The two were inseparable as they tried to figure out how Lord Lothaire had heard about Liberty and Alfie and why he had traveled to Spokane.He never ventured out of his Seattle fortress with his groveling courtiers, lovers, and toys. Never!Henry lamented when they ran out of ideas, "The only thing I can think of is that the privacy charms at the bordello were too weak to prohibit someone from listening in on our talk last night."'Those spells are meant to be impenetrable,' Aric shook his head.Do you seriously doubt that Maddie would have allowed the spells to expire? Henry looked at his companion and inquired.Aric's voice hardened at the prospect that one of his own people might betray him: "She would if she was seeking for a knowledge she could exchange that would get her sent to Seattle or Portland."His friend's eyes widened at the thought of the potential influence one piece of knowledge could purchase, and he said, "Do you think she'd do that?"With that, Aric pushed himself
Aric's father was drinking from the man, and the man's screams seemed to continue on and on. I could still hear it with my fingers jammed uncomfortably in my ears.Ultimately, I did my best to block out the sound of the body hitting the water with a horrible thud as Lord Lothaire dropped it.When I dared to look, I saw his lips and chin pouring with blood as he grinned at me, and his face was only a few inches away from mine.Fearfully, I let out a cry before I could pull my hands away from my ears to hide my mouth.He pretended to be confused and inquired, "What?" Do I have makeup on my face?He got up and moved to the plane's rear, laughing heartily at his joke as he kicked the dead guy aside.When I saw it, I cupped my palms around my mouth and cried.For me, this was the worst-case scenario the night I was abducted for the hunt. To serve a vampire master with a vicious streak who would torture me until I begged for my life to end.Now that Aric had me, he treated me well for the m
After Aric was finished with her, Maddie was unrecognizable. He had slashed her face open and let her bleed out, enjoying seeing her life force drained away before his very eyes.It was the corridor that Henry had selected to wait in. To him, it was enough to hear of his friend's illicit activities behind closed doors.When the door opened, he nearly had an emesis attack at the sight of Aric splattered in blood and guts from head to toe.Aric gasped, wiping his face with a sleeve streaming with the same blood he was brushing off his face.In return for power over a new coven in Portland, he informed his father of "everything we said last night," he alleged.Henry exhaled a scathing "bitch," burying the sorrow and shame he had been experiencing.He leaned against the wall and asked, "Did she tell you anything about his plans?"When questioned why he wasn't wearing a shirt, Aric said, "She never asked." He then discarded the shirt with a slopping sound as it hit the ground."What are ou
I was so exhausted that I could hardly get off the plane alone when we landed.Lord Lothaire had not only used me as a drinking vessel again but also assaulted me in ways I had never been subjected to before.As my body shivered from the shock and blood loss, I stumbled down the last three stairs and landed awkwardly on the sidewalk below.Lothaire grabbed the back of my neck and said, "Get up."I was hoisted up to the point where I could only use the tips of my toes to get to the waiting automobile.Walking to the front door, I saw my reflection in the glass. Seeing what I did nearly broke me.My lips were swollen from the countless strikes the vampire had administered throughout his assault, and my face was a mask of bruises. Because my under-eye circles were so obvious, I was convinced that no amount of shut-eye or concealer would ever help.Lothaire pushed me violently into the side of the automobile and said, "Get in."Following instructions, I opened the door and slid inside, re
Aric took a shower at the quickest pace he had ever used in his entire life. He had instructed Henry to return home and wait for more instructions on the next stage of their strategy.He was completely clueless about what that next step would entail. He might submit as many petitions as he liked, but he knew his father would not pay attention to them.His father had always been a horrible guy, but this took his viciousness to an entirely new level.This was more than simply his turning down Josephine's proposal of marriage. If that were the case, his father would have simply forced him and his city to comply by imposing tariffs and other restrictions on them.Aric donned a clean pair of pants, a polo shirt, and a sweater several sizes too big as soon as he stepped out of the shower.Grabbing a bag, he crammed a few pairs of socks and underwear and a couple of shirts, another pair of pants, and another pair of pants into it.Aric climbed into the backseat of his car behind the driver's
As I was being brought through Lord Lothaire's mansion in Seattle, I couldn't help but stare in wonder at the garish wealth that surrounded me.I was escorted into several rooms decorated with gold embellishments, paintings, and sculptures depicting people who appeared to be being tortured or enslaved and were either hanging or standing.Nobody spoke, including any of the other humans I came across, even the slave I was following. Every one of them had obvious evidence of maltreatment and had just been subjected to cruel feedings.When I saw them, I couldn't help but marvel at how Aric could have grown up in such an environment and still managed to become a nice and compassionate adult compared to them.When he was himself, though, he was the kindest, most compassionate guy I'd ever met. It's true that when he lost control, he turned into a complete monster who killed without remorse or guilt, but when he wasn't himself, he was an utter monster.After entering an elevator, a slave hit
While Aric was filling up his tank, Henry rummaged around in his luggage, looking for the blood packets that he had brought along for their journey.While holding up two packets, he cried, "O positive or negative?"Aric said, "Positive, please," while extending his palm in an attempt to snag the pack while it was in mid-air.Before sinking his teeth into the blood pack, his pal questioned him, "Do you think your sister is going to know we're here?"Aric heaved a sigh when he saw headlights approaching their direction and replied, "Yes, she noticed."Henry exhaled and looked in the same direction as the other man. "Crap." "So, I called you on your birthday—how did that conversation go?"Henry laughed cynically as he looked at him from across the car and asked, "So," we're screwed?"Aric had little choice but to shrug and wait as the circle of motorbikes continued to close in on them.At least twelve bloodsucking vampires, clothed in leather, dismounted their bicycles and took off their
Aida provided a calming atmosphere by humming as I cleaned the dirt and perspiration that had accumulated on me throughout my travel from Spokane. She even assisted me in washing my back, being careful with the scrapes and bruises there.As I emerged from the water, I did my best to avoid looking at the hue the water had become, but I couldn't help but notice how white it had become.Aida presented me with a towel that was so big that I had to use it to wrap myself up in it twice."Come," she commanded while taking my hand in hers.While sneezing, she helped me to a chair nearby and combed the knots out of my wet hair.She cautioned him in a soft voice, "You have to stop crying; the more you do, the more Lord Lothaire will torment you."I nodded and wiped away the tears, but they were quickly replaced by more. I did everything I could, but I could not stop them.After she had finished combing my hair, Aida took the remaining strands and coiled them into a tight braid while interweavin
The following morning, Liberty's mother came. She was saddened by the little details she knew about her daughter's ordeals, but overjoyed to learn that she was still alive. She embraced her daughter and her new husband, albeit with some reluctance.The newlywed couple's private apartment, located in a brand-new structure that Aric had selected as his seat of power, served as the setting for the day's festivities honoring them.The tower of suffering built by his father was going to be dismantled and lowered to the ground since this was already in the planning stages.Henry was given permission to transform Alfie, and a ceremony was arranged for them not long after his love awoke into his new existence not long after the ceremony was held for them.Two days after their hasty wedding ceremony, an announcement was made publically declaring the new Lord and Lady of the Northwest Territory. This notification was sent out by the law.Even though many of the lesser lords agreed with Lady Lea
When Aric's mother glanced at her son, completely disregarding my presence in the room, I couldn't help but nibble the inside of my lip nervously.Aric began by giving my hand a firm squeeze before rising to his knees and bending over his mother. "Mother," he said, "You did come to me earlier and tell me that Liberty was concerned that I might become like my father, did you not?""Well," Lady Leanor started, no indication that she was ashamed or trying to be deceptive, "sure I did since that's what she said."Aric continued, his tone becoming increasingly agitated as he vented his frustration, "You also insinuated that she had merely been using me until she could find someone with more authority to go on to.""What?"Emily inquired as she abruptly jerked herself upright, interrupting the conversation as her eyes swept over her mother, her brother, and me."Because she did," Leanor yelled at me while directing her murderous glare in my direction. "She leaped at the chance to abandon y
Aric took Liberty in his arms and led the way back to the chamber that he had staked a claim as their own.After temporarily leaving her to make arrangements for her mother's arrival, he returned to find Liberty standing naked under the stream of hot water coming from the showerhead.When he saw the scars that disfigured the previously smooth surface of her back, he couldn't believe that he had ever had any reason to distrust her.He undressed and joined her, then let his fingertips run over the scars his father had left in her flesh.While his arms were wrapped around her waist, he whispered into her ear, "For each and every one of these, I guarantee you a million wonderful moments."Liberty let out a contented sigh as she lay her back against his chest. She cherished the sensation of his strong arms surrounding her and protecting her at that very moment."Well," she continued with an invisible smile that suggested she was being playful, "you have eternity to do the work."Aric renew
When Aric looked down into my eyes, he muttered, "I know you worry, and I promise that with you by my side, I can cope with everything."I drew his lips back to mine and whispered the words, "I love you."I needed to feel him against me now more than ever. As I reached up, I fumbled around frantically, trying to undo the buttons on his shirt, and I was almost in tears since it felt like such a challenge.At long last, I could get it out of the way and get a feel for the velvety smoothness of his chest beneath my palms.Aric's hands were fumbling at the hem of my own shirt, pushing it up and over my head as I heaved a sigh of relief.After he freed his lips from the cloth, he kissed a path down my chin, going agonizingly down my neck and finally latching on to my nipple after pressing the cup of my bra down.I couldn't help but sigh in contentment as I ran my hands through his thick hair and gently cradled his head in my arms.I murmured, "Aric," with a longing for buildup buried deep
Aric's determination was almost shaken when he saw the agony in Liberty's eyes, but he managed to keep it together.If his mother's statement was accurate, he has been led to believe that she lied to him during their relationship. She has exploited her body to win his love and ensure her own future success.It seemed as though the evidence had been staring him in the face the whole time, didn't it?Because he had more authority, she ended up being his father's plaything, but as soon as that strategy backfired, she instantly found a way to get back into his bed.Aric muttered an expletive under his breath as he watched the woman who had once been his darling struggle to stand."Aric," she pleaded, tears streaming down her stunning face, "Aric, please, let me explain."While he had her by the shoulders and was choking her, he spat, "My mother explained enough." "You are more than a deceitful person who took advantage of me.""I never once exploited you," Liberty said under her breath as
Before I can continue, I need a few moments to collect my thoughts and proceed.I was finally allowed to talk to Lady Leanor when I told her that Lord Lothaire had brought me here and that he had made me one of his slaves."Did he cause you any pain?"Aric's mother questioned with sadness and anxiety on her face.I could not stop the tears from falling as I said, "Yes, ma'am," but "in ways, I wish I could forget."Lady Leanor groaned as she took another sip from her cup and remarked, "He was a dreadful beast."I nodded in agreement as I wiped my cheeks and said, "Yes, he was."When I looked up, I sniffed and said, "You know, I always wondered how a guy as violent as your father could have a kid as great as Aric, and I think I know the answer.""He had you," I said as I stood up and maneuvered my way across the cramped room to embrace the other woman. "Thank you."She was perplexed as she questioned, "For what?"I conveyed it to her while gazing down at her and saying, "for your compas
Liberty followed Lady Leanor into a cozy sitting area close to the office where Aric was working.Leanor stayed standing as she gazed down on the younger woman who had been chosen as the companion for her son and gestured for her to sit down."Are you hungry?"she enquired, noticing that she was beginning to feel hungry.Liberty said gently, "No, thank you," while wriggling uneasily under the inspection of the more experienced vampire.After nodding, Lady Leanor walked to the other side of the room and picked a blood bag out for herself. After ripping it apart, she transferred the blood-red liquid into a nearby cup before returning to her seat across from Liberty.Leanor couldn't help but emit a tiny giggle at the other woman's puzzled expression.Her voice was filled with mirth as she remarked, "I despise the taste those plastic bags leave behind in my mouth." "Call me old school, but if it's not coming directly from the vein, I prefer to drink it out of a cup," you can say that abou
"My mum!" I said, startled to realize that since I had sent her the little letter, I hadn't given her a second thought.As I whirled around to face Aric in a state of terror, I could hardly get the words out.I choked out the words, "I have to get to her!" "I don't want her to learn from anybody else about what happened to me.I pleaded with him, "Please, Aric," as tears filled my eyes.He reached out to wipe the tears from my face as he said, "Of course, my darling. We can board the plane and be there in forty-five minutes."When I heard the word "plane," the recollection of the last time I had been on a plane with Lord Lothaire caused my legs' knees to weaken.When I started shivering because of the recollection, Aric grabbed me about the waist and held me close while he seemed to understand that he had made a mistake.Despite Januarius's gift of peace, the recollection horrified me. All the atrocities I'd been forced to endure at Lothaire's hands rushed through my mind as though th
Aric's dispute with his mother continued until he discovered that Liberty was no longer in the area.As he looked around the room, he noticed that she was nowhere to be found at that point."Mother," he replied, holding out his hand to prevent her from offering yet another scathing response, "I am going to marry her regardless of what you think. I love her!""Love is not enough," Leanor said angrily in her response.A voice came behind them and said, "Love is enough."As Aric turned around, he noticed Liberty standing in the doorway, her chin lifted proudly over her chest.As she proceeded, she moved closer to Aric and intertwined her hand with his as she stood next to him. "Januarius informed me that our love was extraordinary," she said. "If he believes in us, then what gives you the right to doubt us?""I know you think you..." Leanor paused, staring at Liberty with a suspicious expression on her face. "I know you think you..." "Did you say Januarius talked to you?"Liberty said, "