Where Art Thou?: Haven, #2

By Lil Hamilton

Rayien's the fae ambassador in Haven. In a world where Faerie and the Hells interact with the earthly realm. Witches, vampires, and half-breeds all exist due to the interaction between realms. Ray's part Seelie fae and also the daughter of the King of Hells himself. Her loyalties are often torn between the two, but she is oathbound to the Queen of Faerie. The Queen is obsessed with the purity of the fae and banned any Seelie born half-breed from existing. Ray exists solely to keep the King of the Hells in line.

Ray discovered she has a daughter. One she has no memory of carrying or holding. The memory of which was taken from her by the fae father, Gilliad. Her daughter, therefore, has Seelie blood in her and the Queen won't tolerate the insult of her existence. Ray's determined to have her daughter, Lily, and her daughter's demon mate safely hidden in the Hells where the Queen cannot get to them. However, can Ray keep them there? Can she keep her daughter safe at all when she finds out the truth about her existence?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nikki M Albert
• Release date: Jan 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393134268

Book preview

Also by Lil Hamilton

Haven Series

White Witch

Where Art Thou?

Follow on Twitter @Lil_hamilton_   

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hamiltonlil

Copyright 2012 by Lil Hamilton

All rights reserved

All characters and events in this book are fictitious

All resemblance to people living or dead is coincidental.

Chapter 1

This too shall pass but I feel rather constipated

IN THE MORNING, AFTER a long restless night, I sat at my kitchen table drinking tea. I had gone through an entire pot of English Toffee black tea. It had a sweetness I couldn’t resist. I sipped it again not sure I had perfected the brew in my Fae plot. Next time I would have to bring the original tea with me. Some things simply couldn’t be simulated.

I was staring into my teacup when I heard my cousin approach or felt his heavier demon essence anyway. I was still contemplating the essence of the tea. It’s nuances, colour, texture and infinite details to replicate the original in my Faerie plot.

How’s your mate, cousin? I asked as Eadon approached.

The young demon looked drained and frustrated. His demon red hair and lean build reminded me of my brother Bas without the ever-present smile. Mind you, I wouldn’t be smiling either after my mate had been tormented and then forced to watch while my mating bond with her was destroyed. She’s resting.

I nodded and pretended to believe him as though I couldn’t feel the intense tremor of emotions rippling from the woman. From the woman who was my daughter. What could I offer a full-grown daughter now? Nothing. Nothing but the security of knowing I would never betray her to my Queen.

Lan shuffled in scrubbing one hand through his hair. He was the demon my father had chosen for me to ‘date’. Or rather see if he was ‘mate’ material. It was a conflict of interest with my obligations to the Faerie Queen.

Tea? I offered.

Coffee?

I flicked a finger and a full coffee pot manifested.

Never going to get used to that, he said.

Just look at it this way, here, I am a god. Well, Goddess. Goddess Divine, if you will.

I worshiped you last night, that should be sufficient, he muttered while grabbing a mug of coffee.

I winked. "More than merely sufficient."

Here is to a job well done, he said, raising his mug.

My smile wilted.

A job well done.

Well, I had indeed found the witch for my cousin Eadon. My initial quest was inflicted on me by my demon brother. Found the lost Nymphs as well. The nymphs were empty shells because of Myra the Hag.  That was someone I owed a fine death to.

Yes, found the witch, my daughter, who would have to spend the rest of her days in the Hells lest the Queen finds out about her existence and kill her. Job fucking well done.

What happened, Eadon? I asked, although I knew the obvious facts, it was important to give Eadon the time to explain it. It was his story we had all blundered into and his tale to tell. It was his mate who had vanished, after all, that had started this.

He sat down and I materialized a cup of tea for him. When her scry sparked my interest I never thought I would walk into the mortal realm and find my mate. The moment I saw her, I knew she was mine. Mine to keep. Mine to protect. A woman strong enough to fight at my side. She didn’t even need my help with those weak-blooded demi-demons they call vampires. She was wild magic, swift and bright. Magnificent and bold. When we made the bond, it was like I was finally complete. Some void in me had been filled with her.

He stared down at his cup for a moment. I knew the moment something was wrong when I was home. I could feel her distress and then... nothing. I wanted to tear out of the Hells and find her and kill anyone that hurt her, but the Elders wouldn’t let me. They said the mortal realm would drive me mad when I was already enraged. I couldn’t think straight. Then I felt her. Deep inside me, I felt her agony call to me. I didn’t think of anything else but getting to her. I didn’t stop to find my cousins and didn’t tell my honoured parents. I just had to go. She was in pain and I needed to follow that call. I came for her and was snared in a trap. It Called me right into a confinement circle. I had no choice.

I knew that. We all did. He had been bound by Myra and the coven she had aligned with. Then they had used him.

We know. Same confinement circle snagged Lan, I said.

Myra had known I would go after the coven further and counted on it. She wouldn’t have realized I would involve Inter because most fae didn’t willingly take assistance from mere humans. The trap was well set. With enough witches to distract me and one damned effective Immortal-killing cursed blade. It didn’t succeed only because I had brought along reinforcements.

Most fae couldn’t create a circle without effort. Skilled fae could, but even they had to jump to firm circles to then get to Faerie. Myra had assumed that my half-blood nature would ensure I couldn’t circle out in time to get to Faerie and heal. Especially if I was in a demon rage which would be guaranteed when seeing my daughter tormented. She was using the situation to assassinate me with reasonable deniability on her part. She had made an error. She would suffer for it in due time. Somehow, some way. If she came after me again, I would duel her to the death.

He looked away for a moment. I watched as they tormented her. They made me watch so that I would know her life depended on my cooperation. It didn’t matter. They had my name and used it to bind me. It was like I had no control. I had to do as they wished. I had to... I didn’t want to hurt you. I tried to resist it.

Myra’s first attempt on my life had been through poor Eadon. Trying to kill me through my own bound cousin. That was cruel. Lan though had sent him back to the Hells.

I know, I saw the result. That wasn’t you, Eadon. That was them. That isn’t on you, I said. Although the legalities of it were complex. Demons bound by witches were not held accountable, but nor were they ever permitted in the border realm again. I knew being bound like that and controlled like a puppet would leave a deep scar in him.

What did they do to her? Lan asked.

Eadon’s eyes welled up with tears and Lan put his hands on the young demon’s shoulders. I was astonished at the show of emotion, but demons were an emotional breed. They had tortured her. Then when they had me they began to leech her essence. They... they found a way to damage the bond. They gouged it out of her. It was agonizing for both of us. I still feel the wound inside me.

Don’t worry, it will heal. It may have been torn, but it will be re-grown, Lan said.

I had an intense desire to quiz him about that. Not because that’s what he desired for us, but because I was pretty sure Lily wouldn’t recover unless it was. Just as sure as the knowledge I would go on a rampage if she didn’t recover. She was my blood, and I was demon enough to have an irresistible instinct to protect my offspring. I was barely containing my roaring rage as it was and I had to. I had to keep my emotions in lockdown since I was of no use in my demon form.

Eadon, I brought her here to heal. She may not yet have the skill to will herself to health, but just being here will heal her. Within Faerie or within parts that the fae had influence over, we healed remarkably fast. It wasn’t really healing at all; it was just willing yourself back into the proper state. Very easy to accomplish within an area you controlled, not quite so easy in a patch you didn’t. This was my plot and my willing her to heal would work quite well. Physically anyway. Just sleeping here will have vitalized her once more. Before we go, though, I would like to speak with her alone.

Why? Eadon demanded, as though I were going to harm his mate. Still on the sensitive side.

Because I was hired to find her and I need some details to pass onto those that helped get her out of there. I won’t be long and I won’t upset her.

For a short time, then.

I stood up. Fine, I said with a smile that was weak at best. We had succeeded in retrieving both of them. They were alive, and that counted as a win. Unfortunately, what they had experienced would live with them for a long time and take even longer to come to terms with. I couldn’t even feel empathy without the risk of tipping myself into a raging madness.

I went upstairs to the chamber they had taken and stepped inside. Lily was lying on the bed, awake, but still looking weak and shell-shocked. Her aura was still drained and bruised.

I sat gently on the bed and she flicked me a brief incurious look. It filled me with burning anger to see her so deeply hurt. Perhaps best described as a simmering rage burning in my core that demanded I go find those that hurt her and kill them infinitely slow, resurrect them, and do it again. I could hide it, mask it, but it burned within me. Lashing out at those that hurt her would make me feel damned better but wouldn’t heal the damage already done. I had to keep unclenching my jaw because it kept tensing up with the unreleased anger in me.

Lily, do you know where you are? I asked.

Her dull eyes focused on me again and I was reminded they were her father’s eyes. In Faerie. I can feel it. The thickness of the air.

Yes. You have been here before, yes?

Yes. A friend of my family was teaching me some fae magic. Her voice was so hollow it was painful.

She hadn’t been told she was related to her mentor. Or if she knew she was smart enough not to tell me. It explained how her home had witchcraft residue with a fae influence. She had been raised among humans and taught by witches. Limited her perception of reality and crippled her innate abilities to do magic. She might never reach her full potential if her mind resisted the idea. The fact was, while my patch and my will were helping her heal, she wasn’t willing herself to heal at all. She thought her physical form meant something. That it was solid and fixed. Hell, with High Demon blood that physical form was more fluid than even the fae form was. I sighed. Mental limitations meant she would have difficulty defending herself.

Do you know who I am?

You came in to rescue us. I think you’re the fae ambassador. I mean, I’ve seen you from a distance before or on TV.

I looked away for a moment and was torn. To blurt out the truth to a woman who knew nothing of me and Faerie seemed unnecessarily cruel. She was defenceless among the fae, even with most of her blood coming from high fae blood. She didn’t even have the layered mental shielding. To invite her into my world of influence would be dangerous to her until she learned a great deal more about fae magic. At least her father had begun that learning although he had been the one to see her crippled so.

I need to know what happened. I will pass the verbal statement on to the authorities until you’re well enough to make a formal report, I said, but truly I just needed to know. So I could know who would pay for harming her. I gently influenced my patch in the room making it so that she felt safe, secure and willing to open up. I could feel the splintering pain within her because it rippled through the fabric of my patch like a brittle wind. It matched my feelings in a sense; I felt tight and constrained like I could implode and explode at the same time.

I’ve always kept a low profile, just like I was taught. I don’t know how they found me.

The Queen has been monitoring all fae half-breeds in hopes of cultivating their bloodlines. The vampires were the ones that found you and were keeping track of you. They wouldn’t have done anything until you mated. When you mated with a pure demon, it was reported. The Queen decided to test the link between you both and after would likely have controlled Eadon through you.

Lily nodded weakly. It was witches who attacked me. They took me to some warehouse until they secured me at the house.

She paused for a long moment as silent tears ran down her cheeks. I was tortured. Their black witch leeches would drain me regularly to the point I couldn’t spell even if they hadn’t bound me with spell restraints. They assaulted my mind even when I slept trying to get Eadon’s name from me. There were warlocks, and I was...  She muffled a cry and I knew she couldn’t yet say the word rape yet. Knowing that’s what happened ensured I would hunt down those men and kill them. I knew that pain, and I knew it never went away. I could segment my mind so all the torments I suffered didn’t bubble up into my awareness unless I intentionally accessed them, but they were still there and influenced everything that I was. When Eadon came for me he was trapped. I couldn’t take the pain and I gave them his name. It’s my fault they bound him to kill people. My fault his name is out in the world to be used again.

Everyone breaks under torture. Everyone. No one blames you. The witch who held that name is dead. He won’t be called again. Not to mention I have heard there are procedures demons have to handle that sort of thing in emergencies. If his name gets out there. I assume it won’t since we handled them.

Then they tormented me in front of him because he could do nothing. They leeched energy from me so I couldn’t escape. They tested our bond and then they...

That is enough. It’s all right now. You’re safe. Eadon will take you to his home and you will be protected there. You have to stay in the Hells, though. It’s important. The Queen doesn’t permit Seelie half-breeds to live. Aside from me due to my bloodline.

It hurts, she whispered, tears welling up her eyes.

What hurts? I asked softly.

Deep inside. Something was torn out of me and I feel its absence. It burns.

Shhh, I said, stroking her forehead. "They drained you and you need to rest some. What they