“I may have left a message for him,” Logan replied, glancing at me.
“And what did that message say?” I asked warily.
“Kellen and I have shared a lot of information over the years. I just made sure he doesn’t implicate either of us in the Magister’s death.” Humor danced in his eyes. “I might have even suggested that you left on a mission with his secret team of vampire hunters to locate any rogue mages.”
I couldn’t stop the bark of laughter that escaped my lips. “No one will ever believe that.”
“They have no idea what you were doing for the last few weeks,” Logan replied as he sat up. “There are also tons of stories about your grandfather’s connections to his elements. It would be too easy for Kellen to suggest you have the same abilities.”
I tore my gaze from his, thinking of my conversation with Niyol and Göksu. I did have that connection, and my elements had already explained why.
“What is it?” Logan asked, suddenly in my space again.
“Did your element ever speak to you?”
He gave me a strange look. “Only once. Yours?”
“All the time, but you already knew that about Niyol.”
Apprehension flooded our connection. “And the other? Has it revealed its name to you?”
I nodded.
“It’s my element, isn’t it?” he asked, looking away from me.
“I believe so,” I replied. How long had he suspected it?
“What did he say to you?” he asked, still avoiding my gaze.
“Let me ask him if I can share it,” I replied.
He looked at me with hope, but I could feel his fear of rejection.
Göksu?
I’m uncertain, princess.
How can you be uncertain? You’re a damn elemental, protector of the world. You aren’t allowed to be uncertain.
His chuckle rumbled through me.
Is that a yes, Göksu?
When he didn’t respond, I assumed it was. Logan still stared at me.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked.
“Because your damn element drives me crazy,” I replied, my smile fading. “He was outraged that the Magister stole you from him. He suffered physical and mental pain from the separation.”
Logan’s eyes widened, and he sat completely still. “Really? I assumed he abandoned me.”
“I got the impression your death ripped the two of you apart,” I explained. “You guys should talk. That way, none of the questions get confused by the stupid messenger.”
“You are far from stupid,” Logan said, “and I would love to talk with him.” He reached out and took my hand. I laced my fingers in his.
“I’ll let you know when he gets over his emotional constipation.”
A nervous laughter escaped his lips, and I smiled with him.
“So, what’s next?” I asked.
“Training, and then we’ll assume the role of vampire hunters,” he replied.
“You’re not serious, are you?” There was no way I was hunting vampires.
“You need training. Why wouldn’t I be serious?”
“You’re an ass. You know what I meant.” I reached out to smack his arm, and he grabbed my wrist.
“I’m very serious,” he said. “We can’t allow the vampires to keep the mages they turned.”
“You do realize you’re a vampire, right?” I asked, instantly regretting it. Of course he knew. He didn’t need me throwing it in his face.
He rubbed my palm with his thumb and released my hand. “Yes, but I was a mage first.”
“And what are we doing with the mage-vampires we find?” I tucked my feet beneath me, grabbing the quilt I piled at the end of the bed. “I’m not ready to kill a bunch of people, even if they are vampires. You’ve jaded the legends of vampires for me.”
“They aren’t all like me,” he replied. “Actually, most of them are exactly what you believe them to be. We’ll be trying to convince as many as we can to leave the vampire council.”
“Can we do that? I thought there was some kind of command, some possession thing with a vampire and its creator. Can they just leave?”
“It depends on who created them.”
He looked away from me to the wall of books. I waited for him to continue as he debated what to tell me. I wrapped the blanket over my shoulders and hugged my knees. Would he be just like Kellen and reveal information bits at a time? I knew he had secrets, probably tons of them, but I didn’t want to find out something relevant when it was too late. My partner did that to me so many times.
“The vampires learned the hard way that if they wanted to keep me, my creator should’ve been strong enough to kill me,” he finally said, still staring across the room. “It was difficult for me to believe they didn’t know that. It’s not like our supernatural families haven’t been around for centuries.” His gaze drifted back to mine. “Now, only the strongest vampires are allowed to sire a mage. The only downside for them is that a sire can only effectively control so many. Their connection becomes overwhelmed, which is beneficial to us.”
“I can’t fight a bunch of vampires, Logan,” I argued. “I can’t even get away from you, and I always know you’re there.”
“I watched you fight off six vampires while Kellen wrestled with the Magister,” he said.
“I didn’t do that. Niyol did, with Kellen’s fire. And what do you mean you watched? You were there?” He was there and didn’t help. What the hell?
Logan laughed and edged closer to me. “You think Kellen’s fire willingly allowed Niyol to consume it? And yes, I was there, but you had it well under control.”
“Well, obviously I thought Kellen’s fire cooperated,” I replied. “I can’t believe you didn’t help.”
“If I suddenly appeared in the Magister’s room, what would you have thought?”
I didn’t like the question, because I’d already thought he released her.
“Exactly.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Besides, Niyol bitch-slapped that little flame and used it like a… well you get the idea.” His smile faded as his gaze bore into me. “You’re stronger than Kellen.”
“That can’t possibly be true,” I said, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders. I’d watched Kellen fight. He knew exactly how to use his elements.
“It is true, and looking back at it now, Kellen knows it, too. He wasn’t training you the way he needed. Don’t get me wrong, the skills you’ve gained will help you, but it isn’t what you need. You don’t use your elements; you allow them to work with you to accomplish what you want. Most mages are taught to control the element and make it do their bidding.”
“I can’t see Niyol allowing that and definitely not Göksu. I think they’d both tell me to piss off.”
A strange expression crossed his face. “And I think that’s why they talk to you the way they do. You’ve made them a partner. We’ll build on that relationship.”
I looked down at the soft quilt covering me. Kellen had spent a great deal of time in history lessons about the mages. I didn’t mind because I needed to know, and it was interesting. But now that Logan mentioned it, Kellen was trying to teach me to command my elements. I was so stupid not to see it. Göksu even told me to call him with love and compassion, and he would come. I couldn’t expect him to help when I treated him as a slave under my control.
But I was still just a human. Why would the mage-vampires listen to me? And what would we do with a group of them? I looked at Logan, who continued to watch me think. His patience seemed unending.
“What will we do with the vampires who are able to reject their masters?” I asked.
He frowned and indecision rolled across his face. We weren’t starting this way. He would tell me everything, or I was finding a way to leave.
“If you’re not going to tell me everything, I’m done,” I said. “Kellen infuriates me with his little breadcrumbs of information. I need to know what I’m getting into. I hate finding out st
uff the hard way.”
He sighed, resignation bleeding through our bond. “I’ve spent a great deal of time working with Jonathan,” he began.
“Are you talking about Mr. Smith?” I asked, interrupting him. Anger swelled in my gut. He lied about not knowing Jonathan, which meant that Kellen had no idea.
“Yes.” He looked away from me again, and I scowled. “Jonathan provides a place for those who have nowhere to go. I helped Kellen rescue the mages who have not been changed and took the others to Jonathan.”
“How long has this been happening?” I asked, realizing the enormity of the situation. The vampires could have a vast army right now.
“I’ve been helping the mage-vampires for about a decade or so,” he replied.
The pieces of the puzzle started clicking together. I unfolded myself and rolled off the bed, pacing across the room. “That clears up a lot,” I said. “Kellen doesn’t know about your association with Mr. Smith, does he?”
He shook his head. “No. Kellen didn’t know I was helping the turned mages. He accepted anything I could give him about the ones who were kidnapped, but he abandoned the others.”
I stared at him, and he held my gaze. I understood. Logan was one of the mages Kellen would’ve left behind.
“I think it would have made the rest of the mages embrace your cause, to know that their brothers and sisters were not lost to the vampires,” I said. “If you’re typical of the other mage-vampires, you’d be amazing allies. All the books I’ve read show vampires with no compassion, but you’ve proved me wrong.”
“Weren’t you listening a few minutes ago?” he argued, his dark eyebrows meeting in the middle. “Vampires don’t feel compassion. They aren’t going to ally with you because they share your hope for the future. They’ll do it to keep their lives from being exposed to the humans. The ones who want this war will destroy or enslave humanity so they don’t have to hide anymore.”
“So, where does your compassion come from?” I asked, daring him to lie to me.
In a half a breath, he was standing in front of me. Red swirled in his eyes, mixing with the brown and green. “What makes you think I have any?” he asked.
I tapped his chest with my finger and smiled. “I can feel it, right here.”
“Maybe you’re just feeling my desire,” he suggested, closing the small space between us and wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I’m pretty sure I can tell the difference,” I said. “Besides you’ve already admitted your feelings, and I’m really liking that I know when you’re lying.”
His lips twitched and his eyes returned to normal. “I’m glad you no longer fear me,” he whispered, pressing his body against mine.
I let him pull me closer, feeling my body respond to his obvious attraction. I will not let myself be seduced. Not right now. I have questions, dammit.
His left hand traced a trail up and down my spine, and his gaze drifted to my lips. I stuck my tongue out, and he smiled.
“I’m trying to refrain from being crude,” he said. “But you’re making it difficult.”
“Haven’t I always been difficult?” I countered.
“Yes.”
In one smooth motion, he swept me back on the bed and hovered over me.
“Are you sure no one else knows where we are?” I asked.
“I like to keep my secrets a secret,” he replied.
“But once you tell one person, it’s no longer a secret,” I teased, placing both hands against his chest. “And now I know.”
“I guess I’ll have to make sure you don’t tell,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “What is the price for your silence?”
“Steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.” I laughed at his rising eyebrows. “Oh, you thought you could bribe me with sex.”
“You could bribe me with sex,” he said.
“I’ll think about it, after steak.”
Epilogue
Jack glared at the six men sucking up the space in his office. Each one had a task to complete and half of them failed. The failures avoided his gaze, finding even the most minute speck of dust interesting. The other three portrayed a careful indifference. They knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t tolerate losing the fight they’d spent decades preparing for.
“Sergey,” Jack’s voice drew the Russian’s attention. “You are my biggest disappointment. How is the Magister’s whelp still alive?”
“I have no excuses,” Sergey replied, not dropping his gaze but unable to hide the sliver of fear Jack detected.
Irritation at Sergey’s lack of explanation bled into Jack’s next question. He could make the large man talk. He wanted to make him talk, but he still needed Sergey and his army. It would do no good to unleash his anger and destroy one of his prime military leaders.
“What of you, Simon? I gave you six of your own mages to sire and bolstered your army with seventy of the council’s. How did you fail to destroy the dogs?” Jack’s voice rose with each word, his anger unhinging his tight control. The shifters should have been easy to eliminate, and with them, the final alliance in the North American continent.
“We were not expecting the mages and their elements,” Simon glanced at Sergey with unease. “They were supposed to be dead.”
Jack’s lips pulled into a thin line, and his fangs pushed them apart. “Yutaka.” His most faithful and trustworthy companion looked at him with wide, unwavering eyes. “How did we not know that Kellen and that little witch would be at the palace last night?”
“No one knew, master,” Yutaka’s soft voice answered. “I have to assume that Kellen suspected a spy and acted on that knowledge.”
“How many of our mages remain in the palace?” Jack asked.
Yutaka frowned and looked away. “None, that I’m aware of. He killed all but the one who reported back to me.”
“Did Kellen kill them or the witch?” Silence filled the room, and Jack’s anger boiled over. He lunged across his desk, fangs in full view, claws digging into the dark wood and bloody rage in his eyes. “Where is she now?” he demanded, scanning the council members who cowered before him. A red haze clouded his vision when it settled on the blond Englishman with his irritating smirk, unfazed by his master’s outburst.
“I will find her,” the Englishman stated. “Unlike the others, I will not fail.”
Jack snarled at the man’s casual posture. “Don’t make promises you cannot keep, Braden.”
“Have I ever failed you, Jack?” he asked, brushing his blond hair off his forehead and draping his arm over the back of his chair.
“No, but neither has Yutaka, and here we are.” He dropped back into his chair and rolled his shoulders, retracting his claws and breathing deeply. “If we do not kill her, she will be the reason we fail. We’ve already had this discussion. She cannot be allowed to unite the others.”
“The only place for her to hide is with that filthy half-breed,” the large Brazilian growled. “Let me take my army into his lair and kill them all.”
Jack agreed with his enthusiasm, but shook his head. “I need you to continue building our army, Ernesto. Braden is an irritating ass, but he has always come through for us. Maybe I should’ve given him the task from the beginning.” He leveled his gaze at Sergey, and the man flinched. Did the Russian betray them all? Surely not. He was a formidable leader of a difficult clan. Sergey had never backed away from his responsibility even when the humans in his territory waged war against each other.
“We’ll reconvene in a month,” Jack said. “Our timetable has not changed. Within six months, we will reveal our armies and annihilate all who oppose us. We are done hiding in the shadows. We will rule the lesser species or they will die.”
Thank you for reading Magister’s Bane, the first book in Call of the Elements series. You can continue the series with Vampire’s Crucible.
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