by Erin R Flynn
“Yeah, thanks.”
“How do you feel?” Alena asked gently, lowering herself down to my level.
“Hollow,” I admitted, my voice sounding the same. “Gutted as if I’ve lost everything. Like there will never be anything happy again in my life.”
“How long until Tristan’s fucking here?” Hagan growled, and I glanced up at him with wide eyes. “Sorry, sorry, full moon, and I’m tired of the vampire who you met when he tried to kill you always being the source of your pain. Or the wolf from our pack that pushed you so far into all of this that there was no way out but for you to take over.”
“We both know it wasn’t Riley’s fault I took over the pack.”
“No, but it’s his fault he starts shit or upsets you because you don’t do what he wants when he wants or how he wants. It’s his fault he pushed you almost like Alena just said that other guy did her, not because he knew of the Dorcus bloodline, but you were a strong wolf to hitch himself to.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I hadn’t honestly thought he saw Riley as he did with that last part. I had wondered it too and thought it my own paranoia or overinflated ego. “Please, just get me off the ground where I was coughing up blood. It’s like I’m shaky from freaking out over what happened.”
“Okay,” Reagan sighed and stood with me in his arms. I glanced down and saw how much blood I’d coughed up, and it was fairly significant. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to lay right there by it, either. Let’s go check out your new stuff.”
“What were you guys saying about the code?” I asked, trying to get back to normal.
“It’s not code as you are thinking of it, but the labeling system of Igor’s private vaults and prize rooms,” Zlat explained. I blinked at him, and he sighed. “Amenemhet III was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 12th dynasty. That crate is full of treasures Igor got from him.”
“Stolen?”
“Some of them, I’m sure, but normally he only stole from thieves and pirates themselves.” Zlat twisted his hands together, and I knew it was going to be bad as Reagan sat on the end of one semi with me on his lap. “Igor liked to make deals he knew people wouldn’t understand the true meanings or outcomes of.” I felt my cheeks heat, and I glanced away. “I did not mean that as pointed as it sounded.”
“I know. Not your fault I’m an idiot.”
“No one thinks that of you. I’ve never seen anyone so young and new to our world go up against him and have a snowball’s chance, and you bested him, Sera. Give yourself some credit.” I bobbed my head, and he went back to the explanation. “He liked to show what he was to the wealthy or monarchs of a land that interested him. Then he would promise them that they would be immortalized if they gave him vast riches.”
“That sounds different than immortality or being made a vampire,” I checked and then started shivering uncontrollably. “It’s like I’m suffering from blood loss, and even with what I coughed up, that’s not enough to make me feel this way.”
“Yeah, it’s metaphysical, like you lost Tristan’s blood,” Noah muttered, and I nodded as if I got it.
I think Goran caught on that maybe distracting me was best, so he took over for Zlat. “You’re right that it’s not the same as turning a vampire. And I doubt you’ve ever seen what an ancient’s bite can do to a human, right?”
“No, never had the pleasure.”
Goran smirked at my sarcasm. “You must be incredibly old to drink a human fully. Normally vampires who intend to kill can’t drink the five liters of blood in a regular adult human.”
“He’s right, we can’t,” Noah agreed, looking uncomfortable with the topic.
“But an ancient can, and if one drank them down in one sitting, as Igor liked to, not stopping until they were drained, the body doesn’t simply die, it mummifies.”
“Ew, gross, but what does that have to do with anything? Igor wasn’t an ancient during ancient Egypt. He was still a baby vamp.”
“Huh, she’s right,” Zlat murmured, sharing a look with Goran. “All the times we’ve had the displeasure of explaining this to someone, never has anyone else pointed that out.”
I kind of wanted to ask what sort of idiots they were hanging around for no one to have figured that out, but then again, I wasn’t always the sharpest, either. We all had our moments.
“Could it be a trait of our bloodline, as hers is a siren strain?” Goran questioned.
“Either way, that is not the point,” Brutus interrupted, rolling his eyes. “The point is Igor would promise to immortalize whoever he wanted riches from for his collections, and then would, but mummifying them, not turning them into vampires. So it’s all legal as he followed through on his agreements, but not exactly fair, as they thought they were being killed to become vampires, not mummies who were really very dead for good.”
“God, he was a bastard. I’m not sad to see him gone.” But apparently I was still crying because the tears just kept coming in a slow drip, drip kind of way. One of the semis pulled out, and I pointed to it. “Hey, someone want to handle that?”
“They’ve been unloading even as we were distracted,” Noah assured me. “The trucks and people we’re paying by the hour, and the containers have to get back today.” He winced and then rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re actually one of the first people to hire Vlad’s new moving company.” I sighed, and he shrugged. “We didn’t think eight containers were coming, and there’s limited options fast. You don’t want to leave your containers at the Port of Chicago if you don’t have to, and I don’t mean because of CBP.”
I let it go because it wasn’t Noah’s fault I was upset with Vlad or his new moving company. Technically it had started before my intervention and the argument was made that it was done, so anything new after that only stood for my sanctions. He always found some way to skate just on the line of anything to make sure he got what he wanted. “How much? And how much is this storage place?”
“He said find a few cool items for his own personal collection and that’s enough.” Noah thumbed over his shoulder. “This is month to month, and we’ll have time to figure things out from there, but it’s on me for the swords, and if we find some stuff from my time, I might bribe you for that too.”
“Sure, apparently I have ill-gotten gains from all the great dynasties of the world. He sucked them dry for it—talk about blood money. My karma’s going to go in the shitter.”
“I seriously doubt that after you saved us,” Ben argued and sat at Reagan’s feet with a bottle of water of his own. “Besides, dick face kept it all locked up in vaults or in his own private trophy room. I bet you’ll let the world see it. Send Brutus on educational tours or the art thieves to protect it at museums, because who better to protect stuff from thieves than other thieves?”
“I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you speak,” Goran admitted, raising an eyebrow at Ben.
“He doesn’t say much, but what he says is always worth listening to,” I complimented, getting a winning smile from Ben in return. Hey, I understood being the quiet, introverted kid in the group, and I didn’t have a problem with it. I only wanted him to feel comfortable to talk when he wanted, not push him to be more extroverted.
Another wave of crying hit me. Then Alena and Zeno decided they should all go help the movers, or she would direct traffic… Basically anything other than them sitting there staring at me while I cried. I agreed, especially since the ancient vampires should help unload their own crap.
Reagan stayed with me, though, talking softly in my ear as he played with my hair. Still, I felt empty as if something was missing.
Not much later, I saw Tristan’s BMW heading our way, and I pushed myself to stand, but would have gone right back down if not for Reagan catching me. I let him help me but couldn’t focus anywhere else but on the car. When I saw Tristan’s red hair as the door opened and then his face, I broke down in sobs.
“You’re alive,” I blubbered, covering my face.
“Sera, it�
�s okay, I’m here,” Tristan rasped, and I felt his hands on my face, but they were different somehow.
He’s not mine anymore. The knowledge hurt as much as his loss, but at least he was alive. “What’s happening to me?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sorry it is. God, I’m so sorry. I feel better than I have in months, and you’re in all this pain. I never thought this would happen by being freed from your blood.”
“So it was me?” I choked out as I raised my head. “I was driving you crazy?”
“No, being tied to your blood and having more of it at times did it, I think. I mean, how’s Noah?”
“I didn’t ask since that went so poorly as well,” I admitted. Honestly, I’d been scared to ask. Reagan said he’d go find Noah and left Tristan to help me. He lowered me back onto the semi’s bumper, and I was okay as long as I leaned against the shipping container. “I’m glad you’re better. I’m glad it worked for you.”
“Thanks.” He cleared his throat and moved his hands to my knees. “I thought about what happened on the way here. I have a lot to apologize for. Even if there was something in your blood that influenced me, I did things I knew would hurt you or upset you, and after I work through it all, I will apologize.”
“Shit happens.” I shrugged, uncomfortable alone with him, which was the opposite of how I used to feel, and that brought another wave of tears and crying.
“What did I say wrong?” he worried, trying to calm me.
“What did you do to her now?” Noah snarled, suddenly there with his arm around me. “Hey, it’s okay, Sera.”
“Not his fault,” I admitted when I calmed a bit. “Just thinking how awkward things are with us and all I had to do before was see him and feel better. Now there’s a hole where the bond was.”
“Maybe your bond affected you too,” Noah surmised, running his hand over my hair. “Reagan asked how I felt about you, if things were different now that you sovereigned me. The answer’s no. I’m grateful because you’re giving me something Vlad wouldn’t ever have—freedom, but I’m not jealous towards Hagan or Reagan. I’m the same as I was before you did it, I swear.”
“Good.” I leaned heavily against him and soaked up all that was Noah. “Sorry to have dragged you out here, Tristan. I swear I thought you died and it’s like I was being pulled into the hole you were going to be buried in or something. It scared me and that just—I keep spinning out.”
“Do you want me to go? Is it better if I’m here?” Tristan worried, glancing at Noah.
“Stay for now. It’s like I can’t believe you’re really here since I can’t feel you anymore.”
“I’m not a part of you as I was, no,” he agreed, looking away. I realized then that no matter the side effects, it hadn’t been all bad for Tristan, and he would miss it too. Whatever we’d been, however it worked, it had made us closer than two people could possibly be, and maybe that was why things fell into place too easily and fast with him.
Of course, it was a double-edged sword since it hadn’t worked out and now we were feeling that pain. Me more than him, though, it seemed at least physically. Yes, it would make sense that I felt more of it since none of it had been my fault in the first place.
8
I ended up going home after the second semi was unloaded, totally not caring what my haul contained and completely depressed. The void Tristan left had me feeling so… Empty. It exhausted me, to be honest. I felt bad for skipping another full moon run, but Alena said she’d explain and be my fill in. She packed for me, mostly the clothes she’d bought for the trip, and set aside a couple of suits so I was all prepared in the morning.
“How are you?” she asked when I came down the next morning, showered and ready to get on the plane.
“Not whole,” I answered honestly, hoping it made sense. “What did you do to make this go away?”
“I have been thinking and thinking on it, but it was so long ago. I cannot remember something I did but simply feeling less and less of it. Maybe yours is worse, as it was a blood bond and you truly loved him.”
Honestly, it hadn’t left me feeling all that comforted. We said goodbye to everyone and headed to O’Hare, no one saying much. I left everything to Hagan and Reagan. The bags, the drive, parking, talking to the pilot… Everything. I simply got on the plane and strapped in, ready to go back to bed.
“You like to fly?” Hagan asked as he sat across from me, the private jet giving us ample room to stretch out.
“I love the sleep I get when I fly if someone in the seat next to me isn’t loud or moving all the time,” I admitted with a half-smile. “Hopefully you’ll find this quirk endearing, but I’ll be out during takeoff and not wake until we land. Something about the vibrations in the plane just—yeah, knock my ass out into deep, peaceful REM.”
Simone finished storing her stuff, we said hi, and she told the pilot he could take off. Sure enough, the moment we got on the runway and the plane vibrated from the engines being boosted up, I got sleepy.
Shaking woke me, and I yawned, knowing we’d touched down.
“That is truly crazy,” Hagan chuckled, studying me. “We were talking, joking around, hit some turbulence, and nothing phased you. The whole three hours you just laid there after we put your seat back.”
“Oh, thanks for doing that. I didn’t realize these reclined.”
“You had no time with your plane narcolepsy,” Reagan teased. I simply shrugged and stretched out. Hey, we all had quirks. The plane stopped, and they started going for bags as the pilot came out and opened the door. “Wait for us. Someone from Alpha Stud’s pack will be here to pick us up, and we’re your guards.”
“We need to work on our communication skills,” I chuckled, shaking my head. “I’m technically here for work. I have the FBI picking me up since I’m armed and packed weapons.”
“Well, you go to work, and we get to have fun right away,” Simone resolved easily. I liked how everything was so stress-free to her. Personally I had figured I’d go with the FBI and they’d rent a car, but whatever. I didn’t even like having the FBI pick me up, but walking into a strange office without someone from there was even more troublesome.
What was funny was knowing exactly which group were FBI and who was from the wolf pack. I headed to the pair of FBI agents, guessing one was my contact, Special Agent in Charge Robinson. I smiled as I approached, and one stepped forward and extended his hand. “Thomas, thanks for coming. I’m Robinson, and this is Wu.”
I blinked at the hand then his face and raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, did I just get a demotion, or did you get a promotion since you contacted my office?”
Wu snickered, and Robinson smiled. “No, of course not. I mean, you’re still a division chief, but come on, you were a Special Agent in Charge when you were with us—you know.”
“Us?” I kept my face blank, but I had a sinking feeling Robinson and I wouldn’t get along.
“Yeah, the real—” He stopped when Wu elbowed him. “Regular FBI.”
“You were going to say the real FBI,” I accused, smiling when he shrugged as if it was no big deal. “Robinson, since I’ve transferred to this fake FBI I work for, I’ve had a centuries old radical assassin, a high profile revenge killer, and a clean-up of corruption, extortion, and a whole barrel of goodies that would make the last several mob cases of organized crimes look pale in comparison. Fuck, Quantico shut down just to get in on the reports and arrests for the training and experience.
“Oh, and most recently a massive win Interpol wanted with international art thieves we got to give up contacts and fences around the world, not to even list the minor shit we deal with. Remember, the threats you real FBI guys face are guns, whereas our suspects can eat us.” At least they both had the good grace to look embarrassed. “And just so we’re clear, if you guys are the real FBI and I’m the fake one—what the fuck does that say about you guys that you’ve called me in for help? Excuse me, gotta greet the wolves before we leave.”
“Roger that,” Wu agreed, giving me a look as if he had something too. “I’m sure our boss will be interested to hear what deal you’re here to make with the local Alpha.”
“One I’m apparently not aware of.” I glanced from him to the wolves. “He said he’s asking me a favor as Alpha of Chicago. I figure it’s letting him visit during a full moon or something.” I focused on the wolves. “Getting chatty while we’re waiting?” The two young guys blushed. Great. I glanced back to Wu. “Don’t even act like anyone and everyone you know doesn’t ask you for favors as FBI from parking tickets to zoning shit we can’t even touch.”
“Fair enough,” he conceded.
I walked over to the wolves, my power flaring. Immediately they both bared their necks to me. I leaned in and bit the first one… Hard. “Since when do you offer pack shit so freely?” I moved to the other one and mirrored the same response.
“We thought you’d be pissed if we didn’t answer your colleagues,” the second one responded, whimpering. “I’ve never talked to FBI before. I’m sorry, Alpha.”
“Fine, but don’t talk about shit you don’t know. You’re lackeys, not Betas or anyone who knows what’s between me and your Alpha. You’re the damn pickup drivers. If you were my guys, anyone asks you, you tell them to ask me. Not because you’re doing anything wrong, not because you have something to hide, because you’re not qualified to speak as to why the fuck I’m here or what’s between your Alpha and I or on behalf of the pack, got it?”
“Yes, Alpha Thomas.”
“Now that you’ve made the waters murky for my colleagues, succinctly tell them what you know about my visit here. What is the plan of my time with your pack and your orders?”
The first one glanced over at Wu and Robinson. “We’re to pick the Alpha and her party up and make sure they get settled as guests of our pack, have everything they need, and tickets to wherever they want to go, as it’s the first time the new Chicago Alpha is visiting Vegas and tension was bad with the last Alpha. Our Alpha was determined not to piss her off. She’s here to work, so be professional, don’t embarrass her in front of any of her colleagues or make our pack look bad in front of the local FBI office.