The Seven: Four tales of passion, danger and love (53 page)
Read The Seven: Four tales of passion, danger and love Online
Authors: Ciana Stone
Grace turned her attention to Zarad. “Just who are you. Really?”
“I am Zarad of the Daemon Tribe of Light, heir to the throne, brother to Severin and mate to Nyah.”
“I thought you had abandoned her? Both of them.”
“I did. But I returned, years ago, set upon forgiving her. I wanted to bring them home. But when I arrived, I saw what she had done—what she was doing with the tattoos. I saw that she had coerced Severin into a contest that had dangerous implications.
“I was not certain what her goals were, therefore I did not make my presence known to her or my brother. I discovered that she had indulged in a dalliance with a human. Your father. She seduced him long before your mother died. It was a short-lived affair and your father broke it off. Nyah retaliated at his rejection and set about making friends with your mother.
“She convinced your mother to accept her ink. That was what killed your mother. The ink was poisoned. When your mother died, Nyah told your father what she’d done. She wanted him to know that it was because of him your mother died. Her revenge on him was cruel and long-lasting. He hated himself and that was what led him to the alcohol. That was what killed him.
“I took on the guise of Mr. Friendly when your father was at his worst. You were still a child and with no one to turn to. You needed a friend and I wanted to make up for what my mate had done to your family.
“But Nyah saw through my guise and confronted me. Like a fool, I succumbed to her charms and let her seduce me into her bed. She poisoned me. I could not transform back to my original state and I was very weak.
“It was not until the fire was set to the house you were imprisoned in that I found the antidote to the poison. More accurately, I was given the cure.”
“By who?”
“Severin. He followed you to my house and realized who I was. At first he was enraged and turned his back on me. An effort to subvert and weaken Nyah’s control over you, he took you and applied his ink to you. He placed you in that fire and then came to me. I alerted Ellis Walker and he saved you.”
“And we came here.” Grace put her hand to her forehead. “So, she’s not my mother.”
“No. However, your mother was a member of The Seven. A Fae.”
“A Fae?”
“Well, a half breed—she did not know. Nyah recognized her Fae blood and sought to bind her and use her powers, but instead ended her life.”
Grace raised her hand as if warding off any more from him. “This is—it’s all too much. Walker, what do we do?”
He pulled her to his side, looping his arm around her. “I don’t know. Honestly I don’t know know who to believe.”
“Me either.” She looked around at everyone.
“What does your heart say?” Zarad's question surprised her.
“My heart?”
“Yes. Look inside, Grace. What is your heart telling you?”
She thought about it. “That I love Walker. With all my heart. And that I love who you were for me all these years. Mr. Friendly. You’ve been my only family. But now… now I don’t know. I don’t think I can ever trust Nyah again. And Severin … I—I don’t know. I—what do I do?”
“Prick one or both of them with the needle.”
Grace had forgotten the needle. She pulled it from her pocket and Walker looked down at it. “That looks like her inking needles.”
“Yes.”
Both Walker and Grace looked at Zarad. “Severin would never give you something that could destroy Nyah,” he said. “Despite everything she has done, he loves her. It is his—and perhaps my own—biggest shortcoming. What is coated on the needle will not be fatal to either, but it will strip them of their powers. They will be no stronger than humans.
“Look inside yourself Grace for the truth. Ask yourself which of them sought to give you truth and which sought to hide the truth from you. If it is one, then use the needle on that one. If it is both, then they both feel the sting of pain. Take their power. Once powerless they will have little choice but to flee. Or return to our home. And there they will pay for any crimes they are found guilty of.”
“You wouldn't kill them for what they did to you? You’d let them go?” Grace asked. “Why?”
“Because death does no one honor, Grace. And the poison in that needle will ensure that the guilty party will never have the power to put ink on another human. He or she will instead live out the remainder of their lives powerless.”
Grace looked at Nyah. Rage blazed from her eyes and in that moment Grace realized that she’d allowed herself to be fooled. Nyah had never cared about her. Grace had been nothing more than a tool—another weapon in Nyah’s personal war.
Her eyes moved to Severin and, despite her love for Walker, she was taken by his beauty. She looked into his eyes and the world fell away. It was only she and Severin in a sea of light.
“Do what he suggests, Grace. Let your heart guide you.”
“And what if my heart says to put the poisoned needle into you?”
“Then that’s what you must do.”
Grace shook her head. The truth had been revealed the moment she looked into his eyes. There was no evil in Severin. His goals were aligned with someone she’d never met, but someone she saw in his mind. A great and powerful man, a vampire. Augustus. Along with others. A mighty Angel, a powerful Shifter and others. His loyalty was to The Seven and to trying to establish peace with humanity.
She saw something else as well—something that had her heart swelling with sympathy. She saw and felt his pain and heartbreak. He had loved Nyah and still did, but he knew she’d lost herself and he could not be with a child of Darkness. He saw his future as one of loneliness. Always striving to do what he could for his people, but always a life lived alone. Bereft of true love.
That brought tears to her eyes. She held out her hand to him. “I hope you’re wrong. I hope there’s someone else in the world meant for you—meant to bring you happiness.”
“I hope so as well.”
“I’d like to be your friend, if that’s possible.”
“That will depend largely upon your mate.”
“Walker? Well, like you said, he might be jealous, but he’s smart enough to know that I chose him and that should be enough. And everyone needs friends. Friends they can count on. I have a feeling we’re both going to need someone to help us understand what we are and how we can help The Seven, since we’ve sort of been made part of them. I’d like for you to be that someone.”
“I would be honored.”
“Will you make peace with your brother?”
“I already have, if you have chosen to spare me.”
“You know I have.”
He gave her hand a squeeze, and all at once they were back in Nyah’s yard with everyone looking at Grace.
She turned her attention to Zarad. “Severin is innocent. He was duped by Nyah into the affair and never meant to hurt you. He’s tried to stop her, or at least minimize the damage she’s wreaked, and he has only love for you. And, if it matters, he’s my friend.”
“Your friend?” Walked asked in clear surprise.
“Yes. I can see it now. I was afraid of him because she wanted me to be, but all along he was trying to help me.”
“As I suspected.” Zarad said and gave his brother a nod.
“And what about you?” Grace asked of Zarad.
“I will return home.”
“So I'll never see you again?”
“No. It takes great power to make the crossing and, if what I gave gleaned from my brother’s mind is true, there is great danger in allowing the portal to open. Look what happened when Nyah crossed over.”
“So I won’t have family anymore.”
“You already have family, Grace. You have Walker. And the child you carry inside you.”
“The…” Grace looked up at Walker. “I swear I didn't know.”
He squeezed her tighter against him. “A baby. I think I like the sound of that.”
“Me too—but …” She looked at Zarad. “But will the baby be…you know…dragon?”
“I do not know. Perhaps. Does it matter anymore than what color eyes or hair or skin a child has?”
Grace smiled. “No. It doesn’t.”
“Then what will you do, Grace?”
“Before I answer that, what about the others? I mean, the ones like me and Walker? If they serve Nyah or Severin, then what happens when Nyah has no more power? Will they be a threat to regular people?”
“No. They will require a new leader.” He looked at Severin. “Someone with the strength to lead and the compassion to understand weakness.”
“And I will require an honest and compassionate compatriot.” Severin looked at Walker. “Someone who understands what they have gone through and can help them embrace what they have become. Someone to help me lead them toward peace.”
“Me?” Walker shook his head. “What do I know about leading?”
“More than you realize. And they are, in a sense, your family.”
“But there are apparently some pretty evil ones out there.”
“There is always evil. However, I assure you that they will accept your leadership.”
“He’s right, Walker.” Grace looked up at him. “They’re probably just like us, only they’ve been being controlled. They deserve to be free just as much as we do and if we—if you can help them, then you have to try.”
“I wouldn't even know where to start.”
“I assure you, assistance will be provided,” Severin said and turned his attention to Grace. “So, what will you do, Grace?”
She wiggled out of Walker's embrace and approached Zarad. “I will give you this.” She handed him the needle. “This is your decision. Not mine. I'm not equipped to deliver justice because I don’t know what that would be. She took my mother and my father, and I guess I'll always hate her for that. But because of her, I had Mr. Friendly and I found Walker. And those are blessings. So, it's up to you, and if you’re anything like Mr. Friendly, then you'll do what's right and just.”
“You have grown to be a wise and compassionate woman, Grace.”
“You’ve been a good teacher Mr. Fr—Zarad. So, are you going to leave?”
“Yes, in time. There are things to accomplish before I leave. The people of the Living Ink must all be found and brought into the fold, their minds healed.”
“Can you do that?”
“Yes. With my brother’s help I can.”
“And then they'll be okay? Not evil or wanting to kill people?”
“They never were that way, Grace. It was only the power their creator had over them that forced them down paths of evil. Take away that power and they can be what they were meant to be.”
“But like Walker said, some people are evil, Zarad. You have to know that.”
“I do. But good can balance evil, Grace. It's the nature of the universe to seek balance and with Walker as their leader, I have faith that balance can be maintained.”
“I hope so.”
“Sometimes you need to have faith.”
“I know. And I'll try.”
“I will miss you, Grace, when the time comes to say goodbye.”
“And I’ll miss you. But I’ll remember you and …” She cut a look over her shoulder at Walker. “And if Walker has no objections, if our child is a boy, I think I'd like to name him. Walton Ellis. After his dad, and my friend.”
Walker smiled at her. “I think that’s perfect.”
“I am honored, Grace. You are going to make a fine mother.”
Grace smiled and hugged him, then returned to Walker’s side. Those wishes and prayers she’d had for so long had been answered. Certainly not in any way she’d ever have imagined, but she no longer saw herself as a loser, as someone who didn’t matter.
She was loved and she was filled with love.
And with that, anything was possible.
About the Author
You can find all of Ciana’s books on Amazon.
Visit her author page
:
Visit Ciana’s website and sign up for her newsletter
Books by Ciana Stone
Southern Comfort – Honky Tonk Angels, Book 1
Finding Justice – Honky Tonk Angels, Book 2
Baby I’m In - Honky Tonk Angels, Book 3
Ask Me to Stay – Honky Tonk Angels, Book 4
The Whisperers: Simply Irresistible – A Three Book Box Set
Holdin’ On for a Hero: A three book set
Tales of Betrayal, passion, danger and love
Hunger: The V’Kar Series – A three book set
The Sins of Love – Renegades Book 1
On My Knees
– The Seven Book 1
Ruffle My Feathers – The Seven Book 2