Chapter Twelve
Dylan
“Hurry,” Bunny says, kicking the door open. We’re at the entrance of my suite and the plan is to get Morgan in a contained space.
I turn and say to him and Sam, “I’ve got this.”
Sam frowns. Bunny looks outright distressed. He glances at Morgan, who is not exactly passed out. More like in a trance.
“Are you sure?” he asks, pushing his glasses up his nose. “I can wake her up.”
“I want to talk to her.”
Not Morgan. The Morrigan. We need to have some words.
“Put her in that chair,” he says. “Sam, find some ties. She’ll have to be restrained.”
I start to argue that, but Bunny cuts me a non-negotiable look. I sigh and say, “There’s rope in that top drawer.”
I place Morgan in the armchair as gently as possible. Sam disappears into the entry and I hear him opening and closing drawers, before slamming one and reappearing. I take the ties and nod to them both.
“I’m good. Thank you.”
“Are you sure?” Bunny asks again.
“Yes. I’ll call you if I need you.”
He slips me a small pot. Inside is the mixture he used to activate the trance and subdue her at the park. Morgan is ’wired’ with an intricate security system through the runes Bunny painted on her body. They’re meant to keep her and everyone else safe. “Use it if you need to. It won’t hurt her.”
I rest the container on the table. “I will.”
The Guardians leave and I hear the door latch behind them. I quickly bind her wrists to the chair, making an effort to keep them tight but not painful. I need the Morrigan to appear. I need to see her strength. I touch her chin and lift it upwards, placing a gentle kiss to her pink lips. Energy flows between us and I pull away quickly. It’s enough to wake her and she licks her lips, eyes fluttering. I wait to see who will appear. The wicked smile that greets me clues me in.
“Your Highness,” I say, bowing before her. The act makes me feel dirty.
“The Sentinel.” She looks me up and down. No, she’s not at full strength. If so, she would have ripped my throat out in greeting. “Where are the others.”
“I wanted some time with you alone.”
“Did you now?” She laughs. It’s Morgan’s face, her voice, but her eyes are cold and dark. She’s in there but somewhere deep beneath the surface. “Why? To kill me?”
“Why would I kill you?” I ask standing with my hands behind my back. “I’m your guard. As I have been for a millennium.”
“You’re a man.” She slinks back in her chair, crossing her legs. She makes no notice of the binds. “It’s in your nature to betray. You have an attention span of a gnat. Once something more interesting comes along, you’ll walk.”
“Just because one man betrayed you, Your Highness, does not mean we all have such nefarious desires.”
Her eyes narrow. She’s gorgeous, of course. And the look of evil doesn’t take away from her beauty. Her lips are pouty and red, her cheeks flushed with anger. The curve of her breasts is always alluring and I know if I took her right now I could banish the Morrigan back to her tiny corner of Morgan’s soul.
But my job isn’t to fuck the devil. It’s to protect the angel that houses her. We’ll consummate this relationship when she’s ready. Today is not that day.
“Why have you summoned me,” she finally states more than asks. The mark on her forehead shimmers.
“That little stunt you pulled today? That can’t happen again. Our job is not only to protect Morgan, it’s to protect this realm. You’re not going to start the apocalypse here—not again.”
“That wasn’t a stunt. I was simply showing the girl her home. Where she’s from.” She flexes her hands. “She has a right to know her history. Is that so wrong?”
Her eyes twinkle with amusement, as though I’m nothing but a speck. I keep my emotions close but make my intentions clear. “We’ll kill her before we allow your evil to spread. One victim is enough. It will stop at two.”
“Then why not just do it? Just take me out right now?” She looks me up and down. “You can’t, can you? Not before you’ve had your taste.” Now she laughs and a cold edge rolls down my back. “Men. So typical, always thinking with your cock. Why do you think it’s taking her so long to pick a mate? Why do you think she’s prolonging this entire affair?”
“She’s making a conscientious decision. It’s a mate. Forever.”
“She’s playing you for a fool.” She sighs. “You learn nothing. Nothing! But whatever, dear Guardian, let the girl have her fun while she pussy whips you all into submission. All the better for me.”
“Shut up.”
Her eyebrow arches and her she licks her lip. “Why do you think she’s holding out on you in particular, dear?”
“I’m not the only one.”
“You mean the cripple?” She snorts. “She’s only kind to him out of guilt. She doesn’t need his power—too weak. My minion took care of him years ago. You? She just likes toying with you. You’ll never truly get a taste of her. She knows what you are—what you’ve always been.”
A rush of anger boils over me and I reach for her throat. My hand clasps around the thin column of flesh and I say, “You won’t divide us. Together we are strong. We’re here to expel you and the misery that you bring to this place.” Her eyes bulge and I detect a hint of fear. I reach for the blade strapped to my leg and hold it against her temple.
The door bursts open and both Sam and Bunny run down the hall. Each take a side but I step back and drop the blade. Bunny takes the pot from my pocket and rubs the mark, making it shine in a fresh coat of gold. Morgan blinks, recognition flaring for just a moment before she slips off to sleep again.
“Fucking bitch,” I grumble, kicking a chair and toppling it to the side.
“She’s evil, Dylan. It’s what she does. She plays mind games and tricks people. She gets in your head, causes doubt,” Sam says, picking up the chair.
I glance at Bunny and see the pain in his eyes. He heard her. He heard her and no matter how quickly he looks away, I know he believes what she said. I want to say something but no words come out. Storming out of the room, I can’t help but think that I may believe the Morrigan too.