Chapter 25

Twenty-Five

VERACITY

Life couldn’t be any better. I’m going to be Cal’s wife. It’s surreal, unbelievable. Despite being a nobody, and his deep-seated trust issues, he chose me. Sure, I was trained to kill him, but he overcame that, and now…we will be bound to each other.

He’s being so considerate of what I want, even hiring an architect just in case I couldn’t live in the house where I was hurt. Oddly, I elect to stay in it and claim it as my own. If I can create new, happy memories inside then, somehow, I’ll have truly overcome my nightmare.

But I did ask if we could pour an indoor pool in the basement instead of what’s there and he already has the workers coming tomorrow.

Cal shows me what true pleasure is like when he makes love to me. Not having my body be used by people to gain something, to be able to feel everything just for myself, is all new. More importantly, I get to share that experience with him. The love of my life.

Maybe it’s wrong that I rely on him so much for my identity…but I know that as I discover more of myself with him and in our life together, he will let me be me. For the first time in my life, I’m free. I get choices. It’s terrifying. And invigorating.

I skip along the muddied path toward the back fifty. Spinning in a one-eighty to face him, he ambles with his long legs in a slow walk, a goofy smile on his face that hasn’t left since we just fucked in the shower. I love that I’m the cause of that expression.

“Please don’t trip over something, V. You may be carrying our child.”

Babbling up from my belly like a brook, a giggle escapes as I snatch his long fingers between both of my hands. “I told you, it usually takes months of trying to conceive. You just removed the IUD⁠—”

“But I have⁠—”

“Don’t say super sperm again.”

His lips tighten into a smug smile as he keeps his green eyes peering straight ahead into the afternoon spring sun, trying to maintain a faux serious expression. “Super sperm.”

Full-out laughter tackles my body that spills over onto him as his hand tugs me in closer until we stroll hip to hip, side by side.

An old gray cedar lean-to is nestled among the blossoming trees. One large oak shields most of it from view, but between the widely spaced boards, I spot a slight movement inside. As we round the corner, trying to quiet our chuckles, Alpha stands from a camping chair set up near a fire pit, almost knocking it back in her hurry.

“What’s she doing here?” Her big blue eyes narrow and scope me out all the way from my feet to my hair, which is probably a tangled mess since Cal didn’t give me time to dry it after our rendezvous in the bathroom.

His body stills next to me, and I thought at one point in my life it was because he was calm, easy, and relaxed. Now, I know he’s priming himself for an attack.

“I will say this to you only once, Daisy. Watch how you speak to or about my woman. I have no issues cutting out your tongue and feeding it to the hogs.”

As her lips part, an audible sound of exasperation flows from them. “I-I...” She stops stammering and clears her throat. “Fine, but is she privy to everything I need to discuss? About the plan?”

“She’s the soon to be Mrs. Von Dovish. Yes, she rules West Side with me. Whatever you have to say, you need to say to both of us.”

Her legs seem to give way as she finds the chair again and eases back into it. “Mrs. Von Dovish? But, um, Cal, she’s not⁠—”

“Let’s back up to Mister Von Dovish, sir, master, or boss.” His lips find my temple and place a warm kiss there as I take a deep breath to fill my nose with the scent of wildflowers and a nearby honeysuckle bush. Despite her aggressiveness, I’m pretty sure I can easily take her.

Swatting at a fly, Alpha takes a few moments to collect herself. “Yes, sir. And…ma’am.” It’s said most reluctantly, with a furtive glance in my direction. “The owls stated they weren’t part of the ambush, that they were watching you return their property…” She gives me a small nod.

“Then who did it, Alpha? Who tried to kill me, and why didn’t Herodius stop it if she’s their property?”

“They sent one representative alone in case something happens. The ambush was performed by several people, and they were outnumbered. Also, I don’t think violence is their way.”

Clutching Cal’s arm, I stop him from asking by jumping in with my own question. “So who were they, then?”

Booted toes from her right foot stab into the dried dirt, and she makes a line and looks down at it. “I don’t know. We’re working on it.”

Turning to Cal, I lower my voice. “It could have been Dot or Dash, but what if it was the other factions?”

Alpha’s dark ponytail flies behind her as her eyes snap to stare me down. “What other factions?”

“Could be,” Cal says to me, ignoring his spy. “So, when and where is the next meeting, Alpha?”

“A little town about six hours away called Leesville, tomorrow night at nine. The location is in some woods inside an old barn. I’ll send you coordinates like last time, but I suggest taking some back up. Nick will want⁠—”

“Thanks, Daisy. I’ll take it from here.” Cal turns us as a unit but pauses before we leave the structure. “Oh, and Alpha?” Placing his hand on the small of my back, he gives a small push to encourage me forward, away from them. Some odd cartoonish smile comes over his face, his eyes wild with energy as he gives her a goodbye. It’s terrifying. “Thank you for everything.”

Once we get back to the house, Nick Jordan arrives, and Cal introduces me as his fiancée. I let him, despite his non-proposal and no ring. Nick is to be my personal secretary because Cal never uses him. Nick treats me with respect and seems gracious and caring, even though I’m an outsider.

Cal spends the rest of the afternoon giving me a more structured tour of the estate but pauses to throw me against a wall and shove his erection into me, kissing me or sucking on my neck and saying things like, “And here’s baby number eight’s room. Actually, they’ll probably be twins again, so they can share this one.”

Before we return to the dining room for dinner, Cal lifts me up by the thighs and plants me on a console table down one of the gallery’s gilded halls. As if he’s about to bust, he rips his jeans open and splays his large, stiff cock out before shoving my pants down and sliding inside. “Puppet, you better hurry ’cause I’m about to lose it. Fuck, just being around you makes me want to come in my pants.”

Me, too is what I want to say, but the thickness of him takes my breath away. Focusing on how full he stretches me and the steady rhythm as his pubic bones slap against my throbbing clit, I wrap my legs to help pull him in deeper and deeper. With a loud groan into my neck, he throbs an eruption of cum inside me. Continuing to use his body even while he’s recovering, I feel myself fall over the edge. He helps me by continuing to pump slowly inside while panting out “good girl, good girl” into my ear.

Holding me in a tight embrace while he groans in displeasure, he slowly slides out of me. “I fucking hate leaving you. But at least I left a deposit. And I’ll be back. Keep it warm for me.”

I press my lips into his cheek and mutter there, “Always.”

Straightening ourselves, we head to dinner.

Cal boughta luxury RV so his driver could take us to Leesville in comfort. He simply called someone and asked for the nicest one they had on the lot, and got it delivered in, like, three hours. He said it was so we could “prepare” for the meeting along the way but, really, it was so he could fuck me twice in the king-sized bed in the main bedroom. And once on the sofa. Jovial and smiling like I’d never seen him before, the ever-present worried look on his brow has disappeared over the last few days. In its place is awe and wonder.

Part of me thinks we’re finally able to be kids like we were never allowed to be before. And I love it. I love him.

“Pay attention, please,” I tell him as he pulls on my hair in a playful gesture. He laughs loudly while selecting the next game on the TV with his controller.

“Another round?”

“I am so sore, there’s no way. How are you not raw?” My thighs clench together at the memory of what we did not even five minutes ago.

Chuckling so his firm chest rises rapidly underneath his waffled Henley, he says, “I meant another round of Street Fighter.” Picking up some stray locks on my shoulder, he inspects my head. “Hey, what color is your hair?”

Picking up the controller, I push start for the next fight. “I don’t know, actually. Do you not like the red?”

“I love whatever color you choose. Was just curious.”

With a swift punch to the head, I take down his character with a combination. “I think I’ll let it grow and see what sprouts. Cal! You got me started on this stupid game and we need to devise a strategy for the meeting!”

While I’m distracted thinking of what needs to be done, he wins the round. “Ha!”

“Cal, seriously. What’s the plan?”

But instead of answering, he sticks his forefinger in my face. Then, he continues his annoying laugh until I pretend to bite the tip of it. He pulls away, taking me with him until we’re lying back on the couch. Attempting to fish out my lips with his own, I move my head out of his way so he can’t. His non-answer is giving me a bit of anxiety.

“Uh, come on, V. I got this. Don’t worry,” he says with a small twitch of his left eyebrow. That’s calculation, deviation. I can read something on him!

Pursing my lips at him, I try to contain my smile at learning more about him. “So you already have a plan…”

“Of course.” His shoulders shrug.

“Are you going to let me in on it?”

With a flash of his beautiful white teeth, he says, “Nope. Just enjoy the ride.” Tucking my wrists behind my back, his neck strains up as his lips connect with mine forcefully. “Play with me.” Lifting his hips against my core, he shows me he’s already hard again.

“Don’t you get tired?”

“Not often. Aren’t you a lucky girl?”

A crackle, then robotic voice, interrupts the game sounds overhead as we both startle with a slight jump. “Mister Von Dovish? We’re about ten minutes away.”

“Thank you.” His green eyes find mine with a glint in them. “Come on, we got ten minutes.” He starts to undo his fly between us.

Sighing, I give in. I want it, too. And I’ll just leave the plan up to him. I trust him…I think?

Leesville is cold,with biting spring winds ripping through the open air. The ancient, dilapidated, and leaning barn sitting next to the concrete platform we wait on isn’t offering any protection from the weather. At least the stars and moonlight up the night like it’s daytime. We’ll see anyone coming from miles away. Very few trees obstruct our views, and the only thing that could cast a shadow is the leftover front door frame of the old house’s foundation, where the meeting is set to take place. Even the fireplace was left to a heap of stone rubble.

Just as I consider what could have caused it, I get a sense of being watched.

Cal monitors my feet shift and places a hand on my back. Softly, his voice warms my ear. “You okay?”

Whispering, I tell him, “I-I think someone’s here.”

Not more than one minute later, a figure in a hooded long cape approaches from a small copse of trees as if rising from the mists of the underworld, dense fog surrounding their feet. It’s taller than I, perhaps feminine, but it’s difficult to tell. On closer examination, the person wears an owl mask covering all of their features, and except for delicate alabaster skin on their hands exposed to the night’s light, no other parts are visible. Definitely more feminine looking than masculine now that she’s closer. Herodius are all women, so that would make sense.

She comes to stand three feet in front of us and ominously waits without talking.

Cal stands up straighter but maintains his contact on my shoulder before clearing his throat. “Hello, I’ve brought your sacrifice.” A thud interrupts my heartbeat. Is-is this part of his plan? I remain steady in case it is.

“She’s unbound.” A robotic voice echoes through the empty space between us. My hair picks up in a sudden breeze, billowing around my head, but I don’t make a move to contain it.

“She is.”

My stomach tightens at the silence that resonates from the figure in front of us. Twisting my fingers together, I try to shift my weight to be on guard without gaining attention. Cal wouldn’t hurt me…would he? It has to be part of his strategy. But…he has locked me up, forced me to use a diaper, tortured me with pleasure… And he’s also killed plenty of times. As subtly as possible, I take a deep breath in to calm my racing pulse. Cal is unpredictable. Has he fooled me?

The robotic voice finally rings out, interrupting my panic. “She is the sacrifice we require.”

Cal shuffles slightly on his feet. “I don’t understand.”

“Fox, you carry with you at all times two vials. One is a venom. One an anti-venom. We require you to use the venom to make your sacrifice here, on these sacred grounds.” With a wave of the cloak, the woman showcases a stained area of the concrete floor. Before, I would have thought it was just some leaves or debris, but now I realize, those must be burned or bloodstains on the surface.

My chest tightens. There’s no way Cal would do this to me, though. Right?

“You want me to sacrifice her, here, and then…what?”

Another pause before the mechanical voice rings through, its unearthly sounds causing my skin to crawl. “For the people of your West Side. To know the secrets of our organization. To stop a madman from his tirades.” Cal’s arms stop touching me, the frigid gap between us suddenly cavernous. This is all Cal has wanted.

Carefully, he responds, “For my people.”

“Her. For your people. For West Side. Make your choice.”

He won’t look at me, though I’m boring holes into the side of his face. A tear falls over my heated cheek as I stare, unblinking. Has he betrayed me?

By the light of the moon, his Adam’s apple bobs slowly as he swallows, then pulls out his two vials, holding them in his open palm, studying them curiously. They’re filled now, which means he must have prepared them again after we used them in the forest near Laurelwood. Full-out panic grips my insides as I fear his current plan.

There’s just… He wouldn’t… If he…

I know that if I die, I’ve lived happiness with him. To die by his hands would be almost worth it. Could I run? There are no trees for cover in the nearest vicinity. I would likely be faster than the figure in front of us, but not my love. He doesn’t have weapons. If he came at me, I’d be forced to fight him.

“I need to see the vials, make sure which you are giving to her.”

Cal’s long legs stride over to the caped woman, but as he nears, he stumbles on his shoe, dropping the two vessels. Neither shatters, but the figure bends to pick them up. Cal straightens with his back taut and stiff. Lifting each small glass underneath her mask, the woman sniffs one at a time.

“Here. This is your venom. This is your anti-venom. Use your poison and make your sacrifice for the survival of West Side and Gnarled Pine Hollow.”

Cal turns to me, his eyes dancing with what looks to be longing or love. As if he’s about to do me a favor.

“No. No, Cal. Wait.” He holds up a finger to his lips as I take two steps back.

“Shh. Jane…” Cal has rarely, if ever, called me that name. If he did, it always seemed in jest with an edge of rancor to it. Holding up a vial to my face, he approaches closely and places his lips to my forehead. His arms wrap around my waist, tugging me close to him. “I love you,” he whispers, the heat of his breath warming my skin. The words caress me and calm my racing heart for only a moment.

Before I react, he takes the vial and downs it himself as I shriek in horror. A peal of laughter echoes as he takes a few steps away from me and widens his arms in a display of showmanship, rolling his hands out dramatically.

“Ta-da!” He bends at the waist in front of the owl, tucking his arms in a perfect bow. Dropping on all fours, I scramble to find the anti-venom vial to give him, but I can’t find it in the dark.

He can’t sacrifice himself! I can’t do this! The terror that I felt among the sequoias threatens my heart again as I frantically search for a solution.

Some ungodly chortled sound escapes from the owl mask as the caped figure clutches her throat with one bony hand. Raising up on my knees, I stare at the scene in front of me, unable to move, while Cal continues to chuckle like he’s never done something funnier. His fingers wipe the tears he’s made underneath his eyes. My head shakes with confusion.

What is going on?

“V, come here. Come here, puppet. It’s over.” Helping me to a stand, his arm steadies me around the waist as the woman in crimson tears off her cloak, some of the fabric tangling around her long arm. She’s struggling to breathe, the wretched mechanical vibrations tearing through her mouthpiece and out into the night like shrieking banshees.

Ripping off her mask and spitting out her voice modulator, she trips backward, collapsing on the ground, still gripping her neck with both hands as if this will help the air enter her lungs. Her black hair whips into her mouth, covering her shocked face before her entire body begins seizing violently. Foam erupts from her mouth like a volcano in erratic spurts as her torso jerks rapidly, each torsion of her body causing more liquid to bubble out of her lips, down her chin. Blue eyes bulge out, seeking any gulp of oxygen and not finding any as they stare straight upwards into the sparkling sky.

And despite the horror in front of me, I can’t bring myself to care even slightly about Alpha dying before my eyes.

Cal swiftly kneels next to her head, but instead of helping her, he mockingly gets close to her face. “This is what traitors get, Daisy. I’ve made the correct sacrifice now. For West Side. Who do you work for? Hmm? Before you choke to death…tell me. Who?”

Her convulsions have quelled, with only twitches lingering in her limbs, and a few raspy breaths escape as she chokes on the last of the liquid in her throat. Eyes fixed and unseeing, she stills. Cal waits by her body for several moments, but there’s no movement. The wind blows her long hair away from her face.

“Fuck!” Raking his hands through his hair, he tugs at the ends in frustration. Just as he moves to stand, one last whisper comes from her mouth, the tranquil air carrying the sound out around her until it’s heard clearly.

“Kill Amalthea.”