49

BRICE

There will never be another like him. He's it for me. I love him.

Soleil's thoughts continue to play on loop in my mind.

She loves me.

Shit. I was speechless.

I think I love her too. I mean, I've never felt anything like this before. The intensity of my emotions when it comes to her overwhelms me at times.

Her words made me harder. I'd cum in her, thinking I was done only for those three little words to set me off again. I fucked her till she passed out. I thought I would too, but I was restless with newfound energy.

After bathing her and tucking her into bed, I walk out of the pool house and try to clear my thoughts. The sun is setting. I can only imagine how long we've been at it. I spot her yellow bikini lying on the ground and pick it up. I look at the little triangle pieces held together by a string and shake my head. She will never wear this again.

I would have lost my shit if I didn't trust the guys she was with. Louis, Baptiste, Oliver, and Didier are trusted family friends with blood ties that span generations. Hidde is like a brother. As for Remy, I should have knocked him out with the way he kept going on about touching my girl. Thankfully, the saner head prevailed. I know what he meant but the idea still put me off.

I inhale the bottoms and contemplate keeping them like I did her satin pajamas and the panties she wore the night she promised herself to me. Her scent is magnificent. Floral notes cover the unique fragrance she carries, a scent I have become very well acquainted with over the past few days.

I go back inside headed for my closet and find myself looking through her clothes. I come across the black dress she wore to the MD afterparty and put it aside. I find a few more items that are likely to start a row between us. For the most part, her taste is decent and there aren't that many clothes that end up in my pile. It's just that she's now a taken woman. No guy should ever see what I see or get any ideas that would have them lusting over my girl.

I gather the clothing and head out for a second time. I could donate them, but I don't want anyone else wearing Soleil's clothes. I know I'm being irrational and don't give a fuck to correct it. If I was charitable, I would donate money not this mess of material that raises my blood pressure unnecessarily.

I wonder if my being overprotective and possessive has anything to do with the blood magic and virgins I was warned about. I have no experience in this arena and Thierry is still MIA. Cod hasn't been of much help in this regard, so I'm shit out of luck and on my own on this one.

Maybe there's a book on blood magic at the chateaux library. Both my maman and father's side of the family have dabbled in the occult searching out long-forgotten or hidden knowledge. I never had to be much of a reader like grand-pere, Divin, or my father because I was born gifted with the kind of power men sought after.

I enter the main house and head to the basement my father uses as a prison-lab. I can't believe I put Soleil here. I dump the clothes and lock the door behind me. I don't want to be disturbed even though no one should look for me here. I sit on the hard ground, close my eyes, and focus on my body. I feel the pull as my soul separates from the flesh.

When I open my eyes, I'm looking down at myself still seated on the ground. By astral projecting, I can travel to Normandy without the exhaustion or time constraints such a journey would take physically even if I used a portal. I would also avoid any questions that may arise from those not expecting me - especially those who are paid to report any happenings in my family's absence.

The journey only takes me a few minutes as I fly across the oceans, cities, and countryside until I finally see the chateaux situated amidst the woods. I walk through walls, rooms, and halls passing by unwitting servants who move about until I find myself in the library.

There are thousands of books here, most of them covering various laws and little-known history. I don't even know where to start. I wish I'd paid attention to grand-pere when he was giving one of his famous tours and going on about how this place was organised.

I move to the entrance and lock the door. The last thing I need is someone walking in to find floating books and crying out in fear of a ghost. Knowing Divin and the bloodhound he can be, he would make it his mission to get to the bottom of it and track me down. I've had enough run-ins with him about Soleil to add another one so soon.

I move from section to section in no particular order. It takes me a while as I flit through pages and put each book back in place before picking up another one. I wish I could ignore books on the law but I find myself intrigued when I see topics such as The Law of Blood accompanied with chronicled cases.

Blood carries life whether of man or beast which is why what are commonly known as 'vampires' drink it. They are feeding on the life essence in the blood as we would nutrients from fruit and vegetables.

There are also curses that are associated with blood. If anyone takes the life of another for any reason other than atonement, it is deemed unlawful. It goes without saying that vampires are among the cursed. A list of cursed family lines is given along with their crime and case file. There are a wide array of offenders from jilted lovers to cruel masters. I can only assume their full story is detailed in their case file which means someone in my family was their attorney.

I hear the doorknob jiggle and shut the book in hand. I don't know how long I've been here but I still haven't found anything on virgins. By the time I return to my body and make my way upstairs, it's already dark. The bonfire should be lit and I decide to get rid of Soleil's clothes there.

"Are those Soleil's?" asks Antonella, after I toss the clothes in hand into the raging fire on the beach.

"Were. I don't think they're much of anything now," I reply, watching them disintegrate as they're licked up by the orange and yellow flames.

"Why would you do that? That bikini was so cute! Does she know about this?" she goes on looking all offended.

Her hysterics catch everyone's attention. You would swear I sacrificed a kitten or committed sacrilege. Not for the first time I wonder why people can't mind their business and let me be. I don't miss Hidde's judgemental glare either and based on how he acts I'm pretty sure he'll follow in Grand-pere and Divin's footsteps with his temperament.

"Brice, can I talk to you?" asks Hailey, getting up from her seat between the girls.

I move away from the circle ready to hear her out. Our relationship has been strained since finding out about her father. My pursuit of Soleil has made it almost nonexistent. She's family now and we'll always be a part of each other's lives so I guess we should learn how to communicate.

"What is going on with you?"

A lot. But I'm no bleeding heart that's going to expose my feelings for scrutiny, much less to Hailey who still has a thing for me.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been acting strange since you started 'studying' with Soleil." She throws up some air quotes. "The Halloween party, the Matric Dance, and now you invite her on our holiday. Sure, she's pretty but she's not all that. What's your angle? What are you playing at? Are you trying to make me jealous or something? Prove that there'll never be anything between us?"

"Wow!" I chuckle humourlessly. "I hate to break it to you Hails but this has nothing to do with you. Don't pretend that Soleil is the first girl I've been with after everything that happened last Summer. Over and above that, we were never exclusive. I fucked around with other girls and I never had a problem with you seeing other guys – "

"I never wanted to see other guys! Don't you get it? I wanted you, only you!"

I take a deep breath and run my fingers through my hair in frustration.

"I was a dick, okay. I'm sorry I couldn't see that, couldn't see past my own pleasure. It was never that serious for me and if I knew what was going on with you at home, I would have never gotten involved with you in that way." I see her eyes tear up. Shit. I don't mean to hurt her. "You're beautiful Hailey. Some guy would be lucky to have you. He'd treat you better than I ever could."

"I don't want some other guy. I want you."

"I'm a dickhead at best. Literally," I motion my hands to the little guy. "That's what's drove me in the past and made decisions I now regret. I'm unhinged at worst. Why would you want me?"

"Does Soleil know that?"

"I'm pretty sure she's figured it out by now."

"Why her?"

"She's different."

Hailey scoffs.

"Oh, so it's like a fetish or something?"

If it was anyone else, I would have put my hands on them. But this is Hailey. She's always had a mouth on her when she's upset. She's hurt and lashing out right now. I choose to be mature and defuse the situation instead of escalating it.

"I've never been one for fetishes. I'm more of a kink kind of guy. You should know."

"Can you be serious? Are you two a thing or is this like a passing fling before you're onto the next one?"

"I don't know. I'm trying to figure this out but I do have feelings for her."

"Stronger feelings than you had for me?"

How the hell am I supposed to answer this? My relationship with Hailey is complicated. My relationship with Soleil even more so.

"It's not the same. You're family."

"So you fuck your family, huh?"

The thought is repulsive and brings back images of that night. I swear that incident took a shit on my fantasies and sent my dick into a coma for months.

"No, which is why I couldn't continue doing what we were doing all things considered."

"But we aren't related."

"It doesn't matter. Some people may be able to look over it, but not me. There are certain lines I don't cross and family is one of them. Blood or water." I pull her in for a hug as her face floods with even more tears. "What happened to you is horrible. No one should ever have to go through that. You need the love of family more than you need me. We're a crazy bunch but the kind you need in your corner when shit hits the fan. Trust that I will always be there for you if you need me – as a brother and as a friend."

Even though our relationship has changed, I wasn't going anywhere. And if you asked my mother, she'd pick Hailey over me any day. I was an arrogant little shit that dipped in and out of mischief like it was my favourite pool according to her.

Hailey's sniffles quiet down and she pulls away from me.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome."

"Do you believe in Karma?"

"Yes, even science tells us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

"If there's any justice in the world then you're bound to get yours for every heart you've broken, Le Roux," she states walking away.

"Hey! That's not very nice of you Hailey!" I shout at her retreating back.

She throws up her middle finger as she makes her way back to her circle of friends. Here I was trying to comfort her only for her to spew that shit. I've spent my life fucking around. Despite not making any promises, I would be naive to believe I hadn't broken a heart or two in my short life.

Just the thought of Soleil with someone else makes me feel funny. Seeing her with another guy – any guy – sends me off the deep end. It's why I behave the way I do. I guess deep down I'm scared she'll do to me what I've done to others. But she's not like that. She's a sweetheart. My little ray of sunshine.

"Brice, is that you?"

I look up to see a sexy redhead making her way over to me. My day was going too well I suppose. Now I'm being haunted by the ghosts of the females I've fucked in the past.

"Hey Ariel, what are you doing here?"

The last time I saw her was at the portal after I'd found out about Thierry's summons. Seeing her was a surprise after so many years. Rumour was that she'd been beached - banished to remain on land.

"I'm staying at the green bungalow a few houses down. Saw a fire and decided to take a walk and greet the neighbours."

"What a coincidence."

I don't believe in coincidences. Ariel wants something. She told me as much during our last encounter.

"Have you thought over my offer?" she asks.

When we met at the portal, she told me of the summons that Thierry had received and offered me more information in exchange for her skin which he'd taken from her. Mermaids had skins that appeared as clothing on land. However, when they went back into the waters, it transformed into a tail and enhanced their ability to breathe and swim.

"I have and I don't think it's wise to go against the decree of a god. Your god, no less."

"Please," she tossed her luscious red hair over her shoulder revealing the sequined brown top. "Despite what he may have led you to believe, Thierry does not reign supreme."

"You never did tell me why he took your skin or where you got a replacement."

I eyed the sequined brown skirt which must have been her new skin.

"Oh this old thing," she tugged on the material and did a twirl. "I got it on loan. However, brown is not my colour. But you know what they say, 'beggars can't be choosers.'"

"And your punishment?"

"His decision was harsh, cruel in fact. He didn't like how close we were getting," she says, her voice dropping an octave as she ran her hands down my chest.

I grab a hold of her wrists before her claws reach the waistband of my shorts.

"Cut the bullshit. I know you fucked my father too. I can only imagine how many men in my family you've run through."

She snatches her hands away from my hold.

"It's not my fault that I'm able to outlive mere mortals. You're different though. You have the blood of the gods."

If I were a few years younger, her words would have fed into my ego and seduced me. I was older and fortunately wiser than to believe her. What can I say? Even my arrogance had a limit.

"Save your breath. I can't give you what you're looking for. I won't betray Thierry or his judgment."

"Fine." She crosses her arms. "You can offer me something else in exchange for my intel. Something of your own."

"What do you want now?" I ask, getting annoyed at myself for even entertaining this conversation.

"Your seed. I'll give you information on what and who the summons was about in exchange for your seed."

"I can't. You know that I'm to remain celibate until after the trials. I have to conserve my strength."

"You're stronger than you were before. I can feel it." She steps closer to me and runs her nose along my neck. "I can smell it. As for your celibacy, I know you fucked... Soleil."

My heart stops at the mention of her name.

How does she know that? Has she been spying on me?

Before I can voice my questions Ariel says, "I'll give you a couple more days to think it over. Just know that time is running out."

And with that, she walks away leaving my heart and mind in disarray.

2024 / 06 / 07

WC: 2 799