I whimpered and pressed a hand to my throat, feeling physically sick. Could Ana have lied to me to protect her family? Was she swayed by a need to defend her Father even as she tried to fight for what was right and good? She had looked me in the eye and told me the vampires had started the Rupture. The global event in which everyone believed the vampires attacked the humans first and the rest of demonkind were forced to fight since the humans turned on them too. Did she know the truth? That they were under her Cael’s influence? I knew she had kept things from me on Breandan’s request, but surely, he could not know about this?
I dry heaved and bent over, resting my hands on my knees as I fought to regain my equilibrium.
More questions with no answers to hand. Everything I learned took me one step closer to nothing. I was moving sideways, darting through shadows of half-truths and lies. How was I supposed to know what I was supposed to do when I could not trust the actions of those closest to me? Was every action a cover for a nefarious end? No wonder Devlin had turned to black magic in desperation, for protection. It seemed there were daggers cloaked and waiting to spear you at every turn.
Satisfied I was not going to toss up any nectar I said, “This changes things.” I stood and shook my hair back. It had finally stopped growing, and reached the middle of my back. It made my head feel heavy, but it smelt like the forest, and was a comfort in this dank place. Tomas’ expression was curious. My tongue burned as I added, “This makes your kind worth fighting for.” I looked him in the eye and squashed the knee trembling pleasure I felt when I did, afraid he would see the way he made me feel. “Tell me everything.”
The door burst open. Daphne bolted in and closed it behind her.
She spun and plastered herself against it, arms flung wide. “Gwendolyn,” she whispered before the door was flung open pushing her with it until she and the door slapped into the wall.
The vampire Queen strutted into the room, ringlets bouncing, bare feet slapping the dirty floor. It was meant to be a casual entrance but it reeked of quiet desperation. Vampires had a liquid movement that went beyond mere grace. They didn’t strut, they glided, and so her flippant attitude looked forced. Her hands were in the back pockets of her ragged jeans and her collarbones jutted out painfully. Gwendolyn looked underfed. Her eye sockets were sunken and her skin ashy pale, even for a vampire. Though none of this diminished her breathtaking natural beauty, and it took a great deal of will not to pull my glamour on in a pitiful attempt to cover my scars.
Daphne grunted and slipped out from behind the door, rubbing her cheek.
Gwendolyn took in Tomas’ closeness to me in a lingering gaze, her thin brows rising with exaggerated slowness even as a fire burned in the depths of her eyes.
Rather than step away from me, Tomas moved in front of me and cocked his head in a show of respect. “Love?” he asked with a hint of impatience.
She smiled and held out a grubby hand with nails bitten into ragged stumps. “We have a visitor,” she purred.
Tomas went stiff and Daphne’s head whipped round to stare at him. Her entire body shifted into battle mode, even her braids appeared rigid, but with the slightest motion of Tomas’ hand, she relaxed her stance. She sent me a sorrowful look then looked away at the floor where Devlin’s body had lain.
My blood ran cold. Was the he-witch here for me already? I lifted my chin. I had faced him before and I would again. No matter if I was tried, emotionally drained, unable to use magic, and struggling to hold myself upright. I had faced him before and come out alive. I ignored the voice in my head that whispered the fear I had not hurt the he-witch, but that he had left of his own accord with a parting message….
“Feicfidh mé thú go luath, deirfiúr,” I muttered.
I didn’t know what it meant, but it felt like he meant me to think of it – of him – until our next meeting.
An odd slapping sound snagged my attention. Gwendolyn scuttled back on her heels away from me. “Labhraíonn sí an teanga ar an witches?” Gwendolyn spat at Tomas. “Dúirt tú liom go bhfuil sí eolas beag.”
“Níl sí ar Cael’s Coven,” Tomas replied in a soothing voice. “Calma síos.”
“You understood what I said?” I asked them both sharply.
“We have an alliance with the Blackthorn Coven,” Gwendolyn said with an odd roundabout rolling of her eyes. “Of course we speak the tongue of their incantations.”
“Alliance?’ I echoed. “Tomas didn’t make it sound as voluntary as that.”
“Because it’s not,” Daphne confessed. “Cael’s hold over us grows stronger by the day.” She placed a hand on her stomach, which gurgled loudly. “I don’t know if we could survive without him if we tried. He sends us blood, be-spelled blood that keeps us full enough to do his grunt work. It’s the only reason we’re alive.”
Gods, it kept getting worse. My hands fisted in anger. “Tell me what it means.” The look Gwendolyn gave me was rude and self satisfied. This vampire Queen was somewhat underwhelming now I had seen how insecure she was. I ground my back teeth together, understanding why Breandan succumbed to the habit so often. The pressure helped ease the anger and frustration building behind the eyeballs. “It’s not that big a deal. Tell me you demented–”
“I will see you soon, sister,” Daphne blurted. “That’s what it means, Rae.”
Gwendolyn slapped her.
I hissed and she snarled lurching forward, but Daphne was already in front of me, fangs bared, eyes flashing black.
“Enough,” Tomas said in a hard voice.
Daphne straightened and bowed her head. Gwendolyn sniffed and crossed her arms, leaned back on her heel as she fixed me with a glare.
Already over it, I frowned, and looked to Tomas for confirmation of what had been said. He gave a small nod.
“That’s it?’ I muttered. But it makes no sense. I’m not part of his Coven, and–”
“And thank the gods for that,” Gwendolyn butted in. Recovering fully from her sudden rage, she drew herself up tall. “Well, my consort and his loyal subordinate have spoken out of turn yet again, I see.” She gave said mate a lethal look. “No matter, such things can be dealt with. Come along, he is waiting, and the night grows old.”
Gwendolyn waited until Tomas clasped her extended hand. They left the room, but not before his dark gaze pinned Daphne for the briefest of moments, and she returned the unreadable look with a deep nod. She motioned me to walk, and since I had no choice, I did.
We climbed a steep and narrow staircase and exited into a long, high ceilinged passage. The paint on the walls was flaking and the corners of yellowed wallpaper curled down almost to the floor in some places. The dry, moldy smell was intense. It smelt like vampire and my nature recoiled, disgusted. And for once I didn’t fight the feeling. I noted the building was empty of life apart from us. Where was the rest of Nest? There were no humans to hunt so where had they all gone?
“Are we the only ones here?” I asked Daphne in a low murmur that managed to echo loudly down the empty hallway.
Tomas glanced over his shoulder, his eyes two black pits, unreadable.
“Yes,” Daphne spoke low in my ear, her cold lips so close they brushed across my earlobe. “The Nest has been sent to look for the grimoire. Cael managed to discover from the fairy High Lord that he had hidden it somewhere in the city.” Her eyes darted forward to the back of Gwendolyn’s dark head. “But they won’t find it,” she said with a hint of excitement. “They’ll never find it.”
We exited the building into the empty street where Tomas had fed from me.
Raindrops spattered on my face, and I blinked, wiped them from my nose, and breathed in deeply.
I stopped mid-breath my heart soaring.
Sunlight. I could smell sunlight.
Chapter Ten
Breandan was alone. He stood at the base the stone steps with his hands fisted together, head back, eyes closed. He was magnificent. Lean body taut he burned with silver light. His black tattoos were outl
ined starkly against his pale skin, and taut dark edges seemed to glow. His wings rested tightly against his back, and his tail weaved lazily through the air. He breathed deeply, this I could tell from the steady rise and fall of his chest though what he tasted in the air I could not say. The angered expression on his face was intense, and when his head snapped forward, he opened his eyes, and focused completely on our bond. His gaze became a weapon that flew through the air and speared Tomas, who stumbled half a step back.
Rain fell heavily and soaked our clothes. My hair plastered to my head in a matter of moments, and water ran from my fingertips in small streams, droplets flicking wildly as I trembled.
Delirious with relief I lurched forward then paused, wincing, expecting someone to grab me. No one stopped me. I shot a wide-eyed look at Daphne.
She tried to smile, but it tumbled from her face leaving behind a worried frown. Her eyes flicked to Tomas and squinted in pain. I too looked to my vampire and saw he watched Breandan with a look of resigned acceptance that he tried to hide with defiance. I took a more confident step, and when no one moved I rushed forward. As I passed Tomas, I ignored the frisson of longing that seemed to spark between us, and jumped down the steps of the house. The rainwater trickled ahead of me like a shallow river until I stilled on the last step, my heart thumping wildly.
Breandan’s gaze was still fixed on Tomas, but I felt him greet me with joy. Through the bond, I felt how scared he had been for me, and how glad he was now that I was near.
Turning my concentration from the demons at my back, I focused on him and him alone. I took a hold of my nature and reached out. His hand was already there, and our fingers laced together to clutch tightly. A pulse of light danced across our palms and lit the dark street briefly, but no more. It was nothing but a flash of harmless light. I breathed out. My eyes drifted closed and peace swept over me. His presence was a balm that revived and refreshed me. Sighing, I let my hand fall to my side and so did he.
Then his focus turned inward, and my perception of him completely winked out of existence.
I was so shocked by the unexpected disconnect I lost my sense of direction –since Breandan acted as my centre of being – and I stumbled off the last step. He sidestepped me and I had to use my tail to steady my faltering movement. Straightening, I looked between him and those who stood above us. Somewhere in the haze of my consciousness, I glimpsed a forewarning. The death of one of my loves was upon me, and it was inescapable.
Lightning flashed above in a fork of bright light highlighting the vampires from behind so they seemed malevolent shadows gilded with a gloom darker than the night. Thunder boomed and the ground shook, yet the profound reverberation did not cover Gwendolyn’s sudden and creepy giggles.
“No, fairy. It will not happen,” Tomas said appose to nothing. “This is my territory. On this ground I decide how this will be resolved.”
“We have a score to settle,” Breandan replied.
The vampire’s shoulders lifted in what could be passed as a shrug. “Your ways mean nothing to me.”
The rain fell so hard the water on the concrete ran over the tops of my boots. My clothes were stuck to me uncomfortably, and I pushed my hair back off my face, wiping it roughly as I did. The clouds flashed with a myriad of colors, and beneath my confusion, I felt a jolt of excitement at the weather. My nature buzzed, my skin goose pimpled, and I shivered.
“I see,” Breandan said after a pause, and a flash of irritation down the bond was abruptly erased by the nothing. “Then only one thing can be done.”
My fairy turned to face me and bowed low at the hip, one hand pressed to his heart.
Tomas moved forward. “No,” he growled.
Gwendolyn blinked with a faked diffidence, and put a hand on his arm. “Stop.” Tomas’ snarl cut off and his head dipped in submission to his Queen. Gwendolyn leaned on the rusted railings and snickered. “Priestess. We never got a chance to fight like the warriors we are, but I live in hope you will be victorious so we may yet meet on the battlefield.” She paused, her gaze briefly switching to her mate who stood stiffly at her side. “That is if I ever convince my consort to retract his claim on you as his plaything.” She giggled madly, ringlets bouncing, and gods didn’t I want to scratch her pouty face off.
Not that I ever did fully understand what was happening around me, but right then, I was completely lost. I looked at Breandan for answers as to what the hell was going on.
He watched Tomas with a fierce concentration like he was waiting for something. I tired reading the vampires expressions and ended up more confused for Daphne looked horrified, and Tomas anxious. Though I knew Gwendolyn was crazy, the twinkle in her eye looked anticipatory rather than manic. What the hell was the Queen talking about? What was going on? Breandan was here beside me, he had come to save me, and her lunatic subordinates were scattered across the city looking for the grimoire. I was about to escape and so Tomas’ reaction kind of made sense, Daphne seemed weird anyway, but my main worry was Gwendolyn. She seemed happy, jovial, even.
I turned to Breandan to gauge his reaction, and that was the only reason I saw his fist flying toward my face. I ducked, more like my legs gave out in shock, and I hit the ground with a frantic splash. His stamping foot came a moment later, cracking the concrete when it landed between my legs. I scrambled on all fours before I rolled backward, and gained my feet.
I bent my knees and held out a hand, palm up. “Breandan!”
He paced; eyes measuring and stone cold. He took note of my movement – searched for a weakness. He was fighting me. He took a feinting step toward me, beautiful face etched with deadly intent, and I had no choice but to feint back.
Breandan came at me again, face blank of emotion.
I was terrified. Absolutely, heart stopping, terrified. It was all I could do to keep him from smashing into me. Whirling on my heel, I turned to dart away.
Was I running away? Hell yes! I was running away. I was no match for him physically, and magic was no good to me here. I could grasp it, but nothing happened when I tried to use it.
Breandan dived over my head, spinning in an intricate tumble of flips to land with a soft splash ahead of me, expression contemptuous.
I shot a wild look at the vampires watching us. Tomas leaned forward apprehensively. The skin seemed overly stretched on his face as he stared at me.
Breandan lunged for me again and this time he clipped my arm as I shifted out of the way. I cried out, my arm wrenched in my socket, and crumpled.
I did not understand what was happening. What had I missed? Did he covertly signal to me or try to transmit his plan to me through the bond, but I had missed it – too busy sneering at Gwendolyn?
Breandan slowly stalked over and picked me up. My heart stuttered in relief. Then he heaved me overhead, swung round, and tossed me. I hit the concrete steps with a loud thump, and it felt like my bones snapped, shuddered, and ground together trying to escape through my flesh. I lay there for a few beats before rolling onto my side. Only once my body flared with heat and healed – my blood returning to my extremities rather than rushing around my ears and blocking the painful rasp of my own breath – did instinct scream at me to pull myself together.
I hauled myself into a crouch, tail lashing from side to side causing the air to whistle. My wings lifted, sprung out, and I straightened raising my fists. Something akin to pride flickered in his expression, but I shook off the feeling that I had missed something. It did no good to hope when it was clear Breandan had made his choice and given up on me.
Before my fairy could lay his hands on me again Tomas appeared, a phantom shrouded in a cloud of smoke. He grabbed my arm, spun, dismissing my body weight as if it were a feather, and threw me across the space out of harm’s way.
Wings catching the wind I landed on my feet, skidded across the rain-slicked floor, pivoted, and careened to a stop.
Tomas snarled menacingly, fangs bared and eyes pitch black. “I am here, fairy. Do your worst.?
?? He crouched low to the floor, compact body lithely pacing to the side so he was not boxed in.
Breandan tilted his head almost imperceptivity, as if to say ‘about time’. He had what he wanted, forcing Tomas to fight, to defend me.
Ancient vampire and youthful fairy circled each other. The heavens rumbled again and lightning streaked across the night in fiery rods of blue and purple. Why when death approached, did the world hold its breath? Wariness. Mother Nature herself perceived the danger these demonic forces embodied, as the air became still, and after a final crash of thunder, it was quiet.
It came to me in a sickening bout of clarity. This was it. This fight determined my future. The crucial moment in time that would send me down one road or the other. I had thought that moment had already come and gone as I faced my own personal demon – a human who had come to represent everything hateful and wrong in the world. How wrong I was. Love, not hate, would define me, and there were none more dear than the demons before me.
Breandan moved first – lashing out to curve a hook at Tomas’ cheek. The vampire dodged and slipped around his back to snap for the nape of his neck.
With a deep breath in, hands fisted, I took three long strides and dove in with a roundhouse kick that Breandan took to the side of the head. My leg snapped back to slam my heel into the soft flesh at Tomas’ throat. It was hard to control my body since everything was wet, and there was little grip, but still I managed to execute my moves with enough speed and force to do damage.