Chapter 33
We arrived in New Orleans early Wednesday morning, having drove straight through, only stopping for gas and to grab a quick bite to eat. I didn’t know how I fell asleep in that car, sitting between Miles and Ren, but I had with half my upper body in Ren’s lap. He’d fallen asleep too, with his head against the window and his hand on my hip. When I woke up, I found Tink twisted around in his seat, staring at me.
“Hi,” he whispered.
“Hey.” I sat up, waking Ren as I rubbed a hand over my face. “Were you watching me sleep?”
“Maybe.”
Ren lifted his arm away from me as he stretched out his neck. “You’re such a freak.”
“I am.” Tink grinned. “We’re here, by the way. Just pulling up now.”
I glanced over at Miles and saw that he was staring at what appeared to be an abandoned building.
“They told me this was a powerful glamour,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I can’t believe this has been here this whole time and I had no idea.”
“Kind of how I felt.” I yawned. “Just wait until you see the inside.”
The SUV stopped and the doors swung open. Fabian turned toward Miles before he climbed out. “You’re being trusted with something very few people have. You betray the fae here, and I will personally make it so that you wish you were dead.”
Miles held Fabian’s gaze. “I have no desire to betray these fae if they are what you say they are.”
“You will see that I have not lied.”
I resisted the urge to point out that he may not be lying about this place, but the fae here were still liar-mc-liar-faces.
Fabian studied Miles for a moment and then stepped out of the SUV. Getting out of the car and sitting after so many hours was painful as all get out as I walked the cramps in my muscles off.
The glamour of the building was still intact as the rusted-over door opened. We hurried inside, out of the dark night. Miles had the same expression on his face that I did the first time I saw the power of the glamour fade away, revealing the luxurious hotel inside.
“Jesus,” he muttered, rubbing a hand on his face as he took in the grand lobby.
“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?” I turned to him. “And you had no idea that the fae worked with the Order at one time?”
“I’d heard the stories, but I thought they were rumors. I didn’t believe there were fae that didn’t feed. Just didn’t think it . . .” He trailed off as he watched Tanner approach us.
And I knew why he had been struck silent. Tanner was living and walking proof of a fae who didn’t feed. Behind him was Brighton and her mother.
“Merle?” Miles lowered his hand as he stared at the woman.
“You look like a ghost done walked over your grave.” Merle lifted her brows, and her daughter seemed to take a deep breath. Brighton’s hair was down, and it was probably the first time I’d seen her wear it like that. It fell in soft waves and loose curls, reaching the middle of her back. She gave Ren and I a little smile.
Miles gaped at her. “You knew about this?”
“She has known for some time.” Tanner stopped in front of Miles, extending a hand. “I am Tanner.”
“Miles.” A moment passed and then he shook Tanner’s hand. “Uh, nice to meet you.”
Tanner started to respond, but his gaze flicked behind us. He dropped Miles’ hand and stepped back. “Fabian? Is this . . . ?”
“Yes.” Fabian stood beside Tink. “This is my brother.”
Tanner paled as he stepped around Kalen and Faye, his eyes wide and full of wonder. “Our King.”
“King?” Ren looked down at me, and I shrugged.
The Prince showed no response as Tanner bowed in front of him. “It is an honor,” Tanner said. I was waiting for him to kiss the Prince’s hand.
“This is weird,” I whispered to Ren.
“Everything is weird.”
The Prince glanced at us and then spoke. “We should begin to plan.”
“Of course.” Tanner straightened. “Please come this way. We have refreshments set up.”
I arched a brow as Tanner spun on his heel.
Merle eyed the Prince with distaste and a hefty dose of distrust. “An enchantment,” she muttered. “How cliché.”
The Prince’s cool gaze flickered over her. “Agreed.”
Merle frowned as she eyed him.
Following Tanner, the Prince passed Brighton. I only knew he’d looked in her direction based on how wide her eyes grew and how she stepped back, bumping into the wall.
Poor Brighton.
We all ended up in one of the large meeting rooms, and there were refreshments. Coffee. Juice. Bagels. Fruit. An entire damn buffet of cold cuts.
I didn’t get that treatment when I showed up.
Whatever.
Plopping down on the couch, I stretched my legs out and leaned into the thick cushion. “So, you know what’s going on?” I asked as Tink sat down on the arm beside me.
Tanner nodded as he sat in the chair across from us. “I am most sorry to hear about the betrayal of your leader.”
Biting down on my lip, I breathed through that sting. “So were we.”
Ren sat next to me, his leg pressing against mine. “And we were also sorry to hear that you knew that Ivy would be trapped in the Otherworld if she completed the ritual.”
Tanner’s cheekbones deepened in color. “As I am sure Faye explained, we hoped to find a way around that.”
“Sure,” I muttered. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe them. I just didn’t believe there was a way, and they probably knew that deep down. I was the living embodiment of sacrifice the few to the save the many. I could understand that. Didn’t mean I was okay with it.
“Doesn’t matter now, does it?” Merle said, turning with a cup of coffee in her hands. I looked around, not seeing Brighton. “Our Prince isn’t interested in putting a seed in your belly any longer.”
I groaned, sinking further into the couch as Tink laughed under his breath. Ren, however, didn’t find the comment nearly as amusing.
Neither did the Prince. “No. Instead, we have a powerful Queen that will be close to impossible to kill and we don’t nearly have enough time to plan and prepare for her attempt to open the gateway.”
Merle smiled at the Prince. “Ah yes, that is a problem, but not nearly as bad as all the gateways springing open all at once.”
Ren sighed. “Both sound pretty terrible. We all can agree on that. When do you think she will arrive here?”
The Prince did not sit or eat. He stood behind the chair Fabian sat in, arms folded. “She will most likely make it here by late tonight. She will not waste time, not when she knows that she will face both Fabian and I.”
I exhaled roughly. “So, we have what? Twelve hours, give or take a few?”
“That would be correct. It won’t be long.”
Ren stood. “Then we need to get ready. Rest up as much as we can. All of us.”
“And then what?” Tink asked.
“I’ll see who is still left in the Order that we can trust,” Miles spoke from where he stood by the buffet of food no one was touching. “I’m hoping there are some that are left.”
I remembered the look on Dylan’s face when Val betrayed us. I hoped he hadn’t crossed over to the evil side, but I didn’t even know if he was still alive. Or if Jackie was or any of the other Order members I’d known.
“You will have our most skilled warriors,” Tanner said. “Some are already at the gateway. She has not showed yet, but they are there and they are ready.”
“And you have me,” Tink chimed in.
I opened my mouth, but Fabian beat me to it. “You must stay behind.”
My brows lifted. “For once, I agree with you.”
Tink shot from the arm of the couch. “This is bullshit. I can help.”
“I know you can, but if the Queen was to somehow get a hold of you and was able to control you, there would be no hope.” Fabian rose. “We need you to stay as far away from her as possible. We also need you here. That is how you help us.”
“You know I can help. You know how strong and powerful I am.” Tink’s jaw was as hard as granite, but for once I kept my mouth shut.
“The Queen was able to control me because I had been wounded in battle. I was weakened and she took full advantage of that.” The Prince’s voice was heavy as he spoke. “And because of that, I became a monster. She would do the same to you. She knows what it would mean to have a brownie under her control. We cannot risk that. You cannot.”
Folding his arms, Tink fell silent.
“Tink,” I called out, leaning forward.
He didn’t move for a moment and then he turned to me. “I know you want me to stay back.”
“I do. We need you to.” I met his angry stare. “Because if we fail, we need someone to protect the fae here. They will be the only thing left between the Queen and her destroying the world with her army. You will be our last hope.”
Tink stared at me. “Like Obi-Wan?”
My lips twitched. “Yeah, like him.”
Tanner twisted in his chair so he could see Tink. “You will defend us. We need you here.”
His chest puffed up. “I . . . I will do that. I will make sure nothing happens to those here.” He shot to my side and kneeled so we were at eye level. “But you will come back. All of you.” He curled his lip in Ren’s direction. “Even him.”
“We will,” I said, making a promise I was going to do every damn thing in my ability to keep. “We will come back.”
I closed the door behind us and leaned against it as Ren walked over to the dresser, unhooking the daggers along his hip. I was quiet as I watched him, but my heart was pounding.
I loved this man.
I loved him because he chased when I ran. I loved him because he never gave up on me, not when I was being held captive and not when I’d closed myself off, shutting everyone out. I loved him because he was a good man, and if I wanted to say screw all of this and leave right now, he’d be right there with me. I loved him because I knew that he would be standing next to me later, ready to fight by my side.
I just loved him.
When he finished unloading what would have been an alarming number of weapons to anyone else, he turned to me.
We needed to sleep the entire day.
We had to, because we needed to be well-rested and then some for what we were going to face tonight.
Neither of us spoke as our gazes collided and connected. There were no words. There didn’t need to be. Intent filled those moss-green eyes. My breath caught as raw emotion swelled in my throat. Pushing away from the door, I walked over to him.
Ren gripped my hips, lifting me clean off the floor. I wrapped my legs around his lean waist. His strong hands gripped my rear as he brought my lips to his. There was a wild, out-of-control quality to the way he kissed me. It was needy and demanding, breathtaking and desperate as he rocked me against his hips. I moaned into his kiss as I grabbed at his shirt, wanting it off and wanting it off now.
Ren put me down, bending slightly as I pulled his shirt off. I went for his pants, and he helped, kicking off his shoes and shucking off his pants and briefs in record time.
“Naked,” he growled. “Now.”
I shuddered and then did as he ordered, stripping out of my clothes. He grew impatient, helping with the shoes and pants, and within minutes, I was naked and on my back, and Ren’s mouth was moving over mine once more. His hard length rocked against me, and I clutched his shoulders, moaning as he nipped at my chin and the side of my neck.
What we did in those moments . . .
It was fast and hard and beautiful. He was over me and then inside me. I arched against him, throbbing and aching as he took complete control. Lust and something far more powerful consumed me as his hips moved against mine, deep and slow at first.
His restraint broke and he began to thrust deeper, harder, and I’d never felt fuller, more desperate for more as our bodies moved frantically. Each deep, hard plunge drove up the intensity until it was at a feverish pace. My legs tightened around him, and then that exquisite feeling deep within me coiled and coiled. My head spun as he moved faster, grinding his hips against mine as he gripped my chin, keeping my mouth with his.
And then I broke apart, shattering into a million little pieces as I cried into his kiss. Thrown so high by the tight, mind-numbing waves of pleasure, I didn’t think I could take any more, but I did. Over and over as he rose onto his knees and lifted me up, driving into me with such reckless abandon that I thought I would die. Snaking an arm around my waist, he lifted me onto my knees and into his lips. He thrust once more as his arms folded around me, sealing my body to his as he came, his large body shuddering.
My muscles were limp and useless by the time he lowered me down so I was half spread across his chest, and then neither of us moved for a long time as we struggled to get our breathing under control.
It was me who broke the silence. “That was . . .”
His chest rose with a heavy breath. “I know.”
I kissed the slick skin of his chest as I let my eyes drift shut, snuggling close to him.
“Ivy?”
“Mmm?”
“Tonight—once the Queen is gone? I want to go back to my place. I want us to sleep in my bed. I want to wake up tomorrow in my bed with you.”
I smiled even though my stomach was filled with knots, chasing away the languid bliss. Planning for later was amazing, but it was also scary as hell. “I’d like that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Ren pulled me closer to his side. “Good.”
I tried to smile again, but I couldn’t. Not when balls of dread and unease were piling atop each other in my stomach. Would we have a tonight?
Would we have a tomorrow?
After sleeping most of the day and resting as much as possible, our crew minus Tink arrived at the house next to the infamous LaLaurie Mansion just after seven. We climbed out on Royal, because there was no way that SUV was going to make it down the narrow road without taking out tourists.
Nervous energy filled me, something I felt many times before, but there was a razor sharp quality to it this time. Knowing that we were about to face the most dangerous fae known brought the entire world into stark clarity.
Everything had changed since the last time I walked Royal, but in a way, nothing had. I was still the same Ivy who walked this street and entered the house all those weeks ago, prepared to fight and to die to protect the city. I was still her. Yeah, I carried a little more baggage with me. Yeah, I’d been lied to and betrayed, but I was stronger. I was more prepared, and I was ready to protect this city again.
Stepping onto the sidewalk of Royal was like . . . God, it was like finally coming home. It had been so long since I walked these streets. Too long. I glanced down the street, taking in the old buildings and sidewalks crowded with tourists and locals, and I listened to the laughter and shouts, the blaring horns and distant whirling sirens.
Home.
This was home—my home, our home. I wasn’t going to let some Queen Bitch bring some kind of army through this gateway, laying waste to this city. Hell no. Resolve filled me.
“I’ll be damned if I let her win.”
“What?” Ren asked, stepping up on the curb.
Turning to him, I smiled a little. “Just thinking out loud.”
He slid me a sidelong glance as the brothers passed us. People stopped and stared as they rounded the corner to what used to be called Hospital Street. Couldn’t blame them. The two were well over six feet and looked like Viking conquerors.
Faye and Kalen followed us as we trailed behind the brothers. The house was just as creepy and rundown as I remembered, but a Summer fae stood outside this time, guarding the building.
That was different.
Strange days.
Walking inside, there was no suppressing the shudder the place always brought on, even with the rooms full of people. Miles was already there, as were several Order members.
So relieved to see Jackie, I shot forward and gave her a quick hug. It obviously surprised her, because it took a moment for her to return the gesture.
I turned and looked at Dylan. He stepped back, and I knew he was going to be a no-go on the whole hug thing. “I’m really glad to see you two.”
Jackie eyed me intensely while Dylan stared at my ears. “What happened to you, Ivy?”
“Long story,” I said, aware that Ren was watching us and definitely listening. “But I’m not—”
“Evil?” Jackie suggested. “Halfling or not, you’ve always been a little evil.”
“No truer words have ever been spoken,” Dylan said.
My lips twitched into a small grin. “True.”
“Freaking sucks about Daniel though.” Jackie shook her head. “I wouldn’t have believed it, but . . .”
“But there have been too many unexplained Order deaths in the last couple of weeks, most of them being found dead at home.” A muscle ticked along Dylan’s jaw. “Skilled members not careless enough to be followed home. Once we talked to Miles, it just started to make sense.”
“Daniel’s wife?”
Jackie’s shoulders tensed. “No one has heard from her in weeks. We don’t know if she’s dead or not, but we checked out their house after talking to Miles. Her purse was there, so was her phone, but she wasn’t.”
“That’s not a good sign,” I said.
“Nope,” Dylan agreed. “We don’t know if she was aware of what Daniel was doing or not, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. We’ve lost over half of our active members here.”
A ball of emotion filled my throat. Their deaths were so unfair, so freaking senseless. “So, the city is really screwed if the Queen comes back through this gateway with a horde of Otherworld creatures?”
Jackie nodded.
“Hey.” Ren nodded at the two as he curled an arm around my shoulders. Dipping his head, he kissed my cheek, and my heart squeezed in the best possible way. I loved all those quick kisses, and I’d never grow tired of them. I just hoped I had a chance to prove that. “I’m going to head upstairs.”
“Okay. Be right up.”
Ren walked ahead, scoping out the interior. Nothing had changed since the last time we’d been in here. At least as far as I remembered, but the air . . . yeah, the air was heavier. I didn’t think it had anything to do with the doorway being here, but more so with all the death that had occurred the first time it had been opened.
I had a horrible feeling tonight we’d be adding to that heaviness.
“Ivy.”
Stiffening at the sound of the Prince’s voice, I turned. Tension seeped into my muscles as my gaze met his.
He stopped in front of me. “Are you ready for tonight?”
I lifted a shoulder. “As ready as I can be. Are you?”
There was a twitch to his lips, as if he wished to smile but didn’t know how. “As ready as I can be.”
“Cool.” I started to turn away.
“I’m sorry,” he said, speaking those two words in a low voice.
My breath caught as I faced him once more. “What?”
“I am sorry. I know my apology means nothing. The things I’ve done to you, the things I tried to do . . .” He trailed off, his voice hoarse. “I do not ask for your forgiveness for things I could never forgive myself for, but I am sorry for the pain and terror I’ve caused—”
“Stop,” I rasped out, briefly closing my eyes. The bitter tangle of emotions curled around my heart. “I . . . I appreciate the apology. I do, but I . . .” I thought back to what felt like a lifetime ago. “I once was under the compulsion of a fae. How I’d ended up under a compulsion had been my fault. I’d been stupid and I paid for that. Completely under their glamour, I’d let fae into a house where they killed everyone who was important to me. So I know what it feels like to have no control and do things you never would, but I . . .”
“I understand,” he simply said after a long moment.
My gaze shot to his, and I thought . . . I thought that maybe he did understand what I couldn’t even put into words. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand he hadn’t been in control. He’d even been under a spell, devoid of conscious choice or will, and I guessed that was worse than anything Ren and I had suffered. I understood that, but it was still hard. That I could understand how he became the Prince that terrified me, how he hadn’t been responsible, but all that knowledge didn’t change the fact that forgiving and forgetting may never be in the cards.
The Prince gave me a curt bow and then he stepped around me, heading upstairs, and I was left standing there, staring at the place where he once was.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I pushed that mess of memories and emotions associated with my capture and headed upstairs. Now was not the time to dwell on any of that. I needed to have a clear head if I had any chance of surviving this night.
Miles followed me up, and I made my way down the narrow, dark hallway. A wave of goosebumps spread over my skin as I neared the entrance to the bedroom.
As I walked through the door and found Ren standing by a boarded-up window near a wooden chair, my heart started kicking around in my chest, doing an erratic dance.
“It’s kind of like we came full circle, isn’t it?” I said to Ren.
He nodded as he eyed the sealed closet door—the gateway. Right now it just looked like any normal door in an old-as-hell house with a white ceramic handle that most likely jiggled. There was a gap between the top of the door and the frame. It sat slightly crooked.
“It is.” Ren paused as a lopsided grin appeared. “In a really messed up way.”
Curling an arm around him, I didn’t care what it looked like to the others. I wanted to feel his tattooed skin under mine for as long as I could.
I didn’t know how much time had passed. Maybe a handful of minutes. Maybe an hour. It felt like time had slowed down to a crawl and also sped up at the same time.
But we didn’t have to wait long.
The Prince stiffened and then turned to the doorway. A strange stillness permeated the room. “It’s time.”