“Lord,” she said, entering the room that was now trashed by Devin. She knelt at Lord Randolph’s feet. Shattered glass lay around the corners of the room, and a large metal plate had a dent in it. Molina didn’t acknowledge the mess as it wasn’t her place to say anything.
“Yes,” Lord Randolph said.
“Mori has spotted a baku on the grounds. He’s making his way into the underground compound. He must be strong as we were barely able to detect a blip, but Mori is sure that’s where he’s headed,” Molina replied. Randolph didn’t seem to care too much at the mention of the baku.
“There’s your answer.” Lord Randolph took a blade off the wall and tossed it to Devin. “Go rescue the princess, but keep her hidden until I expose the fake at tonight’s changing. Tell Gabriel I say hello, if you get the chance, and kill him, too, if needed.”
Arianna faded out of the memory and back to the room. Molina sat, staring across the room at Jackson. He sat silently, waiting for the verdict on Molina as did the rest of the room. Andrew already knew the answer, but gave nothing away.
“She’s telling the truth. She won’t hurt me now or ever,” Arianna replied. “So what does that mean?” Arianna asked Devin, who was standing behind her. “Will you be honest with me?”
TWENTY-EIGHT
The room emptied after they unbound Molina. She gave Arianna a weak smile, asking for forgiveness that would take time to come by. Jackson took Molina’s hand and led her away, a much more intimate gesture than Arianna was used to. Andrew stopped, the last one to leave the room. He held her hand and kissed the tips of her knuckles.
‘Do you need me to stay?’ he asked, concerned that she was not going to be happy with what she found in Devin’s mind.
‘No, we need to be alone. Devin is never open to me unless we’re alone,’ Arianna replied, kissing his hand as he held hers. Andrew was her strength now, but she needed to do this. She needed to know what was hidden in Devin’s mind. She needed closure.
‘No matter what he tells you, it doesn’t change anything between us. I still choose you,’ Andrew replied cryptically before leaving.
Arianna waited for everyone to be out of listening distance, besides Andrew who seemed to know everything already. Arianna wanted the truth for a change. She turned back to Devin and looked him over.
“Will you finally be honest with me?” Arianna crossed her arms across her chest, ready to challenge Devin with whatever excuse he had.
“Yes,” Devin replied simply.
“Really?” Arianna dropped her defensive stance. Devin wasn’t ever completely truthful. Arianna didn’t think he had it in him to be so.
“Just let’s move to the closet. The closets in these homes are soundproof for safe talking since all night humans have sensitive ears. It’s much easier than soundproofing each room.” Devin led the way into the walk-in closet. It was filled with empty shelves. Devin leaned against the wall and slid down until he was sitting. The strong front he always displayed was gone. He was back to being just Devin. Arianna missed just Devin. He was never around when she needed him, and she was seeing less and less of him. Devin was becoming more of the soldier Randolph trained him to be. Arianna moved closer so that she could reach out and touch him, but did not. After learning that Andrew was her mate, she felt it was cheating to even touch Devin, despite the fact that he loved her and that part of her loved him too.
“Go ahead, look inside my mind,” Devin urged her. They both remained close, but not touching. It was different now for both of them.
Arianna focused and easily entered his mind. Where Andrew found resistance when he was teaching her how to enter minds using Devin, now she found nothing but an open door. His mind was still quite blank compared to Molina, but this time all the doors had handles. Arianna moved to the first door and opened it. The room was filled with memories. Arianna looked around at all of them, memories of Devin’s childhood. Memories floated out the door as she moved to the next room. The door, this time, opened on its own. Memories of his training surrounded her. She felt the pain and anguish that went behind the making of the man that was Devin. Before her floated a memory of Devin around the age of ten. She watched as he faced off against a larger, fully-transformed baku. It took everything inside him to fight the man, but in the end, Devin had his first kill. Anguish followed the triumph he felt after Randolph let him finally be alone. Baku were the enemy, but still they were people. That feeling died as he did it again and again. Soon there were new memories. The doors all opened except for the last door, but she was too surrounded to go near it anyways. As with Molina, Arianna looked around and became confused as to where to even start.
“As you can hopefully see, I’ll answer anything. It might be easier if we just talk,” Devin suggested, interrupting her concentration.
“Yes, I think so too,” Arianna said, jumping out of his mind and refocusing on Devin in front of her. He was still the same blond-haired, blue-eyed mystery from the year before. He had his secrets, but now, she saw they were never really being kept from her; just shuffled away because there was so much he remembered. The real reason he never was open was that he couldn’t afford to feel the feelings behind them.
“What do you need to know?” Devin asked, staying in place by force of will alone.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the clans and the right to contest?” Arianna asked the first question that was bothering her.
“It was too much to tell you at one time. I didn’t want you to be afraid to even leave the house. I wanted you to have a normal life as much as I could give you. If I told you, you would have become paranoid and looking for them around every turn. I just wanted you to be free of all of this, even if it was only temporary,” Devin shrugged. “I guess it didn’t work.”
“Well, then explain it a bit more to me,” Arianna asked.
“Thomas was supposed to explain that to you.” Devin ran his hands through his too-long blond hair.
“Well, I get the whole thirteen clans, and I’m the head of four of them. Yes, that makes me powerful and everyone wants that. But more specific, can you explain the right to contest.”
“It’s a tournament of champions. Each night human clan can enter one person to fight for you except the clan you belong to. By not arranging a marriage before your seventeenth year, they forfeit the chance to marry you.” Arianna looked down at her hand, only an inch away from his; she hadn’t noticed her hand drift over to Devin and neither had he. He continued talking. “So twelve men then fight through a series of challenges where several are eliminated each time. At the end, it comes down to individual duels and challenges. The family who wasn’t represented, your family, will decide on all the challenges since they don’t have anyone at stake.”
“Who is my family then? I’m both dearg-dul and baku?” Their fingers were intertwined. It was more familiar to sit touching him than not when they were alone. Something about his energy kept her grounded.
“If we need to decide, we will say that since you turned dearg-dul first that’s your clan, that way we can enter a certain baku if needed.” Devin looked down at their hands. It was nice to be able to touch her.
“You have this planned out?” Arianna asked in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me that this would happen?”
“I have lots of things planned out, and several plans for every scenario. There’s so much in this world you don’t know. So much I wanted to shield you from. Your life is hard enough without your parents or grandfather around to help you; you don’t need any more than the clans have been busy throwing at you. Therefore, yes, I have it all planned out.” Devin stroked his thumb across the fingers intertwined with his, making Arianna remember they were holding hands. Quickly she pulled her hand back.
“And now that I went out to rescue that night human, we’ll have to deal with this?” Arianna was causing him more pain every time she turned around. It was his fault to for not telling her, but Arianna couldn’t help but feel responsible.
“And what is in the closed door?” Arianna asked. She moved over to him to lay her head on his shoulder so that he wouldn’t have to look into her face when he answered.
“Go see for yourself. It’s closed, but not locked,” Devin explained. He couldn’t put into words the memories behind the door. He knew exactly what she was talking about, but she would have to go see it herself.
Arianna leaned back into his mind and let his warmth encircle her. Devin had always made her feel safe and content. Even with all the emotion she felt for Andrew, Arianna still felt comfortable with Devin. Everything was back in its room but the doors were all open except for the last door. Arianna pushed her way through the few remaining memories, trying her best to not stop and look at them. Devin was a mystery to her, and here he was, finally completely open. Whatever she wanted to know, he would tell her now. Arianna approached the closed door. Devin was correct; it was unlocked. Arianna hesitantly reached and pushed it open. Memories began to tumble out by the hundreds. Arianna froze, unsure what to do as they just continued to keep coming.
‘Look at them,’ Devin urged in his mind. It sounded like his words surrounded her.
Arianna looked around at all the bubbles. They easily filled the open room on their own even though his other memories were contained in their own rooms. She watched as more passed by, tumbling out. Her face was everywhere. She could see an image of herself in each passing bubble, from her childhood up to now. Each bubble was a memory about her. As they finally slowed down, Arianna felt it all around her: love. Intense, overwhelming love surrounded her in all of these memories.
‘This is the door I open when we’re alone,’ Devin explained as if he were standing beside her now. ‘I can’t let any of this cloud my judgment to keep you safe, but when we’re alone, this is what I feel.’
Arianna pulled out of his mind and quickly turned around. Devin was seated, and she was eye-to-eye with him on her knees. His crystal blue eyes gazed at her. He didn’t move or say a thing. She could just feel it. It almost felt like it did with Andrew, but without her night human senses, it was hard to tell. He felt it too. Devin reached over and brushed her cheek, sending tickles down to her toes. He slowly leaned forward.
“Wait,” Arianna said as he was just inches from her.
Arianna turned into her dearg-dul night human form. It had been awhile since she had been just a dearg-dul, but it was still familiar. Arianna was a mutant night human, but if she chose, she could take on dearg-dul, baku, or her combined form. Devin waited where he had been, a mere inch from her face. Arianna watched as the edges of her dearg-dul form came into focus until she saw it. Her night human essence was doing the same thing to Devin that it did with Andrew. Arianna stared in shock. Devin used the paused moment to his advantage as he finally leaned forward and kissed her.
Arianna felt his lips before they even met hers. Her mind wanted to protest, but her body knew everything after spending the past year, almost every waking moment, beside him. Devin reached forward and pulled her to him. His kiss was softer than Andrew’s, and his hands more callused, but there was no denying that it was the same feeling moving her heart. She loved Devin as much as she loved Andrew. Life just got more complicated than Arianna wanted to admit.
“What does that mean?” Arianna complained, pulling back. Her night human form couldn’t have chosen two mates.
“Your dearg-dul has always wanted me. Your grandfather told me that last year when we brought you home. That’s why you didn’t kill me when you turned,” Devin explained, gently stroking her face. “The only way a human can survive being a sacrifice for a newly-turned night human is if they are bound already.”
“Then with Andrew…” she started again, confused.
“And your baku wants him,” Devin replied, still holding her close. Arianna felt the regret. It wasn’t jealously or anger now, just regret.
“And Turner backed off because he could see this?” Arianna finally had her answer.
“Mmm hmmm,” Devin replied, leaning in to kiss her again.
Loving two very different people was difficult and wrong.
“No buts,” Devin replied, pulling her back onto his lap. “I only have one last moment with you before we have to be downstairs. At least let me enjoy it.” Arianna wanted to ask why but gave in anyways. She was enjoying the moment too. The dearg-dul part of her was completely satisfied in his arms, even if her baku side was screaming no.
“I’ll love you forever Arianna, but you need to be with Andrew,” Devin said as he slowly pulled away. “I don’t want to be making a choice for you, but I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy. That includes handing you over to Andrew. I can see that this is pulling you apart. First with me and Turner, and now with me and Andrew. I won’t ask that of you because I can’t be what you need.” Arianna felt the pain hit her. He was ending his connection with her.
“This is the end?” she asked, trying to keep the tears at bay. She needed a straight answer.
“My love will never end, but we can’t be together any more. You need what Andrew can give you.” Devin pulled her close, hoping to avoid seeing her cry. It broke his heart to make her sad, but that’s all he could ever do.
Shocked, Arianna pulled back and stared at him. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She wasn’t as hurt when Turner ended things, but something was different with Devin. Sitting alone with him, everything felt right.
“That door that opens in my mind when we’re alone will always be closed. I can’t change that. You deserve someone like Andrew who can always give you the love you need. I can’t keep tearing you apart. Your choice is between one guy with issues that cannot love openly, and another that has as many issues but never lost the ability to love. It’s not a hard choice. Andrew is what you need. He will always make you happy. I’m sure of it. And I will always love you.”
TWENTY-NINE
Andrew was waiting with Turner when Arianna returned downstairs. Nothing had really changed in their situation with their guests. Molina did what she did to protect Arianna, and Devin did what he did to protect her, too. But now everything would have to change. The challenge was inevitable. Devin held her hand as they walked downstairs, and he handed her over to Andrew once they reached the table. Andrew didn’t question or get jealous now. He already knew what Arianna just found out, and he could feel the sadness coming from her. Devin was back to his normal self, completely in control.
‘And just like that, you don’t care?’ Arianna asked, intently watching Devin as he sat down at the table, getting back to business.
‘I will always care, but, first and foremost, I’m assigned to protect you.’ Devin was true to his word upstairs. All emotions were closed off.
‘And what if I don’t want protection, but just you, the way you were upstairs.’ Arianna felt her anger control her as she lashed out at him.
‘I’ll never deny you anything, but that’s not the man I am. I can’t pretend to be something I’m not. All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy and to live a life of your own. Not the life others try to force on you. You’re free to make your own decisions now and always. I will support you in your choices. I love you, and that will never change.’ Devin needed to emphasize that he was acting out of love, as her eyes told him all he needed to know. He had hurt her, and she was now angry at him.
“What do we do now, boss?” Turner asked, sitting beside Devin. He felt th
e tension but ignored it. Turner’s greatest strength was the ability to stay happy no matter the situation.
“Did Molina and Thomas talk to Mori?” Devin asked, looking into the adjoining room.
“The older Katsulas brother is coming here right now. He can’t tolerate the midday sun, but he just left,” Molina explained, coming to the table. It was still too early for any of the dearg-dul to be outside.
“Mori thinks we have thirty minutes, tops, before he gets here,” Turner reported, looking around the table and then glancing between Devin and Arianna. Molina and Thomas joining them at the table was a good distraction for Turner. There were strong vibes coming from Arianna that everyone wanted to avoid.
“And Gabriel?” Devin asked Andrew. Devin avoided Arianna’s sad and hateful glare also.
“Said to wait for the brother to show up. Seems they now owe us, and Gabriel is going to use that to get Arianna to safety,” Andrew replied, wrapping his arms around Arianna to support her. She was light headed again. The poison still wasn’t completely out of her system, but she ignored the feeling.
“If they owe us, then he should keep his mouth shut,” Arianna spat out. She needed someone to vent her anger on. The Katsulas guy that they had saved wasn’t the real problem at the moment. He was just the catalyst.
“I wish it was that easy,” Thomas replied. Molina nodded. “You’re worth way more than a life in their eyes, and probably the eyes of everyone else.”
“Then that won’t work? Saving their child isn’t worth my freedom?” Arianna was shocked. Night humans valued their children so little.
“No, afraid not,” Turner answered this time. He had seen her struggle over the last year. Being raised by day humans made her who she was, but it also made her sensitive to the life of being a night human. She didn’t value power like everyone else; she valued life. It was the one trait he hoped would never change.
“We will implement plan three,” Devin replied. Everyone nodded their heads yes, but Arianna. She didn’t know plan one or two let alone three.
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