Chapter Twenty-three

“What’s a Disney movie?” Thrice asked her.

“Do you know anything about theme parks? They have rides.”

“We went to the fair. There were rides there.”

“Disney is a large company that specializes in kids. I’ll pull them up on the net for you later. They make movies. This one is animated. It means that all the characters are drawings. The reason adults, as well as kids, love the movies is that they put enough references in for adults to laugh as well as their children.”

“Their movies are funny?”

“Yes, but they can be serious at times. Or make you swoon as the dashing hero saves the day. What’s really cool is that sometimes the heroine saves the day.”

“She must be like you.”

“I’m not sure what I did to deserve you, but I’m not giving you up. Let’s grab some popcorn and drinks.”

They picked up a few things before they made it back to their car.

“I think we should start looking for her tomorrow.”

“We can look, but she won’t show up until she’s ready.” He was right, and she knew it, but anxiety was eating her alive.

They pulled up to the house, but he stopped before they got to close.

“What’s wrong?”

“Intruder.”

“She’s here, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“I need to take you somewhere safe.”

She thought about it for all of sixty seconds. “That’s not the way it goes down love, and you know it. She’ll keep coming back until I’m there.” She unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over to kiss him.

“Drive.” She used a tone that she knew he couldn’t resist. It ended today one way or the other.

Thrice put the Jeep in drive. Piper took his choice away from him. It had to be this way, but he didn’t have to like it.

He parked at the side entrance. They walked into the kitchen to find Kymel holding a gun to Piper’s dad’s head.

“Thrice, you look as beautiful as ever. Come greet me.”

“You can’t order me to come to you.”

“I can kill the male. I think this is your mate's father. Unless you want to get a good look inside his head, you'll do what I say.”

He moved slowly to stand beside her.

“Good boy. You know what I like.”

He looked at Piper who stood still as if she wasn’t processing what was happening. She wouldn’t look at him. He lowered his head and bit Kymel on the shoulder.

“I love how you make me feel. On your knee's hands behind your back.”

He dropped to his knees. His hands went behind his back then he lowered his head.

“You could have had me. We would have been together forever. You gave it all up so you could have her. I watched, and I waited. Placing my body in stasis until the curse, I placed on you activated. I wanted to be here to see your end.”

Her eyes went to Piper. Her lips sneered. “Look at her. She’s caught in my trap. To human to resist one little curse. You sure know how to pick them. I waited until you made her your mate. I wanted you linked to her so you could feel the hatred she has for you. And she could feel you die.

“Give the order for his death.”

*~*~*~*

Everything slowed down the minute Piper walked into the kitchen. That bitch had a gun held next to her father’s head. Was this how it was going to end? She had been so sure she could resist. That she could break the curse. Now she wasn’t sure about anything except that someone would die today.

Hadn’t there been enough death and destruction?

“Thrice, you look as beautiful as ever. Come greet me.”

She was going to be sick. The thought of her mate having to touch that slimeball made her want to throw up. Do something she screamed at herself. All she could feel was helplessness as the terror Thrice felt at the hands of this female washed over her. He had been protecting her from it. She wanted to make an excuse, to say it wasn’t as bad as it appeared. There could be no more excuses as it washed over her in blood-chilling horror.

It didn’t matter how long she lived she would never forget what it felt like to be brutalized. To be helpless and then have to live with yourself afterward. To wonder if it was something you did that brought it on.

“You can’t order me to come to you.”

“I can kill the male. I think this is your mate's father. Unless you want to get a good look inside his head, you'll do what I say.”

How could that bitch live with herself? It was a question for another day.

“Ivory please tell me what to do.”

“I can’t. I wish I could. You have to live with the results of what happens here tonight. Only you can make that choice.”

“Good boy. You know what I like.”

She could feel his eyes pleading with her. He wanted her to lift her head to look at him. She couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t move. She wasn’t under Kymel’s command; the curse wasn’t active yet. The struggle inside of her was too great. No matter how hard she tried to look at him, she couldn’t.

“I love how you make me feel. On your knee's hands behind your back.”

That was the beginning of the end. They wouldn’t get their happily ever after. She didn’t deserve one, but Thrice did. Memories of their time together came back to her. Her eyes misted because they wouldn’t get to see the Disney movie together.

Sacrifice was part of her life from her early years. What was one more? Doctors today worked miracles. They could keep you alive even if you had a hole in your heart.

“Give the order for his death.”

The chance to run and hide was over. There was nothing left to do but to condemn the male she loved to death. Her head lifted; she could feel her eyes blaze. If she could have killed that bitch, she would have. All she could do was obey. Slowly, she walked to Kymel’s side. Her feet were dragging as she pleaded with herself not to say the words.

She looked into the eyes of the male she loved one last time.

“I love you, Piper.” His eyes were so wide that she could see the love he had for her. Every memory of her was making them shine. “I can see you standing in the jail cell, so defiant and terrified. I still remember the first time you rambled. I carry your picture in my wallet. You’re my little fighter. I love you, Piper.”

The tears she had managed to hold at bay slipped free. I could hear Kymel shout at the words of love Thrice said to me.

“Give the order now!”

I felt the curse wrap around my throat. “Thrice you are not to move. Kymel kill my mate.”

Her laughter chilled me to the bone. She tossed my father aside and raised the weapon in her hand. Piper threw herself at Thrice. Her lips covered his in one last kiss goodbye. She heard Kymel scream. The sound raked down her back. She waited for whatever weapon the bitch was holding to tear her apart. There was a scream followed by a thump on the floor. She looked up to find robots standing in front of her and Thrice.

Thrice turned her around to look behind herself. A dead Kymel was sprawled out on the floor.

“What happened?”

“You were willing to sacrifice your life for mine. I love you so much it hurts at times.” He held her tight kissing her.

His lips were on her. He was alive and well and so was she. They kissed like no one was in the room.

“I don’t want to break up the moment, but we have a body to get rid of.”

“Dante.” Thrice had his body in front of Piper before she got a look at the male who appeared in the middle of the kitchen.

“Dante, if you knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you stop it?” Slade’s voice was pissed.

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“I don’t understand what happened,” Piper said.

Dante looked at the body, and it disappeared. “I’ll take care of her.” He turned to look at the robots. “Go home you did what you came to do.” His voice was gentle with them.

Piper looked at him confused.

“Thrice have your mate take a seat.”

He picked her up and sat down holding her on his lap.

“The robots did not come to save you from the animal people as you call them.”

“Then why were they in the sewage and water plant when I rescued her?” Thrice asked him.

“The robots like to screw with Teeyen's heads whenever they get a chance.”

“They were here to kill Kymel?” Piper asked.

“No, they were here to save you. They couldn't care less about Kymel.”

“Then why?”

“Thrice convinced them that he loved you when he admitted it to you in a room full of people. They believed that allowing him to die would hurt you.”

“It would have.”

“I know. The only person who is a bigger fan of yours than those robots is Thrice. Thrice you just gave a species hope that love was meant for everyone. Before I forget, there was one more issue, but I took care of it. Akron, I see you.”

“Should I be worried?” Piper asked.

“We should all be worried,” Jabari growled.

*~*~*~*

“It’s over.” Piper was resting on Thrice’s chest. He just made love to her.

“It’s just starting.”

“I love the way you think.” She kissed him. “You’re getting more than you bargained for.” Her dad and uncle practically lived with them. They only slept at their house. Her dad decided that Thrice needed a father, so he unofficially adopted him. He said he had to make up for lost time.

“Your family fits in with mine. Soon we’ll have a four-year-old running around. So much to protect.”

She snuggled against him. “Have you ever thought of children?”

“Yes. When I thought I was going to die, I wished I had a child with your eyes and smile.”

“I wished I had a child who looked like you. That means we’ll have to have two children.”

“I’ll protect them. No one will abuse them.” His voice was fierce. His eyes snapped with a fire that reached deep inside of her.

“I know. Do you think you’ve recovered enough to make love to me?”

“Created don’t need to recover.” He flipped her over. Her laughter filled the room.