by Kelly Oram
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Marcela said cheerfully. “You’re going to look more beautiful than ever tonight, Grace.”
She came to hug me and then held the door as the guards filed out of her shop, never questioning who they were or where they had come from. I was confused, but then I remembered what Andrew had done to the orderly in the hospital. Vampires must have some sort of mind control power. I shuddered, grateful that it hadn’t worked on me when Andrew tried it and hoped that meant I was immune to all vampires.
“Thanks, Marcela. If I have time, I’ll stop by before we go.”
I hugged her back, praying that it wasn’t going to be the last time I ever saw her.
As soon as we were all outside Duncan dismissed his guards.
“There’s no need,” Russ said. “You can go with them. We’re done here.”
“Russ, we really need to talk.”
“Like hell. I told you—I don’t know where Dani and Gabe are.”
“I do. They’re back at the consulate.”
Russ broke into an impressive string of profanity that didn’t stop until Duncan said, “Your father attacked them, Russ.”
Russ froze.
I had no idea who Gabe was, or what was going on, but the thought of Russ’s dad attacking the girl he loves so much made my stomach churn, and if I was affected by this news Russ had to be dying.
I reached out and took Russ’s hand without asking. I startled him at first, but he clung to me. After a moment my calming mojo—or whatever it is—started doing its job. Russ took a deep breath and whispered, “He attacked Dani?”
“She’s okay, but we need to talk.”
Russ reached up with his free hand and rubbed his head as if it were pounding. I tried to let go of him, but when he felt me start to pull away he gripped my hand tighter. If I blushed nobody said anything, but Duncan had mentioned being able to hear my heart beat earlier so he had to have noticed the way it just sped up.
“Fine, let’s talk,” Russ said.
“Fine,” Ethan agreed, “but we need to find a place where Grace can rest. Her leg is hurting her.”
Suddenly both Russ and Duncan were looking at me. “I—” I didn’t know what to say. My leg was hurting, but…I turned to Ethan, surprised. “How did you know my—”
“You’re fidgeting,” Ethan said quickly, begging me with his eyes to drop it.
“Oh.”
“You’re in pain?” Russ asked.
“It’s not bad.”
That’s all it took for Russ to sweep me off my feet into his arms and carry me back to his car. Ethan glared at him as we passed, but I didn’t understand what he was mad at. He couldn’t possibly be jealous.
I figured I was being paranoid until Duncan laughed. I glanced back, startled by the sound, and found him smirking at Ethan. When I caught his eye his smile transformed into a wide, playful grin and he winked at me.
Once we were all piled in Russ’s car, Russ turned to Duncan and demanded to know what happened.
“It’s a long story, Russ. Why don’t we talk while we get the girl something to eat. I believe the discomfort in her leg isn’t the only thing she’s been keeping quiet about.”
When I glanced at Duncan he teasingly said, “I can hear your stomach growling.”
I blushed, irritated. Did everybody have to know everything about my physical needs? That was going to get really old.
“Grace, I know you’ve been stressed this week but you shouldn’t be skipping meals,” Ethan lectured. “Making yourself sick isn’t going to help anything.”
“I’m not anorexic, you jerk!” I snapped. “I didn’t eat because Russ and I had plans to meet Cynthia for breakfast at ten. How was I supposed to know you and my father had already planned out my day for me?”
“Sorry,” Ethan grumbled.
I sighed. Ethan’s not the one who’d scheduled my fitting. “No, I’m sorry. It wasn’t your fault, it was my dad’s. But will you please stop treating me like a five-year-old? I’ve practically been on my own since my mother died when I was eight. I know how to take care of myself.”
“Sorry,” Ethan mumbled again, less angry this time.
I shrugged awkwardly and changed the subject. “Do you mind if we still meet her? I texted her on the way to the fitting. She’s probably waiting for us now. Russ wanted to meet her, and I know she’d want to know what’s going on.”
“Cynthia?” Duncan asked, pleasantly curious.
Russ smirked at Duncan. “Human Grace here is a supernatural magnet. Not only does she have a nephilim for a bodyguard, but her best friend is a natural female werewolf.” He eyed me suspiciously and then added, “And if I’m not mistaken, the future alpha of the D.C. pack and his little brother are both fighting for her affection. Not to mention a witch wants her dead and she has a vampire stalking her.”
“I beg your pardon?” Duncan asked, startled.
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Russ!” I hissed.
“It’s all right, Grace,” Ethan assured me, realizing how scared I suddenly was. “Mr. Moore won’t hurt you.”
“Please,” Duncan argued, “it’s just Duncan. Mr. Moore makes me feel my real age. Now what’s this about a vampire stalker?”
“Long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
“We’ll explain on the way,” Ethan said. “If you’re okay with us meeting Grace’s best friend. Grace is right about her wanting to know what’s going on. She and Grace are very close. She’ll be worried, and she’s a good friend for Grace to have in the know. It keeps her safer.”
“This is the natural female?”
Ethan nodded. “Cynthia Layton, daughter of the D.C. alpha.”
“I’m acquainted with her father,” Duncan said, nodding. “That’s fine. I’d very much like to meet her.”
As soon as Russ was driving, Duncan asked again about my vampire stalker. I cringed and was so nervous I couldn’t explain.
“I know I’m not Russ’s favorite person in the world, but I’m a friend, Grace,” Duncan promised. “You can talk to me. I’ll even help you with the problem, if I can.”
I just shook my head. I didn’t want this man to know I hadn’t turned. Ethan and Cynthia both seemed to think the council would kill me if they knew that. That’s why I was shocked when Ethan, of all people, happily told Duncan what he wanted to know. I wondered if it was the vampire mind control thing, but Ethan seemed to idolize Duncan for some strange reason, so who knew.
“You have to forgive Grace for being afraid of vampires,” Ethan said. “They’re the reason she knows about the supernatural and the experience wasn’t exactly pleasant.”
Duncan waited for more explanation so Ethan went on, careful not to divulge the most crucial details. “Andrew De La Cote broke into her room and tried to turn her.”
Duncan’s eyebrows flew sky high. “Andrew De La Cote tried to—how is it that she’s still human?”
“Luck,” Ethan said quickly. “Myself, Cynthia, and her brother all happened to be downstairs at the time. We were able to defuse the situation.”
Duncan wasn’t sure what to think about all of this, but after collecting his thoughts he said, “Andrew De La Cote is over six hundred years old and has never before tried to claim a mate. Council law allows him that right. Why did you stop him?”
I felt my heart stop beating. Of course the vampire was going to take Andrew’s side.
Ethan looked uncomfortable, but gave Duncan the answer he was looking for. “Several reasons. First, her father hired me as her personal security guard. It’s my job to protect her. Second, her father is Senator Alan St. Claire. Grace is most likely going to be the first daughter elect next week. She couldn’t exactly disappear. Andrew should never have attempted to turn someone so well known. That would have been against council law for sure. And last, Grace isn’t like other humans. She was resistant to Andrew’s charm. She was fully aware of what was happening, and he
was acting against her will. She was terrified and screaming for help. I wasn’t just going to stand by and watch him do that to her.”
Duncan was now staring at me with eyes so big that the car seemed a lot smaller. I had to roll down the window and let the cool, crisp air blast me in the face.
“Can we please not talk about it?” I asked, my voice hiccuping. I hadn’t realized I’d started crying.
“He can help you, Grace,” Ethan said. Then to Duncan explained, “Now Andrew won’t leave her alone. He’s gotten his father involved in Grace’s dad’s campaign so that they have to keep meeting. I believe he’s still going to try to claim her as a mate.”
I shuddered and felt a hand come down on my shoulder. “I know the De La Cotes well,” Duncan said. “I’ll speak to them for you. Ethan is right. Andrew shouldn’t be bothering you. Council law does allow him the right to choose a mate, but the laws are very specific and your celebrity status is a problem.”
It felt hopeless to me.
“Duncan’s an important person, Grace,” Ethan said. “Andrew will listen to him.”
“Or he will answer to the council,” Duncan promised.
Cynthia was waiting for us by the time we got to the restaurant, and she’d brought both Caleb and Preston with her. I was kind of mad that she’d blabbed about Russ to her brothers, but I was grateful for their presence. I knew Duncan wasn’t supposed to be a threat, but he still made me really uneasy.
“I’m sorry! They just followed—” Cynthia started to say until she noticed Duncan. Then her mouth dropped all the way to the ground.
“It’s okay, I’ve got tag alongs, too. We seem to be all about the unwanted company lately,” I tried to joke. It fell flat. No one was even paying attention to me at all. Cyn and her brothers were in shock, all staring dumbfounded at Duncan with even more amazement than Ethan had regarded him.
“Cynthia, Preston, Caleb,” I said nervously. “You met Russ Devereaux briefly last night, and this is his friend Duncan Moore.”
I used the term friend, hoping it might soften the distrust they had for Russ since clearly they all thought of Duncan as some sort of god. Seriously, what was that about, anyway? Russ didn’t appreciate the association, though. “‘Friend’?” he scoffed. “That’s stretching it.”
Duncan surprised me with a laugh. “It’s true for my part, anyway. It’s very hard not to like Russ.” At Russ’s dirty look, Duncan laughed again. “Oh, come on. Even the Supreme High Councilor had a soft spot for you, despite the fact that you kidnapped the Seer and the Chosen One.”
Now everyone was staring at Russ with looks of incredulity. Russ didn’t notice. He was glaring so furiously at Duncan that his face was bright red. “I didn’t kidnap them,” he grumbled. “Dani left on her own and she forced me to bring Gabriel. I tried to leave his worthless ass at the consulate.”
“I don’t doubt you did.” Duncan laughed even harder and slung his arm casually around Russ’s shoulder. “Calm down, Russ. I told you I’m not here to arrest you.” He smiled a heartbreaking smile at the rest of us. “Shall we sit? I believe Grace is in need of some breakfast.”
My friends somehow managed to close their gaping mouths and nodded. It looked as if it took serious effort. Russ was the only one not starstruck by Duncan’s presence. Though, everyone now seemed as mystified by Russ as Duncan.
Russ shrugged Duncan’s arm off of him and grabbed my hand as he slid into the large booth. He pushed himself all the way to the wall and pulled me close to him. Apparently I was the only person in this group he trusted. I liked that more than I should.
I tried not to shiver as I settled in next to him and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze under the table. I looked up at him and got lost in his eyes until someone cleared their throat across the table. Cynthia gave me a look. “You’re mooning,” she mouthed.
Startled, I quickly cast a glance around the table. Caleb, Preston, and Ethan were all frowning at me, and Duncan wasn’t bothering to hide how much the situation entertained him.
Thankfully, the waitress came by and took our order then because I was seriously dying of embarrassment. Once she was gone, Russ skipped the small talk. “Tell me what happened, Duncan.”
I was surprised by how desperate Russ was. It must have been driving him crazy this whole time to wait for this news.
Duncan debated internally and then sighed. “It’s like I said, Russ. I’m not here looking for you. I picked up your scent in a stroke of dumb luck. I came to D.C. on official council business. The Supreme High Councilor is dead.”
Everyone at the table gasped. Russ’s eyes widened for a second, then narrowed into hard, angry slits. “Good. The bastard had it coming.”
I was shocked. Not that I had any idea who the Supreme High Councilor was, but I couldn’t believe Russ was so callous about his death. “Russ,” I whispered.
“Don’t blame Russ for his anger,” Duncan told me. “The Supreme High Councilor was a monster in his eyes, and not unjustly.”
“Who’s the Supreme High Councilor?”
“The supernatural equivalent of your dad—if he wins the election Thursday,” Caleb said. “Is he really dead?”
Duncan nodded again. “I apologize for just blurting it out like that. It’s the reason for my being in D.C. The guardians were dispatched all over the world today to bring the news in person to as many supernaturals as possible. A colleague of mine is meeting with your father as we speak.”
“So what happened?” Russ asked. “You said my dad attacked Dani and Gabe.”
Duncan sighed. “Your father was the warlock behind Dani’s visions.”
“Not possible!”
“He killed the Supreme High Councilor and nearly succeeded with Gabriel, too—slit his throat. He stabbed Dani and sacrificed the Seer to raise Addonexus.”
“His father raised the Angel of Death?” Cynthia gasped while Preston said, “The Seer is dead, too?”
I was completely lost on this entire conversation. Seer? Angel of Death? Murder? Sacrifices? I knew there was a dark side to the supernatural world, but I hadn’t imagined it was quite that dark. I was frustrated, but at the same time I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what they were talking about.
I had a million questions but decided to sit still and go as unnoticed as possible. I’d rather get my explanations later from Cynthia or Russ. Hopefully it wouldn’t seem so terrifying then.
I felt my hand shaking but realized it wasn’t me doing it. Russ was trembling. “Dani?” he whispered.
“She’s okay, Russ,” Duncan promised. “I told you she and the Seer are back at the consulate. Her wound was only meant to hinder her while Alexander raised the demon. He planned to take her with him afterward and undo what the Councilor had done to her. His intentions toward the Seer were a lot more malicious. The Seer would have died if not for Dani. She healed him and sent Addonexus back to the underworld, but your father slipped away in the chaos.”
Russ looked as if he might pass out. His body sunk against me as if it could no longer hold itself up.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Russ was so out of it that he didn’t even hear me. “She banished Addonexus?” he asked Duncan.
“Yes,” Duncan answered.
“So the prophecy’s been fulfilled?”
“Yes.”
Another round of gasps and unanswered questions.
“So…” Russ’s face slowly started to come back to life. “That means Dani can come home now.”
When Duncan said nothing, Russ lost it. “Damn it, Duncan, she’s done enough! She has a right to go home if she wants!” he shouted.
“Dani is home, Russ,” Duncan said quietly, obviously feeling very bad about something.
“You mean the consulate,” Russ growled. He was no longer leaning against me. His body was charged with so much energy that I could feel it seeping off his skin. Not energy. Anger.
“Dani’s having a very hard time right now. Your father betrayed her
even worse than he betrayed you. She’s really upset, and completely sick with worry over you. I promised her that as soon as the Councilor’s death was dealt with that I’d make it my mission to find you. She wants you to come to the consulate. The council would like to talk to you also. They’re prepared to offer you a position in the guardians.”
“They want him to join the guardians?” Ethan gasped.
This was one question Duncan didn’t ignore. He smiled at Ethan. “The guardians would be lucky to have him. He is maybe the most powerful warlock alive, though he doesn’t know it. He has also shown great strength and courage despite his lack in knowledge of the supernatural and having next to no training.”
Russ looked offended so Duncan added, “Your father kept you in the dark as much as possible, Russ. I assume because of Dani. He’s manipulated you as much as her. With your power, you should be fully developed by now. The council would like to help you reach your potential. They’re hoping you’ll help them find your father, and Dani just wants to see you safe. She’s torn apart over your disappearance.”
“Dani,” Russ said, sounding as if it hurt to even say her name, “and Gabriel, and especially the council can all go to hell.”
This time it was only me who gasped. I was shocked to hear Russ talk about Dani that way. I knew how much he loved her—that had been obvious from the moment he kissed me.
Everyone stared at me with confused faces, but I wasn’t about to explain myself. I blushed, though, and so did Russ, so my thoughts must have been obvious to him. Duncan sighed a long, weighted sigh. “The council also feels bad about your bond with Dani. They want to help you overcome it if they can.”
“They can’t do that and you know it. The Councilor knew it and he did this to us anyway. They can’t help me, and I wouldn’t let them if they could.”
Duncan looked pointedly at me and said, “She’s not her, Russ. She may look like her, but she’s not her. She isn’t a solution.”
Russ and I both stiffened and he let go of my hand. “This isn’t about her,” he said. “The council needs to be stopped. They’ve taken everything from me. My mother. My father. My home. Dani.” His voice faltered and he steeled himself again. “They’ll pay for that.”