Page 20 of Resurrection (Daemons & Lumens #2)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Morax

S omething was very wrong. Even the minds of the guards were blocked from me, and I could not figure out how they were able to do so.

Laszlo and Samuel were constantly away, and I was left behind—seemingly to guard the prisoners and keep the Princes out of trouble.

But it was obviously to keep me in the dark about whatever plans they had for tomorrow evening.

My daemon itched to be released, and an unsettled feeling vibrated through me as I walked with Michaela to the Queen’s Ballroom.

It was apparently named for the mothers of the princes, although other than having a room named after them, the Kings seemed to care less about the poor women.

To the Kings, women were disposable vessels at best. Michaela would never be treated as such, not while I lived.

She was silent at my side, as she usually was when I wore the face of her attacker.

The sight of her at his mercy played constantly in my mind, making my blood boil.

I would never be able to take that moment away from her, and I would punish myself until the end of time for being too late to stop it.

Her virginity was intact, but the assault was brutal and degrading.

Wearing his visage was a constant reminder of her worst moments, and I couldn’t wait to be rid of it.

I squeezed my mate’s arm, letting her know I was here, always. She looked stunning in a navy gown. The illusion of a small baby bump jutted out below the empire waistline. Her golden hair was braided back, and she wore sapphire earrings to match the dress.

“You are stunning, as always, princess,” I murmured low enough so the guards walking ahead of us wouldn’t hear.

Her cheeks flushed, and her breasts heaved slightly as her pulse quickened.

It was my favorite thing, to see her sweet flesh color at my words.

My dick twitched, and I had to force away the urge to fuck my mate.

The urges were growing stronger each moment I spent with her.

When a daemon or lumen found their mate—if they were privileged enough to do so—within days of finding each other, our souls urged us to consummate the binding.

But I refused to do so under duress. I would not claim my mate that way; her beautiful soul and perfect flesh were meant to be celebrated.

Revered. Our binding would come, and I would wait.

“I’m nervous.” Michaela uttered the words so quietly only I could hear them.

I grunted in agreement. “Something is coming. I can feel it.”

The guards ushered us into the ballroom amidst a flurry of activity.

Staff bustled about, preparing the room for the event tomorrow evening.

I caught Samuel’s eye as we walked toward the Kings, and he gave me a lazy smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

I grinned, tugging on the leash around Michaela’s neck.

Darren was ever the jackass, and I must play the part.

Laszlo’s face was a mask even I could not penetrate. I paused several feet from them, keeping Michaela at my side. “Evening, Blackbyrn. Delano.”

“Evening.” Samuel spoke first. He was shorter and less muscular than Darren, but no less dangerous. His mind was darker than most. “Ah, but what shall we call you?”

His question caught me off guard, and my daemon stirred uneasily. “What?”

Laszlo pulled one of his hands from his pockets and held out his palm. “Give me the leash.”

I hesitated. I knew I shouldn’t, but I did. How could I hand her to them? Michaela kept her head down, and I knew if she looked at me now, I would lose my shit. Instead, I nudged her forward and gave the leash to Laszlo.

“We are equals, are we not? I won’t do anything to your toy, at least not without letting you watch.” Laszlo smirked.

I nodded, crossing my arms and doing my damndest to appear unphased. “Of course we are.”

A door opposite us opened, and Seraphina and one of her Princes, Typhon, walked toward us before he could respond.

At the same moment, one of the glass doors built into the wall of windows opened, and Devon walked in, his hands and feet chained and his sister holding the leash. Yes, something was very, very wrong.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Seraphina snarled, her eyes glued to the leash in Laszlo’s hand.

“A moment, please. Others will be here shortly.” Laszlo’s lips barely moved, his face showing only the slightest irritation at Seraphina’s outburst.

The next moment, his son, Andras, and Samuel’s son, Levi, joined us, surrounded by several guards. Both Princes looked angry and uneasy.

“Where have you been?” Ty growled as Levi walked up next to him.

“Forced to watch my father’s brand of torture on the Kingston girl,” Levi murmured, his voice laced with fury. He was nearly vibrating with his anger.

“Easy, brother.” Andras touched Levi’s arm.

“Now that you’re all here,” Laszlo called out, forcing our attention back to him. “This is how things will go tomorrow. You will all participate in the ritual as required. If you choose to disobey my orders, there will be punishments.”

“Take your best shot, asshole,” Seraphina snapped.

The next moment, Laszlo ripped the leash around Michaela’s neck and forced her to the ground.

She cried out in shock, and I snarled. My daemon was nearly to the surface when I felt a prick to the back of my neck.

A weight descended over my limbs, and I dropped to the ground.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t call upon my power.

I rolled my eyes to the side and stared in shock at the creature holding the needle.

He was a daemon, or at least a hybrid. His eyes glowed violet with power, and I felt the familiar touch of an old enemy.

“Yes, my Kings, this one is not what he seems.” The daemon smiled and knelt down beside me. “Morax, is that you? Your scent is mixed up with the meat suit. When did you come to Earth?”

“Foras?” I stared hard at the creature before me.

He smiled. Foras was one of the stronger daemon hybrids my father recruited. While he didn’t have wings, he possessed abilities my father found useful, such as the one he used on me. Foras could see beneath illusions.

I ignored him, my eyes snapping to Michaela, still on the floor at Laszlo’s feet.

Samuel walked toward my prone body and cocked his head. “How long have you been impersonating Darren?”

I smirked, refusing to give him anything.

Samuel’s gaze flitted to Michaela and back to me. “I could make you talk.”

“Like fuck you can.” Seraphina stepped toward us, but was immediately surrounded by guards. She crossed her arms and smiled. “Haven’t we done this before, boys? If you want to die, just ask.”

“Silence,” Laszlo snapped, his mask of indifference slipping.

“Here’s how this will go. Michaela will remain with me.

And if any of you fuck with my plans in any way before this ritual begins, I will hurt her.

I will make her scream. Whatever she endured at Radnor’s hands will pale in comparison to what I am capable of. ”

My daemon raged, but was caged by whatever concoction Foras gave me. I stared at my beautiful mate in anguish, unable to protect her once again.

Her sister fumed, the power within her vibrating the air with electric energy.

If only she could have unleashed it now, this would have gone down differently.

The thought brought an errant memory to the surface.

The necklace. The powerful stones left by Aurora for her daughters.

I kept them hidden, even Michaela knew not where.

But it was time. Fucking hell, I hoped Phenex was ready, because things were about to get interesting.