by Colt, Shyla
“You want me to follow you?”
His head bobbed up and down.
“Okay.” He led her to a large oak tree. Power radiating off it stole her breath. The fog came from the opening at the bottom. “The spirits.”
Seke’s massive head nodded. He gestured toward the tree. Placing her hand on the trunk, she gasped. They were coming. Figures formed in the mist, walking onto the field. Various shapes and sizes, and clothing styles, they gathered, joining hands around the wide perimeter. The ancestors of the bloodlines wronged and her own had enough spilled blood. The pressure built inside of her. Panting, she dug her nails into the bark.
Let go. We’ll handle the rest. Obeying, she closed her eyes, becoming a conduit for them to deliver their own brand of justice. A loud clap of thunder sounded. The air around them exploded into light. Warm rain pattered onto her wet clothes. A scream rang out. She watched as the first person clutched their head and fell to the ground writhing. They followed, dropping one by one in the grass.
A gaunt figure stepped through the mist. His black hair was a nest of tangles, and dirt clung to the exposed parts of his skin.
“Kazimir?” she whispered.
“The spirits have bought us time. We need to go. She needs us.”
“Who?”
“My mate. The final one who’ll complete the spell.”
Crewe thrust the sword into Niall’s throat and spat on his body. She felt the roar of his beast as he avenged his sire.
Rainer appeared beside them. “We have to go.”
“Lavina,” Silver croaked.
“The time for mourning will come later.” Cyprian placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
The vampire bit her bottom lip and nodded as she sucked back her tears.
“What about this?” Keeta gestured to the ground.
“We’ll handle it,” Reagan said.
“Go.” Silver pushed them away.
“No, all of us. The wolves will come next,” Rainer whispered. “None of us can be here when they arrive.”
“How far?” Cyprian asked.
Rainer shook her head. “I can’t see it.”
“We will split up. It’ll make it harder to track us,” Nair suggested.
“Now,” Rainer screamed.
“You know where to meet later?” Cyprian asked as he took Rainer’s hand.
“Yes.” Crewe nodded.
“In a week’s time. We arrive. Godspeed.” Cyprian swept Rainer into his arms and took off like a shot.
Kazimir grabbed Crewe’s arm. “We must find my mate now. She’s in danger. The witches. They showed me things while I was in the ground.”
“The map,” Keeta whispered.
“Later, my friend. We won’t be much help to anyone if we’re captured or killed. Can you keep up as you are?”
Kaz nodded. “I’ve dined well tonight on the blood of my enemies.”
“I know we don’t know each other well, but that’s the kind of creepy shit old vampires need to work on not saying,” Keeta mumbled.
His laughter chased her as she wrapped her body around Crewe’s before he took into the air.
* * *
They’d won. Yet the victory felt hollow. Shell-shocked, they showered and changed in a townhouse Kaz kept in Tennessee.
“Did you get the map?” Crewe leaned back against the headboard as she towel-dried her curls.
Sending him the vision through their link, she watched amused as his eyes widened.
“That’s one way to keep it safe.”
She chuckled. “We should go talk to Kazimir, and see what else he learned.”
“In a minute.” He sat up on the edge of the bed and tugged her to stand between his legs. “Let me look at you for now.”
Sitting on his lap, one knee on either side of his body, she bent to kiss his lips. “We’re okay,” she whispered.
“For a minute, I was afraid we wouldn’t be.” The admission shook her.
She nodded. “Me too.”
“That was too close.”
“We have to find Kaz’s mate, and end all of this.”
“Soon.” He rolled her over and crawled on top of her.
“We don’t—” His lips on her neck silenced her response. “Maybe we have a few minutes.” Arching her neck, she sighed as his fangs, caressed her pulse point.
A knock sounded on the door.
“I’d say I hate to interrupt, but for those of us who are waiting to find our mate, it’d be a lie.”
“Gods’ bones.” Crewe dropped on his back in the bed. “We’ll be there shortly, Kaz.”
“Appreciated, brother.”
“Let’s go. Kaz never lets anything go. He’ll come back in a few minutes if we don’t join him.”
She covered her mouth, trying to hide her laughter.
“Think this is funny, do you?”
“I’ve never seen you respond to anyone like this.”
“Kaz is my elder.” Crewe shrugged.
“And you like him. In a way you didn’t feel with your sire.”
Crewe paused. “A sire bond is something you feel whether you want to or not. What Kaz and I developed was more genuine.”
“I get it. Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.”
“If I want to keep this friend, we’ll join him.” He set her onto her feet and stood, twining their fingers. They walked out into the living room where he served a warmed mug of what she knew wasn’t coffee and a box of pizza.
“I don’t keep human food in the house, so I ordered out. I hope that was okay.”
“It was perfect and thoughtful. Thank you, Kazimir.”
“Please, call me Kaz. You’re basically my sister-in-law.” He smiled politely. Clean and dressed in black slacks, and a white button-down shirt, he cut an imposing figure as he towered above her five-foot-nine inches. They seated themselves around the cocktail table where the food was laid out. Kaz took the brown leather lazy boy, and they took the couch with the matching décor. The massive fireplace was a centerpiece decorated with interesting art pieces. The walls were a bachelor beige along with the carpet. The furniture consisted of exquisite dark wood antiques.
“Do you know anything about your mate, Kaz?”
“Only her name and her face. Joss.”
The map warmed up inside of her chest. “I get the feeling we won’t have a hard time finding her, Kaz.”
“She kept me sane while I was under. I dreamt of her and spoke with the witches. They want the balance returned.” His gaze took on a faraway expression.
“We’ll start the search tomorrow, Kaz. Tonight, we rest. I know I need a minute.” Her voice wavered. She thought of Lavina, so brave and fearless with her flashing eyes and russet hair, and Morena who’d been unconscious the last time she saw her. I don’t even know how many died.
Kaz bowed his head. “Of course.”
Rainer’s warning echoed in her mind. You can’t save everyone. Suddenly, she understood exactly why seers went insane.
“Eat.” Crewe pushed a plate of pizza into her hand. “You need to keep your strength up. I can feel your exhaustion from here.”
She forced the triangular wedge of cheese and sauce into her mouth. It tasted like cardboard in her mouth. How could she enjoy anything when so many lives had been snuffed out? Still, it made him and her body happy, so she chewed and swallowed. Tomorrow they’d face the task head-on. She’d be stronger, sharper, and more put together. Tonight, she would focus on finishing her food without breaking down, and wrestle with the guilt that came with being a survivor.
An irritating burn near her heart hit. Plopping down the paper plate, she shifted on the couch. In search of relief, she rubbed her sternum. The feeling increased, spreading.
“Keeta.” Crewe’s voice sliced through the haze. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure.” Inhaling, she closed her eyes. A misalignment in her spirit screamed out silently. “Something’s wrong. I’ve never felt this before.”
A rhythm tapped inside of her chest. She placed her fingers between her breast. The digits sank in, and she cried out. Her fingertips caressed the leather edges of the map. Gripping the rolled item, she pulled it out.
“What is that?” Kaz asked
“The map that will lead us to the others.” The map flowed with a golden light. Her hand shook as she unwound the scroll, and the ink moved like a living thing, snaking across the page. Twisting and writhing, the lines appeared agitated. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” she said. Blood.
The voice inside her head made her sit up straight.
“What?”
“Blood.” She held up her wrist. “Bite me.” Crewe sank his teeth into her wrist, and she let the droplets fall. The red beads rolled together. “Yours too,” she whispered.
“Mine?” Crewe asked.
“Yes. I think you were chosen, too. You see things others don’t for a reason.”
“We’re connected,” Crewe said.
“Yes, but I believe it may be more than that.” She gestured toward the map. “Add your blood.”
Breaking the skin on his wrist with his fangs, he added a few dark drops.
Their blood mingled, and crept over the map. Red dots pulsed. The letter R appeared in Massachusetts. Rainer.
“Rainer and Cy are safe. They’re in Massachusetts.” She tapped the point. “Look.”
Kaz appeared beside her. “Can you see Joss?”
“No.” Her stomach sank.
A crescent moon in blood appeared above Montana.
“Looks like we’re heading west.”
THE END
The adventure continues in the sequel, Bad Moon