Page 48 of Winter Unleashed
“Tell Artemis if she has something to say to me, she can tell me herself. Until then I am staying whereIwant to be.” His eyes flashed with anger. “If that’s all, leave. And I don’t just mean my home. I mean leave Cullum County and never return.”
Belial rose from his seat, straightened his suit jacket, and grinned at me. “Vinura, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. You are as striking as your name suggests.” His eyes narrowed. “The man who raised you was a waste of life, but if he could see you now, I’m sure he’d regret what he did to you.”
What he was saying was way too personal, and way too meaningful. My reaction was to do what I do best and focus on the one emotion I was comfortable with: anger. “Get the fuck out and stay out,” I growled, putting as much heat behind my words as I could muster without crying.
His lips pulled into a wry smile. “I’ve gone too far. I apologize.” He bowed slightly. “We will meet again.”
“I hope not,” I replied.
His features twitched for a second before his smug grin returned. “Liam, Philip, it’s been a pleasure.”
We watched him leave and waited until we no longer sensed him on the property before turning back to the table.
Philip spoke first. “I’m not sure I believe he’s here on Artemis’ orders, but I believe she wants you to take your seat.”
“As I told Lyle, if Artemis has something to say to me, she can say it to my face.” Liam shook his head and scrubbed his hands over his beard. It was a sign someone had really annoyed him. “Even if he has wormed his way back into Artemis’ good graces, she should know I’d never believe a word out of his mouth.”
Philip nodded. “Her mind is gone. She has not been well for a long time.”
Liam’s face fell into a sorrowful expression. “I know. It still doesn’t make sense.”
“Um, not to interrupt,” I interjected, “but what’s this seat you guys are talking about?”
“Philly?” Stella said from the doorway. “Is everything okay?”
Philip smiled as he stood from his chair. “Yes, my love, everything is fine. I was just coming to bed.”
Chapter Thirteen
After they left, I moved to sit on Liam’s lap. “Answer me. What seat were you guys talking about?”
His hand moved to cup my ass. “The Vinur’s home is on Fae lands. It is unheard of for them to live in the human world. My father moving here caused an uproar among the Fae. When he died, I should have moved back to the Vinur estate in Ulfurjord.”
“Ulfurjord?”
“The Fae land for the Vinur. It’s been my family’s home since the very beginning of the Frasers.” He lifted a hand to run his thumb over my lip as I nibbled it. “What’s the matter?”
I pressed a kiss to his thumb. “I don’t want to keep you away from your home. Or your… our duties as the Vinur and Vinura.”
“You’re not.” He moved his hand to the back of my neck to massage it. “Philip and I left Ulfurjord early in my life. We had traveled the world ten times over before I met you. I am here because I want to be. You are not keeping me from anything.”
I ran my hand through his hair, enjoying its silkiness as it moved over my fingers. “And Artemis? Will she be angry?”
He used his hold on my neck to pull my face to his for a tender kiss. “Stop worrying. You’re safe. If Artemis really wants me to do something, she will come herself. Lyle is either a forewarning or a liar.”
I tensed at the mention of the demon. “Should we tell Astrid about his visit?”
He let his hand run through my hair, twirling the ends around his fingers. “She’ll know. The Fae keep close tabs on the demons. They don’t interfere with them, but they always know where they are.”
I dipped my fingers inside the collar of his shirt to play with his chest hair. “Does he really have the power to make people do things?”
Liam’s features hardened. “Demons have that ability, yes. They bring out a person’s deepest desires.”
“That’s why Ciara was so upset? She did things she’s ashamed of while she was with him.”
“Yes.”
I nibbled my lip. “Um, I didn’t want to… It felt like a vampire’s glamour. I wasn’t myself. He played a trick on me,” I blurted out quickly.