by Tricia Barr
They stopped partway down the hall and watched Brett’s saunter disappear around the corner.
The light tone followed Brett and a heaviness fell over Kol and Myreen. Kol leaned against the wall, his eyes glued to the floor again. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her.
“It does matter,” she guessed. “That I’m a mer-harpy-ursa—” she blew out a breath and didn’t continue with the words Juliet used. “That I’m a hybrid.”
Kol didn’t have the words. He shuffled his feet in an awkward response.
“I had to do it, Kol,” she said, rushing toward him. Willing him to look up at her.
He refused.
“Draven was too strong. I had to do it! To end it.”
Several painful moments passed.
“Kol...” she prodded. “Please talk to me?”
He finally looked at her. At those brilliant beautiful eyes. But they were different. They were sharper. They weren’t the beautiful blue eyes he fell in love with all those months ago. They weren’t the ones he met in the kitchen as she mourned her mom, they weren’t the ones he watched breathless as she opened her Christmas present, they weren’t the ones that told him she loved him when he finally realized the curse was broken only yesterday.
They were the eyes of a vampire.
“Did Draven do it?” he blurted out. “Tell me it was another one of his cruel tricks. That he coerced you to become like him as part of his sick little plan?”
“Why would Draven do it?” she asked, tears gathering in her eyes. “He wouldn’t turn me so that I could kill him. No, it was Leif.” A tear slipped out and down her cheek.
“Was it your idea?” he asked.
“What?”
He set his teeth. Willing himself to remain in control. “Was it your idea or did someone force it on you?” Because if she’d been forced then it wasn’t her fault. It might be more easily overlooked.
She sighed. “It was my idea.”
“Damn it, Myreen!” Kol ran both hands through his hair. “You have no idea how impossible you’ve made our situation, you know that right? Now you’re a cold, hard, immortal being. You’re the enemy! You’ve become the number one enemy of all shifters, including me.”
“I’m not your enemy—”
Kol walked away.
“Kol!” she cried.
“I just can’t talk to you right now,” he said and stormed off. Kol was grateful she didn’t follow. He needed time.
He pulled out his phone, hoping that whatever his sister had to say in her messages would distract him from the churning fire-maelstrom of emotions he was feeling.
He listened to the first message and smiled. Tatiana had good news.
Kol listened to the next. And the next. They were increasing in panic about the email she’d received from Eduard about the attack wondering what was going on and ‘are you alive? Or do I need to kill you myself for ignoring my messages?’
When he’d listened to them all he briefly wondered why she wanted them deleted without listening to them and figured it was probably because of the first one. Her good news.
Being the sensitive person she was, she wanted her good news to wait.
He wanted her to wait too, but for a different reason.
Dialing her number, Kol got Tatiana’s voicemail. She was probably already on her flight from Paris.
“You told me not to listen to your messages, but I did anyway,” he said after the beep. “I’m happy for you, but for mom’s sake could you not tell her for a few weeks? In fact, could you say that it happened long after the attack on the school? I’ll explain later, but trust me. It’s for mom. See you when you get here.”
Kol hung up.
Before deleting the messages he listened to the first one once more.
“Kol, it’s Tatiana,” she said. “I’m engaged! You know I’ve been in love with William Stern like, forever right?”
Kol smiled. Will was Char’s older brother. And he did know she’d held a flame for him.
“Well he loves me too! I think the curse is fading or something because he said he loves me back and wants to marry me! We’re getting married!”
Look for the good.
At least his mom and sister had their happily ever afters.
Chapter 58: Kenzie
The jostling of her shoulder shook Kenzie from her spell haze, the words of the chant still spilling from her mouth. Her throat was dry and her lips cracked, but her magic still flowed through every word. She briefly wondered how much longer her body would hold under the stress when her eyes focused on the face of the person who had drawn her attention.
Myreen.
Kenzie's words faltered, the magic fizzling as she lost her concentration. Blackness crept into her vision and her knees buckled, but Myreen's arms shot out at a dizzying speed and caught Kenzie with incredible strength. The waning moonlight and twilight blush sparkled off Myreen's pale skin, the water suspended above them casting a faint blue hue.
Myreen looked different, but she couldn't quite figure out why. Kenzie blushed.
“Do you think you could seal the Dome with your magic, like you did that door back at Heritage Prep when we were escaping?”
Kenzie blinked twice, her brows fluttering. “Maybe? How bad is the Dome?” She looked around for what felt like the first time after awaking from a deep sleep. She was still in the streets of Chicago, probably within view of the lake shore, if all the water wasn’t suspended above them.
Myreen shook her head. “It's... just come try? Please?”
Kenzie nodded. Her breath caught as she looked to where she last remembered seeing Wes. He was still there, looking far too pale, but she thought she detected the faint rise and fan of his chest. It could always be a trick of the light, though. Kenzie's vision blurred.
Myreen followed Kenzie's gaze, then looked to the moon. She pulled a perfect strand of golden light from the pale orb, then split it between Kenzie and Wes.
Kenzie's chest filled with warmth, and she heard a sharp intake of breath before Myreen whisked her away.
“I'm going to keep an air pocket around your head as we go through the wall of water, but after that it gets pretty windy.”
Kenzie nodded just as they passed through the wall. It was strange, almost like she was buried in the water, until they shot out the other side and the force of the wind pulled her breath away.
Kenzie momentarily wondered at Myreen's ability to navigate so smoothly through the gale. And then she saw the Dome.
It looked as if someone had taken a giant hammer to the top. Funeral pyres burned at the edges of the water, just barely kept alive in the wind by dragons and phoenixes. Old wreckage added bones to the graveyard. A few precious shifter bodies were being toted inside by different weres, all except a couple dragon bodies who were being given the cremation treatment.
Several people stood around the perimeter of the wall of water, their hands raised. Kenzie realized they must be mer, keeping the water at bay for a little longer, though bits and pieces slid through, soaking the bloodied ground further.
Everyone looked exhausted, and as the first pinks of dawn began to rim the horizon, Kenzie realized just how long the battle must have lasted.
Kenzie looked up to Myreen as she brought them inside the Dome and out of the wind.
“Did...?” Words failed her as she considered the answer, but she had to know. The wreckage had been so absolute, so devastating. It seemed unlikely that everyone she cared about had come out unscathed. “Kol? Char? Juliet?”
Myreen bit her bottom lip as it began to tremble, lowering Kenzie to the debris-strewn floor before alighting and retracting her wings. She shook her head, but no answer was given.
Kenzie's eyes widened. “No,” she whispered.
Myreen shook her head again, this time more emphatically. “It's not... not them, but still so many...” Myreen cleared her throat. “The Dome? We can talk later.”
Kenzie nodded. She still just wanted to cr
ash, as she was certain everyone else did, but Myreen's light had helped.
Kenzie focused all her power as she recited the spell that had sealed the door back at Heritage Prep. How long and how short that time seemed. Flashes of Wes seared her memory, laying in the street, unmoving, but she pushed it aside. She had to focus or things would be worse.
The howl of wind died down, and the waters began to rise around the Dome as pieces of broken glass slid back into place, locked and sealed by her magic. A yawn cut through yet another recitation, and she swallowed it so she could continue.
She saved the top of the Dome for last, but this largest portion seemed far too large and shattered for her waning power. Kenzie looked to Myreen with pleading eyes, but it was Mom coming toward Kenzie that gave her new hope.
She raised a brow at Mom, a silent question as to how she’d gotten here so fast and what state Gram and Chicago and Wes were in. But the water was rising fast. Mer bodies swam past the walls of the Dome, working bubbles around any spots that sprang leaks. And several were above the top, keeping the water from spilling into the Dome.
Mom’s voice joined Kenzie’s, giving the magic enough strength to finish its task. Shards of glass, big and small, rose into the air like diamonds, taking their rightful places, filling the gaps.
The postures of the mer visibly relaxed as the last of the water slid into place, leaving Lake Michigan whole again. Or at least, Kenzie assumed so.
The magic complete, Kenzie’s shoulders slumped, and she buried her head in her mom’s shoulder as they embraced. “Thank you,” Kenzie whispered, while Mom’s nimble hands stroked her hair.
“Yes, thank you,” Myreen repeated from behind them. Kenzie’s head shot up, guilt coloring her cheeks. But Mom held out her arm and beckoned Myreen to join. She did, and the three stood in a tender embrace.
The women broke apart, and Myreen cleared her throat. “Sorry, but I should get back to helping the harpies. I only left because Oberon wanted me to find you,” she said, directing her last statement at Kenzie.
“Me?” Kenzie asked, her brows shooting upward.
Myreen gave Kenzie a knowing smile as she left. Kenzie wanted to follow Myreen, to ask her if she knew for certain that she was in the school, but a man of orient heritage approached, his features kind and playful, as if they hadn’t all just been through hell and back.
“Well, grow me a tenth tail, that was amazing! Any idea how long the magic will last?”
Mom cleared her throat, pushing her hair behind one ear. “I’m not sure, but you’ll want to get that permanently fixed as soon as possible.”
“Oh, we can rebuild it. We have the technology.” The man winked, then held out his hand toward Kenzie’s mom. “The name’s Ren. I hope you lovely ladies will stay with us until the repairs are finished? You know, just in case the magic needs a little more zing.”
Kenzie’s mom shook Ren’s hand, her face reddening further. “Of course. We’d be happy to help.”
Oberon approached at that moment, his regal features looking haggard, but hopeful. “Ren, I trust you’re not bothering anyone.”
“Who, me? I’m a constant delight. You know this.”
Oberon chuckled and shook his head.
Kenzie bit her lower lip. “Oberon, sir, I was wondering if...”
Oberon nodded. “I’m not sure what the future holds, but I will do everything in my power to make sure you are welcomed into this school.”
“Thanks.” Kenzie shuffled her feet. “Did you get the Christmas basket?”
Oberon gave her a half-smile. “Yes. It was delicious.”
“Oh, is that the one with the KitKat? The one you wouldn’t give me a break of?” Ren asked, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
“If memory serves, I couldn’t give you a piece of it because you ate the whole thing before I had the chance.”
A peal of throaty laughter made the group turn, and Kenzie saw Gram coming in, Wes limping along on the arm of someone else she didn’t recognize. It warmed her heart to see how thoroughly and quickly the surviving shifters were moving as they worked to recover.
Oberon cast a worried eye on Wes. “Jesse, if you’ll get this young man to the Grand Hall so the harpies can have a look at him.”
The young man supporting Wes nodded, and the two turned to leave, Wes casting a backward glance at Kenzie as they shuffled away.
Kenzie’s heart constricted.
“Who’s that?” Oberon asked.
“My cougar. And one of the best things to ever happen to me,” Kenzie whispered, then bit her lower lip. She cast a worried gaze on her mom, but she had taken up conversation with Ren again, laughing just a little too hard at his jokes. But Gram was paying attention, and she winked at Kenzie.
***
After Myreen’s help was no longer needed, Kenzie and Myreen caught up on the details of the battle in the comfort of Myreen’s room, since each had been on different sides of the water. It was strange, hearing that Draven was dead. The vampire threat was over. For good.
It was also kind of strange that the dorm room was still intact, but Kenzie was going to take what wins she could. Wherever she could.
“But I had to become a hybrid to do it, and now I think Kol hates me,” Myreen finished, lifting a hand to wipe away yet another tear. It seemed as if there would be no end of them, for every good thing, there was something to mourn. So many lives had been lost, so many injured.
And Nik. Kenzie still couldn’t quite wrap her head around that one. It’s too bad Leif couldn’t have gotten a harpy back in the day to get Gemma back. But then, she probably wouldn’t have met Leif.
But even as she thought of Leif’s pale, handsome face, she was reminded of Wes. Kenzie knew she wanted to go see her were before too long, but the thought of all the injured—all the blood—made her hesitate.
Besides, Myreen needed her, and for once, Kenzie was right there for her.
“There’s no way Kol can hate you,” Kenzie said, though she worried for Myreen. She’d lost so much already. Although, if Kol broke her heart over something so stupid as being a hybrid, Kenzie would find a way to break him for it. Her threat still stood.
“I don’t know, Kenzie. You didn’t see the way he looked at me. Or won’t look at me. It’s like I’m some sort of monster now.”
“Then he’s crazy. You’re not a monster, you’re amazing! If I weren’t with Wes, I’d totally date you.” Kenzie lifted the side of her mouth in an exhausted smirk, then stifled another yawn.
“I’m sorry. You should go to bed. I don’t think I need sleep anymore. Being half-vampire is going to take more getting used to than any of the chimera stuff.”
Kenzie nodded. “I should go, but not to bed. Not yet.” She looked down at her hands, not wanting to say more. It didn’t seem fair, her going to talk to Wes when the rift between Myreen and Kol was so deep. Maybe she’d do something about that, too, before she finally crashed. Maybe.
“Yeah. Of course you want to see him. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
Kenzie held up a hand. “Don’t apologize. You’re my number one girl, and I’m more than happy to be here for you. He’s probably swooning under the touch of some harpy, anyway.”
Myreen laughed, shaking her head. “I’m not sure it’s like that.”
Kenzie raised a brow. “I don’t know that many harpies, but so far, you’re all gorgeous. I’m going to have to keep a tight leash on that cougar, if he decides to join the school.”
“Do you think he will?”
Kenzie shrugged. “I know he’s got the hunter past, but I think he needs this place. Almost as much as I do.”
Myreen smiled, then gave Kenzie another hug. “It’s going to be so good having you here.”
“Duh! Why do you think I wanted to be here so bad? For everyone else’s sake, of course.” She winked at Myreen, then stood from the bed.
“Oh, you’ll probably need a little of my magic, now that you’re part vampire,” Kenzie said, han
ging onto the doorknob.
Myreen shrugged. “Probably. But we’ve got some time. Get some rest and we’ll work out the details later.”
Kenzie nodded, but she still didn’t let go of the knob. “You remember that rose I gave you for Christmas?”
Myreen nodded, casting a nervous glance at the obviously wilted plant.
Kenzie laughed. “It’s okay. I just... I was working with Leif to try to figure out how to raise his beloved from the grave. And I was thinking... that maybe... you know...”
Myreen gave Kenzie a sad smile. “I love my mom more than anything in the world, and I would love to have her back, but I’m not so sure it’s the best idea. I... I’ve kind of come to terms with her death, but I can’t imagine what she’d think of me, now that I’m not only a chimera, but a hybrid.”
“For what it’s worth, I think she’d be proud.”
Myreen flashed a grateful smile, and Kenzie gave a single nod as she finally left the room behind.
Kenzie went to the Great Hall, taking a deep breath as she entered the room. It was dark, though fireballs were being lit from time to time, warming the air and lending light to the harpies, who bent it in a dizzying array of colors to heal the wounded.
It took a few moments for Kenzie’s eyes to adjust, and even longer for her to find Wes. She had to look past the dark spots marring nearly every surface, the metallic tang filling the air. Her life had changed a lot since going to Heritage Prep.
She finally spotted Wes on one end, where several shifters sat, slept, or stood, the lot looking better than anyone else in the place. Kenzie made her way to Wes, and he caught her in a tight embrace as she reached him.
His lips crashed into hers, and Kenzie colored to think that everyone was staring, but she couldn’t be happier to be embarrassed than she was at that moment.
“You’re alive,” she breathed when they finally broke apart. There were some calls of encouragement from some of the guys in the crowd around them, and Kenzie blushed further.
“Thanks to you,” Wes said, bringing his forehead to hers.
“I couldn’t—”
“You didn’t lose me. I’m right here.”