“I’m afraid the wards will keep you from mentally contacting others and vice versa, as well, Jenna. However, I should be able to reach out to my mother.” Creed kept his eyes locked onto her pulse for any sign she was being dishonest.
“How do you reach your mother? A cellular device?” Jenna stared between him and me.
I laughed. Those gorgeous multifaceted eyes of mine rolled before I gave a smile he’d love to see every day for eternity. “Of course, we have cell phones. Well, I did until some snake thing took me away.”
A snap of his fingers, and a new phone was in his palm. “Here, this is yours. Whatever your old number was, just think it and it will be.”
“Wow, you’re powerful.” I smiled. “Oh, I love that phone. I have the same model. But, it still won’t work here.”
“Jenna, make it so.” Creed turned to see a dark-haired beauty saunter into the room.
“Talia, what did I say about staying out of this?”
The woman named Talia shrugged. “Yeah, well, you were torturing the poor girl who looks like she needs a hug from a motherly figure. Hence, I am here.” Before he knew what the other woman was going to do, she bent and hugged me. “All is well, child. Call your mama and let her know that you’re safe. Tell her the big bad Fey Queen has her bitch pants in a twist, because her twin mates are assholes.”
“Talia, Damian, and Lucas are not assholes. They are just…male,” Jenna cried.
I jumped up. “Did you just say, Damian and Lucas? As in Damian and Lucas Cordell?”
Talia moved next to me. “Now Jenna, you know them boys are randy, so if they slept with this sweet thing, it’s not her fault.”
Creed growled. He felt his horns grow and his skin stretch—a sure sign he was not in control—while I started laughing like a loon. And to make matters worse, the Fey queen looked ready to do real damage.
“Oh, my gawd. This is awesome, except the part about me and you know...I have never. I mean ewwww. They are my brothers.” I made some gagging noises. “Seriously, I just threw up in my mouth. That’s why you smell like them—you’re their mate? Where are they?” I looked around.
Talia fell into a chair, her laughter grating on his last nerve. “So, you’re their baby sister? I thought her name was Alecia?”
Jenna sat next to Talia and smacked the other woman in the arm as she continued to giggle. “I go by Raina. Fate must have decided to send us here since we are connected. Where are my brothers?” I asked again.
Jenna took a deep breath. “You may call your parents now.”
“I’m really nervous. What do I say to them?” I looked at Creed, then Jenna.
Creed shrugged, figuring he had no experience to offer in such situations. The fact that he had a past with the elder Cordells was something he needed to address. He looked at his Chosen and wondered how he should handle it...handle her. His mind raced with worry at how she’d react to the knowledge that he’d known her mother long before she’d been created.
“That’s what I thought. I must warn you both…I’m sort of considered the baby, and as such, my family is a little overprotective.” Chewing on my lower lip, I dialed a number.
“Alecia Raina Cordell, where the hell are you, girl?” A booming voice yelled through the line.
I winced. “Now, Daddy, don’t freak out, but I was sort of dragged into Hell.”
Creed’s eyes widened as he felt power trying to break through his wards. “Let me speak with your father, Eros.” He held out his hand.
Damikan Cordell’s low growl could be heard through the phone. A lesser man would have pissed himself. I shook my head. “I don’t think that is a good idea, Creed.”
“Who is with you?” My father spat the word.
He didn’t let the Vampire King’s words shake him. He’d faced worse beings and lived to tell the tale. Now, he waited for his Chosen to hand the phone over.
“Be nice. Both of you,” I admonished before placing the slim rose gold device into his large palm.
“I’m always nice.” He brushed a kiss across my lips, the action making me gasp. “Hello, Damikan. How are you and your lovely wife, Luna?”
The ache he’d felt anytime he’d thought he’d never have a mate of his own was no longer there. He glanced down at the beautiful creature before him and realized for the first time what the Fates must have had in store for him. The reality of his situation had him chuckling into the phone.
“Listen, you bastard. If you touch one hair on her head, I will kill you slowly. I will make you wish for death, but not allow you that, until I alone deem it is time.” The words were spoken in a low, menacing voice. If Creed had been there, he was sure Damikan would have reduced him to ash.
Realizing he didn’t want the conversation to be overheard, he put a shield around himself. “I would never do anything to harm my Chosen. Your daughter is the light to my dark. Without her, I would sooner die than continue on.” He shook his head, trying to figure out a way to make Raina’s father understand. “If I open myself to you, I am allowing you the opportunity to kill me. I don’t do this lightly, but I do it to show you my true feelings. I know you remember me as I remember you. Had I not saved your mate’s life all those years ago, she would not have lived to birth my true Chosen. Loneliness is a cold beast that hardens a man. She brought sunshine into my dark life. Now, fate has brought Raina and me together. Had I not been there at the time I was, Luna would have been killed before you’d met her, hence keeping her from creating the being meant for me. I guess fate has a fucked-up sense of humor.”
