Embrace The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy Book 3)

by Jenn D. Young

  Lorelei blinked, lust clouding her vision as she fought for control over her body. “You’re an evil, evil demon, Vincent Flane.”

  With a tilt of my lips, I gave her a devilish smile. “I know, but it’s why you love me so much.”

  “Ugh.” She threw her hands up in exacerbation then pushed at the wall of my chest. “You’re incorrigible. So utterly full of yourself that it would take a nuclear bomb to damage your inflated ego.”

  I threw my head back and laughed. “Maybe not a nuclear bomb, my love. That is stretching it a bit.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “I thought we just discussed that we couldn’t right now. It has to wait until after the meeting.”

  She reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. “I just can’t with you.”

  “You can and you always do.” I laughed and bent to place a kiss on the tip of her nose. “You’re so beautiful when you are frustrated.”

  “Let’s go before you waste too much more time with your smooth talking, Mr. Demon.” She shook her head again, a smile plastered over her face.

  “By all means, milady.” I held my arms wide open, expecting for her to run into them so that we could shadow flight to the council chambers. She stood, her hands on her hips giving me defiant look, that damn grin lingering on her face making me want to kiss her.

  “Are we going?” I rose an eyebrow in question, but she still didn’t budge from her position several feet away. “Are you being stubborn now?”

  “Oh, am I being stubborn?” She huffed and rolled her eyes. “You didn’t say the magic words.”

  “Lorelei, I swear you are trying to take a century or two off my life.”

  She shrugged. “Your pride needs to be taken down a notch… or ten.” She stepped forward and splayed her hands out over my chest. That damned mischievous smile that tugged at the corners of her lips was going to be my downfall, I just knew it.

  “You were the one that insisted it was time to go,” I answered with my head cocked to the side. Gods, I loved our banter. It soothed my soul like a refreshing drink of water. Lorelei was my life, my everything. She was all that was good and pure in my existence.

  “So, I did,” she responded, tapping a finger against her full lips. “We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go.” She waved a hand through the air, dismissing me.

  Laughing, I wrapped a strong arm around her and pulled her body even closer to mine. “You’re going to pay for teasing me, little mate. Tonight,” I growled and reached for the shadows before she could form a response.

  25

  Lorelei

  The world went dark around me, and a bone deep chill settled into my bones while we traveled through the shadow realm. Vincent always liked to take me by surprise when we used shadow flight. He said it was less jarring on my system if I wasn’t prepared and tensed up before we jumped. Didn’t mean that I hated it any less. Because I still did. It was freezing.

  “About fucking time,” Leo grumbled as soon as we reappeared in the middle of the council chambers. The vampire was pacing the length of the floor, his dark hair mused around his head and his hazel eyes wild as he eyed the smartboard before him. There was an array of maps, topography charts, statistical figures, as well as hand scribbled notes taking up every inch of the electronic board that Leo favored so much.

  Vincent huffed and pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. Pointing the screen at Leo he let out a growl. “Nicolae told me twenty minutes. It’s only been seventeen. We’re actually early.” He turned and gave me a self-satisfied wink before pulling out a chair for me to sit down in.

  “Well,” Leo said indignantly before crossing his arms over his wide chest. “We’re still waiting for Nicolae and Layla as well as Kaniul.”

  “We’re right here, General, don’t get your panties in a twist,” Nicolae growled as he pushed open the large, dark oak doors of the council chambers. Layla stood by his side, her green eyes sharp as they took in her surroundings. Her blonde hair was piled atop her head in a loose bun and she wore a relaxed pair of jeans with a simple scoop neck black shirt. Nicolae’s arm was draped possessively around her as he kept his mate close to his side.

  Not that I blamed him for that. Layla had been by his side for less than a week. They had spent most of their bond apart, only meeting in their shared dreams. I knew Vincent was just as possessive of me, judging by the arm that he had wrapped around my waist. I didn’t mind his touch or his open display of possession. In fact, part of me craved it with all my soul.

  That knowledge that your mate desired you so much that they had to show it to everyone in the room was something primal and made you feel like the most wanted person in the world—even if it did grate on my sense of feminism. Yet, I knew Vincent would do everything in his power to protect me.

  Even give his own life for me. Not that I would ever want to live without him. Gods, that was a serious notion right there.

  “Please quit it with that morbid line of thinking, Theera,” he whispered into my mind. His nose brushed over the sensitive skin of my ear and I drew in a sharp breath as he nibbled lightly on the lobe.

  “Not morbid, per se.” I shrugged my shoulders with the hint of a smile tugging at my lips. I was being a brat and I knew it. It was fun to tease Vincent every once and a while, especially in front of the other council members.

  Leo snapped his fingers and let out a deep sigh. “This is really important, so I need your full attention.” His hazel eyes snapped in my direction, pinning me with his severe glare.

  The desire to stick my tongue out at him when he turned his back was at the forefront of my mind, but I tamed the urge down just as Damius and Kaniul entered.

  Kaniul looked even better than when I had seen him three days ago. The night that my mother decided to share with us that she had been alive this whole time. He was no longer pale; the dark circles under his eyes had vanished. He even stood at his full height, looking proud and regal as ever. I met his amber gaze and gave him a small smile. He returned the gesture and crossed the room quickly. Pulling out the chair next to me, he gave me a quick kiss on my forehead before sitting down.

  “Are you well?” he asked, genuine concern lacing his voice.

  I wanted to laugh at the irony of his question. I wasn’t the one that had almost died from my injuries just a few days ago. But I knew he was inquiring more about my mental state rather than anything physical, so I nodded and widened my smile.

  “Good. You have a good mate who always sees to your needs. I knew he would take excellent care of you.” He reached out and Vincent grasped his wrist in a warrior’s handshake before turning in his chair to face Leo.

  I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. These ancient men and their ‘the mates take care of their women’ attitude.

  “That wasn’t what I meant, and you know it, Iah. So, wipe that scowl off your face,” Kaniul remarked with raised eyebrows, humor gleaming in his golden irises.

  This time I couldn’t stop my tongue from extending as I blew Kaniul a raspberry. Snickers of laughter came from everyone except Leo, who’s mottled red face looked like he was going to explode at any moment.

  “If the peanut gallery is quite finished?” He arched a brow in question.

  “The peanut gallery? Seriously Leo, how old is that expression? I haven’t heard it in at least a decade or two.” Nicolae tried to hold back his laughter. We all did, but it was a losing battle and soon we were all laughing so hard, tears fell from my eyes and down my cheeks.

  “Enough!” Leo roared. “You guys may not think bringing down The Syndicate is a serious affair, but I assure you that I do. If you want to fight with me, then shut up. Otherwise, get the fuck out.”

  That was quite an outburst from Leo. One that had Vincent tensing in his chair beside me. His muscles coiled as he poised himself for a fight.

  Damius rose to his feet and tension rose in the room. I swallowed harshly, flickering my gaze back and forth betw
een the two vampires. Damius rarely flexed his power, the aura of power pulsing in the room left nothing to the imagination as to just how powerful he really was. He gave Leo a display of who was really in charge.

  Crimson eyes faced off with hazel ones and after a moment, the surge of power ebbed, and Leo lowered his gaze. He looked thoroughly chastised and mumbled something under his breath that I couldn’t make out.

  “Now that that’s out of the way. I think I should start,” Damius brushed his hands together and moved toward the smartboard. He waved his arm and several photos appeared on the screen. Leo backed away and leaned against the wall, observing, but not uttering a word.

  “These are two high value targets.” Damius indicated the portraits that appeared before us.

  “Natasha and Yuri,” Nicolae spat. “I thought they were long dead.”

  Damius shook his head. “No. They were hidden deep underground. Part of Adrianna’s elite guard, at least according to your mate.” He inclined his head at Layla.

  Nicolae narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing. His arm tightened around her shoulder, something passing between their mating bond as Layla’s lips pinched together in a grimace. It seemed that Natasha, Yuri, and Nicolae had some sort of history.

  “Natasha and Yuri are Nicolae’s cousins. Foul Nightmare demons. As evil as one can be. It’s no surprise that they have been with Adrianna this whole time.” Vincent thankfully brought me up to speed. The thought that more of Nicolae’s family are out there and seek to harm him made my blood boil inside my veins. Vincent ran a comforting hand down the exposed skin of my arm, seeking to comfort me.

  “Yes,” Damius continued. “Layla was able to place tracers on them as well as several other key members of Adrianna’s guard and high-ranking members of The Syndicate.”

  “Oh, she did?” Nicolae bit out through clenched teeth, his aquamarine eyes flashing red before returning to normal. “I think we might discuss that a bit later.”

  Layla plastered a fake smile on her face and laid her hand over Nicolae’s chest. “Mate, you knew it was my mission to take them down from the inside. I couldn’t tell you my every little move while I was trying to do my job.”

  “You should have,” he grumbled in response. His lips tilted down in a scowl. His aquamarine eyes betrayed his hurt, even though he sought to put out a tough front.

  “Nicolae,” Layla said gently, her hand sliding up to cup the side of his face. “We’ll talk about this when we get home, okay?”

  Nicolae nodded, his face returning to his normal aloof mask as he turned back to Damius. “Please, continue.” He waved his hand in the air.

  Damius cocked his head to the side and cleared his throat, the barest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yes, well. We’ve been focusing on following Natasha and Yuri. Naomi and Nathan have been pivotal in keeping up on their whereabouts while keeping to the shadows. Naomi’s abilities as a chameleon have proven to be invaluable.”

  Leo let out a huff of approval. “I told you so.”

  “So you did,” Damius responded with a short laugh before sobering himself. “We have intel that they will be raiding a well-known supernatural club tonight. I believe that you’re aware of it, Lorelei.”

  I bristled, my spine stiffening at the mention of a club. “Vamps? They’re going to try and take down Vamps tonight? What about Ivan and Angelo? We have to protect them.” I slammed my palms down on the solid table, the sound reverberating throughout the chambers.

  “Calm, Theera,” Vincent whispered against my ear. “I doubt that Damius and Leo would let such an opportunity pass us by. The General will want to take advantage of such a perfect setting.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice and fire sprang from his eyes as he glared at Leo.

  “Why should I let it go, Flane?” Leo stepped forward and planted his palms on the table. Giving Vincent the same venomous glare he had received and leaned forward. “We know the layout of Vamps. It’s on a dead-end street. We can work with Ivan and Angelo, who are trained soldiers and know how to fight. Then we can finally take down these bastards.”

  “Vincent and I will be there too,” I added, my voice ringing with finality. If this was all going to go down tonight, if the final countdown was approaching, I was going to be there to kick some ass. The Eye on my arm tingled with awareness, but the sensation was calming and soothing. Not the prickling I felt when there was imminent danger. I was on the right track. We had to be there tonight.

  Leo opened his mouth to protest, but Damius held an arm up to silence him. “If Lorelei feels that her and Vincent should be there, then they should be there.”

  “Are you sure, Theera?” Vincent asked me through our mental connection.

  I nodded slightly, not able to elaborate on the feeling right now. I would tell him more when we were alone, but I knew deep within my soul that tonight would be the night where this would end.

  Or would it?

  26

  Vincent

  Lorelei laid the palm of her hand over the Eye of Horus mark on her arm. Awareness swept through me, knowing exactly what that meant. She had an intuition about tonight and it was where we were meant to be. If her Eye was leading us there, then I wouldn’t argue against her.

  “Kaniul, any visions?” Damius asked thoughtfully rubbing his hand over his jaw.

  Kaniul shook his head. “It’s completely silent. Which is strange in and of itself. My visions are blank. I’m of no use in that department.” Frustration bled from the Egyptian. After centuries of being around him, I knew he hated it when his sight went blank. It happened in times of great strife when the outcome was too unpredictable to be calculated or foreseen.

  “Any feelings from your Eye?” Lorelei asked quietly, her hand still resting gently over her own mark.

  Her uncle gave her a knowing look. “A slight tingle, but nothing major to be concerned about.” One elegant midnight brow arched in question at her. He knew she was probably feeling the same right now.

  Lorelei nodded then turned back to Damius and Leo. “What’s their plan? What do they hope to accomplish by raiding Vamps? It isn’t as if it’s Thanatos and owned by Vincent or another council member.”

  What Lorelei didn’t know was that Vamps was a central point of our operations in Los Angeles, where the supernatural population was astronomical. Many intelligence missions were launched out of the extensive underground facilities. When I gathered with Ivan and Angelo to expand the club, bringing in Lorelei to help them with the façade, she had no clue of what lay beneath the building.

  Damius gave me a knowing smile, aware of what I’d done then and the importance of Vamps as a whole. “Vamps is more than the club that lies on the surface. It is our central council seat in the LA area. We stay here, closer to Seattle where we are out of the limelight, but there is a large population of supes that live in and around LA. We must keep a stable presence there or chaos will reign. Before Vamps, it was a bar not a nightclub, but under a different name of course.”

  I gave Lorelei a reassuring squeeze of her arm. “Ivan and Angelo are two incredibly old and powerful vampires. They have been loyal to the council for centuries. LA is their territory and they oversee the day to day nuances of supernatural business there. Plus, alert us to anything big that may be overheard or on the horizon. It would be a powerful target to take down, just as important as Thanatos was.”

  “Vincent’s right, Lorelei. I know there is still a lot about this world that you don’t know yet, but we will get you up to speed soon enough.” Damius’ lips quirked, showing off his gleaming white fangs.

  Frustration rolled off Lorelei in waves. Her arms crossed over her chest, she leaned back against the back of the chair, and shrugged off my touch. “Would have been nice to know that when we visited there a couple weeks ago,” she muttered under her breath.

  Oh boy, I would have some groveling to do to make this up to her. If there was one thing I knew about my mate, she absolutely hated to be left in the dark ab
out anything. Not mentioning to her the importance of Vamps when we went to visit Ivan and Angelo was going to be a hot point of contention between us.

  I ran my hands through my hair and sent her a comforting thought, but she again shrugged me off. “We’ll have some words about this later.”

  Yep, I was in trouble.

  I had a few thoughts about how I could make it up to her. Mainly with my tongue between her legs for as long as it took for her to forgive me. Heat slowly crept up her neck to flood Lorelei’s face as my thoughts reached her through our connection. I couldn’t help but to smile.

  “You two stop it.” Damius threw his hands up in exacerbation while rolling his eyes. “Now, if we could get back to the subject at hand.”

  I waved my hand. “By all means, Damius.”

  “Asshole,” he muttered. “Leo, please continue.” Damius took a step back and allowed Leo access to the board in front of us.

  “Their plan is laid out in three phases. It’s actually a quite brilliant plan, one that I will have to tuck away for use in a future mission,” Leo rambled on.

  “Leo…” Damius growled.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” Leo grumbled. “First phase is to set up a perimeter, starting three blocks out. They’ll send in unknown immortals to pose as normal clubgoers, who will get a visual of the inside. In addition, they have a male with cloaking abilities. Similar, but not the same as Naomi’s. While Naomi can blend in or alter her appearance, this man can meld into the shadows and hide himself. Makes him extremely tricky to track, but Layla figured that one out too.”

  Nicolae let out a small growl and looked questioningly at his mate. Layla shrugged, “I may have taken a bit of his essence so that we are able to track it. Helps out when he decides he wants to hide.”