CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sara
Irolled my eyes for the millionth time. Andras really brought out the brat in me.
“Fine, then be useful. Untie me.” I turned around as Andras stalked toward me, tugging on the strings of my corset.
“I’d prefer to tie you up,” he muttered, his lips brushing against my neck.
I shivered, imagining myself tied up and at his mercy. I’d never in my life thought being tied up was attractive, nor did I trust anyone enough to do it. So why did the idea of letting Andras bind me sound so appealing?
Something was changing inside me, and I wasn’t entirely sure if that was a good thing. My corset came loose, and I let it fall to the floor as I stepped behind my three-panel room divider to change. The dress I chose for my next song was new, and I finally had the perfect excuse to wear it. The floor-length gown was made of sparkling burgundy fabric. The halter neckline dipped low between my breasts, and the back was entirely open, the fabric sitting just above the curve of my ass. A long slit ran up my right leg, making it easier to walk in the form-fitting gown. I ran my fingers through my hair, letting the soft waves fall around my shoulders. I was going back to blue for this performance. I stepped out from behind the divider, and Andras looked up, his eyes going wide as he drank me in. He cleared his throat, and I twirled.
“What do you think?” I asked, trying my hardest to look nonchalant while his piercing eyes burned through my skin.
Andras stepped toward me, brushing the icy hair off my shoulder and making me shiver. “Tu es magnifique, mon ange.”
I stared up into his dark eyes, waiting for the punchline, but he simply stared right back. His fingers traced my jawline, my lips. My breathing grew shallow under the intensity of his gaze. As much as I loved the pain and roughness his hands offered, the light touches against my skin did things to my soul I was definitely not ready to acknowledge.
“Sometimes I think you are an angel, sent down to bring me to my knees. Is that what you are, belle femme?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper.
I swallowed audibly, unable to respond. So I deflected with humor and shrugged it off. “Perhaps. Speaking of getting on your knees, can you put my heels on? It’s difficult to bend over in this gown.”
Andras thankfully didn’t call me out, but instead grabbed the gold strappy heels and knelt at my feet. He slipped the stilettos onto my feet, caressing my ankles. The dress slipped to the side, revealing my right leg up to my hip while my stiletto rested on his knee. Andras slid his hand up my thigh, moving slowly, bringing his lips to my skin. I slammed my hand to his chest as his hand nearly reached between my thighs.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish, Andras,” I whispered, heat building in my core as my body burned for release.
He gazed up at me, and my breath caught at the beautiful god on his knees before me. His hand moved again, sliding between my thighs. Andras cursed, finding me bare beneath my gown as his fingers dipped inside my very fucking wet pussy. I clamped down around his fingers and moaned, grinding against his hand. My nails dug into his shoulder as his thumb circled my clit.
“Andras,” I pleaded, throwing my head back and squeezing my breasts to relieve some of the tension. “Please.”
“Only because you beg so prettily, angel,” Andras hummed, his voice like velvet. “I like the sound of my name on your lips when you beg me. Do it again”
His fingers curled inside me, thrusting in and out, his thumb circling my clit. I moaned, saying his name over and over again and bucking my hips to match his rhythm. I was close. So close.
“Come for me, sweetheart,” Andras growled the command as he sucked my clit into his mouth.
I cried out, the orgasm blasting through me. He gripped my thigh, thrusting his tongue inside me as I clamped down around his fingers and my legs shook.
Andras slid his fingers out of my pussy and sucked them into his mouth, making my face heat. “Delicious, just like angel cake.”
I laughed and blushed like the virgin I most definitely wasn’t, then nearly jumped out of my skin at the knock on my door.
“Five minutes, Sara!” the stage manager called out.
Andras stood, adjusted my dress, and dropped a gentle kiss on my lips. “I look forward to more time spent between your thighs, Sara Braun.”
He stepped out of the room, leaving me reeling from the orgasm he finally took from my body.
I quickly reapplied my burgundy lipstick and powdered my face. I spritzed cucumber water down my throat to combat dry mouth. Then, I added the final prop, a pair of devil horns. I smirked to myself, and butterflies filled my belly at the thought of the four monsters waiting for me.
I stepped up to the curtain, giving the manager a thumbs up. There were three musicians on stage with me and no backtracks. This performance would be acoustic. My favorite vintage mic stood at center stage under a dark-purple spotlight. A fog machine produced wisps of gray smoke that coated the stage. I stepped out, gliding up to the mic. The crowd hushed, already mesmerized by the performance as the accompanists began to play. The music touched my soul, and I swayed to the sounds before I began to sing “I Put a Spell on You.”
I channeled my inner Nina Simone and Annie Lennox as I sang, following the riffs of the musicians with my own voice. I loved the soul and blues both women brought to the song and I poured my heart into the words.
I finished out the song, and a heavy silence settled before the crowd erupted, clapping and whistling. I dipped slightly, as much as the dress would let me, waving and smiling at the people in the crowd. Shouts of encore caught my ears, but I wasn’t prepared for anything else tonight, and my voice needed a break. The musicians began to play some instrumental tunes from the blues era. I waved and bowed, turning to go backstage.
“Sara!” A voice I recognized shouted my name.
Dev stood at the edge of the stage, near the stairs. He held out a hand, and I took it, letting him guide me down and through the crowd. I threaded my arm through his as he led me back to the table. I locked eyes with Tibby for all of three seconds. Enough to see her nod. My new gear must be in my dressing room by now.
Dev dropped my arm and pressed his hand to my back, his fingers brushing against my bare skin, as we approached the table. Ty wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me down to perch on his knee. His fingers traced down my spine, and he leaned forward, trailing kisses across my shoulders.
“That was beautiful, little vixen,” he murmured against my skin. “And you’re keeping those horns for later.”
Levi winked at me, his eyes dragging down my body hungrily. “Our very own siren, come to sing us all into submission.”
I laughed. “Does that mean I’ll get all four of you on your knees tonight?” I turned my gaze to Andras, and he smirked.
“Fuck, you even got the boss whipped already.” Levi grinned, shoving Andras, who scowled but said nothing. “Where did you come from, diabla?”
I shrugged. “I was born of pain and suffering and very few moments of happiness, just like everyone else, I suppose.”
“You’re nothing like everyone else, beautiful,” Dev countered, and I turned to him, catching his pretty eyes. Maybe he was coming around to the idea of me sleeping with the others. His face softened as he smiled, and my insides melted a little. His eyes were still guarded, but I had hope.
“Agreed,” Andras added.
A waiter dropped off a bottle of champagne and five glasses at our table, and Dev poured and passed them out.
Andras raised his glass first. “To my brothers. And the siren who’s captivated us all.”
My blood began to sing with emotion as the others saluted and drank the bubbly liquid. I sipped my drink, feeling dazed and powerful all at once. These feelings were foreign, a lightheartedness I didn’t know my soul was still capable of. Even with Tibby, as much as I trusted her, there was still a barrier. There was always a barrier. After losing everyone I cared about, I couldn’t drop that final wall. I didn’t want to feel all those feelings if I cared so much for someone again only to lose them.
I wouldn’t deny something was shifting with the Princes, but for now, lust was the only feeling I was willing to name. And yet, the thought of killing any of them was starting to become…uncomfortable. I gulped down more champagne and let Levi refill my glass. We quickly polished off the bottle, and Andras stood, commanding our attention.
“Time to go,” he announced with authority and offered his hand to help me stand.
I ignored his hand and pouted. “Why are we leaving?”
Andras scanned the room, his lips tight. “Because, sweetheart. If I have to watch one more male in this room undress you with his eyes, I’m going to burn this entire club to the ground with everyone in it.”
“Oh, let’s do that anyway.” Levi grinned, rubbing his hands together.
I swatted him playfully. “No! I like this club.”
Ty wrapped an arm around my waist from behind, bringing his mouth to my ear. “I can build you a new club, pet. One where you’re the star.”
“And let me guess, no one else is allowed in?” I rolled my eyes, and Ty nipped my ear with his teeth.
Dev smirked at my comment, but said nothing.
“As I thought. No thanks. I like singing for a real audience.” I elbowed Ty in the gut but he refused to let me go. “Don’t smother me, assholes. Or I might just disappear.”
Levi shrugged and stood next to Andras. He crossed his arms and looked down at me with hunger in his eyes. “You could try. But we’d find you. We’ve got your scent now, Sara Braun. There’s no escaping.”
His words made my insides flutter, but I rolled my eyes again as if I was unaffected. “I need to change out of this costume if we’re leaving.”
Ty pinched my ass, making me jump.. “No, leave this on, pet. I want to peel it off you later.”
The idea was incredibly appealing, but I shoved him away. “No! This is brand new and you monsters will ruin it.”
“As if Andras won’t buy you a thousand more dresses,” Dev scoffed, and I grimaced.
“I don’t want a thousand more dresses. I’m not your barbie doll or your whore. I bought this for me, and you’re not fucking ruining it.”
My fists balled as I glared at them. I backed away as Andras stepped toward me.
“We won’t ruin your pretty dress, angel. And don’t you ever call yourself a whore in my presence again. Only we are allowed to do so when your pretty cunt is milking our cocks. Grab whatever you need from your dressing room, but leave the gown on.” His words were more than a command, and I could see in his face any argument would be futile.
I spun on my heels and flipped them off, ignoring the heat building between my thighs at his filthy words. Levi’s loud laughter rumbled as I walked away. I was honestly surprised when none of them followed. I hurried into the room and locked the door. I scanned the vanity and found a small backpack that wasn’t in here before. There was an earpiece in the front pocket, and I shoved it in.
“Zenith?”
“Nova.” Tibby’s voice was clipped.
“What’s wrong?” I frowned. She was never short with me.
The noise of the club around her drifted through the ear piece.
“Everything. Our plans are so fucked.” Her voice quivered with anger I’d only heard from her once or twice in the years we’d been friends.
“Why?”
“Because, pet,” Tibby snarled the word, making me flinch. “Those men are targets, not fuckbuddies. What the hell are you doing?”
I crossed my arms, feeling defensive. “I know they’re targets. But it’s not that simple anymore. Getting to know them…it’s not…they’re like brothers. They care about each other more than anything. More than the stupid cult. They care about me too.”
“Are you serious? So you care more about them and their new feelings for you than you care for your sisters?”
She might as well slap me across the face for the sting of her words. “Tib…Zenith. I-I don’t know what to say.”
She huffed in irritation. “Yeah. Me either.”
This wasn’t right. Tibby was never this short and harsh with me. “What’s really going on? You’re not telling me something.”
Tibby sighed, and I heard a faint sniff. Was she trying not to cry? “My mother is dead. Self-inflicted, supposedly. And my stepdad woke up from his coma and he’s now in the wind.”
I sighed, running my hands through my hair. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Zenith.”
This was all wrong. Her stepdad had been in a coma for months, and the doctors said nothing about him waking up. Tibby kept tabs on him at all times.
“Yeah.” She sniffed, and I could hear the pent up emotions in her voice. “She was a terrible mother, but it still sucks. I have to find him, Nova.”
“And we will.”
“When? I want him dead now. I should have killed him years ago.”
I paced my dressing room, thinking. “Maybe we can.”
The noises faded as Tibby left the club. Wind whistled down the earpiece.
“How?”
“What if we could make him look like an informant and leave clues for the Princes to find, make them go after your stepdad.” I stopped pacing and waited for her response. “He was on that list, remember? Let’s use that.”
Tibby paused for a moment. “No.”
I froze at her blunt refusal. “No?”
“This was supposed to be mine. Mine and yours, everything is about the fucking Princes, and I just want us to do this. I need you, Nova.”
I slumped onto the chaise in my dressing room. Where was this coming from? “You have me, Zenith. Always.”
“Do I?” Her voice shook with emotion. Tibby wasn’t much more emotional than I was, and this display was unnerving. I was failing my only friend.
“Yes,” I growled. “Fuck the guys, Zenith. I’m coming over.”
Tibby’s laugh was hollow. “How?”
I started stripping, shoving the dress in the backpack and pulling on a pair of leggings and a black sweater. I tucked my hair up into a long, brown wig.
“Your lack of confidence in me is offensive. The guys might be monsters, but I’m a mother fucking assassin.”
Tibby snorted. “What do you need from me?”
“Just get to the apartment. I’ll meet you there.”
“Already gone. Peace out, Nova.”
I shrugged into the extra pair of army boots I had tucked under my vanity. I strapped on the backpack and checked the peephole. There was no one in the hall. No sign of the guys.
Tibby was right. I was getting sucked into their mind games and forgetting about what really mattered. Tibby lost her only family, and mine could still be alive. It was time for the next phase of our plan. I slipped into the hall. There was a fire alarm just outside my door, and the chaos would give me enough time to run. I flung myself out of the exit that led to the alley and ran like hell, staying in the shadows of other buildings.
The closest train station was only a block away, and the crowds would provide more coverage. I moved swiftly down the stairs and slipped onto a redline train just before the doors closed. Ty had found me so quickly before, and I still wasn’t entirely sure what happened before he knocked me out and I woke up tied to the bed. I kept my eyes peeled for a hulking monster man covered in tattoos, but none appeared as the train shoved off.
The train was quiet, since it was so late on a weeknight, and I paced the car, keeping my eyes and ears alert. My earpiece was quiet, and Tibby hadn’t checked in yet. I tried to remain calm, she could be offline for any number of reasons. The train stopped at Andrew Square, and I bolted out, running full speed to our apartment. My lungs burned as an awful feeling crept into my chest. I pulled my keycard from the backpack and slammed it into the front door, ripping it open and taking the stairs two at a time.
I typed in our code and shoved open the apartment door. “Tibby?”
My chest heaved, sucking down oxygen as my brain whirled. The apartment was dark. She wasn’t here. No. She was fine, she was not hurt. I crossed the room, wondering if I should go back out there and look for her. The door opened and within moments I had a gun pointed at the intruder.
Tibby walked in, her eyes wide. “Holy shit,” she breathed. “You scared the fuck out of me.”
I dropped the gun and ran to her, wrapping my arms around her middle. “Me? Are you freaking kidding? I thought something happened to you. How did I beat you here?”
She hugged me back awkwardly before letting go and shutting the door. She shrugged and made a beeline for the kitchen, grabbing two water bottles. She tossed one to me and I caught it.
“Well, the way you look, I’m surprised you didn’t sprout wings and fly here.”
I laughed, taking a long drink of the icy cold water. “Yeah well, Ty caught me so easily last time. Figured I’d do better.”
“Well, you made it.” She smiled, drinking down her water. “Now what?”
I made the right choice coming here. Getting away from the Princes was the right decision. The lust-filled fog was lifting.
“Now we dig deeper to find your stepdad. You’re smarter than him ten times over, Tibby. I know you can find him.” I turned to her, needing her to see the truth of that on my face.
She nodded but said nothing.
“Then we will get back to my hit list and we’ll find my father and sister together. Any updates or movements at Vespertine Hall?”
Tibby shook her head. “Not that I can tell. A few lackeys coming and going, but no sign of the founders. And no weird stuff being transported out.”
I nodded. “That’s good news, I guess. I say we hit it this weekend. I’m ready to see it burn.”
“What about the Princes?” Tibby asked, cocking her head and assessing me.
She had every right, considering I spent the last twenty-four hours getting very intimate with the four Obscuritas royals.
I sighed. “I won’t let them get in the way of our plans. The last two days have been…strange. I’m not going to pretend I didn’t feel some kind of connection to them.”
I wanted to tell her more but I was scared of the things I felt and I didn’t want her to be disappointed. Falling for your mark was an amateur move. But even when I was their prisoner, things shifted. Watching the four of them together in their home, I noticed a bond. No amount of digging up dirt could tell me what I witnessed. The Princes weren’t just bound together by this cult, it was something on a deeper level. The buzz of adrenaline running through my blood made me shiver. I took another swig from my water bottle.
“And Tibby, I get the feeling there is a lot more going on between the four Princes and their fathers. Nothing outright was said, but little things…” I looked up to see her watching me with a strange expression. My cheeks heated as if she read my thoughts about the Princes, my carefully orchestrated mask unveiled. Everything was getting mixed up in my head. “Tibby, I’m sorry I got wrapped up in them. You are my one and only friend. I’ll do better. I will.”
She nodded, her eyes shining, but still said nothing. I tipped the water bottle for another swig, and she launched herself at me, swatting the bottle out of my hand and causing it to splash on the floor.
“What the fuck was that?” I stared at her in shock and swayed a little on my feet. What was happening?
Tibby’s face flushed, and her eyes burned into mine. That horrible feeling was creeping back into my chest.
“It’s drugged.” She whispered the words, and my heart stopped.
Cold dread spread through my body, and my words started to slur. “Why is it drugged, Tibby?”
“Laszlo Blackbyrn. He’s coming for you. He knows who you are. He found me, Sara. I-I didn’t know what to do. He had my mother. And now she’s dead anyway.”
I stumbled back, feeling like all the blood was rushing to my head. “You…sold me out?”
Tibby choked down a sob. “I’m so sorry, Sara. I just…I didn’t want to die.”
I nodded, feeling significantly woozy. “Call. Andras.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Sara, he’s a bad guy. He’s one of them.”
“Call. Him. Please.” I stumbled to the floor, my legs going numb.
I couldn’t think right. Tibby. She was supposed to be my friend. My vision blurred as she scrambled for her phone. I heard her snapping at someone to hurry. My eyelids drooped, and my tongue felt thick in my mouth. Tibby’s face swam in front of me. Was I lying down?
“He’s coming, Sara. I’m so sorry.”
I felt my body waking up before my mind could comprehend what happened. My limbs twitched, but my brain wasn’t right. Everything was foggy. I had little flashes of memory. The wind whipping through my hair and…wings? It was the second time I had the strangest sensation of flying. I groaned loudly as my head pounded.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart,” Andras commanded. His voice was barely a whisper, but it was more terrifying than if he’d shouted at me.
I slowly cracked open my eyes. Levi and Dev stood behind Andras, their arms crossed and faces furious. Andras wore his mask of cold indifference, but his eyes were alight with icy hot fire. My brain finally registered where I was: Andras’s bedroom. And, once again, I was handcuffed to the bed. Only this time, my ankles were tied down as well. I was completely immobilized but I wasn’t afraid. Not for myself, anyway.
“What happened?” I croaked, my throat dry as desert dust.
Andras arched an eyebrow at my quiet command. “You were drugged.”
“Where is Tibby?” I demanded a little louder.
“Better question,” Levi cut in, his easy smiles all but vanished, the daemon he kept locked down leaching out. “Where is Ty?”
My eyes widened, and I turned back to Andras, pleading. “Please don’t hurt her.”
Levi snorted. “Too late.”
I choked out a sob. “Andras. Please don’t. Please don’t kill her. It wasn’t her fault.”
“She sold you out!” Levi exploded, his hands balled in fists as his blue eyes raged.
“What the fuck is going on, Sara?” Dev stalked closer to the bed and crossed his arms. He didn’t seem as surprised, or even as angry as the others were, despite his words.
I sighed, closing my eyes. So Tibby hadn’t told them everything yet. But she was alone with Ty. This was a fucking mess. I opened my eyes and stared back at Andras.
“I will tell you everything. Whatever you want. Please don’t kill my only friend.”
Andras watched me, assessing. Emotions warred behind his calm demeanor. He walked calmly around the bed, staring down at me.
“Tell us now,” Levi growled, his fist slammed into the wooden bedframe, cracking it.
“Levi,” Andras snapped. “Bring Sara to the basement.”