(Cambion 04) Have No Mercy Read online

  Have No Mercy

  Shannon Dermott

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. The scanning, uploading and distribution of the book via the Internet or via any other means without permission is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchased only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support for the author’s rights is appreciated. For information address Wicked Truth Publishing.

  First Edition

  Copyright 2014 Shannon Dermott

  All rights reserved.

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  This book is dedicated to all the Cambion series fans

  Author Note

  I've taken a segment from the ending of the last book to remind you where Mercy is and why. Only because as I read the opening of the first chapter, I could see how a reader may be disoriented from the passage of time from the last book. If you don't need the reminder, you can skip and head directly to Chapter One.

  Angel of Mercy (part of final chapter) (please note, as the author I took some liberties and changed the wording somewhat) ;)

  Distantly inside myself, I followed as McKayla took the lead. We walked downstairs into the kitchen. When Flynn stepped out of the pantry with a bottle of clear liquid, I felt her smile.

  Pursing his lips, he held the bottle out to me. We took it. After taking the cap off, we began to chug away. Feeling the burn, I didn't like the taste, but McKayla loved it. Flynn just stood there looking as dead as I felt. He hadn't noticed I wasn't quite myself. Now that McKayla and I were working together as one, my eyes didn't change. He had no idea who he was with.

  "Mercy," he said. McKayla was tired of hearing that name. I didn't argue; we were of one accord. The only person I wanted to hear speak my name was Luke.

  "Don't," I said. McKayla stepped to the side to let me speak. She wasn't the right person for this conversation. "He's not dead." Flynn just looked at me. "He's part angel. He's alive somewhere and I will find him."

  "I loved him too, you know." His fixed me with flat gaze that cut me deep. "I lost a brother."

  "He's not gone," I insisted.

  "This is hard for me too," he continued as if I hadn't spoken.

  Shaking my head, I said, "Yeah, then why were you fighting over me."

  "We weren't fighting over you. I gave you up if you recall even though I know you had feelings for me. But I loved you and him enough to let you two stay together."

  Surprise filled my features. "You didn't let me do anything. I feel nothing for you."

  "Whatever," he said, shrugging me off. "It doesn't matter. My best friend is gone. He died trying to protect us and I can never repay him."

  He took the bottle from my hand and didn't say that Luke had died saving me, not everyone else. Yet he hadn't rubbed that in my face. I turned to head for my room or someplace to vent my anger. When I got to the entryway, a knock sounded at the door. I didn't want to see anyone.

  Then, out of nowhere, my heart did a little leap. Maybe it was Luke; his dad could have healed him. They could have been wrong about the funeral. I found myself running the rest of the distance to fling open the door.

  Unfortunately, Luke was not on the other side of the massive wood door. Instead, familiar faces stood there. Ones that I hadn't seen in a while but could never forget.

  "It's time." A face so stunning, I would never forget, greeted me with a cold smile. Kathy. She and her boyfriend Jay had ruled the school as the best looking couple ever. Later, I learned that they weren't human but Elven watchers of such. They blended into our society to learn about us or rather the human race.

  "Our mistress is waiting," Jay said.

  I was about to open my mouth to protest but I remembered what I owed to the Elves for saving Luke last time. I took a step forward. My thoughts began to jumble. They'd helped me before. Maybe I could ask for another favor. I wasn't beyond begging on hands and knees if I had to. I would do whatever it took to save Luke, even making another promise to do anything if they would send me to that place again.

  An arm snaked around me, holding me back from my destination just as a portal opened just beyond the pair. The light blended in the surrounding making it almost invisible to see with my human eyes. Yet, it was there.

  "This isn't the time," Flynn announced with a firm but not rude tone.

  "My mistress is well aware of Luke's fatal blow."

  Jay didn't seem heartless when he spoke. Still Flynn's finger dug deep into my skin. If not for his grip on me, my knees would have given way. Fatal. So he was dead. Elves didn't mince words. But they hadn't said gone. Maybe they were seeking to help me again.

  "A promise is a promise. Mercy's was given help without delay and the queen expect the same," Kathy said.

  My demon and I turned in Flynn's arms to glance up at the shadows in his eyes. A small smile played across our mouth. His grip on us relaxed. And she gave him a shove. He stumbled and lost his footing still weak from the fight and our lack of bonding. I hated to leave him, but I had no choice. Maybe the distance would help break the bond. Luke's life was in peril.

  So McKayla turned us as one because she did the hard stuff. We worked well that way. We took determined steps forward towards the opening.

  "I won't let you go alone. Luke would never forgive me," we heard Flynn say. But there was no thought or care in our brain other than getting to the Elves. I think Flynn called out to my mother and his father. My mom. I thought of her for a moment before that thought flittered away.

  Stepping into the golden light of the portal, I had to believe I was one step closer to seeing Luke again.

  Chapter One

  People assume that breathing was easy. But I knew better. It was by fortitude alone that I was able to will my broken soul through the golden sphere of light. My body may have moved, but my heart was left far behind. I never really understood love. Maybe once I thought I did. However, knowledge gained by time told a different story. One where comprehension dawned too late to let me know just how far I was prepared to go or even give up for another. That was how I understood what true love was.

  With the light of day at my back, I stepped through the threshold and into the shadowy dark. Immediately, I recognized the place. I'd been there before. The clearing atop an unnamed mountain stood shrouded by ancient trees that had long since erupted from the bowels of the earth. They created a Stonehenge like ring around the center of power. Off in the distance, a boat that would make a pirate envious was tethered to a dock of air with fluffy clouds that stood as waves.

  "Mercy," came a regal voice I recognized as well.

  My focus aimed towards the woman or rather the Elven queen. A striking woman with waist length hair the color of midnight stood taller than I bathed in light that haloed her stoic form. I glanced passed her, passed the wall of trees and up to the sky then back at her. I wasn't sure how the light distributed focus on her as if she were spot lit on a stage. Yet, that was what it looked like.

  "I'm pleased to know you honor your promises," the Elven queen said, inclining her head slightly.

  I nodded unable yet to form words. So far, my demon had given me free rein of speech while she controlled our movements. It was a bit odd, but I was fast becoming accustomed to being the spokesperson in this duo
.

  "Lady Amavara." I bent my head along with my knees in a curtsey as a show of respect. When our gazes connected again, I saw her waiting. And a memory struck. The last time I'd come into her presence, she'd made me kneel before her. As much as I wanted to balk, I was hoping to find favor and ask her to grant me another request. So before she could ask, I knelt on one knee with bowed head.

  A moment later, she said, "Stand tall, young Mercy."

  I held my teeth tight (clamped my mouth shut) as I got to my feet. McKayla was spoiling for a fight. She didn't believe that anyone was above her, ever. And she was itching to say something to challenge the queen.

  "I have to say, you look rather together for one who just lost someone."

  Her words ignited fire behind my eyes. And it wasn't McKayla who put it there. It was my turn to feel the need to hit something or someone. I immediately took over full function of my body and strode closer to the royal. The pair of Elves whom I'd once thought classmates, moved between us. I stopped and instead let murderous intent fill my words. "Who says I'm together." My voice may have been tight, but rage made the edges of my words tremble.

  "Ah, yes, I see it now. It's a matter of control and not indifference."

  "Indifference," I spat. My voice was fast becoming a shrill. "Luke may be lost to me at this moment. But he is not gone forever."

  The queen stared at me with patience and nodded. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders as if she were in a shampoo commercial and sparkled like diamonds in the light which didn’t seem fair at all. "Please forgive me."

  I answered with a tilt of my head and tried to dial back all my emotions. Oddly enough, I felt no tears, not even a hint.

  "Well, we should get down to business then," she announced before signaling to her guard to step aside. They acquiesced in silence communication. They shifted to stand back and off to either side of her.

  "Yes," I agreed. "I do have a request once we finish with yours."

  "And that request," she prompted.

  "I would like to ask for another favor," I boldly admitted.

  The queen quirked a brow, before she commented. "I cannot promise you anything. I am sure that regardless you will honor our original bargain."

  I nodded and gave a small bow because I didn’t sense that pressing her would change the outcome.

  "My, I wouldn't have pegged you as someone who would know the rules of court. Although this is not my usual court." She spread her arms wide to signal the forest that felt held back somehow from swallowing us up. "You have honored it as such. And I am very impressed."

  What she didn't know was that my demon had won that battle and caused me to keep my mouth shut and bow. Apparently, McKayla wasn't opposed to bowing, just kneeling. Whatever, it worked. We had a lot to work on when it came to sharing my body as one unit. But so far, we had done a pretty good job of fooling everyone around us.

  The Elven royal clasped her hands together and glanced in turn Kathy and Jay before turning her eyes back to me.

  "I need you to get my son." Her words were barely above a whisper, yet the news was deafening.

  My eyebrows shot up. I hadn't been sure what I expected my task to be, but this hadn't been anywhere in my range of possibilities.

  "His father persuaded him to leave our lands and venture in where I cannot go."

  Now I was more confused. How old was her son? Maybe a better question was how old was she?

  Oblivious to my thoughts, she continued. "Our time on this realm has come to an end. We leave soon and with our departure a way to get to our homeland. If my son isn’t here for the final departure, he will be trapped here forever."

  "You're leaving?" I asked. What I really meant was for good. And this realm, she said it like there were dozens. Did she really mean planets? And if so, did that make them alien? "And how am I to get him? Why can't you? And where is he?"

  I clamped my mouth shut when I realized I had started to babble. There were so many riddles that needed answers. I couldn't understand why this would be her request. Then her words circled in my head, a place where she couldn't go. But if she couldn't, how could I?

  "I should start from the beginning." She hadn't moved other than the exhale of breath. "My son is unique, much like yourself." Her head bowed in my direction. "He is the bridge between two races. Just like you." She sighed like she didn't want to tell more but had no other choice.

  "Let me begin again.” There was another paused as she closed her eyes and took in what I would define a cleansing breath. When she focused on me again, her words spilled forth. “I met my son's father believing him human.”

  Another pause and I almost thought I should fill the empty space with some acknowledgment of what she’d said. Thankfully, she continued. “Like how many of the great romance stories of your world begin, he had been the most glorious man I'd ever seen. It was a time when we Elves walked among you more freely than we do today."

  What did that mean? But I didn't give voice to my question.

  "Although he was human, I was bespelled by his charm, his looks, and his words.” She smiled to herself, and her next statement began with a slight laugh as if she didn’t believe what she was about to say. “I hadn't been allowed to date back home and the need to be wanted was great. Free of my father’s scrutiny, I was able to be won over. And in a weak moment, and I gave into the wanting. By the time I realized that the man I had fallen for was not actually a man, it was too late. His seed had taken root within me. As future queen, my father would have banished me if he ever found out of my transgression. Thus, I sent a request to extend my time on earth to live among the humans and luckily got my father's approval. He was never the wiser to my condition. During this hiatus, I’d moved away from the town in which I'd met my son's father. As far as I knew, he did not know that his plan to get me with a child had worked. Eventually, I gave birth to a son. Tristrom. A son I wouldn't be allowed to raise lest I wished to be found out and banished. No Elves were aware either except for a pair of trusted servants who watched over Tristrom while human adoptive parents raised him here on earth. And I was forced to leave him here or worse could have befallen us both."

  The story was beginning to sound like daytime drama on TV. But I said nothing.

  "When my father passed onto the afterlife, I immediately sought out my son and brought him here for the truth. Let's just say, he wasn't thrilled with the idea he wasn't human."

  I could relate to that given how I'd found out about my origins.

  "After much time and discussion, he seemed to accept his fate. So when he requested to go back and say goodbye to his human friends and family, how could I deny him."

  Well, she was a better in that situation than my mother. Maybe the two should get together and compare notes. "Who is his father and how did he find out about him?"

  She looked down at the ground as if she was ashamed. "His father is the Fey King or Queen's consort depending on who you ask."

  “The King?” I stammered.

  “Or the consort as he truly rules nothing. He was once human.” She paused for a second while I was still digesting the words once human. “But when the Queen took for a lover and long exposure to the Fey realm and their food, he was transformed into Fey.”

  “A human can become Fey?”

  She nodded. “And now she wants my son. I should have known the day would come. Why else would she have sent her husband to seduce me?” She asked absently.

  It was a rhetorical question, yet I opened my mouth to at least throw out some expletives. Instead, I asked, "And why do you think I can get him back for you?"

  I thought I had an idea. And I hated the queen for a second. But the somber lost expression on her face gave me pause. She gave me a glance like I was her only hope.

  "You are a beautiful girl. You aren't only just human, but you are a succubus." And there it was. She thought I was some kind of lure because I was a lust demi-demon. "The Fey honor beauty almost above anything else. And with
your unique charms, you will be able to fool them into believing you're just a harmless human and then use your charms to convince my son to come home."

  "No," a voice said from behind me. A look back and I found that Flynn had followed me here through the portal. I hadn't heard a sound come through other than the two Elves, Kathy, and Jay. But there he stood with indignation written all over him. "You want her to seduce your son and get him to go with her. And that's never going to happen. Mercy is no slut for hire."

  Chapter Two

  The queen studied Flynn for a long moment giving me time to feel Flynn’s hands about my waist in a possessive grip. I was just about to give him the riot act about me being able to handle myself when the queen spoke.

  "I hardly consider the girl a harlot. But she is uniquely qualified."

  "Never. Going. To. Happen," Flynn reiterated. His hands fisted almost painfully in the fabric at my waist.

  "As much as I admire your protection of the girl, she can speak for herself."

  "It doesn't matter what she says. She's not going."

  I glared at Flynn and stepped out of his hold as my flare of anger shifted from Lady Amavara to Flynn. "Enough," I barked in his direction before I faced the queen again. To her, I said, “I will honor our agreement.”

  Flynn got in my face, and we scowled at each other before I continued. “He does not speak for me,” I added, never taking my eyes off of him.

  “Then we shall proceed.” She held out her hand, and I moved forward only to be stopped by a death grip on my arm.

  “Don’t!” he warned. Then after a flash of my own anger as I glared heat-seeking missiles at him, he added with more pleading, “Don’t do this.”

  I snatched my hand away and said nothing allowing the fury on my face to give its own meaning. McKayla who fancied Flynn cheered at my bold move in taking control of my life. I, on the other hand, wilted a little inwardly at the hurt on his face. Quickly, I turned from it. I raised my hand towards Amavara only for her to grasp my wrist instead. Light as a feather her fingertip stroked just above my wrist. The pain that seared into my arm was at odds with her touch. Involuntarily, I flinched and tried to pull free only for her grip on me to remain firm and vice-like.