Chapter 14

IVORY

I hated Tavi and I never thought myself capable of despising anyone, especially to the extent that I hated Luna's mother. She caused my rage to build at just a glimpse of her. Luna was amused by my grumbling and yelling, the things I threw to make myself feel better. There was an edge to my mate since her mother arrived that I didn't like. It was as if the old Luna was fighting back to the surface. That terrified me.

Even if I thought escape was my only option, Luna had made it clear that there was nowhere I could hide from her. No one she wouldn't kill to get me back. That was romantic for her, but I didn't think I could live if my mate changed.

A deep inhaled raised Gailie where she was laying on my chest as we read the same ebook. I didn't want the pixie out of my sight until Tavi left. The way Luna's mother studied Gailie as if the delicate creature would make a good snack was unacceptable.

Luna had sealed the doors and windows when she left to work and sealed her mother out.

"The Mistress will be fine, Ivory." Her tiny voice carried as she settled into my cleavage.

That move drove Luna insane, she'd actually attempted to flick Gailie across the room the first time she'd seen it.

"I just worry, there's something darker about her with Tavi here."

"Of course there is, Tavi is a threat to her mate. Luna would do anything for you. She's changed so much since she mated you. She makes me tremble in fear less. But there's an enemy in her home."

I knew she was right, but where was the bond that should exist between Mother and child? Tavi had carried Luna, nurtured her, but it seemed almost as if her mother hated her. It didn't seem natural. Yet I also understood that's the way it was with her kind. Children were an obligation not a want or need.

"You're right, but it makes me nervous as if she's reverting. I love her the way she is. Dealing with what she has to do is just something I have to accept. She pampers me, makes me feel as if I belong for the first time, and I'm having flashbacks."

"Off-topic, I need to make a pillow just like this." She wiggled more.

"Luna is going to hurt you if you keep doing that."

Gailie giggled. "I know, it's highly amusing."

The pixie had turned bratty. She'd told me it was a trait of her species, but she'd kept it under control to keep Luna happy.

"Hello, human." A cruel, hissing voice came from the direction of the balcony, but Tavi didn't enter. Something crackled as she tried to reach through the barrier, her nose snarled and her teeth snapped.

Gailie moved off my chest, and I eased off the bed. I approached the balcony, but kept several feet away just in case the barrier didn't work.

"Luna won't like you being here," my voice sounded stronger than I felt.

"My daughter is foolish. Couldn't she have found a less inferior species to breed with?"

My chest tightened. "We're not breeding. She said the line ends with her."

"Unacceptable." A fist slammed against the field and sparks flew in all directions. "I want you to leave. Tell her you can't live with a thing like her, and I can find someone that will keep our line strong."

"No, I won't leave her. No threats you can make will make me give her up." I wouldn't give up the belonging and the love she'd given me in the short time we were together. She spoke of spending the rest of her life with me. I was her mate, created just for her. Luna and Lucian had told me Fate made your other half."

"I can make you suffer unimaginable cruelties. You'll never close your eyes again without wishing for death so the dreams will end."

"No."

The door flew open behind me, I glanced to find Luna entering. She crossed the room until her arm wrapped around my waist. She kissed my cheek but never took her gaze from her mother.

"I thought I warned you to stay away from my mate, Tavi."

"I refused to let you taint our bloodline. I already made that mistake with you. You're small and weak in appearance, you owe it to our lineage to find the strongest. Not… that." She swept her arm toward me.

"I think my mate informed you that the line dies with me."

I turned to stare at Luna.

"I won't submit to you because tradition deems it necessary." Luna released me as she approached her mother. She easily slipped outside to stand toe-to-toe with Tavi.

The leashed violence as they squared off was almost a physical force. While Tavi was larger, she didn't stand a chance against Luna. My mate would fight for me, she had. Killed my father for the offense of bloodying my lip. There were no lengths Luna wouldn't go to to protect me.

They were speaking too quietly for my human hearing to pick it up. One second Luna glaring coldly at her mother and the next, the claws of Luna's left hand sank deep into her mother's neck. I almost stepped forward to intervene, but Gailie landed on my shoulder. The fight was between Luna and Tavi, it wasn't as if I would be of much help.

Tavi clawed at Luna's arm as my mate lifted her mother's feet from the balcony.

"I may not be able to kill you, Mother, but I can make you wish for it. You trained me well, the basement was a great classroom."

Skin split under the tips of Tavi's claws, black inky blood ran down Luna's forearm. Luna flexed and Tavi sailed through the air to crash to the stone enclosure of the balcony. The older demon lay in a heap, unmoving as Luna stood over her. A moment of pity struck me, Tavi was once as powerful as her daughter only to grow older, slower than a human but still aging. To be so feared and then weaker, less respected.

Was that why Luna decided not to carry on the line? To end the cycle of isolation and brutality to create a Hag? Did I make Luna see there was something different?

Security rushing in had me stepping out of the way as they went to collect Tavi where she remained at Luna's feet. Luna made sure her mother was carried out. She turned to stare at me.

"She overstayed her welcome."

Her harsh statement made me flinch and I felt the need to apologize. "I'm sorry I invited her to stay."

"You have nothing to be sorry about. I gave you the choice to show Tavi you were my equal. That you were my mate, not my plaything. I'm very proud of you for staying strong."

"You heard what she was saying?" I wondered if our connection was strong enough for her to hear me or if she just sensed the second I became uneasy.

"I sensed your fear and assumed Tavi decided to make herself a nuisance. This is your home as much as it is mine."

"You've scared me since she came," I admitted because there was an expectation of no lies. She told me everything so that I would trust her.

"I'm sorry, I felt it. A mother doesn't visit her daughter, that's not the relationship that exists for us. When she arrived, I had to be on guard to keep you safe. The thought of her getting near you enraged me." She held out her arms. "Come here, princess." That arrogant smirk I hated to admit I loved drew me to her.

She circled my thick waist, resting her forearms on the upper swells of my ass cheeks. "No more overnight visitors, I don't like it." I pouted as she chuckled.

"I'll remind you of that. What have you been doing all night while I've been at work?"

"Me and Gailie were reading, she said she needed to make a cushion like my cleavage."

Her deep growl made me giggle as I tightened my hold on her to keep her from going to search out my friend.

"I'm going to give her to a Lycan for a snack."

"No you're not, you use my breasts as a pillow."

"But they're mine, I can do with them what I please. Princess, are you okay? I want to know what she said."

I didn't know if I wanted to share what exactly was said, but I knew she'd push until I confessed to what happened. Part of me didn't think the words would hurt her, I'm sure she endured way crueler treatment from Tavi then a few threats.

"She told me you needed a stronger mate to carry on the line. That she wanted me to leave you."

"You know what will happen if you ever leave me, Ivory. I was very clear in my intentions"

"I know. But maybe I'm not strong enough for you," I admitted because it was true and Luna would sense something was wrong.

"You're perfect for me. The thought of being without you is painful. I'm a fearsome danger to Paralese. With you I don't have to worry about the time ahead of me. Lonely and cold, my only goal in life to feed off the citizens until I'm too old to care anymore. I much prefer you as my purpose. To bring you pleasure."

"I like this plan of yours."

"I'm sure you do. Don't think you're not good enough. Outside the room, everyone may assume I rule you with a cruel hand, keep you in line with terror like I do everyone else, but we know the truth. You're my equal. Do you understand me, princess?"

I nodded as she leaned in and pressed her smile to mine. She drew me with her to her favorite chair and pulled me down to sit on her lap. Every night she sat there while she watched me get ready for bed. Her gaze studying every inch of me. Her gaze darkened with desire until she'd reached her limit and rushed toward me. I was desirable and wanted, craved above all others. What women didn't want their mate, girlfriend, to be totally obsessed? Homicidal when it came to me being shown respect.

"I love you, Luna."

Her breath rushed out in a harsh hiss and her arms painfully hugged my waist.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Her question made me roll my eyes so hard it hurt. Before I cuddled into her warm, strength, I shoved at her chest.

"Yes, I think I'm pretty sure that I love my mate."

"Those were words I never thought I'd hear. I've been hated…feared, but I never thought someone would love me. Not an innocent human that's as pretty and sweet as you."

"People treated me with apathy, so I never thought I'd get to say the words…or hear them.

"I love you, princess, I just hope you don't grow to regret it. Old Hags weren't created to be loved."

"I won't." I pressed a soft kiss to her lips, and then laid my head on her shoulder.

These were the times I loved best, when it was just us, locked away to enjoy each other's company without being studied. Paralese saw my mate as a danger; to be she was my everything. The beautiful female who loved me every night. The mate who kissed me for no other reason than simple want.

This was what I'd dreamed about and I wouldn't give it up. She was mine and I was hers. She loved me, what happened outside our home didn't affect us. Maybe I had to ignore a few more quirks than with a normal mate, but I was weirdly okay with that.