Stone Cold Seduction (24 page)

“I’m not interested in being your heir to anything.”

His mouth tightened for a split second before he smoothed his features. “I believe I can change your mind.”

“Manipulation? Threats? Why bother?” I shocked myself with my audacity. But God, it felt good. Liberating, even.

Luke raised his dagger, but Jedren stopped him with a single word. “No.” He studied me. “Do you know who you are?”

How was I supposed to answer that? It was a trick question; I knew it. Besides, I refused to give him any information he could use against me. Part of me suspected he didn’t know about my most recent abilities. I wanted to keep it that way for as long as I could. It was the only card I had left to play.

“No,” I answered. “I don’t. That’s why I’m here. To find my fate. Do
you
know who I am?”

For the first time in my life, I watched a genuine smile cross my father’s face. “Your fate? Elleodora, you could have asked. And yes, I do know who you are.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “You’re the daughter of the shadow elf king. You’re the granddaughter of a god. That is enough to secure your place as my heir, despite your sad lack of control over your abilities.”

The bond between Jax and I eased a bit. He was getting closer. I hoped. “I have no desire to be your heir. I don’t belong there.”

He misunderstood my words. “You do belong. I will teach you everything you need to know. The Council will want to meet you, and I—”

“No,” I interrupted him, watching the surprise on his face. No one interrupted him. Ever. “I won’t be your heir, not in any capacity. You’re a monster.”

“I see.”

Chills snaked up my spine as coldness settled over his features, and his eyes turned to ice.

He stood and walked around the desk, stopping in front of me. “You do realize I’ll change your mind? Or rather, Luke will.”

I’d thought I had it under control. I’d believed I could handle it. I’d been so wrong.

Terror enveloped me. The simple act of breathing became difficult. My vision blurred, and I froze. I could sense Luke coming closer, but I didn’t dare look at him.
Run, run, run,
my inner child screamed at me. Memories clawed at my mind. Shame trickled through my consciousness at my cowardice. Terror held me captive.

Without another word, my father stood and waved a hand at us in dismissal. Luke grabbed my arm and hauled me up. “Come, Princess. Let’s play.”

It was his favorite line. They were the words I heard in the throes of a nightmare.

“No,” I managed to whisper around the lump of fear lodged in my throat. I dug my heels in.

A sound of pleasure hummed in Luke’s throat. He jerked my arm and pulled me out of Jedren’s office, half pushing, half pulling me down the stairs. I held back a scream as I came close to the edge of the stairs a few times. I wouldn’t die at Luke’s hands. But he’d make me wish I could.

When we reached the great hall, he released my arm and held my neck. I stumbled beside him as he steered me by the neck toward and down another set of stairs. The blade nicked the skin at the base of my neck, and I knew he’d drawn blood. Each step we took pressed the blade into the same spot. It stung like a bitch.

The lower we went, the more dank and musty the smell. A single light bulb hung at the bottom of the steps, giving me a dim view of a large, cavernous chamber. A hysterical bubble of laughter caught in my throat as I waited to hear the haunting melody of Gregorian chants soaring through the room. It was surreal. And horrible. Any hope of the guys finding me in time was quickly fading.

“Jedren is redecorating. The contractors haven’t made it down here yet, so he said we could use it.” Luke stepped in front of me and smiled, like he’d announced we’d been upgraded to the honeymoon suite.

“Do you expect me to be happy about that?”

He backhanded me with incredible force. My head snapped back, I twisted to the side, and my knees hit the ground.

“I see you’ve become a little disrespectful as an adult. We’ll work on that,” he whispered. I could see the glint of the dagger in the dim light.

Rational thought fled. Instinct took over, and I lurched to my feet. I had to run. Had to hide. Had to get away.

I wasn’t quick enough.

Luke snagged my hair with a quick jerk. I yelped from the pain. Tears filled my eyes as he laughed and pulled harder. I kicked at him. He was too close, and the blow landed on his calf, doing little damage. The dagger flashed, and I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen.

Gasping, I clutched my left side. I felt something hot, sticky, and wet coat my hands. Blackness swam around the edges of my vision, and nausea made my stomach pitch. The asshole had stabbed me.

Luke tsk-tsked. “Come now, Elleodora. You know better than that.”

He released my hair and walked in front of me. Somehow I was back on my knees, hunched over. I glared up at him through a curtain of hair. My entire body trembled. He bent over so his face was close to mine. “Agree to become Jedren’s heir.”

I curled my right hand into a fist and swung. Nailed him right in the balls. I’d managed to put a little power behind the swing, not as much as I did in my dreams, but it was still enough to drop him. Luke wheezed and curled up.

“Little bitch. Stupid little bitch.” His usual, ugly words came out in an odd, high-pitched wail.

Satisfaction welled, and I flashed him a fierce, triumphant grin. Too bad he was rocking in the fetal position with his eyes squeezed shut. I’d never fought back. I’d run. I’d cried. I’d begged for mercy. But this was the first time I’d fought back.

God, it felt good.

I climbed to my feet, wanting desperately to run, despite how much my legs shook. Clutching my stabbed side, I took two stumbling steps toward the stairs before an arm snaked across my shoulders. Luke threw me to the ground, where I hit my head on the stones with a sickening thud.

Chapter Eighteen

I jerked awake with a scream. The ragged sound of Luke’s laughter scraped against my eardrums as I tried to breathe. I had no idea how long I’d been unconscious. Too long, according to the way my body felt. My head was pounding in agony. I was sure I had a concussion.

The concussion was the least of my worries.

As I lay face down on the cold stone, Luke twisted my left arm behind me. I screamed again as he cranked my shoulder joint out of its socket. I couldn’t form words, just a series of piercing screams trailing off to miserable whimpers when Luke released my arm. I couldn’t move it. My tears of pain streaked down my face.

Luke’s breath had a slight wheeze, and fierce satisfaction coursed through me.

“Next time, I’ll hit your balls so hard they lodge in your throat,” I gasped. “I’ll laugh as you choke on them.”

Luke paused, silent. I closed my eyes, waiting for retaliation.

His laugh, although a bit wheezy, took me by surprise. “Oh, lovely, lovely Elleodora. You’ve grown claws. We’ll have so much fun now.”

I will kill you and put us all out of our misery
, I promised, as my head throbbed. How much blood had I lost? I had no idea how much time had elapsed.

I knew he wouldn’t kill me. Not if my father needed me as his heir. But Luke specialized in pain. And misery. Luke could make ten minutes of torture feel like ten days.

Silent tears leaked out, onto the stone. I pushed Jax and MacLean and Teryl from my mind. It wasn’t their job to save me. I wouldn’t be a damn victim. I wouldn’t be Luke’s plaything. And I would never follow in my father’s footsteps.

I took stock of my injuries. One stab wound, a concussion, a dislocated left shoulder. Crap. I assumed the weight on my legs was Luke. The sick ass was straddling me. I shuddered. He’d purposefully put me in a submissive position.

I knew his dagger would be unsheathed and ready to draw more blood. Luke rarely wasted time. I’d managed to surprise him with my punch at his groin, which had bought me a few moments at the most. God, my head was so groggy. I opened my eyes and tried to look around. My stomach pitched in protest, and I swallowed hard. I saw double of everything.

Not good.

I couldn’t outrun him, especially in this condition. He was far stronger, and armed. Luke was in his element.

Damn it. I closed my eyes as the pain in my head made my vision waver. I had to think. I had to get out of here.

“Want to play, Princess?”

My mind went blank. When Luke started talking to his dagger, things went south. Fast.

“Let me up!” I didn’t beg. I demanded it. I was desperate, trapped, but I wanted to survive.

The weight immediately lifted from my legs.

What the…? I managed to turn my head and saw Luke crouched beside me, looking equally confused.

Manipulation. Hope, the most dangerous of emotions, flickered in my stomach.

“Step away, Luke.” My voice was hoarse, but I injected a command into it. Or so I hoped.

Oh, thank God. He took a few awkward, stumbling steps back. A look of shock swept across his face. And was that a flicker of…fear?

With difficulty, I got to my feet, wincing in pain. The bastard had nearly broken my right leg, so putting weight on it hurt. My stab wound was on fire. If he’d hit a vein… I glanced down. There was enough blood on the floor for three stab wounds, probably.

I swayed as I stood upright, and put a hand to my head. It came away wet and sticky. I’d forgotten about the head wound, which would bleed like crazy.

“What are you doing, Elleodora?” Luke’s voice was quiet and tight with fury.

“Shut up.” I blinked, trying to bring him into focus.

His lips were pressed together, and his eyes were a little wild. I grinned at him because I couldn’t help it. “Put the dagger down.”

His arm jerked.

“Put it down.” If this didn’t work, I was in serious trouble. In fact, judging by the look of rage on his face, Luke would kill me with or without my father’s consent.

The dagger hit the floor with a clatter. I smiled through my pain. If I only had a little time, I’d make him regret every moment of our past.

I saw Luke’s eyes widen as he stared over my shoulder. I spun around, too late.

“Elleodora, stop,” my father sighed.

I lurched to a halt, dizziness making the room continue to spin wildly.
Idiot, idiot, idiot
. I gritted my teeth against the nausea that threatened. If only I had tried to use mind control sooner. Maybe I should have used the shock ward. Or hit him in the nuts again.

I should have tried harder.

Jedren stared at me, thoughtful. “This is an interesting development. What else have you been hiding?”

“Let me go.” I put as much feeling behind the order as I could.

He smiled at me and said, “Luke, pick up your dagger.”

I heard the scrape of the blade when Luke grabbed his dagger. I couldn’t move. Staring at Jedren, I waited for the bite of the blade.

“Let me go, damn it.” The sob that bubbled up with my words ruined the effect.

“Elleodora, your powers won’t be fully accessible until your birthday. You can’t use your abilities against me.” Jedren’s smile lit his eyes. I didn’t ever remember seeing him genuinely amused. “Save your energy and cease this behavior.”

The order was issued in a calm voice, but it hit me hard enough to make my body jerk.

Fight!
my mind screamed, but my body refused to obey.

Jedren continued to smile. Inside, I felt icy cold. Never in my life had I seen his smile reach his eyes. He seemed downright…joyful.

I didn’t realize I was shaking until he said, “Dear, are you cold? Luke, fetch Elleodora a blanket.”

Now he was being solicitous? Not once could I remember my father being nice to me, fake or otherwise. At best, he’d tolerated me. At the worst, he’d handed me over to Luke. But nice? The thought was laughable.

Luke dropped a damp, wool blanket over my back. It hurt, but I didn’t flinch.

“Now, Luke, could you please see to our guests in the dining hall? I’ll bring Elleodora up in a moment.” My father’s smile widened when he saw me flinch at the word “guests.”

Guests were always a minefield of danger in my father’s house. Even when Cian and MacLean were the guests, pain was certain to follow their visit, an inevitable punishment for some imagined misstep I’d made in front of Father’s guests.

I didn’t want to know who had just arrived at my father’s “holiday cottage.”

Luke brushed past me, and his glare promised a slow, painful death.

I managed to sneer at him.
Back at you, buddy
. Now he knew what it felt like to be manipulated against his will. And he’d only had a taste.

Jedren gestured for me to precede him up the stairs. The invisible chains holding me motionless released in an instant. I leaned against the curving wall as I limped up, one torturous step at a time. My vision swam, and I staggered a bit on the last few steps.

“Come.” My father took my elbow—fortunately, my good one—guiding me toward the dining hall. I didn’t want his help. However, as badly as I wanted to pull away, I knew I’d topple over. If I fell, I wouldn’t have the energy to get back up. I needed to conserve the little strength I had left because I still had to meet the
guests.

Think, Elle!

I had to get out of here. Somehow. The windows were located high up on the walls, and too small for a child to fit through, so forget about it for me. I could run, but not before he issued another order. The harder I tried to think of an idea, the more the pain in my head increased. It took my full concentration to walk. I wondered if this was how men had felt walking to the gallows or before the firing squad. Sheer panic warred with the driving need for survival.

I stumbled and bit my lip against the intense pain that shot through my shoulder.

Showing the enemy weakness? Always a bad idea. Bleeding all over the floor while trying to see through my squinty eyes and holding my bloody head? I’d given it away.

I was in deep shit.

Jedren escorted me into the great hall. I prayed the garish chandelier would fall on him. A spectacular crash at just the right second. Too bad I couldn’t use mind control on an object that didn’t have a mind.

The dining table was huge and seated an entire army. My head hurt too badly to count the chairs, but there were a ridiculous number of them. I turned to Jedren. “Did you buy this from Dracula’s people?”

His smile dimmed a bit, and I saw a warning flash in his eyes. “I’ve never understood your sense of humor, Elleodora.”

He didn’t have a sense of humor. I doubted he knew what one was. I’d never heard him laugh, and I didn’t want to, but my sense of humor was the perfect way to distract him while I tried to get my bearings.

“Hello,” Jedren greeted his guests, who were seated at the far end of the table. Their faces were blurry. As I limped closer, I felt a slight buzzing sensation along my skin.

Power.

It flared and reached to the far corners of the room. I clenched my teeth against the prickly sensation. Two women and two men sat with Luke.

“Look what the cat dragged in. You’re looking a little worse for wear,” a husky voice purred.

“Hello, Mitzy,” I greeted the black-haired woman, wishing I could kick Maura’s teeth in. My violent urges were getting stronger, and I welcomed them. Whatever it took to get me the hell out.

“It’s Maura.” Her teeth gnashed at my insult.

“Whatever,” I waved my right hand at her in dismissal. My left hung limp and useless against my side, but I wanted to keep the shoulder injury to myself for the time being.

“Maura, I expect you to treat my daughter with respect.” Jedren’s voice was cool, with a hint of reproach.

Maura jumped like she’d been slapped. “Yes, Mr. Warlow.”

Hmm…maybe this could work to my benefit. I smiled at both of her heads as they wavered in front of me.

“Sit, Elleodora.” My father pulled out a chair for me.

Gingerly, I sat down, proud when I didn’t cringe, whimper, or fall to the floor and curl up in the fetal position. All things I desperately wanted to do.

Jedren tilted his head toward the other woman, a tall, willowy blonde with bright green eyes. “Blythe, stop her bleeding.”

She nodded and stood, then walked around the table to me. I jerked away. “Don’t freaking touch me,” I warned.

“Elleodora, sit still.”

I acknowledged the warning in Jedren’s tone by glaring at the table instead of the woman.

Blythe held up her hands and let them hover over my head. I heard her quickly indrawn breath, but she didn’t say a word. A gentle heat surrounded me. The stab wound and the head wound prickled and itched for a moment and then…nothing. I checked my abdomen with my good arm in surprise. The wound was gone.

I looked up at her. “How’d you do that?”

She glanced at Jedren as if she needed permission to answer me. “I’m a light elf. I can heal.” Her explanation was simple. Her voice was light and melodic. Not at all what I’d expect from a hunter.

“You’re in the wrong business,” I told her. It should be criminal to waste healing talents by becoming a hunter. Even worse, she worked as a mercenary for my father. Two strikes against her. The kindness I glimpsed in her expression was probably a trick of the light.

I wished she’d been kind enough to fix my shoulder, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask her. I couldn’t reveal that I still had that big of a weakness in front of my father.

Blythe walked back to her chair. Next to Altair. I didn’t acknowledge him, nor he, me. I wondered if he thought I was worthy of his trust now. I know I didn’t. Didn’t really care.

I felt a pair of eyes burning a hole in my head. I shifted my gaze and saw a second man, seated on the other side of Altair. Because the others were hunters, I assumed this was Falon. His hair was long and white. Pure, bright white. His eyes were also white. Was he blind?