by Lola Gabriel
“I’m talking about how you were here yesterday, poisoning my warriors.” She gaped at him as he began to pace in front of her.
“I was not!” she insisted. “I was…” She trailed off, her face staining with embarrassment. Was it only yesterday I was pining after Cal? It feels like a lifetime ago. “I wasn’t,” she finished lamely. “I don’t even know where I am, remember?”
“I have no idea what to believe about you.” Theo scowled. “Nothing adds up. I have a witness who saw you here.”
“I wasn’t here! I’ve never been here before today.” She mentally cursed her sister. Oh, God, Beatrice, what the hell were you thinking, walking into a literal dragon’s den?
“I cannot accept the coincidences, Scarlet. Either dozens of my trusted warriors are lying to me, or you are. Which is it?” Scarlet pursed her lips together and shook her head.
“Neither,” she muttered. “No one is lying to you.”
“I cannot accept that, either,” Theo replied, pausing his pacing to glower at her. “You are taking advantage of my feelings for you.”
“No! No, I’m not!” Scarlet cried. “I’m…” She had to tell him. He was looking at her with so much suspicion and disgust… “I’m responsible,” she said, retracting her initial innocence. “I did it all.”
“ENOUGH!” Theo’s ire sent a shudder of fear through her. What would he do to her if he really believed she was responsible? The look on his face told her the answer.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she mumbled, dropping her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry, or you did it?”
“I already told you that I would take the blame—”
“That is not what I asked.” Scarlet closed her eyes. She wasn’t going to be able to talk him in circles, not this time. He was demanding answers, and she had only one to give.
Before she could respond, the cell in her hand rang, and Scarlet jumped, startled.
“BEA!” she screamed into the phone as Theo glowered. “Bea, you’re okay?”
“Where are you?” her sister whispered. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” Scarlet responded, shooting Theo a nervous look. “I’m fine. Are you?”
“No!” Beatrice wailed. “I don’t know what happened.” Her sister began to sob.
“Shh! Shh, don’t cry,” Scarlet urged. “I need you to listen to me very carefully.” Beatrice tried to stifle her sobs. “You need to get out of the city if you haven’t already and go far away, all right? They are looking for you.” She again looked at Theo, but to her surprise, he wasn’t paying any attention to her. Instead, he was on his phone, scrolling as if the call didn’t affect him in the least.
“Scar, where are you?”
“Don’t worry about me,” Scarlet insisted. “Just go and don’t look back, all right?”
“Scar, I—” The phone cut out then, the last of the battery drained, and Scarlet blinked away the tears in her eyes.
I might never see her again, she realized, her heart soaked in sadness. That was probably the last conversation I’ll ever have with my sister.
“Beatrice Gale,” Theo said, his voice monotonous. “Your identical twin sister.”
Scarlet’s head jerked up, and she stared at the screen in Theo’s hand, where he had pulled up Beatrice’s social media account.
“Please, Theo,” she begged, her voice hoarse. “You can’t go after her.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he growled, but there was an element of relief on his face. “I would have protected her, too.”
Scarlet didn’t stop the tears from slipping down her face now, her body shaking as she buried her cheeks in her hands.
“I had no idea what she was planning,” she moaned. “If I had, I would have stopped her, I would have!”
“I believe you,” Theo told her compassionately, hurrying to her side. “Now I understand why you were acting the way you were.”
Scarlet shook her head miserably. “There is no way out of this. I will never sell her out, but too many people have seen what she did to create any reasonable doubt.”
“What coven does she belong to?” She scoffed and wiped the tears hastily.
“I have no idea,” she answered seriously. “We have never practiced witchcraft. My mother dabbled…” Scarlet paused. “The Seraph Sisters,” she recalled. “That was my mother’s coven.”
A stab of disloyalty pierced Scarlet’s heart, even though she knew she couldn’t protect the coven who was so hellbent on destruction, not when more people could be at risk. There was no doubt in Scarlet’s mind that Beatrice had been brainwashed by the coven.
“I need to find them, Scarlet,” Theo told her gently. “Do you think your sister will be hiding among them?”
Scarlet shrugged, devastated. The last thing she had wanted was to turn the spotlight on Beatrice, but Theo had a right to know who was endangering his weyr.
Please be far away from here, Scarlet prayed. As if reading her mind, Theo cupped her face in his huge hands and stared into her eyes intently.
“If I come across your sister,” he said softly, “I will do everything in my power to protect her.”
“What if your power isn’t enough?” Scarlet murmured. “What if your father gets to her first?”
“Scarlet, you need to put a little trust in me and let me show you what I can do for you,” he said quietly. “For once.”
“You’re right.” She inhaled shakily and nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Beatrice before. I… If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“I may not have a twin,” Theo conceded. “But I do have siblings, ones whom I often want to murder with my bare hands.”
Scarlet looked at him. “You are not pleading your case for protector very well.”
“I would still die for any of them if need be,” he continued, drawing a finger over the lines of her cheeks. “I cannot imagine what you must feel for your sister if that is the case for me. I will do my best to ensure that Beatrice is handled well and fairly.”
All Scarlet could do was nod, despite the cold pit of fear growing in her stomach.
“I don’t even know where she is right now, or where to find the Seraph Sisters,” she said.
“I can find out,” Theo replied, rising from the sofa, his hand extended. “In the meantime, we should take you out of hiding.”
“What?!”
“If someone chances upon you here, it will look like you have something to hide. It’s better if we go face the masses together.”
“B-but you’ll blow your own cover if you do!”
“I am willing to accept that.”
“No!” Scarlet breathed, withdrawing her arm. “What if they don’t believe me, or they think I’m an accomplice? There’s no way to prove that I’m not my sister! We share the same DNA, for God’s sake!”
“Remember you promised to trust me for once?” Theo asked quietly. “Now is the time to make that happen.”
Begrudgingly, Scarlet rose to her feet, her face white as a sheet as he led her toward the door.
“Please, Theo,” she begged. “We need to rethink this.”
“Scarlet, you are my mate. If anything happens to you, I will die, too. Maybe not literally, but I know that when a mate is lost, the other cannot go on. I do not want to die.” Scarlet closed her eyes and willed herself to stop shaking. “And I will not let you die, either,” he went on. “Please come with me now. I’ve got you, I promise.”
She parted her lids and met his steadfast gaze, nodding slowly. “I trust you. With my life.”
Oddly, no one paid Scarlet any mind when they moved into the estate, though she reasoned it was because of the bustle still happening in the aftermath of the fire. It was not until they came upon Bran that everyone turned their attention to her, since that was when Theo’s cousin shouted bloody murder in the middle of the rotunda.
“That’s her! That’s the witch that tried to kill us!�
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A collective murmur swelled in the foyer, but Theo held his arm out protectively.
“You’re wrong about her,” he growled. “Scarlet had nothing to do with what happened at the Festival.”
“Are you joking?” Bran questioned, still pointing his finger. “I saw her myself, running from the fire!”
“Everyone was running from the fire,” Theo corrected him. “Scarlet is not the enemy. She is on our side.”
“She’s a witch?” someone yelled out, and slowly, Scarlet became aware that a circle was closing in around them.
“She’s non-practicing.”
“A likely story,” someone else scoffed. “She would say anything to save her own skin.”
“Bring her to Carlyle!” yet another cried. Suddenly, a chant started in the foyer.
“Oh, God,” Scarlet muttered. “They’re out for blood.”
“This was to be expected,” Theo reminded her, pulling on her hand. “They do not know the entire story.”
“Burn the witch!” a woman called out, and a roar of approval welled in the gallery.
“Theo, they’re going to kill me!”
“Shh!” he hushed her. “They would not dare defy me. Stay close, and we will go to my father to straighten this out.”
Scarlet yanked her hand from his and tried to back away, but she was surrounded from all sides.
“She’s trying to run!”
“Catch her!”
“Tie her up!”
Before anyone could put a hand on her, Theo’s voice boomed out, his tone menacingly. “If anyone puts a hand on my mate, I will personally see them executed!”
There was a deep inhale as everyone turned to gape at Theo.
“Your soulmate?” Bran echoed in disbelief. “She’s a witch!”
“And my mate,” Theo finished. “You cannot touch her.”
“That is ridiculous,” his cousin scoffed. “I know you find her attractive, Theo, but your mate? Your father will not stand for it.”
“My father has no say regarding my mate. That is etched in the stars of destiny.”
“What is the meaning of this uproar?” Carlyle was standing on the balcony, glaring at the ruckus. “Is that the witch we are seeking?”
“Yes!” the crowd roared.
“No!” Theo and Scarlet barked back.
Carlyle’s eyes narrowed. “Theo, in my office.”
“Leave us with the witch, Carlyle!”
“Scarlet comes with me,” Theo said coldly, reclaiming her hand. This time, Scarlet didn’t let go.
He really is the safest place I could be, she thought. I need to start believing him before I get myself in more trouble.
A dozen scathing stares bored into her as a path was cleared to permit them through under Carlyle’s watchful eyes. It was not until the door to the office closed that Scarlet managed to breathe, but even then, her breaths were shallow and terrified.
“What is this nonsense?” Carlyle demanded. “You called off the scouts so that you could hide this terrorist yourself?”
“Scarlet is not a terrorist, Father. She had nothing to do with what happened, and I can prove it.”
“Prove it? A dozen warriors saw her.”
“They saw someone who resembled her,” Theo corrected, and Scarlet tensed.
He cannot tell Carlyle about Beatrice! Carlyle will certainly cry for her death!
“Are you denying any part in this attack on us?” Carlyle asked, sneering slightly when he looked at her. Theo nudged her gently.
“I am,” Scarlet said. “I was only there to work, Mr. Tallant. You hired my catering company for the weekend. I have nothing to gain from such an attack.” Carlyle’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“So you say, witch,” he spat. He turned his attention back toward his son. “What is all this to you, Theo? Why are you protecting her?”
“She has given us the name of a coven who might be responsible, Father. Do you know of the Seraph Sisters?” Carlyle’s eyes widened in shock.
“Of course…” He paused, his head jerking back toward Scarlet. “You are a Seraph Sister?” he hissed, rising from his seated position in his chair. “I should have known—”
“Father, she is not,” Theo interjected, “but her mother was. I suspect they are the ones who are to blame. We must find them.”
Carlyle glared at them both. “And how can I be sure I am not being led on some wild goose chase? Or into another trap?”
“Because she is my mate, Father,” said Theo, “and hurting me would be hurting herself.”
Carlyle started to snort but faltered when he realized his son was serious.
“Your soulmate?” he echoed. “A Seraph Sister?”
“There’s time enough for this later,” Theo reminded his father. “The Seraph Sisters could be plotting another attack as we speak. We need to move.”
Carlyle grunted. “Get your warriors assembled, and I will notify the scouts. But you and I, Theo, are not done here.”
He cast Scarlet one last look which chilled her soul. There was little doubt in her mind that Carlyle was not going to easily welcome her into the family.
9
“Where are we going?” Scarlet asked as she and Theo hurried away from the office and out of the estate.
“For a ride,” he answered. “Try not to attract much attention.”
She snickered at the sentiment. She could feel eyes on her from the window as he morphed back into his stunning body of glistening scales, his long tail swooping around to embrace Scarlet and place her gently on his back.
“Hold on,” he instructed, his huge nostrils emitting plumes of smoke as he spoke. Suddenly, he was in the air, spiraling upward like a tornado into the dusky sky. Scarlet choked on a gasp, pulling herself forward to cling to the scales of his back, digging her nails deeply into him.
This time, the ride was exhilarating: Theo leveled out, his silver wings soaring through the air to swoop unexpectedly. There was none of the fear she’d felt the first time he had taken her, and while her mind was far from at ease, Scarlet couldn’t help enjoying herself, especially when he was pulling out all the stops.
The wind flushed her cheeks a becoming pink, and when he finally began his descent, she was disappointed.
I could get used to traveling like this, Scarlet thought. She tried to ignore the nagging doubt that told her she would never be with Theo, even if the entire mess was resolved.
“What are we doing here, Theo?” she asked when they were back on land. They were in the suburbs, in an area unfamiliar to her, but Theo seemed to know exactly where he was going as he consulted his cell phone.
“It’s a surprise,” he said, stalking forward with sure strides, forcing Scarlet to hurry to catch up with him.
“I don’t think I can deal with many more of those,” she sighed. Still, she didn’t argue as they climbed the steps of a house, where Theo rang the doorbell.
“Who’s there?” a terrified voice asked from inside, and Scarlet recognized it instantly.
“Beatrice!” she cried. “Bea, it’s me, Scarlet!”
The door opened, and the twins stood staring at one another in disbelief—until Beatrice’s gaze fell on Theo.
“Oh!” she sobbed, falling back, her arms up to ward him off. “Please, don’t kill me!”
“He’s not going to kill you,” Scarlet reassured her sister, stepping across the threshold to hug her. “He’s trying to help you.”
Beatrice looked dubious as she clung to Scarlet, her eyes trained on Theo, like she expected him to make a move.
“She is correct, Beatrice. I have no interest in harming you. I only want to make sure you’re safe.”
“I’m fine. How did you find me?” Beatrice demanded, her face coloring with indignation. “Why did you bring him to me?” Scarlet stifled a sigh.
“After what you did, Bea, you really don’t have the right to be asking questions, do you?” She found herself, however, wondering the same thin
g, and she cast her lover a sidelong look. Theo shrugged nonchalantly.
“I had your call traced,” he explained, as if he understood Scarlet’s silent question. “And here we are.”
“Dammit!” Beatrice cursed. “I knew calling you was a risk!”
“Whose house is this, Bea? Does it belong to one of the Seraph Sisters?” Beatrice gasped.
“How did you know about them?” she demanded.
“Bea, why don’t you tell us what happened? There are scouts rounding up all the Seraphs right now. It’s only a matter of time before they rat you out, and we need to get you somewhere safe.”
She looked at Theo skeptically. “You expect me to believe that a Tallant is going to see me to safety? He’s going to lead me right into the dragon’s den.”
“You mean the same one that you walked into yesterday?” Scarlet retorted, her patience running thin. “What were you thinking? How could you poison them like that?”
Shame clouded her sister’s face, and she hung her head.
“I didn’t expect it to go as far as it did,” Beatrice muttered, falling against the wall. “I just wasn’t thinking clearly.” Disappointment and shock filled Scarlet as she stared at her sister.
“So it’s true,” she whispered. “You did all that.”
“No!” Beatrice denied, shaking her head vehemently. “No, I…” She exhaled in a whoosh of breath. “I confess, I laid the brimstone in the arena at the Tallant estate, but that’s all I did. When I saw the effect it had on that warrior, I was turned off by the entire plan. You know me, Scar. I’m not a killer. I think that the dragons have done a lot of harm, but to hurt them—or anyone—that’s just not me.”
“Bea,” Scarlet said. “I saw you run into the arena at the Festival. You did something, I know you did. People saw you running away just before the fire started.”
“No!” Beatrice insisted. “They’re wrong!” She steadied her breath and stared at her twin earnestly. “Yes, I knew about the fire. One of the other witches was going to start it, and I was supposed to help, but after seeing what happened to Bruno…”
“You knew his name?” Theo asked, sounding surprised.
“I’m not an animal, Mr. Tallant,” Beatrice snapped back. “I didn’t enjoy seeing him hurt.”