Unexpected Sting by Viola Grace (free reads .TXT) 📕

drop of energycompared to what was swirling through her. She exhaled, and it curled out and away. She tried tocough up some more, but she was grabbed and held up in Arthur’sarms. He whispered, “Give it to me.”

His rough hand stroked hercheek, and he kissed her.

The female energy spotted hisown and made a rush for the exit. She tried to pull back, but he held her to him. She groaned and locked herhands behind his head, holding his head so the power could takewhat it wanted. Him.

* * * *

Leetha stood with her back to her dancepartner, watching her daughter make out with the ogre hybrid.

“You will have to speak to meeventually, little one.”

The moment she had seenhim, their days together came back in arush. “No, Abrax, I don’t. My daughter and I have a good life. Youare neither needed nor required.”

He touched her arms. “Mydaughter, you mean.”

“No. Mine. I carried her,birthed her, and raised her. You were nota thought in my head. You made sure of that.”

“I did not know you werecarrying. Nor did you.”

She turned around and proddedhim in the chest with two fingers. “You used venom on me, you jackass. You could have killed me or her.”

He tried to hold heragain, and she slapped his arms away. “Ithought you would be better off at home. You were brought to me asa sacrifice, and I do think that we gotalong together very well.” He touched her cheek. “For severalweeks. I have never forgotten you.”

She growled and stepped back.“Why are you here?”

“I am doing businesslocally, and I was invited to this event.I was not expecting to see you here, but I am very glad youwere.”

“Done. I am done with you,Abrax. Do your business, and gohome.”

He gripped her arm. “You oncesaid that I was the love of your life.”

“You were. For three weeks. Andthen you made sure you weren’t. Congratulations. You win.” Leethalooked toward her daughter. “And don’t you dare go near her.I will break your fucking stinger off. Both of them.”

“If you could not hurt me then,why would you now?”

“Then, I didn’t want to hurtyou, and I wanted you. Now, I don’t give a fuck. Stay out of myway, and stay away from my daughter.” She drove a fist into hisabdomen and followed it up with a strike to his face.

He was still the handsomest manshe had ever seen; he needed to be alittle less pretty.

Leetha stalked back to the partyand grabbed one of the dark elves as a dance partner. She neededsomething hormonal and mindless for a few hours, and the dark fae were always willing tooblige.

* * * *

The low laugh came to him, and he sat up, rubbing his jaw.

“I don’t know what you did tomake her mad, cousin, but you have picked the wrong woman to pissoff.”

Abrax looked at the djinn thatwas crouching near him. “I am learning that. She was much moreamenable the last time I saw her.”

“She was younger?”

“Yes.”

“Did she have Stinger yet?” Calewas crouching with his brows raised.

“No. She did not yet have herdaughter when we first met.” Abrax phrased it carefully. “She wasyoung and carefree with hair on fire and the light of a thousandsuns in her eyes.”

“Then,she became a mother, and those thousandsuns were passed along. Stinger lookslike you, by the way. She has other characteristics as well.”

Abrax blinked. “She does?”

“Yes. Why don’t you knowthat?”

“Leetha was an offering. I tookher, and I kept her for longer than the priesthood wanted. I senther away with her memory of our time together erased. It did notoccur to me that she could have carried my child. It normally takesgenerations of breeding and training to carry one of my kind.”

“Her family has theirspeciality, as does my mate’s. Their family is irresistible tobeings of power who are free to share their affection. At thetime, you were. Are you still?”

He nodded. “I am. Why?”

“Because if you want her, youare going to have to court her all over again.” Cale smiled.

“I didn’t court her the firsttime. She was shoved at me after being sedated and used her magicto knock me on my ass. A servant brought a meal for her, and in her rage, shealmost struck the woman. I stopped her by taking the hit, but Imust say, I prefer her magic to herfists. Her magic is far less precise.” He looked to the dancefloor. “And now, a reunion is off thetable for tonight.”

“Perhaps I should not havesuggested inviting you to the wedding. I thought it would help yourconnections locally.” Cale stood up. “Will you honour her requestto not speak to your daughter?”

“For now. Yes.” He looked overto where the only child he had produced in over three hundred yearswas kissing a man of mixed background. “Can you tell me abouthim?”

“Name and clothing size. So, letme take you to some men who work with him.”

Abrax grunted and got to hisfeet. “Good. Who is he?”

“Arthur Orion.”

Abrax looked at the couple andstarted laughing.

Cale frowned. “What is it?”

“Fate is a funny thing. Hisancestors would be weeping right now.”

Cale growled. “What are yousaying about Stinger? Because you are on thin ice, AncientAbrax.”

“Our family and his have been atodds since the gods walked the earth.” He chuckled. “Things arefinally making a bit more sense to me.”

Cale nodded. “Good, because I amconfused as hell.”

Abrax chuckled. “Introduce me tothe men who know him, and then, I will buy you a drink.”

“It’s an open bar.”

“Then, I will buy you two.” Hechuckled.

Cale snorted, and they returned to the tent where a few more menhad been selected to dance with the ladies.

The party continued.

* * * *

Stinger leaned back and said, “That’sit.”

Arthur pulled her back tohim, and he murmured, “Let’s checkagain.”

She tried to smile, but the kiss broke her focus. When she came up forair, he tried to hold her, but she pushed back. “That was it. Thank you.”

“I have never been thanked for akiss before.” He smiled.

“The last time I had to get ridof magic like that, it was like I had a stomach flu.” Sheshuddered. “So, thanks.”

“Will you dance