Devour, A Paranormal Romance (Warm Delicacy Series, Book 3) (32 page)

“What are you saying?” I asked a brick landing heavily in my stomach at her words.

“This was his plan all along,” Arrick said out loud what we were all thinking.

“What was?” Ronon asked.

“Everything,” Ana answered. “Do you really believe it was some evil plot of Nicolae’s to steal Claire for himself? Think about it, he wasn’t clever enough for that.”

I disagreed with her about that. Nicolae was incredibly smart and he’d done so much for his region, but her accusation had made me think. Nicolae had never seemed the type to search other regions for a child to steal. As mad as I had been at him for the outcome, it really didn’t make sense.

“Are you saying that was Baal’s doing?” Arrick growled at her.

Ana rolled her eyes, looking completely fed up with the conversation. “Duh! Baal knows everything about
all
of you! He knew how badly Evilyn wanted a child, and he banked on the fact that Nicolae would do anything do give her one. When he learned Ione had given birth, Baal saw his opportunity being handed to him on a golden platter. He sent Fox to steal you in hopes of creating a war between your two regions, but
you
,” Ana stabbed her eyes at my father, “were more pathetic than we ever imagined.”

So, Fox had been working with Baal all along. I knew there was a reason why I never liked him. Why I always felt there was something off about him.

My hand connected with her cheek in an explosion of anger. “Don’t you dare talk to my father like that!” I clenched my fingers around her chin forcing her to look at me. Her tongue traveled along the length of her lip, licking up the dripping blood. “Apologize!”

I shoved her chin away from me and folded my arms across my chest as I scowled at her. She made no attempt to say anything, only groaning like an irritated cat.

“Do as the princess commands!” Ronon spoke, pulling out his dagger and jamming it against her throat.

“Sorry,” Ana gulped out. Her words lacked any sincerity, but I didn’t care. Ronon released her and she rubbed her fingers at the place his dagger had been. “It’s him you should be mad at,” she said, pointing to my father. “He’s the one that didn’t fight for his own child.”

My father shifted nervously after her accusation and I knew how touchy that subject was. I understood how hard it had been for them to not go after me, but their reasons, however painful they were, were justified.

“He didn’t need to fight for me,” I replied coolly. I wasn’t going to let her control my emotions. “My life wasn’t worth the lives of thousands for the sake of a war. And he didn’t abandon me either.” I reached back, pulling Arrick’s hand into mine. “They made sure I was protected. That I was watched over, and cared for, by the bravest warrior the Zakarian region could offer.”

Ana laughed at my reply. “Him? A real fantastic job he’s done so far.” Arrick squeezed my hand in his, and I knew it was taking every ounce of his control to not strike her down.

“I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for him!” I snapped back at her.

“Oh, really? So, did he save you from Luka and me? Was he there to protect you when Baal attacked the Château? Did he save you on the cliff side that night?” I was silent at her words, holding my breath to control my temper. “You know I’m right.”

Her snake-like eyes twitched over to Arrick. “Honestly,
Blood Mate
, if you can even call yourself that, what have you actually done to protect your precious princess?”

Before I could stop him, Arrick released his hold on my hand and launched himself at Ana. Surprise widened her expression, but she wasn’t fast enough to escape his attack. The last time I’d seen Arrick move like that was when he’d whispered to me from outside my balcony in Noire. His speed was otherworldly as he seemed to be standing beside me in one moment and materializing in front of Ana in the next.

A deep, thundering growl resonated from him, expelling every ounce of pain and anguish he’d ever felt. Arrick might lack the menacing display of lengthy fangs, but his sheer power made Ana cower before him. She lashed out; fearful of his impending attack, but little did she know there was nothing she could do. I watched in shock as his muscles rippled against his skin, bulging as he tackled her. In one, blindingly fast movement he rammed into her like an angry bull, crushing her body against the stone wall.

Dust and dirt fell from the stone crevices from the impact. I’d thought for sure he’d kill her. Ana’s head rolled to the side, as Arrick’s strong forearm crammed against her throat. I’d never seen him lose control before, but I could feel the swirling tornado that was his emotions. His duty was to protect me, and he held that more sacred than anything else. To accuse him of failure was more than he could stand.

“Let her go, Arrick,” my father said, resting a hand on his shoulder. Arrick tilted his head at an awkward angle, cracking his neck as if to switch off the fury of anger that had ignited inside him. Had this been why he was so adamant that I fight my own rage? He’d always told me that every vampire had an endless well of wrath inside them, and an uncontrollable urge to rein dominion over all who opposed them. Were Blood Mates the same way? I suppose they would have to be since it took vampire blood to create them.

Reluctantly, Arrick obeyed. My eyes zeroed in on his flexing jaw muscles and the downward set of his brow as he turned away from Ana and returned to my side. Despite the obvious pain she had to be in, Ana began to laugh again. I reached out, sensing the emotions of everyone around me and I knew this interrogation was quickly spiraling out of control. I had a feeling that if I didn’t get the answers we needed soon, someone would take matters into their own hands, and Ana wouldn’t live to talk about it.

“Where is he Ana?” I asked, pulling strength into my voice. “Where is Baal hiding?”

Her head was sagging, and her hair cascaded over her features like a curtain. She was clutching the seat of her chair; her shoulders rising and falling with every heavy breath. I could feel worry threatening to break me. This was the most important question. If we knew where Baal was, we could bring the fight to him and finally end this war.

Just when I thought she wasn’t going to answer me, she lifted her head, her dark ringed eyes peering at me through her knotted hair. In that instant I felt every ounce of malice she had for me… for everything and everyone. The unnerving sensation of spiders creeping across my flesh made me want to turn tail and run, but I knew if I did she would win. Ana was staring me down, testing me, so I locked eyes with her and didn’t back down.

“It doesn’t matter where he’s hiding,” she said, her voice crackling like an old witch. “It’s where he is now that you should be concerned about.”

It wasn’t just her words that frightened me, but the certainty in them. I stepped back, gasping for a breath as the wicked twinkle in her eyes struck fear in my heart. Arrick’s hand found mine, and he pulled me to his massive chest. I was stiff as a board, completely frozen in fear and I prayed that it wasn’t true.

“Please don’t let it be true.” My words were barely audible as my body began to shudder.

“Don’t let what be true?” Arrick asked, trying desperately to shake me out of my current state.

“What’s going on? Where is Baal?” Ronon asked exasperated.

Arrick’s hands grasped onto my cheeks, forcing my face to his and making our eyes meet. I latched onto him, our bond as strong as it ever was and I opened up to him, showing him the fear in my heart that I was too afraid to speak out loud. It took him only seconds to grasp the truth and his mouth fell open as shock pulled at his features.

“Where is he?” Titan was growing angry, shouting at Ana to answer him.

“He’s in Naos,” Arrick answered, terror trembling in his deep voice. The room grew silent as Ana’s evil cackle exploded.

Titan’s hand collided with Ana’s cheek and her malevolent cackling ceased, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the sight as we squirmed. “You’ve handed him this victory. All he needed to do was watch. You left poor little Naos defenseless,” she said, sticking her bottom lip out like she was truly sad. “But what’s even better, now he knows where you’ve been hiding.” Her eyes skewered Titan.

“You bitch!” Ronon shouted. “You’ve been playing us all along, haven’t you?”

“What do you mean?” I asked him, pulling away from Arrick’s embrace.

“She didn’t come here because she wanted that stone. She followed you here, so she could report back to Baal where we were!”

My mouth fell open. “But, Luka’s soul…”

“His soul isn’t trapped in that stone, is it?” Arrick asked Ana as she smirked at us.

“What does it matter whose soul is in that stone?” Ronon yelled. “We’re all screwed!”

My father began pacing, stomping back and forth across the room before throwing open the doors and calling for Mikel and the rest of the King’s Snake Guard. Arrick was keeping Ronon at bay from obliterating Ana, and Titan had stormed out of the room undoubtedly getting his army ready. We’d warned him from the very beginning that Baal was wreaking havoc, but I didn’t think he truly believed it till just now. He’d believed he was safe, hidden away in his desert citadel in the middle of the old world that had long been forgotten.

“Father, what are we going to do?” I asked him, trying to suffocate the panic in my voice. He ignored my question, mumbling to himself and continuing his frantic pacing back and forth across the room.

I didn’t think any of us knew the answer to that question. For all we knew, Naos could already lie in ruins and everyone we loved could be dead. The guilt came tumbling down around me. We were all pawns. To make matters worse, we revealed the location of Titan to Baal. Maybe that had been his plan all along? Titan had been his greatest adversary.

Mikel and the members of the King’s Snake flew into the room, lining up before my father with their fists to their hearts. My father waved off their show of respect and signaled Mikel to step forward. They huddled together, and I watched as Mikel’s eyes grew wide with shock and his body grew rigid.

“Titan!” my father barked the name, calling the king back into the room but he didn’t reply. “Ronon, I must speak with your father immediately.”

Ronon pulled away from the struggle with Arrick, and looked my father head on. “He will not come. He has gone to prepare the army. We will not allow Baal to attack us unawares.”

“You? What about Naos?” I cried out.

“It is too late for your region, I’m sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. “We must prepare for war
here
, while we still can.”

“How can you just turn your back on us?” I screamed, running at him and shoving him as hard as I could. He stumbled a few steps back, but looked no worse for wear which only infuriated me further.

“It’s the truth, princess, and you know it. There is no way you can get back there in time. If Baal is there now, as she,” he pointed at Ana, “says he is, then it’s too late. The only choice is to stay here.”

“You’re not going to help us?”

“If we leave, we could be leaving our region unprotected… as you have done.” He strode away from my glare, copying my father’s previous pacing.

“I can’t believe this!” I kicked a nearby chair, sending it clattering against the stone floor. We never should have come here. I thought seeking Titan’s aide would be our salvation, but it would be our undoing. At this very moment the people of Naos, my friends, my mother… they could be fighting for their lives and there was nothing any of us could do about it.

My heart began to pound in my chest, thrusting against my ribcage and shaking me to the core. Everything we’d done had been for nothing.

“Claire!” Arrick rushed to my side, curling his arms around me. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure something out.”

“How?”

Ana’s laugh tore me from Arrick’s arms. I stepped forward, staring her down and she stared right back at me until her eyes flicked to my pocket where the stone was tucked away. Why did she still want it? If Luka’s soul wasn’t trapped inside then why did she care if I had it? I could see the envy in her gaze; the greed. She wanted the stone, she wanted it bad.

Realization hit me like a lightning bolt. Maybe his soul really was inside, or maybe it wasn’t, but it didn’t matter because it was her getaway. It
had
been all along. She had triggered the chaos she came here to cause, and now she knew it was time for her to make her escape. Time for her to return to her master.

“That’s it!” I exclaimed to Ana, smiling at her as if she were on our side. She sneered at me, disgusted with my smile and folded her arms across her chest.

“What’s it?” Arrick asked.

“The stone! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.”

“Think of what child?” my father asked, intrigued by my elation.

I pulled the stone out of my pocket and held it before me, turning around to face them. “These stones can do more than cause pain. They can transport you to other places. That’s how I got to Noire!”

“Dark magic,” my father whispered, both fearful and hopeful at the same time.

“You cannot use dark magic in Titan. My father will not permit it!” Ronon chimed in.

“Well, I’m not asking for his permission,” I spit back at him. “If this is our only way of getting back to Naos in time, then we’re going!” Ronon growled at me, but he didn’t say anything. He knew he couldn’t stop me.

“If you’re going back to Naos to fight Baal, then you’re going to need help,” Titan said. His voice was calm, almost excited, and that scared the hell out of me. He marched into the room with three fierce vampire hybrids following behind him. By their armor clad bodies, rippling muscles and grim expressions I needed only one guess who they were. Titan’s army.

“You’ll help us?” Glee bubbled up inside me as Titan nodded.

“What about our people? We can’t leave them here alone?” Ronon pushed past me to confront his father.

“It is time we bring the fight to Baal son.” Titan smiled toward Ana, but it wasn’t a friendly grin, it was one of those smiles that you give when you have evil plans in store for someone. “His minion opened my eyes. We’ve spent far too long hiding in the desert. That is what he expects us to do, is it not?” He directed the question toward Ana, but she avoided his gaze.