by Juniper Hart
Helios stared at him blankly, and for a moment, Toby felt a stab of doubt. He’s looking right through me. Something’s different about him. He’s not the same terrifying beast he was all those years ago. What happened to him?
“Helios…”
“A million dollars!” he cried gleefully. Again, Toby gaped at him.
“Yes… you said that,” he said slowly. “Where? I can send it now.”
Dismay colored the demon’s face, and he looked about, a near panic overcoming his face.
“What is this place?” he whispered. “Where am I?”
Alarm shot through Toby in a bolt, but before he could respond, the front door burst open again, and he was staring at Shane. Helios released a howl of displeasure, and giving no chance for either bear to react, he spun and rushed through the back door and into the yard beyond.
“BOSS!” Shane yelled, running toward him. “Are you bitten?”
Toby shook his head, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.
“No,” he said. “I’m fine.”
“Does he have Sierra?” Shane demanded, his eyes shifting around the dark house, but Toby was already running out the front door toward the car.
“We need to find Sierra. I have no idea what Helios might do next,” he muttered as Shane joined him. “He’s gone crazy or something—worse than I’ve ever seen him.”
Shane nodded eagerly. “That’s what I wanted to tell you, boss. I’ve got a location on Simone Ruiz. Theo Veriday accessed the tracker on her phone, and he gave me her location. I should warn you, he’s on his way, too.”
Toby couldn’t care less about the arrival of Theo Veriday, not when Sierra was in danger. There would be time enough to worry about that later.
“Good! Great! Where is she headed?”
Shane slammed the passenger side door and grinned. “If my GPS is right, she’s heading to your place as we speak.”
12
“Give it to me!” Simone growled, her voice low so as to not wake Aurora asleep in her arms. The subdued tones were unnecessary. Aurora was almost never awake anymore, regardless of how loud they might be.
“What? No!” Sierra hissed back. “Absolutely not. You’re in this mess too deep as it is.”
“I will get it back to Tobias. He won’t shoot the messenger, especially when I tell him why you did it. Sierra, what other choice do we have? He’s going to find you sooner or later, and we better get ahead of this. There still might be hope for Aurora!”
Everything Simone said made sense, but Sierra could not send her best friend into the line of fire. She eyed Simone warily. Maybe she’ll be protected, safe. Maybe if she tells Tobias that she’s Theo Veriday’s mate…
Of course, that might make matters worse. A mob boss wouldn’t want to know that the Council was involved in this affair. If he wanted the Council of Seven to know, he would have called on them himself. Perhaps he had already called on Theo, and the Council was on its way to them.
Sierra’s head was swimming with dismay. How had it come to this? How had she let herself get in so deep? She had no idea which way was up anymore.
“Please, Sierra, you need to listen to me. Give me the Chasm and let me deal with this. I can handle Tobias Sutton.”
“You’re not immortal, Simone,” she sighed. “He could kill you.”
“No,” Simone muttered. “He can’t.”
Sierra raised her head and peered at her friend in confusion.
“Sure he can,” she scoffed. “Stop playing tough. You’ve done enough, uprooting your life in Boulder to spend so much time here with me and Aurora. If anything happens to you because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Nothing is going to happen, Sierra, because I’m a hybrid now, too.”
Sierra gaped at her uncomprehendingly.
“What?” she whispered. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m a vampire. I was turned.”
“The Council permitted that?” Sierra demanded. She was sure her head was going to explode if she was made to hear one more revelation that day.
“Most of the Council doesn’t know about it,” Simone sighed. “And we’d like to keep it that way.”
Sierra shook her head slowly. “Gods, Simone…”
“I know, but that doesn’t matter now. My reason for telling you is so that you understand that I can’t be killed. It makes more sense that I go.”
“And if the Council finds out about you somehow because of this?”
“I’ve gotten away with it this long, haven’t I?” Simone chirped, but she couldn’t hide the worry in her eyes. What choice did Sierra have? Simone’s life, or Aurora’s? If the Council learned she’d been turned illegally, they would kill her—especially if they found out she had been hiding it.
Sierra felt sick that it had come to such a place, and she protested weakly, but she knew that whatever arguments she offered Simone would be overridden.
“This is not your problem,” she murmured. “I’ll go. You don’t need to be involved with this. I might have a better chance of convincing Tobias to help me if I can get an audience with him.”
“You’ll be killed on sight. There will be no negotiations. You stole the Chasm of Purity, Sierra. You’re as good as dead. At least I have half a chance.”
Sierra nodded miserably, her eyes welling with tears again. Aurora lay lifeless in her arms, and Sierra could feel the toddler slipping further and further away from her as the seconds ticked by.
“You’ll be safe here,” Simone promised, leaning down to embrace her best friend and the child gently. “No one will look for you at my place.”
Sierra looked around, gulping back the stone which had formed in her windpipe. Simone had given up so much to come and help her when Aurora was born. While she still lived in Colorado with Theo, she maintained a small place near Pike’s Market so that she didn’t have to travel or stay in Sierra’s already small bungalow.
How long can I stay here? she wondered mournfully, peering at her baby. If she doesn’t make it, I don’t want to live, anyway. Sierra was sure she would never feel safe anywhere ever again. One way or another, it will all be over soon, she told herself, gulping back air. In her misery, she had been holding her breath, and she was lightheaded. Either we’ll be saved, or we’ll all be dead.
Simone rose, her face an expression of confidence which Sierra knew she could not possibly feel.
“I’m badass, remember?” Simone said lightly. “That’s why you keep me around.”
Sierra tried to smile through her tears, but her face only became a grimace of pain. She squeezed Aurora closer to her body and willed herself not to sob.
“You have to trust me, Sierra. You got in too deep, but we’ll get out of this, I promise—”
“No!” Sierra cried, and Aurora stirred slightly before falling back limply against her mother’s trembling body. “Don’t promise me anything except that you will be safe. If you sense danger, get the hell out of there. If you—”
Simone held up her hand. “Sierra, you know me. I will be fine. The next time you see me, I will be back with a Shroud of Protection for our Aurora. You just have to have a little faith in your old friend, all right? We’re Collingwoods. We escaped extinction, in case you’ve forgotten. I’ve cheated death. Fate didn’t keep us around this long just to take us out in such a depressing way.” She didn’t give Sierra an opportunity to reply, blowing a kiss as she flew out the door to the garage.
Sierra closed her eyes, rocking her daughter gently in her arms as she began to hum a lullaby. She didn’t need anyone to tell her just how close they were to the end, no matter what optimistic words Simone had for them. They were at the end of their story. The only question was, how long did they have? Even if Simone was successful, her cover as a hybrid would undoubtedly be blown, and then she would be made to face the Council of Seven with her secret.
If she wasn’t successful… and why would Tobias help them when sh
e had just stolen the most valuable book in the world from him? She had kept their daughter from him under the assumption that he wouldn’t be a good father. Why should she expect him to do right by them now?
It felt as if Aurora was barely breathing in her arms, and with each jagged inhale, Sierra’s own life seemed to slip away. She closed her eyes, relishing what could potentially be the final moments with her baby, her mind whirling with any last-minute ideas to save them all. But she had already been down that road a dozen times, her mind trapped in an endless loop as she considered it.
There was nothing left to do but wait. Wait for Rowan to find her. Wait for Helios to bust through the door and demand the Chasm. Wait for the Council to come knocking. Wait for Tobias to kill her.
Or wait for Aurora to die.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Tobias demanded, his eyes swirling hypnotically. “I could have helped you if you had just told me the truth!”
“I didn’t want you to know about Aurora! You’re a mobster! What kind of father would you make?”
“And you made a better mother? A thief who put how many Enchanted at risk?” Sierra bristled and tried to turn her head away, but he didn’t allow it, his hands falling on either side of her face.
“No!” he snapped. “You don’t get to escape this time. I have searched for you, whether or not you want to believe it. I came back for you, and you had moved. I was banished for a year, and all I could think about was finding you. But you were gone.”
She struggled against his hold, but her efforts were futile, partially because she did not put up much of a fight. Staring at him, she willed him to kiss her, yet as he put his mouth to hers, he paused, his irises searching her face.
“Why are you so angry?” Although she shifted her eyes downward, he was relentless. “Tell me!”
“I thought you abandoned me,” she whispered. “And I never wanted my baby to feel that pain.”
His lips met hers then, and the kiss was an explosion of pent-up emotions. It was true, without manipulation, and when she raised her eyes to look at him, she was immediately brought back to the night they met, the magnetic hold he seemed to have over her.
Tobias swept her into his arms, and they were on the floor, floating in nothingness, the dream black around them as they entwined themselves in each other’s arms and legs, suddenly naked and melting together. He was inside her, on top of her, below her. She was riding him, her full breasts in his face, on all fours as he plunged into her from behind, his hot breath on her neck.
“You and me from now on,” he whispered in her ear, each thrust driving deeper than the last. “There’s nothing keeping us apart now.”
“You forgive me?” she breathed, bucking her back against him. “You understand why I had to do it?”
“No,” he answered, his tongue lashing out to lick her earlobe, fingers digging deeper into her flesh. “And I will never forgive you.”
Consternation filled her as she tried to turn and look at him, but his hand encircled her throat, his breaths becoming grunts of pleasure as he brought himself closer to climax.
“But I did it for—”
Sierra’s eyes flew open, and she bolted upward, her pulse roaring in her ears. She stared down at her daughter, sweat beading at her brow. It took her several seconds to shake the veil of her dream, but when she did, her heart stopped.
“Aurora?” she whispered, shaking the limp body of her child. “Please, baby, open your eyes!”
But the little girl did not respond.
A low wail escaped Sierra’s lips, piercing the darkened condo as she buried her face in the child’s chest. There was a heartbeat, one which only Enchanted ears would be able to detect, and Sierra knew that it was time to let go of her daughter. Simone had not been successful in her quest, it seemed, and there was nothing she could do but assume the worst.
Everyone you love is gone now. It’s time to give up.
“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, her body trembling. “I am so, so sorry, my baby.”
Reality disappeared, and Sierra was floating above her body, watching herself cradling Aurora. They were both dead now, dead before they had been able to fall in love properly, to understand security and comfort. Their lives were over before they had even begun to live.
Higher she was drifting, touching the ceiling of Simone’s posh condo when a loud crash shoved her back into her body.
“Give her to me,” Tobias ordered, striding toward them, his steely eyes locked on hers. “Give me the girl.”
With dull eyes, Sierra gaped at him uncomprehendingly. Is this another dream? Am I still asleep?
The anger and concern etched on Tobias’ face certainly seemed real, but who could say what was what anymore. She had nothing to base her truth upon anymore.
“Give me the child!” Toby growled again, reaching for Aurora’s lifeless form.
“No!” she protested, shaking her head. “No, don’t! She’s just a baby, Tobias!”
“Sierra, give her to him.” Simone appeared at his back, her dark eyes encouraging. “He’s not going to hurt her.”
Sierra began to sob mercilessly as Tobias gently raised Aurora into his arms, his eyes studying her face. The pain in his gaze was unmistakable as he pressed her close, a low murmur escaping his mouth.
“Light six candles in a circle,” Tobias ordered. “Do it fast. She’s about to slip away. And stay close. I’ll need one of you to complete the spell. I’m not a witch.”
Simone jumped to obey, and Sierra sat weakly, watching and listening. Tobias began to chant as Simone got to work, and the words filled Sierra’s ears, flowing out. They didn’t make any sense, not just from a linguistic standpoint, but because she couldn’t absorb any of what was going on in those moments.
The chant grew louder from Tobias’ mouth, and when Simone had finished, he sat inside the protective circle, rocking his daughter in long, rhythmic movements.
“Close your eyes and focus your healing on her,” Tobias instructed, but it was an unnecessary order. Both Sierra and Simone had already started a prayer circle of their own, adding to whatever power Tobias had brought to them.
Clasping hands, they waited, and outside, the gray light of dawn tried to break through the horizon.
There was an urgency in Tobias’ words now, and Sierra forced herself to maintain control, but it wasn’t easy. Her nerves were raw, her breaths uneven. She didn’t dare look at Aurora, terrified of what she might see.
Losing it now will not help Aurora, she told herself firmly. Keep it together for her.
Suddenly, a blast of frigid air shot through the condo, shooting out the flames of the candle, and Tobias froze, his words cut off, his eyes wide as he stared at them in disbelief.
Dread bubbled in Sierra’s throat. It didn’t work! He didn’t do it! The scream which wanted to erupt from her lips died there, her mouth parted to gape at him.
Simone clenched her hand tightly, their eyes meeting in horrified shock as Tobias released Aurora to the floor, where she fell in a lump, unmoving.
At once, the candles reignited, and the wicks danced higher than before.
“What is happening?” Sierra choked, crawling across the hardwood toward her daughter, but Tobias held up his hand.
“Wait!” he yelled, and Sierra heard the desperation in his voice. With great resolve, she paused, her eyes fixated on the body of her child.
Come on, baby. Wake up. Show us you’re okay. Please, Aurora. Please!
Slowly, Aurora’s chest began to rise and fall visibly, her breaths no longer shallow and choppy. She was recovering!
“It’s working!” Sierra choked. “She’s—she’s—” She gasped when the toddler lifted her head, blinking several times.
“Mama?”
“Yes, baby! Yes, I’m here!” Sierra leapt into the middle of the protective circle, uncaring of how Tobias felt about it, scooping her daughter into her arms. “Look at me,” she whispered to Aurora. “How are you feeling?�
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The girl nodded, a wry smile forming on her rosebud lips. “I hungry. You got ice cream?”
Her little girl was back.
“Yes!” Sierra cried, her face soaked with tears. “You can eat ice cream for the rest of your life if you want, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!”
“Yeah?” Aurora’s face lit up like a thousand lightbulbs, and even as her mother stared, her face grew pinker with life.
Sierra laughed and sniffled, her eyes falling on Tobias’ unsmiling face. Her own smile faded slightly, and she cleared her throat, reluctant to release Aurora.
“Baby, go with Auntie Simone. I think she has ice cream for you in the kitchen,” Sierra mumbled, looking at her friend worriedly.
“Yes, monkey. Come with me. Let’s get some sugar on those bones, all right?” Simone extended her hand toward Aurora, but her eyes lingered worriedly on Sierra. Sierra gave her friend a warning look, and Simone sighed. “Come on, rug rat,” she called again. “Let’s go find you some ice cream.”
Aurora rose unsteadily to her feet and followed Simone into the kitchen, leaving Tobias and Sierra in the living room to stare at one another silently for a long moment. Finally, Sierra broke the quiet.
“Thank you,” she murmured when she was sure the pair was out of earshot. “I…” She trailed off, knowing no matter what she said, the words wouldn’t be enough to explain how grateful she was for what he had just done for her. “Thank you,” she mumbled again, shooting her gaze away. She didn’t know what else to say, and she found it impossible to meet his eyes, her heart sick with what she had done to him.
“No,” Tobias said flatly. “That’s not good enough.”
Sierra’s mouth trembled slightly, but she forced herself not to cry. Aurora was safe now, and that was all that mattered. There was no longer a reason to cry for anything. Her worst fear had been alleviated. Anything else that happened wouldn’t be as bad, no matter what.
She knew she deserved any punishment which Tobias bestowed upon her, including death. As long as Aurora was out of harm’s way, Sierra would happily die… or unhappily die, knowing she had disappointed the only man she had ever had real feelings for.