Death of a Succubus

by Kim Schubert

  “Thank — thank you,” she muttered.

  I stopped in the doorway. “Hey, we will be back for breakfast, so please restock.” She nodded adamantly. I guess it was a good tip.

  Logan carried me up the stairs. “I can’t believe Tate merged with that asshole. What a pathetic leader,” I grunted.

  “I agree. Hudson has been in touch with Raphael.”

  I yawned, “Good. We’ll need to pull Mal out before we attack.”

  Logan set me down, unlocking the door. “Attack?” he asked, guiding me in and locking the door behind us.

  I assumed the others went to their rooms.

  “Shower?” Logan asked. I nodded. While I’d have liked for the reason Logan was in the small pink tub with me to be romantic, the truth was I was having issues standing.

  We fell into bed together, our bodies needing to touch to be reassured this was real.

  “I was done back there,” Logan whispered, my head on his chest.

  “It was just shock,” I told him.

  “No, Olie. When I saw you there, dying, cut open, I wanted to die, too.”

  “But Ginny?” I asked.

  “I forgot about it all. The kids, Tommy, Ginny, the packs, everyone who needs me. I could only feel the pain of losing you and it consumed me. I would have died if my beast hadn’t taken over. I would have let the vampires take me.”

  I had no words. I had no idea how I would have reacted if our positions were reversed. I wanted to blame it on the mate bond, but the fact his beast took over killed that idea.

  I shifted, looking up into his caramel gaze, reading the self-doubt there. I felt it through our bond and I smiled at him.

  “You did it, Logan. You kept The Council and the Shifter Nation running while I was gone. The kids are all alive, I’m assuming.” He huffed a laugh out. “I’m alive, too. You rescued me, my white knight in shining armor.”

  Logan laughed, nuzzling his head into my shoulder.

  “I love you, Olivia.”

  Stroking my fingers through his hair I whispered, “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 9

  I slept well, even with the lumpy mattress and noisy air conditioner.

  The door to the room opened and I rolled over, watching Logan walk in and drop a white plastic bag on the bed next to me.

  “Clothing,” he told me. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

  I scooted out of the dingy sheets, checking my wounds. They were still red welts. I had been hoping for only scratches, but the pain was greatly diminished.

  I dressed quickly before we made our way downstairs again. The diner was busier, with a few patrons in the booths. We claimed the same tables, spreading out. The same waitress greeted us, looking exhausted.

  “No rest?” I asked.

  “My kid is sick,” she shrugged.

  I made an understanding noise before we ordered.

  “How’s Ginny?” I asked, turning to Logan.

  “Good, I haven’t seen her much since you were shot,” Logan answered.

  I rubbed the bullet marks on my chest.

  Anna pulled down my shirt, looking over the forming scars.

  “You’ve never scarred before,” she commented.

  “I know.” I smacked her hands away.

  “You are weak,” she continued.

  “Let’s advertise, shall we?”

  She pulled back, her hands held up, submitting. “How long do you think it will last?” she pushed.

  “A few more days at least. Her body is still re-bonding with her soul,” my father commented.

  Anna turned her attention to him. “Are you my father as well?” she asked him.

  I swallowed, turning to look at him.

  “No. But you and Olivia share the same mother.”

  Anna looked back at me. “What’s our mother like?” she asked, a dreamy glint creeping into her gaze.

  “She’s the reason people call us demons.” I hated to crush her dreams, but she had to know the truth. “We didn’t get along. I would have killed her, given the opportunity.”

  Anna pulled back as the waitress started bringing our massive food order. “You can’t kill her until I meet her,” she said, taking a bite of her French toast.

  “I make no guarantees.”

  We ate in silence, but I knew what needed to happen.

  “We flew here,” Logan began, sensing my mood shift through the bond. “I’ve called and they are ready to leave when we are.”

  I nodded. “I need another few days to heal and gather my executioners, but we are going after Zachariah.”

  “And Tate,” Anna added.

  I nodded, not liking it. “And Tate.”

  …

  The flight back to St. Ann was short. I couldn’t wait to get back to the mansion and the kids.

  We pulled up in front of our home to cars I didn’t recognize.

  “Who is here?” I asked, slipping out of the SUV.

  “I don’t know,” Anna said, pulling a blade. I needed to get my weapons back or call Myrtle. I’d probably just call Myrtle.

  The front door opened and Tommy ran into my arms.

  “I thought we’d lost you,” he whispered, his arms tightening around me.

  “Come on, Tommy. I assumed you, at least, would know I’m harder to kill than that.” He nodded against my chest, taking a ragged breath, his tears falling.

  “It’s okay, buddy. I’m here and I’m not leaving.”

  “That’s good, cause Anna is an asshole.”

  “I heard that,” Anna muttered.

  “You probably deserved it,” I told her.

  She shrugged, not denying it.

  “Who is here?” I asked Tommy.

  “Everyone. All the executioners are back, Raphael and his crew as well. They have a lot to tell you,” he said, shifting to my side. I slung an arm over his shoulders, wanting him close.

  “More than Tate and Zachariah merging houses?” I muttered.

  “Yeah, apparently Zachariah has been turning vampires and forcing them rogue. Which Raphael won’t tell us how is done.”

  We walked up the stairs. “Fuck,” I hissed.

  “Are you going to tell me?” Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “No. There are some secrets that need to be kept.”

  We pushed into the house, ending the conversation.

  The kids rushed into me, knocking the wind out of me. Logan put a hand on my back, steadying me. I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling their emotions raw against my own. Their fear coated the back of my throat, piercing worry hitting me hard in my gut. I pulled on the strength of Logan behind me, pushing the love, the complete dedication to them and their protection.

  “I’m back and I’m insulted everyone thinks a few bullets are enough to kill me,” I teased. A few tear-stained eyes looked up at me, relieved.

  “What now?” Tommy asked me, stepping back.

  I wanted to answer that now I was loading up my weapons and killing Tate and his entire fucking House, but I wasn’t foolish enough to think I was sufficiently healed to tackle that hornet’s nest.

  “I need to rest and plan.” The truth ground raw against my ego.

  “I want to be involved,” Tommy demanded.

  I nodded, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Of course, but I don’t even have a step one as of yet.”

  He lifted his head defiantly. I pulled his chin back down, looking into his mocha gaze.

  “I’m still the boss and I’m still in charge.”

  He blinked, nodding, pulling back from my gasp.

  “I’m going to my office. Raphael, Logan, Anna, let’s go.”

  “I would have hit him,” Anna muttered, as we made our way upstairs.

  “He’s been hit enough in his lifetime.”

  “He’s defiant. He hacked into several vehicles to listen to our conversations,” Logan added.

  “Did he leak information? Did he cause problems? Or did he just listen and help?” I asked, pushing open
the door to the office Logan and I shared. Okay, it was really his office. I had claimed a chair, but at the moment, I needed the small conference table for this meeting.

  Logan cleared his throat. “He just helped. Except he did leak Hudson’s browsing history to his girlfriend.”

  I laughed. “He must have found something good, and Hudson must have pissed him off.”

  “Yes and yes,” Logan smiled.

  I poured myself a glass of bourbon before sitting down. I pressed the cool liquid against my forehead. “Enough about Tommy. Get me up to speed. Raphael, you first.”

  He leaned forward, his hands interlaced, elbows on the table.

  “As Tommy already told you, Zachariah is making rogues. What he didn’t inform you of is that he’s doing it in semis that are circling the city.”

  “Circling the fucking city?” I slammed my drink down, sloshing the amber liquid over the sides.

  Raphael’s black eyes stayed calm as he continued, “We’ve tracked down five vehicles so far, taken down one. I want you to see inside.”

  I nodded. “Done. Have you located Zachariah?”

  Raphael shook his head, leaning back, crossing his arms over his chest. “No. He went underground after your kidnapping.”

  I groaned.

  “Not surprising. He let himself be caught on camera.” I turned abruptly to Anna.

  “Shit,” I groaned. “Yeah, killing off the Centennial House is part of his plan.”

  “There are innocent vampires in that House,” Raphael stated, his face placid.

  “There are innocents everywhere, that doesn’t stop them from being killed in the crossfire,” Anna snipped.

  “What do you want to do, Olie?” Logan asked me, scooting his chair closer to my own.

  I shook my head. “Zachariah’s House is based in Europe. It makes zero sense to travel there and kill them all, not to mention we took out a sizable chunk at the abandoned building where they were holding me. Now that he and Tate have joined Houses, he knows I’ll go after Tate. And maybe that’s enough.” I turned my gaze to Raphael.

  “Killing off the leader will make all those vampires, innocent and not innocent, Masterless. That is a fate often worse than death,” he told me, information I already knew.

  “They can join other Houses,” Anna offered.

  “Who would take them in? They’d be leftovers of a diseased and fallen House,” Raphael countered.

  “In case you missed it, that’s kinda what we do here. Keepers of the misfits,” I snapped at him, my pain tolerance and patience dropping to dangerously low levels.

  “We can’t take them all in,” Logan whispered to me.

  “I know,” I answered. “Can Tate break from Zachariah?” I asked Raphael.

  He shook his head. “No, the joining is airtight.”

  I closed my eyes for a moment, knowing the decision I had to make. Logan slipped a hand onto my knee, squeezing gently. It stung; I wasn’t fully healed.

  Raising my lids to reveal my sea green gaze, I pinned Raphael with it. “Tate made his decisions. I will take his and Zachariah’s heads for kidnapping and torturing me. He is guilty by association.”

  “Those that would stop you?” Raphael asked.

  “The kill is mine, by right and Council Law. Anyone who stands in my way will suffer the same fate as them.”

  Raphael nodded. “There is one additional issue to address.”

  I should have known. With vampires, nothing is as clear-cut as it seems.

  “What?”

  “I’d like permission to set up a secondary House here, since I am spending so much time helping you.”

  I gave him a disbelieving look. “You don’t need permission from me. You need it from the resident vampires.”

  “Morgan has already given his approval.”

  I sighed. “And with the removal of Tate and Zachariah, my approval is enough. Well played, Raphael. You have my permission.”

  Logan growled in annoyance. I turned to him, his gaze locked onto Raphael’s. “Anything else?” I asked, feeling my body tiring. This weak shit sucked.

  Logan turned his raw sienna gaze to mine, his anger replaced by warmth.

  “We left your father alone with the children,” he reminded me.

  Anna and I both shot up. “Shit!” I yelled, running from the room. Okay, it was more like hobbling.

  Logan chuckled from behind us, “I can hear them.” He yelled after us, “They’re fine!”

  Anna was poised looking down upon the first floor, an unreadable expression on her face. I probed with my unguarded senses.

  Feeling my intrusion, she indicated with her chin the scene below. I leaned heavily on the polished wooden banister. Doyle had his illusion removed, the kids touching his horns, fur and feet. His voice rumbled as he answered their questions, but I couldn’t make out what he said.

  My father sat on the blue and white striped couch. Tommy was next to him, rapid firing questions at him. I could see The Magician’s mouth moving as he answered, but couldn’t hear what he was saying either. I wanted to; from the intensity in Tommy’s stare, I was certain I’d find the answers intriguing.

  “We have parents,” Anna whispered.

  “We have parents,” I confirmed.

  “Does that change anything?”

  I shook my head. “Everything.”

  She nodded. I straightened up, patting her shoulder before heading back to the office.

  “I have one additional question,” Raphael began.

  I huffed out a breath. “What?”

  “I can feel your emotions.”

  “That’s not a question,” I told him.

  “Are you influencing me?”

  “No. Getting shot shattered my guards. It will take time for me to rebuild them.”

  “It’s unnerving. I’d suggest keeping yourself unguarded in that manner when you deal with Tate.”

  I nodded, “Thanks for the insight.”

  “I will be taking my leave. Would you like me to leave anyone as guards?” Raphael asked.

  Irritation spiked through the mate bond. “Thank you for the offer, but I think we have it under control.”

  “Tomorrow, we will see the trailer you have confiscated,” Logan demanded.

  Raphael nodded. “Of course. I’ll text you the address.”

  I nodded, leaning against Logan once Raphael left.

  “You need to rest,” he whispered, his arms coming around my shoulders.

  “I know. I need to eat, too, but I want to see Ginny.”

  We exited the room. I cast a look at Anna, still watching The Magician and Doyle.

  “She always wanted parents,” I told Logan.

  “Did you?” he asked softly.

  I shook my head. “No, because if we had parents, they were either dead from Selena or had given us to her. Turns out it was the latter.”

  Logan pulled me close to his side, feeling my pain at being abandoned.

  “Maybe that’s why you save all the children, on some level you knew.”

  “Maybe,” I whispered. “I don’t think I can forgive him for it.”

  “No one said you had to.”

  Logan opened the door to Ginny’s nursery.

  “He’s an important asset. I need to get along with him.” That was the last thing I was able to say to Logan before Ginny screeched in joy.

  …

  I fell asleep on the floor watching Ginny play. Rolling up, I groaned, rubbing the kinks out of my back.

  “Hungry?” Logan asked, rocking, a sleeping Ginny on his chest.

  I nodded.

  Carefully, Logan laid Ginny down, covering her with a blanket before we walked out, grabbing the baby monitor.

  I rolled my head on my neck as we tramped down the stairs.

  “Do you have a plan?” Tommy asked me, jumping in front of me in the kitchen.

  “I’m going to kill Tate and Zachariah.”

  He nodded.

  “What about th
e semis with rogue vampires?”

  “I don’t know. We are going to see the trailer tomorrow.”

  “I want to come with you,” he rapid-fire demanded.

  “You have school and homework tomorrow,” I reminded him.

  “I can miss it.”

  “No, you can’t. Tommy, there is a reason I fight as hard as I do. It’s to give you, each of you, an opportunity to have a normal life. To be able to choose your life and not have it choose you. You are going to school, and when I need help, I will let you know.”

  He didn’t like that answer, but he accepted it, going upstairs.

  I blew out a breath, watching him, hoping I had done the right thing.

  Logan rubbed my shoulder, feeling my uncertainly, steering me toward the breakfast bar before heading to the fridge.

  “Grilled cheese?” he asked.

  “Perfect,” I agreed.

  “Is my phone lost?” I asked, thinking I should call Kass.

  “Yes, we will get you a new one,” Logan commented.

  “Did you tell Kass I’m back?”

  “Yes, I called Darren while you were sleeping. They’ll be over in a bit. Alec is moving out, and I want them moved into the Compass house. It has better security.”

  I nodded.

  “I need to call Myrtle.”

  Logan laughed, “What more could you possibly need?”

  “Anna needs her own weapons. I want mine back.”

  He laughed, sliding his phone over to me, shaking his head.

  “Logan,” Myrtle answered hesitantly.

  “She’s back!” I yelled at her.

  “Lord in heaven, woman, that shit is not funny. I thought for sure he was calling to tell me…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Seriously Myrtle, it was a few bullets. Good news, I’m not that easy to take out.”

  “What was I thinking?”

  “Your sarcasm has been noted. Anyways, I need weapons.”

  “Glad to hear you haven’t let a little near death experience slow you down.”

  “They’re not for me.”

  “You want me to bring a selection to the house?”

  “Yeah, the works.”

  “Is it ever anything less with you?”

  I thought about Raphael and the semis circling the city. “Never.” I ended the call, pushing the phone back to Logan.

  He pushed a plate toward me with two sandwiches. I inhaled the first one, slowing down for the second when my stomach cramped. Apparently, not eating for almost two weeks would do that to me.