Seduced by Darkness (11 page)

How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

— William Shakespeare, Othello

ROSE SMILED, HER
eyes covered by a blindfold as I led her into the woods outside my family's mansion. As I led her to our magical rose garden.

She sniffed the air and smiled even more. "Roses. I can smell your roses."

I laughed and pulled the blindfold off of her. "You're a hard woman to surprise."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. "But it's fun to see you try."

When she looked down she saw the picnic I'd set up, complete with a red and white checkered blanket, a hand-woven basket filled with all of her favorite foods and a bottle of wine with two wine glasses.

"What's all this for?" she asked, sinking to her knees to explore the goodies.

I sat next to her, our bodies still touching as I poured her some wine. "Do I need a reason to do something romantic with my wife?"

She plopped a piece of chocolate in her mouth and shook her head.

I leaned over and kissed her again. "I love you, Rose. Now and forever."

These last few months hadn't been easy. Every since the day Sam was attacked and Rose couldn't shift, she's blamed herself for her friend nearly dying. Fortunately, Drake turned her into Nephilim and things couldn't be better between them, but that hadn't kept Rose from beating herself up and fearing her own shifting powers.

"I know you miss shifting with me," she said, reading my mind—or my face.

I held her hand and looked into her hazel eyes. "I do. But it doesn't change my feelings for you."

"I'm just so scared. Even with Talon trying to help me, I'm scared of failing everyone if I can't control my shifting."

"You haven't failed me," I told her. "You could never fail me."

"I failed Sam," she said, dropping her eyes to her lap. "I can't forgive myself for that."

"Sam doesn't blame you. No one blames you."

"
I
blame me."

I took a sip of my wine and considered my words. I didn't want to push her away, but I didn't want to lose her to this fear either. "Rose, maybe you just need to push past this. The longer you let this fear paralyze you, the harder it will be to regain control."

"That's just it," she said, tossing up her arms. "I never had control. I may never have control. Look at Talon. He's a monster because of these gifts. I don't want to become a monster, stuck in so many animal bodies that I no longer can even pass for human. How could you love a woman like that?"

"Is that what's worrying you?" I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head. "You could be part bear, part eagle and part fucking unicorn and I'd still love you as much as I do now."

She laughed through a tear and held me closer. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

We both looked up at the sounds of footsteps approaching. Tammy and Dean, my brother and sister, walked up.

I smiled at them. "Hey, what's up?"

"We were looking for you guys," Tammy said. She cast a glance at Dean, her twin brother, and I could tell they were keeping something from me.

"What's wrong?" I asked, standing up and helping Sam up.

"Nothing's wrong," Dean said. "But Dad wants to talk to you. He wants to talk to all of us."

My parents were both waiting in my dad's study when the four of us arrived. They stood next to the desk talking, and I could tell whatever they wanted to say was serious.

I reached for Rose's hand, hoping everything was okay. I looked at Dean. After his time spent in the hell dimension of the demon realm he'd never quite been the same, but he seemed healthy enough. Tammy looked fine. My parents didn't look sick.

"Is anyone dying?" I asked.

My dad chuckled. "No, son. No one's dying. But there is something we want to talk to you about. Why don't we sit down?"

My dad's study was huge, and there was plenty of seating for everyone, surrounded by floor to ceiling bookshelves packed with leather-bound tomes. I sat on a love seat next to Rose and waited.

"I'm no longer going to be leading our pack," my dad said, shocking the hell out of me.

"What do you mean? Who will lead? Where are you going?" My dad had been pack leader since before I was born. As shifters and druids we had long lives and he was older than he looked. Much older. I never imagined him stepping down.

"I've been around a long time," he said, "and it's time for some fresh blood to take over. Your mother and I are ready to retire and do some traveling, see the world, spend some time together."

My mom smiled and leaned into him and I could tell they were enjoying the thought of getting away together. Made sense, now that all their kids were grown and moving on with their own lives.

"So, Tammy's taking over?" I asked. She always seemed most in touch with the pack and their needs. Dean never took much seriously and I'd never had an interest. She was the logical choice.

But my dad surprised me. "No, son, we'd like you to take over."

My eyes widened and I looked to Tammy and Dean for support. Surely they didn't want this.

Tammy smiled. "We want you to be leader, Derek. I still have a lot to figure out in my life, but you are settled down with an amazing woman who fits into our life, you have the leadership qualities a good pack leader needs, and we know you're the best choice."

"I can't," I said. "I've barely spent time with the pack. I was always gone before and now we live at Elysium and are hardly here outside of Sunday family dinners. I wouldn't know what's best for them or even how to do this."

"Dude," Dean said, "you'll figure all that out. You and Rose were meant to be here, leading our pack, protecting the rose bush and our legacy and people. The way you saved me from the hell dimension proves that. The pack trusts you. They want you as their leader."

My mom stood and walked over. "I know you're scared, but I also know this is your destiny and you are ready for it. We are deeding you this house and the property, as well as Rose Botanicals. Your brother and sister will help you run the company, and you and Rose can live here and raise the next generation of O'Conners. If you want. It's your choice."

I looked to Rose who shrugged and looked as shocked as I felt.

My family left us alone in the study to talk, but I just sat there in silence. I felt much like I imagined Rose felt. I didn't want to fail everyone, but I felt like I would.

When Rose's phone rang, I thought she'd ignore it, but when she saw the number she answered. "Hello?"

Her face turned deathly pale and she jumped off the couch. "We'll be right there."

She hung up and turned to me. "That was Beleth. Sam and Drake have been captured."

Thou weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath.

— William Shakespeare, Othello

A THIRST FOR
blood woke me. My tongue felt thick and coated, like I'd been asleep and drugged for a long time. My head pounded in pain and the world around me spun. I had no idea where I was, and I couldn't see Sam.

Someone was dragging me forward. The stone floor scraped at my body until I righted myself and tried to walk on my own. My wrists were handcuffed behind me, and I couldn't release my wings. "Where's Sam?" I asked the Emzara who held me. The one who had attacked us.

"Drake!" I heard her voice behind me and spun toward it. She was being dragged forward by one of the soldiers in red.

"Sam, are you injured? Are you okay?"

The Emzara jerked me forward and I lost eye contact with Sam, but at least I knew she was all right. "Where are you taking us?"

I had so many questions. Why had we been attacked? What did the Emzara want with us? No one answered me.

'Drake. We need a plan.'

Sam's thoughts came to my mind weakly. Quietly. Like it took all her effort to make the mental contact.
'Are you powers compromised?'

'Yes. I can't reach anyone but you. I can't push my mind too far. It snaps back, like a rubber brand. Someone's blocking me. Or something.'

That eliminated Plan A. We needed a Plan B.
'Have you learned anything about where we're going or why?'

'No. They haven't spoken and I can't read them. I'm scared.'

I glanced back at her, locking eyes.
'So am I. But we'll be okay.'

I hoped that was true and I wasn't lying to my wife.

We finally stopped and were pulled through a huge double door that had the symbols of Sunrise and Nightfall intertwined. A sun and moon.

'I think I know where we are,'
Sam said to me mentally.

I nodded, also suspecting the truth of our location. The Twilight Court in Venice, Italy, ruled by Queen Seraphina. It was confirmed as we approached a floating royal throne where a beautiful Nephilim sat, her silver blue wings spread behind her. In her left hand she held a glowing white orb. Her midnight hair flowed like water down her shoulders and her dark silk dress clung to her slender figure.

Sam's voice broke the spell the Twilight Queen had cast over me. '
Hey! Stop drooling, husband!'

I glanced at her sheepishly.
'Sorry, that was weird.'

She smiled to show she wasn't truly upset.
'I was pulled in for a moment too. I think it's part of her power.'

We were both shoved to our knees by the Emzara escorting us. They also knelt as the Queen looked down at us.

Her voice filled the open space when she spoke. "Rise and face me."

We were yanked up and pushed forward.

She directed her gaze toward me and I did my best to keep my mind latched to Sam, to not lose myself in her mystique.

"Drake, son of Beleth, you have broken one of our most sacred laws. You have turned a human into Nephilim without seeking permission from your Queen. How do you plead?"

I stepped forward and shoved my fear down as I faced her. "I had no choice… Your Majesty. My wife would have died had I not acted fast. She was attacked by a beast who is killing paranormals."

"Be that as it may, you still broke our laws and must pay for your crimes," she said.

A heavy stillness settled on the room as we waited for her verdict. My stomach tied itself into knots with the waiting.

Finally, she released her orb and it floated beside her as she leaned forward. "I am truly sorry, but I cannot allow the creation of new Nephilim. Your wife will be executed at sunrise. She shall suffer the fate of her destiny, as if you had not interfered."

The edges of my world blurred and my heart dropped to my feet. I lunged for Sam, but the chains around me jerked to keep me in place. Her face was a mask without emotion, and I knew she was trying to be strong for us both. I couldn't.

"She's no danger to you!" I screamed at the Queen. "You have no right ending her life like this."

"I have every right," the Queen said in a quiet voice. "I am your Queen."

Sam stepped forward, a single tear falling down her cheek. "Please. I have a child who needs me. Let me return to her, to my family. I won't harm the Nephilim Court."

"That may be," said Queen Seraphina. "But the law must be upheld. If anyone could create Nephilim without my approval, what would stop them from creating an army? What would stop them from turning all of mankind?"

Sam's voice broke as she pleaded once again for mercy. "Please."

"You shall both be punished," said the Queen. "Emzara, take them—"

The door to the throne room burst open and Beleth flew in, wings larger than normal. "Queen Seraphina, you must suspend your judgment."

"Beleth," she said. "How good of you to come. But this changes nothing. She must die. It is our way."

"They knew nothing of our way, and you and I know that I am exempt from the Nephilim ways. I am of the Old Ones."

"You are still under my rule," she said, though she shrunk back slightly. "That was our agreement."

He bowed his head, in a small gesture of submission. "It was. With provisions. All I ask is that you hear me out. There is a beast killing Nephilim, killing your subjects. These two are not your enemies, but victims to a monster. Will you punish your people? Will you condemn them?" He stepped forward. "Or will you protect them?"

"The Emzara shall search for the beast," she said, "but an example must still be made."

Beleth's voice grew louder. "I've fought for you. Destroyed your enemies. Silenced you—"

"You fight for me because I am your Queen. You breathe because I say you may."

With her words, he fell to the ground, his feet landing hard on the stone. He dropped to his knees, bowing to the Queen. "My Queen, I implore you, show mercy. They are my family. They are… all I have left."

"You have a granddaughter, do you not?"

"Yes. And she needs her parents. Please, if you spare them, I shall hunt down the beast myself. I shall rid our people of this threat."

Seraphina chuckled. "I've never seen you sentimental, Beleth. It's amusing. Very well, I have decided." She stared at Sam as I held my breath. "Sam Davis, you should have died that day. You should not exist as one of our kind. But, since Beleth has sworn to hunt down the beast, I shall be merciful. You are free to go. After all, you had no choice in the matter."

I nearly fell to the ground from relief. Sam smiled, and held her hand out to me. It was over.

The queen looked to me and a small smile poisoned her lips. "But you still must answer for your crimes. Drake Davis, son of Beleth, you are sentenced to eternity in the stone prison."