Captive Beauty: Harem of Redemption 1, page 1
Captive Beauty
Harem of Redemption 1
Cassia Briar
Copyright © 2021 by Cassia Briar
Wednesday Ink, LLC
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover design by Fantasia Cover Designs
Harem of Redemption Series
Captive Beauty
Beastly Desires
Brazen Hearts
Twisted Fates
Contents
1. Zane
2. Emma
3. Cade
4. Emma
5. Emma
6. Emma
7. Zane
8. Emma
9. Lucas
10. Emma
11. Lucas
12. Emma
13. Cade
14. Emma
15. Zane
16. Emma
17. Lucas
18. Emma
19. Zane
20. Emma
21. Emma
22. Cade
23. Emma
24. Emma
25. Lucas
26. Zane
27. Emma
28. Zane
29. Emma
30. Emma
31. Lucas
32. Emma
Authors Note
Acknowledgments
Beastly Desires - Blurb
About the Author
Newsletter Signup
Also by Cassia Briar
To all of you
who love a beast.
1
Zane
Near Seattle, Washington - Nine Years Ago
Tonight the mansion was alive with music and conversation. Couples, and threesomes, stole away to the freshly bloomed rose garden to feed their desires. My tongue teased over my fangs. I scented arousal, blood, and wine in the summer air. Good. Our guests were enjoying themselves.
I returned to the ballroom and the press of expensively clad bodies. Everyone who was anyone in the Seattle area attended tonight’s soiree. Celebrities, politicians, and leaders of our allied crime families all mingled for the once a year party we hosted.
It was an important event. Business deals were made, payoffs arranged, and information exchanged, all under the sparkling grandeur of tonight, the best that money could buy.
I surveyed the expansive room. Lucas danced between two fae women, their bodies touching as much of his as possible. His hands roamed their curves. They giggled when he let out a possessive growl.
In the shadows of a corner, a soft grey glow caught my eye. Cade. His wings radiated a dim light. If he really wanted to hide, he should have tucked them away—or whatever fae did with those appendages. Not that the massive man could ever go unnoticed, however large the space. His dark mood seemed to suck the air out of any room.
On occasion, a brave soul would sneak a glance at Cade. His sharp, menacing gaze made them immediately look away. The man never needed to utter a word.
I ventured further into the crowd and was greeted by nods and smiles. Pride swelled in my chest. After all these years, the power, wealth, and level of society we brushed shoulders with still took my breath away. I’d never in my wildest dreams imagined arriving here. We were at the top. The pinnacle of power. Untouchable.
I caught the scent of peaches right before a luscious set of breasts pressed against my arm. Dayna.
“Will you take my blood tonight, sir?” she purred in my ear.
I turned a smile on her. “Since you asked so nicely.” My fingers curled around her neck and she gasped. Her dilated pupils, along with the flush across her dark skin, told me she liked this and wanted more. I tilted her head to one side, then grazed my fangs down her soft throat. Dayna was one of my favorites. Obedient. Curvy. Delicious.
Her ass cheeks would be marked by my palm and she’d be begging for more before the night was through. Did I take her to my office or the library?
My musings were interrupted by a commotion near the main doors. “One moment, my sweet,” I murmured to excuse myself. My gaze found Lucas and Cade. With a nod, they were by my side as we arrived at the entrance.
“What’s going on?” I snapped at our security guards.
They brought forth a bent old woman. Sparse, stringy white hair half hid her wrinkled face. She clutched at her smelly, ragged clothes with filthy hands.
My lip curled. “What is this?”
One guard answered, “We caught her sneaking in the back and stealing from the buffet.”
“Please, sir, I’m hungry,” she croaked.
I glanced at my companions. Cade studied her with cold grey eyes. Lucas openly held his nose and shook his head in disgust. A small crowd had gathered at our backs.
“We’re not a fucking charity,” I said.
She lifted her face to reveal one missing eye and decaying teeth. “Please, sir, you have plenty here and more. I’m starving. Take pity on an old woman.”
I sneered. “Scavenger. This food is for those who deserve it. Not for the likes of you.” I waved my hand. “Get her out of here.”
“Yes, sir.” The guards gripped her upper arms.
I turned to go when an unnatural gust of wind blew my dreadlocks across my face. I spun back to glare down at the terrible old hag. Except she had vanished. In her place stood a beautiful woman with flowing silver hair cascading over a gold silk gown. She held a rose quartz crystal in one hand.
Oh, a damn witch.
“What do you want?” I asked. “Why the trickery? You’re trespassing and I will have you thrown out.”
She leveled icy blue eyes on me. “Zane Xavier.” Her gaze flicked to my seconds in command. “Cade Lochart. Lucas Ives.”
Of course she would know us. I squinted. “And you are?”
“La Strega.” She took a step forward, away from the stunned guards. “I have looked deep into your hearts and found cruelty and death.”
“What did you expect to find?” I opened my arms wide and glanced at the crowd. “We are Penumbra Syndicate, after all.” Several sniggers reached my ears.
The witch seemed to grow taller, her golden gown radiated magic. “You have been deceived by your cold hearts and false beliefs. I place a curse upon you and those in your household.” Her voice resonated with power. “Zane, Cade, and Lucas, unless you find love, and someone who will love you in return, you shall all suffer eternal damnation. I will claim your souls, and torture you for all eternity.”
“Stop!” Cade hurled an orb of fae magic at the enchantress. She flicked her wand and his magic exploded midair. The witch cast a spell that brought all of us, and our guards, to our knees. I struggled against it, but my legs wouldn’t move.
She continued, “I give you a decade. Then I shall come for you.”
I grimaced. Cade seethed, glaring up at the enchantress. Lucas's shoulders sagged as if already defeated.
She couldn’t do this to us. I did not believe in love, it was a sweet idea pursued by fools.
For Cade, there was no woman who could stomach his scarred face. And Lucas had long ago lost his fated mate. According to him, that had been his one and only true love. We were doomed.
The witch glided toward us. “You may not leave this mansion for longer than one day’s time. And I give to you this hourglass to count your cursed years.” A heart-shaped hourglass appeared in her hand. She flipped it and a droplet of red liquid fell to the bottom chamber.
“Now,” she said, raising her voice, “as for your household, they will die with you when the last drop falls.”
Shuffling and clanking sounded around us as our guests took that moment to flee. The musicians, catering staff, and all others pushed toward the exits. Seconds later, we knelt in a nearly empty ballroom, with only our loyal guards remaining.
I turned my gaze on the witch. “You can’t do this to us.”
“Oh, you arrogant young man, you will find that I can, and I already have. Though I’m not quite finished yet.” She whirled her rosy crystal wand. The air grew frigid, snow fell over the garden, and our modern mansion transformed into something from another century—old and dark. Wind howled through the space.
“What have you done?” I glared at the crazy bitch.
She set the hourglass on the drab, plank floor. “Now you see the world around you is as cold and ugly as your hearts. You have only yourselves to blame.”
A golden light spiraled around the witch and she vanished, leaving us encased in her curse.
2
Emma
Dallas, Texas - Six Months Ago
The little bell over the door chimed, announcing another customer in the already crowded bookstore. Warm, humid air brushed my face. The air conditioner rattled to life. I finished with my current transaction by placing the two thick travel guides in a bag followed by the receipt.
“Have a good evening,” I said to the woman as I handed her the bag. She smiled and headed for the exit. A couple stepped up to the register, their arms loaded with old fantasy paperbacks. I scanned each one while my gaze wandered over the store behind them. Alex was supposed to be assisting customers, but, as usual, he was nowhere in sight. Slacker. I hated working with him.
As soon as I had a break in customers, I picked up the intercom and a nnounced, “We’re closing in ten minutes. Please bring your purchases to the counter.” A line formed and I went back to ringing up merchandise. When the last shopper was out the door, I slid the lock in place and sighed.
“Alex!” I glared at the rows of bookshelves.
His curly blond head poked up. “’Sup?”
I scowled. “Where have you been for the last hour?”
“Straightening up the floor.” He shrugged. “Why?”
“Never mind.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and went to work closing out the register. “That floor better be pristine by the time I’m finished with this, Alex.”
He shot me an annoyed glance before disappearing down an aisle. “Dude, you’re not the manager.”
Nope. I wasn’t, but if I waited around for Liz to show up and close we could be here all night. She’d gone to grab something to eat like…two hours ago. I was tempted to tell the owner how his staff slacked off on the job, but that wasn’t my style.
As I finished the closing and grabbed my purse, Liz came in through the back door. She rushed to the counter, knocking over a stack of newspapers in her haste.
“Oh! You did the final count.” She beamed at me. “Thanks, Emma, I owe you one.” She said that every single time.
“Well, I’m out of here. Good night.” I waved over my shoulder and let myself out. The humid night air felt dense as I drew it into my lungs. A sheen of sweat glistened on my bare arms by the time I opened my car door. The old Toyota Corolla sputtered as I turned the key in the ignition. It started, then settled into a muffled purr. I backed out of the parking space, the weight of the day diminishing with each minute.
Home was only a couple miles away in a dingy apartment complex. It put a roof over our heads and that was all I cared about right now.
I parked in a free space near enough to my ground floor entry. Loud, thumping music spilled from a half open door as I passed. Right, it was Saturday. The next apartment was blasting opera, apparently trying to drown out the hip hop. Good luck with that. The cacophony quickened my step.
Fishing my keys out, I let myself into my place. The lights were on, and at this hour my brother should be home.
“Orion?” I called. No answer came.
I rounded the corner to the kitchen and jerked to a halt. Orion stood in front of the table, his face pale, staring at a small, jewelry sized box. The box’s gold and black swirl pattern was all too familiar. Dread pooled in my gut. Not again.
I snatched it up. “When did this arrive?”
“Just now.” He turned wide eyes on me. “There was a knock on the door like two minutes before you came home.”
I studied his worried features. Though eleven years younger than me, he was taller and still growing. I turned my attention to the box and eased off the lid. Inside was a receipt from the bookstore where I worked. Dated today—this evening. On the back, written in what looked like blood, was: Emma, get out or you die.
I dropped the box to the table. It disintegrated in a whirl of magical crimson sparks. My stalker had found us again.
“I’m not doing it,” Orion said, folding his arms. “Let them come.”
“Are you insane? Has it been so long since last time that you forgot what happens if we don’t get out right now?” Damn it! I’d warded the place, but they always managed to get to us.
“I’m too old for this crap.” Orion frowned.
“You don’t even have a wand yet. Now, get your bag. We’re leaving. Two minutes.”
With a huff, he disappeared down the hallway.
I drew out my citrine wand and summoned my purse and go bag. Shoving my purse in the backpack, I heaved it over my shoulder. “Orion, let’s go!” I called.
This was unfair to him, dragging him with me from place to place every few months. We’d been doing this for about seven years now, but we had no other choice. There was no safe place to stash Orion. Though, now that he’d finished high school, and was about to turn eighteen, we had a sliver of hope. He’d spend the next two years at the supernatural boarding school: Academy Obscura. The place was impenetrable. He would be safe there. Then I’d be able to deal with my stalker and those who hunted us.
“Ready,” Orion said, jogging down the stairs. “Where are we going this time?”
“Far away.” I clutched the locket at my throat and swallowed hard. Closing my eyes, I visualized the place. A beautiful waterway surrounded by hills, trees, and the city. I’d been there once before when I was much younger—prior to all of this running.
I released the locket and grabbed Orion’s hand. The kitchen window shattered, glass spraying everywhere as a black-shrouded figure climbed into the room. My pulse spiked. With a flick of my wand, we teleported in a haze of purple smoke.
When it cleared, we stood in a park looking out over that serene body of water. Twinkling city lights and a quarter moon reflected in the still surface. The air was cooler here—almost chilly.
We’d escaped, again, barely in time. There was always a delay between receiving the gold and black box and being attacked, but the timing was never consistent. To this day, I wasn’t sure if my stalker was trying to warn and protect me, or if this was some sick cat and mouse game.
The same fear always nagged at me once we were safe. One day, I’d be too slow. One day they would catch us.
“Where are we?” Orion asked.
“Olympia, Washington.”
3
Cade
Silver wings spread wide, I flew from the upper level walkway down to the open ground floor of the dilapidated warehouse. The place reeked of old, stale magic. No one had been here in ages. This was a dead lead.
A growl sounded to my left and Lucas slammed through one of the office doors. “All clear in this section,” he said with a scowl that matched my own.
An unnatural flutter of air brushed against my other side and I turned to face the vampire as he materialized. Zane shook his head. Fuck! I already suspected no one was here, but the confirmation was infuriating. This was the last warehouse to check on our list.
For nearly ten damn years, we’d been trying to track down the enchantress who’d cursed us. We called her an enchantress because she was so much more than an ordinary witch. Who she was and how she came by her powers, we had no idea.
But one truth remained. The only way to break a curse? Kill the bitch.
We had eyes and ears all over and every once in a while a rumor would surface of a powerful witch with silver hair and a rose quartz wand. The rose quartz was particularly suiting. She liked to curse people with love. Well, technically, love and death. Our time was running out to either find our one true love—never going to happen—or to kill her and break the curse.
“We’ll just have to keep searching,” Zane said. “We can only reach dead ends so many times before something turns up.”
I grunted. Optimistic prick.
Lucas said, “We should get back to the mansion before—”
The three of us doubled over in pain. The searing agony twisted my stomach and I gritted my teeth against it. We’d been away from the mansion for too long. This was our punishment; another piece of the enchantress’s hex.
The pain subsided as suddenly as it had come on. The bouts would grow more frequent if we didn’t get back soon.
“See you all there.” I cast a blanket of fae magic around my form to hide from the humans as I flew the distance between Seattle and Long Lake. Zane disappeared in a streak of black. Lucas morphed to his wolf form and bounded from the warehouse. I strode outside, launched into the air, and flew home.
