by Sarah Bailey
She couldn’t help thinking about Lukas. Was he losing his shit over the fact that she’d disappeared? She’d seen the way he’d reacted when Raquel had tried to take her yesterday. How he’d dealt with those two demons causing trouble.
She could only hope he knew that she didn’t leave of her own accord. Her heart contracted.
“You’re awake.”
She flinched at the voice. She knew exactly who that was. It made her skin crawl.
“You finally have me in your clutches, I see.”
A harsh bark of laughter emitted from the blonde vampire’s mouth as she stepped into Ella’s sightline.
“You did seem rather attached to the demon. It’s a shame I did not meet you first.”
“What do you want, Raquel?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Ella shrugged her shoulders noncommittally. She knew exactly what the vampire wanted, but she wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Raquel might be terrifying, but she wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
She mustered all the courage she had inside her.
“You’ve been very eager to get me alone.”
“I do detest the need to bring you here.”
She rolled her eyes. Well, if Raquel had just left her alone, none of this would be necessary.
The blonde vampire smirked as she took a step towards Ella, high heels clicking on the concrete. The noise made her flinch again.
“Skulking about in abandoned warehouses doesn’t really seem like your style, Raquel.”
“Yes, well, if you had just come to me willingly, we could’ve met in more comfortable surroundings. I’m sure you’d be much happier tied up in my bed.”
She suppressed a shudder.
“Why? So, you can drain me and have your fox get rid of the evidence?”
Raquel’s features contorted for a moment, anger flooding her eyes.
“That’s right. I know why you had to banish him from your side. Did you think we wouldn’t find out?”
Raquel’s nostrils flared before she reigned in her temper and smiled again.
“Well, I can imagine which one of my lackeys told you.” She looked down at her fingernails. “They will be punished for their indiscretion.”
“Perhaps you should look closer to home.”
Raquel’s eyes narrowed to slits. Ella wasn’t going to reveal who’d told them about the werefox’s carnivorous activities. She just wanted Raquel to know her position at the top wasn’t as secure as she might think.
“It makes no difference.”
Despite Raquel’s seemingly indifferent tone, Ella knew she was a little ruffled.
“Where is your mate, anyway? I assume you recalled him from exile.”
“Oh, I’m here.”
Valehal stepped out of the shadows, his auburn hair and blue eyes just as striking as the first time she’d seen him. Except this time, there was none of that charm he’d exuded before. His gaze over her was predatory. She felt a chill run down her spine.
“Lukas won’t let this stand.”
“Do you think we’re scared of the demon?”
“You should be more concerned about what I’m going to do to you.”
The vampire and werefox both laughed.
She smiled at them. She was bluffing. She had no idea what she was going to do or how she was going to get out of this.
“Oh, little girl, you have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
“Don’t I? Isn’t it cowardly to take someone against their will?”
“Enough of these games. You will tell me what you are.”
She looked at Raquel blankly. That’s what she wants?
“I don’t know why you think I have any answers for you.”
“You know what you are, little girl. I am sure of it.”
She wanted to roll her eyes again, but she refrained. She didn’t think pissing off the vampire was a very good idea.
“Even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“The demon doesn’t know either,” Valehal said with a frown. “I have not been able to locate any information about the girl.”
“She must know.”
“Clearly, she is unaware. You’ll have to bite her. Perhaps her blood holds the key.”
Ella strained against her bonds at Valehal’s words. She was not going to let Raquel bite her. She gritted her teeth as she felt something inside her stir. Rage. The same feeling she’d had when those demons had tried to take her away with them. If ever there was a time she needed that strength, it was now.
“You are right as always, darling.”
Raquel reached out and pulled Valehal towards her. The werefox went willingly, wrapping his arms around the vampire before they kissed.
Ella felt disgusted at their overt display of affection. Their hands were all over each other, in places she wished she couldn’t see.
She used the distraction to wriggle her hands. She needed to get out of these bonds if she had any chance of getting away from the two of them.
She coaxed the feeling inside her out, allowing it to flow through her. Violence and destruction sang in her veins. But there was something else there, a sense of calm and peace filled her at the same time. The two forces opposed each other, vying for dominance. She felt a strong tug towards both sides.
“We have time enough for pleasure later, my love,” Valehal said as they pulled apart.
Raquel smile at him before she stalked towards Ella. She titled Ella’s head back when she reached her, holding her in place by her hair. Her eyes were full of terror. She could hardly breathe despite the forces building inside her.
“Ella!”
Her heart thumped.
Lukas.
She wanted to call out to him, but the words stuck in her throat.
Raquel’s head whipped around.
“Deal with him,” she said to Valehal.
The werefox stalked away to find the demon.
“Now, little girl, I’m going to enjoy discovering exactly what you are.”
The ropes which bound her hands snapped as Ella wrenched her hands apart. Raquel’s eyes widened. She tore the vampire’s hands off her, standing up and shoving Raquel back.
Before the vampire had a chance to recover, she ripped the bindings from her ankles and kicked the chair away. The rope burnt her hands, but she didn’t feel it. All she could think about was putting an end to Raquel. The rage and vengeance boiled inside her.
“You little bitch.”
Raquel launched herself at Ella, knocking her backwards. She yelped as her back slammed on the floor. She didn’t have time to think about the pain as she shoved Raquel, kicking out at the vampire who held fast.
“Get the fuck off me, vampire bitch.”
She smacked Raquel in the jaw. Her head snapped back at the impact. It caught the vampire off guard.
Ella managed to throw Raquel off her. She leapt to her feet as Raquel charged her again, faster than the eye could see. Her fist slammed into Raquel’s face. There was a loud crunch as the vampire’s nose broke. Raquel stumbled back, screeching.
“What the fuck have you done?”
Raquel held her nose for a moment before she cracked her neck. The bones on her face started to re-knit themselves back together.
She didn’t stop to think about how sickening it was to watch. She tried to punch the vampire again, but Raquel caught her fist and twisted. She screamed, pulling away before the vampire managed to break her wrist.
The two of them stared at each other as Ella held her throbbing wrist to her chest. Raquel began to circle Ella, anger contorting her delicate features.
“You will not survive this encounter, girl.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
“It is clear you are something far more than I anticipated, but I cannot allow you to live.”
She knew Raquel wasn’t bluffing. The burst of power inside her flared up again as Raquel’s eyes met hers. The vampire
frowned before she took a step back.
“What is up with your eyes?”
She had no idea what Raquel was talking about, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. It was kill or be killed. She’d had enough of Raquel.
“You are the one who will not survive this night, Raquel.”
On instinct, Ella put her hand out to the side. A flaming sword appeared in her hand, the fire reflected in the vampire’s eyes. Terror crossed Raquel’s features as she advanced on her.
The vampire backed away but her hand shot out, holding Raquel still. She kicked the vampire’s feet from under her before she snapped the arm she was holding.
Raquel was on her knees, screaming. Ella took the sword in both hands, raising it up, the tip pointed at the vampire’s chest.
“Die, bitch!”
She slammed the sword down. It cut through Raquel’s flesh like a knife through butter, impaling the vampire through her heart. The screech that Raquel made before she died was inhuman. She stared down at the rapidly ageing body of the vampire, the years catching up with her.
There was another sound, a wail of anguish, but it was distinctly male.
Valehal.
He knew she’d killed his mate.
As the ashes drifted to the ground, she picked the sword back up, holding it out as she realised what she’d just done.
“Ella!”
She turned at the sound. Lukas was rushing over to her, but he stopped short a few feet, taking in the scene.
“Ella?”
Her heart contracted painfully in her chest at the sight of him. He was here. He was really here. He’d come for her.
“Lukas.”
A sob emitted from her throat as the sword vanished. She took a stumbling step towards him. Lukas was immediately there, holding her hands to steady her. She looked up at him. His eyes were ringed with red, but there was confusion in their depths.
“Ella, your eyes.”
“What? What’s wrong with them?”
“One of them is red and the other ice blue.”
“Raquel said something about them. I don’t know… I don’t know what happened.”
He let go of her hands and cupped her face with his.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Where’s Raquel?”
She indicated her head behind them. He looked over her shoulder, down at the floor where there was a pile of ashes.
“She’s… dead?”
“I killed her. With… that flaming sword. It materialised out of thin air.”
It sounded ridiculous when she said it out loud, but it was the truth. She’d killed Raquel with a magical weapon she’d conjured when the power that lay slumbering took over.
He looked at her like she’d sprouted three heads.
“That strength thing happened again. This time it was different. It felt like there were two forces inside me. Opposites vying for control, but the rage took over rather than the calm.”
A sudden wave of exhaustion tore through her. She almost collapsed, but his arms came around her, holding her up. Concern marred his features.
“Ella, are you okay?”
She shook her head. A sudden thought came to her.
“Where’s Valehal?”
“He escaped. I think he felt it when you killed her. He ran rather than engage with me further.”
“I’m glad she’s dead.”
He smiled down at her.
“It saved me a job.”
She tried to smile, but everything was catching up with her. She was barely holding on.
“You came for me.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I didn’t doubt you for a moment.”
“It seems you didn’t really need my help after all.”
“I’ll always need you.”
Something in his expression softened at her words. She wanted to say more, to tell him how she really felt, but she couldn’t hold on any longer. She closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
Chapter Sixteen
Lukas caught Ella up in his arms before she collapsed completely, cradling her to his chest. He was at a loss for words. She’d killed Raquel. The most powerful vampire in the area.
What was more concerning was how she’d done it. There could be only one explanation for the flaming sword.
Ella might be a human, but she also possessed qualities he knew intimately.
Qualities of a demon.
It explained why one of her eyes had been red. Perhaps there was something to her theory of her soul being inhuman. It still didn’t explain why her other eye had been ice blue.
He couldn’t think about that now. He had to get her out of here.
He carried her from the warehouse, making sure not to jostle her too much. Explaining this to Daisy was going to be interesting. She was waiting in a taxi on the road nearby.
Gavin had leant on some of his underlings and one of them had talked. Raquel herself had paid two humans to kidnap Ella and take her to the warehouse. The two men had followed them to the club and taken Ella when she was alone. It would’ve been the perfect plan if her second in command was loyal, but Gavin wanted Raquel dead.
He’d had every intention of upholding his side of the bargain, but this beautiful girl in his arms had taken care of it for him.
It was just an annoyance that Valehal had escaped with the artefact. He was sure the fox wouldn’t surface for a while now that his mate was dead. This was going to take some explaining to Finn.
He sighed. He had hoped to have this matter settled quickly without the need for bloodshed. Fate seemed to have intervened.
He made it to the waiting taxi as Daisy opened the door for him. He carefully placed Ella inside before he jumped in next to her. Her head lolled onto her chest. He eased her down onto his lap.
“What the hell happened, Lukas?” Daisy asked.
The taxi driver eyed them warily.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
“She will be. Did she give you the address?” Lukas replied.
The driver nodded and set off.
“Lukas…”
“Not here, Daisy. I’ll explain when we get Ella back to her place.”
“Are you sure she’s okay?”
Daisy looked at her friend with concern. He wasn’t sure of anything, but he didn’t want to alarm Daisy. Ella needed to rest.
“I hope so.”
His voice was quiet. Her face softened. She put a hand on his arm.
“Hey, she’s tough.”
He looked down at the fragile girl in his lap. She was tough, but she was breakable. He hadn’t been there to protect her.
He ran his fingers through her hair. He swore to himself he’d never let anyone take her again. She was the only light in his life. He wasn’t going to let anyone snuff that out.
The drive back to Ella’s flat was quiet. Daisy stared out of the window, lost in her own thoughts whilst he kept an eye on the unconscious Ella. He paid the taxi driver more than was strictly necessary to keep him quiet.
He carried Ella up the three flights of stairs to her flat. Daisy unlocked the door for him and he laid Ella down on the bed. He took off her shoes and was about to change her out of her dress when Daisy stopped him.
“I think I should do that.”
“No. I need to make sure she isn’t injured. Go, sit. We’ll talk about this when she’s settled.”
Daisy put her hands up in defeat and left him to it. He carefully took off her dress. He looked her over. There were a few scrapes on her back, but nothing serious. He was most concerned about her swollen wrist.
He tugged a t-shirt over her head and settled her back down on the bed. He made his way into the kitchenette and retrieved some ice from the freezer. He wrapped it up in a tea towel and placed it gently over her wrist which was resting on her chest. He sighed as he looked down at her. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Ella,” he whispered. “Just don’t die on me. I couldn’t handle that
, sweetheart.” He brushed her hair out of her face. “You mean more to me than you realise.”
He stood, giving her one last glance before he ambled over to the sofa where Daisy was waiting.
“Is she all right?”
“A few scrapes. Her wrist is a little swollen, but I don’t think it’s broken.”
There was a tense silence between the two of them for a moment.
“You have a lot of questions I imagine.”
He sat down on the other end from her, placing his arm on the back of the sofa.
“What is happening to my friend?”
“She’s not going to be very happy when she finds out I told you.”
“She’ll get over it. She should know better than to keep shit from me.”
She shrugged and looked at him expectantly.
“Ella isn’t entirely human. To be quite honest, neither am I.”
She frowned but didn’t make a comment.
“The problem is we don’t know exactly what Ella is. Her abilities have attracted attention from the other communities.”
“What other communities?”
He smiled ruefully. There was no going back now.
“Vampires and shifters.”
Her brows shot up.
“Wait, what?”
“They have lived amongst humans since the beginning.”
“You’re shitting me. They actually exist?”
He smiled. Well, so far, she seemed to be taking this well. Perhaps Ella had worried unnecessarily.
“Yes, but they’re not the only supernatural beings that exist in this world.
“You and Ella aren’t vampires or shifters.”
“No.”
“Then why are they interested in Ella?”
“Because she can sense their existence. She told me it appears to her a bit like an aura, but I’m relatively sure there is more to it.”
“Ella has always been pretty secretive. I mean she only recently told me her parents died not long after she was born and she was raised in a foster home. I had no idea. We’ve been friends since school. She kept it a secret all that time.”
Ella didn’t know much about her parents. That was interesting. Perhaps if she did, she’d know more about what she was. He’d have to ask her about it.
“And she’ll probably kill me for telling you that.”
“She’s going to kill both of us for discussing her when she’s passed out.”