“Do you have it?”
“Yes.”
“I’m tired. We need to take your bike to Sanctuary. If I blur us there, I’ll need to feed again before you’re capable of giving me more blood.”
“You could carry me all the way to Sanctuary?”
“Yes, but it would weaken me. I’ve blurred too much already today. I need to conserve energy before we head to Savannah, not wear myself out completely.”
I walked with her through the barn, closed the front door after we passed through, and headed toward the porch where my bike waited.
***
An hour later, we crossed Main Street Circle, the heart of the town. Eira pointed down a turn off next to the café, and I followed her directions until we ended up in front of a small, whitewashed brick house. A light was on in the front window, but curtains blocked the view into the home.
I pulled into the driveway and parked the bike. After Eira got off, I set my helmet on the seat.
“Whose house is this?” This part of town was unfamiliar to me.
“Hannah and Meredith Bateman live here. I need a new ring ASAP. Then we’ll talk to Garrett and Travis. They should be more than willing to help.”
“Why?”
“Charlie’s their mate.”
“Oh.” That would definitely motivate a Lycan. Though it was rare to come across a Lycan triad.
Eira knocked on the front door of the house and it opened, revealing a cute redheaded woman. Another pretty redhead appeared next to her a moment later.
“Eira!” They both spoke at the same time.
“Hey, girls,” Eira answered, the stress disappearing from her voice.
“So who’s the hottie you brought with you? Is he the sacrificial lamb for the evening? We have wine in the fridge.”
I raised my eyebrows with momentary concern until all three women let out a whoop of laughter.
“You should’ve seen his expression,” the first redhead snickered. “He really thought I was serious for a minute.”
“Come on in,” the second woman said, a grin spreading over her whole face. She opened the door wider, and we entered the house, following her down the entry hall and into a small living room off to the side. The floors were wood, and the walls were painted a rich burgundy. Art hung scattered across all the walls, and mason jars full of various ingredients lined a set of shelves on the far side of the room. The scent of lavender was strong in the house along with various other common herbal scents.
“Killían, this is Meredith,” Eira said, pointing at the first woman who’d answered the door. She was a little shorter than the other redhead who I assumed was her sister. Her amber red hair was straight and hung just to her shoulders.
“This is Hannah.” She waved her hand toward the taller sister. Her hair was more of a reddish-blonde, and her cheeks were covered with a cute spattering of freckles.
“Pleased to meet you, ladies.”
“Where did you find him, Eira, and does he have a brother?”
Eira and I both stood silently, and awkwardness filled the room. It wasn’t their fault. The comment was meant in fun. Eira whispered something into Meredith’s ear, and the poor woman’s face turned as red as her hair. She passed the bit of info to her sister’s ear, and Hannah turned equally as red.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea. My mouth brings me trouble wherever I go.”
“It’s fine. You meant no harm.” I shrugged and shoved my hands into my pockets.
“What can we do for you, Eira?” Hannah asked, dropping into one of the tall leather captain chairs behind her. “You sound stressed.”
“I need another daylight ring. Mine was taken.”
“What happened?” Meredith asked before walking to the shelf of mason jars and boxes of who-knows-what.
“The pack was double-crossed. Charlie was taken, along with several others when we crossed the bridge at Vicksburg. They had witches cloaking them. I didn’t know they were there until half the group was dead or gone. I barely got away with my life.”
“Oh God! You’re not going after them alone, are you?” Meredith walked to the center of the room and put down a pestle and several bundles of herbs on the coffee table in front of Hannah. “I have everything to make the spell. Let me go hunt in the bedroom for a gold ring.”
“What about this one?” I pulled a small, filigree gold band from my pinky finger. I’d worn it since the day I lost Eira on that beach. Bought weeks before the battle, it would’ve been her wedding band.
Eira caught my gaze and scrunched her forehead in confusion.
“That’s perfect.” Hannah stood briefly and took the ring from my outstretched hand.
“I was going to give it to you a long time ago,” I said, holding Eira’s gaze. Her eyes widened with realization, and tears pooled in her Caribbean blue eyes. She blinked them away and turned back to her friends. Both of the women were busy at work on the table. Hannah was mixing and grinding ingredients as Meredith measured and dropped them into the pestle.
“Add a few drops of your blood, Eira,” Hannah said, gesturing to the stone bowl.
Eira bit her wrist and held it over the bowl full of ingredients for a few seconds.
“Why does it need her blood?”
“It binds the spell to her. The ring will only recognize her body. Another vampire can’t use it,” Meredith answered.
That was a nice fail safe. I moved to the side of the room and sat on a small red ottoman while the two witches chanted in Latin about sunlight and darkness and blood. I’d never heard the exact spell before, but I knew enough Latin to know the magick they were using was old and very powerful. The Batemans must be descendants of some very powerful witches. Not just any witch would be able to wield the power they were channeling.
It seemed like hours passed before they were finished. But a glance at the clock proved me wrong. Only thirty minutes had gone by.
We thanked them both, and they warned Eira again to be careful as we left their house, making me promise to take care of their friend. They didn’t need to.
I would die to protect her.
Chapter Fourteen
KILLÍAN
I stopped the bike in front of a small building with a neon sign that read Tattoos. But the open sign wasn’t lit.
“They aren’t here. No heart beats inside. Let’s try the café. A lot of people in town eat most of their meals there.”
I started the bike again and drove down the narrow road toward the town’s center. The big castle loomed on my right as I turned onto Main Street Circle and headed around to the café. The lights were on, and voices poured out into the night air from inside the large restaurant. The rest of the town was pretty quiet and very few lights were on in the stores around the circle.
Pulling to a stop in front of Rose’s Café, I parked and walked right behind her to the door. A blue transparent screen flashed around the building when she pulled open the French door. The barrier only showed itself each time a door was opened or closed. A nifty spell all the buildings in town possessed. According to the Pixies, it kept Djinn from being able to teleport in and out. Made them have to use the door like everyone else.
“Killían!” Raven waved from behind the counter. “Eira?! I thought you were going to be gone a couple months? Is everything okay?”
I followed Eira to the counter, and we took two of the empty stools. “Have you seen the Lycans Travis and Garrett? I need to speak with them,” Eira asked.
“Eira, what a surprise,” a female voice sounded from behind us.
I turned and gulped air. Diana Blackmoor and her husbands were closing in fast. Eira didn’t seem fazed at all by the Drakonae royal trio and leapt from her stool to embrace the pregnant woman. Diana was barely showing, but her clingy dress revealed a definite baby bump.
“Diana. I need to talk with Travis and Garrett. Charlie, her parents, and several other pack members were taken prisoner by the SECR. By Xerxes. Have you seen the Lycans?”
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I stood and stared as Diana hugged and then placed a friendly kiss on Eira’s cheek. Like they were the best of friends. Then Miles and Eli both took turns embracing my beloved.
“Wait, Eira,” Diana spoke, looking toward me. “This is the Killían you spoke of? Your Killían? The man who gave you the Goddess Sea diamond?”
Eira nodded, stepping away from the giant Drakonae males and returning to my side. “I stumbled upon him through an accident of fate. I can’t explain it. I was nearly dead, and I found my way to his barn.”
“The diamond pulled you to him. It’s probably another reason you felt pulled to Sanctuary after bringing me here. The diamond knew he was close by. It started acting like a homing beacon.”
Eira turned her gaze to me, questioningly.
I nodded. “The diamond’s pull would’ve increased the closer in proximity you were to me.”
“I’ll get Travis and Garrett. They’re over in the corner. I saw them come in a while ago,” Miles said, before leaving the circle.
“I didn’t make the connection last time we met. But, any friend of Eira’s is a friend of ours. Our home is yours whenever you are in town,” Diana said, offering her hand. “You seem so familiar now that I think about it. Did we know each other in the Veil?”
She expected me to shake her hand. I couldn’t refuse, though it seemed so unorthodox. But we weren’t in the Veil anymore.
I extended my hand, taking hers. She gave it a firm shake and clasped her other hand over mine.
“Thank you. And, yes, but the honor is mine, your highness.”
Diana squeezed my hand tighter. Her eyes opened wide with recognition. “Killían, son of Konáll Njörd. You have your father’s eyes. I remember you now. Your line was the royal family’s sword makers and librarians. Did your family escape as well?”
“I go by Killían North. It’s easier for humans to pronounce. And, no, my family died by Incanti fire. Only my brother and I escaped through the gate before they gained total control. But even he is no longer with me.”
“I am sorry for your loss. I understand your pain. But, you have family here now, though.”
“Yes,” Eli interjected. “Your Eira saved our mate, so she is very near and dear to our hearts. We take care of our family.” Eli pulled me into a quick embrace before moving to Diana’s side. “So be sure and take good care of her or we will come hunting.” He flashed a quick smile and a wink, but even the joking tone of his voice held a tempered warning.
I bowed my head respectfully, though I knew it was not required. “I will protect Eira with my life.”
“Killían,” Eira whispered into my ear. “I expect to hear the whole story soon.”
“I know,” I answered. The time for hiding from my past was over. She already knew some, but she deserved to know who had held her heart hostage all these years.
Miles returned, followed by two very large, very emotionally charged Lycans. Their irises were bright yellow, and the tips of their fangs showed from beneath their top lips.
“Where’s Charlotte?” The slightly larger of the two growled and stepped closer to Eira.
I moved between her and him, and he snarled.
Eira touched my shoulder and stepped to my side. “Listen, Garrett, you threaten Killían again and I’ll make sure you never have babies.” She snapped her teeth, and the Lycan male swallowed audibly, stepping backward and calming himself enough that his eyes turned brown again.
The other Lycan, the smarter of the two, stood quietly watching the whole thing. “What happened, Eira?” he asked.
“Double-cross. We were taken by surprise. Half the group was killed, and the other half was drugged and taken.”
“Where are they now?” the same man asked.
“Savannah,” Eira said.
“How do you know for sure? What if they already killed her and the rest?” Garrett interjected.
“I’m the reason they can sneak in and out of places. Jump the walls without tripping alarms. I’m the thorn in Xerxes’s side. The pack relocates the refugees from the SECR, but I’m the one that gets them out. Xerxes wants me and he doesn’t have me yet.”
“Raven told me you returned unexpectedly, Eira. What’s happened?” The voice of Rose Hilah cut through the conversations around us. The two Lycans stepped aside to allow her into the circle we’d created. The petite, olive-skinned woman stepped forward.
“Xerxes has Charlotte.”
“Eira…” Rose’s brown eyes darkened almost to black. “You know it’s a trap.”
“Doesn’t matter. She’d do the same for me.”
“What about your destiny here? You’re supposed to be one of the town’s Protectors. Why do you continue to run from it? We can offer your friends homes within the safety of Sanctuary.”
“Only if I take your offer, right?” Eira spat out. “I’ve lived on my own just fine. What makes you think I’ll hand over my freedom to you now?”
“To save your friends, you would sacrifice anything. All Protectors share that commonality. We need you, Eira. It is not a one-sided deal. We protect ours.” Rose turned from Eira to Miles. “Please go find Alek and Jared.”
The Drakonae male nodded and slipped away.
“Alek and Jared are two of the most powerful Others living in Sanctuary, besides myself and the dragons. They will accompany you. A Gryphon and Phoenix should tip the scales in your favor… I do hope you return to us, Eira, and join the family you are destined to have.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what Rose was, but if she compared herself to a Drakonae, she had to be something really old and very powerful.
“Killían, take care of Eira and watch yourself. Xerxes’ spies are everywhere. Trust no one and never drop your guard,” the small woman said, her gaze penetrating to my soul. Magick shuddered in the air around us both like free-flowing static electricity—as if she could control the essence of it.
I nodded. I had no intention of losing Eira ever again. And though I didn’t understand exactly why Rose wanted Eira to be a Protector or what that really meant for her, I could tell it was upsetting, and that irritated me. This woman was offering us help for the rescue mission, but was attaching chains.
“Thank you,” Eira whispered quietly. “I will accept your offer when I return.”
Rose lifted her arm and touched Eira’s face with her fingertips. “You won’t regret joining us. I promise.”
Chapter Fifteen
EIRA
Holding back the anger seething inside me was close to impossible. She’d taken advantage of my need, promising the help we desperately required to have any chance at all of recovering Charlie and the others and making it out of Savannah alive.
All so I’d take the vow of a Protector. Granted, she was offering asylum to what was left of the Mason pack, but it still stung. It wasn’t likely that the Masons would want to leave Ada anyway. So that offer was worthless. Still, if she was willing to send a Phoenix and Gryphon with me to Savannah. That alone was worth my sacrifice. Charlie would do it for me.
Vampires in Sanctuary who filled the roles of Protectors were bound to the Sisters of the House of Lamadae through a spell. Rose then gave permanent safeguarding from the sun through a tattoo she enchanted.
Never having to fear the sun again was every vampire’s unspoken desire –a fatal weakness that couldn’t be escaped.
But magick always came with a price. Blood created the daylight ring I wore. It was a small spell. But the spell to become a Protector was a huge ordeal. Bailey had described what she’d gone through when she took on the role. There hadn’t been any drawbacks yet, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be later.
I was a lot older than Bailey. The longer a person lived, the more suspicious they became. I’d asked Erick about it, but he said other than taking time to help Rose find the rest of the Protectors, it hadn’t changed his life in a negative way.
Still. I knew there had to be a catch. It just wasn’t one anyone knew about… or
purposefully wasn’t sharing.
After Rose left the circle, I turned to Travis and Garrett again. “We need SUVs. There could be people hurt we need to transport. They took at least eight, including Charlie.”
“On it,” Travis answered. He and his brother slipped off and out of the cafe.
“You need to feed again, Eira. Before we leave,” Killían said, placing a hand on my arm.
He was right, but I couldn’t feed from him again so soon. It wasn’t fair to weaken him and put his life in unnecessary danger.
“You can’t give more blood. It hasn’t been long enough.”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. Take what you need.”
“She’s right, Killían,” Eli’s deep voice rumbled beside me. “If you’ve already fed her in the last twenty-four hours, you need to rest. She might need you again once you’re out on the road.” Eli turned to Raven, who was standing a few feet away behind the counter. “Grab me a large glass, please.”
The purple-haired Pixie set a large water glass on the counter.
Eli pulled a small silver dagger from inside his jacket. It was dragon steel, the only metal that could pierce Drakonae skin. He slid the dagger over his palm, and his blood ran freely into the glass below.
The scent of his fresh blood was intoxicating. My fangs descended, and I stepped closer, licking my lips. The anticipation of Drakonae blood made my mouth water.
“Thank you, Eli.”
“Like we said, you are family, Eira. Diana will enjoy you living in town. I know she enjoys Calliope and Bailey’s company, but she truly misses you when you go. Return safely, little warrior.”
I drank down the glass of blood, told Diana goodbye, and then left the cafe. Killían followed right behind me.
“What do you have to do to be a Protector, Eira?”
I leaned against the stone wall of the café, studied him for a moment, and then shrugged. “It links me to this town. But no one really knows the end game for the spell. The Sisters say it will ultimately free them from Xerxes threat. But that’s all I know. If Rose or the Sisters know more than that, they haven’t shared it with anyone.”
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