I had no response to that. I feared many things. Death at Arys’s hand. Failing to carry out the purpose we were created for. The loss of myself, my wolf.
“You have all that you need,” he continued. The candle flame flickered in his eyes, creating an eerie but intriguing reflection. “To save your wolf.”
I did a double take, blinking rapidly as if that would help me to hear his words again. “What do you mean?”
“It is already within your possession. It calls to you, a piece of the earth. A gift from a friend.”
Hope soared, taking flight as I pieced it together. “Lena’s amulet. Yes, I have it. What does it do?”
After Lena’s death, her daughter Brogan had given me the amulet. It had called to my wolf, vibrating with a joyful, earthy energy. Not knowing what to do with it, I had kept it safe, stored away in my house.
“Your friend foresaw much of what you would face, as many witches have. She gifted you with a piece of earth, enchanted for you and you alone. Wear it. All the time. Die with it on, and it will keep the wolf within you.”
Hurst spoke like a grandfather telling children fantastic stories of monsters and magic, things they would never believe. Or perhaps that was just how I felt, like one of those wide-eyed kids, peering at him in dazed wonder.
How had Lena possibly known what I would face? Sure, Arys and I had both encountered witches who knew of our bond and even our fate. Yet this was so outrageous, so hard to believe. Lena had been like a mother to me. Better than my own mother, in fact. To think that she had known, that she had done something so thoughtful for me, it made me want to weep.
“I must inform you, however, that the amulet will only save your wolf. It will not save your light. You sacrificed that part of you when Arys gave you his blood.” Hurst watched me closely. Too closely. “There is only one way to save your light. It requires a sacrifice from another. One willing to take your darkness for you.”
A heavy weight settled upon me. I stared at the book, and I detested it with every part of my being. What kind of a revelation was that? It was torment, that’s what it was. More torment to carry around inside me while I awaited my fate.
“Wow.” I let my gaze travel around the grand library. There were no words for what I was feeling. “I appreciate the information, but you should’ve let me keep thinking there was no way. That’s the kind of shit I’d rather not know.”
Hurst allowed me a moment to absorb that bombshell. With a gentle smile, he offered, “Ignorance may feel like a protective shell, but it is a cage. You must set yourself free.”
Did I have to? I let out a breath in a huff and nodded. “It’s hard.”
“It is. I know. That’s why I wanted to share this with you. Before you return home. You have much to face yet. You must trust that you can.”
I drank the rest of my coffee, focusing on the sweet vanilla flavor. It was important for me to find pleasure in simple joys. Those little things were so easily overlooked in the face of greater chaos.
“What if I can’t? There’s all this talk of me leading vampires and werewolves. What does that even mean? Leading them where? To do what?” My words ended on a shrill note. All the latte bliss moments in the world couldn’t keep me grounded in the face of such uncertainty.
Hurst regarded me with a pensive expression. I found his wise, owlish quality to be both puzzling and comforting. Spending so much time cut off from the human world had to do something to the psyche. I could totally see myself ending up that way.
“There are those who see the future, and those who plan the future. Neither are guaranteed. Do not worry yourself with such things. In time, all things will be revealed. Your efforts are better spent on what is soon to come.” He patted my hand warmly. “Would you like more coffee?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” What a weird conversation. I was going to be replaying this one in my head for weeks. “And just what is soon to come? You talk like you know.”
Hurst clasped his hands together and settled back in his chair. He wore the scent of old books like a second skin. It tickled my nose, and I stifled a sneeze.
“There is much speculation regarding the demon whose mark you bear. The underworld feels he will soon make a move toward greater power. He is feared by many and subject to very few.” He paused, and this time he exhibited an air of reservation. “You and Arys must be on guard. He will do all he can to corrupt you both.”
I might have been new to this world compared to an old vampire like Hurst, but I wasn’t born yesterday. Warning me about Shya was like telling me the sky was blue. Of course, I appreciated the sentiment.
“He already is,” I sighed. “But thank you. I appreciate the warning.”
“I won’t keep you much longer. I’m sure you’re eager to get back to your twin flame. It pleases me greatly to hear how well you two have managed your union. It’s an honor to my bloodline.”
Despite my polite refusal, Hurst’s human assistant brought me another coffee and a plate of cookies. Not quite what I would have expected as the guest of a vampire, but I’d happily take it.
As I nibbled an oatmeal cookie, my stomach growled. Arys better have ordered that steak. I eyed Hurst with open curiosity. Making the most of our remaining time was essential.
“What is it about our bloodline that makes us so strong? Did it start with you?” I asked. Arys had never been able to answer that question.
“No, it did not.” Hurst stared off into the shadows. Something wistful passed across his face. “As you know, many vampires possess metaphysical attributes of varying degrees. Others possess none at all. Tales from the old world claim the origins of the vampire are linked to a deal made with the devil. Of course, there is no way of knowing for sure.”
I stared at him in wonder, my cookie forgotten in my hand. I gestured for him to continue.
“One folk story states that the first vampires were born of demon blood. A king with three daughters made a deal with the devil to preserve his children always by making them immortal. Or as immortal as a human can be. Another story agrees that the first vampires were created from demon blood but created to be an affront to God. More than human but less than demon, and all dark. A mockery of humankind created to prey on humankind. In both, the first generation of vampires each possessed different demon traits. Traits that have been passed on throughout the years as new vampires are made. Some theorize that the strengths of those traits vary based on the strengths of the individual, and I’m inclined to agree with that for the most part.”
I felt like a kid on Halloween listening to ghost stories. A strange chill crept through me as I processed his accounts. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard tales of vampires being linked to demons. That’s where the darkness came from. My body shook as the chill spread, freezing my very bones. I faced every night with a piece of that darkness living inside me. How would I ever be the same when it completely consumed me?
“Our bloodline is currently one of the most powerful in the western world,” Hurst continued when I failed to speak. “I’m sure you’ve seen evidence of that yourself.”
“I have,” I said softly.
“Which is why you must take care when turning a human. Like your wolf, some people cannot adjust to the power we command.” Hurst pushed the plate of cookies closer to me. He met my eyes evenly when he added, “Please give Arys a message for me. Tell him that he must not turn the young male witch.”
The blood drained from my face. My gaze fell to the dragon on my forearm. It was a perfect match to the one on Arys’s back. The one he had received after making a deal with Shya, a promise to turn Gabriel, a human skilled in the dark arts. At this rate, we were never going to get these damn demon marks removed. We would never be able or willing to give Shya what he expected of us. That problem would have to wait until I was back home after a weeklong snooze in my own bed.
“I’ll tell him,” I promised. “Thank you, again, for sharing with me. I’m not entirely sure what to d
o with it all, but I’ll figure it out.”
“That you will.” Hurst rose and called forward his human assistant. “Take Alexa back to her kin, please.”
I stood up, my legs wobbly like jelly. The symbol on the old book pulsed, and again I resisted the urge to touch it. It scared me even as it enticed.
Hurst drew me into a surprising hug. His embrace was gentle, comforting. He stroked a hand through my hair and patted my back. “Stay strong, young Hound.” He pulled back and gazed down at me. I fell into his hazel eyes, drawn into the abyss of power. He spoke slowly, carefully. “You will not remember this location. You will recall only this room and our discussion. Go now and take care.”
The next thing I knew, I was standing outside The Wicked Kiss alone and disoriented.
Chapter Seventeen
Back at Caesars Palace after a long and fabulous day in bed, I groaned and whined in protest to Arys’s insistence that we go out.
“Out? Are you kidding me? All we’ve been is out. I want to go home.”
The minibar muffled Jez’s snicker and hid her head from sight while she perused the selection. The twenty-second rule had been abandoned. Screw it.
“But now we get to act like tourists, Lex,” she said, pulling out two bottles of imported beer. “Like we should have been from the start.”
“Might as well kill time before our flight.” Arys tried to appeal to my rational side. He didn’t know that I had no inclination left to be rational. This trip had drained me of all sense and reasonability. “Besides, I want you to see Vegas. I mean really see The Strip the way you’re meant to, without all the vampire politics.”
I caught the bottle that Jez slid to me across the table. “I don’t know, Arys. Wouldn’t you rather stay here and just enjoy the view?” I pointed to the Bellagio fountain across the street. The water was alight, dancing to some song we could not hear within our room.
“I’d rather get down there for a street view. Let’s make the most of our last few hours here.”
At my request, and with no argument from the others, Arys had rebooked our flight for tonight. Midnight. I was perfectly content to stay at Caesars and be pampered, enjoying the luxury the hotel offered. The city was a daunting place, a haven for vampires. It was also now ours. Or so Arys claimed.
I groaned again, being as stubborn as I could without driving myself crazy. Since my visit with Hurst, I was especially eager to get home. I needed some time alone with my thoughts. There was no place on earth better for that than running through the forest as wolf.
“Do we have to?” I whined.
“Yes,” said both Jez and Arys simultaneously.
I gave a scoff of irritation and pushed to my feet. Disappearing from the living room, I went to the bedroom and packed my things. The minute we were set to depart for the airport, I’d be ready. I’d even already called Willow and had him pop in to grab my dagger. Airport security wouldn’t have nice things to say about me if they found that in my luggage.
It was a casual dress kind of night, jeans and a black tank top with my ass-kicking boots. I wasn’t betting on getting out of Sin City without further trouble. The odds just weren’t in my favor.
The door opened, and Arys entered. He had that look in his eyes, the one that said he knew exactly what I was thinking. “You’re worrying about what Hurst said, aren’t you?” He sat on the bed beside me and gave my hair a playful tug.
“Yes,” I said truthfully. “Every damn word.”
“Don’t. It’s not worth it.”
“How can you say that?” I asked, aghast at his flippancy. “As far as our deals with Shya go, we are fucked. Totally, completely, horrifically fucked.”
Arys’s low velvet smooth laugh stroked me in places unseen. Damn him and his impossible sensuality. “We are no such thing. Everything will work itself out. It always does. Haven’t you caught on to that by now?”
“Not in the slightest. You’re delusional.”
“And you’re a neurotic head case who wastes too much time and energy on fear. You are the one to be feared. Start believing it.” He pulled me in against him and gave me a comforting squeeze. His scent of cologne and hair products teased me. It was one of my favorite smells.
“You can’t turn Gabriel, Arys,” I whispered, afraid of disturbing the brief moment of peace. “Promise me that you won’t.”
He took too long in answering. I expected it when he said, “Don’t make me promise anything, Alexa. Not with someone like Shya in the picture.”
I gave a small growl of frustration. “Fine. But you have to promise me not to tell anyone what Hurst said about losing my light. Nobody can know there’s a way to save it. I’m not compromising on this one.”
He met my intense gaze, seeing how gravely serious I was. With a nod, he kissed the side of my nose, and I smiled. “Fair enough. That’s your secret to share.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what Hurst had meant by a sacrifice. It didn’t matter. I would never allow anyone to sacrifice themselves for me. Never. I carried enough guilt without that weighing on my conscience. If the darkness was bound to claim me, then so be it.
“So where are you taking us tonight?” I forced a smile. This city meant something to Arys; I didn’t want to crap all over his attempt to show me what he loved about it.
A brilliant smile broke over his handsome face. It warmed my heart. Taking my hand, he pulled me off the bed and from the room. “To see a little magic. The Vegas kind.”
By the time we made it down The Strip to another hotel for the show, I was starting to feel good about playing tourist with the humans. It was what I’d ideally wanted since we arrived.
We were all dressed casual, each of us wearing fight-friendly attire. Hopefully it wouldn’t be a requirement for the evening. If I could get out of Vegas without another incident, it would be a miracle.
As we filed into the theatre with hundreds of people excited to see a magic show, the bloodlust didn’t taunt me, a pleasant surprise. Surrounded by humans, their hearts pumping crimson joy steadily through their veins, I felt nothing.
My gaze landed on Shaz. Taking blood from him had satisfied the hunger, though at the time, I hadn’t known how much. The blood of a shifter was stronger, more potent than human blood. My bloodlust seemed to like it. As it was also an intoxicant to vampires, I’d have to be very careful.
The theatre was loud with many people, all chattering away at once. The air conditioning was especially high, creating an actual chilly breeze. Compared to the heat outside the building, it contrasted greatly. This climate certainly took some getting used to, but it was doing wonders for my hair.
“How much do you want to bet that this guy’s not even human?” Jez leaned in to whisper close to my ear.
I’d seen this stuff on TV. Vegas was known for its magicians and illusionists. Many had come before, and many would follow. Parlor tricks that involved a diversion of attention were clever, but they were very human.
“I’ll take that bet,” I replied.
The theatre dimmed, and everyone fell into a hushed silence. The hum of excitement was lively, tickling my senses in a pleasing manner. The show began, and in no time, the crowd was applauding wildly.
I analyzed everything the magician did and watched every move he made, every hair on his head. A few of his tricks I saw right through. But then the real magic started to happen. We watched attentively as illusion after illusion made me question everything I thought I knew about magic for entertainment purposes. Disappearing from center stage to reappear seconds later in the crowd, that was not a human feat. Levitation could be faked, but in this case, it was very real.
I couldn’t resist the urge to take a poke at the guy, just to feel him out a little from where I sat. He would know, but by the time he identified it as me, we would be gone. His energy felt strong and solid, not demon, shifter or vampire. Whatever he was, I had yet to encounter another.
“I don’t know what he is,” I whispered to Jez, “b
ut it’s definitely not human.”
“Ha. I knew it.”
Las Vegas was built on illusions. It always had been. Everyone wore a human face. How deceiving. There were more supernatural types walking the city streets than I would have guessed, far more than there were back home. How in the hell were Arys and I going to establish a position of power in a place that had more monsters than I knew what to do with?
The show ended, and we exited the theatre. I excused myself to the restroom while the others browsed the merchandise store outside. After using the facilities, I washed my hands and tried to smooth down a few flyaway strands of hair.
My hackles rose, and immediately I felt eyes upon me. The restroom was empty of anyone but me. Or so I thought. In the mirror, I watched as a stall door behind me opened and Linden strode out. I spun to face him, and he caught me by the throat. Pinning me against the bathroom counter, he gave me a rough shake.
“My, my, fancy meeting you here,” he said, his face void of any emotion. His eyes glittered with malevolence.
I’d met more than one vampire in my time who had the ability to withstand my power. They were few and far between, and they were still dead. However, a vampire seldom managed to sneak up on me. Linden was awfully sure of himself merely because I couldn’t blast him with my mind. He was forgetting that I was a different kind of monster.
His grip on my throat cut off my air supply. I struggled to stay calm. It was just him and me in here with nothing to stop me from plunging a handful of claws into his guts, which is what I did. Warm and wet, his insides felt slippery as I wriggled my claws. He grunted and bent at the waist, loosening his hold on me. I slammed a knee into his jaw, and he stumbled back.
“Did you come to kill me, Linden? In the ladies room of all places? Geez, that’s shady.”
He recovered fast, as vampires are wont to do. He managed to grasp enough of my long hair to slam my face into the bathroom counter. Twice.
Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 7) Page 22