Their Troubled Love

Chapter 6: Demetrio

s**t. Victoria definitely has it bad for dumbass Patrick.

But, who am I to talk. I guess we both are suckers for punishment.

“Well, peace is something, we vamps currently don’t have,” I say, picking up the convo of Kate’s comment, seeing as how Victoria went silent.

“What’s going on at home, Dem?” Karime asks, with concern lacing her voice.

“It’s Jasper, Kari. We believe he has been bewitched and we need the magic of some powerful witches to help us break it.” I said, looking pointedly at Camila and Kate.

Her mate, Marcos, Beta of the Yellow Moon clan, puts his hand protectively on her leg before saying, “What do you mean bewitched and who is Jasper?”

“Just like I said, Bro. Bewitched. Jasper is a member of the Elite Clans Guard. He was recently chosen to be the male counterpart of the Ambassador Program, to the Dragon Clan.” I started explaining.

“Your dragon clan, Lady Victoria?” Patrick asked.

Victoria tensed a little next to me when she heard his voice, she nodded without looking in his direction.

I looked at the asshole that was destroying both of our love lives and glared at him. I guess Victoria saw my glare and kicked me under the table. I growled and rubbed my shin.

Ignoring my outburst Victoria started explaining the situation to everyone, “Jasper was assigned to the Royal Dragon Clan’s castle as ambassador to the vampires. Everything seemed to be going normal with him until he and my now-sister-in-law, Madelyn were kidnapped during an attack on our castle. When we finally found them, they were locked away in an abandoned fort on the vampire lands. Jasper was blood-crazed and completely convinced that Madelyn was his mate. Which was impossible, because Madelyn was my brother’s mate.”

“Viktor found his mate?” Marcos asked her.

“Yes. They just recently got married and have made it official under our dragon species customs and her fairy species custom.” Victoria said.

“Your sister-in-law is a fairy?” Camila asked, surprised.

“I know, right. Another interspecies mating. Guess the gods and goddesses up there are getting along now. So many interspecies matings all around us.” Victoria said sarcastically and with a nervous laugh.

I rolled my eyes and continued the story, “Yeah. If only everyone could accept their fates and everything would be right in this f****d-up world.” I said sarcastically in Demetrio’s direction, “Anyways, Jasper drank Madelyn’s blood and since that’s the way vampires find their one-true mate, he says Madelyn belongs to him. We think he is bewitched because when Viktor took Madelyn away, Jasper became violent and obsessed to have her. We had to knock him out to be able to move him back home. For the past two months, we have had to keep him locked in our dungeons. When we force-feed him, he thinks that the female he has drunk from is his mate. Jasper knows he has been put under an incantation, one so strong, that none of the witches and warlocks we have tried have been able to break it. The poison that was given to him by this Mistress Celia,” Camila stiffens and sucks in a breath at the mention of one of the witches that tortured her.

I continue, “Yeah, Cam. The b***h is back. Anyways, the poison she used on him seems to be unbreakable and in his moments of clarity, he asks for us to kill him. He can’t live with himself if he hurts anyone, especially females. With his history, Jasper would rather die than hurt a female. When he feeds on blood he becomes violent and erratic. We need to figure out how to help him, we hoped one of you would know how to help us.”

Everyone stayed silent for a few seconds, taking in all that I said.

“I have never heard of such a poison that could cause that much damage, Dem.” Kate said, then turned to look at Camila, “What about you? Is this, Mistress Celia, capable of this kind of strong magic?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. She was always more obsessed with what she looked like then the craft. She was a cruel b***h, though. She would definitely be capable of causing harm to others but I don’t think she is the source of the magic, she is much too weak. Maybe she has found another warlock to work under.” Camila thought out loud.

“Either way, I think we need to see Jasper to get a feel for the incantation that he is under,” Kate says.

“No f*****g way, I am letting Camila get near a crazed, leech. No offense, man, but no way I am putting my pregnant wife anywhere near any kind of threat.” Marcos said to me.

I looked at Camila and now the answer as to why she seemed to be caressing her abdomen or holding her stomach protectively, made sense.

“No f*****g way, guys! A bro or sis for Laylas!!!” I say loudly and stand up to make my way around the table to them.

I embrace my friend, Marcos first, “f**k, Man. Congratulations!!” I say to him.

“Thanks, leech. Surprised the hell out of me too.” Marcos answered back.

I patted him hard on the back and squeezed his shoulder as I let go of him and then carefully embraced Camila, “Come here, Mama. Congrats.” I say to her.

“Thank you, Dem. We have missed you, especially her,” she whispers the last line to me.

I stiffen slightly because I know who she is talking about. I let go of her and pat her cheek, then slowly stalk back to my chair, lost in thought.

Could she be right? Did Fae miss me, as I missed her? The stupid side of me that is holding on to hope, rises up.

“You see now, why I don’t want her to go,” Marcos says to me, breaking me from my thoughts. “If you ask Camila to go, you know she will in a second. Don’t do that to us.”

“Marcos, please, stop being so dramatic. I would be perfectly fine. You just heard, Dem. This Jasper would never hurt a female.” Camila tries reasoning with him.

“Babe did you not hear the part where he says that this Jasper-dude loses his f*****g mind and can’t control himself. He knows this himself and that is why he wants to die. Don’t put yourself or our child at risk.” Marcos says to her, his voice rising a little.

Shit, this is not going to end well.

“Cam…” I say, trying to intervene.

“No, Dem. I can do this. Marcos, I am not a defenseless female anymore, you know that. I am strong and powerful. Plus, you will be there with me. I can’t let Kate go alone. I want to help. Please let me do this for our friend.” she begs him.

“No.” he answers stubbornly.

“Marcos, she will be fine. I could really use her help, she might catch something that I will miss.” Kate says.

“Plus, I will be there too, Marcos. Dem and I discussed this last night. I am going to be the female volunteer to feed Jasper, so you can witness the change in him. Camila, you and Kate can watch from outside the cell. He won’t be able to get to you.” Victoria added.

“Like, hell you are!” Patrick yells.

All eyes turn to look at him.

“Excuse me?” Victoria asks, cold anger lacing her tone.

We all are still looking at him and he is bright red and avoiding Kate’s questioning stare.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled at the son of a b***h, gotcha.

“I...I mean, it's too dangerous. Why would you take such a risk?” Patrick says nervously and I know I can’t be the only one smelling the bull s**t in his excuse.

“I appreciate your concern, Patrick. However, I am very capable of defending myself. I am a skillful fighter as both your Alpha and Beta can attest to. I have never needed anyone to protect me. As for the tone you just used with me, I kindly ask that it be the last time you ever ude it to speak to me again. You have not won the privilege to boss me around and from the looks of it, you never will. Now, if we can get back to the problem at hand.” Victoria dismisses Patrick and turns to look at Damian.

Hells, yeah!!

I turn to look at Patrick and at the shocked, angry look on his face. I almost feel sorry for the bastard, but then I remember that because of him, his sister can't be with me and the feelings of empathy diminish rapidly.

“Your right, Victoria. Let’s get back to the topic of Jasper and how we can help. If Kate and Camila want to help, I don’t think we should stand in their way however I am not mated to either of them. What if we give Kate and Camila the night to think about the situation and discuss it with their men and then we reconvene tomorrow morning? Dem, I know that is usually when you rest, would you prefer we meet later in the day?” Damian says to me.

“No. Morning will be great. I will make sure to sleep early. The faster I can get out of here...I mean the faster we can help Jasper, the better.” I say to him.

“Of course. Well, your rooms have been prepared, they are the same ones you had before.” Damian says to Victoria and me.

“Thank you, Damian and Karime, for the hospitality,” Victoria says and stands up.

Everyone stands as well.

“No, please. I can walk myself up, I am kind of tired and am going to rest. Please enjoy the rest of your dinner.” she says and then walks out of the dining room.

Patrick following her every step with his eyes.

Idiot!

“So where is my godson and his future Luna?” I ask Damian and Marcos, to break up the weirdness.

“I will take you up to see them,” Karime said.

“No need, Dear. I already, mind linked Fae. She is bringing the children down.” Damian says to her.

Fuck!