Page 114 of To Crave Deeply
MORDECAI
My name reached my ears, and a little shiver of anticipation ran through me. My plan had worked. Everything was going exactly as it should be. Jasper was perfect. A useful pawn. A way to get Lori to fall in line without her even realising it.
The dust settled around me and I found myself standing in the midst of a scuffle. I could smell blood, a fair amount of it, and judging by the number of bodies that lay upon the ground, Jasper had taken out his little team. Hadn’t killed them though. That was interesting. Perhaps there was a little bit left of the man in his mind. I’d have to see to that later. Couldn’t have his humanity creeping back in and making things difficult.
My eyes immediately found Lori. She’d had a drop of my blood so I would be able to find her anywhere. Blood was smeared down her chin. I smiled. Jasper clearly knew how to get her to do what he wanted. Perfect, I thought with a smile.
I crooked a finger at her and called her to me. She came willingly. That meant she could feel the transition taking hold. She could feel my authority over her. I was about to become her Lord and Master and she would obey my every command.
“Hello, little one.”
Her eyes found mine and I drew on my power of compulsion. I’d struggled last time because her demon interfered, but now that she was under the sway of bloodlust, it was easy.
“Hello, Mordecai,” she replied breathlessly.
“No, that won’t do. Call me Master.” I pushed harder into her mind, and she willingly let me in deeper.
“Yes, Master.”
“Perfect.” And she was perfect. So much power, so much potential. My plan couldn’t fail with her under my thumb.
Now, I just needed to break her pretty little neck.
***
SELENE
I watched Mordecai play with his new toy and scoffed. I knew he’d planned on turning her. It was part of the plan. Part of the prophecy. But it was sickening to watch him play with his fucking food.
“Can we go now?” I asked. I was pissed. Those other two witches had hurled all sorts of hexes at me, some of them sticking, and now I had singed hair, scales down one arm and a fucking tail. I’d knocked them unconscious after that.
I didn’t have enough energy to sort that shit out right now. Not after saving the soulbond. That took a lot of effort, but I looked forward to the day I could claim my favour. Mordecai had been against it, but I pointed out the usefulness of keeping Lori’s connection with Lucifer and he assented to let me fix it. Besides, having a triune owe me a favour would be fucking swell.
There’d only ever been one triune before, and he lived in the Upper Realm. He wasn’t called the Divine for nothing. Now, between Lucifer and his creations, we’d created one that would rival the heavens. A triune combined three elements in one, and with Lori’s transition, she’d be a combination of demon, mage and vampire.
Poor Iveri. She’d never get her demon back now. She’d served her purpose and was now free to wander the earth forever. Alone, and nothing more than a soul.
Mordecai hissed at me. “Yes. We can go. We’ve got what we came for.”
“Perfect,” I replied cheerfully, hopping down from the dais with a spring in my step. I was ready to leave Strigavallis. I’d had enough of this shithole.
“You can’t take her.”
I looked around and found the Shadow Fiend hauling himself to his feet. This guy just didn’t give up.
“I beg to differ,” Mordecai drawled. “It’s exactly what I’m going to do.” He turned his bright red gaze to Lori. “It’s what you want, too. Isn’t it, little one?”
Lori beamed up at Mordecai. “Yes, Master. Take me home.”
***
TORSTEN
Lori’s order resonated in my mind.
If Mordecai comes for me, I’m ordering you to kill me.
I didn’t want to, but I could feel my feet marching towards her, determination in my stride even though everything in me was trying to rebel. But I couldn’t. The order was there, and I couldn’t refuse it. It fucking sucked that she couldn’t undo it. That commands issued under a bond of eternal servitude were unbreakable, no matter how much the caster might regret their command.
