The Unseen Series Book 3
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Maya Chevalia
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36,1K
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16
Surprise
Book 3: Lovely
Nonali
Nonali was in disbelief. The message was crystal clear, yet the words seemed to bounce off her comprehension.
The possibility of her mother being alive was shocking enough, but the revelation that her father wasnât the man sheâd known all her life? That he was capable of such horrors? The thought made her stomach churn.
âI wish she hadnât told you. I could strangle her,â Ezra grumbled, ignoring the icy stare Nonali shot his way.
âDonât give me that look. Her pact partner wouldnât let me lay a finger on her.â
âI canât believe what sheâs endured,â Nonali whispered, her mind flashing back to the sight of her cousin Dahliaâs scar-riddled body.
Dahlia was a living testament to torture.
âDonât dwell on it. She chose to pay that price.â
âYou both keep mentioning a price, but what do you mean?â
âMagic wasnât designed for the human body. To use it, you need a medium, like meâIâm your medium. Magic can kill or maim you, or worse. To prevent that, you pay a toll. Itâs a way to extract the magic from your body before it starts tearing you apart.â
âSo the price can be anything? And what do you mean by worse?â
âNot quite. The price has to involve something being taken from you. Blood, flesh, cum,â he smirked suggestively.
âIt can also be drawn from intense emotions, like fear and love. If you let magic build up, it can consume you, leaving you a hollow shell.â
âWhy donât I have to pay a price then?â
âI handle that.â He smirked. It took her a moment to understand.
âOh, right. Why didnât she choose that option?â
âFrom what Iâve gathered, Dahlia isnât one to do things by halves.â
âSheâs always been an all-or-nothing kind of person. How does that affect her?â
âThe more magic you use, the higher the price. The number of orgasms needed to cover her level of magic would probably keep her bedridden for days,â he mused.
âSo he just tortures her constantly? I thought they were friends?â Nonali was aghast.
âThat guy doesnât have friends, just people he hasnât killed yet.â
Ezraâs stern tone made her uneasy. He was fearless, but Dahliaâs pact partner made him nervous.
Nonali didnât like him either, especially after what heâd done to Dahlia. Her cousin had changed.
When Nonali had answered the phone months ago, sheâd been relieved. Dahliaâs cheerful demeanor had made her believe that her cousin had remained untouched by the harshness of her world.
But in reality, Dahlia had experienced it firsthand. Sheâd become a part of it.
When Dahlia had tortured that demon in the basement, Nonali had been filled with both rage and revulsion. She wanted that demon to suffer.
She wanted him to pay for his crimes. But seeing her cousin inflict pain so casually was too much. Dahliaâs gaze was cold, but not devoid of emotion. Nonali could see that she enjoyed torturing that man.
When she couldnât take it anymore, sheâd gone upstairs and Ezra had comforted her. She wanted to cry for Dahlia.
She remembered her as a sweet girl, but maybe sheâd never really known her. Seeing Dahlia covered in someone elseâs blood as if it was nothing made her feel sick.
âExperience is the best teacher.â
The thought of Dahlia enduring such horrors was unbearable.
âYou wanted to be a part of this world. You just have to learn to accept it,â Ezra said grimly.
âI know, but sheâs my family. Itâs hard to see her like this.â
âShe doesnât care, so why should you?â
âEzra!â
He raised his hands in surrender and backed off, turning to rummage through the fridge.
âIâm struggling to accept that my dad might be Satan.â
âYeah, he really doesnât like being called that.â Ezra winced.
âI donât care. He killed my dad and took my mom.â
âHey, donât get your hopes up about that being true. I donât want you to get hurt,â he said softly.
âEzra, this is the first time in years Iâve felt any hope. If my mom isnât alive, Iâll be devastated, but itâs nice to think I might see her again.â
âHonestly, if I were you, I wouldnât count on anything. Youâre too optimistic, Nonali.â Dahliaâs sarcastic voice echoed through the kitchen.
Nonali spun around to face her.
âIâd love to strangle you,â Ezra muttered darkly.
âBe careful, she likes that.â Dahlâs companion smirked. Nonali didnât like his oily voice or his unnatural smile.
âCan we talk for a minute?â The just us was implied.
Dahlia followed her into the hallway, leaving the boys behind.
âWhy donât you find a new pact partner? There must be someone less dangerous.â
âNonali, even if I wanted to, I couldnât. Sin is myââ she paused, searching for the right word.
âParamour is the term youâre looking for, my dear. What I am doesnât have a term like she and Ezraâs relationship,â the dark man purred, appearing behind Dahlia in an instant.
âAh, right. You get it then?â Dahlia raised an eyebrow.
âWait. You two are together?â Nonali gaped.
âIt seems so,â Dahlia replied dryly. âFeels a bit like Stockholm Syndrome,â she mused.
âThis is a lot to process. Hasnât he tortured you? He ate your liver, Dahlia!â
âHeâs done that three or four times,â she dismissed. âAs long as he regrows it, itâs not a big deal.â
Nonali could only stare.
âAnyway, my relationship isnât what I came here to discuss. If weâre going to take a road trip to Hell to meet your dear old dad, youâre going to need to up your game.â
âMy game?â
âNonali, you canât even manage a simple teleportation? Thatâs basic stuff, you know.â Dahliaâs voice was laced with amusement.
âYou do have access to our familyâs grimoire, right? Have you been studying it?â
âThe grimoire? No, Iâve been following grandmaâs instructions. She gives me practice worksheets.â Nonaliâs words were met with Dahliaâs barely suppressed laughter.
âSuch a diligent student, arenât you?â Sinâs chuckle echoed in the room.
âNonali, listen to me. You learn from experience, not fromââDahliaâs words were interrupted by a chuckle she tried to disguise as a coughââyou certainly donât learn from worksheets. Is Ezra of any help to you at all?â
âHey! Ezra might have his flaws, but heâs good to me!â Nonali defended.
âIâll swing by tomorrow to pick you up. Youâre going to learn some ârealâ witchcraft.â Dahlia shook her head, her laughter echoing as she faded away.
