At least we could bargain with the vamps and have a chance of winning through reason. But it all boiled down to the fact that two bloodthirsty predatory groups now divided the town. And they were aching to shake it up, looking for any excuse to throw down.
As for us? We were on a reconnaissance mission.
Kaylin was riding shotgun. My father—Wrath, King of the Court of Rivers and Rushes—and Lannan Altos—the vampire I loved to hate who had become an unexpected ally—sprawled in the backseat.
We were on our way to see what was left of the Veil House, if anything. We’d been holed up for two days, planning out our next moves. Finally, tired of being cooped up, I suggested an expedition. If we could sneak back into Vyne Street, we might be able to scavenge something useful from the ashes.
I dreaded seeing the pile of rubble. I expected to find a burned-out shell filled with soot and charcoal, soggy from the snow. But when Rhiannon had suggested coming, I stopped her. Better that I go. My cousin Rhiannon had grown up at the Veil House. She’d lost her mother there. Asking her to go on a raiding expedition would have only been cruel. Besides, the four of us were the ones least likely to be killed.
A glance over my shoulder told me that my father was doing his best to avoid touching the metal framework of the car. The iron in the car hurt him, but he swallowed the pain, saying nothing. I admired his strength and reserve, and thought that finally, I had a role model—someone I could be proud of in my family.
“You don’t think I’ll develop a weakness to iron, do you? Favonis has never bothered me.” I’d only recently discovered that I was half Cambyra Fae and that Wrath was my father.
“You are worried about this?” Wrath leaned forward, still looking ill at ease.
“I’m just wondering…The more my Fae lineage comes to the surface, will it make me more vulnerable to the things you are?”
“Eyes back on the road, please. I don’t fancy dying in this contraption.” He gave me a slight shake of the head. “If you were to develop our intolerance to iron, it would have happened by now. The only reason you didn’t discover your owl-shifter capabilities earlier was because I laid a spell on the pendant I hid for you—and on you—when you were a child, that you not come into them until you were where I could teach you.”
“Good, because I love my car.” I longed to flip on the radio, to listen to some sound other than the quiet hush of our breathing, but it wasn’t a good idea. We were trying to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. I’d wanted to do this during the day, but Lannan couldn’t travel then. And during the day, we’d be far more visible to Myst and Geoffrey’s spies.
“What are we looking for?” Lannan asked. “I don’t understand why you want to go back to that burned-out shell. I have money. If you need something, I can buy it for you.”
I shook my head, glancing at the rearview mirror, even though I knew I wouldn’t see his reflection. “Not everything we need can be purchased. At least not now. I want to see if we can find any of our magical supplies. I’d just made a lot of charms for Wind Charms, and if any still survive, they might help us. And…I just need to see…” I paused.
“You need to see the Veil House and what happened to it,” Kaylin said.
I kept my eyes on the road, even as my voice was shaking. “Yes.”
“You need the reality to settle in,” Kaylin added.
“Exactly.” I nodded. “But don’t even say the word ‘closure’ to me. There can never be closure, not until Myst is dead and routed out of the wood.”
I pressed my lips together, still bitter over the way things had worked out. Two of our most powerful allies had turned their backs on us because I refused to go along with a plan that would have changed my nature forever, that would have put me in danger of becoming a monster.
As if sensing my thoughts, Wrath leaned forward and put his hand on my shoulder. The weight and strength in his fingers reassured me. “You chose the correct path. It may be more difficult than the one Geoffrey offered you, but you must trust in your instincts, Cicely.”
I nodded, trying to calm the feelings of betrayal that ran through my heart. What was past was past, and we’d have to do without either Lannan’s people or the Summer Queen’s help. As I turned onto a side street, I turned off the headlights. We’d wing it in the dark from here. Favonis fishtailed and I eased the wheels into the skid, slowly pulling out before we bounced off the curb. The silent fall of snow continued, as the long winter held us hostage in her embrace.
Fifteen slow minutes later, we approached the turn for Vyne Street. A cul-de-sac, this street—and the Veil House—had been the only home I’d ever truly known. For years I’d longed to get off the streets, to run away from my mother and return to New Forest, Washington. Now that I had my wish, all hell had broken loose.
As we approached the end of the road, where the Veil House had stood until two nights ago, I realized I was holding my breath. What would we find? And would we have to fight off a host of Myst’s Shadow Hunters to get through to the ruins?
I pulled into the drive, finally daring to look over at the house. A blackened silhouette stood there—and my heart began to race. I reached for the car door handle.
“It’s not all rubble! There’s something left!”
I started to jump out of the car, but Lannan snaked over the backseat and his arm looped around my neck, yanking me back. “Be careful, my beautiful Cicely. The night is filled with predators. Don’t go running over there without us in tow.” His voice was seductive but oddly protective.
I glanced back at him. Lannan Altos, the golden boy, with jet black vampire eyes that gleamed in the dark, set off by the golden hair that fell past his shoulders. He was gorgeous, and a freak, and his fingers lingered on my skin. I tried to ignore the lurch in my stomach at his touch.
“Good idea.” I’d been so eager I’d almost lost my head. And that could lead to losing my life. I was learning, but over the years I’d had plenty of occasions where I’d had to leap without looking, and I’d gotten used to running hard and fast. But here we had to bide our time, because the hunters who dogged our heels were far more deadly than any perv or junkie or cop on the street.
I leaned back in my seat, staring at the house. Beyond the three-story Victorian stood the Golden Wood, which spread out, buttressed against the foothills of the Cascades on its far edge. But the golden glow of the Summer Queen was only a memory, and now the forest belonged to Myst, with her spiders and her snow. The aura of the trees glowed with a sickly greenish-blue light, and I began to tremble. Evil lurked within the woodland, and a ruthless darkness.
I closed my eyes, calling for Ulean. We were bonded, she and I—she was the essence of the wind, an Elemental linked to my soul, and we worked as a team.
Do you sense anything out there?
Her words came in a rush through my mind. Yes, there are two of the Vampiric Fae hunting around back of the house. If you creep up on them, I’ll keep your scent from traveling ahead of you.
Anything else I should know?
She is out there, far in the forest, weaving her magic. And she is hungry, and angry. You stole Grieve back from her—she wants your blood and your soul. Myst is growing stronger even as the winter strengthens.
I nodded, then turned to the others. “Two of the Shadow Hunters are on the far side of the house. Ulean will run interference for our scent, but be prepared to take them down. No prisoners, no survivors.”
No prisoners. That had become our creed. I was still getting used to the feeling of being a killer. It wasn’t a label that weighed easily on my mind, but it was what it was, and Myst was who she was, and it was either us or them.
We quietly climbed out of the car and I craned my neck, listening. My father was doing the same. Lannan and Kaylin stood, poised for trouble.
A gust of wind howled past and I projected myself onto the slipstream. A whisper rushed by. What did you find? Does anything live?
And then, Only trinkets. She will
not want them. No flesh. No life. Nothing of importance.
They were searching for the cats, most likely. But we’d managed to save them all from the flames and falling timbers. I turned to the others. “We go in. Take them down. Wrath, can you go in your owl form? They won’t be expecting that.”
My father nodded, stepping away from us. He shimmered, and then, in a blur, lifted his arms. They became feathered wings, an almost six-foot span. His body transformed, shrinking into owl form, and then, there he stood, nearly three feet tall and just as regal—a great horned owl.
I sucked in a deep breath, my blood recognizing his. Beside me, Kaylin let out a little sound, and Lannan stiffened, watching with almost too much interest. His obsidian eyes glittered, taking in every nuance of the metamorphosis.
When Wrath was ready, he launched himself off the ground and took to the air, circling us until I jerked my head at the others and crouched, moving forward slowly and cautiously. Wrath disappeared around the house, his wings silently propelling him through the night.
Are you ready? We’re about to move forward.
Ulean’s hushed reply echoed through me. Yes, I will fly ahead and disrupt your scent. They will not know you are coming.
And so we moved. I took the lead, with Kaylin behind me and Lannan moving silent as the night behind him. For some reason, Lannan’s stealth surprised me, though I don’t know why—vampires made no sound when they chose not to. Perhaps it was because he was so flamboyant. Perhaps because he always had to have the last word. Whatever the case, we moved in unison, stooping through the shadows, keeping to the sides of the ruined Veil House.
My fan was looped around my wrist. With it I could summon up gale-force winds against our enemies, even a tornado, but Lainule had warned me to use it with caution. Magical objects had a way of taking over their owners if you weren’t careful. In my other hand I held a dagger my father had given me. Kaylin was armed with shurikens, and Lannan carried no weapons. He was a weapon.
We circled the house, the scent of sodden ash and charcoal filling my nose. I caught my breath, once again struck by the loss we’d endured. But worse yet was the loss of my aunt Heather. She had been the heart and soul of the Veil House. Thinking about her, living under Myst’s rule, made me cringe. I forced my attention back to what we were doing. There would be time enough to assess the Veil House after we were done. As for Heather…she was long lost to us. There was nothing we could do but attempt to release her spirit.
As we rounded the corner, there they were. The Shadow Hunters. Vampiric Fae. They lurched up off their haunches as we rushed in, and one of them let out a low hiss. The cerulean cast to their skin glowed in the light of the falling snow, and their eyes were dark like the vampires, with sparkling white stars glittering through them.
I rushed forward, trying to reach them before they transformed. As I moved in toward one, Wrath came winging down with a shriek and grappled the other by the shoulder.
The Shadow Hunter screamed and twisted as my father raked his skin and then flew just out of reach as Kaylin sent a flurry of shurikens into the man. I launched myself at my opponent, with Lannan right on my heels.
“Bitch!” The Shadow Hunter saw me coming and pulled out an obsidian blade. Crap. Their blades were usually poisoned, so sharp that they could rip through skin like a hot knife through butter. And I had a particularly hard time with obsidian. I’d learned how easily its nature could unleash my predatory nature.
I darted to the side as he brought the blade to bear and lunged past his outstretched arm to drive my own dagger into his side. He let out a scream and began to transform as Lannan came in from the other side.
The Shadow Hunter shifted, his mouth unhinging as his jaw lengthened and he went down on all fours, turning into a monstrous doglike beast with razor-sharp teeth. He rushed toward me, even as Lannan landed on his back and brought his fangs down onto the back of the creature’s neck, distracting it.
I grabbed the chance, plunging my blade between its eyes. As the Shadow Hunter screeched, Lannan reared back and plunged his fangs deep in the flesh as he ripped open the veins. A fountain of blood bubbled up, spurting into the air, foaming over the side of the beast. With a throaty laugh, Lannan began to drink from the wound.
I stumbled back, yanking my dagger out of the creature’s skull, unable to look away. There was something primal, something feral and wild and passionate about watching the vampire feed, and I wanted to reach out, to run my hand through his hair, to brush his lips with my own…
Ulean howled around me. No, Cicely, keep hold of yourself. Watch your yourself—you are stepping too close to the flame.
Shaking my head, I forced myself to turn away and brushed my hands across my eyes. Damn it. Ever since I’d drank Lannan’s blood there’d been a bond between us that I did not want. But I couldn’t shake it, no matter how hard I tried to deny it existed. I’d noticed, over the past few days, that I felt him when he was near, like a shadow creeping behind me, waiting for me. As much as I tried to hide my feelings from Grieve, I was afraid he’d noticed.
Shaky, my knees weak, I turned to see my father—back in his Fae form—and Kaylin finishing off their opponent. Wrath was carrying a curved dagger and he slit the man’s throat quickly and quietly, stepping away as the Shadow Hunter clutched at his neck and went tumbling to the ground.
After a moment they were both silent bodies in the snow, and a pale stain of blood spread around them, dyeing the brilliant white with dark crimson. Lannan pulled away from the creature, who had reverted to his Fae form. He wiped his mouth on his hand, his eyes glittering. His shirt was stained with blood, and he fastened his gaze on me.
Stepping forward, he reached for my hand and, unable to look away, I let him take it. With a slow, sinuous smile, he lifted my fingers to his mouth, kissing them with his bloody lips.
A shiver raced through me, a live wire that set me aflame. There was something about the blood splattered on him, about the savage way he’d tore into the Shadow Hunter, that had set me off. As if he could sense my thoughts, Lannan’s smile turned into a smirk, and he squeezed my hand so tightly I almost screamed. And then he slowly let go, one finger at a time.
My wolf growled and I pressed my hand to the tattoo on my stomach. Grieve could sense my feelings, and he wasn’t happy. I quieted him, even as Lannan leaned close to my ear.
“I can smell your arousal,” Lannan whispered. “I’ll fuck you right here if you want me to.” But before my father could hear him, he backed away.
I turned to find Kaylin staring coldly at me, suspicion in his eyes, but he said nothing. Instead, he motioned to the house. “We should get in there and see what we can find before any of their kinfolk arrive.”
Not trusting my voice, I nodded and looked at the house. This side had been the most damaged, and I wasn’t sure how much I trusted the roof over the kitchen. Most of it had burned away, but there were still patches held up by support beams that had survived the inferno, albeit heavily damaged. The front of the house had looked much more stable.
“We go in through the front,” I finally said. The others followed me. Kaylin stopped to pocket the obsidian knives from our enemies. We hurried back around the house and up the front steps.
The house is clear?
Ulean shivered against me. Yes, the house is empty, but do not tarry. The woods are alert tonight. The hunters are awake and active. They are searching for you and Grieve. And all who helped him escape.
“We have to hurry. Myst’s people are out in full force and we don’t have a lot of time.” I jogged up the stairs and pushed open the door. We hadn’t had time to lock it when we were rushing to escape.
As I entered the living room, it hit me just how much had happened in the past few weeks—and how much we’d all lost.
My name is Cicely Waters and I’m one of the magic-born, a witch who can control the wind. I’m also part Cambyra Fae—the Shifting Fae—and can shift into an owl. On that front, I only rece
ntly learned about my heritage and have in no way honed my abilities. But in a few short weeks I’ve learned to love being in my owl form, and I’ve found a freedom I’ve never before experienced.
When I was very young, Grieve—the Fae prince of the Court of Rivers and Rushes—and his friend Chatter came to my cousin Rhiannon and me and taught us how to use our innate abilities. It was Grieve who bound me to Ulean, my wind Elemental, telling me I would need her help. In a sense, he was foreshadowing my life to come.
When I turned six, my mother dragged me down the stairs of the Veil House, and we headed out on the road. Both Heather and the only stability I’d ever known vanished in the blink of one afternoon.
I learned early on how to survive on the streets. I’d longed to return to the Veil House, but Krystal—a meth head who used booze and drugs to dim her own gifts—wasn’t capable of surviving on her own, and so I stayed with her until she died in the gutter, a bloodwhore who’d serviced one bad trick too many. Until that day, I’d kept us going, using my ability to hear messages on the wind to stay one step ahead of the cops and the drug runners.
And now my mother was dead, and I’d finally returned to New Forest, Washington. But too little, too late. My aunt had been captured by Myst, and my cousin Rhiannon was terrified for her life. Now, Myst holds the town in her icy grip, and she’s out to spread her people throughout the land, to conquer the vampires and use the magic-born and yummanii—the humans—as cattle.
In a life long, long ago, I was Myst’s daughter. And Grieve had been my lover. We’d defied our families to be together, rampaging through the bounty hunters and soldiers who sought for us. We’d hidden behind rocks and trees, snared them in traps, and I’d torn them to shreds, reveling in the blood.
Grieve and I fought for our love, killed for our love, and, at the end, when we were cornered and couldn’t escape, we chose to die, binding ourselves together forever with a potion designed to bring us back together again in another life.