nestled in between your thighs, thrusting into you as far as you can take it?” I sucked in a sharp breath, instantly feeling myself getting damp just from hearing his dirty, delicious words.

“I can’t wait to have you again. I want to taste you, feasting upon your intimate flesh, sucking the blood to the surface and making you more sensitive against my tongue. Then I am going to take what’s
mine.”
He growled this last part and the vibrations rippled all the way down my back and to my core. I let my head fall back wishing he would just stop us right here and take me up against the stone wall like some wild beast of a man that just couldn’t wait.

“We are here.”
He whispered and I didn’t care anymore just so long as it had a place where he could push me up against. Or he could just take me standing, either worked for me right now because if he didn’t follow through with his words then I would end up stir crazed, out of my mind, jump on him and attack, type of insane.

He used the power of his mind on the massive set of doors and it took me a minute to recognise where we were.

“I wanted to keep my promise.” He told me as he walked us through the great library that had now been transformed. Pure white church candles were everywhere and on every available surface transforming the room into the most romantic setting I could ever have imagined. He walked further into the room and I could see dinner was set up for two with plates covered in silver domes. White flowers of all different kinds, too many to mention in fact, were also scattered around the room and the white was a stark contrast against all the dark carved wood. But with the soft candle light gently flickering against all the petals, well the effect was astonishingly beautiful.

“Did you…?”

“I had this arranged, yes.”

“You’re a romantic!” I said utterly shocked.

“You sound surprised, believe it or not I am familiar with the concept.” He said grinning and lowering me to the ground.

“Nice touch.” I said looking to the main attraction of the room, or at least I hoped after the way he had shamefully teased my body on the way over here. Because there, right in front of the enormous fireplace, was a makeshift bed with piles of white cushions, throws, comforters, and every other soft, luxurious comfort that was made to surround your naked body in bed. 

“I thought you might like that part in particular.”
He whispered in my ear before walking past me down the centre of the vast room. I followed him, chanting in my head, ‘Go to the bed, go to the bed, go to the bed’ but it didn’t work as he went straight to the table that had been laid for us. He then pulled out a seat for me like a perfect gentleman.

I couldn’t help smile as I approached, knowing how lucky I was that I had found this perfect man, demon bits and all.

“Thank you.” I told him sweetly and before I sat down I reached up on my tip toes and started kissing his neck. It was only supposed to be a little peck, but I just couldn’t seem to pull away. I lifted my hand to his neck to hold him to me and then before I knew it I was sucking and biting and kissing my way up to his lips. His groans and moans told me he didn’t want me to stop either but it was only when our lips touched that passion exploded between us.

“Fuck romance, I need to have you and
now!”
  He gritted out the last word as he swept his arm out, smashing everything to the floor. I was shocked for the half a second it took him to yank me roughly to him and then lift me by my cheeks onto the table. Then the wild demonic side of Draven that I had hoped for earlier suddenly appeared and he was breathing heavy with need.

I was near frantic trying to get my clothes off and doing so whilst lying on a round table wasn’t easy with my legs dangling off the side. Draven could see me fumbling with my top and in the end simplified it for me by ripping it into two pieces that just slipped down my arms. I yelped when I felt the pull against my skin as he did the same with everything else I wore, including the lace I had covering what he wanted to see the most. It tore easily but he made a show of doing it slowly, unlike the rest of my clothes. He just slipped one finger in the waistline and I held my breath as he looked up at me, keeping eye contact and teasing me with his eyes. The material tore away like it had been made from tissue paper and without saying a word he raised up my legs and spread them, placing my feet flat on the table’s edge.

“Draven I can’t do…” He cut me off with one look when I tried to close them, feeling far too exposed this way. But that one look had me rethinking my decision and I submitted to his command, with trepidation quickly seeping into a greater need. The whole thing was such a turn on I felt that if I didn’t do as he asked I would regret it for the rest of my life.

“Good girl.” I felt my heart soar when he praised me like this but then swallowed hard when he added,

“Now lie back and let me enjoy my meal.” I looked down watching as he swung a chair round in one swift move so that he could sit comfortably whilst…well,
enjoying me.

In fact, by the time he actually started touching me I could barely stop my legs from shaking. I looked to him to see he was grinning and there was nothing kind or gentle about it. It was bad to the demonic bone. First he ran his fingertips down my inner thigh, caressing them slowly and feather light, making me tremble even more.

“I adore the way you respond to my touch. The way your delicate pale skin blushes in that tantalising way that teases me with the promise of your blood. Do you know how much I crave you?” I bit my lip at what his words did to me.

“How much I crave your scent, the pheromones your body emits only for me, makes my mouth water at the thought of tasting you. Bringing you to your peak, soaking your thighs and getting you ready to take me when gentle just isn’t an option. When I know that once I get inside you that nothing could stop me from taking you hard. That’s what you do to me…” He paused from stroking the crease of my leg, where the top of the inside of my thigh meets the most intimate part of me. He also paused his words, bringing his head closer to my most sensitive part and when he continued the feel of his breath against my clit made me moan for him.

“…And that’s what I am going to do to you.” I abruptly cried out after he said this as his mouth descended to claim me, sucking in my clit and rolling his teeth around it. My back arched and I thought I would fly straight off the table. He became relentless and after only a minute I was ready to come. But the first time I got to this point something would happen and the feeling would fade back to how it felt in the beginning. At first I thought there was something wrong with me but then it happened again, and then a third time until I was soon begging the man responsible.

“Please, oh Draven please!”

“You will come when I am ready for you to come.” He informed me and went back to his meal like it was the most civilised thing for a gentleman of high stature to do. I think I could actually feel tears running down into my hair line I was that mad with need.