Emma arrived several moments later with a new phone. She had already activated it. Ryder began adding the few contacts he wanted to keep, when his coven cell rang. It was Damien. The battery was nearly dead. Instead of answering it, he threw it to floor and crushed it beneath his foot. If the bastard knew where he was, then so be it. Let him come. It would be the last thing that he ever did.
When the sound of the front door opening clanged loudly, Ryder immediately grabbed Vivien from her chair and pushed her behind him. He had no idea who was coming, and he wasn’t about to allow anyone near his mate.
“Not to worry, Ryder. It’s only Richard,” Emma said, walking Richard into the dining room.
Ryder was still on alert and Vivien was squirming behind him. “Seriously, Ryder. I’m no damsel in distress.” She removed herself from his grip and stepped from behind him to greet Richard as he and Emma walked in.
Richard was tall, standing at around six foot four, dark complexion, with salt-and-pepper hair and whiskey-colored eyes. He wore black slacks and a blue button-down shirt. He reached over and clasped Vivien’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said smiling. “I’m sorry it has to be under such dire circumstances.”
Vivien nodded, shaking his hand. “Thank you for everything and helping to protect me from the coven. I truly appreciate it. Emma mentioned there was a breach in the south ward?” she asked, walking back toward the table to take her seat with Ryder sitting next to her.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Richard answered. “However, we were not able to find the source of the breach. I have our security team on high alert. I’m to be notified of anything out of the ordinary.”
“If you will excuse me, I need to make a call,” Ryder said. “I want to find out how long before my friends are due to arrive.”
“Very well.” Emma inclined her head and told him he could use the parlor if he required privacy.
Ryder left everyone in the dining room to call Tristan.
When Tristan answered the phone, he seemed out of breath.
“Is everything all right?” Ryder asked.
“We’ve encountered a slight problem,” Tristan answered. “Damien contacted me and has rogue vampire contacts in New Orleans. We’ve had to send hybrids and our witch liaisons out to dispatch them. They attempted to attack the Hybrid Coven. Were you aware some of them could walk by day?”
“No, that’s news to me and I’ve been part of that coven for centuries,” Ryder said. “How the hell—the witches! Damien must be working with the coven who’s after Vivien. It’s the only thing that makes sense. You and members of the coven need to leave as soon as possible.”
“We’re on our way and should arrive in a few hours. The Hybrid Coven leader, Genevieve, arranged a private jet. We should land in Tucson after dusk. We have transportation awaiting us at the airport.”
“Were any lives lost?” Ryder was furious. He knew Damien was up to no good, but now he had legitimate proof that he was in league with the coven warriors. Why else would he attack the only other person Ryder was in contact with?
“No, not on our side. We have a formidable team of hybrids and vampires, along with a few witches who fight alongside them.”
“All right. Call me on this number when you arrive. The town of Harlington is cloaked by magic. I will lead you in when the time comes. Be safe, my friend.”
“You as well,” Tristan said, ending the call.
Ryder was beyond pissed when he left the parlor to deliver the news.
TEN
“HEY, RYDER. WHAT’S GOING ON?” Vivien walked toward him as he entered the room. She could feel his anger. That was definitely something new and she assumed it was because they were now mated.
Ryder pulled her into a hug and kissed her hair. “I just spoke with Tristan and I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he said, taking her hand and leading her back to the table where Richard and Emma were seated. “It seems Damien did in fact trace my call. He sent vampires to attack the Hybrid Coven in broad daylight. The only way he could have accomplished that is if he was working alongside powerful witches giving his vampires the ability to walk by day.”
“What?” Vivien exclaimed. “Why?”
“The only logical conclusion I can come up with is that they’re working together. I assume we will find out ‘the why’ soon enough.” He looked to Richard. “I believe it could have been one of Damien’s vampires who attempted to breach your wards.”
Richard and Emma glanced at one another and nodded, then looked back to Ryder. Vivien’s mind was in chaos. Why the hell would vampires work with the warrior coven? To kill her? Yes. But what was in it for them, besides money?
“It’s quite possible,” Richard agreed. “The coven warriors are powerful enough to allow a vampire to walk by day, but only for a short time. I need to contact my security team at once. The sun will be setting soon.” He stood from the table, kissing Emma’s cheek, then walked toward the front door.
“Oh dear,” Emma said. “How long before your friends arrive, Ryder?”
“They’re on a private jet and should be in Tucson at dusk,” he replied.
“We will need to send someone out to meet them—”
“I told Tristan that I would bring him into the city,” Ryder interrupted Emma.
“No, I don’t think you will,” Vivien countered, daring him to disagree with her. On this, she wouldn’t budge. What the hell was he thinking, putting his life in danger after they’d just mated? If he died—she didn’t want to think about it. Stupid men and their damned egos. Not this time. “It’s too dangerous and Emma knows this area better than we do. The coven warriors are looking for us and will kill you on the spot.”
“Vivien, I am a vampire. I can handle—”
“Don’t.” Vivien raised her hand to cut him off. “This isn’t up for discussion. We’ll fight them when the time comes, but I won’t have you getting yourself killed when we now know the vampires and warriors are working together.”
Vivien knew her eyes were glowing. She could feel her power rising to the surface. She was pissed that Ryder would even consider putting himself in harm’s way before they had a plan in place, along with everything else that was raging in her mind. He must have noticed, because as soon as he looked into her eyes, his demeanor softened.
“We will do this your way, for now. However, when the time comes, I will take my pound of flesh, Vivien, and protect you in the process.”
Vivien rolled her eyes. Did he honestly think she couldn’t protect herself? Sure, she was terrified, especially of the unknown, but she could shift into any animal that she wanted, or person for that matter. Just because she hadn’t used her magic in a while, didn’t mean she wasn’t powerful. She nodded to play along, but when the time came, she planned on taking out her revenge as well.
When Vivien looked to Emma, she noticed a small smile forming and wondered what she was thinking about. Maybe she was enjoying their little spat. Who knew?
“The two of you remind me of Richard and me when we were young,” Emma said as if she’d read Vivien’s mind. She probably did.
Ryder glanced at her with a strange expression, then smiled. “How long do you think it will be before Richard returns? I would like to start planning our strategy as soon as possible,” he said, then grasped Vivien’s hand.
“Not much longer, I suppose,” Emma replied. “Why don’t the two of you chat for a moment, while I make a few calls to some of our younger witches here in town. I imagine we’ll have a fight ahead of us in the next few hours.”
Once Emma left the room Vivien turned in her seat. “Do you need to feed before this thing goes down? I want to make sure you’re at your strongest. I know—”
Ryder touched her lips, cutting her off. “I believe I’ve fed enough on you, my dear, Vivien.” He smiled, then replaced his fingers with a loving kiss.
She returned the kiss with fervor, wanting to feel him inside her once more, then remembered that Em
ma could walk back in at any moment. “Ryder, you’re bad.” She grinned wickedly. “I’m serious, though. If you need to feed, please tell me.
“And stop planting sexual desire in my mind. Now is not the time.” She slapped his arm playfully.
“That is all you. Now that we’re mated, I’m afraid your sex drive might have kicked up a notch or three.” Ryder laughed.
“Oh, that’s just great. Especially now that we’re about to fight a coven of witches and vampires. I can’t have sex on the brain and murderous rage at the same time.”
“You’d be surprised how the two can go hand in hand, making our lovemaking that much more enjoyable after the fact,” he said, running his fingers along the swell of her breast. Vivien gasped in surprised.
“You’re just bad. All the way around. Bad.” She moved his hand and he took hers, placing it on his crotch. “Holy hell, Ryder. Stop.”
“I can’t help it. You drive me mad. Even with war looming over us, I want to take you back to bed and ravish you.”
Vivien smiled. “We’ll have plenty of time for that—after.”
The front door opened, and Vivien turned in her chair, welcoming the intrusion. Ryder was driving her crazy. She didn’t know how much longer she could resist him. The man did things to her, made her feel alive. She wanted him with every breath that she took, but she knew that she had to keep her head in the game and not become distracted.
Richard walked into the dining room with a look of determination on his face. “Any news?” Vivien asked.
He sat next to Ryder, pouring himself a cup of tea. “It seems Ryder was right. Coven warriors, along with a great number of vampires were spotted just outside of our southern border. I can’t be sure how many.”
“Shit. Did you see my father among them?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Richard replied. “I’m afraid the time has come for old rivalries to be settled, and you, Vivien, will meet your destiny head-on.”
Vivien took a deep breath, knowing she was going to meet the father she had long thought dead. Not only that, but she would have to kill him for her own survival. Did she have it in her to do it? Yes, yes, she did. The coven had killed her mother—most likely her father’s doing. She raged at the mere thought of it. She’d been running scared for too long. Her freedom and the life that she’d always longed for was at stake, not to mention, the lives of all the people coming forward to help her. She knew that she wanted answers first, but she wondered if the man would even speak to her. She guessed she would find out soon enough. She wasn’t going to hold her breath.
“How long before they infiltrate the border?” Ryder asked, placing a calming hand on Vivien’s thigh.
“I can’t be certain, but our wards have been impenetrable all these years,” Richard answered. “It would take an enormous amount of power to bring them down.” He looked to Emma. “Harlington just isn’t any town. It’s built on magic and the witches who live here sustain it.”
“Don’t worry, dears,” Emma said. “We have plenty of time to plan ahead. We may be getting up in our years, but it makes us no less powerful.”
Emma stood, and with a wave of her hand, her appearance changed to that of a younger woman. Vivien’s eyes bulged. The woman she saw standing before her had long flowing dark hair—not gray or blonde—but her violet-colored eyes didn’t change—she was definitely still Emma, just a much younger version. “How—I thought…” Vivien trailed off, amazed.
Emma smiled. “It was necessary to appear older when you first arrived—I didn’t want to scare you off, but now it’s time for you to see my true form. Like you, I age much slower than a human,” she said. “If your mother were alive, she would look more like your sister. It’s the way of things, something you were never taught, but now you know.”
Ryder looked from Emma back to Vivien in what seemed to be amusement. He didn’t appear shocked at all with a small smile spreading across his face. “Did you know?” Vivien asked. “Is that why you’re smirking?”
“I had a feeling that something was amiss, but I knew it wasn’t anything that would put us in danger. I’ve heard that witches tend to age slower and live longer than humans.”
When Vivien looked at Richard, the silver streaks in his hair had disappeared, along with the fine lines around his eyes and mouth. He only looked to be in his thirties. She was shocked. “Well, at least I don’t have to worry about wrinkles for a while,” she joked.
Vivien tended to laugh at the most inappropriate of times, she knew, but she couldn’t help herself. It was a way of calming her nerves and fortunately for her, everyone laughed with her this time.
Emma touched Vivien’s hand. “Now that you know who I truly am, there’s something else that I need to show you,” she said. “Something that your mother wanted you to know and only I can show you.”
Vivien’s heart kicked in her chest. What else was there to learn? She looked to Ryder, then nodded toward Emma and stood from her seat. “Where is it?”
“It’s not where, dear. It’s in here,” Emma replied, pointing to her head with a smile. “Walk with me for a moment.”
“Okay,” Vivien dragged out, not knowing exactly what she was talking about, but considering the woman was a psychic, she assumed it was significant.
Once they entered the parlor, Emma asked her to sit down next to her on the sofa.
“All right. These memories are not mine, but your mother’s,” Emma said, looking into Vivien’s eyes. “It’s time you know the truth of your birth, what happened, and why Gretchen had to run.
“This might be painful to watch, but you need to see it for yourself to fully understand. Are you ready?”
Vivien’s heart cracked open at the thought of seeing her mother again—alive—then to have to watch her during what was no doubt one of the most painful times in her life. She could only nod in response, then wiped a stray tear from her cheek.
“Place your hands in mine, close your eyes and open your mind. At first it will feel as if I’m trying to intrude, but that’s not the case. I’m implanting the memory so that you’ll carry it with you for the rest of your days.”
Vivien did as Emma asked, waiting for the memories to flood in at any moment. She tried to clear her mind of all thoughts, except of Emma and her mother. A sudden gasp escaped her mouth when the scene played out before her. Machin, what he had forced her mother to do, and the lies? It was all too much to bear, yet she couldn’t pull away. She knew she needed to watch it all unfold just as her mother had wanted. This too, was part of her destiny. She could feel it in her bones.
When the memories stopped, Vivien hadn’t realized she was crying. Emma reached over and pulled her into a hug. “Now you know what you must do.”
After a few moments, the two women walked back into the dining room. Vivien decided to keep what she’d learned to herself for now. It was her ace in the hole, and one she planned to use when the time was right.
“All right, now that everything is out on the table, I believe it’s time for the four of us to devise a strategy,” Richard said, looking at Vivien in particular.
“Well, what do you know about my father that’ll give me an advantage?” Vivien asked. “I know that he and I share some of the same abilities, but what can I use that might distract him?”
Richard cleared his throat. “His most formidable ability is being able to shift into the likeness of any of other living being—meaning, he could replicate you on the battlefield.”
Ryder cut in. “I would know the difference. Vivien is my mate and I can feel her soul. That should not be an issue where I am concerned.”
“No, not for you,” Richard agreed, “but what about the others? They don’t have the same connection. I think it’s best if the two of you stay by each other’s side at all times. It might alleviate any confusion if Machin attempts to use her against us.”
“What about the vampires?” Vivien asked. “I know I can kill them within seconds. When was the last time yo
ur witches had any run-ins with them? Do you think there will be any issues?”
Emma and Richard laughed. “No, dear,” Emma answered. “The witches here have been around a long time and have seen their share of battles with rogue vampires. They can handle themselves.”
Vivien sighed in relief. It was one thing to have to go up against her father and his coven warriors, but she didn’t want to have to worry about innocent witches being slaughtered by vampires because of her.
“Speaking of,” Richard began. “Your greatest strength against the coven is the power of your mind. Unlike most witches, you have the ability to conjure with a thought. You can move or change what could happen with a wave of your hand. Even Emma and I can’t do that. That’s something unique only to you.”
Vivien began to speak, but Emma cut her off. “Gretchen told us all about your powers and what you’re capable of. Because of this exceptional gift, you’ll have leverage above all others, but you must not lose concentration. Focus on the battle ahead and what’s most important.”
Vivien nodded, then looked to Ryder. He seemed lost in thought. She tugged on his arm and he looked at her. “Will you excuse us for a minute?” she asked, then grabbed Ryder’s hand and led him back to their room. His silence was deafening.
Once she closed the door, she asked him what was going on, and why he was being so quiet.
Ryder ran his hand through his hair, walked to the bed and sat down. “These witches, especially your father, have me concerned,” he said. “Do we truly know what he’s capable of? We’ve only just been mated, and I am not about to lose you now.”
Vivien sat next to him on the bed, running her hand down his arm. “Does it matter? We knew we were going to have to fight the coven anyway.”
“It’s not that simple,” Ryder said, his voice rising. “I will kill him or anyone who tries to harm you. I know you can take care of yourself, but now things are different. Now that I have you in my life, I will do anything and everything to protect you.”
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