Balor (Balor’s Saints MC #1)

Chapter Three

Balor

I stormed out of the mansion, my steps quick and precise, pausing long enough to take in a deep breath of fresh air. Anger simmered in my veins. The house loomed behind me, an imposing structure that often resembled more of a gothic monstrosity. It suited my mood as I approached my bike.

My hair slid across my forehead, the quickening of my heart making my scalp prickle. As I climbed onto my bike and gripped the handlebars, I felt the slight shift in my vision as the color of my eyes changed from blue to brown. My hair had changed too, but I hadn’t needed to see it to know. My powers had never steered me wrong before. I’d made the mistake once of letting someone see me without the slight change in appearance. It hadn’t gone well. Not that I had to worry about anyone finding out Balor Hades and Luke Williams were the same man. Only two people in town knew. The mayor and the sheriff.

The bike roared to life, the sound soothing something inside me. I took off down the driveway, the gates opening when I approached. Balor Hades had powers few knew about. My name was well known, had been before the war, but even I didn’t know my full magical potential. Luke Williams had very little power, as far as everyone knew. They’d never once suspected the rugged MC president of Balor’s Saints had the ability to make them see whatever he wanted. Or that the gates, and other things, opened or moved out of his way without him touching them.

The wind whipped through my hair, the engine growling beneath me. I didn’t often get to cut loose and ride like this. My anger had pushed me too far. I knew I wouldn’t be able to think straight until I’d had a chance to clear my head. They’d see the tension and have too many questions. It wasn’t like I’d be able to hide it. Not entirely.

Darkwood wasn’t a large town, but it had a bit of everything. The streets were quiet, but with so many nocturnal residents, the town was never really asleep. There were always people up and doing something. I’d kept to the outskirts of town for the most part. I’d built my home far enough away to have privacy, but close enough to handle anything that might go wrong.

Once I’d circled the town, I headed for the clubhouse. I’d built the town from nothing, investing my money in a place where people like me could feel safe. I’d done my best to make sure my people and the other supernaturals I’d allowed to move into the area remained safe. Which meant there were times I had to get my hands dirty.

As I approached the clubhouse, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease. The ride had soothed some of my anger. Not all. But enough I wasn’t worried about taking it out on my brothers. I parked the bike and climbed off, shoving the door open.

I wasn’t sure how to handle the witch in my mansion. In my bed. Because yeah, I had a feeling we’d end up there again. And this time, I’d remember every second of it. I hadn’t wanted a woman of my own. To have someone to come home to.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, and stepped inside the clubhouse, the noise level increasing tenfold. Laughter and conversation echoed through the room.

“Luke!” Jackson clapped me on the back. “Didn’t think we’d see you for a few more days. Thought you were holed up in your house.”

“Luke, you look like you’re ready to murder someone,” Clay said. “I take it you met with Mr. Hades?”

I grunted. “Wasn’t him who pissed me off.” I settled at one of the tables and leaned back in the chair.

Jackson grinned. “Must have been some woman. Did she shoot you down?”

I glared at him and his grin widened.

“Ah. So the woman did cause you some trouble. I thought you’d been on edge lately. Didn’t realize it was because of a female.” Jackson dropped into a chair across from me and stretched out his legs. “I take it she didn’t want to let you go?”

I glared. “What makes you think I’d have a woman?”

“Because you’re a goddamn bastard, but you don’t have that look in your eyes for no reason. Only one thing pisses off a man so bad… a woman.” Jackson pulled out a chair. “You going to tell us about her?”

I sat and stretched out my legs. I scanned the room, noting where everyone was standing and sitting. “Didn’t realize I looked that tense.”

Jackson shrugged. “You don’t. Not normally. Whatever happened has you ready to snap someone’s head off.”

I stared at the ceiling. “Because a duplicitous witch tried to trap me into making her my wife.”

The room was silent. It was Clay who broke the silence. “You’re going to have to explain that one.”

I’d have to be careful what I said. They knew I had a home up on the hill, but they’d never seen it. Didn’t know a damn thing about me other than what I’d told them. They’d never once suspected the man who founded Darkwood was their MC president.

“I’ll give you the short version,” I said. “She showed up on my doorstep, claiming she needed help. Turns out she wasn’t lying, except she decided the best way to protect herself was to trap me into being her baby daddy. That’s what they call it these days, isn’t it? She’s a powerful witch, and I got tricked into helping her, and… well…”

Clay snorted. “Showing your age there, old man.”

I flipped him off, but he just shook his head at me. Yeah, I was fucking old. So what?

Jackson grinned. “She’s great in bed, huh?”

I glared. I didn’t want to answer that. Hell, I wasn’t even sure why that mattered right now. “She’s in my house. I’m not certain if she’ll cause a problem or not. I get the feeling chaos is about to erupt in Darkwood.”

Jackson tipped back his beer. “You know, it’s not like you to let someone in so easily. What if she’s here to cause trouble? You said she’s alone in your house. Are there things she could access that would harm the town or you?”

He wasn’t exactly wrong. I understood his worries and could acknowledge they were logical concerns. My thoughts drifted back to the witch in my mansion. I’d kept too many damn secrets. No one knew what I was capable of. Because they didn’t know who I was.

She could burn it all down. Every single bit of it. I’d have to be careful how I handled her. Claiming her hadn’t been my intent. But I knew, even if I’d been completely unaffected by her spell, we’d have still ended up in bed. Especially after I heard what she had to say.

“Only one thing to do,” Jackson said. “You’ll have to make an honest woman of her.”

I snorted and turned my gaze back to him. “And you’re the expert?”

Jackson’s lips twitched. “How are you going to handle her?”

“She’s currently on lockdown in my house. I haven’t decided what to do with her yet.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I’m not entirely certain what she’ll do. Or if she’ll try to leave. I do know if she thinks she’s in danger, she’ll fight back. I saw a bit of her power.”

“Maybe she needs a firm hand,” Clay said. “One who can handle this witch of yours.”

“What’s her name?” Jackson asked.

“Belladonna Kline. She’s from the Coven of Eternal Night and seems eager to escape them.”

I’d been considering my options. I’d have to be careful what I said around my brothers. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust them, but I wasn’t sure how they would handle the news of a kid between me and Belladonna being the most powerful witch in the world. If our kid went off the rails and decided to destroy the world, I had a feeling they’d be able to do so easily enough. And that kind of power made people nervous.

“Hell, Luke. You need a beer.” Jackson went to the bar and grabbed a bottle, then slid it across the table to me.

“Thanks.” I took a swig and let my gaze drift over the room again. “I’ll hang out a bit before I head back.”

He nodded. “Might do you some good to talk things over with us. You’ve been on edge, and I mean even before tonight. It’s just worse now.”

I grunted and took another sip of my beer. I needed more information on her. She’d told me a little, but I knew there was much more to her story.

I’d worried her coven might come for her. And if they did, the town of Darkwood might be laid to waste in the process. As the founder of the town, it was my job to ensure everyone’s safety. I hadn’t liked the idea of her being defenseless, though. She was powerful, but I’d seen the exhaustion in her eyes this morning, and the fear.

And I wasn’t certain my magick was up to the task of taking on a coven. Not when I didn’t know what sort of witches they were. I’d heard rumors of the Coven of Eternal Night, but I didn’t know much was true. Not enough to confidently go to war against them. In my long life, I’d learned to trust my personal experiences and not word of mouth. People had a tendency to embellish things, and the more the story spread, the more it changed.

I finished my beer and stood, the room quieting. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I have a few things I need to take care of.”

My men nodded, and I headed back outside. I settled onto my bike and pulled out my phone. I pulled up a name I hadn’t called in years. Osran Starke, an alpha wolf I’d known for nearly a century. He was a genius at finding information.

I hit the button to dial and listened to it ring.

“Balor,” Osran said. “It’s been too long.”

“Yeah. I have a bit of a problem, and I could use more information.”

“Tell me what you need.”

I looked at the time and did some quick calculations. I’d have to check on Belladonna soon. “Everything you can dig up on the Coven of Eternal Night. There’s a witch locked in my house. She tried to trick me into making her my wife. I worry her coven will come for her.”

Osran was quiet for a moment. “I’ll see what I can find out. You might want to consider that she didn’t randomly show up. You’ve always believed in fate. Maybe it’s time to see if you can meet her halfway.”

“Are you saying she’s my fated mate?” How had he come to that conclusion so fast? It had taken me a minute to figure it out. Sure, I felt drawn to her, but why had that been his first thought?

“Could be. I’ll call when I have more information.”

I ended the call and headed back to my mansion. It was a short ride, and I parked the bike in the garage. When I entered the house, I noticed how quiet it was. I made my way to my bedroom to change clothes before I started searching for Belladonna.

Unease prickled my nape. I went room by room, checking the house. I’d seen the look in her eyes. She’d wanted to run. Had she left? I paused in the hallway. No. I’d have felt the power of my spell over the house dissolve, or at least tear long enough for her to slip through. And honestly, she wasn’t powerful enough. Now that I’d known what to expect, I’d locked the place down accordingly. I couldn’t afford another slipup.

When I stepped into the library, I saw her curled up on the couch, a book in her hands. She was sound asleep, her chest rising and falling in an even rhythm. How long had it been since I’d seen something so peaceful in my home?

I crossed the room and crouched in front of her. I gently lifted the book from her hands and set it on the table. Then I carefully scooped her into my arms and carried her to my room. I eased her down on the bed and pulled the covers up before brushing her hair back from her face. I hesitated, then leaned down to kiss her forehead.

I’d lived roughly two hundred years. Had never found my mate. Until now. And in the most unconventional way. A witch had broken through my wards, tricked me into bedding her, and now I’d do anything to keep her safe.

I stood by the bed, looking down at Belladonna’s sleeping form. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Two hundred years I’d been alive. Two hundred years of solitude. I hadn’t liked anyone enough to want them in my life for more than one night. Then Belladonna had shown up. Thrown my world into chaos. I pressed a hand to my chest. It ached, knowing I’d finally found my mate. In the most unconventional way possible.

Her hair fell across the pillow, the strands catching the light from the lamp on the nightstand. She looked so peaceful in her sleep. I felt something deep inside me shift. I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted to see her in my bed every night. Coming home to her had been… nice. Her presence brought a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I took in the quietness of the room. The house. It had been silent for far too long. Belladonna comfort to the otherwise lonely existence I’d had for so long. As I stared at her, I knew I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.

I left her to rest and went downstairs. Going to the living room, I walked over to the wet bar, opened the sliding door that hid it from the rest of the room, and poured myself a drink. I sipped at the amber liquid, wondering how much my life was about to change with Belladonna in my mansion. I had no idea what to do with her. I scrubbed a hand over my face. How was I supposed to walk in two worlds when I had someone living in my home? My secret would be exposed, and I wasn’t ready for that.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and I glanced out the window. Dark clouds gathered, a storm brewing. In more ways than one. Whatever Belladonna had started, I had a feeling it was going to tear Darkwood apart.

I’d founded Darkwood over one hundred years ago, brought in trustworthy men to help me run things. They’d thought I was an eccentric billionaire who didn’t want his name attached to the town. All these years later, my secret was still safe. But for how much longer?

I wasn’t sure how to deal with Belladonna. Not as Balor. Not when everyone in town knew me as Luke. I’d have to talk to her, figure out what she knew. It still amazed me she’d been able to walk right up to my door. Most people couldn’t, unless I’d given them permission.

I’d crafted those warding spells myself. If she’d taken them down so easily, she had to be more powerful than I’d thought. Still not on my level by any means, but… It made me wonder about the Coven of Eternal Night. If they were as power hungry as I suspected, they’d come for her.

My magick wasn’t as strong as it had once been. Or more accurately, I was a bit rusty when it came to offensive spells. I hadn’t used them in a long-ass time. Now, I’d probably need help to take down the coven. But was it fair for me to ask the town to step up? Sure, this was their home too, but most of them had never fought a day in their lives. And the humans could get caught in the crossfire.