THIS TIME (The Grace Allen Series Book Three Paranormal Romance) (10 page)

Seth’s
face jerked toward mine and I sucked in my breath.
Crap
, he had no idea
that I had witnessed what he had almost done. The demon blood had worked its
evil on him, and he had won. It was truly amazing, because even while I had
been his prisoner so long ago, he’d wanted me in his bed, he never resorted to
rape. He was a gentleman in that regard. Don’t get me wrong, he
did
manipulate the situation so that I eventually ended up in his bed, but he had
never forced himself on me. He had never hurt me in that way.

I watched
his face darken, his eyes narrowed and then his thoughts roared into my head.

I was
going to rape the demon, Grace. Spread her tender thighs and fuck her until she
lost consciousness, then tear her apart and swim in her blood. I wanted to kill
her. The violence I craved was overwhelming. Have no illusions, Sweet, for a
few very long seconds, I was happy to do it.

I met his
gaze and, shaking my head, I smiled.

You
didn’t do it. You can try to damn yourself, but you won. You’re stronger than
you realize. I always knew you had it in you to be good. Now you know it too.

He looked
away. His jaw clenched as he struggled with his internal battle. Knowing I knew
what he almost did horrified him, I could tell.

He met my
eyes again.

Y
ou
humble me Sweet, but I deserve no such praise. We will no longer speak of this.
It dies this moment
.

I wanted
to tell him that his shame was only more proof that he was becoming a better
man. That his soul was strong and noble but instead, I pursed my lips and
nodded my assent.

While I
battled with Seth’s demon, Gavyn and Lucian had been hollering back and forth
in a panic. Helen’s chanting really was a problem, and now it appeared that we
were all in more danger than we assumed.

“She is
still out cold from the drug, Lucian, so your spell will be useless. She cannot
speak if she sleeps,” Gavyn had moved toward the middle of the room as he and
Lucian were pacing. The discussion seemed to be how to get Helen to reveal what
she had been doing on the plane.

“Just get
me to the libraries,” Lucian shouted as he moved toward the door, shoving Seth
out of his way, “and go find the damn priest.” He glared at Seth and was gone.

Gavyn
knelt. “We will discover what she was up to. She’s in the dungeons, Grace. It
will be okay.”

“So this
is bad,” I stated. “Sorry?” I didn’t know what else to say as Gavyn shrugged
and left the room.

Seth
watched them leave. “It will be bad if she managed to get her summons out. Her
chants won’t penetrate here, but if they did while we were in the air then we
may have to brace ourselves.”

I looked
at the ceiling and sighed.

“You look
like a fragile China doll, Sweet. I fear you may have a long wait until your
strength returns. This is unacceptable.” Seth took the stool and sat, leaning
his elbow on my bed. He met my eyes. “If I was at my full power, I would demand
you drink from my body. But my blood is no longer the potent vampire elixir it
used to be. I’m afraid I have too much of you inside me now,” he smiled. “I
could always put something
else
of mine inside of you if that will make
you feel better?” he winked devilishly.

I rolled
my eyes. “I’m glad you’re feeling like yourself again. And no, I don’t think
sex is the cure right now. Besides I’m pretty much paralyzed, how much fun
could that be?”

“I don’t
mind taking control,” he wiggled his brows and I laughed.

“So,” I
began, desperate to change the subject before I actually gave in. “Why weren’t
you sitting by my side when I woke up? I expected to see you a little sooner
than now.” I frowned.  

He sighed.
“I knew you needed to fix your relationship with Lucian. He seemed eager. I
feared he would hide away before facing your judgment. It appears he does possess
a spine after all.”

“Oh, lay
off, Seth. He felt bad. He thinks he did all of this. Wouldn’t you feel like a
royal ass if you thought all of this was your fault?”

He smiled.
“Probably not, but I
am
an ass, so it would matter little.”

I laughed
out loud. “You’re a better man than you want people to think. I don’t know why
you always try so hard to look like a jerk. You make sacrifices, just like the
rest of the good guys.”

He lowered
his brows. “I do not recall making any sacrifices.”

“Oh
really? Huh, that’s odd. So, you never threw away your identity to play the
part of a lowly human named, Adam?” I teased, laughing at his grimace. “What
the hell was with the false names anyway?” I laughed.

His silver
eyes glittered as he smiled. “Gavyn was convinced that you would run if you saw
the real us again. You were so frightened when you woke without your memories.
He demanded we all appear in glamour and change our names.” He shook his head.
“I felt the fool, but once I saw you, I knew I did not wish to scare you away.”

He looked
at me and our eyes held. He smiled and what looked like a blush crept up his
neck.

“What?” I
laughed.

He looked
at my lips. “You pleased me greatly that night, you know?”

I lowered
my brows in thought. “When?”

“You were
covered with Jamie’s drink. It was a calculated move, I’m sure you realize.”

“Huh, I
hadn’t really thought about that.” I blushed at the thought of my reaction to
him.

“I am
pleased that even with no knowledge of our past, you are still fiercely
attracted to me.” His eyebrow rose, a glint in his eye.

“I’m not
admitting to anything.” I chuckled then frowned. “He’ll come for me. You know
that, don’t you?”

All humor
fled his face. “I know, Sweet, believe me. We are well aware of his claim to
you and how angry he will become once he learns we have won.”

My head
felt heavy. My eyelids drooped. “You haven’t won yet, Seth,” I yawned.

“You are
here, Sweet, we have won.” He ran his fingers gently across my cheek.

 I could
no longer fight my lethargy, I tried to smile at his touch but I no longer saw
Seth, but the blackness of sleep.

FIFTEEN

“The gown
must be perfect!”

“Of course,
My King.”

“Are you
stuck
on stupid?”

“No, My
King.”

“Then hold
it up higher! It should never touch the ground! I don’t want your slime to soil
the hem!”

“I am a
lowly pile of shit, My King”

“Obviously.”

“Very
good, My King.”

“Nothing
will stand in the way now. She will be mother, wife and slave to my will. Once
the ceremony is complete, she will never leave me. Her soul will finally belong
to me.”

“Um, of
course my King.”

“She will
be here soon.”

 “About
that. Uh, my King?”

“What is
it?”

“I must
tell you.”

“Speak,
you fool.”

“Helen has
tried to summon you and there seems to be a problem.”

“And what
problem would that be?”

“Forgive
me, My King, but it seems she was unable to complete her summons. We are all
fairly sure that your bride is no longer in route to meet you.”

 “Well,
that
is
a problem.”

…

I woke
covered in sweat, my body shaking.

“He
knows!” I shouted to the room.

“Calm
yourself, Gracie! Who knows what?”

I sucked
in my breath, my arms were finally working and I grabbed onto Ann. “Oh, Annie,
Lu knows! Helen got through to him! He knows I’m not coming.

“How could
you know that?” She sat on the edge of the bed. “You just had a bad dream. It’s
not surprising with what you’ve been through,” she soothed, her new mothering
skills shining through.

I closed
my eyes. It was a dream, but I knew deep in my soul that it had been real. I
had somehow looked into Hell. My body continued to shake and I frowned.

“No, Ann.
I was there. Somehow I was there. Lu was preparing for me. He wants to marry me
so I can have his demon babies.”

Her
eyebrows met her hairline. “Okay, Gracie. I’m just going to go wake someone up.
Anyone
. They need to hear this.” She rose and ran from the room.

I sighed,
covering my eyes with my arm I tried to calm my trembling body. “Oh this is
just friggin’ great, they’ll all think I’m nuts.”

Seth
chuckled as he breezed into the room, smelling of sage and mint. “You should
have more faith, Sweet.” I turned my head as he moved into the room. His hair
was short. He changed his hair like a woman changed her purse. He sat close,
smiling.

“You can
move again?”

Anxiety
was eating away at my stomach worse than the holy water and I frantically waved
his question away.

“Lu’s
going to start looking for me. Helen got her message out.”

He smiled.
“We know she did. How are you aware?”

“I saw Lu!
I was there. This little imp thing told him that I was no longer on my way.
Wait
,
what do you mean you know?”

A
dangerous light entered his eyes and he smiled again, revealing too many teeth.

“I like it
here, Sweet. This was your sanctuary
from me,
I understand. Did you know
that demons do not do well here?” He laughed. “Well, anyone with a little evil,
really. I would have had a hard time of it if it were not for your blood.” His
smile went all the way to his eyes.

I just
stared, my mouth hanging open like a trout.

“Your
Helen is suffering and we did not even need to lift a finger. Her pretty flesh
hid a very tainted soul.” He sighed as if he believed that were tragic. “Before
she became completely catatonic, she spilled her guts. She confirmed that at
least part of her message was received. She felt the link, but as soon as we
entered this realm, her connection was severed.”

I goggled.
“What happened to her? What do you mean you didn’t have to lift a finger? Seth
you better start making sense or I’m gonna start chucking things!” I was beyond
confused and that pissed me off.

“Brindleland
is enchanted. The entire village has been absolutely stuffed with enchantments.
Old sorcerers from a time long past wove the spells. It is a mighty thing they
have here, Sweet. I am surprised the magic tolerates anyone in a bad mood.” He
smiled again.

He was so
uncharacteristically happy, and then understanding dawned.

“You’re
here.” I locked eyes with him. “And you’re okay?”

He nodded.
“Yes, the evil taint in my vampire nature is no longer strong enough to
register as evil at all.” He looked at the IV bag hanging from the skinny metal
pole. “This is my blood, Sweet.” He looked at me again. “I’m filling you with
blood and you are becoming stronger. Only the blood of a Madea could do that.
Gavyn was positive.”

He smiled
again and I felt myself reveling at how truly beautiful this man was. And then
just as quickly, I frowned. “This also means that Lucian is Madea enough to
heal me as well.” I placed my hands on the bed and moved myself up. “He really
is as much of a Madea as you?”

Seth’s
smile faded. “Yes he is, but not as much as I am. I believe he moved the
process along with some of his magic, I do not know for sure, but he is Madea.”

“I figured
as much.” I frowned again as all the possibilities rushed me. Overwhelmed, I
slouched back into the covers. As confusing and emotional as all of this was,
we had much bigger fish to fry.

“So,” I
leveled a look at him, “you aren’t worried at all about Lu?”

“Do stop
calling him that.” Seth’s smile was gone, his eyes were filled with fire. “We
know he had you in his control and his lies were great. We know that as his
wife
you felt it your duty to…” he stopped abruptly and stomped to the other end of
the round room. Sighing he covered his face with his hands and then growled out
his breath. “He …
Well
, you two…” He made a vague motion with his hands.
“
Fuck!
” He fisted his hands in his short hair and then spun, facing me
he yelled, “Well it was many, many times, Grace!”

It was my
turn to cover my face. Images of the sex I had with Lu made my body hot. He was
an incredible lover and I was horrified to admit that thinking of it made my
stomach dance into fluttery knots. What he could do to a woman was impossible
to explain.

“Sweet?
May I interrupt your thoughts for a moment before I am forced to shove my blade
into my skull?”

I sucked
in my breath realizing too late what I had done. “Oh, kill me!”

“I would
rather not. However, it will be nice when you reach your full strength and can
control your magic.”

“Not that
I want to keep entertaining this subject, but how the hell could you have known
that I had sex with Lu?” I asked, feeling like a total slut.

“Other
than the frequent times you ravaged each other in public you mean?” he glowered.

I covered
my face with the sheet and whimpered, “I didn’t…mean to?”

“I
apologize,” he sighed. “Let us just say that had we not witnessed it for
ourselves, your mark would have tipped us off. Our Jamie was smart enough to
research what was happening.”

I looked
at my arm. Under the bandage and IV, I could see how large my tattoo had
become. “I’d forgotten that. I must have looked at it a million times and never
thought twice about it.”
A vision of Lu sliding his tongue along the silver
flowers, his strong back flexing, his skin like satin while we…

“
Grace,
please!”

“Sorry,” I
shook my head. Cripes, even without the demon blood, the evil bastard was a
drug. “Sorry, Seth. I can’t seem to control it.”

“Try
harder,” he said flatly.

“You said
Jamie knows what this is?” I ignored his pissy face and gestured to my arm.

“Yes. You
are under a contract which binds you to Lucifer. The first mark, in this case
he chose a rose, binds you to him of your own free will. Each additional mark
represents an agreement in your contract. With each change, the original mark
strengthened. The larger the mark, the more intense the binding. It is only
logical to assume that what you have done must be quite significant.”

My brows
rose and I looked at my arm once more.

“Since
there were no ceremonies that we were aware of and from the wagging tongues of
the penthouse staff, you could have only bound yourself to him through your
frequent sexual encounters,” he glared at me, his nostrils flaring, “when he
had you at your most vulnerable.”

I felt my
face heat. “Lord, Seth! I was out of my mind. You act like I’ve been standing
in line to offer him my body! I’ve known Lu for months and months! If I wanted
to fuck him so badly, do you seriously think I would have gone through so much
trouble?”

“No, I do
not think that in any way, Sweet. You were a victim and I know this. It is,
however, quite difficult to imagine your horrid and undying suffering when you
are projecting such erotic and lustful images into my head.”

I covered
my face again. “God, I am so sorry! I know, I wasn’t suffering at the time, I
was doing what I wanted to do with my husband. But believe me, when I’m all
better, Lu is going to have
more
than Hell to pay!”