19 A serious talk

Hirudo = the vampire kingdom – ruled by King Janus Nikolaevich (he took over and entombed his brother King Vladimere Nikolaevich)
***POV – Enigma
My annoyance builds by the minute as the twins vanish through the porthole. It's like recognizing you're letting a major adversary go, knowing he'll come back to haunt you ... But it's not like we can just kill the demonant's children without terrible repercussions — I know that. And, judging from the expression on his face, Zagon isn't thrilled about this either. But going against TDF is insane; like committing suicide and taking all your loved ones with you.
They forced Amy to summon Selene and inquired about the location of a white wolf … but white wolves don’t exist – according to Selene that is. They asked a few additional questions … such as who the leader of the resistance is and where to find him … but seems Selene didn’t know … or maybe she just wasn’t in the mood to talk much - with the gods you never know.
Me … I was more fascinated by the way Selene talked through Amy’s body. I mean the girl was in a trancelike state; literally surrounded by soft moonlight shining from the star on her brow … it was enchantingly magnificent.
I watch as Harron removes the luciferin rod from the side panel in the wall, rendering the porthole inoperable for now. We certainly don’t want any more unannounced visits from surprise guests through there.
“That was fun,” Puck mocks from my mate’s shoulder and if I weren’t so tense … their new little bro-romance would be rather amusing.
But right now I’m not feeling too comical … nope, I’m mad; everybody has been withholding stuff from me … a lot of stuff it seems. Puck told me about the elemental that visited the castle, but no one cared to explain why exactly he was here. But it appears that everything is somehow linked to me … or Zagon. Could it be because of our bond? Or because of his dad? I need to find out what he knows … and I’m gonna demand answers – starting right now.
“Okay, I think it’s time for us to have a very serious meeting … one where you tell Enigma everything you’re trying to hide,” I whirl around and point a finger at Zagon, “And it’s mandatory for demon mates.”
He exchanges a few pallid glances with Harron before he opens his mouth. I quickly hold up my finger against his lips.
“I don’t want to hear any fucking excuses … actually … I don’t want to hear anything unless it’s got something to do with this whole shitty situation,” my voice is not loving. He shuts his mouth without saying a word. Yep, today is the day the demon is going to spill his guts.
“Great!” I stomp out of the room, hoping fervently that he will follow me; he’s not exactly the type to follow orders … from anyone.
“Your shit is booked boy,” I hear my uncle say, “I’m going to store this in a safe place.” He must be referring to the rod.
“Yeh, that must be a luciferin rod?” Zagon asks calmly and I stop. Is he really going to chat to my uncle about shining rods now? He does know that he’s supposed to follow me, right?
“Oh, yes. It is exceedingly valuable and difficult to get because of the way it’s created,” Harron can be a real nerd when it comes to stuff like this. I stay in my spot; listening to him chanting away, “The luciferin liquid is rigorously extracted from the abdomens of the giant fireflies found in the swamps of Hirudo.”
“Wow … so they suck out that shiny stuff from a firefly’s ass. They must need a fucking lot of fireflies then,” my foul-mouthed sprite joins the conversation.
“Actually, they just take literally a drop at a time … leaving the firefly to replenish itself again. So that way they have an endless supply, but it takes ages to fill a rod this size.”
At last, I hear footsteps behind me so I head to Stephan’s office … it’s soundproof, and knowing that since most everyone else is still getting treated in the clinic, we’ll have some privacy at least.
“That was interesting, don’t you think?” Puck’s voice is a few steps behind me.
“Yeh … never knew you could pull something useful from a bug’s butt … “ Zagon answers casually.
I step aside and let them in, closing and locking the door behind us. Zagon gives me a sexy smile and says softly, “You’re not planning on seducing me, are you?” I frown and he continues with a voice filled with laughter, “Cause there’s a kid in the room … “ he points to Puck.
“Hey!” Puck shouts out annoyed but the demon ignores him and winks at me. I give him an ungirly grunt, but my heartbeat doubles.
“Okay, princess, you have my full attention,” my mate flops onto a chair and swings his legs over the armrest looking very handsome in the process. His face flinches … the sole sign that he also hasn’t completely healed after fighting off the invaders. And if what Puck told me is true … it’s a miracle that he’s even alive, much alone walking around. Getting hit with a full blast of magic from a warlock kills most creatures, or at the very least renders them crippling damaged. But I’m very very VERY grateful he’s not dead.
“Right …” I also take a seat and look straight at him, “you get to go first.” One brow lifts inquisitively, and I wish I could do that and make it look sexy.
“What do you want to know?” his eyes darken to a rich dark blue.
“I know a little about your past …“ I eyeball those navy eyes with a determined look … “However, I need more info about your little pack of three.” I didn’t want to sound so official … but those blue orbs upsets me in ways I can’t even begin to explain, disrupting any clear thought on my part. And I really really want to know more about him. Puck settles into a more comfortable position on the backrest; crossing his legs; his head resting in his hands; eagerly glaring at the demon’s face.
Zagon’s eyes twinkle dangerously … just like stars in the night sky. And in that instance, my suspicions that he’s not a sharer are confirmed. Will I ever get to know my mate … the man who grabbed my heart without asking?
But to my surprise, he actually starts talking.
“I’m Zagon, and I’m a demon,” he says sounding like a recovering addict at an AA meeting, “and that’s all you need to know.” He gives me a lopsided grin and I realize he’s tormenting me. Asshole. How can I be in love with that? I must be going crazy.
“You’re such a jerk,” I hiss, blinking to hide my pain.
“Ugh … alright … just get rid of those puppy-dog eyes already,” he scuffs throwing his head back. I sit up straight.
“We grew up in Berxly, Communia. My mom was a commoner … and you already know who my biological father is. Something I also only found out a few months ago through a letter by the way.”
I wait for him to continue, but then realize he’s not planning to. So that’s it? No way … I need more.
“You mentioned having a difficult childhood … what did you mean by that?”
“Really, you want to go there?”
“Please,” I need to know what happened to you. I want to understand. Or try to at least. Cause I think I might have fallen in love with you.
“I had a real shitty stepdad …” the expression on his face unreadable, “Let’s just say I grew up under the worst circumstances possible. The man simply enjoyed torturing me in the most heinous ways he could think of … and let’s leave it at that.” He massages his temple with one hand as if attempting to erase some memories. Can it really be that bad? This demon is not a pissy … so I don’t even want to think what conceivably bad things must have been done to torment him … and maybe it’s because of it that he turned out the way he is.
“When I was 12 my parents died, leaving us alone. There’s no way our older brother, Ethan, would ever have taken any of us in … not even Luan. Strangely, I received a box of money addressed to me … enough to get our own place and some. Looking back now, it had to come from Apollyon. Maybe it was his fucked up way of looking after me … I don’t know … but it sure was a lifesaver at the time.” He tries to look unaffected but I can see he’s shaken; sudden grief clouds his eyes; his face emotionless; hard; almost scary. I would give anything to know what he’s thinking right now.
“However, we almost immediately began earning our own money when we became Hunters … pretty good ones if I may say so.” That is undebatable … they look extremely efficient and lethal. For sure.
“And where did you meet Marrok?” He pulls up his shoulders.
“My stepfather dumped me in the most insane locations imaginable … and some weird shit happened to me during those trips … and it was on the last one that I happened upon Marrok. Vampires just attacked his small village and slaughtered everybody.”
“Village … wasn’t he part of a pack?”
“No, they were all rogues. His parents were both delta’s …”
“But that’s impossible … he’s an alpha … so he must come from an alpha lineage,” I’m confused, but Zagon simply raises his shoulders again. He seems to do that a lot.
“It’s not as if we can go and ask his mother if she got knocked up by an alpha.” Does anybody else think this is too weird? But also so interesting.
“Okay, but since his stepdad comes from the Green Tree pack, maybe that alpha is his real father … or one of his sons even … “
“It’s not important,” my mate dismisses my babbling. But my curiosity is peaked and I will surely dive deeper into this later … but he’s right … Marrok’s real father is not the top priority right now.
“Now I would like to know something … “ Zagon is looking right at me and I swallow, “who did my father apparently kill for me to deserve being fried alive?”
“Yeh, about that … I may have overreacted just a teeny bit, but how was I supposed to know that Apollyon was framed? I do feel slightly bad for burning you if that’s any consolation.” I bite my lip innocently.
“You can make up for that later … “ he winks seductively and I clasp my legs tightly together, “So? Who was killed?”
“Eh, my parents,” I can’t look at him.
“Your parents?” I nod, still looking at the floor.
“Well, as far as I know, your father, albeit being a juicehead, is still very much alive … “ Yeh, my alleged father … the alcoholic oldest elf prince everybody believes is my dad.
“Eh … I’m not supposed to tell anybody this … so you have to promise to keep it a secret.” He nods so I continue, “That’s just the story my grandparents came up with to keep me safe … my real father was the youngest wolf prince, Tylor. And my mother was Belle, Harron’s little sister.” At this point, I look up to see his astonished expression.
“Wow,” he blinks a few times and then wipes his hand over his eyes, “so let me get this straight … the dipsomaniac prince whose illegitimate kid you’re supposedly is, is actually your uncle … just like Harron … and you are …” he pauses while thinking it over so I finish his sentence for him, “the child of the royal couple that got murdered by vampires … “
His baby-blues are still muddled with confusion and for a moment I’m lost, wondering as to whether he inherited those long dark lashes from his mom or dad. Come to think of it … I don’t have a cooking clue about how Apollyon Nox looks … is he as attractive as his offspring?
“That explains your wolf side … “ I jolt out of my trans at the sound of his voice. Wolf side? Fuck? How does he …
“You know about that?” I inquire unsurely.
“Yep … Harron told me … “ he says distantly as if it’s unimportant.
“But … the princess died before giving birth … so how is it possible …“ It’s as though his mind is still far away; thinking; processing. If it was me I would be walking in circles … but I guess that’s an elf thing.
“Oh, that … you see, that’s why the cover story was so believable … dead females can’t give birth … so nobody ever imagines me to be the child of Belle. But the truth is … Belle didn’t die that night … well she did, but she came back.” His proximity makes me feel claustrophobic so I get up and walk to stare out the window …
Some kids are playing on the grass with a ball, kicking it around. I remember my mom playing with me when I was little … it was always only me and her … until … I breathe in and out but my breath gets caught. I stroke my hand over my cheek, wiping away the dampness of a tear. Am I crying? The next moment, strong arms wrap around me from behind and I cuddle into the safe warmth of his chest, knowing instantly it’s where I belong.
“Eni, don’t cry,” his voice is hoarse; emotional; as if he’s struggling to speak. I turn in his arms and look up at him. He cups my head in his hands and wipes a tear away with his thumb. He lowers his head and his lips burn the skin on my forehead. And with a sigh, I lean my head against his shoulder.
“A vampire bit her mom, but she was still alive … but dying.” I have completely forgotten all about Puck. He’s still perched on the backrest of the chair. His voice sounds sad. “It seems your daddy Nox seized the vampire, severed his vein, and dripped the blood into her mouth, transforming her into a vampire. Thus saving Enigma’s life.”
“Fuck me,” Zagon swear but I’m not sure he even knows he said that out loud. I stay still, scared that if I move he will let me go … and I like being in his arms … I like it a lot.
“After Enigma was born the kings hid them away in a secret cabin, but then some vampires found them and killed Belle for real … I’m not sure how or why though … “
“They were looking for some boy and found us instead … “ I interrupt Puck. “Long story short … Harron took me to Earth and because I look like an elf, they concocted the story about me being a royal bastard. Any questions?” I wiggle myself tighter into his embrace, needing the feel of him against me.
“Just one … why not say Harron was your dad instead?” I can’t help but smile … yes it would be better …
“Cause nobody would believe that Harron had a child with some whore … and he also just lost his betrothed.”