QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD: Earthbound series Lucien and Scarlett (Book 2)
QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD: Chapter 6

Melissa’s spell was working. I had rejoined our link, and it seemed neither Lucien nor Aria had detected my child or me. It wasn’t easy; I’d be lying if I said it was. Hearing everything he said and did was more complicated than I thought it would be. Knowing that he was intimate with Aria and other women was killing me slowly. I have frequently blocked our link; I didn’t want to feel the sensation of him becoming aroused by someone else’s touch. I thought I had felt his disgust when Aria or another had touched him; I must have been wrong.

Other times I felt I should trust him and believe what he had told me, then something would happen, and it would cause me to disbelieve him. How could I trust him when I knew he was lying through his teeth?

I hadn’t yet found the proof that Aria had arranged Alex’s attack. I was getting more and more frustrated as the hours and days went on. I had thought, why on Earth were we doing this? That I needed to confront her. I hadn’t told the others how I felt.

Pamela apologized for what she had said down our link and admitted that she was worried. That as far as she was aware, no human, witch, or omega had ever had a child with a demon, and we needed to replace someone who could give us more information; not only that, I was getting bigger by the day. Melissa’s pregnancy had differed from mine. The father had been a shifter. She had told me she had gotten big quickly and had them early with her pregnancy. I would be as big as a house before I knew it and have a baby in my arms.

We all had questioned Melissa about the father of her children. She had been reluctant to go into too much information. I wasn’t shocked to replace out that Pamela knew their father was a shifter. I was equally curious to know if Melissa had known about Jacob’s pack problem. She had appeared just as shocked to hear that no one in the pack had given birth for what seemed like years. I was sure that Melissa had thought that Jacob and his mate would have a set of pups by now. That wasn’t the case. Melissa had voiced her concern to us for some shifters in his pack, especially his sister. Melissa was considering reaching out to her when this was all over. I honestly didn’t know how she intended to do that, and though I was tempted to ask, I thought better of it. If she wanted me to know or ask for our help, I knew she would in due course.

The good news.

The human they found had started to get his memories back and had told Lucien he could remember seeing a blonde-haired woman on several occasions. From the description of the woman, it sounded a lot like Megan. It gave us hope that somewhere out there, Megan was alive and waiting for us to replace her.

On another occasion, he had mentioned a building they had held him in. He had given Lucien an illustration of inside the building. What he had described to Lucien about what had happened to him wasn’t good. We were all confident that they were doing experiments on humans and the naturals. He had become so upset and irritated that the doctor had given him a sedative to knock him out. We had to wait to see if he remembered more; if he could tell us a description of the outside of the building they had kept him in, or even the area, would be a great help. Lucien had informed the other leaders what had occurred. They had all wanted to question him. Lucien had strictly told them no. He was having him recorded, and he would send tapes to them. All but Malcolm had accepted the agreement. It had been the usual shit. Demanding that he had to be killed or handed over. Lucien nor the other leaders had agreed. Aria was another kettle of fish. Unsurprisingly, she agreed to Malcolm’s suggestion, one Lucien had ignored. Along with the other leaders, Lucien had rapidly tried to replace an area or building that matched the illustration he had drawn. So far, none had had much success.

I could now feel a slight round bump. I shouldn’t be showing yet, and I was getting more anxious as each day passed. The uneasiness I felt lingered. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling. I knew something was coming, whether it was to do with Lucien, Aria, or something entirely different. I couldn’t tell. I just knew it would hit me hard, and my family and I would have to leave. It wasn’t just a matter of if it would happen; it was when.

Once again, we were sitting together in the room I had been given after Aria had attacked me. Melissa had put a minor spell around the room to speak without using our link.

“So, is there anything to report?” Pamela said as she sat with her back straight, a look of hope on her face as she looked around the room, waiting for one of us to answer her question.

“Not a thing, it’s like everyone’s gone into hiding, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad,” Ava huffed.

“It’s the same with us. Everything is quiet. Even the patrol the other night was dead. There was hardly anyone walking the streets,” Evelyn replied.

“Do you think words got out about humans and naturals going missing?” Pamela said.

Shrugging her shoulders, Evelyn replied, “It wouldn’t surprise me. It’s bound to get around sooner rather than later. “There’s another patrol on tonight. Ava and I are going together.”

“Maybe Lucien should put on more patrols, just in case we are missing something,” I suggested.

Shaking her head, Pamela replied, “I can’t see that happening soon. There is a patrol every night, and Lucien’s men, including us, have got to stay in Lucien’s own regions. Same with the other leaders. That’s what was agreed between them.”

I couldn’t remember the discussion Pamela was talking about. “When was this?” I said in confusion.

“In one of the meetings,” Pamela replied, “when you were dead to the world.”

Typical, I always felt like a fish out of water.

I don’t know who felt it first. Whether it was me or one of the others. The surrounding air shifted as if something was coming. At first, I thought Fate was turning up for another of her unexpected visits.

It wasn’t.

We sat there looking at each other as the intensity grew. The ground trembled under our feet with such violence that I was confident we would be on the floor if any of us had been standing. A noise like the sound of intense thunder came; it was so deafening we had to cover our ears from the sound. Jumping up from the seats, we turned around until we found where the sound was coming from.

A white light was forming in the room’s corner. As it grew more significant, the white changed. As it grew more extensive, it caused the whiteness of the light to change colors. It vibrated as the colors changed. The colors were similar to the colors of the rainbow you see after heavy rainfall. We all stood there with bated breath as we watched it grow bigger and bigger. If it didn’t stop, I was sure it would swallow the entire room along with us in it.

It was one of the biggest portals I had ever seen. It was large enough for more than one person to step through. My witch and omega sat up, noticing what was happening; I took a step forward. I felt the hand on my forearm, stopping me from taking another step. I turned my head to replace out who had stopped me. Melissa, she stopped me from getting any nearer to the ball of swirling lights.

“Don’t.” Her voice was quiet and tense.

We watched as the noise eased and settled into a gentle hum. Hands fell from our ears as we watched the portal in front of us. I heard whispers from somewhere beside me as a shield formed right in front and around us. I wasn’t alone in wondering what the hell was going on. A black leather boot stepped through, followed by a large muscular body. A male of around forty stood before us. He was strikingly handsome, his hair black as a craven’s feathers, his eyes a piercing green. He turned his head as the woman we had seen before stepped out behind him.

She was just as beautiful as the first time we had seen her. I saw Melissa take a step forward, her head tilted to one side. Recognition seemed to flare in her eyes, as if she knew who the woman was standing beside the man before us.

“Melissa?” I said in a whisper, “Do you recognize her?”

She shook her head as if she was trying to clear her head. “She looks so much like her,” she whispered back.

“Who,” I replied under my breath, “who does she look like?”

“Liliana,” Melissa replied in disbelief. Her voice shook a little, betraying her how she felt. “She looks like an older version of Liliana.”

What? How could the woman be Melissa’s daughter?

Was it possible? I studied the woman, and the more I stared, the more I saw the similarities to Liliana. The long, flowing white, blonde hair and her odd eye color were a giveaway, but it was the mole on the side of her jawline that made me believe Melissa was correct.

My eyes went to the man who stood beside her. He was double her size and appeared around the same age. He wasn’t familiar to me, though I could feel his piercing gaze burning. A flash of red flickered in his eyes before turning back to green. Shit, he must be a natural of some sort, a demon or shifter. He had the build for either one.

Stepping forward, Pamala demanded, “Who are you, and what do you want?”

Eyes darting from face to face Ava said. “You’re the woman who appeared to us a few weeks ago,”

Mia giggled, batting her eyelashes at the man. “I want to know who’s the hunk beside you.”

I saw the smirk appear on the man’s face, though he didn’t acknowledge Mia’s comment.

“Really, Mia? It isn’t the time to be flirting with a complete stranger!” Pamela scolded her.

Stepping closer the woman announced. “Neither of us are here to hurt you.”

Meeting her eyes, I tell her. “I recognize you. I think we all do. You’re the same woman who appeared before and warned us.”

Her gaze flickered to Melissa before looking at the rest of us, “I’m glad you remember me we haven’t got long. The portal will soon cave in and collapse, and we will be stuck here.”

Indicating behind them, “That’s not a normal portal,” Melissa said. It wasn’t a question, but a fact.

“We don’t have the time for idle chit-chat,” the man reminded her in a gruff voice, “say what you have to tell them, and let’s go,” as he looked down at the golden and silver watch on his wrist.

Turning her head to look at the man standing beside her the woman replied “You’re a pain in my ass, you know that, don’t you?”

He rolled his eyes with a grunt, standing there with legs apart and his arms down at his sides.

Sighing, she turned her attention back to us. “I wish I had time to tell you more,” she said, “I can tell you that every one of you knows me and will eventually know the man standing at my side. I can’t tell you more than that. Fate wouldn’t be at all happy if I told you too much.”

The man standing next to her had made me feel uncomfortable. Do I know him? I couldn’t recall ever seeing him before. Not once had he taken his penetrating gaze off me since he had stepped through the portal.

I wanted some questions answered.

Holding up my hand I said, “Before you say anything else, there are a couple of questions I want to be answered.” sticking up a finger. “The first question, are you Melissa’s daughter? Two.” I heard muttering from my family while Melissa stood there as if in some sort of trance. I put up a second finger, “Who the hell is the man standing next to you, and is he a fucking demon?” I put up another finger. “Three, you mentioned Fate. What has she got to do with this, and how do you know her? Four, how do you know about Megan and what’s happening?”

The man swore under his breath, his brow creased with worry, his mouth tight. “We really don’t fucking have time for this!”

With a weary tone, the woman replied, “We don’t have a choice,”

“I will try to answer your questions as truthfully as I can, but you must understand I cannot tell you anything that could mess up the future.”

“You know the answer to Scarlett’s first question. The man standing before you, you will not only know him but love and trust him one day. Fate, who doesn’t know her? She is the one who has instructed us not to give you too much away in who we are—”

He interrupted in a loud voice, “HURRY.UP. We have got little time left!” He bit the words out. His voice had a ring of authority, one we were all familiar with. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the portal.

A deep frown creased her forehead as she felt the tug on her arm; she turned her head towards the portal. The colors within the portal had dimmed. “Shit.” She swung her head toward the man standing next to her; “It was meant to last longer than the last one.” His eyes narrowed at her words, a flicker of impatience shone in his eyes.

The colors within the portal had dimmed. The woman turned back to face us as they stepped backward toward the portal.

“The portal was meant to be stronger and last much longer than the last one!” she repeated as if in an apology. “Megan is with the Vampire King. Where you replace one, you will replace the other. You must look closer to those near you,” she yelled as they stepped back into the portal, “tell the leaders the old enemy is Enzo.”

We watched as the portal collapsed on itself, engulfing the two people who had been standing in front of us just minutes before. We stood there in shocked silence, not knowing what to say. This was the second time she had appeared, warning us. What if what she had told us was true? That Megan and the King of the Vampires were together, we just had to replace one to replace the other. Could it be that easy? Then there was the question of who this old enemy was. I tried to remember the name she had shouted out. What was it… come on, brain work… Enzo? Dare we tell Lucien and the other leaders what she had told us? Would they even believe us? Could this Enzo be someone from the old war? The only way to replace out was by telling Lucien and the rest of the leaders.

“What the heck just happened?” Mia said as we stood and looked at the spot where the portal had appeared and disappeared before turning her attention to us. “And who the hell is Enzo?”

“I don’t have a clue. All I know is she was the same woman who appeared before,” Pamela replied, “and it sounded like she thought we should recognize her.”

I didn’t know why I hadn’t seen it before. She could have been Melissa’s twin, except for those two differences. “I agree with Melissa. She looked like a much older version of Lilianna,” I blurted out, “the white, blonde hair, odd-colored eyes. Then there is the mole on her jawline. If it wasn’t for her hair coloring and the mole, she’d be the spitting image of Melissa.”

They turned their heads and stared at Melissa.

Nodding her head in agreement Pamela said, “You’re right, Scarlett; she does.”

“She looks like an older version of Lilianna,” Melissa said again almost in a trance, then shaking herself out of it said, “but until we see her again, which I have a feeling we will, there is no way of asking her and confirming if it’s true or not!” Melissa said, “it’s not as if I can even ask my child. She’s just turning eleven, for heaven’s sake.”

With her arms crossed over her chest. Ava said, “Not only that, who was the man she was with? Was it me, or did his eyes flash red?”

Nodding her head in agreement. Abigail replied, “I’d say he knew us as well, and yeah, they definitely flashed red so he’s a demon or some sort of shifter.”

“So, who’s the lucky person to tell Lucien and the rest of the leaders what has just happened?” Emma asked, “Because I don’t want it to be me.”

Pamela replied, “We don’t have to tell them everything that took place just the warning she gave us. I know from our history books there was an enemy. I think we need to heed that warning and pass it to Lucien and the other leaders and the fact that Megan could be in Nathan’s company.”

If an old enemy came back into play, we would have different opponents coming for us left, right, and center. Just the thought made my stomach turn. What kind of world was my child going to be born into? Just the thought scared me. Was it going to be one that we would have to constantly watch our backs? It seemed like it. It was bad enough that I had Aria trying to harm me and wanted rid of my family. Then there was Megan and so many others going missing. I felt a heavy weight weighing on my shoulders. I just wanted to run away from it all.

“We have to tell them. If they found out we knew and didn’t say anything, there would be a shit load of trouble,” Emma said, “we have to warn them about this Enzo she mentioned.”

“Then if we are all in agreement,” Pamela replied, looked at us, and watched as we all nodded with unity, “we go together. One of us tells Lucien—”

“Do we tell him at a meeting or?” Mia interrupted her.

Sighing, Melissa said, “At the next meeting would be best. Which I think is tonight or tomorrow evening.”

As she looked up from the app on her phone, Abigail said, “I think it would be better if we warned Lucien first, then it can be mentioned in the meeting tonight at seven,”

“I think telling Lucien first would be better than just springing it on him at the same time as the other leaders. We must keep him on our side. He might see it as bad faith or even a betrayal by not telling him first,” Pamela said, turning her attention on me, “What is your opinion, Scarlett? Do you think he would take offense if we don’t tell him?”

I sigh, “Yes. I learned Lucien expects all his people to be honest, truthful, and upfront. If anyone is deceitful, then he will see it as a threat. We, in his eyes, would be no different.”

Nodding her multicolored head down towards my stomach. Evelyn asked, “Err, I know this is a completely different subject, but what will happen when he replaces out about it? You know…”

“If he replaces out,” came from Pamela.

“It depends on if he would want the bunny,” I answered Evelyn’s question, “or not.”

“Hopefully, he won’t,” I heard fall from Pamela’s lips. I ignored her. I knew it still irks her I am pregnant with Lucien’s child, but it’s my choice, and no one else has a say in it.

As if detecting the tension building between us, Melissa said, “So as we are in harmony with what we are going to do. I suggest we tell Lucien now. The meeting is taking place in the next hour and a half.”

“Fine.” Pamela said, with her head held high as if she had said nothing out of turn, she carried on talking. “let’s get to it then.” she called out as she walked towards the door, and, grabbing the handle, she pulled the door towards her.

ARIA

Did he think I was a complete fool?

That I hadn’t noticed the way he had been looking at that bitch, Scarlett.

I had reluctantly left his side; I had other matters that I had needed to attend to, issues I didn’t want Lucien to replace out about. The mark around my arm itched as if it wasn’t meant to be there. I knew better. The tattoo-like markings around my wrist still hadn’t fully connected yet, and I was sure that Lucien’s demon was stopping it from happening. It was only a matter of time, then I would get what I deserved.

I had taken the chance to see that full-blooded witch out in the badlands. I had known about them for years and kept the acknowledgment to myself. I had searched for more, thinking if there was one group, there could be others. It had paid off. I had found another small group that mostly kept to themselves; they hated strangers and would strike you down without blinking an eye. Their reputation from years past was correct. It had taken me years to gain the trust of one of them. Now going to her and asking for help, I owed her big time. She would demand payment at some point. I couldn’t believe how stupid I had been. I had thought she would have the power to get rid of Scarlett and her family. The spell she had given me had only made Scarlett unconscious for ten fucking days. Just the thought that she was still alive and breathing the same air as I made my blood boil, and Lucien allowed her and her family to walk freely around his residence. Then, to add salt to the wound, I learned they weren’t only witches but omega.

I had heard about the separation. She had stood there to reveal her witch and omega. How was it possible? They all carried another entity inside them. What would happen if those entities couldn’t get back into the host’s body? Would it be fatal for just Scarlett or the three of them?

Then there was that fucking shifter, Alex. If she hadn’t interfered, he would have been six feet under by now, but no, that bitch had to turn out to be an omega and save him! I had barely contained myself when that news hit my ears. It seemed I was being thwarted at every turn. I needed to calm down. I could feel my insides as they burned; my beast craved to be let out. My little spy would be here soon;It was something I could use for the pent-up desire that had gripped me. It frustrated me in more ways than one. I needed a release, which Lucien had made excuses not to do. He had begun to pull away from me, and I would not let him slip through my fingers. He has always been mine, and no witch is going to get in my way.

Rap, rap, tap.

Argh, It had arrived. I never called It by their name. It was just an object I could toy with when the need arose. I couldn’t help myself, licking my lips as I looked at the clock, noting the time. It would have to pay for being late, even if by a few mins.

“Come,” I called out as I sat down on the chair nearest the desk. I watched as the door opened. A tall, skinny figure appeared. It stood there staring at me; fear lurked in the depths of those small black eyes. Unblinking, it stared back at me.

Fool, “well, come in and shut the door,” I ordered, crossing one of my legs over the other and letting the dress slide up to show my thighs and the edge of my red lace panties. I saw the heated look he gave as I revealed my bare skin. I heard the click of the door as he hurriedly closed it and walked towards me. His small black eyes ran over my breasts, lowering to the shadow of my upper thighs. I kept my gaze trained on him.

“What have you to report?” I demanded as I let my gaze take in his body. He was slim to the point of being flesh and bone, not my typical type of male. I suppose being a snake shifter didn’t help matters. They were all disgusting beings. Usually, It wouldn’t have gained my attention, but you must grab with two hands when an opportunity arises. It had an important use for me, and while that lasted, he was helpful.

I watched as he lowered his head as if bowing to me. I uncrossed my legs and parted them, running my long sharp nails over my thighs, leaving small red lines as I moved them up and then down, “Well, do not keep me waiting!” I raised my voice, causing him to jump. Beady black eyes blinked up at me with worship.

“Mistress,” It hissed out, his body shivering as his eyes dropped and followed the movement of my fingers, “I have tried my hardest to replace any new information, but it’s as if they know someone is watching.”

“You are a useless piece of shit,” I exploded, jumping up from my seat, causing him to take a step back. I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, curling my hand into his hair and pulling him towards me. “You know your punishment for not giving me the information I need!”

I felt his cock twitch, hardening and lengthening, as it pressed against my thigh. “Take every bit of clothing off.” I ordered him, as l licked his cheek. I watched as he hastily did as I requested until he was standing there naked in front of me. I ran one of my nails down the front of his bony chest, leaving red marks on his pale skin. For someone who looked like a skeleton, his dick was huge. It was nearly as thick as my arm and was almost twelve inches.

“Lay down on the bed,” I ordered as I turned away from him and unzipped my dress. Letting it fall to the ground, I stepped over the red fabric. I turned to face him. He was already lying on the bed like an eager puppy. I felt his beady eyes take in the deep red lace underwear I was wearing. The bra was low, barely holding my large breasts inside the cups, my nipples barely covered. “spread those legs. I want to get between them,” I instructed him, climbing onto the bed. “wider I want to get a good grip on your balls,” I watched as he did like I ordered. His dick seemed to grow even bigger at my words. I made sure my grip was gentle as I gripped his balls, causing his body to quiver and his cock to jump.

I heard the “Awww,” come from his lips as I slightly tightened my grip. Precum slightly dripping from the tip of his dick.

“You will hold still and not move a muscle. Do not close those legs, no matter how much it hurts. If you disobey me, we will start over. Do you understand?” I saw the slight nod of his head; I wanted the words, “I said, do you understand? Answer me.”

“Yesss,” It hissed out quickly. I moved my fingers around and pushed my sharp fingernails into the soft skin of his balls. I tightened my grip until they were in the palm of my hand. “Are you ready? Don’t move a muscle; otherwise, I will tear your balls off,” I warned him as I chased his balls around until I trapped them. I pushed my nails into his skin, marking him. I watched with sick satisfaction as his hands clenched into painful fists. My nails dug deeper into his flesh and I twisted my hand until my nails ripped his skin. I let go, giving him a brief respite before gripping them again.

“Count for me,” I ordered him, as I watched the pleasure-pain on his face; his dick bounced around so much I knew I would sink my nails into it soon. “I can feel my nails sinking into your flesh. Do you like that? I will sink those very nails into your dick soon, then we will see if it will dance around.” I looked down at him with an evil glint as he looked up at me. I smiled at him, a smirk on my lips as I squeezed harder, causing him to cry out. I didn’t warn him as I squeezed him harder and twisted his balls, nor as I slapped them as each number fell from his lips. I loved the feeling of power I had over this thing before me. I enjoyed sexually tormenting my lovers. My pussy got wet, and eventually, I’d have either his tongue or dick buried deep inside me. I heard the numbers come out of his mouth. I stopped at twenty, rubbing his balls as if it would make it all better.

“Did you enjoy the pain?” I asked as I looked down at his dick, that’s now standing at full attention. I slap it one way and another, causing it to bounce back and forth. I got off the bed. I loved how his eyes watched my every move. I stripped naked. I felt my pussy growing wetter, “Slide down the bed.” I climbed back onto the bed until my knees were on each side of his head; I lowered my pussy down onto his face, “Lick my cunt and make it good,” I demanded as I lowered myself onto his mouth. His mouth went to work, lapping at my silt, pushing my pussy lips to one side. I felt his long, thin, pointed tongue touch my pussy lips, then lick and suck my clit, giving me the pleasure I craved. “That’s good, keep it up,” I encouraged him as cum leaked and covered his face as he continued to eat me out. Feeling him slow down, I reached behind me, gripping his balls with a slight twist, causing him to lick me faster. I felt the burning deep inside my body, starting in my belly, raising, making my head spin with hunger. I needed more.

“Use that tongue of yours to lick my ass; I want to feel your tongue on my asshole, licking it until it’s clean, then use it to lick my pussy,” I demanded, gripping his head in my hands; I dug in my nails.

I felt his tongue as it moved to my asshole. The muscles begin to spasm from the touch of his pointed, forked tongue. I felt my body shake and shudder and jerk uncontrollably from the pleasure he was giving me, penetrating both my holes at the same time. I let out a dark heated cry flooding his face, lips, and mouth with my cum. I could barely move, but somehow, I lay beside his still body. I know he won’t move an inch until I give him permission.

“Mistress, there is one thing I noticed that’s not normal,” he whispered in a hiss.

“Why didn’t you tell me before I punished you?” I demand, lips thinned, eyes glowing in a temper.

“I wanted you to punish me, and I knew you might not do that if I had news you didn’t know about.”

Greedy stinky little bastard. “Tell me,” I growl out in displeasure.

“It’s the witches, mistress,” he told me with a hiss. “They have started to walk in pairs, no matter where they go.”

Mm, it could mean nothing, of course, but it was strange and maybe worth looking into. I pet my little slave. Licking his cheek and leaving a line of saliva down his cheek. I’ll give him a reward, and I needed more pleasure; I needed a cock deep inside my pussy.

LUCIEN’S OFFICE.

SCARLETT

I could feel his heated gaze, like a burning fire scorching my flesh. His eyes burned a hole through my chest as it tried to replace my beating heart and steal it away.

I couldn’t stop looking at him; he looked absolutely delicious. I fought the urge within me; my witch wanted to crawl over to him and lick her way over his hard-muscled body. I pushed her down; I needed to get myself under control. Otherwise, our feelings would eventually bleed into one, making me unable to control myself. Being pregnant had inflamed any emotions I was experiencing tenfold.

I dragged my gaze away and looked out at the scenery through the window behind him. When we arrived, you could have cut the tension in the room with a knife. Lucien’s gaze had been hostile as he had swung around towards us when we entered the room. Damien had been sitting there, his jaw clenched tight, his eyes burning in anger.

We now sat on the seats opposite his large desk, waiting for his reaction to the news he had just been given. I saw the look that passed between Lucien and Damien. I was now hundred percent sure that they had their own mental link.

“Do you trust this woman? Is it possible that she’s telling you the truth?” At hearing him speak, I turned my attention towards Damien. His cold eyes seemed to light up and linger on Abigail longer than I liked. I saw the way Abigail fidgeted in her seat as her gaze met his. I frowned; I knew something was going on between them, but Abigail wasn’t always forthcoming about how she felt. Whatever I had just seen, I wouldn’t try to put a stop to. I would be a hypocrite doing so. Whatever was going on between them was their business; I just hoped she wouldn’t get hurt.

Pamela leaned slightly forward as she tried to put her opinion across, “If there’s even a slight chance that Megan and Nathan are together, we need to notify Nathans’s people. If you don’t want to tell them straight away, then at least tell Jaden; surely, he has a right to know if no one else does,” Pamela replied. “She mentioned the name Enzo. Do you have a clue who she was talking about?”

We knew through the old books about the war and their enemy; was it the same? Lucien looked down at the large desk; at some point, he had picked up the pen that had been lying there and had twirled it between his long fingers; as if realizing what he was doing, he put it down with a slight clang on the desk as a look of annoyance crossed his face. He briefly met Damien’s gaze before he turned and sat down.

He leaned forwards, his brow creased with worry; Lucien placed both his elbows on the desk, cupping his head in both hands, he scraped them over his head. “When the Earth was young, we had an enemy. One I, along with the other leaders, thought was no longer in the equation. If this woman is to be believed, then we will have an even bigger problem on our hands.”

I had a bad feeling in my gut; if one of the meanest deadliest demons who walked this Earth looked uneasy, it wasn’t good. “We have read about some sort of war which happened hundreds of years ago. It is written in our old ancient books. It tells of how the naturals joined forces to defeat this enemy, and eventually, naturals succeeded. So, if they were defeated. How is it even possible that this enemy is back?”

Sighing, Damien replied. “That’s what we are going to have to replace out.” Looking over at Lucien he said, “The rest of the leaders will have to be told as well. If the warning turns out to be true, there will be a lot of unease.”

“Enzo was very cunning, devious and manipulative and so powerful he could bend even the strongest of our kind to his will,” Lucien told us, “he could change his appearance at a click of his fingers—”

I was confused. Was he killed? I hated not knowing. “Hold on,” I interrupted, “If this person was so powerful, how did you kill him?”

“He wasn’t killed. He had become too powerful. We turned to Ezra, the oldest wizard who matched Enzo’s powers. Ezra agreed to help us after Enzo murdered his family,” Lucien said.

This is the first time that any of us have ever heard of this wizard. From the expressions on my family’s faces, I could see that they were shocked at this news.

“So, what the hell happened to this Enzo?” I demanded with raised eyebrows. “If he is the one she was talking about, we need to replace out where the hell he is.”

“Ezra’s the only one who knows,” Lucien replied, the tensing of his jaw betraying his deep frustration.

Could this get more fucked up?

Frowning in bewilderment Mia asked. “So why can’t you just give this wizard a call and ask him if he’s heard anything? Or am I missing something?”

Lucien cleared his throat, “We do not know where either of them are. They both disappeared, and no one has seen either of them since.”

I can’t believe this. This is just madness; this is just getting worse as the minutes tick away.

I couldn’t help myself. “You’re kidding me! So, we could have an old, powerful enemy coming to harm us. Then the one person who might help us is in the wind. Could this Enzo be the one taking the humans and naturals?” We were in so much trouble, it was unbelievable. We had enemies coming out of every damn corner of the room. “Who is going to come out of the woodwork next, Dracula?”

With a slight smirk. Damien remarked, “It’s a huge possibility, and we have not seen Dracula for… years.”

Yeah, if Dracula was real, I’d eat my shoe. “You are joking, right? Dracula isn’t real,” I replied, everyone knows he is not real.

“Actually, he is. He just isn’t as the myths foretold,” Lucien told us with a shrug, sliding his arm across the arm of the leather chairs, his eyes never leaving me.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked with curiosity, shifting in my seat under his heated gaze.

“I think we have bigger things to worry about than if Dracula is real or not!” Pamela interrupts with an irritated raised voice, “We need to replace out if this Enzo is out there once again!”

“I’d like to know if that bloodsucker is real or not,” Mia utters under her breath to the rest of us. “If he looks like any of the other vampires we’ve recently seen, he’s got to be hot.”

Not impressed with her comment, Pamela gave her such a dirty look; with a roll of her eyes, she told Mia, “If it’s not too hard, can you keep your hormones in check? I do not care if fucking Dracula is real or not or whether he’s sexy. Can we get to the matter at hand? If what she told us is true, then we have a battle coming.”

“Pamela is correct,” Lucien agreed as he inhaled a deep breath before exhaling it; he picked up the glass in front of him, taking a sip before replacing it down onto the table.

“If Enzo is back, then there is worse is to come. People going missing is just the start of our problems. I will tell the other leaders at the meeting. There will be some disbelief in what you’re bringing to the table. I’ve no doubt Malcolm will once again insist that he take control of your…care,” Lucien tells us, leaning forward, placing his hands on the table in front of him, “If he ever gets a majority, then it will be hard for me to keep you under my protection.”

Melissa scoffed, shaking her head, causing her hair to flutter around her, “No matter what that little weenie boneless shit says, none of us are going anywhere; with him.”

“How will you stop him from taking you?” Damien asked, sarcasm littered in every word as his eyes mocked her.

“That isn’t your concern,” Pamela interrupted, her face crinkled in annoyance as she leaned back in the chair with her arms crossed under her breasts, causing them to be pushed up and raised higher on her chest. Damien’s gaze flickered down at the movement before he turned his attention back to Lucien. I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“I am going to put out some feelers,” Lucien said. “If there is any word out there, then I have a few people that will get me the information I require. So, if the other leaders agree, I’m going to delay the meeting for a few days.”

If it’s true that their old enemy is out there, then we have so many problems coming our way. We all sit there in complete silence; we know even before we attend the meeting, it will not go well.

It’s not something any of us are looking forward to.

LUCIEN

I didn’t want to believe what Scarlett and her family told us. If it turns out to be accurate, we were in deeper shit than any of us realized. Enzo had been a ferocious beast, and we could have been wiped out if it had not been for Ezra’s help. Ezra had been the oldest, wisest, and most powerful wizard. It had come as a shock when we realized he wasn’t only missing. He had disappeared.

I had my doubts about this so-called woman who had appeared out of the blue. I only had their word that she even existed. What had thrown me was the mention of Enzo, which was telling on its own. I had no choice; I had to put my trust in these women. Now I had to convince the other leaders and the council that this woman was real, and we had to take heed of her warning, and Enzo was back!

With Ezra’s help, Enzo had been gotten rid of years ago. None of us knew what had happened to Ezra; how can you destroy the oldest and the most powerful wizard. It had sent shivers of shock when he disappeared. The last time I had seen him had been the day before, along with many other leaders. He had outlined what he was going to do. I, along with the other leaders, had searched for him the minute we realized he had gone. None of us had found a trace of him or Enzo; it was as if they had both vanished. To this day, we still don’t know what happened. Even Enzo’s own men had disappeared. Whatever Ezra had, had up his sleeve had worked.

Scarlett. I could see her in my mind’s eye. There was no doubt she was hiding something. I had every intention of replaceing out what it was. I was sure I had felt her more than once on the edge of our link. When I had tried to reach out and connect our minds again, nothing. It was like she had put up a barrier.

My bonding link still hadn’t wholly joined; my demon would not allow it to happen. I couldn’t say I was disappointed. Aria was pissed off. She had demanded that my demon accept that we were mated, which meant my demon was part of that. Aria didn’t realize that our markings would never join if he didn’t accept her. I had no intention of telling her. The less she knew, the better.

THE NEXT DAY

SCARLETT

The meeting.

We sat in the same seats and in the same room as before. Lucien sat at the top of the large wooden table with Aria on one side. Damien and Jaden sat on the other side of Lucien. The other leaders and council were seated around the table. I could feel Aria’s piercing stare. I ignored it. So far, the spell that Melissa had cast was still working. I couldn’t comprehend how pissed off Lucien seemed to be. I knew they had had some sort of argument, but that was all that was coming through. I couldn’t go on like this; it put my child at risk. She would do her utmost to kill my child and me if she ever found out. I felt my witch and omega stir. The moment Aria had entered the room shortly after Lucien, they had seemed to jump to attention. I could feel them looking at her through my own eyes, watching her every move as if they suspected she would try harming my child and me. It did not surprise me that they didn’t seem overly concerned about Lucien. I had a feeling it was due to the fact he was the father. They didn’t like the danger I had put myself or the child I was carrying in.

I sat there listening to the conversation taking place around me. The minute everyone had arrived and sat down. Lucien had wasted no time and gotten down to business.

Upon hearing about the information we’d brought to Lucien, there had been disbelief. Malcolm, the little weasel, had once again demanded we be handed over. Thankfully, he was outvoted again; Aria, the bitch, had tried her hardest to sway their vote. She demanded to know why she had not been informed the minute we had told Lucien. In her most patronizing voice, Pamela had sweetly told her we wanted to speak to the money, not the organ grinder. The look on Aria’s face. If looks could kill, we wouldn’t have been sitting here.

Nearly every single natural remembered Enzo and Ezra. Lucien had asked if anyone had seen or even knew where Ezra had gone. In reply were blank faces and shakes of their heads. This hadn’t been news we hoped for. Ezra needed to be found; that was going to be impossible, considering no one knew where the hell he was. I had informed the vampires Nathan and Megan could be together; it was like I had dropped a bomb on their heads. Jaden had been the only one who didn’t show any sort of emotion. I wondered if he knew something we didn’t.

Leaning back in his chair Gil-Galad said. “We need to question our own people to see if anyone had heard or seen him over the years. The last time I saw him was before he disappeared. It was unusual for him to arrive without informing me beforehand. I had my own men search for him, to no avail.”

Nodding his head in agreement, Reid replied, “Same here. It was as if he was there one minute and gone the next.”

I listened as every leader who sat around the table told the same story. They had contacted him just before he had vanished without a trace. Could it be someone had snatched or trapped the most powerful wizard ever known? If that was the case, then maybe someone had let Enzo out.

“I think, gentlemen, we can agree that at some point we all have looked for him and hit nothing but walls,” Lucien replied, suspicion in his eyes, he turned his attention to Archer. “You wouldn’t know anything?”

Raising one blonde eyebrow, Archer stepped forward. “You’re not the only ones that were worried. My people were just as shocked when he disappeared. Though we normally don’t get involved, we looked for him and found out that Ezra went missing at the same time as Enzo. Is it possible that somehow whatever Ezra had planned went wrong?”

Silence filled the room as they took in what he had just said. Did Ezra’s plan go wrong? Was he trapped along with Enzo? If Enzo was now free, was Ezra?

“Anything is possible. Gentlemen, Gil-Galad is correct; we need to question our own people, even the ones we didn’t bother with last time. If Enzo is back, we need to replace out. I have already started the process. I am hoping I will get some feedback soon,” Lucien said.

With an arched brow, Jax questioned, “Can we trust these women?”

Her eyes filled with hatred, Aria splits out. “Can we trust these witches don’t you mean?”

Malcolm cleared his throat, stirred uneasily in his seat. “I agree with Aria; if you would let me question them, I—”

Lucien slowly turned his head towards Malcolm. The dark scowl he wore appeared permanently etched into his features. “How often do I have to repeat myself? I have already questioned them. If I hear another word fall from your mouth about taking them, questioning, or wanting to get your grimy little hands on them. I will cut out your fucking tongue,” Lucien barked out.

Cowering down, his face crimson with resentment and humiliation, Malcolm splatters, “I am a member of the council; you can’t speak to me in that manner.”

Correcting him, Damien replied, “We know who it really is that’s in charge of the council, and it’s not you!”

“Where’s Aadya? Wasn’t she meant to be here?” Jax asked as he looked over the council’s members sitting around the table with a frown.

I hear mutterings of agreement. One member is missing.

“She’s running late,” Malcolm replied, with a raise of his chin.

Leaning forward, Gil-Galad looked toward Malcolm and the rest of the council. “Bit convenient. She hasn’t been to any of the recent meetings. You told us she would be at the next one.”

“It’s not up to me or any of the rest of us if she, for whatever reason, cannot make it,” Malcolm huffs. “Ask her that yourself!”

Gil-Galad eased himself back into his chair. “Have no doubt. I will.”

Leaning slight forwards in his chair Jacob says. “I think we would all like to know why Aadya hasn’t attended. Until then, I would like to know more about who this woman Lucien mentioned and where she came from? No offense, ladies,” Jacob said as he looked over. His gaze lingered on Melissa longer than necessary, “but can any of us even trust her?”

Placing her hand over his. “I think, my love, you forget one thing,” Marguerite tells Jacob as she turns her head to look at him. “How can we trust them? It’s farfetched; a woman appeared to only them, and this so-called woman is from the future!”

I can feel the anger as it radiated off Melissa, her voice low and sharp; as she leaned forward in her seat, she laid both of her hands on the table. “Tell me, Marguerite, why would we lie over something so important to everyone around this table? Not only is Megan missing, but so is the Vampire King Nathan. So, you tell me why any of us would be lying!”

Marguerite swung her head, ice in her gaze as it traveled over Melissa’s face, “You have lied before Melissa,” she spits out, lips thinned, “as have you all. Why didn’t you ever reveal that you are an omega and a witch? Tell us that!”

“Because I and my family knew the reaction we would get,” Melissa spat back, eyes narrowed as she said, “and don’t talk to me about lying. After all, you’re known for it.”

They sat there like two savage wolves, ready to tear the other apart. I watched Jacob’s reaction; he was a pissed-off Alpha. If no one knew they had a history in this room, they knew now.

“Remember your place,” Marguerite screeched out, “don’t forget whom you are speaking to.”

Melissa laughed, the sound echoing around the room as everyone listened to their exchange. Jacob’s eyes narrowed as he sat there listening, waiting to see the outcome between the two women. I wondered why he wasn’t attempting to put a stop to their conversation. It was like he was hypnotized.

Her words had an angry bite. “Forget? Forget what exactly, that I am speaking to a jumped-up cunt who will do anything in her power to get what she wants? Tell me, Marguerite, have you given everything you promised to the Alpha sitting next to you?” Melissa turned her gaze to Jacob as if she were waiting for his response. She shook her silver head in disgust when she got none before she turned her eyes back to Marguerite.

Anger lowered her lids to mere slits, her two canine teeth lengthened. A low hard growl came from Marguerite’s lips.

As the rest of us stood as one unit. Melissa stayed seated.

I met Lucien’s gaze. I had been trying my hardest to ignore him and, so far, had succeeded.

A gleam of interest flared in his dark eyes and held me in his grasp. A flash of red appeared; his demon wasn’t far from the surface. It wouldn’t take much for him to come forth and appear.

The conversation between Melissa and Marguerite carried on around me. I felt the slightest of touches. I knew he was trying to rejoin our link. I couldn’t allow it. Could the spell Melissa had placed be breaking down? She would have to reinforce it; otherwise, we would be in serious trouble.

I closed my eyes. My witch and omega were doing all they could to protect the life I carried. They were no longer hiding my child from me. The light flickered in my direction as it recognized my essence as if beckoning me closer. I went closer to the light until we were nearly touching. A form appeared. It was so small it was no bigger than a melon. I could see the outline of the shape of my child. It turns its dark-haired head towards me, the baby’s eyes open to reveal a dark piercing green.

Could it be possible? Could the child I am carrying be the man I saw with the woman? I reached out to my child; I could sense it was a male I carried. I created our own link, forever joining our minds. I now knew that I was carrying a boy. Would this child be a part demon? If he was the male I had seen earlier, he already had two beings inside him.

I heard the voices of the others as they rose in tone. Whatever had happened had seemed to put everyone on edge. With a yank, I’m wrenched violently out of my body.

I glanced around the room. Everyone’s focus is on Jacob, Melissa, and Marguerite.

Melissa was on her feet. Her wolves had surrounded her. Three stood at the front, three at the back, and one on either side. The growls coming from their snouts are all the warning they will give. If they think she will be harmed, they will attack with no further warning. They must have either been called forth by Melissa or felt that Melissa was in danger. The tattoo customarily covered up by the markings of her wolves is on show, and it has lit up like a beacon. The knots and symbol are bold colors of deep red, green, and black.

Across the table, Jacob stands next to his mate. Marguerite and the rest of the leaders are the only ones who are in shock.

He must have felt some sort of burning sensation on his shoulder and arm. He looked down to see that a black symbol had formed on his muscular shoulder. His stony expression revealed nothing of his thoughts and gave no one a hint about what he was thinking. The patterns change. Symbols and knots appeared. As one, they move from the top of his shoulder down his arm. They wrapped themselves around his bicep like coiled snakes before traveling down to his forearm and surrounding itself around them, down to his large hand. I watched in disbelief as the color changed from black to red to green, growing bolder as it traveled downwards. I took a quick look at the lines, knots, and symbols that had appeared down Melissa’s arm.

Fuck, I realized what I was witnessing; they matched. It can only mean one thing. How can that be possible? Could shifters have more than one true mate? Or was the woman standing next to him and who he called mate, not his soulmate? I turned my head; the expression on Melissa’s face was alive with untold emotion.

I turned my head back to look at Jacob and his mate. Marguerite’s lips had flattened in anger, and her eyes shimmered with intensity. He stood there staring at Melissa and the wolves that stood by her side. A realization came and went into his eyes, like some sort of admission. He took a step backward away from the table and slightly turned as if to walk towards Melissa. Marguerite placed her hand on his arm; turning, he looked at the hand on his arm before he lifted his head and met her gaze; whatever communication that passed between them stopped him in his tracks.

I haven’t bothered looking to see if either of them had a mating mark until this moment. Studying them both, I realized that there wasn’t one. Of course, it could be somewhere on their bodies no one could see; there is nothing. The only one I can see is the one that has just appeared on Jacob. Marguerite’s face is priceless. She didn’t seem pleased with what she had just witnessed. I can feel the anger radiating off her in waves. Rage is the only way I can describe it.

“Melissa.”

She didn’t acknowledge Pamela; it was as if she had not spoken. Her focus was on the two naturals across the table from her. I watched as Melissa looked down at the arm that seemed to glow, then back over at Jacob. Ignoring the woman next to him.

The depths of despair glistened in her eyes as her expression revealed her torment.

“I told you,” Melissa whispered as she met Jacob’s gaze. Reminding him of an old conversation they once had long ago. Placing her hand between her breasts, she said, “I told you she wasn’t your true mate, but you wouldn’t listen. Blood turned out to be more important than me!” We all could hear the pain in her voice of a long-ago betrayal.

Marguerite opened her mouth as if to comment. Melissa didn’t give her the chance to speak. “She knew,” she told him, indicating to the woman beside him, “why do you think she went to the elders? She knew you wouldn’t go against their wishes,” Melissa told him through gritted teeth, “and she didn’t give a fuck who she hurt in the process. As long as she was the mate of the most powerful of all alphas. She wanted to be the mate of the one natural who governs over every other Alpha.”

Shaking her head, Marguerite shrieked out in denial, “You are not his true mate; you never were. I don’t know what kind of trick you are trying to pull, but that bonding mark is fake—”

Interrupting Marguerite, Melissa said. “You both know they are real.”

“Then why haven’t any of us seen your marking or Jacobs before?” Marguerite hissed.

“The markings of my wolves have hidden mine, and because they came to my defense together, that is the only reason you can see it. Why couldn’t you see Jacobs? Well, that’s a question only he can answer, or do you already know the answer to that question, Marguerite?” I watched Melissa place a hand on each of the wolves’ heads that stood on either side of her.

“I don’t have to answer to you,” she sneered.

“That’s true you don’t,” Melissa agreed with a shrug of a shoulder, “I’m just curious to know where your bonding marks are. If you and Jacob are true mates, wouldn’t you have some sort of matching marks?”

Mouth set in a grim line, jaw tense, Jacob said, “Our markings and why we don’t have any are nobody’s business but our own.” It was apparent that he didn’t like where this was going.

“I’d like to know the answer to that; I thought all true mates have the same markings,” Emma whispered.

At hearing her comment, Melissa turned her head, “All naturals will have some sort of mark when they replace their mate, and those marks will match their mates’ markings. Each natural is different.” She turns her head until she’s looking once again at Jacob and Marguerite. “Take shifters. Their markings only appear if the other is their true mates—”

Mouth twisted into an ugly sneer, Marguerite screeched, “She’s lying tell them, Jacob. She will say anything to gain the upper hand.”

Standing there staring at Melissa, Jacob ignored her.

“Yes, Jacob. Tell them I’m lying, and the markings on our arms don’t show that we’re mated, or are you going to deny what I am to you?” Melissa all but screeched.

JACOB

How can I lie? She’s telling the truth. I turned my gaze to look at the woman who stood by my side.

Marguerite is my mate.

Melissa is so much more than that.

Rat-a-tat-tat on the wooden door brought everyone’s attention away from Melissa, Jacob, and Marguerite.

Lucien shouts for them to enter.

The door is pushed open. Stood there are Logan and Adam. They entered the room, the door closing behind them with a soft click. Walking over to Lucien, Logan steps between Lucien and Damien and bends down; he turns his head to whisper into Lucien’s ear.

From the look of displeasure on Lucien’s face; It isn’t good news. Lucien’s lips move as he answers, and Logan nods his head to confirm whatever Logan told him. It wasn’t good. Logan and Adam move and walk until they stand behind Lucien, Damien, Jaden, and Aria.

“Gentlemen, our suspicions were right; our old enemy is back,” Lucien announces to the room.