KyriakisTriumph Page 9

  She turned to face him Paris who was still lying on the bed with a stunned expression on his face. Are you going to open the door or are you going to continue to lie there with your dick in your hand?

  Paris opened his mouth as if to reply but then he closed it again. He rolled off the bed shrugging out of the unbuttoned shirt that he still wore. “If you’re going for a run, I might as well join you.” He walked over to the door and opened it.

  Anisa ran out the room and down the stairs only to be thwarted by the front door. She impatiently waited for Paris to get down the stairs. As soon as he opened the door, she raced outside.

  The warm Earth beneath her feet and the wind flowing through her fur gave her a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in years. She raced across the island, enjoying the run. When she was Gage’s captive, she had to remain in her shifter form most of the time while he was extracting her energy. There were times when she’d wanted to be in her two-legged form but she wasn’t allowed to under the threat of punishment.

  With Roland, she wasn’t allowed to shift outside so as not to draw attention to herself in case someone happened along. So, going for a run was out of the question. When she was with Gaspard, she’d been led to believe that she was a shifter without the ability shift. It was apparent he must have put some kind of spell on her to prevent her from doing so. It was like death to one of her kind. And now, finally, this run was everything to her. Anisa raced across the island, refusing to think about what happened between her and Paris.

  However, Paris seemed to have ideas of his own. One second she was running through the woods and the next, she felt something nipping at her heels. She turned her head to see a large gray wolf, nearly twice her size. Paris’s wolf.

  He’d hinted at wanting to join her but she didn’t really take him seriously. Anisa sped up, wanting to reclaim the solitude of her run but Paris had other ideas. When she ran faster, so did he. Though he didn’t overtake her, Anisa understood that he could probably overtake her but he didn’t. Conceding to the fact that he wouldn’t leave her be, she did her best to ignore him and just enjoy the run.

  Finally, she came to the beach and stopped at the edge of the ocean. She enjoyed the feel of the water on her fur. This is where she was happy, by the ocean.

  Paris moved next to her. Did you enjoy your run? He communicated telepathically.

  I would have enjoyed it more if you would have let me run alone.

  She could feel the large wolf tense up next to her.

  If you didn’t want me to follow you out here, you should have said something. Even though Anisa heard a hint of sadness in Paris’s tone, she steeled herself against her. If she allowed herself to feel sorry for him that meant letting her guard down and she wasn’t ready to do that just yet.

  Perhaps you should have taken the hint when I didn’t ask you to join me in the first place.

  I didn’t realize my presence was so unwelcome.

  Did you think it would be after what you did? Unless you’ve forgotten, I now remember everything.

  Anisa—

  No. Let me finish. I need to be completely honest with you. Yes, you made my first experience with sex something dirty and to be ashamed of but on the other hand, you gave me a great amount of pleasure. Paris, when I first came to the island, all I wanted was to be the best possible mate I could be. But you made sure to let me know in no uncertain terms how unwelcome and unwanted I was. And then, you did what you did. So Eros might have planted the seed of division but you were the one to make it grow.

  Anisa but we just…what we just shared…

  Paris, we fucked. Nothing more, nothing less. I can’t deny that there’s an attraction between the two of us. It’s the bond between us but you can’t expect me to fall into your arms and pretend that everything is all right. I’m going need some time to decide what I want and if the two of us have a chance.

  Paris moved in front of her baring his teeth, his eyes glowing fiercely. I refuse to believe that what happened meant nothing to you.

  If she could have laughed in this form, she would have. What’s the matter Paris? Do you feel used? Well, now, you know how it feels. She turned her back to him swishing her tail. “I’m going to my daughter’s house. I think it’s best that I stay with her. Don’t follow me.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Mom, I can’t believe you’re here. You look exactly the way I remember you.” Sarah looked at Anisa with tears in her eyes as the two women held hands.

  After her run, Anisa headed to Sarah and Constantine’s. To her delight, her daughter was more than happy to welcome her inside. Sarah offered her a blanket for when she shifted back to her human form, the use of the bathroom to shower and some clean clothing. Constantine made himself scarce so that mother and daughter could have some time together.

  “Well, my dear, you know we stop aging after 35 and I was well over a century when I gave birth to you.”

  Sarah shook her head. “You know, even though I’ve known about shifters, vampires, and warlocks for a couple years, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around everything. Ever since I found out I wasn’t completely human, I had so many questions I wanted to ask, like how. I didn’t know which one of my parents was the shifter until one of my paintings that I never intended to sell was sold to Paris. He saw the picture of the wolf I used to dream about. I unknowingly painted you without knowing that it was you.”

  “That’s quite an amazing story. I guess it’s fortunate that Paris spotted that painting or else we wouldn’t have found each other again. Even when my memory was gone, my dreams reminded me of you.” She cupped her daughter’s face. Sarah was all that she could hope for, smart, talented, accomplished and beautiful. Most importantly, she seemed to have a kind spirit. She was so proud and broken-hearted at the same time. Anisa missed all the most important milestones in her daughter’s life, including her mating ceremony. A tear slid down her cheek.

  Sarah wiped it away. “Mom, why are you crying?”

  “I’m just so happy to be with you again. I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. It had always been my intention to eventually tell you about your heritage but seeing as you were only a half-blood shifter, your first shift wouldn’t be until you reached your 30th birthday which was a long way off. Of course, I intended to tell you way before then because even without the shift you’d have changes that an ordinary girl would not.”

  “I always wondered if something was wrong with me. I always felt different from the other girls. I could run faster than the boys and was stronger than them as well. The kids called me a freak of nature so I held back. I had so many questions about myself. But I never blamed you. It wasn’t your fault. This all because of Gage and he’s going to pay for what he’s done.”

  Anisa shivered at the mention of her tormentor. He deserved nothing less than to be banished to the deepest depths of hell for all that he’d done. “I know but still, I just wish I was there for you. What was your life like before you met Constantine?”

  “Well, it wasn’t completely bad. I was raised in foster care. The couple who took care of me was nice until they were murdered. I didn’t know who could do that to such loving people but in retrospect, I believe it was Gage. I don’t know how I managed to get away but I did. I always had an affinity for art so I did caricatures on the street and took odd jobs to support myself and one day my fortune changed when I caught the attention of a huge art agent. She wanted to represent me and I couldn’t say no to her. I would, after all, be earning a living doing something I love. After she sold a couple of my paintings for an amount that I thought was obscene, I was able to live comfortably in my Harlem apartment and paint. I kind of miss New York because it was so full of life and inspiration. I loved the people and the culture and the food was amazing.”

  “Well, I’d certainly like to see it with you one day.”

  “I’d love to take you and the baby.” Sarah, grinned as she touched her stomach protectively.”

  A
nisa grinned. “My baby is going to have a baby. I may not have been there for you when you were growing up but I intend to be there for your little one. We have so much to make up for.”

  Sarah smiled back. “I guess, I’m lucky that we have a lifetime…well, that is if Gage doesn’t get his way. I have to be honest, I’m scared. I’ve seen what Gage’s minions can do. I’ve never personally got to experience the full force of Gage’s powers but I know that he’s getting stronger and he won’t rest until he has you and me. And now that I’m pregnant, I can’t help but think my little one is in danger as well even though they’d only have one eighth seraphim blood.”

  “Any amount would be enough to entice Gage. I can tell you from my perspective what it was like. He’s a parody of a man. He has no humanity left within him. I suppose that was the price he paid in order to gain his power.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Dark magic is a complicated thing. It’s almost otherworldly. When one wields the dark arts, there’s always a consequence. For instance, when a shifter or a vampire practices it, it can become addictive, like when humans take drugs. But when practiced for a long time it leads to madness, it makes one a rogue, a very dangerous and powerful one. Warlocks wielding dark magic fare better at it but eventually, they find themselves relying on it more and more. But when a human practices black magic it has much more dire consequences.”

  “Like what?” Sarah asked.

  “They often attract demons. When one of those attaches to a human, it can come out at any point in time. As long as it’s being fed the dark energy, it remains dormant. But even then, when they feel their host has worn out their usefulness it’ll destroy its human and everything in its wake.”

  “Constantine told me about how Paris and Aries had seen a demon emerge from a witch and it took a considerable amount of power to take it down. Thankfully, he assured me that those things are rare and that the witch had been a human at one point who practiced black magic way longer than most could comprehend. Mom, how do you know so much about all this?”

  “I was with Gage for a long time. My only entertainment was listening in on the conversations of the Hunters. Some of them took pity on me and would answer my questions.”

  “And where does Gage fall within the Hunter category?” Sarah asked.

  “Hunters like Gage have a category all their own. Hunters are descended from witches and warlocks but they have no powers. Most of the time, these Hunters were born from parents who’d had their powers bound. It’s my understanding it makes the child resentful to learn of their stolen lineage so that’s how Hunters were born. They don’t kill immortals out of some sense of altruism, they hunt us for our powers. They want to consume our essence to give them more strength. Gage made the mistake of killing the first seraphim he came across. I assume that seraphim was my real father.”

  Sarah frowned. “Why was it a mistake? From Gage’s perspective, I mean.”

  “Well, Gage was able to consume my father’s essence but he later learned that we recharge. He could have had an unlimited source of power had he kept my father alive. That’s why he never killed me. It’s the reason why he wants you and me so badly.”

  “Oh, God. That’s so scary.”

  “I know. I worry that this island may not be enough to keep Gage away. I feel like he’ll find some way to get to us.”

  Sarah squeezed Anisa’s hands in reassurance. “Paris and Constantine won’t allow anything to happen to us.”

  Anisa stiffened at the mention of Paris. She didn’t want to think about him right now. “You sound so sure.”

  “It’s because I am. Shortly after Constantine and I got together, Gage and his men came for me. But Constantine rescued me. Paris was there, too. They fight hard for the people they love. Speaking of Paris, what’s going on with the two of you? Are the old sparks there?”

  Anisa rolled her eyes. “Can we not talk about him? There’s a lot you and I need to catch up on.”

  “But you and Paris are bond mates. That means you’re meant to be together. The man was relentless in his pursuit to find you. I don’t think anyone was more relieved that you were alive than him. Don’t get me wrong, I was over the moon, but something changed in him. It was like a light came into his eyes when he learned that you were alive.”

  Hearing her daughter speak of her and Paris as if they had some kind of grand love, made Anisa feel conflicted.

  “Mom?” Sarah prompted when Anisa didn’t answer right away.

  “You make it seem like Paris and I were star-crossed lovers. We weren’t. It was a one-sided relationship.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I came to Circe with every intention of giving our union my all only to be met with animosity for him. He was horrible to me my entire visit. I’m not sure what he told you but things weren’t all a bed of roses with us.”

  “He explained how wrong he was. Paris told me that he was battling his feelings for you because he wasn’t ready to accept that the two of you were bond mates.

  “Since when did you become such a strong supporter of Paris?”

  “He’s a good man. A great Alpha and a loving father. He’s been like a father to me since the Kyriakises came into my life. I know how he must have been back then, but he’s a different person now. Mom, I think you should give him a chance to make amends.”

  “I can appreciate that you’ve grown close to Paris and maybe he has been good to you. Even if he’s changed, you have to understand that a lot of time has passed and so much has happened to me. I’ve been used by three different men for their own reasons and I won’t let anyone control my destiny again.”

  “Even Daddy?”

  Anisa didn’t want to speak ill of Sarah’s father but she needed to know the truth. “I did care for your father to some extent but I was with him more out of gratitude than anything else. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all bad but he used me, too. He used me as a means to escape Gage, as well. You see around the time we got away from the Hunters, Gage was starting to become even more maniacal. I can only imagine how far his descent into madness has gone since I’ve last seen him. But Roland saw the writing on the wall. We lived peacefully for a while but he would extract my energy to heal him from the dark magic he’d once practiced. He was a bit controlling but for the most part, he was kind. He gave me some measure of happiness but deep down, I knew he’d never let me go. Then you came along and all my thoughts of leaving were destroyed. Sarah, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. Never doubt that. But if I had the chance to get away from Roland, I would have taken it.”

  “I didn’t realize…you two seemed so happy together.”

  “You were young. We didn’t want you to feel that there wasn’t love in our home because we both loved you so much. Your father wasn’t a bad man, he just got involved with bad people. Sometimes, power can be a seductive thing. He died trying to protect us so I could never hate him. As far as Gaspard, I was with him for a long time. He manipulated me and stole my memories so that he could use me at his will. I believed every lie he told me. He robbed me of a chance to find you. I understand that without him, it’s quite possible that Gage might have found me again but he never gave me a choice to be with him of my own volition. I’m tired of being used and mistreated. From now on, I intend to control my own destiny. I don’t care if Paris and I are bond mates. We were bond mates all those years ago and he still treated me horribly. Maybe it’s because I’ve only recently regained all of my memories, but everything feels fresh. I remember what he did so clearly.”

  Sarah didn’t speak right away. She scrunched her face as if she was in deep contemplation. Finally, she looked Anisa in the eyes. “I understand how you must feel but can you honestly say that you feel nothing for him being that you are bond mates?”

  “I won’t lie and say the spark isn’t there. I’m still very attracted to him. In fact, I’ve never felt such a strong pull with anyone before and I probably never will. But I wo
n’t let that dictate how I live my life from here on out.”

  “I see…it’s just, when you came to the front door, his scent was heavy on you.”

  Anisa raised a brow. “Your sense of smell has improved greatly.”

  Sarah nodded. “Yes. Ever since the joining ceremony with Constantine, I’ve become stronger and my senses are more heightened. And this pregnancy has made them stronger still. I can do anything a full blood can do, except shift without a full moon.” She squeezed Anisa’s hand. “Mom, you won’t deter me. Why did his scent practically envelope you?”

  “Why do you think, daughter? You’re an adult. I’m sure you’ve already figured it out.”

  “Then why…”

  “Like I said, any interaction with Paris Kyriakis will be on my own terms and not his. I don’t wish to speak of him anymore.”

  It seemed as if Sarah were going to say something else but she was interrupted when Constantine entered the room with Aries close behind. “Sarah, Anisa…” the Alpha-in-Waiting hesitated for a moment. “I know the two of you have a lot of catching up to do and I didn’t want to cut this family reunion short but—”

  “It’s Nina!” Aries. “She’s in trouble. The sickness is taking over again and I fear that we’re almost out of time.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Anisa hurried behind the Beta as he raced to his house. Fortunately, it was only about a half-acre away from Constantine and Sarah’s home. Constantine and Sarah followed closely behind. When she stepped inside Aries’s house, Anisa fought the urge to turn back around because the first thing that hit her was Paris’s scent. He was here. However, Anisa swiftly pushed her feelings aside because this wasn’t about her. Nina needed her assistance and she hoped that she could give it.