The Lion Kings (novel): a BBW Werelion Menage Romance (14 page)

He will never...

MADDIE
came out of the vision gasping for breath. She could still feel the heaviness of the man pressing into her flesh. The scene with Adelaide and her mate had been erotic and terrifying all at the same time. She could feel Adelaide’s need, but there had been an underlying fear that hadn’t been conditioned out of the young girl.

Maddie pressed her hands to her mouth to suppress the urge to scream with horror. The man. Her mate. Oh, God. It was too awful for Maddie to even think about it. Some things were better left buried, and this memory fell in that category. But how would she tell Adam and Cage? Should she? After all, Adelaide was gone now and most likely not coming back. Revealing her secret would only hurt the men she loved. No. They needed to know, and she wouldn’t start their life together by keeping secrets. This knowledge would be a hard truth to overcome, but together, they could get through anything.

She leaned back on the table, praying the work would take some of her care, wishing she was still seeing trapeze and high-wire acts instead of... She shuddered and pushed the memory back again.

A sharp point pressed into her throat as a strong arm gripped her from behind.

Maddie tried to yell, but a hand clamped her mouth. Then she heard Adelaide’s quiet snarl.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” she said. “You’re coming with me quietly, or you’re coming along unconscious. If I have to carry you out, I will. You scream, though, or try to fight me, I’m going to slit your throat, and no matter what my brother has told you, you won’t come back from dead.” She waited a moment for her words to sink in then moved her hand from Maddie’s mouth.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I’m going to trade you for Zaria.”

She yanked Maddie’s hands behind her back and tied her wrists with some kind of rope. After, Adelaide shoved a rag into her mouth and secured it with a handkerchief she knotted behind her head. “I really don’t want to hurt you again, Maddie.” She tightened her bindings. “But I will.”

CAGE
finished strapping down the final crate on the back of the second trailer. They’d broken down all the structures and soon they’d have everything loaded up. He had a lightness in his body, a transformation he didn’t recognize, and he would give anything not to lose it. Maddie had done that for him. He glanced at Adam hoisting poles on to the third trailer. For them. She been in their world less than ten days, but until the first time she’d walked into the big top, they’d never really lived.

He looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Maddie coming back from the laundry. Their mating had been a beast all its own, and Cage hadn’t realized how hard it would be to not have her next to him, to be touching her all the time. He lightly rubbed his fingertips together and recalled with perfect clarity the silkiness of her skin. Heat grew in his belly as he thought about holding her, being inside her. He had never believed in miracles, not the fairytale kind, but Maddie’s love had fixed the unfixable.

The pair bonding between Adam and him had saved his life. The link had leashed his angrier impulses, keeping his tenuous control in check. But the impulses were always there. Sometimes the fight was day to day, and sometimes minute to minute, but the truth was, his rage never went away. The abuse he survived made it impossible to be truly happy. Or so he’d thought.

“Heads up,” Adam said, and Cage easily caught a bundle of rope flying toward him. He tucked it under a tarp. His brother smiled. “We’re about done here. Let’s go get our girl,” he said.

Cage shook his head, not bothering to fight the grin on his face. “It’s like you’re psychic.”

Adam laughed as they turned in unison toward the laundry. “It doesn’t take a psychic to know you hate being away from her as much as I do.”

“I feel so strange, brother.” Cage wasn’t good with words, but with Adam he didn’t have to be.

Adam gripped his shoulder. “We have been made and unmade and made again. We were caterpillars before, and we’ll both feel strange until we get used to our new wings.”

Cage gave him a sharp look, unable to keep the incredulity out of his expression. “We’re butterflies now?” He snorted at the comparison.

Adam shrugged. “You’re more like a moth, I think. Unable to fly a straight line and leaving a mess in your wake.”

Cage lunged sideways and got his brother in a headlock. He knuckled the top of his head. “A moth, huh?”

Adam lifted him from the ground, and Cage twisted until he was behind him. Each move either of them made was easily countered by the other, and they laughed as they played like two carefree boys on their way home.

They neared the laundry tent, and Cage stumbled when Adam abruptly halted. A waft of air carried an all too familiar scent.
Adelaide
.

Adam’s hand on his chest stopped him from charging forward.

“Wait,” he said, the word barely a whispered hiss.

“I know you’re both out there,” Adelaide said, and though they couldn’t see her, Cage could hear the fear in her voice. “You might as well come in. As a matter of fact, I insist. So does Maddie.”

Adam’s jaw flexed, and Cage felt his muscles bunching with tension. A rising terror tore at him from the inside, and his lion tried to claw its way to the surface. He clenched his fingers, tightly curling them into fists. He had to keep it together, if not for his own sake, then for Maddie’s. In the past, he’d always let his animal take over when he was scared or angry, but this time it wasn’t about his own survival. He tamped the beast back, feeling its snarl of discontent.

Together, he and Adam rounded the entrance to the laundry. Adelaide stood with Maddie in front of her. Maddie’s eyes were wide as Adelaide held a knife to her neck. She’d gagged Maddie, and to their mate’s credit, Maddie hadn’t even made a whimper. Cage had worked so carefully to maintain his control that a deep growling roar from Adam startled him.

17

“
LET
her go,” Adam said. He took a menacing step forward, feeling no satisfaction when Adelaide winced. He could smell her fear, a heavy and sour scent. Even so, she didn’t release Madeline.

“Bring me Zar and Madeline’s car. When we are outside of town, and I’m certain no one has followed, I will release her.”

“No,” Cage said. He shook his head. “You already tried to kill Maddie once. There’s no way I’m letting you leave with her.”

“Then it ends here,” Adelaide said.

The sharp tang of blood, a pungent odor, drew Adam’s attention. A line of dark, red oozed down the side of Madeline’s neck. In his life, he’d never hated anyone as much as he hated his own sister in that moment. “Don’t hurt her.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Adam.” Adelaide’s hand, the one holding the knife, trembled. If Adam didn’t calm down—calm his sister down—she was going to do real damage to his mate.

In all of this, Madeline held perfectly still. She looked scared, but not panicked. Once again, she was in danger because Adam failed to protect her. Why had he believed Adelaide would go on the run without Zaria? It had been some pie in the sky twisted hope that if she disappeared so would the problem of punishing her. Now she was forcing his hand.

To emphasize her position of power, Adelaide yanked Madeline’s head back. “Don’t make me ask again, Adam. I’m telling you I won’t hurt your mate. All I want is Zaria. But if you turn this into a standoff, Madeline will be the first to die.”

Adam held his hand out. “Okay. Okay. Just take the gag out of her mouth. I just want to hear from Madeline.”

Cage had been quiet, moving almost imperceptivity closer to Adelaide while she was distracted by Adam.

“Don’t come any closer, Cage,” Adelaide said without even glancing in his direction.

Damn it! Fresh fury shot through him. She’d paralyzed them both with her threats, and her ability to make good on them. “Why, Adelaide? Why do this? Madeline isn’t a threat to you. You would have always had a place with me. I don’t understand. Help me to understand.”

“I won’t talk to you about this, Adam. I won’t.”

“I rescued you, Adelaide.” He held out his hands, hoping that somehow she would come to her senses. “I saved you.”

The blonde lioness snorted her derision. “You saved me? YOU saved me?” Her grip on Maddie tightened. “You ruined me, Adam. You took everything away from me. My home, my pride, and my mate. I was a queen, brother. And you took it all away with one misguided power play.”

“What are you talking about?”

Adelaide’s eyes widened, wild and angry. “I. Was. Queen,” she said.

The blood drained from Adam’s face, leaving him cold. “You can’t mean...”

“Zaria would have been queen, too. She still could have been if you hadn’t fallen for another human.” She almost spat the words. “She could have been your queen.”

“She’s my niece. She’s kin. It would have been impossible...”

“What’s blood between mates?” Tears streaked Adelaide’s face.

A dawning awoke in Adam, and an awareness he’d never suspected. Pity took hold of him for his sister. He’d always felt he’d failed her, but now he knew the entirety of his failure. His father had damaged Adelaide in unspeakable ways. He’d claimed her, making a revolting spectacle of their kind’s true mating. Perverting it to suit his gruesome desires. Zaria had been the result. Adam’s gut churned. He glanced at Cage, and he could see his co-ruler was having the same cavalcade of thoughts going through his mind.

“You were a child, Adelaide.”

“He was there for me when you weren’t. You left me behind, Adam. You left me to my fate. He was my fate. He made me a woman.”

“He manipulated you. He made you his victim.”

“He made me his queen.”

He stared at Adelaide, unable to recognize her anymore. Had he ever really known her? Maybe when she was seven, but certainly not now. The past decade had been an elaborate charade. “Did you really think I’d take Zar as my mate?”

“You are your father’s son,” she said.

The sick feeling punched through Adam again.

“You are not your father, brother,” Cage said, breaking his silent vigil. “You’re nothing like him.”

Adam had slaughtered his father to get to Adelaide. He’d also killed others in the pride. He’d been swift, brutal. Could he really boast that he was much different? Yes, he thought. In this way, they were very different. His father was an abusive bastard who’d exiled his only son, killed his first two mates, and stole his own daughter’s life. Adam could be cold, maybe even ruthless, but always in defense of the people he loved. Adelaide had been one of those people.

“Go get Zaria now,” she said, punctuating her words by raising the knife to the soft part under Madeline’s chin. “Or I swear you’ll find out what it’s like to lose a mate.”

MADDIE
watched the exchange between brother and sister, aching for Adam as he found out about Adelaide, his father, and Zaria.

“I’ll go,” Adam said. “Just don’t do anything to hurt, Madeline.”

“Both of you go,” Adelaide said. “Cage can get the car, and you can bring my daughter to me.”

“No,” Cage said. “I won’t leave Maddie alone with you.”

“You will if you value her life.”

Maddie tried not to cry out against the gag when the point pierced her again. Instead, she put all of her effort into meeting Cage’s gaze. She blinked and gave a slight nod to him. She wanted him to go, to do what Adelaide asked. The blonde had been less guarded when the two brothers hadn’t been around. Once she’d tied Maddie’s hands and put in the gag, she’d been hands-off until they’d arrived.

Cage narrowed his eyes then nodded.

Adam nodded as well.

“I swear to God, Adelaide, if you hurt her, we will make you pay in ways you haven’t even dreamed of,” Cage said.

His threat had Adelaide snarling. “Get my daughter. Now.”

Adam and Cage both looked at Maddie, and she saw the reassurance in their gazes. She knew they would do everything possible to save her.

But she knew Adelaide could not be saved.

The ache of her mates’ departure rivaled the ache of sympathy she harbored for Adelaide. Maddie had seen the claiming between father and daughter in her vision, but still, hearing it confirmed with Adelaide’s own sick words was almost more than she could take. She wanted to hate Adelaide, but instead, she felt sorry for her. She’d seen the young girl of fourteen being led away from her dead mother, so Maddie had recognized Adelaide’s father during the mating ritual vision. The man had beaten his mate to death, and he’d made his daughter her replacement.

Her neck stung where the tip of the blade bit in, but to Maddie’s surprise, she didn’t feel jumpy. A little scared, yes, but when Cage and Adam walked in, a sense of calm had poured through her. Their presence gave her strength and courage. Besides, she’d worried that if she freaked out, Adelaide would do something stupid—even more stupid than hold her hostage—and all hell would break loose. She swallowed hard. The gag in her mouth absorbed her saliva and made her throat dry. She’d carefully worked the ropes binding her hands, and she could feel them loosening some, but she’d never free herself with Adelaide’s arm wrapped around her chest. Her palms burned with the effort of slow tugging and twisting. She bunched the loose shift of Adelaide’s dress in her hands. The cool cotton fabric gave her something to concentrate on rather than the blade against her skin.

A tingle began to build, and she cursed inwardly as a new vision took hold at the worst possible moment, and the day faded into night.

I DON’T
have Cage and Adam’s night vision. While my abilities give me the gift of sight, it doesn’t extend to actual eyesight. The note from Adelaide said to come on my own. She has asked me to meet her at a quiet place away from the trailers where we won’t be overheard. She says it is a matter of life or death. I am uncertain if Adelaide is really in trouble, but the vision, the one where she tells Zaria she will be queen, has disturbed me enough to agree to meet with her. Shifters have excellent hearing, and I don’t want our conversation broadcast, so, I agree, but I am apprehensive.

Marlena and Darren’s shouts cut through the stillness of the evening when I pass by their trailer. Warmth creeps into my cheeks in a slow flush. They aren’t fighting. When I get to the parking lot, Adelaide is waiting for me at the edge. She beckons me closer.

“Thank you for coming,” she says.

I want to talk to her about Zaria, but first, I need to find out what has frightened her. “Tell me what’s wrong. Has someone threatened you?”

“Not yet,” Adelaide says. She wrings her hands, her anxiety palpable.

“I want to help you, but I can’t if you won’t share your worry.”

“I’m scared.”

“Why, Adelaide?” While I’m not empathic, I can tell her fear is genuine. “Why are you so afraid?”

“I’m afraid what Adam will do if you tell him what you’ve seen.”

Now, I am confused. “What do you think Adam will do? He’d never hurt you, Adelaide. You’re his sister. He loves you very much.” I can see she is carrying a weight, a burden she can barely manage. “You should tell Adam yourself.” Adam will know how to take care of her.

“No,” she says. She grabs my arms and shakes me hard enough to rattle my teeth. “No. Adam can never know. Never. He wouldn’t understand!”

“You’re hurting me.” I try to pull away, but Adelaide is strong. Shifter strong. “Let go of me.”

“Please, Clary. You have to promise me. Promise me you won’t tell Adam about Zaria.”

The rise in her panic is causing her to speak faster, and she continues to shake me to make her point.

“If he knew he’d kill me. Maybe kill Zar. You can’t want that, Clary. You can’t.”

“Adam would never hurt you or Zaria,” I say. I throw all my weight sideways to get out of her grip, and it works. My body pitches to the right, and I stumble over a large rock that sends me tumbling into a ditch. In the darkness, I hadn’t known it was there, but lying at the bottom, I can see Adelaide’s silhouette against the night sky.

“Help me,” I tell her. My head hurts, and I can’t sit up. Rocks and gravel bite into my skin. I feel sick to my stomach. “Help me,” I say again. A numbness creeps in, and my head hurts less.

Adelaide jumps down to me and kneels. “Clary?”

“Help me, Adelaide.”

It is getting darker. The vision in my right eye has nearly gone black.

“I didn’t plan to hurt you, Clary.” She makes no move to leave. “I’ll stay with you. I’ll stay with you like I stayed with Mamma. I won’t let you die alone.”

I feel her take my hand and give it a gentle squeeze. My last thoughts, as her other hand closes over my mouth and nose are of my men, my loves... my lion kings. At last I understand. In one last effort, I reach out with my mind and latch on to the girl who I’d connected with earlier in the day. The one I’d watched make love to Cage and Adam, the one I’d seen carry their children, and grow old with them. It had been a vision like no other. Both real and dreamlike as it skipped through time. She is their true mate. But what had been her name again? Ah...yes, I think, as the world disappears… Madeline.

MADDIE
came out of the vision. Adelaide had placed her on one of the tables and had taken the gag off her. She pinned Maddie’s shoulders, making the strain on her arms and wrists almost unbearable.

She couldn’t hold back the tears as Clary’s death flooded her thoughts. “You’re hurting me,” she told Adelaide.

“Thank God,” was her unexpected response. She let go of Maddie. “You’re my only leverage. I need you to keep it together.”

“You didn’t have to kill her.”

Adelaide froze in place. “What are you talking about?”

The heat of grief stole Maddie’s breath for a moment. She regained her composure. “Clary didn’t know about you and your father. She didn’t know about Zaria. You killed her for nothing. Her death was for nothing.” But it hadn’t been for nothing. Without her death, Maddie wouldn’t have found her way to Cage and Adam. Clary’s last act had been to reach out to her. To draw her to the lion kings. Her last act had been one filled with love and compassion. She might not have been their true mate, but Clary Sage had loved them unselfishly.