Lavinia B. 

Embracing Pain

© 2011, Romolavinia91

Message me via inbox or Facebook page if there are violations.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/ publisher. 

********

My Facebook page where you can contact me about any issues or violations with my copyright is in the EXTERNAL LINK! Also, please message me on this webisite. 

Thank you and enjoy reading ;)

_________________________________________

The court was filled with many skeptical people with quick senses of judgment. It was easy to accuse a person for an offense they may not have done. It was also a sickly sweet walk in the park for a vampire to get away with a crime they may have committed. Their quick abilities and years of immortal life have equipped them with the uncanny skills to lie through their teeth like it was the truth all along.

Deva was used to reading between the lines and finding the truth written across the convicts face. Her abilities had grown so sharp in the last ten years it was unreal. No lie had ever gotten past her and she was proud of it. She wouldn't allow herself to accuse an innocent person. It brought back bad memories of her past, so she vowed never to falsely judge a person unless she was 100% sure.

The man was kneeled before her, pleading his innocence. "My Queen," his voice sounded like rich liquid. "I am but a man, a man who has been falsely accused. Please dear merciful gracious Queen. You must see that I have done nothing wrong." 

His unnatural green-yellow eyes were the perfect picture of purity. In all sense of the word the man did sound like an innocent man. He played the part tremendously well but Deva could see through it all. The mask he was wearing wasn't thick enough to hide the guilty rhythms of his heart and voice. 

Deva slowly got up from her throne. The clicking of her high heels echoed throughout the quiet room as the crowd anticipated her next deliberation. Her deep, stern gaze left every one of her victims cowarding away from her. 

"You have been brought here on counts of murder. A lycan has been killed and by the evidence only a vampire could have been responsible." 

Deva hated the thought of another death brought forth because of the difference in species. She knew it would be difficult for the vampires to adjust to lycans inhabiting their land but after so many murders it was hard to take in. She loved her people; vampire and lycan alike. 

"Tell me dear faithful principal of mine," she intentionally taunted. "Have you ever taken a life before?"

His facial expressions creased with confusion. "Yes, my Queen." 

It was typical for a vampire of his age to have at least one kill to his name. 

"Did you enjoy the savory feeling of satisfaction when you heard the last heartbeat of your victim's life in your hands?

The man swallowed with hidden fear. Deva was calm, much too calm. 

"Yes."

He couldn't tell a lie. Deva wouldn't let him. She now stood only a few inches away from him. The man reeked of sin. It was like an awful taste in her mouth; the way she could sense his guilt.

"Why did you do it?" Deva dropped her head in disappointment, not able to stand the sight of his face.

The man grew defensive. "But I did n-"

Deva silenced him with her ability to cause immense pain. She watched with disgusted eyes as the man's life/youth was sucked from him. She wanted to kill him; everything in her nature was telling her to do so.

"There is no point in trying to cover it up." She leaned down to whisper into his ear. The man was clinching tightly to his body like he was afraid he might shatter to pieces. "I know you're lying. It's like a disgusting after taste in my mouth."

His eyes were blazing with pain and disdain towards her. 

"I know you killed that lycan and that you loved every minute of it." She could hardly get the words out properly because of how quickly her anger was growing. 

"I did," the man confessed since she pressed him forward with her mind. She wanted to hear him say it; confess to the crime. 

"Lycans don't deserve to live. They are foul creatures who corrupt our lands and disturb our peace. We weren't meant to live together. It is a mockery," he shouted through the torment she was inflicting on him with each word coming out of his mouth. 

"AND WHO SAYS IT ISN'T MEANT TO BE?" She yelled, losing all self-control. "Many centuries ago vampires and lycans lived in peace. It is because of minds like yours that we can't fulfill that life again." 

Her frustration and anger had taken over and soon she noticed the man in front of her was turning into bone. To kill him would only give him an easy way out. No, she wanted him to suffer. 

"Take him to the dark room where he will be left with nothing but the walls of his cells to comfort him. He will be kept on the point of starvation for the rest of eternity." 

She sentenced him to a life of no end and no future. No one in the room dared question her.

The guards roughly yanked the guilty vampire to his feet. His now weak body was barely able to stand. 

"Your walls will crumble down and your conscious will be eating away at you like a ravenous dog clawing for a way out. But that will be your solitude. Inside your mind you will find no peace because all you will be thinking about is the hunger and pain consuming all that is left of your pathetic existence." 

Her words were cold and emotionless. She felt no sympathy for his punishment. He was getting what he deserved. The two massive guards lifted him off his knees and dragged his feeble body out of her sight.

Deva took a much needed breath to calm her nerves before turning on her heels and heading back to her throne. The crowd watched as she composed herself like the gracious Queen they knew her as. Just as Deva was taking her seat Elle came to sit next to her in the King's chair. It wasn't unusual for her sister to do so. By the distraught look on Elle's face Deva knew the news wasn't good.

"What have you heard?"

Elle sighed. "Apparently it's going to take a lot longer than they thought. They have been delayed for another three hours." 

Deva held in her disappointment. It wasn't like she couldn't keep up the Kingdom without Darius for a few hours; she just hated being apart from him for so long. 

"Figures." 

King Darius and his brothers were called away to help initiate Prince Alexander in taking over his father's throne. Elle was hesitating on letting Lucian go but there was no way in keeping them away from royal duties. The brothers knew their responsibilities and obligations were to their people. 

Deva turned her gaze back to the crowd. She felt something odd; something she couldn't quite explain. There was a familiar essence in the room and she couldn't put her finger on it. Deva scanned the faces for the source of the disturbance. 

As soon as those familiar green-gold orbs entered her vision, flashbacks of the past clouded her mind. It was an overload of memories and mixed emotions. Her heart dropped to the depths of hell when she finally pieced it all together. 

But it couldn't be, she whispered mentally.

He was wearing a hood to conceal his face but there was no hiding from her and he knew it. 

"Leave. Everyone." She demanded and in no time the room emptied out. 

The hooded figure stood his ground and waited for the others to leave as if reading her mind. She wanted him to stay. Something was pulling her to him. There was this energy surrounding her that wasn't there before.  

Deva glanced back at Elle's still form. She wasn't moving and by the confused look on her face she wasn't going to leave without a good reason. But Deva gave her sister a stern look only a Queen could use; a look of authority where there was no room for arguments. Elle took the hint, even if she did not want to obey it. Two seconds later her sister had disappeared from sight. 

Deva causally got up and walked to the back exit of the room. He instinctively followed her. They needed to speak but in private. The study was a perfect place to do just that. Immediately walking in Deva went to the antique oak desk and sat on its edge. 

The new intense atmosphere she was getting from her visitor was making her feel off balance and not as in control as she was used to. 

"You shouldn't be here," Deva said as soon as she cleared her mind enough to form the words. 

"I had to see you."

His beautiful velvet voice brought new chills to her skin. She hated the effect he still had on her even after so much time. 

"Marius," she couldn't find the right words. 

Deva knew he would escape eventually. It was all in due time till the mighty persuasive hybrid would find his way out of the most secure cell in all of the Kingdoms. King Raphael was astounded and ashamed to report the missing prisoner to her husband. Darius had been furious for weeks but eventually the chaos had calmed down. After a while the mention of his name, Adamarius, was forgotten by most. 

"There is nothing left for you here." 

His sharp jawline clinched before he spoke again. "I haven't come to hurt you in any form." Adamarius scanned her face and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry Deva for the pain I've caused you by my selfish actions."

Deva took in his facial features. He had changed. No longer was he clean cut and almost identical to his half-brothers. No, he looked rugged and edged with years of tolerated torment. The last ten years without him had been a lot easier for her to bear since she had Darius to fill the void. By the looks of it Adamarius had not found anyone or anything to dull the pain of her loss in his life. 

She could hear the truth dripping from his words.

"Why have you come? You've taken a big risk coming here. If Darius finds you, he will kill you." 

No amount of her convincing would stop her husband from killing the man that had deceived him into murdering his own father. 

"I've come to help you." 

She was taken aback. "I don't need your help."

He took a few more steps closer to her. Her heart kicked up a notch thanks to his approach. 

"You may not know it now but you will need me. Something is coming. Something far more complex and ancient for you to fathom understanding at the moment."

Adamarius' even tone conveyed his true meaning but Deva still didn't understand. Why would she ever need Adamarius?

"You must leave," she mustered up in the coldest form her voice would allow her to go. 

Adamarius shut his eyes for a few seconds before looking at her again. "Deva I can't. I understand the hurt I've cause you and your family. And I know I've lost your trust a long time ago but I had to come back...for you. You're going to need me." 

Deva shook her head; angered now. She couldn't believe he had the audacity to tell her what she needed. He was way wrong. 

"I don't need any part of you. You're a stupid fool if you believe I do." 

Adamarius clinched his jaw to hide the hurt her words had caused him. But then again he didn't expect a better reaction from her. 

"I have come here knowing the risk I was taking. I know for certain Darius would not hesitate killing me. Deva please..." He moved closer. 

Deva was still as a statue. 

"Listen to me. The Relic Moon will be here sooner than you think." 

The Relic Moon, she repeated in her head. She had never heard of it before. Deva had spent the last few years studying everything she could about the lycan history. Never in her research had she come across anything called The Relic Moon.

Her curiosity was intrigued. Just as she was about to ask him to explain the door to the study was slammed open. 

A tiny frantic boy who was no older than five came rushing in. His bouncy brown locks and dark chocolaty eyes were scanning the room for one particular person. 

"Momma," his fragile little voice cried out. 

Deva moved around Adamarius and met the little boy halfway. The boy wrapped his tiny arms around Deva's legs for dear life. 

"Alcide," her voice was laced with worry.

The boy shook his head. "No, no I don't want to go to bed yet." 

"Your Majesty. I'm so sorry. He's quicker than I expected." The woman at the door confessed with embarrassment.

Deva smiled down at the boy. "It's alright Marley. I'll tuck him in tonight." 

"Yes your Majesty." The woman's eyes then landed on the dark figure in the room. 

Adamarius turned to the side so she wouldn't see his face. 

"That will be all," Deva announced.

Marley quickly bowed her head and shut the door. The little boy popped his head to the side so he could see around Deva's legs. He was intrigued and curious as ever to meet the new stranger. 

"Momma," Alcide said while slowly walking around her to get a better view of Adamarius. "Who is this man?" 

Deva wanted so badly to protect her son and shield him from the past but she also didn't want to lie to him. She knew all too well that nothing good came from lying.

The little boy curiously examined Adamarius like he was a science project and Adamarius did the same. Alcide was the spitting image of his father but those eyes. Those dark bewitching eyes that could wrap any heart around his tiny little finger was definitely his mother's. The warm blood, flush in his cheeks, and the unnatural rapid beats of his heart only confirmed one fact. 

Alcide may be a human child but he also had lycan blood in his veins. 

"Why does he look like daddy and uncle Marcus and uncle Lucian?" His delicate voice questioned. 

Adamarius brought his gaze back up to Deva, wondering how she would answer. 

"Because Alcide; he is your uncle too."

In all honesty Adamarius never thought she would tell him the truth. He figured Deva wouldn't want her son to know anything about him. 

"Really?" Alcide's big eyes lit up with excitement. "Yessss."

Alcide immediately went to stand in front of Adamarius. All Deva wanted to do was pull him back into her arms and protect him. But in her mind she knew Adamarius was no threat. He would never her hurt or her son because he couldn't. He just couldn't. 

"Hi I'm Alcide." 

Adamarius leaned down to level with his new acclaimed nephew. "It's nice to meet you Alcide. I'm Marius." 

Alcide's huge heartbreaking smile almost melted Adamarius to pieces. It reminded him so much of Deva's smile. 

"Marius," he played the name on his tongue. "Do you have a special power too?"

Adamarius chuckled. The kid was quick to the point. "Yes and perhaps I'll show you it one day." 

"Really?" Alcide turned to look up at Deva with hopeful eyes. "Can he momma? Can he show me now?"

Deva shook her head. "No. It's time for bed now." 

"Awwww but momma, please..." 

Deva was used to her son's heartbreaking puppy eyes pleading for every little thing. Those pleading eyes always seemed to work on Darius and everyone else but Deva was just immune to them at this point. 

"No baby. Perhaps another time."

Alcide spun back around to face Adamarius. "Will I see you again?"

Adamarius instinctively gazed up to see Deva's reaction. She gave nothing away. "I would like that."

Alcide nodded before opening his tiny arms as wide as they would go and engulfed Adamarius in the tightened hug he could muster. Adamarius couldn't help the smile on his face. It was the first time in a long time he had ever felt a little happy. 

"Goodnight Marius," Alcide whispered before letting go and running into his mother's awaiting arms.

Deva lifted her son into her arms and held him close. "I'm sure you can find your way out, unnoticed." 

Adamarius nodded and watched as Deva and her son quietly walked out of the room. The little boy waved goodbye before disappearing down the hall. 

Deva could feel her heart beating faster than ever. She couldn't believe that had just happened. Adamarius was back but not just that, he met her son. It was all wrong.

Deva gently placed Alcide in his bed and covered him up in blankets. 

"Momma why hasn't uncle Marius been here before?" And now the bombarding of questions. 

"Well baby something happened and Uncle Marius had to go away."

"What happened?" 

She sighed and lifted the blanket higher to cover his neck. "No more questions. Its time to sleep." 

Alcide began to pout. "But when is daddy coming home?"

"Soon, very soon." She leaned in and kissed his forehead. "Baby I need you to do me a favor. I don't want you to tell daddy you met Marius. I'll tell daddy when the time is right."

Alcide nodded his head while yawning. "Ok momma."

"Now get some sleep."

"Do I have to? I don't want to sleep. I hate sleeping." 

At first Deva thought it was a normal thing for children to hate sleeping but once Alcide began to have his nightmares she knew there was something more. He didn't want to tell her what it was at first but eventually she got him to open up. 

"It's okay baby. You don't have to be afraid. I'm here." She sat in his bed and pulled him close.

"I'm not scared for me momma. I'm scared for you."

In the night he would wake up screaming for Deva. It was always her in his dreams/nightmares. She wished there was something she could do to stop him from having such horrible dreams about her. 

"Its okay Alcide. I'm fine. Everything is fine. I promise." She felt him curl his tiny little fingers into her long hair. 

"I don't want you to go away."

"I know baby. I'm right here." 

They lay in bed with silence filling the night. "Alcide?"

"Yes momma," his tired voice replied. 

"Remember what I told you. The things you see about me are a secret. You can't tell daddy." She hated keeping things from Darius but this was something she had to do. Alcide had an incredible gift, among other things. He could also shield his mind from Darius' grasp. 

Alcide nodded in agreement. "Okay momma." 

A few minutes later and he was fast asleep. Deva quietly and gently maneuvered her way out of his bed without waking him. Alcide was all she held dear to beside her loving husband. She couldn't ask for a more wonderful life. She had everything she ever wanted. 

Deva made it to her bedroom and went straight for the brandy. She was going to need a strong liquor to stop her head from spinning with her day's events. Darius was going to go insane when he finds out about Adamarius. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him, but he needed to know. 

It had been ten long years since she married Darius. Ten years since she had last seen Adamarius and five years since the birth of her son. Why now? Why come back now? The Relic Moon. What was it? What was Adamarius trying to tell her? 

Deva was caught off guard when a pair of strong arms pulled her close from behind. Urgent lips began tracing a trail of kiss down her neck to the base of her throat. 

Shock waves igniting every second of the way. She could tell that feeling apart from anything. It was the feeling she got only when her husband had her in his arms. 

"Darius," she moaned.

Darius swung her body around and devoured her lips with his own. This was what she lived for. Deva could feel the love and need Darius had for her through every touch and kiss. They had only been apart a few hours yet every motion was showing her how much he missed her. 

"How was your trip?" She barely got out in between kisses. 

Darius' lips went down to her throat once again. "Fine." He took hold of her shirt and effortlessly torn it in half. 

His hands massaged her skin with sensational tingles. Her breath caught a moment once he had reached the clamps on her bra. 

"I have to tell you something," her hoarse voice whispered. She knew it was horrible timing but the longer she waited the angrier he would get. 

Darius stopped caressing her skin with his lips and leaned back to get a better look at her face. His blue-grey eyes were clouded with lust and need. 

"I don't want to talk. All I want to do now is show my wife how much I missed her and love every inch of her body till she screams for more." 

Darius was always like a drug to her. She just couldn't get enough of him and to submit to his whim always left her with a happy ending. Deva couldn't refuse him or deny the fact that she wanted him now more than ever. 

Deva crushed her lips to his while gripping onto his shirt and tearing it apart. She threw it on the floor like a filthy useless rag before rapturing her claws all over his glorious body. 

Darius cried out in pleasure when he felt her nails draw blood on the skin of his back. He gripped her thighs and lifted her up. Her legs immediately wrapped around his perfect torso. In a seconds time they landed on the bed; him on top. He was very good at distracting her and in no time she forgot all about what she was going to say. All she could function in her mind was the passionate bliss only her husband could provide. 

____________________________

Please remember to vote on chapters. Thank you so much for the support. You guys are literally the greatest people ever. 

And shout out to all my Australian. I promise I didn't forget you. 

Please VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also there is a trailer on the side so check it out>>>>>>>>>>>>>