The Shadow Paradox: The Shadow Enforcer Series Book Three Read online

  He reached over the counter and refilled his shot glass with vodka. Bringing the glass to his lips, he smiled and downed the drink. As he did, a few drops of alcohol slipped down his chin, falling on his chest. Amaris sucked in a sharp breath and lifted his arm, but then lowered it before his fingers came in contact with Cole’s skin.

  “Your position in my house is that of a valued guest. To me, you’re neither slave nor a hostage, as your brother thinks,” he whispered, his eyes glued to Cole’s body. “Go ahead, make your call. Just put it on speaker so I can hear.”

  Cole reached over the counter again and brought the phone up. He dialed the phone number and the extension of his head developer, putting the call on speaker.

  “Dennis, this is Cole Adams,” he said as soon as his developer answered the call. “How is everything going?”

  “As planned,” the young man reported without skipping a beat. “The product is in beta testing, and so far, so good.” He paused and then added, “We have a Scrum stakeholders’ meeting scheduled in two days. I hope you’ll be back by then.”

  “I doubt it, Dennis.” Cole stifled a sigh, sadness gripping at his chest. “Most likely, I’ll be away for at least a couple more weeks, and I need you to take care of all the development activities while I’m gone. McKenzie will take care of everything else.”

  “No problem, sir,” replied Dennis. “I’ll record all the meetings for you, so you can review them later.”

  “Thank you, Dennis,” said Cole, his fingers tracing the edge of his shot glass. “You won’t be able to reach me on my cell, but I’ll try to get in touch with you again as soon as I can.”

  Cole hung up and placed the phone back behind the counter. He lowered himself on the barstool, nibbling on his lip. Amaris sat next to him and put his hand on his wrist. Battling the urge to recoil, Cole raised his eyes, giving him an arched stare.

  “I knew you owned a successful tech company, but I could never imagine you actually run it yourself,” Amaris said, his thumb caressing Cole’s skin. “How do you do it?”

  “Do what?” asked Cole, slightly sharper than he intended. “I have a Master’s in Computer Science, MBA, and years of experience running different businesses successfully. Also, I have a silent partner who does monetary infusions when or if I need them to support my R&D efforts. I’m more than capable of running any type of business.”

  “But of course, you are. From the first time I laid my eyes on you I knew, you’re just as smart as you’re breathtakingly handsome.” Amaris gave Cole’s wrist a gentle squeeze and removed his hand. “That’s not what I was asking. Being a vampire, how can you spend the entire day among humans without ripping their throats out? What do you do to control your thirst?”

  “My thirst?” Cole slipped off the stool and stepped closer to Amaris. His lips stretched into a slow, seductive smile, exposing his fully expanded fangs. “What thirst?” He lowered his face over Amaris’ neck, grazing his skin with his fangs. “I can hear your heartbeat…” he whispered airily, his fingers moving up Amaris’ arm. “It’s fast… too fast… I can smell your blood and hear its sound as it rushes through your veins…” He seized the hair on the back of Amaris’ head, keeping him steady, and Amaris held his breath. “Are you afraid of me, Mr. Amaris… my lord…”

  “No,” Amaris croaked. “I have no reason… Ahhh…” His voice faded into a strangled moan as Cole punctured his skin just enough to draw a single drop of blood.

  Cole let go and sat back on his stool, smiling at him as if nothing happened. The tip of his tongue moved over his upper lip, his fangs gone now. “I can control my urges around humans, Erick. Ruslan taught me well.”

  Amaris touched his neck with his finger and brought his hand to his eyes, staring at the small, red drop on his fingertip, bewildered.

  “Yes, you can,” he exhaled, his breath quickening, his eyes shining brighter through the slits of his mask. Pressing his fingers to his face, he readjusted his mask. “I wonder…” His voice trailed off as he regarded Cole with a different kind of interest in his narrowed eyes.

  “About what?”

  “I mentioned I have a few businesses of my own,” he said at length.

  “I hope you forgive my forwardness, Erick, but I don’t consider slave trade and gladiatorial fights a legit business,” Cole cut off dryly.

  “I assure you, it’s quite a profitable venture, Senhor Adams, and there is nothing wrong with it.” Amaris rose, a sudden flare of anger making his lips quiver with indignation. He cleared his throat and moved his head from side to side, a bright shade of magenta rising up his neck to his face.

  Hmm… Portuguese again…

  “My apology.” Cole bowed his head, allowing his long curls to fall over his face while watching Amaris’ every move with interest. “I forgot my manners, my lord.”

  Amaris took a deep breath and seized Cole’s chin, lifting his face.

  “I can’t be angry with you even if I wanted,” he whispered and let go. Brushing Cole’s cheek with his fingers gently, he tucked his hair behind his ear. “When we meet tomorrow, I would like to discuss a business proposition with you, Cole.” He leaned forward and whispered into Cole’s ear, his lips touching his cheek on the way down. “You’ll be pleased to know it has nothing to do with the underground fighting circles. I need a partner who’s touched or exposed to the World of Magic, someone I can trust. You with your money and experience are a perfect candidate. Besides, a vampire-partner is not the worst I can do.”

  “Oh? You trust me?” Cole gave him an arched stare, barely able to contain his sarcasm.

  “I don’t trust anyone, Mr. Adams.” Amaris laughed darkly. “But I have different levels of distrust for different people, and I believe I can handle you.”

  Yes... Let’s see what else you’re cooking here, asshole. Everything inside him flipped with excitement, but he calmly inclined his head and asked, “Is your business legit?”

  “Define legit.” Amaris narrowed his eyes, shaking his head. “Although I run all my operations in this very bunker—I never leave it—not all of them involve gladiatorial fights,” replied Amaris. “This particular venture is a legit trade for the World of Magic, but not for the realm of humans, unfortunately.” He giggled in his weird manner. “Telling human authorities about this business will expose the World of Magic. So, as far as humans are concerned, my business doesn’t exist. I hope it’s not a problem for you.”

  “Not a problem at all. I’ll be honored to hear you out,” said Cole, suppressing his excitement. “We can discuss it right now if you wish.”

  Amaris glanced at him, a semblance of regret reflecting in his eyes. “No, let’s meet tomorrow in my office.” He got up, gesturing at the door. “I’m a little tired and drunk, and with you looking like this, my mind is anywhere but on business. Besides, I have a small gift for you. You’ll find it when you return to your chamber.”

  “As you wish, my lord.” Cole got up and headed toward the piano, wondering what that was all about.

  He picked up his jacket and shirt, but before he could put it on, Amaris placed his hand on his bicep, stopping him. He didn’t say anything, just caressed his arm, following the flow of his muscles, and shied away, lust darkening his strange eyes. Stifling the rising nausea, Cole lowered his head and brushed Amaris’ cheek with his lips under the edge of his mask, barely touching his skin.

  “I wish you didn’t wear this mask,” Cole whispered into his ear. “I just want to see you.” Then he pivoted on his heels and walked out the door.

  Cole stopped in front of the entrance into his room and looked around. The hallway was empty, a barely noticeable presence of magical energy lingering in the air. It was always here, on this side of the underground bunker. He had no knowledge of magic or experience wielding it, so he couldn’t identify what it was, but the longer he stayed in this room, the more aware of its presence he had become.

  He pushed the door open and walked inside. The TV was playing on the loc
al news station, and Ruslan lay on the couch in front of it, but Cole was positive his maker wasn’t listening to the news. His velvety eyes were distant and unfocused, and his hands, folded over his stomach, were clenched so tightly, his knuckles were white.

  “Father,” Cole called, dropping his unused shirt and jacket by the door.

  Ruslan sat up sharply, taking in Cole’s appearance, and dropped his head, a deep crease forming between his black eyebrows.

  “Your brother is going to put a wooden stake through my heart, and he’ll be right to do so. I shouldn’t have allowed you to—,” Ruslan started.

  “First, nothing happened,” Cole interrupted him. “Like I said, two people can play this cat-and-mouse game, and I played my part. Second, you didn’t allow me anything. I’m not a little boy. I did what I believed needed to be done. Third, Damian will kill someone, but it’s not going to be you, Father. Should I continue?”

  Cole lowered himself on the couch next to Ruslan and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. Speaking too fast and too soft for any modern tech to register his words, he told Ruslan everything he learned about Amaris.

  Just when he finished, the door swung open, and Jeff walked inside, followed by Sylvana. She was dressed in a long, silk robe held together by a wide sash. With every step she took, the robe spread apart a little, exposing her beautiful, long legs. Cole got up, staring at the guard in shock, but before he had a chance to say anything, Jeff seized Sylvana’s arm and pushed her forward. She staggered a few steps and would have fallen if Cole hadn’t caught her. The guard snickered, waving his hand in her direction.

  “Mr. Amaris thinks you need some entertainment,” he said, derision dripping from his every word. “She is going to take you to a place you’ll never forget, vamp. So, enjoy while you can.” He brought his hand to his temple in a mock salute and left the room, snickering.

  Cole let go of Sylvana, but she didn’t move, standing with her hands on Cole’s chest. “Syl, what’s going on?” he asked, gently lifting her chin, realizing that the collar was no longer on her neck.

  “You need to come with me, Cole,” she whispered, barely meeting his eyes. “I must do what he said, or I’ll be in a world of pain.” She pulled the robe aside on her chest, exposing the rune glowing with an angry purple light. “Please, Cole, just follow me.”

  At the sight of her rune, Ruslan gasped and rose to his feet, his face an iron mask.

  “That evil bastard,” he hissed, anger making his voice deeper. Approaching Sylvana, he moved his fingers over the rune, shaking his head. “You poor child. I don’t know if it’s possible to remove it.” He pressed his hand over his mouth and stilled for a brief moment. Then he covered the rune, readjusting the lapel of her robe. “Cole, if you manage to get in touch with your brother, tell him that if he needs help to take care of this monster, Santiago and I are more than willing to step in.”

  “I know someone who can possibly remove this rune,” Cole whispered, his hands clenching into fists. “One step at a time, Father. We deal with Amaris first, and then we’ll take care of everything else.” He wrapped his arm around Sylvana’s shoulder, sadness constricting his throat. “Let’s go, Syl. After all, I’m supposed to be entertained tonight, and it seems like I’m getting more entertainment than I can handle.”

  Giving Ruslan a curt nod, he followed Sylvana toward the door where he picked up his shirt and put it on before leaving the room. They moved quickly along the hallway in silence. Sylvana was a ball of raw nerves, and knowing that she had no choice but to obey the orders Amaris had given her, he didn’t want to ask anything. With all his senses heightened to the limit, he couldn’t help but notice that the presence of the strange magical energy he had sensed around his room intensified, and the farther they moved, the stronger it became.

  The hallway ended into another long corridor, and Sylvana turned to the right, pulling on his arm to follow, but Cole halted, closing his eyes.

  “Do you feel it?” he whispered.

  “No… what?” Sylvana looked around, her eyes wide. “We have to go, Cole. Please. There’re cameras everywhere—”

  “Hold on, just a second.”

  He turned to the left and came to a sharp halt. A few feet away from him, he noticed a tall white door, reinforced with iron and silver like everywhere else in this facility. Since he couldn’t see any other doors, he assumed the entire left side of the hallway was one large room. The presence of magical energy here was so concentrated that he felt as if his skin was on fire. Sharpening his hearing, he stilled, listening intently. A soft moan and the sound of a woman crying reached his ears, and he pulled back.

  “I’ll be damned, Syl,” he muttered. His eyes darted up, toward the security camera in front of the door. Grabbing Sylvana’s arm, he pulled her closer and pressed her back against the wall. Leaning down, he kissed her and then whispered into her ear, “This is it… This place is what Damian and I have been looking for.”

  She laughed, escaping his hold, and tugged at his arm. “Let’s go, darling. You made a wrong turn. We’re almost there.” She waved in the opposite direction, pulling him with her.

  They walked all the way to the end of the hallway where Sylvana stopped in front of another locked door. She pressed six numbers on the digital keypad, and the lock clicked. Sylvana glanced at him, scarlet tears gathering in her beautiful eyes.

  “After you,” she said and pushed the door open.

  As soon as they walked inside, the door closed behind them automatically, its soft click making Sylvana wince, and Cole halted with his jaw dropped. The room—or rather a luxuriously decorated bedroom—looked like something from the tales of one thousand and one nights, and mellow, sensual music flowing in soft waves through the air just intensified the resemblance. But it wasn’t the opulent décor that stopped Cole in his tracks.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered, his eyes sliding across shelves with sex toys and the kinds of sexual devices he had never known existed. “What the fuck…”

  The late Queen Roxana had prided herself on the knowledge of how to please her sexual partners of both genders, as well as an understanding of intimacy and erotism, but even she didn’t have as many devices of pleasure and torture in her arsenal.

  “I’m supposed to please you in any way you wish,” Sylvana whispered, averting her pained gaze.

  “Excuse me?” Cole mumbled, staring at her in shock. “Tell me his orders exactly the way he said it.”

  She raised her eyes, a red tear sliding down her pale cheek. “He said, I must do anything you ask for, anything that would please you.” Her lips trembled, and she looked away. “Cole, I must obey... please, be kind…”

  Cole shuddered, undiluted anger rattling through him. Then he took Sylvana’s hand and planted a soft kiss on her knuckles.

  “Sylvana, darling,” he murmured, walking her toward the bed. “Please lie down and close your beautiful eyes. There is nothing in this world that will please me more, driving me straight into an earth-shattering orgasm, than watching you sleep. Sorry, I’m this kind of perverted creep.”

  “Thank you, Cole,” she whispered barely audibly, slipping under the blanket. “I’ll never forget your kindness.”

  Cole observed the room, and even though he didn’t notice any cameras, he was positive Amaris was watching his every step. Moving slowly and seductively, he started to dance, his body flowing in soft waves, following the music. He put his hand under the collar of his shirt, gradually taking it off his shoulders. As the shirt fell to the floor, he kept dancing, his muscles rippling under his pale skin.

  As he made his way to a large armchair, he opened the button on the waistband of his pants and pulled the zipper down. His hand slipped inside, and he half-closed his eyes, throwing his head back. His body was still moving and flowing with the music, just the way Roxana had taught him years ago. His other hand raked through his hair, throwing it off his face, and then progressed down his chest, halting over his stomach.

/>   I hope you enjoy the show, evil bastard.

  A touch of darkness shadowed Cole’s face as he zipped up his pants and dropped onto the armchair, throwing his legs over its side.

  “Dima, where are you?” he reached to his brother, even though he was positive their blood bond was still blocked. Something twitched in his mind, and his brother’s voice broke through the emptiness their bond had become since it was blocked.

  “Cole…? Nikolai!”

  Chapter 22

  ~ Damian Blake ~

  As soon as Damian threw the ball of yarn on the ground, it took off, rolling at considerable speed. He exchanged a quick look with Jamie, and both sprinted to catch up with it. Being bright red, the magical yarn was easy to spot even when it rolled through the tall grass or shrubbery, and after sunset, it glowed with a dim red light, so finding it in the dark wasn’t an issue either. Following it at that high of a pace, however, wasn’t easy, and from time to time, Damian had to command it to stop, so they could take a fifteen-minute breather before continuing on their way.

  It had been a few days since Damian and Jamie left Baba Yaga’s hut on chicken legs, following the magical ball of yarn. They traveled as fast as they could, stopping for a few hours only when they needed to get some rest and grab a bite to eat. Thanks to Zabava’s parting gift, food wasn’t a problem.

  Sleeping in the forest under the open sky wasn’t new to Damian. He actually enjoyed this part of the journey since while he was surrounded by wilderness, he was in his element. Besides, he was trained to trust his heightened senses of a Destiny Enforcer to notify him of the smallest fluctuations in the magical energy field, waking him up instantly. Jamie, on the other hand, had a hard time relaxing, worrying about all the wild beasts—magical and mundane—circling their small camp.