The Twisted Links

Chapter 71

CHAPTER 71

Dameon grimaced at the glass of champagne. It tasted like hair spray smelled. Eesha and Hadassah were working the room talking to other vampires about alliances and business ventures while Zana trailed behind his Beloved. Dameon could give a crap less about the politics. He never liked it. He knew how to run certain drugs that would only interest supernatural kind. It was the "pharmaceutical business" he took over from his father. From what he overheard, there wasn't much difference between the business models. Dameon didn't have much patience for pretentiousness and "legitimate" businesses were just as shady as the drug deals in some aspects.

His mind kept wandering to a certain red head.

Flashback...

Dameon watched as the wizard left Trish's room. Leaving the hallway, he walked towards the bedroom. Every time he tried the handle an electrical shock would zap through his body. this time the door was cracked open. Pushing in he saw his mate on the bed, her eyes widened with shock.

"Please leave." She asked.

"Not until you talk to me." Dameon insisted.

Trish sighed and looked away. Dameon had never felt insecure. He always felt confident and women often told him that he was sexy. But for the first time he wondered if he had lost his appeal. There wasn't even the slight hint of arousal. Maybe his mate thought that he was ugly.

"It's not you, it's me." She said meeting his gaze briefly before looking away. Dameon saw the sincerity but he couldn't fathom why she felt this way.

"When I was young. I lost my innocence long before I should have. Forced to do things that should never have been expected from a child. So many things were taken from me. My worth as a human being was wrapped only in what I was groomed to be, a vessel with the abilities of a witch. I was hurt and raped while being told that that was love." Trish brushed away the tears from her eyes refusing to meet Dameon's gaze which were full of murderous rage towards those who had harmed her and not the disgust she had feared. "I was lost with nothing other than the goals of my father who had abused me. I took his mission as my own. It took a few years but I freed the former general, Prince Grim and gave him the 5-point star provided by the Prime Purity."

"I don't care about your past." Dameon said but Trish held up a hand to stop him from speaking further.

"My body, soul, and heart are tainted and broken. Right now, I have nothing to give you and I won't ask you to wait."

End of Flashback...

Dameon sighed. He agreed to give her space. Trish wasn't ready and pushing for more would only drive her away. His wolf, Phinn, was upset by the fact that his mate was, in a way, rejecting them and he unsatisfied by the lack of dominance his human was displaying. Dameon shook his head and told the wolf that unless he wants the rejection to become official, they would have to wait. Phinn had been quiet ever since.

The sense of someone approaching drew Dameon's attention as Gideon approached him. Hadassah, Zana, and Eesha came to his side as they waited for the vampire. Dameon had been against his friends and chosen queen staying for what would be an ugly fight but they refused to budge. Because of her position and future role in taking after her father in the High Council, Hadassah finally relented and agreed to leave with her Eternal One if things got out of hand. Eesha threatened to be "on target" with her throwing knives if Dameon so much as breathed a word on her leaving. The Rogue King kept his mouth shut and made a mental note to start searching for "where to buy a metal codpiece" when he got home.

"There are six vampires that carry the scent of wolves." Jonathan whispered. "A portal may be close by. We may have Reapers."

Dameon gave an inconspicuous nod as Jonathan walked past him. Taking a deep breath, he knew that they were at a high disadvantage. Anyone could be a foe or an ally. This could mean their death. Dameon closed his eyes and remembered his first mate, Tiffany. She reminded him so much of himself. Neglected by their parents unless their parent wanted something from them. Tiffany lashed out at others. Bullying them to hide her pain. Dameon used drugs, alcohol, and women to help him feel something other than being alone.

Since losing Tiffany, he was a broken man that managed to glue himself together with the help of Doc, Ruby, and Jackson. Now he had a new mate that was just as broken. He hoped that she would learn what he himself still struggled with. That lesson was how to forgive themselves.

The hum that had buzzed in his ears since their arrival grew. The sound intensified and Dameon recognized the whirl of noise. A portal was being opened.

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High Council, Vampire Quarters...

High King Hussein threw the phone across the room, ripping the wire from the wall. He was absolutely livid. His daughter, Hadassah, refused leave Dameon and the others despite knowing that she could possibly be killed. He immediately went to ordered his guards to take Hadassah and her Eternal One, Zana, from the ball. Kicking and screaming if necessary.

"She will resent you for that." His Eternal One, High Queen Octavia, said as she walked into his study.

"I don't care! I will not allow my daughter to be in any danger!" He yelled before giving his Beloved a quick apology for shouting at her.

Octavia wrapped her arms around him. "We have spent too many centuries in hiding." She said with a sigh. "The Protector was right. We have become disconnected. We were informed of this treachery some time ago yet here we are still hiding. Our daughter and her Eternal One are willing to do what we are not. They are fighting for our people. Perhaps it is time for us to do the same."

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Sorry. Short chapter today. I've been cleaning up a storm since I have family coming over this weekend for Easter. I'm so exhausted and tempted to send my siblings pictures with the text, "My house WAS clean."

I'm not sure if I'll be able to post on Saturday but we'll see.

Happy Easter to everyone that celebrates.