Page 8 of Hidden Sacrifice
Fuck, really? I hadn’t thought she would follow me to the palace. She had three other injured mates to attend to.
“Sure, come in,”I muttered back.
The door slowly creaked open. The hairs on my arms stood at attention as I allowed her to come into my personal space. At least this time, she asked.
“Were you planning on playing?” she asked, sitting next to me on the bench.
“No,”I sighed. I wasn’t ready to inform her of yet another imperfection I hosted.
“Would it be ok if I played something?”
Turning my head sharply to look at her, I was quickly caught in her doe eyes.
“It’s ok if you don’t want me to. I get this is your stuff and all. But something this beautiful deserves to be heard.”Her voice caressed my mind, and I wanted to hear the notes she could pull from this infuriating piano.
“Go ahead; I would love to hear you play.”
Her fingers flexed and stretched before hovering over the keys. She took a calming breath and closed her eyes. Starting slowly, I soon recognized it as a human song,Paint it, Black.It was hauntingly beautiful, but it paled in comparison to the look on her face. Her eyes closed while a slight smile played on her lips. Her fingers picked up the pace during some parts, so she peaked her eyes open to make sure her fingers were still in the correct position. I didn’t point out the few times her finger slipped and she hit the wrong note. Who was I to say anything when I couldn’t even grasp the basic concept of reading music?
Her confidence picked up in the second half of the song, a wide smile flitting across her lips as she nailed parts. I wondered how long it has been since the last time she played. It would have at least been before she died, unless she played the piano for Jace. My hands tightened into fists, and I growled, causing the music to stop abruptly.
“I’m sorry,” Mor said, folding her hands in her lap.
“No, it wasn’t you. It seems like you’re the only one that can get a decent sound out of that thing. How long have you been playing?”
She sat back, seeming to consider the answer. She wasn’t old; it couldn’t have been that long, a decade or two at max.
“I took lessons when I was a kid. My parents didn’t have a piano, but my grandma did. I used to go over to her house, and she would always ask me to play her favorite songs as piano versions. When she died, I got the piano. Mom and dad shoved it into my room, which meant I slept on a single bed until college.”
Humans lived such different lives. They constantly need even the most essential things, and their world does not supply them. No wonder they become so angry when they die. If a mortal human soul dies, their next reincarnation will again be as a human. A mortal soul must accept the power within them, whether becoming Fae, shifter, vampire, witch, or whatever they find themselves as. Once that magic is unlocked in their soul, they finally upgrade into magical realms. The human realm was the hardest, and I often forgot that is where she was from.
“You play very well,” I said once I realized her silence signaled she wanted to know my thoughts. Silence stretched afterward.
“The boys are all healed up,” she said, fiddling with her fingers in her lap.
“Did you personally help them with their power boosts?” I couldn’t help the venom in my thoughts. I was ok with this. I was okay with them touching her like that, but jealousy still rattled in my mind. Sometimes, I just needed her to need me too.
“I asked Hell very nicely for a movie and a pizza as big as the table. They are eating, drinking, and hopefully bonding a little. I think Justice was referring to Jace as a rabbit before I left. I can always top them off later; nothing is broken any more, at least.” Mor shrugged, looking at me. She was still covered in dust, and she hadn’t changed her clothes either.
“Did you at least get someone to recharge you?” At first, I hadn’t noticed the various holes in her shirt. She had worn athletic clothes and planned on pretending she was a jogger. How did I let everything get so fucking out of hand? Those spells could have done a lot more damage than they had.
“Not yet.” She smiled at me with that wicked little smile she used whenever she had planned something.
“You’re not biting me,” I rolled my eyes as a bubble of nervous laughter escaped me. She was insane if she thought this little stunt would result in that.
“Oh, hell no, I wasn’t thinking that. But I am sure you could use a burst of power as well. You’ve needed boosts in the time we’ve known each other. You found a way to manage; I want you to show me what you do.” Her little fangs poked out onto her bottom lip. It wasn’t sexy, but it was adorable as fuck.
Something inside me snapped, fuck control. I grabbed the back of her ponytail, ripping the band free, so her long black hair fell to the middle of her back. My fingers massaged her scalp as her hair fell around us in waves. I fucking loved the black hair on her, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the bangs.
She hadn’t moved the entire time, content to allow me the pleasure to touch her. My hand slid down to caress her cheek as I slipped my thumb over the sharp point of her fang. I pushed the pad of my thumb against the end until my skin broke and blood welled.
Her tongue darted out to collect my blood, groaning and savoring the tease I gave her. Her eyes snapped open, and they were entirely black, the skin around her eyes darkening as well. Someone’s monster wanted to come out.
“Put your hands out, Babe.” My tone was a command as I slid my hand down to her throat to feel her pulse beating against my skin.
Her hands fit together like she was praying to some deity. Here in this room, I would be her god.
I took my time tying knots with rope, using my power. Once her hands were bound, I closed the lid to the piano with my mind. My eyes gestured to the smooth surface on top. She would look so much better up there.
