Chapter 43
Lachon and Taurin walked across the tarmac to the waiting aircraft. Ealian strolled ahead of them, almost at the stairs to the private vessel. She wore a sheer lace dress that did nothing to hide her bare breasts. Tiny, black panties barely covered her bottom. Sickened, Lachon watched Taurin and half the men in his employ ogle the woman.
“It is good you called us,” Taurin said to him. “Ealian and I wondered when you planned to act against the Taleisin family. It is past time to put them all down, my old friend.”
“I haven't said we are putting them down. Only that justice must be served for the crimes committed and the stealing of secured information.”
“And yet, you bring twenty armed men.”
“I always bring soldiers when I'm uncertain what I'm walking into.”
Stewardesses, employed by Lachon for over fifty years, welcomed them as they boarded. They prepared to show the three elders to separate resting areas. Lachon was pleased to see Idris waiting patiently near the rear of the plane. Over the speaker, the captain informed the crew they'd lift off as soon as the runway cleared, and asked the passengers to secure themselves.
Lachon preferred to spend as little time as possible with the two siblings. He made his way to his private quarters after giving strict instructions to Idris to join him for a debriefing two hours before they landed. Lachon watched as, heads and hands together, the twins made for their room.
As he settled in his room, he thought about what was to come and the choices that had been made—by all of them. What would the past years have been like if they'd acted differently? What would happen now if the wrong choice was made? He kicked off his Italian leather boots and removed his navy-blue sweater to lay back on the king size bed. The passing clouds eventually soothed him. He remembered feeling happy once. Could he again?
The abrupt knock on the door broke through his self-reflective mood. He bade whomever it was to enter.
Ealian crossed the threshold on silent feet. “Lachon, we need to talk.”
He lurched up wishing he'd have thought to ask who it was. Felt dirty as her eyes roamed over his bare chest. “I'm tired, Ealian. Can we talk later?”
She sat beside him on the bed without waiting for an invitation. Rested her palms on his flesh. “You wound me, Lachon. We have been so close forever.” Her hands played with the auburn hair on his chest. “I need to know we’re still strong. Can you promise me you won't forsake us?”
He grabbed her hands before she took it too far. Stopped her stroking of him. Her petting. Ealian’s power of compulsion had always been strong. Lachon had seen it used for both selfless and selfish reasons.
“Lachon, why do you fight against me? We could be so good together.”
“Ealian, that isn't what we are. You know that. The only way the council stays strong is if we don’t cross lines we shouldn't.”
She pouted. “How can you say that to me after all we have been through.”
“It was one drunken night three hundred and fifteen years ago. Let it go already.”
Lachon could see the gears turning in her mind. Judging the best course of action to get what she wanted. She softened her voice, crawled further up the bed and rubbed her body against his bare chest.
“Let me taste you, Lachon. I can make you feel amazing. You know that I can.”
“Yes.” He sighed. “I know that you can, but I don't want you that way.”
She sat back like a hurt child. “Why? Everyone wants me.”
He knew he must tread lightly to keep her under control. The last thing any of them needed was her losing control of her wind element while on an airplane.
“Ealian, you are passion and desire, everything every man could want, but I see you as my sister. We have been that way for too long for our relationship to be any different. Of course, you set my blood to boil but I cannot be with you the way you want. It would be wrong.”
She smiled sweetly at him then. “One kiss, between brother and sister?”
“I do not wish to lead you on. To hurt you.”
“Lachon, you wound me when you refuse me. Do you think yourself above me?”
“You know that isn’t it.”
As her eyes cleared, Lachon was reminded she was a danger still.
“Then what is it? I simply ask you for a kiss. A sign of affection for the bond we hold.”
He touched the side of her face. Recognized the malice in her eyes. “Very well. How could I deny you? Of course, one kiss.”
She climbed over him, sat on his waist and placed her mouth against his. Knowing what she craved, he wrapped one hand in her hair to hold her against him.
She ground her body into his as she whimpered into his mouth. “Take me, Lachon.”
“No. It is only this.”
She heaved against him then. Forced her tongue inside his mouth. Lachon fought her with his tongue. She reached down, grasped his cock through his pants, rubbed him through the fabric, began to rub herself against his leg. He grabbed her hand and wrenched his mouth free of the kiss. Reminding himself to be gentle, he lifted her and settled her beside him.
He schooled his voice, removing all emotion. “Enough, Ealian. No more games.”
Tears clouded her eyes as she looked away from him. “I want more from you. Why do you not give me more?”
“I’m not having this conversation again. I’ve told you why countless times over the years.”
“But you have no one else. Be with me.”
“Stop now. I love you as a sister, nothing more. It will never be more.”
She stood. Anger clearly written on her features. “You are flesh and blood like the rest of us. Your heart fills with sin like the rest of us. Remember that you did not stop until after I held your cock in my hand. You would do well to climb off your high horse.”
Lachon leaned back against the headboard and rested his arms behind his neck. Refused to give her the satisfaction of appearing concerned by her words. “Are you threatening me?”
She sneered. “Do not forget to respect me. And what I am capable of.”
“I will always respect you, dearest.” He sat up and grasped her hands. “I’ve always known what you are capable of. It is why I aligned myself with you long ago.”
She smiled at him. Her face softened. “You’ve sinned as much as I have.”
“That remains to be seen, my dear.”
“You would tell me if you knew more about what was going on than I did, wouldn’t you, Lachon?”
He stood then. Pulled her body against his. Began his own game. He rubbed his hands along her arms with a touch that was both comforting and a reminder of his strength. “Of course, I would. Just as I know you would do the same for me.”
Her eyes drifted off again. Lost the focus of moments before. “I should go check on Taurin. He’s probably wondering where I am.”
"Yes.” He grimaced. “Taurin needs you.”
She smiled sweetly at him. Replied, “I'm all he has you know,” before blowing a kiss and walking out the door of his room.
Idris poked his head in seconds later. “You okay, man?”
Since the day Idris began working for him, Lachon thanked whatever force sent the man to Vancouver from South Africa. He'd been tempted on more than one occasion to fire him for crossing the line, or disappearing without notice, but could never bring himself to do it. Idris was something of a super soldier. Not only that, he had Lachon’s back. And Lachon needed that badly the past few years.
He and Idris were as different as night and day. Idris hardly spoke. When he did, it was usually to remind Lachon of how stupid he was. Still, without fail, he followed command. Intricate tattoos covered the man’s dark skin. Lachon had no idea what they meant. He’d never asked. Over the years, they'd become strange companions. Not quite friends, but maybe something stronger.
“God, that woman gives me the creeps,” Lachon said the minute Idris shut the door.
“Yeah, she gives everyone the creeps. Thankfully, she ignores the rest of us and fixates on you and her freak of a brother.”
He cautioned, “They are still council members. Only, ever say that around me.”
Idris pulled a bottle of whiskey from behind his back and handed it to him. “Here. Thought you'd need this in case you need to wash the taste of something vile out of your mouth.”
Lachon arched a brow. “Seriously . . .”
“Yeah, I know, I'm watchin’ it . . . and your back.” He winked, exiting the room without another word and shutting the door behind him.
Lachon took a long pull of whiskey from the bottle before going into the bathroom to brush his teeth.