"Hello?" he asked cautiously. He listened for a moment, his expression falling into surprise.
Even with her enhanced hearing, Aya couldn't make out what was being said or who was on the other end.
"I'm listenin'," he said, annoyed. "Do you think that's a good idea?"
God, Aya was dying to know what was going on.
"She's safe? Understood... okay. The Ritz.... Don't be smart. Room 437."
When he put the cell back in his pocket, Aya asked, "Who was that?"
"Zac."
"You're kidding."
"I wish I was," he scoffed.
"What did he want?"
"He got Coraline out. He took her to Salisbury to Maximus," he paused, like he was going to say something else and thought the better of it.
"Tristan," Aya scolded. "What else is there?"
"He's comin' here. He wants to speak to you in person."
Aya collapsed back onto the bed and closed her eyes. She wondered what Zac had to say, especially since the last time she'd seen him, she'd tortured him into bringing his humanity back. He knew another way to end Regulus. That had to be why he was coming and she would get it out of him without letting her heart get in the way. And that would almost be impossible.
The bed dipped as Tristan sat beside her. "You're somethin' else, you know that?" He said it in a tone that she didn't like. Reverence.
"Tristan, I..." she began, trying to be diplomatic about turning him down.
"Look, Arrow," Tristan sighed, scratching the stubble on his chin. "I would be lyin' if I didn't say that I wasn't attracted to you. But I obviously don't have whatever it is you see in Zac. I get it."
"Love is a difficult thing," she sighed. "It's the one thing I want to control, but can't."
Tristan laughed, slapping his forehead.
"What?" she scowled at him.
"The control freak admits she can't control everythin'."
"Wipe that smile off your face Tristan, before I wipe it off for you."
"Ahh, that's the Arrow I know and love."
Zac hung up his cell and stuffed it back into his pocket with a sigh.
Ever since he'd told Nye what he was going to do, he'd struggled with what he would tell Aya. He thought about telling her the truth, but she would know immediately what it would mean for him. After spending the better part of a week with her, he didn't doubt she'd try to lock him up again. This was, after all, Nye's idea. He wanted him to say goodbye. The spy just didn't count on it being this way.
"Are you sure you really want to do this?" Nye asked.
"Yes," he said, glaring at the spy. They were already half way across town on their way to the hotel and he was running out of time to figure out how he'd play this. Nye was driving and he liked to go fast.
"What about the Coven, mate? I don't think you've thought this through."
"All I've done is think it through," Zac grumbled. "Regulus will see her coming from a mile off. I will be able to walk right up to him unchallenged. She needs to be in the dark. The risk is worth it."
"The risk of her being the one hating you for a change?"
"She needs to be out of the way," he said. "She might be old as, but she's prone to bad decisions as much as any of us. She'll never let me do this and I can't risk her trying to stop me. You've never seen her lose it." He remembered the first time they had met back in Ashburton. He didn't know who she was at the time, but she saved him from a pack of werewolves, tearing them apart with her bare hands and mutilating their bodies beyond recognition. How she'd stopped and not moved onto him was beyond comprehension. Any normal vampire would have kept going until nothing was left alive.
"If that's what you believe, then I'm with you, Zac," Nye said, watching him out the corner of his eye.
When he'd told Gabby what he was planning that morning on the phone, she'd ripped him to shreds. There had been a lot of foul words said between them and she told him to wait until she could undo the link between him and Regulus. The witch didn't count on him moving so fast with her plan. That was the moment she told him that the Roman had forced her to cast the spell that could ultimately kill him. That went down a treat. And to undo it? She needed Regulus' blood. Like hell that was going to happen, she wasn't even in the country and by the time she got here? It'd already be too late.
Gabby vehemently wanted to save his life, but the fact was he didn't want it. Zac had already made his choice.
"We're here." Nye pulled the car into the long drive at the front of the Ritz and turned off the engine. "Here." He handed him an auto injector, a spring loaded syringe, filled with a strange green tinged substance. "Stick her with that and it'll knock her out long enough to get the job done."
Nodding, Zac took the injector and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. When they got out the car, the valet took the keys off Nye as they walked inside, the doorman ushering them through the gold and glass entrance way.
"Who's idea was this?" Nye whistled, looking up at the crystal chandelier that hung low in the foyer.
"I can't imagine it being hers."
"Tristan, the showy bastard."
Zac stiffened at the mention of the knight's name and said nothing. He better look after her or… He snorted at the irony. Nye would make sure.
They passed the front desk unchallenged and Zac pressed the button to the elevator a million times.
"Pushing it won't make it come any faster," the spy said with a chuckle. "You'll break the button."
"I don't…" he began, but stopped himself.
He placed a hand on Zac's shoulder. "Don't be in such a hurry to say goodbye, mate."
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.
"What floor would you like, sir?" the attendant asked.
"Well, ain't this fancy," Nye proclaimed.
"Four," Zac said, pushing the spy into the elevator.
The attendant raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply, pushing the button for the fourth floor. As the numbers slid past, it felt like forever and his stomach churned. What would she say when she saw him? Hell, what would he say? He'd said some horrible things to her and deep down he knew that he'd meant most of them.
As soon as the door began to slide open, Zac pushed through and strode down the hall before he could lose his nerve. Nye was a heartbeat behind him as he scanned the doors for the right number, 437. Coming to a halt, Nye knocked him out of the way and rapped his knuckles on the door and it was wrenched open a second later.
"What are you doin' here?" Tristan spat as he laid eyes on Nye.
"Trying out the other side for a bit," he said, pushing past the knight. "Nice room, knight. The life of a traitor isn't half bad, huh?"
"If I'm a traitor, then what does that make you?"
Nye smirked, "To be a traitor, one has to first be loyal."
"God," Zac rolled his eyes, walking into the room. "Shut the hell up."
"Aye, Aye, Captain," Nye winked.
"Worst joke I've ever heard," he said and looked at Tristan. "Where is she?"
"Next door," Tristan eyed him with suspicion and nodded to the left.
"Take your time, Zac Attack," Nye called out, opening the minibar. "Tristan and I have some catching up to do."
Out in the hall, Zac lingered, unsure of how he was going to go about this. Would he talk to her first? Would she let him? Would she sense what he was about to do and stop him? If he had to stick her with the needle and run, he would regret it, but it had to be done. His mind had been made up a thousand times over before he had even gotten in the car to come here. Aya would sleep and he would die. For her.
Regardless, his hand lingered on the handle a moment too long before he swung the door open and she was there, perched on the end of the bed, just as he remembered her. Aya stood, a hopeful look on her face as she laid eyes on him. Every time, every damn time he saw her she stole his breath. She was beautiful. Not just her looks, but her being. To him she was beautiful in every way he could imagine. Closing the d
oor behind him, Zac looked to the floor, suddenly shy.
"Aya," he began, but she was already in front of him, her hand on his face.
The moment she touched him, it all came flooding back and whatever he was about to say died in his throat. God, he wanted her so much it was like a disease. What he was about to do to her, it was a sordid joke. She would be furious.
"It's always been you, Zac," she said. "Ever since the first day I saw you. I'm sorry. For everything. I only did it to protect you."
She was breaking his heart. Even when she wasn't trying, she still broke his fucking heart.
"I understand," he said. "But it doesn't make it hurt any less."
"I know."
"Aya, I...."
"Do you know how comforting it is to hear your blood again?" she interrupted.
"I'm still trying to figure that one out," he whispered, suddenly realizing he'd unconsciously leant towards her. His gaze flickered down to her lips and back up to her eyes that stared right into him and he wondered how she didn't know that this was goodbye.
"Zac," she whispered, pulling him close before he could turn away. "Kiss me."
He couldn't have said no, even had he wanted to. Thrusting his hands into her hair he pulled her flush against him, kissing her deeply, his body responding when she moaned into his mouth. Her hands ran up his chest and eased the coat from his shoulders and he dropped his hands away, letting it fall to the floor.
"I've missed you so much," she murmured.
Zac eased his hands under her blouse, caressing her soft skin. "Don't say it. Don't say it if you don't meant it."
"I mean it," she kissed the corner of his jaw. "A thousand times over."
Abruptly, he pulled off her blouse, black hair tumbling over her shoulders in waves. He pulled her hard against him, his lips finding hers as she coaxed him backwards towards the bed, forcing him down on top of her.
He tore his shirt over his head and began to kiss her navel softly, trailing his lips up towards her breasts, her body writhing under his touch. When she moaned in pleasure, he settled between her legs and she tightened them around his waist in response, almost driving him mad. Sinking his fangs into the crook of her neck, he ground his body into hers coaxing another moan from her lips. Her blood was even more sweet than he remembered. It was the most addictive thing he'd ever tasted.
Pulling away, she drew his face to hers, kissing her blood from his lips, her tongue running the length of his bared fangs. God, he wanted her so much. His hand found its way between her legs, his fingers pressing into her through her clothes as she moaned into his mouth. Starting to unzip her jeans, he stopped, letting his eyes search hers.
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I need you."
They peeled off their remaining clothes and explored each other with lips and hands, her touch burning him down to his soul.
As he took her, the sensation overwhelmed him and he was lost. He didn't want to be found. Ever.
He was a fucking asshole. And he knew it.
It had seemed like hours had passed as Zac lay next to Aya, his arms wound around her delicate frame. They lay against one another, skin on skin, like he'd wanted to so many times. He didn't want to move, but soon enough he had to. It was the only place he wanted to stay and the only place he couldn't. She'd finally given herself to him, finally trusted him and he was about to betray her and go and die.
She shifted against him, turning over so they were face to face. He gazed at her, taking in every detail and committing it to memory. The curve of her cheek, the arch of her eyebrows, the clear icy blue of her eyes, the way her hair fell about her face as her head lay against the pillow. Wherever he was going he wanted to remember it all.
Aya brushed her lips against his, and he caught her in a soft kiss, dragging his teeth against her bottom lip. "Where've you been since…"
"Regulus'," he said with a sigh turning on his back. "I had to get Coraline out."
"How did you figure it out?"
"I had most of the pieces," he said, looking at the celling. "Gabby told me where Maximus was and I delivered her."
"Gabby?" she exclaimed, propping herself up on one elbow.
"Yeah. She's not impressed with you right now."
"I kind of expected that. Is she here?"
"No. She's still at…" He was about to say home, but he clamped his mouth shut.
Aya pressed herself closer, her hand splaying across his stomach.
"Your half-breed friend is safe," he shrugged it off. "That's all I can do for now." What a fucking lie.
Glancing at her, he saw she was frowning, her brow furrowed. Had she caught on that his mood was more than he'd let on?
"Can Nye really be trusted?" she asked. "He was one of the Six."
"He's one of us. And I think they call themselves the Four now."
"If he's defected like you say, then technically it's the Three."
He snorted, turning back to face her. "Can we talk about something else?" He didn't want their last conversation to be about plotting death and destruction. "We have some time to think about those things."
"Of course," she lent over, pressing her lips against his.
"This, I'd rather," he said with a smile and flipped her on her back, eliciting a sharp gasp from some unknown place inside of her. Before she could say anything, he kissed her again, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and teasing her with the tip of his tongue.
"You've changed," Aya whispered, turning her head to the side, as he nipped at the tender spot just below her ear.
"How so?"
"You're..." she hesitated.
Zac faltered. Could she sense what Coraline had given him? If she found out, then his plan would fail. "I'm what?"
"Stronger. Sure."
"I have a path and I'm following it," he whispered, suddenly morose.
"What…" she began to ask, but he silenced her with another kiss, shifting his body on top of hers. Positioning his elbows either side of her, he cupped her face tightly as she plunged her tongue into his mouth and he let out a deep moan that shuddered right through him.
"I'll never be able to get enough of you," he said between kisses, grinding his pelvis against hers, making her squirm underneath him.
All Aya could manage was a tiny whimper as he made her come again and again.
When they could finally drag themselves from bed, Zac kissed Aya slow and hard one last time, before turning around and picking up his discarded clothes.
"What are you going to do now?" she asked and he looked up to find her eyes boring into him. She would expect him to stay now, wouldn't she?
"I have to go," he said quietly, dragging his jeans on. "There's something I need to do."
"And you have to go back to Regulus to do it?" She sounded angry. Disbelieving.
"Aya," he sighed. "Remember when you said you would trust me? I just need you to do it for a little while longer. Please?"
Shrugging, she turned her back to him and began to dress. When she pulled a tank top on, covering her beautiful skin, he stepped behind her, winding his arms around her waist, his fingers splaying out over her stomach. She fit against the length of his body perfectly and he knew he'd have trouble letting go.
"Zac," Aya murmured, trailing her hands down his arms.
He kissed the spot right underneath her ear, right on the corner of her jaw, the one he knew made her shiver. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer."
"After this is over… After I deal with the Coven, after I deal with Regulus… I will be free. Then we will have all the time in the world."
He closed his eyes, holding back his grief. If he let it out, she would feel it too. Letting a hand drop, he pulled the auto injector Nye had given him from his back pocket. "God, I love you Aya. I love you so much it hurts."
"Don't go," she said, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "We can do this together. You don't have to go back to him."
He almost faltered, but he buried his face into he
r hair and breathed deeply for the last time. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I hope one day you'll understand."
Before she could pull away, he stabbed the needle into her neck, her cry of surprise forcing tears from his eyes. As her body became limp in his arms, he lowered her gently onto the bed as she tried to fight the drug.
"No," she said, her voice barely audible. She tried to push him away, but it was too much and her eyes fluttered closed, her hand dropping limply onto the bed beside her.
Brushing her hair aside, Zac kissed her lightly on the forehead, taking in her peaceful form one last time. He knew she'd be furious with him when she finally woke. He had to keep believing that this was the only way, otherwise he'd falter at the last minute and Regulus would kill him before he got the chance to even get close. And if he caught Aya… she was too important. To him, to the witches. She had a destiny far greater than loving him.
Pulling away, he strode across the room, closing the door behind him before he could change his mind.
Zac opened the door to the next room, eyes on the floor.
"Zac?" It was Nye.
"It's done."
"What's done?" Tristan was on his feet, seething with sudden anger. "What did you do to her?"
"He put her down, that's what," Nye scowled at the knight.
"You drugged her? What the hell? What for?"
"She needs to be safe while I do this," Zac murmured, looking up at Tristan. The knight was wild with fury and rightly so.
"Do what?"
"I'm going to kill Regulus once and for all."
"But," he sputtered. "The link…"
"Will kill me," he shrugged.
"You're just goin' to leave her here powerless and go off and die on her?" Tristan exclaimed. "It's the one thing she wanted to prevent by leavin' you behind."
"She's not powerless," Nye butted in. "You'll be here to guard her until she wakes up."
"You better do it, or…" Zac began.
"Or what? You'll be dead," he growled.
"I'm his fail safe, knight," Nye cocked an eyebrow. "You'll have to tangle with me."
"What did you give her? Where is she?" Tristan was wild and it was a wonder he hadn't tried to punch Zac in the face yet.