“Oh well, if that’s what’s stopping you, I can fix that. I’m close to some witch doctors who could easily break a blood bond. They specialize in dealing with blood potions.”
Lucie’s eyes blazed with fury. He grinned widely and chuckled. “Oh, Lucie. You just don’t get it, do you? IF I decide I want you, you’re already mine. I can easily have those sweet memories of yours altered. I can even have you see me as your mate.” He cackled loudly as his eyes flitted wildly over her. “But what would be the fun in that? I would much rather see if I can tame you first. Lucky for you, I haven’t decided how invested I am yet. Breaking you would also be breaking him, and that sounds like a lot of fun.”
Lucie swallowed hard at this. She was trapped by a crazy deity and was powerless against him.
Erebus winked at her. “Well, princess, I’ll be seeing you soon. Sweet dreams.”
He vanished, and she collapsed to the floor. Where was the Moon Goddess now? If she was really on her family’s side, couldn’t she help her out here? Or was she afraid of getting overly involved again? The situation was becoming more and more desperate. The only thing she had going for her was her Uncle Levi. It was clear that Erebus didn’t know she had a deity in her corner and wouldn’t be counting on him looking for her. And she knew he would, but even then … how long would it take for him to find her?
This Erebus must be obsessed with the Kraken, so much that he knew nothing about her, the fairy princess, or her lineage. Had he done any research, he would have known that the fairy princess would be a demi-god. This worked out, though. Hethought he had the one and only fairy princess. She just had to have him keep thinking that. She would protect Alexa by becoming her shield.
She wrapped her arms around her knees and pulled them to her chest, feeling completely hopeless. She was worried about Derrick and how he was holding up. She hoped he wasn’t thinking of doing anything stupid. He couldn’t come for her. He needed to stay far away from this lunatic deity. Thinking about her mate made her heart hurt. Would she get to see him again? She leaned her head onto her knees and felt her eyes burn. Quiet tears trickled down her cheeks, and for the first time, she was all out of ideas. All she could do was wait for someone to find her and hope the lunatic kept his word.
CHAPTER 57
Erebus clicked his tongue. “Just look at you. Covered in blood and bruises. You are very unsightly.”
“And whose fault do you think that is?” Lucie said tiredly, struggling to her feet when the deity entered the room.
“Yours, of course. Your disobedience is the cause of your pain and suffering. Like now … you still refuse to put on the clothes that I’ve given you. I’m sure your mates’ scent has almost disappeared completely from your dress. No sentimental reason to leave it on.”
“I’d rather wear this old dress that smells bad than wear your clothes with your scent on them.”
“Oh Lucie, I’m going to have to teach you another lesson.” Erebus walked up to her, grabbed her by the neck, and slammed her back into the wall. “I hate doing this to you, princess, but you need to be trained properly.” He took his free hand and traced it over Lucie’s lips. “I think I’m going to make this a new hobbyof mine. Finding a spirited woman and seeing how long it takes to break them. I’m afraid none will compare to you, though.” He gripped her tightly with both hands, forcing her to hold still, then licked her neck all the way up to her cheek. He chuckled as she struggled against him in vain. “Still being disobedient, I see. I’ll have to discipline you again.”
He slapped her across the face, his lips curling angrily as she shot her defiant green eyes right back at him. He growled and clenched his teeth. “Quit fighting me!”
She felt his hot breath and spit beat against her face. She continued to look at him challengingly. “I’ll never stop fighting you.”
Erebus chuckled. “You will, though, princess. I just haven’t broken you enough yet. But … You. Will. Break.” His lips curled up more as he pressed himself against her. “You feel that? You’re making me excited, princess. The more you fight, the more I want you. So keep fighting. Keep exciting me. It will make the release all the more worth it.”
Lucie felt bile rise in her throat. She could feel his excitement pressing against her, and it repulsed her. She turned her head away from him. It had been a week since she was taken. A week of being in hell. Every day, he worked on breaking her and training her. Her body was bruised and bloodied. She was dirty. Yet she continued to fight. She wouldn’t let him see how much she was actually affected by all this. The emotional toll it was taking on her. And she was beginning to feel dirty.
Erebus had forced his kisses on her. He had trailed his hands over her. He hadn’t forced himself on her more than that … yet. He was still banking on the fact that she would eventually want him. He wanted her to ask for it. Like hell she would. But she wasn’t sure if she was still worthy of her mate anymore. Another man had touched her body and her lips. They were supposed to only ever belong to Derrick.
She still wanted to escape this place, but now, she wasn’t sure where she would go. She couldn’t become Derrick’s queen now. He deserved better. She could make a deal with the witch doctors and break the blood bond. It was probably better that way. She was tainted now. How could he want her after this? She could imagine his thoughts after seeing hers and what she had been through. She didn’t want to feel his disgust. She didn’t want the man she loved more than anything to feel repulsed by her.
“Well, I guess that’s it for today’s lesson. See you tomorrow.” Erebus gave her a smug smile and stepped back from her. Then with a wink, he vanished.
Lucie tried to get her breathing under control as she felt herself panicking slightly. There was no escape. No one would find her. And she felt disgusted with herself for feeling so weak and desperate.
She slid down the wall. Her heart raced wildly. She had never felt so vulnerable and weak. Her lungs were constricting, making it harder to breathe, and she wasn’t getting the oxygen she needed. Her vision began to tunnel, until finally, darkness overtook her.
Another week has passed.
“Damn it,” Abe cursed as he and Levi stood in an empty building. It had been two weeks since they last saw Lucie. TWO WEEKS! Two weeks of searching, of feeling her, but he couldn’t get close to her. During that time, he and Levi had been searching nonstop. They had been spending a lot of time together and had formed a passive-aggressive relationship. But there was trust between them now.
Levi groaned and leaned his hand against the wall. “We can’t keep going on like this. The family can’t continue like this either.”
“Neither can Derrick. He’s leading the vampire army viciously, looking for the witch. He’s breaking more with every day we can’t find her. I can’t imagine what Lucie is going through. I can only tell you she’s alive. But that’s all I can feel.” Abe sighed, the creases on his forehead showing his worry for Lucie.
“Alexa isn’t speaking to any of us. She hates being locked up, but she isn’t alone. Aedan is stuck under house arrest with her. I think he’s also getting more and more agitated by the day. It’s only a matter of time before they both rebel.” Levi sighed angrily. “Damn it. Where did he take her?!”
“What exactly is the separating factor between deities and demons? Just curious, because it looks like there isn’t much of a difference. One is considered automatically evil just because of their name.”
“You know, I don’t know anymore. I really don’t.” Levi shook his head sadly. He was working with a half-demon. Jin was the sweetest demon he’d ever met. And Harley, who was the son of an original demon, had been a great help and mate to his niece Destiny.
“What do you think he is planning by taking her?” Abe asked quietly.
