Stone Cold Seduction

Chapter Seventeen

I stared out of the window as the miles passed. Despite the darkness, I could see fields of grass, large clusters of rock, small white cottages, and crumbling stone structures dotting the countryside. Detached, I watched the shadows fly by as Luke careened around corners on the narrow, winding road. If I was lucky, maybe he’d crash and kill us all before we got to the “holiday cottage.”

I could already feel bruises forming on my arm from his crushing grip. Luke was a sadistic freak. And my deepest desire in life had been to never, ever see him again. Lady Luck had deserted me, again. Actually, Lady Luck had never seemed to know I existed. This trip had been a bad idea from the beginning.

Ah, hindsight…

I might not have found my fate, but I could make a good guess: it sucked. Maybe I should be happy I didn’t know it. That way I didn’t have to agonize over what was to come.

Jedren had put me through a decade and more of Luke’s treatment. To mold me, to make me more amiable, to make me the perfect daughter and princess. I’d failed all the tests with flying colors. A perpetual disappointment to my father and an endless source of entertainment for Luke. That’s how I would describe my childhood and time spent in my father’s home. It had been a prison for two weeks a year, for seventeen years.

Luke kept driving; I lost track of time. Minutes, maybe hours, passed with the scenery. The bond between Jax and I had been stretched tight. In some ways, it was a far worse punishment than any Luke could dole out. I could feel Jax’s fury. A cold, heavy lump in the middle of my chest, his fury grew the farther we went. Did that bond work both ways? Could he feel my fear?

I refused to give in to the ugly worry that they wouldn’t find me in time.

Luke turned onto a long, gravel driveway that wound up to the top of a cliff. The road was steep and crumbling. Luke’s driving wasn’t as crazy as I’d thought, because the car made it to the top. He knew what he was doing when it came to driving—and torture. It was pitch black outside. We were sitting at the top of a gigantic rock cliff overlooking a body of water. Everything was black or gray. Between the car and the cliff was a castle, complete with a stone tower. I wondered if a girl’s dream could materialize, and a knight in shining armor could come out to save me.

Luke turned around and smiled at me, just a flash of white inside the dark car. Who was I kidding? My knights in shining armor weren’t even close.

“Out,” my father said, in his characteristic, smooth tone. He never raised his voice. Never lost control. Always refined, always calm, he was the picture of wealth and sophistication. Until he started killing people. He’s what I would picture if I were to put a face to the old world mobsters. Minus the Tommy gun.

He stood beside the car, waiting. One hand smoothed his jacket—always a three-piece suit for him—and he twisted his diamond-encrusted watch with the opposite hand. That was his only outward sign of irritation. I dragged myself out of the car and stood.

Luke walked around the car and reached for my arm. I sidestepped him and glared. His eyes widened. I had never willingly looked him straight in the eyes before. Scared of what I might see, I usually stared over his shoulder. Not today.

Fear pounded through me, with every beat of my heart. But I held his gaze. Luke tilted his head to one side, as if he’d never seen me before. That nasty little smile stayed in place.

Crap. I’d just caught his interest. Dumb, dumb, dumb. He was used to seeing me scared, and he might have let his guard slip enough to give me a chance to run. Proving a point had just cost me a chance to escape.

Maybe if I used a ward, I could stun him long enough to get down the hill.

Jedren interrupted the moment with an impatient, clipped order. “Luke, enough. Elleodora and I need to have a discussion. In my office. Elleodora’s friends are relying on her cooperation.”

If I used a ward, I’d get down the hill a few hundred yards, and Jedren would calmly order someone to bomb the rental car they were watching. I wanted to scream at him. Instead, I kept my voice deceptively steady. “You said if I left the building with you, you’d let them be.”

“We haven’t even had a chance to chat. Your cooperation is still required.”

He could be bluffing, but I doubted it. I wouldn’t stake Jax, MacLean, and Teryl’s lives on it. I had to think of something else.

Luke snagged my arm in a bruising hold. His smile turned blissful when I struggled. Sick, sick freak. Instinct screamed at me to stay still as I tried not to gag.

The castle was four stories high and shaped like an L. It was a stone monstrosity, similar to Jedren’s home in Seattle, except built a few centuries earlier.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” my father said, as we entered. “She was built in the fifteenth century. Expanded and updated throughout each century. Kings have stayed here. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m restoring it.”

I remained silent, knowing he didn’t really want me to respond, as we entered a medieval great hall. He’d updated it with electricity, and lights glowed around us. A huge chandelier hung overhead. Over-the-top luxury, as always. Everything was stone. I could see where someone had started patching a cracked and crumbling section. Two Queen Anne chairs sat on either side of a long, narrow table where a Ming vase was prominently displayed.

My father loved his priceless relics.

“Hundreds of people died here over the years,” he went on. “Bloody battles, plague, tragic accidents.” His pale eyes glittered at me. I couldn’t tell if it was amusement or anticipation. “Do you know why you’re here?”

He stopped, and Luke jerked me to a halt. I waited a second too long to answer. Luke slapped me across the face, knocking me to my knees and splitting my bottom lip. I put a hand to my face, trying to ease the vicious sting. Eyes watering, I glared up at him and got to my feet.

“No,” I muttered.

Jedren cocked his head. “Pardon?”

“No,” I repeated, louder. The corners of Luke’s mouth turned down in disappointment. A*shole.

My father started walking again. Luke jerked on my arm, half dragging me through the great room and toward the tower. He pushed me at a set of stairs, forcing me to go after my father. The stairs were narrow and steep, and had once been sandwiched between two walls. The inner wall had deteriorated over the years, and was missing large portions of stone. The steep slope and narrow steps meant treacherous footing. I hugged the stone wall, just as I had in the Library of Shadows. Luke huffed out a laugh and leaned into my back. “These steps aren’t very forgiving. It would be a shame if you fell. We wouldn’t get a chance to catch up.”

His laughter had a crazy edge to it. I clenched my teeth against the urge to throw myself down them and hope the fall would at least knock me unconscious. In my teens, I had dreamed of escape, in any form. I’m stronger now. I had to believe that. Jax would find me. MacLean would find me. Teryl would…Teryl would use his abilities to pinpoint my location. Relief swept through me, and tears filled my eyes.

Luke mistook my tears for terror and laughed harder. He pushed me forward with a hard elbow to my back. I stumbled and caught myself as a chunk of stone broke off and rolled down a few steps before falling over the edge. It clattered on the floor below after a few seconds.

Jedren stopped and frowned at me. “Elleodora, you chipped the stairs. You always were a clumsy mistake of a girl.”

Jax and MacLean will find me, Jax and MacLean will find me, I chanted in my head.

Luke grabbed a handful of my hair and wrapped it around his hand. He jerked my head back, and I yelped in pain. “Respect your father’s property,” he whispered in my ear.

Loathing mixed with pain clouded my vision. He held my head so I was forced to stare at the ceiling. I tried to swallow, but it was difficult at such an awkward angle.

“We don’t have all day, Luke,” Jedren called down, impatience clear in his voice.

Luke released my hair, letting his fingers tangle in the long strands one last time. I winced as he pulled a few strands out. Don’t show pain, don’t let him see, I chastised myself. I picked my way up each stair, watching for any that looked broken or in danger of crumbling.

We reached the top of the stairs and stepped into the hallway of the second story. Jedren stood before the first of three large wooden doors, off to the left. “My office,” he said, and gestured me inside. Luke threw another elbow into my back, and I staggered forward. Clenching my teeth, I walked into the room.

Clean lines, expensive taste. The room had probably been the first one restored. It reeked of my father’s touch. A large mahogany desk sat in one corner. Two big leather chairs flanked it, and a large oil painting of a castle covered one wall. A tapestry graced the wall behind the desk, undoubtedly, authentically medieval. The stuff in this room had probably cost him five times as much as my entire building had.

“Sit,” he commanded, pointing to one of the leather chairs. He walked around the desk and settled into the chair behind it. Steepling his fingers, he rested his chin on them and studied me. “You surprised me, Elleodora.”

I refused to flinch when he said my name. It was the way he said it that bothered me. With an edge of disdain and a slight sneer on his lips. He had given me the name, and never failed to remind me that I didn’t live up to it. I would never meet his standards.

Thank God.

Grandmother or no grandmother, I hated the name.

When I didn’t respond, his eyes narrowed. “Why are you so far from home?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

Luke snarled and snagged my hair with a quick jerk, holding his dagger to my throat.

I held my father’s gaze while my pulse beat a rapid tempo at the edge of the blade. There was no going back. I’d known that the moment I’d stepped onto the plane, deep down. I could acknowledge it now. I had to see this through.

Jedren held up his hand, motioning Luke to release me.

I swallowed, but otherwise didn’t react. I’d lived my entire life in fear of my father. I had given him that control. No more. He still scared the hell out of me, given his propensity for violence and complete disregard for life. But I was done cowering.

His strange smile took me by surprise. “Well done. I wondered when you’d find your backbone.”

I wanted to spit in his face. To kick him in the balls. Anything to hurt him.

He leaned back in his chair and propped his ankle on the opposite knee, striking a gentleman’s pose.

“I’m here to take care of old business, in addition to finding you. I admit, I was hurt to discover you were the culprit behind the thefts.” He injected the right note of sorrow into his tone, but his expression never changed.

“You killed Mom.” The words came out stark and raw. I refused to let my tears fall, but I let the accusation hang between us.

He sighed. “So you’ve said. I thought we were past this.”

Rage clogged my throat. I wanted to inflict so much pain, he’d scream for mercy. The condescending sneer he wore so well needed to be permanently wiped from his face. He had no remorse. He didn’t deserve a quick death; I’d do everything I could to make sure he felt regret before he died.

“You’ve shown great ingenuity with the thefts. I’m willing to forgive your transgressions—this time. However, I require you to take your place as my heir.”

Of all the things he could have said, that was the last thing I expected. Incredulity made my voice jump. “You think I’m going to be your heir after you killed Mom and threatened to kill my friends? What a joke.”

He frowned. “Don’t be vulgar. I don’t ‘joke.’ The time has come for you to establish yourself as my heir. It’s very simple.” He enunciated as if speaking to a small child.

Luke shifted closer, making sure I could see the glint of his blade. I didn’t spare him a second look. I needed to keep Jedren talking to buy the guys some time. “What does ‘establishing myself’ involve?”

I saw a brief flare of triumph in his glacial stare, and then it was gone. “I will begin grooming you to take over Warlow Imports.”

This was coming out of left field. “Why?”

“You’ve proven to be more…worthy than I initially gave you credit for. I’m not interested in begetting another heir. You’ll have to do.” He flicked an imaginary piece of lint off of his pant leg.

He was nervous. He only fidgeted when he was nervous. Understanding dawned, and I knew there was far more to it than he let on. He needed me for something. Or he needed something from me.

“I’m not interested in being your heir to anything.”

His mouth tightened for a split second before he smoothed his features. “I believe I can change your mind.”

“Manipulation? Threats? Why bother?” I shocked myself with my audacity. But God, it felt good. Liberating, even.

Luke raised his dagger, but Jedren stopped him with a single word. “No.” He studied me. “Do you know who you are?”

How was I supposed to answer that? It was a trick question; I knew it. Besides, I refused to give him any information he could use against me. Part of me suspected he didn’t know about my most recent abilities. I wanted to keep it that way for as long as I could. It was the only card I had left to play.

“No,” I answered. “I don’t. That’s why I’m here. To find my fate. Do you know who I am?”

For the first time in my life, I watched a genuine smile cross my father’s face. “Your fate? Elleodora, you could have asked. And yes, I do know who you are.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “You’re the daughter of the shadow elf king. You’re the granddaughter of a god. That is enough to secure your place as my heir, despite your sad lack of control over your abilities.”

The bond between Jax and I eased a bit. He was getting closer. I hoped. “I have no desire to be your heir. I don’t belong there.”

He misunderstood my words. “You do belong. I will teach you everything you need to know. The Council will want to meet you, and I—”

“No,” I interrupted him, watching the surprise on his face. No one interrupted him. Ever. “I won’t be your heir, not in any capacity. You’re a monster.”

“I see.”

Chills snaked up my spine as coldness settled over his features, and his eyes turned to ice.

He stood and walked around the desk, stopping in front of me. “You do realize I’ll change your mind? Or rather, Luke will.”

I’d thought I had it under control. I’d believed I could handle it. I’d been so wrong.

Terror enveloped me. The simple act of breathing became difficult. My vision blurred, and I froze. I could sense Luke coming closer, but I didn’t dare look at him. Run, run, run, my inner child screamed at me. Memories clawed at my mind. Shame trickled through my consciousness at my cowardice. Terror held me captive.

Without another word, my father stood and waved a hand at us in dismissal. Luke grabbed my arm and hauled me up. “Come, Princess. Let’s play.”

It was his favorite line. They were the words I heard in the throes of a nightmare.

“No,” I managed to whisper around the lump of fear lodged in my throat. I dug my heels in.

A sound of pleasure hummed in Luke’s throat. He jerked my arm and pulled me out of Jedren’s office, half pushing, half pulling me down the stairs. I held back a scream as I came close to the edge of the stairs a few times. I wouldn’t die at Luke’s hands. But he’d make me wish I could.

When we reached the great hall, he released my arm and held my neck. I stumbled beside him as he steered me by the neck toward and down another set of stairs. The blade nicked the skin at the base of my neck, and I knew he’d drawn blood. Each step we took pressed the blade into the same spot. It stung like a bitch.

The lower we went, the more dank and musty the smell. A single light bulb hung at the bottom of the steps, giving me a dim view of a large, cavernous chamber. A hysterical bubble of laughter caught in my throat as I waited to hear the haunting melody of Gregorian chants soaring through the room. It was surreal. And horrible. Any hope of the guys finding me in time was quickly fading.

“Jedren is redecorating. The contractors haven’t made it down here yet, so he said we could use it.” Luke stepped in front of me and smiled, like he’d announced we’d been upgraded to the honeymoon suite.

“Do you expect me to be happy about that?”

He backhanded me with incredible force. My head snapped back, I twisted to the side, and my knees hit the ground.

“I see you’ve become a little disrespectful as an adult. We’ll work on that,” he whispered. I could see the glint of the dagger in the dim light.

Rational thought fled. Instinct took over, and I lurched to my feet. I had to run. Had to hide. Had to get away.

I wasn’t quick enough.

Luke snagged my hair with a quick jerk. I yelped from the pain. Tears filled my eyes as he laughed and pulled harder. I kicked at him. He was too close, and the blow landed on his calf, doing little damage. The dagger flashed, and I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen.

Gasping, I clutched my left side. I felt something hot, sticky, and wet coat my hands. Blackness swam around the edges of my vision, and nausea made my stomach pitch. The a*shole had stabbed me.

Luke tsk-tsked. “Come now, Elleodora. You know better than that.”

He released my hair and walked in front of me. Somehow I was back on my knees, hunched over. I glared up at him through a curtain of hair. My entire body trembled. He bent over so his face was close to mine. “Agree to become Jedren’s heir.”

I curled my right hand into a fist and swung. Nailed him right in the balls. I’d managed to put a little power behind the swing, not as much as I did in my dreams, but it was still enough to drop him. Luke wheezed and curled up.

“Little bitch. Stupid little bitch.” His usual, ugly words came out in an odd, high-pitched wail.

Satisfaction welled, and I flashed him a fierce, triumphant grin. Too bad he was rocking in the fetal position with his eyes squeezed shut. I’d never fought back. I’d run. I’d cried. I’d begged for mercy. But this was the first time I’d fought back.

God, it felt good.

I climbed to my feet, wanting desperately to run, despite how much my legs shook. Clutching my stabbed side, I took two stumbling steps toward the stairs before an arm snaked across my shoulders. Luke threw me to the ground, where I hit my head on the stones with a sickening thud.