He shrugged. “We don’t need her to find him anymore. Aldric is right over there. There’s nothing she can do to help us.”
I nodded as a cold bead of sweat dripped down the back of my neck. I glanced back at Aldric one last time, praying with every fiber of my being that his condition had changed. My heart sank as he whispered seductively into the Dhampir’s ear. He held her tightly as she arched her body into his.
Seeing him fawn over another woman made my blood boil. The thought of what he would do to her later when they were alone sickened me. He would charm his way into her bed just as he had done before with all those women from the Three Blind Mice—in the days before he had met me. Before he loved me. And now, it was as if he never did.
I spun around and marched toward the front door. My anger multiplied with every stomp of my boot on the cold marble floor. It cracked underneath me like the broken fragments of my heart.
I kicked open the front door, nearly knocking it off its hinges. The cool air hit my lungs as I burst outside and dropped to my knees. Tears spilled out before I could stop them.
I let out a scream and hit my fists on the pavement, shattering all the windows in Dragos’s car.
He let out a sigh. “I’m guessing you’re not going to pay to fix those.”
I sprang up, my eyes black, and shot him a challenging look.
He put up his hands in retreat. “Easy. I’m only kidding.”
My hands trembled. “This isn’t over. I’m going to track down whoever is behind this. They’re going to answer for what they’ve done to him.”
A new war was coming, and it was going to be a bloodbath.
The car ride back to the cabin was a wet one. The rain sloshed through the broken windows, drenching both of us. Dragos muttered to himself in annoyance as he continuously wiped his face with the back of his sleeve. I didn’t even bother to shield myself from it. It was cool and refreshing against my skin. Besides, being soaked was the least of my problems.
This was the worst outcome I could have imagined. A fate worse than death. Not to have Aldric taken from me, but to have me taken from him. Our love gone—erased from his heart. Our link…it was…severed. The pain was so excruciating, I willed myself to go numb.
I snatched the bottle of champagne and bolted out of the car as soon as Dragos pulled up to the cabin. “I’m drinking this.”
Without hesitating, he nodded and retrieved two glasses from the kitchen. I poured a splash for him and took a swig straight from the bottle. He watched me intensely, his eyes twinkling in amusement.
I ignored it. “So, who did you link to?” I needed something else to focus on.
He sighed, hesitating before answering. “With Jane, but it wasn’t romantic. It was just out of necessity.”
I spit up my champagne. “You hooked up with my mother?”
He tapped his foot and ran a hand through his hair. “She’s not your mother, Gray. You know that now. And we didn’t hook up, we linked. It was solely in magic.”
Linking wasn’t always sexual, but it was a bond that only death could break. At least, that’s what I once thought. Until tonight.
I turned up my nose at him. “Still, it’s weird. What sort of necessity?” It seemed odd for Dragos to need anything.
He grabbed the bottle, forgoing the glass, and took a swig. “I needed to be stronger, faster, and not dependent on blood. When I heard that you had linked to Aldric, I knew I couldn’t compete unless I was your equal.”
My mouth dropped open. “You did it for me?”
Dragos smirked. “You would like to think that, wouldn’t you? No, I did it for me, so I could be as strong as you. So I could defend myself every time you try to rip out my throat.” His tone was combative, but his eyes were playful.
I chuckled. “Well, you made a wise choice. Ripping out your throat still holds its appeal.”
The champagne was giving me a nice buzz. A warmth spread through my body and my muscles relaxed. Despite everything we had been through, there was a comfort in the familiar. I didn’t have to pretend or explain anything. I could just be me. And if anyone could understand my darkness, it was Dragos.
I feared what would come after the buzz wore off. When the ache in my chest was no longer dulled by fizzy intoxication, who would I be then?
Dragos watched me, his brow furrowing. “There’s something you need to know about Tobias.”
His words shook me out of my daze.
I took another swig. “Save it for another time. I don’t want to think about any of that right now.”
He started to protest but stopped himself and nodded. He leaned in closer. His eyes searched my face as if he were trying to memorize it. The heat from his breath made my lips tingle.
“You’re going to get through this. I’ll even let you rip out my throat if it makes you feel better.” He winked.
My cheeks flushed. It could have been the champagne, or the cabin, or just the desperate need to forget, but before I could stop myself, I reached out and traced my fingers over his lips.
His eyes lit up in surprise. He shivered and pressed my hand to his lips, kissing each finger. My skin tingled. I traced a finger down the side of his neck to his collarbone. His pulse throbbed under my touch.
He pulled my chair closer. A warmth spread through me like wild fire as his eyes burned into mine with a deep hunger. I took another swig of champagne but did not swallow. I pressed my lips to his and let the bubbly liquid seep into his mouth. It dripped out between our lips as we kissed.
I kissed him harder as he pulled me onto his lap. We clawed at each other’s clothes in breathless urgency. I wanted him. I wanted to feel something. He lifted me up onto the table. His hands explored my every crevice while his lips devoured my neck.
I arched my back as he entered. Our fingers locked in desperation as we rocked back and forth. We both cried out in ecstasy as we burst into each other for what seemed like an eternity.
My heart heaved in my chest as sweat dripped down my back. He cupped my face in his hands and smirked
He twirled a lock of my hair. “Was it as good as you remembered?”
A tingling pleasure lingered in my loins. I was sick of remembering. My eyes shifted to black and I climbed on top of him.
“Remind me again.”
His eyes lit up. “I’ll remind you all night.”
We had broken the table, the chairs, and the bed. The furniture could be fixed. My heart, not so much. Lying in Dragos’s arms in a pile of crumpled sheets, I felt worse. I was angry with Aldric, with myself, and with the world.
I wasn’t naïve enough to think that Aldric was in control of his emotions, but I was bothered by the fact that he was so easily manipulated.
Everything had changed. It was all wrong. I wasn’t supposed to be here with Dragos. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. I had to fight for Aldric. I had to get him back. There was only one person who could help me do that.
“Earlier, you mentioned my father. I need to talk to him.”
Dragos shrugged. “I don’t know where he is. After what happened at Infitum, I haven’t spoken to him or Jane.”
My head was pounding. “Maybe I’ll go back to Stonehaven. See if I can find out anything else.”
He pulled my waist toward his. “Let’s just stay here. We can break some more furniture.” He nuzzled my neck.
I pushed him away. “Look, last night was…a mistake. I had a momentary lapse of sanity mixed with good—really good—champagne. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun, and amazing, but my heart hasn’t changed. I have to save Aldric.”
Dragos’s eyes flashed red. “Aldric doesn’t want to be saved. He is gone. The sooner you accept that, the happier you’ll be.”
He and I both knew that wasn’t true. But I knew he wanted to believe it as much as I did not.
“Aldric is under their control. I’m sure of it. I have to break it. He would want me to break it. What if it was you? Would you want me to give up?”
I hung my head down. “He didn’t have a choice.”
Dragos grunted, frustrated. He knew I was right. He crossed the room and gazed out the window. A million emotions seem to pass over his face.
He nodded. “Arcadia has taken over the London coven. If anyone knows where Tobias is, it would be her.”
I knew it pained him to tell me that. Maybe he really was trying to make amends.
I smiled, sadly. “I didn’t know. Thank you for telling me. We can reach London by nightfall if we leave now.” I gathered my clothes and started for the door.
He grabbed my arm. “You still want me to come with you? Why? You don’t need me anymore.”
A lump formed in my throat. “I just thought…”
He snapped, “You just thought what? That I would follow you around like a puppy dog? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind being used for sex—I actually relish it—but I’m not going to watch you vie for the attention of a man who doesn’t want you. Not when you have someone right in front of you who does.”
We stared into each other’s eyes. My stomach turned. The air between us was thick with regret and unrequited moments.
I bit my lip. “If that’s true, then I have to see for myself. I have to try. I know in my heart that he is not himself. He’s in trouble. I have to save him.”
He snickered. “If you really believed that then you wouldn’t have slept with me last night.”
I swallowed hard. “You might be right, but it doesn’t change how I feel right now.”
Dragos stiffened. “I’ll take you to London. After that, you’re on your own. I just…can’t.”
I was taken aback by his sudden change of heart. The Dragos I knew would have relished taunting me for a few more centuries. It was hard to believe that he was ready to walk away.
I reached out to touch him but drew back. “We should get going then.”
Dragos nodded, his expression blank. He mumbled to himself as I followed him to the car.
That feeling of dread returned. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something he wasn’t telling me. Whatever it was, I hoped it didn’t have to do with Aldric. Guilt clawed at me again as flashes of last night echoed in my mind while we sped toward the docks.
I shook those thoughts away. There would be time to beat myself up for it later. Right now, I had to figure out a way to convince Arcadia to help me find Tobias.
Six
London was cold and wet. It chilled my bones. Dragos hadn’t said two words to me since we left the cabin.
I paused to look at him on the docks. “Are you sure you won’t come with me? Arcadia has always been fond of you. Which makes one of us.” My attempt at humor seemed to fall on deaf ears.
He scowled. “It’s better if I don’t. For both of us. You need to figure out what it is you really want.”
I nodded and left him standing in the rain. I could feel his eyes on me until I was completely out of his sight.
Stomping toward the sewer entrance to Arcadia’s compound, I took a nervous glance around to make sure I wasn’t followed. Satisfied, I took a deep breath and slid down the sludge coated tunnel.
I wound my way through the familiar maze of passageways like a sewer rat, growing more urgent with each step. With the Narcissus magic pumping fast in my veins, the narrow tunnels no longer made me feel like I wanted to crawl out of my own skin.
The walk gave me time to reflect. Dragos’s abrupt departure was perplexing. It should have bothered me, but I was relieved to be on my own again. No distractions. Nothing to stand in my way of getting back to Aldric. But would he forgive me for what I’d done? Would I ever forgive myself?
I approached the first checkpoint and was surprised to see her choice in guards. I expected an army of Dhampir hybrids, but instead I was met by just two Rougarou men—half human, half wolf. Like the Lupi in nature, they could shape shift at will. Except, they were not born wolves, they were bitten, and unlike the Lupi, they were not immortal.
They did not appear alarmed when they saw me. The taller one spoke.
“You must be the sister. She will see you. Follow me.”
Was she expecting me? “How can you be so sure I am ‘the sister?’”
The tall Rougarou looked long and hard at me. “You are the dark one with the black eyes.”
My heart sank. I hadn’t even realized my eyes had shifted. This place was not so pleasant to me the last time I was here. My magic must have still been reacting to it.
Their fear of me was palpable. His hands trembled as he led me down the musty tunnel to Arcadia’s chambers. She was only in charge here because I decapitated Lucien, the former coven leader. I couldn’t help but shudder remembering it. They were right to fear me.
Witches preferred to be surrounded by nature. Arcadia had transformed Lucien’s throne room into an enchanted forest. With her newfound paranoia of the outside world, this was as close to nature as she was going to get. She was bent over a patch of wolfsbane when I walked in.
I cleared my throat to announce myself, although it seemed she knew I was here the moment I set foot in London. Arcadia could sense Pythia’s magic a mile away, and since all of it now flowed through my veins, I was like a beacon of her mother everywhere I went. She continued to tend to her wolfsbane without looking up.
“I was wondering when my blood-crazed sister was going to pay me a visit. Come to steal my magic as well?” Her shrill voice was laced with resentment.
I didn’t flinch. “That’s funny. You tried to destroy an entire race of people, but I’m the crazy one. Seems a bit judgmental, don’t you think?”
My patience for Arcadia was running thin, as usual. She had a whiny way of speaking that made her sound like a spoiled child. She made a lifestyle out of pouting. But she always looked exquisite with her pale white hair and ice blue eyes. She sneered, showing a bit of fang to remind me she was half Dhampir.
“I’m assuming this isn’t a bonding visit, so cut to the chase, Gray. What do you want this time?” Her eyes displayed a hint of sadness. The last time I asked her for something, it ended with her losing Lycos.
“Where is our father?” She hated when I referred to him that way. An ugly reminder that she and I were related.
Arcadia snorted. “Why? So, you can try and kill him again? I don’t think so.”
I swallowed my pride. “I need his help. Aldric is in trouble.”
She chuckled. “If that’s what you want to call it. I heard he grew tired of you. That seems to be a trend with the men you sleep with.”
My eyes flickered, a tinge of black seeping back in. “It seems we have that in common, sister. Lycos is doing well, by the way.” I gritted my teeth.
Arcadia turned up her nose and let out a quiet whimper. “Lycos was different. Your little gypsy brainwashed him against me.”
I snapped, “That’s not what happened, but that is what the Serpent Bearers are doing to Aldric. If you have any heart at all, you’ll tell me where Tobias is so I can ask for his help.”
Arcadia sat down in quiet contemplation. Her eyes trailed off into the distance as if she could see a picture that I could not. After several moments of this, she stood to face me.
“I still don’t trust you, so the best I can do is relay a message to him. If he wants to find you, he will.”
I didn’t have a choice but to take her word. I could easily force her to tell me, but I didn’t have the heart to torture it out of her. There was also a good chance that she didn’t even know where he was.
I drew in a sharp breath. “Fine. I’ll be at the Hall of Secrets for a time. After that, I’m heading back to New Orleans. I’m taking a risk too, you know. He could try to kill me as well.”
Arcadia stepped toward me, her eyes wide. She reached out as if to touch me, but then drew her hand back.
&nb
sp; Her lip quivered. “You should watch your back, Gray. Whispers of Lamia are spreading throughout the covens. The Serpent Bearers shouldn’t be underestimated.”
She actually seemed genuinely concerned for me. I was beginning to think that the Order of Lamia might be as dangerous as everyone was making them out to be. I gave her a nod of gratitude and turned to leave.
The Hall of Secrets was once again my only safe refuge. The only place I would not be hunted or ambushed by monsters of the unknown. I was grateful for it, but it was also beginning to feel like a prison.
The Hall felt even emptier without Valentina in it. I should’ve gone with her to Diana’s Forest. She had her hands full with the Lupi. If I hadn’t avoided my problems in the first place, Aldric and I would be by her side right now, helping her. I knew she didn’t blame me, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
I headed straight for the study, expecting to find The Keeper, and stumbled into Dragos instead.
I froze in the doorway. “You came back here? I thought you wanted nothing to do with me.”
His eyes burned into mine, a flicker of longing passed through them. “Where else would I go? You still don’t get it, Gray. I try to stay away from you, but I just can’t.”
My heart sank. I still couldn’t tell when he was speaking the truth or playing one of his twisted games. Sometimes I wondered if his supposed love for me was nothing more than an idea that he overromanticized in his head.
I rolled my eyes. “I guess we have that in common.”
Dragos snickered but motioned for me to join him by the fire. “Any luck with Arcadia?”
I shook my head. “She agreed to send a message, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Dragos stiffened. “I am sorry for your anguish, Gray, but I’m more concerned about your safety.”
I cocked my head to the side and raised an eyebrow. “I’m touched.”
His hand trembled as he took a sip of his whiskey. “I’m serious. Aldric is just a pawn. Trust me on that.”
Flesh and Bone (Blood and Darkness Book 2) Page 4