Wolf Games: Island of Shade (The Vampire Games Book 5)

by Caroline Peckham

  Silas sighed wearily. “I'm sorry, Firefly.” He stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets, his expression grave. “It's not that simple.”

  “Why isn't it?” I demanded, my blood burning in my veins.

  “This whole thing has gotten out of hand.” He rubbed his eyes, turning his back on me.

  “What's gotten out of hand?” I asked, confused.

  “All of it,” he growled.

  “Silas!” I snapped, growing frustrated. He glanced back and guilt was plastered across his beautiful features.

  “Oh Firefly,” he sighed. “Please don't hate me.”

  “Don't give me a reason to, then,” I whispered, my hackles rising. Every instinct in my body told me to beware. But I didn't know why. Silas felt like the same guy. A little messed up, but I'd come to trust him in a way even I didn't understand. But that apologetic look in his eyes struck fear in my heart.

  “Sit, please.” He gestured for me to do so and I complied. I dropped down onto a chair at a small table, looking up at him, unsure why I'd responded so easily. He sat opposite me, reaching for my hand, but I extracted it out of reach. He scraped a manicured nail across the table, drawing his hand back to his side.

  “It's been so good having you this close,” he said softly. “In all honesty...I'm afraid I've developed feelings for you.” He swallowed, his eyes darting between mine. “It wasn't my intention, I assure you. But you have captivated me...more than any woman ever has.”

  The admission didn't feel romantic, it felt dangerous. I straightened my spine, waiting for the penny to drop. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

  Silas took a slow breath, relaxing back into his chair, his usual calm manner washing over him like a peaceful wave. “Here is the truth.” He examined me as if committing me to memory. As if I might not exist after this conversation ended. “I am, and have always been the CEO of IDAHO. My father, Jonah Madigan, died before I established it. I made every decision during your time on my ship, from the raid on The Sanctuary, to your transition, to your trial.”

  My heart thundered in my ears. I was frozen in place. Anger pumped through my veins, betrayal. But I didn't act, not until he'd finished. Not until he'd spilled all of the truth. And I could tell more of it was about to pour out of his treacherous mouth.

  He smoothed his hair back. “As much as I have grown fond of Jameson Fairfax, unfortunately, he is not going to be the father of the child growing inside you.”

  I stood, my chair screeching backwards. I cupped my belly as if saving my baby from Silas's words.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I demanded.

  Silas stood too, his expression detached as he soaked in my fear. “The child is still his. For now anyway. But not for much longer.”

  I shook my head almost violently. “What are you talking about?”

  “I gained your loyalty so I would have total control over you. I have been patient. Loyalty is not something I can engineer. It took commitment. Time. I theorised you'd have the same obedience curse as the Werewolves. It is not an easy trait to breed out. I let you believe I tried to create you as human as possible. But that was another lie...” He moved closer and I backed up. “I could not have predicted the foundering of my ship, or us washing up on this island. But I believe it's been worth it. That you are worth it.”

  I backed up, waiting for him to go on, fear radiating through me. “I don't understand,” I breathed.

  Silas folded his arms. “Have you not noticed you've been doing everything I ask since I saved you from that Reaper?”

  I shrank away, shaking my head again. “That's not true.”

  “Stay still,” he said softly and I did so as he approached.

  No, this can't be happening. It can't be.

  “I'm sorry,” he sighed, his sweet breath trailing over me. “I truly have come to care for you. But my work will always come first. Emma will always be my priority.” He placed his hand on my stomach and I stiffened, unable to push him off. “I had Emma's DNA harvested years ago. As IDAHO's scientific techniques advanced, I realised there might be a new way to bring her back. But I need a strong mother. I don't want her born human. I want her Immortal. The loss of her original body was a sore less, but I was prepared for it. With every passing year, I knew regenerating her organs would be more and more difficult. So I devised a backup plan...”

  He tilted his head down, resting his forehead against mine and I dug deep for my strength as I tried to move. But I was rooted to the spot. My feet were as good as glued to the floorboards. “I've waited years to find the perfect woman. A genetically enhanced Immortal in the early stages of pregnancy...” He leant back, running a thumb over his chin in thought. “I trialled the procedure with other Hybrids, but I wanted everything to be perfect when it came to using Emma's original DNA. The mother was the missing piece in this project. I'm a perfectionist, I suppose...I guess you've come to learn that about me anyway. But it's paid off now.”

  “You're mad,” I breathed, my lower lip quivering with rage. Everything I thought I knew about Silas came crashing down around me. He'd been manipulating me all this time. And I'd fallen for it completely. I'd actually trusted him.

  This can't be happening.

  “When you're in the optimal stages of pregnancy, we will harvest genetic material from your child to enhance Emma's form. Unfortunately, your child will die in the process. But its Hybrid abilities will be a gift to Emma. By the time we do the procedure, her embryo will be developed and ready to replace yours. My tech team already have everything underway.”

  “No!” I gasped, clutching my stomach. “Please. You can't do this. Just let your sister go. This isn't right!”

  “You will do as I ask,” he said smoothly. He lifted a hand, skating his knuckles across my cheek. “And she was never my sister, Firefly. Another lie, I'm afraid. She was – is - my daughter. And now she'll be yours, too.” He dipped his head, his eyes searching mine, full of guilt. “If it is of any comfort, you are a much more worthy mother than her previous one.”

  He stepped back and fear spiked through me. “Please-” I started but he held up a hand to halt me.

  “Don't argue.”

  My lips stuck together, holding back my plight.

  “I understand how hard this is for you,” he said apologetically. “I truly am sorry for deceiving you. And I'm willing to give you a chance to say goodbye to Jameson, of course. But I've waited for you for so long...I can't just let you go. In time, maybe you'll come to terms with it. And once Emma is born, I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do.”

  A tear sailed down my cheek, silent and useless. “Silas,” I choked out, desperate, but trapped under his command, unable to do anything but stand there and accept this fate.

  “I'll bring Jameson to you. You may move.” He walked from the room, shutting the door with a slow click.

  I nearly fell to my knees, grief and terror ballooning in my chest. “I won't let him touch you.” I whispered, gripping my stomach. But I didn't know if I could keep that promise. And that was the most frightening thought of all.

  When Jameson entered the room, he looked confused and a bit pissed off. “What's up with him?”

  I didn't pause to answer, rushing forward and throwing my arms around him. He stiffened in surprise before pulling me even closer. The tears came and he ran his hand over my hair, hushing me until I calmed down enough to speak. I leant back, gazing into his eyes through the blur of my tears.

  Everything was broken between us. But my heart still beat for him, harder and louder than ever. And in that moment, it didn't matter what he'd done, because I was probably never going to see him again anyway. I tip-toed, pressing my lips to his until all I could taste was the saltiness of my tears and the sweetness of his mouth. I wanted to be stronger. I was angry with myself for breaking down, for crying. But I was so afraid for our child that it had snapped something inside me.

  It struck me that Silas hadn't ordered me not to tell Jameson ev
erything he'd told me, and I was soon rushing through an explanation.

  When I was done, Jameson planted his fist in the nearest wall. “I'll kill him,” he snarled, moving to the door. I could see he was about to wrench the handle clean off, so I rushed forward, stopping him.

  “You can't take him on alone. He's surrounded by guards. And even if you did kill him-” I sucked in a breath, “-he can just come back.”

  Jameson looked like he was ready to murder everyone in the institute, rip Silas's clones limb from limb, and burn the whole place to the ground. The sentiment was definitely shared. But acting now was impossible. Silas and Ulvic had control of us full-bodily.

  Jameson's gaze became desperate. “I trusted him!” he roared. His anger turned to panic. He closed in on me, resting his hand against my stomach. “What do we do? What can I do?”

  I shook my head in answer. He began to tremble, with rage or fear, I didn't know. I drew him into my arms, nestling my head into his neck.

  After several seconds he said in a hoarse voice, “Drink from me.”

  “What?” I tried to pull away, but he held me in place.

  “I think I can show you my memories like I started to before. I need you to see something, Firefly. Please. This might be my last chance.”

  He sounded so desperate that I didn't argue any further, gently sinking my canines into his neck. As the blood hit my tongue, the thirst gripped me and I drank steadily from him.

  A flash of images crossed my mind, but nothing was focused. Then all at once, I was staring at my own face, a golden mask in place over my eyes, my hair pulled up into an elegant bun, a regal dress hugging my figure.

  Jameson and I stepped into a glitzy lift of golden walls and my heart beat faster. The memory was from Rockley Jones's resort. My mouth moved with Jameson's words as I experienced the memory through him. Words I remembered all too well.

  “No more of this,” he said. “If I can't have you, then I need it to stop.”

  My expression was cold, distant. A look I'd spent years perfecting. The one that said I didn't care. But I did. I felt it all again now: the longing to give in to him on that day, the pure desire, the fear. But Jameson couldn't see any of that. All he could see was the ice queen standing before him and the words she spoke, “Consider it stopped.”

  Pain lanced through me. His pain. Jameson's heart hurt. He'd longed for me to contradict him, but I hadn't. His thoughts blazed through my mind, scoring away all of my own. How am I ever going to stop wanting you?

  The memory rippled and changed until I was gazing at Ulvic in Jameson's bedroom in The Sanctuary. He looked forbidding. The lights were low, his face cast in shadow. He drew himself up to his fullest height before saying, “I command you, Jameson Fairfax, never to touch, never to kiss, never to screw that disgusting Vampire ever again. So long as you live. And if she asks you why you don't want her anymore you will tell her that you wish to be with Nadine. That you have always wanted Nadine. In fact, you will tell her whatever you have to to make her believe you. And you may never speak of the command you are under.”

  My heart – Jameson's heart- crashed into his throat.

  “No – wait – wait,” Jameson begged. “You can't do this.”

  His thoughts exploded across my mind. Not now. Not today. “Ulvic, I'll do what you want. I'll get the pack back together. But don't do this to me. You can have me, but not my heart. Not my fucking soul.”

  “You'll do as I say.” Ulvic moved toward the door, glancing back, his chin held high in defiance. He opened the door, muttering, “You can move, but stay in this room until tomorrow. We leave first thing. And we never had this conversation so far as anyone else knows.”

  The memory morphed again and I could feel Jameson's arms tighten around me in real time like he was frightened of the next thing he was going to show me.

  Suddenly, I was back on the sinking cruise ship, jammed up against Jameson in the narrow service elevator. I was looking at myself through his eyes, my crimson locks plastered to my cheeks, my skin as pale as snow.

  Jameson's hands were pressed to the walls either side of my head, trapping me. I wriggled hard, trying to climb over him, but his arms tensed, keeping me enclosed.

  His thoughts flared through my mind. I will not hurt her.

  “Jameson?” I breathed.

  “Kill me,” Jameson growled through his teeth and I could feel him battling the bone-deep urge of Ulvic's command. It felt like a craving, an intensity that could so easily have guided his actions. But he didn't give in. “It's the only way to stop the command.”

  “No,” I gasped.

  Pain flared inside Jameson's chest. He was going to break. Any second now, he was going to grab my throat and squeeze the life out of me. His body trembled with the effort it took not to give in.

  “I'd rather die than hurt you,” Jameson admitted.

  His thoughts filled my mind again and my heart beat madly in response. I love you, dammit. I love you. Can't you see that?

  I glanced up at the hatch above us, then slid my hands around Jameson's neck. Moving closer, I drew him into an embrace. “You can fight it,” I said by Jameson's ear, my body trembling.

  Jameson suddenly didn't feel cold, I could sense his heated reaction to where my hands lay on his skin. He pressed his palms flat to the metal shaft, bracing himself against it. The water level was rising, lifting us toward the open hatch above.

  He gazed into my eyes. It felt so strange to look at myself like that. All I could see was how much I loved him. And yet it felt as though I'd hidden it well. But it was obvious to me. A swooping sensation filled Jameson's chest, like a dam bursting. His shoulders shuddered, and he gasped as he was released from Ulvic's command. Surprise rocketed through me. He'd fought it off. He'd won.

  “Holy shit!” Jameson yelled, cheering so his voice rang around the metal shaft. “I did it! I fucking did it!” He grabbed me by the back of the neck, his urge to kiss me obvious now. His forehead slammed into mine, still bound by one of Ulvic's commands.

  “Ow,” past-me groaned, rubbing her head. “Why'd you do that?”

  Now I knew.

  I pulled my teeth free from Jameson's neck, my eyes locking with his. He looked so vulnerable that I wished I could let him in my head for a moment, too.

  It all made sense at last.

  The casing of my heart cracked like a chrysalis. It felt as if a small, hopeful creature emerged from within it, taking flight and landing delicately in his palm. Wholly vulnerable, frighteningly breakable. But for the second and most profound time in my life, I gave my heart to somebody.

  It took me several seconds to say anything at all. Ulvic had constructed this whole thing. I'd suspected so in part, but I had no idea how vindictive he truly was, or how deep his orders ran in Jameson's veins. My world spun on its axis as my reality altered. And Jameson came in to focus so clearly, so vividly. A man who'd fought with all his might to be with me, who'd had to endure my hatred for him, who'd had to see me grow closer with another man. Shame washed freely through me. All along, he'd been exactly who'd I'd come to know back in The Sanctuary. Who I'd come to love. And I wished I'd let myself trust him. So we wouldn't be standing there now...two pillars, parted by a hopeless void.

  Jameson

  Cass knew everything. The truth. And with that, came freedom. The confines of Ulvic's command came crashing down around me and all the words I needed to say tumbled into one another in my mind. I didn't have time to piece them back together in the right order. I just had to get them out.

  “I love you,” was the first and most important thing to say. I half-laughed, half sighed with the relief of saying it, my whole body slumping as the weight of that admission finally left me. “I know you've been hurt, and dammit I know I've caused it. But karma has been its notoriously bitchy self and its taken its cut of me too.” I pounded my chest and a tear slid down Cass's cheek. “I'm offering what's left of me. Hell, I know it's not much, Firefly. But it's yours. I'm
yours.”

  Her fingers threaded between mine. “I'm so sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. Guilt burned in her eyes, regret.

  “Don't,” I growled in anger. “You couldn't have known.” I shook my head. “It's Ulvic's fault, all of this.”

  “If I'd only figured it out,” Cass said, looking tortured.

  “Please don't blame yourself.” I brushed my fingers along the line of her jaw, capturing her chin between my finger and thumb. I tilted her head up to look at me and another tear escaped her eye.

  “I love you,” she said on a sob, laughing a little through her tears.

  Her words trailed through my mind like rays of sunshine.

  She loves me. This effing, beautiful, feisty half Werewolf, half Vampire loves me. Take that every other man in the world. Especially you Silas Madigan.

  “I won't let anyone touch our kid,” I promised. The oath took up residence in my veins, as thick and as essential as blood.

  I ran my fingers into her crimson locks, memorising her, this moment. I dipped my head and her lips found mine. Her kiss was desperate and longing. Mine was tangled with the promise I'd made and the love that ran so deep for her, I could barely believe there had been a time I'd existed without it. She was woven into my heart with threads of gold. The three sisters of fate couldn't have cut her out.

  One of Silas's men knocked on the door, shouting out a two minute warning. Apparently, it was time for us to part. But hope was painted across my heart in vivid colours and they were going to have to tear me limb from limb if they wanted to get near Cass. Much as I adored my pack, Cass was my mate. And she was pregnant with my child. A child Silas effing Madigan was going to murder if I didn't get her out of here. So I was gonna have to do everything in my power to save her. Pack or no pack.

  Silas and Ulvic had already made some vital errors. I could kill every one of the guards in this place, so long as Ulvic didn't command me to stop.

  I shifted into action mode, striding across the room and heading into the bathroom. I rifled through the single cupboard, grabbing a wad of cotton wool. I hurried back to Cass and she gave me a quizzical look. “We're leaving. We fight our way out.”