I stretched high, joints popping loudly as I yawned. Between Dimitrius and my new relationship, our questioning the captive, and verifying the information the prick gave we hardly had a minute to just breathe.
On the bright side, that mage gave us two possible locations to check out. On the downside, we still didn’t have any truth potion to be sure he wasn’t lying out his ass. Unfortunately that meant recon from Dimitrius’s people was needed before we could safely go in. More time wasted that kids had to suffer, God I hated the waiting period.
One of the locations had been cleared as legit just this morning and hopefully by the time we finished taking it out the second one would be too. If I had to wait another week before going after those monsters I’d go crazy.
In the bad column of things happening, our captive had no clue who exactly hired him or why. Because of course he didn’t. Why would you bother asking questions when you take a shady job from a shadow master to kidnap and guard children?
Disgust with my own people rose before I batted it to the side. It shouldn’t surprise me, having magic didn’t suddenly make you a good person. Greed was still the heart of all evil, both in the prosaic and magical communities.
Sneaking a glance in the mirror, I eyed my new attire critically for a distraction. When Dimitrius and I agreed to go after this base together he’d taken one look at my old leather and flatly refused to agree until I’d agreed to a wardrobe upgrade.
At first I’d argued, after all it worked fine up til now, but he’d easily shut the conversation down by reminding me of the injuries I’d gotten on our last hit. They were healed now, but the concern in his eyes had melted me to the bone.
It was weird, having someone who cared about me enough to do what they could to ensure my brains stayed inside my skull. Was this what it was like to have someone who worried about you?
I like it.
Trailing my fingers over the cool, skin-tight leather, I wondered at it. Durable enough to offer protection, baggy enough to hide my infinity bag that contained all weapons aside from the knives strapped to my hips, and it even had pockets for the vials of poisons and potions I’d made just for situations like this.
I may not be able to cast offensive magic, but I was far from helpless and feeling the soul deep terror of seeing Dimitrius nearly fall was enough to kick my ass into gear. Any poison or healing poultice I may need was safely strapped against my chest, let someone try to hurt him again. If someone so much as breathed near him wrong I’d slaughter it.
There would be no repeats.
Testing the sheath for my knives one last time, I nodded in satisfaction, only to nearly jump when arms settled around my waist from behind. Thankfully I recognized the hands before I lashed out, looking over my shoulder at Dimitrius.
“Like what you see back there?”
A flicker of desire lit his eyes as he nodded, hands drifting to rest on mine over my stomach, using the hold to tug me tighter to him. “Most definitely, but that is not why I am here. You told me earlier you wished to speak to be in private before we left?”
I did and with everything going on, I was glad he’d remembered because I certainly hadn’t. Turning to face him, I trailed a hand over his cheek, reveling in the light scratchiness of his stubble as I took him in. He wore a matching leather set to mine, the dark color offsetting his gold hair and eyes beautifully as it clung to him like a second skin.
Shaking aside the instant flash of lust, I asked. “Have you fed recently?”
He was strong using the indirect feeding method despite it being the lesser food source, but ever since the day he’d pulled from me I’d felt the difference. Where before his power lingered under the surface, now it pulsed off in waves anytime he didn’t keep it in check.
Seeing how much stronger he was like this, I could only hope he’d choose to feed from me more often. We were going up against some mean players in this game–as proven by the attack on his house before–and the more power he had, the better I’d feel.
He grimaced, shifting slightly in place. “Not since I fed from you.”
Reluctance oozed from his tone and I understood it, though there was an easy way around that disgust. “You could just feed from me again, you know?” My hand on his cheek stroked idly, offering comfort as I continued. “I don’t mind and knowing that you’ll be stronger–and heal faster–sets me at ease.”
Some of the tension to his shoulders faded as he sighed. “I briefly considered requesting that, but what if draining you so often has negative effects on your health? I do not wish to tax you in such a way.”
I appreciate the worry, though if memory served tired was definitely not what I’d be after he fed. If anything I’d be energized–so horny I couldn’t see straight, but energized all the same–and with the battle ahead I’d have an easy outlet for that.
Lowering his head for a chaste kiss, barely a brush of lips, I reassured while hovering not a centimeter off. “I’m perfectly fine, I promise you. We can even test how much you can take from me after we finish today. That way we know my limitations, sound good?”
He lowered his head in answer, hands settling on my waist to pull me closer as his lips caressed mine. My arms slid around his neck on instinct as I melted against him, reveling in the steady pressure. Then, his tongue flicked out to slip between my lips and the power that was unequally him filled the air around us.
The bond snapped back into place, his contentment sliding against my consciousness as my hands stayed firmly planted in his hair. The locks were soft and lush, wrapping my fingers as I sank into the kiss and the heady warmth wrapping around us.
His power stroked southward, sliding to rub between my thighs as I shuddered, my moan swallowed in the next second as he breathed in my arousal. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to rub against him like a cat in heat as the pulsing picked up with every flick and suck of his tongue.
Through the overwhelming, mind blowing heat threatening to send me hurtling over the edge of climax with nothing but his kiss and power, the bond pulsed with his happiness, his safety. I echoed it with my lethargic joy, doing my best to not send the arousal down the line lest he think I was pressuring him.
One of his hands drifted down to my behind, squeezing as I sucked in a breath and bucked involuntarily. He did it again, the energy transfer stopping even as his fingers kneaded the skin of my right cheek. Pulling away from his mouth with a gasp, my cheek thumped into shoulder as I muttered.
“Ease up on the ass grab, I’m struggling not to rut against you like a dog as it is.” My voice came out strained, the undertone of lust clear as his hand paused. A long beat of silence came before he stroked the flesh, not squeezing again.
His mouth brushed my ear as he breathed huskily. “When we return, if you are still amorous, I would not be adverse to such a thing. While I make no promises for how far I will go, I…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I wish to feel you in this way, with no leather to blockade me.”
Woo-boy, suddenly later sounded a good bit too damn far away.
“Can’t wait.” I choked out, forcing down my hormones that all but screamed to turn later into now. We had kids to save, my hormones could wait. As the insistent arousal eased back, the last dregs of the bond lingered and I soaked it in.
Even without the shot of pure adrenaline his feeding gave me, this bond would be enough to make me encourage him to feed more often.
Though, if he did have to feed from someone else I might get a tad possessive now that I knew what it felt like. The thought of someone other than me feeling him like this, having this quiet closeness?
Nope, I did not like that.
I didn’t censor the flash of possessiveness quick enough, but Dimitrius only sent amusement back through the bond. Not an ounce of irritation or nerves came either, instead pleasure arched between us. He liked feeling my possessiveness, which was good because apparently with him I was going to be far more so than any of my casual lovers.
It made sense, I supposed. All the ones before him hadn’t been mine. There for some quick sexual tension relief, and gone the next day. Dimitrius was different, which meant I’d have a host of things to learn while we were together.
I couldn’t wait, though if that possessiveness got any bigger I’d need to handle it. Some was fine, but too much wasn’t healthy…
By the time he pulled away completely the pulse between my legs was all but gone, leaving me clear headed as I grinned up at him. “I think I got a buzz from that.”
No doubt about it, I was border lining high with no desire to come down. Dimitrius Valentine, my drug of choice. Somehow I doubt those ‘say no to drugs’ campaigns ever thought to warn kids that sometimes the most addicting drugs came with a heartbeat.
The bond faded back as amusement flashed through his eyes. “I am glad, though you seem to find the bond while feeding more enjoyable than the after-effects.”
I shrugged, lacing our arms as Dimitrius led us to the car waiting for us. No use in denying that since he’d felt for himself just how much I enjoyed it and besides, I didn’t want to deny it.
“I do, arousal is easy to come by and good fun, but feeling you like that? That’s something I’ve only experienced with you and–if I have my way–I’ll never have it with anyone else. Depending on how much energy you need regularly I must just volunteer myself as tribute to be the one you feed off of all the time.”
I shrugged, hoping the heat crawling up my cheeks wasn’t visible as I continued. “I don’t like the thought of anyone else getting to have that with you–as you felt earlier–especially since you wouldn’t like it.”
Dimitrius nodded, bringing my hand up to his lips and brushing a kiss against my knuckles. “Should it not be taxing to you, I will happily agree to this plan. Other than the two times I have indulged in you, feeding has not been an enjoyable sensation.” He paused, tucking me closer into his side as we settled in the car. “You are the only person I have ever found pleasure in the act with.”
Flutters burst through my like hoards of butterflies before I swallowed them down. He’d better watch saying things like that, I’d be a melted puddle at his feet in no time otherwise. Leaning my head on his shoulder, I hummed.
“I’m glad it’s better with me. Once we get back we can test how much you can pull comfortably. If the only downside is the mildly uncomfortable arousal then I’m more than happy to pay that price.”
Especially if it meant he’d be running at top strength. Images from before, his acid coated chest and the hole I could almost see through, slashed across my mind and I didn’t stop the shudder in time. Never again.
His healing was already vastly improved from feeding a week ago and I’d just given him another dose. Even if I didn’t love the bond from feeding, I’d happily offer myself daily if it meant he stayed strong and healthy.
“Julian…”
His soothing tone jerked me back to the present and I winced. I’d done well to mask my fear over the past few weeks, but Dimitrius was old enough to know what signs to look for. “Sorry.” I muttered, looking away.
He shook his head, raising his hand to gently guide my face back to his where he placed a tender kiss to my forehead. “No apologies are needed, my darling. Had our positions been reversed, I would be just as unsettled. It was foolish of me to underestimate the mages. I should have waited until you were at my side and I paid for my mistake. I will not make it twice, and now I am well fed to a degree I have not been in centuries. I will be fine, and so will you.”
I believed him and after a quick kiss to his cheek, I let some of the bubbling worry go. The car pulled up a street over from our destination, signaling the end of our little moment and I pulled away with reluctance.
Later, I reminded myself.
Glancing out the window at the deserted street, I took in the building we’d be storming. It was run down with metal walls and high, broken windows near the roof. A rusted sign nearby announced it as an old winery, long closed down, and with a critical glance over it, I grimaced.
That was a lot of room to cover and the odds of there being more guards was high. We’d have to be careful. Thankfully, this place wasn’t far from Dimitrius’s house. In comparison to the place I’d saved Tina from–which had been hours away–this was fifteen minutes.
With any luck we could finish what we came here to do and head back with plenty of time to explore just how far he wanted to go. I hadn’t expected him to already want to explore, but maybe I should have. He wasn’t the sort to hesitate once he knew what he wanted and I was more than happy to leave the gas, wheel and brakes of this car in his hands.
If he just wanted to test how far he could go, that was fine. I could always finish myself afterward if he wasn’t comfortable. Long as I got a cuddle out of it and maybe some more hair petting with him reading I’d call it a good trade.
Dimitrius’s hand on my shoulder pulled me from those thoughts, his lips twisted into scowl as he too took in the building. “It is good I fed before we came, with some luck the guards will be human and I can control their minds.”
I hummed, following as he slunk closer. “And if not my celare should be enough to give us an edge.” While there was a good chance at least one of the guards was magical–and potentially immune–it would work against any lesser mages or humans around. I’d take any advantage I could.
Once we were a few years away from the building, I pulled him in for one last kiss, before stepping back and focusing my magic outward. It surged, saturating the air around us until a blanket formed. Settling it over each of us in turn, I whispered. “Celare.”
Dimitrius’s image flickered, only staying mostly solid thanks to it being my magic over him. Once the spell settled in, I nodded for him to lead, my hands drifting to my knives on instinct.
One of the things he’d insisted on when we’d planned this out was that he would be first to step into the rooms, on the off chance it was trapped. Any arguments I’d had fell flat at his reminder that he could heal from a kiss and I could not.
I’d agreed, though reluctantly. Now, as he breezed in front of me, I realized the unintended bonus of this. I got to watch his ass as he walked. It really was something, but I shook the hormone drenched thoughts to the side.
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With him in front of me I could also slap a shield in place in a heartbeat if he needed. See? Not all my reasoning was centered on being able to stare at the fine buttocks uninterrupted. Just…most of it.
A clatter from inside swiveled my attention to the present as we snuck into the open are of the old winery. Three guards meandered around, all human and all bored, as shown by the one who’d fallen out of his chair after most likely falling asleep. Least that explained the noise.
Dimitrius closed his eyes, arms raising as his power threaded through the air. Even from here I could see the glazed look take over the guards’ faces as they each stood up, moving like puppets on strings as they knelt before slamming their heads into the ground in perfect unison.
When Dimitrius’s power released them, they slumped unconscious to the ground and I bit back a smile. It would never get old, seeing him flex his power.
He led the way further into the building, until we came to a stairwell going down into what I assumed was the cellar. With magic at the ready in case of an ambush, we eased down the steps. They creaked ominously, but no one came running.
The walls we passed had little cubby holes lining them, too big for wine bottles but too small for barrels. Something about them–about the feeling to the air–made my skin crawl. The further in we went, the louder my instincts screamed until they all but drowned out everything else.
Something was wrong here. Every cell down to my last speck of hair said we needed to hurry and get out of here. Before I could nudge Dimitrius on though a sound cut through the silence, sweeping ice down my spine.
A soul withering scream of a child.
And then, like a butterfly effect, dozens of terrified cries sounded from the cubbies around us, echoing off the walls of my mind. Not all of the holes were full–thank God–but as I looked closer, counting the sheer amount of children crammed into the small space, my stomach rolled.
Too many, there were too many. Dozens of wide, terrified eyes looked through us, the horrors they’d seen and lived clear as an unholy rage scraped its claws down my spine. The ones behind this would pay. I would gut them, put them on spikes for the world to see.
I would massacre them to the last and make a clear message to any who’d try similar what would happen if I got my hands on them.
Fighting past the blood lust flooding me, I fisted a hand in Dimitrius’s shirt as his power fluctuated wildly and it was only when I looked around his frame that I knew the reason.
A small, still body sat curled against the far wall. It was covered in a sheet, but even from here I knew, the child was long cold. Dimitrius’s power pushed out like a geyser and the kids flinched back, feeling it even as they couldn’t see its source.
He was one second from detonation and right now I couldn’t let him blow. Once we had the guards in a room away from the children, then he could let it all loose on the sacks of shit, but not here. Not when we were surrounded by already terrified kids.
Stroking over his back, I soothed while fighting back my own rage chomping at the bars of its cage. “We need to keep moving. They’ll be safe, my adored, but only after we deal with their captors. We’ll bring them home, get them washed and find their families after this, but you have to stay with me.”
I dropped a kiss between his shoulder blades, hoping to soothe some of the raging storm in him. His jaw tensed to granite and he nodded, forcing his eyes away from the too still form.
Before we could move forward again, another scream shook the walls around us. The same one from before.
In my next heartbeat he was a blur, running down the path with me right on his heels. Magic pulsed to my fingers, the shield ready just in case as we raced into the room the screams had come from.
Only to freeze at the horrific sight waiting for us.
No less than half a dozen guards surrounded a boy, the tiny body nearly invisible in the middle of their grasping limbs. Through the buzzing in my ears, the sound of a zipper sounded as one of the guards stepped back with a satisfied smile.
Only for it to fall when he locked eyes on us. He didn’t have a chance to do more than open his mouth to warn the others before pure power soaked the room. Wrath pulsed off it, sending sparks of pain along my nerves much like hundreds of needles pricking my nerve endings.
The power skipped over me, instead wrapping tightly around the guards. Most of them froze, eyes wide and mouths open as no noise came from them. The familiar haze of Dimitrius’s power forced their lids down as their will crumpled under it.
Only one stayed unaffected, the one who could see us, and without hesitation I lunged. My knives tore through his skin in a shower of blood that swept feral triumph through me. Twisting it with vindictive glee, the illusion around Dimitrius and I dropping as my magic fluxed wildly in rage.
I didn’t care, it looked like most of the guards were here and if any other ones came we’d slaughter them next. Sinking my blade inches away from his heart, I leaned in and hissed. “That will be the last pleasure you feel in this life, make no mistake. I hope it was worth it, because I’m going to turn the rest of your pathetic fucking existence into hell on Earth.”
Blood bubbled up between his lips, eyes wide with fear as I pushed the spelled gem I prepared before coming into his skin. It latched on, neutralizing his magic instantly as he tried and failed to get away from my grip.
My magic pulsed, the scent of burnt skin coiling through the room as the gem melded with him. His scream echoed like music to my ears and with him neutralized, I was free to focus on more important matters.
Throwing him with all my might into the wall, I relished in the CRACK of bones, before he slumped bonelessly to the ground. Sheathing my knives, I turned to watch as Dimitrius handled the rest of them. His frame shook with the restraint of not killing them and after a minute of silence, I spoke. “Just kill them.”
He grimaced, the aching urge to do just that clear in his eyes even as he shook his head. “We need information.”
I cut him off. “The idiot with the gem on his chest should be more than enough and we have the three guards at the front. Besides, after seeing what they did, what they were about to do?” My eyes flicked to the boy still cowering in the middle of the frozen guards, before I scowled, an icy ball tightening in my gut.
“If you don’t, I will.”
That was all the encouragement Dimitrius needed.
Honey eyes darkened to burnt amber before he stretched his arms out, the air crackling with tension as waves of invisible pressure rolled from him. It washed over me, the pin pricks only lasting a second before they reached further, out towards the edges of the property.
After a few beats of silence, I watched as a line of humans walked in, eyes glazed like their friends. No mages came running so it was safe to assume there were no others, thankfully, and with that I turned my attention to the scene playing out.
Dimitrius snapped his hand up in a sharp motion and the guards surrounding the boy backed away in sync, all of them marching mechanically to the opposite corner of the room. Once they were out of the way, I got my first good look at the boy on the table.
And nearly lost my lunch.
Filthy blond hair was all but hidden under the grime coating him, not a scrap of clothing covered him and a web of scars covered his face. Some fresh, some old, and when terrified gold orbs opened to meet mine, it was like a kick to the gut.
Dear Lord, was this what Dimitrius went through? Being at the nonexistent mercy of the most deranged and evil types of human that walked the Earth?
Rage and disgust battled, surging up in my throat before I swallowed them back. That boy didn’t need my pity and neither did Dimitrius. No, what they needed was for me to be calm and steady. Stealing a glance at the shaking form of my partner, I grimaced.
Suffice to say he wasn’t going to be able to soothe the boy, not when he was holding onto his temper by the skin of his teeth. Which left it to me. Taking a deep breath, I forced the killing rage back and offered what I hoped was a comforting smile.
“It’s alright, we’re getting you out of here and you’ll never have to see any of these people again.”
Golden eyes filled with tears, all but glowing as the boy processed my words, hope and fear mixing as he sucked in a shaky breath and hiccupped.
“Please…” Even his voice was small, barely making it to my ears as he sobbed. “Please, don’t let them touch me again.”
Like a fist gripping my heart, his words squeezed until no air remained in my lungs. I never would have let them get at the kid again, but hearing the desperation–the terror–cemented it. I would die before anyone hurt him again.
Settling my face into what I prayed wasn’t a death glare, I nodded. “They won’t. See that man there?” I pointed to Dimitrius and the boy swiveled to face him. When he nodded hesitantly, I continued. “He’s got a big house that we’re going to go to. You and all the others will be coming with us and once we get there, we’ll find your family. Then you’re going home. You understand me? You’re safe now.”
It took a minute before slowly, the boy’s body dissolved into sobs, the noise ripping at my heart strings as he gasped out. “I don’t have a home. Mama-.” He choked, shaking increasing a notch. “Mama gave me to them.”
Everything stopped. The sound of the guard’s breathing, the sniffles from down the hall, everything faded to the rushing of blood in my ears. Good God, this kid was a mix of Dimitrius and I in the worst of ways.
Swallowing past the knot in my throat, I took a slow breath and offered, careful to keep my hands at my sides. “Then your home will be with us from now on. His house is a sanctuary for your people, somewhere safe to just live.”
I paused, ducking enough to meet the boy’s eyes. “Do you know what sanctuary means?”
He nodded after a long second, hope climbing to the forefront as he spoke. “It means a safe place, right?”
The fragile light in his eyes tugged a smile across my lips and I nodded. “Yup, that’s exactly right. Once we get you and the others out of here; that will be your home.” I gestured to myself and joked lightly. “Trust me, if he can take in someone weird as me, you’ll fit in fine.”
The boy uncurled, flinching lightly as he did. Now that I got a better look at the damage, I doubted he’d be able to walk out of here. Moving closer with slow, clear movements, I removed my outer jacket and offered it.
“Here, it’s not much but it’s something until we get you back.”
He hesitated, eyeing me warily before taking the offered leather. Wrapping it around himself, he sighed, sinking into it as another wince came. Not for the first time, I wished I could heal…
Forcing aside my usual frustrations with my magic’s limitations, I offered. “I can carry you if you’d allow it?”
The boy bit his lips, again eyeing me warily, until Dimitrius spoke up, sounding calmer than he actually was. “I know why you are afraid and you have right to be, but she is not affected by your touch as others are. She is immune.”
Finally, the boy nodded and lifted small arms up. They shook, all but vibrating from his fear as I gently scooped him up. Once he was safely perched on my hip, leather covering as much as it could, I nodded to Dimitrius.
“I’m going to start getting the kids free and call the house to send more cars. There are too many of them to fit in one.”
He nodded, the motion sharp and jerky as his eyes stayed locked on the bodies he controlled. Knowing what he was going to do, I turned on heel and left. The boy had already seen enough hell, he didn’t need to see the brutal dispatch of his captors.
Once we stood next to the others, their whimpers grinding like glass into my heart, I squared my shoulders and looked to the boy. “Can I set you down while I get the others out?”
He nodded, settling further into my leather when I put him down as far from the not moving body as I could.
Turning to the rest, I sighed when they shrank back, whimpers increasing as I cooed. “I know, I know. Everything is scary right now, but I’m here to get you out. You’re all going home and never seeing this place again.”
Because I was definitely burning this place to the ground. Screw not having Exitium magic, I’ll call Vladimir in from Russia. Once he heard what was happening here he’d have no problem decimating the place for me, hell knowing him he’d enjoy it too.
Shaking the thoughts to the side, I focused on freeing the kids. Each one I set loose huddled around the boy until only one girl remained. She hid toward the back of the cubby hole and when I reached in to grab her, she flinched.
I didn’t have time to pull my hand back before tiny teeth sank into my palm, a pulse of pain pulling a hiss from me even as I breathed through the spark of instinctual irritation. Gently easing the girl out, I soothed. “The second I get you out of there I’ll happily not touch you again, but you gotta work with me until then.”
Either she understood or was too scared to fight more because she stayed absolutely still, her teeth still buried in my palm as I eased her out. The second her feet hit the floor she hid with the others and I shook my hand out with a grimace.
Can’t say I blamed her, I would have done the same thing.
Doing a final check to ensure all the kids were accounted for, I nodded. “Alright, let’s get you all settled in the car. After that I need to get my partner back there and we can go.”
The children nodded, giving me a wide berth as I picked up the boy again and led them out. The second my foot hit level ground again, a body hurtled my way. I barely had time to twist out of the way before one of the human guards Dimitrius had knocked out swung at me.
Dodging with a kid in my arms was hell, but I managed, taking some of the hits as I tried to put some space between us. When that failed, I snarled, swinging my elbow out to connect with his jaw.
The crack of bones shattering sounded through the room before the guard stumbled back with me right on his heels. Not giving him a chance to recover, I lashed out, my nails raking along his face until they sank into his eyes.
Ignoring the gross slide of blood and other things between my fingers, I shoved until he was on the ground, screams echoing through the building. The other two guards were still out of it, thankfully, and I bent to hiss.
“You had better have useful information or you’ll be the first I kill.” Then I cold cocked him, nodding in satisfaction when he slumped to the ground. Taking a slow breath, I looked to the boy now watching me with wide, awe-filled eyes.
“Did he manage to hit you?” I asked, and the boy shook his head, burying his face partially into my shoulder as he did.
“No…” He trailed off, worry inching forward. “But he hit you.”
I shrugged, not bothered by that as I gestured for the other kids to come toward the car outside. “Yeah well, that’s a common theme in my life. It’s weird when someone’s not trying to hit me. You get used to it after awhile. Besides it’s more important that he didn’t hit you. Now let’s get you out of here.”
The sun made most of them wince, the boy in my arms huddling further in my arms to hide from it, while the others stared in awe, probably having assumed they wouldn’t see it again. The thought twisted my heart, before I shook the pity to the side.
Get the kids out; that’s useful to them.
Repeating that like a mantra, I set the boy into the car before nodding to the rest. “Everyone get loaded in here for now and lock the doors until we come back. Scream if anyone approaches.”
Before I could go back inside, the boy clasped my hand, worry clear as he tugged. “Are you going to be okay with the mean men?”
Oh he was just trying to melt me wasn’t he?
Forcing the urge to coo back, I nodded. “Yup, worry about yourself for now.” A second pair of hands tugged on my shirt before I could turn, this time one of the girl’s locking eyes on me as she pleaded.
“Please, don’t leave Mary behind.”
There was another kid in there?!
Kneeling to be at her level, I questioned gently. “Where is Mary? I won’t leave a single one of you in this hell.”
A round of sniffles and sobs came from the gaggle of children before the girl shook her head, eyes filling with tears. “Mary was with us, she’s…She’s gone.”
Like a brick, the truth hit. Mary was the child we’d been too late to save.
Forcing back the urge to cry with them, I nodded. “I’ll go and get her now. She won’t be left in this place either.”
I hadn’t planned on leaving the girl’s body, not for a minute, but I had planned on dealing with it after the kids were safe. They’d already seen so much, I hadn’t wanted to add seeing their friend’s dead body to the mix. I supposed it doesn’t matter though, they’d already need therapy and I could wrap Mary into a cloth.
Making a note to bring up therapy for the kids to Dimitrius later, I waited for the sound of the locks sliding in place before I marched back into the building. Pulling my phone out as I went, I called Scott, informing him in clipped and short sentence what we needed before hanging up.
The man was a God send and I’d be telling him that the second we got back, for now though…
I eyed the still body, my stomach churning dangerously before turning in Dimitrius’s direction. I could grab the girl on the way back. His mental state was already on shaky ground and seeing her right now wouldn’t help that. Remembering the quake to his shoulders, unease inched through my veins.
No, better to not see how he’d react to having the body near him.
The closer I got to the room, the denser his power became until it nearly suffocated me. Every move took considerably effort, as if I were walking through setting cement, but when his back came into clarity, I pushed onward.
Taking a second to glance at the destruction around us, blood thirsty glee flashed through me. The guards’ bodies littered the floor in various positions, blood coating the floor in a red sheen as I came closer.
From the clean injuries, it was clear what happened. Dimitrius had made them take their own lives as he had his own rapist so many years ago. I still thought it was too painless, but I could appreciate the poetic karma to it.
The only living person in the room aside from Dimitrius was the mage, but when his power circled dangerously, I knew it was time to step in. We really did need him for information, no matter how much I hated to admit it. Dimitrius could kill him after we got anything useful out of him.
With purposefully loud steps, I walked up behind Dimitrius, wrapping him into an embrace. His heart hammered under my hand, all but trying to break out of his chest as I soothed. “I understand your rage, but they’re dead now. You need to be calm, the children need you…and so do I. Breathe, my adored.”
I stayed perfectly still as his power crackled through the air, circling us like a predator eyeing its prey. The hair on my neck stood to attention, before finally the tension to the air dissipated. Minutes passed in silence as I stayed wrapped around him, his hands coming up to grip mine.
When something wet hit my hand, I loosened my grip and turned him around.
His face was twisted into a mask of anguish, tears shiny in his eyes as he sucked in slow breaths, desperately trying to hold his composure. It burned deep to see him like this, but I wasn’t about to tell him not to cry.
If there ever was a situation that earned it, this was it and I wasn’t the type to invalidate someone’s emotions.
Trailing my hands up to cup his cheeks, I stroked gently, before pulling him to rest against my throat. He shuddered, sinking into me as he thawed from his frozen state. Arms came around me, gripping with bruising force as tremors wracked his frame.
Not saying a word, I stroked his back and let him get it out. His grip tightened again, using me as an anchor to the present, but I didn’t say anything. It didn’t hurt, not enough for me to consider it a bother, and right now he needed this.
He needed someone to cling to and I’d happily be that someone until he felt ready to face the world again.
Time slid by at a crawl, my hands sliding across his back before detouring into his hair. After who knows how many minutes, he pulled away and sucked in a shaky breath, his power locked behind its walls again.
Honey eyes were rimmed in red as he took my hands, pain clear in every breath and shift as he spoke. “You are right, I am needed now. Once we are home safely, then I may crumble, but not before. Come, my darling. Let us leave this cursed place.”
My arm twined around his waist, squeezing tightly as if to hold all his pieces together as we moved back toward the entrance. Pausing long enough to grab Mary, Dimitrius’s shudder not going over my head, I cradled the girl close and gently nudged him forward.
“Let’s go home.”
We had a lot to do…