Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (57 page)

"Yes. She's very weak." He didn’t want to go into the fact that it wasn’t just Lucius’ bond, but that Tegan was a Blood Human and that fact kept her alive with this amount of damage. Orion swallowed. "I don't know how long she'll be unconscious for. Last time, it was a week before her body healed enough and she woke. That was before modern medicine."

"She make a habit of being tortured?"

"The Circle did it to punish her. It was a long time ago, when the old rules still applied." Orion shrugged. "This time it was demons as far as we know. No idea what she'll tell us when she wakes up." Though bite marks were telltale signs of vampires being involved.

"You care so much for her Orion, you have to let her go. She's not yours." Danielle gasped and then put a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry— I didn't mean—"

Orion shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I've thought the same thing many times. You're right. Which is why, after Tegan is settled in at the Hunter's hospital, you and I need to talk. Please."

"Work comes first." Danielle stated and then nodded. "But yes, we need to talk."

Tegan groaned and her back arched before she settled again. Orion swallowed. "I'm glad she's back, but Lucius isn't going to be happy with the shape she's in."

"Pretty sure he's lucky she's alive. I know that I can't take much damage and live." She snorted and then turned around when Joey and Kaden came back in.

"Kaden will be staying with her, we've arranged for her to have her own room at the Hunter's Society until she wakes up. As soon as she wakes, she goes back to Lucius, but it is agreed that the Society grounds are safest for her right now." Joey crossed his arms.

Kaden sighed. "We don't know if she was planted there as a trap. They left her in front of her own bar, they knew that much about her."

"So what now?" Orion sighed.

"She'll be transported to headquarters via ambulance because her vitals are so low." Joey shrugged. "They are worried she won't pull through and honestly, I've never heard of someone surviving a dozen feeding sessions so close together."

Orion turned to Danielle. "Kaden's her guardian. I have to take care of the queen, and I don't feel like waiting until the duel."

"Don't do anything stupid." Kaden called as Orion walked out.

Orion shook his head. He couldn't do anything about Tegan, but he could do something about the queen. Footsteps followed him and he glanced over his shoulder. "I thought we agreed to focus on our jobs first."

"I'm worried about you." She continued to follow him. "Orion, what is going on?"

He stopped and wondered how he could explain it. He shook his head. "I'll tell you when this is done." He spun and kissed her, his tongue forcing her lips apart. "I'll come back to you, promise." Without worrying about all the eyes on him he just disappeared.

Chapter Eleven

Danielle just stood there when Orion disappeared. How could he just kiss her and leave like that? What made him think everything was okay? She rubbed her hands over her eyes and then yanked them through her hair. The man was pissing her off. The clearing of a throat made her turn and face Joey.

"I've got this handled, if you think you need to help him out."

She shook her head. "There is nothing else I can do to help him. Everything else he has to do on his own at this point." Like kill the queen and then crawl back to Lucius' feet. She snorted. "How's Tegan?"

"She'll live. Shocking, I know." Joey shrugged. "I can pick up all kinds of things from her mind, but nothing is making sense."

"She's been through a lot from what I can see. I can only imagine what her master's reaction is going to be. Probably going to call for him the moment she wakes up. I’m surprised Lucius is okay with her being with us." She shoved her hands in her pockets, brushing her thumb over her badge in a comforting movement. This is what she knew, her job, her passion. "Is there any way we can keep her from him?"

Joey raised a brow. "From what I understood from the heated conversation Kaden and Lucius had, Lucius understands why Kaden wants to keep her with us. However, do not think that means Kaden is protecting her from Lucius. I can promise you that Tegan does not want to be away from her vampire and it would not be wise to take her from him."

Danielle shuffled her feet, not being able to imagine wanting to be with a vampire.

"Not every partnership with a bonded human is forced, Dani. You have to understand that and I think as Tegan heals, if you're around for it, you'll start to understand what advantages there are. Not that I'm saying you should work with the bastard who bonded you."

"I’d rather kill him than work with him." Although recently something had been off about the vampire. He hadn't called out to her or taunted her in a while. It made her nervous and almost made her want to check on the grave. She tried to push it away as paranoia. She muttered. "And what do you mean if I'm around?"

"Let's just say that you misunderstand Orion's intentions."

"You talk in riddles." She shook her head. "Can't you just tell me something straight on?" She wanted to call Orion back to her now and figure out what Joey meant. She couldn't stop that little pit of worry in her stomach that told her he was in danger. As a Hunter she was nothing against a Fae. She wished she could help him, but all she could do was wait around for him, like some type of damsel in distress.

"It's not my job to direct your love life. It’s also not my fault you got mated to a Fae. I think it's a good match." Joey mused and then walked back into the room.

Danielle glared over her shoulder and went to meet with the ambulance that would be transferring Tegan.

Orion placed the dagger at his waist, securing it to his belt by the hilt. It'd been a long time since he'd been in the court and though it wasn't time for the official duel, he was done. It was time to kill Liara and take his rightful place with his mate by his side. Assuming Danielle would have him.

He recalled her eyes when she learned that he'd willingly kill for Lucius. She didn't know how his life worked or what things he had done in the past to survive. As a Hunter, she killed creatures without remorse; it was no different than what he did. It was time to face his past and create a new start for both of them.

He closed his eyes and recalled the place he grew up in and knew so well. The Unseelie Court of the Fae. The black and silver of his family's rooms, the crystal hanging from the ceiling, tinted red as if dipped in blood. The throne made up of skulls and bones, the one he’d inherited when his father was killed. Home. As dark and disturbing as it was, he missed it. Mirrors would be all around the meeting room, allowing nothing to be hidden from whoever sat on the throne. He willed his magic to take him so that he would stand on the black tiled floor in front of the throne.

When he opened his eyes he looked around at the shattered mirrors and the black dipped crystals. The black and silver were gone, replaced by different tones of reds, and the only lighting was little floating balls of fire. The throne had remained the same, but was now on a raised platform. He pursed his lips and looked around. Letting down his glamour, he allowed his power to flow from him and called to the Queen of Blood and Darkness.

He pressed his wings together to keep them out of the way as his eyes scanned the room, each ball of fire disappearing one by one. He smiled and called on his own powers, letting his lightning flash in the room, not leaving a corner untouched. The magic flowing through him gave him a joy he’d missed. Now that his powers wore awake and his wings whole, it all felt natural.

Even the flashing light was better than complete darkness, but it seemed to highlight the evil look on Liara's face as she swayed towards him.

Her red dress clung to her body and circled at her feet. She made no noise as she moved, but one hand ran down her hips in a sensual gesture. "I didn't expect you to be here. I thought we specified when the duel would be. Did you come to make a deal?"

"I came to claim my throne." He stated and met her gaze. "I will give you a choice, you can either give it to me, or I will kill you."

She chuckled and it ran over his skin. "You can't kill me, I'm much stronger than you. Don't you remember what happened at the vampire’s?"

"Where you used his cat to put an end to the fight? Yeah, I remember, but now it's just you and I." He smirked and gathered the electricity in his hand and threw it towards her.

She moved and dodged, a silver blade flashed in her hand as she swiped at him. The blade cut through the air over him as he bent away from her, swiping her feet out from underneath her. The sound of her dainty feet on the ground seemed to echo as she landed from jumping.

He couldn't fathom how she could move in that dress and then he realized it was part of her glamour. It moved with her instead of hindering her, leaving no sound of rustling fabric. He summoned a sword and watched her through the continuous flashing of lights.

"You are brave. This time I'll make sure to kill you and then send your body back to your mate." She sneered, her eyes flashing in the light.

He felt like he'd been punched in the chest, but tried to keep his face blank as they circled each other.

"Oh, didn't think I knew about little Danielle? She's a bound human to a very bad vampire who was locked away. I could have killed her easily because I know where he lays, or I could make her life a living hell, and I might do that after I watch her weep over your body."

He tried to keep any images of Dani out of his mind. He wouldn't let that happen and yet he had foolishly come here without letting anyone know where he was going and that left her without protection. He tightened his grip on his sword and rushed her. Her image shivered and disappeared as he sliced through it. Snarling, he spun around, searching the shadows for her.

"That hit a nerve, didn't it? And after all these years I thought Tegan was going to be your weakness. Poor Lucius has more enemies than he can count, he should be wary of the company he keeps." Her slithering voice came from behind.

Orion spun and dropped to a defensive stance, but she wasn't there. He wouldn't rise to her bait, he needed to focus. His heart pounded against his chest as he tried to keep his mind focused. The lightening started to dim and a sharp pain went through him. He looked down and saw the point of a sword coming through his stomach. His only thought was that he had failed.

With a sickening noise the sword pulled out of him and he fell to the ground.

"I told you, you can't win this fight, Orion. You are too weak, it's what cost you the throne and now your life and your mate." Liara knelt by him and put her hand on his wound, letting the blood coat her long, thin fingers.

He could feel her power course through him and the blood rushing to her call. This was it, he was going to die without telling Dani goodbye. Closing his eyes, he saw her bright smile and heard her laughter. No. This could not be the end. He was doing this for her, to create a future with her. One without Lucius’ control, one without insane Fae Queens.

Struggling, he pulled the dagger from his side and rolled to his side, slamming the dagger into her wrist. "Yeah, that's what you think, bitch."

Her scream echoed through the room, shattering the crystals and what was left of the mirrors. Wind whipped around them and tore through her. Orion let himself fall back to the ground as he saw a ghostly figure separate from the queen and disappear. The body fell next to him with a thud. He'd done it. He'd taken his throne back. Now if only he could move.

Dainty footsteps made him move his head to the side and he saw a young Fae, her long silver hair nearly reached the floor and her light blue eyes seemed to shine as she met his gaze. "Do you need help, my King?"

"Who..." he sat up and cringed, putting a hand to his still bleeding wound.

"I am...well I was Liara's handmaiden, now I guess I'm your servant." She came to his side and guided him back to the floor, running her hand through his hair. "Relax, I'll heal you."

He chuckled. "A handmaiden, where are her guards?" He cried out as she put a hand over the wound.

"She dismissed them all because she was arrogant." She closed her eyes and a white haze surrounded her.

Orion tensed as coldness spread from his wound through the rest of his body. The pain faded and then warmth spread through him. "What’s your name?" He sat up and inspected where the wound was, now nothing but a scar.

"Isolda, my King." She bowed her head. "It will be an honor to serve you. I will prepare things for your return."

Smiling, he stood and called on his glamour. "Prepare for two, please. My mate will be joining us." So he hoped. Not to mention he might not return if Lucius decided to kill him for this. No, he had a feeling the vampire was planning this. "Thank you for your help, Isolda." He bowed his head and took himself back to the townhouse.

He appeared in the living room and blinked when he saw Danielle standing there. "Um, hi?"

Her eyes widened as she spotted the blood on his clothes. "Oh my God, you're hurt."

"No, I'm just fine." He promised and then pulled her in for a deep kiss.

Dani let his tongue part her lips, but then pulled back and hit him in the chest. "Where the hell were you? What happened?"

Orion rubbed his chest and sighed. "I went to kill the queen."

"She's dead? It looks like you were the one who was gravely injured." She lifted up his shirt and inspected the wound. There was nothing but a strange pink scar that reminded her of a snowflake. "Who healed it?"

"A handmaiden. I'm fine, I promise. I let her get close enough so I could stab her. The queen is dead and we're safe."

She was still upset with him about the assignment from Lucius, but right now she needed him. She needed to make sure that he wasn't hurt. She pulled his bloody shirt off and then leaned up to kiss him. Their tongues tangled as they explored each other's mouths. She ran her hands over his chest, her fingers exploring every fine line of his exposed flesh.

Her hand trailed down to his pants and ripped them open. When she slid the zipper down, his hard member sprung out and she wrapped her hand around it. She couldn't explain why she needed to touch him so much when he'd just gotten back from killing the queen.