Taste

  Esther was extremely pleased to see Elathan. “Um, Ava? I think he would be an excellent teammate for me. His skills sort of back up my own. You know? Right? You know?”

  “Oh, for the love of… he is not boyfriend material. You know? Right? You know?”

  She stuck her tongue out at me, and I pulled her into a tight hug.

  “Be good,” I said. “Organise the people because I need to speak to Peter.”

  “Sure thing, boss lady,” she teased.

  I strode into my home before I chickened out. Peter was sitting on the sofa. Carl had already gone outside to see what was going on, and Emmett was in Dita’s home, so it was just me and Peter, a rarity of late.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah. They wanted to use the children, but now they’re using werewolves instead. Not tonight, maybe tomorrow though.”

  He whistled. “Werewolves? If the stories are true, you need to keep away from that.”

  “Um, they kind of… I’m going to be in the middle of the werewolves, actually.”

  He rubbed his eyes and swore. “Are you serious? This is what I’m talking about, Ava! You get yourself in the most impossible of situations, and you look at me like I’m a bad person when I warn you.”

  “Stop,” I whispered. “Just say it already.”

  “I’m leaving tomorrow,” he said bluntly, then he let out a breath. “It’s good for me, and it’s good for Emmett.”

  I shook my head a little, not wanting it to be true.

  He reached out a hand. “You keep telling me to put Emmett first. Well, here I am, putting him first. It’s too dangerous here right now. And the way he acted earlier… maybe his relationship with you isn’t so healthy anymore. Maybe this, watching you, all of the madness combined is not helping him deal with what’s happened to him.”

  He got up and paced the room. “I think this is the only way.”

  My lips trembled, but I forced the words out. “Where are you going?”

  “To see the last resort. I called my dad, and he seems fine with us coming over there. I’m not sure he understands what’s going on, but I have to get out of here. I need Emmett as far away from this stuff as possible.”

  I licked my lips, feeling as though all of the moisture in my body had been leeched away. “Are you ever coming back?”

  “I hope so. But we might not. I’m sorry, Ava. I can’t even ask you to come with us. Not with the way things are.”

  “I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to,” I whispered. I tried to think of life without the two of them. Of waking up every day on my own, and I felt sick again.

  “So you have to make him realise he has to come with me. I can’t deal with him throwing temper tantrums all the way to Spain.”

  “I’ve already told him,” I said.

  But he kept talking as if he didn’t hear me. “I mean, this is because you’ve bonded too closely with him. He can’t handle it now, and it’s your fault, so you have to fix it. You have to.”

  “Peter!”

  He looked at me then for the first time, his face a mix of confusion and irritation.

  “Stop ruining it,” I said. “This could be goodbye, either way. So stop fucking it up by acting like a dick already.”

  He grinned suddenly and reached for me. “I don’t want to go,” he said.

  “I know.”

  “But I have to.”

  “I know, stupid.”

  “I want to come back.”

  I pulled away. “You’re doing what I asked you to do, taking care of him. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Now I have to go. Will I be able to say goodbye to him tomorrow? Before you leave?”

  He nodded.

  I slipped out of his arms and went outside, glad he didn’t follow me. “We need to move on to the next couple of places,” I called out to Eddie.

  He nodded and began to finish up the ritual with Marina.

  “Who’s staying here?” I asked Val.

  “Peter and me,” she said. “I need to take care of Leah and Lucia.”

  “Then I’ll come with you,” Lorcan said.

  I bit my lip, not wanting him to be seen. “That won’t work. You need to stay close to Lucia. After last night, this place needs more protection. Gabe, Esther, Elathan, you’re all with me until we have to split up. Maybe we shouldn’t split up.” I stared into the distance, suddenly very unsure of myself.

  “Ava, can I talk to you for a minute?” Esther asked, pulling me away from the group. Once we got out of hearing range of the others, she said, “Listen to me. I know they’re leaving, but you need to keep your head together.”

  “Your brother’s been asking for you, and I’m pretty certain the werewolf keeper is related to the twins. My head is just…”

  “Okay, I can see why that might rattle you, but we’re fighting a war. Yes, we’re going to bump into people we might not want to see, but tough shit. We have no choice.”

  “I know. I’m afraid of making a massive mistake. Like last night almost became. It’s getting late, and I—”

  “Don’t even think about that kind of thing. It’ll mess with your head. You did the right thing by everyone last night. People are watching a press conference held by an immortal being right now, this very second, Ava. That’s huge. It’ll go a long way toward us surviving. The entire country.”

  “Are you safe with Elathan?” I asked. “And I mean, a mature Guardian Esther answer, not a horny schoolgirl Esther answer.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes at me. “I’m safe. I promise. What are you thinking then? What’s the plan?”

  “Aiden said he’d keep track of where the Guardians are and wherever sightings pop up, so we can deal with things as quickly as possible. I’m thinking we need to separate. If you and Elathan are cool together, you could cover a certain amount of ground. Gabe can drive Eddie and Marina around, let them put their freak on as many places as possible, and if anything shows up, they can handle it.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m going wherever I’m needed,” I said. “I’ll be quicker alone. Less distracted.”

  We went back to the others, and I told them the new plan, but not many of them looked convinced.

  “Shouldn’t we group together in case a large wave comes through?” Elathan asked, sounding less light-hearted.

  “No, we need to pick them off, guerrilla style. We’re Irish. It’s in our blood.” I smiled. “If word comes that they’re focusing on one area, then we’ll all end up together anyway. I think they’ll try a different tactic. That’s what I would do.”

  “And exactly how much tactical war experience do you have?” he asked smartly.

  “Enough,” Gabe said. “We all know what we’re doing.”

  “Great,” I said. “Esther and Elathan, I think you two should head to the flats again. At least drop in and check on ‘em, make sure they’re set up for another round. After that, move along to other flats and estates in the city until you get a call. Be prepared to leave the city on short notice though. I might ring Shay and see if I can keep an open line with the gardaí, my own line. Everyone, keep your phones close. If plans change, you need to be on it. Gabe, drive Eddie and Marina around until we need you.”

  “Where will you be?” he asked me.

  “Running alone. Tomorrow I’ll be with some werewolves, so I’d like to make the most of the peace tonight.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  I still had no real idea what I was doing. I just knew I needed to be alone. Too much had happened in the last few days. I was spinning away, unable to catch my breath.

  When everything was over, people would resent me: Peter, for putting Emmett into danger; Carl, for forcing him to be honest with the people in his life; Gabe, for making his life the least comfortable it had ever been; Val, for taking away her and Leah and Lucia’s safety. The list went on. I could feel the pressure of them relying on me, making me feel ready to burst and splatter us all with my ineptitude, but most
of us had nothing left to lose.

  The worst part was that when the war was over, we were preparing ourselves to instigate yet another. It occurred to me that Fionnuala had played the werewolf card to show us what they had on their side in case we ever got out of line. As they had warned me in the tunnels, I was part-vampire. I could easily be a natural enemy to the werewolves.

  The children and the werewolves were two issues I would have to deal with sooner or later—all caged against their will, ready to be used whenever the Council desired. It couldn’t feel right to those in charge unless their hearts and consciences really were non-existent.

  Who was I to talk? I had made a deal with Eddie Brogan and a black magic witch. I was pulling fallen angels, hellhounds, and the demons Hell didn’t want along with me. I was pushing the uncontrollable creatures into being in charge when the dust settled. But none of that sat right with me for even a second.

  I made my way east, determined to be close to the coast if all hell broke loose. I would fight to the end, knowing I had done my best. Eventually, the war would run right over me.

  I shivered at the morbid thoughts attacking my mood. I had to get home. I had to. I still needed to say goodbye to Emmett and to Peter, properly. I couldn’t give up. Not even if I wanted to.

  I kept going, more determined now that dusk approached. It had been the longest day of all time. I’d had a couple of hours sleep, tops. I had spent the entire day running around like an idiot, and I was back out in the night ready to fight a war again.

  A car drove past, squealed to a stop, and reversed so the occupants could get a better look at me.

  “It is her,” one of the women shouted shrilly. “It is.”

  I ignored their pleas to look around until the driver shouted, “Show us your fangs, love!”

  Tickled by the phrase, I obliged, and the car fell silent.

  I stood there, staring at them, until the female in the passenger seat slapped the driver in the arm. “I told you it was true!”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “Get off the streets,” I said. “Weren’t you listening? It’s getting late. Bad things come out in the dark.”

  “Don’t worry, love,” the woman said. “We’re all prepared. Got silver, crosses, stakes, the lot.”

  “You’re going to need a lot more than that.” I gave them directions to Moses’s flats. “Go there if you’re running away. Tell them I sent you.”

  They laughed as if it was a joke, and I hoped they would survive the night. I hoped they took the threat seriously.

  As the car drove away, I took out my phone and rang Shay.

  “I need you to keep me informed,” I said before he could even say hello. “It’s important that you let me know if you hear of any sightings.”

  “Of course,” he said. “I’m in a riot van at the moment actually. The back is full of people armed to the hilt. We have a system going. It isn’t exactly official, but we couldn’t sit at home and wait.”

  “Just let me know where I’m needed,” I said. “I have contact with, um, basically the supernatural version of you. In fact, I’ll give you a number. Ring and tell him I told you to call. Exchange info with him, and it might work a bit more smoothly. Try not to act as though he’s the scum on your shoe, even though he isn’t actually human, all right?”

  “Ava, don’t. I didn’t mean to… I was in shock, and I handled it badly. The way Peter told it made it seem like… listen. It doesn’t even matter. You’re right. I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me.”

  I heard cheers and whistles in the background and rolled my eyes. “I don’t even care, Shay. Just do what I asked. I’ll text you the number.”

  I hung up, feeling as though I had dealt with another thread: Shay and Aiden connecting with each other. I hoped it would make it easier not to step on anyone’s toes.

  A thrill of excitement ran through me at the idea I was bringing my two worlds together. As long as they didn’t collide in a mass of blood, spit, and hellfire, we would be okay.

  Dusk approached, and goose bumps rose on my skin. It was time. I remained permanently on edge, my senses reaching out as far as I could manage. Before I could find anything, my phone rang. I answered with a harsh greeting.

  “Ava, we heard there’s a disturbance at the port,” Shay said. “I’m about to call your contact, but I wanted to let you know first.”

  “Don’t bother calling me unless nobody else can deal with it. I’m on it though. I’ll let you know if it’s anything.” I was about to hang up when I heard a sound in the distance. “Hold on a second,” I said to Shay.

  I sent out my other sight to figure out what was coming. I saw two energies that might be beasts, but they were too fast. It didn’t make sense. Then a sound made me see everything clearly. “Oh, crap,” I said. “They’re in a helicopter.”

  “What?”

  “Two of those things.In a helicopter. It’s not coming this way. I don’t know where it’s going.”

  “Where exactly are you right now?”

  I told him, and he said he’d get on it. He hung up, and I imagined him calling everyone with the news. I remembered the private jet I had travelled in with a couple of members of the BVA before. They had money. Enough for a fleet of helicopters? Possibly.

  I ran in the direction of the helicopter, despite knowing I could never catch it. Other energy forms popped up in my view, only some of them the vampire’s beasts. For the first time, I began to look forward to being paired with werewolves.

  A nothingness came into my line of sight, closely followed by a beast. I hid in a doorway, trying to figure out what was going on. Definitely a vampire, but why were they so close to the beast? Or rather, how?

  They both passed me by, running at speed, but the beast glanced around, and I saw his face was covered with a silver muzzle. It snarled, but the vampire urged it forward, pulling at a silver chain with gloved hands. The beast’s feet were chained together to make sure it couldn’t get a good pace going.

  I followed from a distance, texting Shay to let him know what I had seen so he could pass the info onto Aiden. The beast kept howling, freaking out at my presence, but the idiotic vampire remained oblivious, and I guessed she was a young one. They were less perceptive.

  The vampire stopped at an apartment building and kicked open the door. I was there before she could release the beast, my dagger all nice and glowy in my hand.

  She snarled at me, but she obviously picked up something different about me, because she backed off. Her hand reached to release the beast. Kicking the beast out of the way, I threw myself at the vampire. But the beast thumped me in the back, hulk-smash-style.

  Covering my groan, I rolled out of the way of the beast, pulling the vampire on top of me. She was no fighter, and it was easy to use her as a handy shield while the beast pummelled at us. She screamed, and I gutted her with the dagger, rolling out of the way as her body burned. The beast stared, his head cocked to the side. I made the most of the distraction by severing his spinal cord. I had been practicing that move. He lay twitching until I put him out of his misery.

  It was going to be one of those long nights again. I felt it in the air, tasted it on my tongue. I fished my phone out of my pocket while I ran in the direction the vampire had originally come from.

  “Any news?” I asked Shay when he answered. “Just took one down, but he was still muzzled, so I’m not sure it counts. The vampire leading him wasn’t a trained fighter. Strong, but clueless. Probably a younger one.”

  “No concrete sightings as of yet, but Aiden said he has enough people close to the port,” Shay said. “Only vague info on the helicopter. Watch yourself, Ava. They have a plan. Make sure you’re not too close to the middle of it.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said. “Wouldn’t it be handy if they were all hiding out in a warehouse I could set on fire?”

  I heard excited voices in the background and the word “helicopter.” Shay told me to call him back in ten minutes.

&nb
sp; Aiden rang me first. “Guardians have a sighting. The helicopter dropped out two of the things, just like you told that garda. You vouch for him, by the way?”

  “Yeah, he’ll hear the human side of the story tonight, I reckon. Work with him, and we should be able to handle this. Did he tell you they’re muzzling the animals now? That’s how they’re leading them around.”

  “Yeah, he did. Any word from Esther?”

  “She’s with Elathan.”

  He made a choked sound. “He’ll be able to take care of her anyway.”

  “She can take care of herself,” I said.

  “So you’re alone? Nobody else with you?”

  “No, I sent them out. Why?”

  “Just be careful is all.”

  I hung up and kept moving, trying to find something, anything. I found a gang of teenage shifters. Little idiots on the streets on a night like that.

  “Shouldn’t you be at home?” I asked snappily, and the five of them glanced at me in surprise. One, the smallest one, tried to square up to me, and I burst out laughing. He looked furious, but I couldn’t help it.

  “Run along home before something bigger comes along and eats you,” I said, shaking my head.

  Then I felt it. Something coming. The shifters sensed it seconds after I did.

  “Run,” I whispered, but they didn’t. Stupidly stubborn little idiots. “Get out of here. I mean it!”

  “Tony, let’s go,” one of them said, backing away. His friends gathered behind me until I felt like kicking their arses.

  “Leave,” I shouted, as a beast came running down the road toward us. Her face was covered in blood, and a broken muzzle hung from her neck. “Somebody left the gate open,” I said, half to myself, and ran to meet the thing.

  Fuelled by fresh blood, she threw herself at me, and the force of her weight sent us both skidding along the road. When I tried to get to my feet, my entire back felt as though all the skin had been torn away.

  The shifters surrounded us, snarling and snapping, ready to join in the fight. They didn’t shift, and I vaguely wondered if they were still underage or just didn’t want to strip in the street.