shuttle her off to the funny farm. Do not
pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars.
With an appreciative glance, she took in Bane’s striking, refined
features. How remarkable it was that she found the strong, angular lines of
Darek’s face equally irresistible.
The corners of her mouth twitched. She could add to the
story while they waited for the guys with straitjackets. You know why men
follow me around like lost puppies? How they explode like C4 lust bombs if I
touch them? It’s because I’m half succubus. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?
It did sound insane. At the same time, nothing about her or
her life was normal , so abnormal made a hell of a lot more sense.
“So tell me more about them—the idani,” Lily said.
The men exchanged a glance. After a pause, Darek gestured at
Bane— go on then.
Bane seemed to consider for a moment, then he spoke slowly.
“Lily, your mother’s name was Mara, yes?”
Lily raised her eyebrows. “Yes. Mara Sinclair. How’d you
know that?”
Bane paused, as if considering. “Lily, your mother was an
idana. Your father was human.”
Lily bit her lip. “Okay.”
“I have a friend who knows a lot about the idani’s history.
According to her, Mara’s story is quite well-known. She had a passion for rare
books. Your father owned an eclectic bookstore that she often visited. Over
time, they developed a deep affection for one another. She knew how dangerous
she was to him, but he knew nothing of her nature. Around him, she kept her
glamour muted—toned herself down. All the same, he pursued her relentlessly.”
Books , Lily thought. Her life always seemed to return
to books. Her mother’s collection of first editions had been her treasure trove
and her greatest solace.
Bane continued, “Unable to stay away from him, she agreed to
see him. Theirs was a platonic relationship—Mara kept it that way because she
knew he would not survive the consummation. Afraid he would reject her if he
knew what she was, she told him she was very religious and wouldn’t touch a man
to whom she wasn’t married.”
Lily grinned ruefully. “Ironic that a succubus would say
that.”
“Unfortunately, her plan to keep him at arm’s length
backfired and he became determined to marry her. Her heart breaking, Mara
turned him down again and again. Finally, lost and alone, she pursued the
advice of a powerful sorceress who lied to her. She told Mara that the
sacrament of marriage would protect her human lover. Thrilled, she wed him in
secret.”
Memories flooded into Lily’s mind. “It didn’t, did it?” she
asked.
Bane shook his head, his blue eyes sympathetic. “Not long
after, he died and Mara vanished. At the time, no one knew for sure, but some
believed she was carrying his child.”
He paused and reached up to brush his thumb across her
cheek. Lily hadn’t realized she was crying. “You, Lily.”
Darek rested his hand on her knee. “I’m so sorry, love.”
Lily sought the comfort of Darek’s arms, letting herself crumple against his
chest. Bane’s story explained so much, yet her new understanding was not a
comfort.
Lily recalled the wedding photo her mother kept by her
bedside. Her father had been a tall, slender, bookish man, handsome in his
tuxedo, his smile shameless and giddy beneath his small, round glasses and wild
shock of blond hair. In the photo, the couple appeared unaware of the
photographer, having eyes only for each other. Her mother was smiling with a
happiness that Lily never witnessed during her lifetime, her long, raven hair
spilling in wild curls down her back, shining with a sultry radiance against
her white wedding dress.
“She told me he died in a car accident,” Lily whispered. It
made so much sense now, the way her mother looked away when they spoke of her
father, how she looked at the floor and wrung her hands in those awkward
moments.
“Why didn’t she ever tell me any of this? And now it’s too
late—she’s gone,” she cried. They
pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars.
With an appreciative glance, she took in Bane’s striking, refined
features. How remarkable it was that she found the strong, angular lines of
Darek’s face equally irresistible.
The corners of her mouth twitched. She could add to the
story while they waited for the guys with straitjackets. You know why men
follow me around like lost puppies? How they explode like C4 lust bombs if I
touch them? It’s because I’m half succubus. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?
It did sound insane. At the same time, nothing about her or
her life was normal , so abnormal made a hell of a lot more sense.
“So tell me more about them—the idani,” Lily said.
The men exchanged a glance. After a pause, Darek gestured at
Bane— go on then.
Bane seemed to consider for a moment, then he spoke slowly.
“Lily, your mother’s name was Mara, yes?”
Lily raised her eyebrows. “Yes. Mara Sinclair. How’d you
know that?”
Bane paused, as if considering. “Lily, your mother was an
idana. Your father was human.”
Lily bit her lip. “Okay.”
“I have a friend who knows a lot about the idani’s history.
According to her, Mara’s story is quite well-known. She had a passion for rare
books. Your father owned an eclectic bookstore that she often visited. Over
time, they developed a deep affection for one another. She knew how dangerous
she was to him, but he knew nothing of her nature. Around him, she kept her
glamour muted—toned herself down. All the same, he pursued her relentlessly.”
Books , Lily thought. Her life always seemed to return
to books. Her mother’s collection of first editions had been her treasure trove
and her greatest solace.
Bane continued, “Unable to stay away from him, she agreed to
see him. Theirs was a platonic relationship—Mara kept it that way because she
knew he would not survive the consummation. Afraid he would reject her if he
knew what she was, she told him she was very religious and wouldn’t touch a man
to whom she wasn’t married.”
Lily grinned ruefully. “Ironic that a succubus would say
that.”
“Unfortunately, her plan to keep him at arm’s length
backfired and he became determined to marry her. Her heart breaking, Mara
turned him down again and again. Finally, lost and alone, she pursued the
advice of a powerful sorceress who lied to her. She told Mara that the
sacrament of marriage would protect her human lover. Thrilled, she wed him in
secret.”
Memories flooded into Lily’s mind. “It didn’t, did it?” she
asked.
Bane shook his head, his blue eyes sympathetic. “Not long
after, he died and Mara vanished. At the time, no one knew for sure, but some
believed she was carrying his child.”
He paused and reached up to brush his thumb across her
cheek. Lily hadn’t realized she was crying. “You, Lily.”
Darek rested his hand on her knee. “I’m so sorry, love.”
Lily sought the comfort of Darek’s arms, letting herself crumple against his
chest. Bane’s story explained so much, yet her new understanding was not a
comfort.
Lily recalled the wedding photo her mother kept by her
bedside. Her father had been a tall, slender, bookish man, handsome in his
tuxedo, his smile shameless and giddy beneath his small, round glasses and wild
shock of blond hair. In the photo, the couple appeared unaware of the
photographer, having eyes only for each other. Her mother was smiling with a
happiness that Lily never witnessed during her lifetime, her long, raven hair
spilling in wild curls down her back, shining with a sultry radiance against
her white wedding dress.
“She told me he died in a car accident,” Lily whispered. It
made so much sense now, the way her mother looked away when they spoke of her
father, how she looked at the floor and wrung her hands in those awkward
moments.
“Why didn’t she ever tell me any of this? And now it’s too
late—she’s gone,” she cried. They
Similar Books
