Surrender

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“I met the man of my dreams tonight. Well, he actually isn’t a man. He is an elf. He is amazing and mesmerizing. I can’t imagine my life without him but even as wonderful as he is, I can see a darkness that lives in him. I want to think that I’m enough to keep him from letting that darkness rule his heart, but I don’t know if that’s true.” ~From the diary of Lucy Tate

He wanted to curse his wretched queen for interfering with his plans, but Tarron knew it wouldn’t do any good. He didn’t have the time to pick a fight with Lorsan. He had more personal things to deal with. The Book of the Elves wasn’t going anywhere and at least he knew its whereabouts. Besides, he doubted that Lorsan would be deciphering its secrets anytime soon. He would just move on with the rest of his plans and worry about that after. His mind drifted back to those plans and a tight smile stretched across his face. Yes, he had more important dealings and it started with his prisoners.

Tarron glared at the two humans that sat bound and gagged across from him. They looked every bit like the filthy stuffed pigs they were. He didn’t even like having to touch them to tie them up, but it was a necessary part of the job. They were the key to getting what he wanted, who he wanted.

“Your daughter is beautiful, even though she is human,” Tarron sneered. “I suppose that’s not her fault. Like her great-grandmother, she is a product of her DNA. I can’t very well hold that against her, unless she chooses incorrectly, of course—just like Lucy did.” The name was like acid on his tongue.

Even after all those years, thinking about her still hurt. Like a wound that refused to heal, he ached for her. He remembered the night he’d walked away from her like it was yesterday. Her voice was as vivid in his mind as if she was standing there before him.

“Why would you want to stay in the human realm and age until you died when you could live with me in my realm and be immortal?” Tarron asked his Chosen.

“I don’t know if I can make you understand, Tarron. But there is beauty in life that is fleeting that you can’t find in a life that is endless. Pain hurts worse, but the joy that comes after the pain is indescribable. Sometimes the night seems endless but then the morning comes and the beauty of the sun rising, its rays bathing the land in its warmth, makes the night worth it. Knowing that one day I will die, that I will leave this world and all that it is, makes me appreciate it more. I don’t think I could feel the same way if I had an endless amount of time before me.”

Tarron was trying to understand her point of view, but he just couldn’t understand why anyone would choose death over an eternity with the one you were meant for.

“You are right,” he admitted. “I do not understand. All I hear you saying is that you do not want me. You do not want your soul mate.”

Lucy shook her head. “No, that is not what I’m saying. I’m saying that I want you to stay here with me and experience all of those things with me. Wake up with me every day and live it like it could be your last. Gaze at me as though it might be that last time you see me. Kiss me with the passion of one who will not ever taste my lips again. I am not choosing this world over you; I’m simply asking you to share our life together in this world. I want to give myself to you, but I want you to be willing to give yourself to me.”

The memory faded like an aged photograph left in the sun and his mind was brought back to the present. Part of Tarron wished he had said yes, that he would have stayed with her, lived out their life together and then died with her. But he hadn’t, and he couldn’t have regrets. Eternal life was way too long to live with regrets. So, he had walked away, turned his back on his Chosen and dealt with the pain. It had dulled some over the century, but he attributed that to the bitterness he felt toward her.

Few elves survived losing their Chosen. It wasn’t an immediate death; it was far worse. Once a Chosen was taken, the soul withered, cut off from its other half. It was even worse if the bond was completed but Tarron hadn’t completed their bond by mating with her. Had that happened, then the outcome might have been a little different. As it was, he simply turned all of his energy into figuring out a way to destroy humans. They were weak, fickle creatures. Lorsan had thought that Tarron worked for him. Stupid king. As if someone could control him. He hadn’t let his Chosen control his destiny and he sure as hell wouldn’t let a king.

After decades of study and trial and error, he’d finally come up with something as inconspicuous as a simple liquid—a drink—but it would be the downfall of the humans. Rapture, made from plants found only in the elfin realm, was as addicting to humans as their most intoxicating illegal drugs. Tarron had managed to get the drink distributed in all of the casinos owned by the dark elves. To the humans it was simply an exciting new drink. Little did they know, that with every sip, their bodies grew more and more dependent on it―most to the point of violence and desperation. The dark elves wouldn’t even have to lift a weapon against the foul creatures. The humans would destroy themselves. It was a brilliant plan, if he did say so himself.

Tarron was pulled from his thoughts when he saw that the human male was trying to say something. He reached over and pulled the gag out of his mouth. “What?” he snapped.

“Whatever vendetta you have against humans, let me bear your wrath. Please let my wife go,” the man pleaded, though to Tarron’s surprise, it didn’t come out in a groveling manner. Tarron almost respected the man for not begging like a sniveling i***t, almost. He had been a little taken aback by how easily the couple had accepted finding out that elves actually existed. Although, when Tarron traveled through the reflective surface with them, they pretty much couldn’t deny that the supernatural did indeed exist. The husband, especially, had moved past the whole I’m a dark elf and onto what do you want rather quickly. It was a tad refreshing not to have to attempt to convince them of what he was. He was able to focus more on making them realize how inferior they were to his race and that it was hopeless to try and defeat him.

“Your wife is much more appealing to me than you are. Why would I let her go when I could have fun with her while we wait for sweet Cassandra? Besides, she’s female. She, above all others, deserves my wrath. Deceitful, loose, fickle bitches. That’s what women are.” His words were laced with the venom of his hate. It was like a living thing, swimming in his blood, and Tarron wasn’t even sure he could change if he wanted to. He wouldn’t really touch the man’s wife. Such a thought made his stomach turn. But it didn’t hurt to scare them both. Their terror was humorous to him because it just proved how useless they truly were. How humans had survived as long as they had was beyond him. But their time was coming to an end. Soon the dark elves would rule more than just one realm and Lorsan would not be leading them, not if Tarron had anything to say about it.

He stood abruptly and turned from the two captives. He was tired of watching the woman shake and the man glower. Instead he walked over to the window and stared out into the dark night. He pictured Cassandra’s face in his mind and imagined what it would be like when she was finally in his arms. He would have to make sure she knew her place, of course. But once she realized that she was his, she would do as he told her. Then the fun could begin. It had been so long since he’d touched a woman―not since Lucy. Until he’d laid eyes on her descendant, he hadn’t wanted to. But the beautiful blonde with eyes as green as the grass in his realm had captivated him and his fingers itched to become familiar with every dip and curve. His lips turned up in a wicked grin. Yes, they would have lots of fun and he would finally have what he needed and the void would be filled. Finally.

Cassie felt the gentle touch of lips against her neck causing her to shiver with awareness as sleep began to fade. The sun was shining through the window of her bedroom attempting to woo her into believing it was going to be a bright, joyous day. She stared at the curtains that had hung there for as many years as she could remember. The memories of the night before and everything else came rushing in. The sun could shine all it wanted; it wouldn’t change how dark the world was becoming. Her mind was flooded with images―some bad, some good, and some very good.

“Very good?” Trik’s voice rumbled from behind her. His touch allowed him access to her mind and he wasn’t shy about listening in whenever he wanted. “I would say those particular memories are a whole hell of a lot better than very good.” His arm was wrapped around her bare middle; his large hand splayed across her stomach stroking her flesh in an intimate way that only a husband could.

Husband, she thought with excitement and also a small amount of shame at realizing that her parents had not been present during their exchange of vows. And that was when the pain hit. Her parents were gone. Taken by a madman—elf, whatever, and held against their will because he wanted Cassie.

“He can’t have you,” Trik growled. “I don’t share.”

“Did you get in trouble for not playing well with others on the playground?” Cassie asked dryly.

“I play just fine with you.”

She trembled with desire at the suggestive tone and fought the urge to turn around and beg him to have his way with her.

“Why are you fighting it, Beautiful? We are married in the way of your people. I thought that meant all access.” His voice was laced with false innocence that had her sputtering at his candid words.

“Did you seriously just say all access?”

She could hear the smile in his voice when he responded. “My, my, wife of mine. Your mind has become quite the gutter since losing your innocence.”

“Okay, you have got to quit saying things like that,” Cassie said breathlessly as she turned around to face him. When his eyes dropped down to her naked front, she realized her mistake.

A wicked gleam filled his silver eyes as his gaze drank her in like a man who’d been deprived of liquid for far too long. His fingertips began to trace where his eyes landed, and Cassie bit back a moan that would only encourage him.

“Trik, we need to get up,” she said attempting to reason with him. “There’s a world to save and parents to rescue and, and—” For the life of her, she couldn’t think of the other pressing emergencies that required their attention. How could she possibly think when Trik’s mouth had taken the place of his fingers?

“Shh,” he told her as he continued his pursuit. “If the world is going to come to an end, then this is definitely the last memory I want to have of you. I can die with a smile on my face because I had the honored pleasure of bedding my Chosen.”

“You are disturbed, you know that, right?”

“Hush,” was his only response and even if Cassie had wanted to say something she couldn’t. Her brain was effectively scrambled by Trik’s unwavering, thorough attention.

A little while later there was a knock at the door. Cassie wasn’t sure who it was because she hadn’t bothered to move from the place she had ended up. Sprawled across the bed, warm and well loved, her faculties had not come back online at that point. Trik seemed to be much more alert. Tricky dark elf, she thought to herself. So, she let him climb across the bed and deal with whoever was at the door. She had no idea what time it was but knew it was past time for them to have been putting a plan in place and then into action. As much as she wanted to find her parents and to save humanity, she had needed Trik. There was something found in the arms of a soul mate that couldn’t be found anywhere else. The passion, comfort, and security that Trik gave her when he loved her could not be duplicated or fabricated by anything or anyone.

Trik’s hand on her exposed calf drew her from her thoughts and Cassie began to force herself to move. When she sat up with the sheet wrapped around her, she was a little surprised to find Trik already dressed.

“Everyone is gathered in the living room,” he told her. “Why don’t you grab a quick shower and then meet me down there?” He leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“For what?” Cassie asked as her brow wrinkled.

“For letting me love you this morning and for being every bit as incredible as I knew you would be.”

He was out the door before she could respond. Cassie sat staring at the place her husband had just been, shell shocked once again by his boldness. She should be used to it, but she wouldn’t hold her breath waiting for the day when she didn’t blush when Trik made such sensual and graphic comments. He was hundreds of years old; it was a safe bet to say that he wasn’t going to change. And she was okay with that.

She climbed out of the bed and headed for the shower pushing thoughts of Trik and their morning away, forcing her mind to focus on what was ahead of them. Before Trik, she had been a normal teenager worried only about school, clothes, and boys. Now she was as far from normal as she could get. Instead of school, she had a whole race of ‘people’ to worry about. Instead of clothes, she had weapons and war to think about, and instead of boys, she had a husband who just happened to be the Elfin King. Life would never be normal again.

Trick stood with his back against Cassie’s closed door. His jaw was tight with the anger he had fought to keep from showing her after having spoken to Cush. He hadn’t liked being interrupted. His times alone with his Chosen would be few and far between, and he wanted to savor any opportunities they had. But he was king and no matter how much he needed Cassie, his race needed him as well.

Cush had come bearing bad news. He had told Trik that he’d been outside checking the perimeter of the house—old habits of a warrior die hard—and he had felt something in the front yard. He said he walked toward the street and the closer he got the stronger the feeling became. It was the residue of magic, dark magic. They had had visitors recently and they hadn’t even known it. It must have been Lorsan and why he left them unharmed after having caught them unaware, he didn’t know. Trik did know that he had failed to protect the people in his care and he was beyond pissed with himself. “Stupid, amateur mistake,” he growled to the empty hallway. He’d been so focused on Cassie and wanting to comfort her as she dealt with the fear and pain at the loss of her parents that he hadn’t bothered to think that, perhaps, someone should be keeping a lookout.

He took several deep breaths. There was no point in letting his anger distract him. He needed to have every single thought focused on what he could do. He had promised Cassie that he would get her parents back, safe and alive. He would not let her down, not again.