KyriakisTriumph Read online

  Anisa closed her eyes and just enjoyed the sensation until she felt the press of Paris’s lips against her back. His kisses were so tender and gentle that this could easily turn into something she didn’t want it to be.”

  “No,” she moaned pulling away from him.

  When Paris attempted to pull her into his arms, Anisa scooted away. “No, Paris.”

  “What’s wrong?” He gave her a ferocious frown. “I thought you enjoyed it.”

  She shrugged. “Of course, I did. You’re a good fuck and you have an addictive cock.” Her words might have been callous, but this was the way it had to be for now. She couldn’t allow him to creep into her heart simply because they were sexually compatible.

  Paris gripped her arm and narrowed his eyes. “I’m fucking trying, Anisa.”

  “Paris, do you honestly think the short time I’ve been here suddenly makes up for everything?”

  He growled in apparent frustration. “How is that supposed to make me feel when you make it clear that you only want me for sex?”

  “Frankly, Paris, I don’t care. I’ve had to put my wants and desires aside for so long that I don’t know what I want and I need to figure that out. I need you to give me to the space to do it.”

  Paris flared his nostrils. “Fine. You need space? I’ll give you all the space you need.” He released his hold on her and backed away from her but not before she saw the hurt in his eyes.

  He shifted back to his wolf form and ran off leaving Anisa to wonder why her heart was aching.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Did you think you could elude me forever, you treasonous son of a bitch?” Gage slashed in Gaspard skin with an electrified whip, holding him steady by the sheer will of his power. Since his men had brought Fortier back to his secret lair, Gage had made it his mission to torture this bastard. He flayed the warlock’s skin until he was near death and then he healed him so that he could start the process all over again. Gage didn’t want to kill him right away. No, he wanted to break him, enslave him and eventually, get him to secure the seraphim and the half-breed. And once that was accomplished, he’d kill him.

  Fortier screamed with each electrified lash into his back. It was music to Gage’s ears. “Go ahead and cry, mother fucker. You kept her from me for all these years and you cost me the All Black. My pet was supposed to infect that entire fucking pack and since they’re all still fine, then I’m pretty sure she’s been healed. And it’s all your fault!” Gage yelled in rage.

  Meaty chunks of skin were stripped from Fortier’s body. Gage made sure his victim would feel these hits tenfold. He’d put a special spell on this whip which was already designed to create the maximum amount of pain.

  The spell he’d created to locate seraphim had pinpointed Anisa and Sarah in the same location, a highly warded island that only the pack and allies could step foot on. He was able to track down Fortier because he still carried the residual seraphim essence he’d probably been siphoning from Anisa for all these years.

  “You will bow to me. I own you. And you will pay for what you’ve done!”

  “Fuck you,” Fortier whispered. He looked as if he wanted to pass out but Gage had put an enchantment on him that would make it impossible for him to black out. Gage wanted him to feel every hit and every lash.

  “Oh, it’s fuck me, is it?”

  Gage slashed the whip into Fortier’s body relentlessly. The warlock’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he let out a blood-curdling scream that made Gage hit even harder. The more he hurt Fortier, the better he felt. It satisfied his need for revenge. This is how he intended to handle every single one of the Kyriakis pack members. He’d start with the pups, followed by the women and then the men. He intended to save the Kyriakis Alpha’s family for last. He’d kill the Beta and then the daughter and son in that order. And while he committed this mass murder, he would make Kyriakis watch. Maybe Gage wouldn’t kill him right away either. It would be quite a feather in his cap to make Kyriakis one of his mindless dog minions, helping in the hunt. When Gage was bored toying with him, then he’d kill him. Maybe. By then, the former Alpha might be too pathetic to kill and living would be his punishment.

  A smile curved Gage’s lips as his plan came together. When the warlock was brought in by his disciples, Gage had pressed his hand on Fortier’s temples and chanted a seeking spell. Just as Gage had assumed, Fortier was still connected to the seraphim because he still carried her essence. Gage delved into Fortier’s memories and saw the spell he’d used to keep Anisa compliant for all those years and it was pretty amateurish. Fortier controlled her through touch but it could be fine-tuned until the control was telepathic. Once he had Fortier under his control, Gage would use him to draw Anisa off the island. Perhaps, he could get the half-breed, as well.

  It was just a matter of time. He had another way of getting to Anisa. Though the island was warded, the water around it was not. And there was one thing he’d learned through reading Fortier’s memory, Anisa loved the water.

  * * *

  Paris couldn’t take being on the island at the moment. Not when things were so tense between him and Anisa. It was bad enough that she was living in his home. It was pure torture having her in such close proximity. Every time he tried to make headway with her, she would shut him down. There was a huge wall between them and he didn’t know how he could penetrate it. Sex clearly wasn’t going to do the trick even though when he was with her, they set the world on fire. The emotional connection that he wanted with her simply wasn’t there.

  He knew it could be if she allowed him to get close but there was still a mistrust in her eyes. And there was no amount of apologizing or being patient that he could do. He didn’t want to lose his temper. He’d done that before and he’d ended up losing her for longer than he cared to think about. He’d never felt so helpless in his life.

  It’s why he decided to take a break from the island. While it wasn’t ideal to leave while Gage was on the hunt, it hurt being around Anisa when it seemed she didn’t want anything to do with him except relieving her sexual frustration. It was how he ended up in the states. He had a penthouse in Manhattan which he stayed in when he checked in on his shipping conglomerate. He didn’t put in many appearances because the majority of his employees were human and he didn’t want them questioning why he never aged. Most of the longtime workers for the corporation believed Paris was the great-great-grandson of the founder. They weren’t that far off. His grandfather, Spyros, had started his shipping business centuries ago to help sustain the finances of the pack but it was Paris who made it what it was today. And being that it wasn’t a publicly traded company, he was able to keep his anonymity.

  He found himself looking out at the New York skyline so bright and busy for this time of night. It was one of the reasons he counted New York among his favorite places to be outside of Circe. He liked the way people always looked as if they had somewhere important to go, even if they didn’t. Everyone was so colorful and vibrant and so full of life. It was a city full of strangers and easy for one to just get lost in. Right now, he wanted to get lost and completely lose all his worries. For once he didn’t want to think about Gage, the pack and certainly not Anisa. Thinking about her made his heart ache to a point that was nearly unbearable. It was hard to love someone who didn’t seem to return it in full.

  Was that how Melanie had felt? It wasn’t that he didn’t love the mate who had born him two pups that any sire would be proud of. It was just that he couldn’t love her with the same intensity she did him. Sometimes, he wished things could have been different but he’d been cursed or perhaps blessed to feel this intense love for just one woman.

  Maybe this was karma coming at him full force. He remembered the curse that the Nkrumah Alpha had placed upon him and his pack. No one had taken it seriously at first and then when his pack members started to fall one by one from Malum, Paris began to think there was something to the curse after all. However, knowing what he did now, there wer
e things in the works long before that silly curse had ever been placed. Perhaps, this was the real curse because it certainly felt like one.

  His buzzer rang breaking him from his thoughts. This was the kind of building where visitors needed to be announced by the front desk before they were allowed up, which meant this was staff or an unwelcome visitor. Perhaps, Gage had caught wind that he’d left the island. But then again, he didn’t think Gage’s men would ring the buzzer. As he cautiously approached the door, the scent of his visitor grew stronger and more familiar.

  He opened the door. “How did you know I was here?”

  Dante Grimaldi stared back at him with a raised brow. “Is that the way you greet all your visitors?”

  Paris raked his fingers through his hair. “My apologies for not being more welcoming. I wasn’t expecting you.” He moved back and opened the door long enough to allow his friend entrance.

  “You know I have eyes and ears everywhere, my friend. I confirmed it with Constantine that you’d left the island. I’m surprised you’d go off on your own with so much Hunter activity lately. You’ve got to know that Gage will be on the lookout for you and while I’m sure you can hold your own, trust me when I say that Gage will send as many of his men as necessary to take you down,” Dante scolded him.

  “You’ve been spying on me?” Paris shot back.

  “Lose the attitude. I’m looking out for you because you’ve had my back more times than I can remember and I’m returning the favor, whether you like it or not.”

  Paris sighed. Dante was right. There was no reason for him to take his frustration out on the vampire who had always been there for him whenever he needed assistance no matter what. “I’m sorry. I just…I couldn’t be on the island anymore. Not with her. I had to take a break.”

  “Was it wise for you to leave your pack without its Alpha?”

  It was on the tip of Paris’s tongue to give an angry retort but he bit it back. Dante was only asking him out of concern. “I’m confident in Constantine and Aries’s abilities to take care of the pack in my absence. Besides, I only intend to be away for a few more days. I just need to get my head in order before I return.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Dante asked gently.

  Paris stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed to his bar. “Not really but I suppose I might as well tell you what’s going on.” He pulled out a bottle of top shelf liquor. Though he was incapable of getting drunk, there were times when he was highly stressed like now when alcohol had a calming effect on him. “Would you like a drink?”

  The vampire shook his head. “No, thank you.”

  “I’m surprised you left Isis’s side. I know you two are excited about the pregnancy.”

  “Our little one won’t be here for a few more months. She knows I’m only a phone call away and my brothers are keeping an eye on me for her. She’s happy that Maggie is also expecting so that she’s not going through this pregnancy alone, especially since Maggie has gone through childbirth three other times. She has someone to give her advice. Besides, Isis understands that you need me.”

  “I appreciate that.” Paris took a swig of brandy from his glass. “I forgot to mention this when we video chatted the last time but Constantine and Sarah are expecting a pup.”

  Dante grinned. “Congratulations. How does it feel, grandpa?”

  Paris narrowed his eyes. But he couldn’t help but grin at his friend’s good-natured ribbing. “Don’t start with that grandpa bullshit.”

  “Well, you will be a grandfather.”

  “Your time will come, one day my friend and I’m going to remember this moment.”

  “Well, that will be a long time coming. Our child hasn’t been born yet,” Dante chuckled.

  “Well, it seems like yesterday when I held Constantine and Persephone in my arms. And now, they’re both mated and Constantine is about to become a father. Cherish the moments with your little one while you can because they grow up so fast.”

  “Duly noted. Anyway, we’ve strayed off topic long enough. Do you want to tell me why you’re hiding out in New York?”

  “Things aren’t getting any better between me and Anisa. I’ve tried to take your advice and be patient with her but every time I think I make some headway with her, she shuts me out again. I think the final straw for me was when I asked to go on a run with her. She rejected me at first and I would have accepted it but she relented and allowed me to come along with her. We had sex and I don’t know…I guess I felt stronger about it than she did because when we were done, she made me feel like a glorified sex toy. I don’t know if my heart can take much more of that. Especially when I love her so much. I don’t want to lose my temper and drive her further away from me. I don’t know if she’ll ever come around.”

  “I see.” Dante stroked his chin. “I wish there was something I could do to help the situation but unfortunately this is something you’ll have to figure out on your own. In the meantime, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t offer for you to stay with me and Isis while you’re in the States.”

  Paris shook his head. “I couldn’t impose.”

  “You wouldn’t. If I didn’t want you in my home, I wouldn’t have issued an invitation. Besides, I live in the same neighborhood as my brothers, so I’m sure they’d be glad to see you. It’s been a while since we’ve all gotten together. Maybe we’ll have a small gathering in your honor to take your mind off of things.”

  “Please no parties. I just want to keep things as low key as possible.”

  “You got it, however, I can’t guarantee that my brothers won’t pop in for a visit. I promise your time with me will be as relaxing as possible.”

  That sounded too tempting an offer to resist. “Well, I think I just might take you up on that offer.” At least this way he’d find some measure of peace. And once he was emotionally in a better mental state, he could return to Circe and face Anisa.

  “Okay. I accept.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Mom, are you all right?” Sarah waved her hand in Anisa’s face.

  “Huh?” Anisa turned to see her daughter giving her a worried stare. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. What were you saying?”

  “I was asking if you were okay because that’s the third time your mind has seemed to wander. Something is distracting you. What’s on your mind? You can tell me.”

  Anisa didn’t want to burden her daughter with her problems, especially when they were of her own making. Ever since that incident after the run, things hadn’t been the same between her and Paris. They hadn’t exactly been on great footing to begin with but she realized that he was trying. But every time he reached out to her, she wouldn’t allow him to get close. That last time she was afraid that she’d gone too far. That hurt in his eyes would probably haunt her for a long as she lived. Sure, she’d wanted some level of revenge against him but thinking about it and actually putting it in practice were two different things.

  Besides, it was clear Paris was different from the man she thought she knew. It was clear he was loved and revered by his pack. She could tell that he genuinely cared for them and put their needs before his own. He was the ideal Alpha. Just when she decided it was time to have a deep conversation with him, he announced that he was going to the States for business. She felt that it was somehow her fault and the guilt had been eating her alive ever since. He’d been gone for nearly a week and a part of her really missed him.

  Anisa patted her daughter on the hand. The upside of Paris being gone was that she got to spend more time with Sarah who insisted that she stay at her and Constantine’s place while Paris was gone. “Sweetie, don’t worry about me. Just focus on growing my grandchild.”

  “Mom, please don’t patronize me. Something is bothering you and I’d like to know what it is. Are you upset because Paris left?”

  “I’d rather not talk about him, sweetheart. Let’s focus on happier things like how you’d like to decorate the nursery. Do you think you’ll find
out about the sex of the baby or do you intend to wait?”

  “Mom! You’re not going to distract me. Please tell me what’s bothering you. If something is upsetting you, then it upsets me as well. I’ve missed you so much when I thought you’d died. I grew up wishing you were around so I could have someone to confide in. I wanted to tell you everything. And now, we have that chance but you’re keeping secrets from me. Please don’t do that. I want us to be able to tell each other things, the good and the bad.”

  Anisa couldn’t help but smile. Her Sarah had become a woman she was very proud of. She patted her daughter’s hand again. “You’re right, sweetheart. I suppose you’re right. I’ve been thinking about Paris and I’m afraid that I haven’t been very kind to him.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Since I arrived on the island, he’s bent over backward to be accommodating to me but I’ve thrown his hospitality back in his face at every opportunity.”

  “Oh, Mom. Why? Paris has carried the shame of what he did to you for years. He made a foolish mistake and paid for it in a big way.”

  “But I paid the bigger price! You have no idea what I’ve been through, Sarah.”

  “Maybe not but you can’t put all of that on Paris’s shoulders. He searched for you relentlessly until he was led to believe that you’d died. And he renewed the search as soon as he found out he’d been wrong. He never stopped loving you. Mom, I spoke to Persephone and she told me about the conversation the two of you had, so you know that the union he had with his children’s mother wasn’t a love match because of you. I can only imagine the pain you’ve suffered but things weren’t exactly easy for him either.”

  “I understand that now. It’s just that every time I think about opening up my heart to Paris, I get scared that I’ll be hurt again. I associate that hurt with what I’ve had to endure these past years.”