CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Omaera
I returned to the kitchen to find Vip setting the kettle onto the gas stove and bringing down three stone mugs from one of the cupboards. She flicked her dark-brown gaze at me out of the corner of her eye, but didn’t turn to face me. I took a seat at the counter bar and rested my elbows on the warm tile. Even the countertops were warm here in Hell.
Ugh.
I could not wait to get back to Earth.
“Who are you?” Vip asked, bringing a small tin out from a drawer. Her movements were slow, calm, and precise.
“My name is Omaera Playfair.”
“Yes, but who are you?”
My pause was long enough to make her turn to face me. She lifted one dark, sculpted brow, keeping an unwavering focus on my face. She was a beautiful demon. Probably several hundred years old, but she didn’t look a day over forty. With smooth, brown skin, dark eyes, dark hair, and delicate features. Her lips were full, her lashes impossibly long, and her nose was small and slightly pointy. For as tall and behemoth-like as her mate was, Vip was the complete opposite. Petite and delicate .
“My name is Omaera Playfair,” I repeated. “Drak is my mate.”
“Yet, you are not mate-bonded.”
I shook my head. “Correct.”
“I smell others on you though. Why?”
I inhaled deeply through my nose, pausing again. “What kind of emotions does the name ‘Lerris Byrche’ evoke?” I asked with hesitation, saying his name in the most neutral way I could.
The only change in her entire body was the rush of pink to her cheeks. “Why?” she asked quickly.
“I need to know what I can tell you. I need to know if I can trust you with the truth.”
She attempted to slice into my brain, but I threw up a thick shield and mentally shoved back hard enough that she was physically thrown into the wall behind her. Her eyes went wide in surprise as she struggled to gather her breath. “ Who are you?” she asked again.
“Answer my question and I’ll answer yours.”
Regaining her composure, she went back to the tin on the counter and carefully measured out loose-leaf tea into three different metal diffuser balls. Steam began to rise from the kettle on the range. “Lerris Byrche is the shame of our race. King Donovar—may he rest in peace—never should have trusted his brother as much as he did. Our world—our race, our realm—is doomed with Lerris as a leader. The peace we’ve had for the last hundred and fifty years will not last. Not with Lerris as the King of the Realm.”
One of the other things that Kenvin was teaching me was the study of pitch and latency when someone was speaking. It was a way to discern, without infiltrating their brain, whether they were lying or not. Because demons could throw up shields, it was important to figure out other ways to learn their true motives.
Luckily for all of us, Vip was telling the truth. She hated Lerris.
But I wasn’t done yet.
“How do you feel about humans?” I asked.
“When do my questions get answered?” She picked up the kettle and poured it over the tea balls in the mugs.
“After this one.”
The tiniest hint of a smirk tugged at one corner of her lips. Then she shrugged. “Don’t really have a problem with them. Don’t have any human friends, if that’s what you’re asking, but I don’t want to see their whole species perish like some.”
That made me smile. “My name is Omaera Playfair. My mother was Elena Playfair—a human—and my father was Donovar Byrche. My mates are Prince Zandren Thorne of the Shifters; Maxar Rane, a fire-mage; and Lord Drak Ferrin—the vampire you just met—and cousin to King Howar Volmark. Drak is the only one I have not mate-bonded with yet.” I glanced toward the hallway just as Shoy stepped into the kitchen. “It’s … complicated.”
Shoy sidled up next to his mate. I couldn’t get a read on Vip yet.
“When Lerris killed my father, he thought the power of the Realm would pass onto him, but it didn’t. It passed to me. I am the Queen of the Realm. That also triggered my mates to be alerted to my existence. Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t even know this realm existed, or that I was half demon. My mother died when I was an infant, and I was raised by a spellcaster-mage who cast a cloaking spell over me so nobody in this realm could find me. But when Donovar was killed, his death broke the spell.
“Lerris has tried to kill me several times. He killed my aunt—the spellcaster-mage—and kidnapped my best friend—a human. She is healing back on Earth right now. Zandren’s father—the Shifter King—suggested we find Kenvin Jol as he hates Lerris, was a fan of my father, will be able to train me and my powers, and help us set up a trap to stop Lerris once and for all.”
Two sets of wide brown eyes stared back at me.
“We were out in the desert because Maxar’s parents are both at Helltower. They’ve been there for centuries. We thought maybe their incarceration had changed them to be better people. Drak’s aunt—the Dowager Queen Mother, Quintella Volmark—is also there. She alerted us to Lerris’s presence here in Hell. He paid Quintella a visit just yesterday.”
Fear flashed in both Shoy and Vip’s eyes. Was it because Lerris was in Hell? Or something else entirely?
“We believe that King Howar—King of the Vampires—is working with Lerris to stage a coup and usurp me from the throne. A throne I’ve never even sat on. Drak is not only Howar’s cousin, but was also in his court and head of his security. However, when we asked Howar for the location of a portal on Earth, the one he sent us to had an ambush and we were nearly killed.” I exhaled and let my shoulders slump. “So you can see why I’m careful who I trust.”
Had Vip blinked yet? She picked up one of the mugs, steam rising from the aromatic depths, and set it in front of me. Then she came around the counter, took my hand and bowed her head, pressing her forehead to the top of my hand. “My Queen. We are at your service.” Lifting her head, she blinked up at me, tears in her eyes. Then, for the first time since I met the woman, she smiled. And holy hell, did it light up the damned room. “I should have known you were his heir. You have your father’s eyes. And his kindness.”
Shoy bowed as well. “We are humbled by your visit, Your Majesty.”
Well, now they were making me all uncomfortable. I smiled shyly. “Just call me Omaera, please. I’m just … me.”
They both beamed and Vip straightened. “We were briefly part of your father’s court, when he first came into power after the war. We helped him restore peace to the Realm.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. More people who knew my father. People who could tell me about him. A thousand questions pinged around uncontrollably in my mind, each one vying to be asked first.
Shoy’s smile was small, but real. “After about thirty years, we asked Donovar to be relieved of our duties in his court. We wanted peace and quiet. He let us go without hesitation, offering us land wherever in Hell, or on Earth that we wanted, along with an annual stipend for our services and loyalty.”
I swallowed, and hot tears pricked my eyes.
“It would be our honor to help Donovar’s daughter. The new queen,” Vip said with another little head bow. “Anything we can do to help, name it. We are your humble servants.”
Relief swamped me so quickly that those threatening tears burst forth and a sob clutched in my throat. I gripped the edge of the counter and let out a stuttered breath through pursed lips. I had to believe that all of this was happening for a reason. That we stumbled here of all places after being captured by the bisibra because we were meant to meet. I was meant to meet people who loved my father and who could help me defeat Lerris and Howar.
After I regained a bit of composure and the ability to speak, I wiped the tears from my eyes and smiled. “We do need your help. We need to find Zandren and Maxar and get back to town. I’m worried that somehow Lerris will have found out about Kenvin helping us. I’m not sure Kenvin is safe.”
That made Shoy snort. “That old goat could kill an entire army of Lerrises without breaking a sweat. You don’t need to worry about Kenvin.” His expression turned more serious. “Your mates on the other hand … out in the desert at night …” He shook his head. “Do they have any cover?”
“They’re in a truck that is missing a door.”
“And you say it’s a bear-shifter and a fire-mage?” Vip asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“But you’ve mated them?” Shoy asked.
I nodded again.
His lips twisted, but a shimmer of relief twinkled in his dark eyes. “They should be able to find you based on your scent. Even though it’s easy to get turned around in the desert, your scent should direct them this way. If they keep driving, I suspect we’ll meet them by morning.”
Well, that made me feel a little better.
Vip’s smile really was extraordinary, and the way her eyes glittered now—with flecks of copper among the brown—she went from beautiful to striking just by smiling.
“Thank you for helping us,” I said, reaching for Vip’s hand and giving it a friendly squeeze. “Hell has been … it’s been very strange.”
They exchanged knowing, amused glances.
“Have either of you ever been to Earth?”
Both nodded.
“A few times throughout the centuries,” Shoy said. “We find it very strange. ”
That made me laugh. “I guess it’s all about what you’re used to, hmm?” The delicious smell of the tea made me pick it up and take a sip. A burst of fruity and floral flavor danced across my tongue. “What is this? Everything in Hell has tasted terrible. Why does this taste so good?”
A niggling voice in my head said, “ Because it’s poison, bitch .” But then Shoy and Vip both took sips of theirs and I relaxed.
“It’s blankberry leaf tea with skivern syrup,” Vip said. “I make it myself.”
I glanced down at the pretty pink liquid in my mug. “But I’ve had blank berries. They taste like nothing.”
“The berries taste like nothing, but the leaves are where the majority of the flavor is. You have to steep them though, otherwise they’re toxic.”
“Of course they are.” I took another sip. “And skivern syrup?”
“Skiverns are like bees on Earth. Only much larger. The syrup is similar to Earth honey. It’s not as sweet though.” Vip took another sip. “And the skiverns put up a real fight when you try to harvest it.”
“Do they have stingers?” I asked.
“One on every leg,” she confirmed. “I have to wear a special suit to collect the syrup, otherwise I’ll swell right up from all the stings. Their eggs are encased in a tasteless slime that temporarily paralyzes anybody who ingests it. And mixed with the syrup, it puts a person—or animal—to sleep.” Her eyes went wide in terror for a moment. “I didn’t put any of the slime in the tea. I’m sorry if I spooked you with that comment. I didn’t mean to.”
I chuckled. “I mean, I thought maybe for a half-second, particularly since you brought up the slime and paralysis and all that, but I believe you.” I took another sip, allowing the warm, delicious elixir to sit on my tongue a moment longer. “And also, it’s delicious. So if it puts me to sleep for a bit, it’ll be worth it.”
Her eyes warmed at my compliment. Then she shared a warm look with her husband. “We’re so honored to have you in our home, Your Majesty.” She faced me again. “And to know that King Donovar didn’t leave this world without a worthy heir.”
I dropped my gaze down to the half-full contents of my mug, not used to such praise—especially from demons.
That seemed to make Shoy chuckle. “Your father was an unusual demon.”
My eyes popped up to his. I was eager to know whatever I could about my dad.
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “If you haven’t noticed, demons can be … rude, for lack of a better term. Abrupt. Distant. Suspicious.”
My mouth twitched. “I may have come across a few like that.”
My hosts snickered.
“Well, Donovar was never like that,” Vip added. “He was always so gracious. So polite and kind. It threw a lot of us off at first, but then when we saw how much good he was doing in the Realm, how hard he was trying to restore peace, we realized just what a kind soul he was. How pure his intentions were.”
“We’re still suspicious by nature, but we try to live our lives the way Donovar did. With kindness leading the way.” Shoy took a sip from his mug. “Your politeness outside reminded me of him, and it also reminded me to let kindness lead the way.”
Those darn tears were back, and I sniffed and laughed as I wiped beneath my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I blubbered. “It’s just been a crazy day.” I tossed my head back and laughed humorlessly. “It’s been a crazy few weeks. And hearing about my father—a man I never met—and how good he was just … well, it makes all of this insanity feel a heck of a lot more worth it.”
“You should rest,” Vip said, taking my mug from my hands after I drained it. “Shower if you’d like. I have some spare clothes you can wear.”
My chest rattled as stuttered breaths fled my lungs. “Thank you.” I glanced at Shoy. “Both of you. For everything.” Then I tugged Vip into a hug, crushing her delicate frame to mine and shaking against her stunned, stiff body as the sobs took over.
Eventually, she relaxed and hugged me back, shushing me and cooing soft words of comfort.
“Come now,” she said after a moment, breaking the embrace. “It will seem less impossible in the morning, I promise. Your mates will find you and we will get you back to Kenvin. Shoy can drive you to town if you’d like. ”
Shoy nodded. “I head there once a week, and I am due to go.”
“Thank you,” I croaked.
Vip nodded and her hand fell to the small of my back, encouraging me to turn toward the bedrooms. “Off to the bathroom with you. A shower will feel good. I’ll go find you something to wear.”
She left me in the washroom and I closed the door, stripped, and turned on the water. Just like at Kenvin’s, the water smelled of sulfur. But I didn’t care. It felt good against my dust-covered skin, washing away the debris of the day. I thought for sure I’d cried all the tears my body had, but apparently not, and fresh ones fell with abandon, getting lost down the drain with the red-hued water from all the dust leaving my body.
Two pieces of my heart were lost in the desert, in danger. Did a mate feel it when their mate died? Would they know in their souls that I was still alive? Surely, they must. Vip and Shoy seemed convinced that they’d be able to track my scent, and that had to work either way. Whether I was dead or alive.
Even though I still didn’t know how all of this magic worked, I could feel it in every cell of my body that Maxar and Zandren were still alive. We were too far away for me to feel their emotions though. Or maybe we hadn’t been mate-bonded long enough, and that would come with time. Either way, all I knew was that they were still out there, and I had to hold on to that, otherwise I’d go crazy.
I turned off the water in the shower and opened up the tile door, wrapping a towel around my body and one around my hair. A pair of comfy looking gray sweatpants and a black tank top sat on the counter, and once I was dry, I pulled them on, grateful for clean clothes.
Since arriving at Melissima’s and forgetting my silk hair bonnet at my apartment in Chase City, I kept my hair in a bun on top of my head when I could. The water in Hell was hard, and not doing my tight curls any favors, but good hair days were also the least of my concerns right now.
I carefully opened the bedroom door, hoping that Drak was asleep and healing. His eyes were closed as he reclined on his back on the bed, his chest rising and falling in deep, even breaths. I wanted to check on his abdominal injury, to see how it was healing, but I didn’t want to risk waking him. Like all his other ailments, he would heal. I just hated to see him in pain.
Walking around the other side of the bed, I was mindful not to jostle the mattress too much when I climbed on. There was no need for covers. Hell was too hot for even a thin sheet over my body. So I just fluffed up my pillow a little, faced away from him, curled up into a ball, pressed my hand to Maxar’s mark on my ribs to cool off a bit, and closed my eyes.
“Omaera?” came his deep, groggy voice.
“Did I wake you?” I asked, turning a little in the dark room.
He grimaced and groaned as he rolled over onto his side toward me. “It’s all right.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” he said. It was too dark in the room to see his eyes. “But I’m healing. I should be better by morning.”
“Do you need to feed?” I asked, my own stomach rumbling at the thought of eating. I should have asked our hosts for some food. I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast, and fighting off the bisibra and letting Drak feed earlier had me more than just tired. I was weak too.
“No,” he said softly. Something else hung in the air. Another question he wanted to ask. I could feel it like a tangible entity hanging between us.
Rolling over to face him completely, I reached out and cupped his jaw. “They’re going to help us. They were part of my father’s court for a while. Shoy will drive us back to Kenvin’s tomorrow. And they seem to think that Zandren and Maxar will find us because we’re mate-bonded and we’re mate-bonded so they can follow my scent.”
His response was no more than a fatigued grunt. “You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
His head bobbed, and he stayed where he was, his eyes closed.
I preferred sleeping on my left side, so after a moment of just staring at his shadowed face, I rolled over and away from him again.
I was nearly asleep when a big, strong arm suddenly wrapped around my midsection and fingers laced with mine. He buried his face against my neck and just held me. It was exactly what I needed in that moment, and Drak was providing it. I snuggled in deeper to the crook of his body and tightened my hold on his fingers, then I sighed and gave into the exhaustion.
I was safe—for now–wrapped in Drak’s arms.
I only hoped my mates out in the desert were safe too. We’d already been through so much together, and yet, at the same time, it wasn’t nearly enough. They had my heart, and even though I still wasn’t ready to commit to Drak in the same way because he was keeping something from me, the vampire was growing on me too.
I couldn’t do this without all of them. I couldn’t take on Lerris and Howar without my mates. Just before I fell asleep, I sent out a mental message to Zandren and Maxar, letting them know I was okay and where to find me. I told them to hang on and stay safe.
I waited a moment, hoping to get something from them in return, but it never came.
“Sleep,” Drak murmured behind me. “They’re too stubborn to get themselves killed.”
I chuckled and jostled in his arms. “You’re right.”
“I usually am.”
That made me laugh even more. “You must be healing. Your dry, irritating sense of humor is returning.”
“All the better to annoy you with, my dear.”
His sigh and deeper settle into the mattress prompted one from me, and together we fell silent and slept. Who’d have thought we’d ever get to this point? Me and the vampire wrapped up in each other’s arms, in bed, in Hell?
I’d have to check outside in the morning if it was snowing, because the only way I ever thought Drak and I would get to this point was if Hell froze over.
Weirder things could happen. After all, it was Hell.