I couldn’t look to see his reaction. I left the shop, but instead of going to the succubus, I headed straight for the clinic again. I had already made a phone call earlier that day and found out Esther was about to be released. Coyle and Aiden were supposed to accompany her home—Guardian policy.
“Ava! I’m finally breaking out. Were you coming to see me?” Esther stood in the hallway, looking perfectly made up.
I brushed past her and faced Coyle, barely containing my rage—for me, for my friends, for the man who had needlessly died.
“See, this is what I can’t work out,” I said, heaving a little as I stared into his eyes. I felt a million creatures grabbing at me, trying to coax away my soul. “Is it me you’re trying to kill, or just the innocent people who keep dying?”
He blinked a couple of times, his eyes stormy at the confrontation. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, impure one. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for a flight out of my way?”
“What’s going on here?” Aiden tried to get between us, but I held out my arm.
“So, you’re a coward as well,” I said. “You can’t even be upfront about yourself? You keep sending the shadows, you keep sending the possessions. I’ll keep getting rid of them. It isn’t a problem.”
“Shadows? What shadows?” Coyle smirked, his head cocked to the side. I had the sinking feeling the conversation was going exactly how he wanted.
“Ava, are you feeling okay?” Esther asked.
Aiden scowled at her. “See? She’s unstable. I knew I shouldn’t have listened to you.”
“Are you two blind?” I asked, baffled. “Can’t you smell it? Can’t you see the shadows at all?”
“Ava, there’s nothing there,” Aiden insisted.
“Seriously, if this is what passes for a Guardian,” I muttered. My eyes rose to meet Coyle’s again. “They may be blind, but I’m not. And as long as I can see… oh, my God. That’s it, isn’t it? I can see! That’s why you’re trying to get rid of me!”
“I’ve no idea what the wretch wants with me,” Coyle said to Aiden, ignoring me. But his eye twitched. Ever so slightly. And it gave me reassurance. Even when Esther looked at me pityingly. Even when Aiden warned me not to make accusations or threats without substantial proof.
“It’s not my fault you’re lacking the ability to see exactly what’s in front of you,” I shouted in frustration. “Send one more shadow to me, and I’ll come for you. The shadows don’t come back to you, in case you haven’t noticed yet. It’ll be a lot worse for you.”
I stormed off, but Aiden followed me.
“Wait, Ava. You need to calm down. I know you’re worried about your human, but you can’t—”
“We don’t own humans! We don’t get to screw around with their lives like they’re playthings. A man died the other night because your so-called Guardian sent a demon after me to shut me up. If this is what your precious Council is protecting, then I want no part of it. I’ll deal with Becca. Don’t worry. But after that, you can all sod off!”
I felt a million times better when I left, rattled and shaken, but better for having said my piece. Too many lives were being treated as pawns, and I wanted everyone to know where I stood. I wasn’t meant to be a part of that kind of organisation. For an instant, I considered whether Eddie’s ideas on anarchy could work, but again, human lives would be the main sacrifice, and that wasn’t worth it.
By the time I made it to my apartment building, it was getting late. I gave Peter a quick call to ask him to bring his car. If all went well with Carl, I would need help taking him to Eddie’s place. The bond would push his body beyond its limits, and that might be a step too far for Carl’s weakened state. I wanted to take as few chances as possible.
I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake, but I couldn’t leave the country without trying something, and it was a good distraction for whatever might happen to me next. I had managed to piss off Guardians, shifters, vampires, various demonic creatures, and even the Council. I wasn’t in a good bargaining position unless I pulled something out of the bag. And that just might be Becca. I had to tread carefully, but I was clueing into the game, and survival meant more than just living.
The terror I felt as I walked up the stairwell was almost crippling, but it was past time for me to let go of fear. I’d faced Coyle, and he was made of my worst nightmares. The strength was there. I could live with the occasional lapses, the times when I thirsted and messed with numbers to ease my state of mind. But blaming everyone else for the things that had happened to me was tiring. The more I let that instinct slip away, the happier I felt.
The cold presence appeared —Maeve, I reminded myself—as if she knew I needed strength. It occurred to me that I had gotten into the habit of relying on the spirit for silent advice, but once her visits lapsed, I had discovered how to trust my own instincts. When I listened to my gut feelings, things tended to work out, and I had a gut feeling I was about to do the only thing possible for Carl, aside from murdering all of the succubi on the planet.
I knocked on my neighbour’s door. When Alannah opened it, I pushed past her and headed straight for Carl. The stench of death was in the air, and I almost lost it, until I saw his chest rise and fall. He was alive, barely.
I knelt beside him, ignoring the foul-mouthed succubus behind me. Alannah pulled at my shoulders and hair, screaming insults, but I opened Carl’s eyes and managed to make eye contact with him. I whispered to him, and it seemed as though he knew me, but I couldn’t tell for sure.
“Get away from him!” Alannah screamed, the order tinged with desperation.
I held Carl’s hazy gaze. “He’s mine,” I said firmly, and a spark of something appeared. Maybe recognition, maybe magic, but whatever it was, I pushed at it with everything inside me. “You’re mine,” I repeated under my breath, willing him to understand, willing him to agree.
He croaked out a sound, then in a movement so fast it frightened me, he gripped my wrist.
“What are you doing?” Alannah’s whisper was full of horror and awe.
“Taking back what’s mine. I had prior claim. Our bond’s too strong. He’s still mine, and you can’t have him. You can’t take what isn’t yours. You should already know that.” I touched the mark on Carl’s chest, easing the darkness away, soothing the raised skin. He jerked his head, showing me his neck, and relief swept over me. The first part was done.
I stood and faced the succubus, who still looked baffled.
“This is what happens when you go after what’s mine,” I said, but I was speaking to all the succubi, knowing they would hear it, knowing they could affect my reputation. “Everyone I know is off-limits. I understand your quota, but it doesn’t include those close to me. None of you will feed off me again. It offends me and the people who claim me. You’ve interfered with the beast, made sure I couldn’t take her down. I don’t like to kill. I really don’t. But I do what has to be done. And I’m not alone. If I find out you’ve had a hand in the demon possession, I will be back.”
She shivered at the words “demon possession,” but she didn’t look surprised, and I wondered how common the knowledge was among actual demons. It might mean something huge was going on, or it might mean nothing at all. But I was pretty sure I could find out.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a minion to heal, a beast to kill, and some house hunting to do.” I helped Carl up, carrying some of his weight on my shoulder. The walk from the building was slow—and noisy, what with the shrieking succubus—but I couldn’t stop grinning until I made it to the car.
“He okay?” Peter asked, helping Carl into the backseat.
“Not really. But sadly for him, he probably won’t die from having sex.”
Peter raised his eyebrows but didn’t respond. I was still buzzing from freaking out the succubus.
“It’s getting late,” he said as we got into the car.
“I know. I’ll make sure Carl is settled then head off.”
“Ava,
I—”
“Don’t. Don’t say anything. I’ll fly out, sort shit out, then come home in a day or so and sort shit out here. I’m sure an even bigger problem will show up for me to sort out by then.”
“Always does.” He laughed, apparently enjoying the excitement.
Carl was still breathing when we made it to Eddie’s place. Peter carried him up to the spare room, even though Carl kept struggling to get to me. It said worrying things about his condition when he couldn’t break free, even under the will of a vampiric thrall.
“He’s in worse shape than I expected,” Eddie said, leading us back downstairs.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked. “If I’m responsible for him, can I keep him alive somehow?”
“That might be beyond your skills,” Eddie said. “The bonding went well?”
“Yep. The succubus had a hissy fit, but I warned her off. Hopefully, they’ll listen.”
“They?” Peter asked.
“All of the succubi. They’re all linked… it’s a thing. Can you keep Carl alive until I get back?”
Eddie shook his head. “A couple of days at the most. You’ll have to be quick. His body can last this way. It’s his mind I’m worried about. I’ll strengthen him as much as possible, but his chances for survival are poor. He may never be the same again if he lives. Are you sure you want that?”
“That’s not up to us. I need to get moving. I can’t miss the plane. I’ve already gotten quite a few angry voicemails from Gabe. Don’t want him getting his angel buddies after me.”
Eddie rolled his eyes, but Peter pulled me into a quick hug. I inhaled deeply, committing his cinnamon scent to memory. “See you later,” he said, letting me go.
“Before you leave,” Eddie said. “I’d like to perform a quick ceremony with the dagger, to give you a little more fire-power.”
“Nah, I’ll be okay. Not so sure the dagger will get much use this time out.”
“It could help,” he insisted.
“Yeah, but I don’t particularly like where your magic comes from,” I said, remembering the blood sacrifices and soul power.
“It comes from the gods,” he spat, unusually offended.
“Right. Exactly which god would that be?”
“There are many sleeping gods. You know what I am. Do not talk down to me.” His voice never raised, but the tone turned dark, and all of the doors and windows in the building slammed violently.
“Always with the drama,” I scoffed to hide my fear. I hated when he pulled out his magical tricks. “Did the gods give you your souls, too?”
His eyes narrowed, but I shrugged it off. I didn’t have time for confrontations with Eddie Brogan, Keeper of Knowledge—whatever the hell that meant.
“Just… act normal while I’m gone, okay?” I said.
“Maybe you should let him help,” Peter said. His eyes pleaded, and I couldn’t say no again.
“If it’s not too creepy,” I said.
Eddie made a tutting sound and swiftly prepared for a ritual. I couldn’t help shuddering when he produced the cracked black bowl again. The room appeared to dim. Eddie lit some candles, while Peter and I huddled close together.
Eddie pulled on a pair of gloves. “Give me the dagger, Ava.”
I reluctantly handed it over, disturbed by how reverently he looked at the thing.
“Blood. Love. Sacrifice. Accept our offerings, and protect our souls. Connected and ready to serve. Fill us with power, and watch over us.”
His eyes gleaming in the candlelight, Eddie raised the dagger and sliced his palm, letting his strangely repulsive blood drip into the bowl. He held his hand out to Peter, who backed off noticeably. Eddie clucked his tongue until Peter let out a weary sigh and held out his hand, wincing as the dagger pierced his skin.
Last again, I shivered at the blankness in Eddie’s eyes as I held out my hand. The dagger was quick and sharp, and I tried not to yelp at the sensation.
Like before, Eddie’s posture changed and guttural words flung from his mouth in a strange voice. He pressed the dagger against his lips. Peter gasped as blisters immediately appeared, but it was as though Eddie inhabited his own little world.
He stirred the bowl of blood with the dagger and gave an empty smile as the weapon flared with blue light, sparking the fluid.
He held the bowl out to me, urging me to drink. Although still apprehensive, I drank the blood in one mouthful, swallowing hard as the hot liquid tantalised my tongue. I had no idea what the dagger did to change the blood, but it became something else. Pure energy. Life.
Still stunned by the warmth flooding through my body, I barely noticed Eddie’s palm against my forehead.
“Let the spirit exist in our sister. The Keeper of Light and Warrior of Flame are still needed here. Keep her safe until the day comes.”
Peter made a strangled sound, and I followed his eyes down to my bare arms. My skin was full of light again, and I felt something close to me, something magnificent. I wouldn’t be alone when I faced Becca. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need blood.
Chapter Fifteen
I made it to the airport with ten minutes to spare. Finding the vampires was another story. After going the wrong way three times, I finally spotted one of the bodyguards waving at me.
“Didn’t think you were going to show,” he said gruffly.
“Didn’t think I had a choice.”
He nodded and gestured for me to follow. “Our terminal is this way. We’ll need to run. Further out than the human runways, but better than having to mix with humans we can’t snack on. Most countries have their own airports dedicated to higher beings like us, but Ireland has always been backwards. You’re a little late, but the jet and staff are all still being checked. We don’t need to participate in any of that ridiculous human security nonsense, though. As if they could force us, anyway.”
I made a noncommittal noise, controlling the urge to slap the chatty vampire silly, and tried to keep up with his long-legged stride. He led me through a door clearly marked “Staff Only,” and we raced to the terminal. Any airport staff we passed avoided our eyes, as if they knew what we could do.
Winston and his sidekicks all waited together for their bodyguards to finish checking the private jet. They didn’t say a word to me, and that bothered me because I couldn’t get a feel for what they were thinking. I was about to get on a plane with a group of strange vampires. It could go badly. Their human companions were nowhere to be seen, solidifying that possibility.
I had never been on a plane before, never mind a private jet, so I was a little excited in spite of myself when I boarded. The cabin was pretty spacious, all things considered. The leather seats looked comfortable enough, and the windows were blacked out.
“Welcome aboard,” a perky blond hostess with wounds on her neck said. The jet seemed to be catered solely for vampire passengers, including the meals. She happily offered me her wrist when I took my seat.
Startled by the movement, I stared dumbly at her for a couple of seconds. “Uh, no thanks.”
She shrugged and moved on. Cass took her offer, sinking her fangs into the woman’s skin. The woman didn’t even cry out. She just smiled lazily. The scent of her blood flooded the cabin, and my mouth instantly watered.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, even more when Victor sat across from me. He glared at me, and I spat out the first thing that popped into my head.
“Why are we flying at night if the windows are blacked out?”
“Can never be too safe,” he said, then looked as though he felt sick at responding to a question coming from me. The BVA had serious ego problems. “When we arrive, you’ll be taken to your escorts. They’ll provide a place to stay and show you the main locations the beast has visited, as well as provide some further leads. Capture the beast. That’s all you have to do. You’ll be provided for as long as you stay there. Take as long as this needs. But don’t kill it, or we will consider it a slight on our hospitability.”
“I can’t stay. I’m in and out. Two days tops. I have to get back.”
“To put your pet out of its suffering? Bloody Irish cretins.” He made a disgusted noise and took his seat with the others, grabbing the air hostess from Cass’s arms in the process. She hissed at him, baring her bloody fangs, but he ignored her, and she leapt to her feet. That side of her was a lot more relatable to Becca. Winston pushed her back into her seat without even glancing toward the incident. Cass flopped in her chair and licked blood from her fingers with savage movements.
“Even dogs can be taught how to share,” I muttered. Winston narrowed his eyes at me, and I took it as a warning. Victor flung the hostess to the floor, where she sat looking dazed for a few minutes. A second hostess, a petite brunette, appeared and stepped over her colleague as if she didn’t exist.
The blond crawled to the back of the plane and disappeared from my sight. I couldn’t help feeling a little rattled.
The plane took off shortly after. I clung to the arms of the chair as I felt the atmosphere change and my stomach flip upward. I didn’t particularly like heights, but the feeling that my head might explode sent me into a panic. Indulging in some rapid mental arithmetic, I breathed heavily, causing the vampires to turn in their seats to look at me. I didn’t care, I just wanted off the thing.
I stayed crouched low in my seat until the plane landed. It felt as though I’d been trembling in my chair for two days.
“I’m getting the ferry home,” I muttered as I stepped off the plane, my legs still shaking. The BVA trio stood apart from me as the waiting car was checked over—paranoid vampires—and I remained on edge because every time I glanced at Victor, he was staring at my throat.
I was so disoriented that I didn’t notice much of the car ride, aside from the seemingly endless turns through city streets. The vampires sat together in the back, wordless throughout the journey, while I sat in the front, next to the human driver. His neck had so many bites that I was afraid he might keel over and crash the car.
The limo finally pulled into an empty car park. I stayed in my seat, waiting for something to happen.
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