Authors: Maya DeLeina
“What are telling abilities?” Anya asked Steffan.
“She has the ability to entice the truth out of vampires and humans. That is why we selected her as one of our primary contacts in the law enforcement sector.”
“Steffan, does Anya know about M.J.?” Eilian asked softly as he motioned in her direction.
“Not exactly,” Steffan answered with regret.
“What is it, Steffan?”
Steffan placed his hand on Anya’s lap. “You remember when I told you I had relationships with other vampires but never a mate connection?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I had a brief relationship with M.J., Madeleine. When I broke it off, she went ballistic at first. I hurt her deeply. No one but Alex and us here in this room knows about this relationship. I was intrigued with her mate-sensing abilities. I was desperate to find my mate, and I was using her just to see if I could harness her power.”
“Why was she entrusted with so much power in this family if you said she went ballistic when you broke it off?” Anya said with tinge of jealousy in her voice.
“I thought she got over it. It was never an issue in the past. And I guess a part of me felt bad for using her. I couldn’t take away her position in the family on top of that.”
Anya ran her fingers through her hair. “Is she on the governing council?”
“No. But…” Steffan trailed off.
“But what?” Anya asked.
“Eilian, you will need to retrieve all of the Submission injections from the Nemesis and hide them. Just in case. She’s the only one with access other than us,” Steffan said, his voice escalating, his breath racing. “Rhys, we need to find Alex and present this to the council. Alex can back up our theory.”
* * * *
Secluded in the comfort of their bed, Anya and Steffan made love.
“He cannot have you, Anya. You are my mate.”
Steffan fisted Anya’s hair in his hands as held her eyes captive to his. He thrust himself inside her with a passionate force.
“Steffan, I don’t want him. My heart and my body belong to only you.”
“Anya, I love you!”
Steffan pumped fast, moaning louder with every movement. He exploded deep inside her, claiming her repeatedly as his.
“I love you, Steffan. I will always love you,” Anya whispered, clutching Steffan as he collapsed on top of her.
Steffan lifted from her body. “Anya, you must stay near me for the next few days until this gets sorted out with the council. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and I’m not quite sure what he’s capable of at this moment. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’m not leaving your side.”
Steffan repositioned himself on the bed, lying down on his stomach. He reached for the pillow and tucked it under his head. He tapped the other end of the pillow for Anya to join him. She sank down on the bed and gently rested her head next to Steffan. She lay on her stomach, lost in Steffan’s gaze.
Anya, am I a better lover than Ryan?
Steffan asked her inwardly.
How could you even ask that, Steffan? You’re in bed with me. Do you not see and hear what you do to me?
“Sorry. I never cared to know about your past lovers, it didn’t matter to me. But with Ryan, for some reason, I feel jealously and paranoia,” Steffan admitted.
“Ryan can’t hold a candle to you, Steffan.”
“Thank you, love.” A deep smiled etched Steffan’s face.
“Think about it. You should have already seen how Ryan is. He’s very self-centered. Imagine having sex with someone of that mentality. I mean, it is a very one-sided deal, if you get what I am saying.”
“I get it. But I hope you don’t mind me asking you this. If you knew how he was, why did you marry him?”
“I keep asking myself that. I think I lost myself, my self-esteem, my self-worth after losing my parents and Ravi. I was so lonely, so desperate to feel loved and a part of someone’s life again. Then there was the constant pressure of being compared to Anise. Anise was always the prettier one, the party girl, the life of the party, the outgoing one. I was the one who was reserved, just focusing on my music. When Ryan came along, I was taken with his obvious looks, and he showered me with attention. But most of all, he got me because he was the first man who didn’t pay much attention to Anise. That turned out great, huh?”
Steffan shook his head in response.
“Then, he sealed the deal.”
“How?”
“He had lost his parents in a disaster as well, an airplane crash. He was still in high school when it happened. I don’t know, once I found about that, there was this flood of emotion that connected us. Well, connected me, for sure.”
“What about the marriage. How was everything?”
“I liked the feeling of belonging that he gave me, and in the beginning, it was great, but I think it was just because it was still new. It all eventually faded, but I honestly thought that was just one of those things with marriage. I never knew that he had so many affairs. It just never crossed my mind that he would be capable of doing that.”
“The accident that night, who do you think he was referring to? He seemed so genuine and heartfelt at the time.”
“Honestly, it was Anise. But not for the reason you’re thinking. He hid all the money under Anise’s name so I wouldn’t get anything from the divorce. He made himself look destitute financially. When he bought the house, he even titled it under Anise’s name. And guess what I found among the attorney’s paperwork that made me figure this all out.”
“What?”
“A deed of transfer from Anise to Ryan! It was already complete. All it needed was Anise’s signature to be executed with the land court. I don’t think the attorney intended for me to see that, I don’t know how it even got into the probate paperwork we were working on.”
“How strange.”
“Steffan, all Ryan was referring to was his need for Anise in order to have access to what he truly cared about. Money.”
“The attorney, what was his name?”
“Alan White.”
“That’s the same attorney who drafted the offer to purchase the house for Ryan. Did he mention anything about Anise, or did he act like he didn’t remember her?”
“You know, he had to read his notes and documents just to recall his dealings with Anise. He even admitted not being able to remember much on her case. And the thing is, Anise would’ve never thought of doing a will on her own. She completed the will just shortly before her death. I still can’t make sense of all of that.”
“It sounds like she enthralled the attorney. Anya, she must’ve done this for a specific reason.”
“I know, but I haven’t figured…” Anya stopped in midsentence and immediately sat up in bed. She reached for the covers and pulled them over her naked body.
“What is it, Anya? Did you hear something?”
“No. I
feel
something. I think Ryan is in the house!”
“I would’ve sensed him! Besides, the guys are supposed to be watching him.” Steffan shook his head.
“Well, he is here. And he is shielding. I can feel it.”
“Damnit! His shielding is stronger than I originally thought! Fuck! Where is he?”
“He is making his way up the staircase.” Anya scrambled off the bed. “He is headed our way, Steffan!”
“Get dressed!” Steffan jumped off the bed and searched for his jeans and shirt. “Anya, does he have any weapons? Is anyone else with him?”
“No. He’s alone. He has something in his hand. I can’t make it out. But it doesn’t appear to be a weapon.” Anya paused, frowning in concentration.
“Oh, my god. He is coming!” Anya concentrated on the door and moved all the locking mechanisms in place with her mind.
“Lock yourself in the master bath. Don’t come out until I get you, no matter what you hear,” Steffan said as he pulled on a pair of jeans.
“But, Steffan, I have kinesis. I can try to move something, do something to help you.”
“Not right now. I don’t want him to even see you. And if you see him, you might not be able to control your instinct again. It’s too dangerous. Go!” Steffan commanded.
Anya scrambled to the master bath just as the handles on the master bedroom were tested from the outside.
* * * *
Three slow knocks at the door followed and echoed through the room.
“Steffan, I know you’re in there with my wife!” Ryan shouted from the other side of the door.
“Ryan, you are intruding in my home. Leave and we will discuss this at the council. I already set up a midnight meeting. You can say your piece then.”
“So you are going to be a pussy in front of Anya and not open this door to face me man-to-man?” Ryan’s muffled taunt rang in Steffan’s ears.
Suddenly, the double doors burst open, sending Ryan to retreat in haste.
“Here I am, Ryan. What do you want?”
Ryan peered around Steffan’s body. “I just want what’s mine, and I’ll be on my way.”
“She’s not yours, Ryan. She is my mine! You discarded Anya well before I even made you. You cannot have her! You will not have her!” Steffan spoke with an eerie fury though his body remained calm and collected.
“I discarded nothing, and you know that. I’m giving you a chance here,” Ryan barked back at Steffan.
“You’ve crossed the line, Ryan, you must leave now.”
“I crossed the line? You broke the fucking law, Steffan, and you’ll pay—with your life!”
“I know Madeleine is behind this and I don’t know what kind of bullshit she fed you, but it would be wise not to listen to her. She’s using you to get back at me.”
“Just shut up! Shut up! I want what’s mine, now. I will take my wife to our home and leave you be,” Ryan said as he tried to push Steffan aside.
“It would be wise for you to refrain from touching me again, Ryan. Step back, I’m warning you!”
“Anya? Honey? Come on out. I have something for you.” Ryan held a diamond ring and a wedding band in his hand.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? We have already claimed each other. She’s mine!” Steffan grabbed a hold of Ryan’s shoulders and pinned him up against the wall.
“Oh, and I can clearly see you couldn’t help yourself and fucked her again full knowing she was my wife!”
Anya, call for Rhys and Eilian. I need their help before I end up killing him.
I can help you.
No, stay in the room.
What did he have in his hands?
Your wedding ring.
“You know, I’ve watched you fuck her over and over again in this very room? You remember that night you caught me in the dining room? I was there to watch the show. I wanted to see Anya on display, every beautiful inch of her. Inside and out. Everything you’ve done to her…that’s what I am going to do to her as soon as I get her home.”
“You sick, fucking, twisted asshole!” Steffan punched Ryan in the face, breaking his nose. The black veins crept up from his cheek and congregated on his nose, repairing the break in an instant. Frustrated, Steffan began punching Ryan’s face repeatedly. Black blood flowed from his nose, and gashes near his eyes and mouth. The sound of his bones shattering under Steffan’s fist was deafening.