Chapter 8
A Deal
ALEK
“Ididn’t think you’d find a healer so quickly.” Lanias said the next morning watching the grey gowned female draw her fingers along her bruised skin. The warm sensation of magic made her skin tingle. “I was certain you’d drag this out.”
“Is that what you think of me?” Alek asked, from where he leaned against the wall. In truth, he had debated over whether to bring the healer right away or wait a bit.
Lanias was sitting in the center of his manor, as far as he was concerned, she was situated perfectly in his trap. Of course, he didn’t expect her to just roll over and accept his care.
Lanias was interesting because she never took anything he gave without giving back twice more. She was cruel, and quick to act when needed. He understood it and was fascinated by it. The strength he peaked every once and while within her enticed him.
“I should be hurt,” he teased.
She scoffed, shooting him an annoyed look. “Like, knows like. I’m surprised you managed to find one so soon as well.” She turned her attention to the healer. “Tell me, did he threaten your children? You know just blink twice if the words “blood” or “eviscerate” were used.”
The healer chuckled keeping her focus on Lanias’ hands. “There may have been a mention of flying body parts.”
Alek groaned, uncrossing his arms as he pushed off the wall. “Don’t say that, Melissa. She needs to think I’m a kind Noble Vampire.”
“Don’t worry,” Melissa said easily. “I think she understands you more than you know.” She stopped her magic letting the healers magic recede and held Lanias’ wrists firmly she turned them back and forth, testing their strength.
Done with her inspection, she settled them in Lanias lap with a satisfied hum.
“I think that’s good. Unfortunately, my healing pulls on the energy of the one I heal, so I suggest you take a week before you go back to using magic full force.
” She stood, giving Lanias a smile. “Just think about it this way. You can annoy the big bad Vampire for all five days, and he can’t do anything but take it. ”
Alek clicked his tongue as he came up beside her. “What is it about me, that makes you want to torture me so?” he asked, side-eyeing her.
“Ask all the random gangsters your sons bring to me to heal,” she smarmily said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “I was forced to heal six guys in one night, and did Mihai call ahead? No.”
He pressed his hands together in apology. “I’ll speak to them about it.”
She snorted scooping up her wallet from the bed. “I doubt they’ll stop, but I’ll forgive you if Dmitri can get me to this date on time.”
With that, she whistled to Dmitri. “Let’s go chauffeur.”
He shot her a glare as she sashayed past him out the door.
“I’ll be back. Monarch,” Dmitri said as he sourly followed her out the room. The door shut behind them
Lanias moved her arms back and forth, releasing a sigh relief when she didn’t feel pain shoot up her arms. “That’s much better.”
“You’ve been saved and healed all because of the evil Vampire,” Alek said, taking a seat on the bed. “Don’t you think you owe me something in return?”
She didn’t say anything at first, instead she scooted back on the bed. Resting her back against the pillows.
“What exactly is it you want from me?” she asked, settling her hands in her lap.
As usual he found himself holding back everything he wanted to say. His throat felt like it had been clogged for what seemed like an eternity with his unspoken feelings.
Lanias wasn’t a fresh human, with innocent eyes who saw only his handsome visage and immortality. She was a powerful Witch with eyes that saw everything. She’d been forged in the darkness of the corrupt flames of Veil city.
What he wanted from her was everything and he knew she’d fight tooth and nail to never give herself over to him.
Alek grimly suppressed the greedy beast inside. The sound of her blood singing in her veins was not helping him at all in his attempt at being delicate and patient with her.
“Is it that hard of a question to answer?” she said, drawing him from his wandering thoughts. She glanced around the room. “I didn’t take you for a coward.”
He tightened his hand where it laid atop the covers, meeting her eyes. “You know exactly what it is I want.”
She shook her head as a smile came to her lips.
“Sex?” She laughed. “That’s easy to give, and here I thought you’d be more demanding. I sold sex like one would sell water,” her eyes lost warmth, “It’s not something I’d cringe away from bartering.”
He moved, breaking her laughter short, he grasped her chin firmly. “Don’t laugh. My desire is for your blood, your heart, and your very soul. Your pussy is just the first thing on my to-do list.”
She didn’t wilt away from him; her eyes shined as she offered him a cool smile. “Then your offer must match your desire. What can you give me, Vampire, that’s worth my everything?”
“Name your price,” he said, his lips hovering over hers.
Lanias’ lashes fluttered as she lowered them to hide her thoughts from him.
Alek was okay with her attempt to hide; he would learn how to read not only her mind but also her very soul.
“There is something I must find, and I require a helping hand. I believe whatever I’m looking for may put my life in danger. I need protection, unwavering protection.,” she said.
“You want me to be your sword?”
She shrugged. “I can’t go to anyone else.”
“What about your sister? Raijin would gladly help if you went to him.” Alek asked, truly curious.
“No,” she said. “Sabina can’t get involved in this; this is something only I can solve.” She swallowed, “I’ve affected her life too much as it is, with me “dead” her life should have some semblance of peace.”
“Do you not desire that for yourself?” Alek asked as his thumb moved back and forth slowly against her chin. “Peace, happiness and a family.”
“Not everyone is meant to have a peaceful life. Some of us are forced to chase after something forever. And I have Sabina, Oye and Eliza. That’s enough family.”
“And you’re willing to sell yourself to get this thing? What is it you’re looking for?”
She faced him once more. “My past, the reason I exist.”
You exist for me. Those were his own selfish thoughts. Alek wished he was noble enough to turn down her offer. Lanias was selling herself to him, and he wasn’t willing to reject her. It was an even trade. The desire he had for her outweighed his desire to allow her to remain free.
The beauty of the woman before him was that even as she offered to sell herself she didn’t appear weak in the least. Her chin up, her eyes bright with purpose. He wanted to lick and taste the recesses of her broken soul to learn the jagged pieces that made her into this person.
He stopped rubbing her cheek with his thumb, and tightening his hold pulled her close. “I am not kind enough to reject your offer.”
“I don’t need your kindness,” she gritted out, grabbing his wrist. “I need the ruthless Vampire that The Council fears. If I wanted someone kind I would have gotten a puppy.”
Losing his smile, he turned her head and stared at the throbbing artery there. Her blood pulsed begging for his aching fangs. He drew his eyes along her neck to her face. How easily she exposed her long neck to him. She was almost like a gazelle happily prancing before the hungry lion.
Lanias closed her eyes as if to brace herself, he saw this and cursed himself. Releasing her chin, he stood abruptly. “I will have the servants bring you a change of clothes and once you’re clean come downstairs.”
“What are you playing at?” She demanded as he turned his back and made his way to the door.
“I never said when I would seal the deal now did I?” He threw this over his shoulder as he left the room.
He would take her, and he’d fulfill his role, but he would do it when he was ready. She was in the palm of his hand, and he’d dictate at what speed they would go.
LANIAS
Lanias watched Alek walk out of the room.
She wanted to grab the vase on the table near the lounge chair and throw it at him. He’d had her heart in her throat, and her palms sweaty only to renege and leave her craving... she didn’t know what she craved.
Looking down at her hands, she noticed they were shaking, she curled her fingers in and tightened them into a fist.
“I hate this.” She muttered to no one.
Ever since she’d rejected her old self, her hidden self was beginning to emerge. The girl who’d been terrified as she watched her grandma’s body mutilated by those who’d come for her and Sabina. The fear she’d swallowed when she’d shown aptitude for all magic.
That weak child that was buried deep within often returned to the surface.
Annoyed, she scooted to the edge of the bed and stood; vertigo hit her, but she grimly struggled to overcome. She couldn’t stay this way; she had to keep moving. The silence was growing too loud in her own head.
Pulling her shirt off she tossed it aside, after she unbuckled her belt and unzipped her pants, letting them fall to the ground.
Walking around the bed, she spotted the door open to the bathroom.
Entering it, she walked straight to the shower and with a wave of her hand the water sprayed out of the many panels of this luxurious set up.
She didn’t bother to remove her underwear and entered it. The freezing cold water hit her skin. Gasping, she closed her eyes in reaction to the sting of the icy water.
Lanias had to burn away the weakness that was surfacing. Tears she’d spilled during her moment of uncertainty a distant memory, she had to overcome those complicated emotions she felt watching her father’s death.
Pushing down past experiences had been done many times in order to allowed herself the ability to move forward.
She buried anything that could drag her down into a pit of despair in the depths of her mind.
People said that burying emotions was not healthy. But how could she survive in a world full of monsters, if she allowed herself to feel?
How could she sell young women to twisted politicians while gathering their many dark secrets, and rule the shade with an iron fist again, if she allowed herself to feel?
When she’d begun her journey into that world her actions fell under the excuse of survival just to get by. However, every time she’d destroyed someone’s life and watched their household collapse under an exposed secret led to a celebration.
Turning her head, she met her own gaze in the mirror. Lanias couldn’t lie to herself, some part of her had grown to enjoy what she did.
The monster inside her luxuriated in her dark power and pitiless behavior. The Nerium was her crown jewel, Witches who’d been forged in the black halls of that hell. They achieved a level of ability with their magic that couldn’t be seen in the average Witch.
She’d saved them and given them a future.
They owed her their loyalty; she had taken it as her due.
A queen of broken Witches.
A demon who took what others feared to take.
Protect those who her father had hidden?
Why not, if it would bring her more power.
She brought her hands around and undid her bra, it fell to the shower floor with a slap. Then she removed her underwear, sliding them down her slick wet skin.
Her story was just beginning.
Those silver eyes appeared in her mind’s eye. A deal with a devil indeed.
Lanias had never feared devils, and she wouldn’t start now.