Sophie Oak - Beauty

She shook her head. “I hated the fact that my father sold me to them. I was chattel and nothing more and Cian couldn’t stand the sight of me. And quite frankly Beckett Finn scared me. I’d heard rumors that he liked to hurt his partners.”

“I explained that, Maris.” Her father’s voice was a tortured groan.

“I know, but I didn’t understand at the time. I wanted a way out. I was in love, you see. I loved my maid. We grew up together and somewhere along the way, I realized she was everything to me. We kissed when we were sixteen. The day before I was sold to your brothers. I was scared I would lose her. I thought Torin would be easier. He would reward me for helping him and send me on my way and Anna and I could be happy.” She took a deep breath. “I did it all because I loved a girl. A girl who Torin killed because she wasn’t pure. Your father found me. He forgave me. I don’t know why.”

“Because death clarifies all things in life, Maris. And I know that forgiveness is the greatest gift we have to give and a thing we should pray to receive. Hating you wouldn’t have solved anything, but reaching out and offering absolution did. It brought us here. It will bring us victory. Do not misunderstand me, daughter. I have not given up the after with your mother because I want vengeance. I gave it up because I want my children to know peace.”

Maris frowned. “Well, I want the bastard dead, and I don’t care how it happens. I would have done it myself, but killing Torin doesn’t take care of the hags and they’re worse. Your father figured out what you are long ago and set Niall out to find you. I’ve done my duty and kept that bastard busy, but I’m ready to be done. I’m ready to face Beck and Cian and whoever they’ve married and accept their judgment.”

Maris wanted to die. She was ready.

Her father cocked a head sideways. “They’re coming. All of you out. Bron has to face this alone. Bronwyn, they won’t kill you. Stay strong. They think that by eating bondmates’ souls they can take the psychic power into themselves, but they can’t hear you. When they’re through, reach out and find strength in your brothers and sisters. They wait for you.”

Niall and Maris were already out the door and her father faded.

Bron reached out, but to a different mind. She reached out to Lach and Shim. She felt their love before the door opened and the hags filled her world.

She shut it down because her husbands didn’t need to know what was happening to her.

* * * *

Deep in the night, when the agony was done, Bron wondered how much more she could take. They’d bombarded her again and again with spells. Some took her strength, some her will. The worst was the one that robbed her of all her joy.

Call to them. Her father had told her to. Apparently she’d been calling all of her life so it made sense to do so again. She couldn’t call to Lach and Shim. They would be terrified. She had to find strength another way.

Hello.

A simple thing. A greeting, but it was all her mind could handle.

I am Erin . The voice was quiet, but she heard it all the same. And she felt a tiny spark of energy.

I am Quinn . Again, a voice and a bit of strength shared among prisoners.

I am Mina .

They came when she called. A hundred voices with sparks of strength that alone would have been nothing at all, but together, they bound her in will and power, re-forming her soul. They gave what they could and connected together through Bronwyn’s brain and heart.

I am Maris . That voice was quiet, tentative, but the energy she sent was not.

They continued through the night. By morning, Bron was smiling when the hags entered and she opened her mind to her loves.

Come for me. My time is now.

Shim looked around the village and wished Bron was with him. She would love Aoibhneas. It was beautiful and the inhabitants were all slightly insane.

But Bron was miles away and he couldn’t get to her.

And his brother was gone as well.

Shim took a deep breath and hoped the mayor had one sane bone in his body. “I promise not to make any deals with demons. Now can we sign this treaty and begin preparations.”

Mayor Mel leaned forward. “You passed the truth tests.”

The truth tests had involved drinking an enormous amount of some liquor the mayor made himself and then answering a bunch of questions because the mayor believed no one could lie when drunk. The mayor had asked him and Lach a multitude of questions about their feelings on demons and parallel planes. He seemed to think that somewhere out there was another him and this other version of the mayor had it all wrong and shouldn’t be worried about creatures from the skies, but rather about demons. Shim and Lach, for their parts, had mostly talked about how much they missed Bronwyn and her breasts. Getting drunk made Shim think about all of his wife’s soft parts, and he’d been sick with worry over her. Well, and with the liquor.

Finally this morning Roan had found the tear in the wall and gotten Lachlan through to bring the Seelies back.

Shim wished they would hurry. He’d been left to negotiate with what Dante had called a whack job.

The vampire had proven to be rather good at negotiations himself. He smiled at the mayor. “Excellent. I assure you the prince has no intentions of allowing demons to take over his kingdom.”

Shim shook his head. “Not at all. It’s written down somewhere.” And if it wasn’t, Shim would make it a law.

A woman with steel-gray hair stared the mayor down. “Sign the documents. You know we’re going in.”

“Fine, woman. You don’t have to harp on me.” He winked at his wife. “But you better tell the women because if I know their husbands, they’ll start trying to lock them up and keep them out of this.”

The mayor’s wife grinned. “I made sure they all had keys to the lockups and each had a sonic sword and one of those cannon things.” She looked over at the vampire. “One of our daughters bonded with a royal vampire by the name of Stefan. He makes sure we have all the weapons we need.”

Dante piped up. “And all the sex toys, too, I bet. Sorry, Talbot Industries makes billions off the toy market. And now I find out he’s an arms dealer, too. Kaj, when we get back to our plane, remind me to buy up Talbot stock. I like him. He’s smart.”

Kaja smiled at her husband indulgently and shook her head. Shim didn’t believe Kaja and her husband were ever going back to the Vampire plane. Not for more than a visit. She seemed very happy here in Aoibhneas.

The mayor signed his name with a flourish and stood. The town square was filled with villagers, all anxiously waiting. Shim could see the Harper clan standing near the boy named Charlie. Paige had her hand clasped firmly in his. They were young, far too young to wed, but it was plain to see the love in their eyes.

The whole village seemed to quiet as the mayor stepped up. “We go to war.”

A huge shout seemed to shake the ground. There were hugs and slaps on the back and celebratory cheers.

All for a war that might take his wife’s life.

“Your Highness? You seem sad.” Rachel Harper placed a hand on his arm.

“I’m frightened.” He probably shouldn’t admit it, but it was true.

She sighed. “So am I, but we’re more afraid of living like this than we are of dying.”

Shim’s eyes threatened to water again. Damn it. It was always there, that fine edge of grief at his brother’s passing. He kept expecting to look down and see Duffy at his side, making a wisecrack and hauling his axe with him.

Shim hadn’t been able to leave the axe behind. Perhaps he should have, but something deep inside wouldn’t let him as though he had to keep a piece of his brother with him.