Dante’s Circle Reborn: A Dante’s Circle Collection

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to blush. And we’re not going to talk about that. We’ll deal with exactly what this bond means, and the fact that we might have had the best sex of my life later.”

  “Best?”

  “Later.”

  “Come with me,” he said, holding out his hand. She shook her head.

  “First, we need to get a few things straight.”

  He tilted his head but didn’t lower his hand. “Okay.”

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen next between us. And that’s just fine. But I had a feeling the elders were being hinky about this, just like they were with the shades before you.”

  “They only do what’s best for themselves.”

  “Perhaps now, but I don’t think that was always the case.”

  “And yet we’ve never been allowed to be part of the Conclave.”

  “The Conclave isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

  “You say that, and yet you have a realm that you’re safe in.” He lowered his hand and began pacing again.

  She might not have one forever, but she didn’t mention that. “Were your people ever part of the Conclave?”

  Misha shook his head. “Not in my time. Perhaps before, but the Conclave is relatively new. The elders aren’t. But how the governing body works now? It’s new.”

  “The fact that the paranormal world just recently realized that they have a governing body sort of makes that apparent.”

  “Yes, they were secretive for so long that I didn’t even know they existed until recently. How was I supposed to keep us safe if I didn’t know who to reach out to for help?”

  “Show me your people, and then we’ll figure out what to do about the elders. Because it’s not right that you don’t have a voice. That you don’t have a home.”

  “The elders have never liked the dead.”

  “You’re not too cold to me. I don’t think you’re dead. I think it’s just a stigma, don’t you?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Okay, where are we going?”

  “Hold my hand, and I’ll take you.”

  “How?” she asked, looking down at his hand and frowning.

  “It’s glimmering.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I’ll take you from one place to another. Not all vampires can do it, and many need to be able to see where they’re going. But I and my cousin, Broderick, are two of the few who can do this.”

  “Broderick?”

  “He’s a good man. He has a mate, and a child. They’ll be where we’re going now.”

  She looked down at his hand and then slid her palm into his. “I’m already jumping into fate as it is. Why not do this, as well?”

  He squeezed her hand, and she felt the pulse through the bond. “You won’t regret it.”

  She hoped that was true.

  She closed her eyes and felt as if she’d been pulled through a vacuum, her whole body shaking. She landed hard, her knees hitting the ground as Misha tried to hold her up.

  “Sorry about that, it’s been a while since I took a non-vampire with me.”

  She stood, wiped her knees, and glared at him. “Next time, a little warning.”

  “Cousin?” a deep voice asked. Caly’s head whipped up, her hands outstretched.

  “It’s Broderick, you’re safe.” He kissed her temple, and she glared at him and noticed the widening of Broderick’s eyes.

  “I sensed the bond between you two. Well, it sure has been an interesting few hours,” Broderick said dryly.

  “Stop it. Don’t tease. Caly’s here to see our people. Hopefully, she will be a voice for us with the Conclave.”

  “I hope that’s true,” Broderick said, looking directly at her. “Not everyone’s going to trust you, though.”

  She raised her chin. “I’m Caly, Conclave member, and one of the representatives of the mer-realm.”

  “And my mate,” Misha growled.

  Broderick’s eyes rose at his cousin before looking back at her. “I figured the last part, but it’s good to meet you, Caly. So, you’re going to fight for our people?”

  “I’m here to listen. I don’t know what use I’ll be. Because, after all, the Conclave asked me to come and find Misha, discover who he was and what he wanted. So, here I am. Doing that, and hopefully, trying to help you, as well.”

  Before she could say anything else, a small child with a mop of dirty blond hair ran towards Broderick and smiled wide, fangs on display. “Daddy!”

  Broderick glared at Caly before turning to kneel and lifting the boy up high.

  “Duncan, my son. Would you like to meet your Uncle Misha’s mate?”

  Misha slid his hand around her hip, and she froze, trying not to look as if she were uncomfortable. Things were moving far too fast for anyone in this situation.

  “Hi,” Duncan said and hid his face behind his father’s shoulder.

  “Hello, Duncan. I’m Caly.”

  “Hi,” he whispered again and then giggled.

  He was adorable, and when he looked back over and smiled, his fangs were evident, the rim of his irises a deep red.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

  “Why don’t you go to your mother?” Broderick said and set his son on the ground. Duncan waved and ran towards a tent where a woman with long, silver hair stood.

  The woman glared at her but looked scared. Of course, Caly would be scared too if a stranger came up so close to her child. The camp was just that, a camp. Tents with soldiers surrounding them. It looked as if they were in the Dean Forest on the human realm, though she had only seen it in pictures. What would it be like to never have a home, to be constantly on the run, using magic to shield yourself from humans and other paranormals?

  It didn’t seem fair, and even if the vampires had done something truly horrible long ago, these children didn’t deserve to have that stigma associated with them. They didn’t deserve to pay this price.

  “We’ve been on the run for my entire life,” Broderick said.

  “Mine, as well,” Misha said. “The time when the vampires were part of the Conclave was long before we were born. Our families raised us on the run, deep within the wards of magic. No one knows we exist. Many of our kind live amongst the humans, wear business suits, and own companies, changing their identities over time. This small band has too many children for that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  A dark look crossed Misha’s face. “The dark one has hunted us to the point where we can’t even immerse ourselves in the human realm anymore. That’s why we’re here the way we are. It’s why we’re camping as if we’re living in the 1800s and not in our current century.”

  “Did you know him, the dark one?” she asked.

  “Yes, he was my brother,” the woman with the silver hair said as she walked up to Broderick, Duncan in her arms. Broderick glared at his mate and then wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “My brother-in-law did things he shouldn’t,” he growled.

  “But we will be safe,” the woman said, kissing her son’s cheek. “Won’t we?”

  “I love you, Mommy,” Duncan said, and sadness filled the woman’s eyes.

  Caly wanted to reach out and tell her that it’d be okay. To hold her close. But she didn’t know this woman. Didn’t know what type of pain they had been through recently. All she knew was that she had to find the power to help them. If not, who else? Maybe Dante. Perhaps going to him would have been helpful. But Dante wasn’t here. She was. And she had a job to do.

  “I’ll help, anyway I can.”

  She felt warmth through the bond and looked over at Misha as he stared at her, his eyes narrowed. He reached out and ran his thumb over her jaw.

  “Thank you, pet.”

  She wasn’t quite sure she liked that term of endearment, but before she could say anything, a shadow crept through the camp, and Broderick shouted.

  “Get the children!”

  “It’s him,
” Misha snapped. “The dark one. Protect yourself, Caly.”

  “You’re not doing this alone. I can help. There’s water around, I can do something.”

  “Then make sure the children are safe.”

  An arrow shot into the ground between them, and she widened her eyes.

  “Derrick was always good at archery,” he said dryly.

  Derrick, the dark one, was in front of them then. He slammed his hand out, knocking Caly right in the face. She fell to the ground but rolled, getting right back to her feet. She spat out blood, and Misha’s eyes turned red.

  “Don’t you dare hurt her.”

  “You found someone?” Derrick laughed. “Then she’ll be that much sweeter to taste.”

  “I don’t think so. You’re done terrorizing these people.” She ran forward and used all of her strength to punch at him. He ducked, but not fast enough to avoid her blow to his nuts.

  He winced, and she grinned.

  “Good to know even a vampire without a soul hates getting kicked in the dick as much as the next guy.”

  Misha’s eyes widened at her comment, but she didn’t have time to laugh. Instead, they attacked, the vampire coming at them with his fangs bared.

  He was ready to kill, ready to murder. But she wasn’t going to let that happen. Misha was a thing of beauty, his skills unparalleled. It was as if he’d been born for this. She just shook her head, standing back with Broderick’s mate as Broderick leapt into the fray, fighting the dark one.

  Derrick was strong, but Misha was stronger.

  She wasn’t about to just let anybody fight for her, though, for anyone, without trying to help.

  “Help me with the children,” Broderick’s mate yelled. “He might have friends.”

  Caly nodded, tearing her gaze away. She helped round up the kids, eight in all, and moved them towards Broderick’s mate and two other women, as well as two men. Other vampires glared at her before going to Broderick’s and Misha’s aid.

  Broderick’s mate had been right. Derrick wasn’t alone. At least six more shadows approached, and Caly cursed.

  “I’m going to help.”

  “Are you a warrior?” one of the men asked. She shook her head.

  “No, but I still know how to fight.”

  “Good, then help us.”

  And then she was back in the fray. She fought side by side with Misha, punching, kicking, and using the water as a blade.

  It wasn’t something she was good at. She was far better with her mind, but at least she could do this. She hammered the enemy, and she took out one and then another along with Misha. But Derrick was still stronger.

  Derrick leapt, his fangs going for her throat, but she punched, knocking him out of the way. And in that moment, Misha took Derrick by the neck and twisted. The dark one fell in a heap on the ground.

  Misha’s chest heaved, blood splattered both of them, and she shook her head.

  “What now?”

  “We use a spell to rip them into a million tiny pieces so they can’t reform. I told you, we’re immortal, pet,” he said, winking.

  Her chest heaved. She felt like she was two steps behind everything again.

  “As one who takes down the histories and learns the bloodlines of so many within the realms, I have a lot to learn,” Caly said, looking at Misha.

  He tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded. “And I have a lot to learn about you. So, Caly. You’ll help?”

  She didn’t know if he meant help him learn, help his people, or help in other ways. But she understood there was no going back anymore. This was a new beginning for her, a new chance, and she was going to take it.

  So she nodded. When his lips brushed hers, even amongst the carnage and the blood, she sank into the embrace.

  Because she had been born into the paranormal world and knew that these things didn’t happen more than once. You had to take a chance with fate. And this felt like her first everything: her first kiss, her first kiss in blood. But it wouldn’t be her last.

  She could learn so much about who these people were, what they needed, and who Misha was. She couldn’t wait to start.

  Chapter 6

  Misha squeezed Caly’s fingers as she slid her hand into his, and he looked down at her, letting out a breath.

  “Are you ready, mate of mine?” Caly asked, and he liked the new words on her tongue.

  Misha nodded. “I suppose I should do this the right way.”

  “Yes, barging in on a Conclave meeting and acting dramatic probably didn’t get much done.”

  Caly glared over at Dante, but Misha just smiled. “You’re right. In retrospect, it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. However, it did get your attention.”

  “It did that. Though let’s not threaten war and secrets, shall we?” The dragon smiled, showing teeth. Misha bared fang in response, but only in fun.

  “Are we done comparing the size of our fangs?” Caly asked. Nadie, the dragon’s mate, put her hand over her mouth and laughed.

  “Are you laughing at the size of my fangs, darling?” Dante asked his mate, and she just shook her head while their other mate, Jace, snorted.

  Jace, the big bear shifter with a touch of sadness in his eyes smiled. “Let’s not whip out our fangs anytime soon, okay? We have some things to talk about. And, since I am a Mediator, I will be your representative.”

  “It would have been nice to know your role existed,” Misha said honestly.

  “Well, you can’t know everything about the paranormal world when you hide from it,” Caly said, and he looked over at her.

  “That is true. But I’m learning.”

  He was also learning so much about the woman beside him. He knew that everything he was feeling would make sense someday. He would let his emotions surge through him like they should. But for now, all he could do was just want her by his side, while he stayed by hers.

  “So, this is exactly what we’re going to do,” Jace said, but then he began to talk about the politics and the actual legalities that came into play for creating a new realm.

  Dante just rolled his eyes. “You know, sometimes I miss the old days where I could just burn down a village and eat some sheep.”

  “And if you add taking a willing virgin at the end of that, I am going to have to kick you.” Nadie grumbled playfully as she said it, and Caly laughed with her.

  Misha just smiled at the way the triad joked with one another, even though this was a serious situation. He looked down at Caly, who smiled up at him, a curious look in her eyes.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked, his voice low. The others would be able to hear them. After all, they were each paranormals in their own right. Still, they were all being respectful in pretending that they were ignoring them.

  “I was just thinking that one day we might have that.”

  “Have what?”

  “The easy camaraderie. And the way they just seem comfortable.”

  “It’ll take time.” He reached out and tucked more hair behind her ears. “But I’m excited to see what happens.”

  “Me, too. But first, let’s save your people. And while we’re there, my job. And, oh, let’s not get me kicked out of the mer-realm or anything.” She added that last part, and everyone stared at her.

  Misha just blinked. “They threatened to kick you out of the realm?” he growled, his fangs dropping.

  “That won’t be happening,” Dante growled as well, his voice sure.

  “You’re right, it won’t,” another voice said. Misha turned to see a man who looked remarkably like Caly walking towards them.

  Misha stood up a little straighter and was pleased when Caly didn’t remove her hand from his.

  “Seth,” she said and smiled at him. “Misha? My brother, Seth. Seth? This is my mate, Misha.”

  Seth looked him up and down, the younger man fierce but warm. “Well, I know she said over the phone that she had mated, and we had things to talk about, but this is interesting.”

&nbs
p; Misha just nodded, yet he didn’t lower his eyes. “I’m sorry for the way things turned out, or how we got here anyway. I’m not sorry for having her as my mate, though.”

  Caly squeezed his hand again, but he kept his gaze on Seth. After all, he didn’t need to get his ass kicked by Caly’s brother for how things had turned out. Not that he thought Seth would actually do that. However, he wasn’t going to risk it, just in case.

  “There are more important things for us to worry about. You don’t need to be all big brother right now,” Caly said quickly to Seth.

  The man pulled his gaze from Misha and looked over at Caly. “You’re right. But I will have to grill you. And so will my mates. And my son will probably do the same. However, Caly will be the one to hurt you if you hurt her. I’m not going to threaten you. She’s strong enough to protect herself.”

  “That’s a good answer,” Caly said, and Misha nodded.

  “Understood. Now, are we ready to begin?” Misha said after a moment.

  Misha’s cousin came out, his family at his side. “We’re ready, the others are here, too.”

  Dante spoke up. “It’s good that you’re bringing your young with you. It will show that you trust those around you.”

  “However,” Seth said, surprising Misha, “you won’t be going alone. We will be going in as your bodyguards.”

  Misha’s eyes widened as he looked at the large group of diverse paranormals, not recognizing them. “Who are all of you?”

  A brownie came forward and grinned, her skin gold, and her smile wide. “We are the lightning-struck seven, and these are our mates. Our children are at home right now, though a few of them are upset that they couldn’t come and see their aunts and uncles.”

  “We’re here to be your voice if you cannot. The Conclave will hear you, and the elders will listen. Your children shouldn’t be forced to hide from their own kind,” Dante said, and Caly squeezed Misha’s hand.

  “Nobody should be forced.”

  He looked down at her and lowered his head, kissing her softly.

  “Thank you for this,” he whispered, knowing it was she who had put this all together.

  “Excuse me,” Seth growled. “Maybe you could keep your lips off my sister while we’re doing this thing?”