by Kelly Oram
Caleb took several breaths, trying to calm himself. “He’s dead?”
“He’s dead,” Ethan promised. “Every member of his coven is dead. Russ and I tracked them down in Europe, got Grace back, and killed every last one of them we could find.” He turned back to Duncan with hard eyes and added, “And we don’t regret it.”
Duncan simply nodded. “Explain it to the council.”
“Oh, we will,” I grumbled.
Duncan signaled to his buddies. “We have to get going now.”
“Caleb.” Ethan turned to him in a panic. “Please. If you have any heart at all, you won’t say anything. Grace was traumatized by Preston’s death, and you know what the truth would do to Cynthia.”
Caleb nodded. “I swear.” When Ethan’s gaze turned back to Grace he added, “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Duncan started to lead Ethan and me off, but we didn’t get very far before we heard frantic shouts behind us. Ethan swore. “Wait!” Grace shouted, causing a scene in the busy mall. “Duncan, what are you doing? Ethan! Russ!”
I’d been hoping we could get out of here before the girls noticed, but luck’s never really been on my side. “Don’t worry about us, Gracie,” I said as lightly as I could. “We’re fine.”
“You’re in handcuffs! Are they taking you to the consulate?”
“It’s just a little misunderstanding,” Ethan told her. “We’ll be home before you know it.”
“It’s Duncan,” I said, which made Grace check herself. She didn’t revere Duncan like Ethan and Caleb did—she’s not the most trusting of any vampire, with good reason—but she did trust him a little. He’d kept her existence secret from the council, after all. “He’s promised to help us explain ourselves to the council. He says they’ll listen. Go home with Cynthia, and stay out of trouble until we get back.”
“But why do they want you? What did you do?”
“Oh, just the usual,” I said, before Ethan could spill the beans—you know, because he can’t ever deny Grace anything. “Delinquency, debauchery, causing riots in the streets with our extreme good looks…”
Cynthia snorted. I knew she’d appreciate that. I tend to amuse her frequently. Of course, my joke didn’t satisfy the worrywart known as Grace St. Claire. She opened her mouth to demand a better answer, but I didn’t want her to know why we were being arrested, so I distracted her. “Hey, Gracie, before Duncan drags us away, Ethan had something he wanted to ask you.”
At Ethan’s confusion, I hinted, “Something about the spring formal…?”
Grace sucked in a surprised breath, and Cynthia’s eyes doubled in size. Ethan glared at me and his face drained of all color. I nudged him closer to Grace, encouraging him. He glanced to Duncan, as if the vampire might cart him away now and get him out of this predicament, but he was only met with a smirk. I knew Duncan would be good for it. For a guy who never seems to have a girl, he’s always highly entertained by our relationship drama when he’s witness to it.
Ethan, realizing he had to say something, looked at Grace but words escaped him. It amazes me how such a fierce warrior, who isn’t afraid of anything, can be so terrified to ask a girl out.
Grace took in Ethan’s stiffness, and her face softened. Good old Gracie, always trying to make everyone comfortable. “Did you want to ask me to the spring formal?”
When Ethan looked at his feet, I nudged him again and he blurted, “Yes.” He cleared his throat and pulled himself together a little. “It would be easier to protect you if you were my date.”
I elbowed the idiot hard this time, and he finally looked up. “Way to be romantic about it, moron. That’s not why he wants to ask you,” I promised Grace, glaring at my best friend. “Is it, Ethan?”
Grace waited, patient as ever, but Cynthia couldn’t stand it. “What the hell are you two dorks up to?”
Ethan let out a big breath and locked his eyes on Grace. “I’d like to go on a date with you. A real date. Not as your warrior, but as Ethan.”
When Grace’s brows drew together, Ethan sighed. “I’m more than just your warrior, Grace. Nephilim are descendants of angels and humans. There’s a part of me that feels and thinks the same way you do. I want you to get to know that side of me. The human side. The part of me that is so drawn to you.”
And there’s the bad-a nephilim warrior I’m proud to call my friend. There’s hope for him yet. He may have arrived a little late to the game, but he knocked it out of the park with that last line. Grace blushed, and Cynthia bit her lip, trying not to squeal in excitement.
“I know the idea of accepting my oath freaks you out, but maybe it wouldn’t if you’d give me a chance. I really like you, Grace. Not because I’m sworn to you but because you’re an amazing person. Will you go to the Spring Fling with me?”
I felt bad when Grace’s eyes flashed to me before she answered him. I’d never noticed before, but now that Ethan had pointed it out, I could read it so plainly in her expression as her eyes met mine for that brief moment. She’d been hoping I would ask her. But, I’ll give her credit for this: In the face of her disappointment, she accepted his invitation with, well, grace. Pulling her shoulders back, she smiled beautifully at Ethan. “Of course I know there’s more to you than just a warrior, Ethan. I would be honored to go to the dance with you.”
It wasn’t a declaration of love, or even an “I like you, too,” but she was sincere, and she had some genuine curiosity in her gaze. It was a start.
Ethan let out a breath, and I slapped him on the back. “There. Was that so hard?”
He shot me another dirty look and I snickered. Ethan was too fun sometimes.
“Congratulations, you two,” Duncan said, breaking up the moment. He flashed a smile at Grace. “I apologize for cutting things short, but I really do have to borrow your boyfriend for a while.”
Both Grace and Ethan paled at the word, but Cynthia, Caleb, and I all laughed. If Duncan weren’t head of the guardians and in bed with the freaking council, the guy would be pretty cool.
“I promise I’ll take good care of them both and bring them back to you as soon as I can.”
Yeah, sure. Assuming he could bring us back at all. My good mood evaporated as I remembered why Duncan was here and that I was in handcuffs about to go to the consulate, of all places. The council didn’t scare me. If they tried to screw us over—which I was sure they would—we’d get away. But seeing Dani again…that thought had me sweating with both anticipation and dread.
. . . . .
There was one good thing about being arrested. The consulate was in New York City, so Ethan and I were both able to sleep the four-and-a-half-hour drive there. I was glad I got the rest once we stepped into the building, because I was a lot less tired and I was going to need to keep my head on straight for this.
The consulate gave me the creeps. I’d only ever been here once before when I came to break out Dani after the council kidnapped her. It was this sinister gothic place that seemed specifically designed to put you on edge—completely morbid.
As we took the elevator up to the fifty-sixth floor, my nerves reached an all-time high because of what I knew would be waiting for me when I reached the top. Or rather, who would be waiting. I glanced at Duncan, trying not to let my panic show. “Are you taking us directly to the council?”
“Yes.” Duncan eyed me suspiciously. “Is that a problem? It sounded like you guys wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.”
“We do,” Ethan assured him.
I did, but that didn’t mean I was looking forward to it. I swallowed back the chunks that were starting to rise in my stomach and asked something I had to know. “Will she be there?”
I avoided Ethan’s gaze and held my breath as I waited for Duncan’s answer.
“She’s a member of the council now, Russ, as is the Seer. They will both be there.”
Of course they’d both be there. Because the universe hates me. “Does she know I’m here?”
Dunca
n took a minute to answer me. “I thought it best not to warn her. She would have just agonized over it unnecessarily.”
“Agonized over it?” That pissed me off. “She has no right to—”
“You don’t understand. She’s been a wreck, Russ. I never even told her I saw you.”
“She’s had no idea where I was this whole time?” For a second I felt bad. But then I remembered the way she clung to him when she said good-bye to me, and I got angry again.
Duncan sighed. “You asked me to keep her out of your life. If she knew where you were, she would have come looking for you. This is going to be very difficult for her. More so than for you, I think. You seem to have moved on better than she has.”
“I’ve moved on better?” I couldn’t listen to any more, and since I couldn’t really punch anything, I kicked the side of the elevator. “She moved on before I left.”
“Would you like to see her before you’re brought in front of the whole council? I can take you to a holding cell and tell her you’re here. The council would understand the delay.”
“No.” That sounded like hell on Earth. “I don’t want to talk to her. I was sort of banking on never seeing her again. Let’s just get it over with.”
“It might make things go a little smoother if you got it out of the way before you’re questioned.”
I laughed hard. “You think the council cares about questioning us? They’re going to do whatever they want, no matter what Ethan and I say. To tell you the truth, Duncan, I don’t really believe they’re going to let us go. That’s why I came. If they’re going to try to kill Ethan, then they’re going to have get through us both.”
Duncan laughed as the elevator doors chimed open. “Nobody is going to kill anybody. You’re always so dramatic, Russ.”
As Duncan ushered us down the hall, I stopped hearing what he was saying. The consulate was fairly busy. There were people everywhere, but it wasn’t their stares that made my heart pound as I looked at them. I kept waiting for one of them to be a familiar face.
Duncan gave me a sympathetic smile as he moved us along. “The council isn’t what you think. They aren’t cruel monsters. Dani was an unfortunate case, so your perception of them is skewed. They can be reasonable, caring people. They want order and justice, and they will be fair. They’ll listen to your story. I honestly don’t think you’re in any danger.”
“We’ll see,” I grumbled.
I stumbled to a stop as we came to a set of large double doors. “Where’s Grace when you need her?” I gasped. Ethan glanced at me and I nodded at the doors. “Dani’s in there. I can already feel her energy.”
“You want to hold my hand?” Ethan held out his cuffed wrists to me, batting his eyelashes. “I may not dissolve bonds, but I’m every bit as pretty as Grace.”
I appreciated his attempt to give me crap. I needed the distraction. I was supremely messed up right now, and he knew it. Joking might be the only way to get me through this. “Bite me.”
We laughed, but the smiles left our faces the second the doors opened. Game time. We were escorted into a large conference room, where the council sat in a line behind a long table, facing us like a firing squad. The murmurs started instantly, but they were drowned out by a startled cry.
“RUSS!”
Dani shot out of her chair and was immediately grabbed by Gabe and the guy sitting on her other side, Councilor Mason. I remembered him from the day they came to take Dani away. He was the warlock representative on the council.
“Danielle, wait,” Gabe whispered.
“Let go of me!” she hollered, yanking herself away from them both. “LET GO!”
They obeyed, and she ran around the table, nearly tackling me to the ground. When her arms came around me, I was instantly back at square one. The last five and a half months of trying to forget her, gone in one freaking hug.
Sniffling, she muttered my name over and over again into my shoulder as she clung to me. I hadn’t known what to expect from her, but it definitely wasn’t this. I’d never seen her so emotional. Duncan was right. Dani was a mess.
As much as it went against the grain to see her hurting, I was glad she was like this. It made me angry, and anger made it easier to stay focused. I said nothing, didn’t hug her back, didn’t even move a muscle until I shivered from the onslaught of her energy. I’d been starved of it for so long I’d become used to the numbness. It hit me so hard now it was painful, yet it made me desperately want what I’d been missing.
“Russ?” Dani pulled back and frowned at the way I was shaking. “What’s wrong?”
She grabbed my hand, and I gasped at the skin contact. Without thinking, I plastered her hand to my cheek, and after breathing in deeply, kissed her palm. Her frown doubled and she brought her other hand to my face. “Russ, why do you feel so weak?”
“You need to let go of him,” Ethan said suddenly.
I didn’t realize how much I was shaking, until Dani stepped back and I swayed on my feet. “You okay?” Ethan asked while Duncan steadied me.
“Fine.”
Dani looked me over with concern. “What’s wrong with you?”
I didn’t say anything, so Ethan answered for me. “He’s fine. But it would help if you’d go back to your seat.”
“Watch your tone with her, young man,” Mason warned Ethan. “Danielle is a member of this council, and you will show her respect.”
Ethan’s back went stiff and muscles started popping in his jaw as he fought his temper. “I meant no disrespect, sir. I’m only concerned for the health of my friend.”
“Who are you?” Dani asked. “How do you know Russ?” Her eyes snapped back to me. “What are you doing here? What’s wrong with you?” She took my hands and glared at Duncan. “Get these cuffs off him. He’s not a criminal.”
Gabe rose from his seat and pulled her back. “Come sit down, Danielle. Give them a chance to explain.”
Dani shivered when Gabe touched her, and it made me sick to my stomach. I hated that I could still be so jealous. After Dani was seated again, Duncan pulled out two chairs from the table and told Ethan and me we could sit. We didn’t, and the council wasn’t thrilled with our defiance.
Councilor Mason looked to be the one in charge. He spoke first. “Mr. Devereaux, this is quite the surprise. Would you care to explain what you’re doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I held up my cuffed wrists. “I was arrested for killing a bunch of stupid vampires.”
There was a hiss from one of the women—the vampire representative, Councilor Sena. From the look of murder in her eyes, I had my doubts about the “ex” part of her relationship status with Stefan. I met her glare with a smirk. “Feeling’s mutual, lady.”
“Russ,” Duncan warned. “Temper.”
Dani stepped in before I could run my mouth off and get myself killed. “I don’t understand. They were only looking for a nephilim.”
“His name is Ethan.”
Apparently, I was a little too hostile. Dani rocked back in surprise. “Sorry. Ethan.”
When she couldn’t speak any more, Gabe put his arm around her and looked at me. “What is your connection to the De La Cote murders?”
“I was there.” I puffed my chest out and grinned proudly just to piss everyone off. “I killed as many of them as he did.”
“Only because I saved you some,” Ethan quipped.
I snorted. Not that Ethan didn’t recognize the gravity of the situation we were in, but he has the same problem with authority that I do. It’s one of the reasons we get along so well. “You wish, bro,” I teased back. “You just don’t want to admit that a lowly, untrained warlock could keep up with you.”
“Keep up with me? I could have taken them all out before you even got in the door. I went easy so I wouldn’t have to hear you whine all the way home.”
“Enough!” Councilor Mason exploded. “How can the two of you make jokes about this?”
“Because we’re not sorry they’re
dead,” I answered. “Though, I am curious how you knew Ethan was involved?”
Councilor Mason pulled something small from his pocket, and Ethan gasped the instant he saw it. “My medallion.”
It was Ethan’s family crest. An oval-shaped gold medallion roughly the size of a half dollar, engraved with the angelic symbol for Michael. Michael gave it to him as a family heirloom and had one just like it. Ethan lost the medallion during the battle with Andrew’s coven. We looked for it for an entire day and never found it. Devastated doesn’t even begin to cover Ethan when he realized it was gone forever.
Mason turned the medallion over in his fingers. On the back of it was an engraving that said ETHAN MICHAEL DUNN. BORN MAY 14, 1997. BELOVED SON OF MICHAEL.
It was pretty damning evidence.
“We found this in the ruin of the De La Cote estate. Obviously this boy was there.”
“That medallion is very important to me,” Ethan said in a clipped tone. I was surprised he hadn’t jumped over the table to snag it yet. “May I have it back?”
The question annoyed Mr. High and Mighty Council Man.
“Oh, give him his necklace, jerk,” I complained. “We’re confessing to the crime. It’s not like you need it for evidence.”
The guy didn’t give the piece back, but he did feel the need to turn all his anger on me. “Why were you involved, Russell? What’s your association with this boy?”
“He’s my brother.” At all the confused looks, I said, “In every sense, except the literal one.”
“What?” Dani gaped at me.
I glared back. “Well, I was sort of out a family of my own, and his mom makes killer peanut-butter cookies.”
“Russ!” Dani shrieked, finally losing her temper with me. I was surprised it had taken her this long. “This isn’t funny!”
“No crap!”
Dani flinched, her anger suddenly replaced with confusion. “Did you just say no crap?”
Ethan burst out laughing and flashed her that pretty-boy grin of his. “Gracie’s making him ditch the profanity.” When he made a sound of a whip cracking, I elbowed his gut.