He lunged at me, but I dodged the massive teeth snapping at my arms. He spun around and charged again. I sidestepped his attack, thrusting my dagger into the meaty part of his hip, making him land hard a few feet away.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Victor,” I hissed. “We need your people to silence Jack. Have you not heard anything I said?”
He made a wide circle around me, snarling, but he couldn’t talk without shifting back.
“We’re not here to fight each other!” Kellen yelled.
I turned to see him sprinting across the rocky ground. The gates to his estate stood open and the others followed him out. I should’ve known better than take my eyes off Victor, though. I turned back just in time for his large body to plow into me. My head smacked the ground, little stars swimming in my vision. He pinned my shoulders with both paws and dripped drool down my neck. His chocolate eyes searched mine for something, but I wasn’t sure what.
“Don’t do this,” I whispered. “I can kill you with a thought. Don’t make me. You have a renewed vow with Kellen’s mages, something you both needed.” I placed my clawed hands against the sides of his furry snout. “When Jack is defeated, Braden will do everything in his power to maintain peace. He is a vampire, but he’s not his brother.”
I let my hands fall away from his face, when his wolf flickered then faded into his human form. Victor didn’t release his grip on me, and I didn’t miss the fact that he was completely naked. I forced my gaze to stay on those chocolate eyes.
“How do you know he won’t be worse than Jack?” he whispered, his mouth inches from mine.
“I have seen his weakness,” I breathed, seeing Otto approaching and hoping he couldn’t hear me. “I can’t promise that every vampire will bow to his rule, but those who do will leave us alone as long as we give them the same respect.”
“You’re not the same mage you were a month ago.” Victor pushed himself off me, and I rolled to the side, trying to avoid looking at his marvelously large body.
“No. It’s what happens when you find out you’re a half-breed.” I remained kneeling in the rocks and sand, closing my eyes against the angry haze Victor created. I needed to dismiss my little beast. She’d done her job well and for a moment, I was grateful for her strength. My clawed fingers dug into the hard-packed sand, and I let fire wrap me in its warm embrace. The wind picked up around me, and water soothed my soul. A long breath escaped my lips, and I opened my eyes. Wisps of colorful magic drifted around me, then slowly faded.
The group stood between me and Kellen’s estate, the symbolism clear even in my mind. Victor was no longer naked, a pair of dark sweatpants covering the important parts. Matt stood next to him, just as he should, but the look he gave me made my heart stutter. Another friend lost to my madness.
The mage council shuffled uneasily in the middle, fear written all over their faces. I suddenly realized that none of them were fighters. They were regular people doing their daily thing to help support the mage family. They had no idea what we were facing.
Jonathan’s small group flanked the far side. Pity and respect outweighed their fear, but there would be no welcoming committee from them either. Kellen closed the space between us and knelt in the dirt next to me.
“You were right,” he mumbled.
“About which part?” I asked. “Because it all sucks.”
“Let’s finish our meeting.” He pushed to his feet and held out his hand but didn’t answer my question.
He really didn’t have to. I told him they would fear me. That I wouldn’t be welcome when this was over. His continued acceptance of me made no sense, but at this point I wasn’t denying the gesture. His was the only friendly face in the group.
After we filed back through the gates, Kellen closed them. Jim stood at the open sliding glass doors. His gaze flickered between me and Victor, before he strolled across the garden and sat down next to Otto. Maybe he didn’t witness our little brawl. Maybe he’d gotten here too late. Hopefully.
“We need to make plans for their ogres,” Jonathan said, breaking the silence. “If my sources are correct, they’ll have at least a dozen.”
Leave it to Jonathan to act like nothing happened. It was what they needed, though, and his discussion opened the way for more. The mage council was unusually quiet as Victor and Jonathan bounced ideas back and forth about how to best utilize each species’ talents. Victor still threw furtive glances at me, but they didn’t stick.
“It’ll be dark, which is perfect for the vampires,” Jonathan said. “And a huge disadvantage for the mages.”
“My shifters will be fine,” Victor stated. “We can focus on the vampires.”
“And the mages can deal with the ogres,” Kellen added. “They’re large enough to see and they’re slow. We should be able to take them down if we organize our groups.”
“The goblins and trolls are vicious fighters.” Jonathan rubbed his chin and I didn’t miss the age spots on his hand. Had they been there before and I didn’t notice it? “I have yet to determine how many Jack has recruited.”
“A lot of my new fae magic can be used to control large crowds,” I offered. “I’m reluctant to kill those who are fighting against their will, which I believe they are.”
“That reluctance will vanish when they try to rip your throat out,” Victor growled.
“Probably, but it won’t stop me from trying to remove them from the fight without killing them,” I retorted, glaring at him. “The ogre that attacked me and Logan had no choice. He was under complete control of his vampire master.”
“What about Jack?” Brian asked, redirecting the conversation. “Will he be in the middle of the fight? Or at the edge, issuing orders?”
I glanced around the table, not knowing the answer. I watched with muted amusement as all eyes fell on Otto.
“Don’t look at me,” he said, raising his hands. “I’ve never fought with Jack and only spoke to him a couple times before I left.”
“I can ask Braden,” I suggested.
Victor growled, and I ignored him.
“Good idea,” Jonathan replied. “He should know Jack’s frame of mind.”
They stared at me expectantly, like I would do it right now. Shit. I pulled out my phone and texted him.
We have questions. Can you call?
He didn’t reply and my phone didn’t ring. I shrugged. “He’ll either call or he won’t. Is Kellen going to be the point of contact for information gathering?”
“Yes,” Dale replied instantly.
“Then I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from him.” I hadn’t expected Braden to reply immediately. It would give the impression he liked me, something we agreed couldn’t happen. I just hoped he didn’t wait too long.
“I suggest we start moving people as soon as possible,” Jonathan said. “Especially those who cannot use the portals.”
“I agree,” Kellen stated. “The mages can wait, but getting plane tickets on such short notice will be difficult. My uncle can accommodate about two hundred people in his estate, but not for long.” He tapped the table with his fingers. “He has the space for tents to accommodate the rest but not the resources. We should plan to bring food, and each person should bring a sleeping bag. Hopefully we’re only staying one or two nights.”
He continued talking about logistics, Hettie scribbling away on a notepad I hadn’t seen earlier. My mind drifted to my fight with Victor. Why had he attacked me? Was it really just because I smelled like Braden? I could understand his hatred for the vampires. They attacked his people twice in the short time I knew him, but he wasn’t stupid. Arrogant, sure, but not stupid. Or maybe he really was testing my loyalty. That made more sense. I could’ve killed him with the nasty little vine that grew from the heart and consumed the body, and I think he knew it.
When my phone vibrated in my hand, I looked down. Braden’s contact blinked at me and I accepted the call.
“Braden,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.<
br />
“Your question?” he asked, his voice harsh and impatient. I needed more practice.
“I’m putting you on speaker so I don’t have to repeat your answers,” I warned, then pushed the ‘speakerphone’ button on the screen. “Do you know if Jack will be in the middle of the fight or on the edge commanding?” I asked. “Also, were you able to confirm his timeline?”
“Jack won’t join the fight unless it looks like he’s losing,” the elder vampire replied. “Or if he is provoked, which I intend to do.” He paused as if he knew the group around me drew in their breaths. He probably heard them. “The sooner we can remove him from the fight, the fewer people will die.”
“You believe you can kill him?” Victor asked. “I would’ve thought you’d already done so, if you could.”
I glared at the shifter.
“I expect your half-breed to help me,” Braden hissed. “That was our agreement.”
All eyes turned to me and I shrugged. “There ya go.”
“I hope to have confirmation of the timeline before morning,” he continued. “Is there anything else? I have more important things to do.”
“Can you find out where Jack is staging his army?” Kellen asked.
“Do you have no intelligence gathering of your own?” Braden retorted. “I believe your family actually lives there.”
Silence filled the garden, and a few seconds later I realized he’d hung up. His harsh tone shocked me, along with the derogatory way he’d called me a half-breed. Especially that. It hurt, and I had to tell myself repeatedly to ignore it. A true vampire wouldn’t behave any other way. This is just for show, AJ.
“Definitely reaching hard for the lines of trust,” Victor growled. “But he’s right, we need to confirm these things for ourselves.” He stood, and Matt rose with him. “We have people in the desert. I’ll see what they can find.”
“He was actually better than I expected,” Otto mumbled.
“Seriously?” Kellen asked. “He was a complete asshole.”
“He called, didn’t he?” the vampire asked. “All because the half-breed asked him to.”
All eyes turned to me again and I cringed. “The oath didn’t say he had to be nice, just cooperative.”
“Yes. I’d still like to know what you’re giving him.” Otto’s eyes narrowed, and I looked away.
“She’s giving him control of the vampires,” Victor spat. “Isn’t that obvious?”
“No,” Otto replied. “Braden never wanted control. Jack offered it many times, but he always declined. Said it was too much like work.”
It took a great deal of effort to keep my expression neutral. Otto perfectly described my first impression of Braden. Apparently the one he’d presented to everyone, even now. Except me.
“I thought you only talked to Jack a couple times,” Kellen stated, shifting uneasily in his chair.
“We are no different than anyone else with our gossip,” Otto chuckled. “Everyone knows Braden is the master of delegating. He only works as hard as he has to and lets everyone else do the rest.”
When his eyes landed on me again, I forced a smile. The unknown was driving him crazy, but there was no way I was sharing. He’d just have to go nuts.
“Well, I have stuff to do,” I said, rising from my seat. “Since I seem to be creating more animosity than answers, I’ll be going.”
Kellen grabbed my elbow and stood. Damn. “Let’s have another phone call tomorrow,” he suggested. “We all have things to do.”
The garden emptied quickly, leaving me and Kellen alone. It looked like no one wanted to stay.
“Don’t leave,” he said. “I need to make sure everyone’s gone before we talk.”
As he walked away, I seriously contemplated going back to LA. I didn’t want to talk to him about my future or his. The thought of rehashing the last few days turned my stomach. But I couldn’t leave him, not yet. He seemed to be the only sanity left in the whirlwind of my life, which wasn’t saying much. It was still better than Braden’s emotional rollercoaster and my own grief over Logan. I hadn’t tried to think about my father’s slow, miserable not-a-death inside that tree. Nope, couldn’t go there yet.
Chapter 20
As Kellen closed the door leading from the kitchen to the garage, I dropped onto the sofa in the living room, sighing heavily.
“They’re gone,” he said, running his fingers through his hair. “Surprisingly enough, Victor and Jonathan will probably be our best coordinators for this fight.” He walked across the open-concept living area and sat next to me. “I didn’t expect them to get along as well as they are.”
“Neither of them is stupid,” I mumbled. “And between the two, they know a lot about the magical families.”
An awkward silence fell between us, and I tried not to pick at the hem of my t-shirt. Kellen shifted next to me and rested his elbows on his knees.
“I don’t know what to think,” he muttered.
“I’m trying not to,” I said, leaning back against the soft cushions, forcing my eyes to stay open. It wasn’t working out so well, though.
“I can’t believe you tossed Victor around like that.” He twisted slightly and glanced at me. “How … that thing you turned into was…” He pushed to his feet and started pacing.
I didn’t want to talk about it, so I didn’t help him put his thoughts into words. Exhaustion pulled me deeper into the sofa. It wasn’t just physical; mental and magical fatigue swept over me in waves. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had more than five or six hours of sleep.
“If you and Braden can kill Jack at the very beginning of the fight, will the rest of them back down?” he asked, stopping right in front of me.
“I have no idea,” I replied, not even trying to stifle my yawn. “You’ve been in this world a lot longer than me. I should be asking you that question.”
“I’d ask Braden, but he’s an asshole,” Kellen spat, the furrow between his brow deepening. “I can’t believe you have a blood oath with him. What made you think that was a good idea?”
“We’re not discussing this,” I replied, dragging myself from my comfortable spot. “I don’t want to fight with you. I’m going to bed and sleeping for at least twelve hours. Don’t bug me unless it’s an emergency.”
“AJ, I’m sorry. Don’t leave. Not yet.”
His pleading did nothing but irritate the shit outta me, which wasn’t good. The little beast would show up again and I’d do something stupid.
“I’m grumpy and tired,” I grumbled. “We’ll talk when I wake up. I promise.”
He took a step towards me, chewing on his lip. Something I’d never seen him do.
“I’ll call if something urgent comes up.” Then, he spun on his heel and walked away.
My heart sank as I watched him shuffle from the room. I wanted to push him away, but at the same time I didn’t. I couldn’t have him, and leading him around like I could was wrong. A long sigh escaped my lips, and I created the mental image of my living room in LA. Not the balcony this time.
I stumbled when I got there, falling on my hands and knees. Better than last time. I stood up and looked around at the soft, natural colors so opposite of Braden’s stark contrasting colors in his apartment. This wasn’t his, couldn’t be, or he would’ve spent the time making it a reflection of him. So why would he keep it? I had no idea and really didn’t have the energy to think about it.
I checked the front door, making sure it was locked, then did the same with one leading into the garage. My feet took me to the sliding glass barrier between me and the ocean. I stood there for several moments soaking in the serenity, then checked the lock and went looking for my room. I had to assume Gordon put my luggage somewhere.
I shuffled down the darkened hallway, peeking in each open door as I passed. A bathroom and three bedrooms looked back at me, but none of them held my stuff. Surely they wouldn’t unpack for me... right?
I reached the end of the hall and two doors. The one
leading to the stone room below and the other had to be the master bedroom. I pushed it open and gasped. A thick white carpet covered the entire floor just begging my toes to curl in its plush fibers. Abstract art hung on the white walls and curtains the color of blood covered the tall windows, completely blocking out the sun. The same color duvet spread across the king-sized bed, with black and white accent pillows tossed on top. It was all Braden.
I sighed when my gaze landed on my suitcases next to a deep mahogany dresser. Could I really sleep in a room that reminded me of him? Nope. Instead, I grabbed my luggage and dragged it down the hall to the first bedroom. The one farthest from the vampire.
Soothing shades of tan and off-white greeted me from every wall. One dresser stood next to the closet door and a queen bed filled the middle of the room. I pulled my suitcases across the tan carpet and contemplated unpacking.
“Screw it,” I mumbled, pulling off all my clothes except my panties. “No one knows I’m here and Braden is hopefully on the other side of the planet.”
I crawled beneath the cool sheets and let out a deep breath. I needed to sleep, but my mind wouldn’t shut up. Every time I closed my eyes, the slide show of the last few days flickered across my closed eyelids. Logan’s battered face. Then Ernesto’s head laying at my feet, followed by my imagination’s recreation of the tree of death strangling Cedric. I sat up and cursed.
“Shit. Shit. Shit! Maybe there’s alcohol in the kitchen,” I mumbled, trying not to wish for a vampire who could just put me out. Nope, alcohol was the answer. It wouldn’t take much to drink myself into oblivion.
I tossed the blankets back and rolled out of bed, then unzipped my suitcase. I wasn’t brave enough to walk around the house in my underwear. A frown spread across my face as I stared at my not-so-neatly folded clothes. I wanted a t-shirt, but there wouldn’t be one among the expensive clothes provided by the vampire. Would Braden have one in the closet in his room? Maybe. Did I really want to put his on? I stood there, mostly naked, thinking about it. Nope. I dug a silk cami from the suitcase and pulled it over my head.
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