by Ella Price
“My father was a good man,” I said defensively. He acted as though my father was a horrible person.
“Your father was a troublemaker. He brought havoc. I don’t suggest you follow in his footsteps,” the marshal growled.
“Let’s just kill him,” Drake said, and moved forward.
The marshal stiffened, preparing for a fight. “No,” I said softly. Drake looked at me, startled. He was prepared to attack. Even the marshal looked surprised and confused. “You may leave. Don’t come back,” I growled, and pushed past him. He wasn’t the marshal that hurt Nick. I wasn’t sure how I knew, I just had a feeling that he wasn’t.
“Rayne, we can’t…” Drake started.
“We will not just kill. We are not animals. That is what separates us from them. Let him leave,” I ordered, cutting him off.
Drake pressed his lips together as though he wanted to argue, but he decided against it. I continued on my way. I needed to go back to the warehouse. I wanted to know what other information I could find on my parents. There were so many different stories and opinions, it was getting confusing. I didn’t know who I should and shouldn’t trust.
Chapter 15
I sat flipping through my father’s journal. Colin watched me, but he hadn’t spoken. It had been a few hours since my encounter with the marshal. He should have been long gone by now.
Colin cleared his throat; he was finally going to speak. “Drake said you let a marshal go.”
“I did,” I said absently, as I focused on the journal.
“Do you think that was a good idea?” he asked. He didn’t sound accusing. If anything, he sounded like he was just trying to understand.
“He had no intention of attacking, unless provoked. I wasn’t going to kill him for no reason,” I said, trying not to sound annoyed.
“He would have killed you for no reason if Drake hadn’t shown up when he did,” he countered.
I glanced up at him for a minute, then looked back at the journal. “He wanted a truce. He said the marshals are trying to overthrow the council.” I didn’t elaborate; I didn’t have anything to add. I was still a little confused about the whole thing. I was hoping my father’s journal would offer some guidance, but so far it hadn’t.
“How do you know he wasn’t lying?” Colin asked, as he sat up straighter.
I shrugged. “He had the element of surprise. He could have hurt or killed me, but he decided to talk instead. I don’t think he would have done that just to lie.”
“I don’t understand why you didn’t just kill him,” he said quietly.
I sighed impatiently as I stood, and tossed the book onto the couch. “Just randomly killing isn’t going to solve anything. I don’t know who to trust or what to do.”
He leaned back in his chair and watched me. “I suggest you do just what you are doing. Trust your instincts. They haven’t been wrong so far.”
I nodded and grabbed my coat. “I need some fresh air,” I said, as I put my coat on and walked out of the office. I didn’t feel like trying to come up with answers that I didn’t have.
***
The air was cool, and I could smell the water. I wound my way through the warehouses to the riverbanks. It was a huge river that went to the ocean. There were a few ships here and there, passing by.
“I can’t seem to get out of this fucking town,” a familiar voice said.
I spun around and faced the same death marshal I had run into outside the club. He was beat up and bleeding heavily. “Who attacked you?” I asked, looking around. If someone could do that much damage to a marshal, I wanted to see him coming.
“Another marshal,” he said, through gritted teeth, as he collapsed to his knees.
“Where is he?” I asked, looking around. I was on guard, now. I had a feeling there was another marshal, but he hadn’t shown himself to me.
“Don’t worry, he’s dead,” he said softly, watching me.
I looked at him. I didn’t know what to do. He was injured and vulnerable. No one liked the death marshals. I wanted to be heartless and walk away, but I couldn’t. “Do you need help?” I asked, as I moved toward him.
He smiled weakly. “It would be appreciated,” he said through gritted teeth.
I helped him up and supported him as we walked back toward the warehouse. I was guessing the other marshal had followed me. Maybe this guy had, too. “What is your name?” I asked, deciding it was time I found out.
“Justin,” he said, quietly.
I stopped a couple warehouses over from my car. I didn’t want to lead him straight to the renegades. I was going to take him to Aubrey. Aubrey would know what to do. Colin would freak out. “Stay here. I am going to get my car,” I said quietly.
I left him and hurried over to my car. It was close to dawn, so everyone was inside. I didn’t have to answer any questions, which was a relief. I pulled up to where I’d left Justin. I got out and helped him into the car.
I drove toward the club. Justin was paler than normal, and he was still bleeding. He was going to have to feed soon. I definitely wasn’t going to allow him to feed on me. I picked up my phone and dialed Aubrey.
“This is a surprise. What can I do for you, Lillian?” he asked softly. He sounded a little annoyed, and I knew I wasn’t going to make him any happier.
“I need a favor,” I said as I tried to focus on the road and figure out what I was going to say.
“What would that be?” he asked dryly.
“I found an injured vampire. Well, he found me. He is going to need blood, and a place to sleep,” I said quietly.
He didn’t speak for a moment. “Who is he?” he finally asked.
I glanced at Justin, trying to decide what to say. Justin looked at me, amused. I reached over and pulled his necklace off. He glared at me as if he was about to protest, but I shot him a warning look. If they didn’t see it, they wouldn’t know what he was. “He’s new in town. He’s nobody, as far as I can tell,” I said to Aubrey, as I shoved the necklace in my coat pocket.
“Fine, I will take him for a night or two,” he said simply, then hung up. I hung the phone up and shoved it back in my pocket.
“You really think Aubrey is that stupid?” Justin asked, amused.
I shook my head. “I am hoping he is that trusting. If he refuses to help you, then you’re on your own. I won’t bring you near my people.”
“Which people are those - the hunters, or your new found friends, the renegades?” He sounded like he disapproved when he asked the question.
“I don’t understand why it matters. You are a damn marshal. You can’t really claim you know right from wrong,” I said dryly.
He looked out the window, but didn’t speak. I pulled into the alley so no one would see me get the beaten and bloody man out and call law enforcement. I helped him toward the club entrance. He was getting weaker, heavier.
I walked into the club, and the room quieted. “I am guessing you don’t save vampires often,” Justin said.
I smiled. “No, I don’t make a habit of it.” I spotted Aubrey. He signaled for two male vampires to take over for me. They carried Justin off to the back. I hoped he wouldn’t start any problems. I would feel horrible if he did; I was the one who had brought him here.
Aubrey approached me slowly. After everything that had happened between us, I wasn’t sure what to say to him. He stopped just in front of me. Suddenly, he stepped forward and pressed his lips to mine. “You have to quit hiding things from me. Tell me who he is,” he pleaded.
I looked at him, but I didn’t speak. He would probably deny Justin help, maybe even kill him. I didn’t want to take the chance. Having something of an ally in the marshals might be helpful. “I’m sorry, it is your turn to trust me,” I said softly. I turned to walk away, but he caught my hand. I looked back at him, and I could see the anger in his eyes.
“You have to let me help you. You cannot fight this war on your own,” he said quietly.
“It’s not yo
ur war,” I said quietly before I pulled away. I walked back toward the exit. I couldn’t stay here with Aubrey, even though I wanted to. I had too much to figure out. I needed to go back to the warehouse and see if I could find anything else in the journal.
Chapter 16
I woke up when the door to the office slammed. I was so startled I rolled off the couch and landed on the floor with a hard thud. I looked up at Colin and Aubrey glaring down at me. I guessed someone had told them about Justin. Maybe Justin ratted himself out.
“What now,” I groaned. It felt like I had just fallen asleep, and they were already bothering me.
“You saved a death marshal? What the hell were you thinking?” Colin growled.
“Saving him is beside the point. You brought him into my coven, and didn’t tell me!” Aubrey growled.
I sighed as I sat up. “He isn’t going to hurt anyone, unless you attempt to hurt him. Where is he now?”
“The same place he was before, in my coven. I told everyone not to confront him. I don’t want their deaths on my hands,” Aubrey snapped.
“This wasn’t a very good idea, Lillian. You are making some pretty irrational choices,” Colin said firmly.
I stood and glared at them both. “He is a vampire, plain and simple. If you trust him right off then you’re fucking idiots. And you are the one who recruited me, Colin. If you don’t want to do things my way, I’ll walk away.”
“How is it you kill one marshal and not another? What is so different about him?” Colin asked, sounding confused.
“He wants a truce. He doesn’t want to kill us. He was hurt fighting the marshal that hurt Nick. If he hadn’t fought him I would have, so in a way he saved me a lot of trouble. So just help him out until he is well enough to move on!” I yelled, tired of explaining myself. I was tired of everyone looking at me like I was insane. I didn’t understand why they insisted on following me if they thought I was irrational. They all needed to just leave me alone. I stormed out, determined to get away from both of them. I was tired of the accusing looks and the harsh tones. I barely understood why I was making these decisions. I couldn’t explain it to them.
“You don’t get to just keep running away. Tell us your grand plan!” Aubrey yelled as he followed me.
I stopped and turned around. He almost ran into me. “I don’t have a grand plan. Don’t you get it? It’s called winging it and hoping it works out! I don’t know what else to do!”
He looked at me, a little startled. He acted like he thought I had it all put together. I really had no clue. I was at a complete loss. I didn’t know who I should trust, and who I shouldn’t. Like Colin said, all I could do was trust my instincts. “You are telling the truth, aren’t you? You really have no plan,” he said softly.
“I don’t have a plan. All I have is hope that somehow this huge mess will work itself out,” I said, then turned and kept walking toward the exit. I needed to see Luca. He was the only one I was positive I could trust.
***
I pulled up to the entrance of my uncle’s gate. I was sure the gate codes had been changed once I left. I hit the intercom button. “Who is it?” Damon said. I inwardly groaned. He was watching the gate, and I would never get past him without a fight. He was too much of a dick.
“You know who it is, Damon,” I said impatiently.
“Ah, if it isn’t the traitorous bitch,” he said, mockingly.
“I’m not a traitor. If you knew anything about me, you would know that. I need to speak with Luca,” I said, annoyed.
“You know how it works. I will have to search you and escort you from the gate. Park out of the way and wait for me,” he said. The intercom clicked off.
I rolled my eyes. He was going to make things difficult. I parked and took all my weapons off, then stepped out of the car.
I stood and leaned against my trunk as I watched Damon approach. He stepped out of the gate and grinned at me. “Turn around and place your hands on the trunk. I’ll search you, then escort you inside,” he said amused.
I wanted to argue, but decided against it. I wanted to talk to Luca. I would just have to put up with Damon. I sighed and did what he said. His hands started on my lower back. He wasn’t really searching me. It was more like he was feeling me up. “Is this necessary?” I asked, annoyed.
He laughed, then nuzzled my ear. “For me it is,” he whispered, as he cupped my ass.
I’d had enough. I shoved my elbow backwards into his stomach. He doubled over and stumbled backwards as I knocked the air out of him. I walked past him and slipped in the gate.
“Damn it, Lillian, I will shoot you if you don’t stop,” he growled, as he pulled out a gun.
I turned and looked at him. He had it pointed at my chest. My eyes went from the gun to his face. “You are going to have to kill me,” I said softly, then turned and continued walking toward the house.
I took the steps two at a time. Damon was close on my heels He hadn’t shot me yet, so I assumed he wasn’t going to. I walked into the house without knocking. Luca and Kai were standing in the entranceway, talking. Luca looked surprised to see me.
“Luca, I need to talk to you in private,” I said quietly.
“She barged in. I tried to search her,” Damon said, sounding apologetic.
“You tried to grope me,” I countered.
Luca smiled and waved me toward him. “I trust Lillian with my life,” Luca said, smiling.
“I am not so sure that is a good idea anymore,” Kai warned.
I wanted to argue, but Luca cut in. “She is a good person and a hunter. You two would do well to learn that. Come on, Lillian, we can talk in my room, where I am sure we won’t be overheard.”
I followed him up the stairs to his bedroom. Once we were inside, he closed the door behind us. “Your uncle will not be happy that you are here,” he said softly, as he took a seat on his bed.
“I don’t care. I needed to talk to you. I am confused. I don’t know who to trust. Every time I think something is one way, something happens that changes that,” I said, as I paced in front of him.
“You are smart, Lillian. You will figure it all out,” he said softly.
“What if I don’t? What if I just get everyone killed?” I asked, worried, as I ran my hands through my hair.
He watched me for a minute before speaking. “It is part of being a leader. You have to make the hard decisions. Sometimes those decisions are good ones, and sometimes they aren’t. All you can do is rely on your instincts.”
I sighed and sat down in a chair across from him. “Everyone keeps saying that. The few times I did follow my instincts, I managed to piss someone off.”
“Then you are doing a good job,” he said, amused.
I looked up at him, confused; he was smiling. “What do you mean?”
He stood up and walked over to me. He knelt in front of me and took my hands. “Not everyone is going to like your choices, Lily. You have to just make the choice and see it through. In the end, they will see what you did was for the best. You cannot worry about pleasing anyone. You just have to do what you have to.”
I looked at him for a few minutes. Maybe he was right. I just had to make decisions and see them through. “Maybe you’re right,” I muttered, as I looked away.
He smiled and brushed my hair out of my face. “I’m always right,” he teased.
I laughed and shook my head. Maybe he was always right. I knew he was the rational one. I looked at him, suddenly realizing how close he was to me. He was too close, but I didn’t know what to do. I remembered how I felt when I used to look at him, but they weren’t there anymore. Not like they used to be. I loved him, but as a friend. My heart belonged to someone else.
Before I could speak, he pressed his lips to mine. I felt my pulse quicken, but it wasn’t in excitement; it was in fear. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I didn’t care for him like that, at least not anymore.
I pulled away from him, breaking the kiss. I looked down, una
ble to meet his gaze. “It’s too late, isn’t it?” he asked sadly.
I looked at him, unsure. His expression told me everything. It was too late for us. He was with Kate, and I had feelings for Aubrey. “I’m sorry,” I said softly.
He smiled tightly and stood, moving away from me. “Don’t be. I knew better. I saw how you look at Aubrey. I never stood a chance.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but closed it almost immediately. My protests would only make things worse. I stood nervously and smiled. “I’ll go. If you ever need me, I am around. Just let me know,” I said quietly.
He nodded as he turned away from me and looked out the window. “Be careful out there,” he said softly.
I nodded, then hurried out of his room. I hurried downstairs, then hesitated when my uncle came through the front door. He looked as startled to see me as I was to see him. He looked around quickly, like he was looking either for backup or to see if I’d brought anyone.
“Lillian, what are you doing here?” he asked softly.
“I needed to talk to Luca. Don’t worry, I am leaving,” I said, as I continued down the stairs.
“No, wait. Perhaps we could talk,” he said quickly.
I looked at him, a little confused. “I guess so.”
He nodded and walked toward his office. I followed him. I thought it was odd that he wanted to talk to me. I’d thought he was angry. When my uncle casts someone out, he doesn’t give them a second chance.
He closed the door to his office, then started making himself a drink. “Do you want a drink?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure,” I said softly. I could use one to calm my nerves. My uncle’s behavior was a little odd, and it made me nervous.
He finished making the drinks, then handed me one. I downed the drink and the burning liquor calmed my nerves. He took a seat behind his desk and looked at me. “There is word that there are marshals around town. Do you know anything about it?”
“I know there was at least one. He is dead now,” I said quietly.
My uncle’s expression darkened. “Did you kill him?”
I was a little confused by his anger. I didn’t understand why he cared whether the death marshals lived or died. I shook my head. “He was killed by another vampire. It had nothing to do with me.” It wasn’t exactly the truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either.