SHE WAS STILL GATHering her wits. Too much happened all at once, and she didn’t know what to believe at this point. She knew one thing for sure, that bastard of a boss raped her. Even worse, she wasn’t strong enough to fight him off. She just submitted. Stood there and let it happen.
As her stomach curdled, and her skin crawled at the thought of the incident. She wanted to puke again. She needed to puke again. There was nowhere for her to, though.
Things were moving too fast. Perhaps it wasn’t the memory but the motioned sickness. Lily didn’t think she could move so quickly, yet...
“Forgive me. I know you’re probably sick, but this is the quickest method of travel I can give. Your wounds are pretty severe.” God, how his voice was smoother than silk. It could soothe even the most rowdy of beasts. He pulled her close to his chest.
His scent enveloped her, and she could barely contain a moan. He smelled like campfires and winter nights. Oh, it was lovely.
“We have a healer who should be able to help you. Once you’re feeling better, The Triad will want to see you.”
“The Triad?” Her voice was rusty and sore. Her heart started to pound in her ears again. Relax damnit!
“They’re my masters. They sent me and my brothers to you.”
Lily snorted. “You’re joking right?”
He abruptly stopped. “I would never joke about my masters. They are the reason so many lives have been saved. Why your life was saved.” He looked down at her, and those brown eyes were golden, flames flickering in their depths. His warmth was overwhelming. “We’re here.”
Lily looked away from him. Oh, the sight that met her eyes. Somehow, the magnificent structure remained hidden in these woods. “Wow.”
The walls were constructed with aged brick. A tower seemed to reach for the skies, begging to graze the clouds. The roof tops were rugged, and worn. Windows were dark, cobwebs yearning to be cleaned. Lily wondered when it had last been cleaned. “Your masters live here?”
“Yes, they do. Is that an issue?” He cocked a shockingly, dark brow at her. He was daring her to give her disapproval.
“It’s beautiful. Could use a woman’s touch,” she softly joked. Lily looked away from him, feeling the angered heat of his gaze.
“Can you walk from here?”
In honesty, Lily didn’t know if she had much strength for anything. Between her anxiety attack and the incident that followed suit, she didn’t know how she was still conscious. Surprisingly though, she was wide awake. She was gazing upon this majestic castle that seemed hidden in the middle of the Missouri woods.
It finally hit her. She didn’t know where she was exactly. They were moving so fast, she couldn’t take in any of her surroundings. When Lily needed to get back to the retreat, she didn’t know how.
“Where am I?” She gulped. Lily took in the scenery around her. Nothing but trees. Pines reached upwards. The stars glittered so brightly around the moon. She could practically see the galaxy.
“Does it matter? No humans are here to defile you.” Those eyes bore through her. “Isn’t that what you want?”
Yes it was. She wanted to be away from civilization. She needed to be away from her boss. What he did to her... She could feel the bile making its way up her throat. “Yes?” Lily squinted her eyes with her questionable answer.
“Then enjoy the luxuries you’ve been brought into.” Gently, he placed her on her feet. “Come, I’ll take you to the healer. She’ll ensure you’re well before you meet the masters.”
Masters. That word numbed her. Who were these people?
THEY WERE LOSING patience. This was a tedious process. Mating season was approaching very quickly, and yet they would be left out in the frey again.
None were worthy enough to call themselves suitable for them. None would be capable of withstanding the shared power of the triad. They would die. Too many had died.
Still, so many women presented themselves at their feet. They begged for an audience—for attention. It bored The Triad. They’d seen thousands of beautiful women throughout their lifetimes, and still, none were enough to peak their interests.
A petite redhead female knelt before them. She really wasn’t much. She looked like she had just a little too much time in the sun. Her skin was bronzed, and the patches on her cheeks proved she worked too many long days. “Masters.” She bowed her head. “I am Aurora of the Chimarian Tribe.”
Chimeras were interesting creatures, but monstrous. After the discovery of the tribe, the immortals banded together to make them outcasts. They were abominations to the closed minded, but miracles to those that sought chaos. The Triad were neither.
“Beautiful girl,” Elias commented. The youngest of the three, he was slightly less regal. Nonetheless, his taste in women was remarkable. Countless bed mistresses, and yet somehow never produced an heir with any of them. Perhaps his particular taste was for women without reproductive capabilities.
“Perhaps to you,” Caspius retorted. He looked over at the young Elias, his black as night eyes boring into the immortal. “We have a Chimera already,” he directed dryly to the female before them.
“You misread my intentions, masters. I wish to become your mate.” She rose to her feet. Aurora was slim built. Her waist was barely there. The curve to her form was prominent. She had a long, slender neck, that was graceful outlined by those fiery waves of hers. Emerald like eyes were shielded by thick lashes.
“You misread us, if you think that we are interested in you.” The ill-tempered Donte rose to his feet. He left his throne, taking measured strides to the woman. “We have a Chimera in our ranks. I doubt that you would be as useful as she is.” His nostrils flared.
“I am here to be your mate!” She raised her voice. “Not to join your bullshit clan.”
Donte wrapped his fingers around her throat. “We do not accept you. You’re denied.” He flashed a pair of sharpened fangs. “Unless you’re offering yourself as dinner, I suggest you leave our clan home and do not return.” Ocean blue eyes turned to rubies, and those fangs elongated.
Aurora wiggled her way free from his grip. “I will bring war to you.”
“And you will die like all the others,” Elias nonchalantly replied. He waved her off.
Still the woman lingered. She stood her ground, proud in her stance. “I’m sure your pathetic ranks couldn’t stand against my clan. None of you could.”
Donte was in her face. He could feel the heat of her trembling breaths. “Chimeras that flaunt their abilities are no more abominations than the ones that shun immortals with greater power.” The ruby red of his eyes flickered with such darkness. “We prefer to avoid war. We welcome outcasts with open arms, and give sanctuary to the injured. You are neither, nor are you fit enough to be our mate. Leave." His nostrils flared as he menaced over her.
“Masters,” a melancholy voice called from afar.
The Triad looked away from the red head. “Lucius, what?” They said in unison, surveying him.
“The female you had us retrieve, she’s with the healer.” He was such a tortured looking immortal. It was always odd to the Triad to have a depressed Phoenix at their side, nonetheless he always got the job done.
“Then let her stay there. An injured female is no good to us,” Caspius replied. He rolled his eyes.
“She’s human,” Lucius added. His expression seemed unchanged. He never paid much heed to the coldness of Caspius, and it was probably because his own was just as equal.
“You brought food? Then she doesn’t need to be in the infirmary. Bring her. I’m hungry.” Donte quickly glanced at the chimera. As lovely as she was, he didn’t believe that she was worth wasting his appetite.
“You might want to be gentle with this one. She is much more delicate than the other’s I’ve brought at your request.”
LILY COULDN’T PIECe this shit together. Things were still happening too fast. That man.. That beautiful man brought her to a glass clad room. She assumed it was a doctor’s office. She was right.After snooping around, she found all sorts of tools that belonged to a surgeon. At least that was what she thought. Inside the cabinets were sterile needles, and a small vial of clear medicine. Tongue depressors, cotton balls and band aids were lined up in containers on the counter tops. There was a lone operating table in the middle of the room, with a tray of surgery tools beside it.“Where the hell am I?” She continued to look around. The bright lights of the room stung her eyes, and made her dizzy. It was a reminder of how much she hated hospitals.There was too much space. There was too much quiet. Too much loneliness. If it weren’t for the heavy medications her psychiatrist had prescribed her, she’d be hearing voices. She’d be having a nervous breakdown. Hell, she might even bang her hea
LILY JUST WANTED a break. She just wanted to sleep. She needed to sleep. Lily hadn’t slept in almost a week, and the events of tonight would keep her up even longer.How was she supposed to believe something as ridiculous as the existence of supernatural creatures? It was wild, and fantastical! It was the type of thing that almost put her in the nuthouse. She knew better than to admit the existence of supernatural beings, yet that doctor was so opened about it.Isla answered all of Lily’s questions. She didn’t show any signs of deterring from such beliefs. Lily did everything in her power to shake her. Then Isla did the unthinkable.She grew a pair of delicate wings. They sprouted out of her back. Oh, how they were so beautiful. Lily wanted to trace the swirling patterns engraved in their transparent forms. Light caused rainbows glimmer in those beautiful wings.“Do you believe now?” Isla cocked her brow at her. She gave a toothy smile, and Lily caught a glimpse of small little fangs.
THEY STOOD THERE observing her. After Isla administered the cocktail to Lily, a wave of massive psychic energy flushed through the fortress, shaking its foundations. There was truly a lot of power to this beauty of a woman.Upon her first sip of the cocktail, her powers had appeared to activate. Traces of light flushed through her veins, dancing up and down her arms. Then the screaming began.From behind the one-way glass, the Triad could observe peacefully. They could watch her without risk of being exposed to her powers. They knew the abilities of seers. They had met a couple of them in their lifetimes.She was different though. She was weak in stature, meager in room appearance. She carried herself small, as if she were always trying to shrink and disappear in a room. Yet, somehow her abilities were overwhelmingly powerful.“What do we do with her?” Donte asked. He looked over at his companions, watching their expressions change with every movement of Lily’s.Elias was practically
THERE WAS SOMETHIng about her. There was something about how this woman fit perfectly against him. Oh, how her curves enticed his every desire.Caspius found himself memorizing her every feature. He took note of every delicate imperfection that made her appear more and more angelic. He ran a finger over the plumpness of her lips. They were so soft. So luscious.Ours. His beast growled. It stalked back and forth, yearning to reach out and touch her. If Caspius let him out, she’d be marked against her will. An unwilling mate was not a mate at all.Let her be. He snapped. She’s fragile.“Fragile indeed,” Donte grumbled. “Can’t even withstand the strength of her abilities.” He rolled his eyes. “Stick her with the witches, and leave her there.”“With power like that, wouldn’t it be best to put her with the psychics? They’ll train her offensive abilities. She’d be more useful to us,” Elias chimed in.“We have plenty of psychics. Honing her arcane abilities would better suit us. There’s no o
HER LIMBS WERE TINgling. Her lips were numb. A burst of heat and the occasional cold ran across her skin. She’d never felt something as intense as this.Every bit of her was screaming in agony. She wanted release from this misery, but couldn’t find it.Voices swarmed her subconscious, trying to consume her with every passing moment. Though she tried to fight them off, she felt weaker and weaker. Lily didn’t know what was happening. She didn’t know how to break free of this new mental prison.Wake up! A voice pleaded with her. Wake up Lily!She tried, but couldn’t. No matter how intense her attempts were, she couldn’t pry her eyes open.A fiery flame consumed her, becoming all that she was. She felt an indescribable agony swallow her whole. All she could do was internally scream.In the midst of her subconscious, a figure formed ahead of her. It was wide in stature, muscular and quite formidable. She wanted to coward before it, but found herself unable to move.“Get them out of here!”
CURSE THE GODS THAt thought it was a good idea to gift Caspius with a mate like her. Every bit of her was a temptation, from her bedroom eyes and pouting lips, to her sleepy voice. It took every bit of his self control to keep from claiming her. When she flinched at his attempt of contact, it reminded him of how fragile she was. She’d been broken before arriving. Caspius would do everything in his power to try and help her heal herself. Still, the temptation lingered. Her floral scent clung to his skin, and eternally burned a place in his nostrils. Even as she laid in the hot bath he drew for her, her scent lingered. We must claim her. His beast paced back and forth, trying to convince him to kick down the bathroom door, sink into the tub with her, and mark her tender flesh. We will claim her when she comes out. No! Caspius warned. He stabbed his fingers through his hair, gathering a pair out pajama bottoms from his drawers. He shoved his legs into each hole, and pulled them up ov
CASPIUS WASN’T SURe how he managed to keep himself together. She was right there. She was within reach. She was his. He could have her if he wanted to. Yet, her sleep was so much more important than his tempered lust.He sat at the edge of his bed, contemplating every thought that came to his mind. She was all that came to his mind. Every memory was suddenly filled with her, and he couldn’t begin to explain it.Lily hadn’t even been around for a full day, yet somehow she was engraved in everything he thought about. Caspius looked down at her.Her ebony curls laid fray against his pillows, blending with the black gossamer pillow covers. She was truly beautiful. The longer he stared at her, the more about her he noticed.Her lips were lush and full. However, it appeared she had chewed on them for long periods of time. He could see little bite marks healing on the sensitive flesh and the blood that had dried there what seemed an eternity ago.Lily was far more fragile than he could ever
IT WASN’T THE BEST Decision he had made, but he didn’t regret it. It didn’t matter who or what she was, he wasn’t going to be insulted by the likes of a feeble little woman. Donte would never be soft when it came to his punishments, especially if he was degraded.. Or worse.He looked at his two friends, through narrowed eyes. Elias’s vision was leveled on him, his brilliant baby-blue eyes were lit with a violet flame. His tail swayed behind him, practically daring him to try and lash out. His arms were folded across his chest, nostrils flared. As easy on the eyes and the incubus was, he was just as lethal as his looks.Sitting on the bed was Caspius, his face in his hands. Donte could hear him growling. The sound was low and deep. “You should be happy Isla had already given her a cocktail earlier. You could’ve killed her.” He never bothered to look at him.Donte struggled for a bit, trying to get comfortable. The chains keeping his hands behind his back—and his legs together—made it a