Legends of Astræa: Cupid's Arrow Book 1 (Legends of Astræa Series) Read online

  “I am no one’s property,” I complained.

  He changed his authoritarian face for a tender one as his hands framed my face. “Yes, you are mine and will always be mine.” I paid greatly for you to your grandparents, his mind added while his gaze briefly met the Pontuses. How could he have given money to strangers? How could he even consider it?

  “Nicholas those people are not my grandparents,” I explained.

  Everyone’s awkward silence made me pin my gaze on Adelaide who was moving toward us with jubilation printed on her face. Then I realized I had done something really wrong—again. I had reacted impulsively after listening to Nicholas’s mind. I crossed my fingers he wouldn’t notice. Francis cleared his throat. He still held my arm.

  “Are they?” I turned to Francis for explanations.

  His guilty gaze said everything. Meanwhile, Nicholas looked as if he had just won the lottery. Oh, crap. Did he even care that he had been poisoned just a few minutes ago?

  “Why you didn’t tell me?” I accused Francis.

  The silver tattoo, Adelaide’s introductions, her desire to have a grandchild like me. Lord Pontus’s hair and eyes. How could I not have seen the signs? Stupid. Francis sighed and looked me straight in the eye.

  “You are so unpredictable, and God knows I haven’t earned your trust. Honestly, I didn’t know how would you react at the news of having family,” Francis said.

  As shocking and somewhat painful as his confession was, I was not hurt. I was worried. Among all the things happening this crazy night, Ash was the worst. He could come after Gavril, Francis, Demyan, Nicholas, and now even my grandparents. Crap. Crap. Crap. I had to protect them by pushing everyone away—in public.

  “You are right. I don’t trust you. I don’t care about you, and frankly, I think I should stay away from all of you. The farther away, the better,” I said, looking at everyone, including Nicholas.

  Francis inhaled and slowly gave me a disbelieving head shake after my terrible and cruel words. I prayed I hadn’t hurt him too much. I didn’t mean them, but I had to protect him. I had to cut all links, now. Even when that meant I had to break everyone’s hearts.

  He continued with his mind since he didn’t want to draw unwanted attention to our argument. I’ve been trying to protect you even from yourself, he argued.

  Yes, I knew, I wanted to tell him. But by that time, my mind moved onto listening to Nicholas’s mind. He had written a number in a check, a large number, to my grandparents. Wow, the concept almost floored me… Oh my, was that number even dollars? No, they were pounds. He had signed a check to them for one hundred million pounds.

  I had been abandoned at Our Lady of The Stars and grew up thinking I was an orphan, meanwhile my mother was hiding from this circus. Where were my grandparents when all this happened? I felt somewhat used, and I wondered if my mother had gone through the same situation after my father had died. I had enough of this crap. Trust no one. Demyan’s words hit me like a fast truck to a wall.

  “We are so proud of you. Finally, one of our bloodline now the future queen,” she said, trying to pat my shoulder.

  Finally? I jerked away from her.

  “Ailie,” Francis warned me.

  Some grandparents I had. They sold me like a piece of very expensive real estate. What were they going to do with so much money? Buy an island? More jewelry? I looked at my necklace then Francis’s intense stare.

  They cannot have any power over you, if you reject their protection. We can fix this, Francis’s mind told me. He was still trying to help me despite my rude cruel words before. And it wasn’t helping with my consciousness.

  I had to leave the palace. Ash was still there, lurking, waiting. Waiting for something… I didn’t know what. I couldn’t afford to waste time anymore. The longer I stayed, the more danger for Nicholas, Francis, and hopefully not Gavril. Even Demyan was in terrible danger now. I had to cut all my links to them, including my grandparents, who had to return that check to keep safe. Now I understood my mother’s choices.

  “I will not be manipulated or forced. Do you hear me?” I said to Nicholas. All of this was so infuriating, and I knew Francis told me to take it easy, but my fingers ignited. “And you.” I pointed at my grandparents.

  Some light bulbs along the row of grand chandeliers exploded, sparks flying everywhere. Shouts and gasps erupted among the audience. I realized too late I had to tone down my emotions and energy.

  Our audience looked at me with an admixture of some kind of wonderment, disgust, and fear—except for Francis who stood by me, twitching his eye, waiting for the outcome. He had accepted I wasn’t going back on this. Well, he was wrong. I held back the power in my hands. I breathed in and out, willing myself to calm.

  I wondered then if that was what Ash wanted, what he was waiting for. To see me lose control in front of everyone. I’ll bet that would have made his case against me. Perhaps he was waiting to prove I was the harbinger of doom, just like the Count had accused me of. Then he could have me all for himself. Ha, good luck with that, buddy.

  I was in control now.

  “Shame on you!” I took the earrings and necklace off. “Here, these are yours. You will need them after you return that check.” I slammed them into Adelaide’s trembling and confused hands.

  “And the answer is no,” I declared, giving Nicholas back his grand and very beautiful ring. In less than a nanosecond, I caught Demyan grinning at my reaction while Francis speculated with wide eyes.

  Nicholas stared, not knowing what to do or what to say.

  I inhaled. Whatever the reason Ash wasn’t attacking me, I had to do what should be done. I was protecting them. I still didn’t know why was Ash holding back. Was he waiting for the primordials to kill me?

  So be it.

  I was not going to be afraid.

  Chapter 46

  “Wait,” Nicholas shouted as I marched away. I didn’t stop. If he wanted sex, he knew my price. Not that he would get any of it if all came to plan. It took him barely ten seconds to catch up with me.

  “Have you forgotten our agreement?”

  Nope. How could I? “No. Release Gavril first, or I’ll never say yes.” I gave him my ultimatum.

  He escorted me all the way to my room. Behind us were Reginald and four circus guards. Francis and Demyan tagged closely behind them.

  “Reginald, bring our prisoner,” he ordered as we reached my room.

  Reginald bowed, like a good royal guard in circus uniform. The guards opened my doors and we all came into my antechamber.

  “Ailie, you do not have to do this.” Francis spoke through his teeth with forced restraint.

  I sighed, feeling terribly guilty. Yes, I did. Demyan read my decision on my face. I was not going back. He nodded back at me, in contrast to Francis’s stiff neck and clenched jaw. Gratefully, Demyan was still going through with my plan. Good.

  I turned to watch the clock, and Francis and Demyan followed my gaze. I had timed everything too long. It was barely ten thirty. The party had ended, and the French rodents were not going to be sufficient emergency. Crap. I wished Demyan could read my mind.

  Gavril came in, accompanied by two guards and Reginald. He looked surprised at the private gathering. Then he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes on me.

  Now, what are you scheming?

  What you always wanted. I will have sex with Nicholas in exchange for your freedom, I explained.

  His eyes opened, and his arms came undone. I had surprised him, judging from the silence in my head.

  Nicholas pulled his fancy gold-plated phone out of his pocket. His fingers moved with a speed anyone with a smartphone would be jealous about. He raised his gaze on me then turned to Gavril.

  “Lady Pearson has convinced me to release you. The gods just know why I have agreed, since you are not only our enemy but have killed two of our own inside my house. Your release will be immediate. However, I wish not to ever hear from you. If I do, believe me there shall be no
second chances. Are we clear?”

  “Very clear.” Gavril spoke clearly, and he stood straight facing me. I could tell he was as emotional as I was about this. His chest was heaving with anticipation. He looked at me and gave me a sad smile. This was goodbye for us. He felt it too.

  The electronic collar popped open, and the circus guards quickly pointed their swords at Gavril. With his gaze on me, he pulled the collar away, and dropped it.

  “This is for you.” Francis handed him a phone, stealing from our frantic emotions.

  Gavril hugged him with unashamed and clingy fondness. Francis, who was more startled than anyone in the room, held his hands up in the air, unwilling to hug him back. But that was just Francis.

  “Thank you, Francis,” he said, unbinding poor Francis from his embarrassing public display of affection.

  Francis cleared his throat and stood straight and formal after that. Then, we were back to a sad and heartbreaking goodbye. On the other hand, I was glad for Gavril. Nobody understood how much his freedom meant to him better than I did. He was a wolf for God’s sake. He needed the forest, and I needed him as far away as possible from Ash. It was bad enough how I had already attracted too much attention toward Gavril.

  “Hasta la pasta, princess.” It was the typical thing Gavril would say at the end of his visit at St. Mary’s, as a polite request for me to sneak his favorite spaghetti and meatballs to my room on his next visit. I loved him more for it.

  “Until we see the stars again, Cornelius.” I voiced his second given name that he hated, but in truth, it was an endearment. And on the rare occasions when weather allowed it, we would sit outside my small window at St. Mary’s and gaze at the stars. This was our traditional farewell that for us was full of history. God, I was going to miss him—so much.

  My job is done now. It was Gavril’s way to dilute the unsaid words and feelings. This was goodbye.

  A big knot threatened to asphyxiate me. I guess we weren’t really prepared to say goodbye. He was my big brother. My family. Will I see you again?

  Never say never… He struggled clumsily, putting the phone Francis had just given him into his pocket, but I knew him better than to say he was emotionally nervous. At least he would have a way of reaching me with Francis’s phone.

  Then I thought it would be best if he went out through my balcony. Five hundred Strzyga were still downstairs, ready to lynch him. Not a good idea.

  “It is better if you go out from my window,” I suggested.

  He nodded and marched outside, and without a sound, he disappeared. I was going to miss his comebacks and jokes. I was going to miss him so very, very much. However, it was better that he was out of danger, away from the circus and my monkeys. Last time I checked, werewolves didn’t have nine lives. I sighed and wiped my pent-up tears. One gone, two to go now. Francis and Nicholas.

  “Now, if you excuse us, I have a very private matter to discuss with Lady Pearson,” Nicholas said. His voice was firm, but something was off. He sounded harsher.

  I exchanged glances with Demyan, and my gaze discretely pointed at the priceless, solid gold wall clock. Fifteen minutes before eleven. Good. No, not good. Panic assaulted me. I didn’t know which was better or worse that I was going to leave the palace very soon, or that I had very little time left to be with Nicholas.

  “Ailie, there is no need for this.” Francis resisted leaving the room, but I turned my face away from him, feeling somewhat terrible for not trusting him enough to make things better.

  Nicholas escorted him in tense silence all the way to the doors and locked them from inside. Then we were alone. I sighed. In a blink, Nicholas moved unnaturally fast back to me. He looked at my dress with distaste.

  “This cannot wait any longer,” he said to me, manfully ripping apart the gown Demyan had given me with one hand movement.

  I gasped at the easiness with which he had done it. I suddently felt scared and unsafe.

  “Maybe we should discuss the syringe first?” I seriously wanted him to sit down with me and discuss this new development. Also, I was eluding what I had agreed to do by making time—literally wasting fifteen minutes.

  He shook his head with amusement printed on his face as I covered my chest, feeling half naked. Crap.

  “What about dinner first?” I asked, panicking.

  He grinned at me as he lifted me up, scooping me by my hips, leaving me no choice but to hold his waist with my legs.

  Once he had me under his control, his lips found mine. I expected him to ravage them after his show of testosterone, but he kissed me gently instead. I came undone and forgot about my fear. Our kiss heated. That was when we lost control, twirling me in his arms while I was undoing his royal jacket.

  In a matter of seconds, he was left shirtless. I slowly witnessed how his body shifted under my hands. Out of his back, where his shoulder plates met, two small bones protruded and grew long and pointy, releasing his Strzyga wings. They were the most fascinating and beautiful things I had ever seen. They were shimmering blue and gold. I caressed them carefully. His eyes met mine and smiled. God, he was so incredibly sexy.

  “I love you, Ailie,” he whispered, ending his words with another kiss. The long, soft kiss was the type of kiss that said I love you.

  I knew that in his arms I would be loved always, no matter what. I rejected marrying him, and he never stopped loving me. My spirit swelled with joy. He loved me. He truly loved me… Our souls connected at that moment. Our chests illuminated with the power of the golden arrow.

  My fears were gone. Whether I was about to betray him or not, it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore. I felt blissfully happy and complete in his embrace, until the taste of salty iron in my mouth shook me from my daydream.

  We both stopped at the same time, realizing the odd taste in our mouths. For the very first time, I noticed his irises were slim like those of a cat. I witnessed his fangs protrude out and over his voluptuous lower lip. Fangs! Holy mother of… Sexy fangs at that, when he smiled wickedly. I disregarded the thought of fangs by wrapping my fingers in his hair to pull him close again and pushed myself to him. I couldn’t think of anything except him touching me.

  Sure, his fangs were a bit shocking, but we continued kissing, even when the sharpness of his fangs had cut a few small punctures into my lips. We let the salt and iron taste blend into our kiss as the fire blossomed between us and urgency coursed through our bodies.

  I could tell Nicholas had a matching desire, but his was growing in a feral way, sending alarms to the reasoning part of my brain that at that moment in time had been shoved under the bed with the dust bunnies. My common sense had gone out the window, on vacation without me. They rang of danger, yet I was reluctant to hear the warning.

  With another breathless kiss, I discovered I was lying on my bed. His kisses were wild, dark, and deep, and I couldn’t think at all. I tingled. I have never been kissed like that before, like taking every part of me, making me forget even my name.

  He broke away uneasy and visibly panting. His breathing was heavy, and his gaze locked onto my pulsing neck. He ran his fingers alongside my face. I gasped as I felt his seductive ice-cold hand. That should have stopped me, but it didn’t. I wanted this more than anything.

  “I desire you in more ways than you can imagine,” he whispered.

  I arched myself closer to him as he gently kissed my lower jaw, tracing his kisses slowly until I felt the pressure of his voluptuous kiss on my neck.

  He pressed his hard-muscled body against mine and unfolded his wings wide open like a large umbrella that trapped me inside against the bed, making me his very willing prisoner. All I kept thinking was about being his. His mind ran its lusty path to the promised Nirvana. I closed my eyes and watched the graphic mental images of him making love to me and pulling me toward him. God, he was sexy.

  I felt a twinge and a fast throbbing caused by his sharp pointy fangs into my jugular vein. I gasped with ultimate pleasure, feeling a delicious numbi
ng dizziness that came right after. I wanted him even more, if that was even possible. His bite was more than a narcotic, and his wet lips and tongue searched my breasts. His mouth was the only warm part of him against my skin and the feel of his tongue and teeth sent electricity through me to the point of ecstasy. With expert touch, he covered my flesh with hard and hungry kisses.

  When I lifted my head, my lips felt plump swollen, and my eyes heavily lidded with pleasure. He lifted my hips against his, and I moaned with abashing need. He wanted me; it was all written all over him. I pulled him toward my neck again, I wanted him to never stop what he was doing. It was wondrous. I felt him moan in desperation as he bit me again, exciting his lust and intensifying my sexual desire.

  Soon, the feeling of spinning made me gasp for air. I became aware of my heartbeat thudding loud inside my chest and head. A rare moment of lucidity amidst of our uncontrolled lust brought my reasoning back. I realized then that I was feeling dizzy from the loss of blood and proper oxygen to my brain. It had been my blood when our tongues met. He tasted me, drank me, and practically breathed me. My arms felt limp and so did my legs. I had lost all my strength.

  “Nicholas, please, we need to stop. STOP,” I ordered him. I tried to stop him—us.

  He smirked, still wrapped up in our lusty and dangerous game, witless that there was something very wrong.

  I thought of the raw image of the creature I had freed, Marcum—a monster. A vampire. I remembered him sucking the blood of the French rodents with his large pointy fangs. My survival instinct took over, and I fought him one last time, but it was a laborious task because I was struggling to keep him off me, and he was mighty strong.

  “Please, don’t do this to me. Please STOP. You are killing me!” I screamed the words and faintly hit his chest several times.

  It was useless. I felt so cold. The finality of my existence was reaching its end. I was going to die, and I couldn’t do anything about it. He reached for my waist again and held me in his arms. He nuzzled my hair and my neck. Dismayingly, he found his way in the dark night. He kissed me again and again, drawing more blood. I was done. I had no command over my reason. He was an addiction, a drug.