Page 23 of To Hell and Back
“What would you like to eat?”
“I can’t decide. Everything looks so good. I really love seafood, but there are so many options.”
“Try a little of everything.”
Rather than wait for her to pick and choose, he began serving a small portion of food from each platter onto the plate in front of her. He noticed that no one else made a move to serve themselves until he was done selecting food for his mate, and he was grateful for their patience.
She held her hand up and laughed. “Thank you. I think that’s enough. Seriously, there’s no more room left on the plate.”
He didn’t think that was an issue since he could just get her another plate, but he acquiesced with her decision. He dished some food onto his own plate, not really caring what he selected. He just didn’t want to make her feel awkward by eating alone.
A few seconds later, he realized he didn’t have to worry about that when the others descended on the food as if they hadn’t eaten for days. He felt relieved once Seneca started eating, but after a few bites, she stopped again.
“Before I tell you everything, I have to say that I was warned that I wasn’t supposed to let a lot of people know about me being reborn and all. I was also told I couldn’t alter too many things or I might draw attention to my…unique situation.”
“Don’t worry. We will keep the details about your rebirth a secret,” he assured. “As for the rest, let me worry about that.”
She nodded, accepting his word.
While everyone ate, she began telling them her extraordinary story, starting with what had happened during the original night of the storm. He could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke of losing her parents and the car accident she had been in. Then, she told them about what she’d learned in the aftermath, including the destruction of The Manor and the death of her friends.
“There is no way a simple mudslide should be able to break through the protection wards around the property,” Celine stated. “Something more is at play here.”
Arson nodded. “I agree.”
“It doesn’t just hit The Manor. Flash floods and mudslides destroy a lot of the surrounding area as well,” Seneca explained. “I would have died in a car accident that night if it wasn’t for my…unique ability.”
Anika frowned. “What does that mean?”
“The accident I was in triggered my awakening, and my magic protected me.”
“How?” Gunner asked. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t sense a lot of power coming from you. Are you indestructible or something? Because that would be pretty fucking cool.”
“That would be pretty cool, but no. Actually, my unique ability is more like an extra sense rather than an active skill. I guess the best way to describe it is that I was born lucky.”
As she explained how her luck worked, Killian felt a wave of foreboding. Being lucky sounded like an awesome gift, but he had no doubt it could also be a curse. That was confirmed once she started telling them what her life had been like once her aunt and uncle discovered she could pass her luck onto others.
Fury swept through him like a raging wildfire. The way her aunt and uncle had used and abused her made him want to rip them apart with his bare hands. He would lock them away in his dungeon where he could bleed them out slowly, over and over again, making sure they suffered the pain she had gone through each time they had demanded a blood sacrifice from her.
But he wouldn’t stop there.
He would use the various torture methods he’d learned over the long centuries on them, stripping them of everything they had been until they were nothing more than empty meat husks. Then, he would obliterate their souls to ensure they would never be born again within the six realms.
Okay, that was probably overkill, but he didn’t care. He would destroy anyone who tried to hurt her. And he swore that no one would ever steal her luck again.
He’d make damn sure of it.
Her story seemed fantastical, but he believed every word of it. And not just because she was his mate. He could hear the ring of truth in her words. Their connection also explained why he had sensed the magical surge of her rebirth from halfway across the world. That made him curious about whether or not he had also sensed her death.
Killian fought hard to remain calm while he continued to listen to her story, but when she got to the part about being killed by the witch who had kidnapped her, pure madness consumed him. Discovering that Whitley Dalkis sold items made of dark magic on the black market would have been enough for the Guardians to go after her, but knowing she had been the cause of his mate’s death made him lose his fucking mind.
He knew that wasn’t the end of Seneca’s story. There was more she had to tell them, including what had happened when she had met with the gods who had sent her back in time. However, he needed a break before he could listen to more.
No, what he needed to do was to go hunting.
Killian abruptly stood up. “Why don’t we pause here? You’ve been speaking for a while and haven’t had a chance to finish your meal. Dario? How about you make some of that special juice blend to soothe her throat?”
Dario stood up and glared at him.“Fuck that. I am going with you.”
