Chapter 9 – Aline #2
There’s more talking, but it’s all muffled.
Now that Emerson is okay, panic sets in. My hands shake as my eyes dart around.
I need to leave now.
My gaze flies to the back door of The Den.
What have I done? I’ve ruined everything I built for myself here. I didn’t have a choice, but it doesn’t make the pain of having to leave any more manageable.
“You’ll die before you drag her back to Faere,” Dread says, drawing my attention as he crosses his arms over his chest. He really is a good friend and an honorable alpha. “Get all the females inside.”
“Drag her back? That’s my fucking wife ,” Silence snaps.
My gut churns uncomfortably. This is my nightmare come to life. I’ve had endless dreams about them catching up to me, but not one went like this.
“Mine too,” Hex says, stepping through the portal after Silence. He has close to a Scottish accent in the human realm. Although, Hex’s is thicker and more pronounced than even Silence’s accent.
“Double shit,” I add, because today really sucks. I’m strangely numb again for one of the worst moments of my life. It’s got to be a defense mechanism. If I shut down, I don’t have to feel the pain I know is coming my way.
Emerson manages to push herself off the ground with Ember in her arms.
“Where are you going?” Arsyn asks. The incubus is still in full demon form, and he looks terrible. His skin is broken open and oozing in places. That has to hurt.
“My mate said to head inside and I, for one, intend to listen.” Emerson’s blonde hair is soaked in blood, and it falls around her shoulders as she bolts for the back door of The Den.
I blink at her retreating form.
She seems okay. That’s good, but this entire situation is a shit show. I’m not sure what side effects my magic might have on her life or, gods, the lives growing inside her.
“What the fuck is she?” Laithe asks.
“I have no idea,” Meena replies.
“A hybrid?” I suggest. “Possibly? Honestly, I have no clue.” I’ve done my best over the years not to use my magic. Partially because it terrifies everyone except me, and a huge piece of me was trying to avoid this very situation.
“You created another abomination,” Silence says disdainfully. “Ali, when will you learn?”
There’s some chatter amongst the others, but I tune it out. I’m about to lose everything.
It’s a selfish thought when Emerson nearly lost her life, but...Atlas. He might be willing to leave with me.
No, that’s not fair .
I’d be stealing his ability to have a life outside of being hunted.
I’m just selfish enough to ask, though. The only beings I know in the human realm are here in Haven. I don’t want to be alone again. A ragged sob echoes in my chest at the thought.
Dread, Ryktus, and Laithe fight against my husbands .
It’s absolute insanity.
Meena approaches me slowly. I watch with tears in my eyes as the battle continues. I should be running, but it’s like I’m frozen in place. I knew this day would come, or rather, I feared it. Emotionally, I wasn’t prepared for my time to be up in Haven.
She stretches out a hand. “I really am sorry.”
“I was happy here,” I whisper, giving a squeeze to let her know I don’t hold her responsible.
I’ve been running from my problems for more than twenty years. They were always going to catch up.
“You two were supposed to go inside,” Emerson says, shoving a finger at us as she approaches. “Dread needs to know we’re safe, so he can focus on whatever he’s trying to do.”
“Are you feeling all right?” Meena asks, stretching her other hand to squeeze Emerson’s.
“I’m okay. I have serious questions about what happened, but I also need to handle Alix...I mean, Carson.” Emerson’s head swivels, and she begins looking for something.
She wanders a few feet away.
“Gods, Emerson, I thought I asked you to wait inside,” Dread says when he spots her. He kisses her cheek before stepping in front of her.
What would it be like to have a mate who would protect me above all else?
I got two assholes who told their council they’d handle me while I was barely conscious after paying the debt necessary to save my sister and her fledgling.
“You truly can’t help yourself. Can you, Ali?” Hex asks. “The council won’t let whatever she is exist for long.”
My magic sizzles, bristling in response to his implied threat.
Dread releases a roar that echoes around the parking lot. His muscles ripple with tension, like he’s barely managing to hold back his transformation. It’s wild to see what a real bond looks like. He’s ready to defend Emerson against any danger, no matter the cost.
Atlas would fight to protect me, but his brute strength isn’t really a match for the level of power my two High fae mates possess. I’d still choose him as my partner in any situation, because I trust him.
Hex continues to stare at me like he’s waiting for me to reply to his question.
“She’s carrying a fledgling,” I spit out.
He doesn’t care. Neither of them value life or morality.
Which is kind of ridiculous, considering they think the Seelie are the honorable fae.
Really, they’re a bunch of condescending dicks.
“The gods wouldn’t have given me my gifts if they didn’t want me to use them. ”
“Let’s negotiate,” Silence says, grinning wickedly as he approaches.
My head tilts as I study him. Does he want me to negotiate my surrender to the council? And if so, which one?
The Earth paranormal council might be my best shot.
The fae want me dead. I mean, I think they do. That, or they want to use me as a weapon, which is almost worse.
“Give us three months to prove we can be excellent mates. Don’t run from us. We’ll keep our mouths shut about whatever the hell you created and even help defend her if the need should arise.” Silence raises his eyebrows.
Whatever the hell I created? Is he serious? I guess Emerson is more of a wild card than even Ary, because I have no idea how my magic interacted with the vampire blood.
Today makes the list with all the other worst days of my life. It started so promising and plummeted so quickly that it’s difficult to fathom how I ended up here.
“You know how powerful we are. I wasn’t fighting at full capacity, because I didn’t want to injure your friends.” Silence smirks, giving me a look I can’t decipher.
I have no idea what’s happening right now.
They wanted no part of me all those years ago.
“Whatever abomination she’s carrying will need protection,” Hex says, agreeing with Silence. “A newly turned pregnant creature? You’re just asking for the council to strike her and her pup.”
“What?” Emerson gasps, staggering back a step as her hand flies to her mouth.
More chatter and chaos occurs, but I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening.
They didn’t want me as a mate. They were miserable on our wedding day.
It’s been years, but that much is clear, despite the haze of pain that came after.
It would be impossible to forget the embarrassment I felt, standing at their sides with their displeasure plain for everyone to see.
I’m sure the urge to be done with our union has only grown over the years.
It finally clicks—they’re trying to lull me into a false sense of safety.
“Not to be an interrupting dick, because it’s clear this is an important moment, but did you decide to take our deal?” Hex asks, scratching at his thick brown beard.
“Today sucks,” I whisper. My hands shake, and I clasp them together in front of my middle in an attempt to hide my anxiety.
I don’t know what to do or say.
My life fell apart in the span of half an hour, but now that they’re here, I have no choice, except to play their game until I can escape. There’s a weird ache in my chest whenever I look at either of them.
“Three months, then you fuck off back to nowhere,” I deadpan, rolling my jaw from side to side.
“Of course,” Silence agrees, bending at the waist.
I’m so numb, I miss out on most of what happens next.
My eyes keep migrating back to The Den. Atlas is inside. I need to speak to him. I’ve got to warn him before he hears it from someone else.
I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with him for years. I’ve never said it, because it didn’t seem fair to confess my feelings if I wasn’t going to be completely truthful about my past and all the baggage that comes with it.
Dread sends Emerson and the others away, so he can call in the council, but I aim for Atlas.
“What are we meant to do?” Hex follows me inside the employee entrance to The Den. “I assume you own a home. Will you allow us to stay with you, or should we find other lodging?”
I spin around to tell them to fuck off, but I’m thrown for a loop when my chest pulses with a warm, fuzzy feeling. We’re fated mates, and the bond is pleased to have us in close proximity to one another again.
I pull my shoulders back, shaking away that ridiculous impulse.
Silence quirks his eyebrow, eyeing me from head to toe. His chiseled jaw flexes, betraying his tension as a tattooed hand aims in my direction. “We can’t let her out of our sight. That’s just asking for her to run from us again.”
“Head down that hallway. Once you hit the club, find someone to keep you busy.” I point to be sure they know where I mean for them to go. “I don’t care what you do. I’ve got something I have to take care of.”
“We’ll accompany you,” Hex says, crossing his meaty arms over his chest.
“Absolutely not,” I snap. “If you don’t want to visit the club, which is where the bar is, then check out The Den. I’m sure there’s someone fucking. Watch or join in.”
I don’t care what they do, but I can’t have them around for this. Fear slides through my veins like I’ve taken a dip in an icy lake.
My hands shake, and I link them together in front of me to keep them from noticing.
“We won’t be giving you the chance to run from us,” Silence says again.
“I’m not going to run,” I say a bit hysterically. “I have something I have to do, and it doesn’t involve either of you.”