Hidden Game, Book 1 of the Ancient Court Trilogy Read online

  Nic rubbed my back and my wet hair, rocking gently as he whispered against my head.

  “It’s all right. We’ll leave. I’ll take care of you. But you have to calm down first. Everything’s okay now. You’re okay. I’m here.” His voice was reassuring, but he sounded worried. “Can you tell me what happened? Is it Olly? Is she okay?”

  “I don’t know,” I said before breaking in to a new round of sobs. “I haven’t been able to find her, and Dr. Schmitt touched her, and he touched me, and… and…” My breath hitched as I struggled not to break down completely.

  Nic’s body went rigid, his tone hardening. “Dr. Schmitt. What do you mean he touched you? Touched you how? When?”

  “After you left, he… Dominique took me to the clinic, and Dr. Schmitt,” I choked over another sob, “… examined me. He took my blood, and then he made me take off my underwear so he could… it was horrible. It was wrong. I didn’t want him to look at me. I didn’t want to be examined like that, but I had no choice. And he said I was an excellent candidate, and I don’t know what they’re planning to do to me, and I know he did the same thing to Olly.”

  “Oh, piccola, I am so sorry.” Nic hugged me tightly to his chest, cupping the back of my head and pressing my face against his neck. He stroked the length of my hair repeatedly. “I should never have left you. I should never have brought you back here.”

  After holding me and rocking me against his body for several minutes, Nic set me back so he could see my tear-streaked face.

  “He will never touch you again. No one will. I was already on my way to get you to take you away from here—tonight. Get your things together. We’re leaving right now.”

  “What about Olly?”

  His brow creased, and the corners of his mouth turned down. “I will come back for her. But I want to get you away from here right now.”

  I nodded and got up to get dressed but then I turned back to him. “You were coming to get me already? Why did you change your mind and decide to leave tonight?”

  His expression shuttered. “I spoke with my father. You were right. The fan pods—they are bad. So is the doctor. He and my father are… planning something.”

  “Planning what? What does that mean?”

  “We’ll talk about it on the way. Get dressed—quickly now.”

  “I want to know now. Nic. Tell me.”

  It was clearly difficult for him to abandon a lifelong habit of secrecy about his family and his people. Nic’s expression was torn, but moments later, he gave way.

  “They plan to… eradicate the humans.”

  “Eradicate?” Was his English failing him again? Had he chosen the wrong word, or had he meant that the way it sounded?

  “Yes. Wipe them out. Dr. Schmitt has discovered some kind of super virus, and he’s planning to release it. Before that, though…”

  “Before that,” I prompted him to continue.

  “They intend to… create a race of half-Elves, half-humans… who will be able to survive the coming Plague and exist to serve my people.”

  “Create… how will he do that?” But the answer hit me before the last word had even left my mouth. “The girls in the fan pod. He’s planning to get them pregnant. Like the women in the story you told me at the orphanage.”

  Nic nodded, looking ill. “That’s what the exams are for. That’s why they’ve stepped up their efforts to recruit for the fan pods recently. They targeted very specific girls—ones who’d make…”

  “Good breeders,” I finished for him.

  An excellent candidate. I shuddered, cold again.

  “I didn’t know, Macy. I promise you, I didn’t know. I would never have gone along with something like that.”

  I nodded, feeling suddenly exhausted. “I know. I believe you.”

  This was bad. Actually, “bad” was such an inadequate word it was laughable. This was so much worse, so much bigger than I ever could have imagined. Hundreds of girls under this very roof were in danger—of being impregnated against their will, used as incubators for a madman’s master race.

  “Papà said they’re ready to begin. All the Ancient Court leaders are in on it. I don’t know if it goes farther than that.”

  “How many leaders is that?”

  “Dozens of them.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stay conscious, trying to breathe. Not hundreds of girls. Thousands.

  “Now you can see why I came to get you out of here tonight,” Nic continued. “I don’t even want you in Europe. It’s not safe. I want you to go home—to America. And I’m going with you.”

  Opening my eyes again, I walked back to the bed and sat beside Nic. I was overwhelmed with emotion. First, that he’d be willing to leave his home and family, his career—for me. And second, that I couldn’t let him do it.

  “I can’t leave them.”

  “I told you—I’ll get Olly. Now please, prepare yourself to leave.”

  “I’m not talking about Olly. I mean the rest of them. I can’t just leave them here and go home to America where it’s safe. They’re not safe. They need help.”

  As much as I’d wanted to avoid responsibility and be alone and free, I couldn’t ignore this. I couldn’t run away. I was responsible for the other girls—for all humans—just by virtue of the fact that I might be the only human being on the planet who knew what was going on. Olly was right—I was here for a reason. I’d thought coming to this place was a stupid mistake on my part, but maybe it had been meant to be. Maybe it was my purpose.

  “I have to help them, Nic. I have to do something. Will you help me?”

  He stared at me for so long without answering, I thought he might actually say no. But then he answered.

  “Of course. I will do whatever I can. I can’t let my father and the other leaders carry out this madness. I’m not sure how to stop them, but I will try. And I will protect you—with my life.”

  “Nic,” I breathed, moved by his earnest words and the powerful emotion behind them. Throwing my arms around his neck, I embraced him tightly.

  He wrapped his arms around my back, pulling me so tightly against him it was like he was trying to soak me in. Pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin behind my ear, he murmured, “I love you.”

  I nodded vigorously. “I love you, too. Nic, I’m scared.”

  He released his hold on me and shifted his hands to my face, taking it between his palms and staring into my eyes. “Me, too. But we’ll be okay. We will face this together. I will not let anyone hurt you.”

  And then his mouth was on mine, kissing me with a desperation that matched my own. I clung to him, clenching my fingers in his hair. We had to leave this room—soon. But for just one moment I needed to have him this close, to soak up the fierce love he offered and to give him mine before we faced the arduous challenges that surely lay ahead of us.

  The door to my room flew open, smacking the wall with a crash that rattled the picture frames. Nic and I pulled apart in shock and, limbs still tangled together, whipped our heads toward the doorway in synch.

  “Alessia,” he gasped. “What are you doing here?”

  19

  Nic

  Alessia strolled into the room, her eyes blazing with fury and righteous scorn.

  “The question—my love—is what are you doing? Although, I don’t have to ask, as it is perfectly obvious.”

  Macy extricated herself from my lap and re-adjusted her robe to cover herself. I got to my feet and stood in front of the bed so she was fully behind me. This was bad. This was very bad.

  It could be worse. Alessia had no idea I was planning to escape with Macy or that I’d just been colluding against my father and the entire Ancient Court, but now she could have no further doubt about my relationship with the human girl. We were in her bed—and having just gotten out of the shower, Macy was wearing nothing but that bathrobe.

  To any rational person, it would appear I’d been on the verge of bonding myself to her. Suddenly, I wished I had g
otten the chance. Not only would I have had the joy of being bonded to her for life—however short the rest of mine might be—that would have taken me out of father’s game plan instantly. Now— I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Between father’s glamour and Alessia’s, I might be forced to—

  “I knew it,” she snarled. “When you made your sappy speech in the garden, I knew you had lost your pathetic, weak heart to some pretty little face again.” Her face morphed into disdain. “And again you have fallen for someone of the inferior species. I hope for your sake—and the sake of our people—that this is the first time you’ve been in bed with that human runt. And that you have not disgraced yourself with her already. You think I have a temper. When my father learns you have ruined all the plans…”

  Her threat was interrupted by a furious stream of Italian in the hallway behind her—two voices—my father. And my mother. Merda.

  “What is it Alessia?” Papà demanded. “Why have you summoned us so urgently—and at such a late hour?”

  He appeared in the doorway, followed by my mother. Both their jaws dropped simultaneously.

  “Nicolo?” Mama said. “What is this?”

  Papà’s voice held none of her confusion. He knew exactly what they’d walked in on. Or thought he did. He turned to my mother. “Go. Back to our quarters. Go.”

  “What? What’s going on? Why is Nicolo in here? Is he… oh Nicolo—you are to be married in just a few weeks. All the preparations are made. The invitations have been sent. Guests are coming from around the world.”

  I couldn’t answer her. There was nothing to say.

  “Noemi,” Papà barked. “I told you to go back to our quarters. I will join you shortly. I will take care of this. There will still be a wedding. Now go.”

  Mama let out a short, sharp noise of distress and fled down the hallway, obeying Papà. He advanced into the room and closed the door behind him. Shoving me aside, he assessed Macy from the top of her wet head down to the tips of her small pink toes peeking out from under the edge of her robe.

  “This?” he said very softly.

  “This?” he roared. “This is worth sacrificing the future of your people? This is worth throwing away the incredible gift you’ve been given?”

  He turned his face away from her and toward me, his eyes narrowing. “Or perhaps it is not about this human at all. Perhaps she is simply the first one you came to when you were looking for the chance to undermine my plan—my perfect plan—before Dr. Schmitt had a chance to see you tomorrow.”

  “What is he talking about, Nic? You were going to see the doctor tomorrow?” Macy asked.

  I glanced at her, but I couldn’t answer. Not now. I’d hoped she’d never know about that aspect of the plan—that I was supposed to be the one to father this hybrid slave race. But now was certainly not the time to discuss it. I didn’t want Papà and Alessia to know that Macy was even aware of their plan. Maybe, just maybe if they believed she was completely ignorant of it and our secret world-within-a world, they might not kill her.

  “Yes,” I said to Papà grasping at his erroneous assumption. “I picked a door at random. I swayed her to allow me into her bed.”

  He snorted. “You knew Alessia would never jeopardize our plan by allowing you into hers. She is a good daughter. A loyal subject. But you—you have no self-control. You couldn’t wait a few more weeks? You are nothing but a rutting fool, an irresponsible, selfish, spineless traitor.”

  “He’s a liar as well,” Alessia added helpfully. “He didn’t choose this girl at random. She’s the same one he took with him on his little holiday. I think Nicolo is in love.”

  She said the last word as if it was the punch line to a dirty joke, following it with a cruel cackle.

  Papà whipped back around to face me, his dark eyes wide and filled with revulsion. “Is this true?”

  He rushed me suddenly, pushing me up against the wall and gripping my neck, pinning my head to the wall behind me so I was unable to move. As he was two hundred years older than me, his strength far exceeded my own.

  “Have you fallen in love with this human?” Papà demanded, tightening his grip. I knew he wouldn’t kill me, but the shortage of oxygen was starting to make me feel light-headed.

  “Stop. Don't hurt him,” Macy shrieked. She was up on her knees now, reaching toward me.

  Alessia marched over to the bed and snatched Macy’s jaw in her hand, forcing her to meet her eyes.

  “Oh look.” Alessia sneered. “The little human loves him, too. How sweet.” She shoved, sending Macy flying back against the headboard.

  “They all love me,” I managed to gasp out, desperate to protect Macy.

  “Ah, but this one is different. She knows him. She tried to protect him.”

  Alessia studied Macy as if she were an interesting new bug that had landed in the garden and was about to be squashed under her boot heel. Speaking in English now, she said, “It’s not Sway. She actually loves him. I wonder if she’d still feel the same if she knew the truth?”

  “Shut up, Alessia,” I muttered.

  Her laugh was nasty, malevolent. “If she knew that her sweet, sweet Nicolo was in reality the Angel of Death.” At Macy’s loud gasp, Alessia laughed again, louder this time. “Oh—so maybe you don’t know him as well as you thought you did, runt. Did it not come up on your happy little jaunt through the countryside that your true love is planning to kill all of your people? Your mommy and daddy—all your human friends.”

  “You’re lying,” Macy spat back at her. “Nic is not like you. He is good.”

  “Oh, you are so right,” Alessia snarled. “He is good. He’s a good breeder. It’s his special gift. And that’s why he is going to father our new slave race—that you and your fellow incubators will carry for us before we wipe you all out, too.”

  “Nic?” Macy said, her voice sounding small. “Is that true? Are you… part of the plan?”

  My eyes closed, and my chest heaved in dismay. She’d just revealed her knowledge of my father’s plan, virtually signing her own death sentence. Alessia had lured her into it. Papà’s face in front of mine was the picture of horror. He’d heard it, too.

  “What have you done? You’ve told her?” He turned to Alessia. “Kill her.”

  “Wait,” I yelped. “You can’t.”

  Papà’s eyes widened, his face going white. He held a staying hand out to Alessia, who was already moving toward Macy to carry out his order. She stopped in place.

  “Have you…” Papà stopped, breathing in shallow breaths. “… bonded with this human?”

  If only we had. I couldn’t lie. I wanted to—desperately. If Macy and I had bonded, it might have saved her life. But she’d said Dr. Schmitt had examined her just today. He’d definitely do it again to verify, and the lie would be discovered.

  My mind cast about desperately, searching for a way to save her. What I came up with was a long shot, but I had to try something.

  “No. We are not bonded. But you asked me if I love her. I do. And I was planning to leave with her tonight.”

  Papà made a distressed noise and released my throat, spinning away to face the opposite wall, grabbing his hair with both hands.

  I sucked in a huge breath, leaning over and bracing my hands on my knees as the blood rushed back to my head.

  “I love her,” I repeated. “But I will never see her again.”

  He spun back around, an inferno in his eyes. “You are correct in that statement, my son.”

  Before he could go on with his pronouncement of Macy’s doom, I interrupted. “I will never see her again—and I will participate in your plan. I’ll do my part. I’ll give you anything you need, do whatever you say. But only if you allow her to leave here—unharmed.”

  “No, Nic,” Macy cried. “Don’t do it. I’m not worth it. It’s not worth selling your soul.”

  Ignoring her completely, Papà said, “Why are you bargaining with me? You know I can force you to cooperate.”

&nb
sp; I nodded. “I know. You can. But I will hate you for the rest of our eternal lives. I will no longer be your son, only another slave in your castle. If you want to preserve any sort of relationship between us, you’ll do this for me. And then I will do what you wish.”

  He threw a hand toward Macy in irritation. “What is the point? She will only die when the Plague is released.”

  “I realize that. But she could spend the last few years of her life with her family and friends. You can sway her yourself to ensure she tells no one what she’s seen and heard. That is all I ask.”

  Papà’s gaze bounced from me to Macy to Alessia, finally coming back to me. His chest rose and fell with labored, quick breaths.

  “No.”

  “No?” My heart thrashed in desperate beats. He was going to kill her—in spite of my heartfelt plea. I glanced between him and Alessia, calculating. I could not fight both of them at once. Like all Elven women, she was strong, and Papà’s strength exceeded both of ours put together.

  “You will force me to do something drastic then? I will take my own life. Do not doubt it. I will have nothing left to live for if you kill her.”

  Alessia snorted, sounding disgusted. “Such drama.”

  “I’m not going to kill her,” Papà said in a calm, reasonable tone. “And I won’t send her home. You can keep her.”

  “What?” Alessia shrieked.

  Papà turned his glare on her. “Silence. I am speaking.” Turning back to me, he said, “You may keep the girl. She will not be harmed. I will even ensure that she is treated so she will survive the Plague. You can keep her as long as she amuses you, and you can do anything you want with her—after you have done your part to help our plan. And after you have married Alessia and bonded with her.”

  Ah. So he intended to make Macy his own bargaining chip. She’d be the carrot he dangled every time he wanted me to bend to his will. He thought he could threaten her anytime he wanted my cooperation and I’d just do his bidding, no matter what it was. He was right.