Tainted

  “It’s their job to protect,” Shay protested.

  “Shay…” I tried to find the words that would get through to him. “You have to understand that this is a whole new world. The old ways don’t work. Police protection? Not gonna gel with what’s happening. This is a special circumstance. We could start the process of wiping out an entire species tonight. Do you really want to be the government that begins with that? No matter what happens, you can’t take all of this time and deal with what boils down as my problem.”

  “But the beasts,” he said. “We can save so many people from the beasts with his death.”

  “And I’m sure a lot of people once said that about the werewolves.”

  He frowned. “We owe that bastard for Layne and Anthony.”

  “And if you interfere, the politics will kill you. When you’re not popular, genocide will be thrown into your face. If this country is ever going to repair itself, it needs something good at the forefront. Don’t let us drag you down with us.”

  “He took my daughter,” Phoenix snapped. “Do you propose I let him get away with that?”

  “Of course not. I’m just saying let’s not run in guns blazing this time. Let’s see what he wants first.” I was lying to their faces. I didn’t want them to rob me of the satisfaction of revenge.

  That was what it came down to—my needs. Technically, Seth hadn’t attacked me or my people. Technically, I was breaking the rules. I wouldn’t be neutral anymore, and that’s what I had been trying not to tell Parker.

  Phoenix stared at me. “If Lucia isn’t returned tonight, the power of the fae will be against this vampire.”

  “That’s up to you,” I said. “I’m not going to step in the way of anyone. I’m just saying that this specific problem might be best handled by the people who were created to fight it.”

  “Meaning you and Jess,” Phoenix said.

  “Meaning me,” I said. “Jess is supposed to get her chance when she’s old enough, so let’s hope he’s gone before then, right?”

  I left them and went over to speak to Peter. “Watch the giant,” I murmured. “You know how he is.”

  Peter smiled as he waved at Carl, who glared back at us. “Oh, I know. So what’s the real plan, Ava?”

  “The real plan is making it through the night, I should think.” I grinned confidently. “Never thought I’d say this, but fuck if I don’t miss Eddie’s creepy protection spells. We need a new witchy-type person.”

  He made a face. “I’m off witches for life. Marina killed the idea of working with them. Eddie didn’t help either.”

  “Technically, he wasn’t a witch. He was just… special.”

  He gave me a serious look. “You’re special, too. So don’t get yourself hurt, okay?”

  “Where are you going to be?”

  “With Emmett. So don’t make me regret that.” His hazel eyes turned warm.

  Sometimes, I missed him. I didn’t miss waking up in the night to find him cleaning knives in my kitchen or wondering what effect all the alcohol was having on his liver. I didn’t miss trying to be the buffer in a father-and-son relationship. But I missed everything else so much that my heart hurt.

  “What, no begging to come with?” I asked with a smirk.

  A flicker of longing crossed his face. “I know where my place is. My son isn’t going to lose me for a second time.” He cupped my cheek. “Stay safe. Some of us will be pissed if you get hurt.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead and walked away, leaving me wondering if he had really changed, after all.

  Val was sharpening her weapons. Everyone else had given her a wide berth.

  “I know I don’t have to tell you to stay inside, right?” I said.

  She looked up at me, her honey-coloured eyes clear and cool. “I’ll be ready to fight for her.”

  “And Leah? Are you going to just leave her here while you get yourself killed?”

  Conflict flitted across her expression. “What would you have me do?”

  “Let me deal with it. I promise you, if there’s a battle to be fought, I want you by my side. But let’s just see first. You have other responsibilities.”

  Pain filled her eyes. “I’m supposed to choose between them?”

  “You’re supposed to remember that Lucia chose to put herself in a certain position. She isn’t waiting for you to save her, Val, but Leah still needs you. Lucia’s a smart woman. She doesn’t do anything without reason.”

  “She sees things, knows things. I’ve told her more about my life, my past. Perhaps I drove her to this.”

  “Shut up,” I said. “Just shut up. That’s self-pitying bullshit right there, and I won’t have it. Now get a fucking grip before Lucia sees this side of you and decides not to come home.”

  Her lips twitched. I arched an eyebrow and waited.

  “You’re impossible,” she said after a moment. “Go get her back.”

  “Thank you.”

  ~ * ~

  Darkness had fallen. I reached out with my other senses and looked for approaching energies. The cul-de-sac was vibrant. Leah, despite being human, was a cool blue. Parker was, unsurprisingly, a burning flame. Jess’s energy was dark and pure at once, and I wondered if mine was similar. Both sides of her fought a battle, seeking to break free, but at the moment, she was contained. Seth might have the power to coax that dark side to the surface. I wasn’t about to give him the chance, so I had to act first.

  Then the emptiness grew closer, surrounding the purest energy I had ever seen. I had to get Lucia back. She didn’t deserve the life she had.

  A beautiful man walked alone. His followers stayed in the shadows with Lucia. I remained where I was—at the mouth of the cul-de-sac—confident he couldn’t hurt me. Yet. At my word, everyone was staying well behind me, but I knew they were armed and ready should anything go wrong. Hopefully, Parker could stop Seth and his vampires before it got that far.

  “Good evening,” Seth called out in his melodic voice. “How are you this evening, daughter?”

  I snorted. “Some father you are. You don’t call. You don’t write. What gives you the right to call me your daughter?”

  “Killing your parents and making you mine gave me the right.” His smile made me want to punch his face in. “Don’t shun me now, dear. I’ve made you who you are. I just want to know one thing. What can you do that’s so precious that the angels themselves saved you? I’m curious.”

  “Join the club.” I took a deep breath. “Maybe they just knew you were arrogant enough to want something you can’t have.”

  “That does sound like them. Would you like to have a discussion, daughter?”

  “I thought we already were.”

  “Indeed, but let us get to the heart of the matter. I have something that I’m told is important not only to you but to the entire government. A half-blooded fae princess to boot. How lucky.”

  “Important to me? Where did you hear that?”

  He pouted. “So you didn’t make a shortcut through hell to save her? My mistake.”

  I bristled. “You know, I’m not sure how lucky it is to piss off an entire country.”

  He waved a hand. “Oh, I haven’t pissed off the entire country. Most of the fae would be happy if I cleansed them of the half-blooded embarrassments.” He winked. “They’re so short-sighted that they don’t see what I see in the next generation of mixed-blood warriors, but I’m what you call charming and persuasive. I could make them think of me as the second coming of Jesus if I wanted to.”

  “Not a little bit vain, are you? All right, cut the crap already. What do you want? I’m just about keeping the anger against you tamped down to a mild roar, so it would be for the best if Lucia is returned to her family… now.”

  “What do I want?” He almost sounded confused.

  “Yes. We’re going to work out a deal. You tell me what you want, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  He burst into laughter that made him seem almost ordinary. “And she has learned to
play the game. But all I want is the girl.”

  “You’re so predictable.” I smiled. “Let’s play a game. You give back Lucia, right now, and you can have me… if you can take me.”

  He chuckled. “You think I won’t be able to win a battle against you? I created you. I’m not sure if I admire your bravery or pity your stupidity.”

  “Yeah, but I’m really tainted. More so than Jess. See, her real daddy cut her out of her mother before the taint could kick in. Me? I was in there for hours with your poison. My mother lasted as long as it took to get me to safety. I’m the one who can, as you said, make a shortcut through Hell. Jess is a kid. She hasn’t shown what she can do yet. I’m the safe bet.”

  “But it’ll be so much harder to turn you to my way of thinking.”

  I shrugged. “If you can’t face the challenge, I’ll turn my back right now, take Jess, and dig for cover until you forget what either of us looked like.”

  “Why would you protect her? You barely know the child. Why do you want her?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I will never hand her over to anyone who’ll hurt her. And the only chance you have of getting me on your side is returning Lucia to her family.”

  To my surprise, he nodded and clicked his fingers. Lucia was pushed forward. He reached out and grabbed her, holding her next to his body. Her white hair was bloody, but she seemed fine.

  Still, I wanted to reach inside his chest and rip out anything I could find in there. I rose to my feet, knowing I had only a little time before somebody burst out of the cul-de-sac to get to Lucia.

  Seth glanced behind me. “Keep the guard dogs at bay.” He pushed Lucia toward me.

  Without thinking, I ran out to meet her. Seth flew at us, knocking Lucia out of the way and throwing me onto my back with one move.

  Flames immediately appeared behind me. Parker. Shouts of protest filled the air, barely audible over the roar of the fire. Lucia was stuck outside with the first vampire and me.

  “Run!” I shouted at her, jumping to my feet.

  I circled Seth to keep his attention on me long enough for Parker to get Lucia safely inside the cul-de-sac. But Lucia stayed near me. Seth calmly stood there, smiling at me like a crazy psychopath.

  Then, he took two steps toward Lucia. I rushed him, pulling the dagger out of my back pocket. I slid the blade across his neck. The resulting wound steamed and smoked. He roared in anger and punched at my face. His fist connected with my cheek.

  He followed through with a second strike, but I ducked out of the way. I was fast, but he was faster. I tried to lead him away from Lucia, but he pounced, knocking me to the ground. He gripped a hank of my hair and bashed my head against the ground.

  Seth leaned down and sniffed my neck. I felt his fangs against my skin.

  “For fuck’s sake.” I met his gaze as I struggled to hold him at bay. “If that’s what you want, just kill me already.”

  “I’m not going to kill anything I went to so much trouble to create,” he said with a thick laugh. “This is all part of the show. She’s listening to me, listening to the way I pull her to me. She’ll be here soon.”

  “I’m right here. You don’t need her.”

  “That’s not the point.” His fangs pricked my skin, making it burn as if he’d injected acid. “Misdirection, daughter. They took you from me and hid you so well that I left the country in search of you. Then I got word about a dark little girl who walked in the day, and I came back for you. But they put something else in my way to protect you. They created that other girl to lure me. They made her for me.”

  I pushed against him, feeling helpless. “Bullshit.”

  “Ah, but it’s true. I chased her and forgot about you, the real threat. Still, she has her own talents, and she is their gift to me. She belongs to me, now and always, in ways you never will. You may have what I need, but she has what I want, and you might be just a tad more trouble than you’re worth. She’ll come to me any minute now, and I’ll leave you to think about what you’ve done.” He trailed his fangs across my skin. “But I’ll come back for you. I always do.”

  “She’ll die in the fire before she could get to you,” I said.

  “Then you can watch.”

  He wrapped one strong hand around my neck and raised me up in the air. He held me there, facing the opening to the cul-de-sac. I started to feel dizzy from the inability to breathe. Up on the roof, Jessica came into view. She screamed something at Parker. He shook his head.

  Seth tightened his hold. I choked, feeling my eyes bulge in their sockets. The more I struggled, the tighter his grip became. The cul-de-sac’s protection was disappearing. I could feel it seeping away.

  Jessica took one last final look at me—or at Seth—then she jumped down from the roof and ran, past all of the people I had warned to stop her. They were too busy freaking out to notice. Jessica headed straight for the fire, determination written all over her face. And when she reached the flames, she didn’t stop. Parker let her pass unharmed. She had counted on him being unable to hurt her.

  Seth dropped me. Lucia ran to where I lay on the ground and held my hand as I sucked in breaths that hurt my throat. I tried to sit up but couldn’t. Jessica came closer and picked up my fallen dagger. Seth held out his hand.

  “I want to be strong,” Jessica told him. “I need to know how to be me.”

  They walked away together. And I couldn’t do a thing to stop it.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I lay on my back, staring up at the stars. I had taken back one friend only to give away a child who didn’t know what she was doing. I could have wept. The sounds of weapons clashing and yells of pain and anger filled the air.

  “Get inside,” I managed to croak to Lucia. “Away from the fighting.”

  But the fighters avoided us as if we carried some kind of disease. Or perhaps they had been ordered to leave us alone. Lucia sat next to me, holding my hand tightly.

  “No visions,” I whispered. “I can’t handle a vision right now.”

  She brushed my hair out of my eyes then helped me sit up. A sharp pain wrenched my torso.

  “Great,” I muttered. “Probably cracked another rib.”

  I didn’t have any energy left. The battle was being fought without me. I wasn’t needed, but I had caused it all. Adam was going to kill me.

  Lorcan reached his sister and pulled her away from me. Phoenix was there to protect them. Lucia looked back at me with sad eyes, and I shivered at the things she might know.

  Carl came over and knelt by my side. “Jesus, Ava. You almost gave me a heart attack. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  I tried to smile. “Same as always.”

  “We thought he was going to rip your head off right in front of us.”

  “He doesn’t want me dead. Not yet anyway.”

  He helped me to my feet. A shock ran through me at his touch.

  I pushed him away. “Holy… I thought you were over the weird magical side effects!”

  “I am. Mostly.” He looked embarrassed as he took my arm again. That time, nothing happened. “But it’s been crazy tonight, so cut me some slack.”

  “Panicker,” I said through gritted teeth.

  The last of the assassins were running. They had done their job of getting in our way long enough to let Seth escape with Jess.

  “Fuck me.” I hissed as pain rushed through my body again. “Quickest beat-down of all time.”

  Carl helped me back into the cul-de-sac, all the while lecturing me on terrible plans. Parker and Leah approached, both of them with guilty looks on their faces.

  “I’m sorry,” Leah said immediately. “You were hurt, and the magic was weakening. I told her about Mrs. Yaga, so she said she had to do something about it, that it’s her fight. Then she jumped and ran, and I…” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  “Why?” Adam roared, running over to us with a sword in his hand.

  Val rushed up behind him and took th
e weapon. He barely noticed. He reached us and raised a hand to Parker.

  Carl let go of me and got between them just in time. “Calm down. Take it easy, Adam.”

  “Why would you let her leave, Parker?” Adam demanded. “You know how she is. Why would you even—”

  “She would have been burned!” Parker shouted. “I couldn’t burn her!”

  “We can fix a burn.” Adam’s face had turned scarlet. “We can’t fix this.”

  “Adam,” I said, “we’ll find them.”

  “And if she doesn’t want to come back? If she turns to the darkness?”

  “Maybe you should give her a little credit,” Carl said. “She did it to protect everyone else, including you. She did what she thought was best in a terrible situation. She’s not going to turn to the darkness.”

  I wasn’t so sure. I knew she had made a choice, but I didn’t know what would happen since Seth had finally gotten his hands on her.

  At that moment, I realised that the protection over the cul-de-sac was still shaky. I felt weak all of a sudden. Had I risked everything for nothing? I had to end matters with Seth then figure out a way to restore the protection. I couldn’t rest until then.

  Peter approached and looked me up and down. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded. “I’m fine. I need Anka for a minute, but then we go hunting.”

  His concern turned into a dark smile, a reminder of the Peter I used to know. “Good plan.”

  He let me lean on him as we walked to Anka’s house. “That was a really fucking stupid idea back there.”

  “Wasn’t so much an idea as a whim.”

  “You’re getting worse.”

  “I know.” I couldn’t keep up the brave face for long. “He’s so strong, Peter. I’m scared shitless of him.”

  He faced me. “No, you’re not. He’s just another being who thinks he’s too big to die. You’re going to change that, just like you always do.”

  “What if this is the time it goes wrong?” I smiled wryly. “Even more wrong.”