Текст книги "Ties That Bind"

Автор книги: T. A. Grey

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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

CHAPTER 26

The office door opened but Telal didn't bother turning to see who'd entered.

“Sir, Tyrian en Kulev has called. He wants to meet with you.”

Telal flicked a glance at Kearnyn and nodded. He’d been sitting down for most of the morning, just thinking. Thinking about the past, about his family, about what happened at the rift, and of course, what happened with Lily this morning.

Now that the original shock had faded from seeing what his brother had turned into, a new feeling came over him. One of deep, seething anger. The feeling surprised him. He'd loved his brother more than anything, more than anyone. Even his own parents, though that was hardly a comparison. They just bred him. They were not his parents in any sense of the word.

Telal rolled his brother's necklace between his fingers, feeling the metal warm up in his hand and slide silkily back and forth. The band was made from black jet and attached to it was a pendant with the royal crest on it. Alrik had given him his royal necklace on his twentieth birthday. He could still remember the exchange down to the finest detail.

The royals spun around in glamorous costumes on the dance floor in a swirl of bright red and blue colors—the royal colors. Today was his birthday and everyone had gathered to celebrate. He gulped down the drink in his hand. Yeah, anyone who mattered, he thought. The thousands of prolitare spent this night huddled in their small homes by the fire just to stay warm while here he wore a lavish costume that was so warm it was nearly suffocating. Telal's gaze swung to all the massive fireplaces in the grand hall and a sickening guilt overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, he felt stifled as if there wasn't enough air in the hall. He stood, making his way to the front door. He had to get some air. Sweat beaded his brow and slid down his temples, the tightness in his chest compressed harder.

A hand caught his shoulder and he swung around to excuse himself from whichever well-wisher it was. But Alrik's wide smile stopped him. He sighed and nodded toward the doors. At Alrik's nod, they both headed outside. The night was cooler than usual and the wind blew strongly, rustling the trees until they bowed under its great strength.

“Enjoying the party, Telali?” his brother asked.

Telal smiled at the cute little nicknamed Alrik had called him since they were children. The nickname was silly but it'd always stuck and it always managed to make him smile. His brother had a way of making him feel good in spite of the turmoil that sat in his guy.

“A bit,” he said. “I needed some air.”

Alrik clapped him on the back. “I understand. The overwhelming scent of perfume and alcohol in there alone made me want to retch.”

Telal laughed, the tension in his chest easing. “Did you see what mother’s wearing?” They both laughed at the image. His mother wore an incredibly gaudy gown tonight that clung so tightly she literally couldn't sit down lest the seams tear open. But that wasn't the worst of it. The worse was the headdress she'd had made just for his birthday. It towered over two-feet off her head in a white column made of gauzy silk. On top of the headdress came out a dozen frilly tendrils made up of swirling coils of gold thread. At the end of each tendril hung a teardrop diamond.

“Did you see the way it moves when she walks?” Alrik asked, laughing until a tear came out of his eye.

“She looked like she had a frilly octopus on her head,” Telal agreed.

Their laughter died and they shared the view of the kingdom together with its faint pinkish hue, rolling green hills, and flowering trees. At skin level, it looked gorgeous, almost breathtaking. But below that beauty rested evil, treachery, and manipulation—mostly by his mother and father.

“I have something for you,” Alrik said hesitantly.

Telal turned to him in time to see a faint blush creeping up on his golden skin. He laughed. “A kiss?”

His brother relaxed, laughing. “You wish, brother Telali.” He reached behind his neck and unclasped the royal necklace from around it.

Telal watched in stunned awe. He had to screw his eyes in a tight expression to keep his eyes from tearing up. That necklace meant so much to his brother...it meant everything.

He held the black jet necklace with the royal pendant out to him. “I want you to have it.”

Telal's hand went to his own necklace, made not out of jet but of gold with the same royal pendant. His meant nothing to him, which he'd voiced to his brother on numerous occasions. But for Alrik, who knew he'd one day inherit the kingdom, it was dear to him.

Telal's voice sounded thick with emotion he tried hard to keep in check. “You said it helped to remind you of the right ways.”

Alrik's smile looked almost sad. “I won't need it anymore, brother. All the right teachings are here.” He pressed a finger to his heart.

Telal looked away to gather his composure. “You're certain?”

He nodded and stepped forward, holding the necklace out by the ends. Telal bowed his head and let Alrik attached the ends behind his neck. When he lifted his head, the necklace fell on his chest, next to his own royal necklace. His face nearly crumbled. He jerked Alrik into a hard hug.

“Thank you, brother.”

“Sir? Are you ready to go?”

Kearnyn's voice jerked Telal out of his memory. Telal clenched the necklace in his fist. It was the first time he'd ever taken it off. His heart sank in his chest, but he opened his desk drawer and dropped it inside.

“Yes, let's go.”

He grabbed Kearnyn's shoulder and ported them into the conference room at Tyrian's study. Tyrian and his guardsman Rayn waited for them there.

“Have a seat and tell me how the weapon manufacturing's going.”

Telal took a seat but realized that he had no idea. Shit. So much had been going on lately he hadn't even bothered to keep on his business. He looked to Kearnyn and the guard stepped forward. He'd only made a thousand in his free time. But with his trip to the rift, the work had been pushed far from his mind.

“Rosa Delgado has been working hard on her share of the weapons. I do not know the exact number she has completed.”

Tyrian took a seat in a leather armchair. “I'd like to see one of the weapons. Rayn has volunteered to be a test subject to the electric power in them.”

After a moment, they agreed that Telal would go and fetch the witch. With a sigh, he ported to her shop.

Rosa lurched when she saw him and screamed in holy terror, the color draining from his face.

“Didn't mean to startle you,” he said easily. “You are required at a meeting with Tyrian en Kulev right now. Fetch one of the weapon's you've enchanted.”

She stood there staring at him for a long minute, her hands clutched to her heart. Then slowly, methodically she went and retrieved a dagger.

“Next time port outside and knock,” she said with a glare.

Telal shrugged. He didn't care. In fact, he didn't feel much of anything right now. A cold numbing feeling had settled over his body. Going to this meeting should be important and take planning. He knew he should have brought one of the weapons he'd enchanted himself and not be here wasting time, but he hadn't done any of those things. Everything seemed so unimportant now, different.

She held out her hand to him and he took it, porting them into Tyrian's study. She faltered as she spotted Kearnyn a blush covering her cheeks.

“Let me see it,” Tyrian said.

Rosa handed him the blade and he studied it, nodding, his brow pulled in concentration. Then he stood and Rayn groaned.

“Really?” asked Rayn.

“Really,” Tyrian said. Once he was about ten paces away from Rayn, he grabbed the dagger by the blade and sent it sailing through the air. The dagger landed above the knee in Rayn's leg.

“Ah, fuck.” Rayn cursed and his body started jerking as if he shocks of electrical bursts zapped through his body. He fought it and tried to stay standing, but the power of the electricity was too much for him and he fell to his knees, yanking the blade out of his leg viciously.

Tyrian nodded with approval. “Very good. If we get a similar reaction or worse from the idummi then this will prove to be an excellent new weapon.”

“Agreed,” Telal said.

“Good work,” Tyrian said to Rosa.

She smiled. “Of course.”

Tyrian ordered Rayn to the medical ward and after he limped out of the room grunting and cursing, Tyrian took a seat, his expression all business.

“What happened in the rift?”

“My father died during the Great War and my brother Alrik has been king ever since. My mother still reigns as queen.” That twisted bitch.

“Your brother? Hm... How did the kingdom look?”

Telal looked away. He wished he could say it had turned out to be everything he thought it'd be if Alrik became King, but that'd be a flat-out lie.

“Bad,” he answered honestly. “Alrik has become corrupted worse than anything I've ever seen him. It's actually affected him physically, discoloring his natural appearance.”

“I've never heard of such a thing.”

“I have but I thought it was a myth. He appears to be ruling with an iron hand. Even his eyes are black.” Telal's chest tightened; he curled his hand into a fist as some kind of outlet to the anger twisting inside him. How did everything turn out so wrong?

“Has someone helped to corrupt him?”

“I have no doubt my mother has. She's always been a twisted bitch.”

“He won't accept the proposal then,” Tyrian said. It wasn't a question. “What do you plan to do?”

“I don't know.” It almost hurt to say. No, wait, it did hurt to say.

“If you plan to take the throne back then I'll support you,” Tyrian said, his voice quiet.

Telal stood, nodding. “The weapons should be finished in...” Fuck he didn't even know. He looked to Kearnyn who spoke up.

“In the next two weeks, sir.”

“Good, I look forward to it.” Tyrian came forward and thrust out this hand. Telal shook it then touched Rosa and Kearnyn and got them the hell out of there.

He ported to Rosa's first then grabbed hold of Kearnyn.

“Wait,” Kearnyn said, stepping out of his hold. “I need to talk to Ms. Delgado.”

Telal arched a brow and looked at the both of them. Yup, if they weren't already sleeping together, they’d soon be hitting the sack.

Telal left them and reappeared in his office. Lily Bellum sat on his desk, a wicked smile on her face. Seeing her actually made him feel better.

“Get off my desk,” he said out of habit.

Surprisingly, she did. She hopped off but ran up to him and jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck. He was so stunned by the action his hands went around to hold her.

She pressed a kiss to his mouth and before he could kiss her back, which he realized he really really wanted to do—if only to lose himself for a while—she kissed along his jaw and to his ear.

“I have a surprise for you,” she whispered in his ear.

His hands tightened on her. Another one? He still hadn't gotten over the shock of the pen. “What is it?”

She laughed a low and provocative sound. His cock must like the sound because all the blood in his body pumped to there. He closed his eyes as she began nuzzling his neck with her soft lips. God, she'd felt amazing wrapped around him. She'd been so generous and soft in bed. He'd taken her where no other man has. A hot fiery surge of pride filled him. His hands reached to her ass and squeezed, bringing her against him so he could push his cock against her—to remind her of what he'd done. He felt more animal than man.

She moaned and licked up his neck. “Come on. I want you to see it.”

“See what?” he asked, his voice deep with arousal. She wore another dress, this one a light shade of pink. Just the thought of all the ways he could take her in that dress pulled his balls up tight.

She pulled back to look at him, her eyes shining with excitement and desire. “Your present!”

Cursing and mumbling, Telal let her lead him down stairs, out the main lobby, and outside. His guards sent him a varying degree of shocked expressions to which he glared at them—daring them to remark. Each time one of them glanced at Lily or the bare skin of her legs, a growl started from deep in his chest.

At the curb sat something with a black tarp over it. Judging by its shape, he had a feeling he knew what it was.

“What is it?” His lips curled with distaste.

She hopped to the curb and grabbed the black tarp pulling it a way with a great flick of her wrists like a magician. His jaw dropped at what he saw and he quickly shut it.

“You bought me a bike?”

Her eyebrow cocked. “Not just any bike. A Harley Davidson Iron 883. Just came out this year.”

Telal had to admit, the bike looked sharp and sleek in a badass kind of way. It had a black body with two chrome exhaust pipes coming off the side. Everything from the seat to the handles was black. It looked manly. A part of Telal actually flexed at the idea of riding with that between his legs.

Lily caught his expression and smiled, knowingly. “Yeah, you like it.” She crossed her arms with a satisfied expression.

He sighed. “I do.”

She came up beside him, a little smirk on her face. “Now you just need to learn to ride so I can go with you.”

“How would we fit on there?” A part of him was surprised he'd even asked. But then he remembered his plan had been foiled; there really was no reason to push her away anymore. Besides, not that he'd ever admit it to her, but he wanted her again. He hadn't touched her nearly enough since their first time. He had so much more to explore with her. Plus, he'd had a lingering hangover at the time and hadn't been able to etch into memory everything like he wanted to.

She moved to stand in front of him and he had to crane his neck down to look at her. Her eyes were warm and inviting. Or maybe he just saw what he wanted to see?

“By me holding real tight to you.” The image flashed in his mind. Him driving her on a dark night, the wind flying past them, the vibrations of the roaring bike rocking between them. She’d wrap her dainty arms around him, squeezing him tight with her legs pressed against the back of his.

Suddenly, he was grabbing her hand and hauling her back through the lobby.

“Hey, what're you doing?” She sounded breathless and he wanted to roar. She wanted him. He made for the elevator then thought better of it and practically ran down the hallway to the stairs. Once inside the stairs he tugged her up about two flights before he stopped and pushed her back against the wall, his body crashing down on hers.

“Telal?”

Her wide eyes were beautiful. He'd hated her when he first saw her. She had lush, dark curling hair, a ripe young body, and eyes the color amber and golden brown around a black pupil. The way she'd pursued him without qualm to his history, his demonic ancestry had surprised him, and angered him. He'd taken out his anger by calling her on her foolish actions. He could still remember the night she'd slapped him in front of Lyonis Keelan's cabin. So he'd been late. He still managed to save Lyonis' life.

“Where did you go?” she asked softly.

He blinked and remembered he had her plastered against the wall in the stairwell.

He looked down at her supple body in that flowing pink dress and all of his instincts flared to life.

“Nowhere.”

And then he kissed her.

* * *

Lily moaned at Telal's kiss. If this was how he thanked her for buying him gifts, then she'd remember to buy him one for every day of the week.

His kiss awakened need deep in her belly. Her core ached and grew wet as his tongue slid along hers.. She felt a desperate urgency in his strong hands, in the hard bite of his kiss.

He pulled back. “Are you sore?”

She did feel something lingering inside her. It didn't quite hurt but it felt like she had just learned how to use a muscle that had been inactive all her life. She shook her head and then his mouth crashed back down on hers.

Urgent hands gripped the bottom of her dress, pushing it up roughly to her waist. The cool air on her did nothing to cool the rampant fire burning inside her. His hands fingered the lacy material of her panties then tugged them down with ruthless pulls. Her pulsed raced, roaring in her ears drowning out all other sound. Her skin pulled tight at his touch, awaiting his next caress as if she were made for him.

“Step out of them,” he said, his voice husky and deep. She shivered as she obeyed, kicking the panties away.

His mouth came back on hers but only for a second before diving down to cover her breast over the dress. Her hard nipple easily poked through the material and he found it, teeth tugging on it, sending needy spikes of pleasure straight to her sex. He made her wet, made her squirm, with just the smallest of touches.

“I hope you don't care about this dress,” he said.

“Why?” she asked, her hands spearing into his hair.

He answered her by grabbing the collar of her dress and ripping it nearly down to her waist. Her braless breasts spilled free and he groaned a deep, feral sound like an animal's.

“Beautiful,” he groaned then licked her nipple before sucking the hard tip into his mouth.

She shivered at the raw sensation, her hips starting a rocking rhythm. One hand came up to mold her other breast, to hold it, then his mouth devoured that nipple in a sucking rhythmic fashion that made her legs tremble.

“Telal,” she moaned.

The sound of a door opening brought them both to a standstill. They both looked up at the staircase that wrapped up to the upper floors. They listened to the footsteps going up another floor and then the door opening and slamming closed.

Telal wasted no time going back to her breast. When a long low moan escaped her, he tore himself away, and kissed her hard. “I could stay there forever. You have perfect tits.”

Her eyes could only widen at the words 'tits'. She didn't recall that term ever being used to her before, but then her shock faded as his hands latched onto her bare ass and he lifted her against the wall.

“No more waiting.”

He pressed his hips against hers to keep her upright and she held on to his shoulders for leverage as he heatedly ripped opened his button and zipper. His beautiful cock sprang free, strikingly hard and a deeper more golden color with his excitement. She licked her lips and knew she wanted him in her mouth. To taste and feel him sliding between her lips.

“Telal.”

He looked at her as his pants slid to the floor and his hands once against captured her cheeks. “Soon,” he said in reply as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, and then his cock nudged her wet entrance and pushed inside.

Their choked moans rang out in the stairwell, echoing back at them. Her tight muscles made him work to fit all the way in and he did, pushing, and rocking in and out until he buried himself all the way in. And then he did it again until he had a pounding hard rhythm inside her.

“Fuck,” she moaned, her eyes unable to stay open at the exquisite, erotic sensations he touched inside her. Each thrust hit her clitoris, making the little bundle of nerves tingle and tighten the muscles in her body.

“Exactly.”

His lips found her swaying breasts and he didn't stop taking her for a second. And that's exactly what he was doing—pounding, hammering into her with hungry, hard thrusts.

She managed to keep her mouth shut for all of five seconds before the pleasure was too much for her. Her jaw fell open and cries, moans, desperate sounds escaped, escalating higher and higher as he moved faster, harder until her ass bounced off the wall.

She held on tight to him, pushing more of her breast into his hungry mouth. He groaned and the sound vibrated over her sensitive nipple down to her sex that he worked in hungry thrusts.

The hot need inside her curled in a tight ball of pleasure. He sucked hard on her breast and landed deep, and that was all it took. She choked on a scream, some sound between a moan and his name. Crashing waves pounded inside her. She shook wildly, her hips rocking against him, her nails biting into his scalp as erotic, pulsing pulls trembled raged inside her like a storm.

Telal was right there with her. Burying his face in her neck, he shoved through her milking muscles and then growled, the sound so deep and sensual, her body pulled tight. With a hard thrust, he held himself deep and jetted how and wet inside her.

Breathing hard, they slowly fell to the ground together, him still buried deeply inside her. Using her weak hands, she pulled his face up from her neck and kissed him slowly, gently. He didn't respond at first, still struggling with his labored breathing but when his lips claimed hers, her heart pulled so tight she thought she might cry.

His strong arms banded around her and then he rocked his hips. She felt his cock move inside her, still semi-erect. She moaned, it felt good. He was softer now, the touch more of a tease. He did it again. And again. Until he grew hard and long inside her, making her muscles quiver.

He took her like that. With her knees spread atop his thighs as he slowly thrust in, with their mouths fused together.

When her body climaxed, he kept his mouth fused to hers, letting no sound escape. Her body needed to release all that incredible pleasure somehow and so it gripped his cock furiously, kneading it until he groaned deep in his chest and spilled white-hot inside her.

The moment touched her unlike anything had before. Her heart felt soft and tender and her brain struggled to regain control of herself. He wasn't ready for anything more than this, she told herself.

She looked into his beautiful golden brown eyes and wondered if he ever would be. And could she ever deal with that?