Thirty-Four
Kallie
The subtle light peeks through the clouds and down onto me. I debate staying in bed, lying in the comforting quiet until Callum makes his inevitable entry.
My ears strain to hear the sound of his boots stomping toward my door. It’s completely and utterly quiet. Curious, I hesitantly swing my legs over the side of the bed, cautiously gripping the doorknob before the creaking of the hinges breaks the silence.
My feet pad down the hallway, only stopping a moment to gaze out the windows, staring at the forest beyond and the eerie sky blanketing it.
Continuing forward, I scan the kitchen quickly then the living room. He’s not here.
“Why the hell would he just leave me here?” I ask the empty house.
A piece of paper catches my eye, a few short sentences scribbled on it, laying on the end table.
Had business to attend to. I’ll be back soon.
Don’t die. Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t leave the house.
-Callum
I read the note, scoffing at the rules. A wave of excitement races through me. If he thinks I’m not taking full advantage of a day without his overwhelming presence, then he’s dumber than a sack of rocks. I drop the paper, letting it slowly fall to the floor as I race back to the room.
Skidding to a stop, I turn and face the forbidden door. What kinds of secrets is he hiding that he has to keep them locked away?
My curiosity gets the best of me, and I turn the knob. I’m not surprised when it doesn’t twist. It was worth a shot. Looking for a key, I glide my fingers over the top of the door frame. Nothing. There’s no lockbox or anything, and then I get an idea. What if the door is fake? For all I know, it could’ve been installed to look like a door, but the hidden one is somewhere close. I look over the panes of the empty wall, trying to find a seam out of place. I press my ear along the panes and lightly tap, listening for a hollowed-out section. Nothing.
Pulling back, I let out a huff of frustration. What the fuck is in there? His sex chamber? The thought sends an unexpected shudder through me. The possibility of Callum being a secret freak in the sheets is surprisingly not revolting.
Giving up for right now, my feet rush down the hall until I’m in the bathroom. I turn the shower on, welcoming the steam billowing behind the glass door. Discarding my jammies onto the tile floor, I take a look at myself in the mirror. My toned, defined muscles, the sharpened features of my face, the point of my ears. I can’t help but see a bit of beauty that I never allowed myself to see before.
I hate myself for not hating what stares back at me. I hate the comfort that I’ve allowed myself sink into. And most of all, I hate that no matter how hard I try, I don’t hate him.
Shaking my head, I let the thoughts shift to the back of my mind and take the quickest shower ever so I don’t miss out on this golden opportunity. Not knowing when he’ll come back, I quickly dry off and grab a matching workout set from the closet, simple forest-green biker shorts and matching sports bra.
I feel giddy while lacing up my sneakers. Like a teenager about to sneak out and hoping your parents don’t catch you, the adrenaline is intoxicating. I beeline for the front door, but when I yank it open, I’m greeted with a man at the threshold. His fist hangs in the air, as if he was just about to knock. He lowers it warily, his eyes giving me a once-over. So I do the same.
I’ve never seen him out in town—not that I’ve been able to do much exploring. I get the sense that not a lot of people know where Callum lives, and even if they did, how many really feel comfortable showing up on his doorstep uninvited?
The man standing at the door is striking. His darker complexion contrasts beautifully with his eyes that resemble the color of the clearest ocean and his onyx hair frames his face perfectly, brushing just the tops of his shoulders. He stands tall, not as tall as Callum, but I still have to crane my neck a little to look him in the eyes.
“Um, can I help you?” Uncertainty laces my words, my hand still firmly gripping the doorknob, ready to slam it shut any second.
“Are you Kalliope?” the man asks.
“To some,” I state.
“I’m Marcel, King of Nefarium.”
“Good for you.” Sarcasm is present in my reply—probably not the best time for it.
“I’ve heard chatter throughout the city of a new face, one that had accompanied Callum back home.” I stare at him, white-knuckling the doorknob. “I wanted to come introduce myself, as I understand you will be staying here for a while.” His words carry a bit of questioning, assessing me to find out if it’s true without having to ask.
My features stay schooled, not giving any indication of whether he’s right or wrong.
“Is Callum home?” he asks, moving his eyes behind me, scanning the room.
Ignoring his question, I say, “I have a busy day, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to get to it.”
His eyes find mine again, and he gives me a reassuring smile before saying, “I would like to invite you to have lunch with me. I pride myself in knowing all my residents, and now, you fall under that category.”
“Like I said, I’m busy.” I don’t know who this guy is. Anyone can say they’re the king. Am I supposed to just take his word for it?
“If it will put your mind at ease, my daughter will be joining us as well,” he adds.
Oh yeah, that makes it so much better and totally washes away the bizarreness of all of this.
“Fine, let me just go get Callum,” I say, knowing as soon as I shut the door, I’m booking it out the back. The drop from the balcony in the bedroom shouldn’t be too far—I hope.
Marcel starts chuckling, shaking his head before letting out an exasperated sigh. “Callum isn’t here.” His statement is full of certainty, like he knows, without a doubt, that Callum is gone.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“I am the king. I have many tricks up my sleeve.”
Confused, I tilt my head to the side. “If that were the case, why did you ask me if he was here?”
“Formalities.”
I make sure all my walls are intact, not knowing if he also has unlimited access to my thoughts. As soon as I read Callum’s note, I made sure they were airtight, denying him access just like he does to me. Wouldn’t want him to know what I’m up to, anyway.
But at the moment, it might not be a bad idea. Going with a strange man who claims he’s the king, and not actually knowing any facts, does raise some red flags. I’m apprehensive as I step out of the doorway.
“Everything alright, Firebird?” Voraxis asks. I didn’t close him off. I couldn’t. His presence fills me with a sense of relief, knowing he’s just one thought away. I tried severing the connection while he was out hunting the other night, but the lack of communication left a big gaping hole in my chest, like I was truly by myself. And since my last nightmare, I’ve craved the sense of companionship, someone to make me feel like I am safe.
“I’ll let you know.”
“Just give the word, and I’ll tear this barrier down and be there in a flash.”
“You can do that?”
“There’s a lot for you to learn, Firebird.”
I don’t reply, and Marcel stares at me with an inquisitive look. “Interesting,” is all he says before turning around and heading down the path. I close the door behind me and wipe my sweaty palms over my shorts before trailing after him.
We don’t walk too far down the path before he begins creating a portal. It looks almost identical to Callum’s. Shadows dance around the opening, colors of gray, white, and black mixing together, ready to transport us to wherever he decides.
Uneasiness settles into my stomach, the sweat I wiped off my palms returns, and my body begins to shake.
“Is there another way to get to wherever we’re going?” Not only do I loathe transporting by portal, but in all actuality, he could take me anywhere. I don’t know him, and I don’t trust him. For all I know, this is another heist, another kidnapping. Goddess, I can just imagine Callum’s face if that happened—again.
“I can assure you this is the fastest way—unless, of course, you want to walk up to my castle.” He points toward the city, my eyes searching until they land on a hill—scratch that, a mountain—where the biggest house I’ve ever seen sits. It’s far beyond the city limits but a perfect location to see everything going on below.
I gulp. Tremors scatter across me, beads of sweat form on my brow, and I’m about to say fuck it and make a break for the forest, find Voraxis, and fly until I can calm my racing heart.
“I think maybe we should take a rain check,” I stammer.
“It’s quite alright. Surely Callum has taken you through one of these before,” he insists. For a king, he’s really bad at reading the fucking room. I mean, how can you trust someone to run a literal realm, and they can’t even pick up basic body language?
Goddess, it’s hot. I squint toward the sky, looking at the sun that is almost always masked by the clouds. My fingers start to tingle, and the well of power I’ve come to love begins to overflow, toppling out of the lid like a boiling pot of water.
“You might want to stand back.” I barely get the warning out before flames lick up my arms. I ball my fists tight, no doubt leaving little crescent moons where my fingernails bite into my palms, trying with all the control I have to keep the fire at bay.
“Kalliope, take some deep breaths.” Marcel’s voice is just a whisper. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to regulate my breathing.
Inhale.
Exhale.
“Leave,” I demand, my voice foreign even to my ears. It’s deeper than normal, rumbling my chest.
“Kalliope—” My eyes spring open, and there’s a flash of something in his gaze. Horror? Surprise? I’m not sure, but I can’t contain it. I can’t control it. Raising my hands to the sky, I let the fire out. Embers and ash rain down on us, never touching me, like I have a protective dome shielding me from the wreckage.
Finally, they extinguish, and I instantly bend over. Bracing my hands on my knees, the world goes quiet, aside from my ragged breaths.
After a moment, I look up to see Marcel staring at me. Only a few embers caught his cloak, leaving charred marks where they touched. Other than that, he looks like nothing happened. His arms are folded over his chest, like he’s waiting impatiently at the bus stop.
“What happened?” Voraxis bellows down our bond, his agitation obvious.
“I’m fine.” My reassurance doesn’t do anything as he huffs into my mind.
“I warned you,” I remind Marcel in between breaths. “Look, I don’t trust you, and I have a hard time going into those things as it is.”
“I like your honesty. However, it seems, even if I had nefarious intentions, you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.” He lets his admission hang in the air before continuing. “Now, I’m sure you’ve worked up quite an appetite. I promise to take you straight to my home and back, if that is what you wish.”
I give him a languid nod before standing back up and following him through the swirling portal of doom.
The portal spits us out at the front of the castle. Okay, not literally spitting us out, but it sure fucking felt like it.
I step through on shaky legs, stumbling forward, and despite my best efforts, I still land on my hands and knees. I’m hit with a wave of nausea while the world spins, and it takes everything I have to not blow chunks on Marcel’s doorstep.
“Are you alright?” Marcel brings a hand to my shoulder, but I shrug it off.
“I just need a minute.”
His footsteps continue forward until finally disappearing into the awaiting open door. Taking a few moments, I wait for my stomach to settle before rising to my feet.
Bold of him to leave me unattended. The portal vanishes, and I’m faced with either walking all the way back down the long, never-ending path or following Marcel inside.
I’m struck, like a wave during high tide, with the beauty of his home. The amazing stonework placed strategically throughout the frame. Obsidian stone gleaming in the partial light, absorbing the rays.
Slowly walking up the concrete steps, my legs wobble a bit, like I have sea legs. They carry me through the open door, and it closes abruptly after I pass over the threshold.
Marble columns greet me in the entry, going all the way to the ceiling, barely staying in my eyesight. My feet pad against the tile floor, admiring the architecture and roaming over the portraits lining the walls and the artifacts placed throughout.
“It’s a masterpiece, isn’t it?”
My hand flies to my chest at the same time I let out an embarrassing squeal. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“You have quite the mouth on you.”
“So I’ve been told,” I retort. Before he can respond, footsteps sound, descending the staircase. I clamp my mouth shut, willing it not to fall open as I watch the graceful woman make her way down.
Her hair brushes the tops of her shoulders, ringlet curls bouncing with each step she takes. But her icy-blues is the thing that pulls my attention, like a beacon of beauty against her smooth, dark complexion.
The dress she wears is a long-sleeved, floor-length gown dyed in a dark, rich purple. The bodice fits against her perfectly, and although it looks like it was made specifically for her, she looks rather uncomfortable. Her nose is tipped upward, hands gently placed together in front of her as she enters.
Stopping in line with her father, she gives him a sideways glance before coming back to me and giving a very unnecessary curtsy.
“I’m Odeyssa, princess of Nefarium.” Her voice is elegant, soft and subtle, but sounds almost forced.
Not knowing if I should return the gesture, I do my best to imitate what she did seconds ago. My legs bend slightly, and I bow my head as my hands awkwardly act as if I’m wearing a skirt. I feel absolutely ridiculous, but I’m nothing if not committed.
“I’m Kallie, squatter at Callum Bellmore’s residence,” I reply, straightening as I meet her gaze. There’s a slight quirk of her lips, and I’m unsure if it means I looked just like I felt, or if she’s amused I did it at all.
Marcel clears his throat. “Well, shall we go to the dining hall?” he asks, gesturing toward the awaiting double doors to the left.
He turns without either of our replies, and we both fall in line with Marcel without a word.
None of us say anything, the only noise being the shuffling feet of the kitchen staff and clinking of dishes as they place them in front of us.
“Thank you,” I say to the worker after they fill my glass. They give me a subtle smile, paired with a single nod of their head before disappearing through the swinging door.
“So, Kalliope—”
“Kallie,” I interrupt, and Odeyssa dips her head, hiding a snicker.
“Kallie,” he continues, briefly giving his daughter a sideways glance, “how are you liking Nefarium?”
I keep my eyes fixed on the plate in front of me, trying to gauge how this conversation is going to go. “I don’t have any complaints.”
“That’s good to hear. If you can believe it, we don’t get many visitors.” He finishes by taking a bite off his fork.
“Funny, I figured that’s why you have those pesky barriers around the land. To keep visitors out.”
He swallows before speaking. “Yes, well, unwanted visitors.”
“How well do you know Callum?” My question comes out of left field, even for me. I live with the bastard, but I don’t really know much about him.
“Callum is an old friend. I would take anything you hear about him around the city with a grain of salt.” My head tilts in confusion.
“I’m afraid I don’t follow,” I say with caution. Understanding with a hint of surprise takes over his features. “It’s not my story to tell. Just keep what I said in the back of your mind.”
“How old are you?” I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Every little thing that pops into my head is spewing from my mouth.
Marcel looks at Odeyssa, and his eyebrows bounce to his hairline as he takes a drink.
“Old enough. Fae live for a very long time.”
“I’m not familiar with the customs of your people.”
“That includes yourself.” I don’t want to admit that I’m any different than I was before I came here—before I was thrown into the deep end without a life jacket and expected to swim. Most days, I feel like I’m drowning, like everything that I’ve been through and all the things that are expected of me are tied at my ankles, weighing me down. It doesn’t matter how hard I fight for air; I can never keep my head above water.
Thinking more critically about it, it seems the air I so desperately crave each time I’m being dragged down only enters my lungs when he’s near.
“So what brings you to Nefarium, Kallie?” Marcel’s voice brings me out of my trance.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” I answer honestly.
“Where were you before?”
“Here and there.” I can’t tell if he’s amused or annoyed with my answers, but I don’t care. Frankly, I’m getting irritated with the twenty questions.
“I do expect an invite to the wedding. Have you set a date yet?” His question catches me off guard, and I choke on the bite I just took, nearly knocking my water over when I try to grab it. I chug down the glass, attempting to compose myself.
“What are you talking about?” I manage to ask between breaths.
“Well, surely that is the reason for your arrival. You are to be wed?”
“That’s insane. Sure, he’s funny in that broody way. He makes me breakfast and dinner and takes me on the most amazing, thrill-seeking adventures I’ve ever been on. He makes me so frustrated that I can’t decide if I want to hit the fucker or kiss him senseless. Sure, the thought of him brings a small smile to my face, and when he left me today, I felt a little betrayed because why couldn’t I go with him? I can’t place it, but something about him just makes me want to be around him all. The. Time. It’s quite annoying when my heart flutters at the sound of his voice, but he’s also so annoying at the same time. And don’t get me started on the wings, because holy smokes! He is a smoke-show, actually. I would climb him like a tree. But we’re not getting married.” I’m stunned, clamping my mouth shut as what I just said plays over in my head. Those words did not just come out of my mouth. Absolutely not. This is ridiculous. I would never marry that grumpy, feet-stomping oaf. This guy must be old, because he’s losing his fucking mind.
“Kallie, would you care to take a walk with me through the garden?” Odeyssa’s voice breaks through the white noise in my ears. I just give her a slight nod before my feet move of their own accord, and we’re exiting the dining hall.
Mortified. I’m completely and utterly mortified. That’s all I can think about as I follow Odeyssa up the staircase and down the maze of hallways. We enter a room that I assume is her bedroom. It is very clean with touches of beige and teal placed around it.
I sit on the bench in front of the bed while she continues on into the closet.
“My Goddess, get me out of this wretched thing.” She sounds like Odeyssa but not. The once sweet, gentle voice long gone. “I can’t stand these things. They’re so constricting.”
“Are you alright in there?”
“Seriously, it’s the twenty-first century, and I’m still expected to wear these Goddess-awful dresses,” she continues like I didn’t say anything.
When she re-emerges, she’s wearing dark-wash jeans a white crop-top with a leather jacket. Throwing her curly hair into a top bun, she looks at me like I’m supposed to know what’s going on.
“Is that what you normally wear to walk through the garden?”
“Funny. Now let’s get moving. Chop-chop.” She claps her hands for emphasis before speeding to the door. I hustle behind her, waiting for her to peek outside before we make a break for it—a break for what, I don’t know, but this is a girl on a mission.
“I don’t know why I said all those things down there. I’m so embarrassed,” I admit.
“Don’t sweat it. It’s the truth serum my dad puts into every guest’s drink. It will wear off soon. Now, shush.” My eyes bulge at her admission. Truth serum? Seriously?
“Well, there must be a mistake. I would never say those things about Callu—”
“Sometimes the truth hurts. Now if you don’t shut the fuck up, we’re going to get caught,” she seethes. She’s a very bark- and- bite type of person.
I like her.
Following her outside, there are a few close calls, but we make it through. Once Odeyssa is sure the coast is clear, she lets out a sigh of relief.
“Now, care to tell me what we’re doing?”
“I’m going to Excidium. You’re more than welcome to come.” My heart skips a beat, wanting to explore more of this realm, but a pang in my chest hits, and I know that I can’t.
“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass. Maybe next time?” I offer her a sincere look.
“Suit yourself. If you head that way, you should hit the town in about twenty minutes,” she says, pointing to the right.
“Thanks. I’m glad I met you.” Fuck. Shut up.
“Yeah, same. I’ll see you around. And be careful. You never know what’s lurking beyond the trees.” And she leaves with that ominous remark.
“Care for a visitor?” I ask Voraxis.
“You don’t have to ask, Firebird.”
“I don’t know how to get there,” I admit.
“I’ll help, but you better get moving if you want to make it before nightfall.”
I start down the path, hoping that the next time I see Callum, the truth serum is a thing of the past.