Chapter 10

IVORY

The frenetic pace of my thoughts had driven me from my home. Gailie perched on my shoulder as her wings got tired trying to keep up with my pace. The previous night in The Old Hag, I'd seated myself on Luna's lap. A spot that was only mine to claim. It was the first time I'd met and interacted with a friend of hers. Lucian feeding in front of me grossed me out so I'd simply looked away, listening silently to their conversation. There was an almost playful teasing back and forth between them. I could feel it was a bond formed from long acquaintance and mutual respect.

Once Lucian was done with his meal, I looked back, relieved to find the woman had been removed. I didn't think about it too much; I liked to believe she was cared for and then safely sent home. It was the conversation that had happened after the three of us were left alone. Mates. In the paranormal romances I'd read, mates were a big thing, but I just assumed it was a trope in a book. I'd never thought fated mates were a real thing.

Yet that's what Lucian had explained. A perfect half. He'd even asked Luna what it was like having a mate. She hadn't denied it. She'd pulled me closer to her the rest of the night. Later that night, Luna had led me to bed, and made love to me for hours as she kept her eyes locked with mine. The adoration in her gaze. The gentleness of her hands as she molded the curves of my form with her hands. After I came, clutching her tightly to me, she'd rolled to her back to keep her cock buried inside me.

I'd awakened that way when she'd called my name telling me she had meetings to take care of.

"Has Mistress angered you?" Gailie asked, close to my ear.

"No, why would you ask that?"

"You're quieter than normal. Mistress left quite early for meetings and left me behind."

"I think she gave you to me for company. Do demons have mates?" The abruptness of my question surprised me. I hadn't meant to ask.

"It's rare for demons to be favored by Fate. Some believe because of their darker natures they were forsaken. But I know it happens."

"Do Hags have mates?"

She remained silent for several minutes as I grew more despondent. Luna had made me feel like I was her mate. Even when it would spare me the horror of what Luna had done, she never lied about where she was and what she'd done.

"Not in recorded history, but not much is known about the Hags. They've always been secretive and reclusive. the mystery builds fear in its own way. But," Gailie paused, "Luna is different from the others. My family was nomadic, we traveled everywhere. The other Hags were still stuck in the old ways. Living in cottages in the woods, not mixing with other species, not even other demons. Luna has formed a collective of sorts. Alliances that keep peace among the preternatural species."

"She implied that I was her mate, last night in the club…she was speaking with Lucian. He explained what they were. I'd always thought it was just something in romance novels. The allure of being perfectly created for someone else. I… I just don't know how to ask her if it's true."

I paused to look inside the storefront of a store that sold beautiful dresses, ones way more revealing than I wore. Yet being with Luna had awakened this love of pretty things that would show me off for Luna. Even though she preferred me to wear nothing at all. I'd earned enough spankings for disobeying her no clothes rule.

"There is nothing the Mistress wouldn't give you if you asked. When you came to live with us, I was sure I'd be arranging to dispose of your body the next day. The more days that passed, she spoiled you. Allowed you freedom to go where you please. She went three days without causing one nightmare. In a century I haven't ever seen her do that."

From all the things I'd learned, what I'd witnessed at the shock of people we came into contact with. I'd sensed Luna was different with me. The minute I met her I knew I shouldn't feel safe with her. Luna could destroy me at any minute at the smallest slight. Affection made me foolish. What could I say, Luna lived to make me feel good. More than that she drove years of loneliness away–of being unwanted. I didn't want to give that up, no matter if everyone else considered her a monster.

"Do you not like belonging to Mistress?" Gailie asked as I turned away from the store and continued with my walk.

"I do, really, I do, but it's odd for me. All the years I'd spent isolated, the pampered princess that Luna accused me of being, I gave up, thinking I'd die in that tower. All of this is so surreal. Locked away for over a decade, and now in less than a month, I'm walking the streets of the section of the city that humans fear. I'm not even afraid to be here because I know the order went out, and even looking at me could have consequences."

"Your female is very possessive." Gailie giggled. "Luna made a feral, demon cry."

Her amusement was infectious. "You're the first friend I've ever had."

"That's so nice. Luna has been all I've had since I was given to her. She scares me too much to call her friend. Luna is more of a grumpy boss." She gasped. "Don't tell her that."

"I won't, I promise. Being friends should have some code of silence."

Her sweet laugh shook her tiny form sending out puffs of pixie dust. The glittery powder got everywhere. When Luna became sparkly she became super grumpy.

We drifted into conversation about what we wanted for dinner. As Luna didn't have to eat, Gailie and I shared a lot of meals. She outlined Luna's upcoming schedule so I'd know where my female would be from day to day. That was another rule, no matter what I was always doing, to know where she was. I had my own pixie GPS when it came to Luna. She was very anti-tech except for the computer in her office. Luna barely liked using electricity but she'd started using the lights more for me. Although, she did grumble about me keeping the curtains open to let the sun in. She did like fucking me in full sunshine, stretching me out on the balcony where anyone could see.

I loved my new life and growing confidence in my place in the world. There was nothing off-limits for me. Luna had even brought in tutors to help with the education I'd been denied. I took over some of the office work Luna despised doing. My female made me feel useful. No longer a burden on her or resources like my father had.

At the mention of him, I wondered what he was doing. Luna had told me in detail what she subjected him to as punishment for the way he treated me. Strangely that made me feel loved and cherished. When I'd dreamed of the happily ever after that I knew I'd never have, I hadn't pictured her. A Prince Charming she wasn't. But my demon wanted me, I just wished I had the courage to ask and say what I yearned to.

A large form stepped in my way, I opened my mouth to excuse myself when I almost collided with him, but then I recognized who it was. My father. His clothes were rumpled. His eyes were glassy as he stared at me. He smelled of alcohol. I stepped back as he reached for me, his hand almost caught my wrist.

Scabbed areas and deep scars covered his throat. I noticed his ring finger was missing from his left hand. Every step he took forward, I countered with a backward one.

"You made that thing do this to me," he accused in slurred words proving he was drunk.

"I-I don't… I didn't make Luna do—" The backhanded slap connected across my cheek, and I stumbled as I lost the weight of Gailie on my shoulder. I searched for her to make sure she wasn't injured, that she hadn't fallen to the ground.

"Liar!" He advanced and I raised my arms to protect myself. "You let that thing fuck you. You had one job to do, whore, and what did you do instead? You betrayed us for them, these monsters—abominations."

My gaze frantically searched for safety, a familiar face–someone to protect me. I flinched as he crossed his arm over his chest to strike me again, and a hand wrapped around his wrist. Father screamed as I heard bones crack. Lucian stood there, his face impassive.

"I believe you're lost," Lucian's fangs extended, and something in me waited for him to strike. "Ivory, where is your mate?"

"Sh-she's in a meeting, I can't find Gailie, I think she fell when he hit me." With my father taken care of for the most part, I searched again for the tiny pixie. She was so fragile, it would kill me if she was hurt because of me.

That's when I spotted her, fluttering above Luna's shoulder. Black eyes were now red, shimmering menacingly under the bright afternoon sun. There was murderous rage in his gaze, her form had elongated, and stretched skin almost thin to make her body borderline skeletal. I knew what that meant, she'd explained all her forms. Terrifying or not, the relief that hit me nearly took my knees out.

"Princess, let me see." Her voice was deceptively calm as she stopped in front of me to cup my chin. Luna tilted my head up, swiping and spreading wetness that I knew was blood from the corner of my mouth. She leaned forward and used her tongue to lick it away. Her groan distracted me as I'd heard that sound many times before. It was the sign of her pleasure from when she bit me. "We'll finish this later. Take care of Gailie."

Gailie landed on my shoulder again and hugged my thick braid I'd draped over my left shoulder. I'd search her later for wounds. Call a doctor or something, but right then I had to see what Luna would do.

"Lucian." Luna nodded at the vampire as he nodded to acknowledge her.

He released my father's wrist and stepped to the side to allow Luna to take care of my father. Not once in my life had I thought my father would lay his hands on me. No in violence or care either, but I didn't recognize the man Luna barred from reaching me. His gaze stayed locked on me with so much hate. What did I do that was so wrong? Had the rage always there, but he'd just not spent enough time with me for me to notice?

"You damaged what's mine, Weatherby, and as I'm sure you're aware, I'm not the forgiving sort." Her voice contained that hissing growl I knew signaled her rage.

My father was no match for Luna. She'd tear him apart without mercy or repercussions. The human law didn't pertain to their section of Paralese. He'd disappear and no one would search for him.

"You did this to me," he shouted in her face, spit flying from his between his lips–he was foaming at the mouth.

"I watched with a smile on my face. Great amusement for me. The only thing that ruined my plan was your men were quicker than I thought they'd be. You drew blood, it's only fair." Luna moved so quickly I barely saw her claws break the skin under his rounded chin.

My stomach churned as blood flowed down her slender fingers and over her hand. I started to open my mouth to tell her to stop, to send him away, his body and mind were already broken. The useless argument died on my tongue as he'd committed the ultimate offense, he'd touched the woman who was owned by The Hag.

"You should've taken your punishment for your treatment of Ivory and walked away, but that is no longer an option." Luna pushed her claws deeper, and Father choked and gagged on the blood that filled his mouth. "Lucian, would you escort Ivory and Gailie home, and make sure they get inside safely?"

"It would be my honor." Lucian turned to me with a charming smile as if my father was seconds away from death. "Ladies?" He offered me his elbow.

I glanced at Luna to find her smiling at me, that quirk of her lips for me only. She nodded letting me know it was okay to take his arm. It still felt off touching someone other than Luna or the occasions Gailie would sit on my shoulder.

"You don't want to see what's going to happen next, but this is necessary, he offended her and injured you. Luna can't allow this offense to go unpunished," Lucian said.

I swallowed hard, I left without looking at my father or saying a word. Not once had I thought he'd hurt me. His indifference hurt enough. Lucian patted my hand where it rested in the crook of his elbow.

"I'll summon a healer to check on you and Gailie, make sure you two are okay before I head out."

"Thank you."

"Luna doesn't have friends, but she's earned a lot of loyalty. The trust she showed in allowing me to escort you home is immense, especially to let me be alone with you." He grinned. "Even with our pint-sized chaperone."

I softly laughed as Gailie puffed up and smacked Lucian with her wing, leaving a perfect print on his expensive suit. His intent was clear, he'd distracted me from the carnage probably happening behind me. While I didn't think I loved my father, he was still my parent. The last of my biological family. His money sustained hundreds of people with employment. I mourned their loss, but for me there wasn't sorrow–resigning myself to the fact that I'd always been alone in the world until Luna, and Gailie. Sighing I noticed The Old Hag sign as it appeared high above the sidewalk. I relaxed at making it home where I'd always be safe.