Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Blackwell
“Varys, as much as I hate to admit it, she’s right. It’s a trap. If you were to go and they got you back, your sister would hate herself. Let us do this and bring Vienna back to you. This way, both of you are safe.” Warrick speaks calmly to Varys, more calmly than I’ve ever heard him speak to anyone.
“Warrick is right. You know how hard that is for me to say. They’re using your sister as a way to draw you out. If you go, they’ll not care who lives or dies or even about trading your sister back. They’ll keep her for the dungeons and take you right back to your cell and use you as their test toy. You stay,” I chime in, taking pleasure in taking a jab at Warrick.
“You can’t tell me what to do,” the sassy unicorn snaps back with such malice it makes my cock hard. My eyes roam over to Bellonna, watching her grow more pissed with each word that Varys speaks. She’s about to blow and not in a good way.
“But I can. It seems, little unicorn, my darling mate, that you want to do this the hard way,” Bellonna says.
“I’m not sure what the hard way is. But I’m fucking hard right now.”
“Lilith, Lilith, Lilith,” she chants loudly, her voice so melodic as she calls the name in the same manner that she’s summoned in the mirror. Yet she’s not using one.
In a flash, another stunning beauty has joined us in the room. She has jet black hair falling in waves against her porcelain skin. Her eyes are dark and her lips crimson. A true beauty to behold, but she doesn’t hold a candle to Bellonna. She’s surrounded by shadows and power wafts off her, so strong that it has me buckling at my knees and about to shit in my pants. My eyes dart over to Warrick and I see him in much the same state as myself.
Bellonna flashes the visitor a smile, one so warm, yet wickedly sinister all at the same time.
“You called, Bellonna? I don't need to meet your sex toys. I know perfectly well who they are. And the horned one I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting,” she gives him a hungry gaze from head to toe, “up close and personal.”
“I need something…I’ve never asked for…a favor.” Lilith's eyes widen at Bellonna’s request. Salivating like a dog with a bone. Why would a request for a favor make her this excited?
“Oh my sweet Bellonna, this is a treat, one that has me greatly intrigued. But as you know, it’s a request that will cost you a steep price.” Her words come out velvety smooth, a sinister coldness that only another evil heart would recognize.
“What do I have that you could possibly want, Lilith? You have my soul. What else could there be?”
“It’s nothing too serious or drastic, and you just so happen to have what I desire in your possession.”
“Lilith, kind of on a time crunch here. What is it you want in trade for a favor?” I can see the vein on Bellonna's forehead popping out, and I know she’s getting frustrated.
“Just a lock of the unicorn’s mane.”
“That’s it?” Bellonna questions. “Fine. Done.”
The air crackles, humming with an unnatural energy as Lilith raises her hand, waving it dramatically in the air. Before anyone can react to her show of fanfare, Varys’ body begins to shimmer, his human shape dissolving in a cascade of light and magic, and in his place stands a magnificent white unicorn. The regal creature’s coat gleams like freshly fallen snow; its shimmering horn casting iridescent light across the room. Its wild mane and tail ripples as though moved by an unseen breeze; a vision both breathtaking and surreal.
Lilith steps forward, her expression calm yet commanding, her crimson lips curling into a satisfied smirk. Without hesitation, she reaches out, grasping a handful of Varys’ flowing mane. With a swift, forceful yank, she tears free a strand, its silken texture catching the light as it floats between her fingers.
“Thank you,” she says dismissively, her tone dripping with nonchalance as she waves her hand again. Varys shudders, his shifted form collapsing back into the familiar human shape of the man I want. He stumbles slightly, his breathing ragged, fury flashing in his golden eyes as he glares at her.
“You didn’t have to rip it right out of my mane,” he snarls as he rubs a spot on his neck.
“What do you want it for?” Bellonna asks, her voice sharp and suspicious.
Lilith turns to her, a coy smile playing on her lips. “What does it matter? You wanted a favor, and this was the price. Since when do you question what I charge?”
“When it involves my mate, and you did it without a care for any pain it would cause him.” Bellonna steps into Lilith’s space, and my body becomes rigid as worry courses through me that we’re about to have an immortal battle of epic proportions.
“Then I would think you would have all the answers before giving up something belonging to your mate so willingly. It’s not the same as giving up your soul. But I feel giving tonight, so I'll tell you why I want it. I want to mother a child,” she says smoothly. “And legend says I must lie on a strand of unicorn hair while trying to conceive.”
Bellonna’s lips part in stunned disbelief, as if this is something she would never have thought to hear from the queen of Hell.
“You want to have a baby?” A smirk spreads across my face. “You could’ve just asked. I would’ve been happy to help.”
Lilith’s expression darkens instantly. She snaps her fingers, and I’m doubling over, clutching my throat. My eyes bulge as I gasp for air, the sound of my strangled breaths filling the room. Each breath is a fight and I don’t even need air to breathe, yet I feel like I’m choking, or being smothered to death, maybe both. I can’t even explain, it’s so intense.
“Don’t get cheeky, vampire,” Lilith hisses, her tone cold and unyielding. “I am your master, and you are most definitely not my type.”
I manage to muster a glare, my lips moving soundlessly before Lilith releases me with another flick of her fingers. I place my hands on my knees as I struggle to recover from whatever sorcery the evil bitch just cast on me.
“Enough theatrics, Lilith,” Bellonna snaps.
Lilith's smile returns, sharp and predatory. “Fine, I got my payment. Now, what is your favor?”
Bellonna gestures toward Varys, who’s still glowering at the devil with barely contained rage. “Take Varys with you to Hell until I come for him. Make sure he doesn’t leave unless it’s with me.” The room grows colder as Warrick hisses, baring his fangs, his stance shifting into one of aggression. Lilith’s gaze shifts to him, her expression bemused. “Or,” Bellonna adds with mock consideration, “with this asshole, but only if you’re sure I’m dead.” Her tone is laced with irritation.
“Done.” Lilith gives a satisfied nod, and with a swirl of dark energy, she and Varys vanish from the room. The air shimmers in their absence, leaving an eerie stillness behind.
Bellonna turns to face Warrick and myself, her hands on her hips as she cocks her head to the side. “All right, fangbangers,” she says with a weary sigh. “It’s time for us to go retrieve a half-breed and destroy a group of fanatics. Let’s get to work.”