Black Flames, page 12
I follow his gaze and notice he’s staring at my bracelet. “I don’t remember any of that. So why do I feel like I can trust you if we’ve never met?”
He moves toward me, startling me, and grabs my wrist. The bracelet glows a bright white before dropping to the ground at my feet. Suddenly, pain blasts its way into my skull, and I scream. I feel as if I’m on fire, and I close my eyes as my power erupts around me. My back burns, and I hear the man gasp.
The pain subsides, and my memories swim in my mind. It’s as if a sledgehammer has been taken to my skull. “What the hell is going on, Ulric?”
“There you are. I see my brother has been up to his tricks again. Nice wings, by the way.”
“What?” I spin around like a dog chasing its tail, attempting to look at my back. Huge white wings extend from my shoulder blades and hang down my back. I reach around and finally grab one and gasp at the sensations that spiral through me. “Holy shit. What is going on?”
“I have no idea, and I’m not sure why you have wings. I thought you were a wolf shifter?” He pulls me by the hand toward the bench I sat on earlier with Zendaya and forces me to sit. Tingles run up and down my arms at his touch, and my wings quiver. Weird.
“Well, it turns out I’m not. It turns out I’m a hellhound from what I’ve heard here. Why do I have wings, though? Is that normal?”
He frowns. “Usually, hellhounds don’t inherit the wings from the angelic blood that helped create them. However, on rare occasions, I have seen one with wings. That usually means they are related to one of the strongest fallen angels. Not many fallen have white wings, though, except those who are related to Lucifer, ruler over us all.”
“Well shit. I wish someone would have told me that. Wouldn’t they have popped out after my first shift?”
“Wait a second. I’m extremely confused. Are you related to Lucifer? I’m not sure if they would have, honestly. But, as I said, it’s rare for hellhounds to have them.”
“Are you sure only Lucifer’s line has white wings? Is there a way to hide them?” I feel overwhelmed now, because if that’s true, then I may be screwed.
“Yes, it’s true. How are you related to him if you have been on Earth this whole time? Ember, what are you not telling me? You can trust me.”
“How do I know that? It was your siblings that drug me down here in the first place. Zendaya said she owed Prospero a favor. Oh shit! Did he threaten her about her daughter? Is that why she did that?” I try to stand to pace, but Ulric grabs me and makes me meet his gaze.
“How are you related to Lucifer?” His grip is firm, and I know I have to tell him.
“I’m his daughter. He and my mother had a one-night stand, and she hid me away.”
He runs his hand through his hair as if stressed. “Fuck, we need to get you out of here. Does anyone here know that?”
“I have no idea. Zendaya knew more about me than I knew about myself. Do you think Prospero threatened her daughter? I thought she liked me when we first met.”
“I did like you and still do. You’re a terrible secret keeper, Ember, but I see my other brother found you,” Zendaya announces, startling us both.
Flames shoot to my hands, and my magic is ready for an attack. “Why are you here?” I ask.
Zendaya glances at Ulric before she says, “I had a feeling that my brother would find you. Not Prospero. I wanted you two to find each other.”
“Sister, is he using your daughter against you? Is that why Ember is here?” Ulric asks, pulling me behind him. I let my flames die out and watch on curiously.
“He did. She is safe, though, because she is now training with Lucifer’s hellhounds. Ember was supposed to come to our world at some point. She is his heir, and she can help bring balance back to us all. Father has gotten carried away, and you know it. What he is doing with those women is terrible, but I know with Ember’s help, we can set them free.” Zendaya’s eyes glow with anger.
“He is out of control with it, I agree, which is why I have refused to assist in his plans. Prospero and some of our other brothers have enjoyed it too much. Helping them escape will put targets on our backs, though.” Ulric runs another hand through his hair.
“Where would we take them?” I ask.
“That’s the part we need to figure out. I think we can hide them on your pack’s land. It’s going to be risky getting them there, though. We need more help.” Zendaya shrugs.
“Are you saying we take them through the hell gate in Texas? That’s the closest one to Ember’s territory,” Ulric questions.
“Are they even all shifters?” I add.
This time Zendaya rubs her head. “I believe they are. Some of them are with child though, so it may be challenging. But we need to get them out of here before they start testing new things on them.”
I stare at the two angels as they’re quiet for a moment.
“There is a ball coming up in a few weeks that we could utilize as a distraction. I know many other groups from reigning regions will be there, so maybe we can get them to aid us. Ember, you did smell like a vampire when I met you. Is your vampire friend here in Hell, now?” Ulric asks, and I cringe.
“Shit, Zeke. God, I hope he hasn’t killed Corey for letting me get kidnapped. I don’t know. I don’t know much about the vampires in Hell.”
“Hm, we may be able to reach out to them. Let’s plan on using the ball as our cover. We can take the women out to the gate that will lead them to Texas, and then they can be brought to Ember’s pack’s lands for safety. Should we reach out for help from Lucifer?” Ulric stands and begins to pace.
“That may not be a bad idea. If we send a message to Kai to let him in on what’s going on, I think we can get someone to meet the girls and assure their safety. I know the two of you don’t always see eye to eye, Ulric, but getting them to help may be the best solution.” Zendaya frowns. “Although, it will bring Vixie way too close to this for my comfort.”
“Who are you guys talking about? Can we trust these people with this information? What if they realize who I am? I’m not ready to deal with that whole daddy issue yet,” I say in a rush, and Zendaya laughs.
“You’ll be safe. I can teach you how to hide your wings tonight before you go. We’ll need you to keep up the appearance that your memories are still missing for the time being. On the matter of who they are, Vixie is Zendaya’s daughter. Kai is Lucifer’s top general and one of the strongest hellhounds in existence. Somehow, he is related to Cerberus, but no one knows how.”
“Holy shit, he’s real too? Oh my God, my head is hurting. Okay, so if we can trust these guys, let’s see if they will help. So how do I keep up appearances as Prospero’s betrothed? I don’t want him to touch me. Wouldn’t that look odd?” I place my hands on my hips.
“You’re just going to have to suck it up for a bit, girl. There are more important things at stake here. We need to get those girls out, and then you’re going to help us balance Hell.” Zendaya growls, and it scares me.
“How do I do that without letting Lucifer know who I am?”
“We’ll figure that out. Let’s call it a night, and we can meet again to train tomorrow. We’ll both work with you, Ember, to teach you how to use your divine gifts. Zendaya, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Ulric declares and bends down to pick up the bracelet I was wearing earlier.
“Mhm, okay, brother. See you at breakfast in your room, bright and early, Ember!” She blinks and then pushes off the ground into the air. Her wings fan out, and she flaps them to gain height before flying toward the top of the stone castle.
“I need to learn how to do that,” I say, while watching her fly away, in awe.
“I’ll teach you, but not tonight. Tonight, I’m going to teach you how to hide your wings when needed.” He places a hand on my shoulder, and fiery tingles dance across my skin.
Before realizing what I’m doing, I pull him to me and plant my lips on his. He hesitates for only a fraction of a second before responding. Air moves around us, and I feel him set me gently on the bench we were seated on earlier.
Fire erupts in my belly, and my sex clenches as he moans. Something forms between us, and I feel it in my mind. It’s almost like a glowing chain has formed, and I can sense his emotions. He and I are connected somehow.
I pull back. “What is that? Do you feel it?”
He’s breathless as he says, “Yes, I do. I think you’re meant to be my mate, Ember.”
“How is that possible, though?”
He sits back and pulls me onto his lap. “I have no idea, but I thought I felt it when we met. Why is it confusing you? Do you have a mate already?”
I stare at him and think back to the sensations I felt with Zeke. They were almost exactly the same but not. “I felt something similar with Zeke, my vampire friend.”
He frowns and wraps his arms around me. He nuzzles my neck as he says, “Sometimes we can have more than one mate. Maybe you do? We can explore it at a later date. But, right now, it’s just you and me.”
I smile at him as he pulls back to meet my gaze. I rub a hand over his cheek. “Okay. What do you want to do right now?”
He smiles mischievously and chuckles. “I think we both know what I want to do, but because we’re trying to keep your cover, I’m going to restrain myself. So instead, I’m going to teach you how to hide your wings.”
“Fine.” I roll my eyes, and he begins to teach me how to focus my magic on cloaking my new feathery appendages.
The process is simple and easy. He explains that if I picture my wings being hidden by a curtain, they will be cloaked from everyone’s eyes. I’ll still feel them, but they won’t be visible. I close my eyes, and the charm works. I feel something like velvet slide down over my wings. I open my eyes to find Ulric smiling at me, and we practice it a few more times before I head back to my room. I’m thankful to find Prospero not present as he said he would be. I have a lot to process from today, and I need to prepare for tomorrow.
I throw myself into bed, still smelling of Ulric, and fall quickly into a dreamless slumber.
Chapter Fourteen
As morning arrives, I wake feeling refreshed. Memories from the last day float through my head, and I smile at how the day ended. I have a mate. It’s not Adam but a freaking angel. So what if he’s a fallen angel? He’s mine.
“Would you quit daydreaming and get up already?” Zendaya’s voice startles me, and I sit up quickly.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, taking in the table before her filled with food.
“Breakfast, remember? Get up. We have stuff to do today. I need to give you a better tour of the castle, so you know where to go when it’s time for you to leave.”
“We didn’t talk about that last night. What about Ulric? How will he explain his absence?”
“What are you talking about?” She looks at me confused, and I can’t help but blush. “Oh, so it’s true then? He’s your mate? I thought so.”
I toss a pillow at her, and she deflects it. “How did you know?”
“I have certain gifts where I can see things. Not all things, just some. It’s weird and only works part of the time. He’ll find a way to cover his absence. It may be slightly more difficult for him, but he’ll figure it out. He’s sending a message to the vampires this morning to inquire about your friend and see if they will help.”
“I hope they can help. We’ll need some backup for this. What about a message to that Kai guy?”
“Oh, I’ve already taken care of that. If Ulric were to send it, he wouldn’t even open it to read it. Kai and Ulric can be stubborn as mules. Isn’t that the saying they use on Earth?”
I laugh. “Yes, that is the saying.”
I climb out of bed and move to the table next to her. As I plop down, the smell of coffee hits me. “Where did you get coffee?”
“There is always coffee in the pantry. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The kitchen staff runs on it. One of the perks of living in Hell is that there is always coffee. They didn’t have it in Heaven, only tea. Sometimes that isn’t strong enough.”
I quickly fill a cup with the black liquid and add some milk and sugar. It tastes magnificent as it goes down, and I instantly feel more awake. “So, after exploring the secret passages are we going to train some? I would love to do that. I feel like a newborn, and I want to learn how to fly with these babies.” I point my thumb over my shoulder to my invisible wings.
“I think we can manage that. Ulric and I will help teach you some angelic tricks. I’m interested to see what gifts you have.” She lifts her cup of coffee to her lips and takes a sip.
A knock on my door draws our attention, and we stiffen. We both silently listen and watch as it opens to reveal Prospero carrying a tray of food.
“Good morning. Oh, Zendaya, what are you doing up here so early?” He looks confused as he glances between us.
She smiles wickedly. “I’m just spending time with my best friend. We have plans for the day. I didn’t realize you were bringing us food. The servants provided us with plenty, after all.”
He sets the tray down and walks to me, planting a kiss on my head. I fight the urge to flinch, and he sits beside me in another chair. “My, you smell wonderful this morning, Ember. Did you use a new bath soap? I’m sorry I didn’t make it up here last night as I told you I would. I was tied up.”
I frown and look at Zendaya’s eyes. It dawns on me that I am now linked to Ulric. Shit. I didn’t think it would change my scent, but I know nothing about having an angel as a mate. I guess it’s similar to having a wolf mate, and your scents become one, but does that also mean Zeke’s is mine now too? Is that why Corey worked so hard to hide the scent?
“Yes, actually I did! I added some petals from this gorgeous flower I found in the garden to some of the bath salts. I’m glad you like it!” I say and beam at him, hoping he doesn’t catch the lie.
“Hm, we may have to have some of those plants moved to your room. It smells delightful. Zendaya, you wouldn’t mind leaving while I ravish my future wife, would you?” he asks over my shoulder, pulling me toward him.
I lean back and stammer out, “But we have plans to explore more of the castle! There is so much I don’t remember, love. Maybe later?”
He glares over my shoulder at his sister, then turns a softer eye to me. “Fine, dear. If that’s what you wish. I think we need to have some time to ourselves soon. Have you had any luck with your memories?”
His concern makes me almost laugh, but I plaster on a defeated expression. “No, but I’m enjoying making new memories and learning about our home. It’s so beautiful.”
Zendaya snorts behind me. “I’m glad someone thinks so.”
“Our home is gorgeous, sister. What’s not to like? Well, I guess I can share you today. Do you mind if I enjoy breakfast with you?”
I smile up at him and nod as another knock sounds at the door. What the hell? Is this grand central station or something? Who else could show up?
I glance over at Zendaya as the door once again pushes open, and Ulric walks in. Shit.
“Brother, what are you doing up here?” Prospero asks on a growl, and I can sense that this may go sideways.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to interrupt! Our lovely sister asked me to prepare one of the small boats for the lake this morning. She wanted to show your betrothed the view on the water. I just wanted to let her know that everything would be ready for her this afternoon if they still planned to go. Oh, is that breakfast food? Care if I join?” Ulric strides forward, and I can feel his irritation toward Prospero through our bond.
I frown but add, “Oh, I didn’t know you were going to surprise me with that! That’ll be such a wonderful treat, Zendaya.” I feel like I’m laying it on thick, but it seems to work as Prospero groans beside me, and Ulric laughs.
“It seems you have a lot of plans for the two of you, sister. Are you trying to steal my betrothed?” Prospero asks her, pulling me completely into his chest.
I see Ulric stiffen out of the corner of my eye, and I send a silent I’m fine out toward him.
He blinks in surprise and then looks at me before looking back to Zendaya. How the hell did you just do that? Can you hear me?
Yes, I can hear you. Isn’t that what mates do, communicate telepathically?
But we haven’t completed it yet.
Eh, well, this is different, right?
I mean, yeah, I’ve never had a mate before, and angels don’t talk about this kind of stuff. So maybe it’s unique to hellhounds.
Shifters do it, so maybe not? We can wait and see.
“No, brother, just reminding my best friend how great our friendship is. Don’t be so territorial,” Zendaya says.
“Fine, I’ll tone it down a bit. But, darling, you do need to discuss with your maids what type of dress you would prefer for the ball. We have a huge ball coming up soon, and you’ll be the center of attention. I can’t wait to introduce you to some of our family friends,” Prospero says, taking a bite of some of the bread on the table.
Ulric sits down across from me and grabs some food as well. He winks at me as he takes a bite, and I try not to blush.
“Have I not met these friends before?” I ask, turning my gaze back to Prospero.
“Well, yes, some of them, but there will be so many more there you have yet to meet. It’ll be a wonderful night.”
“Hmm, okay,” I say and sip at my cooling cup of coffee. “So, Zendaya, are you about done? It’ll take me no time at all to dress, and we can explore some more.”
“I’m ready when you are, sister.” She smiles, and I laugh.
“Gentlemen, if you don’t mind, I have things to get ready for. So, can you leave?” I ask, and Prospero frowns at me while Ulric laughs.
“If you ladies need anything, seek me out. I’ll gladly help in any way I can. Have fun!” Find me later in the garden, and I can teach you some things. Watch Prospero. I don’t think I can hold back if he tries anything, especially in front of me. Gods, I can’t wait until I can have you to myself.
“Thanks, Ulric!” I say at the same time Zendaya does. We watch as he leaves quietly with a mischievous smile.
