Page 5

Love and Lies

A fter this emotional scene, we left the two alone, retreating back into the house, trying to ignore the voices we could hear.

Libby’s shocked reactions to Frank as he explained the unbelievable to a mortal he had been married to for over thirty years.

And as for Keira, she made everyone drinks and played host as all the men were left sitting in the living room thinking the same thing…

Thank the Gods it wasn’t us.

In fact, out of all of us, only Dom knew how Frank felt, and even that was on a small scale.

Because he had no doubt had to explain his world to Keira early on in their relationship.

Whereas for Lucius and I, we’d had our own demons to expose, and in the form of our pasts to each confess to.

Although after thirty years, I could only image the betrayal Frank’s wife felt, despite his reasons for keeping it secret.

But it did make me wonder how Ella was going to take the news of who and what her father truly was.

Yet even that conversation seemed a million miles away right now.

As for me, I was anxious to get this shit to the next stage.

More specifically, to the point where we could tell Frank our plan in getting his daughter back.

Particularly, what his role was to be in that plan.

When Keira came out with a tray of mugs I had to say, we were at a point where we were in need of something stronger than tea and coffee.

Circumstances being different, I would have laughed at the sight of three Kings all sitting around a coffee table with a mug in our hands so soon after facing a battle in Hell.

“Well, good news is there were chocolate biscuits in the tin,” Amelia said, following her mother out with a plate, and when no one made an attempt to take one, Keira added,

“Don’t worry, they were shop bought.”

Immediately, all of us reached for one. Because it was well known that Libby wasn’t the best cook, something Ella had teased her about.

“How do you think Aunty Libs is going to take it all?” Amelia asked after sitting next to Lucius, who instantly picked up her hand and started playing with her fingers.

A habit I had seen him do often and, well, it wasn’t surprising.

As even Dom instantly wrapped his arm around Keira, who snuggled in close.

And here I was, sitting in the armchair alone, feeling the pang of emptiness at knowing I couldn’t just reach for my own girl.

Because that connection meant everything to us and without it, it honestly felt like losing a limb.

“I don’t know, honey, it’s a lot to take in but I do know this…

love can overcome the hardest of times. And each of us in this room have all known our fair share of them,” Keira replied, making all the men nod, including me…

The only one who couldn’t follow that agreement up with granting their lover a kiss like Dom and Lucius did.

“Just as we all know that love and lies can also go hand in hand if fear of losing someone is the motivation for those lies,” I added with a sigh, making the others agree with just a look.

“Well let’s pray my sister can see it like that,” Keira added in a hopeful tone.

Yes, and soon , was what I didn’t add, as we didn’t exactly have the time to wait.

“Any news on Theo?” Keira asked Dom.

“He is with Vincent, helping him reach out to our Enforcers before joining us for the next battle,” he replied, making Keira flinch.

“Perhaps he is better staying in the mortal realm. You know, incase things go pear shaped… along with Fae,” Keira added this last part over the rim of her mug, making Amelia scoff.

“Yeah, like that’s going to happen… and don’t you dare even try to agree. We have talked about this,” Amelia said when Lucius started to open his mouth and say,

“But…”

“No buts, this is Ella we are talking about, and I don’t care if she has some other sister now, she is practically my sister and has been all my life… so no, it’s not even up for discussion, Mister.”

At this Dom turned to his wife, making her instantly give the same argument.

“Don’t even think about it.”

Dom and Lucius each gave the other a look as if to say a silent, ‘we shall see about that’ but they wisely chose not to say anything further on the matter.

And not that they would have had the opportunity, because it was clear the second the door was opened, that Frank’s martial storm had passed.

Because the next thing we knew, Libby stormed into the room and faced us all.

Her slim hands fisted under the long sleeves of her pale green sweater that brought out the color in her green eyes, that were currently all puffy from the tears she had obviously shed.

“Right, just so we are on the same page here, you’re the Vampire King that is married to my niece, you’re the half Demon King who married my sister, and you’re the HellBeast King who is engaged to my daughter… that about cover it or you want to tell me my brother-in-law Justin is an Elf?”

Dom snorted a laugh at this and muttered under his breath,

“More like a fucking fairy.” Something that Keira elbowed him for, making him cough and say, “No, that’s about the gist of it.”

“Great, dandy, wonderful… so let’s move on to the part where you tell me how you’re all going to get my daughter back,” she replied tensely, as Frank followed her inside and said,

“I second that.” And this was where I took over, now putting down my mug before standing up to face them before laying it out straight.

“In a nutshell, I fucked up and now we need your help getting her back.”

“Jared, that’s not true, there was nothing you could have done to…”

I was quick to cut Keira off, no matter how much I appreciated her support in this.

“No, this is my shit to own, and this is me owning it. She is my girl and I should have protected her better. She got taken because…”

Dom interrupted me, picking up where his wife left off.

“Because she sacrificed herself to save you by going into that portal, you are not to blame, Jared, no matter how much guilt you feel about the situation we are in now. The fact of the matter is that Ella is…”

Once again, it was my turn to cut him off.

“Stubborn, yes, but the fact of the matter is that I never should have left Ella before that battle.”

“A battle I hear would have been lost without you in it,” Lucius added calmly.

“Jesus!” Frank hissed whilst Libby cried out,

“Battle?!” This was when Frank took his wife in his arms as she started crying in panic.

“What are we going to do, Frank, our baby girl… she’s… she’s…” Libby sobbed, making him cradle her head to his chest.

“Ssshh, I know, sweetheart, we will get her back… I promise you,” Frank assured her, squeezing her tight before looking to the rest of us.

“Now I don’t care who wants to take the blame in all of this, and knowing my daughter the way I do, then she no doubt had a stubborn hand in making her own damn decisions.

But it seems to me, that there is only one who is to truly blame in all of this and that’s this fuck Garmr!

” he said, making me release a heavy sigh I felt come from my bones.

“On that, we all agree on,” Dom added.

“Good. Now as for you,” Frank looked my way.

“Well, Son, you can stand there and take all this on your shoulders until it brings you to your knees and that shit buries you, but that ain’t going to help us get her back,” he told me, making me swallow down the emotion, especially when he tapped Libby to let him go so as he could walk over to me.

I held myself still, waiting for the hit, but what I didn’t expect was for him to put his hand to my shoulder and say,

“Now I know a man in pain when I see one. I know you would exchange places with her if you could or you would die trying. I also know that you love my girl like no other man but the father you’re looking at.

But right now, you’re gonna bury that guilt before it buries you, and you are going to do what I know you are rumored to do best… You’re gonna fight, HellBeast.”

I swear I was close to choking on the lump in my throat, forcing myself to say in a heavy tone,

“I give you both my vow, I will fight with my last breath to get her back.”

Frank nodded at this, giving my shoulder a squeeze before turning to the rest and asking,

“Now tell me the plan.”

“This is not exactly what I had in mind when you said you needed my help,” Frank commented as we once again stepped outside.

We had not long ago finished what was a difficult conversation for all of us.

Especially Libby after we explained all that had happened.

But then again, no parent wanted to learn that their daughter’s first life came with other parents and a sibling they had no idea she had.

Nor did they want to hear how she had been kidnapped by her uncle to be used as a weapon to bring about the end of all our worlds.

Needless to say, there was a lot of tears and even more questions from the only mortal in the room.

One that had only an hour ago learnt of our existence.

But the time for keeping Ella’s mother in the dark had well and truly passed.

As for Frank, like I, he was eager to get to the part where we told him the plan.

More specifically, the part that included what we needed of him.

Something we all thought wise not to let Libby witness, as she had most definitely endured enough for one day.

Which was why we recommended that this next part happen outside, whilst Keira and Amelia stayed with Libby to reassure her that Frank would be fine. And giving them the opportunity to answer what was most likely a million questions that Libby still had.

“I’m assuming you’ve done this to an Angel before, Vampire,” Frank said, no doubt feeling some unease about this.

“The Vampire has a name and yes, Frank, I have done this before,” Lucius replied wryly, as we walked toward the natural path into the wooded area that surrounded their home.

Because we knew with one glance out the window, that Libby would freak out if she saw what was about to happen.

Learning that her husband was a fallen Angel was one thing, but watching as he became one of Lucius’s Vampires was quite another.

“I think this is far enough,” Dom said as the four of us came to a natural clearing.

“Alright, so what do I have to do?” Frank asked, now removing his plaid shirt and tossing it to the ground.

“I am surprised you don’t know,” Lucius said, making him grit his teeth and say,

“Didn’t hunt any Vampires.”

“A good job too, or we might have met under quite different circumstances,” Lucius replied with an unnerving grin.

“Yeah, no doubt… so like I said, what do I need to do?’” Frank repeated, and Lucius’s grin grew bigger when he said,

“That’s easy…”

“All you have to do is bleed, Holy One.”