We make our way down the stairs and into the limo and I look around to see if I see anyone else. I sigh with relief when I realize it’s only us and Bix. I’m not ready to see everyone else just yet, especially the two specific males I’ve been trying to avoid. I’ve got way too much to worry about the two delicious and unwelcome men in my life. I just wish they were also forgettable, but I know I would not be so lucky, especially now that I know what’s in store.
As we make our way towards our temporary home I lay my head back and try to clear my mind. Soon I can hear a soft snore from Mer at my side that tells me she is already back asleep. That girl can sleep anywhere. I chuckle inwardly. I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes allowing myself a brief moment of silence. Sleep soon takes me under until I am startled away by a gruff voice from the front seat. “We are about to arrive.” I sit up straight and smooth my hair down making sure it’s in place as I feel the limo slow to a stop.
I look out the window and the sight I see before me is nothing like I could have ever imagined. The entry gate looks like it’s from an old renaissance movie, made of pure wood. It swings down slowly to create a bridge to let us pass and enter inside the castle walls. Mer whistles when she pokes her head around mine and stares. “This is our London home and now yours as well.” Birsha told us and I heard Shi chuckle at what I can only assume is our faces of awe.
The castle was made of a cream brick that had four large towers surrounding each side. “Castle Diavola was built in the 1700’s. It was built for my mother before she passed. My father hasn’t been able to step foot in it since, so he gifted it to me the day I met Shikari.” Birsha said and gently kissed the back of Shi’s hand. I watched the blush cross over her face and quickly looked back upon the castle just as we came to a stop.
The moment the limo stops the dark wooden doors fly open and my heart immediately starts racing as I watch the two men that were coming out to greet us. The limo door opens and the driver holds out a hand to help us out. I let everyone else file out first so I can try to control my damn fluttering heart.
The extra time away from them did no good. I felt the fire of the phoenix and the call of the blood the second I stepped out of the car. I bite the inside of my cheek so hard I taste my own blood as I try to keep my fire at bay. They both bow to Birsha as I look them over. Fuck, they are beautiful. Both men are so different yet so very much alike. Protective to a fault and stubborn as all get out. I avert my eyes and try like hell not to make eye contact as Birsha greets them.
“Well this place is amazing, so how about we make our way in.” Mer says as she links her arm through mine and gives me a knowing look. I feel instantly relieved as Birsha nods and we start to make our way in.
“Thank you.” I whisper to Mer and she simply nods and gives me a wink.
We walk into the castle into the foyer and I immediately notice the shine of the beautiful marble floors beneath my feet. I look around and see we are greeted by a row of staff all dressed in matching black and white uniforms. Around them are beautiful walls made of white rock that were left bare except for the main wall. The family crest was displayed proudly high above a massive fireplace with stairs on each side that circle around it. It is breathtakingly beautiful.
“The trip was long and I can imagine everyone is a bit jet lagged. So I feel it would be best if I show everyone the basic areas. Feel free to explore the rest of the castle and the grounds whenever you would like. Your rooms will all be in the west wing.” Birsha announces as he gestures to the right staircase. “Your bags are already in your rooms and each of you have your own personal butler.” He then gestures to the row of staff. Each one then takes that moment to either bow or curtsy and announce their name and the name of who they will serve.
I hear my name and look over to see a beautiful older woman who looks to be in her early forties. Her uniform was impeccable and I smiled at her flawless smile and beautiful dark black hair that was styled into a perfect slick bun. She looks like a woman who likes order. My kind of lady. Then I realize I didn’t catch her name. Shit.
“Your personal butler will take you to your rooms after the quick tour. Follow me.” Birsha says and everyone quickly follows behind him.
We follow him for less than thirty minutes as he takes through various halls that lead to the main kitchen and dining areas. He told us about the property and all the amenities it has to offer. Each area is decorated in a variation of warm colors and gold giving each room the feeling of warmth and luxury. We stop at a room that is filled with all sorts of computers and gadgets that look so high tech it looks like aliens could have made it. Everyone chuckles when Mer squeels, “Gadgets and fucking cool ones!”
Birsha smiles as she runs into the room and starts looking over some of the contraptions that were laid out. “This is the room where we build and hold the weapons as well as any electronic research. The database is available for anyone to use but know that everything is monitored for security reasons. The room is fire, bullet, and sound proof and extends to the lower level behind that door.” Birsha tells us as he points to a solid steel door.
“You all go ahead. I’m going to stay here for a bit and check out the hardware.” Mer says already distracted by one of the toys she found. Birsha nods and continues the tour before finally ending with us back in the front foyer.
“Dinner is at seven sharp and usually delivered to your room, unless otherwise instructed. Let your butler know if you have any requests. We can meet up in the morning for breakfast. Tonight I would like to celebrate. I have arranged an outing for us all. If there are any issues please let your butler know and we can address it. Otherwise I will see you this evening.” Birsha says as he looks around and we all nod in agreement. Then each butler went to their designated person and I can’t help but be impressed. How did they know who is who?
Just then the dark haired beauty came forward and curtsied before me. “My name is Esmerelda Lady Ali.”
“It’s nice to meet you but please don’t curtsy, and just call me Ali.”
“As you wish Ali. Please follow me.” She says with a soft but firm voice and I follow her up the stairs.
The stairs lead to a long hallway that is lined with doors on each side and Esmerelda tells me each one is assigned to the various guests Birsha has. We stop at the fourth door on the right and I gasp in amazement when she opens the door.
The room is painted all white with gold trim and a wall of windows overlooking the grounds. A large circular bed is in the middle of the room with white linens also lined with gold. Sheer white fabric falls from the ceiling and drapes the bed on each side making it look even more majestic. Around the bed are curved foot stools and small tables between each one.
She shows me the bathroom that has the exact same white and gold decor. The room has a large walk in tiled shower that has a massive claw tub against the wall. The shower was designed so that you could get out of the tub and immediately shower if you want. There are two showers heads on each side of the wall and I can’t wait to try them out.
Esmerelda quickly shows me where the toiletries are before leading me out to the next door. This time it’s the closet filled with a variety of clothes. Some mine some not and I look at Esmerelda in confusion.
“A man named Gin came in and added to your wardrobe, and then not long after Xei came in and did the same.”
I groan inwardly, “I see. Thank you very much.” I tell her and hope she gets the subtle hint that I would like to be alone.
“Of course. Birsha has planned a celebration tonight. Dinner will be served tonight at seven sharp then I believe you will be going out. I will come at six to help you get ready.” She states with a firm voice and a nod before leaving me alone in this huge room.
Before I know it Mer calls and says she will be coming with Esmerelda to help get me ready. I try to complain but she does her usual pout and whining until I give in with an exasperated sigh. I look around the room and while I should be excited by its beauty, all I can think about is the two men that will also be with us tonight.
“Don’t you think this is a little much?” I ask Mer as I stare at myself in the mirror. I can’t believe she fit me into this barely there little black dress that is made with hardly enough material to cover my privates. It is beautiful though with its spaghetti straps and loose scoop neck that seems to extenuate my neck line. The shiny material is loose and allows plenty of movement even though I know if I move too much my privates won’t be private any longer. “I mean seriously, Mer. I won’t be able to sit down or bend without the entire club seeing my goodies.”She laughs and waves a dismissive hand. “You look hot! You’re normally so put together and business like that your body needs to be released! Don’t you agree Esmerelda?” I laugh when Esmerelda just scowls and Mer rolls her eyes in response. “Besides I’ve watched you
I sigh and decide it's time to get up and just deal with the dress that I’m stuck in for the rest of the evening. Of course my luck decides to plummet because just as I start to stand my ankle twists and I lose balance. Strong arms quickly grab me and straighten me out. Once again, I don’t have to look to know it’s Xei. The jolt of electricity that attacked my body at his touch told me who it was.“If you can’t stand in those stupid shoes maybe you shouldn’t wear them.” Xei grumbles as he steps away.“I can stand just fine, I twisted my ankle, you big oaf.” I huff out and turn to walk around him.He shoots out his arm and stops me in my tracks and when I look up at him I can see a mixture of heat, fire and anger flash across his deep blue eyes. “What the fu
“Ali. Wake up.” I hear Gins' voice calling through my dreamless sleep. “Fuck my head hurts.” I groan as my eyes flutter open and the feeling of a hard wetness beneath me quickly snaps me awake. “What the fuck?” I look up and see Gin sitting next to me using the wall to lean on with a worried expression on his face. “Are you injured?” I quickly inspect him for any major injuries. When I don’t see any I quickly take in my surroundings. The room is dark and the ground is wet. The small amount of light allows me to see the moisture on the floor below us that has gathered. I look towards the right and I see a steel door. I hear a grunt and I quickly realize I never heard Gin’s response. I look back over and see his head is now slumped to the side and his eyes are closed. Shit. “Gin! Wake up.” I call at him and his eyes fly open. I can’t keep the concern out of my voice as I ask, “Where are you injured?” He groans a bit, lifting his head back up. “I’m not, just still groggy from whate
I can feel the heat within me starting to lose control. The anger, the thoughts of the past, being stuck in this nasty place, it’s too much and my fury is getting out of control. I need a release and I need one soon. My mind is full of heated frustration so without fully thinking anything through, I walk up and lift my dress over my head as the water drips from the ceiling of this horrible place we are trapped in. “You infuriating man! You say I belong to you.” I hiss as I reach down and grab his already hard cock. I hear him gasp as I tighten my grip. “Then shut the fuck up, whip out your cock and prove it.” I watch as a mixture of emotions pass through his eyes. Anger, hurt, frustration then finally heat. I smirk and it’s the last straw he grabs me and pushes me against the brick wall. I see the heat in his eyes as his body leans into me and his hands wrap around my throat. “You do belong to me just as I belong to you. I always have.” He slips his fingers down my panties without a
Looking out the window of my beautiful room in the castle that Birsha and Shi have taken us to, I enjoy the beautiful view. It’s been two weeks since we landed in London and decided to leave the establishment. Two weeks since that night being taken by Vex and my mind has been going non stop since we made it back. I’ve done so much digging but I still haven’t been able to find any concrete evidence of Reginald’s involvement in the missing Concealed. I know the deaths are linked to them and wish I could prove it. Everything I come up with seems to be a dead end. Gin is doing most of the research on Vex and letting me focus on Reginald but he isn’t getting anywhere either. With all the work we have put in we are closer to either this Vex guy or Reginald and I feel like I’ve hit a brick wall and I’m stuck. Mer says I should let it go for now and enjoy our time with Shi while we can. I know she’s right but I can’t help this horrible feeling in my gut that something bad is about to happen.
The club is crowded and loud and I can feel the beat of the music against my feet. To the right is a large crowded bar with a mixture of all sorts of people. The dance floor is packed with bodies moving and grinding along each other in rhythm of the music. The lights that flash across the stage are hypnotizing making you want to get lost in the music and I long to be there with those people. Maybe I do need to let loose for a bit. We make our way past the entrance and I run my hands along the deep red velvet walls as we follow Birsha up the stairs to the VIP lounge. We are greeted by two cocktail waitresses who show us to a large round. The table is dressed with black and gold silk with a large glass vase filled with what looks like gold nuggets that glow. It is truly unique and beautiful. We take our seats and I watch Gin take a spot by the exit door and stay brooding as always. I survey the room and see that everything is matching perfectly even the large shelves behind the bar mat
I sit there in silence thinking of all the possible outcomes. Planning on how to handle any situation that may arise from the predicament that I’m in. The girls don’t know of my past or of my parents. Xei is to be my future mate. I’m part vampire and I’m not sure the people in my fathers alliance will accept a half breed. I’m consumed by worry and darkness that the knock at my door startles me so much I jump. With a now shaky voice, I call for whoever it is to enter. Gin strolls in with his perfect dark hair and perfectly pressed suit looking like he just walked off a magazine for Armani. I let my gaze wander down his body taking in the thick muscles that flex softly underneath his suit as he walks closer towards me. He is much like me with how he carries himself. Both born of the Bravata, we know how important impressions are. Everything about him screams calm, collected and dangerous. His dark eyes that naturally narrow just a bit stares at me like he is reading all the secrets I h
It was just another day, Gin and I were wandering around the house playing tag. When we wandered into my dad’s office. We heard dad’s voice coming around the corner and ran to hide under his desk as usual, both of us thinking we were really going to scare him this time. We heard the old door creak open and suddenly the room filled with a sour smell. It smelt as if the room suddenly exploded with mold spores everywhere and I looked at Gin and saw he was holding his nose obviously clearly smelling the same foul smell as me. I was going to crawl out of my hiding space when Gin reached out and stopped me. He pointed toward the sound of the mens feet and I knew what he was trying to say. Dad would be angry if we interrupted work and neither of us wanted to do that. So we both sat there and quietly waited. “We are the hunters of your kind Agni. How dare you accuse me of anything.” I heard a man say with a voice that sounded as slimy as a snake. I heard footsteps again and I immediately kne