Chapter 189

Chapter 189
Joseph watched Livia’s face intently as he closed the distance between them and cautiously ran his hand down her arm, trying to gauge how she was feeling. He couldn’t begin to imagine how hard her life had been without knowing who she was or what she must be feeling right then, knowing they’d held the answers to all her questions and seemed to be keeping them from her with their whispered conversation.

He wouldn’t blame her if she were pissed, and wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t want to be touched.

 

"So what exactly am I?" Livia asked.

"Well, um, the obvious is that you are a witch,"

"I already know that part."

Rhye sighed, "You are, um-I mean, you have dark demon blood in you. Ancient... powerful."

Livia gawked. That part she already knew and guessed, but she wasn't sure about it, and hearing it from the man she had just sex with was different. Alarming even. "How did you know that?"

"Remember when Joseph and I left a few days ago?"

"Yeah?"

"We went to the council mountain and, um-the library, to be exact. And yes, from our research, you are with the dark demon... I mean. You have it with you…in your blood.`"

"And why does it matter?" Livia frowned.  Joseph nodded his head, and Leon just watched them.

"Because, Livia... your blood is the most important blood in the world of the supernatural. You are powerful beyond imagination."

"I'm not sure about that. I have gifts, but I'm not as strong and powerful as you all are."

"Because you didn't top your dark side just yet."

 

Joseph sighed, that moment of not knowing how she would react to his tentative caress, not knowing if she would shrug him off and spurn him, had his pulse speeding and anxiety shooting through him. He liked this woman for his twin brother and Lord knows, Rhye needs someone in his life. Someone who could tame the beast in him.

 

"So what happens now?" Livia inquired. Clearly, surprised.

Rhye could’ve made her feel whatever he wanted her to feel. He wasn’t what anyone would call particularly empathic, but inflicting emotions on others? Making them feel what he wanted? That influence was one of his strongest abilities. She was more powerful than that, though. She was a fire, and a moth like them couldn't ignore the heat, even if it burned them.

 

And yet, the thought of manipulating her like that was repellent.

Instead, Rhye waited, anxious and tense, to see if she would welcome him or shove him away.

The moment she relaxed into him, swaying forward to rest her forehead against his chest, the breath he’d been holding burst out of him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight, bowing over her small frame.

"I’m sorry, little witch. I should have told you sooner," he whispered.

"Did you know I didn’t know?"

"Not until today."

She turned her head and pressed a kiss to his chest, then tipped her head back to peer up at him. "Then, there’s nothing to be sorry for."

Gods, but he could stare into her eyes forever and still never get enough. The way she looked at him, as if she were truly seeing him, and liking what she saw, was fucking terrifying.

He was already addicted to it.

Rhye made himself release her when she straightened, despite it being the last thing he wanted to do. When she turned to pin Joseph with those piercing eyes, though, he was glad he had.

"You knew before your trip?"

Joseph nodded.

Livia looked at Leon.

He nodded too.

"We weren't sure, I thought, at first... You are just a spy sent by Dimitri and his council of stinky old folks."

"A spy?"

"Yes, to spy, to... report back our mission."

"Leon, I haven't seen Dimitri... I mean, the man was a legendary asshole for taking witches' lives and eating their hearts and taking their magic, but I've never seen him personally. We fear him."

"I know that now, Livia, and we are sorry." Leon murmured.

 

Rhye held her gaze steadily, which Joseph thought was impressive as fuck. If he’d been in the big man’s place, he didn’t know if he would’ve been able to withstand that hurt look in her eyes without crumbling.

"After earlier, your reaction... I suspected," Rhye replied honestly.

"Why didn’t you say anything?"

The flicker in Rhye’s eyes was slight, so much so that even Joseph almost missed it. But Livia didn’t.

She followed that flicker to Joseph. Livia stared up at Rhye for a long moment, silent, searching, then nodded. "I understand."

"Do you?" Leon posed a question, his brow furrowed and his gaze fixed on her.

"Yes." She glanced pointedly at him and Rhye before turning her attention back to Leon, her pretty green eyes soft, the anger and betrayal that had filled them moments before easing. "I do. It took me a minute, but I see you all know about me, so what do you all think I'm going to do? Let those who want my blood?"

The three shook their heads.

Joseph watched on as she took a step closer, standing almost toe to toe with Leon, fearlessly holding his gaze.

"You come off as cold and dangerous. And you are, in a lot of ways. I’ve seen you come home with blood on you more than once, and I know you won’t hesitate to get your hands dirty," she murmured dryly.

Joseph let out a soft breath at that, not because she’d noticed the blood, but because she didn’t sound horrified by it. That wasn’t to say she sounded particularly happy about it, but she would not be horrified.

She looked at Leon, "But, that’s not who you are, not really. You’re a protector. I may not get why you needed to be suspicious of me, but I understand now, Leon—it was to protect Rhye and Joseph."

To others, Rhye was sure Leon looked impassive while he stared silently down at Livia in the wake of her shockingly insightful speech, but Joseph could see disconcertment and the sharp glint of covetousness warring in his eyes.

Being seen was a hell of a thing. Terrifying, thrilling, and addictive all in one. They needed Livia to be alive. Dimitri might have considered killing her, but they all knew what the bastard needed. All he ever wanted was power, and nothing else mattered. Hiding Livia was their best option.

 

Joseph didn’t make any attempt to stop the smile stretching his lips. That she understood Leon’s distrust of her wasn’t because of her, not really, but because he was trying to protect him and Rhye, was just more evidence she was perfect for him. As their Luna. And he took particular glee in watching his brother join him and Rhye in falling for her.

‘Bout fucking time.

With a last, piercing look up at Leon, Livia turned and took a seat at the table, then waved for them to join her. Which they did. Even Leon.

Joseph wondered if she realized she’d just commanded three of the most powerful werewolves in this region, or any other, as casually as one would order room service.

Once they were all seated, she set her hands flat on the table, drew in a breath, and looked into each of their eyes. "So. I'm an alien?" she teased.

 

There was a moment of stunned silence.

Rhye’s deep voice came out shaky and strangled, "What?"

Livia’s eyes narrowed as she peered between the three of them. "Alien," she repeated slowly as if they hadn’t heard her the first time.

Joseph tried really damn hard to swallow back the laughter, knowing she likely wouldn’t appreciate it, but he failed miserably. It burst out of him in loud, shoulder-shaking peels. By the time he got himself back under control, sitting up to wipe the tears from his eyes, she was looking at him drolly.

 

Rhye was chuckling as he answered, "No, little witch. You are not an alien."

"Vampire, then, right? And I’m either some kind of half-vampire hybrid, or the whole non-aging thing is bullshit."

Joseph saw the smile twitching at the corners of his brother’s mouth as Leon shook his head and answered, "No. you are—"

"Demon, that you clearly said, I'm a dark demon, but what the hell is that supposed to mean?" She finished with a sigh and a grimace. "I knew it." She squared her shoulders. "What kind? Am I a Succubus? Some kind of sex demon?"

 

Joseph had to hold his breath to keep from bursting into laughter again. Why she thought she was a'sex demon,' he had no idea, but he would cheerfully cut off someone else’s foot to discover the answer.

"‘Sex demon’?" Leon choked out, brows raised. "By the Gods, woman, where are you getting this information?"

She narrowed her eyes on him, as if his disbelief was suspect. "The Internet."

"‘The Internet,’" Leon repeated, looking like he wanted to rub his temples.

"And the library," she added.

"You are more than just a dark demon, Livia. Your blood could make someone very powerful. Your bloodline was among the oldest gods... the very first goddess of witches, Circe, a sex-mad ancient sorceress and enchantress, daughter of the sun god, and the nymph Perse, or, some will have it, the goddess of witchcraft."

"Really?"

"Yes, and... why did the dark demon?"

"Because you also have a... well... a lineage of the Moon Goddess,"

"Woah! You mean your maker? Your goddess?"

"Yes." Rhye replied.

"What is s-so... um-well more comfortable among werewolves than in my own coven?"

He nodded.

 

"And the council wanted my blood?"

"Yes, and so are the demons, fae, elves, and other supernatural beings."

"Elves too?" she asked, an adorable frown creasing her brow.

For the next hour, they did their best to answer her questions, explaining who they were, where they were from, and their possible enemies and powers. Well, not them in particular, of course, but demons in general.

 

Rhye had no desire to see her look at them with disgust if she learned they were there to find witches to feed the council. She would find out eventually. He knew that. But, he planned to wait until she was madly in love with him first, so the chances of her hating them were slightly less.

Even among their kind, who didn’t have many of what the humans called "morals," what they were doing was monstrous.