I closed my eyes, trying to remember my life three days ago. Was Sharon looking for me? Did she know I abandoned my apartment and skipped town? Did the vampires have my best friend? Would they hold Sharon hostage to get to me? My eyes popped open. What a terrible thought. Surely I would’ve heard something if that were the case. It wouldn’t do any good to have a hostage if no one knew about it.
My thoughts drifted to my partner. He’d been more of a friend to me than anyone before, even Sharon. He could have abandoned me or handed me over to any number of bad guys several times, but he didn’t. He always stuck by, defended me, and made sure I ate. I smiled, and my eyes drooped again. But he also kept so many secrets from me. Did he really think I couldn’t handle all the information at once? He kept using the excuse that he wanted me to be more familiar with my magic, but that shouldn’t keep him from telling me about my family. It wasn’t up to the shifters to tell me about my family uniting the supernatural races. Kellen should’ve told me that.
A jaw-breaking yawn interrupted my thoughts. When was the last time I slept? Maybe on the drive up here, and I’d used so much magic...
Kellen’s hand brushing my forehead startled me awake. I rubbed my eyes as he sat down on the edge of the sofa beside me.
“Have a nice nap?” he asked.
“How long was I sleeping?”
“About an hour,” he replied. “I thought you might want a shower and clean clothes. You cannot be comfortable.”
I shifted on the couch and moaned when my wet jeans stuck to the leather sofa. Kellen stood, and I slid my feet to the floor.
“You’re right,” I said. “Thanks.”
“Your bag’s in the bathroom, but there are more clothes for you in the bedroom if you want them.”
I raised an eyebrow at him as I walked towards the bathroom. I wasn’t opposed to hand-me-downs. Most of my wardrobe came from second-hand stores, but I didn’t see anyone my size in the group of shifters.
“A couple of the teenage girls made donations,” he explained. “Some of them have pretty good taste in fashion.”
I huffed and closed the door, looking in the mirror that covered the wall above the double sink. I was a mess. My mostly dry shirt was covered in blood and clumps of dirt. My short hair stuck out at odd angles, and streaks of mud ran across my face.
I struggled to peel the jeans from my legs and wound up sitting on the cold tile floor to get them off. I tossed my t-shirt in the waste basket, knowing it was ruined, then removed everything else and got in the shower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kellen lounged on the sofa, watching a large screen TV that hung from the wall. I dropped next to him, taking the remote from his hand. I hit the power button and tossed it to the other end of the couch.
He eyed me suspiciously, then smiled.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, crossing my arms over my stomach.
“Your expression,” he replied.
I scowled at him and held my hand out. He looked down at my upturned palm then back to my face.
“I’m not ready to take him back yet, but I am ready to talk.” He folded my hand back over my stomach and smiled.
My scowl deepened. What was he so happy about? “Tell me about my grandparents.”
“Can we talk about that command first?” he asked.
“It wasn’t a command,” I argued, then bit my lip. “Okay, maybe it was, but I need to know.”
“Yes, you do.” He rubbed his chin, and I noticed the five o’clock shadow emerging on his jawline despite the raw bruising on one side.
“I won’t repeat what you already know about how long your family’s been in charge,” he continued. “What’s important is that your line has a unique ability to convince people to do what you want them to do. I’m not certain where it comes from, but your family is the only one who possesses it.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “I can manipulate people’s minds to convince them to obey me?”
“No, not really,” he replied. “A few moments ago, when you told me to explain your grandparents, I could feel the command in your voice, compelling me to tell you. The only reason Matt revealed as much as he did earlier is because of that same command. You can compel people to do things, though I would advise you not to. They can feel it and will resent a command they don’t agree with.”
“That’s why Victor was so upset with me,” I said, dumfounded. I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged them. “He kept telling me I could not command him, but I think he was trying to convince himself, not me.” I rested my chin on my knees and thought about my fight with the blue-eyed wolf. “That’s also why your opponent didn’t kill me. I told him to back off, or I would kill him.” I looked over at Kellen to find him staring at me. Concern and curiosity poked at the edge of my mind.
“I don’t think I was awake for that part,” Kellen said.
“No, you weren’t,” I replied cautiously. The concern converted to curiosity and amusement. “Do you have Sparky?” I asked.
“Nope,” Kellen replied.
“Then what do I feel?”
“I’m not sure Sparky has anything to do with it,” he answered.
“Then take him back, and let’s find out,” I suggested, turning towards him and folding my legs beneath me. I extended my hand to him and waited.
His amusement faded to apprehension. He didn’t want me knowing his emotions either. Did we have a choice? It didn’t look like it.
“AJ, I know how you feel about being forced into any decision,” he said, keeping his hands to himself. “Knowing my emotions will only make it harder for you.”
“Do you really think I don’t already know?” I asked, dropping my hand in my lap.
“It’s not the same as hearing it or feeling it,” he replied. “I can’t turn it off, but that doesn’t mean it should be forced on you either.”
“I think I can feel it regardless,” I said and took a deep breath. “Apparently, my own feelings are obvious to everyone but me.”
“But you’re the one that matters. We’ve connected. That’s all we need. Anything more than that can wait until this is done.”
I took in his brown eyes and long lashes, his perfectly straight nose that met his full lips in exactly the right place. How did I end up with someone who was not only easy to look at, but actually cared about how I felt? Didn’t Logan tell me not to fight against my partner? I couldn’t trust a vampire, but he used to be a partnered mage. He had more experience with that than either of us.
“Thank you for understanding,” I whispered.
“Thank you for accepting me,” he said.
I tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat. I had accepted him and without realizing it, finally admitted that I was in this fight, but I wasn’t alone. He wasn’t the only one grateful for acceptance.
“Let’s get some rest,” he suggested, pushing himself from the couch. “Neither of us has had quality sleep since the night before last.”
He held his hand out to me, and I remembered the single bedroom.
“Where are we sleeping?” I asked, my stomach fluttering as I took his hand.
“I’ll do my best to stay on my side of the bed,” he replied, smiling.
“Okay, I’ll try to do the same.”
Chapter 23
The tantalizing smell of fresh coffee roused me from sleep. Nothing compared to the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. I stretched, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I’d managed to stay on my side of the bed, and so had Kellen. A tiny drop of disappointment joined my drowsiness, but I didn’t dwell on it. He could have taken advantage of me, and he didn’t. I couldn’t be mad because he behaved like a gentleman.
I rolled out of bed and got dressed, then wandered towards the coffee bliss calling my name.
“Good afternoon. Coffee?” Kellen asked, dropping a K-cup into the Keurig, a smile lighting his face.
“Yes, please,” I replied. “What’s on the agenda for this afternoon?”
“More practice. You need to be able to call both elements at the same time.”
I frowned, thinking about how insistent the wind was. Kellen pushed a steaming cup of black coffee towards me, and I wrapped my fingers around the warm cup.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I don’t really need to call the wind,” I explained. “It’s more like trying to restrain it. It constantly whispers to me, offering its destruction.”
“And Water doesn’t do the same?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
“No, not at all. I have to ask Water to help me,” I replied. “It always does, but I have to ask.” I tentatively sipped my hot coffee and sighed. How did people survive without it?
“Let’s go down to the arena and see how we can make that work. After coffee.” He smiled, again, pouring cream and sugar into his own cup.
“Have you heard from Kate?” I asked.
“Yes, she texts me every day,” he replied.
I should have known that. She was his sister. “Is she at the palace?”
“She was until yesterday. She and several others are going to pick up more mages,” he explained.
“You mean ones captured by the vampires?”
“Yep. They’re in a small town in Vermont.” He looked at the watch on his wrist. “She should be texting again in a couple hours to let me know their status.”
“What about Logan?” I asked, taking another sip of coffee.
“Nothing,” he replied, frowning.
“Is that normal?”
“We’ve gone months without speaking.”
“But he said he would let you know when he reached his safe house,” I said, feeling his worry.
“Yeah.”
Kellen seemed sure Logan could take care of himself earlier, but his concern for the vampire floated through our connection. I finished my last drop of coffee with reluctance and pushed away from the counter.
“I’m guessing Victor doesn’t have a room like yours to practice in.”
“No, not likely.” Kellen finished his as well and put both cups in the sink. “The arena may be best anyway. It will force you to maintain control in a confined area rather than letting everything get out of hand.”
“Are you saying I have no control?” I asked, walking towards the door. I woke up feeling more in control of my life today than I had all week.
“Not at all,” he replied, opening it for me.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Did he mean I had no control, or did he imply that wasn’t what he said? He smiled at me and nudged me out the door.
Raised voices greeted us halfway down the stairs. A young girl sprinted by the bottom of the steps, and I turned to see her making a path to Victor’s door.
“You should have killed it on sight,” a man’s voice growled.
A woman’s panicked voice rose above his. “Don’t bring it into the lodge!”
“Wait for Victor,” another shaking voice echoed above the others.
Kellen and I reached the bottom of stairs and ran into a large group surrounding three men. Two shifters held an unconscious form between them. Kellen’s sharp intake of breath preceded his rush through the crowd. I followed on his heels, along with shouts and protests. My partner knelt in front of the center man covered in dirt and blood.
“Logan,” I whispered and dropped to my knees next to him. I looked between the two men carrying him. “What happened?”
Their eyes narrowed at me. “We found him on the road. He said he was a friend of yours and brought grave news.”
I looked back at Logan’s face. Bruises covered his left side, and blood dripped from the corner of his lip.
“Did he tell you the grave news?” I questioned, placing my hand on his bruised face. Did the shifters inflict these injuries or someone else? I wasn’t in a position to ask, my own presence teetered on the verge of hostile.
“No. He fell unconscious after he insisted we bring him to you.”
“Take him to my room,” I ordered, then thought about my conversation with Kellen and commanding people. Too late.
“Please, take him upstairs,” Kellen intervened. “There’s no reason for you to continue carrying him around.”
Victor’s deep voice drifted across the crowd. “I will not have a vampire in my house.”
Kellen placed his hand on my shoulder and shook his head, then rose and turned to Victor. I knew what he meant. Don’t command Victor to do anything.
“He’s my friend and the only insight I have to the vampire council,” Kellen began. “If he risked himself to come here in the middle of the day, then his news is dire.”
“He likely led the Council’s army to us,” Victor stated. “I’ll not have him in my house.”
“The council already knows where you are,” Kellen argued, his fists clenching at his sides. “They didn’t need Logan to show them the way.”
I rose from Logan’s side and stepped beside Kellen, forcing his fingers apart and lacing mine in his. Neither of us needed to irritate our host. “Please, Victor. We need to hear what he has to say. I’ll assume full responsibility for his actions.” I avoided meeting Victor’s intense stare, trying to appear inoffensive. “You can lock him in our room if you wish, though I imagine he’ll leave as soon as he’s strong enough.”
Silence filled the space for several moments, and I glanced at Victor. His chocolate eyes bore into me, and I dropped my gaze.
“He will leave at nightfall,” Victor demanded.
I nodded, trying to keep the scowl from my face. I wasn’t good at playing his stupid games. The two shifters dragged Logan’s body up the stairs, his feet banging against each step. Kellen opened the door, and they tossed him on the floor.
“We better not see him again,” the same man said. “Next time we won’t give him the benefit of knowing you.” He slammed the door, and I cursed at him.
“Remind me why we’re here,” I said, looking down at Logan’s battered form.
“Because it was better than the palace,” Kellen replied.
He bent down and wrapped his hands beneath Logan’s arms, pulling him away from the door. I shut the blinds on the glass doors leading to the balcony, then sat on the floor next the vampire. I picked up his arm and pressed my fingers on his wrist, surprised by the faint pulse beating against my finger.
“I didn’t know vampires had a pulse.” I turned his arm over and gasped at the puncture marks lining the inside of his elbow. I pulled the collar down from his shirt to reveal more bites around his neck. “Kellen?” I looked around, but didn’t see my partner. “Isn’t that lovely. Leave me with the wounded vampire.”
I gently laid his arm on the floor and lifted his black t-shirt. Red, swollen welts covered his stomach and chest. I placed my hand over the cuts and called to the water to heal them.
I cannot heal him, child, Water’s voice whispered to me. He is no longer mine.
I scowled and removed my hand.
“Because you abandoned him. I’ll just do it the old-fashioned way, with band aids and peroxide,” I mumbled, and rose to my knees, but Logan’s hand snatched my arm. His grip hurt. I turned towards him to complain, but my words caught in my throat. Red swirling irises replaced his hazel eyes. He stared at me with a deep hunger, sending shivers down my spine.
“Logan,” I whispered. “You’re hurt. Let me help you.”
His grip tightened, and he jerked me towards him. I fell against his chest and tried to push away with my free hand. He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me towards him. The tips of his fangs peeked out from behind his cracked and swollen lips. My heart raced, and I pushed harder against him.
“Logan, you do not want to do this,” I stuttered, putting as much emphasis behind my words as I could. I didn’t feel the least bit guilty trying to command him not to bite me. It wasn’t working.
My face brushed against his, and he inhaled deeply. My heart thumped against my ribs, and I wriggled uselessly under his grasp. I wa
sn’t getting away from him.
“Stop,” I commanded. “I will help you, but not like this.”
To my surprise, he loosened his grip on my arm and neck, but didn’t let go. “I’m so sorry, princess,” he breathed against the side of my face.
I dropped my forehead on his shoulder and let out a long breath. A shiver ran through my body when he released me. I pushed myself off him and backed away, watching the color of his eyes as they darted around the room. Blue and brown rolled through the red swimming in his eyes.
“Where’s Kellen?” he asked, his voice harsh and cracking.
“I’m not sure,” I replied. “He was here a few minutes ago.”
Logan’s gaze returned to me, and I saw his pain and guilt.
“Who did this to you?” I asked, ignoring his need to apologize again.
“I really need to talk to Kellen.” He pushed himself onto his elbows and groaned. “And I need to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret.”
“What do you need, Logan? How can I help you?” I asked, fearing the answer.
“You cannot give me what I need to heal from this,” he replied. “Where is your damn partner? He never should’ve left you alone with me. What the hell is he thinking?” The ring of red circled his hazel eyes, and he squeezed them shut.
“Tell me what you’ve learned. I’ll pass it on to Kellen when he gets back,” I suggested, knowing he needed blood. I didn’t want to be the donor, willing or otherwise.
“Two hundred vampires will be here tonight,” he said, opening his eyes but avoiding looking at me. “Seventy-five of them are like me. I know you don’t understand the implications, but Kellen will. Victor needs to be ready for them. As soon as I take care of my needs, I’ll be back to help you.”
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