Twin of Ice ~ Twin of Fire (Blood Legacy)

Chapter 1

Flee 逃

Evangeline

I stare down at the messages on the special cookies Flower gave me at the Christmas party. She pretended to gift everyone their own little set of gourmet treats. Only mine held a message: Be ready. Garden. Dragon. Scrawled on the tops of three of the half-dozen she gave me.

Beneath them, a sachet of tea. My heart trips over itself. Riyu is not a fan of anything other than matcha, and only tea that a particular provider their mother uses has aged and harvested.

Fear sinks its knives into me. Worrying my lip, I try to think how I can get him to drink it. Absently, I wonder if it is the same brew she used on Akchiro. Queasiness rises in me. She nearly killed him. I hope she’s had it calibrated better this time.

Jeeze Louise. Am I really thinking about doing this? Drugging my husband and running away?

Calm falls over me with clear certainty. Damn skippy, I am. Notwithstanding last night and today. Riyu is a fucking monster. He kidnapped me, took my virginity, and forced me to marry him.

He went to meet with his brothers and cousins over some Yakuza and Takeda business that couldn’t wait. I know I don’t have that much time.

“Hiyo.” I say when the servant answers the com. “Can you have some tea sent up for us?” I don’t have to specify what kind; they all drink the same one. Hopefully, I can mix these herbs in and they will have the desired effect with no aftertaste.

To rid myself of the nerves bombarding me, I inhale and exhale several times. Breaths come out too fast. Fuck. I’m damn near hyperventilating. He’s going to know something is up.

“Whew, chile. You need to get it together,” muttering to myself, I go over to my bag. I brought some lemon balm with me. It should calm me down enough.

After taking two, I pace a little, waiting for the attendant to come with the tea.

I’m on my third pass across the room — the calm that draped over me earlier all but dissipated when there is a light knock on the door.

Sliding it open, I take the tray with a soft, “Arigato,” to the shy girl who bows prettily for me.

I set the tray down.

He shouldn’t be too long now. It’s already late, and he’s rigid with his sleep schedule — early to bed and even earlier to rise. I won’t have much time.

I’m still steeping the tea when the door slides open and my husband’s tall form enters the suite. He’s gorgeous in his all-black attire from earlier. But his black shirt is unbuttoned well past his throat and his color is high with a bronze flush rising.

Briefly, I wonder if they argued. It would be rare for the men in our family are coldly silent in their anger. Glaciers have nothing on these motherfuckers.

“Come,” he commands, his eyes eating me up. “Shower with me, wife.”

As always, my heart stutters at those words.

I love it and I hate it with equal fervor.

I need to get away to bring things into crystal clarity, and I cannot do that being held in Riyu’s thrall.

Knowing the repercussions of my choice, I’m still firm in my decision.

We will never be together again. He won’t forgive me.

If for no other reason than to prove to his brothers that it is possible not to be made to give face in such a way.

Leaving means the end of us and I have to be okay with that.

I really need my heart to catch-up with my brain.

“Umm, I was just pouring us some tea.” I say, holding it out to him in the traditional fashion he likes.

I can all but sense him wanting to roll his eyes. His lip even curls a little meanly as he takes the brew tossing it back.

“Careful — it’s hot,” I hurry to say leaning forward.

“Fuck,” he swears skewering me with a hard stare.

For a moment my tummy twists. Hopefully he drank too fast to give much attention to the taste.

He holds his hand out instead. “I need you, Ev.”

I guess the meeting didn’t go as planned.

Placing my hand in his much bigger one I let him pull me to my feet.

“You taste so fucking good.”

Head buried between my legs, his face so close to my pussy I can feel his lips when he speaks as he looks up at me. Our eyes clash for a heart aching moment.

He wouldn’t tell me why he needed me so much, but he showed me in every way. He’s been worshiping me from the moment he pulled me into the shower and took me twice under the pulsing spray of the water.

And — I gave him everything he needed, knowing this would be the last time I ever make love to him.

I can feel time ticking, but he hasn’t let up, has shown no signs he’s fading. If anything, he seems even more relentless. Determined in every way to claim me.

I can barely catch my breath as his mouth covers my pussy again, driving me harder to the edge. His mouth clamps down on my clit, sucking, swirling, and when he gives her a treacherous little bite, he sends me spiraling over the edge.

Rising like a god from the sea, his muscles clench and ripple with every heated breath he takes, sawing in and out as if he’s run a marathon.

He has in a way with the way he’s put me through my paces this night.

His gaze skates across my body like a predator ready to devour its prey.

His dick stands tilting like the Tower of Pisa, the head darkened and pearled.

He looms over me, crawling up my body. He takes my lips making me taste myself on his lips. The sweet tang of my essence mixed with his own essential spice makes me whimper. We taste delicious.

Wedging between my legs, he makes room for himself, notching the head of his dick where I open myself for him.

He slides inside of me. “Let me have this pussy once more, wife, then I promise I’ll let you rest.” Panting against the painful pleasure of him stretching me open, I nod a little.

Pressing a kiss to my throat, he draws the flesh there into his mouth, drawing hard on my flesh, marking me again. My muscles clench around his massive length. Essence floods my passage, coating him, easing his way as he pushes in deep. Riyu’s so fucking deep it’s like he’s in my chest.

“Riyu,” I gasp.

“You can take me, little wife. You feel so good sucking me in your tight little pussy. Let me give you this.” Taking my lips, he flexes, holding still as my body tries to accommodate him. Tongues, twirl, he sucks mine into his mouth is a deliciously hot tug making my muscles spasm.

Withdrawing, he makes me feel every inch rasping against my sensitive flesh. I’m so slick with want for him. I can do nothing but arch trying to keep in inside.

A wild smile spreads across his face right before it morphs into one of possessive dominance. The only sign I get before he slams inside.

“Take this motherfucker, wife.” Grabbing my thighs, he draws them high and fucks me like he wants my life. I damn if I don’t die on his dick. Again and again he thrusts, taking me higher as he hits my spot each time. His name is a ragged scream on my lips as he shatters me.

Pulling my ruined form into his heavy embrace, he whispers, “Arigato, my love.”

Tears sting my eyes as he drifts off, and I slide from underneath him.

The garden is so quiet — eerily so as I try to be as quiet as I can, making my way over to the bench beside the koi pond. A turtle lazily munches on leaves beside not even lifting its head as I approach.

Every suite of rooms has a private garden, but only someone who lives on the property year round like Flower, knows how to get in and out of them unobserved.

My sneakers squeak on one of the smooth stones and I pause, waiting.

I know staff is about even if I don’t see them.

That is how it is with the family I found myself married into.

In our day-to-day life, it is as if we live alone, and but for small messes being cleaned away or the re-fluffing of pillows, I would never know we had staff.

They are never visible, rarely heard, but you best believe they report back.

That no alarms have sounded says that Flower is the true lady of this samurai mansion, set in the foothills of Mount Fuji. My heart settles a bit with this knowledge. I’m about to be free.

Looking at the bench with a dragon engraved on the stone, I see nothing.

No, she wouldn’t be that obvious. My gaze skates along its sides, seeing no potted plants there.

No, that would bring the garden out of alignment.

Everything at Takeda Manse is in perfect symmetry.

On quiet feet I go sit on the bench, running my fingers beneath its edge.

There. She placed putty with something underneath.

Following a quick look over my shoulder, I look down at the intricately folded rice paper clutched in my hands. It almost looks like an origami pattern. I smile a little at its cuteness as I unfold it. Popping up as soon as I see the map, I walk along the path sketched out for me.

The trail takes me deeper into the garden.

There are layers to Japanese gardens. Everything has meaning — every tree, pond, and flower placed within for a purpose other than just beauty.

I can’t help but think that Flower took me along the path of lotus because of the strength and beauty of the blooms.

Hidden away so deep with the thin shrubs is a small door. The latch barely makes a sound when lift it. And though it’s at least a hundred years old, the well oiled hinges are silent when I push it open. There is a small economy nondescript electric car waiting for me on the other side of the gate.

Opening the door, I slide inside. The seats are still warm. Obviously, she had one of her servants drop the car here. There’s a letter on top of a duffle bag in the passenger seat.

Ev,

If I’m wrong and you’re truly happy with Riyu, then go back and forget this. Heck, you may not have even taken me up on this offer.

I just wanted the choice to be yours. And though I love Riyu as a brother with all my heart, no different from FADE and Ghadi; what he and Takashi did was wrong. They had no right to make you and Bridget pay for my actions when I left Akchiro last year.

They know it and they should have let y’all go. I made myself a promise no matter the consequences (and there won’t be any — trust me) I would make it so you would have a choice whether to stay or go.

Prosper left me and my cousin, Krie in charge of her network. Your mission if you choose to accept it is to TAKE YOUR POWER BACK.

Even if you stay, you do so knowing you can leave anytime you wish. If you go, you have everything you need to start a new life — a new name, passport, and a few million in starter cash — our gift to you.

He’s going to hunt you. They all do. Takedas are relentless.

Most husbands just cut their losses and save themselves the humiliation and sign the divorce papers. We both know what happened to me even though Akchiro loves me and we worked it out.

The choice is yours. I just want you to have one.

I love you and I’m truly sorry for my part in all this.

I wish you happiness, bestie.

XOXO,

FT

Fat tears spill down my face as I start the engine.

“Thank you,” I whisper, shifting the car into drive to leave Riyu forever.