by J. M. Adele
Devlin rested one elbow on the counter. “Babe. Good news. The Doritos and Coke are free for tonight. Ain’t that amazin’?”
She nodded, watching the store clerk pack the crisps and cola into a bag.
“Throw in some jerky and a lighter while you’re at it.”
The guy did as he was told.
Shiloh clamped her mouth shut before she yelled, stop! Deciding it was better to wait outside, she left them to it. The bond tugged her down the street in the direction they’d come. She stumbled a couple of steps before planting her feet. Jax knew she was near. There was no way he wasn’t feeling the same pull.
Was he going to come after her?
No. He’s guarding Lanie. If she’s alive.
Shiloh was going to have to go and get him.
Could he sense his flesh forming life inside her?
She couldn’t feel anything. She hadn’t seen the blood results. What proof did she have? None. Her eyes strayed back to the convenience store as Devlin came out. Maybe she should ask for a pregnancy test.
He stopped in front of her, his brows dropping low. “What’s wrong?”
Looking at his haul of stuff, she realized something. He’s stalling. He’s never going to surrender to what has to happen. He knows. “Am I pregnant?”
The bag rustled as he switched his grip. “Yes.”
“How long have you known?”
“I knew the moment it happened.”
Her eyelids suddenly felt heavier than her newly acquired wings.
“If this was a conventional relationship, you’d be out on your ass. You’ve repeatedly hidden things from me. I know you said you’ve never lied to me, but in my book that’s as good as lying.” She shivered, crossing her arms. “You’ve kept me locked up. You’ve prevented me from doing right by my sister. I know you didn’t choose this. I know you’ve done everything to protect me. Maybe I’m not being fair, but you haven’t been fair, either.” Her brows pulled together in anguish. “I need to do this on my own. He’s won. Game over. You know death isn’t the end. I’ve come back before. I’ve loved you for hundreds of years.” She met his black gaze. “We’ll find each other again. I’ve got to go. You need to let me go now.”
“I can’t.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
She bolted, not looking back. If he wanted to catch her, he could. He didn’t. Good. She swiped at her tears, waiting until she was out of town before taking off her shirt and jacket. After balling them up, she set her wings free and took flight, letting the membrane carry her to her end.
She didn’t have to go far.
Landing in the woods of Bear Mountain, she tucked her wings away and got dressed. Through the trees she could see smoke curling from a chimney. Jax’s scent lingered on the breeze.
And so did Lanie’s. It was almost overpowering.
Like he’d spilled her blood. Fuck!
Shiloh ran at the cabin. Aiming a rope of power at the door, she clawed her hand and ripped it off its mooring. Vampires swarmed at her, trailing from the doorway like ants leaving their nest. More dropped down from the barren branches of the trees. Her sight was nearly eclipsed by the onslaught. Pulling in all her energy, she rained hellfire onto the masses.
“Shiloh!”
Flanking her, Lock, Ren, and Devlin had weapons of their own. Ren slashed at the advancing vampires with twelve-inch daggers. Lock pumped off rounds from a pair of Glocks, a shotgun strapped to his back ready to go. Devlin burned them to a crisp with his own brand of hellfire and crushed them to a pulp with the twist of his hand.
Jax’s army kept coming. Fangs ripped into flesh. Fists crushed. Bones snapped. The sound of combat howled like a storm. The cloak of calm was totally obliterated as the trees spilled their secrets, soaking up the blood of their guests.
Shiloh’s power was draining. She kept a barrier of energy around her, but it was getting weak. Sensing Jax nearby, she wondered why he hadn’t engaged. He was probably perched in a tree with a box of popcorn. Fucker.
The ground shook as something fell from the sky. Twisted together in a ball of rage, Jax was locked in a fist fight with something huge. Something with fangs. The male landed a punch to Jax’s chest, sending him flying into a tree. He flopped to the ground with a thud. Standing to his full height, the stranger rivalled Devlin and Lock in the size department. Cropped black hair framed a face carved from clay akin to Devlin’s. And he was shirtless. Like Devlin. A massive tattoo depicting a pair of wings covered both sides of his chest. Who was he?
The vampire drew a sword from a holster at his back, chasing after his prey.
“Stop!” Devlin roared, running after him. “You’ll kill her, too.”
The sky spun upside down as she was knocked on her ass. Shaking the fog from her head, she found Ren standing over her, slashing at Shiloh’s attacker. Christ, the vampire had no face left. Shiloh yanked her eyes away, but it was too late. She’d never forget the sight. It would probably follow her into the afterlife.
“Get up and fucking pay attention,” Ren barked.
Shiloh stumbled to her feet, rebuilding the bubble of energy she used to fend off intruders. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. Ever.”
God, she couldn’t deal with Ren’s snarky shit right now. Where the hell was Lanie? Shiloh needed to get inside to find her sister. She remembered Devlin’s Moses act from the first night at Fluid Prey. What the hell? Whatever he could do, she could do, too. She pressed her palms together, extended her arms, and scooped the air in front like she was doing breaststroke. Just like the night at the club, bodies stacked up in walls, clearing a path to the entrance. She ran through, letting them all collapse behind her.
Christ, the smell of rancid blood and urine nearly knocked her down. She went straight for the bedrooms. Only one of them had a lock on the outside. She pointed at it, busting it open. Oh, my God. Lanie’s body lay in a heap on the crusty carpet. A huge brown stain bloomed around her. How long had she been there like that? The sheet had been pulled from the bed and ripped. Strips of the torn sheets were bandaged around her wrist, their color matching the stain on the carpet. Had Lanie slit her wrist? Or was it Jax?
“Get her out of here!”
Devlin stood at Shiloh’s back, fending off vampires as they rushed in. Lock’s gun made Swiss cheese of the enemy and splintered the walls from somewhere within the cabin. They were covering her. Evren must still be outside on her own. Shit.
Shiloh looked at the window. It wasn’t a clear exit. They were surrounded.
How do I get her out?
Her head snapped up. Of course. She yanked off her top and covered Lanie as best as she could before releasing her wings. Gathering her sister’s body in her arms, she aimed a fist at the ceiling. She only managed to make a crack in the plaster. Devlin backed into the room, his wings already spread. He hooked his arm around her and blew a hole in the ceiling. Thrusting up with powerful legs, he got them airborne, setting them down in a field a few miles away.
“Is she alive?”
Lanie’s pulse fluttered against Shiloh’s fingers. “Yes.”
“Can you fly?”
“I think so.”
“Head to Greenwich. We have a safe house in Milbank Avenue. Number two fifty-three.” He pressed a phone into her hand. “Call the contact named Med. They’ll help her.”
She nodded, and took off, not knowing where the hell to go. Greenwich was towards the southeast. She’d get close and use the GPS to find her way from there. “Please hold on, Lanie.”
Déjà-frickin’-vu.
Hadn’t they done this before? She was abandoning him in a fight to try and save her sister’s life yet again. This time he had his team with him. And they wouldn’t stop until they had Jax.
Jesus H. Christ. When would this end?
Don’t be Daft
Devlin scanned the trees for his target. The fallen corpses bled streams of blood in a crimson delta. Ren plucked through the carnage,
stabbing into lifeless bodies. Nobody gets away with playing dead. Lock plucked off a couple more escapees before dragging their bodies onto the pile.
Where is he? Devlin spotted the glint of a sword in the spot where he’d left Shiloh and Lanie. Guided by the beacon, he rocketed to the ground, sending up a spray of rocks and dirt.
The stranger’s legs were braced wide, his chest tat splattered with blood, dirt, and sweat. The vampire’s palm was wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword, blanching his knuckles as his midnight gaze stared Devlin down. The leather strap of his sword harness lay at his feet.
Devlin stalked towards the vampire. “Who the fuck are you?”
“That’s a daft question, brother.” His tongue curled the R’s into a Scottish brogue.
You ain’t no brother of mine, Scot.
The intruder threw the sword down as a huge pair of wings sprouted from his back. His feathers shuddered, capturing the moonlight and extinguishing its glow in their darkness.
“Half brother, to be exact. I’ve been searching for ye for centuries.”
Half brother? The guy had wings. They weren’t from dear old dad. And his mother hadn’t had any other children. That he knew of.
“I saw your handiwork on yer mam’s grave. I put it to rights.”
So they didn’t share a mother. Who else had his father fucked over? “Who’s your mam?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He flexed his wings. “Magaidh is my mam. You helped her birth me. I survived.”
“I buried you.”
“That you did. And she dug me out, with the help of a friend.”
“She’s alive?”
“Not in the least.” He crossed his arms. “But the absence of a body doesn’t denote the absence of spirit, brother. Energy cannot be destroyed. Our mothers walk beside us, always.”
Devlin pressed the pads of his thumbs into his eye sockets. If that was true, they’d never destroy Jax. “How’d he escape?”
“Two of them carried him away while I slaughtered another ten. He had the numbers on his side. But now that he doesn’t have blood protection, he’ll do poorly trying to recruit more troops. And I gave him a fairly sizable gash on his thigh. They’ll tend to him all right, but he’ll take a while to recover without her blood.”
“Blood protection. That’s how he’s managed to ghost me.”
“Lilin blood. The blood of our ancestors. The scent was all over him. Those poor girls must’ve been his pin cushions.”
Fuck me.
Devlin lit up a smoke, his mind wandering to the sisters. I hope they made it.
The vampire picked up his harness. “Did the girl survive?”
“Lanie?”
“Lanie. So that’s her name.” The guy’s tongue licked at the word like he was starving for a taste, his eyes sparking with colors.
“Fuck, no. Leave her the fuck alone.”
“Like you left her sister? That worked out for the best, now, didn’t it?”
Asshole.
_____
Two fifty-three Milbank Avenue was not a house. It was a bunker. The way in was through the sewer. Shiloh had landed and huddled with Lanie under a tree in the small park before dialing the contact.
Now she found herself waiting in a moldy staff room while the medical team tried to stabilize her sister. Lanie needed blood. A lot of blood. How she’d stayed alive, Shiloh had no clue. How much more could one person endure?
The door swung open and Lock and Ren walked in. The pair of them were soaked with sweat, and filthy from head to toe.
“Hey.” Lock tipped his chin.
“She alive?” Ren inspected her fingernails, boredom painting her expression.
Shiloh dropped her head in her hands, her heart dropping in her chest. “I don’t know.”
“They’d have told you if she’d punched her card.” Evren went to the sink and washed her hands, splashing water on her face. “I’ll go check it out.”
Shiloh closed her eyes, hearing the fridge open and shut, and the sound of gulping, followed by a satisfied sigh. A pair of boots stepped into view. She lifted her eyes. “Thirsty?” Lock offered her a bottle of water
Shaking her head, she let it fall forward again.
“She’s not gonna die.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t.”
Very comforting. Thanks, Lock.
“I didn’t like you at first, but I see it now. You and D, you’re a good fit.”
His opinion should’ve made her feel better, but it stung. Her and Devlin’s ‘fit’ was meant to break. Jax had to die and he’d take Shiloh with him.
The door opened again and in walked Devlin, and the vampire from the cabin. Lock lurched to his feet, putting the barrel of his gun in the stranger’s face. Devlin shook his head, and Lock holstered his weapon.
“This is Rory.” D hooked his thumb in the guy’s direction.
Black eyes took her in, and she stood. Rory’s gaze reached inside her, connecting to something. A piece from her past? Another life?
“My brother,” Devlin added.
“Fuck me,” Lock uttered, staring at the guy, still holding his bottle.
Rory gave Shiloh a bow in greeting. Her lips parted. With the two of them side by side, it was obvious. Same body, same nose, eyes and cheek bones. His mouth wasn’t as hard. His hair was much shorter. He didn’t radiate anger like Devlin did. But they were siblings, for sure.
Was he a crossbreed too? She’d seen his fangs, but no wings—apart from the tattooed variety.
What did that mean for the prophecy?
“Your brother.” Her brows pulled together. “How—?”
“Half brother.” Rory interjected.
He’s Scottish. Did they share a mother, or father? Why was he here? Had he been tracking Jax too?
She stacked her queries as he continued. “Although, I personally believe a brother is a brother whether they’re full, half, adopted, or a ring-in. It’s a position of honor.”
Dev turned to her. “Do you remember me telling you about the child Magaidh lost during labor?”
She nodded.
“He lived. This is Magaidh’s son. We share a father.”
So he was a crossbreed. Had Magaidh had an affair with her sister’s husband, or had she been forced? Maybe she’d loved him. They’d never know.
“I’ve been waiting to meet Devlin my whole life.” Rory stared at his brother like he was comparing every detail.
Shiloh’s forehead creased. “You knew about him and you’re only just meeting now?”
Rory’s dark eyes snapped to hers. “I was warned to stay away. If I’d come sooner, I would have jeopardized your fate. I had to wait until the time came.”
“Time for what?” Dev asked.
“The time for retribution. Old cycles must end. The balance of power must be restored.”
Shiloh folded her arms. The retribution? There wouldn’t be one. Even if she died so Devlin could kill Jax. The cycle would start all over again. “What made you think it was happening now?”
And what the hell is taking Ren so long?
Rory’s gaze probed hers and he gave her a sad smile. Had he heard her thoughts?
Rory’s hand squeezed her shoulder before dropping to his side. “The woman who helped exhume my body and bring me back to life, she’s a witch. She watches over us. She knew my parents. She knows about the prophecy. She saw what happened to Devlin’s mam.”
Maybe the witch had information that could turn their luck around.
Ren entered, carrying a lifeless Lanie in her arms.
Shiloh blinked, taking a minute to understand what she was seeing. The moment it registered, her heart staggered to a stop in her chest. “Noooo!” Shiloh screamed and ran to Lanie’s side. Taking her sister’s body, Shiloh crumpled to the floor, rocking Lanie in her arms.
“Relax. I bit her,” Ren drawled.
Shiloh’s tear-soaked eyes speared the goth. “You, what?”
&
nbsp; “I gotta go bury her. She’ll be baked in a few weeks. Just chill.”
“How can I chill? She’s not sixteen yet. And, aren’t you bonded? How can you exchange blood with anyone but Lock?”
“We’re mates, but she won’t accept my bond. And now I get why.” Lock winked at Ren.
A silver-haired woman edged into the room, crouching at Shiloh’s feet. “Shiloh. I’m Raine. Your sister wasn’t going to make it. Evren saved her life.” Raine’s tentative touch rested on Shiloh’s shoulder. “It was the only way. I’m sorry.”
Silence descended, broken only by Shiloh’s soft weeping. She touched her sister’s face, recoiling at the chill kissing her pale skin.
“I gotta go bury her,” Ren repeated.
Shiloh tightened her grip, feeling like a piece of her had been stolen.
“Allow me.” Rory bent to her level, holding out his arms.
She sniffled, searching his gaze again for that tie. She’d known him before. She was sure of it. He looked down at her sister like she was precious. Irreplaceable. Love was the only motive in his eyes. Nodding, Shiloh let him take her. Her empty arms went numb without their anchor.
Shiloh dragged her gaze away to take in her sister’s savior. “Thank you, Evren.”
“I told ya, don’t mention it.” She rolled her eyes before leaving the room.
“I’ll see you soon, brother.” Rory followed.
Devlin scooped Shiloh up off the ground, holding her close to his heart as he took her through the bunker to a bedroom.
He sat on the bed with her in his lap. “She’ll be okay.”
Her head rested on his shoulder, hand sliding to his chest to feel the beat beneath his ribcage. “What do we do now?”
“We’re goin’ to Scotland. We got a prophecy to hunt.”
Ancestors
Hand in hand, Shiloh and Devlin walked across the cobblestone road towards the Old Inn. Three stories of gothic history overlooked the grounds of Dunfermline Abbey. Black paint cloaked the ground floor façade, number thirteen mounted on a plaque over the entrance. Mm, inviting.
Walking inside, Shiloh was hit with the smell of greasy burgers, smoke, and beer. Pub music provided a background din. Lime green and purple covered the walls above wood panels. More timber created a grid on the ceiling, the color of the grain, deepened by years of exposure to the pub air, laden with toxins. Worn leather sofas lined the edges of the eating area.