Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

12

Everything hurt. Her head ached like crazy. Her body felt like it would explode. She couldn't move from the softness she was laying on. A sharp pain flared through her arm. Amneris hissed. A hand appeared in her hair. 

She managed to open her eyes - barely - to find Colt looking down at her. She gave him a small smile which was returned. "Hey."

"Hey," he said, that hand stroking through her hair. "How's my girl?"

She forced a laugh. "In a shit load of pain."

"It will pass."

Amneris struggled to keep her eyes on him. "What's wrong with me?"

He looked surprised. "Love potion. I told you already."

"You did?"

"You don't remember?"

She shook her head, cringing as more pain flared through her body.

She felt more than saw Colt sit beside her. He lifted her head and placed it in his lap. The blanket covering her was adjusted and pulled over her shoulders. 

"How can I be affected by a love potion?" Amneris asked. "I've never had one."

"We don't know," Colt said. "Kayla believes you have been under its influence for some time now, but we are not sure how long or how you took it." He looked down at her. "And you have been under one before."

"Yeah," she agreed, "but that was back when we were teens and Kek was obsess-" She cut herself off. "Oh. So, that's what it is."

"What?"

"Nothing." Amneris moved closer to him. "I just have a feeling this might be Kek's doing."

"Because he has done it before?"

"Yeah."

Not entirely a lie but far from the truth. Gods, how was she supposed to explain to Colt of all people exactly what had been going on between her and Kek? It disgusted her but what would he think? Colt was kind and sweet, there was no questioning that, but he had a serious cruel streak. Amneris didn't think she could handle being on the receiving end. 

"Tali?"

Despite the pain it caused, she looked up at him.

"What are you hiding from me?"

She wanted to tell him. A part of her wanted to scream it at him. The rest of her . . .

"No matter how bad it is, I will still be here." His voice softened. "I'll still love you, Tali."

Just say it!

"Kek and I," she started. "I don't know exactly how long it's been happening, but we've been . . . We've been . . ." Oh, Gods, she was going to be sick. "Whenever I see him, it always ends with us . . ."

"Oh." Colt looked forward. his hand stilled in her hair. "He has taken you."

"I try to stop myself. Really, I do, but something makes me. I've never known what but a love potion would explain it."

He still did not look at her. "Can you guess how long?"

Amneris said, "Sometime between your death and meeting Leo, I think."

Colt took a deep breath. Amneris expected him to yell at her. To push her away. To call her a traitor. To ask Kayla to open the door and walk out, leaving her alone in this room. She wanted him to. 

He gathered aching body in his arms until she was seated on his lap, head limp on his shoulder. His grip tightened on her but it did not hurt her. Then he said the last thing she expected. "Thank you for telling me."

She curled up to him, ignoring the shooting pain that came with the movement.

"You know he will try to put you back under his influence once you're better?"

A nod.

He pulled back until their eyes met and brushed a few of her stray tears away. "I want you to say no. Can you do that for me?"

She nodded again.

"I don't know if he will still have some influence over you when you do it, so it may be difficult. Can you still say no?"

"I can." Then she added, "If you're with me, I can."

* * * * * * * * 

Kayla was staring. Lvaane was staring. Leo and Nikki - who had arrive moments before - were staring. They had heard everything, the entire conversation, and were in shock. One thing was going through Kayla's mind. The time period Amneris had given them. To be under a love potion for that long was unheard of! And it presented a new problem.

"Sir," Kayla said. "I know I'm technically still new to Lyriumia so I need some clarification."

"Yes?" Lvaane asked. He still had not taken his eyes off his daughter.

"Last I checked, being under the influence of a love potion doesn't count as consent."

"It does not," he confirmed.

"So, that would mean that . . ." 

"Yes, it would."

Kayla never swore but on this occasion she did. "Fuck."

"Fuck doesn't begin to cover it, Kay," Nikki said from behind. "I'm gonna kill him."

"Get in line," Leo growled.

"Love potions are illegal, using them even more so," Lvaane said. "Normally, my daughter's word alone would be enough to bring Kek in. However, she was the one under the influence. Her word is only enough to search Kek's home."

Kayla glanced to Nikki and Leo. "You two feel up for a raid?"

"Of course," Leo said.

"Bring it on," Nikki agreed.

Kayla pressed a button in front of her and leaned down to speak into a small microphone. "Colt?"

On screen, Colt looked at one of the cameras. The look in his eyes was terrifying. She shivered.

"Nikki, Leo, and I are going to speak to our Queen's old friend. Will you be okay?"

"If you send me a coffee with five extra shots of caffeine," came his reply.

She huffed a laugh at his seriousness. "I'm sure that can be arraigned."

When she turned away to address the others in the room, Colt spoke again. "If you get your hands on Kek, I would be very grateful to have a few minutes alone with him."

Kayla froze at his tone. She hesitated, deciding whether or not to say something. Lvaane answered for her. "You know that cannot be done."

Colt huffed at the screen and returned his attention to the female in his arms. The microphone was flicked off.

Leo and Nikki were exchanging a look. "Kay," Nikki started, "shouldn't you stay here?"

"Amneris is your patient," Leo said.

Kayla shook his head. "If Kek is behind this, he would have the original potion. It could be useful in the future."

"And if he's thrown it out?"

A grim smile. "You're not the only ones who want to give him a piece of your mind."