by Sedona Venez
Aunt Ava’s eyes turned deadly. “Trust me. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Believe me.”
“Whether it’s the Shadows or someone else, it’s not only a Credence problem anymore. Whoever is doing this is fucking up my plan for an Other peace treaty.” Ryker looked at me coldly. “You may not like me, but I’m trying to help figure this crap out without starting an Other war. Believe me, I’m the lesser of the evils out there.”
“Seeing is believing, given the bad blood between our families, Alpha,” I bellowed.
Mom looked at me sharply. “Light! Ryker is not our enemy. He called us. He didn’t have to. He could have been an asshole like the rest of the Council.”
“Besides, the bad blood between our families was buried with Tiber and Solista,” Aunt Ava snapped.
I snorted. Tiber Alfero, Ryker’s great-grandfather, went down in history as the most ruthless wolf-shifter who ever lived. He was also known as a notorious womanizer, who strung Solista Credence, my great-grandmother, around for years.
Storm’s eyes narrowed. “Is it?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Storm?” Knox demanded.
“There's a little bit more to the story between Tiber and Solista,” Storm offered, her eyes darting to me.
“And how would you know that?” Mom commented suspiciously.
“Uh… Light don’t freak out, okay?” Storm smiled nervously.
I didn’t like the sound of this. “Freak out about what?”
“Well…” Storm paused, licking her lips nervously. “Don’t ask me how… but Tiber pulled me into some creepy realm between the human realm and the Other realm.”
I blinked. “And how the hell did he do that?”
She shrugged. “He said the ancient Fae granted him the gift of bringing me there.”
Ryker looked at her impatiently. “For what?”
My jaw tightened. “Exactly. For what? His great-grandfather turned his back on great-grandmother Solista when she needed him.”
Ryker flinched, widening his stance. “He paid for his mistake. Get past it.”
I crossed my arms, not giving an inch. “What did he want? Forgiveness for his mistakes?”
Storm scratched her head. “Well… I don’t really know. He said you and I are the bond that ties the Alfero pack together.”
I arched a brow. “There’s no bond with that pack. Trust me on this.”
“He seemed to think so. He was worried about the survival of his bloodline—and warned that the Shadows were planning to cleanse the world of what they deemed as a blight of nature.”
“Oh God, don’t tell me. They want to eliminate all Others,” I muttered.
“Yup.”
My mouth dropped open. Oh, damn, this wasn’t good.
Storm continued. “He said our bond is the only thing preventing this destruction from happening.”
Ryker deliberately said nothing, letting the cooling sound of silence speak volumes.
“So it’s true. You and Light will be the only Credence women to be gifted with Fae powers.” Mom looked at Aunt Ava proudly.
“Uh, I don’t want Fae powers. I don’t even want the power I already have.” It would be another burden to carry, and I had enough with the empath affliction looming over me like the Grim Reaper. I dropped my head in my hands. Damn, please don’t let me freak.
The buzzing of Mom’s cell interrupted my slow slide into depression.
Mom glanced down at her phone. “What the hell?” she barked into the phone. “Who is this?” She paused. “Raphael?” her voice hitched.
Aunt Ava’s body stiffened.
Mom’s face turned red. She was seriously distressed. I’ve never seen my unflappable Mom like this. “Who’s Raphael?” I asked Aunt Ava. She ignored me, visibly shaken.
Mom smiled at us tightly. “Excuse me for a minute,” she mumbled before gliding out of the office.
Ryker nodded over to Rip.
Rip nodded back. “On it.” He strode out of the office after her.
I glanced at Storm. “What the hell was that about?”
Storm shrugged. “Damn if I know. But it sure didn’t look good.”
FIFTEEN NAIL-BITING MINUTES LATER, Mom burst into the office as if nothing happened. I knew better. Something had left her on edge.
I looked over at her suspiciously. “Is everything all right?”
She smiled tightly. “Nothing we can’t deal with.”
Soar and Rip appeared in the doorway.
“The hyena is all squared away,” Soar assured Ryker.
“Good,” Ryker responded. “Rip. We’ll talk later.”
Rip looked over at Mom, then back at him. “You bet we will.”
Jackal’s phone rang. He moved to the farthest corner of the room. “Are you sure?” He paused. “Who?” He listened while running a hand over his head. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Get back to me when you get more info.” He hung up his phone, looking at us grimly. “That was my connection. He wanted me to know they picked up some strange chatter on the Other network. There’s a $200,000 contract on the Credence family,” he stated calmly.
“The shit keeps on getting better and better,” Storm declared.
Mom’s back straightened. “What kind of contract?”
“Don’t know. He’s still working on the intel.”
Ryker stared at them. “Ava. Lia. Be fucking straight with me. What the hell is this really about?”
Mom sighed heavily. “You know what this is about, the Shadows.”
Knox crossed his arms, widening his stance. “Then we protect them. I have a tour I’m contractually obligated to go on, so I’m taking Storm with me.”
Storm sighed heavily. “No asking, just telling. We are going to have to work on your relationship skills, rock star.” She paused. “I’ll go with you. It’s not like I have a job to go to until this whole mess is cleaned up.” She looked over at me worriedly. “But Light’s coming with me.”
My eyes widened. “Fuck no! I’m not going to be some third wheel.” I watched Knox grab Storm’s hand, kissing it tenderly. Storm reached up and touched his face. Fuck, these two were in love and needed time to cement their relationship. And there was no way I was staying with my mom and Aunt Ava. I would end up killing the annoying witches. “I’ll stay with Reason.”
Storm sputtered, “What?”
Aunt Ava looked at me like I lost my damn mind. “No. Reason can’t protect you. Besides we don’t want to put her in danger. Her father will kill us.” She looked at Ryker. “You will protect her until we figure this shit out.”
“Like I have a choice,” Ryker responded wryly while glaring at me.
Arguing with them was futile. They were right; Reason’s father was overly protective of her and he would lose his shit if she got hurt over our issues.
Reason pursed her lips. “Hey, people, I’m standing right here. I can bring in my father’s enforcers.”
“Oh, hell no! No vampires. We can’t trust the blood suckers,” Soar snapped.
“You’re saying I can’t be trusted?” Reason snapped.
“Exactly.”
I threw up my hands. Exasperated. “Stop, you two. You’re giving me a damn headache. I’ll stay with Wolfie.” I looked over at Ryker. “But understand, I’m not putting up with any of your shit.”
He stared at me coldly. “You want my protection. You live with my rules. And that shit is not negotiable.”
I glared at him. “We’ll see about that,” I snapped.
Mom and Aunt Ava looked at each other.
“Well, this should be interesting,” Aunt Ava concluded wryly.
Mom looked at Ryker pointedly. “Guys, we need a minute with our daughters.”
“Don’t take long. I have business to take care of,” Ryker barked before they all filed out of the office.
“So was that who I think it was?” Aunt Ava asked with an anxious look in her eyes.
“Yes. Light’s father,” she st
ated matter-of-factly.
My body stiffened. “What the hell are you talking about?” Of anything Mom could have said, I did not expect that. “You told me he was dead.”
Mom completely ignored me and looked directly at Aunt Ava. “They know.”
Aunt Ava gasped. “Holy shit!”
“Why are you ignoring me?” I huffed angrily. “And who’s they?” I demanded.
Ava sighed tiredly. “Lia, tell Light the truth. We can’t shield her from it anymore.”
Mom reached for me and I pulled away. “Your father is not dead. We told you that to protect you from them.”
“Who the hell is ‘them’?”
She sighed tiredly. “The Shadows.” She paused. “I—”
I interrupted her. “Okay, what else did you lie about?” I was damn near hysterical. My heart was racing as my fingers tingled strangely.
Mom gritted her teeth. “Stop it! First, I’ve never lied to you.”
“You told me he was dead. Now you’re saying he’s alive. Which is it?”
Storm plopped down onto the sofa. “Shit! I can’t cope with all this drama.”
Mom paced back and forth. “It’s complicated.”
I banged my fist on the desk. “Then un-complicate it, Mother.”
“Raphael—your father is the only son of the leader of Shadows.” She shrugged. “I fell in love with him.”
“Before you start squawking, she didn’t know he was his son,” Aunt Ava argued.
Mom interrupted her. “We loved each other. When he revealed the truth, I was already pregnant with you. The only way he could make sure you didn’t fall into the hands of his father and the Shadows was to disappear. To protect you and me.”
I couldn’t hide my shock and confusion. “I don’t understand. Why do they want me?”
“You’re special. The only empath alive”—she paused—“with the ability to control all Others.”
“Control? Wait. What?” I swallowed. “Hold on, how could I be the only damn empath?” That was like saying I was a unicorn. They might as well put a target on my fucking back.
“There are those who have some empath abilities like Ava, Storm, and me. But our powers are limited. To mix our bloodline with the Shadows dark bloodline is like a Molotov cocktail.”
“What do you mean dark?” I asked quickly.
“Dark magic. They have bred with evil underworld beings. Some real dark evil shit. That’s what makes their magic so powerful.”
“And why if you are in the wrong hands, their hands, it can do irreparable damage.”
My eyes widened. “Fuck! They’re coming after me. How did they find out who I am?”
Mom’s mouth tightened. “Because your father was careless. Somehow they found out about him and you and that he was alive and back in New York. Watching Light.” She sighed. “Fucking overprotective ass.” She rubbed her head. “Raphael knew they’d come for you. That’s why he called to warn us.”
I paced back and forth with my mind racing. I felt Mom, Aunt Ava, and Storm’s heated stares. I didn’t give a shit. I was trying to work out my own issues… for once.
“Light, is everything okay with you?” Storm asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Say something, sweetie,” Aunt Ava demanded.
I strode faster. “No. I don’t have anything to say.” I skidded to a stop. “You know what…? I do have something to say. All these years and you never once thought about telling me the truth?” I didn’t bother to hide the hurt and the tears that threatened to fall. “I get it. I understand why you and my father… I mean Raphael did what you did. But you want to know what hurts me more? The fact you lied to me.” My mouth twisted with disdain. “All that bullshit about no secrets in the family and every damn day you lied to me because you didn’t think I could handle the truth.” I threw my hands up in the air, truly disgusted with them. Nothing was taboo in my family; we were progressively open about sex, had to be with the nature of our business. The things I was able to discuss with my mom and aunt at a young age would make humans cringe. There was nothing that wasn’t up for discussion, or so I thought.
Mom gave me an incredulous stare. “This is not all about you. There’s the whole family’s safety to consider. Sweetie, I know you could have handled the truth, but you’ll soon discover the Credence women sometimes have to do things we’re not too proud of… make sacrifices, for the betterment of all, not one.”
I processed her words. I loved my family and would do anything in my power to protect them. Even at the expense of my own happiness and safety. That is after all, how the Credence family survived all these years, by making sacrifices. There were times we fought bitterly, but we always stood together in the end. We were the Credences. And I would be damned if I let the Shadows or Raphael, tear my family apart. Mom, Aunt Ava, and Storm opened their arms. I stepped forward for the group hug. I languished in the strength of their love, knowing the times ahead were going to be rough for all of us.
I sighed, stepping back. “So what now?”
Mom pushed the hair back from my face. “We stick to the plan. Storm will go with Knox. Ava and I will call in a few favors to get some extra protection for us. And since Ryker has graciously offered to protect you, you will go with him.”
I arched a brow. “Graciously? The man hates me.” I didn’t know how in the hell I was going to last with Ryker as my jail warden. Shit, I didn’t know whether to fuck him or kick his ass. I huffed out with displeasure. And what was the deal with my human emotional angst subsiding when he was around me? Was it the Fae thing kicking in or something else altogether?
Aunt Ava smirked. “He doesn’t hate you.”
I threw my hands in the air. “What is it with you two and Ryker? He’s not some cute puppy you can play with. I’ve seen behind his cool demeanor. He’s damn near feral.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “I see.”
I blinked. “You… see? What exactly do you see?”
Mom shrewdly looked me up and down. “That you’re afraid of him.”
I sputtered. “I’m not afraid of him. I’m stating a fact. His wolf, his beast is chained inside his body like some sort of dangerous animal.”
Storm stared at me, confused. “You saw that?”
I looked at her like she lost her damn mind. “What the hell is wrong with you? Of course I didn’t see it.” I bit my bottom lip. “I sensed it,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Storm shook her head. “Now you can sense”—she did air quotes—“Others’s emotions?”
I gave up. I had to tell them the truth. “Not Others’s. His.” They stared with open mouths. “Briefly. Oh, okay, once at his charity gala.” They arched their brows. “And again today, but it was brief. Strange. And unrepeatable.”
“Uh-huh,” Mom quipped.
Aunt Ava looked at Mom. “This is…”
“Surprising,” Mom finished.
I hated when they did the dynamic duo shit, finishing each other’s sentences and thoughts. I snapped my fingers loudly. “None of that.”
“What?” they retorted in unison.
I rolled my eyes. “Like I said, Ryker is fucking feral.”
Aunt Ava looked at me sternly. “Hey, we raised you better than that. No judging different.” She gestured to each of us. “We’re all different. He’s different. But he’s not feral. He’s the descendant of Loki, the Norse god. And he’s fighting not to be as destructive and ruthless as his ancestors. It’s not easy.”
Mom clucked her tongue. “We all have demons we’re fighting.” She looked at me blankly. “He needs to find his balance to end his pain.”
“I’m sorry. When did we start giving a shit about the Alferos?” I asked.
Mom crossed her arms. “I don’t understand why you have this uncanny ability to run when you have the remote chance of forming an emotional connection with any man.”
“I’ve learned from the best,” I noted while giving them both a pointed stare.
“This is different. Ryker is different.”
I rolled my eyes. “Different? He’s an arrogant ass with a condescending air.” I tapped my chin mockingly. “Let me think… That sounds like a typical Alpha wolf-shifter. There’s nothing special about him. Believe me.”
Mom smirked. “He’s different. You have to give him a chance.”
I was so done with this conversation. “I have no intention of giving him a chance.”
“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe Ryker is worth pursuing as mating material?” Aunt Ava asked.
“Nope. I don’t do permanent. Shit. No one in this family, besides Storm, is even capable of doing long-term relationships. I’ve seen the look in his eyes. All he wants is another sexual conquest.”
Mom and Aunt Ava smirked at each other.
Mom shooed me with her hand. “He doesn’t know what he needs right now. He’s thinking with his cock, but he’ll soon realize what he needs is a little more complicated.”
My eyes narrowed. “What are you two up to?”
Mom winked at me. “Nothing, sweetie.”
“Right.” I paused. “You know what? It doesn’t matter,” I proclaimed.
Aunt Ava picked up her cell and started to text. “Exactly.”
I looked at Storm. She did the crazy sign, making a circling motion of her index finger at the side of her head.
Mom looked at her watch. “It’s time to go. You two, please try to be on your best behavior. We’ll handle the investigation.”
“And we’ll sit around twiddling our thumbs?” Storm snapped.
“Hell no! This has to do with us too,” I insisted.
Mom’s mouth tightened. “I don’t give a flying fuck. Don’t mess with me, Light. We’ll handle this. You stay out of this.” She looked at Storm sternly. “You too.” Something in her expression told us she wasn’t hopeful, but she didn’t have time to dwell.
Aunt Ava hugged us both. “Thank God, they’re going to be separated—less trouble for them to get into while the Shadows stalk us.”